Thank you so much. the exact same thing just happened to myself. I almost went through with it!

I unknowingly took the survey and about a week later was called back to say that I had won a $100 gas card. The representative was in the area and could deliver it to me with in the hour. I said yes, he tried to sell me the vacuum cleaner, air purifier and air filter.  I said no, luckily, and received a certificate that I have to mail in. Then when I get the information back I can turn in my gasoline receipts and get back $10 a month for the next ten months not to exceed a year.  What a ripoff!

You can buy five top-of-the-line Dysons for the price of one Silver King, which is as clunky and obsolete as Kirby, Filter Queen or Rainbow.

I can think of lots of things to spend hundreds of dollars on.  A good vacuum cleaner is not one of those things.

I invested in a Blue Max and I couldn't be happier. My home has never been so clean. Very impressive machine, reputable company, and nice, knowledgeble representative. Don't listen to the complainers. Just watch the thing work, you'll be impressed! Promise!!

When I lived in CO, I did have a guy visit me also. He was such a good salesman, that before I knew it I actually spent the 3,000 on a vacuum cleaner. Best investment I ever made. The Blue-max we bought came with a double-life time warranty and that thing still runs like a champ 15 years later. Only thing we've had to replace is the filters and a couple bands in the head. Unfortunately, my ex got the vacuum in the divorce so now I need to find another. Their isn't any dealership up here either so not sure how I'm gonna get one.

I work for silver king and have for many years.  I am very proud of my company and our product.  So you get gifts and a trip for looking at our product.  So what? As I tell everyone in the home, if you want too see the price I will show it to you,  if you don't want to see it then that's ok too.  If that's the case then fill out the survey we hand you gifts and we part friends.  People on here playing the victim makes me laugh.  Your not victims, your not lied too and your very lucky to even get to see it.  We only make 250 a month by hand.  American made. Built with American labor paying American taxes.  You think we are a scam??   If you see me coming to your door,  be nice.  Usually we drive a long ways to come see you and we get paid to show it to you.  None of us bite and we are well trained to be very respectful when we come to your home.  Your only danger is if you leave homemade chocolate chip cookies out.  I very well may turn into a cookie monster!

This is a scam. They try to get you to accept a $500 gift certificate and if you agree they will send someone round "to deliver the certificate". The guy who brings the certificate also brings a $3000 vacuum cleaner to they to sell you. The offending company is Silver King Vacuum Cleaner company. To call and complain about their deceptive sales practice or to cancel an apptmt if you got sucked into it, here is their phone number 800 864 1658

They also call from  719-258-1701.  Same exact tactics everyone else described

I got a call like that this early this morning from NJ 732.578.9024. So I took the bait just to hear the scam. Excited Man with East Indian Accent: "You have won $500.00 to spend anywhere OK?"  Excited Me: Who did I win it from?".  (man) "Just listen, I will tell you in you in a minute if you just listen OK?" me: "OK"  (man) "You can spend it anywhere on anything from Target to grocery store OK?"  This went on for several minutes.  He finally cut to the chase and said "all you have to do it send me $2.95 cents for shipping the $500.00 check.  It will delivered to your front door!  We can put it on your credit card OK?"  I said "I can spend the $500.00 anywhere yes?"  He said "YES!"  "I want to make my first purchase of that 500 and pay for the shipping of that check OK?"  He was good, "no I cannot do that, it has to be delivered first".  "But you said I could spend it anywhere! OK?" I told him at that point that I never give my credit card to strangers and hung up.
I know they got my number from the internet because of the name they used.

WOW glad I saw all these posts! The guy came but was not able to give me his sales pitch because my husband was held up in traffic and the sales guy had to have my husband here too.  I asked him about the "free gifts" and his eyes shifted, right then I knew he was feeding me a line! So he leaves and five minutes later there he was at my door again stating that his boss said he didn't have another job tonight and he could go get coffee and meet with us later tonight. Well I agreed being the dummy I was and then I tried to find out info on CB Research as it was called. Thanks all you for your posts this guy is not getting back in my door ever. Hate that I let him in in the first place becuase he looked around my house and told me how nice it was, CREAPY!

I, too, was taken in by the call about having filled out a survey, and won in a drawing.  At no time, did they say it was a vacuum cleaner!!!  I did agree for them to come for a half hour and then two men showed up saying one of them was in training.  I said one half hour.  After developing a headache from the dust samples and then the air freshner, I was very ready for them to leave.  They did stay for an hour.
The phone number was 719-258-1971.  The phone conversation was very deceptive.  I forgot the name of the vacuum and was able to call back a 800 number and then information led me to this web site.  I wish I had seen it sooner.  The vacuum may do many things, the cost is way out of sight and I wish I had listened to my gut when I was the name and number.  The two "gifts" just are not worth it, especially when ones time is valuable.

Said it was a survey. They're telemarketers trying to sell a vacuum. Lied about product and giveaway.

Wow.  I took the same call, "You won a $500 gift certificate, just fill out a survey, etc." and I set the appointment for last Wed.  Reading these posts blows me away.  I am not the brightest match in the box, but even I figured out that:
* No philanthropic company is handing out $500 bills
* I was not "selected" nor did I "win"
* Every functioning business has a business model, including some sort of income
* Professional product research firms exist, so there is no need to do legit research "door to door"

I had no idea what was coming to my house, but I did feel confident that:
* A salesman was coming over
* I may have been misled, but not outright lied to
* In order for this company to stay in business, value has to change hands

A very professional guy came over, along with a trainee and demonstrated the Blue Max.  It was a damn fine vacuum, I must admit.  We were polite, friendly and jovial, and he was the same.  My wife and I filled out the survey and might have bought the vacuum if circumstances were different in our lives.

We wished him well, he wished us well then he left.

No one was harmed and I lost no money.  I was watching his sales technique (this guy was *GOOD*), learning as I watched.  As a result, my wife and I now want a Silver King and are keeping an eye out on craigslist.

So I ask, why all of the intense rage and fear on this board?  Did you not know what was happening when you signed up?  When the salesman arrived, was he rude, unprofessional or sloppy?  I would bet most people are far less professional than the salesman who visits them.

I don't work for Silver King and I really don't care what happens to them.  At the same time I am puzzled by all of the vitriol.

Actually, I envy you.  If your experience was awful enough that it ranks so high on your lifetime-trauma list, then you have had a quite charmed life.

Thank you to everyone who posted here and especially to Liar Liarrr for posting the 1-800 number for Silver King.  I was contacted yesterday by these yahoos and agreed to a "in-home" survey but was able to call them and cancel thnaks to all of the above posts.  If they still show up tonight I'm not letting them in.  Thanks again to all.

Calls came from BMR 719-355-2509, Colorado Spr CO 719-355-2511, BMR 719-355-2512.  They gave me an 800 number to call them back of 800-864-1658.  When you call they answer Silver King.  I asked for my rep Jamie and she seemed confused until I said that she said she works for BMR Research.  She suddenly perked up saying that was their research division.  I think they all use FAKE NAMES.

They say you answered a survey and they "ONLY PICK 2 WINNERS PER WEEK" in my area and I won!!  Congratulations on my win..etc etc.  They were on their way to our house when I canceled.  Thank god I did.  They were VERY vague about the product and said it is not on the market yet, is a new product and they need feedback on it.  I quizzed her endlessly saying I didnt have time for this or that and they lie lie lie about the product saying it is an air purification system that hasnt hit the market yet and needs my feedback to decide if they will carry it or not.  Ha!

She continually repeated how we must fill our the survey else they wont get reimbursed for the prizes.  They are pretty slick sales people with all the right answers. Thank god on the way here I googled them and found out what a scam this is. I called "Jamie" and told them what a scam I found out they are and even though she said she had "mulitple drivers available in my area" she started to panic a little saying how far they have to drive.  Guessing they were coming from Denver.  OH WELL!  I got scammed by a window company a couple years ago and am glad that I was able to figure this out before I wasted my day!  Thanks for this site!!!

This company can go F*** it self along with every one who is involved with it

After the similar experience with the short survey, followed by the demo/survey that turned into a sales pitch we found a way to get the relatively nice salesman out the door.  My wife questioned why BMR represented themselves as a research company (only doing research for Silver King) when actually they have a short survey and a long sales pitch.  She was told it was going to be 45 - 60 min.  From the posts above, I am glad we got rid of him in 20 min.  As we asked more questions about their sales tactics and misdirection he started to become a bit frustrated.  He started telling us about Silver King and we asked why we needed to know about their company if they wanted product survey results.  As he was packing up, he told us that they wouldnt be able to use our survey results since we clearly seemed skeptical (and rightly so).  Anyway, he packed up before even opening the box.  He did leave the 2 pamphlets with the gifts but after reading the posts above, I am not even going to try redeeming them.  My suggestion, dont agree to the survey which will definitely turn into a sales pitch unless you have 2 hours to kill or $1,000s to spend on a vaccum.

Thanks to all of you who posted information about BMR and KMAX.  I just fell for their phone pitch!  The telemarketer told me my husband had done their phone survey a few weeks ago.  He was at work so I couldn't check with him to see if it was true - he usually will not waste his time with phone surveys.  I had the feeling that the call included some kind of scam, but the promise of $500 and free motel gifts for survey information sounded good - times are hard right now!  I guess we will have someone coming to show us a vacuum cleaner this evening!  We won't waste our time.  Thanks again to all of you!  It sure is great to see so many people looking out for eachother.  The old saying is still true - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  I'm so bummed - I hate it when I get fooled.

Caller told that they were a Market Research company and that I had won a $500 gift certificate and a 2 night, 3 day hotel stay we did a half hour consumer survey on an air purifier.  I have done paid surveys through Market Research companies in the past and did not question them as much as I should have because they knew specific information about us, which leads me to believe a Market Research company sold our information to BMR (or whoever they are).  

Roger came to our house at 8:30 and went into a full blown sales pitch with a vacuum demonstration.  My husband started questioning him and said he needed to be done by 9pm.  Roger told it was only a consumer survey which would last 2 hours.  Frustrated, we tried to get him out, he said he needed to clean the vacuum.  It took him about 15-20 minutes to clean the machine while telling us folks usually buy the machine so he doesn't have to clean it.  So frustrating.  He finally left at 10pm and told us mot people figure out how to come up with the money (3400K) because they wanted a clean home and he would give us a deep discount if we bought the machine.  

He did give us 2 gifts, one from a company called www.selectyourgifts.com which gives your "free" gifts for the price of shipping and handling.  The cost of shipping and handling was considerably more than the value of the "gifts".  The gift certificate from "grand incentives" looks like a scam as well.

BMR
719-355-2509


The Silver King vacuum seems like a great machine that is built well, I don't understand why they would use such sleazy sales tactics to sell them.  I may have been interested in buying on if they did not lie.

Caller told me I won a $200 gift certificate to an online "Retail store in California".  She equated it to Sears or Walmart, but couldn't tell me the name of the store, just that I could order online and that the gift cards were locked in a vault somewhere until they were delivered. Was asked to do a short survey after reviewing a "new product" they were marketing- an air purifier/cleaning system.  At this point, I'm thinking it's going to be like the Rainbow company, and so what if I'm not interested in the thing- I'll still get a $200 gc, right?  Set up an appointment and was offered an additional $10 gas card.  Cool.

Then my husband is *pissed* that I set up an appoinment, and I start looking into things. Find this website... totally deflated and feeling naive, gullible, and pretty much flat out stupid.

When they show up tonight I'm not even going to let them in the door.  Glad I found this website- probably saved me a lot of time on a demo that I know going into I'm not going to buy.


Also, for me, the number comes up as "Private name, private number".

supposedly to get info on a new vacumn cleaner- 30 min turned into 1 1/2 hr and would have been longer except we had to leave- the certificate is worthless- can't get into the web site to even look at the gifts and they don't include the s&h that probably are about what the gifts cost

Got the same thing - phone call from the KMAX research company with a short survey... didn't give them any personal information, but they called back with the same thing... I'd won $500.00 gift certificate that I receive no matter what, but could they stop by because they were going to be in the neighborhood, etc. I felt it was a scam all along and never agreed to let them come to my home. The gentleman I spoke with "Justin" was also very nice but said someone was going to be in my area today (Tuesday) and would stop by to see if I was interested once I saw this new 'purifier' and it wouldn't take longer than 30 minutes.  Just waiting to see if they have the audacity to show up after I told him I wasn't interested in having someone come to my home. He was also very sure to tell me that if I didn't let them in for the demonstration that he wouldn't get paid. Like that's MY problem?? I don't think so.

We'll see.

My wife politely took the survey but a week later I fielded the follow-up call. "Maya" was probably the most articulate and charming telemarketer I have encountered in a long time. To her credit, she didn't actually lie, but I bet she could teach college-level mis-direction. After I politely, cheerfully, and persistently questioned her to get to the details of the Blue Max (a vacuum cleaner) and the gift certificate (see other posts - it really is worthless), I repeated her name, her company, the date, and my express wish for her company to not call us back. Those 4 details are important: If they call back, they are in legal hot water.

thanks!!!  I almost let them come to my house.  As I talked to them I felt like I was not being told the truth.  She kept calling it a air purifier and cleaner.   As I researched it while talking to her I found this site and I am glad I did.  I had a feeling it was a scam.

Don't get scammed by this company. They don't tell the truth. They're selling a vaccuum. It's not a survey, it's a sales call. Don't answer calls from KMAX. Nothing they tell you is true.

It's a scam. The survey is only to get info on you. Afterwards they call and say you've won a gift certificate for $500 redeemable if you give your opinion on an air purification system. It's a vacuum, Blue Max manufactured by Silver King Company. It's over $3000. I was told the presentation would be 30 minutes--it was 2 hours. They never disclosed it was a vacuum--very deceptive. You can't redeem the gift certificate because you have to pay shipping and handling on each item which of course is more expensive than the products. The online company www.certificatesavings.com doesn't have a security certificate. This company pretends to be a survey company but it is really a telemarketing company out of Colorado looking to sell you an overpriced vacuum. Don't respond to their call--it's deceptive advertising.

My wife took a survey and they have called every three to four days since. When I ask them what they want they hang up on me. They have called from the following numbers. 719-574-8048, 719-637-3406, 719-572-0114, 719-572-5905.

See all the comments on KMAX. Called that they were doing a survey - I'm on the no-call lists. I took it anyway - it was short and painless. They called back about 10 days later telling me for taking the survey I won a bunch of prizes...but in order to win them I need to take one last survey on a new air purification system - IN MY HOME!! So, I didn't go through with it but clearly it would have resulted in someone trying to sell me an expensive vaccum system.