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Consumer Alert

I saw that, but hadn't had time to post or anything.
I sort of know ASAP Moulding because I've bought boxes of moulding from them.
They were (are?) a sort of spin-off from ASAP Tapes, which has GREAT low cost ATG tape.

Don't know more than that.

The sponsor things was kind of odd.
 
http://www.framingsuccess2015.com/#!about/cjg9

"Raphael (Ray) Gross is a successful entrepreneur and mentor in the art, photographic, and picture framing industries. With over 35 years of success in two ventures, Poster Art N' Graphics (1978) www.pangart.com and Gross National Product (1994) www.gnpframe.com. Raphael has over 10 years of mentoring and business coaching experience with picture framers and photographers worldwide."

Never heard of him. Anyone else?
 
Raphael has some other facebook pages and websites that also point to that same place. One is for 3d printing. 3dmf dot org

The framing website was created 10/29/14 and the related facebook page a week later on 11/7/14.

framingsuccess2015 dot com domain:
Registrant Name: Ray Gross
Registrant Organization: Success Tour
Registrant Street: 324 S. Beverly Dr #124
Registrant City: Beverly Hills
Registrant State/Province: CA
Registrant Postal Code: 90212
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.4243549611

This phone number is apparently located in Southern California (Beverly Hills area) and is a VOIP landline from Level3 communications.


3dmf dot org domain: (created 2013)
Registrant Name:Rapheal Gross
Registrant Organization:
Registrant Street: 324 S. Beverly Dr.
Registrant Street: Suite 124
Registrant City:Beverly Hills
Registrant State/Province:CA
Registrant Postal Code:90212
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.3474542532

This phone number is apparently located in South Richmond Hill, NY (Queens County) and is a Cell Number from Cingular Wireless PCS


With some research, I see that the address appears to be an alias/rented po box:

The UPS Store #6307
324 S. BEVERLY DR.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
(310)203-0301

Hope this is useful. It may or may not be real, but just giving what info the registrant has publicly listed for contact.

Mike
 
I just sent and email to see if anyone in the Office is aware of this and what it is

Thanks for posting the info.
 
The testimonials page has a video. That video is an ad for his own services to photographers. Kind of strange.

Sounds like the guy is successful, or at least gives that impression. And what better way to make more money than charging $300-$500 per head for 7 hours of talking?

Andrew
 
Randy Parrish said:
PPFA is gone now, I sent him a tweet from the PPFA Twitter account.
Click to expand...

Policing PPFA's domain and reputation. I approve . . . . but think about this

Apparently Ray Gross holds (or held) PPFA in high regard and values being connected to this association. I don't know what was said on the PPFA Twitter tweet, but perhaps Raphael Gross could be extended an official offer to join this association?

Or is it that PPFA doesn't care for including people who use PPFA without official consent?
 
Jini Lumsden said:
Apparently Ray Gross holds (or held) PPFA in high regard and values being connected to this association.
Click to expand...
Mr. Gross's false claim of PPFA endorsement doesn't necessarily mean he holds the association in high regard. More likely, he thought using the name would lend credibility and imply a relationship where there is none. If he valued being connected, wouldn't he join?

Or is it that PPFA doesn't care for including people who use PPFA without official consent?
Click to expand...
He also didn't ask, nor has he expressed any desire to support the association, so far as we know. Personally, I believe PPFA should include everyone who wants to give support to the association, but not those who only want to take support from it.
 
Allowing any vendor/commercial interest access implies consent to mine the membership for potential clients. We've had that problem on the Grumble, and had to lose a sponsor because of it. Let's try our best to avoid inviting trolls to the table. Was wondering if that during the "open house" the member lists were secure.

My initial thought with Ray or Raphael, is that they knew what they were doing and didn't figure on getting caught. They don't have our best interest at heart.
 
Interestingly, Ray stopped by my shop while I was out and left his card. This was before the e-mail blast and I did not connect the two.

He then called and left a message for me to please call him. I also received an e-mail from his co-producer, Michael Caro asking for a "go to" meeting next week to discuss the upcoming tour (which I cannot attend) - but will try to set something up.

As they say, "film at 11."
 
Wouldn't it be perfect if every member that joined PPFA felt as Jim does and wanted to give real support to this Association!

Reality is that there are many members that join only to take as much as they can without giving much more than their annual membership dues as support. I am referring to members that join primarily to have an Association connection to their business. Every chapter has some of those sort of members; never seen at Chapter meetings; preferring not to participate in Framing Competitions; uninterested in achieving Certification; not attending National Conventions; not voting.

Personally, I have not understood why this happens. I do not know how to change this sort of behavior, but it exists in my Chapter, so it must happen in other Chapters. In any case, I would not suggest PPFA deny a membership based on lack of participation and support beyond annual membership dues.

It remains a fact that this individual (Mr. Gross) tried to deceive the public by posting a relationship where there was none.

Waiting on that "film at 11" ... very curious about this "Legend" few fellow framers have heard of...
 
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