Natural fears about having brilliant ideas stolen are amplified by stories about invention company rip-offs and scams. How does an inventor make an informed choice?

Nội dung chính Show

The reputation of the invention business as a swamp of scoundrels is somewhat deserved, but not for the reason most inventors think. The biggest problem is not that invention companies steal ideas, it is that inventors love their own ideas too much. This makes it easy to encourage inventors to spend a lot of money on ideas that have little chance of success. When a sales rep meets an inventor in love with a bad idea, the rep can earn an easy commission by simply agreeing with the inventor. Where it gets ugly and unethical is when that rep raises expectations and sells additional services that are essentially bogus. Only a few companies do this, but some of them advertise extensively and have high profiles.

When you choose to engage an invention company you are making a decision to trust them not only with your idea but with telling you the truth. It's similar to the expectation you have with a doctor or a lawyer. The question really boils down to, who can you trust?

Do not Let Patent Attorneys and Agents Off The Hook Either

It is hard for non-professionals to evaluate work related to intellectual property. How does an inventor know if a patent search is well done or an application well written? And if a patent seems possible shouldn't the inventor be told whether or not it will be meaningful?

It is worse than you think.

Reading reviews is a great place to start. Unfortunately reviews can be gamed in all kinds of ways. There are well-known companies that treat inventors horribly but have positive reviews from sources like Consumer Affairs, Google, Trustpilot and even Rip-Off Report! (we know the truth from inventors we've worked with). Membership in an invention organization that says it's dedicated to protecting inventors doesn’t guarantee integrity either - some such organizations exist primarily to promote their sponsors and some of those sponsors are companies with dubious ethics. The most honest review source we know of is BBB for accredited members. But even BBB can be gamed if a company changes its name or if it pays people to pose as clients and then post reviews. And BBB posts reviews from people who never even hired the company - so negative reviews (possibly from competitors or people with an axe to grind) can be suspect too!

What to do?

Rely on multiple sources and read negative reviews. Well reasoned negative reviews and especially company responses to such reviews can reveal important truths about the reasons clients get upset and how a company deals with complaints*. Also read up on the people who are behind the company. Check into what they’ve done that gives them the right to claim expertise. Check to see if the company has had successful inventions that made real money and confirm that the company is actually responsible for those inventions.

Ask questions and learn from the answers. Have a dialog before making a commitment.

There are many good and honest companies and suppliers. You find them if you do not buy into flattery, do some homework and trust yourself.

Can You Provide a List of Bad and Good Companies?

We’re unable to name the names of the bad guys without exposing ourselves to a lifetime of litigation and we don’t want those names to appear on a list alongside good guys. But there is one source we recommend highly. No surprise here - it’s Invention City. Read our BBB reviews, learn about us and then give us a try. Our $95 Brutally Honest Review helps inventors in all stages of development.

ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers.

Company NMLS Consumer Access

2110672 MORTGAGE BROKER ONLY, NOT A MORTGAGE LENDER OR MORTGAGE CORRESPONDENT LENDER

NOTICE TO VERMONT CONSUMERS: THIS IS A LOAN SOLICITATION ONLY. CONSUMERS UNIFIED, LLC IS NOT A LENDER. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE SHARED WITH ONE OR MORE THIRD PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR LOAN INQUIRY. THE LENDER MAY NOT BE SUBJECT TO ALL VERMONT LENDING LAWS. THE LENDER MAY BE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL LENDING LAWS.

Home Warranty disclosure for New Jersey Residents: The product being offered is a service contract and is separate and distinct from any product or service warranty which may be provided by the home builder or manufacturer.

Consumers Unified, LLC does not take loan or mortgage applications or make credit decisions. Rather, we display rates from lenders that are licensed or otherwise authorized to work in Vermont. We forward your information to a lender you wish to contact so that they may contact you directly.

What is the best invention company?

InventHelp: This is one of the largest invention submission companies in the US, and has been in business for over 30 years. They offer a variety of services to inventors, including patent referral, prototyping, and marketing assistance.

How much does Davison invention cost?

Inventors pay $800 to see if their ideas conflict with existing patents and whether there's a potential market. If an invention passes those hurdles, Davison Design charges $10,000 or more to create a prototype of the product. That takes time.

How do I sell my invention idea?

How to Successfully Pitch an Idea to a Company.

Step 1: Gather Information. Yes, it is the information age which means the more info you are armed with, the better off you will be. ... .

Step 2: Prepare a Professional Presentation. ... .

Step 3: Pinpoint Your Targets. ... .

Step 4: Qualify Your Targets. ... .

Step 5: Make the Sale..

Does InventHelp really work?

Yes, InventHelp is a legitimate way for inventors to bring their ideas to market. The company has been in business for more than 35 years and helped inventors secure more than 10,000 patents.