teri-jean r

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Disappointing Service

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I attended two meetings and looked forward to receiving a proposal for the idea I needed to make a reality. I gave them all my information and ideas for them to do nothing.

They took my idea and never responded to my calls and emails after that. It's a scam if I've ever seen one.

View full review
Cons:
  • May take your idea

Preferred solution: Acknowledgement, explanation and apology

User's recommendation: Find an honest organization to bring your ideas to life.

Anonymous
map-marker Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Follow up on wrong color of slides shipped.

Wrong color shipped, no one has contacted me at all. Ive emailed two separate times. Why has no one reached out???

View full review
Anonymous

Alert()

alert() moo moo moo mom om om om om om mo o

View full review
Arora Arv

Spark Innovations is a GREAT Product Design Company

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

Spark is an amazing Product Design Company! I was so lost when I started this new invention venture...They developed my concept and helped me through every step!

From the idea I had in my mind to creating a product ready to market! I can't say enough THANK YOU's to your team! I will recommend you to anyone I know in need of a Product Design Firm!

Bob and all the Industrial designers and mechanical engineers who worked on my project really understood what I wanted done, provided me with new ways of thinking about doing things and were extraordinarily helpful at every step. They are professional, knowledgeable, responsive, creative, and talented.

View full review
Pros:
  • Customer service
  • Design quality
  • Amazing team
Reason of review:
Amazing customer service, good quality, fair pricing
Anonymous
map-marker Mississauga, Ontario

Great team,, better learning experience

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I am just at the final stages of my product development with Spark. The staff are very experienced and helpful.

Was a little frustrating at first, but you need to be patient and let them educate you on the process. After that it was smooth sailing, pardon my pun as my invention is related to sailing ..lol.. I can see how some people ie (other reviews) can become easily frustrated and want to lash out. Once you get over the initial hurdles and understand how they work, it's a very good experience.

I highly recommend this company .. but you need to be serious, dedicated and have a positive out look..

J. Hood.

View full review
Reason of review:
Good customer service
Tarance Tvx

AMAZING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

We searched everywhere for a Product Development Company that could help me and my husband with our invention. We didn't want to spend a lot but needed a lot done.

We visited every Product development firm in Toronto but they were all ridiculously expensive! We finally found Spark Innovations. Bob and Chris at Spark help us make our dream come true. They helped us develop our idea with sketches and concepts, the patent drawings and they even helped file the patent application.

They prepared the product for manufacturing and they helped us with the packaging, the graphics, marketing.

They even helped with their contacts in china for manufacturing! We can only say thank you guys to you and your team!

View full review
Pros:
  • Customer service
  • Organized
  • Great design
Reason of review:
Great quality, great pricing!
Freedo
map-marker Montreal, Quebec

Spark Innovations' owner Robert G. Dickie is a thief! Inventors BEWARE!!!

I apologize in advance for my English writing - it's actually my third language! The true story of how I got financially cheated by Robert G. Dickie, Lara Clair, Gary Vilinsky & the designers at Spark Innovations.

The first week of March 2011, I signed a $24,859.50 contract with Spark Innovations. A Design Company based in Toronto. Their job was to handle my project from start to finish. They were to product & patent research, develop & design my idea based on my specifications: using my own designs & pictures & build a functional prototype for me to shop around to investors. Each Phase had a set delivery date, but when I started noticing delays from the designer's, I decided to cut them some slack & not make trouble. Meanwhile, I kept my end of the bargain a 100%. I made the payments requested by the owner Robert G Dickie, the office Manager Lara Clair & the CFO Gary Vilinsky, yet I was still not getting the designs I expected. Disappointed, I decided to not pursue to Phase 3. Which was the Prototyping part & begged them to correct all the mistakes they've made before closing my file.

Here is a list of all my payments: March 11 - $6080, April 6 - 11,000, May 30 - $2800, June 27 - $1500, July 11 - $500, Feb 28, 2012 - $945.50. I have proof of the contract I signed with all the phases described in details, every bank statements & emails exchanged. Please notice that I've held back on making the last payment of $945.50 for a while because I was still waiting for them to finish the other part of my work. But under pressure, I caved in & did pay up. What a big mistake on my part. I know, I'm a classy ***!

I'm not sure if Robert's partner as well as some of his employees quitting made a difference in the unusable drawings I received but even when they were around, they sadly failed to deliver. Look, I could go into details but here is one simple example for why I couldn't work with them anymore. I asked for my product to run with batteries, they tried to convince me an electrical cord would be better. I insisted that having batteries would make the product easier to move around. They agreed & even suggested having both. At the end, they only gave me an electrical cord. WHAT? You see where I'm going with this? Yeah, it's actually worse then you think.

Trust me, it's not like I didn't kiss their ***. I was very patient & really wanted things to workout. I emailed, called & sent pictures of what I wanted, happy to help but in spite of it all, my specifications kept on being ignored. All the back & forth nearly drove me nuts. The entire team at Spark knew I was being taken advantage of. Yet they still didn't bother to help me. Honestly, I think Robert himself forbade them to do so. It's only after I got a little angry via email, & emotional over the phone while talking to Lara, did Robert give the OK for his designers to continue work on my project. You want to laugh, Spark's CFO Gary Vilinsky even had the audacity to send me a new bill trying to cash in for correcting mistakes they made. I swear, I'm not making this up. I have tangible proof. You would think with all the experience Spark's has, they'd have no problem copying from the designs I drew & forwarded to them. Wrong, we still had to do more back & forth & yes, I refused to pay for any of it! My patience had run its course.

Is Spark Innovations in the business of taking advantage of trusting people like me? It sure seems like it – right?

Meanwhile, I had paid an amount of $22,825.50. for YES you got it - unfinished & unusable designs! Still, willing to quietly fix things & not fight with anyone, I got in touch with Robert & Lara in order to be reimbursed part of my payment. But they remained uncooperative! It's only after I explained to them how I was going to expose their thievery did they decide to reimburse me $1808.00. Their excuse was someone else had made an error in billing me. Look, I had to hire another designer to work on my designs & I have deadlines to respect. I can't just forget about $14,240 + tax. So, offering me $1808 is not only insulting but it's also a slap in the face. Are they kidding?

Furthermore, my patent lawyer, my accountant & I have been trying to match the payments I sent Sparks & the receipts they've finally agreed to forward to me after numerous request – RED ALERT, many discrepancies! Even the Patent Research they claim to have done for my product has no paper trail. Plus I did part of that research. I had sent it to them so they could have a clear idea of what I wanted. Yet they still managed to cheat $850 + tax out of my pocket, convincing me they had been more thorough in their research. God am I ever gullible!

And can you believe that even if Robert admits to feeling sorry his people did not live up to my expectations, he still feels entitled to keep $2780 for the Detailed Concept & $6860 for the Cad Development. Wait, it gets better, he also wants $2150 for the Prototype Development, $1800 for the Physical Prototype & $1600 for the Production Preparation? Buddy, you not only didn't design what I wanted & paid for, but you also didn't make the Prototype!!!!

Although I'm already unfairly allowing Spark Innovations to keep $8585.50 of my hard earned cash, it's seems they also want my blood. Is there any justice out there? Anyway, to all inventors with a desire to create, please BEWARE & help me spread the word!

We can't let Spark Innovations & Robert G. Dickie's Dream Team get away with robbing us blind. We deserve better!

View full review
Loss:
$14
4 comments
Guest

Any company, that allows a customer to leave their company unsatisfied can not be trusted on any of my design projects.

Guest

Agree with user LP. If Spark was really like this, they would not exist.

Also, at that time (way back in 2011), we did have a small personnel issue, with a single employee, which has long been taken care of. Come check us out for yourself. We have the best design team, second to none !

All senior level, no rookies here. We get things done, and done right.

Guest

The information within this review is unfounded and slanderous. The person that has written this review has since been sued by a competitor of ours and other companies in our area are also taking action for statements such as these. Please do not take this person's statements seriously.

Thank you

Guest

Please add Richard Coulson of Aequus Global Design to the list of dishonest people and stay away from his firm

View more comments (3)

Unemployment Expert Tips

Experts Tips on Unemployment and Cyber Security

Experts Tips on Unemployment and Cyber Security

Feb 3, 2020

Can’t verify your identity via ID.me? Andrew Stettner, an unemployment expert, comments on how the ID.me verification process works and the privacy risks involved. Learn how one consumer resolved his issue.

Andrew Stettner
Andrew Stettner

Andrew Stettner is a senior fellow at TheCenturyFoundation and a non-profit leader who shares expert opinion on unemployment benefits and insurance reform.

Why Trust Reviews on PissedConsumer?

  • Professional auto and live moderation
  • 100% user-generated content
  • Equal opportunity and protection
  • Zero tolerance for fake reviews
  • Verified content
  • PissedConsumer is on the Inc. 5000 list

For more information read Blog article