We were quite alarmed and became suspect of using Benolli due to the claims made by David Garfinkle of Creative Home Systems on the CE Pro site and via the numerous emails he sent us.  We feel our project was unnecessarily delayed by the claims that ended with no merit. He also left us a bit confused with his emails that claimed Benolli was using Gira touch panels. In subsequent emails his claim changed to the touch panels were using a Gira communication device, to they were being manufactured by TCI and finally that the issue with the touch panel had nothing to do with being manufactured by Gira or having UL approval but simply the amount of profit Benolli was making off this item. I contacted TCI in Germany but they couldn’t offer anything similar to the Benolli capacitive touch panels.

We made the decision to go with Benolli. Primarily based on meetings this week which included my partners & I, the head city building inspector and Benolli .  All the products that are going to be used on our project by Benolli were physically reviewed by the inspector.  He assured us that everything would pass inspection and everything that required UL approval was marked accordingly. We specifically asked about UL approval due to the claims David Garfinkle has made.

We do thank David for clearing up many of the claims via email. We find no need to try to substantiate any of the other claims he has made one way or another.  We wish him the best.

Privately and now here publicly we highly recommend that Benolli list product specifications on their web site. We also feel their response time on this site was a little slow.

Our goal is to use the best products that are currently on the market. Once we cleared up these minor questions with Benolli we feel that we are getting the best product.

I agree.

But unbelievable be aware, if you speak up and tell your true experience, David / M-Guy will attack and threaten you. He doesn’t like when people speak up. He tries to use this forum to unleash his private anger about being declined. And if you clear a claim he will “creatively” think of a new one. That is what he did with me, first he pretended to help me, then since I couldn’t help him he turned around and started threatening me.

David created his own website about Benolli and then he started this post here. And he is the only one who posted negative comments on this side.

Nothing but BS! He wrote that Benolli illegal uses Gera touchscreens then he writes on his website that he found the source of the touchscreens!

Then he talks about this German Guy who supposedly is a Benolli partner? I have the 2007 catalog in front of me, I must be blind because I don’t see anything that shows Benolli’s setup in Europe nor who their partners are.
If I go to their website I can’t find any information about that either.

Why don’t I or any other dealers that I’ve talked with have those catalogs? Just David, who never was one of their dealer.

Unbelievable!

Unbelievable ... either you work for Benolli or you are the risky type or you don’t give a rats hind end.

Don’t you think warranty is another issue aside from UL approval.  If you have a company put out false statements as Benolli have regarding Benjamin Otto, or IHS or their reference projects - what do you think is happening if something goes wrong. Who do you think the home owner (and his insurance) is going to sue?

Do you have their “Company Overview” and have you checked up on it? David obviously is researching them because he got stiffed by Heseker. There is multiple people out there that have been stiffed. I know because I’ve been asking around. That seems to be their mode of operation.

Just go out, and don’t believe what is said here or anybody says either way - and check up on them yourself.

For example ... check out archive.org for gira-benolli.com, and then go to Gira.de, and fill out their Info form. You’ll get information about the “business methods” of Benolli. Or ask Benjamin Otto - over at Intelligent House Solutions.

Or, check out who actually got the RedDot award that they claim they got on their System partners page.

Or, call the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey, or the Wynn, and find out who actually did the Projects.

Or try to find Benolli GmbH in Germany, supposedly founded in 2004. Or check the California Secretary of State for different versions of “Benollis”.

Then you go and check out if anything from Benolli ist UL listed over at database.ul.com - type in Benolli as the company name and notice that nothing comes up. 

Anybody can put a UL stamp on their product. Actually taking approval serious is different.

All of this is suspicious enough for me to not invest a dime. If they were that good - why would they have to make these things up?

Same story. You keep talking about their German partner…

Which Benolli product are you using? Can you provide the # under the UL stamp?

Tell me more about their product or safety issues!

Creative Home System, I think you never worked with Benolli nor know details about their products!

Am I right?

“The Guy” is telling it like it is. 
“Unbelievable” says my claims have no merit! 
I think I’ve made it quite clear that I’ve been a victim of fraud.
Everyone who reaches out to Mr. Otto gets the same response, yet Heseker sends out an organizational chart with his name on it claiming he is the financial backing and the partner.  I’ve proved that is a false claim as well.
I reached out to Mr. Otto and asked him if he did the Ritz and the Wynn as Heseker shows another chart claiming that Mr. Otto designed those jobs as IHS, his automation company in Germany.  Mr. Otto responded via email that he did the Ritz in Berlin, only.  And, has NOTHING to do with those jobs mentioned by Heseker. 
The Benolli web site claims that the Wynn and the Ritz are Benoli jobs, but sales brochures from 2007 show them as Mr. Otto’s job.  Another false claim proven.

I agree with “The Guy” that “Unbelievable” is likely the Benolli people themselves trying to do damage control.
I went as far as to send Unbelievable the copy of my bank letter, yet in his post above he says I should not bother to back up any of my claims.  I’ve been ripped off, I’ve proved it and in the process uncovered many of the lies Heseker puts forward to lure in the money. 

I’m sorry for “delaying your project” but then again if you are real you should be thanking me for tyring to save you from being ripped off.  if not today then in the future when a green card is denied to Heseker for being involved in fraudulent activities here in the United States and he is deported along with any and all warranty support. Senator Durbin of Illinois has been made aware of this blog.  He keeps track of L1 visa users.  And if Heseker got married to an American, then he has to be free of any wrongdoing within 2 years to get a green card.  Two years is plenty of time for fraud to be charged against him.  Just the trackrecord of CEDIA complaints should be enough to show immigration that he is up to no good. He stiffed CEDIA and owes EHX fees for a no show.  I have had phone conversations and email to support those facts as well.

So, given all this information I find it very hard to believe that “unbelievable” and his investors would go forward and give Heseker any money.  The equipment matters not if there is no support.

I don’t understand

.

Unbelievable...I provided you with quality information as it was discovered. I think you are sugar coating the issues which are quite real and quite unlawful.  Again the equipment has no merit if the source is a fraud.  I did my best to save you from losing money or making a bad decision.  That is what one within the trade does for others in the trade.
The car wasn’t just a “simple title mistake.” It was something far different than that. And not lawful in any manner.
Publishing an organization chart showing Mr. Otto at the top linking Benolli with his company and then Mr. Otto writes to me that “he only met him once”, and has nothing to do with Heseker or Benolli, and that “Heseker has used his name to seek business and seek funding” that is an ethics violation for CEDIA members and a fraudulent act.  Do you refute that?
The failure to refund...."update my banking details????”.....are you kidding?  A business account is that, a business account, personal names have no place there. Those are the banks rules.  If Benolli was going to refund my money they would have cut a check and just mailed it as a last resort, but you can see there is a trail here, one which you ignore to your disadvantage.  I think your posts are fiction at best.  Too many things are plainly clear to all who read this blog to caution the sane not to do any business with this duo. 

So, in summary...I took you at face value to really be looking into this line for a project in Montana, as you told me.  I gave you the benefit of the doubt.  And then I gave you all the information as I learned it to save you from a bad decision.  And to learn from my loss and that of others.  Almost everyday new information is discovered, from the time I canceled my order to today.  People have contacted me and others have posted on the blog the same problems with credibility for Oliver, Melanie, and Benolli.  So it doesn’t add up that you would still go forward just because you think the equipment is worthy.  This has never been solely about the equipment, other than making clear it is or isn’t UL approved, this is about a European integrator operating with European brands in the United States with a long history of fraud.  And I have been as vocal as possible to alert others in the TRADE of not only what happened to me, but what has happened to others as well.

Now all I can say is - are you guys kidding here?

There is someone (Currently “The-Guy” - with a dash before he was “The Truth” with a space) that changes his.her name to make it look like it’s me.  And then posts so that he has as many posts as I have.

All that says to me is that emotions are flying high on this. All the more reason to proceed very carfully if you want to do business with Benolli.

This Krooze guy send me a tif (As Dave Garfink from a hotmail account) - which I cold not open - send me a PDF if you want me to read something and don’t make it look like you are me.

I just had someone send me a list of residences that Benolli did. Thanks Jens!

I am going to contact the Electrical Inspectors of those towns to see if they will go and check - or if the final inspection has passed.

Here is a recent - they suposedly just did that one:

15609 Bronco Dr

Canyon Country, CA 91387

Does anybody know if this is a correct address or know something about the residence?

This Burnell Drive home is on the list as well: http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2007/04/zuma-dogg-obtains-complaint-to-be-filed.html

This thread is closed, at least for the time being—we’re getting into personal attacks and matters that are best discussed in a legal forum.

We’re going to do a little bit more research into this and will come back with some more information soon.