Has anyone had any experience with this new company who showed at Cedia?

I don’t know anything about them, but the first page of Google results has some interesting info.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Benolli+and+Oliver+Heseker

I’ve tried to contact them ... to no avail. Would like to learn more.

Hey,
We did a large home with them last year. We used their keypads and TPs. We just started a condo project with them . . . so far so good.

There is a not-too-flattering picture of Benolli posted here:
http://www.benollismartsystems.com/

I just talked with owner Oliver Heseker and he says all the crazy claims on the above site are bogus and very upsetting. I will contact some dealers and try to get the story straightened out. If you’re a benolli user, please shoot me an email - first initial, last name @ehpub.com

thanks

Mr. Heseker is playing a confidence game here in the United States.  He makes false claims about the financial backing of Benolli by telling prospective dealers that Benjamin Otto is his partner.  Well, one of my learned colleagues has spoken with Mr. Otto and he flatly denies any involvement with Oliver or Benolli Inc.  Mr. Heseker made a cliam to OWN V8Tech, the programming firm he hires and flies into the United States to set up his European systems here in the US.  I have contacted them to alert them of this false claim of ownership he boasts about here in the US.  The touchpanels he is using are made by Gira, a German company.  I have in writing from them that not only are they NOT UL approved but they are looking into who is supplying them to Mr. Heseker who then brings them into the US rebranded as Benolli.  In the US this is known as trademark infringement, but Mr. Heseker is not shy to commit any act of fraud as he is an expert on the subject. 

The Benolli web site posts that they will be exhibiting at EHX Fall, well I have had a conversation with the sales manager for the show and he has informed me that not only did Oliver NOT show for the Spring show, for which he owes cancellation and no show fees, but he is not registered for EHX Fall and his posting is another fraudulent statement.
He is no longer welcome at Cedia either.  If you cannot show at EHX or CEDIA you don’t exist in this business, certainly not if you are trying to build a National brand.

How ironic that the year the king of international fraud: Frank Abignale Jr., is the keynote speaker at CEDIA that Mr. Heseker shows his Gira products as his own down in the basement of the convention center in Denver. 

For those few companies Mr. Heseker is keeping happy and paying and supplying merchandise consider this: When the triple damages fraud judgments are handed out to the dealers he has scammed it will be YOUR assets which will be attached and levied by court order.  And, for all the NON UL approved products you put into peoples houses if there should be any fire damage to these homes ALL of your assets will disappear because the FIre insurance claim will be denied by the homeowners policy. 

The Arizona web site builder who keeps http://www.benollismartsystems.com on line is very real, NO one would go out of their way to create such a hoax, only a criminal mind would step forward and deny it.  So learn from my loss and stay away from this fake brand: Benolli.

SOMETHING SMELLS VERY FISHY HERE… This thread was started with a poster asking a question whom is now making statements. I’ve emailed that poster and the fake Benolli site asking for documentation supporting all of their claims.  No documentation has been provided.

!

Benolli is a victim of Blackmail. We are thankful for all the support which we have received over the last days from our system partner network during this situation.

Please post your experience with the Benolli Corporation on this site as we resolve this issue. Rest assure that the claims being made are false and just a suspicious tool of supporting their Blackmail activities.

We are currently dealing with these extortion and defamation issues through our professional legal sources. We have attorneys and law enforcement agencies in the US and Germany currently working on this case. We are sorry that our system partners and homeowners have been confused with this campaign against us. Thank you for you patience and support.

If you have any concerns or need proof of documentation please feel free to contact us at any time at or 310.773.6910. Also please review our website if you have not already at http://www.benolli.com.

Regards, Oliver Heseker

OK, so I’m trying to get to the bottom of this ... Incredible, can you send me pics of the install and testimony from the homeowner?

Kindly send me an email off-the-record with the details and I will respect your privacy and any confidential info you provide.

Benolli-bashers, can you send me any documentation of the issues?

Benolli, can you provide any evidence of your success in the U.S.? I have asked for dealer contact info and I do not believe I’ve received it (I could be wrong).

Also, I would be curious as to why Benolli has bowed out of the trade shows.

We work very hard to make sure that our dealer audience is well informed. When they’re successful, we are too. So more info would be greatly appreciated and please let me know if any of your comments are OFF THE RECORD.

Thank you.

Oliver, you wish to clear your name? Here on this public forum? OK, here goes:

Below you will find a copy of the email Oliver sent me on April 15th, 2008

David,

We are very upset about your decision but we can understand you. We will return the received deposit in full. On normal circumstances we wouldn’t cancel the order at this time, because the products with the unusual 12/24V input are already manufactured as well we invested a lot of time in developing the necessary drivers for your integration needs.

You will receive a full refund of your deposit. This process may take up to 10 business days and you will receive the amount from overseas.

If you need any help with RTI or I-tunes, let me know and we will still support you.

Regards,

Oliver Heseker

Comments from David:

There has been one attempt to refund this money.  A wire transfer document was filled out using my personal name and my business bank account.  Anyone who has done a wire transfer knows this is incorrect. So my bank refused the wire and then Oliver went on a campaign to delay further by requesting two letters spelling out that I did not receive the money.  I gave him a Federal reference number in a letter from my bank proving that I was 100% correct that the wire was refused by my bank.  He has NOT made any further effort to refund any money to me as stated in writing above. 

Oliver if you want to clear your name you can pay this refund today.  And I will be the first one to thank you publicly in this forum.  It could very well be the most important step forward for you and your Benolli brand to build back dealer confidence because without the refund you have committed an act of fraud and violated the wire act.

I am curious as to why benollismartsystems.com now is directly linked to benolli.com.  Can someone in this thread or Mr. Heseker please explain this to us all?

Julie,

Has there been a resolution to this yet, or is it dying off now?  Please let us all know in the community as we would like to know what the status of Benolli is now.

No refund has been made to me as of June 23, 2008. 

Benjamin Otto has corresponded with me and he has confirmed in writing that he has NOTHING to do with Heseker or Benolli.  I sent him the information Heseker has provided all his “dealers” in which he claims that Mr. Otto is his partner.  I have an organizational chart showing Mr. Otto at the top bridging his firm with Benolli.  Mr. Otto confirms that Heseker uses his good name to lure dealers and seek funding.  If there are Benolli users or dealers out there who have been told this lie you should proceed with an ethics complaint with CEDIA membership.  Making false claims to lure dealers into your confidence is fraud.  Saying Mr. Otto is his partner is just one of many false statements used to gain prospective dealers confidence. 

It is just shocking for me to learn that even with the blacklisted exhibitor status of Benolli at any and all future CEDIA events that they have not looked into the membership list.  How Benolli became a member is beyond my comprehension given the methods by which they have been doing business.  The only thing they manufacture are sales brochures and documents to get dealers to give them money.  They place a logo on a GUI screen, that is it.  NO Benolli factory, no hardware, just papers to get you to sign up and everything else are European automation devices, some of which may be UL approved and most are not.

I just noticed this forum. I also have that ORG chart - and some company information. I actually went as far as calling some of the people on the chart to check him out. After all, he wants you to take the plunge.

Benjamin Otto does not know him - only from others calling and emailing him on it. Benolli GmbH does not exist and has never existed (according to the German Authorities). Benolli Technology is inactive (in California), and Mr. Heseker is not registered at the address where his domain is registered.