The time has finally come for people who have been taken advantage of to receive the voice and attention that is appropriate, rather than to be lost in the sea of powerless people who have no chance of receiving justice.

Who is Ed?

From The Flower Children to Ripoff Report: the story of Ed Magedson.

Buddy, ED Magedson, Shalimar
Buddy, ED Magedson, Shalimar

Ed Magedson (pronounced Maj-ed-sen) is the founder and "ED"itor-in-Chief of the Ripoff Report website located at https://www.ripoffreport.com/, which he began in 1997. Over the past decade, Ed has been called everything from "consumer hero" to "internet terrorist". However, Ed's story began long before there was such a thing as the Internet.

A native New Yorker, Ed was born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island, New York. His family lived across the street from a carnation farm and when he was 10 years old, Ed occasionally worked around the farm. This prepared him for his first business venture, a nationwide flower business called The Flower Children.

When Ed was 12, he wanted to be a veterinarian. He bought several horses over time and competed in many horse shows with many trophies. He worked nights in a Long Island bakery and spent his days helping a veterinarian at the Roosevelt Raceway. He was fired after turning in trainers for pumping injured horses with drugs so they could race. Ed is an animal lover and started a Foundation to stop euthanization of dogs by counties across America. Still a work in progress, Ed vows to complete it. Learn more here: Forever Care No Kill Pet Rescue Foundation.

Ed also had a natural ear for music. At just 5 years old, he taught himself piano, and by 12 he was playing organ in popular rock bands with musicians twice his age. Too young to enter bars legally, he was disguised to look older so he could perform.

Ed’s entrepreneurial drive began when he started selling flowers on street corners. By 17, he had expanded this into a business, and by 21 he was president of a nationwide firm called The Flower Children. At its peak, it operated in 35 states. Media dubbed him “The Flower Child Entrepreneur.”

Click here to read a 1973 Tampa Tribune article about Ed's flower business

From the very beginning, the flower business flourished. But the business also met with serious adversity, which started Ed in the direction of his current passion for consumer advocacy. Big flower companies used their political influence to harass Ed's vendors with phony violations, but Ed never backed down.

Click here to read about Ed's battle with zoning inspectors

These early fights planted the seed for what would become Ripoff Report. Ed always challenged corruption, never paying lawyers a dime, and always standing up for his workers and his principles.

In the 1990s, Ed developed housing projects in upstate New York, where he faced discrimination and harassment. Later, in Mesa, Arizona, he battled city corruption while standing up for exploited immigrant workers, raising awareness of their mistreatment long before it became mainstream news.

All of these experiences — entrepreneurship, corruption battles, and advocacy — led Ed to launch Ripoff Report as a mission, not a business. His book Rip-off Revenge explains how his goal was always to give consumers the tools to fight back against business bullies.

Today, Ed Magedson continues his mission from Arizona, fighting for free speech and consumer rights while supporting no-kill animal shelters: Forever Care No Kill Pet Rescue Foundation.

Ed’s life at a glance

  1. Brooklyn

    Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, across the street from a carnation farm.

  2. Age 5

    Teaches himself piano.

  3. Age 10

    Works around the carnation farm, the start of his first business idea.

  4. Age 12

    Plays organ in rock bands, shows horses, works nights in a bakery and days with a veterinarian at Roosevelt Raceway. Fired for turning in trainers who drugged injured horses.

  5. Age 17

    Turns selling flowers on street corners into a business.

  6. Age 21

    President of The Flower Children, a nationwide firm operating in 35 states. The press calls him “The Flower Child Entrepreneur.” Tampa Tribune, 1973

  7. 1990s

    Develops housing projects in upstate New York and faces discrimination and harassment.

  8. Since 1993

    In Mesa, Arizona, battles city corruption and stands up for exploited immigrant workers. Read more

  9. 1997

    Launches Ripoff Report, first as badbusinessbureau.com, as a mission, not a business.

  10. Today

    Keeps fighting for free speech and consumer rights from Arizona, and supports no-kill animal shelters. Forever Care No Kill Pet Rescue

48 comments

  1. Garson Silvers

    Ed,
    Please look into this viscous personal attack on your website. I am a single father who was widowed after my wife committed suiside after we lost our business to hurricane Ike she was suffering from post pardon depression. I 40 years of real estate brokerage I have zero complaints and zero law suits. I have never taken money from anyone and am involved and published author focused on the sustainable movement writing about micro cities.

    Please you can verify what I have written above to be true and correct. My only fault is being a loyal friend to Naved.

    Sincerely

    Garson

  2. Michael Bonner

    I was wondering if the person who filed the report on trip.com ever received their money. I am in the same situation.

  3. Nitascha

    It would be really nice for someone to fight for the people walking around selling some satellite for Direct TV and AT&T. They don't tell you , you are getting yourself into a 2 year contract. Nor do they tell you they run your credit so you can get the internet part from AT&T. Yet they are submerged companies. How does this make any sense. Please someone put a stop to this. They are out ripping people off. Lieing to people and then stuck in a contract you obviously can't get out of. HELP PLEASE!

  4. Derrick cannon

    I didnt break any traffic laws and was even sitting at a stop sign traveling home one night when Independence mo. Police officer , officer hand, hit his red and blues to pull me over. He hadn't even been behind me and lied and said I was eluding...how, when he wasn't behind me following me and I had stopped at a stop sign??? He illegally search my truck, planted drugs ( on dash cam) illegally towed my truck. Falsely arrested me . I've filed complaints with internal affairs and requested the dash cam video and I was.told there isn't any video ( foul play) . I've filed in other state offices and nothing.is being.done. I've filed a complaint with the federal government and again, nothing. So where do I turn to get this out in the publics eye and where do I go to get it resolved and officer hand, internal affairs and the.independence police department exposed for the crooked cops they really are... It's like the only choice left is to go illiminate the problem myself.... And I ain't trying to make myself look like they want me.to look... Hell no, they aren't going to drive me to commit a worse crime than they have
    ....I need serious help. I am willing.to go full blown public.. can you help ...

  5. Sharon

    Dear Ed,
    I want to thank you for helping the consumer.
    Your work has given us a voice.
    Your story of your life is heart warming.
    Thank you for being you!
    Sincerely,
    Sharon Slickis

  6. Monie

    Thank you so much for providing this platform.
    I almost provided my information on
    millionairesmoney.com when I checked your website and found out that it was just a scam..

  7. Michael Miroyan

    I commend him on his guts.

  8. Diah hamed

    Hi. I would like my name cleared from reports made against me. If read them the authors are non existent people that are competitors that make up stories. Please look into it. Thank you

  9. T

    Hi! I obviously just came across your interesting Rip-Off Report website. Intriguing! I noticed you sold flowers in Tampa several yrs ago.. I use to reside there/ family still lives there!

    Would you happen to have a rip-off report for ‘telecommuting jobs’ or ‘mommy part- time jobs’ - (my 5yr old in private schooling) etc.. Im a college grad/ had my own business for several yrs but things changed after having a child. I’ve also attempted to research Pinterest ‘at- home work’ but not sure if legit.

    Lastly, are you hiring for your company? Thanks!

    T

  10. Frances Bradley

    You are an amazing person Ed Magedson!!! THANK YOU and compassion and caring and action

  11. Rhandee Brandt

    Hi Ed and Ripoff Report Staff,
    Thank you for your efforts to protect consumers. Unfortunately, my husband was unfairly named in a nasty report filed approximately 18 mos.ago. The report was filed by an individual who had been a previous client of my husband's previous employer, he had been communicating with an unauthorised former employee, the two got into a dispute and the client thus filed a report that wrongfully included my husband with accusations of misconduct and bad business practices. Per the advice of our legal counsel my husband has asked the author of the report to remove the report immediately and a response by end of business Monday, January 22, 2018. The request to remove the report and his name will be a fair and swift remedy, as he now owns his own business, his name and reputation are very important, his commitment to consumers is to provide excellent service and adherence to ethical business practices.

  12. Adam Silverstein

    Hi Ed
    I am a Brooklyn boy too... parents as well. Ed i am dealong w a disgruntled vendor who is threatening to post on ur site. So how does a business owner that has had something posted deal with it? he is nuts and we dont want any problems... and we did nothing to deserve this. Necer had a complaint like this in 10 years

  13. Carol lemelin

    Your site popped up after pulling colonial penn to inquire about life insurance.
    It really is difficult to know where the scammers are. I will be very careful after reading the nightmare stories on your site. I wish I could contribute but I'm disabled an can't make ends meet as it is. Keep it up.

  14. Lina

    I would like you to remove
    http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/moreen-albazii-ms-lina-tiareh-and-doreen-kasim/perivale-ub6-7aq/moreen-albazii-ms-lina-tiareh-and-doreen-kasim-brodcastwave-uk-county-court-judgement-ag-1360234

    From your website as this man’s story is untrue and full of lies. He was trying to damage my reputation and the company I worked for. It is very upsetting that this was left on your platform without actually investigating the matter. This man was a client who never paid his rent and was vety abusive and we had to call the police twice and obtain an order so he won’t abuse three women!

    Can you please remove this case as soon as possible otherwise we leave us with no choice but to seek legal action.

    Thanks

    Lina

  15. Kathleen Little

    Great article! Keep it up, Ed!!!

  16. Sharon Hines

    Ed, not knowing you were into animal rescue prior to me contacting you concerning my issue, has made my confidence increase in asking YOU for advice. The issue is I received a ticket and was fingerprinted for ANIMAL ABUSE. Of all people me. I have been rescuing dogs and cats in this lawless area for 20 years. I'm known as THE DOG WOMAN. Spent $k's on food, health, flea meds. Fencing my large yard.
    Etc. I now have 3 dogs, 5 cats on 3 acres. Here is the gig. 1.) I have a Lexus with leather seats. 2.) Air conditioner registered 65 degrees on dash moniter. 3.) 45 min travel made seats cool at 65 degrees. 4) 3 dogs had 2 large Styrofoam cups with ice water and a cooler with ice water in the suv. 4.) Ran into walmart for 9 min. When i returned to my car a cop gave me a ticket. It was 86 degrees, high humidity like a oven outside that day. I debated if i should leave windows up cuz it was so hot outside and so cold inside my car. I knew i was only going to be a few minutes in WM. I DEBATED WHAT TO DO. I left windows up. The cop would not look at the ice water and my dash moniter said 77 degrees. He would not even look at me much less see the dogs were fine, 3 ice waters, read the dash moniter temp or verify i was gone 9 min. I have the Walmart video to prove 9 min. HELP ME PLEASE. How do i win this case? I have had these dogs 7 yrs. I love them. I will get a fellon charge if found guilty. The judge is ALWAYS for the cop. What can i say in court to win? Thank you, Sharon Hines [email protected]. I go to court 11/9.

  17. Cynthia Lawhon

    Thank goodness Ed did this. May only save one person or one animal from going through a horrific ordeal , but a sincere outcry is worth that ONE.

  18. Jessica Tucker

    My name is Jessica Tucker. I met a man online, I never met him in person. We exchanged emails and that was it. I found out he had mental disabilities and issues and I had to get a restraining order against a man I never physically met in person. This individual then went on your website and wrote slander that is completely not true. I am a professional and I am a retired disabled veteran. I do not appreciate the slander about me on your website and I would like to have it removed. I have evidence that what this man has wrote is not true. I understand individuals can put whatever they want on the Internet and there is a possibility that it cannot be taken down. I do understand that but the fact that none of this is true and it could potentially hurt my reputation and my business. If you could please get back to me and let me know what steps I need to take or if I need to actually get assistance from a lawyer

    <strong>Jessica -- I'm very sorry to hear about your story. My best advice is to review our FAQ page here: <a href="https://www.ripoffreport.com/faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">https://www.ripoffreport.com/faq </a>
    - ED</strong>

  19. Susan Geleng

    Ed, I know you have reported that Stores Online was ripping people off. It has even been on the News. Since I joined Stores Online, it was my very first online business back in 2008.

    My question is how do I get these Scam Artist off my Credit History it has been hurting my C/H. I gave them $500.00 to start it.
    I realized it was a Scam. I called up to cancel it they said it was cancelled.
    I never gave it another thought until I was trying to purchase a vehicle like 3 years later only to be denied. This was still on my Credit. I live on Social Security I Don't have money for an attorney. I don't know what to do I am literally at my wit's ends. In Dec. It will be n 9 yrs.

  20. Dorothy Fortune

    Mr Magedson, why doesn't the better business bureau knows about the Vivint alarm system company harassing the community as a whole and taken money from the elderly question ?
    601-982-7031...plse call

  21. Richard Waters

    Ed This is Richard Waters The images used in these ripoff reports are copy written. The person who wrote these reports is a cyber criminal who is a sociopath and has been doing this to people all over the country. He's not a US citizen he's been ripping people off and we just happen to catch him so he decided to defame us. I am getting in touch with my attorney but I would like my copy written pictures to be taken down from the site. Stephen Schuerman at some point will get caught by the police. But what he has been doing is do wrong. You can look me up on YouTube. I am a professional musician and I raise venture capital.

    <strong>Sorry, but this isn't the correct place to submit a copyright complaint. Instead, please visit our Terms of Service page and locate section #15 for instructions on how to deal with copyright issues:<a href="https://www.ripoffreport.com/terms-of-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"> https://www.ripoffreport.com/terms-of-service </a>
    - ED</strong>

  22. Carol Ann Miles-Hughes

    Ed, thank you and your staff for starting and keeping this site available to all of us underdogs. KEEP smiling and keep the faith!!

  23. Thomas Shue

    Somone used your website to post a goal lie that never happened. They for some reason posted a fictional story bout me using a Google search to find old addresses and phone numbers where I lived a deacde ago. Fact is they used this website to defame me and case harm to me for an unknown reason . Please tell me how these lies can be taken down. ASAP

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