Boxtop Clash: CH Man Battles Makers of Scott Tissue
An ambitious Crown Heights dad thought he could turn toilet paper into gold by clipping thousands of coupons worth a six-figure sum.
Instead, Nechemia Newman is stuck in a swelling scandal with the makers of Scott bath tissue investigating whether he cheated when he sent in more than 300,000 box tops worth about $200,000 which would go to schools of his choice.
Newman, 33, spent months cutting out coupons, worth up to 50 cents each, hoping his son’s yeshiva and four other private Jewish schools across Brooklyn could collect a windfall of cash.
But Newman may have run afoul of the rules when he got help from a businessman who handed over thousands of Box Tops.
“I feel this is a just cause. Everything was done by the book. There was no monkey business,” said Newman, who insists the company miscalculated and that he only sent in about 75,000 box tops. “We had a team of parents helping. I created a network. People were excited. We were working hard thinking we would get this big donation.”
The father of four dreamed up the plan two years ago watching his wife cut out coupons, called Box Tops for Education from the backs of cereal boxes and on other products such as boxes of diapers.
Parents across the country collect the clippings mailing them into companies which pay schools up to a dollar for each piece.
“My son’s school needs a new roof. Every time it rains, it leaks,” said Newman, who tracked down the toilet paper wholesaler for help.
The wholesaler, who sells Scott toilet tissue to Brooklyn delis and corner stores, gives any unused wrappings with a Box Top to Newman.
“He buys truckloads and repackages them. He supplies the bodegas and throws out all the packaging,” Newman said.
Scott officials started getting garbage bags filled with Newman’s clipped Box Tops about nine months ago and immediately flagged the shipments.
“We had such an extraordinarily high number of coupons redeemed by one person,” said spokesman Bob Brand. “We still need to figure out if the coupons were gathered appropriately.
Until we are comfortable with verifying how this was obtained we are not in a position to pay.”
Scott is using a private investigator to get to the bottom of the coupon caper, Brand said..
The company wants to talk to Newman’s wholesaler hook-up, but the wholesaler fears the toilet paper maker will stop working with him if he speaks out.
“I don’t want to ruin my business over this,” the wholesaler said. “I was trying to do this as a charity. Once they sell me the product, we can do whatever we want with it.”
Now, the yeshivas are either hoping Newman wins the toilet tissue battle or have deemed him a grifter and have stopped returning his calls.
“I don’t think what he did was wrong,” said Rabbi Eliyohu Davis, head of the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Crown Street in Crown Heights. Newman’s son is a second grader there.
“I say more power to him. He did it trying to help the school,” Davis said.
Rabbi Leib Kelman, head of the Prospect Park Yeshiva on Ave. R in Sheepshead Bay called Newman’s operation a “scam.”
“It’s an illegal campaign,” Kelman said. “The source of these items are not legitimate. The company doesn’t know where it came from. These people are delusional.”
Rabbi Leib Kelman ?
was Rabbi Leib Kelman accused of …..
Anonymous
Oyfen ganev Brent der hitel…
This ’rabbi’ should not be motzei shem ra, and should lookup what a scam is.
I think they are very straightforward where these came from, that is not what a scam is.
very legitimate
Go, Nechemia! This is not a scam. If the box tops are authentic and have not been stolen, how can he be denied the reward?The wholesaler that purchases the Scott tissue is entitled to redeem the box tops any way that he chooses, if he paid for the product on which the box tops were on. Hope it works out!
Cash
Sounds to me like the company is making excuses to try to avoid the company’s obligation to pay. It seems irrelevant the source of the coupons, which appear to be bearer instruments, as long as they are not counterfeit.
Bob
You’ve got to be kidding me. A bearer instrument? A bearer instrument by definition is unconditional. Boxtops are subject to rules and restrictions. http://www.boxtops4education.com/common/Rules.aspx.
Incidentally, it is clear that Mr. Newman did not read the rules if he believed he could cash these boxtops in for $200,000. The maximum annual amount per school is $20,000. Such a shame that someone would spend so much time without even reading the rules of the program.
Shame
Bob, it appears that it is YOU who did not understand the rules.
Mr. Newman followed them correctly and if you pay closer attention to the paragraph titled “Maximum Annual Earning Amount” you will see that there is an exception to the maximum. Bonus boxtops – which are the ones in question (the 50 point ones) – are not subject to any maximum and you can collect even a million dollars worth, given that you collect them legally which Mr. Newman obviously did.
Here is the paragraph:
Each eligible school participating in the Box Tops for Education program may earn up to, but not more than, $20,000 cash per year (beginning on March 2 of every year) from the Clip program. *There are no maximum annual earning limits for schools for eBoxTops credits, Bonus eBoxTops credits, or Bonus Box Tops. However, individual eBoxTops programs may have independent consumer earning limits based on transactions or activities.*
So I guess the real shame here bob is that you have no clue what you are talking about and would rather sling mud on another jew without any good reason.
Bob is right
Shame contends that Newman obtained the box tops legally – having a buddy in the business give you packaging that he is required by contract (i.e. law) to discard is ILLEGAL. Got it?
Legal = above board.
Illegal = not above board.
Would you like an illustration?
Shame
To the defender of bob, you are assuming, erroneously of course, that there was a some sort of contract stating that the wholesaler was to destroy the boxtops. And you know what, I wonder where you pulled that out of!
Do you work for kimberly? Do you know who the distributor is that you know what his contracts may or may not be?
Until then why assume that something here is not above board or illegal?
What is with this gleeful desire to see someone fail? What Newman is doing is quite noble! If he were benefiting from this in some way then I would understand, but all I see here is schools benefitting since boxtops would only cut the check to the school.
So let us be Jews and judge our fellow favorably until proven otherwise and ultimately lets hope that the schools gets the funds so that our children can benefit from the enchantments the money will surly bring.
To Bob and Bob is Right
Did you read the article in full? Newman said that Box Tops miscounted and he gave in about 75,000 boxtops, not the 200,000 that they are claiming.
Also, can you please cite the law or contract that states that the wholesaler needs to throw the packaging in garbage? If the packaging was designed to be thrown out why the heck would it have boxtops on it?
Milhouse
Bob, the $20K maximum is PER SCHOOL, per year. The article says he was directing the money to four schools; that means he could be entitled to $80K in one year, and another $80K the next year.
As for “Bob is right”, what contract are you talking about? How do you know what contract the wholesaler may have? And even if he does have some such contract, so what? Any alleged breach would be a matter between him and the manufacturer; what has it got to do with Mr Newman? The tops were still the wholesaler’s property, and he gave them to Mr Newman, so they became his property, and he is entitled to submit them.
And yes, they are bearer instruments. The rules say nothing at all about how they must be obtained.
Anonymous
I don’t understand the problem.
Joe
Whats comment one about?! Why let someone just blabber – i googles his name from some shmutz but nothing comes up… Please remove comment number one
Milhouse
On the contrary, from the fact that he said this we know that there is something wrong with him.
IF he is a Rabbi Leib Kelman
Read this Kelman
A person who is haughty when rendering judgment and hurries to deliver a judgment before he examines the matter in his own mind until it is as clear as the sun to him is considered a fool, wicked, and conceited. Our Sages commanded: “Be patient in judgment.” And similarly, Job 29:16 states: “When I did not understand a complaint, I would investigate.”
הלכות סנהדרין פרק כ
י
הגס ליבו בהוראה, וקופץ וחותך הדין, קודם שיחקרהו בינו לבין עצמו, עד שיהיה ברור לו כשמש–הרי זה שוטה, ורשע, וגס רוח. כך ציוו חכמים, היו מתונין בדין; וכן איוב אומר “וריב לא ידעתי, אחקרהו” (איוב כט,טז).
snag
Kelman, really? A scam? Based on what are you calling this an illegal campaign?
Envy, perhaps, that parents actually care about their kids’ school?
Yitzchok
This “rabbi” Kelmam is a dog! There were stories about him and some people paid off the accusers to keep quite, ask people in his neighborhood. “Syug lachochmoh shteekah”
sd
IS THIS THE SAME RABBI KELMAN THAT SOLD HIS YESHIVA BUILDING ON OCEAN AVE. (ACROSS PROSPECT PARK ) TO A CHURCH ?
Moshe zallman
Kellman is a bitter Misnaged. Nothing more or lesson. disregard what this Bal Gaveh has to say.
Totally unprofessional
Rabbi Kelman should keep his mouth shut. To speak badly about another frum school is unprofessional & inappropriate. Why he had to comment is beyond me. Disgusting. I wonder why they went to him? Maybe he has a stake in all this?
what a shame
This Rabbi Kelman is a chilul Hashem.
This people do not want Moshiach and they prevent him from coming.
Usually this Rabbis are doping scams everyday and just can think dirtof other people.
Disgusting human being
Diaily News - Rabbi
Last ten Articles about a Frum Jew in the Daily news they always called them a “Rabbi”.
Why is this CH resident different.
Oh I forgot – only if you commit a crime are you called a Rabbi.
To Bob (Kelman)
I am sure the manufacturer appreciates your taking their side in this argument and deciding you know the whole story. Problem is, as a community whose schools stand to benefit from Mr. Newmans actions, we do not appreciate it. Your negative approach of immediately seeing newmans actions as wrong are a direct reflection of your miserable attitude which undoubtedly stems from a lack of love for your fellow Jew. I am pretty surprised to see people commenting negatively on this story. This guy did something good for OUR SCHOOLS and OUR KIDS. I don’t see many other people lining up to help bail the yeshivas out when they don’t have money. I don’t see anyone else undertaking a project this enormous just to help a few schools. The problem is a lack of hakoras hatov from a community that chooses to remain silent or berate a good man instead of cheer him on. Bob, please go ahead and send your kids to mr. Kelmans school. There they will get an education by someone just like yourself, an individual with an overwhelmingly negative attitude and harsh eye towards others.
tzadik
Rabbi Kelman iz a TZADIK. He is soooo holy yet so down to earth. He welcomed my family with open arms and made sure they felt at home. Only good things about hime. Shame on Newman
Shame on Kelman
Unless there is something that I am missing, Newman said nothing about Kelman.
It is Kelman that seemingly mixed into something that he should have had no part in.
Insider
What r u smoking Mr Tzadik ? Do you know the connection between Newman and Kelman ?
Shame on you for jumping to conclusions.
chaya
Go Nechemia! This is disgusting that scotts is trying yo get away with it! I think I will take my business elsewhere…Kleenex anyone?
Webwright
Definitely not above board. I used to know someone who lost his sundries business from sending in coupons not properly redeemed for merchandise.
Milhouse
What has that got to do with this?
to # 1
Rabbi Eliyohu Davis just needs the $$$$ : )
Milhouse
Yes, so does every school. And he’s entitled to it.
Do you Know "rabbi" Kelman
The rambam described this “Rabbi”
here
A person who is haughty when rendering judgment and hurries to deliver a judgment before he examines the matter in his own mind until it is as clear as the sun to him is considered a fool, wicked, and conceited. Our Sages commanded: “Be patient in judgment.” And similarly, Job 29:16 states: “When I did not understand a complaint, I would investigate.”
Is this the RABBI ?
http://huc.edu/faculty/faculty/NaamahKelman.php
Rabbi Naamah Kelman was appointed Dean of HUC-JIR’s Jerusalem School, effective July 1, 2009. Previously, she served as Associate Dean.
“Rabbi Naamah Kelman’s pioneering role as the first woman rabbi ordained in the State of Israel and as a founder of liberal Jewish educational programs and institutions in the Jewish State demonstrates her passionate commitment to religious pluralism. As Dean, she brings academic strength, creativity, vision, and vitality to our community of faculty and students from Israel, North America, and throughout the world, and strengthens our Jerusalem School’s role as the academic, spiritual, and professional development center of Reform Judaism in Israel,” stated Rabbi Ellenson.
COMPANY SCAM
THE HOLY RABBI KELMAN IS JUST JEALOUS THAT HE DIDN’T THINK OF THIS HIMSELF….. AS FOR THE REST OF YOU JEALOUS PEOPLE, IT DOES NOT SAY THAT THE BOX TOPS ETC ARE ONLY VALID IF I WALKED INTO THE STORE AND PURCHASED THE ITEM MYSELF. THEREFORE, I HAVE A RIGHT TO GET THEM FROM ALL MY FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS ETC. INCLUDING A COMPANY THAT DISPOSES OF THEM. I CAN COLLECT THEM FROM PEOPLES RECYCLE BINS AND ITS STILL ALL ABSOLUTELY L E G A L! THE COMPANY JUST DOESN’T WANT TO PART WITH ALL THAT MONEY, NEVER DREAMING THAT SOMEONE MIGHT TAKE THEM SO SERIOUSLY. LET THIS BE A WARNING TO ANY OTHER “BIG TALKING” COMPANY! AS FOR ALL YOU JEALOUS PEOPLE, GET A LIFE SO YOU WON’T HAVE TO KNOCK THE NEXT GUY BECAUSE HE’S MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN YOU!!!!!
TO NUMBER 22
When a jew has such venom for another Jew regardless of the fact that he is a burning misnagid and the other might be a chosid (and worse, a chabadnik) the title Rabbi should be erased and the tzadik should be spelled appropriately; that is with a pay in place of the daled, spelling TZAPIK! Just out of curiousity, will he be dressing up this Purim as HAMAN? It would be most appropriate…… and honest!
And just as an aside, miss or mr. 22: I wonder just how nicely dear old kelman would have treated you if you were a Lubavitcher???????? ponder that thought for a few years and you might get the stars out of your eyes.
"No good deed goes unpunished"
No good deed goes unpunished…
chevramaidel
It came from their product, it’s not like he printed them up himself. I bet if he had raised money for Kelman’s yeshiva, it wouldn’t be a “scam”. He’s just jealous that he didn’t think of it first. Yesterday I read about several yeshivos that make a bundle off of funding that is supposed to go toward computers and Internet resources. Of course, the kids in those schools graduate without ever seeing a computer. THAT is a scam. Even though these schools carry a financial burden of many kids on partial or full scholarship, for which I commend them, they shouldn’t be making it up through illegal or unethical business practices.
Milhouse
Who told you that it’s a scam? The Jewish Week article presented no evidence at all that the services aren’t being provided properly.
Andrea Schonberger
Awhile back ago McDonald’s had a contest with tickets on their fast food containers that could be redeemed for prizes. Most of the prizes were for hamburgers and stuff but one was for a prize of a million dollars. A childrens hospital received that lucky ticket anonymously. Technically the rule was no transfer of prizes to a third party. The corporation realized that refusing to pay up would cost more than a million dollars in bad publicity. McDonalds paid up. I guess it looks bad to be against children.
Insider
Here’s a scoop.
First of all – Nechemia collected the coupons , gave them to various schools including Rabbi Kelmans yeshiva. Prospect was getting over $10,000. Why in the world he said what he did when his school was getting a serious chunk of money is beyond any reasonable persons imagination.
I think he just was trying to squash the story. I suppose he didn’t use the right judgement and it bit him in the bottom.
He’s really a nice person that made a big mistake. Please don’t rush to judge him.
Second – Box Tops miscalculated the amount he sent in. Nechemia admitted that he did not send in 300,000 but about 75,000.
this was all done for the sake of the schools. Please show mercy towards Rabbi Kelman and do not bring greater shame upon him. I’m sure he already regrets it.
A freilachan Purim
no free lunch
Mr. Newman is to be commended for trying to help schools. However, caution should be taken when attempting these types of ventures. In the future, would-be do-gooders would do well to call the company in advance and tell them the details of what you plan to do. IF they agree to it, more power to you. IF they don’t, leave it be.
If we think honestly, we will all realize that the company did not have that kind of box top collecting in mind when it made up this contest. So even if technically and legally what he did was okay, it is not ETHICALLY kosher. The Gemara says that it was for this type of following the letter of the law that the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed.
Question to ask yourself: If the company was owned by your friend or relative, whose side would you be on?
Milhouse
There’s nothing unethical about it. They made an offer to the public, and they are legally obliged to stick by it. The gemoro you quote is irrelevant, because ואהבת לרעך כמוך, וד״ל.
Go Newman
“These people are delusional”, what racist, self-hating words (after all, “these people” are his people…)