I have read a lot of comments about various invention marketing firms. needless to say they are all negative. There is not one (atleast I have not see) postive review.

I have an idea which I truly believe in and would like to work with someone to help manufacture and market it. I talked to a couple patent attornys and then appraoched InventHelp to check them out. I was rather surprised with the way I was dealt with. I spent about an hour and the sales guy explained all the servces they offer and the fee structure. he did not even ask me what my idea was regarding. he refused to talk to me about the idea without signing an NDA. In short, I felt taht the guy I was talking to was pretty stragith forward and did not pressure me into signing anything. He refused to take my money until I've slept on my decision to move forward for four days..I believe its some kinda law in Texas....He even gave me teh nubmers for BBB for both texas and corporate offices. most mportantly he refused to comment on the marketability of my idea. I walked away thinking these guys seem legitimate.

Haveing read some more on this board, now i'm not sure what to do next.....thoughts and comments are welcome.

The fact that that particular salesman was nice and not pushy dose not make InventHelp legitimate. The end result will be the same you will be cheated out of your money and get nothing.
BBB does not do anything for you.
Read the Inventor Beware section on this forum and the scam section on InventNet.com

OK. Granted Inventhelp is not legitimate. I there a legitimate company that you recommend? Do you recommend the $240 patent search that is available through inventnet? Where can I then go to market my idea and work on getting my idea/product picked up?

I would really like to act quick and can use some advice.

thanks.

Outside of the toys/games market, your answer is a flat *no*
-- there are no legitimate companies out there that can/will
help.

Your licensing prospects are limited to those companies currently
making & selling products into your inventions' target market --
a very finite number. It makes absolutely no sense for a "good
salesperson" to look for an intermediary rather than just
approaching those companies yourself. There's nothing to "sell".
You submit -- they evaluate -- *if* they're interested (eg, if
their assessment of the profit potential is in their "acceptable"
range), they make a licensing offer -- you bring in a patent
attorney to review their offer -- period.

If you had a single invention, a better approach (if you had
the capability, time & resources) would be to do that evaluation
for them & offer them a (substantiated) "profit-making opportunity"
rather than an "invention" (& then you have something to "sell") --
but there's no way you're going to do that for "25-30 ideas/products".

Thanks Smarty.

My idea is for a baby product. I have thought of an accessory line for it and a travel version as well. There is nothing like that in the market so I'm excited about the product obviously. I've put togeter a prototype and I'm using it every day. It is very simple and extremely useful in what it is meant to do. My newborn is enjoying it everyday.

I had planned to get a patent search done and then a basic market information package from Inventhelp which would cost me a total of $995. After having read some more I'm concerned about the quality of the search and material that I would be given for the money.

I'm now planning on talking to Parents of Invention ater reading an article on this website but I'm not sure if they are the right company for my idea...obviously i'm a bit excited and confused as well...

I'm wondering if there is a independent consultant that I can pay a fee and get my idea evaluated. Of course its not patent pending...

thoughts and comments are welcome.

First you need to see if your invention is realy new and you can get a patent.
Start with a professional patent search with a patentability opinion - use PSI for $240 or other search firm.
Info here: http://www.inventnet.com/psearch.html
Second file a provisional patent application, you can do it yourself by using a software package ( http://www.inventnet.com/software.html) or hire a patent attorney(patent agent ) to do it for you for about $1,000. This will make your invention "patent pending" and give you 12 months to file for the regular patent application. When you contact prospective licensees you tell them that your invention is "patent pending" and they will be more interested.
Compile a list of manufacturers and contact their marketing department and tell them that you have new product that may interest them and set a meeting.

If you get them interested they will pay for the patent and all other expenses related to the product design and development and later manufacturing.

Thanks Vic.

After reading some more research I ended up at Asktheinventors.com. They have a comprehensive QnA section which finally brought me in touch with my local Inventor's association. I attended the first session and lucky me I won the raffle for a free patent search through PSI. I have sent my info and a search is in process.

Once it is completed, I'll look into a provisional paten application per your advice.

Your advice and webstie have been very helpful. I'll keep you all posted on the progress.

Thanks.

I am glad you found some help locally. Just rememeber that if you get a provisional patent you are locked in to a one year grace period then you HAVE to file a full patent or your idea goes to public domain and you no longer own it.
You do not need to get a provisional patent. You can get the companies to sign a nondisclosure and keep your options open. I know plenty of Inventors that filed a provisional patent then when they went to a full patent found that it wasn't patentable. It is a waste of time and money. You are better served trying to find a company interested in your idea and left them worry about how to protect their investment. Plus, you will find that what the comapny fianlly produces and what your original idea was my not be the same. I call that "What started out a dog ends up a cat"
I have toys, tools, kitchen utensils and even a product in the nuclear industry. One thing is the same they will all cahnge it to fit their idea of what will sell. I sent an idea for a toy to a company they loved the idea. After discssing it and doing other play tests we found that by changing this and adding that it was a better product. If I had patented it my original patent would not cover the new redesigned product. So, all that money would have been wasted and i would have had to start the patent process over anyway.
You also have to look at it is worth the cost versus how long it will be on the market. If you have a fad item it may only have a 3 year run. Spending $10,000 on a patent and lawyer isn't worth it. You would eat up a thrid of your profit for nothing.
DO NOT GET A PATENT JUST TO SAY YOU HAVE A PATENT!! It is great to say , yes I have a patent. If you brings you nothing other than that. dump it.
you can see my inventions at www.rogerbrown.net I have never spent over $100 to get any item to market. You don't need all that additional bullcrap the fake submission companies push on you.