Published by: jl scott, Director
Click to Send Comments or Questions
EXCELLENCE can be attained if you - CARE more than others think
is wise - RISK more than others think is safe - DREAM more than
others think is practical - and EXPECT more than others think is
possible.
~ Claude T. Bissell ~
“iCop Web Hosting - Specializing in Online Business Sites”
FREE: Instant Web Site Makers - Over 300 Web Design Templates
Amazing Script Collections - Software for Autoresponders, Blogs,
Content Management - Automation Tools - Business Tools ...
Over 2 DOZEN Products with Resell Licenses to Start and Grow
YOUR Business!
Message From jl
I won't repeat it here. Quite frankly, I'd been super busy and
I simply wasn't paying close enough attention. Also, since I
personally don't take things meant to be humorous too seriously,
I forget that others do.
I tend to look at the manner in which something is offered
before becoming offended. Again - I forget, not everyone is
like me, and everyone is perfectly entitled to take things as
they see fit.
So, again, it's my fault - since I know that - for publishing
the piece. My apologies.
Nearly nine years is a long time back to our beginnings, and we
have members who go that far back. Folks move, change phone
numbers, change web sites, change company names, etc. Updating
by hand takes time, and there's no other way to do it.
It's also like pulling teeth to contact some members. The use
of contact forms drives me up the wall. I understand WHY
they're used. What I DON'T understand is why people who claim
to be professionals don't have enough sense to provide email
access to those who MUST contact them.
I'll also have to re-check every single web site displaying the
iCop seal. Again - things change, and I have to be the cop.
When things change at iCop, current members MUST be in
compliance with their guidelines.
Why? Because current members will be grandfathered in - without
having to comply with some of the NEW rules. So, obviously, the
OLD rules must be adhered to perfectly, or I'll catch hell from
visitors.
Guess I'll just keep on keepin' on and, eventually, I'll get us
where we're going!
I've been receiving some reports that will most likely interest
you. The following emails will tell you what's going on in the
online business that you should be careful to avoid.
Sometimes, it seems we have more marketers trying more creative
ways to rip people off online than anywhere else. In reality,
that isn't the case. It's rampant in the off-line world, too.
Everyone from those in the health care and pharmaceutical
industries to our government agencies seem to be in contests to
see who can be slickest. (I am defining “slick” as being
dishonest without seeming to be.) About all we can do is be
careful - online, or off.
For now, let's deal with what's happening online ...
Just wanted to pass along something that irritated the hell out
of me.
I'd heard of Joel Comm before, and I bought a $9.95 package of
his online which was a copy of a publication he does monthly and
a cd.
There was no mention of a monthly fee when I purchased, but
guess what, I signed up apparently for his monthly guru
teachings which will continue at $29.95 per month until I
cancel.
I replied thru his online helpdesk and told him what I thought
of his "guru" tactics because I never got an answer from the
phone number.
However, not knowing his time zone and to be fair, I will try
phoning again, but I thought this was a pretty sick example of
"guru" marketing.
Victor L.
Followup:
------------
I got a reply from them and I guess the fine print was so small,
a lot of people including me, missed it.
They admitted they got a lot of complaints because a lot of
people didn't see the membership info, so they changed the site,
so to be fair I wanted to tell you, but also, since I watch for
such things, it must have been disguised well, since they
admitted a lot of people missed it.
Of course that little trick wouldn't have been on purpose now,
would it?
Victor
I guess it's always a case of “Buyer Beware.” We have laws, but
they are consistently broken.
I wanted to comment on an irritating experience I had for the
last week or 10 days:
A “big” internet marketer that I had been following invited
everyone to “check out this site – what these guys are
doing/have to offer etc.” When I went there, they had some
great training videos, freebies etc. over the course of a week
or so.
And, I do mean great: rich in content, very thorough, very
professional. I was impressed. I learned a lot from them in a
very short period of time.
Yes, I knew this was the bait and was waiting for the hook.
They appeared to be doing everything “right” until . . . they
got close to the launch of their product/service, I was suddenly
getting one, two or even three emails a day each from five
different people, all wanting me to buy the product/service
“under them.” Of course, if I had chosen to do so, I would have
purchased under the first person who first sent me to the site.
Their big mistake:
Passing on my email address to five of their affiliates resulting
in extreme overkill.
Another mistake:
Treating us like we’re stupid! The incredible offer was for a
limited time. It was to start at a specific time and was to end
at a specific time. However, “someone set the timer wrong” on
the site and it was (wow, my lucky day!) available for an extra
24 hours! Pu-leeeese! What was left of their professionalism,
integrity and credibility went out the window.
I love what you do! Keep up the good work!
Jane
The one I love best is when they claim the entire web site
“crashed” because of all the traffic from people beating down
their doors to buy their crappy products. Then, of course, they
graciously offer to continue the sale a couple of extra days.
The sad part of this is ... everybody KNOWS it's a lie. And, no
one really seems to care.
How are we supposed to show that we won't tolerate being lied
to? It's VERY easy. Don't buy their products. You know who
they are. The same ones pull this stuff over and over and over.
As well as experiencing your types of ordering problems I'd like
to add my pet ordering peeve - no shipping information for
tangibles available until I've added all my details (usually on
several pages) and finally arrive at checkout.
I'm talking about health type products. Here is my most recent
ordering experience from US. Went through hoops to order $56
worth and at checkout $71 was added for shipping. I clicked out
of there and won't return.
I know for a fact that the real shipping cost to New Zealand was
$27. On a previous purchase for a similar weight product
(another company) I was charged $37 but they refunded the $10
excess shipping charged into my PayPal account.
Not hard to guess where I will shop in the future.
I realize calculating shipping costs for tangibles, especially
overseas is difficult. All I expect is some relevant
information be available prior to checkout. Even if it is only
the types of shipping available with approximate rates and final
cost confirmed by email before charging.
Having to email a customer removes automation. However, if more
accurate shipping rates can't be provided up front then emailing
confirmation should happen. What's so bad about customer
contact anyway? I'd be happy knowing I wasn't being ripped off
by inflated shipping fees. The above example would have given
the merchant an additional $44!
I estimate 75% of my overseas ordering is aborted for the above
reason and mostly related to US. WorldPay is used by many UK
merchants and provides more accurate rates. Australia seems
realistic with shipping fees also.
The bottom line - as a customer I expect to be treated the same
way as iCop members treat their customers. I wish!
Kind regards
It's been a time-honored tradition for many off-line mail-order
companies to “pad” the shipping and handling just a bit. It
makes them an extra dollar, or two.
However, like everything else online, it's become a run away
train.
I know of one company - domestications.com - with outrageous
shipping amounts. But, if you wait, you can often get a 15%
discount. That discount does nothing more than bring the
over-all price down to what it should be if they were
calculating normal shipping fees.
I suppose they think their customers actually believe they are
giving them something. They ain't! And, it's insulting to the
intelligence of their customers.
I also object to not even being allowed to SEE the shipping
charges until after I've entered all my billing information. In
fact, when I run into that - I leave the site just on general
principle. There's no excuse for merchants not being completely
upfront with their shipping charges!
If you're simply an online consumer - watch for these
situations. Merchants who pull this stuff are NOT the people
you want to do business with!
And, the best thing to do is to leave them a note when you leave
their site as to WHY you decided not to give them your money!
Maybe that would make some of those clowns start getting the
picture!
It's time to build our subscriber list. Please don't forget to
invite your friends to subscribe to The Internet Marketing Trade
Journal!
Just forward them an issue with a note telling them why you like
it and give them the following link:
http://www.i-Cop.org/trade-journal.htm
P.S. Do YOU have the iCop seal on your web site? It's the Seal of Integrity in Online Business; it gives you prestige and turns your 'almost buyers' into satisfied customers.
Use the iCop Seal on Every Site You Own at NO Extra Cost!
Thanks so much!
Ad prices are here -> Ad Rates
"Tip of the Day" Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday. Wednesday. And Friday. Instructions on how to place an ad are in the Newsletter. Subscribe at:
http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm
Visit iCop's Product Catalog Page:
The certain way to be safe on the Internet is to patronize the businesses of iCop members!
Categorized Business Directory and Shopping Mall!
Please take 36 seconds of YOUR time daily to go to a web site and click a button so someone can eat. It costs you NOTHING! Sign up for their daily reminders so you can remember to click every day!
Please click the image above!
Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. ~ Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC
It would appear those wishing to run for political office in
the USA are required to take a test to be sure their IQs aren't
above 50! ~ jl
Q: Should I have a baby after 35? A: No, 35 children is enough.
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.
A: Childbirth.
A: So what's your question?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.
A: Not unless the word 'alimony' means anything to you.
A: Yes, pregnancy.
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.
A: When the kids are in college. Click to Submit Your Joke to Us (Please leave off the graphics). Click to Send Comments, Questions & Suggestions
For Back Issues: Ezine Archive Thank You For Reading! Have a Terrific Week!
Material in the "Leaving You With a Smile" column may be copyrighted by unknown persons. We accept no responsibility for your use of any contributed information contained herein. All of the information presented in the Internet Marketing Trade Journal(TM) is published in good faith. Any comments stated in this newsletter are strictly the opinion of the writer or publisher. We publish all advertising in good faith but offer no guarantees. Please do your own due diligence in ANY transaction. We reserve the right to edit and make suitable for publication, if necessary, any articles published in this newsletter. We reserve the right to publish all reader comments, including the name of the writer. Reported survey results will NOT use the names of the contributors.
Copyright © 2008 jl scott, ph.d., Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cancellation directions can be found at the bottom of your announcement email. |
Volume VI - Issue 16: June 2, 2008
jl
