How cheap do you have to be to steal a $7 report

[entrepenerd]

I created a new report that I've been promoting as a WSO for $7 using the $7 Secrets scripts. The problem is that there have been a few people that have been using 2 PayPal accounts to get the report. One PayPal email to promote the report as an affiliate and one to pay for the report. So, basically they are getting the report for the cost of the PayPal fees instead of $7.

This kind of torques me off, but I'm not sure how torqued off I should be. One of them I only caught because he actually signed up to my email list after the purchase. I checked the transaction and saw the 2 different PayPal accounts that are obviously the same person.

I'm wondering how many others have run into this and how you handle it. Should I just let it ride, or contact the scammers and call them out on it?

[Floyd Bogart]

Let it go!

You will only cause yourself stress, as they obviously have no problem pulling a stunt like this.

I just got another email promoting a product teaching people how to steal (ethically, they even claim!) any ebook or report being sold via either PayPal or ClickBank!

My attitude is that the odd stolen download is just the cost of doing business.

As always, just MHO...

[Bob Stovall]

Just like retailers in brick and mortar stores know there will always be those who just have to shoplift, we will always have those who waste their time and energy looking for something for nothing.

I've wrestled with this myself and have come to the conclusion - at least in my case - that they're not worth the waste of time and energy to go after.

[Scott Ames]

Dang.. I never thought of doing that. Can I get a refund? I"M KIDDING!!

There is a setting I believe in the $7 script that requires someone to be a customer first in order to be an affiliate. I've never tested it, I just noticed it the other day. Perhaps that is a solution.

[Scott Ames]

I would be willing to bet they didn't take the OTO did they?

[Angela V. Edwards]

See, that's the sort of mindset I do NOT understand. When I was a Restaurant Manager, there would be peer managers who would be livid at people asking for a cup for water and then getting soda pop. It happened ALL the time. Yeah, it's a "cost of doing business", but it's still shoplifting.

We were only about a block or so from Wal Mart. Now, Wal Mart has all their merchandise 'out', too...right where people can get to it and take it, if they want. But if someone takes it, they get arrested for shoplifting. How is shoplifting soda pop any different? After all, if I want a candy bar that costs LESS than the price of the soda pop and I simply put it in my pocket and walk out of Wal Mart, I'd have a criminal record. So it's not the price of the item in question.

It's how the theft of the item is handled. On one hand, restaurants simply "deal" with customers who steal soda pop. On the other hand, retailers press charges.

Which is it? Is theft of our products something we should 'deal' with, or is it something we should try to stop when we find it happening?

[samstephens]

The pyschology behind this kind of thing is pretty interesting if you think about it.

Someone signups up for a 100% affiliate program and pays themself for a product.

Someone asks for a cup of water, and then gets soda instead.

(A side note: the second example is outright stealing. The first is more an ethical question rather than a legal one, I would guess.)

Is it because they won't want to pay the $7, or the $2 (or whatever soda pop costs)?

I doubt it - I think it's more about "working the system". It's almost like an ego boost, outsmarting big business, sticking it to the man.

Of course a lot of people don't realise that when they're "bringing down big business" on the internet, they're usually bringing down one person who is trying to make a bit of extra cash to help support his family.

If we all remember that there is a real human, just like us, trying to make ends meet, behind the businesses we deal with on the internet, perhaps we'd all be a lot happier?

My two cents for the day,
Sam

[entrepenerd]

Originally Posted by Scott Ames

I would be willing to bet they didn't take the OTO did they?

That's what kills me. They took the OTO also, but they also did that through their own link so they got the sale on that too since at 50% commission the first sale goes to the affiliate with $7 DSS.

[entrepenerd]

Good thought Sam. I do think that some people feel good about themselves doing it because they think they are being smart and sticking it to "the man". What makes the situation worse though is that they only people making money on this deal is PayPal, which is one huge example of "the man".

Actually, now that I think about it. I hope the person refunds themselves on this deal so that at least PayPal isn't making any money either. Hopefully they're smart enough to figure that part out too.

Originally Posted by samstephens

The pyschology behind this kind of thing is pretty interesting if you think about it.

Someone signups up for a 100% affiliate program and pays themself for a product.

Someone asks for a cup of water, and then gets soda instead.

(A side note: the second example is outright stealing. The first is more an ethical question rather than a legal one, I would guess.)

Is it because they won't want to pay the $7, or the $2 (or whatever soda pop costs)?

I doubt it - I think it's more about "working the system". It's almost like an ego boost, outsmarting big business, sticking it to the man.

Of course a lot of people don't realise that when they're "bringing down big business" on the internet, they're usually bringing down one person who is trying to make a bit of extra cash to help support his family.

If we all remember that there is a real human, just like us, trying to make ends meet, behind the businesses we deal with on the internet, perhaps we'd all be a lot happier?

My two cents for the day,
Sam

[Shannon Herod]

Unfortunately, people are going to steal. I try not to let it bother me, but when I do catch someone I just banned them from purchasing from me ever again. Fortunately, I have a system that allows me to do that.

Shannon

[Jason K. Thomas]

Consider moving up to Rapid Action Profits. It has fraud detection mechanisms in place (people who try to buy through their own affiliate link, two PayPal accounts, etc), as well as turn off the affiliate option. It will also import your 7DS data.

[nvs74191]

Why don't you think of converting these guys into future customers?

If your $7 product is very good, they may buy from you later. when you send them a mailing for a more expensive new product, especially if it is more secure.

In other words, think you are preselling them with your $7 report, and follow up with a mailing of a related affiliate product or your own product.

[Sheryl Polomka]

I have had people somehow buy my product for .01cent on an ebook that I use the $7 script. It is annoying, but as said above, its going to happen. I know there are other scripts and things to use that are more secure, but it doesn't really happen that often, so I just don't let it bother me when the occasional theft comes along.

Hey - at least I can sleep at night without having to worry about Karma catching up with me

[Tradermac]

Anyone know what PayPals attitude is to this sort of conduct? It may well be that this individual would get his account(s) frozen or even canceled.

Brian

[JJOrana]

Well God doesn't sleep bro. Let it go.

Those theft will get more than what they deserve.

[entrepenerd]

Originally Posted by Tradermac

Anyone know what PayPals attitude is to this sort of conduct? It may well be that this individual would get his account(s) frozen or even canceled.

Brian

I'm pretty sure that PayPal frowns on this type of thing so I'm sure one could cause some troubles for the thieves, but it's still probably not worth the time.

I'm definitely hoping to turn this thief into a customer with another product since he did sign up for my mailing list, but it's still a sleazy thing to do to steal a $7 report.

[JohnMcCabe]

Originally Posted by nvs74191

Why don't you think of converting these guys into future customers?

If your $7 product is very good, they may buy from you later. when you send them a mailing for a more expensive new product, especially if it is more secure.

In other words, think you are preselling them with your $7 report, and follow up with a mailing of a related affiliate product or your own product.

My friend, you are talking about a deliberate thief - someone who intentionally stole from another person.

When we caught a shoplifter, we banned them from the store. We didn't invite them back and hope they paid next time...

While losses are an inevitable part of doing business, loss prevention is a huge business.

Birds fly, fish swim, thieves steal.

[Dixiebelle]

Originally Posted by entrepenerd

I'm pretty sure that PayPal frowns on this type of thing so I'm sure one could cause some troubles for the thieves, but it's still probably not worth the time.

I'm definitely hoping to turn this thief into a customer with another product since he did sign up for my mailing list, but it's still a sleazy thing to do to steal a $7 report.

If you have this person's name and email address, you could just send them a "thank you" inoice and tell them that somehow Paypal's system failed to pick up the payment, and give them an opportunity to return to their Paypal account and straighten it out. You might keep it from happening to someone else. I think some of these people don't know that you can see who they are.

If everyone continues to let it go, it just encourages the theives to continue stealing.

Dixie

[Angela V. Edwards]

Originally Posted by Dixiebelle

If everyone continues to let it go, it just encourages the theives to continue stealing.

Dixie

I completely agree. Theft is theft. People who will steal your product will resort to thing you probably wouldn't want to be a party to. I know it happens, but why let it go if there's something...ANYTHING...that can be done about it.

[Chris Lockwood]

Originally Posted by Floyd Bogart

I just got another email promoting a product teaching people how to steal (ethically, they even claim!) any ebook or report being sold via either PayPal or ClickBank!

I got spam promoting that, too, and was all set to go medieval until I went to the site and found it already suspended.

People should report sites like that when they find them.

[solton]

Let it go.

It's not worth the aggravation.

Best,

Scott

[opoqo]

I built a list from people who thought they were stealing from me with a download page that I made public.

That list made me a packet because other links in it needed a purchase where there was no getting around paying.

I am currently setting up another 'trick' download page to build another list.
Even 'thieves' have to pay for some things.

There's opportunity everywhere.

[najmiyusoff]

Yup, I understand your feelings. I have my own 7 Dollar product as well, and I know in one way or another people are gonna share/steal it. Digital products are being passed like candys nowadays, can't really do much about it, can we?

[AskJesusLeon]

I agree with what many are currently saying here. Unfortunately, people are always going to try to "beat the system" it really is not worth getting upset about let it go.

[tiger325]

hopefully you didnt give anyone else any ideas

[daddyoh]

You're idea of getting him on your mailing list and sending him more offers is good. You could also put affiliate links and links to other products you're selling in the report. Not OTO's but a totally separate offer. You could get additional sales this way.

[JonMills]

Originally Posted by entrepenerd

I created a new report that I've been promoting as a WSO for $7 using the $7 Secrets scripts. The problem is that there have been a few people that have been using 2 PayPal accounts to get the report. One PayPal email to promote the report as an affiliate and one to pay for the report. So, basically they are getting the report for the cost of the PayPal fees instead of $7.

This kind of torques me off, but I'm not sure how torqued off I should be. One of them I only caught because he actually signed up to my email list after the purchase. I checked the transaction and saw the 2 different PayPal accounts that are obviously the same person.

I'm wondering how many others have run into this and how you handle it. Should I just let it ride, or contact the scammers and call them out on it?

that is sad, but yes you will find the freeloaders, they are out there.

[Jeff Henshaw]

I built a list from people who thought they were stealing from me with a download page that I made public.

That list made me a packet because other links in it needed a purchase where there was no getting around paying.

I am currently setting up another 'trick' download page to build another list.
Even 'thieves' have to pay for some things.

There's opportunity everywhere.

If that works, then I think that you have a winning system for creating a best selling product there. Just don't forget to please provide us with a heavily discounted WSO before you launch it!

Regards,
Jeff Henshaw.

[entrepenerd]

Originally Posted by daddyoh

You're idea of getting him on your mailing list and sending him more offers is good. You could also put affiliate links and links to other products you're selling in the report. Not OTO's but a totally separate offer. You could get additional sales this way.

Great point. I do have several affiliate links within the report that have brought in some additional revenue.

I guess the real rub for me is that someone somewhere is saying to themselves "Watch me. I'm so smart. This dummy will never know that i just stole from them."

It really irritates me when other people do something with the thought that other people are stupid and won't know any better. Totally disrespectful in my opinion. The money is not the issue to me so much as the disrespect.