Another Warrior Took Their Money, But I Want To Help - What To Do?

Don't get involved would be my answer.

Its not your fault.

Its not on you.

Like you say, you're customers are a precious asset, don't upset them.

Whilst it must be hard for the people who have fallen foul to this, that wasn't your fault and you owe them NOTHING. In fact I think its a bit out of line they had the cheek to ask so much of you. I wouldn't dream of it if I were in their position.

Jeremy, here is the reality...you just don't know how your members are
going to react.

As to whether what you are doing is wrong or not, I don't think it's a matter
of right or wrong. It's a matter of what your beliefs are.

My personal opinion is simple. I am responsible to my members only. I can't
worry about what other marketers do others, though I don't condone it. But
can you imagine if I tried to undo the wrong that every marketer did to
another? I'd end up with a members list of 100,000 people. And then, the
people who actually paid for my services would literally be getting the shaft.

I can't provide you with the answers you're looking for my friend. Nobody can.

This is between you and your conscience and you have to do what you
feel is the right thing.

As long as you can continue to provide the same level of support to your existing customers I don't see the problem. If I were a customer and heard that you made that gesture to help others it would increase my level of trust and respect for you.

Kristi

Happens all the time. I see things I've purchased discounted or given away as bonuses all the time online and off. It doesn't change the value of the product or service to me.

I didn't say marketers "should" do it, as in are obligated to clean up someone else's mess, however if it's feasible and they want to pay it forward, I don't see why not.

Kristi

Jeremy,

Being one of your current customers, i personally have no issue with it. I paid my money and have learned loads, so i'm happy.

Ps, why don't you set up a poll for the members & let them decide.

steve

Jeremy,

I know you said that your course was suggested as an alternative to the one that let people down, but come on? How is it your problem? It has nothing to do with your "conscience" you haven't done anything to create this situation. It is not a moral dilemma, rather a business decision to either give away something to those that you have absolutely no obligation to, at the risk of alienating some of your existing customers...or not.

It seems pretty cut and dried to me...

Like Endgame said, I also can't believe that people actually wrote to you and asked YOU to make reparations for someone else's issue by giving them something for free!

I know this will be an unpopular view but it is symptomatic of the proliferation of the "entitlement" mindset we have discussed around here so often recently. Being a member of this forum is a privilege not a right. It certainly does not afford the right to expect unreasonable freebies and bailing out by fellow Warriors who also have businesses to run, families to feed and the interests of their existing customers to protect.

So many of us help each other out around here, yes, but this comes from building a relationship, spending time getting to know each other, building up some mutual trust and, lest it be forgotten, it is a CHOICE!

Just because someone signs up to this forum does not mean that they are automatically entitled to make unreasonable demands on fellow Warriors. They are entitled to participate and benefit from the unbelievably great information available here and the great value and lower prices offered in the WSO section. If they take the time and trouble to contribute and to develop relationships then of course many of us will bend over backwards to help them. However, none of us appreciate cold call demands.

Your WSO, I'm sure, contains massively more value than the cover price. Hence the term WSO. You've done your bit already by giving such value at such a reduced rate. They should pay it just like the rest of your customers. You are already helping them out by allowing them to leverage their membership of this forum to receive your teaching at a massively reduced rate.

Yes, it may well be a great PR exercise for you to give them access, but I think that those that wrote to you are taking advantage of your good nature and generosity. The fact that you are experiencing such a dilemma about this and started this thread is testament to the fact that you are indeed one of the good guys and they should trust you enough to pay for what you offer!

Further, it is testament to the generosity of some of your existing customers that they have posted to express their view, but that is not the real issue here.

Where's Paul Myers when you need him?



Thomas

Hey bro,

Ask your clients. If a single client says they would be angry with you, don't do it.

Just send those people that got ripped off an email saying that you discussed it with your member base and they did not agree that it was a good idea to let them in at a discounted price...or free.

If you explain that your members were involved in the decision, then no harm done. In fact, you will probably be seen as a nice guy for even thinking about it.

AL

Man I wish I had someone to run to when things got bad. Do you have any spots left?

Actually, I don't!

If I run to you every time I made a boo-boo I'd never have a business and I'd be a lazy little shit.

For their own good you're gonna have to politely tell them to jog-on.

Louis

Never hurts to give back and even help others when you can, excellent post and Kudos to you!

My team and I've helped a fellow Warrior who promised keyword articles but couldn't get to them, so we covered for her. Ditto with over various projects as we could.

Good karma, good team work, etc. Just don't over-do it or hurt yourself, your clients or your business - -and not particularly all in that order

It looks pretty clear cut to me. With the amount of subscribers that you have you can be nearly guaranteed that at least a handful won't be happy with you giving a free or discounted membership.

Although I do feel sorry for the other guys subscribers, it's not as if they are entitled to anything from you. Maybe it's just me, but isn't it a bit cheeky of people to assume that they should get a discount when your own subscribers had to pay in full? It's not like you're charging an arm and a leg either - your current offer is more than generous.They aren't the first group of people to have lost money on a program/ebook etc that didn't work, and they certainly won't be the last.

At the risk of sounding like a horrible selfish jerk who evicts widows and orphans on Christmas eve, my 2 cents is for you to stay away from this. You don't have a dog in this race. Don't involve yourself or your business or your business partnership in areas where you don't belong, like this other guy's failed business venture.

As far as the people who got scammed, well, that's a shame, bit it's still not your problem. Don't offer them solutions. Pretty inventive on their parts to PM you for a free course, though!

Remember that your price for this training is X. X is what you sell this for to EVERYONE, like your other currently enrolled students. If the don't have the money, hey, it's not up to you to make up the shortfall. You are running a business here, not a free information seminar.

Bad idea to go to your membership and poll them. When did your private business decisions become their business? And be very careful about giving away something of value if you have charged current paying members for the same thing.

Anything else, and you are opening yourself up to a whole host of problems.

I would probably send the people asking you about your course a nice email telling them that the cost is X, you do not have a scholarship program, and you are unable to accomodate new students till ___ date. You are sorry for any issues they encountered outside of your course, and you have put their name and email on a preferential student list. Next time the course opens, if they register (with the full course fee) they will be guaranteed a spot. That's a nice way of saying 'not my problem' and gives them something that cost you nothing.

Jeremy,

I'm pretty sure most of your current customers have also spent money on programs that didn't pan out. I know I have...

But, come on.
It is $24...

Sure it is nice to help people out, but I'm sure a lot of your current customers will fit into the same category as the folks from the group in question.

Bailouts have spread to IM ....lol...

Evita

Hi Jeremy,

I was at that other course and am now at your course. I paid full price and did not want any discount. Simply joined on the recommendation of one of your members.

Those of us that got left hanging by that other guy - it was our mistake and we must take responsibility. I'm just happy there was another place to learn this material. -Chip

Hi Jeremy,

Hmm .. it appears you are in a fickle here ...

The only thing I can say because I've never experienced what you are experiencing now, is to contact BigMke maybe.

I know he's tried this out before when someone here ripped off a bunch of people from another well known forum.

I know Mike went in to make an offer, but it seems to me the people who got ripped off did not take him up on his offer. I could be wrong here though, this is why I say contact him directly.

He can sahre his experience with you able the subject matter.

Hope this helps ...


Mary

Compassion is a nice trait in a human. I totally understand your situation. I have been repairing 'burnt' marketers for a while and people notice this sort of thing.

It will not be profitable right now but if you hand train an army of loyal clients they will loyally support you with all your future projects.

The way to tell is when you hit 'broadcast to all lists' and your list shrinks to about 25% because your clients have bought four of your products on average etc....

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(P.S - Tom you write SO well!!)

Jeremy I would ask yourself a couple of questions before you make any decisions.

How do you know which people got burnt by the other marketer?

Let's assume a person wanted to do your course but didn't want to pay. They read this thread, and think Jeremy's a great guy for offering this, I'm going to ask to be let into the course. I won't tell him I never paid, I'll say that I bought course and there were problems.

People who are freebie seekers, will go down that route.

Now if you know who the person is, or if you have people who you know will benefit and can't afford it, then go ahead and let them into the course. Do you have to tell the course that you let in 1 person? No.

How many people let people into their membership site or give away their products in return for a testimonial? It happens all the time.

All I would say is be careful, that the people you help really need help.