is this against the rules?

14 replies
hey all.

I was wondering: If a membership site claims to only have, say, 250 places available for members, but in reality they already have 500 signups, is that then against the rules or what? Is it a legit sales method?
#rules
  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    you have to ask that ?
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    • Profile picture of the author AndreasJacobsen
      Originally Posted by tryinhere View Post

      you have to ask that ?
      I know it is probably not morally right, I was wondering if there was a law or anything that could shut that business down.

      Some other user asked if it was related to the WSO forum, and no, it is not.
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      • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
        Originally Posted by andreasdk View Post

        I know it is probably not morally right, I was wondering if there was a law or anything that could shut that business down.
        You would need to speak with the legal people, I have / many here have no authority in that area.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by andreasdk View Post

        I know it is probably not morally right, I was wondering if there was a law or anything that could shut that business down.
        I'm not a lawyer, but I think there are both statutory and common laws/regulations in almost every country in the world making that illegal, Andreas. (And certainly anywhere in the EU). It's fraudulent.

        And wherever you live, and wherever your site's hosted, if you're using a top level international domain, the FTC has some jurisdiction over that, anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by andreasdk View Post

    hey all.

    I was wondering: If a membership site claims to only have, say, 250 places available for members, but in reality they already have 500 signups, is that then against the rules or what? Is it a legit sales method?
    Anytime there is something delivered that goes against the sales copy use the "report post" icon of the thread in question so that the moderators are alerted. Is this in regards to the WSO forum?

    RoD
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  • Profile picture of the author inzaji
    Originally Posted by andreasdk View Post

    hey all.

    I was wondering: If a membership site claims to only have, say, 250 places available for members, but in reality they already have 500 signups, is that then against the rules or what? Is it a legit sales method?
    Everyone does these kind of things ...its fair enough to hear that !
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Originally Posted by inzaji View Post

      Everyone does these kind of things ...its fair enough to hear that !
      No, EVERYONE does not do that, thank you very much. Some people may lie and screw their customers over but certainly not all of us.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by andreasdk View Post

    I was wondering: If a membership site claims to only have, say, 250 places available for members, but in reality they already have 500 signups, is that then against the rules or what? Is it a legit sales method?
    Imagine that I have a box for a dozen eggs, but there are only six eggs in it.

    I then tell people I have four spaces available for eggs.

    Now, technically, there are twelve spaces. However, six of them are not available, because they are full.

    Technically, that leaves six spaces empty, which could conceivably be filled with more eggs. But I do not have any obligation to sell - or to fill - all six of them; if I decide two of those spaces are not available, I can do that.

    Now, if I sell spaces in an empty egg carton under the promise that there are only four spaces, but I actually intend to sell all twelve of them... that is a whole different kettle of fish.
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  • Profile picture of the author romanos8
    Banned
    a lot of people do that because thay think or know that most people will want to become a member fast so someone does not take their space so i guess it kind of okay but it might be wrong to trick people that way
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  • Profile picture of the author yourreviewer
    What about the BS video salespage where they say, "I don't know how long this video will be online, so watch this presentation closely...." when 99 out of 100 times, that never happens and they never have the intention of taking the video off or stop selling the product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Could it be possible that the person had 750 membership spots available and only had 250 remaining spots available to offer in their WSO/OFFER?
    Just saying.
    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author dmister
    Just don`t do it! Apart from anything else it is dishonest and it also does not build any trust.

    An unhappy customer will also likely just ask for a refund so you will not gain money anyway, plus there is the possibility of a lawsuit for illegal advertising.
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    dmister

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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

      Could it be possible that the person had 750 membership spots available and only had 250 remaining spots available to offer in their WSO/OFFER?
      Just saying.
      Have a Great Day!
      Michael
      That was my first thought. Did the copy say membership was capped at 250, or that 250 were available?

      Even then, I'd probably give a little leeway for overbooking. Lots of folks order things and then either bail out, get their credit card denied, or some other thing reopens a spot.

      Just about any business with a perishable offering, one where if the spot is not filled and billed, the chance to make anything from that spot is gone forever (like airline seats, restaurant covers, car rentals, membership sites) is going to overbook to some extent.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jordi
    Well a lot of people have used this method before. I guess if you go about reporting one then report all others?
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