Are Guru's Selling Your Info After The Launch?

[cawillia]

Hi All,
I recently had a pretty nasty experience after purchasing a product from a well known "guru". I posted the entire story on my blog. Here's what happened.
I purchased this person's product and a couple of days later I get an email saying I'm going to get some "personal" coaching from this guru's team. I get the phone call and it just goes downhill from there.
The guy that called was in no way, shape, form or fashion, a part of the "team" from this particular guru. In effect, he was a third party vendor who tried to sell me an overpriced coaching program.
When I told him that I had no interest, he got extremely irate and told me that I would not make any money with the product I purchased without him and his program. I'm thinking, "this guy is a nut case". I hung up on him. The calls eventually stopped, but it did happen again with another product I purchased from a different guru.
A few weeks later I was on a product launch webinar where the guys selling the product all but admitted to selling their list info but they disguised it by calling it Lead Generation.
Now, I'm still kinda new to all of this and I'm still learning the ropes, but I think I know the difference between building a targeted list to sell to vendors for a certain niche and selling your list to some third party for further gain after the launch. Anyone else experience this?
By the way, thanks ShawnC for commenting on my blog. I appreciate it. I was a little nervous about posting it because it was my first one.

[Charlie Parker]

Yes some people do pass phone numbers on to a 3rd party, then they get a percentage from anyone who buys the coaching. Though they do not pass on your email address.

I would only employ such a tactic myself if I knew 100% that the coaching team were top notch and would treat my customers as I would.

[cawillia]

This guy was really, really rude. I guess my beef is, if they are going to do that, why not let us know. Is it too much to inform me that you have someone you work with that may be able to offer further assistance should I need it? Or am I being naive?

[Charlie Parker]

The times I've personally seen it used they do let you know by saying you get a free 30 minute phone consultation. That phone consultation is generally a sales pitch.

[cawillia]

I understand. I've been taking notes along this journey and learning what to and what not to do. I've heard on more than one occasion that your list must be able to trust that you have their best interest at heart. That little stunt did not rate high on the trust meter.

[Simon Ashari]

just out of curiosity cawillia.

were these products any good by themselves?

if not... refund.

regards

Simon

[cawillia]

The products were actually pretty decent. The first was a monthly membership. The second was a one time sale. I've canceled the monthly membership. The $97 per month was too much for what was being offered.

[jasonl70]

I've noticed a LOT of the guru's seem to be selling their leads to 'call centers', and it turns out it isn't always to sell their own stuff. Supposedly they can get up to $100 extra income per lead they do this with!

Tons of businesses do something similar.. magazines, banks, retailers - they 'rent' their lists (minus email addy) out all the time to marketers. "list brokers" have been around for a very long time, way before internet marketing ever existed.

[Black Hat Cat]

Originally Posted by cawillia

Hi All,
When I told him that I had no interest, he got extremely irate and told me that I would not make any money with the product I purchased without him and his program.

To which I would have replied "Well, I guess I better get a refund on that other product then". And then I would have.

[cawillia]

I thought about it long and hard. But I thought that maybe it was a mistake. That's why I contacted the guru's help desk. I never did get a response. I figured out why later. I'm just so grateful for the folks that don't mind schooling a newbie. Ya'll made my day.

[cawillia]

Originally Posted by Charlie Parker

I would only employ such a tactic myself if I knew 100% that the coaching team were top notch and would treat my customers as I would.

If you know of any let me know. I don't mind being a part of a coaching program. There are some really good ones out there I'm sure. I just mind being mislead and mishandled.