Get rich quick schemes you bought

[Alton Hargrave]

Originally Posted by Gail Sober

Let's see, there's been so many.

William J. McCorkle's "No Money Down" Real Estate System

U.S. Mortgage Bi-Weekly Mortgage Simulation

Don Lapre's "Tiny Classified Ads"

SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corp)

John Beck's "Free and Clear" Real Estate System

That's all I can think of right now.

Don't leave me alone late at night with a credit card nearby!

I bought into the U.S. Mortgage bi-weekly scheme. I spent about $900 to be a "director"! What a laugh. I had business cards, I met with some other guy who had bought into this and was trying to make it big (at his mother in law's expense) and for a while, I was all excited about it. I even closed myself up in my room and did some cold calling. Anyhow, I wasted much time and money on a scheme that quickly lost it's steam because right afterwards, the government started allowing bi-weekly plans, so I had no angle.

Tiny little ads! Early one morning, I was looking for something to watch on tv and ran across Don Lapre and his tiny damn little ads. I raced to the phone and whipped out my credit card. After paying for it, I started looking online at reviews and was quite upset. When it came to the post office, I refused delivery, thinking I might get my money back. Of course, I never did. I think that one only cost me about 40 bucks.

Well I gotta go. There is some show coming on about some guy who will show me his Internet Shortcuts for only a small fee. Strange, that he would be so generous. And, stranger, that little smirk on his tv face!

Look guys, watch tv for entertainment. Come here for get rich plans. Why, you can buy one here every day. All you have to decide is whether you want to make 1k, 5k, or 6figs a day. If you want 6 figs, get a fig tree...you can't go wrong!

[Success With Dany]

Pyramid Madoff-style, made A LOT of money with it. Fortunately, in the black before the owner vanished.

The ONLY TIME and most money I've EVER made "working at home".

Seeing that 4-figures check NOT bouncing was incredible.

[DASHBOY]

Bought a real estate system similar to William J. McCorkle's , but a UK version.
1 Year later the property boom's, bubble burst, damn!

Then you realise why it was none of these companies where advertising their system when the property market was booming, lol.

Cheers

Graeme

[CuzinTim]

This FREE Network MLM system getting people to switch phone services. I did learn something from that as the guy training me wanted me to call him with a list of 50 people & he would be on the calls with me. I was 18 or 19 so most friends lived at home, no cell phones then & small family so had not quite 20 numbers. He didn't do the calls with me. I was like WTF but then it hit me: He wanted me to have a list of at least 50 people so lesson learned.

Don Lapre's system helped me make rent a few years ago. I was short on rent, middle of Summer so I bought a few air conditioners from ads and posted them in free newspaper as well as posted paper ads @ grocery stores & laundromats.

While I wasn't going to get rich off these methods I did make some $$$ when it was needed and did learn a lesson from each so it was worth it.

[troy23]

Anything by Ewen Chia or Michael Cheney

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

In the 90's I bought Don Lapre's "Tiny Classified Ads" system.

I bought that system four times over as many years, compared each version to the others, and took voluminous notes on what he changed, removed, or added.

So in a very real sense, Don Lapre was my marketing mentor. He just never knew it... although he may have suspected. The last time I bought his system, the operator mentioned that Don had left a note on my account. It said "I like this guy."

[John Burton]

I also wasted money buying the Don Lapre stuff when I was younger and more naive - how foolish of me.

The best way to build trust with customers nowadays is to give away quality products for free - which is exactly what I do on all of my sites, including my main site in my signature.

John Burton

[steveblum]

I bought Don Lapre's program in the 90's hook, line and sinker. The information was way generic but the covers were cool.

I wonder what he's doing now - would you like fries with that?

[steveblum]

Originally Posted by troy23

Anything by Ewen Chia or Michael Cheney

Give me some inside info on what you mean. I've bought a couple e-books from Ewen Chia and I think his stuff is pretty good. Yes, he's mastered up-selling like crazy but I really don't have any complaints with his material.

In fact, I was turned on to a couple of his JV partners that are showing me some pretty awesome stuff.

[Mmfh]

I bought the William Mc Corkel system for real estate millions and I think it was a whole week after I bought it he was on the news getting taken to jail for fraud!

Carlton Sheets was good to take a few bucks from me.

I also bought Rich dad Poor dad from Robert Kirosakie
( spelling?). Although a little different in nature it didn't do anything for me.

I remember those place adds all over the country commercials and its funny seeing you bring it up.

Mm
On edit; I just noticed I'm 100 posts old now!

[jazzyjeff]

Thanks for sharing the Don Lapre and Tom Vu videos.....Total hilariousness.

I fell for John Beck's Free and Clear Real Estate System.

He shows you how to buy homes on pennies for the dollar by purchasing tax liens.

Interesting stuff but only can be done in a few states.

[Keith Boisvert]

Originally Posted by Brad Gosse

We have all done it. Tell us what get rich quick scheme or product you bought.

I will start. In the 90's I bought Don Lapre's "Tiny Classified Ads" system. I should have known from his whiney voice it was too good to be true. I DID end up using his classified ad dept contact sheets for another biz and it worked so I never asked for a refund.

Some of you may not be old enough to remember these ads.
YouTube - Don Lapre Sells Tiny Classified Ads

Not a one. I bought many products/systems when I first started out(as I suspect most do) with the intention of learning. Of course somewhere in my head I am sure I thought I may "Get rich quick", but ultimately I knew I was learning...

I have always been able to pull info from every product I have purchased. I have always been of the opinion that there is no one system for me, that MY system is melding of many different strategies put together in a way that I can make them work in my favor.

There were many products I was disappointed in...of course, but I wont name them because I am only one person and my opinion on someones product...is just my opinion, and may not reflect the product to someone else.

keith

[abiz181]

Fortunately, I have never been suckered in to a get rich scheme. Early in life I realized that hard work and willingness to learn and try new things are the way to success. Whin someone tells me I can make 100k a week if I just follow their system, guess what? I unsubscribe as quickly as I can. Unfortunately to many people get suckered into these "Get Rich" scams. Maybe my next website will be based on warning others on what to watch out for.

Angelo

[John Cabral]

Originally Posted by Gail Sober

Let's see, there's been so many.

William J. McCorkle's "No Money Down" Real Estate System

U.S. Mortgage Bi-Weekly Mortgage Simulation

Don Lapre's "Tiny Classified Ads"

SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corp)

John Beck's "Free and Clear" Real Estate System

That's all I can think of right now.

Don't leave me alone late at night with a credit card nearby!

Darn those late night infomercials. LOL

[TommyBussey]

I fell prey to Ty Coughlin's "Reverse Funnel System"

Just writing that makes me want to punch that !@#$er !@#$er right between the eyes haha.

However, I would have to say that in order to make it not a total loss, I did learn as much as I could and learned the best way NOT to do things.

- Tommy

[Ian Jackson]

Originally Posted by AffiliateTraining

I could tell you a million stories about this too. Andrew Reynolds, Streetwise Marketing, even a lot of the big IM guys now... all they're selling is "the dream", then regurgitating it and reselling it as "the bigger dream".

Brad - should have made the thread "Get rich quick schemes you bought and got rich quick from".

That would have thrown a spanner in the works

In the late 80s/early 90s, the "get rich" schemes (MLM) I tried; Cabouchon (jewellery), Non-Scents (odour adsorption), Herbalife, Amway, and some perfume thing who's name I forget now. Cold-selling & demos were simply not my personality.

Mr Reynolds was my first experience of IM

[ecoverartist]

Much of the things I've seen Ewen Chia come out with lately are actually quite helpful and inexpensive, particularly if you're new to IM or new to a particular technique (like building a list). Probably the same would apply to the Rich Jerk although I've never seen his product.

This isn't really a get rich quick scheme but my mother was dead set on buying Kevin Trudeau's weight loss crap "they don't want you to know about". As soon as she opened up the first page and read 'colon cleanse' she closed it and promptly put it on the back of the toilet where it belongs. I tried to talk her out of it...show her the Amazon reviews, but she insisted he must know SOMETHING!

That something was how to take your money from you

[wordwizard]

What a fun thread. And thanks for the videos!

I have to admit that I jotted down the phone number when I watched that first tiny ads video ;-) Does the number still work? Actually, I just had to test it and there's someone else there who knows nothing about tiny ads...

I did fall for the paid surveys (actually had high hopes since it seemed the ideal way to make some extra money on the side...)

Fortunately, I realized after a week or so just where this was headed and stopped.

Ouch!

It was one of my first internet ventures a few years back, and it almost completely stopped me in my tracks.

And if I see someone promoting paid surveys now, it always gives me pause and makes me wonder about their integrity (and their otherwise very legitimate and even excellent products). For all I know they may not have personally tried it and simply went for the flashy clickbank promos, but still...

About the work at home things, --- I would have fallen for that if it hadn't been for them wanting information I didn't trust them with (bank account, etc.). So I guess that saved me.

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by wordwizard

I have to admit that I jotted down the phone number when I watched that first tiny ads video ;-)

The biggest takeaway for me from that course is that he boils down the classic "Scientific Advertising" into about five pages of concentrated information.

Or you can just read the original, which I attached to a post in the Hallowe'en thread earlier today.

[Irishman]

3 lines are forever engraved in my mind... unfortunately:

"Just pick up the phone..."

"that's all you have to do..."

"tiny 1 BR apartment..."

lol, thanks Don.

[pheonix44]

The Zaken Corporation, yikes!

I still get pissed thinking about this one. I paid 200.00$ for this and I really thought I could make it work. The flaw was no one in their right mind would pay the low prices required to make it work. Also they tried upselling the crap out of me. I'll never forget it. I'll also throw in John Becks free and clear real-estate system. What a load of crap.

[marin7]

Something called "The Cookie Cutter System", were you paid $20 to be taught to post the same ad that suckered you in in the first place. It was between that and Corey Rudl's course, so yeah, not my smartest decision.

Marina

[Fun to Write]

Originally Posted by marin7

Something called "The Cookie Cutter System", were you paid $20 to be taught to post the same ad that suckered you in in the first place. It was between that and Corey Rudl's course, so yeah, not my smartest decision.

Marina

LOL.

Yes, I'd forgotten about The Cookie Cutter System - I bought that, but can't remember what the heck it was all about now. I'm embarrassed to admit I bought way too many of them when I first started out online.

I was really gullible. It was like flushing money down the toilet.

I think buying these schemes is sort of a "right of passage" for internet marketers. I bet, most on this forum have bought these - but many won't admit it.

Actually, I'd rather forget about it myself.

[Fun to Write]

I actually got a $20 settlement check for some online mall system I'd bought but never did anything with. The company got sued for false claims and had to pay out in a mass settlement case.

Having a little taste of justice was nice.

[Folusho Orokunle]

I hate to rain on everyone's parade here, but if we explained what niche marketing was to anyone that doesn't make money online, they would tell you that you're either one of those spammers, scammers, or your in "one of those get rich quick thingies".

I look at it this way: Anything can be sold if it is sold with integrity and without lies.
But there are certain things I would never sell like sex and drugs.

But information products are just information. The trouble comes when people lie
and deceive in order to sell that info.

Let's face it people................HYPE SELLS.

Hype isn't bad, lies are bad. Some people seem to think that hype and lies are the same thing though. I don't think they are.

But I digress.

I joined ACN, Ameriplan, ect... Oh wait. I did make money in Ameriplan but I realized that I could be putting my efforts into more productive tasks.

[Jim Hallmark]

Brad,
OMG, did this thread ever bring back some memories for me.

I am embarrassed to say that I bought just about every get rich scheme that came along back in the 90's and early 2000's.

I too bought Don Lapres tiny classified ads and then fell for the $500 upsell from one of his telemarketers a few weeks later. Here are some of my other memorable "investments":

The Mellinger company – Import/Export business

Association of Certified Liquidators

M.O.R.E. Company “Successful business tools"

William J McCorkle’s “The whole enchilada” real estate course
(I have to say though that I really did enjoy seeing him cry like a baby in front of the judge before they sent him off to the “Big house.”)

Carleton Sheets real estate course

Ken Roberts commodity course

Brad Richdales “Secrets to makey money now” course

Dave Del Dotto

Coastal Vacations

Emerald Passport

All those years I always thought that I just wasn't selling enough stuff to make any money but then I heard Frank Kerns take on it and I liked it a whole lot better.

He said
“I think the problem a lot of times isn’t that we’re not selling enough stuff. I think the problem is that there are too many people not buying our stuff. Therefore (Classic Mass Control) it’s not our fault. It’s theirs for not buying our s—t! What’s wrong with these *$#%!'s?!”

[daykotah]

Amway was my first. Then AL Williams, then Amway again. I can't remember why I tried them again. Must have been a change in the program. Next was Carlton Sheets which I returned and got a refund, then Rich Dad/Poor Dad, which changed my way of thinking. Even though I never earned any money, I did learn that with the right product or service, MLM could work.

[McManigal]

I wonder what ever happened to good ole' don lapree? Sounds like he made enough money to retire. I fell for that too.

[Don Schenk]

Oh this brings back memories... most of them not good. :-)

I've bought a few real estate courses from lesser known RE gurus - Vena Jones-Cox, Drew White, and Donna Bauer all of which turned out to be helpful.

I bought Sheets at a time when I already owned property. Much of his info was out of date. I gave the course to a neighbor who always had wanted to buy it, but he never got around to doing so. He sold it at flea market for a few dollars. LOL

Jeff Paul's underwear program - did $40,000 with that one. About half of that amount was money I spent on advertising. Sooo $20K from it wasn't bad. And I learned a lot.

Don Lapre's Makin Money - piece of junk. I remember an article in "DM News" (Direct Marketing News) about Lapre filing for bankruptcy protection. The article published a list of his creditors. He eventually sold the "Makin' Money" business, and could no longer offer it. That is why he went into the vitamin MLM business.

:-Don

[TimCastleman]

You'll Thank Don Schenk for that post.

I guess I haven't bought to many get rich quick schemes. Tons of programs, PDF's, etc that I haven't done anything with but so far (knocking on wood) whatever I have used has made me money.


Tim

[Gail Sober]

Not a get rich scheme but I'm right on the tipping point of springing for the

p90x fitness program

I need a "late night infomercial" sponsor to call when I find myself wanting to jump up off the recliner and start running for my wallet.

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by Don Schenk

He eventually sold the "Makin' Money" business, and could no longer offer it.

By any chance do you recall who bought it? I'd like to see what they've done with it.

[moneysoapbox]

Dear god... Maverick Money Makers.

That was before I knew anything about anything related to Internet Marketing. To add insult to injury, I should've seen it coming - that was back when there were "only 17 spots" left but affiliates could make a lot of money through promoting - with the amount of affiliates promoting, those 17 spots would've been gone in an hour or two.

Oh well. You learn from your mistakes.

[actionplanbiz]

Carlton Sheets "No Money Down" Great Info Product, but not easy at all....

[Frank Tocco]

Did the Amway (Quixtar) thing once and Excel phone service. Met alot of very motivated people at Amway and they do some great training but peolpe fell out of my downline as fast as I could get them in. Felt like I was spinning my wheels. I must say though that some of the principles they teach have been very helpful when applied to my current business and to life in general.

[susanm]

Remember back in 1997 when: Congress Erases Federal Deficit Using Don Lapre 'Making Money' System ? Yeah, me neither, but it's a pretty funny read. "We made over $4.8 trillion with tiny classified ads,' says senator."

[Mr. Goof Off]

Like some of you above I bought ....SMC (Specialty Merchandise Corp) still have it too!
&
Carlton Sheets

I wont call them get rich quick schemes though. The reason I wont say they're schemes because if you have a market for the crap SMC sells you probably could make money(back then at least).
Also, with carlton sheets there are alot of friends of friends I know who made their first deal with his program. I even knew someone who made $10,000 with his product first hand.

[James_Harkin]

How about this for a get rich quick scheme headline:

"You Can Be A Millionaire Guaranteed, By Pressing A Few Buttons In The Right Order"

Vague but certainly correct ... if only it were that simple

Regards

James