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When obvious lies are in a sales gimmick

by ERPConsultant
14 replies
Hi,

I just saw a sales video by a well known Internet Marketer (who will remain unnamed), who is selling the DVDs to an event that sold at $3000 per person at only $47. The thing that ticked me was that in the video he said that he was holding the sale so that he could buy a pool for his daughter.

Now, if a guy who promises a "paint by numbers system for building a 7 figure empire" needs to hold a sale to buy a pool for his daughter, how far can you trust him?

If he is really making millions like he claims then he would not need to do this sale to buy a pool. If he is not, then how can he teach this method to others.

The other kicker is that he says that about 20 people attended this $3000 event. If that is true, then working out the math, a pool should not be that far out of reach.

At least, come up with an excuse that does not sound like an obvious lie.

What do you guys think of tactics like this? Personally, I think that this makes the marketer look like a person trying to make a sale by hook or crook.
#gimmick #lies #obvious #sales
  • Profile picture of the author CmdrStidd
    There are 2 things that sell: Sex and children. Since he has nothing sexy about the videos to offer then he is falling back and using children, which in this case means his daughter and her desire to have a pool. It is a shame anymore that some people just cannot sell things based on the benefits of the items they are selling. They need to add in all this hype and BS. Alot of the time, what happens is that they are so busy hyping things that they tend to forget that their customer might already be ready to buy and they are still selling rather than collecting the cash. When someone has to sell that hard, the first thing I ask is "what is really wrong with the product?"

    This is just my humble but honest opinion and I am sure there are others. I will now get off my soapbox so someone else can take up the cause, as it were.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by CmdrStidd View Post

      There are 2 things that sell: Sex and children.
      DO NOT try to combine the two niches.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    Hypothetical Scenario

    Let's say I have a $5,000,000 net worth...

    ...and I want to buy/build a pool for $35k...

    I can either:

    A) Spend my own cash...
    B) Generate the money out of thin air to pay for it...

    Which is the smarter move?

    Which is more congruent with WHY I have a $5,000,000 net worth?

    Not everything is a nefarious plot. Occam's Razor and all that.

    I have no idea who you're talking about, BTW. Could be the slimiest, dirtbag liar on earth for all I know. I'm not defending.

    Just pointing out that running a sale or special is a fantastic way to buy toys.

    Brian
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    Brian McLeod
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      What do you guys think of tactics like this? Personally, I think that this makes the marketer look like a person trying to make a sale by hook or crook.
      Thanks for sharing your reaction to this. It's an important reminder that we all need to be congruent. Selling the DVDs to a recent $3000 event for $47 is not very congruent, regardless of the reason given. If the event happened a long time ago, it is less questionable.

      It also shows that some personal information that some people think would be very innocuous can be the trigger for condemnation and criticism by others who don't see things the same way you do.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kyle Tully
      Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

      Let's say I have a $5,000,000 net worth...

      ...and I want to buy/build a pool for $35k...

      I can either:

      A) Spend my own cash...
      B) Generate the money out of thin air to pay for it...

      Which is the smarter move?

      Which is more congruent with WHY I have a $5,000,000 net worth?
      Brian nailed it.

      You don't get rich by spending your savings on pools.

      But you can get rich using proven marketing tactics that flat out work to make a bunch of money real quick, and then use the extra cash flow to live the good life.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by ERPConsultant View Post

    The thing that ticked me was that in the video he said that he was holding the sale so that he could buy a pool for his daughter.
    When you talk to real estate investors, they frequently have their houses "tagged" with the bills they pay - when you buy a new car, the payment's $650, you buy a house that you can rent out for a monthly cash flow of $650... and it's your "car" house. You bought and rented that house so you could buy a new car.

    Of course, since you could buy a house, chances are you could have just bought the car instead... but that's not what you did.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author Jo_Shua
    I was going to say something similar to Brian, but he beat me to the punch. Anyhow, I doubt I could have said it any better...

    So, we will just stick to the conclusion that I agree with Brian :p
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I don't want to make assumptions, but for the sake of argument let's say you make $50k/year. Said marketer makes 7 figures per year.

    Do you think the definition of "pool" in both cases could be quite different? The $50/k person may think of a nice above ground pool, or maybe one of those new "just add water" types. Ehile the 7 figure person may be thinking of a luxurious, custom-designed, in-ground pool with fine tile work all around and a separate hot tub with attached bath house.

    Anyway, that was my first thought...must be one heckuva pool.

    All the best,
    Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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  • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
    Banned
    Originally Posted by ERPConsultant View Post

    Hi,
    If he is really making millions like he claims then he would not need to do this sale to buy a pool. If he is not, then how can he teach this method to others.
    Please share with us where Howie said he needed to do this to be able to afford the pool.
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    • Profile picture of the author ERPConsultant
      Hi Black Hat Cat,

      That is how it came across. I did not say that he said that he was doing this to "afford" the pool but looks like that is how it came across to you too.

      The video shows him sitting in a tiny inflatable pool so the idea that it conveys is that he wants a bigger pool of the inflatable type.

      Thanks to all who responded.

      Either way, when marketing, it is better to have a credible excuse rather than make an excuse that many in your audience would not buy notwithstanding perceptions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Brock
    Maybe he wants a Playboy style Grato(spell?).

    That pool cost millions to make...but it sure is pretty insane.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    There have been a few explanations as to how it may not be a lie at all. To be fair, I don't know if it is or isn't.

    Another point the OP raises is one of perception. While you can't please everybody, it's a good idea to carefully consider what impact you want your message to have and if you are delivering it in a way that drives that message home.

    ~Michael
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    "Ich bin en fuego!"
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  • Profile picture of the author CurtisN
    I see no sales gimmicks nor lies (of the obvious variety or otherwise). Perhaps you should change the title of this thread to something less presumptuous.

    Curtis
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    Curtis Ng (blog) - Product Launch Manager
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  • Profile picture of the author acedalright
    The funny thing is, that depending on where you're from you might have a higher BS filter like Australians, Englishman and New Zealanders find American sales pages full on and disingenuine whereas Americans find a British sales page dull and not "Salesy" enough.

    I just assume the person selling is full of crap and look at whether the worst version of their product will help me.
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