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Want to Buy a Guru's PLR But Restrictions Pose Problem

by TiffanyLambert
17 replies
Hey Warriors!

I need a solution. There's a certain big name marketer who has wonderful products I'm a big fan of. And once in awhile, he'll sell the PLR rights to it. I want to get them BUT two restrictions are making a problem for me.

Restriction #1

You can't use or even MENTION his name on or in the sales promotion of the product when you go sell it.

Restriction #2

You can't use the original name of the product when you go sell it.

Why are these a problem?

Well much of my list are followers are his list, I'm assuming. I hate to sell them something and then they buy it and think, "Hey YOU didn't create this! You're a liar!"

And I hate for them to even buy it and already own it - if many of the same people are on our lists, that could be a big headache in refunds.

Why not just be an affiliate for it?

Because he often takes his products off market and vaults them, so that won't work.

Why not just write a similar product yourself?

Because I want to promote THIS one. It's good, it's ready made (and affordable), and I like his style. Why reinvent the wheel?

Some ideas so far I've heard are to say the original product creator's name rhymes with "Timmy Trown" (lol I like this one) or show an excerpt (but I think since he says we can't give it away, that might be against his TOS).

Anyone have a workaround for this situation?

I know I myself, when selling the PLR rights to my own products, don't like people to use my name on it, but it's because they alter content and then I'm responsible for it. I wouldn't mind someone saying the course was originally created by me and updated by them, though.

Tiff
#buy #guru #plr #pose #problem #restrictions
  • Profile picture of the author MaxReferrals
    Why not reach out and ask Timmy Trown? He seems like a standup, genuine guy and as long as you're being upfront, I'm sure he'd appreciate you taking the first step to help him sell more of it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Tiffany,

    The reason for these restrictions is usually that their previous customers may feel slighted if they see the product offered by someone else at a better price. That causes friction between the 'guru' and his/her customers.

    A work-around? You may be able to get special permission from the author, if you agree to use his name and product name in a very specific way (and perhaps at a minimum price point). It's worth asking.
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    Victor Kiam was an Entrepreneur who ran an ad on TV re: Remington Shavers...he liked the product so much, he bought the company.

    I too, like Timmy's products, and have had a couple of PLR rights myself.

    I put in a READ THIS section up front and use the 'I liked this product so much, I bought the PLR rights to it...I did NOT write it, but I do find it has useful information.'

    That, along with the normal disclaimers, works for me.

    I also like to combine any PLR I have purchased with an additional work of my own blended into or as a bonus added on to the PLR.

    You address the potential problem up front, let them know it was written by a well known IMer and they may already have this product but you are restricted from using the name of the product...and offer a juicy BONUS you know they don't have.

    Good luck Tiffany, you're a Pro, let us know what you come up with.

    gjabiz
















    Originally Posted by TiffanyDow View Post

    Hey Warriors!

    I need a solution. There's a certain big name marketer who has wonderful products I'm a big fan of. And once in awhile, he'll sell the PLR rights to it. I want to get them BUT two restrictions are making a problem for me.

    Restriction #1

    You can't use or even MENTION his name on or in the sales promotion of the product when you go sell it.

    Restriction #2

    You can't use the original name of the product when you go sell it.

    Why are these a problem?

    Well much of my list are followers are his list, I'm assuming. I hate to sell them something and then they buy it and think, "Hey YOU didn't create this! You're a liar!"

    And I hate for them to even buy it and already own it - if many of the same people are on our lists, that could be a big headache in refunds.

    Why not just be an affiliate for it?

    Because he often takes his products off market and vaults them, so that won't work.

    Why not just write a similar product yourself?

    Because I want to promote THIS one. It's good, it's ready made (and affordable), and I like his style. Why reinvent the wheel?

    Some ideas so far I've heard are to say the original product creator's name rhymes with "Timmy Trown" (lol I like this one) or show an excerpt (but I think since he says we can't give it away, that might be against his TOS).

    Anyone have a workaround for this situation?

    I know I myself, when selling the PLR rights to my own products, don't like people to use my name on it, but it's because they alter content and then I'm responsible for it. I wouldn't mind someone saying the course was originally created by me and updated by them, though.

    Tiff
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    • Profile picture of the author wordydiva
      Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post

      Victor Kiam was an Entrepreneur who ran an ad on TV re: Remington Shavers...he liked the product so much, he bought the company.

      I too, like Timmy's products, and have had a couple of PLR rights myself.

      I put in a READ THIS section up front and use the 'I liked this product so much, I bought the PLR rights to it...I did NOT write it, but I do find it has useful information.'

      That, along with the normal disclaimers, works for me.

      I also like to combine any PLR I have purchased with an additional work of my own blended into or as a bonus added on to the PLR.

      You address the potential problem up front, let them know it was written by a well known IMer and they may already have this product but you are restricted from using the name of the product...and offer a juicy BONUS you know they don't have.

      Good luck Tiffany, you're a Pro, let us know what you come up with.

      gjabiz
      I was going to agree with talking to the IMer (which still may not be a bad idea), but adding a disclaimer explaining the situation and offering a bonus is a great idea. This way the customer will come away with something, you're being 100% honest about the product, and you're not going against any of the PLR restrictions.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Another thought - although you aren't allowed to use his name or product name in your advertising, you would probably be okay if you mentioned "ask me and I'll tell you privately". Not the same impact, but may help generate curiosity.
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  • Profile picture of the author pacesetter007
    I am 80% sure of the name of that guru, I love and respect him because he knows his stuffs. No B.S products all the time and when he says he is removing a product from the market, you are certain he will remove it.

    That said, I will simply walk up to him, ( I am also guessing you are a long time follower of this awesome guy...he being a friend with another wonderful marketer called Terry???...I will talk to him and we can make some exception on the rules. He will certainly have another approach or way to go about it. He is the product creator, he knows best how to get around that.

    BTW- I am also guessing that the smart man made that rule to cover his back against the FTC. A similar guru did sold PLRs sometimes ago and because he allowed his name on the product, the FTC came down on him hard...

    Tim
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  • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
    I don't see a way around it. That's why he's offering PLR and not just re-sell rights because he doesn't want his name attached to it. And you can't blame him, for every Tiffany Dow there are 50 bozos that would drag his name into the mud.

    So as others have noted aside from getting an OK from the man himself I think you're stuck.

    You could always re-invent the wheel a little bit to make more your own and maybe turn it into a video version. Or get someone on oDesk to do a voice over so you can then sell the audio version.

    I don't agree with Gene about "ask me privately" that's still violating his #1 restriction of not mentioning his name.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
      Originally Posted by Alan Petersen View Post

      I don't agree with Gene about "ask me privately" that's still violating his #1 restriction of not mentioning his name.
      Alan - the #1 restriction says: "You can't use or even MENTION his name on or in the sales promotion of the product when you go sell it."

      I read that as, he doesn't want it publicly advertised. I don't think he'd have any problem at all with letting people know if they asked privately. But to be safe and to be respectful, it would be best to ask first.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
        Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel View Post

        Alan - the #1 restriction says: "You can't use or even MENTION his name on or in the sales promotion of the product when you go sell it."

        I read that as, he doesn't want it publicly advertised. I don't think he'd have any problem at all with letting people know if they asked privately. But to be safe and to be respectful, it would be best to ask first.
        But if your publicly asking people to ask you privately than it's public. That's just how I read it.

        I do agree with you though, best check with him first. Since in this case his is the only interpretation of those restrictions that matter.
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        • Profile picture of the author ShayB
          Can you give the PLR material titles? I would imagine that if someone has purchased the PLR previously, the titles or subject matter would ring a bell.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
    Originally Posted by TiffanyDow View Post

    Well much of my list are followers are his list, I'm assuming. I hate to sell them something and then they buy it and think, "Hey YOU didn't create this! You're a liar!"
    So, tell them you have this book from a well-known marketer whose name you are prohibited from mentioning, but that you think it will be useful for them. Be descriptive enough that they should recognize if they already own it, but without mentioning the author or title.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Makarski
      I also have a few PLR products from (I'm assuming) the same guy. His stuff is always top shelf. I thought of re-touching his product to turn it into my conversation with a unnamed "marketing guru". Kinda like the entire "One Minute Manager / Salesperson / Etc" series of books is written. This should be easy enough to do and to think of it, I could outsource this task very easily.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tyson Faulkner
        I wouldn't worry about it too much.

        What are the chances that the same person will buy the product?

        Then, if they did and didn't use it, this is a great opportunity for them to actually put the information into practice.

        If they did buy, did use, and are upset, just explain and give a refund. Most customers would understand completely, I know I would. It would probably give me a renewed interest to go check out that product again and actually put it to use this time too =)

        So I'd say...don't sweat it and just go for it
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    That's a hard situation for him, too, Tiffany. No telling who would rewrite it how and keep his name on a product that turned out to be totally different.

    Perhaps you might want to approach this gentleman with your dilemma. He might be willing to revise his rights to include using his name as long as nothing is changed in the product when his name is used?
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  • Profile picture of the author techservice
    Just an observation for the OP.

    How many of the big marketers do PLR of other marketers? = None

    How many of the big marketers create there own info products? = All

    Is there really anything much new in any big launch product? or could you buy the info for 7 bucks in a WSO.

    Your own brand + your own products is where the money is. Do your own spin of the product in question give it to your list for free which will get them raving about you and then go build your $97 membership site and hit your list with it 6 weeks later and watch them join up.
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  • Profile picture of the author yourreviewer
    Here is an idea that may be worth testing. Try to give a sample of the ebook to your subscribers when they opt-in or on the actual sales page of the product, so that way when they read the information, they would know if its something they already purchased.

    Of course, if you change the content of the ebook, then it may not help.
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  • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
    Originally Posted by TiffanyDow View Post

    There's a certain big name marketer who has wonderful products I'm a big fan of. And once in awhile, he'll sell the PLR rights to it.
    Thanks Tiff. I'm flattered.


    Uh, just in case you were referring to someone else, I've been in this exact situation.

    Years ago bought an expensive and extremely limited release PLR (major, several hundred page marketing book) with these restrictions and right before I could get it out another big name marketer released his copy with a really, really cool name - for free.

    Well, little ol' me couldn't just release my copy, because then it would look like I was stealing - even though we had bought the same PLR.

    What to do ...

    1. Gave it some time. You may not have to if the guru has not released the product for a few years.

    2. Be up front in your version saying you bought the non-exclusive rights to this because it is excellent, but because you have the right to make edits the terms of sale prohibit you from disclosing the original author or using the original title. This is to protect the author in case someone makes edits that he would not agree with or said.

    Hope you understand. If you happened to have already bought this let me know and I'll immediately give you a refund. If not, enjoy. It's great content and hopefully you'll see why I decided to buy the rights to it.

    .
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