59 replies
It's not often that I get really mad at unethical marketing practices.
Normally I just unsubscribe from that person's list and make a note never to do business with that person, but I have to admit this particular tactic that a marketer just used really annoyed me.

I get an email stating that there are some free graphic downloads available so I click. Naturally there's a list to join which I don't have a problem with so I signed up.

First problem. No download page, just a sales page promoting a graphics package. So I figure no problem. I will get the download link in an email.

The email finally arrives and it states that I can download my three FREE downloads by clicking the links. So I duly click on all three links.

Guess what! No download link. Just three sales pages stating how I can get these fabulous tools for FREE by paying just a small amount.

Seriously?!?! People are not stupid and that marketer just lost a customer.

Di
#blatant #lie
  • Profile picture of the author FXdarling
    You are right Di. Such tactics are unacceptable. The worse thing is that even after you unsubscribed from such service they keep sending you emails.
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    • Profile picture of the author curly sue
      Hi Diana. Such mishaps can happen by mistake! Contact the business owner, they may not be aware that the download link is not working.
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      • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
        Originally Posted by sexy sue View Post

        Hi Diana. Such mishaps can happen by mistake! Contact the business owner, they may not be aware that the download link is not working.
        Sue this is no mistake. It states very CLEARLY that I can get those tools for free by paying a small amount.
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        • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
          Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

          Sue this is no mistake. It states very CLEARLY that I can get those tools for free by paying a small amount.
          Hmmm ... quite amazing what some people's idea of FREE is
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        • Profile picture of the author ryanmilligan
          Banned
          Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

          for free by paying a small amount.
          Damn, that made me laugh..

          That's like a car salesman saying:

          "I'll give you this Ferrari for free, but you gotta' give me $1,00,000"
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        • Profile picture of the author MariamN
          Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

          Sue this is no mistake. It states very CLEARLY that I can get those tools for free by paying a small amount.
          How it can be free by the time you have to pay!! o_O
          This marketer was trying to make a few bucks with an attractive offer, he could just say pay very less for 3 good graphic downloads.
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          • Profile picture of the author magiclouie
            Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post


            Seriously?!?! People are not stupid and that marketer just lost a customer.

            Di
            Originally Posted by MariamN View Post

            How it can be free by the time you have to pay!! o_O
            This marketer was trying to make a few bucks with an attractive offer, he could just say pay very less for 3 good graphic downloads.
            Honesty is always the best policy.
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        • Profile picture of the author Teli
          Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

          Sue this is no mistake. It states very CLEARLY that I can get those tools for free by paying a small amount.
          OK, this made me laugh to keep from crying. It's one of those instances where "I don't think that word means what you think it means" comes to mind...and I don't think the word "free" means what that particular marketer thinks it means.

          I'm so sorry to hear this happened to you, Diana, but I certainly hope you immediately unsubscribed from that list. (Actually, I'm really hoping you didn't sign up with your primary email address because you might already been on a large number of spam lists by now.)
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        • Profile picture of the author minisitetycoon
          Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

          Sue this is no mistake. It states very CLEARLY that I can get those tools for free by paying a small amount.
          So it has come down to this. Internet marketers using false advertising to try and make sales by being a blatant liar. Nice way to get would be followers to hate the business owner.

          Is the guy that desperate to put sales ahead of likability? I for one would never lead people on like that, I am the honest marketer you can trust.

          I see where that can get to be very annoying Diana, especially on the 2nd time waiting for the email and have it happen twice. grrrr.

          Yes definitely put that guy on the black list just for ignorance alone.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sheryl Polomka
    Gotta love the wording - free by paying - duh!

    Some people are just stupid, do they really think they are giving their business any credibility. Lying so blatantly is not going to do them any favours long term.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michelle Stevens
    I hope as you had to opt in that you have now unsubscribed from this unscrupulous markers list?

    What a silly person, looks like they are going to learn the hard way!
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  • Profile picture of the author msu
    A couple of sources I use for free images are:

    Icon Search Engine | Iconfinder
    and
    Compfight / A Flickr Search Tool

    You need to check the license terms for images but there's some great stuff available.

    No sign up required
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  • Profile picture of the author Romeo90
    I am with you 100% on this Di, to the extent that I now usually avoid things that are given away 'free' on here.

    I won't say what the last thing I clicked on here that was advertised as free, but it involved 3 different sales pages, numerous exit pop-ups,sign ups to 3 different lists, another sales page - to which I then lost interest, deleted all the opt in emails I got that I just signed up to, and vowed never to bother with that person again.

    Now I accept that I will need to sign up to a list or see a sales page or 2, but numerous sales pages (some not even remotely linked to the product I was after), numerous list sign ups, numerous exit pop ups, and numerous new tabs opened in my browser is simply too much.
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  • Profile picture of the author faisalferoze
    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    It's not often that I get really mad at unethical marketing practices.
    Normally I just unsubscribe from that person's list and make a note never to do business with that person, but I have to admit this particular tactic that a marketer just used really annoyed me.

    I get an email stating that there are some free graphic downloads available so I click. Naturally there's a list to join which I don't have a problem with so I signed up.

    First problem. No download page, just a sales page promoting a graphics package. So I figure no problem. I will get the download link in an email.

    The email finally arrives and it states that I can download my three FREE downloads by clicking the links. So I duly click on all three links.

    Guess what! No download link. Just three sales pages stating how I can get these fabulous tools for FREE by paying just a small amount.

    Seriously?!?! People are not stupid and that marketer just lost a customer.

    Di
    Dictionary example of a "bait and switch."
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    • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
      Originally Posted by faisalferoze View Post

      Dictionary example of a "bait and switch."
      No- Dictionary example of a lying Bas&$*!
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      nothing to see here.

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  • Profile picture of the author Greg71
    It probably meant " free to look".
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    • Profile picture of the author PatriciaJ
      Originally Posted by Greg71 View Post

      It probably meant " free to look".
      or free to use after you have bought them
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  • Profile picture of the author Silentkiller1
    I also come across such liars daily. They don't know the value of business,they just want fast cash.
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    That's messed up. Then again, I am not surprised. I am sure if they snag the wrong person, they would be looking at more than just a few complaints on some forums. Karma is real and it definitely sucks to be under the hard wheels of karma.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Smith
    People who can sleep at night knowing they are lying to people to make money most likely will not succeed. They may make a little money for a while until people start to catch on to their lies.

    Honesty is key and the willingness to help people is also key. Being honest will take you further than you can imagine.

    Wish you luck,
    Jonathan Smith
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  • Profile picture of the author esk
    after you've paid $97 you get instant free access
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  • Profile picture of the author louie6925
    unfortunately more and more people are taking unethical approaches to marketing! its very sad that people resort to that sort of thing!
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  • Profile picture of the author AndrewStark
    What we need to do is educate the people who promote this crap.

    Tell the list owner the reason you unsubscribed, show them the link to this thread. They were probably just following a "system" without actually thinking what they were doing.

    Someone at the top is making a lot of money off daft people, very very sad state of affairs.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    *Puts on boxing gloves* Who's pissed you off Di? Joe Robinson will take care of them for ya. Assuming they aren't overly muscled. I have a face to protect here.
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  • Profile picture of the author Redwyn88
    There's a lot of this, and similar crap, going on now. I'm not sure if it's more prevalent than before or I'm just more aware of it now but it's pretty annoying! I get real frustrated when I see relatively well known IM "guru's" starting to do stuff like this too, with so many mimicking their every move I shudder to think how much these tactics are becoming the norm now.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Redwyn88 View Post

      There's a lot of this, and similar crap, going on now. I'm not sure if it's more prevalent than before or I'm just more aware of it now but it's pretty annoying! I get real frustrated when I see relatively well known IM "guru's" starting to do stuff like this too, with so many mimicking their every move I shudder to think how much these tactics are becoming the norm now.
      I think that this is a matter of perspective, which depends on who you view the "gurus" to be and how many IM lists you are subscribed to. Being on two lists myself (of marketers who I actually know and trust), instead of everyone and everyone, has led me to never see anything like this.
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      • Profile picture of the author Redwyn88
        Originally Posted by Joe Robinson View Post

        I think that this is a matter of perspective, which depends on who you view the "gurus" to be and how many IM lists you are subscribed to. Being on two lists myself (of marketers who I actually know and trust), instead of everyone and everyone, has led me to never see anything like this.
        Yeah, I'm only on a few, was 3, now recently became 2 due to the stuff I mentioned For the most part I never see this kind of stuff from most of the IM blogs I follow. I would pretty much call anyone who has a following a "guru" but you're right, there are all different levels within that...
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        • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Redwyn88 View Post

          I would pretty much call anyone who has a following a "guru" but you're right, there are all different levels within that...
          I'd have to disagree with that. There are a few people who follow me on here and ask for my advice. Doesn't make me a guru in any form or fashion. Hell, I do pretty well online but I'm definitely not rich by any stretch of the imagination. Let's leave the guru label to the real experts .
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          • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
            Who knows... The person who tried to ripped Di off, may show up at a later date. Crying I have been doing IM for 6 months and have not made a dime.

            Sucks to be put thru all the BS and someone has the B***s to try and charge you for the free item.
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          • Profile picture of the author Redwyn88
            Originally Posted by Joe Robinson View Post

            I'd have to disagree with that. There are a few people who follow me on here and ask for my advice. Doesn't make me a guru in any form or fashion. Hell, I do pretty well online but I'm definitely not rich by any stretch of the imagination. Let's leave the guru label to the real experts .
            The difference is you don't have a site and aren't selling yourself as an internet marketing expert (as far as I know anyway ). Anyone who does that is at the very least a self-proclaimed "guru" imo.
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  • Profile picture of the author magiclouie
    The truth is, bad people are everywhere.

    That is the reality. We need to accept that and move on.

    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post


    Guess what! No download link. Just three sales pages stating how I can get these fabulous tools for FREE by paying just a small amount.

    Di
    I wonder how hard for that marketer to tell the truth!

    Seriously, I find it hilarious and pathetic :rolleyes: at the same time.
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  • Profile picture of the author AllanWard
    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    Guess what! No download link. Just three sales pages stating how I can get these fabulous tools for FREE by paying just a small amount.
    Gives a whole new meaning to 'Pushing the free line' doesn't it.

    Unsubscribe and move on. Makes you wonder how much success that person is (or isn't) having with their tactics.
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  • Profile picture of the author smallbiz
    I certainly see more of this type of thing from forums. I'm on a few good quality lists who don't pass on this type of rubbish, thankfully. You just have to feel sorry for them really. They may make a fast buck initially but they won't build a business on this type of bullsh*t.
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  • Profile picture of the author rohit36
    I thinks those are the marketers who don't know any thing, just starting out and just want money in any way they can get it...
    silly
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  • Profile picture of the author infinityplr
    I really don't like those cheap tricks that some marketers do, like your experience. Surely there are other techniques to sell without annoying all your customers by posting crappy links that just doesn't give you what they were promoting.
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Maybe he wanted you to ask for a refund after you got them.
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      • Profile picture of the author Go4DBest
        Originally Posted by fin View Post

        Maybe he wanted you to ask for a refund after you got them.
        Fair enough!
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  • Profile picture of the author Kadztheman
    I agree do people really think thats going to make people buy their stuff?
    Just dont even open their crappy emails
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  • Profile picture of the author Khemosabi
    Ugh! I've gone through this before as well. So frustrating! Especially when it's something that you're really interested in. Hopefully this person will catch this thread, or others, and learn something!
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  • Profile picture of the author Willie Crawford
    While this thread does seem to point out a marketer who is
    just an idiot, it also reminds me of something that I think
    is almost as bad.

    That's putting a new subscriber (or customer) through up-sell,
    cross-sell, down-sell, and just-say-no-20-times hell... before
    you give them the freebie that they just signed up for.

    Yes, I know that if you force them to read an offer or two
    before giving them the freebie, that you WILL increase your
    bottomline.

    I also know that many, especially newbies, will fill out the
    form, and then when taken to a sales page, they will just
    close the window and go look for the email.

    A lot of your customers who buy things will do the same
    thing... they will not understand that they can just scroll
    to the bottom of that up-sell offer, and find the link to
    download their purchase or gift.

    I find that this practice leads to a lot of customer service
    issues, and complaints.

    Again, I know from looking at the numbers, that this practice
    does often add substantial short-term profits.

    For freebies, I actually often take a different approach.
    Admittedly, I have a large enough database where I don't need
    to really worry about building it.

    However, with a freebie like a piece of software, I now prefer
    just giving them the download, and then when they go to use the
    software, I ask them to register it... which is a perfectly
    "normal" thing to do, and that gets them in my database, where
    I can follow up "as approprite."

    Slightly off on a tangent, but food for thought.

    Willie
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    • Profile picture of the author Andrew74
      nice points Willie
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      Cheers,

      Andrew

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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        Originally Posted by Will Edwards View Post

        Hmmm ... quite amazing what some people's idea of FREE is
        They may have learned it from mainstream American business, especially in the hospitality industry.

        I'm constantly getting emails from restaurants and such offering me a "free gift" of a dessert or appetizer. But to collect my gift, I have to dine in, order two entrees and two drinks, tip the waiter, and sing "Dixie" while standing on one leg...

        How can these places afford to be so generous? :rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author andybeveridge
    I got accused of bait and switch tactics by one of my subscribers which is something I would never do. What happened was I arranged an ad swap with someone and he must have switched the offer.
    So sometimes it is not always the fault of the sender.
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  • Profile picture of the author DJL
    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    ... People are not stupid ...
    Au contrair,
    "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public"
    --H. L. Mencken
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  • Profile picture of the author WinstonTian
    Originally Posted by DianaHeuser View Post

    The email finally arrives and it states that I can download my three FREE downloads by clicking the links. So I duly click on all three links.

    Guess what! No download link. Just three sales pages stating how I can get these fabulous tools for FREE by paying just a small amount.

    Seriously?!?! People are not stupid and that marketer just lost a customer.

    Di
    Then that guy/lady has absolutely no business sense.

    Anyone that treats their prospects that poorly wouldn't
    have a particularly great business philosophy...I now,
    too, wonder about the content he was offering.

    I mean, it would have been FAR smarter to at least warm
    up his/her leads immediately after the opt-in... Granting
    the DL is fundamental.

    Winston Tian
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  • Profile picture of the author gomarketing
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      How can these places afford to be so generous?
      Willie pointed out a common practice - it's right up there with giving the required unsubscribe link in your email and putting that link 8 inches down from the last line on the page.

      Sellers like that can do fine as long as their emails reach buyers who believe they are due an inheritance from a rich uncle they never heard of in London.... who left millions in a Nigerian account.... that the FBI is trying to block...

      kay
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      • Profile picture of the author WriterWahm
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        Sellers like that can do fine as long as their emails reach buyers who believe they are due an inheritance from a rich uncle they never heard of in London.... who left millions in a Nigerian account.... that the FBI is trying to block...

        kay
        It would surprise you how many such buyers like those exist.
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  • Profile picture of the author maggie2
    What ticks me off most about this kind of crap is that you end up wasting your time for nothing. That's not cool.

    Marg
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    Marg

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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy Bratcher
    This has to be the worst sales tactic. I'd be surprised if he got any sales.

    Customers definitely don't like being misled much less lied to outright.

    The owner obviously is out there to scam a quick buck and has no vested interest in making it a long term business.

    They could at least give a small free graphics package away and upsell to the complete graphics package. Much more sales would result since the value of upsell is demonstrated in the free package.
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  • Profile picture of the author dsouravs
    It happened to me once and that also from a very well reputed IMer. He/she has a very nice website with lots of videos and contents.
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  • Profile picture of the author easternodyssey
    Thats 90% of online marketing and sadly enough a lot of people are dumb enough to pay the money.
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  • Profile picture of the author HN
    Banned
    As chance would have it after reading this thread I received an email from well respected person on this forum with the following title "get our new software FREE! First 50 people only."
    I really ain't interested in someone else's software because I create my own, but hey it's free, so I clicked the link. Guess what, you can get it for free if you buy SkyBuilder One Year License for $997.00 for one year.
    Now I guess my question would be, are you still pissed if some really well-known guru sent you this bu-shi? Or are they an exception and can be excused to get away with this crap?
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan J
    That sounds pretty lame to say the least. At the end of the day, you walked away a winner by not fueling these bad marketing practices with your money.

    As the income retreats for that individual, it will only be a matter of time before we see a thread pop up saying "HELP - My Subscribers aren't buying from me!"

    Hmm, I wonder why?
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  • Profile picture of the author Afrolite
    1000% with you on that, they trap you with small prices And try to maximize once you push the button.
    I hate OTO's period.
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  • Profile picture of the author IntoughShape
    yup lots of IM people are just retarded like that lmao.
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  • Profile picture of the author Baadier Sydow
    I've seen a few marketers do exactly that, the only thing that changes seems to be the degree of the lie. Once a week the same marketers have the product that will change your lives email. I cant really complain too much, I'm the one thats still on the list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Wendy Maki
    Maybe they sort of meant to say "free bonus" when you buy...????

    Lately I've stopped subscribing to anything except things I REALLY REALLY want because of just these kind of tactics... The plus side of that is I am definately not wasting as much time from my own curiosity impulses

    The good news... eventually, all this crappola just makes the good guys look REALLY good and even more trustworthy, so bring it on...
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  • Profile picture of the author Darryl Smith
    I could not agree with the OP more..

    There are some forums such as Warriors who have a growing list (suitably titled) of these types of marketers who are giving themselves and the industry a bad name by their shameless tactics. The list does a good job in naming and shaming (with positive proof attached to stop baseless accusations) with submissions going through the forum moderators first to avoid any spurious issues.

    Maybe something the mods here may think about? I realise it will be a lot of hard work, but what price a bit of self policing?
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