Testimonial Question

I can't offer any input regarding the legalities but at the end of the day, it's your gig and so your rules. If you don't feel comfortable or have any doubts then don't do it. When I was learning the guitar my teacher used to say, "If in doubt, leave it out", meaning that it was better to not play a chord I was unsure of than to play it and make a mess of the whole song. The same goes for business; if you have doubts about anything it's better to err on the side of caution and not do something rather than risk making a mess of your whole business by making one silly mistake!

Ethically I could only ever offer a testimonial on something I've used myself and I know that if I came across someone who had paid for false testimonials or someone who had been paid to give false testimonials then I wouldn't feel comfortable trusting either party.

Well done for doing the right thing, John, and all the best with your endeavours

It's good to see at least one response saying that it would not be ethical, together with you saying you had already told the client the same.

I am sure that if buyers or even potential buyers complained to them, the FTC would come down hard on both the users and the providers of fake testimonials, because it amounts to fraud.

On my website I include a statement that all my testimonials and claims will be substantiated if requested by any official authority such as FTC in the US, or the relevant authorities I name in other countries where people buy my eBook on importing.

I have never seen such an offer on any other website displaying testimonials. The reason I do it is because I know there are professional testimonial sellers who make a living out of the unethical practice, and there are many online vendors who are outright liars.

As for the people who lie to unsuspecting buyers by using fake testimonials, all I can say is it shows that their product has no real value. CAVEAT EMPTOR!

If anyone would like to see the wording I use, just check out the site link in my signature.

He knows what he's asking is unethical. Don't join that gang would be my advice. Stick to what's morally right regardless of what's legally allowable.

Just my 2c

John,

What you have written highlights the fact that most people seem too lazy to read what has actually been asked, or else they want to hijack a thread for their own objectives.

I have done a quick check through the thread again and find that I have been the only one in all these 16 posts who has actually answered the question. For those interested, you can take a shortcut by going straight to post #7.