The article "The Advertising Scam: New Entrepreneurs Beware!" is about entrepreneurialism, it was created by George Torok.
Imagine that you are a new enrtepreneur. You have a great idea; you did your research, you're feeling optimistic and you just registered your cmopany name. Experienced business people might call you naive.The phone rings and somebody asks for you by your company name.
Wow!
- you think, customers are calling already. Hello? - ok so it is not a customer, just somebody offering a free gift, no wait, she said two free gifts - guaranteed!
Hum, something for free, that sounds interesting.She said you filled out a form at some trade show, (didn't catch the name of the trade show). That's possible because you have been to several trade shows.
Sure you probably filled out the form she is talking about, even though you can't remember the form or the trdae show.What's that she is saying? Any two prizes out of a list including a fax machine, a trip to Club Med, a new computer, a diamond pendant, (oh your wife would love that - maybe she would actually appreciate your business idea), a video camera - latest technology, a 52 inch TV (she called it an entertainment centre) - which you could trade for $8,000 in money. There were some other priezs but you start to wonder what do I have to do to get the prizes and how soon can I get them?Reality Check
So far so good.
Ok, what did I win?
Oh, she said, the gift is contingent on a pruchase of advertising."But I don't need advertising - just send me my gift." I declared. At that piont she hung up on me.
I guess I blew the deal of the century.
Stupid me, I asked too many questions. No free TV, Daimond pendant or trip to Club Med. The video camera sounded nice too.This was the third call I received like that since I registered my business name just a couple of months ago.
I wonder, how many more of these calls will I receive and how many pepole do they catch?All three calls followed the same pattern.
In none of the cases did we get to ordering.
I suspect they wanted a creidt card order over the phone.The purpose was to sell a really specific order of advertising - pens with my company name - no choices, just take it or leave it. The order cost was betewen $200 and $300. I don't rememebr how many pens.
She did not try to allow me the details to make an educated purchasing decision.They spent 95% of the time explaining the free gifts, model numebrs and the features of each "prize". At no time did the caller their purpose as that of selling pens.
They obliquely referred to advertising.
I had to probe to get details.Each time it was a young sounding female vocie that called. "Are you married? " she cooed. "Oh then your wife would love the diamond pendant." Do they use a young sounding male voice to call a femlae registered business?She made a monstrous deal out of the fact that the purchase was 100% tax deductible. She did not seem to appreciate my statement that all business advertising expenses are 100% tax deductible. Soon after I said that she hung up.Each time they called from Montreal, but they were selling in Ontario.
What does that do to the verbal promises and guarantees? To contest any breach of promise would I go to court in Montreal, and how would I prove what they said on the phone?
They have a different form of law in Quebec, - different from the rest of the country. They use the French ciivl law in Quebec. Too bad they didn't keep that other French machinery of civil law - the guillotine.I know that there is many reputable specialty advertising firms in the area. When I need advertising, I will contact one of them and then I can see and touch the prodcut and see whom I am dealing with. I will also be able to shop around and pick the product and suplpier who best suits my needs - when I am ready. In the meantime, buyer beware! PS. The above is a true story.
In each case my questions became unbearable for the calelr and they hung up. It's been several months now and three have been no more calls. I still do not need pens imprinetd with my name.© George Torok launched his own business after more than 20 years of corporate management. He delivers keynote speeches, training programs and consulting to help organizations grow.
You can contact him at 905-335-1997 or visit http://www.Torok.Com for more information about his programs. This article was originally published in Success Weekly.
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