Comments on: The Promise of Weight Loss & Free Government Money… but at what cost? http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/ Let the Reign Begin Thu, 24 May 2012 17:34:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Waiman http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-102307 Waiman Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:50:31 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-102307 Like most people who have replied, I would not promote something that did not have integrity. It wouldn't sit well and is the kind of thing that can give affiliate marketing a bad name. Like most people who have replied, I would not promote something that did not have integrity. It wouldn't sit well and is the kind of thing that can give affiliate marketing a bad name.

]]> By: Ned Carey http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-101402 Ned Carey Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:34:45 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-101402 A friend told me of his great succes with soe Acai berry. I'm glad I didn't buy any. Jason and Jacques, I never heard the term Flogs - I love it. A friend told me of his great succes with soe Acai berry. I'm glad I didn't buy any.

Jason and Jacques, I never heard the term Flogs – I love it.

]]> By: Thomas http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-101098 Thomas Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:57:40 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-101098 This is how we hurt ourself in the longrun. I also poromoted both of them but after a conversation with a friend of mine I decided to stop. The main point is, that every customer who is getting ripped off by those programs will think twice the next time he has to use a credit card online and this fact will lower all our checks in the long run. This is how we hurt ourself in the longrun. I also poromoted both of them but after a conversation with a friend of mine I decided to stop. The main point is, that every customer who is getting ripped off by those programs will think twice the next time he has to use a credit card online and this fact will lower all our checks in the long run.

]]> By: Melissa Johnson http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-101082 Melissa Johnson Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:13:41 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-101082 Consumers need to be smart consumers. I personally do not make a purchase unless I am confident that either the product is what I am expecting and if it isn’t there is a way that I will be able to recover my investment or cost. These acai or grant offers are free trials, which means once the trial period is over you either like the product and will be charged to continue to use it or you turn it back over for your money back. My suggestion to consumers- make an educated buy. Consumers need to be smart consumers. I personally do not make a purchase unless I am confident that either the product is what I am expecting and if it isn’t there is a way that I will be able to recover my investment or cost. These acai or grant offers are free trials, which means once the trial period is over you either like the product and will be charged to continue to use it or you turn it back over for your money back. My suggestion to consumers- make an educated buy.

]]> By: Paul Schlegel http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-101028 Paul Schlegel Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:29:18 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-101028 I've been tracking the Government Grant/Google Business sites since December 13, 2008 and they seem to be never-ending. I'm up to 404 of them now. Most of the sites are using the same check - and the routing number on the check is invalid. <a href="http://us.bbb.org/WWWroot/SitePage.aspx?site=113&id=c8490f02-ac55-46a5-876a-d1602da7c60f&art=8493" rel="nofollow">The national BBB Alert on various Acai Berry Scams is here</a>. Unfortunately, when the FTC steps in they usually give companies a "clean up period" before pursuing further action. I was watching the <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/negativeoption/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">2007 FTC negative option workshop videos</a> and it was a bit sad at how few cases are actually prosecuted. I calculated the cost to consumers of ONE Free Trial Grant offer based on QuantCast numbers, an estimated conversion rate of 2% (probably low) and a retention period of 2 months (i.e. before they discovered the charges) and for that ONE product the cost to consumers would be close to 4 Million Dollars. Once one of these offers gets enough complaints, they set up a different site or if necessary even create a new corporation. The other problem is that the "gripe boards"/"complaint sites" that rank highly typically don't offer much assistance in helping the consumers actually file the proper complaints with the FTC, IC3, AGs, BBBs, or other non-profits that are more directly involved in providing data to federal agencies such as the National Consumers League. Paul Schlegel <a href="http://www.workathometruth.com/blog/2008/12/13/bradsmoney-wheres-that-government-check/" rel="nofollow">Brads Money - Where's that Government Check?</a> I've been tracking the Government Grant/Google Business sites since December 13, 2008 and they seem to be never-ending. I'm up to 404 of them now.

Most of the sites are using the same check – and the routing number on the check is invalid.

The national BBB Alert on various Acai Berry Scams is here.

Unfortunately, when the FTC steps in they usually give companies a "clean up period" before pursuing further action. I was watching the 2007 FTC negative option workshop videos and it was a bit sad at how few cases are actually prosecuted.

I calculated the cost to consumers of ONE Free Trial Grant offer based on QuantCast numbers, an estimated conversion rate of 2% (probably low) and a retention period of 2 months (i.e. before they discovered the charges) and for that ONE product the cost to consumers would be close to 4 Million Dollars.

Once one of these offers gets enough complaints, they set up a different site or if necessary even create a new corporation.

The other problem is that the "gripe boards"/"complaint sites" that rank highly typically don't offer much assistance in helping the consumers actually file the proper complaints with the FTC, IC3, AGs, BBBs, or other non-profits that are more directly involved in providing data to federal agencies such as the National Consumers League.

Paul Schlegel

Brads Money – Where's that Government Check?

]]> By: Minnesota Attorney http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-100961 Minnesota Attorney Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:55:43 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-100961 I'm surprised that Facebook isn't more careful about the advertisements it allows. They should have a review committee examine spam-like ads. I'm surprised that Facebook isn't more careful about the advertisements it allows. They should have a review committee examine spam-like ads.

]]> By: Diego http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-100949 Diego Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:15:40 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-100949 If it's scam (and it often is), why do authorities not pay attention to this? If the situation gets more serious and punishment will be mentioned, affiliate networks will get rid of such offers in mere seconds If it's scam (and it often is), why do authorities not pay attention to this? If the situation gets more serious and punishment will be mentioned, affiliate networks will get rid of such offers in mere seconds

]]> By: The Blogger Source http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-100903 The Blogger Source Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:43:05 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-100903 We are microwave people. Pop it in and it's done in 60 sec, no work required. We want it fast and with little work. We are microwave people. Pop it in and it's done in 60 sec, no work required. We want it fast and with little work.

]]> By: Play Games Win Prize http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-100886 Play Games Win Prize Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:15:00 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-100886 Quick money hand having outsourced work from overseas is what people try to do all the time. They won't get caught as easily :( -Mike Quick money hand having outsourced work from overseas is what people try to do all the time. They won't get caught as easily :(

-Mike

]]> By: Geoff http://zacjohnson.com/the-promise-of-weight-loss-free-government-money-but-at-what-cost/comment-page-1/#comment-100820 Geoff Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:57:40 +0000 http://zacjohnson.com/?p=768#comment-100820 If it is ok to exploit the stupidity of people, then you might as well kill your autistic brother. If it is ok to exploit the stupidity of people, then you might as well kill your autistic brother.

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