richy
New member
- Mar 27, 2007
- 5,158
- 0
I got an email from CMA (on their list too) and this letter started it off. I know we don't see things like this here at AG..everyone posting seems to be a regular pretty much. Maybe this is an issue at larger forums?
Welcome to Classic Motoring Accessories,
the home of Proper Auto Care! Paid-for testimonials!
Beware of what you read on web forums!
Last week, I was contacted by an Internet Marketing Company claiming they could double my sales with any group of products I gave them over a six month period. I normally don't take such calls but this person mentioned two of my web competitors by name, gave me the names of the products they marketed and the results they claimed to have achieved. One of the brands this company claimed to have promoted was a product line that did, if fact, come out of nowhere and appeared to explode in the marketplace. Eager to learn how this growth was achieved, I agreed to meet with the company's representative.
At the appointed time, I was introduced to a well spoken gentleman and given a formal presentation on how their company would, "Spread the good word about my products." The company required a six month contract for a fairly substantial amount of money, one sample of each product to be promoted and a product fact sheet. This company maintains a data base of over 20,000 web forums, broken down by category. When given a product, (i.e. toothpaste, pet food, hair care, car wax, etc.) the company would flood all the relevant forums with rave testimonials about your product. Every testimonial would be different and would appear to be coming from a consumer who just tried your product and was so impressed that he/she was compelled to tell the world. To close the deal, the company's representative told me that, out of the dozen or so companies that specialize in this form of marketing, they are the most affordable and would guarantee substantial sales results within six months or refund a portion of the contract's price. I don't know if this type of advertising is illegal but I find it unethical at best. As a consumer, I recently purchased a wrist watch and a pair of headphones from online merchants. In determining which products best suited my needs, I visited a variety of web forums and read consumer reviews and testimonials. I would be furious to learn that any of the testimonials I used to base my buying decision were paid-for by a sleazy web merchant.
Classic Motoring Accessories has never used this form of advertising. We believe that forums should be gathering places for enthusiasts to share their opinions with other enthusiasts. We have no problems with advertising on forums as long as the ads are clearly identifiable as paid-for advertising. We are offended by and vehemently opposed to any company that uses fake, paid-for, testimonials to boost product sales.
I still visit forums for information but I now temper what I read with the knowledge that not all testimonials, reviews and opinions are what they appear to be.
Terry Freiberg, CEO
Classic Motoring Accessories
Welcome to Classic Motoring Accessories,
the home of Proper Auto Care! Paid-for testimonials!
Beware of what you read on web forums!
Last week, I was contacted by an Internet Marketing Company claiming they could double my sales with any group of products I gave them over a six month period. I normally don't take such calls but this person mentioned two of my web competitors by name, gave me the names of the products they marketed and the results they claimed to have achieved. One of the brands this company claimed to have promoted was a product line that did, if fact, come out of nowhere and appeared to explode in the marketplace. Eager to learn how this growth was achieved, I agreed to meet with the company's representative.
At the appointed time, I was introduced to a well spoken gentleman and given a formal presentation on how their company would, "Spread the good word about my products." The company required a six month contract for a fairly substantial amount of money, one sample of each product to be promoted and a product fact sheet. This company maintains a data base of over 20,000 web forums, broken down by category. When given a product, (i.e. toothpaste, pet food, hair care, car wax, etc.) the company would flood all the relevant forums with rave testimonials about your product. Every testimonial would be different and would appear to be coming from a consumer who just tried your product and was so impressed that he/she was compelled to tell the world. To close the deal, the company's representative told me that, out of the dozen or so companies that specialize in this form of marketing, they are the most affordable and would guarantee substantial sales results within six months or refund a portion of the contract's price. I don't know if this type of advertising is illegal but I find it unethical at best. As a consumer, I recently purchased a wrist watch and a pair of headphones from online merchants. In determining which products best suited my needs, I visited a variety of web forums and read consumer reviews and testimonials. I would be furious to learn that any of the testimonials I used to base my buying decision were paid-for by a sleazy web merchant.
Classic Motoring Accessories has never used this form of advertising. We believe that forums should be gathering places for enthusiasts to share their opinions with other enthusiasts. We have no problems with advertising on forums as long as the ads are clearly identifiable as paid-for advertising. We are offended by and vehemently opposed to any company that uses fake, paid-for, testimonials to boost product sales.
I still visit forums for information but I now temper what I read with the knowledge that not all testimonials, reviews and opinions are what they appear to be.
Terry Freiberg, CEO
Classic Motoring Accessories
J/K but seriously, I do love what everyone on our forum does for each other, all of you are the reason I spend all hours of the day and night on this forum!
As for our products, we let them speak for themselves, and they usually talk just fine on their own! :awesome: 