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  • Report: #214394

Report: Starscapes

Category: Home based business

Starscapes ripoff Chandler Arizona

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Starscapes

Phone:  480-615-7646
Fax:  
427 W. Chilton
Chandler, Arizona
U.S.A.

Submitted: Thursday, October 05, 2006

Last posting: Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Reported By

St. Louis, Missouri

If you are thinking of investing in the "Starscapes" business opportunity, think again! For well over a decade, the founder of this paint-stars-on-the-ceiling concept(Joe Petrashek) has graced full page cover ads in various biz op magazines. He is a former "magician" and I bet he was a darn good one too. But sadly, what he pulls out of his magician's hat isn't a live rabbitt. It's not even a stuffed animal. Just a cheesy drawing of a rabbitt! Let me explain:

The concept of "Starscapes" is to paint a "glow in the dark" mural of the starry nightime sky on the ceilings and/or walls of a person's home-usually a bedroom. The effect is rather novel and has some appeal for the wealthy and upscale, as you need to charge plenty for this "custom" paintjob. You would have to market like crazy to make any money at this, as it's almost impossible to sell the effect with brochures and sales pitches alone, but that is true with many of these ventures. That is not my problem with Starscapes, although he greatly exaggerates the potential of this difficult to market concept. The "rip off" is, that Starscapes charges over $4000.00 for the secret details of how to easily paint these murals including some mysterious "equipment" that he will not identify until after you've shelled out the cash. He uses cryptic language like "galactification machine" and "activation wand" to entice you into thinking you are getting some real high-tech gadgetry. What you get is a star projector similar to the $39.95 toy "planetariums" you can buy at toy and education stores. This projects the stars onto the ceiling so you "the artist-illusionist" as he refers to his suckers, can easily dab a few cents worth of glow in the dark paint on them. The "activation wand" is a cheap blacklight easily bought everywhere for a few dollars. His "demonstration poster", designed to give potential customers a sample of what the finished mural will look like, is a wrinkled up piece of white paper with little circles on it that you have to paint yourself! He charges over $40.00 for this poster along with a thimble full of paint and a TOOTHPICK to paint the circles with! When my "demo package" arrived, I actually thought it was a gag of some kind - (smile, you're on Candid Camera!) His promotional materials were so cheap they looked like they were printed on a old Commodore 64 computer! In addition, he soaks you for a monthly fee to keep your "license" active! License? You also get a cheap "rubber stamp" website to promote your biz which comes with a link to the COMPANY website, so all your potential customers can see how you got started in the business, what you paid for it, what you are making off of them, and how to start their own if they so choose! A real win-win! For HIM! This guy is good!

All this aside, if the guy just came out and showed you exactly what you would get for your 4 Grand, I would think, well, Barnum was right, and leave it at that but he doesn't. Yes, he offers a money back policy but he knows most people will never ask for it. This guy not only preys on people's gullibility, but he uses the same invisible paint to paint your dreams of financial independence, that he uses to paint his murals.

Bottom Line: If you are intrigued by the prospect of making a lot of money by painting space murals on ceilings, you probably have your head in the clouds, but go ahead. The result is kind of cool, I concede, and with a LOT of creative marketing, you might be able to make a few bucks - even more if you get lucky and land a wealthy prospect. But don't be a sucker and send this guy 4 grand for about a hundred bucks worth of stuff to do it with! All the paint and supplies to do this venture can be found on the internet with a little research. Only a complete idiot would need this guy, and if you are that idiotic, you'll never succeed anyway. By the way: When I asked to join his Yahoo user group as a guest, so I could actually talk to other people doing this and find out first hand the real truth, he denied my request. Nor would he share any contact info of any kind. You'd think if most of his customers were happy and prosperous, he would WANT you to contact them. In fact, he makes his "licensees" sign a contract not to divulge any details of the Starscapes "method." Talk about intimidation! It works too, because I called several people I found on the web, before I found one who was willing to talk!

Starscapes may not be a complete scam, but it's ridiculously overpriced. And like the founder's prior occupation, it's mostly smoke and mirrors!

Jason
St. Louis, Missouri
U.S.A.



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Update

Submitted: Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Posted: Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Joe

Chandler
U.S.A.

STARSCAPES® StarBiz NOT a ripoff.

Rip-Off Report's Readers-

For over 15 years I have completely dedicated myself and a full staff to the development of the Starscapes® technology as well as the development of all of our thousands of customers. For this reason, it is shocking to me that a post such this one surfaces on the internet. Not only is this post factually inaccurate, but it seems as though the person writing it is from a competing company. Nevertheless, I will give you the facts versus the fiction about it.

“Jason (JA)” alleges the following:

JA; "The effect is rather novel and has some appeal for the wealthy and upscale, as you need to charge plenty for this "custom" paintjob."

In the 25 years I've been doing this, with customers in over 160 countries, I'd venture to say, that there isn't anyone, anywhere around the world, that doesn't like to stargaze. You do NOT have to charge a lot for your work. Low income people love this just as much as anyone else. Some Artists, in fact, donate work for charity. Just as in any business, if you want to make a higher profit, you raise your rate. Many jobs are sold off the brochures with a free and entertaining demonstration.

JA; “You would have to market like crazy to make any money at this, as it's almost impossible to see the effect with brochures and sales pitches alone.”

True, it is hard to put into words how amazing it actually is (even Jason agrees there), but he is ABSOLUTELY WRONG about obtaining customers. Believe it or not, some Artists get clients simply by having signage or lettering on their vehicles. Some get referrals. Whatever method you use, however, it still takes effort on your part. And by the way, successful business people always "market like crazy".

We provide a full demonstration kit so that the Artist can show their customers in their home. We also provide an entire online store dedicated to marketing material, promotional items and supplies. Finally, we provide two online forums where Artists are constantly swapping sales ideas and marketing techniques. Artists are constatly talking about their promotions at town fairs and other venues. At one recent small town event, the artist walked away with several dozen appointments. He'll be posting pictures online and telling the other members all about it.

JA; “They charge over $4000.00 for the secret details of how to easily paint these murals including some mysterious ‘equipment' he will not identify until after you've shelled out the cash”

The Star-Biz package can be had for LESS than $4000 when it's on sale. The Program price includes the educational training, and everything you need (and listed on the website), along with our new, one of a kind, custom made, available nowhere else, professional Galactification Machine, built by us exclusively for our Artist-Illusionists. And as one Artist-Illusionist stated, "That's one FINE piece of equipment". All the rest agree.

While the Program may be a lot of money to others; it's not that much when you're making a business decision. Especially when you can get your money back with just a few, quick jobs. Every item in the world can be overpriced to some people. In a way, price can also help with exclusivity. Thereby limiting the quantity of the product in the marketplace.

Though he is correct in saying that they are easy to paint, anything is easy if you have the right tools and the right knowledge. That is why we provide each Artist-Illusionist with all of the necessary training materials, equipment, tools and applicators.

Of course we don't identify them and offer the training until you have become part of the Artist community. You don't see Coke giving out their recipe, or Pfizer sharing their drug formulas. I once spent a few thousand on a Wall Street stock picking method. Just a textual manual and a few audio tapes. Nothing more. It was well worth the price, and actually more valuable at that. Like a college course, or technical school, you pay for an experts knowledge and experience. But with the StarBiz, you get more.

JA; “His ‘demonstration poster', designed to give potential customers a sample of what the finished mural looks like, is a wrinkled up piece of paper with little circles that you have to paint yourself…”

Anyone can see for themselves how amazing the star illusion really looks, before they get the StarBiz program. Order the Introductory Package, which contains the Amazing 3-D Demonstration Portal Poster, then simply show it around to some friends. If you hear them say, "Wow! When can you do my room?", then you'll be more informed as to knowing whether or not this is for you. Common sense.

Let me make something clear. Nearly all of our Artists order the demo poster and are so blown away by it that they become full-time Artist-Illusionists. Obviously the demonstration is amazing… so amazing that “Jason” must have ordered one and then ordered the StarBiz package… or wait, could we have caught him in a lie? Clearly he has not seen the StarBiz system, technologies, or products, because he never would have ordered them if he didn't like the demo poster. Oh yeah, and the poster is FREE as long as you pay the $15 for shipping and handling. In the USA, we use USPS Priority Mail.

JA; “In addition, he soaks you for a monthly fee to keep your ‘license' active…”

Once again, more proof that “Jason” was never an Artist-Illusionist; and, he doesn't believe in the product. The licensees have exclusive access to our free customer support and promotional materials, unlimited business support (of which I provide a lot MYSELF, along with my home and cell phone numbers), as well as completely redesigned websites, software sales brochures, etc. On top of that some Artist-Illusionists license "territory" as well… Furthermore, this is all an OPTIONAL fee. Of course, JA would have known that if he actually took part in the system.

The Artist-Illusionist's webpages do not contain links to the company website. Never have. Unless, the artist is an active "affiliate" and has requested that his "coded link" be placed on his webpage.


JA; “Yes, he offers a money back policy but he knows most people will never ask for it.”

In 15 years and thousands of customers, we have received over 300 testimonials in writing, audio, and video (all on the website). As long as we have been in business we have only had a small handful of people ask for their money back as will happen with any business. A PROMPT refund was always given. Oh yes… once again no one named Jason has ever asked for a refund.

JA; “All of the paint and supplies to do this venture can be found on the internet with little research.”

Good luck doing this. We formulate our own paint for our purpose, in our own lab.

JA; “When I asked to join his Yahoo user group, as a guest, so I could actually talk to other people doing this and find out first hand the real truth, he denied my request.”

This is how it works. Yahoo shows me when there is a request to join the group. If I don't recognize the name, they're simply not admitted.

It wasn't designed for the busy Artists (it's not their job) to spend their own time answering redundant questions that would be asked from outsiders. Questions like "How much money are you making, how do you do it, and do you think I can do this too?" No. The user group is for Artist-Illusionists only. A place to call home, and make friends and exchange useful ideas.

We have plenty of resources for those who want to find out how people are doing with the StarBiz.

Think about it. Why would I put my name, picture, life, and reputation on the line for over 15 years if it wasn't working? I have a real life, with a real family, in a real place. I have struggled before to "make ends meet" and I know what it is like to have an extra source of income. I also know what it is like to do something that you love and are loved for. If anyone has questions about the StarBiz, the business, or otherwise please feel free to call me at 1-480-615-7646. For complete details, visit www.starscapes.com .

By the way, I was made aware of JA's post shortly after it was posted. Who by? By a new Artist-Illusionist, whom became a customer just eight days after reading the post.

Joe Petrashek, Founder
Starscapes.com
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