Storesonline ripoff, uses high pressure sales tactics and consumer ignorance to profit!! Orem Utah

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Rip-Off Report Investigation: shows that StoresOnline & iMergent is fulfilling its commitment to provide excellent customer service. Rip-off Report gives StoresOnline a POSITIVE rating in customer support and quality assurance. StoresOnline pledges to resolve complaints and address any issues from the past, present and in the future - committed to 100% satisfaction - whatever it takes say company executives.

After reading the reports of all of the people "suckered" into buying the 6 web sites that were offered at the StoresOnline seminar, I have to say that I am really saddened. It's terrible that so many people have lost so much on this scheme. I personally know someone who is unhappy with their experience with StoresOnline and actually attended the conference with her. I almost purchased the package myself, and had I the money, I most likely would have signed up for at least three. You see, I have a dream of having my own business and making a success out of it.

Thankfully, I didn't have the money they wanted me to put down as a first payment, and I knew that I would not be able to pay the monthly payments with my current salary. I decided that I had to be able to afford the payments on my own, assuming that I wouldn't be making anything from the web sites for several months. I didn't sign up for them, but was convinced that it was a good idea.

After getting back from the seminar (I had to leave early, as I had a prior committment) and had time to research other options, I found that everything StoresOnline offered was available at minimal cost and, in some cases, free. At that point, I was extremely grateful that I had listened to my instincts and not purchased the package.

The sales tactics employed by StoresOnline have all of the ingredients of a very high-pressure sales pitch. There are some people, like myself, who are influenced by this style of sales. As a sales and marketing professional, I can tell you all that most (if not ALL) companies use some form of mental manipulation to get you to buy their products. Commercials have subliminal messages in them, automobile dealers get you to drive their most expensive cars first. Sales people will use anything and everything necessary to get you to buy their product. Going through the StoresOnline seminar, I was truly amazed at how skilled they were at their sales strategy. They have it down to a science. As a sales and marketing professional, I have to sort of admire it.

HOWEVER, I think they are selling a crappy product that is over priced to the extreme. The fact that they are so unwilling to refund money is a testiment to their unethical practices. I just want to let you all know that there are "hard sale" tactics everywhere you look. My suggestion is to avoid the situations you have the most chances of being influenced as much as possible. It's tantamount to going to the grocery store hungry.

I recently went to one of their seminars, and experienced pretty much the same as everyone else writes here. Unlike most of the people in the room, I am quite technical (i.e. a geek). I was able to resist the high pressure sales pitch (reminds me of the timeshare presentations), but I learned A REAL LOT AT THE SEMINAR. I took a beginners course in internet marketing, and what they were teaching was very, very valuable information, and it only cost me $20.

I have my own webserver, and plan on implementing most of what they taught me, but not spending $7,000 with them. All the marking tools they showed us on the internet are free tools, if anyone goes out and looks for them. I do see how people are suckered into their $7,000 deal, but everything they told you about internet marketing that day was true, had you listened carefully and took notes, you too could have applied it for much less money, with probably similar results. Yes they probably are taking advantage of impulsive and desperate people, and thats wrong, but I am just saying that the information they offered is very real. I hope you people saved the handouts and took notes, because you can still use it, and hopefully make back some of that money storesonline took.

I believe my title speaks clearly enough as to what is going on in that last rebuttal. I also would like to know who paid off Mr. Singapore in this thread. If the truth be known whether salesman or not CONSUMERS should not be allowed to be tricked and decieved with out the least bit of accountabliity. I don't care for someone giving me a line of bull. So stick to your web-site which you are so busy with, and please tell me how it is that you found the time to comment on THIS SITE?

It is very interesting to me to read the information presented here by others about the terrible customer support of Storesonline. I am a merchant myself and I have had nothgin but a positive experience. Yes, the workshop I attended did use high pressure sales tactics.......but isnt that the case with anyone who is trying to sell you something? It is so funny to me to read these comments about adults claiming that Storesonline "ripped them off" because they used sales tactics! If you felt that their prodcuts could not benefit you, you didnt have to buy! No one is forcing it on you, and if you feel that they are and you are unable to stand up to the pressure, then its your own fault! Also, I am confused as to what you think Storesonline is supposed to do for you. They offer internet tools and knowledge for you to start your own web business. It is not their responsibility to start up a successful business for you! The information is there.....and besides, any business costs money to start up adn results are not always immediate. I have always had an easy time getting in touch with customer support.....they are avialbe by phone 10 hours a day and via chat 24 hours a day! I have a very successful web business and I credit the success to myself, nto to Storesonline. I sont know what it is you people are lookign to do with your web businesses, but if you put half the time into your Store builder as you put into writing these ridiculous posts, you would probably be successful too! And as far as the comments about why all these negative things are on here about Storesonline and there is nothing positive about them, well, the reason for that is: people who are successful merchants are not on here posting threads about how Storesonline works, they are workign their businesses. My suggestion: start building your online store instead of wasting yoru time in here!

Please, file a complaint with the Canadian authority that has the jurisdiction to investigate and review the presense of StoresOnline soliciting business from Canadians. Register your complaint, it is never too late: The Competition Bureau, 50 Victoria Street, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0C9 Toll-free 1-800-348-5358. We must put a stop to this company's presence in our country. Authorities can only respond when complaints are registered. Please do your part and have your voice heard.

Best Regards

Hi all,

I'm also a Stores Online (SOL) merchant. I went with my wife for their 1st workshop in Singapore in Nov '04 and bought 3 sites. However, my personal experience was quite different from most of the authors here.

During the seminar, it was made clear that everybody could be a successful internet marketeer. BUT, it wasn't going to be easy. I think most people only wanted to hear the 1st statement, and chose to forget the 2nd.

SOL differentiates itself by focusing on KNOWLEDGE. To make it work, merchants MUST invest the time and effort to understand the world of internet marketing, and master the skills. Just take a look at all the tutorials and wealth of research tools they provide...if this really was a scam, why do they make so much effort to educate their merchants?

During the seminar, there were long queues of people trying to sign up, and I told my wife, "95% of these people are going to fail. Only 5% will succeed". While it is true that anybody can succeed, most people will not have the sheer discipline and determination to mow through all the obstacles. How many people do u know that would be willing to spend hours each day staring at the screen, reading tutorials?

Recall those times when you were in school, attending your Accounting or History or some other classes? The same resources were available to all...same classroom, same textbooks, same teachers etc. But did everyone achieve the same result? Obviously not. Some would skip classes, or not do homework, or not read their textbooks, or listen to their teachers. SOL is a case in point.

Bottom line: SOL is not a scam. There are people who have genuinely suceeded. You can find some of them at http://www.thehungerinside.com/forums
This is a forum started by SOL merchants themselves. While most of them are like me, still trying to figure out how it works, there are a few who have already made it.

Even a newbie like me has some results to show. My 1st site www.storesonline.com/site/nittanyflora was launched on 2nd July. So far there's been 6-8 hits a day, and I've received 3 orders.

My 2nd site www.storesonline.com/site/brownriceshop was launched on 9th Aug. No orders yet, but I'm already receiving 12 - 15 hits a day.

In both cases, I am on the FRONT page of Google.

Personally, I hope that SOL continues to be in business. After spending 8 months part time learning about internet marketing, I still find that I know only 5% of this deep, blue ocean. Imagine what I could achieve with 100%!

I just attended a "seminar" from StoresOnline. Wow what a sales pitch it's a wonder everbody who attends doesn't sign up!!! There good!! I was lucky I was sick and tired of their sales pitch and my friend and I left after the afternoon break.I wiish there was something that could be done about companies like this, because they prey on people, and usually from my research they don't have the money.

I attended because I already have a web site but was promised that i would learn how to Market
my site better. what they sell is out there and there are better deals, the web sites they create are boring and all look the same, I learned nothing about marketing my web site I just go sold to for 6 hours!!! BEWAE this is way over priced for what you get!!!!

BTW, was their a big overweight, badly dressed guy at your presentations who tended to speak up quite loudly when questions were general asked to the audience by the presenters? During the 90 minute meeting I was sure he was a shill, then I gave them the benefit of the doubt, even today when I suspected him. Now, after reading so much I think I was probably right the first time!

I attended the full day workshop today, 10/25/04, apparantly with the same individuals heading it for StoreOnline. Yes, they rely on impulse buyers and I bet quite a few of them never follow through and worse yet never complain. There were many contridictory statements throughout. It became obvious that you would end up programming your own website dispite them constantly saying they would program it. Although I did not ask for it they came to me to offer me the consultation. My friend and I left the room and went out to speak with their rep. Our big opportunity to ask questions was really their big opportunity to try to hard sell me...LOL. I kept repeating to him that I would not be making a decision that day. That to me this would be impulse buying, that I was conservative and would research it as well as speak to my wife since she would be my partner. He handed me his phone..LOL. I told him I would want her to attend a workshop first. He then pushed that the price would be much higher.... I told him money was no object as if this worked as well as I expected, the additional capital would be negligible. In between all this I would constantly change the subject back to try to actually ask questions about ideas, their retention statistics (I was told 80% retention, only 80% of what?), etc. Anyway, they did wait till at least 1:30pm for lunch, then kept people there til at least 6:15-6:30pm. Most of the people I saw signing up were the people who the 6k+ would mean the most for. A shame. I did see value in that if you could make it work their high prices would not matter, though I know all the information they provide as well as the web services can be had much cheaper. I also tended to think they were selling, counting on many people not to follow through with exercising their rights to a website. BTW, the blond girl was also introduced to us as "just married"...LOL. Bet she's been "just married" for years...
LET THE BUYER BEWARE.............