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Report: #577244

Complaint Review: SMC And EMerchant Club - simi valley California

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  • Reported By: Brenda — North Syracuse New York United States of America
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  • SMC And EMerchant Club 996 Flower Glen Street simi valley, California United States of America

SMC And EMerchant Club specialty merchandise corporation scammed me out of over $16,000!! simi valley, California

*Consumer Comment: SMC do the research.....

*UPDATE Employee: im sorry! ill try to help

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I had decided to try to start a business. SMC promises so much. i joined and got the kit--which is worthless by the way. i paid $400 for the kit. (their prices range form $200-$500 for the kit, depending on how many notices they send you before you agree to join) so i get this kit, watch a DVD, read through the booklets and try to get all the info i could. it then said to call my business coach, which i would have for a whole year instead of just the 90 days. she then convinced me to spend over $5,000 to upgrade my membership, get a gift card redemption site,catalogs,gift cards ect. asked me to call and set up the gc website with another gentleman named Justin. then through him i had to spend over another $5,000. this was to get my website functioning, they do all the work to keep the online catalog updated throughout the year. a couple weeks later i get a phone call from a Steve Johnson at emerchant club. he wanted ocer $2,200 to make it so my website is even better. then first time customers didnt have to use a gift card. they could pay by credit card, pay pal ect. a couple weeks later i still have no website. he calls yet again and wants more money. i explained how much money i have spent and have nothing to show for it. and how i am a single mother at the moment and cannot keep shelling out money when i dont make any. he puts me on hold and says he talked to his boss and can offer me the same package for a little less. (this is what they all did to make you feel like your getting a really good deal. i blew up at him. he said he'd call after my website was up. and he did, and of course they want more money. then i get a call from another gentleman who says my website needs work. so now i have all this money invested, a website, tons of catalogs and gift cards, but none of it works. still cant place orders, no money coming in to pay bills. i wasnt expecting to get rich, but at least be able to make a steady income like they said was possible. and not for them to drain my bank account. i have nothing now. i had registered for their website. now it tells me i am not a member. they also try to make you feel better about investing. well over $16,000 spent and i had over $9,000 in credit for merchandise, supp;ies or whatever. i just received an invoice the other day that i got charged $314.95 for membership/renewal fees out of my credits. (membership is supposed to be for a full year!) so now my credits are down to $7,000.and i have no way to use them. my member number doesnt exist, but yet when these people call me they have to tell me my #. my member # is 72147690-69. (they use just the first 8).i am at my wits end and feel so heartbroken and foolish now. i have all these notebooks with so many different names and numbers for these people.but yet i cant get anywhere. please someone help!


thank you

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 03/03/2010 09:02 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/smc-and-emerchant-club/simi-valley-california-93065/smc-and-emerchant-club-specialty-merchandise-corporation-scammed-me-out-of-over-16000-577244. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#2 Consumer Comment

SMC do the research.....

AUTHOR: Larry - (United States of America)

POSTED: Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Hello,
I had an account with SMC for 7 years. I have to agree with the majority of the complaints that have been posted. I have the basic, gift card redemption and the online store. My first experience with the training aspect was horrible, short, non productive and geared towards individuals who are ignorant to small businesses, web sites and more.

My third year I generated 36k and the efforts were extremely difficult. I don't believe in easy money, but I do believe in smart money in which you efforts are not more than that of a 9-5 job.

The fourth - sixth year was plummeted. to about 2500 per year. My biggest failure was the fact that I did test the market locally to see if it is a product that people were interested in. In fact, I researched for a year before deciding to buy into SMC. What I did not do, was research history to see what products did sell during a depression and recession time and material products was not on the list.
Yes you can make money with the program, but your success is based on the training that you get, honesty, and our personal efforts to self-educate.

I have decided to not even continue with SMC this year but I have ventured into another business that has lived up to everything that it says that it represents. I will not post this on the this rebuttal.

Now with SMC...i ended up earning the money invested into the program and more but not quite as what I put into it. I have made more in this months gross sales that I have made with the last two years put into SMC.
My advice is to make sure that you do your research....

"What you don't know WILL hurt you" and "Ignorance is NOT bliss" This was a quote for a man who has been an influence in my continuation of online businesses.
When a organization waves an apple in front of you, don't bite but make sure that it is the real deal. With all the education that we have and the information we can acquire from Friends, Family, Council, and others that have a vast knowledge in the areas of online business, websites and retail/wholesale, try to pick their brains and not be hasty.
My Personal experience: Single Male Parent of 2 girls for over 17 yrs. Involved with F.O.N.E (A Flop when WWW came into the scene), C. Sheets "No-Money Down" (good information and still very practical but with large limitations), StoresOnline (too much investing and very little support and model to follow), SMC (well....you know..a big flop), and a new one. I am a Cert Fit Trainer and a full time student. I am happy in what I am doing now online with an excellent coaching line that has not time limit
and a great staff and product.

So I pray that you all have success, do your research, and in the end stand up, wipe the dirt off and keep on going.

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#1 UPDATE Employee

im sorry! ill try to help

AUTHOR: smc emp - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, May 13, 2010

hello there.  so, i posted something like an hour ago to some other guys spiel about smc, and then i started looking for some other info, such as yours.  i dont say this to incur your anger, but i currently work for smc, at the call center in phoenix.  ive been hearing all kinds of stuff such as this on the phones, and i want to find out for myself.  ive heard about the website upsell.  i havent heard it like this, though!  i am sorry to hear all of this.  i dont know how the web stuff works, thats not my department (as im sure you hear all the time, but i mean it!!  im in new member services, not current member services, or the e club.) 

i dont know what phone numbers you do have, or what contacts you do have, but we do have an e-merchant club department in our building on 25th ave and dunlap, in phoenix, az.  the girl at the front desk probably wont be able to help you, shes a receptionist.  and im not sure how much help i can be either, but what i can do, is get the number for you to the call center itself.  also, i can find out whos running the department at my location, and try to get a direct line to that person as well, or even just one of the nice guys that work there (if there is such a thing?)

i know that probably isnt the kind of help your looking for, and im sorry i cant be of more use to you, but i will get you some phone numbers and hopefully point you in the right direction at least.  i am truely sorry that this turned into a fiasco for you, and hasnt worked out like you had hoped, or were told it would.
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