CYBERWIZE ripoff BAD BAD SELLING PRACTICE ,SELLING BUSINESS UNDER FALSE PRETENSES SARASOTA Florida
I got involve with this company [Cyberwize] through a longtime friend. I was approach with: "Where else can you start a business for $99 with unlimited income? People are signing up like mad. Plus if you sign up now we;re include a free vaction [MEXICO or LAS VEGAS]"
So yes I was interested and considering this was a friend. I figure it was no harms in getting involve since he claim to be having so much success. He even fax me a business card: "MILLIONARE" can teach you how
Well that sure of been a red flag warning right there. Because I know he's no millionaire. But considering he was a friend so I overlook that. I said ok how do this work? I was told that by signing up I would have my own website with products and evertime someone make a purchase from that website. I would recieve a commission. All for $99.
Sounded good to me. I was intructed to go to the company website so I could review the forms. That way I could get more info. Well I couldn't access the forms due my system. I inform the seller of this. And he said I need to secure me a position now.And he would fax me the forms I need. For me to sign it and fax it back to immediatly. But first the seller needed to gather some info on me [ss#,credit card#] so he;ll have everything ready to go once I sign and fax the application back.
So considering this was a friend. I just didn't see no harm done. And gave him the infomation so he can fax me what I needed [forms]. After gathering my info. I was then inform that I will need a company website that would cost me 14.95 a months. I didn't say anything because I figure if I was making the money that he claim, 14.95 a month wasn't too bad.
So I preceeded to pick up the fax. And notice the last page of the application was missing. He said he'll take care of it.He never fax me that last page.I found out later through the brochure packet he sent me was the most important page. It's the one where you wave your legal rights. So what I'm thinking now is that somehow he forge my signature to last page for them take money out my account.
So upon receiving the fax [application] and reviewing it more closely. The seller immediatly call me back and asked me have I fax that yet. I said no not yet. At that point the seller inform me that I would need to set-up a telabox [19.95] a month. Plus business cards and advertisment. Which could be provided by the company. I found out later on [by reading their brochures] those business cards arrange from $59 to $79.
I told the seller I will get back to him later. I needed more time to review the terms because I wasn't liking what I was reading. So upon my completion of reviewing the application. I found out about this AUTOSHIP PLAN. Which is a monthly withdrawer from my account which arrange from 39.95 to 139.85 a month.
At this point I was devastated. When I confronted the seller of this. He inform me it was "nothing" and that they only take the money out if I make money.I inform him that isn;t what it said. [and after further investigation it was something].
THE SELLER FLAT OUT LIED TO ME!
Then he inform me that I need to go to this meeting [at my own expense] which is out of state and would cost me $100 to attend.I inform him that I will not be signing these forms. Because I read in their brochures that you have to: "BUY,SELL AND RECRUIT" TO BE SUCCESSFULL
Something that was suppose to cost me $99 is turning out to be awhole more. You do the math because I stop counting at $99
By this time I found out that money was already taken out my account. And I still have the application in my hand unsign. The seller contacted me again and asked did I attend the meeting. I inform the seller that all we need to be talking about is getting my money back."
He said just let it sit there. If you don't make money you don't pay nothing. Look at it on the bright side. You have great product worth $150. "I said what products! "The only thing I recieve was some brochures and a couple of CD;S which was sent directly from him. And if I was charge $99 for this. Then we sure do have a problem!
At that point I was exausted from arguing with him .I contacted[4-15] the company on this matter. I inform them that I do not wish to partipate in their company. And explain why. I inform them that I do not want any products sent to me that I will have to send back at my own expense. And also that I needed a RMA# to claim any refund.
The company fail to address this matter. Instead they sent [4-25] me a debit card. So I;m wondering now what hidden fees is attach to it. I notified[4-26] the company again. This time with a copy of the letter going to approciate agencies. This time they responded with a RMA#. But wanted me to fax them a note with my signature.
Now what's wrong with this picture? First of all the company didn't need my signature to take the money. So why would they need it to refund the money. I have reason to believe my signature is forge. And I;m not giving them a copy of my signature.After what I experience. I simply do not trust them. Because everytime I mention this to the seller. He never comment on it.
And plus this RMA# is for the return of product that I haven;t recieve. I explain this to them but they just ignore it. So I guess this is a excuse to keep my money.' NO PRODUCT NO REFUND'
To sum up my situation
(1) I was lead into a company under false pretenses
(2) I was charge[$99] for product I haven't recieve
(3) All this was done without my consent or knowledgement
(4) I have reason to believe my signature was forge
So comsumer beware. You have to buy, sell and recriut to be successful. You are buying your own product and selling it to your recruits. Who in terms does the the same. Sound like a perfect "pyramid" to me. You are not selling products. You're selling people who in terms are purchasing the product. And recruiting other to do the same Thats just like getting high off your on supply. You are your biggest customer. So I ask my self this:
"IF I'm my biggest customer. How can I profit?. By selling other to do the same.
Grinda
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Grizz
Hays,Kansas,
U.S.A.
Seriously...
#5UPDATE Employee
Sun, March 08, 2009
Grinda,
You're holding an IBO for Cyberwize accountable and that is fine, but do not stereotype a whole company based on one bad apple. That is like one bad employee where you work setting the tone for the whole employer.
Why is it that when people get involved with a MLM, they don't prospect much, don't try to promote or sell the products much and then blame the company for their lack of effort and lack of earned income. MLMs are all basically the same. You need product-loyal people to buy some product that has a markup attached to it so the IBOs can be compensated. A MLM with a good compensation plan would work just fine without ANY product as long as there were a network and hiarchey of people contributing dues/money each month. PEOPLE is the key word. You have to get out of your comfort zone, develop some sales/people skills and EARN the compensation.
Crybabies go from one MLM to the next, always hit their family and friends with their "new/better' company and are bitter about the reputation and lack of occurs because of it.
PICK ONE
DO WHAT YOUR UPLINE TELLS YOU (prospect, promote, sell)
GIVE IT YOUR BEST
I promise if you'll do this, you WILL make money in any MLM company.
By the way, this talk of "pyramid schemes" is lame. Every company that employs people is a pyramid with one CEO or owner at the top and delegated employees beneath. Even our Govt works that way....and dont look to them for examples of how to make money. They just play with ours without any collateral or repayment!
Best of luck to all who read this! Step out and do something, refuse to be average!
Grizz
Chuck
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
Response for Grinda
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, April 16, 2008
Grinda,
This is really terrible what happened to you. I'm a person who is in CyberWize and whoever this person was that was your friend didn't have correct information and should have informed you of everything up front.
First of all you should have been provided a document with what people in CyberWize made in the prior year listing all pin levels. As far as the $14.95 monthly Internet hosting fee, that is for hosting multiple web sites (travel, eCommerce, tax, etc.) but it actually is a fee that is highly recommended but not required in order to use what is called the Back Office. The Back Office allows you print off flyers, reports, etc. to provide more complete management of your web sites and business relative to the web site. If you weren't financially able to pay for the $14.95 fee per month it can be turned off and then turned back on later.
On the Televox as it is called, this is also a very desirable product that costs $29.95 a month which is a telephone answering service with a web-based front end for people to fill out a questionnaire and provide information to you, and also contains various training and audio files. However even though the Televox is recommended it is not required. It could also be turned off and then turned back on.
Whoever introduced the business to you should have told you about the various expenses, what they do for you and what you incur. You would probably have also needed to create a DBA (doing business as) company, or an LLC or corporation, depending on what level you wanted to take it. Finally you generally would want to create business cards and stationery as you would with any business. CyberWize offers the capability of creating and printing business card for you with an online form, or you can always make your own. I created my own letterhead stationary and business cards but you can order them if needed.
I'm very sorry that your friend told you many things and didn't handle your situation correctly at all. CyberWize is not a pyramid scheme or Ponzi scheme, but is one of the more reputable MLMs in the industry. I have been impressed with the integrity that the company tries to have, but then sometimes there are unethical people who get involved in companies, including CyberWize. You could consider reporting what happened to you to CyberWize management so that they are aware and can discuss the situation with this person so that they can learn to correctly manage their business including recruiting.
I hope this letter helps explain that your situation is not right or fair, and that people involved in MLMs should learn how to operate within the guidelines set forth by the MLM. CyberWize has very strict policies to be fair to customers and Independent Business Owners (IBOs), and even on occasion has kicked people out of CyberWize and/or fined them for unethical behavior which warrants this action.
Thank you for the chance the share with you my understanding of what happened which was very wrong and very unfair to you.
All the best,
Chuck
Tom
Suwanee,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Not only a rip-off but a Pyramid Scheme
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, May 21, 2005
I was an IBO of Cyberwize for over 6 months. By all the federal guidelines of a "pyramid scheme" Cyberwize complies. Cyberwize requires you to purchase products monthly to stay active. If you don't purchase the products... bam! you are out of business with them.
I have receipts for over $1,000 that I spent with Cyberwize to purchase my monthly "quota" of over $50, my televox, and websites. I demonstrated and marketed their products faithfully, but even my uplines - uplines failed to respond to my requests for help in any satisfactory manner.
No one I spoke with was interested in purchasing the products. I gave out many, many samples of vital PSP+, vital B-12, Slenderwize, vital greeens, vital anti-oxidents, etc.
Travelwize was a joke I could book better deals from a travel agent down the street. Taxwize was pretty good, but hard to sell to someone that didn't have a home-based business. (other cyberwize people at the time)
As a former engineer and subject matter expert regarding water quality for a Fortune 10 company, I found that their "Envirowize" water filtration system is, at best, marginally effective when compared to other, less costly systems.
I could go on about their marketing systems, but suffice it to say I don't know why they are still in business. The only thing that I got from them was double-talk and "slight-of-hand".
By the way, I attended a meeting where the "wonderful" Brad Hagar made a speech. After listening to him personally, I dropped out.
Hugo
HOUSTON,Texas,
U.S.A.
Cyberwize is great!!!
#5UPDATE Employee
Tue, May 10, 2005
I want to apologize for the horrible experience you have had with your friend in regards to Cyberwize. I can see she fully did not explain what Cyberwize is about. I hope that I can explain some things for you. When you enter at the $99.00 plan you secure your position and you also receive products that you can start taking and see how great the products are. The B-12 and Stress-X is awesome and are our biggest sells.
The autoship is set that each month you receive the product you like most for you (as an IBO we also need our share of nutritional products for our health). If you really think about it how can you sell something you know nothing about, so this is our chance to use the product and see what it does for us, that way we can tell our stories to people and tell them how it helped us. If you still have not finished your product from the month before you can sell it at the retail price to someone who is interested. (Keep in mind that each person that comes into the business receives B-12 and Stress-X along with some brochures about the company. So you are not selling it to your dowline unless someone needs it). At the $99.00 you are able to make commission by selling the nutritional products, travel, shopwize and the cybertax. I focus more on selling the products than recruiting (By people buying the products we are recruiting if you think about it, but we don't realize it. For example I buy B-12 from you every month and I refer people to you and of course you make the commission and I see it's going great I might as well come into the business and make extra money). I also listen to motivational cd's like John C. Maxwell so I can better myself and find better ways to sell my products and it helps me to understand Network Marketing. If this was a pyramid scheme I would be rich but guess what I'm not. Don't underestimate what Cyberwize offers, everything is great. I have been in the business for nine months and I'm glad to be with a team that focuses on being there for one another and helping each other.
It's not about recruting and making money our only focus, it's about helping one another make the business work and grow and help each other make money so we don't have to work for Corporate America, and if you are working we help so you can stop working for Corporate America and work for yourself at your own schedule.
I recommend you stat with Cyberwize it's a great opportunity (even though the representative (your friend) made it a horrible experience), if you chose to not be with Cyberwize at least try out the products and if you like them order them from my website(Just kidding) I hope I was able to answer some questions for you. Also try the gum, it's good.