Elephant Networking Valerie Lampe Elephant Networking took $200 from me and gave me NOTHING in return. Hewlett, New York
I became part of Elephant Networking about 6 months ago. I had just started my job with a very well-known, well-respected company. Having had joined this networking group while I was with my previous employer only a month prior, I was able to stay in the group with without having to fill out an additional application or any addt'l fees.
Being part of this group was a total waste of time, and after about 5 months, was asked not to attend the meeting because I wanted to discuss pertinent information which related to everyone in our group, but didn't look good for Valerie because she was at fault. Valerie basically takes takes takes and gives nothing. She is only concerned with being surrounded by people that she can use or benefit from.
Learning her history, I learned that she is not to be taken seriously at all. She is often drunk at her meetings, slurs her speech, and makes the meetings more of a social than a place where professionals are exchanging thoughts and ideas.
After being asked to "not attend" the meeting if I was going to bring up a subject, that again, applied to our group as a whole, I told her I wanted my money back, pro-rated, and she refused. She told me I was LUCKY that she didn't charge me another $200 when I changed employers, which was only 1 month after I joined her group. As a matter of fact, Valerie charges $200/year + a $30 application fee, which magically disappears if you pay cash.
Beware of this scammer who is only out for herself and will use anyone in her path to get what she wants.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Ken K
Garden City,New York,
United States of America
Could not disagree more
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, February 13, 2012
I am just a member of the Rockville Centre Elephant group. I am not an emp[loyee or shill. I've been in the group for over a year and have had more than a fair opportunity to assess both Valerie and Elephant Networking.
I've never done a networking group before. If it was jargon laden and filled with unrealized promises i would not continue to get up early every Wednesday to meet a group of former strangers (now largely friends). The group gives me the opportunity to sit with a group of local businesspeople who have, for no selfish reason, truly dedicated themselves to the betterment of my business and the businesses of everyone in the room. Where exactly does one get that for $20 a month plus the cost of breakfast?
I have no need to defend Val and I don't think she needs defending but as a small businessperson herself she has created many groupings of like minded people who actually deliver as promised. No, not everyone can refer to everyone else, or get referrals from everyone either, and the willingness of people to refer to you is directly related to their assessment of you (we do break bread with each other every week, more than I see my extended family or any of my friends), but by and large my investment of both time and money has been paid back many times over. She has as much of a hand, or as little, as a group needs (my partner joined another chapter and she's been there a lot as they are just getting started).
If you are dissatisfied with your experience here it may be the group has not yet hit its stride or, possibly, a little introspection is needed to see if that is the cause of the problem. No scammer here. If you are a small business person come as my guest to the Rockville Centre group and you can judge for yourself with no expenditure, except for your eggs, if my assessment is accurate and confirm i am who I say I am. Ken K