Print the value of index0
Gear Local Gear Local claims to be Google in their automated sales calls - This is a lie! St Charles, Missouri
I just received an automated phone call that started like this:
"Google", "Google has selected your company to be found(or placed, not sure) in the top spot of the first place. This spot has been reserved for your company and only one company can be chosen in your local area. Press 1 to claim your spot or press 2 to give up your spot to your competitor."
Fact: Google states that not even Google can guarantee position placement in marketing on their search engine. Any company claiming such a thing or making any impressions they are from Google is a Fraud and should be avoided.
When I mentioned this to the rep who revealed he is from www.gearlocal.com, he became aggressively argumentative.
Buyer Beware!
3 Updates & Rebuttals
bink
Naples,Florida,
United States of America
Sounds like the company is upset
#4Author of original report
Fri, July 08, 2011
The phone call I received was an automated one. The computer does not state the actual name of the business. It started with Google. Then a pause. And yes, everything was said in a manner to make you think it was Google. I knew Google does not call people for advertising so I was curious who this fraudulent company was. So I selected the option that connected me to the operator. The sales person came on the line and directly dove into the sales pitch.
Every other company always presents itself as to who they are. This company did not. I also know something about reporting online, including feedback. Very few people ever respond or leave feedback. The odds of a response to a small company complaint on Ripoff Report is quite unlikely to occur so fast. This leads me to believe the rebuttal is by the company owner or employee. Also, most customers will not have such strong views that are so specific. Once again, leads to the belief this is a person directly connected to this company posing as a consumer. This screams more fraud.
What is also important to note is that when I told the operator (representative) that I am aware of Google's policy on ranking, that not even they can guarantee it, and to avoid companies that make such claims, he became argumentative and hostile.
It clearly says so on Google's website. Anyone can read it. So, my position only strengthens that this small company is a fraud. Further, as a business owner myself, I know that large companies would not act in this manner, nor would they take the time to leave a fraudulent rebuttal. Further indication this company lacks integrity, experience and ethics.
Fact is that any company can have the top spot on Google. It is based on PPC metrics, with auction style pricing. No company is ever in the top position all the time. Any company ever claiming to have the control of placing your website on top is a fraud. You should file a complaint on RipOff.com and also report them to your state's Attorney General. When they receive enough complaints they will investigate.
You can also file in form of feedback on Google Maps by typing in the website in the area where you normally type in the address. The business will show up on the left and you can select it to chose your method of writing a review. I strongly urge people to use this method as a hedge against scammers like this company.
JJ1958
Olympia,Washington,
United States of America
Gear Local
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, July 08, 2011
Gear Local is a great company in my opinion. I've used them for the past 3-4 months and have achieved the front page exposure they guarantee. My business has improved and I'm very happy with the results. Not once, did they claim to me, that they were themselves Google. I can't imagine they would be doing that to you either. I trust them as a company and a companion in building my business. I have all the respect in the world for them.
JJ1958
Olympia,Washington,
United States of America
Gear Local
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, July 08, 2011
Gear Local is a great company in my opinion. I've used them for the past 3-4 months and have achieved the front page exposure they guarantee. My business has improved and I'm very happy with the results. Not once, did they claim to me, that they were themselves Google. I can't imagine they would be doing that to you either. I trust them as a company and a companion in building my business. I have all the respect in the world for them.