SMC - Specialty Merchandise Corp SMC They lied about what I would receive with membership; they mislead and lied about the type and quality of website Simi Valley, California
1/27/09 - SMC said I would receive the website free (a $300 value), said there was a $29.95 monthly "hosting" fee (for EMerchant to maintain my ECommerce website). When I called them on March 3, 2009, I complained they were going to take $49.95 out of my checking account each month for the hosting fee.
3/3/09 - Jimmy told me the coach "flip-flopped" my membership when I upgraded my website. (Note: I updated my website because SMC originally told me the large "World of Products" catalogue would be on the website -- one of their many lies. The original website only contained the items in the "Big Value Book" -- a rather crummy catalogue with cheap-looking items.) That would have been the $29.95 hosting fee, but since I upgraded the website to include the complete catalogue (which I thought I was getting from the start), that would be a $49.95 hosting fee each month.
2/18/09 - SMC debited $200 from my checking account so they could put the "World of Products" catalogue on my website.
On March 3, 2009, I called and asked why $39.95 was being debited from my checking account. Jimmy said it was my monthly membership fee. I told him I paid the entire membership fee on Feb. 2, 2009 - it was $414.94 ($399.95, plus $15 shipping fee for the membership kit).
3/3/09 - When I originally called Jimmy to upgrade my website so the large catalogue could be accessed, he never said anything about having to "flip-flop" my membership -- that they were using what I paid for a year of membership and put it toward the upgraded website. Then they proceeded to take $39.95 out of my checking account each month for the membership fee I had paid upfront.
3/3/09 - I told Jimmy I wanted to talk with my "coach" - was told he would call me on Wedn. 3/4/09 at 3:30 mst, but coach never called. I called the receptionist (Frank) and said I was put on the wrong calendar. Call was rescheduled for 3/5/09 at 4:30 pm.
3/5/09 - The coach said the $200 debited on 2/18/09 was applied toward my membership fee. I told him I was not happy with the fact that people could only purchase items on the website if they were given a gift card. I said that's not what was presented to me when I signed up. I also told him I was not happy with the fact that, at the start, SMC led me to believe the large "World of Products" cataloge would be on my website - they did not mention the measly "Big Value Book" only being on the website.
Final note: After a month had gone by, and I realized I didn't like all their lies, it was too late to cancel my membership. I have not made a cent with SMC.
If there is a class-action lawsuit already out there, or if any attorney is going to bring one about, please include me. I either have not been staying up late enought or SMC has taken their infommercials off TV. Nonetheless, I'd sure like to recoup all or part of my money.
Good luch to all of you who were scammed by SMC!