Storesonline, Inc. Blantant Ripoff, and Misrepresentation of Services Orem, Orem
On October 26, 2003 I sent the following letter to StoresOnline, Inc. in Orem, Utah
I attended your workshop in July 2003 and while I was impressed and gratified by the sales presentation, nothing since that time has materialized.
After 3-months of research and development I have discovered that the information you sold me at a very high cost, was, in fact, available for a must lower cost and often available for free from the Internet.
I was shocked and felt that I surely had made a mistake at my discovery. I reread all the information you provided and afterward, I was convinced that I had been a gullible fool and had been taken advantage of by your company.
Following are the points, which I dispute.
The electronic storefront the cost is exorbitant, website storefronts can be developed for the individual at a very low cost. I have spent many hours researching the Internet attempting to find products to sell, and have thus far not borne results.
Autoresponders: I requested one autoresponder be set up, which I was informed was done. However, I was unable to login. I have also discovered that a lot of advertising sites refuse to let you advertise if you use an autoresponder. Apparently, another useless tool.
Customer Service: I e-mailed StoresOnline for help several times and only received a few words that did not adequately answer the questions involved. When I sent another e-mail requesting clarification and explaining that I had accidentally lost the communication previously sent, I received nothing in return.
The worse offense is the Online Real-Time Credit Card Processing License. The cost for the interface and monthly fee is a blatant rip-off. There are many credit card companies that will provide a secure interface at no cost. Their cost is a percentage of the purchase transaction. No interface setup fee is necessary and no monthly cost to use the services.
Finally, I was contacted soon after returning from the training seminar by a coaching company that is an affiliate of StoresOnline, offering to provide coaching services at an additional cost, suggesting that even though I didn't yet think I needed them, I probably would later. When I explained I did not have any further money to invest, the representative of the coaching company even asked me how much credit I have available on my Discover card to fund the service. My question was why do I need a coaching company if this is a simple process. Well, as I have found out, this process is not simple and cannot be undertaken without help. Therefore, the claims made by StoreOnline at the workshop -- that anyone with a reasonable degree of computer knowledge can easily use their product is deficient simply because they did not live up to the promises they made.
Another point I would like to make, during the all-day workshop, not one time did anyone mention the possibility that to run a home-based business, a local business license and/or business name would need to be filed with the state, city and/or county where the business resided. Probably not a big deal from your perspective, however, it might have given credence to you as a service provider to mention it since you are in the business of teaching individuals how to develop a home based business.
Needless to say, I am not happy with the product I have received. I am thus returning all hard copy material at my expense and requesting a voluntary termination of the contract I have with you. To date, you have received sums from me in the amount of $1,429.24. Let that sum be the price of my gullibility. I am not requesting a refund of said sums at this time, unless, further action is taken by StoresOnline against my credit rating or me.
I suggest, that if you want to promote yourself as a service provider, you combine you storefront software and coaching service to actually help someone be successful. I am forwarding a copy of this letter to Fair Financial Services, notifying them of the suspension of monthly payment regarding this disputed matter.
As I stated, I sent their products back, they refused to accept the package and set it back to me marked refused. I am currently still in dispute, while they trash my credit because I won't pay them. I am at present preparing my case to take it to court at which time I will demand all funds be reimbursed to me. I would be intrested in a class action suit if anyone is interested. I believe this company needs to be stopped.
Frances
Springfield, Missouri
U.S.A.
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