Complaint Review: STORESONLINE

Hi,

My name is Desi (from Australia), I am currently trying to find the truth about storesonline. Storesonline is an internet company from Utah, America. I got the invitation from my friend which she got the invitation from her cousin as he was not able to come.

The invitation came from Storesonline for internet marketing seminar on the 9th of May 2004. The invitation is very basic to invite people to go for this internet marketing seminar. The invitation allowed us to choose the time and place for the seminar which is located at Sheraton Hotel Perth or The Esplanade Hotel Fremantle with lunch or dinner selection time. The invitation state for free dinner and business organizer for two people to attend the seminar which is worth A$79.99 for dinner and A$49.99 for the organiser.

Since I have no plan on those days and I thought it was free meal and free organizer, I choose to rsvp to come to one of the day of the seminar. I have no intention whatsoever to sign up with them or to have any agreement with them. My plan was just to come and see what the seminar was all about and have a free dinner and free organizer.

I came to the seminar with my friend and basically they just talked about internet marketing which will make lots of money within short period of time. They talked about the marketing strategy, search engine and other marketing strategies.

At the end of the seminar, we got our free dinner which turned out to be a sandwich and chips with soda. Yes, we also got free organizer which I found out later it cost no more than $2.00. Before we all went home, the Storesonline offer us another seminar which will cost A$50.00. It was a full day seminar on the 9th of may 2004 from 8.30-18.30, it included breakfast and lunch.

I think the storesonline company succeeded to convince me and my friend and also another 240 people to come for the second seminar. Again, in my mind I thought I just want to come to see what was it all about in more details. The reason why I decided to come was because I just graduated from university last year and at the moment I am really keen to find a job or open a business for my future. I was trying to see everything in a positive point of view and even saw this seminar as an opportunity for me to start my career.

I thought if there was anything I can get from this seminar is very good, if not then I will consider it an experience and knowledge. Afterall I thought paying A$50.00 is rather worth it considering the breakfast and lunch inclusive anyway.

On the 9th of May 2004, I attended the seminar with my friend. The whole day seminar basically just elaborate about internet marketing, how to go first in search engine, and other types of strategy in the internet market. Storesonline conduct the second seminar with different groups of presenter/team as the first seminar.

This time they came with around 10 people, which a few of them declare themselves not employees of the Storesonline but as merchants (customers) of storesonline company, even one of them said he came from Melbourne (carrying and Australian accent).

Well, as you may have guessed, it did not end there. Again they gave us another offer, but this time not for another meeting but to sign up as their company's merchant. They promise us to build a website and will maintain the website with discounted price; normally it will cost us A$2800.00 to build one web site and A$2500.00/year to maintain the web site but this offer will only cost us A$4300.00 to build 6 websites and A$150.00/year to maintain the web site and A$999.00 merchant application to process credit card transaction online.

Yes, it is a very good price and again my friend and myself and more than 100 other people were convinced to sign up that very day. They insisted on signing up on that very day, if not all thse offers would not be valid.

Only last night, I saw the news on TV about a similar case, I am not sure what was the story about but roughly it was about an American company conducting seminars and something to do with Robert Allan marketing books.

I quickly remembered Storesonline because they were also from America, I then rushed myself and jumped to the internet and search in search engine under Storesonline which I should have done before I signed up (but then again it was impossible because they required us to sign up that very day or else we would lose the deal). I was completely duped by this company. I was very shocked when I saw all the reports about this rip-off company. I tried to stop the payment from my credit card which was too late as they have taken the money. I really want my money back and am seeking for help regarding this matter.

I also believe that Storesonline had a tour around Australia for the same seminar and wish to inform everyone to be aware of this fraudulent company. In Perth itself, Storesonline had more than 3 seminars in different high class hotels.

Please help me investigate this matter and to inform all other people. I will really appreciate your help as there was nothing I can do by myself as I am lack of knowledge and experience as I told you before I am just a graduate student who try to look for opportunities to start my career.

I have read all other cases in the internet. One of them is ripoff.com and I found so many other people trying to get their money back since last year but the agreement we all signed was a no-refund' agreement. I am seeking for any legal advice too as I believe the Storesonline did not even get us to read the agreement first before we all signed it, they cover the agreement by other paper when we signed it and we did not even get the signed copy of the agreement too. I am desperate to know that if there is a chance for me to get my money back?

Please help.

D
6000
Australia

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