Complaint Review: StoresOnline

Well.. StoresOnline is making the rounds in the Southern California area right now. I was at a day long seminar today that I ended up leaving early. All they wanted from me was $2500 for 3 store fronts (ie web sites.. get 1, 2 or 3.. same price), or $4300 for 6 store fronts (4,5 or 6 same price) (and because I showed up TODAY, they'll waive the $2800 initial programming fee!!).. another $999 to set up the merchant account (originally $1800, but buy TODAY and get it for only $999 - any quick search on the web and you can find merchant services for MUCH less).. another $150 for first year maintenance (monthly fee of 24.95/mo after 1yr).. additional costs for the PBnext phone system.. additional charges for live chat on my store front (I can put a free chat on any website.. why pay for it?).. extra fees all over the place. And amazingly.. I could qualify for their financing. If you saw my credit history.. you'd see that no one in their right mind would give me credit, especially not 3500-4000$ worth! But there was no credit history run.. I was simply 'approved'. We did get 2 free meals.. a continental breakfast and a chicken or veggie lasagna for lunch. I went as the guest with a friend who attended he original 90 minute seminar (she paid the 20$ for us to go to the day long seminar). Seminar was held at the Hyatt in Santa Clarita, CA. This scam is basically a mid level hard sell to get you to put up the money TODAY! Although they do say that we have 90 days from the date of the seminar to receive these wonderful prices :) They're focusing on the desperate, and those with no PC skills beyond checking email. There were about 200-250 people there, mostly older couples, but a few young bucks with good BS detectors like myself. Their pricing is OUTrageous.. you.. Mr. or Mrs. reader.. can setup a business website any day of the week. About 20$ gets you your own domain name, another $50 for a web development software package you can buy at almost any electronics/computer store.. minimal charges for a merchant account (if you want to use credit cards).. and a little PC footwork on your own. Please people.. DO NOT be duped by these guys and gals running this dog and pony show. One of StoresOnline 'deals' is there links4trade.. which the speaker said he 'could not tell us about'.. Wonder why that is when there's a website devoted to it called links4trade.com :) And gee.. guess where they are located? You guessed it.. Orem, Utah :) Now I'm not saying this is a 'bad' service, storesonline.com in general, that is. But what they offer, you can get for DRAMATICALLY less with just a little searching. Don't get bullied into spending a dime with these bozo's.. do some research, then approach them with the other prices you find, and see if they will price match.. My guess will be no. I really felt bad for the people I saw pulling out pens and signing papers.. but P.T. Barnum did say 'there's a sucker born every minute'. Another interesting point.. was that the sales people were pulling people out of the seminar for their '1 on 1' consultations (or, the Please sign that check and give it to me consultation).. apparently what the speaker had to say wasn't very important at that time :) This is nothing more than a Marketing 101 class, of which they want you to pay big for.. Don't be fooled! Eric Saugus, California
U.S.A.