Complaint Review: Internet Treasure Chest - Irvine California

Hello- I just recently purchased the kit for 59.99. You can upgrade for an extra 19.95, but I chose not too (I wanted to see if it actually worked first). Got the kit built my website, but called about merchant account and all other ways to recieve payments: This is what I was told: to except credit cards (this is all done threw your chking account):$495.00 (said they would 1/2 now and the rest in 30days, so I can get everything set-up and running.)Plus $20.00 a month for the($10.00 for the credit card service, $10.00 for the statements made to you once a month) To except e-checks:$295.00 (for those how do not have credit cards) To list paypal on the site because some are financially straped, but wont therre site up and runnung:$100.00 (This is so you can have paypal logo on the site, because paypal is free) Which I am already registered with threw e-bay). To register your domain name:$19.95 Web Hosting(Free for the first 30 days):$9.99 month Access to Warehouse(Free fot the first 60 Days):$9.99 month While sitting for 30 minutes on the number to talk to a rep. they talk about these fast track program which is extra don't know how much, and on your aministration page it has a section called upgrades which you have to purchase and you can do it online you have to call the 1-800 number. My husband and I have tried lots of businesses and just about all of them were scam and it looks like from what I have heard from the reps. and from the people herre that they are no exception. All these extra fees I found out yesterday, so its pretty accurate, and I will be sending the kit back to get my money back garauntee or they will be speaking with my Lawyer.

Through the majority of these reports on the Internet Treasure Chest or any 'quick kit', one thing is apparent. Lack of research. Instead of reaching for your credit card, sleep on it and do some research. You'd be very enlightened what a small amount of hard work will reap. I can not count how many times I have used the Rip Off Reports to check on a company, service, etc.. It only takes a moment to save you months of aggrivation. This is a *general and breif* synopsis of what I have and am experiencing. Setting up a merchant account, which is virtually what you are doing, does cost money, time and effort. A collegue and my self are investing in such a venture. At least in my state, you have to set up a legitimate merchant account. Which involves the required County(state), and federal tax I.D.'s($35 for filing),(i.e. DBA)forms,($20). The bank requires that you MUST have these forms to set up a business account, because these forms go in their files for you account. This now means you may have to file quarterly taxes, (you may need an accountant) because you are generating income, regardless of how much, (and yes, Uncle Sam wants his cut!) Setting up a business account with a bank usually requires a $100 deposit. Your merchant account will require this. Then you have to be set up between your web site and your bank. Also, the merchant account ($200 setup) charges YOU for customers using this service, a percentage, plus a servicing fee. Don't forget your web address. www.Isellwatchamacallits.com ($45/yr) Now comes the web hosting (with SSL, ASP, or shopping cart) You're going to need space to do this. Some sites offer 5-500 Megabytes of space, is that what you need? This typically depends on how many itmes you're going to sell and how many pages your site is going to be. Sometimes Registering web address with a hosting site can be a package deal. You also want a hosting service that has good traffic tracking and other options available. ($600/Yr or $50/Mo.) Just to have this much for the first year will cost you $1000.00!!! Note: Your DBA, forms and Merchant account setup, are usually one time fees. Note: This is not including accountant fees, in some states, you can file it on your income tax forms. What happened to the Treasure part of this? Are you going to design the site? Virtually any decent web application software will run you ($150-1200) Personally, I use several, Macromedia, Net Objects, Visual Inter Dev. Also, most packages allow you to access and upload directly to your site (you have to know you web information and input it in the software. i.e. FTP address, logon information). So make sure that your server is compatable with your software. Especially with Front Page. Servers usually have them, but FP needs server extensions on the server for some of the options to operate properly. Plus (quality graphics cost money, check it out for yourself) your time (lots of it) to create it. If you're this far into the game, you have a lot more at stake, future customers and up time. Plus there are no refunds. If your going to have a professional design the page, plan on to fork out $1500-2000. (You get what you pay for most times. You want to give jr. a shot at your store, be my guest.) Now you need products to sell on our little store. Be prepared to be competitive (if you dare)with Walmart, Costco, Sams Club, BJ's and every wholesaler in the world, because most likely, they shop where you're shopping for merchandise. They have buying capacity and clout, while you don't. So they get the better price, Always. Also, some web hosting services want a cut of your booty. As a small fee's per mo. for selling each item. Yes, each item can cost you a fee. Now you have to have a drop ship supplier or suppliers. They cost money too. Then hooking up with a shipping company (usually associated with the drop shipper). In all, your making an investment and taking a risk of not only your time, but money and resources. There is no free lunch, free ride or free anything. You're going to pay. But you have the opportunity of this paying off. That is the whole concept behind this investment. If it's too good to be true, then it probably is. If you want to purchase ANY "kit", go right ahead, you have every right to. But remember, haste makes waste of many things.

I've read many of these Rip Off reports concerning the Internet Treasure Chest. Each report conveys a different "RIP-OFF STORY" (naturally - not everyone's experience will be identical). Still, each complains that they have been misled through false advertising. It "may" be possible that you had a bad experience with this company. OR...is it you had higher expectations that weren't met? There is a difference folks. Just as with advertising - Talk Is Cheap! The information you watched on TV may have been misleading (I really cannot say) but how many of your comments and Rip-Off reports are "actually" real? Too many of them appear a little far fetched and misleading themselves. One example in particular (and I'm not pointing fingers): Any person that would fall for paying $500 (or more) to upgrade ANY kind of product offer is asking to be ripped off, in my opinion. Like I said, I have not had any experience with The Treasure Chest but have considered it. Then I started reading these reports and began to question it. The funny thing is, I don't know who to believe because half of your Rip-Off reports sound rather boguss themselves, so .... Talk Really Is Cheap isn't it??