Complaint Review: Storesonline Inc. - Orem Utah

On February 8, 2003 I attended an Internet workshop put on by Storesonline. At that workshop I was promised that Storesonline would help me to construct 12 e-commerce websites. In order to help me do that, Storesonline sold me 4 packets for $9,399.00. They said the packets contained software, and proprietary information that would allow me to set up my own website, without any further costs. This is what their sales pitch in their seminar promoted, and it's the same language in their Merchant Receipt. I understand with ALL THIS INFORMATION AND MATERIAL listed below, I now have the OPTION TO IMMEDIATLY CREATE WEBSITES WITH THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED below, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE or even the knowledge of StoresOnline Inc., and that by using those I would be able to access their website where I would be able to get everything I needed to build my websites. At the workshop Storesonline told me that the step by step instructions where simple enough that a person without any computer savvy would be able to walk through them, and if I still had problems that Storesonline provided one on one coaching to help me through the process. Also they told me that a CD was included that would help to do research, and to launch my website. I was also told that they had great customer service via e-mail, telephone, and online chat. When I got home all excited to start building my websites I logged into Storesonline, and when I found their information to be basic information that can be found for free all over the Internet, (Their keyword research tool is the same exact one as you get in Overture for free!!) I started to get a little nervous. Where was this proprietary information? I didn't find any information that was original to Storesonline. Upon further investigation I discovered that to have my own separate domain name would be an extra charge. Also if I couldn't build my websites using their cookie cutter templates I would have to pay for programmer costs. When I tried to contact Storesonline for some help with basic questions, I found that trying to reach them by phone didn't help (I could never talk to a live person), e-mail responses are generic replies, and don't really answer my questions. In their live chat I was given vague answers, and when I pressed for specifics I was told that it was my responsibility to find the answers myself. Their CD is useless. And their one on one help is subcontracted out to another firm for you guessed it an additional charge Storesonline has pulled a classic bait & switch which I believe is fraudulent, therefore I have sent the packets back to Storesonline, and I am requesting my credit card company to charge back the $9,399.00. All is not lost however, because during my search for information about Storesonline I came across this webpage http://buildit.sitesell.com/loans2.html This website is everything that I thought I was getting with Storesonline, and more. First of all this guy Ken Evoy, gives you so much free information that you could build an income producing business from just his free stuff, that is if you wanted to do all that work But the research tools he has are incredible time savers, and his instructions are an easy read that take you step by step through everything from how to select a name for your website, to how to rank on the search engines, to how to write income producing copy for your pages, to how to make your own e-zine, and more. Perhaps what I like the best though is his guarantee. "Purchase SBI! today. Use it. Even register your domain name (it's included in the price). If at any point in time SBI! does not exceed your expectations, we will refund you immediately and you can keep the domain name that you registered as our thank-you for giving us a chance at your business. No forms to fill out, no questions asked." It restores my confidence to find that there are honest, forthright businesses out there that are still interested in producing quality products, and willing to go the extra mile to service a customer. If you're still interested in building a website after being burned by Storesonline, do yourself a favor and investigate http://buildit.sitesell.com/loans2.html You will be glad you did. Richard Santa Clara, California

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