ring ring

I've had 2 different callers contact me with the same exact conversation. I just tell all phone solicitors that the economy hasn't recovered enough for me to throw away money. Maybe next year.

> ". . . have to hurry out though, i am late to the airport. the crown prince of ghana is at customs with a package of cash for me. . ."

[sarcasm]About that trip to the airport, hope you will let us know which state and federal agencies also welcomed the prince and escorted you both to an impromptu interview. I am presuming the package will be used to demonstrate remote sensing and robotics at the nearest quarry.[/sarcasm]

We've gotten calls like that too and have declined.

I got a similar call but can't remember who they said they were with. But the message was the same as was the price.

Parasites.

Google called wanting me to update my free listing page, I told them I'd never heard of them and hung up.

I get calls from people wanting me to have my company's name on everything from t shirts to hand outs in parking lots.

There must be at least 6 or more phone book advertising distributions in this area and they all want to sell you space in their publication twice a year.

Save some trees people.

B-)

Sounds like it could be legit, whether or not it's a good way to advertise. Probably promoted by some phone bank operation on contract to Re/Max.

I didn't see any mention of how many agents or offices in what geographic area be giving out your card.

Parasites is too good of a name for shysters like that.

Anytime one of these pigs telephones me and calls me by my first name, or a "cutesy" derivative there of, I tell them in no uncertain terms what they can do with their offer.
Unless you know them personally, calling by my first name is very unprofessional. You can address me as MR or as Captain, but do not call me by my first name. I deal with clients that are often younger than me (not too many older than me at this point in my life) and I address then as Mr. or Miss or Mrs. and ALWAYS answer their questions wit "Yes Sir" or "No sir". Manners are a thing of the past.

Sorry Mam but brochures are a thing of the past. Nobody really reads them so they just end up in the trash. All my marketing material is digital. However, I will make a deal with you today only and pay you $50 for every project that I get from this advertisement. If it is as good as you say it is, you will make far more money in no time at all. Just give me your home phone number and tell me when you are sitting down for dinner with your family, I will call at that time and we can discuss this opportunity further.

The offer by a licensed professional to pay for referrals is a violation in many jurisdictions.

well it's almost a non issue. i am currently looking into a fraud investigation; there is no legitimate company under her name or her email suffix, will check out with BBB, FBI, and maybe the EIEIO's for good measure. what's the saying 'there's a sucker born every minute.' ??? glad to say she has not seen a dime of my hard earned.

as long as she is on this side of the dirty, i may as well give her a hard time of it, right?

We received that call a few years ago. Our name was given to them by a local real estate company. We reviewed the proposal and passed. I didn't feel like subsidizing the realtors folder with my ad and my $'s. We direct mail new home owners already anyway.

If you want to spend $'s to add your name to a folder covered with ads, well it's not a bad place 🙂

Dtp

I went to a meeting about this years ago. The showed me a nice folder they give to all new homeowners with a list of companies they can call if they need something done to their house. Plumper, landscape, painter, etc.. I asked well if they just brought the house why do they need a surveyor, I never got a straight answer. Its a nice idea everyone you need in one book, if only their was free book with maybe yellow pages everyone could get a hold of and use.

I would never wish to actually have an agreement with this type of business. The point was it was never going to happen. I am not sure the difference for paying someone on a results basis for marketing services would actually violate any laws. If they were not providing the service, that would be different matter.

Additionally. I believe you will find that this will be determined not to be illegal. This has been going on for years. They will actually print a few flyers and give you one as proof. It proves to be a very bad investment but not fraud.

While this is likely a legitimate offering. Its worthless advertising. 8 years ago when I started my business, I paid for an ad that was on a phone book cover. Im still waiting for a single call from that ad. Yesterday, I was cleaning out a storage bin from a local builder and I found folders exactly like you are describing, all boxed up and never distributed to anyone. As someone else said, these guys just purchased a home, other than putting a new fence up, they have no need for a survey. Trust me, you don't want the business you would get from these new homeowners price shopping fence surveys. they were just hit with a $6000 quote for a fence, they don't want to pay more than $100 to get their property lines marked....

1. she does not appear to have a company

2. she wants my credit card numbers, 'so i can get things started right away'

3. she will mail me samples of the folders next week, however does not have any contract or language for an agreement. 'we just operate very informally'

4. 1+2+3= this looks like a quick way to extricate me from my credit card numbers

how can you think it's any different than that?

Yeah, we got hit up when we first opened up. They wanted $450, I politely declined. Said he could do it for $300. Didn't want to go there I had just spent the monthly advertising budget. He comes back at $150, so I figure they've already called all the other surveyors around and they didn't bite so I tell him no again. He says he can do it for a hundred but no lower. I said yeah I'll bite for that but then he wants the credit card number. No, I'll pass. He said he'll be in one of the towns I do court house research in on a couple of days, can I meet him with a check and he'll show me the brochure. We meet I give him the check and never here anything from him. 6 months later a real estate agent with a different office calls needing some work, the jack leg he'd been working with had finally missed his last completion date with him and he wanted find someone else. He's said he found our ad in that brochure. Been working with him for 10 year, been a good client but the only one we ever got from that ad.