Well, the “boo-birds” have come out!
Here is a nice email I received this week:
“If you could not aford a new car you must not be very successful
at business.”
    Note: If you are going to write a nasty email, make sure
    you can spell “afford” correctly.
Here is another one…
“I have a successful home based business. I love marketing and
promotions. Wanted to learn more, but don’t care for Deceptive
Marketing practices.
The one about the truck fire kind of crossed the line. If in fact
you are as successful as you make out to be, that should not be
an issue.”
And here is the best one of all…
“Steve,
I’ve been on your elist for a while now. I’ve looked at your
products and have been mildly interested. I have never liked
your “I’ll be your best friend and tell you how to make lots of
money” advertising slant, but just wrote that off to a difference
in preference. However, your latest “truck fire advertising” hit
a new record for a low-down, dirty marketing approach.
Maybe it worked though – I did buy the product, but I probably
would have been happier buying it if you had just had a sale.
The fact that you are begging for help to fix your truck is
disgusting to me. You are just playing on people’s emotions by
mentioning that you are in seminary, your daughter had the fire,
many people have died, etc. You know that many people on your
list are Christians and tend to want to help others in need. You
are abusing the fact that people trust you. I’m interested in
your techniques of building a big mailing list, but I never plan
to stoop that low.
If your ebook about growing a big list focuses on manipulating
people, I will be taking advantage of your money-back guarantee.
I’m willing to grow my business a little bit more slowly, but at
least I will have my integrity! And by the way, part of my
family’s financial plan is a saving account/emergency fund to use
when my truck catches on fire! A successful businessman
shouldn’t have to beg his customers to help him with a few
thousand dollars to fix his truck.
Also – haven’t you used this ploy before? Or did you learn it
from someone else? It seems that I’ve seen a similary marketing
strategy before. Another marketing ploy that I detest is using a
letter like mine to generate interest! I’ve seen that from both
you and Kerry.
Sincerely,
A Disgusted Customer”
Okay, so let me address the issues…
First, if you are going to write an email like this, at least
have the courage to sign your name.
Second, I have never had a “my truck caught on fire” sale before.
In fact, I have never had a sale concerning my truck or any other
of my vehicles before this. Mr. Disgruntled must be confusing me
with someone else.
Third, I am not begging. I am offering an incredible collection
of products for a really low price. If that is begging, then
there must also be a problem with “after Christmas” sales or
“clearance sales” of any kind.
Fourth, I can afford another vehicle. I am successful in my
online business. But why not raise the money for another vehicle
by blessing people’s socks off! Why not offer a package that has
such extraordinary value that it becomes a no-brainer to buy it?
Debra Thompson Roedl told my daughter that as she was scrolling
through the package, she was bracing herself for a price tag of
several hundred dollars. When she saw the price, she almost
called me to rebuke me about how low the price was…and she is
one of the Internet marketing gurus!
So, back to the point. I can afford another vehicle. But I wanted
to help people while I raised money for another vehicle. Why
can’t I do both? If that is manipulation, then I have no idea
what the word means.
“What about your insurance company?”
Well, as I explained on the web site, I do not carry
comprehensive insurance on vehicles that are over 5 years old.
That is a personal decision. But it is also besides the point.
Here are the three reasons I had this sale:
1. To help others (by giving them an incredible deal)
2. To help offset the cost of another vehicle
3. To warn others who might have a 2000-2002 Ford (of any kind -
not just pickups) to get their vehicle checked so they do not
have to go through what I had to go through.
And perhaps it is my David and Goliath way of telling people how
shabbily FORD treats their customers!
And here is the crux of the matter…
If you are going to survive in the online world, you will have to
build relationships with people. You have to tell them what is
going on in your life…what you believe and what your struggles
are.
You have to treat them as you would have them treat you.
People who write emails like Mr. Disgruntled do not understand
the relationship concept. They wish to remain anonymous and just
sell widgets to faceless strangers. I take a different approach.
Mr. Disgruntled does not like my “I’ll be your friend and tell
you how to make lots of money” approach. But here is the thing…
I actually LIKE my readers. And they actually LIKE me (except for
a few boo-birds!) and that is why I am successful on the
Internet.
It is all about the relationship.
If I can help you while you help me, then I can not think of a
better way to do business!
By the way, I will be GIVING a FREE 90-minute Teleseminar this
coming Saturday about the seven easy, repeatable steps to
building your online family business.
I will have more details on Tuesday!
——————————————————Â
Want to see what this incredible “My Truck Caught on Fire”
package looks like BEFORE the price goes up on Monday at NOON
(PST)? Then go here:
==>> http://www.FamilyEbiz.com/firesale.htm
——————————————————Â
Blessings,
Stephen Beck
www.FamilyEbiz.com
PS…Please feel free to leave a comment below.
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12 users responded in this post
Let the boo-birds crow all they like. That’s what they do.
I joined your list because I am interested in what you have to say. And – shocker of all shockers – I am interested in the real people behind the marketing information and sales pitch. I’m glad you share glimpes of your real life.
I’m a little irked that someone sees you sharing this situation and using it as a catalyst to hold a big sale as a sign that you’re not successful.
I’ve never seen you claim to be a millionaire – yet you manage to support a family full time from home – something that millions would LIKE to be able to say. The truth is that real people with successful businesses have real issues come up that put a pinch on the family budget sometimes. It’s nothing to be ashamed of – and it’s not a sign that you’re a fraud.
I hope your sale raises enough to cover the new wheels
I am amazed the amount of time that people have to complain but certainly not enough time to encourage. So does it means there is no need to have garage sale because most people have $100 (about the amount you would earn) to get something they want. Their argument is obsurd and they have no right to tell you how to raise money for YOUR truck.
Well, last year my Ford did catch fire! Not because of a mfg. defect, but because it was sitting next to a house that was engulfed in flames! My daughter, her three friends, and I were all sleeping in the house when the flames broke out, and it is a miracle that we escaped with our lives!! Literally.
Much trauma and expense has come to us as a result of that fateful night one year ago. I have been wanting to start an online business, and I wanted to attend the San Antonio event, but could not due to our compromised finances.
I, for one, was GRATEFUL to have been afforded the opportunity to purchase the formerly $97 package for $27–a purchase I had been considering for more than a month, but had not yet made.
As a business person, it MAKES COMPLETE SENSE to replenish one’s emergency reserves as soon as possible after depletion so as to be ready for the next emergency. This is wisdom, not an indication that one’s business is not successful.
Thank you, Mr. Beck, for the opportunity to make this purchase at the deeply discounted “fire sale” price.
Good for you Stephen!
You’ve turned this nasty incident into another opportunity to share your fantastic package (which I snapped up straight away) with us. I certainly didn’t see it as a ‘low-down, dirty marketing approach’. How ridiculous! I’m just learning how to market and build an online income and I for one am very thankful for you and your experience and willingness to share it with us. Of all the ‘gurus’ and information available online, there are only 3 that I am using to educate myself and you are one of them. Many thanks and keep up the great work. As you bless others, you will be blessed in return.
Building trust in a relationship has contributed to my success, for the past thirty years, in providing remodeling services for my clients. I am a newbie in the Internet Marketing Business, and I will use the same trust building skills to help grow my new business. Good communication skills were always needed to help understand both perspectives from contractor to client.
I don’t know if “a Disgusted Customer†had a chance to meet Steve Beck in person on any previous occasions, but I have had that opportunity to not only meet him, but also his entire family. In my thirty years of dealing with business relationships, I consider myself very good at judging character qualities. I have placed my trust in Steve Beck and all the members of his family. I will be praying for all concerned.
I just wish Mr. Beck had been a little more dignified about the thing, that way the so called “boo-birds” wouldn’t have anything to complain about. Unfortunately, Stephen just gave them a bit more to complain about, because of the undignified and negative comments about the character of people that decided to sign up for his eList.
IF YOU’RE TRYING TO PROVE YOU’RE NOT A SCAM, DON’T GET SO DEFENSIVE ABOUT IT!
You can share about your truck without naming a sale after it… and you can have a sale without tying it to a truck fire… but in order to boost the interest in this sale you decided to follow in mainstream marketing’s footsteps, made by people that actually DO scam their customers. THAT’S WHY PEOPLE ARE UNEASY ABOUT THIS. It LOOKS LIKE a scam from the REAL WORLD.
By the way, try Dave Ramsey since you’re having financial problems. He’ll tell you about an emergency fund so you don’t have to start a 24 hour, “Hurry, Don’t Think Or You Will Pay More SALE!” It would have saved your reputation from dropping a few points by customers that have been scammed with similar marketing techniques.
Trust is the operative word here! A scam is only a scam if the seller doesn’t deliver what is promised. If you don’t know and trust Steve (or the rest of his family), then don’t buy from him (or anyone else you don’t trust). He delivered exactly what he offered for a great price (no scam and no matter the reason). If you do trust him (and I do and am impressed!), then take advantage of the wonderful, generous offer he placed before you. That is the great thing I see about Internet marketing – Steve didn’t cry about his accident and his encounter with Ford (I would have been hopping mad at them and ready to fight – won’t ever buy a Ford product again!). Instead, he set out to remedy his situation HONESTLY, by earning money for his emergency and offering his customers a great deal while doing it. He creatively sought a way to earn more through offering a unique opportunity for customers. A true business man who seeks opportunities to serve others while helping himself and his family. Sorry about the accident, Steve. I’m praying for you and the acquisition of a new vehicle. God was so gracious to you with the circumstances surrounding the fire! I hope you don’t have to have another fire to offer a good bargain on your site! LOL
Hi, Steve-
I’ve found the varying responses to your sale quite interesting. Try as I might, I couldn’t find a perspective from which the sale was offensive. From a business standpoint, it’s just prudent to raise money through a sale at a point when you are facing an extraordinary expense. And I really appreciate hearing how Ford approaches customer service and safety– your David and Goliath approach is a great idea!
As a customer, I am accustomed to all my favorite stores having sales for holidays, inventory clearance, scratch & dent, because they had a new baby, the store flooded, the supplier was on strike, or whatever. Frankly, I don’t care why the sale is held (why should I?). If something I need is suddenly available at a discount, I’m happy.
As a bookseller, I am always on the lookout for a way to bless my customers with a special opportunity. Part of the convenience of having a business is being able to hold a sale whenever you know an extra expense is coming up. I’m planning a sale to cover the cost of printing a new book. Is there something odd about that? I don’t think so!
I enjoyed your creative approach to the sale– a good story with photos makes anything more interesting, and the packages that you and Kerry offered are a really great deal. You guys offer good stuff, so when the opportunity arises for people to get it at a discount, it makes sense for them to grab it and quit complaining!
Steve,
THANKS so much for the wonderful deal on the great products! I’ll bet some of these folks don’t complain when Wal-Mart has a sale, or ask WHY they are having the sale! You are spot-on about the relationship selling. I TRUST YOU! That is a big reason that I JUMPED on this one! Too bad some are looking this “gift horse” in the mouth!
Steve
Ok I have been watching this go on for a while now and I now have had enough.
GET OFF STEVES BACK!
My gosh people, the man had a financial emergency and came up with a creative way to take care of it. If you don’t like it then don’t buy it. Its that simple. Leave the poor man alone!!!
For those of you questioning his integrity. I would like to vouch for it. I have heard many recordings where he talks about heart issues. I have talked to him on the phone and have passed many emails back and forth. I see no reason from all the contact that I have had with him to have any doubts about his integrity.
Now if you who are giving him a hard time or not Christians then cant you find something better to do with your time? The man has been through enough.
If the people that are giving him a hard time are Christian then shame on you! He has done nothing to warrant this outcry. Why on earth would someone who is committed to the ways of Jesus want to accuse Steve of wrong doing with no proof. Does not the Bible say to bring witness?? Where are the witnesses of his wrong doing? Creatively meeting a need in your life is not a sin. So with out bringing the whiteness that are mandated in the bible. Then just be quiet. I am ashamed to be in the same family as you.
As far as posting the email in the first place, I think it is a great idea. People will say things in a email that they will never say to your face. So maybe posting the email will make them think before writing a hurtful email and then going merrily on their way.
So Back off and give the man a break! Let him meet the needs of his family with the talents that God has given him.
Perhaps you will tell some of us why you are getting so defensive Mr. Beck…
(And by the way, I found that first remark (about spelling afford correctly) VERY hypocritical. Don’t give them such a hard time, because you have misspelled words before a live audience)
Also next time read the whole email, even if it’s nasty. Mr. Disgruntled, as you have decided to call him (and, by the way, name calling isn’t very respectable or dignified), said one thing that you nicely forgot to read (or just forgot to point out.)
“Also – haven’t you used this ploy before? Or did you learn it
from someone else? IT SEEMS THAT I’VE SEEN A SIMILARY MARKETING STRATEGY BEFORE.
I’m not saying that Steve did anything wrong. Try to understand that it LOOKED like a SCAM to people that actually have had a bad experience with MARKETING PLOYS.
Bottom Line: IT LOOKED LIKE A SCAM. (It wasn’t a scam.)
Josh (aka ComputerDude),
You need to tone down your emails. I am sure you would not speak this way to my face, so you need to use the same courtesy in an email.
You thought it looked like a scam. I understand.
Now, pour all of this creative energy into building an online business and you will be a millionaire before you are 20 years old.
Looking forward to seeing your web site and your products.
Stephen Beck
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