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September 30, 2004
What Sells On eBay: Better Than MTV?
Bored? Need some mind candy? Simple! Just check eBay, because it's a never ending treasure chest of unusual items, (besides being just damned fine entertainment!)
What's this? you might wonder. This little goodie will let you fly through the air like Superman. Well, OK, like ... like ... Garfield with his tail caught in a fan chord:
This, my friends, is a "PARAMOTOR BRAND paraglider w/Trike & Xtra Large Wing”. So far, the bidding has reached $2,617.89, up from an opening bid of $999, and the auction is less than one day old. (My secret confession: I'd love to have it!)
Need a business of your own? Why not consider this prime property in Kermit, Texas? (Where?)
There are some real advantages to owning this place, such as:
* “This building is two doors from Spankeys Bar”
* “Start a coffee shop and make friends that can take you all the way to the Whitehouse…Just ask GW.”
Of course, there are a couple of disadvantages: “the window glass is broken and needs replacing” and “There are underground fuel tanks not known to leak and in need of removal soon.” (Not known to leak? Who are those stern looking men in black suits and white shirts? Why, it's the EPA come calling. How neighborly of them.)
Bored while you wait for your glass to be repaired and your fuel tanks removed? Try this treasure and stay physically fit:
This is the Treadwall. As best I can tell, you climb and climb and climb – and just keep climbing as long as the machine is turned on. Have you ever seen a guinea pig or hamster run in place for hours, going nowhere? Well, why should they have all the fun?
And if you're a Buckeye fan, here are sweets you will love:
A fake cherry pie with a giant “O” and six fake cookies in the shape of a football. Oh, joy! More stuff to sit around and collect dust.
And shades of Jurassic Park! Yes, you too can own your very own 70 million year old raptor claw:
Don't ya just love free enterprise? 
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 2:13 PM | TrackBack
September 29, 2004
How To Flunk Your Customer Service Surveys
I felt clean and refreshed after my shower, until I went into the kitchen for a glass of water – and saw water dripping from the ceiling onto my brand new kitchen floor! This was the opening round in an agonizing saga that went on for several long and weary weeks.
The sight of water leaking from my shower into the kitchen below was not a new one. Less than eight weeks before, I hired a company to repair our plumbing problem. After several weeks of mess and frustration, our plumbing was “fixed”. I then hired the same company to completely redo my kitchen. Total cost of all this: $6500. We enjoyed the new kitchen for only five days before the water began leaking again!
The company who supposedly fixed the plumbing offers a one year guarantee. I ignorantly assumed there would be no problem once they understood their job was defective. Wrongo!
After three weeks of stalling, I finally informed them - in writing - that I was going to hire an attorney if this problem was not fixed by a certain deadline. Finally, grudgingly, they redid the earlier plumbing job and everything was fixed, except for a hole in our kitchen ceiling. The contractor told us he couldn't fix the ceiling that day because it had to dry and requested that we sign a work order so that he would get paid for what he had already done. That seemed fair, so we agreed.
We waited, and waited, and waited for the ceiling repair. After 10 days, I began calling again. There began another lengthy wait of three weeks of ignored messages, promises and excuses, until finally the owner flatly refused to repair our ceiling since we had signed a work order.
The bottom line: it's not worth a lawyer and the company knows it because repairing the ceiling will cost $50-$100. The cost for a lawyer? Ahhhhhh ... considerably more, let's say.
The moral to the story: we have been customers of this company for four or five years. We have spent thousands of dollars with them. Granted, we weren't happy when the first repair job was botched. BUT ... if the owner had promptly assumed all responsibility and told us that he do whatever was necessary to make us happy, we would have remained customers!
Let's see ... he saved a hundred dollars or less – and lost thousands that we would have spent plus the occasional referrals we formerly sent his way.
Smart business? Hardly. I wonder how many times I have lost business for equally stupid reasons? How about you? Large companies can get by with shoddy customer service - at least for a while. A small business can't.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:06 PM | TrackBack
September 24, 2004
Online Copywriting Enlightenment & The Art Of Elegance
To me (and most other online marketers) copywriting is by far the hardest part of successful ecommerce. In fact, that's one of the factors that makes eBay so darned appealing – we can sell items with a two or three sentence description. Try putting up a website with two or three sentences and a “Buy Now” button and see how much money you make!
By its very nature, online copywriting can't be reduced to a simple formula. The reasons why people do – and don't – buy are as confusing and complex as people are themselves. Still, some copywriters do have a knack for elegance. I love the whole idea of the natural law of elegance which simply means receiving maximum return from minimal effort.
Gary Bencivenga definitely is an elegant man by my definition, even though he calls his articles “bullets”. Down here in the southland, bullets and bullet hole decals usually mean Good Ole Boys, but I doubt if that's what he has in mind.
This morning I read Gary's newest bullet, “The Most Persuasive Tool In Advertising and How to Use It”. It's one of the best articles I've ever read on copywriting:
http://www.bencivengabullets.com/bullets.asp
I'd go on and on about why I like his elegant instruction, but I don't have time ... I have to go rework the copy on all my websites!
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 3:05 PM | TrackBack
September 23, 2004
An eBay Basic Search or Green Shoes 101
An ezine reader sent me this question: “I'm looking for a pair of green shoes, size 8 ½. I looked on eBay but there are so many shoes that it will take me forever to find what I want – if anyone is even selling them. What do I do?”
This confused buyer is new to eBay and tried to find what she is looking for by simply typing “shoes” into the basic ebay search window. Checking the woman's shoes category this morning, I find 67,950 listings. Whew, that would take a while.
Fortunately, though, eBay has refined its search parameters over time and there are ways for my reader to more easily find what she is looking for.
Of course, the easiest is to add “green” and either “8 1/2” or “8.5” to the search.
* shoes + green + 8 ½ = seven items
* shoes + green + 8.5 = 53
Further, at the bottom of the regular listings, which includes both regular auctions and Buy It Now items, is a listing for “Additional Buy It Now items found exclusively in eBay Stores” which yields a few more choices.
There are other decisions to be made. We can either sort items by “List View” or as a “Picture Gallery”. Pictures are very useful when appearance is important. After all a 'green shoe' might be a thick soled athletic shoe with flashing whats-its attached, or it might be an elegant and sexy high heeled designer shoe.
A third way to limit your viewing is “Show only: Items listed with PayPal”. eBay does everything possible to promote PayPal – no big surprise since eBay now owns the popular online payment system.
If the basic search on eBay doesn't locate the products or information you are seeking, you can use their Advanced Search features:
http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/AdvSearch?sofindtype=13&ssPageName=h:h:advsearch:US
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 5:03 PM | TrackBack
September 22, 2004
Dan Rather & CBS News Star On eBay
eBay. Who hangs out on the net and hasn't heard about eBay? One of the top five sites in the world, right? It auctions collectibles, beanie babies and books, right? Well, yes, but it's much, much more. It's a pulse on what's popular. It's a ticket to fame. It especially shows our adulation of the rich and famous.
A current and hilarious eBay auction chronicles the current charge that Dan Rather and CBS news lied about George Bush and his military record:
http://www.auction-genius-course.com/listings/danrather.shtml
It will be interesting to see how high the bidding goes on this entertaining auction, but it's quite possible that eBay will remove it before completion, hence the copy on my website above. If you'd like to follow the live listing, go here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=377&item=2490659283
Clever eBay sellers even capitalize on natural phenomenon, like Hurricanes Ivan, Frances and Charley:
http://www.auction-genius-course.com/listings/hurricane-ivan.shtml
This memorabilia was available even before Ivan stormed into my home town of Atlanta. If I found a T-shirt showing Georgia, I'd buy the darned thing!
As for fame and fortune, one of the most famous auctions of 2004 was that of Wedding Dress Larry, mentioned in an earlier blog entry. Larry found fame, and some fortune, by selling his ex-wife's wedding dress:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001915316_brodeur29m.html
You can see Larry's original listing here:
http://www.auction-genius-course.com/listings/weddingdress.shtml
Larry has turned into a minor star himself, but our love affair with movie stars and sports figures is alive and well on eBay. Almost anything with the name of a famous person sells for high prices, and we even have a fascination for the gruesome. An auction for the bathtub where James Earl Ray stood to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. was removed by eBay:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/07/16/ebay.tub.ap
eBay says it is against its policy to auction any item "that graphically portrays violence or victims of violence, and lacks substantial social, artistic or political values."
As eBay has grown, it has imposed more and more rules, so it isn't as funky as it once was, but a diligent viewer can still find amazing auctions. I won't be pretentious enough to say eBay is a 'microcosm of America', but it's still pretty cool stuff. If you can't have fun, what's the point?
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 11:08 AM | TrackBack
September 18, 2004
Hurricanes Ivan, Frances & Charley And An Internet Business
Three hurricanes, Ivan, Frances and Charley have recently devastated our poor neighbors to the south, causing much hardship and suffering. I live in Georgia, so we haven't been hit nearly as hard. But it surely hasn't been any fun.
Ivan was the worst for us here in Atlanta. We endured 17 hours without power, flooding in the basement and scenes that looked like the day after – well, a hurricane. The winds were frightening at times and the rain was punishing. Still, there is wisdom to be had – especially as it applies to a business.
1. Hurricanes are the result of an imbalance in nature. Even though we dread them, our planet needs a way to repair itself. Without storms, there would be even more unpleasant consequences.
Similarly, we need balance in our businesses, too. For instance, so many entrepreneurs think that when they need more profits, the answers is to work harder and longer. I have frequently bought into this way of thinking myself. But the truth is that driving ourselves harder and harder only results in exhaustion, mental fatigue, physical degeneration and more frequent mistakes. And that doesn't begin to count the toll on relationships and family life. Our work needs to be balanced by rest and recreation and time spent with loved ones. Otherwise, we might develop our own version of a hurricane.
2. Whenever we're without anything that we normally rely on, (like my treasured DSL connection!) we feel deprived, grumpy and resentful. But it's a good lesson in gratitude, if we choose to see it that way. We are all guilty of taking our blessings for granted. Being without them for a brief spell can open our eyes to how fortunate we really are.
What a privilege it is to live in a time in history that allows us to have a web based business. Up until very recent history, the only business owners were the beneficiaries of either large amounts of land, huge amounts of capital or an accident of birth. With the net, anyone can afford to begin a business. Success surely isn't guaranteed, but that is the story of all life so we can't complain too much about that.
3. Whenever I am without electricity, gas or water, I reflect on how vulnerable our civilization really is. It's not healthy to get too smug about our lives or our business. Without a healthy level of vigilance, it's easy to slide into a lazy complacency.
Of course, it's not hard to be philosophical once the storm has passed. Not so easy while it's going on. Speaking of which, here comes Jeanne ... and Kurt ... and ... Groan.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 2:06 PM | TrackBack
September 15, 2004
Steal A Domain Name: How-To For Cyber Thieves
Wanna steal a domain name? Apparently it isn't that hard, although why anyone wants to steal the domain names of others remains a mystery since the thief is certain to get caught – and quickly.
A couple of weeks ago, a 19 year old boy hijacked eBay Germany through the simple expedient of applying for a domain name transfer – to sites he didn't own like Google.com, Web.de - and eBay Germany. Somehow the eBay transfer slipped through the cracks and was approved, although the others were not.
This isn't an isolated incident. For instance, 65,534 addresses belonging to the County of Los Angeles suddenly became the property of Emil Kacperski, who used the space for “low-interest mortgages, bargain ink jet cartridges, an abundance of 'sizzling teens' in adult situations.”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/06/11/cracking_down_on_cyberspace_land/
Back to the "whys" of domain stealing? Perhaps it's just for the thrill of doing it – although having the cops show up at your front door is a little too much excitement for most folks. Or perhaps there is some fleeting profit. Seems like a pretty foolish crime to me, especially due to the short-term nature of the gains. Most companies will notice if they lose control of their domain name. If they don't notice, we can be sure the domain name isn't worth stealing.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:49 PM | TrackBack
September 13, 2004
Free Search Engine Visibility Has A Shining Future
The value of free search engine visibility has been hotly debated in the past few years. Many have predicted the death of the free search engines and declared that only paid search engine visibility will hold up in the years to come.
In an incredibly important and insightful article, Ken Evoy of sitesell, has persuasively debunked this notion and given the credit to the savvy folks at Google.
Sites such as Yahoo and Inktomi have gone the pay-per-inclusion route: “Pay us and we will review your site, and possibly list you. Don't pay us and take your chances.”
As Ken says:
- - -
... the pay-per-inclusion model has floundered dismally. And now, it's about to die off altogether.
By refusing to adopt a pay-per-inclusion program of its own, Google built THE largest database of sites, allowing it to more accurately address the queries of its visitors. It just makes sense -- if you give away free listings via an easy-to-use, free submission page, you'll have a whole heck of a lot more Web pages than if you charge for listing.
Google's competitors were unable to deliver results of the same caliber, partly because they simply had less to choose from. Obviously, when you charge for entry into a database, you eliminate 99% of the Web sites on the Net which cannot
justify paying such a fee - and not just great little small business sites - hobby sites, not-for-profit sites, pure information sites, etc. All excluded.
Not good ... not if you're a Search Engine.
What the advocates for the pay-per-inclusion model didn't understand, and what Google DID, was that their real customer is the advertiser, not the searcher. Nor are Web sites the customers of the engines. To "get" who the customer is, all you have to do is follow the money trail.
Advertisers pay engines.
Advertisers are, therefore, the customers.
So, Google thinks, "We will make the ADVERTISERS happy."
Good idea!
That means a big database of zillions of Web sites and great technology to deliver highly relevant sites. Yes, of course, great search results are CRITICAL to keep those
searchers coming back. That's how you make your money through advertising... advertisers LOVE targeted eyeballs.
That means you encourage sites to submit... for free.
- - -
Ken compares this to the model of television – give away the content and charge for advertising. How else could a network charge a million dollars for 30 seconds of the Superbowl?
This is the best kind of news for the small business owner. If money is the sole basis of inclusion, we're in trouble because we can't possibly outspend the big companies. But we can out-think and out-maneuver them. That's where the free search engine visibility pays off.
As Ken says, “You ain't seen nothing yet!”
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:27 PM | TrackBack
September 10, 2004
Web Site Marketing Strategies Bulletin: Forget Spam!
In spite of my many years on the net, I confess to being mystified by spammers. For instance, yesterday I received this in a subject line:
“U R Stupid Dumbass If U Pay Retail Pri-cee”
How charming. There's nothing like being insulted to make me want to reach for my credit card. Of course, even if I am as stupid as the email states, there was nothing to buy because the contents were:
> said low
> true think
> discuss mistress me thus east
Huh?
Let's get back to basics here, folks. There are two reasons to have a website:
1. You are passionate about something and want to share information and ideas
2. You want to make money
It's just a wild guess, of course (she said, sarcastically) but I don't see any sharing going on in the email above. And whatever idiot sent it certainly isn't going to make any money. So what is the purpose?
A lot of this garbage would be funny if innocent and unsuspecting people didn't fall for it. The 400 different variations of the Nigerian scam are a perfect example.
Premise: a total stranger has chosen me out of the billions of people on this planet, and is willing to trust me with millions of their dollars. Yeah, right.
Another personal gripe: I teach classes on eBay and I am constantly inundated with spam asking me to sign up for a free class and get “hundreds of dollars worth of auction software” just for attending. Of course, the “free” software is nothing but a trial download from the manufacturer's website. This kind of deception gives a bad name to all legitimate businesses.
Don't you sometimes wonder about the future of the human race?
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 4:11 PM | TrackBack
September 9, 2004
eBay Marketing: The Market Research Wizard & Deep Analysis
Without measurement and analysis tools, successful marketing on eBay or anywhere else is nothing more than the famous Impossible Dream. Back in the Stone Ages, when I started on eBay, there were no handy software tools and the whole chore was tedious and time consuming. So, when Deep Analysis appeared, I was elated. But I admit to disillusion now.
I sold first edition books on eBay for a time, and before starting I needed to know what books were selling on eBay, and what their final price was. At that time, eBay stored about six months of auctions. It took me weeks to sort through all listings in able to find and record the information I needed.
Enter Deep Analysis. Deep Analysis really is good software. Instead of spending all those interminable hours I could have turned it loose and it would have done all my research, and delivered an organized report, while I did other things. The many functions performed by DA are quite valuable.
But, I don't believe the company has kept faith with their customers. When it first went up for sale, there was a one time price of $117. Since then, the cost has risen to $179 with a $49.95 annual renewal fee. No problem. We all understand increasing costs.
What isn't OK is that all those folks who originally bought the software for a one time fee now have to pay for upgrades, or their software will no longer work. I strongly contend that the original buyers should be “grandfathered” in – but they aren't.
If the company owners need to add renewal fees that is their business. But they are decidedly not abiding by the original promise made to purchasers who bought in good faith. My estimation of their company has dropped considerably.
A similar, although not identical, tool is the Market Research Wizard. The Wizard is broader in scope than Deep Analysis because it researches the entire web, rather than eBay specifically. Depending on the objective of the user, this can be positive or negative.
But the philosophy and business ethics of the Wizard owners is dramatically different. Originally sold with a renewal fee, the company owner, Chris Malta, has made a big-hearted decision to drop renewal fees entirely. This is the text that went out to owners of the Dropship Source Directory and Chris's other products, including the Wizard:
"You are receiving this Customer Update email because you purchased our Drop Ship Source Directory at some time between January 1st and June 30th 2004, and we thank you for your purchase.”
“At the time you purchased, we were charging a $19.95 renewal fee for the Directory at the end of your six month subscription.”
“We are no long charging that renewal fee. As of July 1, 2004, we have eliminated the $19.95 '6 month renewal fee'".
“In order to be fair to you, our valued Customer, we have back-dated the elimination of that fee to January 1st, 2004.”
“What this means to you is that you now own a permanent membership in The Drop Ship Source Directory at no extra charge. Your Directory Membership will never expire.”
“We have added even more people to our in-house Research Team, and are now researching thousands of wholesale suppliers every month. We're also traveling the country to Wholesale Trade Shows, to form personal relationships with the biggest and best Wholesale Drop Shippers out there.”
“This is all in order to add new drop shippers to our Directories. We add new drop shippers literally every day, so please take advantage of your now-permanent membership and use your Directory to its full potential!"
The owners of Deep Analysis have exhibited a lack of ethics which makes it a lesser product than the Market Research Wizard.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 4:02 PM | TrackBack
September 7, 2004
Internet Explorer Errors
Internet Explorer errors really gripe me. No, not errors in code, but in constant stupid popups and ads!!! Right this moment, there are two new windows that opened up – gee, I really want to know more about a dating service and how to pay off my student loans. Surely I'm not the only person on the internet who is annoyed by all this ... stuff?
Many folks may not know it but Internet Explorer is NOT the only browser on the web. I need it to teach my online classes, but other than that I don't use it. I much prefer the Opera browser.
Here are a few other browser choices, some free, some not – but even the “nots” aren't especially expensive.
For Windows:
Mozilla/Firefox:
http://www.mozilla.org
Netscape Navigator:
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers
Maxthon (formerly myie2)
http://www.myie2.com/html_en/home.htm
For Mac users:
Safari:
http://www.apple.com/safari
OmniWeb:
http://www.omnigroup.com/applications/omniweb
Don't like any of those? Go to your favorite search engine and look around. You might be find something you really like.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 1:45 PM | TrackBack
September 4, 2004
Online Copywriting Or What NOT To Do
On the Internet, superior online copywriting is an absolute necessity - if you want to sell anything, that is. If your auction listing or website is a hobby, you can afford to ignore this vital skill, but if you have a business, you MUST pay attention.
If you want a good copywriting chuckle you will want to check out the “Worst Manual Contest of 2004.” The winner ... er, loser ... of the annual contest included such gems as these:
* To apply the cold wind to the body for a longtime and so as not to exist about cooling too much
* A combustible spray is not sprayed
* Please do not put the one embarrassed because it gets wet under the air conditioner
http://www.tecstandards.com/2004winner.htm
We can enjoy the humor of these pathetic directions, while pitying the poor people who have to actually USE these manuals to assemble or install a purchase.
But they are also instructive. If your potential buyer receives sales copy that is as pathetic as this, your chances of selling him anything are slim and none. Seeing the very worst kind of writing, such as in this contest, provides a very vivid example of exactly what we don't want to do. Is your writing absolutely crystal clear?
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:02 AM | TrackBack
September 2, 2004
An Internet Sales Tax: A Serious Blow To E-Commerce
Is an internet sales tax about to become reality? Brick and mortar merchants across the US complain that the lack of such a tax gives net marketers a serious advantage and they strongly support such a tax.
If you're reading this, you're either a net marketer, like I am, or you're a net buyer, like I am. Either way, it will cost us more money, and make selling much, much more difficult. Yes, the lack of an internet sales tax does provide an advantage over a physical store, but the retail merchant has big advantages that we don't have.
For instance, it's much easier to sell a product that can be touched and seen. Imagine selling a sweater online, for example. A buyer who can run her hands over it and feel the texture, hold it up in front of a mirror, try it on for size, is much more likely to buy than with a three inch picture on a monitor screen. Personally, I rarely buy clothes online because the colors in real life usually are different from they way they appear online.
Another huge advantage for the store owner is that issue of trust. Everyone knows about online fraud and the possibility of getting stuck with poor merchandise (or none at all) and not getting your money back. If I buy something from WalMart or Home Depot, I know they will be there tomorrow and I can go talk with a human being, if necessary.
The burden of sales taxes on a small seller might be so overwhelming that it would drive large numbers of folks right off the Internet. eBay claims that 400,000 people make a full time living on its site, which doesn't include the millions who earn smaller amounts of money. The sales tax law currently under consideration allows for different tax rates in each of the 49,000 Zip Codes in the US. That is mind boggling and the paperwork could eat up humongous numbers of hours.
The best article I have read on this subject recently is here:
http://www.auction-sellers-resource.com/newsletters/aug/3.shtml
Our economy has been less than robust in the past few years, and Internet sales have been a shining exception to many dismal areas. Why anyone with sense would tamper with this is a total mystery, except that it is yet another example of short term expedience without considering the long term consequences. And there are so many examples of this:
* In the city of Atlanta, governmental corruption and tunnel vision has allowed the city water system to degenerate to a dangerous level. The governmental solution: to sharply increase business taxes. The reaction of business: move out of the city limits of Atlanta, thereby further decreasing the tax base and lowering revenue, rather than increasing it.
* The legislature of Georgia enacted severe restrictions on the mortgage industry, effectively reducing the amount of money it could make. The response of the mortgage industry? Refusal to do business in GA. The result: the real estate industry crashed to its knees and home owners couldn't obtain mortgage money. The legislature was forced to repeal their law.
George Bush has spoken against a net sales tax, while John Kerry favors it. Regardless, it's important to let our representatives know how we feel about the issue. Personally, I'm agin' it (that's “southernese” for NOT!!!)
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 10:34 AM | TrackBack
September 1, 2004
Focus Factor and Vital Basics: Thank You World Wide Web!
Recently, I heard a radio commercial advertising a product called Focus Factor. For a shipping charge of $4.95, the manufacturer would send me a 'free' bottle. I have great sales resistance (well, most of the time :-) but it was being touted as an intelligence enhancer. This is a subject I am keenly interested in, and there are nootropic or smart drugs that have been proven to enhance creativity, learning and memory.
Naturally, I wandered over to eBay to see if Focus Factor was selling and, no surprise, sales were brisk – they always are when any product is promoted on radio or TV. There weren't many auctions but sales were strong for the few auctions listed.
So, on to the World Wide Web to check out the product itself by going to google and typing in “focus factor”. Whew, what an education ...
Entry #1 is from ConsumerAffairs.com where I see a grisly collection of complaints from consumers who have endured rudeness, lies and unauthorized credit card charges from Vital Basics, the sellers of Focus Factor pills.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/nutrition/vital.html
Listed at #2 is the Wellness Letter from the University of California at Berkeley, which states that:
* Focus Factor is a cocktail of 40 ingredients, half of which are found in any basic multivitamin/mineral pill
* “Nothing in Focus Factor, which might well be called Hocus Pocus Factor, is new.”
* “The best thing to do about Focus Factor is forget it.”
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsFocusFactor.php
#3 in google is a story from the FTC website that Vital Basics has been charged with false advertising claims, resulting in an agreement to pay a $1 million fine. It goes on to say, “The VBI respondents have agreed to a consent order containing provisions designed to prevent them from engaging in similar acts or practices in the future” - which is interesting since I heard this radio commercial only two days ago, seemingly making the same claims that resulted in the large fine!
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/03/vitalbasics.htm
Clearly, Focus Factor is a product I wish to avoid. When the Internet began it was as an information medium, and that is exactly how it functioned in this case. So, thank you WWW. In spite of all the problems, you are a great and mighty force for good in our culture.
Posted by SydneyJohnston at 12:12 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
