[Admin]

There's been a lot of debate on whether forced continuity is good or bad regarding how it is being used by Internet Marketers. I for one don't care for it because many times people who buy a product often get suckered into monthly fees without knowing it until they've already been charged on their creditcard. Then they have a tough time getting out of the subscription when they want to cancel.

Forced continuity isn't new by any means, but many offline businesses have quit using it because it created so many problems with their companies. Don't get me wrong, there are some companies that still use this kind of tatics to get more money out of people. But as I said, not as many as there used to be.

The Internet Marketing arena has adopted this method in the last year or so, which has raised the bar for how Internet Markers sell to some people. To me, this isn't raising the bar at all. It's exploiting people for more money.

I had to laugh when I saw some of the popular gurus come into a thread in another forum I frequent, and defend their reasonings for using such a tactic. Personally, I don't think they have a leg to stand on, but that's me.

The problem really isn't using forced continuity in itself, rather it is the tactic they use with it that absolutely gives no information of what lay ahead as far as the customers are concerned.

To be fair though, and after a couple of very big rounds of debate, some Iternet Marketers realised that they need to at least reveal all subsciptions related to the initial product, so they stated it in their sales copy. The only thing with that though is that they place this text in very fine print and in abscure places.

Lol did they really think this kind of stuff was going to cut down on the screeming and yelling when people start wanting their money back?

It is not the product itself or getting charged for the subscription that I mind so much, it's the fact that we can't cancel the monthly subscriptions, and future emails that land in our mailboxes.

My suggestions are to check out every stitch of the sales page if you are buying products. If the seller does not tell you what you are buying into, then leave that site immediately. Read every section as carefully as you can so you know what you are getting into before you purchase something, especially something with monthly subscriptions and high ticket products and services.

[jbolte1976]

I think the "forced continuity" billing structure has its place. When someone is looking for a product or service that, by its own nature, is re-ocurring whether it be month to month, quarter to quarter or whatever.

Server costs, memberships, periodical subscriptions, etc. are obvious examples.

I think businesses that aren't 100% honest or not 100% up-front and crystal clear about their billing structure, deserve every ounce of hard time they get from angry or mislead customers.

It kinda upsets me that professionals would intentionally be vague or even somewhat misleading to gain more profit.

This type of business ethic will lead to unhappy, unsatisfied, and unreturning customers, that will spread the word of thier dissatisfaction.

That's my 2 cents worth. I look forward to hearing others sound on on this.


Great topic Mary!

Jason

[shanec]

I agree. Forced continuity programs often mention a monthly fee in salescopy or below the fold of a webpage (in small print), so it's not always plain to see what your signing up for. If I'm reading a salesletter or webpage I'll normally scan through it. Some continuity programs seem to take advantage of this and don't make it obvious what the buyer is signing up for. I think some trust is lost with these offers.

On the other hand, I saw an offline example recently where customers paid $1 for a 14 day trial of a broadband service, and then they pay the full monthly amount after that, if they want it. Everything was transparent. This avoided the feeling of being tricked into paying for something they don't really want, so I think there's a place for continuity programs if they're setup in the proper way.

[Admin]

Hey Guys,

Yeah, I totally agree with you both. Forced continuity in itself isn't bad at all when companies don't try to hide what they are doing. It's used all the time actually.

My only beef with it is that Internet Marketers try to hide what people are also automatically signing up for, plus some of the marketers make it very difficult for customers to unsubscribe or cancel.

That's the only fault I found with this system.

[shanec]

Making it difficult to cancel or unsubscribe seems to be a short sighted, sneaky way to keep people paying alright. If the product is something they are proud of, there should be no reason to hide behind these tactics.

I recently unsubscribed from a membership I wasn't using. Their support team contacted me with a friendly email thanking me for my business. Their whole process of unsubscribing was straight forward.

It was a simple thing but there's a good chance I'll buy something else from that company again, or be willing to promote their products in the future, even though I am not currently a paying customer.

[TheoGio]

I am new to internet marketing. I became interested initially because I was interested in becoming a consultant with a company that sells cheap energy. However, they are new and NOT in my state unfortunately. So, I knew before I even started that if I was going to do this I must get the word out via the internet. It was the only way. And then I would have experience to do many other things with that knowledge as well.

Knowing and understanding that, my mission was to learn all that I could as quickly as I could to get myself started. I got several books on the subject, and (since I'm well over the age of thirtysomething...) it all sounded like another language...which it is, actually.

So, being a visual learner, and having a limited amount of time, I signed up for one of those services. My intent was not to stay in forever, rather to introduce me to concepts quickly. It was packed with info that helped a lot, however it's main premise was to sell his service. It was obvious to me immediately.

After a month and a half, I sent email notification that I wanted to D/C. No word back. Tried calling and left message. No word back. Called again. Again no return call. Emailed again. I think you get the picture.

Then, I just called my card and decided the quickest, easiest method to sever relations: Get a new credit card with a new number. Didn't want them in posession of such anyway. Now, eventually, someone did return my call (I did mention my attorney; don't know if that's what finally did it or not...) And he was very pleasant and seemed interested in knowing why I was dc.

And, I'm not saying that this service wasn't helpful. It was. And I have a massive amount to learn. But the way they handled things was not condusive to building loyalty and trust; that breeds customer dissatisfaction and resentment. And I have only been doing this or two and a half months total. So, aain, there is much to learn...But his stuff represented him, not me. It sounded like him. The sad thing now is if he had a different product, i don't think I'd ever consider it even though I thought he was very knowledgable.

Now, it culd be because I've been in business as a product desighner for quite a few years. I have two patents. And marketing is not new to me. I have previous experience I'd like to build on. I designed and manufactured high end desktop goods long before the internet was ever a reality (OMG I sound SO old...), and actually participated in trade shows (like Accent on Design in NYC) to sell directly to stores, and distributors. (Our products were here in the US, in Europe- esp Italy- Japan, Mexico...a lot of places). And there were many a magazine article written about my products and me. That was the way to get the word out "in the old days"....

If I had had the inernet then things would have been much easier. It was just starting when I had my daughter and I no longer wanted to travel all over the place. Neither did my husband. So we sold lines off, and had some quiet years as a family.

So, boy, am I wordy (my sister is right)....I know marketing has changed, but I think we are going to see a shift again. It's easy to sell things in a good economy. VERY easy. But, I believe that the state of the art marketing that we have come to know and have been told are current winning models will have to re-evaluate and reajust their thinking in a major way. (Maybe I should use the term reinvent...) Utilizing ole tried and true methods with all this internet marketing seems best to me. There is nothing like customer satisfaction. Companies that have this as their major priority will win in the end. It may take longer to build this strategy, however.

[Admin]

Hi Theo,

Lol It's nice to see you posting longer posts.

I appreciate them because we can gain more facts then trying to read something into it that just isn't there.

I don't blame you for pulling out like you did, plus if the guy got back to you after you cut your funding off to the site, that pretty much explains how he is to me.

Yes, you are right, We will see a new shift in marketing online and off. Matter of fact it started already, but most Internet marketers haven't made the adjustments. Some of the bigger ones may have, but I haven't seen where they've changed their srategies much yet.

Whether we shift forward or backwords, it's coming.

I don't know if you've heard on the news here resently about offline retailers shifting there mentalities recently about customers and selling in general. They are now reverting back to the customer is first, so we'll see them change the attitude that once was, "I'll do what I please, and if you don't like it, well go some place else. You need me remember?" - to something like, "We need you!" instead.

I was looking at ways people were maketing in some very old magazines my great aunt kept down in her basement the other day. There were some ads by retailers right after things started picking up after the great depression. I think we'll see some of those tactics used more because they've lasted the test of time.

Customer care is one of the oldest ways to build trust, and it will always be.

Sure, these tactics will be polished up a little lol, and some of the outer shell changed, but the very core or basics will remain in marketing. The internet will help spread it to a wider audience.

Btw, good discussion ...


Admin

[TheoGio]

No, I did not know major retailers were shifting again. Good news!
That concept never should have been abandoned in the first place.

[Admin]

I know this is probably old news, but it is still worth bring up.

I noticed that ACIA Berry was taking a big hit. Here's an article from ABC news that relates to forced continuity or negative optins:

ABC News: Warnings on Acai Berry Online Offers Amplify

The way I see it, if you are still trying to pull the wool over people's eyes about what your product does, and have to force people into buying your product, your product isn't worth buying!

If it was worth it, why not sell it lagitimately?

Lol maybe I'm a bit old fashion, but I find the old fashion way of selling much more appealing then the newer ways. The older marketers knew how to sell, and if they didn't have a good outstanding product, they moved on to another.