Specialty Merchandise Corporation reviews and complaints
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Fraud
I have invested about $5000.00 for coaching, which is really another name for, "up sale, " the largest site, etc. It is worthless because the market is saturated with 1, 000s of the same site!
Scam
SMC - Specialty Merchandise Corporation - SMC Gift Card Site: Lies, Run Around Simi Valley California….
I signed up with SMC earlier this year with the impression that I would have an internet site with the gift cards as an added bonus. What I got was a run arouond. The first few people I talked to signed me up as a member. A few days later I was called by my coach who informed me that I didn't have a site but was just a member. She then went on explaining to me the differend levels of programls offered.
She convinced me that the "platnum" package would work best for me and as a bonus I would ger some gift cards to give away.
A few days later I got a call from a company in Phoenix, AZ who specializes in e-stores. They informed me that my site was good for only gift cards and that the customer had to have a gift card to make a purchase. They wanted me to get their site and I could upload my SMC products to the new site. Of course this was going to cost a few thousand dallars. After that I got calls from two other similar companies also from Phoenix. And just this week another company from Phoenix called wanting to do the same thind. Althouth they deny it, I believe thay are related to SMC. How else would they know about my site as no one can find my site unless they know beforehand what it is.
SMC denied knowing anything about the companies in Phoenix but their e-commerce sattelite is in Phoenix. SMC wanted to upgrade me to a "real" internet site for $2, 000. They have since dropped down to abour $700.
They lied to me about what kind of site it actually was and refuse to make things right by giving me an actual open to anyone site. They also refuse to refund my money: $1195. I am writing the attorneys general of Arizona and California. I will not let them get away with this.
They Are Scam Artists
These people are nothing more than low lifes. They are LIARS!!! They reel you in with all of their lies then they take your money. I have asked SEVERAL times to cancel and they wouldn't then you try to leave messages and NOBODY call you back. Then when you do get a hold of someone they tell you that the trial program you chose is a non-refundable trial...
Read full review of Specialty Merchandise Corporation and 5 commentsMoney stealing company
I joined SMC just before Christmas with the hope to make extra money. I was told that I would only be charged $40 to start then a web hosting fee. When I received my call from my business coach I was informed that I would have to buy gift cards in order to sell on the internet or I could upgrade and not have to sell gift cards. A few weeks later I up graded but low and behold I still had to give out the gift cards but I would get special credit I could use any way that I wanted. I then received another call a few days later from a woman telling me I needed to buy more gift cards for a promotion. I was hopeful so I did. However, I failed to put two and two together.
A couple of weeks prior I received e-mails from people requesting information, because, they wanted to shop on my sight. I sent gift card #'s to these people but instead of getting customers I started to get calls several times a day from companies trying to sell me hundreds of dollars in advertising. I was informed by these people that my sight was not listed on search engines so it would be impossible for anyone to find my web site. I declined the advertising but the calls kept coming.
I didn't realize that I was being scammed until I was placing an order with a gift card. I did not understand why I had to pay for the gift card and also pay for the merchandise that was being ordered. I called customer service and asked them why this was so, but they refused to help me. I informed them that I wanted my money but they said that the gift cards were nonrefundable. The first individual I spoke with was arrogant and rude when I asked to speak with his supervisor he stated his mama was his supervisor. I never did get any ware through phone conversations and when I did get someone else she said I could close my account but I would not get any money back.
I have since filed a complaint with the FBI internet fraud department IC3, I'm not sure if they can help in this matter but I'm hoping that if enough people complain to the right authorities that we can get this company shut down.
I'm very fortunate that I found the rip-off when I did otherwise I would have probably been out a lot more money.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I too got rooked into SMC gift cards. When I called and tried to get my money back I was told that it was refundable after I was told I could cancel my account after 21 days if I wasn't satisfied... They have send me products that I never ordered and taken the money out of my account without my permission. Now I'm stuck with gift cards and candles that I can't use. Please if anyone can help let me know. Janet
I have to say I was very upset with as many call trying to get more money from me.They don't tell you everything up front. I know you have to spend money to make money but come on .3200 to have so many people a year to go to your site.. And people can't get to your site throw a search.. Shame on you SMC for not being honest...Not good buiness ...
smc did it to me too. They did a unauthorized money transfer for 275.00 without our permission. If you are going to do any business with them DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY BANK INFORMATION. With out your permission they take money from your acct. and don't tell you. I am getting the run around trying to make them put the the unauthorized money back.
Scam artists!
SMC is a company that sounds good to others by stating that they will help you build a business using the internet to sale their merchandise under your website and they will hold the cost of warehousing the merchandise. All you have to do is start a website then advertise their products that they will ship to your customers. You get the profits of the difference in the price they charge for the product and what you advertise the product for on your website. Sounds good doesn't it. Well this is the problem they want you to buy a kit that may or may not come then they want you to use them to make the website otherwise you cant have one, then if you agree to this they say you can cancel at anytime. NO you can Not! They do not refund your money, they give you a run around then send you to collections for the membership fees that you may or may not have agreed to. I canceled my membership the very next day. Was told it would be credited to my account. This never happened! When i call the CSR i get this lets lay stupid routine the gets old after doing it over and over. I have been sent to collections for money that this company owes me. I was blocked from ordering anything on their site because in their system i was paying monthly fees instead of the yearly fee i already paid that they never refunded. So i was going to make my money back by ordering products to sell, then cancel after the year was up. No this didn't work cause i couldn't order since my monthly fee wasn't paid. What fee? I paid in in full for a year. This is when they stat they money was refunded in April that year. I sent them the copy of my bank statements from Feb to may which showed the smc transaction of their deduction and no refund. I still have yet to get my money back and have had to dispute several collection agencies on my credit report.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Wow! I have had nothing but a good experience so far. SMC has been very helpful and accomodating. Delivery of all goods has been very prompt. Merchandise has been of very good quality. I am so sorry you have had such bad experiences. My experience with SMC has been excellent.
I joined SMC a half an hour later I saw some reviews about SMC and decided to cancel bcause I had two weeks until the money was to come out of my bank account. Two weeks later I notice that SMC had taken the money they did not cancel my order. Now I have to accept the Kit and mail it back to them. This compony is getting away with taking money from people. If you did get a web site from them no one will go to it because every one knows they can buy from SMC . Why are they still be aloud to promote themselves on television. All the complaints I have read on this company and they are still in business.
Hey some one I just joined and just got my kit and have an appointment with a coach on friday at 4:30 pm what should I do have I lost my $413.95? noguerakenneth@yahoo.com
wow! thanks everyone for the reviews. i was thinking about joining this company and went online to review and lord behold was i surpraised to read all this! i dont have this kind of money to give away so again thanks for the info.
Violated there own contract!
First I called SMCORP a man sounded very friendly but to friendly. He asked me if I had a bank account I had replied no I don't. He asked me does anyone have a bank account I said yes, my mother does. So he asked me a few more questions. And he told me that I would have to wait for 9 to 15 days until I would see my package. And then he made a comment to me (don't call me any earlier until you see your package. I replied okay. Keep in mind I ave this guy my mothers banking information.
I waited for 16 days just to make sure my package never game I called SMCORP back that day or he following day, which ever day I know that it was ASAP! I spoked to to exactly 4 people that day. Each of them telling me that they could not find my name in the system. My mom was on the other end of the phone while I was making some of these calls and also listening near by. So they asked me to resign up I replied okay.
So this time my mom gave them her debit card to use this time. My package arrived in 4 to 5 days because that's how long it takes for a debit card. Got my package then all of of a sudden they hit you with all kinds of charges coming from here and there. I am telling them I don't have the money to pay for an website. So I was getting stressed out about all this new money that kept being asked for again and again. Then keep in mind we have a business coach. He kept trying to tell me to stay in smc as again I said okay. My business coach said he would have another way I could make money in order to pay for my e merchant website. Or to send a money gram of 290 dollars. I didn't do that.
So I called a few times to tell them I was canceling. I called the first time on October 23, 2007 didn't receive my package but then they told me they didn't have my name in the system but two days later on my mom bank account on October 25, 2007 they charged it on my mothers bank account. I asked them why did they do that. A women replied well mam That is because you signed up for it on October 23,2007. And they took out 39.95 that same day October 25, 2007.
Finally I took my smc kit to the post office November the 27,2007, Now I skip the second time I called in for the package the second time which was November 8, 2007. I returned my package to the post office November 27, 2007. It got to Fontana California December 5, 2007. I have my receipts and all for prove. Now I am trying to get a refund and they are telling me I only get back 24.95.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I have recently signed up for SMC and so far I have not had any problem with them at all. I received my kit in about 3 days and I received my website with in 5 days, which was free but I have to pay the hosting fees and those are $39.95 a month. That is very reasonable if you do you research. I have a business coach, whom I don't have a problem getting a hold of whenever I have a question. I called him today as a matter of fact even though our appointment wasn't until this thursday. He answered any questions i asked. I already have people interested in my catalogs and had to order some more. I live on a limited income and I don't have alot of money, but I do know business and if your expecting to get rich overnight then... you are fooling yourself. its like a plant, you start with seeds, then with patience, time, and yes... money, it will grow. just don't give up..also a great tip..don"t ever give your bank info or use credit cards..I use prepaid debit cards, so they can only take out so much and you won't get overcharged
MAYBE THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SMC IS BECAUSE YOU WERE ALREADY FINANCIALLY STABLE ENOUGH AFFORD THE HIDDEN FEES AND DON'T EVEN MONITOR YOUR RICH BANK ACCOUNTS WHILE OTHERS WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT WE'RE READY AND WILLING TO BE A PART OF SMC WITH GOOD INTENTIONS BUT WERE NOT INFORMED THAT SMC WILL DROP BY YOUR BANK ACCOUNT WHEN THEY GET GOOD AND GOT DAM READY WITHOUT PRIOR AUTHORIZATION AND TAKE YOUR BILL, GAS AND GROCERY MONEY.
I have been with SMC for nearly 9 years. I have never had a problem with them this whole time. I think that it takes a person with 120% dedication to their goals, and it takes time, money, ENERGY and most of all PATIENCE to run and start a good ONLINE business. Online businesses are the hardest thing to start, but if you have patience and the skills you need then it will work, but it takes EFFORT on your part. When I started SMC I just got married and wanted to work at something I thought I could do to earn our family extra money. So, My husband agreed to have me call. I ordered the best membership and paid $550.00 for approx. 25 products of all kinds, (all very nice) Videos of how to start and be successful if I did it step by step the way they told me too, they sent me my first 25 big catalogs, and a lot of the small ones, order forms and order charts, they set me up with EVERYTHING i needed to start MY business. And, I did it. I ordered products I knew that people I knew would love and I sold them all out of my mini van to different neighborhoods. I did that for the first year! And was doing just fine and gained allot of my clients that I have today from doing that.
No, I don't sell to walmart or have a website up with them yet..but I do plan on purchasing the website soon. I trust in SMC and believe that its NOT their faults if someone don't succeed! Its our faults for not doing EVERYTHING we can to make our sales better! That includes going to School and learning about business if that what it takes. ITS UP TO THE PERSON STARTING THE BUSINESS~ My membership is great, the only thing is when I got cancer and wasn't running my business for a 2 years, my membership number wouldn't work in the computer anymore, So I called and they said that I just needed to pay the membership fee of 45.95 and get put right back on. So, I did. I never had a problem NOT ONCE with my credit cards.
Some people just don't have what it takes, and feel the need to blame the company for their lack of hard work in making it a go! GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ENDEAVORS.
SMC are con artists. I owe them nothing, but they are using a collection agency and threats of legal action, trying to get money out of me.
In fact they owe me over $700.00.
I signed up with them and then canceled cause I changed my mind. After canceling they kept charging me the membership fee. I had my credit card company block all payments to them and that when the collection agency started calling.
I 've been a SMC member for 10 years, its been a great company for me. One thing you have to realize is that you get what you put in. I was only making $1, 000 month at walmart. When i started smc i hit the gold mine. I have Big Venders like walmart buying from me and along others. I have webites now, website are tricky and expensive but they do work! work hard at it and it will come. I would have been in the dumps if it wasnt for SMC. One thing I learned Lazy people tend to complain the most.
They are a fraudulent company. I have not dealt with them in over a year. Then one day I get my credit card statement and low and behold a charge from SMC Corp for $49.95! Not Authorized. My credit card took care of it ASAP. I told them I wanted them taken to court for fraud! They are ###!
I have never had a problem with smc customer service OR their products. I have been a member for four years. It is up to the individual to say no to the website and to all of the other offers. Perhaps some are easily persuaded and prefer to blame the person who sold them the website they could not afford to begin with. The products are very reasonably priced and the markup/profit margin is quite generous. The only problem I ever had is the wait on the telephone line. I think it's a pretty darned good deal.
smc works for me.
I was scammed by smc and e merchant there was a guy who called me on the phone and he sold me this produxt that at the time I really could not afford because I was unemployeed. So at that time I was desperate for some money and the con-artist made it sound real good. SO I bouught this website for like $1800.00 and I never made one dime off of it. So now I am seeking the atty general to get involved with this issue. I call e merchant and they said that I cannot get my money back all I can get back is the $39.95 fee that was being charged to my acct and I had to go to my bank to have them to a stop payment on this they were charging me for a website that I never made a dime off of. Very up set and I would not recommend anyone to ever do anythin like this.. All I want is my $$$$ back and I am not going to stop until I get it back.
I have yet to a problem except they will not give me the free products that another lady from Canada got to start. I even sent in a order and was satisfied with it all I want is the same free products to start aparty of my owm and use there products for my store if anyone knows a better company that delivers to Canada please email me at lornadahl@telus.net. Is htrer any way to get my free stuff or get my money back? Thank you Lorna dahl
These people scammed me for $1000.00 dollars. Convinced me to purchase their gift card program. The site didn't work. My customers couldn't get it to work and when I called for support which took forever to contact, they just told me to tell them to try it again. When I tried to get the $700.00 dollars of mine they were holding, they informed me that I had to purchase their products with it. I finally did and received the biggest bunch of defective junk I've ever seen.
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SMC - Specialty Merchandise Corporation - SMC Gift Card Site: Lies, Run Around Simi Valley California….
I signed up with SMC earlier this year with the impression that I would have an internet site with the gift cards as an added bonus. What I got was a run arouond. The first few people I talked to signed me up as a member. A few days later I was called by my coach who informed me that I didn't have a site but was just a member. She then went on explaining to me the differend levels of programls offered.
She convinced me that the "platnum" package would work best for me and as a bonus I would ger some gift cards to give away.
A few days later I got a call from a company in Phoenix, AZ who specializes in e-stores. They informed me that my site was good for only gift cards and that the customer had to have a gift card to make a purchase. They wanted me to get their site and I could upload my SMC products to the new site. Of course this was going to cost a few thousand dallars. After that I got calls from two other similar companies also from Phoenix. And just this week another company from Phoenix called wanting to do the same thind. Althouth they deny it, I believe thay are related to SMC. How else would they know about my site as no one can find my site unless they know beforehand what it is.
SMC denied knowing anything about the companies in Phoenix but their e-commerce sattelite is in Phoenix. SMC wanted to upgrade me to a "real" internet site for $2, 000. They have since dropped down to abour $700.
They lied to me about what kind of site it actually was and refuse to make things right by giving me an actual open to anyone site. They also refuse to refund my money: $1195. I am writing the attorneys general of Arizona and California. I will not let them get away with this.