Hi Winston said; ========================================== It amazes me how people can do that. What amazes me even more is how people promote the practice and think they are bettering their business in the process. It's not until they are in over their head when they realize their once valuable credibility is no more. ========================================== This is so true. Here's a true story. A client I once did work for sold a health product. Now, the interesting thing to note is that there are two different "levels" of the product on the market. One is rather expensive, retailing from $22 - $28 per 30 day supply. There's also a "cheapie" imitation that sells in the $10-$15 range. Before I take on a client, I do my own market research to see if I can ethically work for the client. I've always said I can't write advertising for (or market) a product I believe is a sham or bad quality. So, having done the research, I knew the lower end product caused health problems because of the ingredients and most doctors would not endorse using it. The higher end product has doctors endorsing it. The client sold the high end product. I liked that. But, the client was of the "quick fix" mentality. First, it was 10% off. Then it was 20% off, when 10% didn't bring in enough sales. Then it was 30% off. Finally, it got to 2 for the price of one. At that point, the client had to close two stores and left one open. But, it didn't just impact the client. It affected the market locally. Customers that could buy 2 bottles at the price of one were no longer willing to pay the higher price. Not there - and not anywhere else, either. The client had done a great job of devaluing the higher quality item. People "believed" that the product is worth $12 - the price of the poor quality product. People come into the one remaining store and say "when will it be *on* for $12?" When the client decided that the "solution" is to put a different product on sale, I fired the client. Some people just refuse to learn. Amazing. : ) Linda

Talk about making the step from stupid to absurd! LOL So what ever happened to your ex-client? Are they still in business today?

Hey Winston; ========================================== Talk about making the step from stupid to absurd! LOL ========================================== No kidding. Want to hear what's even stupider? As Peter and I say (over coffee) this becomes stOOpid - with two o's... which is far beyone mere stupidity. lol When I first signed on the client for a marketing contract, as typical, I ask for 6 months of NO intervention. I tell people I can't work with my hands tied. I had this client making over $10,000.00 a month from the website alone. For every one product sold at the site, there were more sold in the stores. For example, the first bundle package I promoted sold 40 packages online, but 90 in the stores. Sold out in 48 hours. I cut out the *sale* events. Ran customer events, created bundles, etc. We played games where customers could enter to win prizes, etc. It was fun - and profitable. When the 6 months were up, guess what the FIRST thing the client did? Sent out a city wide postcard campaign with a discount. HUH?? The reasoning? "Linda, people *LIKE* discounts and sales and I think they've missed them when you wouldn't allow them! It's MY business. *I* have the say." *sigh* I'm sure Peter does NOT miss *those* morning coffees. Man, I could rant. ========================================== So what ever happened to your ex-client? Are they still in business today? ========================================== Barely limping along. I just fired the client this past summer. The client has a wealthy (and tolerant)spouse who indulges the client's desire to say "I own a BUSINESS, you know..." I do NOT miss that craziness in my life. lol : ) Linda

That's ok Linda. I have a boss (company owner) who is the only official sales person we have. Get this! He said, "it doesn't matter if I make sales or not, I'll make money"! Then proceeds to complain that his suppliers are hounding him for overdue accounts! LOL! You have to meet this person. He's a dandy! LOL! Sad part is, he has an excellent high-end product which sells itself. All he has to do is get the information in front of the potential client.

Hi: ======================================= Get this! He said, "it doesn't matter if I make sales or not, I'll make money"! ======================================= lol. The things people say sometimes.... Whenever I see a product that 'sells itself' I can't help but think how much better it would do if they used better marketing and knew how to sell it. There's probably tons of people that would love to know about it, especially if it's a good product.