We apologize for any inconvenience.

If you are waiting for approvals and admittance into directory or your pictures approved, they will be done when I get back.

Thanks for your patience!!

Well, it was pointed out to me (Thanks Robert!) that the urls weren’t quite right.  Oh. Damn.  I normally catch that right off the bat.

So.  I apologize if that wasn’t from MerchantCircle.  I will be investigating it a little further, but I’m thinking now that it was a phishing thing…and I totally bought it.  I’m so embarrassed.  There were red flags all over the place too.  *sigh*  At least I didn’t actually click the stupid links.

I received this email from them today:

*********************

SUBJECT:  Increase your Google ranking: Become a Top Merchant 

Dear Wendy,

It has come to our attention that the business listing you recently created on the MerchantCircle network might not be a valid business. Please note, that we are very concerned with the accuracy of our directory and the integrity of our network. Therefore, our system has generated this email to determine the validity of your business and the accuracy of the information you submitted.

Our Terms of Service Agreement  specifically states that“[i]n consideration of use of the Service, you agree to:

(a) provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the Service’s registration form (such information being the “Registration Data”) and
(b) maintain and promptly update the Registration Data to keep it true, accurate, current and complete.”
(See http://www.merchantcircle.com/corporate/tos.html)

Thus, it is a violation to provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or MerchantCircle has reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete. If we have reason to believe that the information you submitted is inaccurate or untrue— we have the right to suspend or terminate your account.

Accordingly, you account will be automatically terminated with in 10 business days, unless you respond support@merchantcircle to rebate this email.

Best Regards,

The MerchantCircle Team
MerchantCircle

**************

So I emailed them the following:

***************

I’m very confused.  Are you soliciting me or threatening me?  Or perhaps you are threatening me if I don’t upgrade to a Top Merchant status?

I’ve been asked about MerchantCircle by more than a few of the local businesses who belong to the networking group that I own here in the Tampa Bay area.  I tell them I’ve never had any problems, and never had anything bad to say.  I recommend they register and get their business in there.  But I have to say this email just went too far for me to ignore.  I will have to share this with my clients and my networking groups or I’d be doing them a disservice after recommending that they use Merchant Circle.

Here’s how I’m seeing this:

You send an email with the subject:  Increase your Google ranking:  Become a Top Merchant.

THEN You seem to be saying that you are concerned I’m not a valid business but you don’t request that I provide any proof to support that I am.

You also list a portion of your TOS, as if that says anything other than what would be considered a common sense issue.

Then you tell me you have the right to suspend my account…

I’m not even sure what this means, “Accordingly, you account will be automatically terminated with in 10 business days, unless you respond support@merchantcircle to rebate this email.”.  How do I rebate an email?

So which is it?  Are you going to tell me that in order to qualify as a valid business I need to upgrade to a paid account?

Pardon me if I seem a touch defensive, but you are threatening to cancel my account and there is no valid reason why, except (to me) it seems you want to force me to use your upgraded, paid service.

You KNOW I’m a real business because you have repeatedly called me on my business phone to verify my business is valid.

And while we are discussing your way of doing business…why do you submit, on your own, without my input or blessings, requests for connections to companies I’d never endorse or recommend and even some who are direct competition? What if there was a lawsuit barring someone from contacting another person or business and you just choose to send a request as if it was made by that business?  What if you just “connected” me with some thief or molester, known locally by all, and it looks like I’m endorsing them by inviting them into my network?

Maybe by doing this, you are just getting people to visit the site to accept these connections and all you are really doing is trying to boost activity to get the Google bot on the site more so you can “increase people’s google ranking”?  Or are you trying to get more people to click your Adsense ads?

It seems to me you are going to chase away more people than you will keep with this tactic.

I do hope you can answer my questions, and explain whether you were threatening or soliciting me, as soon as possibly so I can update my network members.  I look forward to your response.

Thank you,

~ Wendy Milonas

Graphic Design & Illustration, Website Development, Web Hosting
www.wendymilonas.com

*******

If anyone else sees this differently, I’d love to hear your point of view and offer them an apology…feel free to comment and share your point-of-view.

Thanks!

So what I would ask you is … did you actually read the Policies and Procedures? (Most people don’t.) That is the legally enforceable agreement between you and the network marketing company. Do you have any real idea what you have agreed to? It might take you by surprise. Heck, you might be absolutely shocked. There’s a good chance you’ll find statements making it clear that you - the rep - may be terminated at any time for any reason with 30 days’ notice. And it is done by companies on a regular basis. They let it pass until you have good money coming in, and then they terminate you.

Guess where the income you built then goes? Remember, this contract was written by company lawyers. Chances are, the company won’t terminate you to steal your check unless they get themselves in financial trouble. But it happens. If you want a solid foundation for yourself and your family and your team, then you definitely want a contract that can’t kick the legs out from under you.

[read more here]

.

Research has shown that even today, 80% to 90% over everyone in MLM comes in as the result of talking with a friend or family member. That seems like a lot, but it doesn’t astonish me.

People often follow the recommendation of someone they trust. If it’s not a person they trust, chances of them following the recommendation decrease dramatically.

So to have the best chance of success in network marketing, you really need a network of friends to talk to. If you begin without network, that is OK. But you’ve got to create your network in order to have much success. It’s just like when you stock a pool with fish. You’re much more likely to catch a fish in a stocked pond than in a pond with no fish.

When we talk about MLM, a “fish” is someone with whom you have first built a relationship. You don’t do that by selling them something. You do that by getting into communication with them and offering them something that brings value into their life. Then you can offer them something else.

[read more here]

.

I go to the bank drive up windows everyday. I use separate banks for my business and personal accounts. I have been with my personal bank for over 20 years; I have been with my business bank for about five years. Recently the bank where my business account is calls me by name, asks if need any checks or deposit slips, provides a pen and paper in the carrier and always comments on the weather. After they complete my transaction they often will let me know of some benefit they offer with my type of account, like free cashiers checks and provide me with brochures on services and ways to comment on their service.

These little touches are great for their business because they make me feel comfortable and like they care. My personal bank still doesn’t even know how long I’ve been giving them my business.

[read more here]

.

We do know that internet marketing tools are now days indispensable in the dynamic and -competitive world that is accessed through the World Wide Web! There are tools used to build a web presence but having a site does is not indicative of creating any business whatsoever. How can one make their product or service known to the world? Internet marketing tools are often categorized by internet ranking analyzer, key word auto-submitter, site traffic analyzer, webpage optimizer, and on it goes and new marketing tools are coming online each and every day. Where does one begin to learn or decide what to do?

[read more here]

.

[read more here]

.