List of rip-offs

[cheesedip1]

There are so many "gurus" out there with "a new book" or "a new product". They tell you their product will help you, but how do we know what is a rip-off and what is actually real and not just fluff?

Maybe we could make a list on the forums: One list of all the products that are helpful, and one that is full of scammers, so we know who is worth spending our time on.

Of course, this type of thing is somewhat subjective, so everyone might not agree with each others' opinions.

[Alymdrictels]

Here's the embarrassing truth - the world is full of gullible people and it isn't very difficult to profit from them. Even more so with self-improvement enthusiasts.

People want quick fixes or a list of easy steps and that's exactly where most authors place their niche.

Here's a question for you. Why do you think the site is called "PD for Smart People?"

[Angela]

I think it may be too subjective -- I don't think we've ever had even one PD thingie that at least a few people found valuable.

I was once ripped off by one of the biggest, most famous of PD personalities, and it doesn't seem to have impacted the admiration people here have for him.

[cheesedip1]

Originally Posted by Angela

I was once ripped off by one of the biggest, most famous of PD personalities, and it doesn't seem to have impacted the admiration people here have for him.

Would you mind private messaging me who it was? I just like to know these things, just in case so I can keep my eyes alert. (Not be ripped off)

[VinceG]

Much more useful for people to share the few products/services that have done them a lot of good and why and what the experience was like with them. No need to get negative.

[Alymdrictels]

Originally Posted by Angela

I think it may be too subjective -- I don't think we've ever had even one PD thingie that at least a few people found valuable.

I was once ripped off by one of the biggest, most famous of PD personalities, and it doesn't seem to have impacted the admiration people here have for him.

Precisely the point I was trying to make.

People WANT to believe the stuff "works" while 99% of it is completely useless.


I take Photoreading as a prime example. I've read a bucketload of reviews and experiences and they all point to one thing - while PR does some interesting phenomena, it doesn't really work as advertised. You might get flashes of insight, but their impact/effect will be negligible in the end. You never really "know" what you've read. Therefore, in my mind, everyone who advertises it:

a) has bought into the same delusion WANTING to believe it works
b) is an affiliate or gets some other benefit by doing so

[Alymdrictels]

Originally Posted by VinceG

Much more useful for people to share the few products/services that have done them a lot of good and why and what the experience was like with them. No need to get negative.

Because negativity implies hurting the feelings of some of our very own charlatans?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by cheesedip1

Would you mind private messaging me who it was? I just like to know these things, just in case so I can keep my eyes alert. (Not be ripped off)

I don't mind telling you "out loud." Joe Vitale offered a 100% money-back guarantee on a product, and when no one responded to my requests for help when the product didn't work, I requested my money back, and got no response to that, either, despite emails and calls to a few different people (including Joe himself). I ended up doing a charge-back on my credit card.

I have enjoyed much of his work, and he seemed to me to be a cool sort of person, so I was disappointed at the lack of integrity there.

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by Alymdrictels

Because negativity implies hurting the feelings of some of our very own charlatans?

Hmm, not sure what you mean here.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Alymdrictels

Precisely the point I was trying to make.

People WANT to believe the stuff "works" while 99% of it is completely useless.


I take Photoreading as a prime example. I've read a bucketload of reviews and experiences and they all point to one thing - while PR does some interesting phenomena, it doesn't really work as advertised. You might get flashes of insight, but their impact/effect will be negligible in the end. You never really "know" what you've read. Therefore, in my mind, everyone who advertises it:

a) has bought into the same delusion WANTING to believe it works
b) is an affiliate or gets some other benefit by doing so

No, I think that just because I think a service or product is bunky does not mean that someone else won't get value out of it. Getting value "merely" because you want to believe something works is still value, in my view -- if you feel like you're getting value, you're getting value, even if that is only flashes of insight. And value can be pretty subjective.

What I call a "rip-off" is when someone just plain objectively fails to provide a specific service or product they have promised, but they take your money anyway.

[cheesedip1]

Originally Posted by VinceG

Much more useful for people to share the few products/services that have done them a lot of good and why and what the experience was like with them. No need to get negative.

Doh!!!!! Of course!! (slaps self on forehead) ha ha.


EDIT: Well, sometimes it helps to know what to avoid, so you don't get ripped off, but yeah, I see what you mean.