After sending out multiple emails, I have not received any reply from the organisers of Multiple Streams of Income seminar by Robert G. Allen. I have, therefore, concluded that they are ignoring me and are not going to do the right thing as per my suggestion.
So, I am proceeding to blog about the whole matter here in my blog for all to see and for readers to decide for themselves if the people organising the event are fair and honest. If they are not fair and honest, then, can we logically question if a product or service offered by them has any hidden agenda?
I was first introduced to Robert G. Allen's books by a reader of my blog. He goes by the initials "SC". Then, recently, he asked if I would like to help promote an upcoming seminar by Robert G. Allen.
To be fair to myself and other advertisers in my blog, I told him that I can help him spread the word but there would be a one time advertising fee. He said that he was only helping the organiser of the event and had to check with the organiser. He came back to say that the organiser offered to pay me for every ticket I sold in my blog and to make it more attractive, my readers will get a discount off the official price of $64 per ticket. A "discount code" or "promotion code" was created for this purpose.
Now, Robert G. Allen's books are interesting and while not revolutionary, I believe that they will benefit people who are thinking of creating more income streams on their journey to financial freedom. So, there was no reason not to accept an advertorial offer to promote a seminar by the same person.
The nightmare started after a reader told me that another blog is selling the ticket at $57.00 without having to apply any discount code. So, I wrote an email to SC regarding this. His name is Swee Chye, by the way:
Hi Swee Chye,
Something just came to my attention and I am not too happy.
A reader just told me that he saw the tickets going for sale in a another blog for only $57 and I am saying in my blog that the regular price is $64 and that my readers get a special price if they use the discount code I have provided in my blog.
I clicked on the link provided by the reader and it really says $57.00. This is in Greatsage's blog. This is on Facebook too.
You have put me in a very difficult position.
My blog has a reputation which I put on the line when I do this. If I do not get a satisfactory answer, I will have to blog about this to clarify the matter and salvage the situation.
I look forward to your prompt reply as to how to remedy the situation.
Best wishes,
AK
I got a rather prompt reply from SC:
Dear AK,
I've checked with the organizer and he came back and clarify that the other blog link was at the net discounted price as it has already factor in the discount. This was a tie up with the other blogger.
I went to check myself and yes there is no promotional code area to enter for the other link, and it is at net $57.
So maybe you can explain to the reader that the official price is at $64, and that is why you manage to get a special price if they use the discount code, which can't be used in another link or page.
Hope this helps to explain the discrepancies.
Let me know if there are any other clarification to be made.
Regards,
Swee Chye
To which I replied:
Hi Swee Chye,
This is not a satisfactory answer.
If readers can buy the tickets at S$57 elsewhere without applying any discount code, why do they have to do it in my blog?
It gives the impression that my blog raised the price and then provide a discount to give an impression that it I am offering a better deal!
I get the feeling that you are also a business professional. How would you feel?
This is not just a matter of 1 reader raising the issue. How many more will there be? How many more will talk about this without telling me? It is my blog's reputation which is at stake here.
I suggest that the discount for my readers be raised to 15% to remedy the situation. For those readers who already bought their tickets and I last counted the number to be 3, you guys could give them some token for the additional 5% discount at the venue.
The current arrangement puts me in an awkward position and I am sure you can appreciate this. I cannot accept it.
I hope that the organiser agrees to my suggestion. Failing this, I will have to take matters into my own hands.
Best wishes,
AK
And this was the remedy they offered:
Dear AK,
I've convey your message to the organizer.
This is what he came back with.
As a special appreciation and token for your readers, those who have signed up, and those intending to sign up will get a complementary ticket to "The_Secret_Of_Success" seminar on 18Aug itself.
This complementary ticket is value at $57 as well.
The session will be in Mandarin, focusing on the "Secret to Success".
Maybe, you can include some add on in the blog post on the special gift only for your readers, but not the poster.
For those who have signed up, they will be informed and given the special complementary ticket.
This is subjected to the first 100 sign ups only.
So for those already sign up or intend to sign up for Robert's session on Monday - the tickets will be complimentary, i.e. you buy one ticket, and get to attend both sessions, subjected to the first 100 sign ups only..
All guests attending this event are encourage to meet Ben Lai and Jane for discussions.
This is a special arrangement just for your reader and clarification to the discrepancy, which the other blogger will not get.
Is this ok for you?
Let me know.
Regards,
Swee Chye
Of course, this missed the point I was making totally and I told SC so:
Hi Swee Chye,
Please tell the organiser that I am promoting Robert G Allen's seminar and not some other seminar. This is in part due to your prior good recommendation to read his books which are interesting.
I don't even know who are the people conducting "The Secret of Success" seminar. Furthermore, it is in Mandarin! My blog is in English! How many of my readers are like me and have difficulty with Chinese?
A bundle offer is not the original intention of our agreement. A special price for my readers is supposedly the offer. This special price is now discovered to be not special at all.
So, I am asking the organiser to deliver on the promise of a special price for Robert G Allen's seminar for my readers and nothing else. A 15% discount should do it.
If the organisers cannot agree to an extra 5% discount, I will simply state my views on the matter in my blog matter of factly and let readers form their own conclusion. I will still fulfil my end of the agreement but I will have to do so giving readers full knowledge.
You might know this but the organiser might not: I am not a blogger who is blogging for money. I care about my blog's reputation more than anything else.
I look forward to your prompt response. Thank you.
Best wishes,
AK
SC did not send a reply to the above email and I followed up with another email at night after publishing a Part 2 to the advertorial in my blog:
Hi Swee Chye,
I have not received any reply regarding the proposed 15% discount for my readers. So, I assume that the answer is "no".
Anyway, I have updated my readers regarding the situation in my blog and if they still want to buy tickets to the event from my blog, they are now doing so knowing fully well that the tickets are available in another blog for $57.00 each without having to apply any discount code.
I am always above board with my readers. That is the reason why they trust me and why they keep coming back.
Readers who buy tickets from my blog, I will send them tokens of appreciation at my own cost.
I have to say that I am disappointed with how this has turned out but I know you are just the middle man and you don't have a say in how things work.
Thank you for helping me pass the messages. :)
Best wishes,
AK
As anyone can see, I was still very cordial, believing that SC, a reader of my blog, was just helping out the organiser and that he was not in the know.
However, when a reader showed me that the forum at kiasuparents.com is selling the tickets at only $30.00 each and that $57.00 could get three tickets, I was really upset:
Hi Swee Chye,
A reader just told me that the forum at kiasuparents.com is selling the tickets for $30 each and $57 for 3 tickets! What is going on?
I clicked on the link provided and it brought me to:http://www.eventbee.com/event?eid=102104202
Please find out from the organiser what is going on. This is just getting worse! It is terrible!
How well do you know these people?
Best wishes,
AK
As you can see, I still believed SC! Then, I looked at the nickname of the person posting in kiasuparents.com. It says "scang". I put two and two together. SC's email address says
anselmang@gmail.com:
Swee Chye,
The person posting in kiasuparents.com has the nickname "scang". That is you, isn't it? You knew all along about the special prices and you didn't tell me?
I entered into this arrangement in good faith! How is this fair to me and my readers! I hope you are going to tell me "scang" is not you.
If I do not hear from you by 8am tomorrow, I am going to publish our correspondence on my blog for all to see.
I DO NOT APPRECIATE BEING TREATED THIS WAY!
I want you to offer a FULL REFUND to all my readers who have bought tickets to the event through my blog if they wish it.
There is a total lack of fairness on your part in this entire exercise! You have omitted important information which could have influenced my decision on whether to promote the event! This is MISREPRESENTATION BY OMISSION!
TREAT THIS AS VERY SERIOUS!
AK
Now, not many people have seen me furious but I was SO furious and still am.
Then, something struck me. I went to the three ticketing sites and everyone had this in the header:
What or who is ARIIX? I did an online search and I think this is an MLM company. If the seminar is just a front to promote some MLM effort, then, the organiser has truly been dishonest with me. If I knew it was an MLM effort, I would never have agreed to this. My fury went up a level because it makes me an unknowing partner to a possible deception.
I did an online search on Ang Swee Chye. He has a linkedin account:
http://sg.linkedin.com/in/scang
The last piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.
In my life, I have come across many dishonest and unfair people. People would sometimes withhold vital information, putting others at a disadvantage while promoting their own agenda.
I have been a victim before and I have developed a defence mechanism over time but not to the point of being cynical or overly suspicious. I still like to believe in the goodness of people. I still believe in fair play.
A total of 6 tickets were sold through my blog. Of course, I can say that I am lucky that I discovered the shenanigans quite quickly. However, to the people who bought the 6 tickets, I am truly sorry.
I went and bought inspirational bookmarks last night to send to them as a token of appreciation because they could have bought tickets at $57 each from the other blog instead of my blog. Now, these bookmarks seem grossly inadequate.
I don't know what else to say and for someone who talks a lot, this is saying something. I am very sorry.
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