A couple of weeks ago, I got a text message request from somebody who reads some of my websites, or so he said. This fellow had been in communication with me in the past via e-mail, maybe 6 months ago or so, so I had no reason to expect anything unusual. He got my cellphone number from one of my websites, as I do publish my phone number for those who need to contact me. To be honest, I have two cellphone numbers, one which I publish and one which is private, mostly reserved for family.
Well, when this guy texted me, he told me that he wanted to meet with me. I had no problem with that, as I try to meet readers whenever they are in town and ask if we can get together. So, this guy asked if we could get together at 10am on a Monday morning at the Landco Building, a big Corporate Center here in Davao. I agreed, had no reason to suspect that there was anything unusual. I had no reason to suspect it… but somehow something didn’t sit right in my gut. I somehow thought that there was something different about this meeting.
I showed up at the office where we were supposed to meet at the appointed time. The fellow I was supposed to meet was not there, but the receptionist offered me a seat in the waiting area. I sat down, and waited for the fellow to show up. After a few minutes, I asked the receptionist, “What kind of company is this?” She replied, “sir, we sell herbal products.” “Hmmm,” I thought, “what is this all about?”
When my “friend” showed up, he sat down at the table where I was waiting and introduced himself. He started explaining his various businesses to me. The way he talked, you would think that he was a multi-billionaire, and the way he dressed would seem to confirm it. The office was certainly very upscale too. I wondered, what was I doing there? Why did he want to talk to me? After a bit of discussion I handed him my business card (which, by the way is called a calling card here). He then handed me his business card. When I looked at his business card, my suspicions were confirmed. Something wasn’t right.
Here was this guy who was selling himself as some sort of very wealthy businessman. On his business card, a number of words were misspelled. On the words that were spelled incorrectly, he had used a pen to scratch out the mistakes! Oh my, he certainly was not what he was passing himself off as! No serious businessman would hand out business cards with errors corrected with a pen!
Since the time that the receptionist told me that the company was an herbal products company, I suspected that this was some kind of sales pitch. Soon, it was confirmed. I had suspected a friendly meeting with a reader, 30 minutes or maybe an hour. This fellow had a full day planned for me. Soon, he took me into another room so that I could view a movie, and listen to a sales pitch. About 20 minutes in, and as soon as the magic words were mentioned – “how much will you need to invest….” – I stood up. He asked me, “what are you doing?” I said “I am leaving now.”
What? Leaving?
Yes, I told him that he asked me to meet and have coffee, and that I had not signed up for his multi-level-marketing seminar. He was not happy. I’m sorry, but I did not have time for this, and I certainly had no interest!
Well, to say the least, this was not exactly what I expected. All along I had a gut feeling that something was not fully right about this, but did not know why I felt that way. My gut was right though. I should have not even wasted my time going, but at least I didn’t stay nearly as long as what he was expecting.
The biggest thing that I can’t understand,though, is why somebody like that would try to cheap out on the business cards! I mean, if the printer makes a mistake on it, why not just throw them out and get them re-printed?
I’m lucky, though, this is the first time that I’ve had a situation like this when a “reader” has requested a get-together. I hope it will also be the last!
I am not sure what country he was from but is normal now in USA. What a good reason to be there in Phil's. You know now where because I sent you personal email but still I have to live there. I am not looking forward to meeting the hustlers. But they are everywear it seems. Sorry you had to waste you time with worthless person.
"here's my LiP calling card…. how much are you investing to advertise on my site? these are my rates. best to give me your bank account number & i'll need your signature here & … wait, where are you going?".
ugh, to get me up in the morning & do that to me… you handled it better than i would.
mayongbuntag bob
you have me thinking here bob.
i would be very careful if i was you in case some whacko would try to kidnap such a celeberty as yourself.you know that there are not many known as mindanao bob in mindanao.
i would consider to meet in a high profile place or what have you.
i was kinda wondering as i read your article as to what was gonna happen.
keep safe my friend
salamat bob
You should have stayed for the biggest lunch first and the offered to print some new calling cards for him. lol.
But on a serious point it does highlight the need not to take things at face value, as some people will try to arrange meetins that are not what you expect.
Kamusta ka Bob,
Well that is interesting, and also insane. Because the first thing out of my mouth would be, "what is this all about", and as soon as he explained that it was a sales pitch, I would have been gone. Unless it was something I was really interested in, but would not of wanted him to do it that way. He should have told you that in the first place, that this was a meeting about the company he works for, etc..etc.
If things didn't work out with Feyma, you would have made a good priest, you have a lot of patience..lol..(just kidding ya bob). :). I am guessing you stayed a little longer to see what he was peddling..I would have been a little interested too, till I found out it was one of those multi marketing programs.
Take care my friend,
Danny 🙂
Bob
I don't know if I could have been that patient with that person wasting your time like that.
Sounds like a Filipino here in RI that tried to scam my wife and I into the AMWAY sales crap.
It reminds me a little of the time share scams that Used to run in Gran Canaria, I remember once there had been a storm the previous night, the town was like a war zone, up popped the scratch card queens, low and behold I had won a free holiday.All I had to do was visit their brand new complex, well with nothing else to do on a pretty dreary day( knowing what i was going to) I decided to go 6 hours later, near drunk on the free drinks I emerged again, I think though that "they" where just a little bit upset, you see with out once saying I wanted to sign up to a time share they spent all the money and time to get me right to the sales negotiation and their legal lawyers, who they later told me where costing £200 per hour! Such crying about the cost, when all the time I was only there to collect the free holiday (hahaha) then thinking they had some kind of "mug" they forgot to ask me that all important Question, "was I employed" Unfortunately at the time I wasnt. In your case Bob it cost you probably valuable time In my case it was filling in time, the common factor is we both didnt ask for it, the crazy thing is though the manner in which these people expect you to feel guilt for their cost and time.My advice " cost them as much as you can as quickly as you can without signing anything", that way they will soon see it is not a wise way to do buisness or they'll go bankrupt in the process.
Morning Bob,
Reminds me of an attractive girl I once fancied who invited me over to her place. I thought I was in – but she only wanted to sign me up with AMWAY! Bummer!
Hi Bob,
When we went on our honeymoon right after our wedding, we were asked if we want to see a timeshare meeting, we will be given free tickets to cirque de soleil afterwards, since were killing time and wanted the free tickets, off we went. We attended the usual speeches, afterwards, a salesguy tried to sell us a timeshare w/c my husband answered, we'll have to think about it. theyre going nowhere with my husband so they came to me, after much talk, i said, "much as i wanted to buy one, i cant, coz, i just came here to the states and i dont even have a job, let alone a permit to work here" he-he-he. Suffice it to say, they let us go quickly… atleast we get to watch the show "FREE"
Hi andy – this fellow was Chinese.
Hi macky – I need to bring a rate card with me all the time! That's not a bad strategy! 😉
Hi RonW – Well, I don't worry much about kidnapping and such. It's not a big concern. A place like Landco is actually a very public place. Thanks for your concern, though.
Hi john – Ha ha… shucks… I forgot to check if there was a free lunch available! 😆
Hi Danny – Me as a priest? Now, that would have been interesting, unusual, and lot of other things that maybe I should not say here! 😆
Hi Neal – Well, what this guy was selling was very similar to Amway, but maybe a little sleazier! 😆
Hi Dave – Ha ha… those guys would have been money ahead if they just gave you the free holiday in the first place! ha ha.. That's a good story, i like it.
Hi AussieLee – Long time no see! 😆 Oh my… what a bummer! Thinking that you were on the way for a great date with a girl that you liked only to find a sales pitch! Ouch! 😯
Hi CRIS – I don't know if I could sit through those sales pitches, even if there was a free ticket at the end for me! I hate that kind of stuff. There is one rule, though… be sure to leave your wallet at home! Or, as with you, no working is a very good excuse!
Hi Bob! Good morning. That is really a shame. I've been through the same with Forever Living years ago and since then, I've hated all multi-level marketing invitations and even those that just say "business opportunity".
Bob: It really is amazing how some people believe certain strategies will work. Unfortunately, in your business, the PR necessitates taking a chance sometimes. Simple solution is that in the future, you only meet readers at your regular coffee places. You were on his home turf and he had his stuff ready to go (Unprofessional though it was… Misprinted name cards! EGADS!)
Hi Cathy – For me, it would seem that anybody who must resort to this kind of tactic in order to get a business meeting must be really hard up for business. Opportunity is a misnomer! 😆
Hi John – Ha ha… that business card was a dead giveaway. No serious businessman would give out a card like that one!
Ah , the price one pays for being popular . 🙂
Hi Alan – 😆
Hi Bob – Guess there's no use in me hawking some left-over household goods that you could make millions with by selling them. 😉
At least you were able to break things off. Back here, a box full of product usually shows up on the doorstep with a letter (complete with misspellings) explaining that you've been accepted into the organization. Small print reveals that if you don't want to be part of the extravaganza, you should ship the products back.
My trashcan runneth over! 🙂
lol Bob sorry you had to endure the entrapment of a sales pitch. what a salesman will do for a possible sales audience is amazing but what surprises me is that he really thinks he has a chance at a sale after pulling the ole bait and switch, man thats an old one. and hey that card stock is some expensive stuff *laughs"
It sounds like there may be a " Multi Level Marketing " promotional wave happening in Mindanao at the moment, as I have heard about it from a few friends there. There are also many such type of things here. My own opinion on " MLM " is, you do the work, those that signed you on get a percentage of the money. You buy products from a company at or near full list price, then go out and try to peddle the product with a very small mark-up. These MLM plans are not exactly marketed as a " get rich quick " scheme although it is often implied by showing videos of the very few that supposedly made a lot of money in MLM. I think the real money in these things is by signing people on to the program, not in actual product sales. That is my impression.
Geez Bob what a clown. I have had stuff like that happen to me in my real estate invetments, get a call, hi wanna meet yada yada….then u find out its a total
different reason why they wanted to meet. I use the same line everytime " hey if your not honest and upfront with the reason why you wanted to meet i certainly could not trust you in a business venture, don't ever contact me again" . I hate wasting my time on idiots.
Yes Mukti-level marketing schemes are still a big thing here in the Philippines. I really wonder why people feel confident in promoting/participating in a business scheme where they have to lie just to get people to meet with them for the first time.
A good warning to readers here … there are decent business opportunities in the Philippines … but MLM schemes are not one of them.
I had virtually the same thing happen to me years ago in the IS. A fellow I had worked with as a government employee (he had resigned his government job to "pursue international opportunities" … hmmm) contacted me and asked to meet. Knowing from the rumor mill that this guy and his wife were peddling soap … I mean recruiting for Amway, before I said yes, I asked him directly if this was about Amaway or any other MLM scheme. He assured me it was not, so I inveited him over.
In 15 minutes of chit chat the first Amway brocuhre came out of his breifcase and I was so mad I literally thre it back at home, opened the door and invited him out of my house.
Although I really wasn't interested, he was (up to that point, anyway) a freind and I would have been happy to sit through an Amway pitch and then politely say no, just to help him meet his quotas or whatever. But when he out and out lied like that, I just went up in flames. There is no excuse for that, no excuse at all, ever.
Dave: I've been receiving a ton of solicitations recently regarding MLM "opportunities" in the RP (Looking for "Managers". I tell them they can't afford me.) There are 3 or 4 big US companies making a push here now, trying to recruit Filipinos on this stuff. These are almost always similar in nature to Ponzi Schemes… Only the first few people ever make any real money. The backing companies know it is simply a numbers game… Get enough people out there and you will get some sales.
Unfortunately, the presentations are normally very slick, and the "managers" focus on how easy it is to become wealthy. Beware if the first thing they ask is "Write down the names of 50 people you know". In a country with severe unemployment, brain drain, and very large families, the foreign companies know the market is ripe (and at a very minimal cost… just like advertising, rather than a labor cost.)
The nerve of some people!!
Hi Bob,
I think RonW has a point about your notoriety!!!!
I was at the RP independance day celebration in Vancouver awhile back and got to talking about the Philippines. The people who I was talking to asked how come I knew so much about RP. I replied that I read a blog on the net everyday by Mindanao Bob. They laughed and said they were from General Santos and had heard of you and your website.
The lady said she had heard of you thru Bebe your Bisaya teacher. I guess she is a relative or something.
My point is you are getting more well known and therefore should be more careful about meeting strangers alone.
Having said that …..:) when we meet in March I will have a new product line to show you and will save a small share in the company for you to invest in. All I need is about 1,000,00 pesos for me to hold your share for you. Please let me know your banking details so we can get your deposit secured 🙂 🙂
regards to all
Tyleen
What makes people think that your going to want to sit through a sales pitch after they were not honest up front. As soon as he would have opened his month with the pitch I would have said I'm out of here man!
God I hate salesmen like that.
we'll Bob when I finally move to the PI and visit down south, I won't try to sell you anything LOL 🙂
Hi Bob – Take the fact that this guy sought you out as an honour as I'm sure he thought if I can get Bob Martin onboard I soon will become a millionaire and afford get my business cards reprinted.
Always the optimist.
Kind regards.
Jim.
Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago. The time share complex was part of the Massanutten Resort in Maryland. I paid $70 for the reservation fee,before I found out it was a scam. I decided not to go, unfortunately, my $70 has gone buh-bye 🙁 I guess swindlers are everywhere.
Kuya Bob- I'm sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience.
Hi Bob & All. You show great restraint Bob. I wonder how often clowns like that run into the wrong guy & get a fat lip, that they so rightly deserve. Once his client gets over the humor!
Hi Paul – Hmm… what do you need to get rid of? 😉
Hi Bob NY – I agree with you, the only people that get rich from the MLM schemes are the people at the top! They reap all the rewards, the others just do the work! 😯
Hi brian – That guy was absolutely nothing but a clown! I absolutely hate stuff like that, and when I got up to leave in the middle of the thing (with about a dozen other attendees), I pretty much told him exactly what you suggested.
Hi Dave – What a great story about your "friend" who went into the Amway. With friends like that, who needs enemies? 😉
Hi John – Just curious, what do those MLM guys say when you tell them that they can't afford your services?
Hi Evelyn – 😆
Hi Tyleen – Wow, I keep getting reports from all over the world how people know who I am! I'm a little shocked!
Hi Bilal – That's great that you will be coming soon! I'll look forward to seeing you!
Hi Jim – ha ha… Somehow I didn't feel honored!
Hi Leilani – What a terrible experience you had! At least i didn't have to pay anything, just lost some time!
Hi Guy – Ha ha… I had a hard time restraining myself from getting a little bent out of shape! 😆
Bob:
Usually, they throw out some huge, obviously inflated number. I then proceed to say "I only work for real companies" and add them to my Spam folder. (Fortunately, none of them has gotten my phone number yet.
Hi John – Ha ha… That's a good one, John. I thought that you were mainly talking face to face communication.
Hi Bob,
John beat me to it! Best to arrange any and all such meetings at the coffee house. You can arrange those kinds of meetings AFTER you get to know the person.
Bob, you're a celebrity now! You have been and always shall be. Oh wait, that's a line from a Star Trek movie. Ok, to sum it up: Bob Martin = GLOBAL AMBASSADOR.
Hi Henry – Yeah, I normally meet folks in coffee shops.. made an exception this time…
What is that TV show? I'm a celebrity, get me out of here! That's what I should have said at the meeting!!!
Hello Bob.I dont know a whole lot of Bisaya but i do know wala quarta and its got me out of many a sales pitch quickly.The people just look at me funny and walk away, enough said.
Bad economic times bring out the worst swindlers. Venice was big into the Goji Juice craze until I put my foot down and said it was a scam.
Hi James – ha ha! That's the way. The exact way to say that is "Walay kwarta" but close enough to get the message across! 😆
Hi brspiritus – I don't know why, but I feel that a lot of people here seem to be more vulnerable to the scams. Maybe it is because such scams are newer here, not well known yet? Not sure why, but I feel it is true.
Bob, maybe this would have been an ideal time to exhibit some " Kano Kulture " LOL
Ha ha… Hey, that's not a bad idea, Bob!
Hi Bob,
These people are "Kapal Mukha (Shameless and has no ethics)". The only thing I can suggest is that when someone ask you for a meeting, you pick and tell the person the place and time. At least you can plan ahead and at the same time you are in control. Food Court are best because it is very public. Some people sometimes are impertinent.
Kyrie eleison!!
Toting
Hi Bob – I won't be able to say what's will be available until after the shipper's truck pulls away. You can probably count on an empty can of SPAM or two and there will probably be a couple of "Mid-Twentieth Century" items that were not gently used! 😆
Gee Sir BoB the Chinese guy thought he was laughing all the way to the bank……I think you spoiled his day lol !!
Pssst by the way there's a nice little bridge for sale in Sydney called the Harbour Bridge, you wanna buy it?
Scams and scammers ain't life grand……
Hi Bob,
What a dirty underhanded way to do business.
The business cards are a real joke,how unproffessional.
Something sounded familiar to me,ive been plagued by emails from a herbal MLM company in PI.
They give the impression they are in Valencia City,but seminars always seem to be in Manila.
The only way i think they could have gained my email add is from yahoo groups.
I have since blocked their mails.
I wonder if there is some connection.
regards Chas.
Hi Toting – Not bad advice. Food court or coffee shop would be good!
Hi Paul – Empty cans? You are really cleaning things up before the move!
Hi Boss – If I spoiled his day, I am happy that I could return the favor to him! Ha ha…
Hi chas – It is certainly possible. But, the way these MLM companies work, there are so many agents and such that even if it is the same company the connection might be quite loose.
Hey Bob I have some Florida bottomland. A real investment opportunity. Good news is at low tide it's only about two feet to the bottom. 🙂
Hey those Spam cans are aluminum. 😎
Hi Tom – I can't believe how lucky I am, getting all these great business offers! I am truly blessed!
Ah, you're right, Tom… recyclable! Wow!
Can I charge tolls?
I have one in San Fransisco. I'm thinking about relocating. I'll swap you. 😎
Hey, Tom (not Hey, Joe…) – Why not? 😆
I'm curious — has this "reader" of yours contacted you after that incident? =)
Hello Mindanaoan – Haven't heard a word! 😉
Welcome to the world of MLM!
They call it 'kidnap' where the recruiter will not give you a hint as to the purpose of the meeting. By the time you know it, you are already stucked. Of course, you can always go out anytime; that is, if you have a lot of self-respect.
It's wonderful how you walked out from the "presentation." Though, it's even more wonderful if you asked him what the meeting was all about in the first place.
No, I have nothing against Network Marketing. In fact, I have created a website dedicated to educating people on this highly misunderstood business model and the dirty tricks played by the guys. What pisses me are the so called "leaders" — and wow, they have the balls to call themselves leaders — who are shameless and not even know a single thing about salesmanship. These are the guys that gave Network Marketing its bad name.
Hi Carlos – Nice to hear from you, it's been a while. Yeah, kidnap would seem accurate!!!
Hang in there Bob.Isn't life in the philippines so much fun just one new experances after another .. Phil n Jess
Hi Phil – 😉
Bob,
I can think of one MLM company that does not earn by recruiting people.
You see if you earn by referring people, then it's not network marketing, it's just a pyramid scam. At least in this company you also get to earn from your downline(your recruits) but only if they sell the different products offered. That and you selling the product as well.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Hi, Bob. I was into the same situation in the past. What is more frustrating is that this "networker" wouldn't tell you what it is all about. And then, when you're trap inside their lair, there's all the sales pitch. I always felt deceived and wouldn't want to be in the same situation in the future. Now, I don't give in to invitation without knowing the agenda first…
Hi dodong – Welcome to LiP! Yeah, that was not a comfortable situation that I found myself in that day… ha ha.. I'm glad it's not the way things usually go!