Mike Filsaime’s “The 7 Figure Secrets”: Good Product? Bad Approach?

I believe Mike Filsaime’s The 7 Figure Secrets is indeed an ultimate guide to create a successful internet marketing business.

Hello, Anonymous Person!
I am glad you dropped by and left your opinion… It’s just a shame you didn’t bother replying to the actual content of the post. OR say why this product is the “ultimate” in your eyes. OR bother to leave your name.

Whether the product is the “ultimate” or not, the post was actually about the forced continuity. I personally own and use several of Mike’s products. This is the first time I’ve been subjected to forced continuity from him, which I think stinks.

I dont see the big deal, …

So what you have to call to cancel.

For just the cost of shipping you get
1 free BFM Manuscript - already had it BTW - Great Stuff
1 7 Figure Report - This is what I wanted.
a bunch of bonuses,
and you get to learn how a multi millionaire lays out
an internet marketing newsletter …
And the only catch is you have to make a phone call to cancel?

SIGN ME UP! I already did, the moment I saw It.

As long as I, the customer, am aware that I must cancel to avoid getting billed, I have no problem with it at all.

Your getting a chance to

I saw the “forced” continuity and avoided it. I have had a couple of those “trip me up” recently and not only were they annoying, in my case they were downright deceptive. And similar to your experience, I used the online methods available to TRY to cancel, but when they started DOUBLE BILLING (on top of the deceptive “hook” of forced continuity) I had had it “up to here”. I called my credit card company and they reversed ALL the charges. I know that creates a “black mark” on the merchant’s credit history (which is a small thing if they are doing a ton of business, but not so insignificant if they get a lot because their merchant rates go up) (Take that, you unethical, underhanded … hmmm, I ran out of insults. I’m not usually this negative, because I rarely get this annoyed.) Sorry about the rant quality of this message.
I really wanted to say that it has been a long time since I was so quickly impressed by you (LISA PRESTON) and I wanted to tell you so.
I won’t even hold your history of origins in Peterborough against you, since I am originally from Ottawa, and in olden times when I lived there, it wasn’t necessary to lock your doors, at least in some neighborhoods. (Not as idyllic as P’boro though.)
BTW, if you know how to tell either Open Office of MS Word to accept BOTH Canadian and American spelling you’d be doing me and a few million others a favor by publicizing it.
;o)

Love
Stafford “Doc” Williamson

Hello, other Anonymous “Michael” Person!

I am surprised by how many people will post comments without having courage enough to identify themselves, but I think that’ll have to be my next rant…

To answer your comment…

If you were an inexperienced consumer, the original sales page was extremely unclear about the forced continuity. Not to mention the fact that it DID NOT COMPLY WITH FTC REGULATIONS. This perhaps you may not know about as a consumer.

You can check it out here (pay special attention to section c): http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/free.htm

The problem is in SPITE of Mike’s product quality - it might be worth 20 times what he placed the value at, but that isn’t what this post is about.

I also own most of Mike’s products, and use them, too - including the BFM package - the original, entire package, not just the manuscript… I am delighted with it. And when he sold it, he did so in a straightforward manner.

Using tactics that may be perceived as shady or deceptive is beneath a marketer of his calibur, and it is important to remember that other marketers starting out emulate these tactics.

Placing the marketing community as a whole under a harsh and critical spotlight is a horrible idea.

This isn’t about the product.

LOL Stafford!!!
Say it isn’t so!! Not a SENATORS fan!!!
Don’t worry… Ottawa will do, too. I love Ontario, it’s absolutely beautiful, so anyone who hails from our great province is okee dokee to me!

The continuity headache is pervasive, yet people accept it - and it’s bad for ALL marketers to allow it to continue. If WE don’t police ourselves, I GUARANTEE there are others who will.

I prefer NOT to live in a “grey” area of “maybe” this will sneak under the FTC radar… and do everything as above-board as humanly possible. That responsibility only INCREASES with personal brand awareness and fame, not decreases… which is why I am annoyed with Mike pulling this one.

Oh, and I’ll look into your problem with spelling!! LOL
Thanks for your comment!

Hey Lisa,

I think you really just hate forced continuity.

I would agree that when the product was first launched it was not up to par as the law was concerned, but it was changed very quickly to comply. That should show that Mike was never trying to deceive anyone.

It did however, from the very start, make it clear that this was a forced continuity program. If anyone signed up and did not know it, I would have to say it is there own fault for not reading the order page.

Now, I know your response is going to be look at the law and section C.

I did and as I said it was not up to par at launch, but very quickly fixed.

As the page stands right now I do not see what the problem is.

The anonymous- Shannon Herod

Hello, other Anonymous “Michael” Person!

I am surprised by how many people will post comments without having courage enough to identify themselves

*I have absolutely nothing to hide …. and Im not anonymous,
Michael happens to be my name.

I also own most of Mike’s products, and use them, too - including the BFM package - the original, entire package, not just the manuscript…

I also have the COMPLETE BFM package as well, and use it with many of my projects ….

Using tactics that may be perceived as shady or deceptive is beneath a marketer of his calibur, and it is important to remember that other marketers starting out emulate these tactics.

Any action at any time can be perceived many different ways, by many different people.
I certainly don’t consider it shady or deceptive.

Sure it’s possible that I signed up after the changes were made, but I dont believe so, And I clearly recognized that to avoid being billed I had to call to cancel.

Many Many companies use FC to sell products …
“Should have went to free credit report dot com ….”

I would certainly love to hear exactly what part ofthe ftc rules were ignored …

you mentioned section c … ?

all of the terms, conditions and obligations should appear in close conjunction with the offer of “Free” merchandise or service. For example, disclosure of the terms of the offer set forth in a footnote of an advertisement to which reference is made by an asterisk or other symbol placed next to the offer, is not regarded as making disclosure at the outset.

From what I seen, he surely did do.

Mike F, is a personal friend of mine, but friendship does not void facts, and if He was in the wrong, friend or no, I would call him, or anyone else, out on it.

I have even accused the WF Mods of spaming the forum.
And one of the mods I called this out on, had lent me money in the past.

I tell it how it is, and plain and simple, it was good marketing.

Michael D Price

Hey Shannon,

Thanks for posting.

Actually, I really think forced continuity is an excellent model. It’s a great way to entice customers in a very good way, usually by giving them a taste of whatever subscription you’re selling. Nothing sells better than a great product!

You obviously followed the WF thread, and there you’ll see that I completely acknowledge that I am referring to the initial page when talking about non-compliance. I also stated quite clearly that I don’t believe that Mike was trying to be deceptive in any way - just not nearly clear enough.

I just sent someone to that page without comment. Someone who is a marketer, and hasn’t heard all the issues. (He’s been out of town.)

He was VERY surprised by the site, and gave me hell for giving him the link, thinking I was promoting it. The fact that it was Mike, there is the expectation of straightforward marketing… it’s very disconcerting to people to say :Hey, wait a sec…” and have to backpedal and re-read the sales and order page in order to completely “get” what’s happening.

Hi, Michael!

Yes, the original sales page was indeed non-compliant. And Mike himself has made some changes to help resolve the issues; I am hoping to see additional “tweaks” but have a feeling he’ll just move on from it now.

I’m always delighted to meet another marketer who “tells it like it is”. I appreciate hearing all points of view, and hope to see you voice your opinions here more often.

Thanks for posting!

Hey Lisa,

I actually read very little of the thread, but was indeed reading it.

I am actually becoming quit a fan of your to be honest. I have never quite seen any thing like you before.

It is actually very refreshing.

I just disagree with the complaining crowd that this promotion was done wrong.

I think it had a hiccup and it was quickly fixed.

There are and have been promos were the F/C was hidden and the marketer just didnt care.

Anyway,

Shannon

Hi Shannon -

Yes, that WAS supposed to be what the discussion was about, or at least what I thought when I first posted. I am sorry that Mike didn’t have all of his ducks in a row when he launched, but that thread had the opportunity to really educate.

I hope the forced continuity discussions continue. I know the threads on http://ablakeforum.com will remain and not be “locked”, so hopefully people new to the business will have the opportunity to learn.