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Review 9/26/2007
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This experience was less than pleasurable. Here is a little information about my experience with the Berman Investment Group. During this experience I am disabled and recovering from back surgery. Needless to say my finances are not what they should be. My attention was caught by a advertisement during a program break while listening to a news talk radio station. During this radio advertisement I was convinced to go to a web site to sign up to receive a free cd and best selling book by Bruce Berman. I entered the web address mentioned and was directed to a web page where Mr. Berman's figure walked onto the page and verbally offered send his $$$ making cd and best selling book to me for free. I was asked to enter my information below and then on the next page(s) was asked to provide info to pay shipping and handling of $1.95. I paid this shipping and handling with my credit card and then waited for my package. I received the package within a week and when I opened it there was merchandise inside to my knowledge I had not ordered. Along with the agreed cd and book there was a ten cd set of seminars. On the seminar package it stated that I had just received the audio set by Mr. Berman and that this was the first step toward financial freedom and the lifestyle wanted. It also included a flyer that stated I would be billed a one time charge of $99.90 at the end of my thirty day consideration period only if I decided to keep the entire program. I had not signed up for a thirty day consideration period for this seminar package to my knowledge so I went back to the web page to look it over. The web page had no obvious statement that the 10 cd seminar package would be sent with the free cd and book. I did notice however as I studied the page closer, down at the bottom of the web page were several links (they were the same color as the background but a slightly lighter shade) Among these was a terms link. It explained that the free cd and book were a thank you gift for considering the entire program and it also gave information about the return policy. Within a week of receiving my order I had decided that I could not allow a charge of $99.90 to my credit card so I called the phone number provided on the flyer in the package (and on the terms page of the web site) to get a return authorization number as stated in the terms on the web site. The customer service representative was very polite and began to process my request. After the rep verified my account information I was offered a 25% discount on the seminar package, I again stated that I could not allow this charge to my credit card. The rep told me that this was no problem and it would take a minute to process the return authorization number. The rep then gave me the return authorization number but before giving me the product return address offered me an additional discount off of the seminar package for a total of approximately 50% off, I declined this offer as well and the rep then gave me the product return address. After providing the return address I was told that I had been so nice that he would like to offer one last additional discount bringing the cost of the seminar package down to $24.90. At this point I chuckled and told the rep that this whole marketing technique was tricky but effective because I was starting to think about just keeping the seminar at this point. After a minute of thought I opted to keep the seminar package and my credit card (the next day) was reflecting the pending charge of $24.90. The customer rep was polite the whole time and assured me that they would accept the product back provided it was in sellable condition and I would need to pay shipping and handling and shipping insurance was recommended to protect the package. I gave in and kept the seminar package when I would not have bought it in the first place and probably still should not have financially in the end.
I believe that the Berman website that advertised the free cd and book in this case should be redesigned so the consumer will easily see and/or be explained the full terms of the agreement especially since the offer was presented verbally. The terms, return policy, and other links at the bottom of the first web page being the same color only a slightly different shade are to easily missed and should be redesigned as well. During the return process I was only interested in returning this product. While I was not forced to keep the product there was a strong (and somewhat annoying but polite) attempt made to have me keep the product. I believe this company knows full well that when their free cd and book package shows up most people are surprised to see the 10 cd seminar included, and I believe the company is counting on the idea that when people have it in their hand it will be easier to sell to them (even if during the return process), and/or the company knows it is possible that some people will not even notice the applicable $99.90 that will be charged to their credit card at the end of the thirty day consideration period. In the end this company still convinced me to give them my money. Are these successful (money making) marketing techniques? Yes. Are they acceptable? When I search myself morally and ethically I don't believe so. This experience has NOT given me a over all positive outlook or respect for the Berman company or the endorsements he makes. In Mr. Berman's free cd he said he would teach me, he was right. The Lesson learned right now, don't forget to look for the fine print.
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