All Things Pondered Here

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Getting Ripped Off on the Internet!

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This is a reply to a post by my friend Andy:

Andy, I truly relate to your story. I have been ripped off multiple, multiple times. One story is very similar to yours.

This programmer who I have even met in person, ripped me for $400 dollars which was half of the agreed upon amount. The problem: he probably didn’t know how to complete the project OR>>> $400 was all he needed from me.

I had a site in mind and he built the shell, I really liked the design, just as you did, then after I paid him half, he quit on me. He said he was going through a midlife crisis and couldn’t complete my site. (He was only 30 years old at the time).

Anyway, when I called him and he told me I ‘was harassing him (which I definitely was not) I realized that I had been taken for my $400. He had NO intention of completing the project. Either he could not or would not.

I had no website and he had my $400 dollars. I was so disgusted that I scrapped the website idea completely.

I have been ripped off by other people in other ways too!

My advice, use elance or odesk where the funds go into escrow. The person doesn’t get paid until you are happy with the results!

I don’t like people who rip me off. But perhaps there is a special place in Hell or some special punishment for such people? I’m sure they will get what they deserve in the end.

– Andy, I hope that never happens to you again,

Comments open below:

Using Pay Pal Does not Protect You…

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Just wanted to share with you an experience.

I was the buyer of digital software and used paypal to purchase the software.
I never received a download link.

After 1 week, I contacted the seller and received no response whatsoever.

I logged into paypal and entered a dispute.

The seller responded to that with the question : Would you like a refund or the product?

I answered: The product.

Another week went by and still no product or download link.

I escalated to paypal.

They told me that there was nothing they could do because this was a digital product and they have no way of knowing if
I received it or not.

Basically, I’m out the $97 bucks – no product and an unresponsive seller.

Just wanted to let you know that pay pal is not as safe as you might you might think.

However, the agent did say that if I had purchased the digital product on E-Bay then they would have been able to help me. :  LOL.

Since I used a Visa card as part of my purchase – I disputed the transaction with them.  That worked!

About The Author

Comments are open below

 

Online Marketing Scams – A Bit Of A Rant

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Special Note: If you are marketer who has been ripping people off, I challenge you to change for the better.

Let’s get real for a minute. You are bombarded everyday with this marketer’s and that marketer’s money making package.

Could it all be for real? Well, if you ask them it is. But what are your chances of getting rich after buying, reading and implementing one of these ‘packages’?

I’d say in most instances your chances are pretty close to ZERO.

If you can’t make it work, they want you to blame yourself. “I didn’t try hard enough”. etc. There is always some angle they will psychologically feed you. This is a tactic used in various groups as well.   There is no need to control you when you are perfectly willing to control yourself.  Watch out for this kind of very powerful psychological manipulation.

Now, I won’t go all out and say that what these people say doesn’t work. Although, in some cases that is true.

A lot of people are throwing all kinds of rehashed stuff out there for outrageous prices. There is very little NEW information in these things.

You can get a lot of information for free by reading between the lines on email lists, downloading free reports, reading articles, reading good reputable forums. All of the marketing information is out there somewhere. Do you really need to pay $97 to someone to give you some rehashed information on marketing?

Let me tell you what is closer to the reality: Making money online is hard. Yes, once you get to a certain point, it may become easy – but getting to that point is hard. I can tell you, I’ve been working my tail end off for a long time to have what I have and it still requires daily work to maintain / grow it.

So, please don’t think you are going to put up a blog and start spamming twitter with your RSS feed (a technique suggested by some) and that you are going to be a millionaire in a couple of weeks.

Another thing that I find despicable is some of the BS testimonials that are out there. You see, these ‘big dogs’ are all friends. They gladly give their testimonials to each other in exchange for the same down the road. Watch out for this con. I believe there are many who flat out make their testimonials up. And that is a shame because it leaves you with the feeling of ‘who do I trust’?

I’m not here to bash anyone. Please notice that I’m not mentioning any names. However, I am dismayed by all the BS marketing tactics going on. If you are legitimate, offer me a money back satisfaction guarantee. That means if I am not happy, I decide whether you give me the money back or not, not you. If your stuff is that good, then there would be no reason for me to ask for the money back. They will lie to you and tell you they have to protect themselves from getting ripped off. BS. If you are satisfied with their service, then they have nothing to fear. Most people won’t ask for their money back. There are some who will, but most won’t. Many, but not all people, will ask for their money back if they feel they have be ripped off, however.

It is a known fact that there is a high return rate on ‘digital’ products. Why is this? Because many times you get the product and realize it is simply the same old information you have gotten everywhere else. There is nothing new.

If they have a large email list, they can spam their subscribers all day long and someone is going to buy, these marketers know this. That’s why you get BS emails that say, oh, I gave you the wrong link in the last email etc. They do this to get even more exposure for their messages.

I can’t begin to tell you how many ‘big dog’ marketers have people calling around trying to get you and me to buy their 5K coaching programs.

Here is what the acid litmus test is on these 5K coaching offers: Do they offer a money back satisfaction guarantee? Um, NO! They try to side skirt that issue by saying we offer a guarantee that we will help you for up to a year. What does that mean? In the end, it probably only means that you can email them questions. The value of the answers is what I don’t trust. I can tell anyone to do more PPC or article marketing or give some other vague and goofy answer and it would be ‘valid’ from a logical standpoint. Advertise more and you are bound to get an additional sales! But, in good conscience, telling someone the obvious is not really an honest way to make money.

Here is what is important to know when it comes to making money online in my opinion : Everyone’s unique situation is different. EVERYONE’S! What may work for one may not work for another. You have to find your own path and leverage your own unique situations to get to a profitable business.

Stop buying money making products. Pay attention in really good forums, make friends with someone that can help you. BTW – have you noticed that these big name ‘marketing dogs’ are never accessable? Can you guess why? 🙂

As far as the forums go, the same testimonial crap is going on. I know because I have bought garbage and I see other people on the same thread in the forum saying how great person “insert name here” offer is. And how satisfied they are with the service or the product. This is how this kind of marketer works – they will return the favor later.

The reader who has no idea what is going on gets excited when he sees this kind of testimonial and may even be motivated to buy.

In closing, let me say that there is a lot of scamming going on at the lower levels of marketing too. I’m talking about people who setup fake names to sell their ‘information’ products. They don’t even have the guts to use their real names. In reality, they may not even believe in the product they are selling – THAT’s How bad it is out there – Right now!

You are welcome to comment below.

Message from Dave on a Chance To Save on Great Oral Care Products…

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David-Gum-Disease-Book-Author

Hey, It’s me.

I just wanted to queue you in to a sale that is happening right now on products that I think are top notch.

As the author of the book: What You Should Know about Gum Disease , I am saying with confidence that, in particular, the perio therapy and aktiv-oxigen serum are powerful products that have helped me with my dental health.

In addition, for people with bad breath the K-12 products and regular mouthwash should be of interest to anyone with concerns about their breath.

I would not underestimate these products that were created by a dentist named Doctor Katz.

I believe the sale ends on Thursday (7-30-2009) sometime… just so you know.

If you have any questions at all, twitter me @davesnape or visit https://www.twitter.com/davesnape so that you can contact me.

Sincerely,

David Snape

-Stay positive always….

PS: You might try to get some additional savings by using coupon code b-fg5. I’m not sure if it will work with this sale or not, but it is worth a try.

 

SAVE 33% on our most popular items: Buy 2 of any SALE item, get an additional item absolutely FREE

A note from the TheraBreath warehouse…

Hi Dave –

The end of our fiscal year is almost here and that means we have to do inventory. Ugh…

Before we start counting every bottle and every tube of our critically acclaimed TheraBreath Toothpaste and Mouthwash, we thought we would make things easier on ourselves and have a massive WAREHOUSE LIQUIDATION SALE. We figured that the more we sell, the less we will have to count!

For the next 72 hours (Tuesday July 28th – Thursday July 30th) just about every formula we have in stock will be on special. Just buy 2 of any sale item, and get a third of the same item at no charge to you – not even any additional shipping and handling!

In addition, any order over $99 will receive FREE SHIPPING within the continental US*. This all adds up to a lot of savings. If you’ve been thinking about stocking up on mouthwash, toothpaste, teeth whitening supplies, or any of our other quality oral care products… now would be a very good time to do so!

Check out what’s on sale – click here

*Free shipping offer is limited to domestic ground freight only. Free freight by carrier to be determined by us at time of order.

* Disclaimer: This post is for information purposes only and does not intend to render or suggest advice, treatment or diagnosis on any health care issues, including but not limited to, dental health. If you have or think you have a health problem of any sort, including but not limited to dental health, consult with your doctor or dentist for advice, diagnosis and treatment! The USFDA has not evaluated statements about products in this post.

How To Reduce Energy Costs …

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Read More about Reducing Energy Usage…

The most dificult day of every month is when time comes to pay bills and mostly the enormous electricity bills that we get. It’s high time and we need to take serious measures to reduce the power bill. Do not worry. We will share some key tips and will make you reach your goal.

Make sure to discuss with family member about the importance of saving electricity. You can reward them a treat if their participation has led to savings. Suggest them some tips like switching of the lights when they are not present there and attending a call in another room or having dinner at the dining table. Make sure to switch off all the appliances even if you are sure to be back in five minutes. Yes, that will help a lot. Every drop of water makes an ocean.

We may prefer to switch off the television set or turn off the fan, but not the tubelight.We need light at the time of night but see that the usage is required in all the rooms or not.Taking care of such these small precautions will surely leads us to savings in the long run by reducing the bills of the power demon.

One should plan to invest smartly on power. Replace all the incandescent bulbs present in the house with compact fluorescent light or those CFL bulbs. These bulbs consume less electricity as they consume less power.

Buy the energy saver gadgets that are available in the market. Such gadgets will monitor the intake of the entire power supply in your house and makes you take decision on how to control the usage.

Most of us assume on the fact that the rise in electricity bill is due to the vast number of electrical items present at home. But the truth is that the electricity bill is not directly connected or affected due to the number of gadgets, but by the way one uses them.

Take a step forward to avoid using those typical items regularly that consumes lot of power –
• The washing machine should be used only when there is a bucket full of clothes.
• The geyser should not be kept on for maximum amount of time.
• The air-conditioner should be kept at minimum high or low temperature.
• Take note to switch off the computer monitor when not in use. It consumes maximum power and it just takes a second to switch it again.

Lastly we suggest that for reducing the electricity bill by taking benefit of reading the energy saving guide like Earth4Energy that has some of the best solutions to generate energy at home and providing free electricity to some of your home appliances. In this way we can save power that is facing a huge shortage because of the large demand in the global countries. Try to reduce the requirement of those electrical wires and sockets for home and use the renewable energy extracted from natural resources like wind, sun, tides at a lesser price but having a long term returns.

Make power at home with solar and wind energy to eliminate your power bill. Next: Read More about Reducing Energy Usage…

What You Should Know about Gum Disease – Now Available on Amazon

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book

Click here To Get What You Should Know about Gum Disease on Amazon

Synopsis:

Aside from being the number one cause of tooth loss, can gum disease kill you? Ongoing research continues to point to the likelihood of a connection between gum disease and other serious diseases such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, lung infections and low birth weight, pre-term babies. As research continues, it is likely that even more connections will be discovered.

What You Should Know about Gum Disease is truly the layman’s guide to fighting gum disease. Written in easy to understand language, it explains in detail what every human being with gum tissue (everyone) should know. This guide goes beyond mere brushing and flossing and discusses tools, concepts, techniques and knowledge that will help you to defeat gum disease or prevent it from visiting your mouth in the first place.

The author draws upon and shares personal experiences and success in fighting gum disease as well as the struggle to understand what affects so many people today. This is a book written by a layman for the benefit of non professionals as well as professionals around the world.

Gum disease, a plague that has haunted mankind for thousands of years, is still with us today. It doesn’t show any signs of leaving. Low estimates are that forty percent of the human population has some form of gum disease right now. Higher estimates put that number at eighty percent.

A popular clinic’s website indicates that as many as ninety-five percent of the adult population will have some form of gum disease by age sixty-five. Yet, it has also been found in young children. With these odds, chances are high that What You Should Know about Gum Disease will serve you well.

You do not have to accept gumdisease as an inevitable consequence of aging. Learn what you can do, starting today, to begin fighting an existing case of gum disease or preventing gum disease from visiting your mouth in the first place.

If four to eight out of every ten people have some form of gum disease, it is possible that you or someone in your family is one of them. This book promises to provide information that your dentist either did not know or did not have the time to tell you about. In fact, many dentists may learn a few things about gum disease and fighting it that they were previously unaware of.

Endorsed by a periodontist, a dentist, two physicians and one hygienist, What You Should Know about Gum Disease is ever respectful to the dental profession. It always refers the patient back to the doctor and encourages understanding, communication and compliance between them.

In fact, many dentists may want this book in their waiting room to enhance patient education. They may wish to give this book to every new patient who walks through the door to help patients better understand what gum disease is and what they can do about it at home. This will help initiate discussion and a higher degree and willingness for compliance with the doctor’s home care plan. It can not get much better than this for the concerned doctor or the patient!

Even so, What You Should Know about Gum Disease remains layman friendly both in terminology and readability. This is a book that is a helpful companion to the individual. This book is your friend. It is a lifetime companion that you and everyone else should want on the bookshelf. It is truly your guide to fighting gum disease.

This book is also available here and here.

Spwitter – New Word …..

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Spwitter = Spam + Twitter….

 

If you are frustrated by the spam on twitter, you are not alone….

Spwitter is becoming a big problem.

If people would stop DMing their latest money making scheme, it would be really cool, wouldn’t it?

Comment below with your latest complaint or solution to Spwitter…

-Dave

FeedBack: What You Should Know about Gum Disease

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This is what a dental hygienist in Pennsylvania had to say about my book:

David Snape saves!!! He may save teeth, money, time, and pain, but most importantly, he may save lives. Now that links have been established between the infection of chronic periodontal disease and many systemic illnesses like Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke and Low-weight pre-term birth his words are invaluable!

Dave’s new guide, “WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GUM DISEASE” is a great layman’s handbook about how to care for your teeth and gums.
He has thoroughly researched gum disease and has written an easy to read guide for people to help themselves, yet gives balance to the need for professional care. This book is a must read for people who are afraid to go to the dentist, people in underserved areas or those who just can’t afford professional dental services.

Dave makes the reader aware of the signs of gum disease and what they can do to help themselves.This book should be in dentist and doctor’s office waiting areas and health clinics for the poor and working poor.

He is respectful to the importance of Dentists and Hygienists in their role in helping people achieve good oral and systemic health, but also helps inform the public how to be better patients!
Definitely a valuable book to have handy on everyone’s bookshelf!

–Hillary Yasmer Shemin, RDH, BSDH
Marquette University Class of 1974, Holland, PA

dave – There are plenty of others talking about this book too.

I hope that you have your copy of it already.

If not:

The digital version – https://www.GingivitisKiller.com

The Print Version: – https://www.GingivitisKiller.com/amazon

Print in the UK – https://www.GingivitisKiller.com/amazonuk

 

Have an empowered day.

I’m wishing for your the brightest future and the best dental health

Wouldn’t it be great to go to the dentist and have them say:

“Your gums and teeth look great – see you next time!”

Sincerely,

David Snape

Author: What You Should Know about Gum Disease

Are Ozone Generators of Any Value to You?

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A very interesting caller spoke to me about her need for a home ozone generator. She told me that she was a nurse and that her husband had some gangrene that the hospital appeared unable or unwilling to treat.

She told said that she was using red clay on the wound and that she wanted an home ozone generator because she believed the ozonator water would help to clean the flesh and kill bacteria.

Ozone is known to kill bacteria and viruses. Some simply see it as nature’s way of purification.After a rainstorm, you can often smell a nice fresh quality to the air, that is from the action of ozone.

People use ozone for all kinds of purposes. Some want to use ozone generated with a home ozonator to ozonate oils. It may because many people believe that ozonated oils can help to heal wounds.

Many people have other purposes for ozone. Some like to use it to purify the air. There are those who intimate that questionable health situations may arrive due to having too much ozone in the air.Others, pay no attention.As in other areas of life, there are always those who take a stance on one side or the other.

Has the FDA done any studies on home ozonators?None that I know of.Science does appear to indicate that ozone can kill bacteria and viruses. I have also heard that it is used in the industrial arena to eliminate bacteria and viruses from many surfaces.

I visited a dentist not too long ago who told me that in Europe, some doctors are using ozone to clean tooth chambers before doing a root canal or installing a filling.This is intriguing and underscores the point that Europs is better at finding and adopting things of this nature.This could be partly due to the more commercial economy of the United States, but lets not get sidetracked.

At any rate, it appears that ozone generation at home is becoming very popular. Click to read more about home ozone generators. There might be something there worth investigating!