storesonline scamming

RE: StoresOnline.com - poor service and frustrating experience - I want my

$3000.00 refunded.

In late March of 2006, I received a card in the mail stating that I was

invited to a seminar with a Free meal at the TravelLodge in Prince Albert,

Saskatchewan, Canada. I The representatives intrigued us with their

presentation and I ended up paying $20 for us to attend the "workshop" held

on April 4, 2006 in Saskatoon. Actually, the workshop turned into a sales

presentation to lure the people attending into signing up for 3-6 or more

electronic storefronts. They were sold in packets of 3.

The people described a number of state-of-the-art features that I had never

heard of and due to my lack of experience in the field of website design and

internet marketing, it sounded like a true winner. I wanted very much to

have an internet based business that would be profitable. Who could lose

when partnered with the knowledge, experience and technological equipment

provided by StoresOnline. Since I have worked all my life with very little

to show for it, I was very interested in the fact that an individual with no

knowledge of computers or website design and internet marketing could with

the backing of StoresOnline actually make $40,000 to $80,000 a month selling

just about anything on the internet.

It was assured to us that even if we chose to design and built our own

sites, the StoresOnline professionals would review the store front to ensure

no mistakes went through to publication. I was sold, and told I had to

purchase that day to get their once in a lifetime deal to be able to

opereate 3 websites for $3000. I had a number of ideas for some online

stores. Writing a cheques, I purchased 3 electronic storefronts for $3000.00

at the seminar/workshop. I had no doubts that as stated by the speakers that

within a month of publishing my first store, it would be making money.

The program used by StoresOnline was very difficult to learn to use, time

consuming and costly. They indicated that even if you did not know what a

mouse was, you'd be able to use their program. Not so. Plus when you do

build a store using their program, you are tied to their program because to

move your site elsewhere means to have to redesign and rebuild much of it.

The Online Chat did not work for me because of my computer; however, when I

was able to access the Chat Line using my laptop, I would be told to go to

this website to get that help or they were completely lacking in any ability

to answer my questions. When I called to speak to support directly, I often

felt very frustrated and that the people serving me were impatient with my

"stupidity". It was not an empowering expereince and deflated my self-esteem

and deterimination to continue.

Finally getting fed up with my own lack of abilities and not wanting to pay

hundreds of dollars more to StoresOnline, I have looked into hiring a

webmaster who works outside of storesonline. I have been shocked to find

people very proficient in designing and building websites, that could work

with me directly and are much more supportive and less costly, and who will

earn their $3000. I am completely and totally exasperated with StoresOnline

and would like a total refund of all my investment ($3000) from

StoresOnline. I am also realizing that Distributors do not want to work with

me when they know I am affiliated with StoresOnline. See the email I

recieved today from one such distributor. This speaks volumes to me about

the kind of reputation that StoresOnline is developing and these are not the

things they advertize when sucking in ordinary people like me

"Next question I have to ask: If you are planning to deal directly with

"Storesonline" - I would be extremely careful and would advise that you

thoroughly investigate the pros & cons of this operation further before you

make your decision... Their reputation is quite controversial, much like

"Quixtar" and it may be to your advantage to create your own website

directly, for the same cost.

I hope you have checked out/Googled everything pertinent to

"Storesonline.com"

My reasoning for this is simple - if a customer has a bad experience with

this site, they may end up holding our company responsible for a problem and

not the retailer. I've had issues with inexperienced online retailers in

the past and have no desire to repeat them to the detriment of our spotless

reputation. On some occasions - the customers have logged into our

Corporate site asking us "where their merchandise is" if lost/not sent in

transit and we are not responsible for processing the order in the first

place and have no idea who they are!"

As a consumer I feel their workshops are very misleading. If they were a

reputable company, they should back up what they are doing with a

satisfaction guaratee or full money back refund, or provide more hands on

training and information upfront without continually wanted to add more

costs.

I am not satisfied... I want my money back, so that I can reinvest it with

someone who will give me value and results for my $3000 payment.

StoresOnline should be stopped from proclaiming success with their backing,

as they provide very little helpful and positive support for the amount of

money I have spent. For $3000, I can have someone build 3 websites for me

and will not have to beg for every bit of support I require or spend hours

doing the work myself.I have access to much of what they say they do provide

(a program to build a site) and information on how to market your site. Much

of this is available in books, from webdesigners I can connect with directly

and on the internet for FREE.

Please help me in get my money back, and make StoresOnline more accountable.

Thank you, Lynne Harley

cc:Better Business Bureau

www.bbb.org/about/contact.asp