When I wrote the article on how to sell SMC products online, I wrote it to guide people who were already SMC product resellers who would like to market the products. It’s still a good guide on how to do so with even better alternatives to the program.
I stated in the article that I wouldn’t do the SMC opportunity because I wasn’t a big fan of face to face selling and the way it was structured wasn’t my cup of tea. Further, I went on to state my observations of what other people thought about SMC – the quality of the products weren’t that good etc.
On doing some additional research, it seems that SMC may actually be something you want to stay away from. At least hide your credit cards.
Unclear Refund Policy?
When I read the membership agreement on the SMC website, the cancellation policy states that you will get a refund of your payment minus shipping and handling of the kit. Fair enough.
4. Cancellation. If you cancel your membership within 30 days of joining SMC, you may be eligible for a refund of your membership fees (excluding shipping and handling). Call toll free 1-877-523-9088 for eligibility and cancellation instructions.
What they failed to mention though was how that refund will be issued.
The above investigation was done after I saw one complaint from a member and SMC’s response.
Member complaint (excerpt from email communication with SMC Corp.)
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 9:52 PM
To: MemberServices@smcorp.com; techsupport; legal@emerchantclub.com
Cc: ME
Subject: Re: REFUND REQUEST – SMC/eMERCHANTCLUB FROM MEPlease help me, I am at your mercy. Please refund me at least $2388.00
otherwise I will never forgive myself. It is hurting me from within. It is a
real mental torched. Please help me.May God give you the reward if you return my money.
Thanks!
ME
From: ME
Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:42 PM
To: MemberServices@smcorp.com ; techsupport@emerchantclub.com ;
legal@emerchantclub.comCc: ME
Subject: REFUND REQUEST – SMC/eMERCHANTCLUB FROM ME
Dear SMC/eMC
Please help me get my money back. I am a disabled person without income. I
have 6 kids all under 16. I worked hard in my life and then lost my job. I
borrowed some money from my sister to start SMC business after I got
convinced by watching SMC ad on the TV. Please help me. If you cannot refund
all, then please at least refund some of it. I have lost this money like I
dropped a my bag on the street. I hope you will have some soft corner for
the needy people. I am already indebted heavily. I am really sorry I tried
to be tough, but you guys are tougher, indeed. Please let me know if you can
help me. Thanks!08/25/2009 Debit Card Transaction EMC*EMERCHANTCLUB 877-38 08/24EMC*EMERC
$2,388.00 Payment for Unknown Service
07/31/2009 Debit Card Transaction EMC*EMERCHANTCLUB 877-38 07/30EMC*EMERC
$3,754.40 Super Deluxe Package
07/16/2009 Debit Card Transaction SMC*MERCH/MEMB 800-345-4 07/15SMC*MERCH
$499.95 SMC Membership FeesTOTAL:
$6642.35 TOTAL
Other amount was lost for this dealME
Here’s SMC’s response which reveals what’s really up with the refund policy.
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 5:55 PM
To: ME
Subject: RE: REFUND REQUEST – SMC/eMERCHANTCLUB FROM MEME,
I am very sorry, but there is no cash refund for the $2388.00. We can only
refund your SMC account in merchandise credit. We had talked about this on
12/01/2009
11:14 AM and I told you that you were within our 30-day policy for a refund,
but only in credit to purchase merchandise. This credit is now available in
your SMC account for you to use.This credit is good for one year so please contact SMC to have them help you
choose products to sell and redeem this money back and hopefully more.Regards,
CK
Cancelation/Refund Department
eMerchantClub LLC
996 Flower Glen Street
Simi Valley, CA 93065
(877) 384-4691 Phone
(888) 201-2680 Fax
http://www.emerchantclub.com/support.html*****Please do not delete any part of this message when replying as it may
be used in the tracking and resolution of this issue.*****
So you can’t really get your money back from SMC even if you sent the kit back within 30 days and qualify for a refund.
Instead they force you to do their business by having you claim some of their products so that you can sell those off to get your money back.
This has got to be illegal in some kind of way. I have no idea but if I decided that I didn’t want to sell SMC products, why should I be forced to do that just do I could get my money back?
There is another shocking revelation in those emails. What’s up with those figures spent on an SMC membership!? Did the member just spend over $6000? I thought the membership only cost a few hundred dollars max.
That’s what the average user might think but what they don’t see coming is the upsells from SMC that will promise them website packages and coaching that guarantees they will succeed and these apparently come at a 4 figure cost.
To me, these are unnecessary and overpriced.
By comparison, I can build a profitable website for less than $100 and currently get all the coaching I need to build a full time income from home using a site called Wealthy Affiliate, which I mentioned in the other article, and it would all cost me less than the price of an SMC membership for just one year.
Also reports of SMC tying up credit cards with charges after they were stopped doesn’t help. There’s a whole thread with SMC complaints here and I’ll just quote a few for you to see that this is just not the kind of business you want to get involved with for a number of reasons including the possibility that you may not be able to sell the products.
I can sure tell you they took my wife’s money and didn’t help her at all. They promise coach’s, support, web sites, and all kinds of junk and then do nothing but take money out of your account. My wife called to cancel within the 30 days and they said she was past the time…
…I told him I wanted to go ahead and build my website like they talked about on TV, that I was ready now, could he please help me with that? He says yes, for another $1,500.00!! I told him I didn’t have that kind of money, that it took all I had just to join SMC, and that it sounded like the website was included when you join! As soon as I told him I didn’t have the money, he just stopped talking. I mean…he really did just sit there on the phone, and wouldn’t talk to me!
I can only say that communication with them is impossible. I cancelled within the 30 days they require, and yet they continued billing my credit card. I wrote them and e-mailed them to no avail. I challenged the card charges and were paid back the money-only to have them turn it over to a collection agency!
Related posts:
I had decided to try to start a business. SMC promises so much. i joined and got the kit–which is worthless by the way. i paid $400 for the kit. (their prices range form $200-$500 for the kit, depending on how many notices they send you before you agree to join) so i get this kit, watch a DVD, read through the booklets and try to get all the info i could. it then said to call my business coach, which i would have for a whole year instead of just the 90 days. she then convinced me to spend over $5,000 to upgrade my membership, get a gift card redemption site,catalogs,gift cards ect. asked me to call and set up the gc website with another gentleman named Justin. then through him i had to spend over another $5,000. this was to get my website functioning, they do all the work to keep the online catalog updated throughout the year. a couple weeks later i get a phone call from a Steve Johnson at emerchant club. he wanted ocer $2,200 to make it so my website is even better. then first time customers didnt have to use a gift card. they could pay by credit card, pay pal ect. a couple weeks later i still have no website. he calls yet again and wants more money. i explained how much money i have spent and have nothing to show for it. and how i am a single mother at the moment and cannot keep shelling out money when i dont make any. he puts me on hold and says he talked to his boss and can offer me the same package for a little less. (this is what they all did to make you feel like your getting a really good deal. i blew up at him. he said he’d call after my website was up. and he did, and of course they want more money. then i get a call from another gentleman who says my website needs work. so now i have all this money invested, a website, tons of catalogs and gift cards, but none of it works. still cant place orders, no money coming in to pay bills. i wasnt expecting to get rich, but at least be able to make a steady income like they said was possible. and not for them to drain my bank account. i have nothing now. i had registered for their website. now it tells me i am not a member. they also try to make you feel better about investing. well over $16,000 spent and i had over $9,000 in credit for merchandise, supp;ies or whatever. i just received an invoice the other day that i got charged $314.95 for membership/renewal fees out of my credits. (membership is supposed to be for a full year!) so now my credits are down to $7,000.and i have no way to use them. my member number doesnt exist, but yet when these people call me they have to tell me my #. my member # is 72147690-69. (they use just the first 8).i am at my wits end and feel so heartbroken and foolish now. i have all these notebooks with so many different names and numbers for these people.but yet i cant get anywhere. please someone help!
thank you
Hello Brenda,
Sorry to hear about your trials with this company. The first thing I thought about is to take legal action against them. Seeing a lawyer might be the best plan of action.
I’d also advise you to report them to the FTC and ask them what they can do for you.
i worked for that company, i can say this to you and any one who mite want to join this company to make a better life!….. DONT DO IT….ITS ALL lies!!!!! horrible place and they lie about the couching!!! if you have any question ill be more then happy to help you but it is all lies!!!!!
I signed up for e merchant,then canceled it and they keep taking money out of my account. Is there any way I could stop them.They did replace some money and they still took more money. What can I do.