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I've mentioned this bit of scammy advertising (here and here) that attempts to trick the recipient of a post card into calling a number so as to bypass any Do Not Call listings. Since then, I've gotten yet another card from these jokers.
This time I didn't just toss it. Instead, I've scanned it so it can be an example for me to point out a few things. Also, I'm transcribing it so that search engines can find this entry and match it to any inquiries based on the text or phone numbers.
Notice a few things about this. First, there is no return address. That's suspicious as whoever sent it doesn't want anyone to know who they really are. There is no stamp, nor the typical post office applied postage, but something obviously from a place that sends out a lot of mail. Also, see that line with "AUTO**5-DIGIT"? That means that it's part of a mass-mailing. There were enough of these that sorting them all by ZIP code was beneficial to the sender to get a lower postage rate on the lot.
Ah, the incredible state of almost. The bulk-printed script that tries so hard to seem like personal writing so utterly fails. The emphasis on FREE is suspicious as is the short time limit. If this was truly an "award" then they wouldn't have to say "free" and certainly not twice, now would they?
It's also amusing that it opens with "I've been unable to reach you..." when there is obviously contact information is known enough to let them mail this.
The full text of the back of this alleged post card is as follows:
I've been unable to reach you about a free gift. Please call 1-800-728-3902 within the next five days to find out how to receive your FREE George Foreman Grill.
Chris Johnson
Awards Coordinator
And just to make it a bit easier for searches, that phone number not to call is 18007283902 or 8007283902 or 1 800 728 3902 or 1-800-728-3902 or 800-728-3902.
For anyone who didn't bother with the links and wonders just who these jokers are and what this about, this is from K-Designers and they want people to call them so they can try to sell siding. Supposedly if you endure their sales pitch(es) you will actually eventually get a grill. Gee, why don't they say who they are or what their product is before people call?
Looking around the net some, it seems they went with this gimmick when Do Not Call went into effect and they couldn't interrupt your supper anymore. That should give some idea of how ethical these jokers are.
UPDATE 03 November 2008:
In the space of a few minutes from 3:23 CST to 3:31 CST (by LiveJournal's clock) today there were several posts all from IP Address (140.239.81.98) each claiming to be a different satisfied customer, in at least three different states. All from the very same IP address. All in a few minutes. What does that mean? One person, using the same computer, pretending to be multiple people. This is called Astroturfing as it is an attempt to appear to be a grassroots thing but is, like astroturf, not the real thing. This is the second time someone at a single IP claimed to be multiple people, all of whom happened to be defending K-Designers. I hardly need to say what this says about the company, or at the very least about some of its employees.
UPDATE 22 AUGUST 2009
They have a new card now. It's still a "free gift, call us" ploy, but at least now the card has K-Designers' return address as an identifying mark.
no subject
Date: 5 Aug 2006 19:15 (UTC)no subject
Date: 5 Aug 2006 19:37 (UTC)If they were honest enough to have a return address and show themselves to be trying sell something right on the card then I could use USPS Form 1500 and put a stop to it. So these spammy folks have gotten around that, too, dagnabbit. You're right, all this does is waste trees. How is it all paid for? Well, I suspect they have a high turnover from paying as little as they get can get away with and there likely are a few suckers that actually fall for this crap. And those suckers get to pay for all the scammy advertising.
Funny
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 26 Oct 2006 00:03 (UTC) - ExpandRe: Funny
From:(no subject)
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 28 Oct 2008 22:39 (UTC) - Expand(no subject)
From:K-Designer's Sales Pitch is even more scammy
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 22 Nov 2008 03:01 (UTC) - ExpandRe: K-Designer's Sales Pitch is even more scammy
From:no subject
Date: 16 Jan 2007 04:08 (UTC)Annoyed as well
Date: 24 Jan 2007 03:57 (UTC)Chris Johnson
Awards Coordinator
K-Designers
-What still makes it a scam is their not admitting what their REALLY contacting you about. They talk themselves into believing their actually in the right because its your choice to call, your choice to listen, and your choice to buy. I made my choice before I got 5 feet from the mail box.
Thanks 8~)
Date: 16 Feb 2007 04:24 (UTC)8~)
Me too
Date: 22 Feb 2007 04:05 (UTC)Thanks!
Re: Me too
Date: 26 Apr 2007 19:46 (UTC)1-800-SAVE-902 or 18007283902
Date: 28 Jun 2007 22:43 (UTC)Congratulations!
You have won a FREE GIFT!
Call Immediately to receive your free gift.
1-800-728-3902
(1-800-SAVE-902)
Absolutely FREE
J.E.I
Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 18007283902
Date: 17 Jul 2007 01:56 (UTC)I actually hope they call me because I'm on the National DNC register.
I've gotten several hundred dollars in settlements for phone calls.
Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 18007283902
From:Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 18007283902
Date: 11 Aug 2007 21:01 (UTC)Note that the words are typeset in GIGANTIC TIMES ROMAN ITALIC, mostly capitals and underlines.
Searching these things out via google is entertaining fun, so I thank the card people for providing these SECONDS OF PLEASURE.
i rather have this then a phone call though.
Date: 25 Jul 2007 08:03 (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Aug 2007 14:01 (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 Sep 2007 19:18 (UTC)K Designers
Date: 3 Sep 2008 02:17 (UTC)Re: K Designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 5 Jan 2009 20:20 (UTC) - ExpandRe: K Designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 15 Feb 2009 19:32 (UTC) - ExpandRe: K Designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 7 May 2009 22:45 (UTC) - ExpandRe: K Designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 4 Feb 2010 08:38 (UTC) - ExpandRe: K Designers
From:Re: K Designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 19 Aug 2010 03:24 (UTC) - Expand1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
Date: 18 Sep 2007 17:27 (UTC)THe card is printed in large fonts - easily read - the card is orange the print is black !
I am happly that I checked this out through Google - As I had no intention of calling the number for a "Free Gift" in any event.
Thanks for the posting
khopp@ideaone.net
Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
Date: 9 Dec 2007 03:00 (UTC)I just got one of these for the first time today. The card in circulation now does not list the grill, it's orange with black lettering with "CONGRATULATIONS!" at the top, and separate lines for each of: "You have won a FREE GIFT!"; "Call IMMEDIATELY to receive your gift"; "1-800-728-3902"; "(1-800-SAVE-902)" and "Absolutely FREE". At the very bottom it says "J.E.I."
-DLE in Banks Oregon
Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 4 Mar 2008 07:11 (UTC) - ExpandRe: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 16 Jul 2008 16:06 (UTC) - ExpandRe: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 31 Aug 2008 18:55 (UTC) - ExpandRe: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 19:26 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.99)
From:Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 21:12 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.98)
From:Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 19:20 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.99)
From:Re: 1-800-SAVE-902 or 1-800-728-302
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 21:09 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.98)
From:An "Ethical" company
Date: 16 Sep 2008 06:35 (UTC)Sales Reps ("Marketing Directors") are not employees but independent contractors, and are on 100% commission with ZERO reimbursement for absolutely anything - gas, very long miles, lodging, tolls etc. Average week ends with 1000-1500 miles on the odometer. No benefits, insurance, holiday pays etc. The Management deducts all expenses on each deal from the Reps' commission.
Charging everything to homeowners and Reps really makes the company "debt-free". Not many people can stand there long, and 99% leave within a month or two, in worse financial stage than when they joined the company. Just a couple of managers remain the same in each branch (there are 18 or 19 branches around), because they ARE employees with all benefits.
This is an "Exclusive family club", nicely "designed" to reap profits by all means. This is definitely NOT an ethical company no matter how good the products can be. The products are really good, but K-Designers produce NOTHING - they are simply resellers of quality products made by Revere, LBL Windows and a couple more good companies. The average markup is about 50%.
Advice to homeowners: if you have enough guts and power to resist to malicious sales practices - agree to see K-Designers' presentation, say "NO" 5-10-15 times, let the Rep to drop the price at least by 50%, and then you may sign-up and get a good product at the fair price. If you know that you can be convinced - you better stay away from them.
Re: An "Ethical" company
Date: 24 Sep 2008 10:39 (UTC)Re: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 12 Oct 2008 15:11 (UTC) - ExpandRe: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 18 Oct 2008 10:32 (UTC) - ExpandRe: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 24 Oct 2008 02:55 (UTC) - ExpandRe: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 25 Oct 2008 09:40 (UTC) - ExpandIP logging pays off.
From:Re: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 21:28 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.98)
From:Re: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 21:31 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.98)
From:Re: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 27 Oct 2008 20:21 (UTC) - ExpandRe: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 21:23 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.98)
From:Re: An "Ethical" company
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 3 Nov 2008 21:25 (UTC) - ExpandAbove from IP Address: (140.239.81.98)
From:WHY THE BIG DEAL
Date: 27 Oct 2008 20:03 (UTC)no subject
Date: 27 Oct 2008 20:41 (UTC)I am tempted to say that my hobby is outing fraudsters and scammers, but as I said above, if it weren't for folks responding to this posting I'd hardly even think of it. I really must thank all of the folks who have replied. Your responses have brought me far more amusement than I had ever expected from such a mundane posting.
vakkotaur
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 30 Oct 2008 03:47 (UTC) - ExpandRe: vakkotaur
From:Re: vakkotaur
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 30 Oct 2008 16:25 (UTC) - Expand(no subject)
From:YOUR REAL NAME -- now people know
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2 Nov 2008 06:43 (UTC) - ExpandRe: YOUR REAL NAME -- now people know
From:K Design
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 4 Nov 2008 18:47 (UTC) - ExpandRe: K Design
From:no subject
Date: 12 Apr 2009 02:03 (UTC)Found a reference of them dating back to 2003 with this same racket:
pg 57 - Fleecing Grandma & Grandpa
http://books.google.com/books?id=-wQlCXZllv8C&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=%221+800+728+3902%22&source=bl&ots=v89QVrlDqT&sig=OVzjQhrJIOlwM5q_NRmj6SIw9AI&hl=en&ei=nz7hSbK4D5eStAPbsdW3CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=20#PPA57,M1
as well as on several of the "who called us" type websites like:
http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-800-728-3902
http://www.callercomplaints.com/SearchResult.aspx?Phone=800-728-3902
Also check out:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/k-designers-c122297.html
Thanks for helping to shed light on these scumbags.
no subject
Date: 29 Apr 2009 08:03 (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 12 Jun 2009 23:21 (UTC) - ExpandTHE K-DEISNGER RIP OFF
Date: 7 May 2009 23:00 (UTC)k-designers
Date: 1 Aug 2009 03:49 (UTC)I have almost 40 years in the construction business. Most of those years I have owned my own successful contracting business. I have a college degree. I know my trade. Anyway for approximately 20 minuets the manager told me how I should of ran my business, and how I surly had made every mistake in the book and how K-Designers was the only company really doing things right. He also told me how their products were extremely unique to the market. In the past 40 years I have work with many of the companies K-Designers represent and knew he was taking liberties with reality. I was tempted to get up and walk out. It was the worst, most unprofessional interview I have ever been in. I felt it was a total joke and waste of time. Never once was I asked about my education or my commitment to my customers, or my abilities. I asked if salesman were reimbursed for travel and expenses and was told there was a program for that, no specifics. I was told K-designers salesmen were not known to worry about money.
As I left the interview I literally felt dirty. I stopped at my sons’ house on the way home and told my daughter in law I felt like I needed to take a shower… My recommendation to anyone thinking about either working for K-designers or purchasing any of their products is to do your research. I know if I had done mine I wouldn’t have wasted a half a day of my life.
K-Designers dose represent some well-known manufacturers but from what I could tell they do not manufacture anything themselves, they are simply resellers. Their products can be purchased from most reputable suppliers and installers. With that in mind remember the salesman or MD’s as they call them is working on commission and this I can say with confidence from my interviewing experience is he may or may not have building experience. It was quite obvious that technical building experience was not of any interest with the manager I interviewed with. Your new project will only be as good as the installers they send. (Look, they know this and will stress the way they hand pick their installers but how do you know?) With that in mind consider calling the products distributor in your area. They will usually be more than happy to supply you with reputable dealers and installers. You will most likely end up saving between 20 to 50 percent on your job, remember someone has to pay the MD, salesman and that someone is you. At the very least don’t sign anything until you have had a chance to check out references and do your homework. Try to find your references on your own. A business isn’t going to give you a customer’s name they had trouble with.
Re: k-designers
Date: 3 Oct 2009 07:05 (UTC)Re: k-designers
From:Re: k-designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 23 Oct 2009 16:17 (UTC) - ExpandRe: k-designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 5 Nov 2009 04:35 (UTC) - ExpandDear IP 207.200.116.137 of Mountain View, California...
From:Re: Dear IP 207.200.116.137 of Mountain View, California...
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 4 Feb 2010 09:37 (UTC) - ExpandRe: Dear IP 207.200.116.137 of Mountain View, California...
From:Re: k-designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2 Nov 2009 07:49 (UTC) - ExpandRe: k-designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 4 Feb 2010 09:25 (UTC) - ExpandRe: k-designers
From:Re: k-designers
From: (Anonymous) - Date: 18 Jun 2010 02:23 (UTC) - ExpandRe: k-designers
From: