HOW COMMISSION CIRCULARS
CAN MAKE MONEY FOR YOU
Most everyone familar with mail order would be introduced to or involved
in
the promotion of commission circulars. You've seen them before. You
place an
order for them and place your name in the "Order From" box. When orders
come
to you, you keep 50% of the money for your efforts and forward the
order plus
the remaining 50% of the money onto the "Prime Source," who will, in
turn,
dropship the order to the customer.
These work great if everyone does what they should. However, some people
have
found it necessary to even "cheat" with these. They will see a commission
circular they want to promote. But instead of sending their order to
the
prime source to obtain a legitimate camera-ready copy _ they simply
place
their name and address in the "Order From" box and begin advertising
it.
What happens if you order from an individual or company who has done
this?
You probably won't get your order and the guy or gal will pocket your
hardearned
money! What a waste!
Because the "cheater" normally will not know who the prime source is
and who
to forward any orders to (since they didn't respond in the proper manner),
your order is tossed in the trash. This is bad business for you as
well as
the prime source who often times, does not even know this is happening.
Fortunately, we personally receive a copy of almost everything that
is being
promoted and can usually identify this fraudulent behavior with our
own
commission circulars. However, we are fortunate to be able to keep
"on top"
of this activity. But there are prime source dealers who are being
ripped-off
everyday! Let's put a stop to it! How?
One way to combat this problem is to look the circular over for any
major
changes in the "type." If the circular appears to be tampered with
(and
there is no special membership number assigned) you should question
it
before sending in your money. You might even consider requesting the
name
of the prime source without the address to prove the validity of the
circular
if you want to spend the time.
Another way of combating commission circular fraud is by writing a
letter to
the advertiser requesting "more information" about the product before
you
place an order. Some people don't want to spend the time doing this
because
they might be "out of the mood" to place an order by the time they
receive
an answer. If you feel this way about a product _ why even order it
in the
first place? You should never be placing an order just to spend money.
Instead _ it should always be for something you want and need. Besides,
you only have to write a letter to people with products you REALLY
want to
purchase. After you have been in the business for awhile, and made
a few
contacts _ you will normally know "what" and "who" to do business with.
It never ceases to amaze me what some people will do to cheat others
out of
$2 or $3. Can't someone use more of their brains and think up their
own offer
without stealing others? It's sad!
A professional con-artist would NEVER think of doing such a thing.
A professional
(and unfortunately smart) con-artist would play it safe on the
small
orders and wait to build their business up. Then _ when they were generating
$1,000's of dollars _ they would go in for the big kill. Anybody that
risks
their business on $2 or $3 is a penny-ante dealer with nothing going
for
them but continual struggle and unnecessary problems they could have
avoided.
Now please don't misunderstand me. I am in NO WAY trying to exalt a
professional con-artist and tell you to be like him or her. These people
create their own downfall in the end also. All con-games are short
lived
and play havoc on your professional, personal and spiritual life. You
may be
laughing all the way to the bank now _ but one day when you need someone
to
bring you a drink of water because you are ill, no one will be there
for you. Your money will be gone _ along with your "so-call
ed" friends!
Commission circulars in mail order are a viable part of keeping the
industry functioning. They provide a good money-making avenue for new
businesses because they are promoting established products and services
that sell well already. A prime source should support their dealers
who
participate in their commission circular programs. One way to support
them
is NOT to be their competition. Instead of running your ads _ run their
ads
instead. Regardless of "who" gets the order, the prime source still
gets a
portion of the profits _ right? And if you help your people sell your
products and make a little money, you'll get more people signed up
to sell
for you!