Comments on: Merchant Circle calls off calling campaign http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/ Because not everyone can throw thousands of dollars at the 'How do we market ourselves online?' question... Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:07:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Matt McGee http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-84714 Matt McGee Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:28:53 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-84714 Hi James - no one really takes issue with the service they offer. I've heard other stories like yours. What people find objectionable are their marketing tactics, which amount to a scare campaign to get small businesses owners to visit the site and create an account so that MC can inflate its traffic and membership numbers, making itself appear more valuable to possible purchasers. Hi James - no one really takes issue with the service they offer. I’ve heard other stories like yours. What people find objectionable are their marketing tactics, which amount to a scare campaign to get small businesses owners to visit the site and create an account so that MC can inflate its traffic and membership numbers, making itself appear more valuable to possible purchasers.

]]> By: James http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-84700 James Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:53:19 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-84700 I have been listed on Merchantcirle for a year now and have had nothing but the best of service. I don't see why all of you have had so many problems. I went form 10-15 interested customers visits to my site to now more then 4075 per month. I am able to send out news letters to my customers, run new coupons ads, Blog, link up with other businesses in the area and my ad run on there web page and vise verse. I have uploaded pic of my work and equipment. I run a small business in Sioux Falls SD. I spend anywhere form 1-4 hrs a week on it. Run a google search for ( Dust Mites Sioux Falls ) and I am on top with my merchantcirle listing. or ( steam cleaning Sioux falls ) Maybe you should take sometime to look your own listing. I used to spend $190 mo in the local paper and I got nothing. Now I spend nothing but some (time) and get great results. I have been listed on Merchantcirle for a year now and have had nothing but the best of service. I don’t see why all of you have had so many problems. I went form 10-15 interested customers visits to my site to now more then 4075 per month. I am able to send out news letters to my customers, run new coupons ads, Blog, link up with other businesses in the area and my ad run on there web page and vise verse. I have uploaded pic of my work and equipment. I run a small business in Sioux Falls SD. I spend anywhere form 1-4 hrs a week on it. Run a google search for ( Dust Mites Sioux Falls ) and I am on top with my merchantcirle listing. or ( steam cleaning Sioux falls ) Maybe you should take sometime to look your own listing. I used to spend $190 mo in the local paper and I got nothing. Now I spend nothing but some (time) and get great results.

]]> By: Laura http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-76178 Laura Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:11:56 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-76178 I am a certified business. I certianly don't need any verification on my part to know I am a legit business. Been in this business since 2003. These phone calls had better stop...If someone in my town (Jackson,Michigan) want to know if I am in business, they can check the phone book...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! I am a certified business. I certianly don’t need any verification on my part to know I am a legit business. Been in this business since 2003. These phone calls had better stop…If someone in my town (Jackson,Michigan) want to know if I am in business, they can check the phone book…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

]]> By: SC http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-73229 SC Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:35:56 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-73229 I've filled out both of those forms in the past, yet they keep calling me. I also filled out the "remove company listing" form, yet my company profile still stays there. These people have no ethics. I’ve filled out both of those forms in the past, yet they keep calling me. I also filled out the “remove company listing” form, yet my company profile still stays there. These people have no ethics.

]]> By: Steve http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-72984 Steve Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:28:16 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-72984 I did a little digging around on the Merchant Circle site. You can get your phone number placed on their Do-Not-Call list from the following link: http://www.merchantcircle.com/optout/remove?reason=optout. And totally removed from the following link: http://www.merchantcircle.com/optout/remove/. I did a little digging around on the Merchant Circle site. You can get your phone number placed on their Do-Not-Call list from the following link: http://www.merchantcircle.com/optout/remove?reason=optout.

And totally removed from the following link: http://www.merchantcircle.com/optout/remove/.

]]> By: SC http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-72900 SC Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:27:37 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-72900 I just got a new call from them last night (I am the same SC and Scott posted above). Their new schtick is "Somehow has posted a video of your business on our website". This time I am filing formal FCC charges against this company. I encourage everyone else who has requested to be removed and still gets calls from Merchant Circle, or if you are on National or Local No-call Lists, to go to the FCC website and file a complaint against these scumbags. http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm I just got a new call from them last night
(I am the same SC and Scott posted above).
Their new schtick is “Somehow has posted a video of your business on our website”.

This time I am filing formal FCC charges against this company. I encourage everyone else who has requested to be removed and still gets calls from Merchant Circle, or if you are on National or Local No-call Lists, to go to the FCC website and file a complaint against these scumbags.

http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

]]> By: John http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-72894 John Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:12:33 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-72894 I have spoken with Silicon Valley Colocation. Due to the way that Merchant Circle hides information, they were unaware of the issue. They have asked that complaints be filed so that they have a record of them in order to take action. Complaints can be filed to: abuseteam@svcolo.com I have spoken with Silicon Valley Colocation. Due to the way that Merchant Circle hides information, they were unaware of the issue. They have asked that complaints be filed so that they have a record of them in order to take action. Complaints can be filed to:

abuseteam@svcolo.com

]]> By: John http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-72885 John Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:33:30 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-72885 I have spoken with Silicon Valley Colocation. Due to the way that Merchant Circle hides information, they were unaware of the issue. They have asked that complaints be filed so that they have a record of them. Complaints can be filed to: abuse-team@svcolo.com I have spoken with Silicon Valley Colocation. Due to the way that Merchant Circle hides information, they were unaware of the issue. They have asked that complaints be filed so that they have a record of them. Complaints can be filed to:

abuse-team@svcolo.com

]]> By: John http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-72882 John Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:21:52 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-72882 Please note that the above-listed phone information is incorrect. The phone numbers are for Network Solution and they DO NOT own Merchant Circle. Network solutions provided me with information for the hosting company. It is : Silicon Valley Colocation, Inc. PO Box 390804 Mountain View, CA 94039 I will post more as I find it. Please note that the above-listed phone information is incorrect. The phone numbers are for Network Solution and they DO NOT own Merchant Circle. Network solutions provided me with information for the hosting company. It is :
Silicon Valley Colocation, Inc.
PO Box 390804
Mountain View, CA 94039

I will post more as I find it.

]]> By: Just Me http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/248/#comment-70602 Just Me Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:02:15 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2006/10/04/merchant-circle-calls-off-calling-campaign/#comment-70602 MerchantCircle is up to it again it seems. Got a call 2 days ago from a live rep from MerchantCirle. I didn't have time to speak and the call was unsolicited. They were not interested in me at all and kept talking. I had to tell them bye. Next day I get an email informing me of a review of my company, sure enough 1 star, horrible review from someone that never used our services. We don't have any reviews and our clients do not find us through Merchant Circle, sso we figure its Merchant Circle Representative posting because we did not purchase what they were selling. Business need to be aware that Merchant Circle practices are unethical and evidently they are setting up a database for merchants when they only care about bringing in money for themself or they will do whatever they must to bring your company to its knees, every with false negative posts. That company needs a rework from the core if its going to provide a real service that peoplke will use and then pay for, the way the operate now, makes you just run away from them whiole reporting them on Posts, Blogs and the BBB. Clean up your act Merchant Circle or close down shop! MerchantCircle is up to it again it seems.

Got a call 2 days ago from a live rep from MerchantCirle. I didn’t have time to speak and the call was unsolicited.

They were not interested in me at all and kept talking. I had to tell them bye.

Next day I get an email informing me of a review of my company, sure enough 1 star, horrible review from someone that never used our services. We don’t have any reviews and our clients do not find us through Merchant Circle, sso we figure its Merchant Circle Representative posting because we did not purchase what they were selling.

Business need to be aware that Merchant Circle practices are unethical and evidently they are setting up a database for merchants when they only care about bringing in money for themself or they will do whatever they must to bring your company to its knees, every with false negative posts.

That company needs a rework from the core if its going to provide a real service that peoplke will use and then pay for, the way the operate now, makes you just run away from them whiole reporting them on Posts, Blogs and the BBB.

Clean up your act Merchant Circle or close down shop!

]]>