10 18th, 2007
17 Comments
Words: 1531
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Jerry Hart Creative Email Newsletter Marketing Scam
Categories: 800HighTech, Geek News, Graphic Design, Internet, Military News, Random, Web Design
Tags: Blog, Business, Computers, Internet, Security, Spam, Technology, Virus, WebsiteScam Report about a Con Jerry Hart Email Newsletter and Creative Marketing Plan
First we would like to apologize to all of our customers who received our Email newsletter and who were dissatisfied. We received many complaints and questions regarding it – and I was not what it was suppose to be. It was our first attempt at communicated with our customers via Email and we wanted to do it professionally. We searched and we were referred to Jerry Hart – who from his website seemed like he was going to help achieve our goal and more.
The goal of this project was first and foremost to let customers know that we are still here and better than ever. We have updated our database making it easier to use and more secure. The Email was intended to go to only military members who canceled and never bought a computer. We were not sure which Email style would work best so we decided to send it out in batches and monitor the progress. We were unhappy with the copy – I mean modified picture – of the “professional” Email Jerry Hart created, so we used one by our staff and another one from a web copy writer in the experiment. This meant 3 different styles of Emails went out to different groups of canceled orders by order date. We worked out the dates so there were an equal number of recipients from each order time period. In addition, the Email batches also created a buffer, so we were not swamped with calls since we were inviting customers to call – over 14,000 military customers would receive this offer.
Problems occurred from the very beginning. Rich was eager to assist in the project to make sure it was as successful as possible. We know our customers very well, so this accompanied with a Email marketing “professional” seemed like a flawless plan. Unfortunately, we ended up dedicated much more time and effort than Jerry Hart. Although we are based in Thailand, we offered Jerry a toll-free number for him to call or called him back so he would incur no fees. The meetings were billed for several hundred dollars for his valuable information, which we felt wasn’t so valuable. One example is his “drip drip” method where you concentrate on a small selection of customers who did not respond or open the Email and you send them more until they do answer. Of course each drip would be an additional fee on-top of the more than 3,000 we were billed. The project was going to billed in milestones – but again this was more false promises. We were billed once which we paid promptly and then billed a few days later on our credit card which deviated from the plan. A foreshadow of what was to come…
Next lets look at the copy and layout that we were presented after paying the full amount and after 2 weeks of “best practice” meetings:
- Jerry Hart Email Newsletter Marketing Scam : $650
- John Moreau Email Newsletter : $100
- 800HighTech Email Newsletter : Free
Jerry Hart’s Email layout had a number of errors:
- The message was completely wrong and gave a sense that their computer was recently ordered.
- The customizing data format was not check which affected the Title and Greeting.
- No tracking code was installed.
- Our company was misspelled at the bottom.
- The layout is not professional – no where near worth $650 – and displays incorrectly
Each of these Emails were sent out to an equal number of our customers. First thing that had to be done is import our customer database in to the Email sending program. Jerry Hart uses Listrak – which is a great online marketing software. We bought it through Jerry Hart so the account is in his name and we were billed through him. Unfortunately, can no longer use it – BUT – we could always repurchase an account.
When it came for the moment of truth of sending out the Emails and monitoring the progress of the batches we encountered more problems. The batch system that we spent creating were not followed and a large mass of Emails were sent out but ONLY of Jerry Hart’s Email. This Email had errors and created numerous complaints. The complaints were understandable and an unnecessary confusion. Since most of the orders that were mentioned occurred over 3 years ago, customers worried that someone was making unauthorized transactions and/or were a victim of identity theft. This is a very serious issue for all citizens of the new digital world.
Furthermore it contained no tracking code that Rich even offered to put in for Jerry Hart. The tracking code is basically an extension that is added at the end of links that are database is able to track to purchases. For what ever reason, this simple addition was left off.
After numerous requests, Rich was given access to the Listrak account so that he could fix the problems in Jerry’s Email, add tracking codes, create the batches for the other layouts, generate copy, and finally send out the other Emails. All of which that Jerry promised to do verbally, but then later was denied as he stated, “It was not listed in the contract and required additional payment.“
Finally, at the end of the ordeal the stats further supported our thoughts of Jerry Hart’s incompetence. A far greater amount of customer subscribed from our Email program with the first massive batch that was sent. Also, there were ZERO sales attributed to Jerry Hart’s Email. The number of complaints was far greater with Jerry’s Email. Complaints from the other Email were just statements or questions on why were were contacting them years after their initial request – which is a valid point but it provided a reminder of us and opportunity for them to be removed from our mailing list.
Mike wanted nothing more to do with Jerry Hart, but Rich thought that 800HighTech may be able to salvage some of the money and expenses occurred by receiving the final $650.00 dollar template that was promised and fortunately stated in the contract. We hoped that we would get a frame that we could modify and then end the relationship. Rich had sent countless Emails, layouts, pictures, sales message and etc. to help develop a successful layout.
We would accept no more toll-free calls and wanted nothing except the newsletter that we had already paid for. We would not have to worry about copy or pictures since he proved drastically incompetent in the previous template. 2 more weeks passed and Jerry wrote to admit his mistakes and his desire to “prove himself with results.” A few more days passed and he submitted 2 layouts! This was a big step for Jerry Hart – but of course in the end our hopes were unmet. The 2 “professional” layouts were forwarded Email newsletters from other companies they were dated a few days prior to his recent submissions. We receive hundred of newsletters in our Spam folder from an array of companies. The 2 forwarded newsletters were pretty much unchanged from the original company with a few minor wording changes. If I were going to attempt something as blatant as this, I would have at least forwarded the best newsletter I could find in my Junk mail box. These were horrible and again you can judge for yourself by following the two links listed below:
Our final offer for a peaceful separation was for a refund for as much as possible. I am sure you can imagine how much we were offered. Yup ZERO! Which incidentally is the same number of times that Jerry Hart has contacted us afterwards. Although, by every means this project was a complete failure we always try to remain optimistic and take what we have gained and moved on. We learned that the “professionals” will not be able to help us and that it is best to leave it to ourselves. We know our customers the best and we have a much more invested interest in making sure our customers our pleased. We are in the process of constructing a new Email plan and improve communications with our customers.
On a final note I would like to recommend that if you have considered Jerry Hart or looking to do an Email or any sort of marketing campaign Jerry Hart is not your solution! If you do have a solution we are interested in learning about it. However, we will give you the same introduction we did to Jerry. We are more than fair and we pay based on results. We do not need to hear reasons or excuses. He have pay for services from various individuals, all of which who left benefiting. Most of the times our expectations have not been met and was was promised was not delivered. Jerry Hart had numerous examples in his portfolio and we are interested in hiring who ever created those as they were very convincing. The Internet is filled with various con-artist and false promises – it is very difficult to know what to trust and believe on the Internet and our next project will be billed upon completion.
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Jerry hart had every opportunity with 800hightech.com. He has a nice web site and enough experience to tell us what we wanted to hear. To obtain our credit card number he said that it would be charged only as milestones were reached. When we received another bill before he completed anything that we liked or approved we asked that he stop with new charges until he delivered as promised on what he was already paid. It was then that Jerry stopped calling and e-mailing. In our final phone call and subsequent e-mail he acknowledged that he understood our position. He said and wrote that he “felt bad†but did nothing.
Had Jerry done as promised he would have 800ht as a regular customer doing our news letter professionally every month. We have loyal customers, affiliates and friends who might have used him as well. He will get none of this business.
Jerry was told that at 800ht we want results not reasons. There is NO doubt that Jerry Hart blew it and knows it!
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[...] and Laptops Financed HighTech Edge Newsletter Information After our last Email fiasco from by Jerry Hart Creative Marketing Email Scam, we sent our first internal newsletter. We focused it on delivering helpful and entertaining [...]
Jerry Hart has questionable ethics. He’s hired several contractors to help him on his mismanaged projects and has stiffed them. I worked an entire summer for Jerry Hart, trying to get his mess of a business under control. He sold clients projects on timelines we told him were impossible, promised technology that wasn’t compatible with the task at hand, and in the end, he stiffed several contractors for thousands, THOUSANDS of dollars, and then, when the contractors tried to arrange for compensation, he blamed THEM for project failures…and get this: threatened to SUE the people who tried to help him out of the mess he got himself in.
Jerry Hart has some serious bad karma coming his way, and has made a mess of some very good people’s lives and businesses — both clients, who were sold a package of goods that didn’t suit their needs, and contractors, who worked impossible situations on ill-conceived projects, and then got nothing but a nasty letter for their works.
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience, but I’m glad you posted this.
–KAP
Kap,
Thank you for reading and sharing your views. We had somewhat a bias upperhand – this being our blog – but it helps when our comments are validated. The internet has given consumers an advantage of exposing frauds and recommending companies that stand out.
First of all thank you for this blog.. people like Jerry need to be publicized as they give the industry and other honest companies a bad rep. In my opinion he’s ripping people off!
I would agree with these observations on Jerry Hart’s Company, level of service and overall experience.
I am coming from a different point of view as one of our customers decided to use Jerry Hart for their Newsletter option and had us work with them to make things work.
I can’t even begin to describe how unprofessional and how poor the communication was between my company and his as well as within his company. On one occasion our programmers pulled all nighters to make up for the time Hart’s company wasted to ensure proper deployment for our customer.
Hart even mentioned to me that he could sell ice to an Eskimo. He’s an outright salesman making the sale on anything he can.. squeezing honest peoples hard earned money for poor service and bad quality product.
Since the whole ordeal we refuse to do any business with Hart and continue to hear complaints from our customer on the issues and broken promises.
Our customer is currently waiting for our solution to the Hart newsletter.
On another note.. from what we have heard, many of the people that work for him get burned as he does not pay them as promised.. yet another unprofessional tactic.
In conclusion, if you want to waste some money get a poor solution with some mediocre customer service you go ahead and employ Jerry Hart.
Jerry has exploited all he can from email marketing, he’s moved on to promoting business ‘teleseminars’ and telling people how to promote their blogs (http://www.blueprinttoemarketingblog.com/)
One thing you said did strike me:
“We learned that the “professionals†will not be able to help us and that it is best to leave it to ourselves. ”
I would encourage you to not write off all professionals or agencies. Getting an outside perspective is invaluable for companies such as yourself. A true professional can view you objectively and without the clouding that can come internally.
Sorry you had that experience, but I think it’s great you said something about it.
I found this entry very interesting. I saw that Jerry Hart was going to be speaking at an upcoming AMA (American Marketing Association) event on Web 2.0 and decided to google his name to read about his background. This blog post was the second thing that came up. I’m wondering if these are isolated incidents – maybe I’ll attend just to see him in action.
Anon, Thanks for your comment. You actually noted on the number one reason for this post – we come up on top of searches WITHOUT the help of Jerry Hart.
I make no claims of being an expert however I am a pretty geeky guy. We wanted professional help, but found that individuals claiming to be an “expert” were no where close to meeting my idea of an expert. It is pretty sad that I can do much better than Jerry Hart, and I do it as a hobby in my spare time for my own sites.
I think you should attend the seminar – if it is free and see for yourself. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on it.
The key to SEO is consistence, patience, and research. I find it mundane, but very necessary. Also remember getting traffic is not everything. It is quality of traffic.
Wow…I’m really surprised about this, I have met Jerry on several occasions, the company I worked for that I was fired from for asking for a previously promised pay raise and fired for asking (they would later end up being taken to a state hearing regarding their unethical practices) anyways, he seemed on the up and up but again so did that shady company I worked for…sorry to about the bad experiance with Jerry.
My friend had a similar experience with this fraud, but didn’t get his money taken. Sorry you feel for it. His templates are convincing.
I always new groups like this were scams. If they can help you make money, why don’t they invest the money and create the same business? If they are the experts they should be able to make millions of the internet and not have to work anymore.
I am one of these contractors that got stiffed by Jerry hart. To be fair there was a time when Jerry’s company was providing actual service instead of selling lies, scams and rip offs. That was way back when his portfolio was created. At some point, Jerry decided he didn’t want to make nice things anymore, to much work…”fake it until you make it” he said. He probably started to hang around with “rich people” and all sorts of self proclaimed experts and gurus of everything and thought he could do the same. His company went belly up and filed for Chapter 7 last year. If that doesn’t say it all for a guy that claims to bring wealth to your business, I don’t know what else does. My tip to everyone out there looking for professional help, before doing any business with anyone, please spend a little time checking for credentials and do spme google search.
Jerry has left the email & newsletter marketing scene in favor of making himself into a social media guru.
The irony here is that when you Google him this post comes up.
I’ll be unsubscribing from his email list.
Thank you for your honesty! I’ll bet you have saved a few people from being taken or deceived.
I had a similar experience. I do not want to disclose any details here, suffice it to say that I spent $11,000 with him and several months of some of the most tiring work, and ended up with nothing. But then again from the experience I indirectly learnt a lesson, various lessons, which I feel were valuable. Maybe even worth the money I spent. But to be honest, again, the work output was of very bad quality except for shiny good looking graphics, the sales copy was bitter, resulted in no sales, the social media plan and materials he promised were basic and I could easily have copied them from the web … and he did not take time to truly understand my product and market – he instead focused on pushing through his view of how things should be, an angry view, in a sense. As a marketer, the basic rule to follow is listen to your end customers and speak to them in their language – but he did not. That was one amongst many mistakes. In the end, he delivered a fraction of what was in contract, added things that were not in contract, and asked for more payments, which I declined. What he did put in was time, and I got the sense that he genuinely wanted to make something good out of it all, but what I did not like is he promises what he cannot deliver, and says he is an expert where he is not, and drags out the process endlessly and does not bother do basic market and product research. I did not ask for a refund, I just decided to let life be as it is, take my lessons, lick my wounds, and move on. I am sure in the end what I learnt from that experience will more than make up from what I lost.
David Thanks for your story. I think others will find your experience very valuable!
Curious to see if this makes it on the blog.
Agressive? Sure! Hard Working? Yep! Creative? Definately! Honest? YES! Jerry Hart is all of these things. My experiences have always been great with Jerry Hart. He’s informed, forward, current, even cutting edge with trends.
One thing about marketing, it is VERY competitive, and difficult to work some customers. Some LOVE to drop changes on you every 15 minutes and LOVE to be demanding, then when 1 out of the 4000 details they submit is missed or not caught in time, NO room for human error! I’ve seen this first hand in tech businesses, especially in relation to E-Marketing. I’d love to know if there are only negative posts here or if mine will make it to print? I am certain that many ppl support this man and love his work.
Have a great day, and for those of you who feel wronged I DO feel for you! I just find it curious a very good friend of mine is being slayed on the web this way and has never shown me anything but respect, decency and honest values!
Anon,
You are actually the first positive response to Jerry Hart, and I think I actually remember you working with Jerry Hart at the time of our project.
We tried to lay out the facts as they were, with no embellishments, and let readers decide. The comments we received were unexpected, but sided with our experience. I think the facts speak for themselves, certainly the results do.
What is amazing, and some readers even commented to this fact, is in the search engines we show up before Jerry Hart – the self-proclaimed Expert. Finally, Jerry Hart had the opportunity to resolve this, but never did.