Business Opportunities and Internet Marketing Systems that Don't Work

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Envelope Stuffing Books
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Envelope Stuffing Books

This is always a scam - it comes in several forms, and not a one of them is completely honest. Most walk the fine line just this side of legality, but they are not going to give you what it sounds like they will!

In case you didn't quite get the full impact of that, I repeat, this is NEVER a legit job.

The sales literature promises you can receive $2 per envelope for stuffing envelopes. Sometimes this is sold as a book of companies you can work for. There are several variations on this long time scheme.

The product is advertised in the flyers you put in the envelope. Often the product is nothing more than the advertisement for others to buy the program or book.The book you buy usually costs you between $19 and $49. One time cost for the book, ongoing costs to the company you sign up with for flyers or other items, IF there is even a company involved in it (often there is not).

You get paid if someone buys what you are advertising. Some programs have ongoing costs for product, others for flyers, others you are on your own. You also pay for envelopes and stamps long term, and possibly for copies, depending on the program.

The catch to this is that you are not just stuffing envelopes. You are doing mass mailing for the company you have bought the package from, IF there is a company behind it, otherwise you are just perpetuating the scam. You have to locate the addresses you mail packets to, and you only get paid if someone buys. Average return rates on unsolicited mailings are 1 purchase for 100 mailings (on high quality stuff... let's pretend for the sake of argument that you get that good a return). You get an average of $2 per mailing...lets see, at minimum you have to buy one envelope and one stamp for each mailing. At $.39 per stamp, and oh, say, $.02 per envelope (bought in bulk), you are spending $.41 per mailing. Multiply that by 100, and you will be spending $41.00 for each $2 you make. Hmmm, Can you say, BAD IDEA?

This one we can say, unequivocally, DO NOT TRY! You cannot make money at it, and it will cost you.

There are email schemes like this, which have lower ongoing costs. But the issues are the same. You have to locate the email addresses, and only get paid if someone buys. At best, you waste a lot of time and get accused of spamming, at worst, you can be legally prosecuted for emailing SPAM.

This one is, in our opinion, over the edge and could be called a scam outright. Even if it is not exactly illegal, it is so deceptive that there is no way you could say that what you get is anything like what you are being lead to believe you get.

Written by Laura Wheeler, MicroBusiness Website Developer, and founder of the MicroWebmasters Alliance

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