Why do they bother?

[Rhys]

A few days ago, I had a telephone call from somebody who was clearly not sure of themselves as they punctuated every other word with "um" or "err". They claimed to be representing a wedding planner and wanted to check my details. Of course I was immediately on my guard because of the strange approach. It wasn't a case of "Hi, I represent XYZ wedding planners, would you be prepared to work with us". It was more a case of "um, er, need to check you out".

I duly invited them to see my portfolio which they declined, wanting to see a website instead. I patiently explained I no longer do websites and that the only way to see my portfolio was to meet. They then said "that won't be necessary. We'll check you out and get back in an hour".

Clearly something was very fishy there - just a hunch but it smelt fishy. An hour or two later they rang again but I didn't feel like talking to the same individual again and didn't answer. I felt it rather strange that the number calling was from a different state.

The next morning they rang again - really early when I was still in bed. Sleepily I answered and had some spiel about them having checked me out and having seen my Yellow Pages advert and having seen how good my Better Business Bureau rating was. At that point I stopped them with "but I don't have a Yellow Pages advert and I'm not listed with the Better Business Bureau" (I do actually intend to do a Yellow Pages advert but I don't feel registering with the BBB is worthwhile considering the registration fee). They ummed and erred a bit and tried to bluster their way out by which time I'd had enough and told them. "I'm sorry. This is beginning to smell more and more like a scam every minute. Please don't call again".

I mean, really - why do they bother? Don't these scammers realise that their scams are so utterly transparent? It's the old one of building somebody up with pride in themselves or their business before asking for money.

[SpecialK]

I wonder the same thing about spam email.

[Csae]

People fall for it.

Thats the only logical answer, or at the least they think people are falling for it.

Now lemme just go click that "Reach never before height and endurance!" link before i go to sleep, im really curious what its all about.

[Rhys]

I get spammed by a company selling magnetic signs and by another company specialising in email marketing. Magnetic signs are slightly useful - everybody knows who I am and what I do because of mine. They are not, however, going to make anybody buy anything. In that way they're the same as websites, yellow pages adverts etc - of very limited worth.

Junk email however, I cannot see being of any worth - pretty much the same as junkmail/flyers. They get deleted or binned and never sell a darned thing. The statistics quoted claim 3% success so unless you're prepared to junkmail and mailshoot thousands of people you're unlikely to get a single enquiry.

[D Thompson]

Why do they bother???? Because it works from time to time and that's all it takes.

[Rhys]

Why do they bother???? Because it works from time to time and that's all it takes.

It seems to me to be a hell of a lot of work to go to for minimal results and the risk of spending a long time with a guy who wants to be your best buddy in the county jail.

[D Thompson]

It seems to me to be a hell of a lot of work to go to for minimal results and the risk of spending a long time with a guy who wants to be your best buddy in the county jail.

I agree, but then we're not talking about a genius mentality.

[seanhoxx]

Scams in the electronic age are getting more and more creative, active and absurd if thats possible! Talk about the 3% success rate of junk email, keep in mind they send TENS of thousands out! Once or twice a year we have people who still fall for the 'bank examiners' scam. We have places taking checks with out getting I.D. or confirming and account on a out of area personal check, for a couple of thousand dollars, because the guy had a work shirt on with the 'company name' on it, and had a truck with the name and logo in magnetic signs on the side! And he bought equipment that the company would use! It's a funny world.

[Csae]

I have to be perfectly honest, a photographer, hell a business, without a website is something i would rarely ever consider. So up t'ill the yellow pages thing, you were the fishiest out of the two :P

[Rhys]

I have to be perfectly honest, a photographer, hell a business, without a website is something i would rarely ever consider. So up t'ill the yellow pages thing, you were the fishiest out of the two :P

Quite honestly, photography is more about personality than websites. The kind of people that say "do you have a website" are the kind of people that largely will never buy anything anyway. In my 10 years of running websites I have had zero calls as a result of any of them. I do sell software but via another website (because they have a shopping cart and take credit cards). It's not a quality issue. It's just that people don't pay any attention to most websites whether they're hobby sites, photography sites, computer sites. The only websites people pay any attention to are those selling something that can be ordered directly via a shopping cart or those that are informative or amusing.

Chatting with a couple of local photographers and to my accountant, they all find websites to be utterly useless. The general consensus is "well, it might get some extra trade but if it doesn't, it's not costing much". The most successful website of a non selling, non-informative, non-amusing category I have ever seen was a single page site advertising a now-defunct camera shop. The owner had a darned good offer for his building and as he was in his late 50s decided to take the offer and retire. The site had a panoramic photo of the interior of the shop, a list of the opening hours, the address, fax and phone number and nothing else.

Regarding photographers, I would never hire a photographer based on some website or other. I would want to meet the guy to see his actual prints (and I'd want to see bigger than 10x8) and to see whether I could stand being near him. I'd go so far as to say that half the photographers websites that I've seen have photos that weren't actually taken by that photographer. There are a ton of free and very cheap images on the web that can be used on websites. Go to dreamstime.com if you don't believe that!

[Csae]

Ok, im not gonna get into this again sorry for starting your fire. I forgot how zealous you were against websites.

It definitely sounds like a scam, but im not sure how they are trying to scam people, i mean, what they are gonna want to meet me and not show up!?

The only scam i know of, is
"Omg these pictures are all horrible! I want my money back right now! But hey let me keep the pictures."

[Rhys]

I suspect the scam, subject to my original post, was upfront payments for referrals.

These scams abound online. I can name several websites that claim to have a lot of brides looking for photographers in "your" area. What you end up doing is paying $2.50 per "lead" and then you'll receive an address, phone number or email address that might or might not be genuine and where the individual - if it's genuine will find it very strange that their wife/husband of 20+ years is looking for a wedding photographer.

I looked into that kind of site and found it was very easy to register as a bride and thus I registered as a bride, gave a fictitious wedding date in a genuine place. Did I hear from any photographers? Nope! Did I even receive and anonymous referral note saying that if I paid $2.50 there was a bride looking for me? Nope! Something scammy, methinks.

[jekostas]

Unfortunately, the reason this garbage still goes on is, well, it's profitable. For ever 100 intelligent, reasoning people, there's one out there with less brains than money who's willing to whip out a credit card.

Just about every day, I read in a local paper or see on Craigslist about someone falling for one scam or another. Stuff that seems obvious to you or I, but for some reason they fall for it anyways.

[Rhys]

Unfortunately, the reason this garbage still goes on is, well, it's profitable. For ever 100 intelligent, reasoning people, there's one out there with less brains than money who's willing to whip out a credit card.

Just about every day, I read in a local paper or see on Craigslist about someone falling for one scam or another. Stuff that seems obvious to you or I, but for some reason they fall for it anyways.

And then there are the alleged wedding photographers that just buy-in photos to put in their online portfolios and their real portfolios. I could go to any number of sites and pinch web-sized photos to use in an online portfolio. This is my main reason for not bothering any more with websites. There're so many absolute scam websites on the internet that I just do not wish to be associated with them. I'm quite happy to tell that to brides too. If it costs me sales then so be it. I refuse to erect premises in Scamville. I'm working hard now to remove my name from every single one of the online bridal registries that I registered on as all I get from them are attempted scams.

Here's one of the jokes I just received...

FreelanceDesigners.com Member,

There is a new project available in your area:
RFQ: 1019 Photography Our Wedding QUINBY,SC
Budget $100.00

2-hour job in the evening. ...
Date: 08/08/2009 (60 Days Left To Bid)
http://www.photographersquote.com/job_quote/10199

This project came from www.photographersquote.com - This lead is available for purchase through the BusinessLauncher sales lead network.

Thanks

FreelanceDesigners Quote-Bot
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