🚀 go-pugleaf

There is a similar service here in Atlanta that I wa visited, I
believe it is called "Heart to Heart".  Let me make two comments,
first I think what they offerred was an acceptable service at a price
that while high was worth it.  Secondly, their sales pitch was not
convincing enough for me to join.

This all started one day when I was visiting my grandmother's house.
That week, she had gone into the hospital and was in intensive care.
I was watering her plants, washing the dishes, and getting some things
for her.

The phone rings and a sales solicitation from an appointment setter
follows.  I think, why not?  and make arrangements to go out there.  I
ask how long it takes (I'm a busy guy) and I'm told about an hour.  So
I think, leave work, go by the dating service, then go visit
grandmother in ICU.

They give me a form to fill out and I refuse to fill out credit card
numbers and social security number.  I should point out that I have a
heavy background in sales. High pressure and tricks do annoy me but do
not trick me.  The saleswoman I'm talking with escalates the issue
with the form to her sales manager.  After 20 minutes or so of them
attempting to wear me down, I state "So you are not going to give me
details about your service until I give these numbers to you?"

She capitulated and went on with the presentation.  I was brought
perhaps twenty profiles.  A few losers were mixed in with a few dream
women so it really looked like a good sampling.  I had passed several
people in the other room looking through profiles, presumably for a
date and they looked like reasonable people.  I liked the concept.

OK, So I ask for the price.  About a dozen times.  While I had not
given out a credit card number, I had put in my yearly income.
Finally they tell me.  $4,000 for a year.  I looked at the profiles
again and said, well I can afford this, but how did these women afford
it?  What attractive intelligent woman in her right mind is going to
pay 20% of her take home pay every month for a year?

I look at the profiles again.  Here is a younger woman.  Attractive.
No doubt fun to be with.  A student at the local two year community
college and a waitress.  Can she afford this?  No.

I'm told that everyone pays the same.  I've already been there for
over two hours before they are willing to even tell me the price.  I
had asked and planned for an hour.  Of course we have to have what is
known as the "close," another 1/2 hour I'm sure.  I had already given
them a dealine to end this - a thrity minute warning that I was
leaving.  Finished with the presentation or not.  Five minutes
remained.

I point out that my sick and dying grandmother is waiting in the
hospital and waiting for her favorite grandson, *me*.  It doesn't faze
my salesrep.  I ask for some paper, write down the name of the
hospital, her name, and the hospital's phone number.  After all, I've
already been called a liar, more or less, several times in the
presentation.

As I walk out to visit the hospital, I hear receeding voices shouting
at me.  They are saying things like "If you leave now, you are giving
up your chance for happiness".  I found it hard to believe how they
acted.  High pressure is one thing, but out and out harrassment is
another.

I did ask how many members they have, and at what rate the add them.
So let's take your figure of $2K per membership.  At 150 new members
per month, that is $300K of gross membership income per month.  An
interesting proposition.

  -- Robert
     rcostner@intergate.net


ktappe@omni.voicenet.com (Kurt Tappe) articulated:
>If anyone has any reactions/replies/rebuttals to what I've stated above,
>I do honestly welcome them.  Right now I feel completely victimized and
>am so disgusted with myself for being taken in that I could just about
>puke.  :-(((