'Your Local Supplier"

J

Jim Barker

Has anyone had any dealings with some outfit called "Your Local Supplier", based in Blackpool? It's supposedly one of these sites which matches buyers with suppliers and I've had a couple of emails from them saying that one of their customers was looking for a website and another looking for postcards but, on reading further, turned into a pitch to be listed as one of their suppliers.
 
J

Jim Barker

No. I'm immediately suspicious of a site that wants you to join up and take a monthly/yearly subscription but won't specify what the cost is. The email example they sent sound a bit iffy as well - a customer looking for 5000 A6 postcards with a budget of £7,500?

Plus they called me "James". I hate being called "James".....
 
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J

Jim Barker

This is what make me suspicious. Even quick search of online printers shows that they could have 5000 postcards printed for about £150. That's one heck of a mark-up... Out of interest, what are they charging monthly? I'm sure I saw a cost of £29.99 when I looked at their site a couple of weeks ago, but it seems to have vanished now.
 
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estwig

Free Member
Sep 29, 2006
13,071
4,830
in the cloud
£39.99 for a month, £249.99 for a year. They are offering a money back guarantee with the year option if you don't make two sales within that period.

Yea then they send you a few mickey mouse made up leads, so when you don't get two sales they can say it's not their fault, as they are sending you business, so it must be your fault. Blame shifting. They may even, if their cute, follow on from this by offering to 'help' you with closing the deals and getting more business, for a fee of course.

It's a classic con and not very imaginative, most good cons aren't!
 
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Andy Fuller

Free Member
Sep 3, 2015
9
1
I've just paid them £79.99 for a month of leads... but haven't heard from them yet. I believe they research you and your company and write a compelling lead that fits your business and tempts you into paying up...

I did do some research and here's the thread of messages from a guy named Trevor Goodson:
---
 
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Andy Fuller

Free Member
Sep 3, 2015
9
1
From Trevor Goodson, Your Local Supplier:
---
Dear Andy,

Below is a customer who is looking for a quote for help with creating a brand identity for a new business.
If you're interested in working with this customer, please let me know as soon as possible as memberships are limited.

Lead Number: w1519
Lead Sector: Web and Graphic Design
Date Lead Received: 26/08/2015
Service Required: Brand Identity
Clients Industry: Food and Drink
Services to be included: 5-6 page web site, company logo, letterhead and invoice templates and Social Media
Does the customer require printing: No
Has the customer received any quotes: No
Time Frame to start project: As soon as possible
Client budget: £4,500-5,000
Project Brief: Customer has just launched a new business selling a range of Healthy Cooking Oils with their main emphasis on Organic Coconut Oil, the customer requires a website, company logo a letterhead/invoice template that they can add themselves and social media pages setting up for twitter and facebook.

If you're interested in this customer and receiving more qualified sales leads from people in your area, then please contact us today to join our subscriber list, unlike other suppliers, WE DO NOT CHARGE PER LEAD, instead we offer affordable, monthly membership options.

Listed below are the packages we offer, please let me know which option you would be interested in.

Shared Leads Package:
1.Leads shared between no more than 3 suppliers
2.Access to all Shared leads
3.No need to pay per lead
4.Pay as you go, or 12 month packages available
5.Money back guarantee (12 month package only)

Shared Packages:
1.Shared Package 1: - Monthly rolling agreement (no contract) - £39.99 per month - Includes access to all shared leads on average you will receive 2-5 leads per month
2.Shared Package 2: - 12 Month package - £249.99 per annum (split over 2 payments) - Includes 1 Exclusive lead per month, access to all shared leads, + full refund if you don't generate 2 sales within 12 months - on average you will receive 5-8 leads per month

Exclusive Leads Package
1.All leads are phone qualified
2.Higher chance of converting into sales
3.Guaranteed number of leads per month
4.No need to pay per lead
5.Money back guarantee if you don't generate sales (12 month package only)

Exclusive Packages:
1.Exclusive Package 1: Monthly rolling agreement (no contract) - £79.99 per month - includes 3 guaranteed Exclusive leads
2.Exclusive Package 2: 12 Month package - £154.99 set up fee and 11 monthly payments of £45.00 - Includes 5 Exclusive leads per month + A Full Refund if you don't generate 5 sales within 12 months

How the service works:

1: You chose which package you'd like - shared or exclusive and month by month or 12 month option.
2: Then select the location, regionally or nationally.
3: Finally, Decide how many you want per month and set up payment
4: Once payment is received, your ready to start receiving your leads.

I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best
Trevor Goodson
Your Local Supplier
---
Hi Andy,

Please see attached the invoice for your 12 month shared campaign to receive Graphic design leads for Somerset and Avon, this also includes lead W1519, Once payment has been received, we will send you the contact details for this lead, plus we also send the lead an email to introduce you to them, so that they'll know who you are when you contact them.

To make payment, please see below our bacs details, these details can also be found on the attached invoice.

We look forward to working with you.

----

Hi Trevor,

That's fine...

But before we go ahead, I need to know a little more information. I'm concerned with little info you have on the site, no testimonials etc. And doing a search online and the company comes up with nothing.

I imagine youve just started and getting going, but I'm sure you understand I need more assurance before I pay out a large sum for me?

---

certainly i understand, would you prefer to start with the pay as you go package for 1 month?

---
 
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Andy Fuller

Free Member
Sep 3, 2015
9
1
It seems too good to be true...!

So I've gone and paid for the 1 month option...

I should have double-checked and I wish I'd read this forum before paying... I tried contacting the bank to cancel the bacs - but too late!

They suggest going to the police - but is it worth it for the hassle?

You live and learn...

I'll update if there's any news...
:(
 
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HarveyIT

Free Member
Apr 21, 2007
255
31
North Yorkshire
It's perfectly possible that it's just a co-incidence (and I haven't as of yet found a link), but I thought the site looked familiar, so I checked:

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/threads/quotesforyou.344125/#post-2551835 - which I never got a reply to........

Like I said, could just be a similar template being used, but you make up your own mind. (seems toronto based)

Also, your local supplier domain comes up as registered to a Trevor Banks, NOT Trevor Goodson, so again, draw your own conclusions....
 
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Andy Fuller

Free Member
Sep 3, 2015
9
1
Thanks Harvey: Here's the details of his other site I've been scammed from:

Domain name:
local-suppliers.co.uk

Registrant:
Trevor Banks (He also goes by the name Trevor Goodson. "Too good son, to be true son!")

Registrant type:
Other UK Entity (e.g. clubs, associations, many universities)

Registrant's address:
Queen Street
Blackpool
Lancashire
FY1 1PD
United Kingdom

Data validation:
Nominet was able to match the registrant's name and address against a 3rd party data source on 02-Jun-2015

Registrar:
TUCOWS Inc t/a TUCOWS [Tag = TUCOWS-CA]

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 31-May-2015
Expiry date: 31-May-2016
Last updated: 31-May-2015
 
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Andy Meaden

Free Member
Sep 7, 2015
3
0
54
Hi Andy, I've also received several emails from Mr Goodson, which outline very tempting offers of design jobs for several thousand pounds. Working for myself, I was almost tempted, but glad I came across this forum. Have you heard any more from him yet Andy, and has he actually given you any jobs yet for your £80?
 
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Andy Meaden

Free Member
Sep 7, 2015
3
0
54
Hmmmm....does sound suspicious doesn't it. I'd be interested to know if he does get you your refund or if he can get a contact without a dud phone number. Also interested to see this website: quotesforyou.biz looking exactly like Your Local Supplier. Latest job he sent me was this morning:

Lead Number: G1516
Lead Sector: Graphic Design
Date Lead Received: 07/09/2015
Service Required: Design and Print Marketing Brochures
Clients Industry: Finance
Size of Brochure: A4
Number of pages in brochure: 4 - 2x covers and 2xinside covers
Number of Brochures required: 2,500
Special Features: Lip on inside cover for literature
Does the customer require a logo: No
Has the customer received any quotes: No
Time Frame to start project: As soon as possible
Client budget: £4,000
Project Brief: Client is looking for a quote for a company to design and produce 2,500 A4 sized marketing brochures to be given to their client base, they are looking for a company they can use for ongoing custom as their brochure supplier, the customer is in the finance industry and provides various services, they want the brochure to have a lip on the inside so they can put personalised literature/quotes to their clients, customer has stated that they have 5 images that they would like to use and will supply them along with text.

Again, it sounds too good to be true.....£4000 for a 4pp A4 brochure!
 
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REFRESHer

Free Member
Jul 11, 2006
48
0
Manchester
Hi Andy, I did the same - paid for 1 month. As soon as I did I heard nothing, no replies from emails and more importantly no leads. This isn't because they are busy as I used a different email to fill out their form on their website pretending to be interested in their services - they answered those emails pretty much straight away!

I have asked for a refund, if I don't get it, I am going to pursue it out of principle and inform the police, yes it is only £79 but they will keep doing it to other people.

Currently trying to look at the header information in their emails, they have sent, to see if they give any indication of their geolocation too.

Did you get your refund?
 
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