Rod Cook aka The MLM Watchdog, and Chairman of the DRA (Distributor Rights Association) came out swinging this week sharing his insight into Buzzirk Wireless.
Like Rod I have received several calls and emails from folks asking for my opinion. Although I have been very open, I have not written on Buzzirk or Global Verge (be the way if you want to see Global Verge’s “buzzirk” site you need to go here) because I knew Rod was working on publishing something.
You can read Rod’s full article here
Before you click over to read Rod’s article I do want to touch on a couple of issues.
1. MLM Due Diligence: This is a must!!! Just because you hear some MLM Big HItter is joining a company, doesn’t mean the company is a real mlm opportunity. Take some time and do your homework.
Just last week I received a call from a company owner, who offered me $50K in stock to becoming 1 of 20 founders. Although the technology behind the company looks solid, I have some huge reservations because of the due diligence I have done.
2. MLM Start-Ups (MLM Pre-launches) Just because a company is in pre-launch or what the business community calls a start-up does not mean, you ould run the other way. You have to remember ALL MLM or Network Marketing type companies were start-ups once.
What I would do is be very cautious about “Pre-Launch MLMs) Yes, some Network Marketing companies will do a “soft launch” with a few leaders. But, in all my years (27 as a distributor, officer and owner) I have never seen any company who hit a billion in cumulative sales do it with smoke and mirrors, and over hyped half trues.
So do your homework and make sure you have all the facts before you jump in over your head.
Troy’s Truth: People are not looking for anew money story, they are looking for a leader who
will give them a crusade they can believe in. One that will allow them to help others while they are changing their lives forever.
Never Give Up,
Troy
sending...
I appreciate your honest concern in trying to warn people about scams – it shows you care bout others and want to help.
I can assure you that the article you are referring to is not researched well. There are 3 offices that I am already aware of and they have a warehouse in Johannesburg, SA – where there products are stored already waiting to launch in South Africa.
The guy who wrote this article either has vested interest in other MLM companies that are now threatened by this new company about to release this amazing technology, or he has simply just shot off his opinion with the intent of doing damage. I find that to be dishonest and not shooting straight from his side.
The great thing behind Global Verge is not the fact that they are only going to do the marketing and distribution for Zer01 mobile. Zer01 mobile has ALL THE CREDIBILITY that is needed to know that this is worth while to be part of.
Anybody that wants Zer01 mobile’s new technology that is bringing the world something brand new(a technology that will DEFINITELY help me save thousands!), would have to get it via Global Verge – they have an exclusive right to sell the technology according to the CEO of Zer01 mobile!
I dont really care if they “didnt shoot straight” or had misfortune previously(anybody in the world make mistakes and learn from them, that results in newer and better systems being developed – which has OBVIOUSLY happened otherwise WHY would Zer01, AT&T, HTC, Pharos and others even use them?), you dont always have to shoot straight to eventually realize your mistakes, correct them and then become a winner. I’ve done stuff that I am not proud of in my life, but learning from that made me the person I am today.
What do you think? Check out CEO Ben Piilani’s own interview at the CTIA AWARDS where the made their new technology known – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiT7IMSfsG4
Kind regards
T
Great advice,
As with all new company launches, there will be those who use the usual hype and hoopla, and talk about the money more than the product or service. I specialize in researching and indentifying recession proof businesses, and the one thing everyone must consider in this market is value, first and foremost.
Forget the hype, if a service like Buzzirk will not save the average cellular, DSL or Broadband customer money, forget it, and this is the problem with 97% of all MLM deals, they don’t save you any money. Yes, many offer quality products, but in a recession, if a distributor is not making money, which is most, then they had better be saving some money when on the typical autoship.
Attrition is a killer in the industry for this one very important reason, most MLM deals offer no value without the income opportunity, it is as simple as that, no savings, no value, no business success. You can throw about all the income claims you want, it won’t make any difference to 97% of the people who get involved in the MLM industry, the are all doomed to fail which history of industry has proven over and over again.
My initial due diligence indicates the technology is absolute, in fact, without the usual money hype, I can save over $100. a month by switching to Buzzirk, so talk about savings and value, this is what I look at first and foremost, savings and value. Of course, the technology has to work, and being at CTIA show, and seeing hundreds demo new service, it was impressive.
Simply put, do your own research, don’t be swayed one way or another at this stage for I know it has a lot of people in the cellular industry more than a little nervous. I tried to invest in Unified Technologies Group more than two years ago when I was researhing internet over powerline technolgy, and UTGI was on leading edge of this technology. Not having access to anything that comes close to high speed internet, and having tried Sprint and Verizon wireless cards, they both were pathetic, expecially at $80.00 per month.
Worse case scenario, I would be happy to save $100. per month and get real high speed internet connection, plus 5G mobile device with every whistle and bell available for only $79.95 even without the income, and this one point will become even more critical as FTC is going to enforce the 50% retail sales ration just as sure as the day is long. The whole MLM industry will implode if this is enforced, so when you research any MLM company, make darn sure you have a product or service of verifiable value or you will be wasting your time. Buzzirk offers this and more, a first in the MLM industry in my four decades involved, so don’t believe Rod’s anonymous posters, many will be attacking GlobalVerge and Buzzirk in the coming months, so stay tuned, this one is worth watching.
Success to all,
M OSullivan,
You do give great advice in your comment, and I want to thank you for sharing.
I do have a couple of questions in reviewing Buzzirk over the last couple of days.
1. What happens to people who are in current contracts, will they be able to switch to Buzzirk and bring their phone number with them?
2. Does this service work with IPhones or any of the other smart phones our there? From what I have read and heard on several calls this is a “NEW” technology that is not available on all phones.
Never Give Up,
Troy
p.s.
Tiaan,
Thank you for responding. You do bring up some questions, and I would like to see if you can find some answers.
1. When you say they have three offices, are you talking about Global Verge, Buzzirk, or the technology companies?
I understand that someone has offices in SA, but that does not mean they are approved to do business in the USA. Especially in the communication world, which is highly regulated by the FCC.
2. In reviewing the corporate site of Zer01mobile, they do not mention any type of exclusive agreement, nor do they mention Global Verge. They do give contact info for Buzzirk reps. So can you provide me a written document that states Zer01 Mobile is not accepting new partners to market their technology or services except through Global Verge? If you can then this will be a great thing for you and other reps.
However, I do see where Zer01 Mobile is still looking for new investors, and they are not limiteing investors to NON_COMMUNICATION companies. So it figures that if the technology is solid, one of the top five international communication companies will become at least a minority, if not a majority partner.
Now, let’s focus on your comment “I don’t care if they shoot straight.” If a company or group of people do not have ethics in one area, then they will not have it in another.
I do not know the Global Verge folks, but I do know Network Marketing. And I must assume since you do not know who Rod Cook is, that you are new to MLM. By the way Rod is the Chairman of the Distributor’s Rights Association, and has one agenda, as I do… To protect distributors from falling for “just hype” and really doing strong research before they jump into what could very well be the next MLM Scam.
Global Verge has had issues in the past, as has Buzzirk Wireless. But if they have overcome those issues and have finally got it right, then I am all for seeing them succeed.
Some of my closest friends are positioned to earn millions with Global Verge, but with that said, it still doesn’t make it a viable business.
I have asked some valid questions, and with these answers we will be closer to knowing how this will pan out.
But, if you think for a second the verbal speech of a CEO will protect Global Verge or Buzzirk from future loss of their “exclusive Rights” then you need to do some research on what has happened to other great MLM communication marketing arms.
MCI teamed up with Amway in the late 70s and early 80s, and then dropped them after they built the customer base.
When United Telecommunications became Sprint, they launched a Network Marketing arm, but once the customer base was big enough, they did away with the MLM arm.
and the grand daddy of them all Excel Communications. They grew to be #4 in the USA, and in the end sold their distributors to Shaklee.
If you can please provide the above answers for all who read this post, so they can have full disclosure.
Never Give Up,
Troy
I am in South Africa and I know about the possible launch. I am unsure though if South Africa has a current 5G network. Apparently they plant to run of the current vodacom / MTN networks, but I cannot see that they will permit this, since the product will kill their current market share.
There is also the issue of ICASA approval, which I doubt they have. Telecom companies need to be licensed here, and there has been nothing in the press notifying the public of a new telekom listing.
It all sounds a bit too good to be true…
Gustav,
From my research and calling some friends in the tele-communication industry, there is not a 5G network up and running anywhere in the world at this time. As we have seen, even here in the US we do not have the 3G network running in all parts of the country.
From what I have been told, they are not manufacturing phones that can handle the 5G standards yet.
All of that said, I am sure that is why the founders of Global Verge made it clear to their field force to stop hyping what they are doing and just go build the business with the truth!
Never Give Up,
Troy
The mere fact that Global Verge / Buzzirk Mobile won’t answer their critics, won’t keep in touch with their reps, won’t keep their promises to their reps, can’t deliver on time, won’t offer some kind of “proof of life” on the availability and capability of their product and are constantly directing their reps toward selling their so-called “bread-n-butter” products that their reps did not sign up for certainly leaves one to question the authenticity and competence of this company’s leadership.
I give them 30 days to sink or swim. If it is a scam, then I will gladly join a class action suit.
GW,
Sadly to say I have seen other companies who have great ideas, concepts and heart, fall into the same mess because top leaders in the field promote the company completely different than the founders ever envisioned, which I beleive is what happened at Global Verge.
And that is not to make light the fact Global Verge founders did not seem to have their ear to the field to know what was happening. Rouge websites went up, over hyping the Zer01 technology, the infrastructure of the company was not all in place.
Global Verge has a pretty good strategic partner when it comes to their software partner who has provided their back-office, but because Global Verge did not lay down ground rules to the original field leaders they signed into the company, the whole things have become a frightening nightmare, instead of an Epic Adventure for most of the reps in the field.
I talked to a rep yesterday, who informed me that to date the company still had not charged his card or the credit cards of his frontline reps for their sign-up fees. If a company can’t or doesn’t know who they need to charge, then it does make me wonder how long they can stay in business.
Let’s just hope ALL of their strategic partners will stand by them through this situation or better yet, will pony up seed money for equity and help the company out of this grave for the sake of the field force.
Never Give Up,
Troy
Why do they charge from Barbados?? What are they trying to hide? I just terminated my account, sounds scammish.
Strabe,
I just covered this in my latest post. Although this is usually the sign of a money laundering or tax evasion situation, I truly believe in this case they had to go offshore because none of the principles or the new corporate staff are credit worthy (or are not willing to personally guarantee) the merchant account.
This is a concern, and an even bigger concern because this could cause a few federal agencies to come looking to see what’s going on.
However, agian I think it is because the company doesn’t have any money and the leadership under the new banking regulations do not qualify from a credit standpoint.
Never Give Up,
Troy
Whats the deal with tvi express?