Anyone have experience with the 'Sterling Business Group' www.sterlingbizgroup.biz?

I bought an eBook the other day, and these guys contacted me through something I signed up for apparently.

They promise to give you a marketing course and work with you in exchange for your testimonial and around a 4k investment or higher depending on how fast of a return you want on your money and the amount of 'automation' on the site.

I rescheduled the appt. to talk to them after the holidays, does anyone know anything about them? They also said they were associated with the Tafiti group as well?

They guarantee they will work with you until you make your investment back, and they also say that is guaranteed by contract.

I have some thoughts and opinions, but want to get your guys take on it before offering my assessment just in case I'm way off base.

Thanks!

Ok, smells like a scam then if no one has heard of these guys...

weird.

 

I received a call from them as well, claiming that they were looking for new testimonials. Yes, they do claim that they will get your investment back (and I've yet to find any testimonials to confirm this). But how long will it take? If you are considering them like I was at the time, I would ask them to show you some of their websites of the products that they promote..Trust me you will laugh once you see...If you go far enough to see their contract you will notice that their will be another company listed who you will be actually working with instead. Sterling Business group only referrals you to the appropriate mentoring group..All of which are over $2,500-15,000, for WHAT!!! What if you're dissatisfied with their service, you'll never be able to get your money back..WHY spend all that money and not really know what you're getting such as the content or better yet the COACH/MENTOR are they even creditable?? You don't know until you pay a huge upfront cost; it doesn't make sense. That's why I say stay away..there is no Transparency.

You need to be able to know exactly who and what you are getting, with no surprises. You need to be able to at least sample their system (for a trial period) to see if you like it or not; get a feel for them. It needs to be affordable once you do decide to go with it. And it should be on a month to month basis, so if you don't like it then you leave, rather than being committed because it has a high price point (full of false promises). Why not start off at a low price point and determine if the system will allow you to leverage your profit to continue?

That is exactly what I found.To check it out for yourself contact me at dre77@hotmail.com

 

Are you talking about using their services for getting more traffic?

 

I've been looking into them for a week now. I've spoken to their director & from what I've heard the model seems to make a lot of sense. When I asked them about the referral issue, they were happy to explain that it is, in fact, another part of the larger organization. In, fact they had already mentioned something about it in our conversations. It doesn't really bother me that organizations are composes of multiple companies, specializing in different areas. I want a mentoring company worrying about only that...mentoring me & finding the client another.
So I know some people that have been really successful on the internet. Some started by reading E-Books & become totally rich. Others were mentored. Some just learned by trial & error. The thing is, when i ask them the way to go they all say that if you can find a good mentoring company, & if I have the money, then that is definitely the best way to go.
They seem very professional & I haven't seen anything bad about them on the internet, except some stuff here. I've looked at their website & it looks really sharp. The biggest issue to me is that they have a clean record & they do, with the BBB.
So why is this a not to be trusted? Have you been burned by a fraud comp before? I'm I missing something? This is a big decision for me so I really want to make sure I make the right one.
So, I'd like to at least look into the approach you're talking about before I make up my mind. Can you please let me know where I can look or who I can talk to about looking at doing this another way? >

 

Why chance thousands of dollars on something that you cannot even sample first, to see if you like it and then be STUCK. Did you ask this director for them to show you some of their websites with their products? Do you know exactly what the content will be or is it general? Actually, look up these other mentoring companies that their affiliated with..Tafiti is prohibited in Illinois...Just email me and I will forward you the link. dre77@hotmail.com

 

Hey dre,

You're obviously trying to scam people here... I found this thread looking for legit information on a company I am considering doing business with. What I found was you trying to skirt the forum rules by getting people to email you so you can try to con them into what I can only assume is some mlm biz-opp.

If you want to advertise your scam on this forum, use the Buy sell Trade section and let your "oppurtunity" be reviewed by the mods just like every legit vendor does.

Your post has been reported.

Have fun scamming,

-Hugo

 

Hey Grunt
Im in the same situatiuon as u at the moment... strongly considering paying the money for the mentoring... def looks like they will assign one of the Mentoring companies to u.. which i dont think is a problem. Have been talking to a guy called Jeff... he seems straight up and honest & it appears the co. seems kosha.. It is a lot of money tho and im a bit nervous like urself.
They seem quite adamant that u agree to follow thru with at least 1 half hour lesson per wk for 10 wks and complete the assignments in between, which i think is a positive. U can have up to 5 lessons per wek if u have the time..
Were u told as well that they will set up ur website for u enabling it to take payments etc on whatever u decide to sell... They seem to think they will def have u making money within 2 wks tops.. I do feel the only way to learn this business is thru something like this. The other sites i looked at was autocashsystems & originally bought the Nick Marks book... were u the same??
How much did they ask u for??? they asked me for $4400 us bout £2880... i had set my goals at 1k/mth for first 3 mnths then 2k over 6 and 5k after 12? Would love to speak to someone who has actually done it recently... I might ask Jeff to put me in touch with a few people who have.. What u think?

 

So has anyone actually joined Sterling Business Group yet? I am in the same boat thinking about joining. That is a lot of money and I would love to talk to someone that has actually been through the process. Please let me know if you have joined and if it smells like scam or not. Thanks!

 

I purchased a cd online. A tutorial for better using ebay, called Ebay Success. I did not purchase it from ebay. A few days later, June 9,2009, I recieved a call in the evening from a Mr. Kimball Davis at Sterling Business Group. He asked if I was really interested & motivated to start an ebay ro internet business. I told him I already had a long established, local business and was looking for info to do something more on ebay or the internet. He told me he could help make me successful on the internet quickly, with a mentoring program. I asked what it cost. He said it would not take any of my own money. I asked how he got paid. He said he is paid by ebay for creating success stories they could publish if they chose. I needed to be motivated & agree to let them use my story if I done well. I agreed. He said he would have his assistant, Travis call me back to do an interview. They needed to know my goals, what would motivate me, etc. Travis called shortly & I answered most of his questions. I declined a few. They were based on my credit score, amount of available credit, money in the bank etc. He insisted they needed to know this to see if I qualified & recommend a plan. I answered some of them, but kept the amounts lower than actual. He said he would call back the next night. He did call back the afternoon late, which would be June 10. He said he recommended me to Mr Davis for the program. He asked if I would like to make an appointment to with Mr Davis again to get the program started. I agreed. He set it up for 7:00 that evening, still June 10, but wanted to give me a little more info on the program. He said the minimum investment into the program was $4920 and based on the interview, that was the best program for me. I said I was told there was no cost. He said I was told "it does not require any of your own money." He said I could use a credit card, it would be the banks money. The term he used was OPM, other peoples money. I said that may be technically true, but I still considered it my investment since I was responsible to pay it back, regardless of success or not with the program. He then started to talk about the program very smoothly until I calmed down & then ended the conversation. Mr Davis called as he was suppose to. A little late at 7:30, but he called. I was upset again, so I laid into him about his scam. He was very smooth. Calmed me down and gave me stats on their success. He had me on the phone well over an hour. He convinced me to sign up for the program. He had another assistant, Jody, send me an email with a contract attached. She called and said she was recording the conversation. Not sure if she did, but said she was. She went over the high lights of the contract, I typed my name on the signature line & emailed it back. I gave her a $500 deposit on a VISA debit card. That was the daily limit. She was to call back the next morning at 11:00 am. By that time I was to have contacted my bank to lift the limit or give her another card. I was not able to take her calls that day. My wife knew I was talking with them & asked what I decided. I told her I signed up & gave a $500 deposit. She asked if I checked out the company. I did not. I took Mr Davis' word for the stats. I got on the internet & researched Mr Kimballs company, Sterling Business Group & also Thrive Learning Institute. The name of the company doing the mentoring. I found 8 complaint websites with more complaints than I could count. I also found the names of 12 or so other companies running the same sort of business with the same or affiliated people, all with a large list of complaints if you search the names. The contract was signed on June 10. I had no contact June 11. The contract had a 3 day right to cancel. On the morning of June 12, I wrote a letter with my wish to cancel. I sent it USPS, certified, return reciept. I went to the bank to talk with them. They said the $500 already cleared. They would attempt to recall it. I also transfered all funds out of that account other than an amount less than $100. Today is Tuesday June 16, 2009. I recieved a call from Mr Davis regarding my not contacting him with the remainder of the payment. I told him I had researched the company & had sent a letter of cancellation. He said he didn't have the letter. I told him it was sent return reciept. I would soon have the reciept back or the letter back not signed for. Either way I would have roof of delivery. He then went down a different path of how I researched the wrong company & then how all the complaint boards are written by their competitors. When he could not convice me to fulfill the contract, threats began. He said he would bill me for all his time. I said he was a salesman and could not bill for time taken to make a sale that did not happen. He said he was not a salesman. He was a business professional & I made an apponitment with his assistant. I was obligated to pay for his time at his hourly rate. He also said that even if I did cancel the contract with in 3 days, the contract says I am responsible for 15% of the contract price. I looked, it is in there. He said he would run the card for the additional $230 dollars. I told him he could run the card as often & for whatever amount he wanted. The $500 was being recalled & the card was canceled. He got even more threatening with liens against my house, judgements on my credit, legal fees, & then a huge negative advertising campaign against my local business. I am not sure with what he will follow through with.

 

Wow, lots of activity in this thread since I was here last.

I had some free time tonight and decided I would come back to this thread and answer some of the questions I had about this company before I started working with them, just in case anyone else has the same questions. I'll try to be as thorough as possible.

I can't speak for everyone's experience here. My understanding is that Sterling has at least 2 directors, maybe 3. I have spoken with Jeff Craig briefly, but most of my interaction was with Kimball Davis, and my mentor Jasen.

Ok, so I guess I should start at the beginning. So in early February of this year, I was called by an assistant of Mr. Davis', I can't remember his name, but I think it was Choice, or Chance- don't quote me on that though. Anyways, he asked me some questions (some of which I thought were WAY too personal) and told me that I needed to answer truthfully in order to be considered for an interview for the "Success Team" (his words not mine) After I answered all of his questions, he gave me a day to think about what I was looking to accomplish and finish up a few assignments he had given me. So I did some research on the company (see the post above)
and the following afternoon, he called me and we booked an appointment to talk with his boss Mr. Davis. After this, I never spoke to Choice (Chance?) again.

Mr. Davis (I'll call him Kimball to avoid confusion from now on) explained that his job was to pick the very best of the best in order to assure that his program maintained its near 100% success rate. (I thought this was bull at the time). He also said that in order to make sure he was choosing decision makers, I had to make my final decision by the end of the phone call. (Cue the lightning and ominous music)

Then he dropped the Hammer, and explained that the cost of my program would be just under $6k. I hear they go all the way up to 20, but I don't know what you get for that price. I was told that, I was actually getting a great deal as the coaching was valued at over 20k based on what I would receive (I've heard that before. Again, sounded like bull)

They say the reason the price is so low is that I have to agree to let them use my story, and I have to also agree not to get into the training business and re-sell their information. All of this was also in the contract they had me sign.

So enough of the lead-up I suppose. What happened?

Well, I joined the program, signed the electronic contract, agreed to the terms on a recorded phone call, and I was scheduled for my first training session. My first session with Jasen sounded alot like my phone calls with everyone else up till then. He had a bunch of questions for me, but what I wanted was answers. I had just put thousands of dollars on my credit card and I wanted to know how I was going to make it back! He told me to relax and trust the system. Other people had been successful and I would be to, if I just did what I was told.

I think my exact words were "Well then f*cking tell me to do something then!" and he said something like "I'm telling you to answer my questions. It's part of the process"

Right out of the gate, instead of building out a website first, he told me that since it was spring, I should focus on promoting affiliate products related to the season. The first thing Jasen had me do was sign up as an affiliate for a party supply website, and I made my first dollar promoting Mardi Gras stuff (no joke) Well that only lasted a couple of weeks, but then it was on to Easter stuff, and St. Patrick's day, Mother's day etc... I have since settled on a more consistent income stream (no, I won't tell you my niche. I don't like competition any more than anyone else)

But what I think is different is that everyone on the net seems to be trying to get internet business newbs (like us) to promote digital products and things like that. But Jasen told me that the largest segment of volume online was in physical products, and the beauty is, most internet marketers don't take advantage of it (because it isn't as "sexy" and the margins are lower which means lower commissions) but the volume is so much higher, you can actually make a lot more money selling "normal everyday items" than ebooks. And I'm inclined to believe them.

So, down to the nitty gritty: How much have I made? Well I haven't quit my job or anything (though I'm hoping to before the year is over) but I have more than paid off my credit cards (using only profits from my business, just like they said I would) and I've made a sizable dent in my student loans finally. I haven't bought any Ferrarri's, or taken 6 month trips to Hawaii, but putting any extra few thousand into my bank account every month feels pretty good. And despite the recession, I make more each month than I did the month before without fail (knock on wood)

If anyone has any specific questions I haven't answered (I feel like I was pretty thorough, but I never know) contact me through the forum and I'll try to answer them as quickly as I can (I do have a full time job and a business to run though, so be a little patient) Questions I wont answer: I wont tell you exactly what market I'm in. I won't tell you what methods I have been taught to market specific types of products. And I wont answer any question that I feel falls under the non-disclosure agreement I made.

This is just my story. I'm sure many people haven't done as well as I have. And maybe some people are doing even better. Overall, I feel the process has been relatively painless (other than the stress of putting the initial investment on my card. BY FAR the hardest part for me.)

This story was intended to answer questions, not to help anyone 'make up their mind' I don't get paid by Sterling or any of their partners if someone decides to work with them. So I really don't care if anyone does or not. In fact, if you don't feel it's for you, don't do it. I'd prefer not to have the competition personally.

Just a quick note about something I saw in the post above mine though, I wouldn't get into a peeing match with these people. Aside from just being a stand up guy and not wasting someone's time, I'm pretty sure they have you over a legal barrel once you sign a contract and then try to breach it. From what I have seen, these people are powerful enough to make sure people honor their agreements. I don't envy anyone who tries to scam a company like Sterling/Thrive.

Best of luck to everyone-

Hugo

 

My Name is Kimball Davis. I am a partner in Sterling Business Group, and Executive director over the Mentoring and Training Division. As much as my name seems to be discussed here, I decided to speak up and let anyone who chooses to, challenge me directly.

I specifically want to address the poster who calls himself "should've known". You must understand, I interview several clients every week, and my office actually screens several hundred potential candidates for our program in any given week, so I have no idea who you are,and as such, I have to simply take you at your word as to the order of events.

You state that you were accepted as a candidate for my company's advanced training program, and only after both making a verbal agreement to the terms of the program and signing a written contract, did you then decide to breach our agreement. This, by the way, is a crime in the State of California, and I am certain in your home state as well.

I have run companies for a long time sir, (I assume you are a sir as you mention having a wife, no disrespect intended if this is not the case) and I take it personally when someone challenges my ethics. Especially so if this same person admits in the same breath to breaching contracts and acting in a very unethical manner themselves.

My record in business in nearly flawless. I of course have made mistakes and had setbacks just like every other business owner I have ever met. But even still, all the success in online marketing I've had aside, I welcome you to challenge my methods. I also welcome you to challenge my track record directly.

My partners, my clients and my students have literally made millions of dollars as a direct consequence of working with me. This is a matter of fact. I have countless success stories in the files of my company that our students gladly let us use in our marketing materials because they are happy with the service we provided.

I stand by my company, and our practices. We have made millionaires. That is not a claim many can make. But if you want to attack me based on those credentials, I invite you to do so. If you think you can do what I do better than I can, please, show me.

But it is unacceptable for you to challenge my character. I will not stand for that. Period. Someone who has never used the services of my company, and by their own admission is a liar who doesn't honor agreements does not get to question me about my ethics.

At the end of the day sir, you can take away my money, and my cars, and my houses, but all a man really has is his integrity and his character. By that standard, it would appear from what I have read, you are sorely lacking.

And as for the payment for my time, you are correct. As I am sure I have explained to you before, my company incurs costs the moment we welcome new clients aboard our program. Just as any other educational institution, we have administrative and financing costs that go along with extending our service to new students. Which is why these
points are clearly explained to each potential candidate before they are offered an invitation. We also have each client sign a legally binding contract outlining the nature of our relationship in detail to protect both parties in the event that one side is not acting in good faith.

So, as to the matter of the 15%, yes, we will be collecting that by all legal means available to us. But as to that point, I can let the lawyers work that out.

As far as threatening to run a negative ad campaign against your business- I sincerely hope you're joking. I have a personal net worth that is significant enough that it would not be worth risking by opening myself up to a libel suit.

Whoever you are, I am sorry that our business relationship did not end amicably. The reality is, if you were a student, and you had an issue, you could have come to me, as all of our students know they can, and I could have helped you move past it and make money like I do for all of our students.

Instead, you decided to act like a coward, back out on your responsibility, and attack me from the shadows using the anonymity of the internet.

Let this end here. If you continue baseless attacks on my character, I will attempt to find out who you are, and I
will have my attorney handle the matter.

Good day everyone

Kimball Davis

EDBD Sterling Business Group.

 

Sterling Business Group http://www.sterlingbizgroup.biz/

Uhhh, not if you are not as honest as you say you are. He would be within his rights.

He stated:

Whoops. Too bad, huh?

If he has proof to back up what he is stating, these are not "baseless."


It's kinda funny...CallmeHugo posts, stating that he made money with this group, and then stating this

And then, less than 30 minutes later, this "Davis" posts.

heh heh

To anyone interested in this guy's "services," between that, and his site getting less than 100 daily hits, I think you got your answer about this guy.

I highly doubt that this is even a "group."

I'm still laughing at that one.

Good day.

Sterling Business Group http://www.sterlingbizgroup.biz/

 

This thread made it to page one. Yeah, baby!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sterling+business+group&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g2

 

BE AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID!!!!!!!!! I am an intelligent, mature woman, but I guess I'm a sucker for the "genuine," personal marketeer type. And that's who they put on the front lines in these phone calls once you've expressed interest. Their approach to establishing a retail website makes perfect sense, and I truly believe one could succeed in establishing one's site and maybe even making some money (I'm not sure about that part, not having gotten far enough along in the program to find out) via their program, IF ONLY THEY ACTUALLY DID WHAT THEY TELL YOU THEY'RE GOING TO DO. THEY DON'T. They make a great show of it, but what they do is truly Mickey Mouse. I paid $4,800, I am ashamed to admit, at the outset, and right from the start, a whole string of people started calling to sign me up for all kinds of (EXPENSIVE) services vital to the business (bus. entity formation, credit card acceptance capability, etc.). You don't yet know what they're talking about but think you must be supposed to buy the services because they tell you they're "affiliated" w/Sterling Business Group and you think it's part of the program. I was smart enough to realize that I could form my own business entity for very little money and it wasn't rocket science, but I got ensnared in quite a few other financial traps along the way. I worked very hard on my site -- which I now know was much too complicated an idea for the few hours of work a day or a week that I had in mind in the beginning to make a little ongoing income. (They told me my idea was "fine" and provided no input as to what a good business might be -- and why!)

RUN THE OTHER WAY, PEOPLE! They make it sound as though anyone willing to work hard cannot help but succeed because of how their program is structured, the tools they provide, and their MENTORING (NOT). In reality, if you aren't the type to push yourself beyond all odds and figure out how to do for yourself what you were promised but not actually given and refuse to get discouraged no matter how hard something is or how long it takes to achieve, or how unresponsive those you've paid to help you turn out to be -- how many of THOSE types are out there????!!!! I'm not lazy, I'm not stupid, I desperately need money, I desperately did not want to admit that I THREW AWAY almost $5,000 . . . it just ain't happenin', folks. Find a program where the site is designed and set up when you buy it and the products are ready and available on it for you to sell. And make sure you don't pay more than around $500!!

 

Due to the site's very low traffic, I doubt there is a "they."

I'll bet it is just one, pathetic, guy.

 

The reason for some of their obscurity seems to be that they are often operating under the umbrella of their JV partners. That is how a LOT of companies on the internet operate.

I would suggest listening to the content of what they are communicating to you, rather than a few rants from angry individuals.

 

shameless self promotion from this poster using separate accounts for reviews.

 

There is a lot of speculation and partial information out there on this company. I'VE DONE SOME ACTUAL RESEARCH:

Sterling Business Group has been around for close to three years now (sec of state website). it has an A- or B+ rating on the BBB (bbb website), clearly demonstrating a very clean record. The company is a multimillion dollar entity. They seem to have only a few complaints in over 3 years of business. ALMOST ALL of these individuals never even went through their program or received their services (I think I found ONE). So, in three years only ONE client on these forums has had issues with their program/services/business. The complaints are almost entirely regarding the "initial conversations" that took place between individuals and specific agents, within the firm. This is not an issue of their service, its an issue within one of their departments.

SO, what this information clearly indicates to me is: There is no way they would still be in operation if they were anything but the real deal.

Also, beware. There seem to be several people on here that are actually soliciting business, or just bashing their name, if you look close. I will post this info on other forums as well, in hopes to help people out with FACTS, not speculation.

 

Ok, I AM GOING TO POINT OUT THE FAKE POSTERS, just for people that don't know what to look for.

ILLEGITIMATE POSTERS:

Dre77: These posts are CLEARLY solicitations! Why would anyone believe a word from someone (isn't even a real company) who is really on this forum in order to sell their own product? According to the posts, Dre first mysteriously received a call from Sterling, wasn't interested, and perceeds to tell us all these horrible things about the company. Then, miraculously tells us that he/she found their own way to make $ and therefore decided to come on a forum about Sterling and share this great system with Sterling's potential clients! YA RIGHT! Anyone stupid enough to fall for this deserves to work with Dre77.

Perry Rose: Has been, "Banned" from the forum. What does that tell you? It tells you Perry was clearly doing unethical and improper things and was probably soliciting.

MarTh-: Has a link below his/her post such that when you CLICK ON $, it then takes you to a website that requests you to sign up to make money filling out forms...again a solicitation!

All these people are saying negative things about Sterling but are then turning around and asking for YOUR MONEY. I can't tell about the other posts here. Some of these do sound like legit people talking about their experiences, people actually trying to find out about the company, and some people that seem to have reasonable complaints. Lesson: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU READ. Ask yourself, is this a legit complaint, are the posters asking anything of me, is their comment reflective of my experience?

 

STERLING BUSINESS GROUP IS A SCAM!!!! Dont listen to a word they say they used salesman that lie to you and they all tell you the same thing that you will make your money back within 3 to 6 months guarenteed. I coughed up about $5000 grand to them about a year and a half ago and then they send you to another company called Thrive Learnning Institute. Whey I first started they didnt have any reviews but they sure do now. I have been working my but off to make money with what the give you and the worst part about it is everything they teach you is on the internet for free and its videos there is nothing special about it dont waist your money because the majority of people dont get it back. They actually sent me an email and asked me for a testemonial. I have made more money online then the majority of all there clients and I am still negative. I tried other things to make my business work because I rufuse to have coughed up so much money for nothing and even tried to get a refund and cant even get in touch with them. They get there testimonials from people when there new while they still think they are gonna make money and these guys charge as much money as they can get from you They get $15,000 or $20,000 save your money. Oh and Feel free to respond Sterling Business Group aka Paragon Learning Academy or what ever names ya wanna go by. Give me a refund and stop lying to make money you know like saying that over 95% of your clients make $3000 to $5000 a month by thier 3rd month and 6th at the latest. Then put it in the contract saying you didn't say it yeah thats real smooth. Dont do business with these people or thrive.