Today I will discuss about a "free gift call" that calling for credit card survey. Below was some of the stories:
What survey company "Do?"
1. The survey company that do the cold call, on taking a quick survey on your finance situation.
2. The survey company will keep your data and sale the "leads" they capture.
3. Survey company get paid only when the candidates go for the "gift collection".
4. Some survey company also provide incentive for a success "sales" or joining of membership.
5. They will follow up with other membership or promotion too (follow up sales).
However, does it consider scam? Sales call? This depends.
So this time round I received a second call from the company which think done survey on my credit card around 1/2 years ago. The sales speech are:
1. Congratulation! You have been pick up to be the one of the 30 customers that receive the free gift with No Obligation.
2. This is not a gimmick and you will get your Free gift after 45 minutes of "product explanation" .
3. You can leave any time if you feel not comfortable with the talk.
4. This only provide to you only in this limited time.
5. Can we verify your name on the credit card for the security purpose?
6. Can you provide us your company or home address to printed on the "vouchers"?
7. The branded vouchers worth $800 and free mobile phone.
8. Last when you confirm, he/she will ask the supervisor to have a quick chat to guaranty your present to the "prize collection".
9. He/she will provide you the address like Cooperate Tower at Shanton way in sms or email (Remind you again 2 hours before you go.)
I've been always open to any investment talk or MLM so for the sack of the "Freebies". I accepted and attend the prize collection.
(P/S: If you go goggle the this tower your will not find too much information as in the unit number was not listed anywhere. The address I attended will be 138 Robinson Rd, The Corporate Building, #09-06 Postal 068906. Hotline 62924767.)
The first glance to the place is much similar to recruit office as it got a lot individual meeting room (can fit around 3~4 peoples). Receptionist will request you to filled up a particular form, photostat your NRIC and use your credit card (just browse it) to verify. After that they will send a gal or guy (most of time is hansom/pretty one, unless you unlucky). You also need to think the guaranty that you are aware you will need to listen/stay for 45 minutes in order to get qualified for the gift(which started to sound gimmick here).
Couple of minutes later the "consultant" bring me to the room and start to explain the product. For this company called "Precious Metal" (refer to the name you can roughly know it means "gold"). To add on, there is also a lot of investment, stock, recruiting, travel membership etc that using the similar tactic (which need to stay from 30mins to 2 hours).
So the lady gave me a rough explanation of the package at the beginning and discuss about gold and the company history. Although the boss are in the jewellery industry for 15 years, however if your get the company registration from them (you can request to see) the company actually just registered since July 2012.
So what's are the investment now? Up to 30% of ROI for a 3 years Fixed Gold Investment. You can get back the gold plate you bought or "deposit it" there to get up to 60% of ROI. The gold price is base on the UOB market rates (which is the only bank in Singapore selling gold). For current market, the gold price are buying at $155 per gram and selling at $66 per gram. You will get back all your investment by selling back the gold back to the company after 3 years. The gold source was from Malaysia so their boss can get it cheaper. It's also a good way to fight inflation. The investment can be from buying 25 grams till 100 grams and it payback 1/2 yearly.
So in the end is it worth to invest? It depends.
If you need a quick turn around within 3 years, I suggest you think through it first. As at any point of time it you wish to withdraw and sell or the gold will lost you 2/3 or your investment. If you having some spare money that put for FD or saving account, it's quite a good deal.
Conclusion? Is it a fraud or scam?
I done sitting and discuss for the lady for 1 and 1/2 hours that I did receive my "Free vouchers" & mobile phone.
There were 2 X $400 vouchers that can use only in 1 store and it's limited to use in a month. It's also a free nokia T100 series which caused around $50. Which I felt so so, it's the cheapest phone anyway. However, since I still get back something although I did not spend any money. I only can advice for those that receive the call can browse through my blog and have some insight (if all these not tempting you, don't waste your time to attend). The lady that spoke to meet are patient, however her boss was pushing sales that I felt threaten, which I did not invest in the end.
The choice are up to you, till then.
Regards,
Adam Chua
http://www.vacantseize.com
What survey company "Do?"
1. The survey company that do the cold call, on taking a quick survey on your finance situation.
2. The survey company will keep your data and sale the "leads" they capture.
3. Survey company get paid only when the candidates go for the "gift collection".
4. Some survey company also provide incentive for a success "sales" or joining of membership.
5. They will follow up with other membership or promotion too (follow up sales).
However, does it consider scam? Sales call? This depends.
So this time round I received a second call from the company which think done survey on my credit card around 1/2 years ago. The sales speech are:
1. Congratulation! You have been pick up to be the one of the 30 customers that receive the free gift with No Obligation.
2. This is not a gimmick and you will get your Free gift after 45 minutes of "product explanation" .
3. You can leave any time if you feel not comfortable with the talk.
4. This only provide to you only in this limited time.
5. Can we verify your name on the credit card for the security purpose?
6. Can you provide us your company or home address to printed on the "vouchers"?
7. The branded vouchers worth $800 and free mobile phone.
8. Last when you confirm, he/she will ask the supervisor to have a quick chat to guaranty your present to the "prize collection".
9. He/she will provide you the address like Cooperate Tower at Shanton way in sms or email (Remind you again 2 hours before you go.)
I've been always open to any investment talk or MLM so for the sack of the "Freebies". I accepted and attend the prize collection.
(P/S: If you go goggle the this tower your will not find too much information as in the unit number was not listed anywhere. The address I attended will be 138 Robinson Rd, The Corporate Building, #09-06 Postal 068906. Hotline 62924767.)
The first glance to the place is much similar to recruit office as it got a lot individual meeting room (can fit around 3~4 peoples). Receptionist will request you to filled up a particular form, photostat your NRIC and use your credit card (just browse it) to verify. After that they will send a gal or guy (most of time is hansom/pretty one, unless you unlucky). You also need to think the guaranty that you are aware you will need to listen/stay for 45 minutes in order to get qualified for the gift(which started to sound gimmick here).
Couple of minutes later the "consultant" bring me to the room and start to explain the product. For this company called "Precious Metal" (refer to the name you can roughly know it means "gold"). To add on, there is also a lot of investment, stock, recruiting, travel membership etc that using the similar tactic (which need to stay from 30mins to 2 hours).
So the lady gave me a rough explanation of the package at the beginning and discuss about gold and the company history. Although the boss are in the jewellery industry for 15 years, however if your get the company registration from them (you can request to see) the company actually just registered since July 2012.
So what's are the investment now? Up to 30% of ROI for a 3 years Fixed Gold Investment. You can get back the gold plate you bought or "deposit it" there to get up to 60% of ROI. The gold price is base on the UOB market rates (which is the only bank in Singapore selling gold). For current market, the gold price are buying at $155 per gram and selling at $66 per gram. You will get back all your investment by selling back the gold back to the company after 3 years. The gold source was from Malaysia so their boss can get it cheaper. It's also a good way to fight inflation. The investment can be from buying 25 grams till 100 grams and it payback 1/2 yearly.
So in the end is it worth to invest? It depends.
If you need a quick turn around within 3 years, I suggest you think through it first. As at any point of time it you wish to withdraw and sell or the gold will lost you 2/3 or your investment. If you having some spare money that put for FD or saving account, it's quite a good deal.
Conclusion? Is it a fraud or scam?
I done sitting and discuss for the lady for 1 and 1/2 hours that I did receive my "Free vouchers" & mobile phone.
There were 2 X $400 vouchers that can use only in 1 store and it's limited to use in a month. It's also a free nokia T100 series which caused around $50. Which I felt so so, it's the cheapest phone anyway. However, since I still get back something although I did not spend any money. I only can advice for those that receive the call can browse through my blog and have some insight (if all these not tempting you, don't waste your time to attend). The lady that spoke to meet are patient, however her boss was pushing sales that I felt threaten, which I did not invest in the end.
The choice are up to you, till then.
Regards,
Adam Chua
http://www.vacantseize.com
