I have been scammed by Better Busines Bureau -Now with Poll

[adlep]

My business is still home based. I have no office yet and I do not think that I will get the office any time soon. My main sources of advertising are:
1. Word of mouth referrals.
2. My web site.
I have decided to sign up for a Better Business Bureau and put up their logo on my web site to let people know that I follow the standards and I try my best to make a honest living.
So, the BBB representative shows up in my house, he takes a look at my paperwork, asks couple of questions, and then charges me $360.00 to join. For that he gave me a plaque with a BBB logo on it and a sticker.
However, I was told that I can not put the BBB logo on my web site, because they have an extra special BBBOnLine "program" for that and it costs $225.00 more to join.
So now, I have spend $360.00 for a plaque I will not be able to use.
This is so retarded. Why it is so hard to understand that my website is my office?
How will I let people know that I am a BBB member without putting BBB logo on my website?
Why should I pay extra for that?
Also,
This BBBOnLine is worthless IMO.
Take a look at this two "members":
SEO spammer1
SEO spammer2
How in the heck they have managed to get a seal of approval, if these two are heavly engaged in SEO spamming
/ end of rant

Cliffnotes:
1. Have no office just yet
2. Paid $360.00 to join BBB to get some extra advertising.
3. I can not put a BBB logo on my site, because it costs extra - I have to sign up for a BBBOnline.
4. BBBOnline is worthless, as they allow their "members" to not follow the coding standards.

 

[hevnsnt]

just put it on there

 

[acemcmac]

don't joing the BBB?

get verisign and some other seals and forget about it

 

[adlep]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
don't joing the BBB?

get verisign and some other seals and forget about it

BBB is a very respectable organization (so I thought)

Also, this is the main source of confusion for people.
My web site is nothing more than a flyer, or a "business card" advertising my services. But, I do not do any business throught the web site. I am not selling anything through it.
What I want to do is to let people know that I care about my clients and I will try my best to make them happy. BBB is just perfect for creating this type of exposure.

 

[OutHouse]

The BBB is a scam.

the solution is Dont put their logo on your webpage but add a text comment that you are a member of the BBB. Not a damn thing they can do about that.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

The BBB is a joke and has been for a long, long time.

 

[adlep]

Their logo usage guidelines.

Its really weird an confusing.

 

[dabuddha]

You really should have checked that before forking over the dough.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: adlep
Their logo usage guidelines.

Its really weird an confusing.

Thier webdesigner needs to be fired.

 

[PingSpike]

Take a photograph of your plaque and stick it up on your website. And what the hell is a refound?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Perhaps on the "About Us" page, show a picture of you with the plaque???

Also, You may want to encourage people to rate you on resellerratings.com
EDIT: I know you are service based, but if you happen to do upgrades etc for people too ... then you are technically reselling hardware too ....
Just a thought ...

 

[Toasthead]

why didnt you ask them about this first?

 

[Britboy]

Originally posted by: Nik
The BBB is a joke and has been for a long, long time.

I agree, they are totally useless. I contacted them for help once and they didn't do a damn thing.

If I were you I would just use the logo anyway, chances are those morons will never do anything about it.

 

[adlep]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Take a photograph of your plaque and stick it up on your website. And what the hell is a refound?

Edited for spelling...
Typing too fast

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: adlep
Their logo usage guidelines.

Its really weird an confusing.

Thier webdesigner needs to be fired.

agreed