July 3, 2008

That's a great local business strategy and it just goes to show that the needs of any business can usually be serviced in some way online, regardless of the nature of the company.

Yahoo Local ranks among the top mapping sites online. But they have to develop traction amongst small, local advertisers. They simply don't have the in-house capacity or know-how to generate business from mom and pop businesses who are on a $30/budget per month. MerchantCircle provides a highly scalable way to generate business from the hard to reach segment in advertising, of small businesses with an annual budget of a few hundred to a few thousands dollars. We have a virtually zero cost model wherein businesses come to our site as a result of an automated phone message that we send out periodically. Most businesses have THANKED us for providing the service and the BBB complaints have largely tapered off. The criticisms we've received online for robo-calls and Do-not-call violations are overstated, and frankly a legal, not a business matter.

Hi Ben, We are a small local mom and pop business that is just getting by with a single phone line that I answer myself most of the time. Merchant circle has regularly been tying up my line with stupid recorded advertising and making it so that my customers can't get through. Your company is nothing but a spam house. That's pretty clear by the lengths that you go to to obscure your real identity and contact information.

I just got lied to in a cold call from Merchant's Circle. They said that pictures of my business were online. When I lived in CA I got the cold call lie that an unfavorable review of my business was on their website. What scammers! I can't believe that Yahoo is doing business with these losers. I doubt that Google would stoop so low.

MerchantCircle is a scam. Do NOT fall for their spam! Over a year ago I jumped through their hoops to remove my number from their system and I still get calls!

Hopefully my AG can do something about them. And anyone who works with, for, or thinking of becoming affiliated with them should look around at how upset their tactics have made people.

Merchant Circle is running a telephone marketing campaign, yet again. They started with spam and have moved to deceptive telephone calls that lie and try to scare prospective customers into signing up for services. These calls are often made in violation of the national do not call list and contain many messages including: "you have received a bad review", "You have received a review" and their newest addition, "there is a video about your company on merchantcircle.com". The truth is, these are all lies.

If you get one of these calls and check on the website, you will find out that there are no reviews for your business and that your business listing is often filled with incorrect information collected from across the net. Despite trying to contact them about the trouble, you will find that you can't get the issue fixed or the listing removed without joining the site and paying a fee. Even if you do join, the posts in their forums clearly indicate that they will not help with troubles.

Trying to contact them is an effort in futility. They have hidden all contact information and all phone numbers lead to a fax or voicemail which is never answered. I have done some research and found out who actually hosts their site. I contacted them and they seemed genuinely surprised to hear their was an issue. This is not surprising considering the trouble I had to go through to find out the information. I related what was going on and they seemed genuinely concerned. They asked that I send a complaint to them via email and include some of what I found. I did include slanderous reviews on the site, incorrect information links to revealing photos and much more. I also informed them that I was going to place this information on the net for others to use. They said that would be fine.

So, without further ado, here it is. The contact information for merchantcircle.com's hosting provider:

Silicon Valley Colocation, Inc.
PO Box 390804
Mountain View, CA 94039
Phone: (408) 747-0724
Phone: (408) 400-0550
abuseteam@svcolo.com
info@svcolo.com
support@svcolo.com

Once again, the people at Silicon Valley Colocation, Inc. have asked that complaints be filed with them so that they can take action. Please call or drop them a line. Only though action can we stop abusive practices.

Thank you to that last person. As a web designer who uses this site, I appreciate this info. It might resolve some of my issues with them.

Although I do on the whole like what they have to offer, I do not like the fact that these issues are going unresolved. As a business owner, I don't see how anyone can stay in business with out handling the clients issues.

Free or not, the contract is valid and should be handled as such.

I do not like the fact they want to "verify" your business through you giving up 5 of your friends info to prove that you are a business. That is probably where they are getting their incorrect info. and do not want to participate in them spamming my friends and clients. And then to pay for it on top of that.

I set up a site for a client of mine that just couldn't afford a site right at the beginning of her business. and the info was correct that I put in but it didn't take it correctly. I had never heard of the town they put her in and I tried to fix it on the edit page, it wouldn't stick no matter what.

I tried to contact them about it through my site and hers, no change. EVER> so
her site is placed in some rural town in BFE Montana. No way will that help her. and hurts my reputation.

I honestly think the concept is a god send to most small mom and pops or start ups out there. As well as for those of us who want to reach them to help them be a success on the net.

But MC needs to get their act together before I recommend them again if ever. I can't have them hurting my rep as I have some very high end clients as well as the small biz.

Hey thanks for listening. and hope that MC gets it right. They are truly a great asset to others, but have some issues to resolve. Maybe Yahoo will help them.
I know why google wouldn't

You only need to Google Merchant Circle to see hundreds of posts by people who have been scammed by them. I can't believe the State Attorney Generals haven't filed charges against these people yet. It's fraud, plain and simple. But don't believe me, check out this web site and read hundreds of people's experiences with this sham company:

http://battellemedia.com/archives/002632.php

These people own MerchantCircle. They can handle all requests and problems with the company:

Scale Venture Partners
950 Tower Lane, Suite 700
Foster City, CA 94404
phone: (650) 378-6000
fax: (650) 378-6040