I was one of the 12 people to receive the offer, but there weren't any tapes sold. Don said it was a test. Here is the actual message from April 4th, 1999:
Greetings...Now that the "Smoke has cleared" on the reaction to my
"ProfitMaker 5 Tapes" email to you and 11 others picked at random...I'd
like to offer the following with the basic knowledge that I AM NOT NOW, NOR
HAVE I EVER BEEN INTERESTED IN GETTING THE PROFITMAKER TAPES...AT ANY
PRICE!!!!!!!!!!; I have TOO MUCH going now and could not possibly consider
taking on any new projects.
Thus...the following is offered so YOU know there is always, "2 sides to
every story"! (I have included the actual first message to you at the
bottom)
This was an "experiment" in "Human Reaction"!...performed in a "lull" in
activity around my place. (Psychology was my minor in college)
It began during a phone conversation I had with a fellow "Myer's
Discussion Board" devotee last Sunday evening; We were discussing the
morality of our country during the Clinton reign (I am PASSIONATELY
Patriotic) I was arguing the fact that I believed the morals of our people
had sunk to new lows...at about the same time, my phone partner went up to
Myer's Board and saw Andrew Reynolds sales letter for the Videos. We both
were flabbergasted at the $900 price.
I thought they were way overpriced and wouldn't sell at "half the
price"...and offered up a bet that would prove TWO points;
1) I could show that...take a dozen people at random (12 off Myer's
Board) who barely knew me or of me..."if given the opportunity and the risk
was low"...MOST (more than 50%) would CHEAT (morality) and 2) I could get
offers for SOMETHING for the Tapes!
So, I sent the email to YOU, at random and....
one other thing we wanted to see...YOUR reaction....AND, Mr Myer's
reaction!
WELL! My phone partner and I both agreed. I said at least ONE person
would "go to the teacher and report that Donnie was being a bad boy".
Now...the next thing we argued about was Mr M's reaction; He could do one
of 3 things;
1) Take the info received with an actual copy of my email and KEEP IT TO
HIMSELF, pat the reporter on the popo and say, "Nice job Johnnie. I'll
handle this from here." and proceed to forget about it. or 2) CONFRONT ME
with the message and ask for an explanation and maybe profer a warning that
me and all my grandchildren would be taken into custody by the Feds. or 3)
Put the thing on his Board and open it up PUBLICLY.
We know what he chose; However, I did NOT expect the explosion that was
forthcoming. The "kneejerk" reaction from many was alarming and funny!
The actual SCORE is...12 People contacted at random
4 I REPEAT, 4 offered to purchase tapes at $250 or
$300
6 either reported the email to the Meister or on the
Board
2 either reported to the HeadMaster or did
nothing cause they didn't contact me nor did I
see their post on the Board.
Sooo...I was WRONG on my 50% estimate. 33% on Myer's Board WILL cheat, NOT
50%.
THIS showed me a few things about human nature AND the nature of Mr
Myers'.
In fact, to add a little more insight...when I saw the comments coming in
that I was, "looking to MAKE A LOT OF MONEY BY SENDING THE NOTE TO
HUNDREDS"...I phoned Myer's and told him I had done a dumb thing and this
was NOT a conspiracy to make money from the reselling of the tapes and that
the note had only been sent to a few people. HIS immediate reaction was to
caution me on the fact that he knew people who being hauled off to the slam
for something or other...and he then immediately posted the fact I had
called him.
Now....since the dust has cleared on this thing and I have better things to
do with my time....it was rather interesting to see WHO and HOW people
react.
Now...MANY nice folks have sent notes saying to the effect, "Don. It's OK.
I still believe in you!" Which was nice to hear. Then there's the others
who will always believe I'm an "immoral dastardly soul who would sell his
mother for a buck".
So...experiment over. We can all go back to what we were doing before. I've
been doing THIS kind of stuff, stirring up a hornet's nest for no other
reason other than to "stir something up"...ever since my college days.
Now...YOU can either choose to believe MY story or not...but, do YOU
really think I would send the following note to a STRANGER...thinking I
would GAIN monetarily from it or get people to ACTUALLY send money?
If you do...I got some swampland I'd like to show you.
Thanks for your time and excuse the intrusion,
Don Alm
don alm wrote:
>
> Steve.....I would like to order the ProfitMaker Tapes but do NOT want to
> spend $900 on them.
>
> I would be willing to spend $450...which means I need ONE other person to
> split cost. I would place order and send copies of everything to
> "partner". "Partner" would fax me check for $450.
>
> If interested, let me know.
>
> Thanks....Don Alm
Whether you choose to believe Don's story or not, regardless of the fact, no illegal act was committed and Don later admitted that it was a mistake to test the honesty of board participants.
OK... those of you who have never made a mistake, please stand up.
Funny, I don't see anyone standing
I did not offer to buy the tapes, and I was a little choked at Don that he would choose me as one of the 12 people to test. And I told Don that. As a side effect it landed me some good contracts for my web development business.
Since then Don has continually shared wonderful ideas with me and everyone else. You can't go around in life carrying grudges. It is too negative. You have to learn to accept people for who they are, and understand that none of us are perfect and we are all prone to making mistakes and poor judgement calls at times.
AND Don is responsible for giving me a great idea for a second business which I am starting right now. I'm not going to tell you what one (you don't need to know) but it will earn me a lot of money. You can say "prove it" but I don't have to prove it to you. All I need is the "right idea" and I can make it a success without any hand-holding. I've proved this to myself, and that is what will determine my success with it.
What I WILL tell you, is that the business won't be run the same as other people doing a similar thing. I will do it my way simply because that is what has proven over and over again to work for me. It will be a success.
So before you start saying "this program isn't any good" or "this idea sucks" or "this doesn't work the way it is supposed to" -- BEFORE YOU BUY:
Have a look in the mirror. Do you see success? If you don't -- then don't bother buying ideas, manuals, or informational materials, because they are only tools for successful people. Spend your time looking for a job someplace.
Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan
homebusiness-websites.com