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Stuffing Envelopes And Other Home-Stuffing Envelopes And Other Home-Based Business Opportunities:Here's Why You Need To Forget Chasing This Scam-Riddled Rabbit Plus: Knowing How And When To Quit...And Cut Your Losses
March 18, 2004
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Dear Ben: What do you think about these companies that advertise "stuffing envelopes from home" business opportunities? The company I’m considering requires a $27 up-front fee, then they’ll mail me an instruction kit, as well as guarantee to pay me $1-per-envelope. Is this a scam?
Elsy, via e-mail
Dear Elsy: I’ve got a better idea. Send me $27 and I’ll give you instructions on how to avoid getting ripped off by another "work from home/get rich quick" scheme. I’m not busting your chops for checking first, in fact I wish more people were as "cautiously suspicious" as you are. This is such a popular scam and continuous source of complaints to law enforcement authorities throughout he country) that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a special section on their website (located at www.ftc.com) devoted to "Envelope Stuffing ripoffs."
"Make $550 to $3,000 weekly. Ten dollars for each circular you mail...Free Postage...Free Circulars...No Newspaper Ads...No Magazine Ads...No Bulletin Board Ads! Paychecks mailed to you every week! Advance paycheck forms included in your package!!!" Promoters advertise that–for a "small" fee–they’ll tell you how to earn big money stuffing envelopes at home. They claim they’ll pay you a certain amount of money for each envelope stuffed, resulting in hundreds or thousands of dollars each week. These opportunities are appealing, especially if you’re looking for a home-based business, but according to the FTC, promoters aren’t really offering a job. The scam "unfolds" (excuse the pun) like this: After you send in your money, you’ll receive a letter telling you to place the same "envelope-stuffing" ad in other newspapers or magazines, or send the ad to friends and relatives. The only way you’ll make any money is if other suckers respond to your ad. The promoters rarely–if ever–pay anyone. The FTC’s site has a bunch of "questions to ask if you’re serious about pursuing these types of business opportunities," but I’ve got a better idea. Don’t waste your time chasing a deal that will never pay off.
Dose of Dover For The Week: I discussed the concept of "quitting" with a friend of mine last week, a licensed psychotherapist that spends a fair share of his time helping clients deal with anger and loss. Guess what his most frequent discussion and starting point for healing is? Quitting...and knowing when to cut your losses: "Quitting does not equal failure, however, not quitting when it is indicated will lead to failure."
Hmmmmm...re-read that statement again. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Okay, what does this mean? Many of us (me included) have been conditioned over the years–by our parents, a teacher or a coach, or maybe even some huckster shilling mail order home-based business success/positive thinking courses via middle-of-the-night infomercials–to believe that quitting is wrong...that it equals failure. "A quitter never wins and a winner never quits" is not only outmoded, it’s unrealistic thinking. What’s most important? As unpopular as this may initially appear, self-interest–the "him or me" decision. In the long run, self-interest tends to be in the best interest of all. Honest evaluation of your situation–from lousy jobs and creepy bosses to dysfunctional relationships or out-of-control finances–you’ve got to learn when to cut your losses.
You’ve got to come to grips with what’s best for you and your family, and many times it takes a breakdown before you have a breakthrough. Whether it’s finding a new employer, ending a bad relationship, reconciling a tax mess with the IRS or pulling the ripcord on usurious creditors, now’s the time to seize control of your life...once and for all. Paying minimum balances on credit cards is a sucker’s game, as is ignoring letters from the IRS.
If family or friends are urging you to avoid taking a bankruptcy, tell them to put their money where their mouths are. They can either loan you the cash needed to stop the barrage of harassing tele-threats and dig out of the debt-laden paralysis you’re emotionally locked down by, or they can shut their pie-holes. Tax, debt and divorce related strategies–all battlefield and time-tested–are just one click away: www.bendover.com/control.asp.
Remember: Sometimes you have to lose so you can win.
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