News Penny Auction News KingOfHowTo.com Misleads Consumers & Seeks to Profit from False Defamatory Articles on Penny AuctionsKingOfHowTo.com Misleads Consumers & Seeks to Profit from False Defamatory Articles on Penny Auctions
PennyBurners strives to keep its finger on the pulse of the penny auction industry. By doing so, we have a number of "alerts" set up to monitor any important news or happenings on which we can report to our member base. Usually these alerts consist of recent penny auction promos or the announcement of a new site, but over the past several months, we have noticed a disturbing trend. Pseudo-news/informational site, KingOfHowTo.com, has launched a concentrated attack against the penny auction industry. Dozens of penny auction sites, many of which we know to be legitimate, have come under fire and have been labeled as scams.
We've been monitoring KingOfHowTo.com, and it is clear that they seek to profit from their vitriol by flooding the internet with fake, derogatory news/review articles. None of their articles have any reasonable claims or information, and each new one is just a regurgitation of the next. We have been seeking to find out just who is really behind that site, and we hope to reveal that information at a later date.
With that said, the following guest blog post was sent in to us by PennyGrab.com, a trusted penny auction site, in a response to a blog article on KingOfHowTo.com that is labeling their site a scam. Read on!
In the modern world, it’s been said that a shouted lie can travel the globe 30 times before the truth has a chance to whisper.
Another idiom: “The problem with the internet is that it’s impossible to verify an opinion.” -Abraham Lincoln
While we all love the internet, in ways it can betray the fruits of peoples hard labor. A person can be Ghandi, work hard, do the right thing with all of the right intentions… and one person can bring ”them” down utilizing a false press release for nothing more than (hoping) to earn a profit as a pseudo journalist writing fake reviews and articles in hopes of making a few cents. This is also known in the legal world as libel.
Recently, an article was posted on one such website [KingofHowTo.com]. A website that’s been in business for barely a year no less. This “article” was defamatory in nature while insinuating various businesses are fraudulent by the nature of the business they are in. This not only detrimental to the buying public buy distributing false information, in the guise of “news”, solely for the intent of profit… regardless of the veracity of the statements being made.
In the article I am expressly speaking of, an entire industry is lumped together, seemingly, as one entity in the opening paragraph by saying “…some deceitful companies are trying to take advantage of your desire…. one relatively new penny auction site called PennyGrab.com issued a press release promoting itself as a leader in customer service and quality prizes” and then goes on to state, without quote, without a verifiable source that some “people” are already beginning to complain about PennyGrab.com.
Let’s be absolutely clear: Not one time does the “author” (a term I am using as loosely as possible) state “who” is making complaints, nor does “she” specify what a person or persons would be complaining about. She is simply making a blanket statement based on no proof, information or standing with which to make such a statement. In other words, it is a lie and libel.
The article then goes on to state that while some of our competitors such as DealDash and QuiBids use TV ads and “online marketing tactics”, PennyGrab is using our newest way to earn “free Bonus Credits” as a way to “lure in” new customers, to a Penny Auction market “most” do not understand.
She actually used the term “less savvy” which we can only presume is ”her” attempt at calling people “stupid”.
In fact, our Penny Punt [game] announcement was the PennyGrab way of letting our Members know that we’ll be giving “them” new and more ways to earn free bonus credits as well as informing them that there will be a lot more fun and innovative ways to win, earn Bonus Credits as well as just have some relaxing fun playing our video games.
While it is true that there have been many a scam website in the Penny Auction world, the author makes no attempt to be genuine in her writing, “fact checking” or accusations. As an example, she goes on to state that “Some have accused sites like PennyGrab.com of using automated bots to make fake bids”.
Who has? I dare say that PennyGrab, among the 4 leading Penny Auction websites, has the absolute BEST customer service record of anyone. So to make such a libelous statement, claiming that we’re cheating using bots or in ANY manner, without notation, quotes, names or even an example of an allegation. She then goes on to say that we’re not being ”straightforward” with our customers.
Again, “who” have we not been straightforward with? In what manner? What is your evidence to libel PennyGrab in such a manner?
The author then goes on a tangent about the BBB (Better Business Bureau) stating that we’re not accredited with the BBB and that our ”accreditation has been revoked” because we failed to honor our agreement.
What agreement, you may ask? Allow me to explain; The BBB is a COMPANY that is out to make money. Most do not know this, but the BBB is not a govt. entity of any type. They charge each and every business $600 per year to be able to reply, respond or address any complaints a person has made with a business on the BBB website. If your business does not ”pay”, your business is simply marked with a ding… a negative report that the company has absolutely no control over nor can the company address.
I could literally go to BBB right now and complain that Ford Motor Company sold me a sick Zebra and refused to honor the warranty and if Ford isn’t a BBB Member, then Ford cannot respond to such an outrageous accusation. Yes, it really is this stupid!
Further down, the author then contends that we “only” have a C- rating on the BBB. If we’re “so great”, then how could our rating only b a C-? Looking at the BBB website, it states it’s because we’ve “BBB Accreditation was revoked because business failed to honor its accreditation agreement with BBB” which is the BBB’s attempt at bullying us (and millions of other small business owners) into paying their $600/yr extortion fee by stating that we’ve not honored our agreement.
[As of 4/23/2012 PennyGrab's BBB status is now back to being accredited and has an A- rating].
As a matter of fact, the BBB then goes on to say that: No complaints filed with BBB. The BBB has sufficient background information on this business.
Does this sound like a scam? No complaints & they have sufficient background information on Pennygrab; The BBB is only upset that we’ve not paid them a “play nice” fee of $600.
Don’t take my word for it, here’s the link so you can see for yourself:
In a nutshell, we all here at PennyGrab work very hard in not only running a company, but in ensuring our Members are happy, treated fairly? but more importantly, we strive day in and day out to “do the right thing” for each and every person; be they a Member or not. Our Members can speak for themselves and in the satisfaction they get being a part of the PennyGrab.com team.
You can always ask them directly by joining our chat room that is available to anyone, whether they are an active, paying member with us or not.”
