talkmagic.co.uk

I don't know how many people here have registered with the Party Pop dot com website, but I had a very interesting message left on my answerphone from a woman called Marcy who works for them - it went something like this....

"Hi, it's Marcy (or Marcie maybe) from Partypop. I don't know how professional you guys are but I have left loads of messages for you and you haven't got back. If I was a client looking to hire someone I would not hire someone who didn't return their phone calls. If you want to sort your life out and be a bit more professional then maybe you would have the courtesy to return my call, otherwise have a nice life without us!"

Now that is not a word for word quote - but it is the general gist.

The confusing thing is I have not had a call from anyone at partypop for several months - I signed up for a free listing and wasn't particularly impressed. Maybe they get the wrong number, I really don't know, but I think this company should look inwards at their level of professionalism before they start bitching at others.

Rant over!

Oh, I love Marcy!

I got a call from her some time ago, telling me that I should look at Partypop and sign up for their services.

I told her that I had to work within an advertising budget, but I would look at the site, do a little research, and get back to her if I wanted to go ahead.

From there, I got a lot of calls, asking if I had made up my mind, and if not, why not.

I explained that the only comments about Partypop that I'd found in my online searches had been made by people unhappy with the Partypop services. It was explained to me that these comments were put online by competitors who wanted to bad-mouth the best in the business. No explanation was offered when I pointed out that there were no positive comments to be found.

On the subject of budget, I was told that there was no need spending money on several ads in the local press, when I could get all the business I need from Partypop and do away with all the others. From my perspective, though, it makes no sense to abandon an approach that works in favour of something that a salesperson claims is better.

I also pointed out that no partypop listings had been called up by Google when I typed in phrases such as 'magician sussex' or 'magician brighton'. I was told that I was using the wrong search parameters and I'd get a lot of partypop hits if I searched for 'magic show' rather than magician. I had to explain that magic shows are like circuses - they're put on in public places for people to go along to. If people want to hire a magician for their wedding, dinner function or kids' party, they'll search for 'magician'.

Thankfully, I haven't heard from Partypop in quite a while, but it took some time and effort to get the point across that I wasn't going to buy into their services.

So that's my story.

Maybe Partypop is a good service.

Maybe it does bring in business for a lot of entertainers.

All I know is that persistant hard-sell tactics like the ones I received are a massive turn-off for me. And my initial research didn't fill me with confidence.

So that's my rant.

Pete

Partypop phoned me and phoned me and left messages and left messages and etc. etc.

I think they've now left me alone. Thank god for small mercies.

They're making unsolicited, high pressure calls?

Sounds like a job for Trading Standards or Ofcom...

pcwells wrote: I'd get a lot of partypop hits if I searched for 'magic show' rather than magician.

Just tried "magic show sheffield" to test her theory but it didn't work. No sign of partypop.

Just had a good look at their site, and it looks like they've looked through yellow pages and listed every magician they could find. Trouble is, they've got my old name from when I was a kids entertainer (this was a few years ago now). My name was Mr. Mystery - "because I did mysterious magic". Shudder. Brings it all back.

PartyPop and AllTimeFavorites both seem to run questionable operations... I've had the displeasure of dealing with both... the latter of the two said they were dropping me from their roles and yet, they are still sending me requests, etc. to up-date my information.

I've not had too much in way of positive experiences when it comes to these on-line "agencies" a few of which are even more "dangerous" to us than these two... I forget the name of the group but there is one that loves paying the performer a flat (very minimal) rate of less than $200.00 out of which we are to cover transportation, etc. on each gig while they charge the clients three to five times more than that, pocketing the bulk...
... in my day it was the agency that made the commission off of the talent, not the other way around.

Ha, that first post was pretty much word for word the message he left me too. I also checked out their site, went for the free listing, missed a couple of calls because of the time difference & got a mouthful from some guy called Marcie. I'm not impressed by his attitude or their website. It's far too messy.

If I hear from them again it'll be too soon.

Russ
www.smartmagic.co.uk

The first call I had from them was from some guy in the States and it went something like this:

"Hi Paul, this is xxxx from PartyPop here in Las Vegas. PartyPop is the premier listing site for all professional magicians and entertainers, and I'm hoping that I can add your name to our roster of talented individuals. Would that be possible paul?"

"But you're in Las Vegas and I'm in Sheffield. In the UK."

"Yeah, but we're setting up an exciting new site over there in the UK that will be the market leader."

"yeah, well, me dinner's ready now so if you'll excuse me..."

That's about the gist of the conversation that I had with them and they then phoned, and phoned............ and phoned.

Their guarantee to me was that they would get me to the top of Google searches for my area which would then bring in lots of work. They also were selling on the fact that they would design a custom web site for you that would host video instead of YouTube and they would be acting as your agent to bring in the bookings.

All of this for £10 per month.

Thanks but no thanks

same here, "i can do you thousands of dollars of work for 120 a year"
when i mentiond that I'm currently waiting to here back about my brain scan for ms he wasn't phased one bit and still tried to get me to send him money.
eventualy i convinced him that i didn't have the funds and when and if i could still walk later on i'd call him, i'll expect another call next week to see how I'm doing.

this hard sale may work over the pond but it dosn't wash this side of the bye-u

Just been hassled again this week by them. Thankfully their final call was to tell me that my free listing had been cancelled. I took the liberty of emailing them as below;

"Thank you for the most recent of your numerous voice messages informing me of you removing my free listing from your site. I trust that this is the end of the annual barrage of phone calls trying to convince me to upgrade to a costly listing. I have enjoyed exactly zero referrals from your listing in the two or so years I have been on there & so consider it a 'free upgrade' to be removed. I am particularly glad to be rid of the escalating angry phone messages left by Vicky & last year by an American bloke called Marcie who, without realising have shown me that being connected with Partypop is rather more of a hindrance. I find it increasingly difficult to answer phone calls as I am usually working, such is the amount of business I receive from more reputable companies. After last year & the number of abusive messages I received from the American chap trying to convince me to pay for a service with Partypop, I decided to ignore any other messages left by the company. If it has not already been done, please remove both my free listing & contact details from your records. I think that parting company is the best way for both of us to save time leaving & listening to answer phone messages. Thanks again for the shear amount of work I have received through your company, without it I may have died of starvation."

If you don't know already, stay away from Partypap![/b]

magicdiscoman wrote:same here, "i can do you thousands of dollars of work for 120 a year"
when i mentiond that I'm currently waiting to here back about my brain scan for ms he wasn't phased one bit and still tried to get me to send him money.
eventualy i convinced him that i didn't have the funds and when and if i could still walk later on i'd call him, i'll expect another call next week to see how I'm doing.

this hard sale may work over the pond but it dosn't wash this side of the bye-u

Not only does the hard sell not work here in the USA it is becoming against the law. I'm on the do-not-call registry. If I am called (unsolicted) by a company trying to sell me something. I simply call a 1-800 number and dial in the number I captured on my cell phone that belongs to the offending company. And they can be fined thousands of dollars in fines. After the first few companies were busted very few make those calls. And all such companies are required to sign up for the do-not-call list so they can check the number first.

Banks and utility companies have to have an OPT-OUt or OPT-IN when you sign up for service. Opting out means they cannot call you with sales, they can only call with issues that directly effect your account, such as overdrafts or changes in policy etc.

We have the Telephone Preference Service whereby your number(s)r is/are registered with them as not wanting cold calls. After 28 days this becomes effective but even so, only those agreeing to abide by the rules will consult the lists and not call that number. It also doesn't apply to callers from overseas which is why we get a lot of spam calls from certain areas of Asia. Technically they're supposed to check the lists as well but that's only voluntary so most don't bother.

By the sound of the firm mentioned above, they're just trying to scam fees out of people in return for diddly squat.

We're registered with the Telephone Preference Service, and I've put a very discouraging message on the answerphone as well. Something along the lines of:

This number is registered with the Telephone Preference Service. Sales and survey calls will not be answered; please remove us from your list. Otherwise, speak up now.

Needless to say, the answerphone is always on. Junk callers hang up fast and tend not to phone back. Anyone we actually want to hear from knows if they start speaking they'll be answered right away.

My usual gambit once I know they're cold calling is to ask why they're witholding their number, this usually floors them and they ring off. I actually don't have the kind of phone which gives such information but the callers don't know that !