Michelle Yoshioka was a Z57 sales person who called me unexpectedly offering an website solution for Realtors. I just so happened to be looking for a website solution so I was willing to listen. She scheduled a call to speak again and show me a demo.
She asked specifically what was important to me in a website. I specifically told her, the ability to capture leads, SEO, the ability to incorporate Google Analytics, the ability to create predefined IDX searches for different specified areas and specific addresses (they called them "hot sheets"). She promised me that they could do all with no additional charge and promised that Z57 would be very flexible and customizable and would offer support for customization at no addition cost.
I was reluctant and she dropped the initial setup fee quoted by $300. I still was reluctant because I didn't like making hasty uneducated commitments. She was very pushy and basically told me everything I needed to hear to get my business.
Immediately, I called the next morning (within less than 24 hrs) to cancel due to buyer's remorse. She had me speak to her account manager Rachel Monjo. Rachel proceeded to offer me a reduced monthly rate and waive the first month of service. She also promised me that I would be very happy with the service and asked me to give them a chance. I took their word for it again.
Then, as I began to unfold & configure the site, I was informed that contrary to what was promised to me by both Michelle & Rachel, I couldn't create a Hot Sheet for a specific address (very important feature for me) and I had to pay a fee of $25 if I wanted to set up Google Analytics (very important for me too & should not cost additional money).
I finally called to inform them that this isn't going to work. They couldn't deliver what they had promised and I wanted my money back. Rachel tried many times to coerce me to change my mind by reducing rates, etc. I explained to her that the money isn't the issue. It was the fact that their solution couldn't offer what I needed and I never would have chosen their service had they not promised what they couldn't deliver.
I was furious, I asked Rachel how she'd feel if the same thing happened to her. She agreed she wouldn't be happy and then just continued to apologize. We got off the phone b/c it was going no where at this time. Then, 5 mins later, Rachel calls me back and tells me that they have decided that they will give me a refund. It was agreed. She apologized for a miscommunication (couldn't admit that it was deception) and didn't want me to think that they operate this way.
The next day, she called me and told me they had changed their mind due to language in their contract given the fact that they had already posted the website. They didn't care that what they promised to me over the phone is not what they delivered to me.
Unbelievable. This IS in fact how they run their business. Don't do it! I guaranty you you will be disappointed.
The only way I could imagine that you wouldn't be disappointed is if you are clueless when it comes to websites and you don't know any better.
They also charged me $35 for hosting and transferring my domain name when I already owned it and just had the name servers changed. They didn't perform that service and still charged for that also.
Shane
0 comments