In Sept my company was in the beginning stages of putting a wholesale program together. Our primary product is Decorative & Collectible Swords and Movie Prop Reproducitons. We set out to purchase a list of 75,000 name of companies that Resell this type of merchandise. Apparently when lists are generated, they use what is called an SIC Code. This code is the key to the list that you get. Apparently the list tht was sent to me was run using a SIC Code that is not specific to our products or my request. Thinking back, I beleive that the rep that originally handled my request ran a list using the SIC codes relevant to my request and then advised that he was broadening the criteria. Not knowing the definitions of the SIC codes used, I thought I was getting a list that contained companies with relevant to our request.
Upon receiving the list, I can honestly say that I did not really review it closely for relevance but did verify that the file did contain the 75,000 leads that we paid for.
The Wholesale Project was put on the back burner very soon after we purchased the list so needless to say the disk sat until approx may or June when this project was put in the for front. At that time I reviewed the list and discovered that the companies that were provided were completly unusable at that time or back in Sept. I did a search of the file for business names that would be relevant to our company and discovered less than 10 usable leads (out of a list of 75,000 remember). I immedietly called Martin World wide and after a lot of repeated conversations with all levels within the organization basically was told that they could not replace the list due to the age of the list.
After to much wasted time we decided to take the hit and proceed in another direction to generate leads.
Then 2 weeks ago (late July), I receive a call from a sales rep at Martin Worldwide to solicate business. Well I went at him with a guns loaded. But once again after many conversations and repeated conversations with all levels of management was once again told that the list was to old and they could not help me.
My feeling is that they could not come up with 75,000 leads for my request and they ended up sending me a list with the SIC code "5999". This codes represents "Miscelaneous Retailers". Can you imagine!!! The list included 100's of Pool Supply Businesses, Beauty Supply Stores, ect.
Be vary warry of these people... They are theives in the business of ripping off other businesses!!!
JB
, California
U.S.A.
0 comments