Is WPromote another Google Listing Scam?

So we have a report of another possible Google/Yahoo PPC (pay per click) scam. WPromote is the name of the company and someone who barely speaks English calls to make a lot of promises. They say they are working with Google and things of that nature, the same thing we have heard before.

Most of all they want to charge more than $200 a month for something most anyone could do for half the cost and get much better results.

Here are a few things to ask any company peddling these kinds of services.

1) Where are you located? - This gentleman kept speaking about their office in New York but neither his nor any accent in the background was American. When asked where he was he hesitated and tried changing the subject several times. He finally claimed to be in New York.

2) Whats a number I can call you back at? - If they give you excuses or a hassle about having a call back number they are probably an overseas telemarketer.

3) What came up on the caller ID? Often disreputable companies or companies using overseas telemarketers block their name and number. If you are a reputable company, you want to get your name out there, not hide it.

4) Will they bill you or do you have to provide a credit card? - Many of these companies set up repeat billing to a credit card and the internet is full of examples where the cards had to be canceled because a marketing company scheme would not stop charging it.

5) Will they mail you a contract through the USPS? - Many companies refuse to mail out contracts because then their scam becomes mail fraud which is much easier to prove and prosecute than business done through email. NEVER GIVE A CREDIT CARD TO ONE OF THESE COMPANIES OVER THE PHONE.

Here is what we could find out.

Name: WPromote
Website: http://www.wpromote.com/
Phone Number: Unknown, caller ID was blocked and salesman refused to provide it.
Address: Claims to be in New York City but most likely an overseas telemarketing center, The internet is full of reports of agents speaking very hard to understand English.
Verification: Google states that they do not suggest, promote recommend, or certify any marketing companies as their agents. They make it clear that their service is readily available to anyone and aimed at direct usage with no middle-man.
Internet Reputation: The good reports we could find seemed very fishy. Many were from other marketing companies who can be paid to provide good comments for a business. The consumer comments we found were negative.

COWS? Seriously? COWS?

COWs stands for Container On Wheels. It is another mobile storage service except their product is built around a cheaper box and lower start up costs. I am sure that most mobile storage companies would agree that their industry is over saturated in many markets as it is.

COWs seems to be trying to stand out by focusing on smaller markers that would never get the attention of the big guys like UNITS or PODS. From what we could see on their website, their boxes are not nearly as sturdy or well constructed as a UNITS and seem to be on par with the early versions of PODS. Still, anything would beat UHaul's ridiculous attempt at delivering mobile storage.

From what we could see, COWs deliver system is a pick up truck pulling a large trailer that the COW is winched on and off of. That would definitely be a problematic system if trying to unload uphill or where there wasn't room for the pickup truck to manuever with a 14" trailer.

We think that if COWs stays to the rural areas that aren't currently being serviced they may have a chance. I can't think of very many suburbanites that would want a COW in their driveway.