EASY MONEY | Originally broadcast Feb. 6, 2009 on CBC-TV |
|
Our February 6th Marketplace broadcast, Easy Money, generated a great deal of response, including several questions, particularly from BIM members.
As with all Marketplace stories, Easy Money was the result of an extensive investigation, this time involving four-months of research and background interviews with dozens of consumers, and experts involved in multi-level marketing, the travel industry, and a rigorous review of Canada’s Competition Act.
Understandably, we cannot respond to every viewer individually, but several questions have been asked repeatedly so we are answering some of those here:
Q: Why did Marketplace investigate BIM?
A: Marketplace first started looking at BIM in September of last year after hearing about consumer complaints to the Better Business Bureaus. During our research, an RCMP spokesperson told Marketplace that BIM looks like a pyramid scheme and that they have passed on their concerns to the Competition Bureau. And since the broadcast, we have learned that the Competition Bureau is investigating BIM.
Q: Why did Marketplace not include testimonials from satisfied BIM members?
A: Our program featured an interview with Alan Kippax, the founder of BIM. During the program, Mr. Kippax represented the views of the company and all of its members when he stated that this is a successful business and that he believes in the value of the UltraLife club. Our program clearly stated that Mr. Kippax says BIM is “entirely above board and people are making money.”
Q. Why did Marketplace include the story of one unsatisfied distributor?
A. During our background research, Marketplace spoke to several people who had joined BIM and were unsatisfied. They chose not to appear on camera. Half-way through our research, we learned that a handful of unsatisfied distributors would be protesting outside a BIM meeting in Kelowna, BC. Considering the news value of this protest, we decided to include the demonstration and the people involved in our story (other media also covered this event). CBC only paid for its own production crew to travel to Kelowna.
Q: What other details can you tell us about the unsatisfied distributors you spoke to?
A: As with all people in our stories, we are unable to provide all of the details that we have learned in our broadcast. However, in the case of one distributor in our story, we did state that he was “accused of breaking some rules” and was “suspended”. In our view, the details of this accusation are a separate issue from the story’s main focus which explored the legality of BIM’s business model.
Q. How did Marketplace test the UltraLife Club Membership?
A. Our test accurately compared apples to apples using the same currency. Marketplace also tested several other resort deals and arrived at the same conclusion, though we did not include these in the broadcast. The program did not state that consumers would not find deals through the UltraLife Club. However, we did state that “anybody with access to Google” could find the same deals at comparable or lower prices without buying the membership.
Q: Doesn’t the UltraLife Club offer additional features, like the “Access” discount card?
A: In our research we learned that anyone can purchase an “Access card” for 99 dollars and BIM would have purchased each card for an even lower wholesale price.
Q. Is your expert’s analysis of the BIM structure correct?
A: Yes. Marketplace had access to BIM’s own presentation of its business model and used it to closely study how it works. We also attended several sales presentations. We learned new members are placed on a small pyramid shaped team that is only four levels, but all of these four level pyramids are interconnected. Whether a scheme is designed as one large pyramid or a chain of smaller ones does not change the fact that an ever-increasing number of new people are required for everyone to make money. Even re-enrollment will not add enough people to prevent some from eventually losing money.
 For a more detailed explanation, the expert featured in our story, Mr. Robert Fitzpatrick, has more at http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/PSAMain/news/BusinessInMotion.Scam.html
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites — links will open in new window.
|
|
When to Watch
Fridays 8:30 p.m.
(9 p.m. Newfoundland & Labrador)
Saturdays at 5:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m. |
|
• 
Recent Episodes
i belive that BIM Is not a scam and u shoulden't be going around telling big fat LIES. i now alan and he would NEVER do anything to make people lose money or hurt anyone that he knows.You people actually believed everything that was reported in this video? Open up your eyes and learn to think for yourselves! It was plainly obvious to me that Wendy and her crew had an agenda to expose this supposed "pyramid scheme" and did the best they could do without reporting on just the facts and the truth. Watch the video again and try to see it as if you were a member of BIM and you would plainly see that BIM's side of the story was clearly not reported on by Wendy - it was painfully one-sided.
i now you people have hearts somewhere in that body of yours. just go to a meeting and see for yourselves. don't lisin to Wendy about anything come and meet alan and sit and talk with him about BIM.
This debate is amazing advertising! conflict is good for growth. I have been a distributor for BIM since sept of last yr and not only have I made money but everyone I have brought to the system has as well. The nice thing about your style of reporting is that it weeds out the faint of heart and the timid ppl. Those that can't stand a bit of heat get out... in fact I would advise you to keep working your job and just get by by for a retirement that just gets further and further away with every $$$ you have to pay to the government, even tho thier own tax laws allow for you to keep most of it if you were better informed. Do you think its in thier own interests to inform you? I digress, sorry. Bottom line is that if you dont take risks and continue on the same "safe" plan set up for you by the ppl that stand to lose if you win. then you deserve where you"ll end up. Thanks CBC for the weedin
THANK GOD FOR CBC. I was just about to sign my butt up for one of these scam meetings by a family "friend"-- who was also an AMWAY slave for a number of years. Guess I'm the dumb one. Lucky for google.
I am going to go-- and I'm taking notes. Should I let anyone know about their activity here?
Why your report on BIM Corp. was limited only to its activity in Ontario and British Columbia and did not include its "branch" in Winnipeg, operating under the title "Winnipeg Mentoring Centre", located at Unit 120 - 1821 Wellington Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba The telephone number of this "centre" can be found from
www.canada411.ca.Local Better Business Bureau has absolutely no information about this business. Do you have any?
Have read the online info and comments above. I went to a meeting and felt like I was in a bad infomercial. The longer it went on the cornier it got. The people who provided testimonials appeared to have been coached or at the very least well practiced in what they should say. It also made no sense why so many would come in from out of town.....maybe out of the goodness of their hearts.... You may be able to make money off this for the next while but the bottom will fall out or the person at the top will simply close the door. The fact that Marketplace did a show on BIM should be enough to make you stand back and realize that what you see is what you get. A PYRAMID.
People! Have you even had ONE LOOK at the competition bureau's website and compared those LAWS to BIM's "business" model? First of all promises of BIG PROFITS are illegal. ie BIM does the $100,000 chant.
Second, YOU ARE BEING COMPENSATED DIRECTLY FROM THE RECRUITING FEE THAT SOMEONE PAID TO GET IN. This is illegal.
Multi-Level businesses are actually great if they follow compliance. They allow middle income people to start their own businesses for NEAR NOTHING (not $3200 PEOPLE!) and they provide excellent FREE business training. Read respected author Robert Kiyosaki's positive views about MLM.
A company like World Financial Group is an example of a 100% legal multi-level style hybrid (MLM/FRANCHISE/CORPORATION). The agents must pass GOVERNMENT EXAMS before they are compensated and they get $0.00 for recruiting a new advisor.
Ok I should let you all know why Wendy wouldn't have asked distributors that were still in the business and trying to build. I for one would have PRAISED BIM to the highest heaven, because I believed I would become wealthy. Now that I know I was deceived I don't want to talk because I'm too embarrassed. That is what these scam artist build on. Those that are in it praise it, those that have lost are too embarrassed to condemn it. Thanks Wendy for exposing the truth.
I just wanted to reply to this report and to some of the people that have replied to this story. First of all, to all of the listeners that praised CBC for their "great investigative reporting," I just want to say - give their head a shake! You people actually believed everything that was reported in this video? Open up your eyes and learn to think for yourselves! It was plainly obvious to me that Wendy and her crew had an agenda to expose this supposed "pyramid scheme" and did the best they could do without reporting on just the facts and the truth. Watch the video again and try to see it as if you were a member of BIM and you would plainly see that BIM's side of the story was clearly not reported on by Wendy - it was painfully one-sided.
- Does Wendy explain why Scott was kicked out of BIM? NO!
- Does anybody know that based on what BIM's side of the story is that Scott deserved to get kicked out of BIM? NO!
- Does Wendy even tell you that Scott apparently used a couple of t
It's hard to believe how many supporters Alan has out there. Listen up everyone...THIS IS A PYRAMID SCHEME!!! ALAN IS A PYRAMID SCAM ARTIST!!! The people with the negative comments about the show are unfortunate and innocent people who have been taken by BIM and need a return on investment. I personally know multiple people who have been in this for years and struggle to pay their bills because they live on the promise of having all this extra money coming in, but the money is not coming in and never will. Please don't be a victim. If you are a victim, stop trying to do the same to others. Cut your losses and get a job. Great show. Please do follow up show.
I googled for deals and I found them - I used the same resorts and same days for UltraLife and google - I found that from those I checked 6 out of 7 I could get cheaper myself googling then UltraLife could give me. I am an unfortunate sucker who signed up with BIM and shame on me I paid somebody $3,280.00 for deals that I can find for $0,000.00 by googling them myself,actually better deals. Time share is a bad deal, but UltraLife is not time share so don't compare it with Time share. That is not comparing apples to apples.
Re your Easy Money report. I read all the way through the two legal renderings regarding Allan Klippax and Treasure Traders
in the UK. It was a lot of legalese but did did bring it down to a point that it was still a Pyramid operation and it was
closed down as such. Thank you
ive been really looking into Bim for a while now and i really cant think of anything wrong with the company. They use a pyramid style paying system but last time i checked thats wat id say about 90% of all jobs pay like, i mean lets look at a "respected job" like contrusction. Youve got your "boss" who would be at the top, then lets say you got your contractor or 2. Then the crew has lets say 3 or 4 forman suppervising the work. then of course 6-8 labourers thats finished the lower level of the pyramid. i mean lets face, if there is any kind of "higher titles" in ur job that creat better income i bet ur work tree looks something like a pyramid, but yet i dont see people running around yelling pyramid scheme there because its GUARANTEED MONEY. Whens the last time someone borrowed money frum the bank, failed on their buisness venture and came back to the bank sayin "hey ya know that money
Hi, Well done Wendy ,I have talked to Robert both by phone and email.He is a most special man ,I gained lots of insite from him. It is quite amazing the number of pyramid type schemes that operate throughout Canada.I had no idea of the depth of this activity ,some are large corporations, charitable and high profile. A company called World Financial Group recruited my wife.It took quite some time for the problem to become evident . We are now in the process of divorcing , and financially its been devastating.We have two nice boys and my priority is to do my best for them.
Keep up the good work. Edward
Although I do not agree with BIM's every practice, and feel that there is misguidance on their part, I believe there has been a low standard set by the CBC, and poor information supplied when it comes to anti-BIM claims. There needs to be legitimate details about the Google vs. UltraLife Club comparisons which readers/viewers can research, simply address and decide for themselves via links or other sources which have not as yet been satisfactorily provided.
Also, it seems that there was a lack of credible sources on BIM's behalf to propose a balanced argument, since only the founder was interviewed. He would obviously be pro-BIM, since he set it up, and therefore his opinion would be biased. Support from satisfied customers would provide a more sufficient argument since they are not going to be as biased as the originator.
Hello:)
The question is not "IF" this scheme will be shut down..it's "WHEN".
There's no question you can make money hand over fist..BUT...who's still on the ship when it goes down?
your cousin? best friend? Dad? Mom?
Is this money worth those relationships? Will you pay them with your profits?
Again CBC stood by their reputation of completely biased reporting. Like so many others have asked, why did you not get one single report from satisfied BIM distributors? It didn't suit your story, that's why. Tell us where the sites are you can google to get the deals you talk about. I am a travel agent and I cannot find them. So PLEASE tell us. Every business, government, agency out there is a pyramid, going by your definition. And your EXPERT? - I went on his link to get his MLM report - and guess what - he wants money for his product - beyond the value of the product? Talk about a scam!!
You feel that providing viewers with the reasons Mr. Mclusky was suspended from BIM (continued unethical behaviour, in spite of 3 separate warnings) is a separate story aside from the main focus. But highlighting a tragic car accident involving Mr. Kippax is viewed by you as relevant.
It is easy to see why you omitted the first and showcased the second: the first would hightlight BIM's integrity in dealing with unethical distributors, while the second lends an air of a smear against Mr. Kippax.
Which was the true focus of the whole piece.
Every BIM distributor is an indenpent business owner.
In business world losing money is normal.
Why do you just post the negitive not all the hundrets of postive comments?
I appreciate you getting back to me and realize you can not reply in detail to all the mail. I would however really like to know what website you went to to find the comparisons with Ultralife. I have really given it a serious try and can not come up with anything and I work with computers so I am not computer illiterate. Thanks, Colin.
By your definition of Pyramid, every government is a pyramid: one Prime minsiter, the a group of Primiers, then local govenment, and below all these, we the taxpayers! I submit that our govenment is a far larger and more worthless scheme. I have made money with BIM, have used the products (without the need of direction from some American expert or self motivated travel agent) and have found the products to be of great value! Please start your investigations without the conclusion pre-determined. I do miss some of the features on CBC and would like to be able to return as a viewer/listener.
Hello Marketplace. I would like to thank you;
Thank you for taking the time to explain exactly how you completely misunderstand the difference between BIM’s pay structure and a pyramid scheme. I would take the time to explain it to you, but honestly….
Thank you for admitting that you couldn’t be bothered to interview any of the thousands of distributors who are very happy with BIM.
Thank you for admitting that it didn’t suit your purpose to expose the truth about Scott Mclusky (The so-called victim) and how he was quite happy with BIM until he was kicked out for dishonest business practices.
Thank you for refusing to provide the magical website you used on your show despite being asked time and time again.
Thank you for providing the link to your so-called pyramid scheme expert. It shows that he even thinks Amway is a scam and he is looking for handouts from the public.
Thank you for not bothering to include the dozens of positive BIM letters on your comments page, shedding the light even brighter on how you conduct yourselves.
Also, thank you for giving me a good laugh. When Alan Kippax took Wendy Mesley up on her challenge and she didn’t know what to do, she fell apart quicker than a house of cards. The only thing she could think of saying was that ridiculous comment about going outside for a street fight. I guess she was lucky she was able to go back to the editing room and include some voice-overs to try to redeem herself.
Answer the questions
1. What website from Google was used to find beter deals?? Whay is this so hard to answer? It is a SIMPLE question
2. What did the competition bureau decide?...
I work at a hotel and see scams like this one all the time. They always come in wearing suits and promise instant and huge profits. The "rich dad" guy told me how they watch out for what they call, "seminar junkies." Most people if they were to just google search about the company, would avoid the massive headaches caused by this type of scheme. Some people commenting and saying this is biased journalism, I suspect may be involved in these schemes albeit they may think they are doing nothing wrong. They might be the lucky ones who made money from a plan like this. However, they should look at what they may be doing to other people as they scam them into the scheme.
I would still like to know how I can do a google search to find the same pricing that the UltraLife Culb gives? I did a google search for 45 minutes and did not find these comparable prices. What should I be typing in my google search? I am not sure why you are saying that BIM does not have any customers because according to my knowlege you do not have to become a BIM distributor but you can just buy the product. As a BIM distributor I can also sell the product and not have people join the board. Get your facts and stories straight! Is BIM going to be shut down or not? Who is the governing body a can call? You guys have questionable journalism pratices.
Your defence of your misleading reporting is pathetic. I will bet you cencore my right to share my thoughts as you only allow nice things to said about you.
Again your Q&A skirts the questions. In my opinion you proved absolutely nothing, and will stand proudly with BiM always. Become a distributor and see for yourself!!!
Why did you only display negative comments in your comment section? I know of many positive comments that were sent to you and yet you chose not to display those. Why? Something to hide? Whatever it takes to increase ratings, eh?