Is Wake Up Now Club a scam?

[Darren Johnston]

RS:

Simple Trigger I have had the exact opposite experience on this very thread then you have described. I opened up and described in detail the discounts that I had been able to utilize from this program personally, and was called a liar by a moderator. I apologize if my grammar was flawed and I hope that isn't a reflection on the type of person I am... In actuality it may be a far greater indicator of who you are judging people based on their ability to sentence structure correctly. I mean, what if it is their second language? Does that mean they are less intelligent than say you? I am not accusing you of this type of generalization only pointing out based on what you typed it could easily be inferred.

Darren you also describe an experience I have to assume is fabricated in order to make your case, ironically exactly what I was accused of by the moderator but I have yet to see anyone call you out on it. Are you citing personal experience with the program or are you making assumptions to validate your position? This is an honest question.

The reason I ask is that my cell phone discount was applied immediately but you contest it probably won't happen, would happen at a lesser degree, or wouldn't happen for several months.

Additionally you reference Wells Fargo personal finance package in lieu of the finance program this company offers. What if I don't bank with them or more likely what if I'm concerned that the information they provide might be potentially littered with marketing and propaganda used to guide me into their profit ranges. I am confident that since this website is so dedicated to informing the hapless public that you surely know that any "free" product is not in any way free but actually is using subscribers to generate profit. i.e. data analytics, marketing, partnership ads, etc. When you subscribe to a "free" service you need to do so with far greater caution than a paid service typically but it seems in this case the obvious nature of this relationship is being ignored or at a minimum dismissed.

I haven't used the ID Theft program but even if it's as you claim a worthwhile expense at $9 a month why wouldn't it be a $9 a month value?

You also failed to identify what I think is one of the larger values in the program, TaxBot. Maybe because I work for myself or because I'm a numbers dork but I really like the tool and it has saved me vastly more than the things that you mention but you didn't even address it.

Coupons are useless for the most part in any case because they direct you to name brand products and the vast percentage of them are pre packaged. I like to buy base ingredients when I can usually bulk and find it saves far more than coupons ever do. Additionally I think the trend with coupons is that you typically end up buying things maybe you wouldn't have purchased otherwise which really puts you at the whim of marketers and retailers attempts to influence your purchases. It's the same reasons grocery stores are laid out with the produce generally being leveraged immediately to the right upon entry so they are the first products you choose because we have discovered that if consumers purchase their healthy items first they are far more likely to purchase high profit unhealthy crap we place close to the aisles at checkout. But you don't dismiss the value of coupons only the value of printing them off with this program.

I mentioned previously that I saved $160 on tickets to Disneyland. I spent a lot of time trying to find the same or better discounts anywhere and wasn't able too.

I am not supporting their get rich with this program recruiting people mentality.. that seems like a fools errand but the constant scam accusation seems as ridiculous as me quitting my job to work for an MLM full time.

I only pay $24.95 a month and I receive far greater benefit than that investment which seems to me would be the exact nature of a worthwhile retail product; which oddly enough I think a few people on this very thread have tried to suggest was non existent?

Again with no moderation from the "moderators" who seem to have a dog in this fight... And the dog doesn't appear to be giving their subscribers quality thoughtful and logical information, it appears that nobody here is providing anything other than hearsay, conjecture, and hyperbole.

Granted I understood when I signed up for this free forum that it wasn't free because my information would be monetized but I did expect the information to be far more intelligent and useful than this thread has been. Buyer beware I suppose.

I guess the point I've been trying, with no success, to make is that if this website is here for people to get unbiased, factual, and honest information or answers to questions then why do the moderators all such clearly biased and unrequited information to slip by? I of course have my thoughts as to why but maybe it's something that you should all be asking yourselves.

I will quickly sum up the problems of your post.

[1]
RS: "...and was called a liar by a moderator."

The moderator never called you a liar. Feel free to prove me wrong on this one.

[2]
RS: "the reason I ask is that my cell phone discount was applied immediately but you contest it probably won't happen, would happen at a lesser degree, or wouldn't happen for several months."

I will post discussions from the official forums.att.com website regarding users that applied for the corporate application.

life02: "As far as the corporate discount is concerned, it will vary from company to company. My company discount is 25% service for my spouse and I. There are restricitons, however, such as the discount doesn't apply to Iphone data packages, etc. There is no way knowing what the corporate discount will cover for you specifically, if anything at all. Are you on a family plan with you mom? If not, the discount may not even apply."

charjen: "BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! they tell you there is a corporate discount, they encourage you to apply! Then they give you the run-a-round! Your numbers are wrong, your identification isn't the right kind. you will send in your papers dozens of times and never get acknowledgment that they were received, and when you call they tell you the numbers were wrong. AGAIN!. We, at my job, were told by a A T & T salesperson that we were eligible, and all who carried A T & T all applied. NOT ONE PERSON has received a discount of any kind. not one! We started the process in April of 2011 and here it is December! don't fall into a paperwork trap! Just know that A T & T says they will, but they are being so dishonest when they say that. ITS ALL A LIE!"

Now, I can't say from personal experience that they are correct, but i'm more inclined to believe someone who doesn't benefit financially from recruiting others by making claims about savings on your monthly phone bill.

Also worth noting is your previous claim about your monthly cell phone savings:

RS: "...as I explained earlier I knew I wouldn't lose money because I was getting the extra 7% off a month on my cell bill. That covered most of the cost at $24.95 so it seemed like a no risk venture.

Bjl584 pointed out: "If $24.95 represents 7% of your monthly cell phone bill, then your monthly cell phone bill is $356.43. "

First of all, why didn't save 22% like WakeUpNow claims you can save up to? Why were you only qualified for a 7% savings? Second of all, why the heck do have a $356.64 monthly cellphone bill? The corporate discount is not a discount on your monthly cellphone bill, it's on the plan itself. Life02 states in the AT&T forums that the discount excluded iphone data packages, ect,. Your argument is looking very empty here.

[3]
RS: "Additionally you reference Wells Fargo personal finance package in lieu of the finance program this company offers. What if I don't bank with them or more likely what if I'm concerned that the information they provide might be potentially littered with marketing and propaganda used to guide me into their profit ranges. I am confident that since this website is so dedicated to informing the hapless public that you surely know that any "free" product is not in any way free but actually is using subscribers to generate profit. i.e. data analytics, marketing, partnership ads, etc."

Then I'm sure that other banks have some version of free budgeting tools, too. There is no need to pay for this service by joining WakeUpNow for a $100 monthly fee. It's funny you would exclude the possibility of WakeUpNow using your budgeting information from analytis, marketing, partnership ads ect,. but assume that WellsFargo is doing it. WellsFargo generates profit by having customers, it's not a "free" per se, but the service doesn't cost members whereas the budgeting tools from WakeUpNow does. If anything, a newly created, dishonest business like WakeUpNow is much more likely to take advantage of its customers than a national 100-year old bank. On top of that, you haven't shown any proof that Wells Fargo or any other bank uses its budgeting tools for marketing or any other information. Sources for your claim that they "might potentially be" using these budgeting tools for this kind of purpose?

[4]
RS: "I haven't used the ID Theft program but even if it's as you claim a worthwhile expense at $9 a month why wouldn't it be a $9 a month value?"

I'm not excluding the possibility that ID theft is worth $9 a month. But if I want ID theft protection, I would rather pay for a trusted brand with my $9 a month instead of my $100 for the inclusion of an off-brand kind that WakeUpNow offers.

[5]
RS: "You also failed to identify what I think is one of the larger values in the program, TaxBot. Maybe because I work for myself or because I'm a numbers dork but I really like the tool and it has saved me vastly more than the things that you mention but you didn't even address it."

Then pay $9.99 a month as a standalone service for TaxBot. There are cheaper alternatives to TaxBot also.

[6]
RS: "Coupons are useless for the most part in any case because they direct you to name brand products and the vast percentage of them are pre packaged. I like to buy base ingredients when I can usually bulk and find it saves far more than coupons ever do."

Actually you can shop all coupons available by store. So the stores you usually grocery shop at will give you a list of coupons. There are coupons available for base ingredients also. I'm really not sure what you're even trying to prove here. The coupons WakeUpNow offers are exactly the same as the ones currently offered by distributors online.

[7]
RS: "I mentioned previously that I saved $160 on tickets to Disneyland. I spent a lot of time trying to find the same or better discounts anywhere and wasn't able too."

You can make all the claims in the world. "saving" $160 can mean a lot of things. Is it the retail price offered vs. other discounted price available elsewhere? In any case, you could just save $200 by staying out of the business for 2 months and have an extra $40 to buy yourself dinner while you're there.

[8]
RS: "I am not supporting their get rich with this program recruiting people mentality.. that seems like a fools errand but the constant scam accusation seems as ridiculous as me quitting my job to work for an MLM full time"

A scam is a "dishonest scheme" according to dictionary.com. When 82% of people in the business lose money but they market it as a way to "start making money today" then yes, this company is a dishonest scheme therefore it is a scam.

[9]
RS: "I only pay $24.95 a month and I receive far greater benefit than that investment which seems to me would be the exact nature of a worthwhile retail product; which oddly enough I think a few people on this very thread have tried to suggest was non existent?"

You have only made claims and haven't shown any evidence. Your monthly cellphone bill savings for example.

[10]
RS: "Again with no moderation from the "moderators" who seem to have a dog in this fight... And the dog doesn't appear to be giving their subscribers quality thoughtful and logical information, it appears that nobody here is providing anything other than hearsay, conjecture, and hyperbole."

Referencing the losses of the income disclosure, it's logical to say that is not a worthy investment. You bring no evidence to back up your claims whereas they reference the facts. Who wins here? Not you.

[RSinsights]

You're kidding right?

The moderator most certainly called me a liar by inference.

Darren if you will read my comments you will see that I had a current discount of 15% a month from an employer but since the wakeupnow was 22% I gained a 7% increase.

When you pay for a service you become the client. When you do not pay for a service you become the product. It would seem that you are suggesting that all software is equal as long as it's free, which is not the case at all in any estimation or any vertical. If that is your argument you are incorrect. Also if you are suggesting after the financial crisis that we have been subjected too that we should trust implicitly banking institutions to act in the best interests of their customers then you have been under a rock for the past ten years and have no right to advise on financial matters.

If you read what I wrote about coupons it had nothing to do with traveling to different stores. My point was I don't give a rats backside about any of them because of the issues I explained and thus I didn't include any of that in the value I received from the program.

So if I get a cell phone discount, use a $9 a month protection service, and pay $9.99 for TaxBot then I am ahead correct? Even if I don't utilize the Disney discount that I received or if I use the finance software or the vacations or whatever other crap they provide. Even given your numbers alone I am still getting those services at a lower rate than I would outside of the program and that is using your very invested estimates of personal value.

Evidence? I have given my evidence I have described my experience what evidence would suffice? I do not see any evidence given from the moderators of their positions what evidence are you claiming here? It's offensive that you Darren would ask for evidence when you have cited none. You have no actually experience you are only presuming what your experience would be. I'm not sure of the definition of admissible evidence but I wonder if it would pass. The only evidence that I have seen given by anyone other than my personal experience has been citing the financials of the organization showing that very few who work in the MLM side of things make any money. This doesn't need to be cited because I have consistently explained that "I DONT RECRUIT".

I have no idea why I would need to provide evidence of my experience if nobody was suggesting I was a liar Darren do you? Clearly again the suggestion is obvious and I am not so dumb to miss your point.

You clearly haven't bothered to read what I have written. The entire time you continue to reference a $100 a month investment when I have repeatedly defined my experience having paid $24.95 a month. You suggest my information can't be trusted because I am recruiting for the company when I have consistently explained that I don't recruit nor do I have any interest in ever recruiting.

The reason I posted originally was because I had a good experience with the company in question. I laid out clearly what was of value to me and what was not and how the numbers worked in my situation. After I took the time to contribute I was virtually attacked and my character was questioned, repeatedly now, all because my personal experience didn't fit with what many of the posters felt would likely happen. In honesty, if you bother to read my post you would have noticed that the experience surprised me as well. I didn't anticipate a good experience but in spite of that it has been.

Now instead of enraging you or others more because I dared to share my experience I will stop posting and let you rest so you can save your voice for the next schoolyard dispute that you need to engage in on this forum.

[Darren Johnston]

...

The moderator most certainly called me a liar by inference.

Darren if you will read my comments you will see that I had a current discount of 15% a month from an employer but since the wakeupnow was 22% I gained a 7% increase.

When you pay for a service you become the client. When you do not pay for a service you become the product. It would seem that you are suggesting that all software is equal as long as it's free, which is not the case at all in any estimation or any vertical. If that is your argument you are incorrect. Also if you are suggesting after the financial crisis that we have been subjected too that we should trust implicitly banking institutions to act in the best interests of their customers then you have been under a rock for the past ten years and have no right to advise on financial matters.

If you read what I wrote about coupons it had nothing to do with traveling to different stores. My point was I don't give a rats backside about any of them because of the issues I explained and thus I didn't include any of that in the value I received from the program.

So if I get a cell phone discount, use a $9 a month protection service, and pay $9.99 for TaxBot then I am ahead correct? Even if I don't utilize the Disney discount that I received or if I use the finance software or the vacations or whatever other crap they provide. Even given your numbers alone I am still getting those services at a lower rate than I would outside of the program and that is using your very invested estimates of personal value.

Evidence? I have given my evidence I have described my experience what evidence would suffice? I do not see any evidence given from the moderators of their positions what evidence are you claiming here? It's offensive that you Darren would ask for evidence when you have cited none. You have no actually experience you are only presuming what your experience would be. I'm not sure of the definition of admissible evidence but I wonder if it would pass. The only evidence that I have seen given by anyone other than my personal experience has been citing the financials of the organization showing that very few who work in the MLM side of things make any money. This doesn't need to be cited because I have consistently explained that "I DONT RECRUIT".

I have no idea why I would need to provide evidence of my experience if nobody was suggesting I was a liar Darren do you? Clearly again the suggestion is obvious and I am not so dumb to miss your point.

You clearly haven't bothered to read what I have written. The entire time you continue to reference a $100 a month investment when I have repeatedly defined my experience having paid $24.95 a month. You suggest my information can't be trusted because I am recruiting for the company when I have consistently explained that I don't recruit nor do I have any interest in ever recruiting.

The reason I posted originally was because I had a good experience with the company in question. I laid out clearly what was of value to me and what was not and how the numbers worked in my situation. After I took the time to contribute I was virtually attacked and my character was questioned, repeatedly now, all because my personal experience didn't fit with what many of the posters felt would likely happen. In honesty, if you bother to read my post you would have noticed that the experience surprised me as well. I didn't anticipate a good experience but in spite of that it has been.

Now instead of enraging you or others more because I dared to share my experience I will stop posting and let you rest so you can save your voice for the next schoolyard dispute that you need to engage in on this forum.

But to say he called you a liar isn't true, because he didn't. You are making the assumption that he inferred that you were lying.

I'm not saying you don't have a 22% discount through WakeUpNow, I'm just saying you haven't provided any evidence other than claims. There's no verifiable source other than the WakeUpNow websites that states that you can save "up to" 22%. Is there any anonymous info you can link showing the company name and 22% discount?

I am not stating that "all software is equal as long as it's free" sometimes free products are superior and sometimes they are inferior to paid products. In any case, if the claim is made that the product of wakeupnow is superior to one that is free, it must be proven. The burden of proof is on the person promoting or endorsing the service to prove why their service is better. Otherwise it's a baseless claim.

My point still stands that "grocery discounts" should never have been listed as a perk in the business. They are betting on the fact that people assume they give discounts exclusively by being a paying member of WakeUpNow. This is not the case at all and their "grocery discounts" are just freely available coupons.

My issue is really not with the services they offer but the business scheme of paying $100 a month and claiming that it helps you financially when the income disclosure statement says otherwise. As for the $25 a month deal, if you are looking for a tax deduction program, want(off brand)ID theft protection, and don't mind running the risk of not being accepted for your corporate discount but end up saving on your phone bill for $25 a month then maybe this company is for you. I just haven't seen any evidence other than vague claims, but maybe someone else will find your experience enticing.

[buildachampionlife]

Need to get with something Proven

I have seen these things come and go. These are the types of things that give the industry a bad name.

Stay with something that has been in existence for over 10 years, and is part of DSA, that is why I got involved with something in existence for over 20 years of proven success, with national tv exposure, national sponsorships, and more. If interested would be glad to discuss. Blessings.

[RaymondMichael]

Wake Up Now a scam? get real

I have MINIMAL experience in Network Marketing. I'm just a regular 29 year old guy with kids and bills just like you. I got in the company in February and within 9 days I was making an extra 600 a month RESIDUALLY. I now make 5,000 a month RESIDUALLY every single month. I can show ALL the proof of what we do... how we do it... the AMAZING benefits this company offers you which are nothing like most network marketing companies. Anyone screaming scam has not done their homework. Get real people anyone who wants to debate with me will lose. PERIOD. you won't have a leg to stand on. I have 20 year olds on my team who make 20,000 a MONTH in just a few months. And again, i can show PROOF.

PROUD of this company and all its done for me and my friends. if you can prove ONE ASPECT of what i say is a lie i will personally pay you 1,000 out of my own pocket. So go ahead and give me all you got on why its a "scam" and ill destroy every argument you make.

[lorraineb]

I have MINIMAL experience in Network Marketing. I'm just a regular 29 year old guy with kids and bills just like you. I got in the company in February and within 9 days I was making an extra 600 a month RESIDUALLY. I now make 5,000 a month RESIDUALLY every single month. I can show ALL the proof of what we do... how we do it... the AMAZING benefits this company offers you which are nothing like most network marketing companies. Anyone screaming scam has not done their homework. Get real people anyone who wants to debate with me will lose. PERIOD. you won't have a leg to stand on. I have 20 year olds on my team who make 20,000 a MONTH in just a few months. And again, i can show PROOF.

PROUD of this company and all its done for me and my friends. if you can prove ONE ASPECT of what i say is a lie i will personally pay you 1,000 out of my own pocket. So go ahead and give me all you got on why its a "scam" and ill destroy every argument you make.

Great. Please show proof of start date, 9 days later a check for $600 and a current check for $5000. Also a $20,000 check from a team member. I'm ready to be destroyed.

[Petunia 100]

Great. Please show proof of start date, 9 days later a check for $600 and a current check for $5000. Also a $20,000 check from a team member. I'm ready to be destroyed.

What is the time limit? I want to know how long I have to wait for this proof before the game is called and I am awarded my 1k.

[KeepCalm]

************************************************** **

So it looks like some big names, from the hip-hop industry, decided to Wake Up Now

Soulja Boy, M2ThaK, Sean Kingston, and other members of S.O.D.M.G.

These people already make hundreds of millions of dollars, (more than anyone makes here on this forum) and saw the potential of Wake Up Now...not only to add to their income, but to utilize what they provide...such as the Vacation Club.

Like what M2ThaK says; "We woke up now, ya'll wake up now"

[downline]

There is no scam here. It's just a different way of marketing products. If it's not for you, it's not for you, but people who are committed and work hard can make money in time.

[KrystalTaylor]

I joined wakeupnow 7 weeks ago - PHOTOS INSIDE

I joined wakeupnow 7 weeks ago when approached with the opportunity online. At first I was thinking that it sounded too good to be true but I did a little research and found out that some of my other facebook friends had already joined. So I took the plunge and I joined too. I start referring people to WakeUpNow and within 15 days I hit a bonus. I was already given a free membership at that point just for referring 3 people. So I was like WOW cool.. maybe this does work.... I then got those 3 people I signed up 3 people underneath each of them and I had a bonus in my back office that said they owed me $600 dollars. So I ordered the wakeupnow visa credit card and waited in the mail. On the 15th of the month it was showing as available funds so I transferred to my card and what do you KNOW I went to the bank and with drawled the money. No scam I got paid and I had the cash in my hand. BOY that just lit a fire under my behind and I got busy.. Over the next month I personally referred 60 people into wakeupnow and kept building my team placing my signups under my teammates... Now month two payout is coming soon and its $1,000 dollars. I am only 4 signups away from hitting founder 4. thats 2,000 a month PLUS bonuses and vacation bonus for a free vacation once a month. THIS IS REAL RESIDUAL INCOME FROM A COMPANY THAT PAYS. They are based outside of utah and have corporate events and everything. If you do not believe my word.. go to youtube and search "wakeupnow proof" or and see for yourself! I would be so mad at my self if I would have passed up this amazing life changing company.

[shaggy]

************************************************** **

So it looks like some big names, from the hip-hop industry, decided to Wake Up Now

Soulja Boy, M2ThaK, Sean Kingston, and other members of S.O.D.M.G.

*cough* big names, indeed.

[lorraineb]

There is no scam here. It's just a different way of marketing products. If it's not for you, it's not for you, but people who are committed and work hard can make money in time.

The original question was whether people could easily make a lot of money from it -- that statement is false and what everyone is calling a scam.

[truth2013]

I was pressured by a friend to join. After losing money and a lot of headache time I cut my losses and got out.

Below I discuss what wakeupnow offers and compare it to what is available on the internet.

A big selling point in wakeupnow is taxbot, the accounting system they let you access. You can go directly to taxbot.com and get it for $9.99 a month on the internet with a "try it Free for 14 days" offer to see if you would even use it.

Shop on the intenet and you may find better accounting systems than taxbot like a professional version of quickbooks that costs $13 a month and appears to be much more advanced than taxbot.

Wakeupnow membership lets you access a language program tellmemore but you can go directly to 'tellmemore.com' and buy a 1 to 4 year program for $74.25 with a 7 day free trial.

Wakeupnow membership lets you access a vacation club but it cost you an additional $100 to the monthly wakeupnow fee and has very limited times and places you can go to, and they cost money. You can find similar vacation discounts for free on the internet.

Wakeupnow coupons for discounts to places like Macys are given out free on the internet, wakeupnow free coupons are also given out free on the internet.

Wakeupnow discounts you get on your AT&T bill is just for the primary user, so on a $60 basic plan the discount would be about $13.20, no discounts on texting fees and no discounts on anyone else you added like in the family plan. No discount on those with unlimited plans and if you already have a corporate discount you will lose it and may not be able to get it back after you leave wakeupnow.

Why spend $100 a month on items you can get free anyway, apps and programs you can get free or for a very low cost, language program you probably won't use and if you want to learn a language you can buy a good program for much less than $100 per month.

Remember when you join wakeupnow.com you are spending $1200 per year. There is no satisfaction guarantee where you can get your money back. They will not return 100% of your last charge as they deduct fees.

[truth2013]

wakeupnow and at&t

I called at&t and they said you have to have proof you are an employee of wakeupnow to get any discount, indicating a salaried employee that works directly for wakeup now, not a distributor. I noticed a wakeup distributor comment it had been months of trying to get a discount with no luck. Also, remember wakeupnow tells you it is up to a 22% discount, indicating your discount could be 0%.

The significance of this is they use the cell phone discount as a big pressure point to insist you join as it will save people huge amounts, more than the $100 monthly fee.

[Timbush]

I was just looking at that.. Not!

I like real numbers, and a real service.. I found a great program with a great non profit program and am just going to keep on that process..