FHTM & Their Personal Web Page or PWP
Posted on May 10, 2007
Filed Under General |
I’ve recently received a lot of emails from people who read my previous post on Fortune High Tech Marketing, ( FHTM ), and asked if I could share some of my concerns about the company. Let me say that I am not now, nor have I ever been, associated with FHTM, so my concerns are based off of information I’ve read or gathered from individuals who are reps for the company.
My post today is not to bash FHTM, but more about helping those that are reps or are considering joining. This includes several friends of mine.
Here is a big concern of mine. Their “Personal Web Page or “PWP”? Let me make sure I understand this…there are two plans, the FHTM “basic” web page for $19.95 per month, (with a $19.95 setup fee). Or the FHTM “Pro” system at $29.95 per month (with a $29.95 setup fee).
Now I don’t know if you’ve looked at your buddies web page, but guess what…it looks just like yours! Why? You’re not buying a website here…you’re getting a web template with your name on it and a place where you can put your picture and a personalized message on it! You’re paying all that money for a webpage that, as quoted states, “watch your revenues skyrocket!” Do you feel like it’s made your revenues, “skyrocket”? Having a web page or website is really cool and all, but if it’s not doing anything beneficial for you, whats the purpose?
I know this for certain….I can host “unlimited” domains with my webhost for less than $10 per month, provided I don’t exceed storage and bandwidth limits. I probably have 25 domains, (this is not 25 static web pages…these are actual websites with anywhere from 5 to 75 pages each), live on that account right now, and I haven’t even come close to my limits. I feel pretty confident I could host a hundred or so domains and never have any problems…all for less than $10 per month. But the FHTM reps, the ones that are out there calling on people, working their butts off to sign up new customers, are asked to pay between $19.95 and $29.95 each?!?! That just seems wrong to me? Now if you question someone about this, I’m sure they’ll tell you that FHTM has “spent millions of dollars putting together and maintaining this high tech, complex computer network”. I’ve spent the last 18 years working with computers….I don’t see anything fancy in what they’re doing?
Let me throw together some quick numbers, just for the heck of it. I don’t have a clue how many reps there are in the US that are using this PWP. Since you get a “point” for having it, and since you’re told that your business will “skyrocket” by using it, I’d say that the majority are signed up and paying for this. And…just for grins…lets say the total number of paying reps is 25000 people, (wild ass guess) And, let’s just pick a median figure of $24.95 a month, (in between the basic and the pro plans). My calculator says the total monthly revenue from those figures is about $623,750! Almost $7.5 million per year! Those aren’t bad numbers when you consider that the hosting for all those web pages is probably less than $5k per month. Heck…what if there are 50000 reps or more using it? Corporate doesn’t have to make money off of services or vitamins…they can sit back and make a killing off web hosting for their own reps!
I’m sure there will be those that will defend the company and send me nasty letters. I’m ok with that, and maybe someone can even convince me that I’m way off base with my projections? Before you get all worked up and mad at me, you need to ask yourself how much more money you’d have in your pocket if the company that is supposed to be supporting you, wasn’t hitting you up for that monthly fee? The least they could do is sell you the basic plan for $4.95 a month and the pro for $9.95 per month. They’d still be making a lot of money but it wouldn’t hurt you guys so bad. I know of some other network marketing companies that don’t charge their people anything for their web page!
If I’m way off base here, someone please leave comments and help me straighten things out. I’m a reasonable person and will admit I’m wrong if thats the case. Please share your thoughts!
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42 Responses to “FHTM & Their Personal Web Page or PWP”
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I’m not very familiar with FHTM (my husband was approached about it recently). But I suspect (as with other network marketing companies) you will not even be allowed to promote the website which you’ll be paying high dollar for, except on your business card. Most network marketing companies do not allow you to post your URL on other sites, blogs, etc. I’m not referring to spam comments. I’m referring to other websites that allow you to post your business URL. This seems to defeat the whole purpose of having a website in the first place.
Hi Julie! Yes, I can’t say that I’m aware of their rules regarding promotion of their site elsewhere? You’re exactly right though…what good is a website if the only way you can promote it is by handing someone your business card?
By the way, I checked out your blog and I really like it! You’ve done a great job and have some wonderful information there. I’ll be reading it often!
Chris
complain complain
please email me because I would really like to talk to you about options…
[…] Please see latest post on FHTM here. […]
I think you have made a good point..But what you did not consider is the fact of the Back Office..
Fortune actually keeps up with all spenditures and such that I use to build my business as well as Keeping our business intact with Downline reports and keeping up with how many points any one of our Reps might have…There are a lot of uses for the Website that you might not be aware of.that is very useful to the FHTM Rep.
Thanks For your time….
Tim
Please tell me where I can get all those website hosting for less that $10.a month.
Tks.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for your comment. I won’t disagree with what you’re saying. I think if you’re pretty active in the business, then it may well be worth the money to you. I haven’t seen the “Back office” or what it is capable of.
I’m afraid there are a LOT of people who aren’t as active as you are and really aren’t getting the benefit of the system like you are. I’d be willing to bet that there are a ton of people that are throwing away $20 or $30 per month and never even check their website. Now…is that Fortune’s fault? No…it’s not. It just seems like there would be a way to keep costs down for the new reps that aren’t making much in the beginning. Heck…maybe a $5 a month plan until you hit $X amount of income per month then you step up to the next level or something like that? One thing is for sure…if a person is trying to do this part-time, chances are that for a while the finances are going to be tough. I would think that Fortune would give the new folks a break so they could keep them profitable and keep them motivated. But…thats just my way of thinking.
Again, thanks for your insightful comments and have a good day!
Chris
Hi A Starkey,
For my websites, I use Hostgator for my hosting. Thanks
Chris
Chris… thanks for posting both blogs. I was recently appoached to attend a meeting in Kelowna, Canada and immediatly, the antennaes went up… “what is this??” Not to seem critical, but many of the services and products promoted by the company are simply not available up here.
The person who contacted me said I would be a perfect match for FHTM due to my outgoing personality, my contacts and my chrisma. Hardly… I am very shy, do not like to market anything and hate the phone. I really don’t like bugging friends, family or nieghbours any more than I like them calling me.!!
The meeting is scheduled for next week at a very impressive venue. After reading your blogs and the comments of others responding to each of them, it is not likely that I will attend. Thanks for your help. See, I have already “earned some money”.
Hi Randy,
You know…some people are cut out for that type of business, and some are not. There are a LOT of people that get in the business that just should not be in it, period! I’m one of them. I would suck at something like Fortune for all the same reasons you mentioned. When people hound you and bug you and pester you to join, “because you would be great at it”, that should signal that something isn’t right. Sounds like you picked up on that and will make the right choice for “you”.
Best of luck to you in the future!
Chris
Hi Chris,
I’m very glad that I found this site. I have recently been approached by some friends who just joined FHTM. They know next to nothing about network marketing (neither do I)but they decided to give Fortune a try and thought I might be interested and/or have some insight because I am in direct sales.
Although I see some similarities, a lot of this just doesn’t add up for me. The website thing is one of them. In my business, I am selling products and I have a catalog to order from. My company provides, at NO COST TO ME, a public website where my customers can also view the entire catalog online and place orders. They simply put in my name or ID number and I get credit and commission for the sale just as I would if they contacted me directly to place the order. There is also a representative side of the site that keeps me updated with company news as well as current and upcoming specials. It also tracks all of my orders, commissions, and keeps a report on my downline. Again, the cost to me is NOTHING!!
All of that said, the website issue is not my biggest concern. My problem is asking people to not only fork over hundreds of dollars up front, but to also commit to monthly payments for “points” before I’m even convinced that there is money in doing this. I only paid $150 to “join” this direct selling business and I didn’t even consider asking anyone else to try it until I knew there was definitely money to be made! Now, 3 1/2 years later, I can and do sing the praises of this company and the people behind it every chance I get. I know there is money to be made and I know the people running this company are exactly what they claim to be, and more. But - I didn’t know that in the beginning.
There is a small group meeting this weekend to learn more about Fortune and I may attend. If I do, I feel better prepared now. Thanks!!
Hi Janet,
I’m glad you found the information on FHTM useful. Thanks for your comment and I’ll be glad to post a link to your website if you’d like? Just let me know what it is. Sounds like you’ve found success there.
Thanks
Chris
Chris,
WOW you have a very refreshing, mature way of discussing a topic that can so easily become nasty. My husband was asked to sign up with FHTM, the person 2 levels above him paid the $299 for him and afew others to join.(A little shady if you ask me!) I am not a fan of MLM, to put it mildly, however I support my husbands decision to persue it on his own.I echo your sentiments, they (MLM’s) are not for everyone, most people I know who are involved in them go from one to the next to the next and that is their job they are not financially free. To each his own, being content in your station of life what ever it may be that is being free.
Hi Chris,
I was recently approached by a friend who joined FHTM and asked me if I was interested. I went to one of the meetings to check it out and although it all sounds exciting my gut feeling tells me to stay away from it. I don’t see why I need to pay a large amount of money to start working for a company and to pay monthly for website hosting and a product I don’t even need. I have 2 side business in direct selling where I do have a access to a website at no cost and joined for a minor amount of money. But that was to actually buy product or inventory to do my shows and sell. I am doing good with that. I won’t get rich but I don’t believe there are “getting rich quickly” solutions out there. Thank you for your information.
It is quite interesting to see the numbers of people who know nothing about FHTM and still comment. If you would look into the specifics of the business you would see that a rep is not required to purchase the website or buy anything for that matter. We are required to gather 10 customers. We have contracts with all the major cell carriers; Verizon, Alltel, Sprint, ATT and so on. Other services include Dish Network and GE Home Security and many others. Our services are the exact same services at the exact same prices or less. I would rather buy a service, like a cell phone, from my friend if it would help him or her out. We are not allowed to advertise our services because it is a conflict with our partners like ATT or DISH. This, after all is called Network Marketing, friends telling friends. If by chance anyone has been pressured to join then I understand some of the negative comments. This business is not for everyone. It is not a get rich quick scheme, although most people have jobs that are a get rich NEVER scheme and they work for their company, who by the way is the one getting rich, for years with nothing in return. I chose to work for myself, using the FHTM business model. I am very respectful of my friends, family, and clients. I think that I have been successful at FHTM because I choose to approach people differently. Being honest is the only way to truly succeed in anything. Please, if you don’t know about FHTM then don’t comment. Look into it. Research it. Then decide if it is for you. If it is not for you then enjoy your day job and let me enjoy mine. Thanks Mark
By the way. Be careful of the sites that want to sell you secrets about network marketing. You can get the same information for free from most people already in the business.
Wish I had known this sooner. The price of the website was my first concern with Fortune because I know there are cheaper options. Only real advantage is the Back Office because it keeps track of your downline, commissions, orders, etc. Nice to have the bookwork all in one place. I’m not liking the change they made to it this year. Now my name and contact information are not included on the home page, and I have no control over the material or pictures. Frankly, I doubt that more than 3 people have ever looked at my website since I got it. The reason given for the change is that the money was all going to a private individual to develop and maintain the site, but now it is in company control, which means more money available to reps.
I am considering making my own web page and using a link to reach the Fortune site. At least then people will know whose site they have reached, and I can provide some introductory material.
Your information about affiliate marketing is something I want to check into. From what little I see, you must have your own website already established. Is that true? Then do you provide advertising space on your website for these affiliates to advertise? Do you receive a commission every time someone links to an affiliate from your website? Is there a fee to have an affiliate? Any information you can provide about how to get started in this would be appreciated
[…] if this site shouldn’t have been dedicated to FHTM? This post is pretty much the result of a recent comment (scroll down to comment from Mark on Jan 15th, […]
Wow. Sad that this little blog of naysayers might have deterred someone from actually having hope and doing something new. We don’t have to pay for a website, but its a good idea to have one. And yes, there are cheaper hosts out there. But that doesn’t mean that this is a bad company at all.
Most people to have their own company need to have 10’s to 100 thousand in their pockets!! Fortune merely asks for $299 to get you licensed, and approx $108 to get your websites up and running * yes, websiteS, we recently added travelocity to our fanclub. Do any of you realize that not only do you not have to sell anything, you are offering hope to your neighbors and relatives? Pestering them? Really? If you knew of something that could really help them, say, the cure for what ailed them… would you consider it pestering then??
Come on people… don’t even compare this to direct sales. In direct sales you have basically ONE PRODUCT. One. If people want something else, or don’t need makeup, candles, etc… they won’t buy it. Through fortune you have access to over 56,000 vendors. Thats a lot to choose from, and makes it absolutely simple to sell.
Egads, people, go to the meeting and think for yourself.
Oh man, I just typed a loooong post, but when I clicked to post, it went to an error page that told me I forgot to enter my email address. So I came back here and guess what happened to my post? It’s gone! That’s really aggravating! Sorry, it’s too late tonight to retype eveything as nicely as I had it before.
In any case, I completely agree with your assessment, Chris. I was approached by a friend to join FHTM and the sign up for the first year after the sign-up fee and the monthly fees for the web site and office add-on, yada yada yada added up to over $1200 for the first year and over $1000 for renewal years.
That seems to me that the company has too much $ to make just from signing up “reps”. Multiply $1,200/year by those 25,000: $ 30 million!
Chris,
Wow, you have given me a lot of information to think about. I must say that I have been approached twice by FHTM Reps, one being a close friend and the other my cousin. Being in a vulnerable place at the wrong time for me and the right time for my cousin, I signed up! $399.00 in Canada to join! Plus I spent another $120.00 to get all the necessities set up! I don’t know what I was thinking. I went to one of those pump them up meetings and all they talk about is the money one makes. I must say that it all sounds too good to be true, but I am now a rep and think I have done the most stupidest thing ever. I had no problem saying no to my friend, but somehow I got caught by my extended family. They are very successful in this business… however, I sucked at selling Mary Kay and now have no clue how I am going to pull this off. The lesson I have learned is to really do your research before agreeing to do something this outrageous.
I have recently been approached and it looks to me like the way to make money in this deal is just to bring on a huge team, as you get paid by the person - the web page and shopping options are sort of a side deal. I haven’t joined on yet, but had been seriously thinking about it. I attended a meeting a couple of weeks ago and they made the comment that there are now 86,000 people in this deal and more signing on everyday……I just don’t see how paying yourself to shop, or travel, or eat out is going to make an individual wealthy……..I work for a very large family owned company that has always treated me well. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work for an honest, moral and integrity based company. I sincerely have my doubts regarding the integrity behind Fortune……if there are already 86,000 plus people in this, should a person attempt to become part of this??
Hi Chris. I was recently approached by an aquaintance about joining FHTM. Are these people really being paid by the Companies (in lieu of companies spending big marketing dollars on Wall Street) or are all the fees the reps pay being redistributed in some sort of Ponzi sceme that will eventually bust?
Also Janet, would you mind e-mailing me and explaining/sharing your about your business with me? That sounds interesting.
Thanks,
Tom
I signed up as a rep. Biggest mistake I ever made. The national rep that was at our meeting was supposedly canned the week after I signed up. no help there! The local individual may have an arrest warrant out for him.
With the services they give you they don’t tell all the truth. For instance on the cell phone service, you can’t use your exsisting number, you musst get a new number. For Dish network you cannot ever had an account in your name or the address where you reside.
Quick note to Janet, please e-mail with your address so I can look at your prograam.
Hi All
Could someone please tell me
if you (or a personal friend)
is making any money
in this program.
Is this opportunity worth pursuing
or not?
Does “corporate” have integrity
and moral values that can be
verified…or lip service?
Today I had a 3-way call with
someone in Vancouver and they were
very polished with their online
power point presentation, as well
as their “pitch”.
This really pumped me up and I wanted
to take action immediately. I decided
to hold off though and let my head cool.
Sometimes that’s the best thing you can
do for yourself…think about it for at
least 48 hours before you decide to
just jump in. Remember, you want
to pick ONE company…the ‘right’ company…right!?
Anyhow, I’ve looked into Trivita
though I am not in any program at
the time) and it looks very cool.
The other one I’m looking into
is called Uri Life International
pronounced Yuri)and it’s marketing
programs are being created by
Brett Rademacher! Google him…
he’s made more money in a month
than anyone I have ever heard of.
All positively thoughts and opinions
will be appreciated, all others will be
ignored.
I look forward to hearing from you…
please feel free to email me with
what you will…no junk mail please.
Sincerely
“Canuck”
Janet, like others on here, let me also know what you are in that you “sing the praises of”. I’m an FHTM manager of one month but already big time skeptical. Please email me if you read this: ofg30@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Hello Chris,
I see many people are interested in finding out what they can about FHTM personal web page. I find your blog very informative and very helpful on a decision making process before getting involved.
I personally don’t think it’s right for a company to charge for a tool that you would use to help build a business after signing up into the business. I have been involved with a home base business for almost 8 years and I love helping people succeed. The business I do from home sells many consumable products and we use what I would believe to be the top of the line website system that allows us to do business Internationally, all from working at home. It’s called a Oracle web system and it is the type of computerized system that only very large corporations own and it cost the business owners nothing when they sign up for a one time, no annual renewal, enrollment fee of $40. Anyone internationally can go to my website and input their information and order anything they like, most buy our leading product because of the many health benefits. The website also keeps track of anyone who wishes to sign up and work from home and includes the ability to view the monthly magazine online. I can also receive the latest information about the company and any trainings and meetings going on around the world that I would like to plug someone into. I can view my commission statement and orders from by backoffice and the website also has a training tool that allows someone to get started right away. I can even place volume under a business owner in order to help someone receive residual income. A website system like this I was told would cost almost 8 million not counting the IT personnel to handle the administration side, but this would cost me nothing to have a web template to advertise my business.
If anyone would like to know more you can email me at timberwoods01@yahoo.com
well i was skeptical before i got involved however it is not perfect but it is good enough to realy make some good money what i have seen is that some people take it very serious and others give up lets face it, it is not easy and the rejection is large but that is true with all mlms my bigest complaint is how fast people give up my friends are doing very well in this and i am reaching new levels of success every day focus on the positive if you wantt it bad enough you will make it work i have to say i would like to see a more personal web page but so what it works
I just don’t get why MLM proponents cap on folks with respectable, secure jobs as somehow being slaves to the “big corporate giant who’s making all the money”. Come on, a person wants a job so they apply; they’re offered a certain wage that they decide is fair and they begin to work at said job. That’s the agreement. Who cares how much money the corporation makes as long as my paycheck doesn’t bounce?
MLM people want you to think that there is more money to be made their way. There isn’t. It’s just money made a different way; if any is made at all. Different, meaning out of the ordinary. That means that people who succeed at it are out of the ordinary, too. Unfortunately, that type of person is not respresented by a large segment of the general population. Hands down, there is money to be made in sales regardless of the business or product. All MLM companies boast millionaires. That unique individual with sales savvy can make a million no matter what; but that is not most people. Even poster Mark on January 15th admits that he is succeeding in FHTM because he approaches people “differently”. Most new reps, however, will not have a successful approach like Mark’s but they will get in anyway, “hoping” that someone else who gets in under them will be the motivated, special one and that money will somehow be paid through the trickledown effect. You get a couple of thousand people all sitting on the same type of hopeful non-activity and nothing happens. There is a reason why top salepeople make an unlimited amount of commissions — they’ve got something the rest of us do not. Just like some are born to be nurses or teachers, some (but few) are born to be successful salesfolks. The rest of us are not.
Being successful in sales is not duplicatable. That is, in my opinion, the biggest lie that MLM’s tell. I feel qualified to comment on this as I once was successful in sales. I was part of our local Hospitality Hostess program and received a list of names every month (for which I paid). I made my calls and cultivated regular repeat customers so that I did a couple a hundred in sales per month. None of my downlines ever did this. None cultivated customers even though I was willing to help them do it and give them names to get them started. But, they did not want to work. They wanted to sit back and wait for their bonus checks (which never came). This is why multi-level marketing doesn’t work. Two hundred dollars in retail sales per month is nothing. Anyone could do it if they spent four or five hours a week. If all my downlines had been investing the same paltry hours, THEN I would have seen the type of bonus payments they show you in the presentations. But, in real life, it doesn’t happen that way. People will get in; but they don’t really want to do anything. Sales is a numbers game. The guy giving the spiel really is making thousands a month–because there are sixty thousand recruits below him. A pro-FHTM poster on another blog points out that the founder of the company holds the record for the most money made in one month. Well, why do you think that is? Could it be because EVERYONE in the company is under him? By the way, I have researched the specifics of this company before making this comment as admonished to do so by poster Mark on Jan. 15th. I therefore feel qualified to say “No, thanks.”
I would like to say something to all of the skeptics out there: Fortune High-Tech Marketing IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. Many people in this business do succeed, but success does not happen overnight. Like any business, it takes time and effort to get off the ground. I am an independent representative of FHTM, and I think this is the best opportunity that has ever been presented to me. I do not market this business to people that are not of like-mind, but to other people that are interested in becoming entrepreneurs. If you are afraid of talking to people, then a sales/marketing career is probably not for you.
I, personally, am making money in this business, both through my website and by helping others succeed in their FHTM business. I also have seen people fail in this business because they do not follow the business model, or follow other successful examples. If you have just gotten started, I suggest you stick with it and give it an honest effort. Your business is only as good as you make it. There are a lot of programs out there to help you succeed, such as Magnetic Sponsoring (http://www.magneticsponsoringonline.com).
If you are interested in learning more about FHTM, I suggest you visit my website at http://www.patrickcody.net and click the Learn More tab. Good luck!
The Founder of FHTM is not a Representative with FHTM. The record of making the most amount of money in the least amount of time of anyone in network marketing occurred when he was a Representative with Excel, not with FHTM.
good information.
good article.
the founder of FHTM doesn’t claim to be a representative in the business and he openly states that he made his fortune in the telecommunications business, which was Excel.
the founder of FHTM doesn’t claim to be a representative in the business and he openly states in the fhtmgold website that he made his fortune in the telecommunications business, which was Excel.
the founder of FHTM doesn’t claim to be a representative in the business and he openly states in the fhtmgold website that he made his fortune in the telecommunications business, which was Excel. So Laura I’m just wondering, what’s your point?
I’m a fortune rep and I have recently changed my services from having FHTM Travel to singing up on two other service in order to keep my 2 points I had with the travel site. I did this so I don’t have to spend as much for the services. Ever since I dropped my FHTM travel site I have had numerous calls about me, inquiring about trips I never filled out for on the Internet. Then I get continuous emails about travel deals. I don’t even have the time or luxury to look at travel deals or fill out info for travel deals, so there is no way I interacted on travel deals. I’m beginning to think FHTM is selling my information to 3rd party solicitors in means to make money. I know that companies will sell your information for profit, mortgage companies are a big culprit, but for FHTM to do this, is unbelievable. I guess FHTM is trying other ways to make money off of personal information. It’s discouraging to me.
Has anyone have this happen to them?
Just a few comments:
FHTM does not sell your personal information. You can confirm this with FHTM.
The FHTM Rpresenative Site (Office Assistant) is only $19.95/mo.
FHTM pays more than 90% of the company profits back to the reps. The other MLM companies I have been involved with in the past paid between 3% & 5%.
Hi Bill,
I was able to renew my cellphone and keep my existing numbers and one of my reps just got Dish and he was a current existing customer but his contract had expired and he didn’t have any problems. Just thought I would let you know.
I have an article from Millionaire Blueprints about FHTM Founder, Paul Orberson. I would be happy to email it to anyone who is interested. My email address is: suggsfortune@gmail.com
I wish everyone the best in whatever endeavor they decide to pursue. Life is too short not to enjoy it!
Well D’Lyn Suggs,
It happened to me and FHTM corp office is trying to take care of it. Travelocity has the rights to sell your info for using their web portal by FHTM. But since I cancelled the FHTM travel website, then travelocity sold my personal info and I started to get calls, letters and emails for travel deals. I had 12 calls over the weekend. Outrageous! FHTM says they can’t do much other than write them a letter. The FHTM travel site to say the least, stinks. I would recommend reps to sign up on other services. It may take longer to get paid but at least your personal info is not sabotaged.
This has all been very interesting. I appreciate all of the input as I too have been approached about becoming an FHTM rep. It’s obvious the biggest target customers are the cell phone and cable users. My question is do they have to sign an extention on top of their already existing contract and how long is the second extention? Or is there a cancellation fee?