Dave Espino's Auctions for Income - Solid Business Advice or Scam?

I can remember my first success on eBay vividly. It was 1998 and I'd put three Zowees Hot Wheels cars on the website. The cars were a gift at a birthday party I'd attended in the late 1970's when I was a kid. I was shocked as the bids on each climbed from $10 to $20 TO $30 to a final price of over $60 on each of the cars. Three tiny die cast cars had sold for over $150.00. I was hooked. I think back to that moment when I see infomercials like Dave Espino's Auctions for Income (website) that promise you can make your fortune on the internet auction site.

WHAT DOES IT PROMISE?

Dave Espino promises you the "fastest, easiest way to make money on eBay" and provides testimonials of numerous people who reportedly have made $125,000 or more using Dave Espino's methods. For only $39.95, Dave Espino's Auctions For Income sends you books and CDs that promise to tell you how to make your fortunes on eBay.

DOES AUCTIONS FOR INCOME WORK?

A review of websites like InfomercialRatings.com and InfomercialScams.com the information contained in Dave Espino's Auctions for Income is basic level eBay selling info that you can learn pretty much anywhere online. Like so many other "Get Rich Quick" infomercials, the $39.95 entry fee is only the beginning. From there, the company tries to hook you up with personal coaches working for a company called PMI Coaching. These coaches can run you thousands of dollars

Additionally , the company offers you items to sell via "drop shipping." Drop shipping is when you sell items from other companies and then once the sale is complete, you have that company ship the order. The problem is that the items you sell via drop shipping are typically being offered by dozens of others trying to make money the same way, meaning you usually make next to nothing.

Both InfomercialRatings.com and InfomercialScams.com list numerous people who feel that they were ripped off by Dave Espino's Auctions for Income. The company uses your own desire for success against you, encouraging you to use expensive ($5,000 and up) personal advisors to start and run your business. Just like other scams, the goal is to keep you on the hook as long as they can to rack up the fees.

But perhaps the most telling testimonial is from the Better Business Bureau who gave the company an F. The Better Business Bureau indicated the following about Dave Espino's Auctions for Income:

The company advertises a business opportunity selling merchandise over the Internet using Ebay. The introductory price is $39.95. Complainants state that they receive only very general information. They're told that they must join PMI Coach, at a price of $5,500 in order to make the kind of money advertised on their infomercial. Also, they learn for the first time that they must have a website. A few complainants allege non-delivery of the ordered and paid for package. The company generally responds to complaints by issuing refunds to consumers who returned the package within the 90 day money back guarantee period. The company responds to other complaints by indicating they are only the shipping company for the Auctions For Income package and they are not responsible for the telemarketers, nor do they advertise, offer or charge additional amounts for coaching or mentoring services. In a few cases, the company refers callers to a Tech Support phone number.

The BBB has indicated that 32 out of 47 complaints about Dave Espino's Auctions for Income were not resolved in a satisfactory manner.

BOTTOM LINE

There is no get rich quick method out there that will make you $125,000 on a $39.95 investment. Running a successful business requires time, effort, skill, knowledge, research, and luck. While eBay is a good way to make some secondary income, the sheer number of sellers of product on eBay makes it tougher and tougher each day to make a lot of money on the site without carving out a niche. Rather than spending $39.95 plus thousands on personal coaches who are only interested in separating you from your money by buying Dave Espino's Auctions for Income, do yourself a favor and do some Googling, talk to eBay power sellers, visit your local small business association and get advice about starting your own business. You'll save yourself some money and may wind up becoming more successful than Dave Espino ever promised you would be.