The BBB of Matrix Sites

[concerned]

Check this site out.

http://www.matrixagency.com/

They claim to be an agency that does quality assurance of matrix web sites, and actually gives a seal of approval. This is hilarous. You should at least look at their "about us" page. They say,

"With the increasing number of matrix sites we think that this will help to weed out the sites that are committing illegal business practices."

If this were true, wouldn't they have to weed out ALL matrix sites? This site is run by the owners of theimatrix.com and gotmatrix.com.

[MatrixWatch]

I would like to know what their standard of "illegal practices" is. Where do they draw the line?

[MatrixWatch]

They also say:


Sites that go through our validation/registration processes will have our "seal of approval", similar to the BBB. This will hopefully deter potential customers from joining sites that are fraudulent and scams. This will also appease the many matrix site owners, since customers will join their legal, legitimate, and verified sites.


Well, how about this... What if we take the list of every one of their "verified, legitimate, and legal" sites to the BBB, the Attorney General's office, and the FBI and let them decide. If it is declared that these sites are running illegal lotteries/pyramids, then the Matrix Agency would be liable because they misled consumers into believing that they were investing in something completely within legal guidlines.

[northstar5757]

Ya its pretty funny. It is nice to see that the matrix community is trying to police itself though. What credentials do these guys have? I mean they don't even have a list of legitimate criteria up to base decisions on. Or is it hidden soemwhere?

[northstar5757]

Actually i do see a list but it seems to be very general.

[mikv]

This website is run by the owners of probably the two bigger sites out there. It is an attempt for them to "clean up" the matrix community and take back what they feel is their customers. The process they have for determining sites is flawed and the rest of the community seems to be skeptical that they can "judge" with an unbiased opinion. Quite Frankly whoever signs up to be on their lists is competition so of course they aren't gonna allow who they feel is thier stronger competitors in. If you check out the sites that the owners run, you'll see that the lists have stopped moving and they are struggling to get them back on track.

[Got Matrix]

We are not biased at all, and we're accepting applications for our review board. We currently have 5 respected members of the matrix community. We allow any site that meets our criteria and passes the user approval process. As far as loss of business at my site (GotMatrix.com) we're actually doing better now than we ever have. We've seen several new faces the last couple weeks and we're receiving more orders each day. The owner of TheImatrix & myself just want to better the matrix community & that's what we're trying to accomplish with the MatrixAgency.com. We're not like Watchdog's purpose of shutting down sites, we want to guide customers to sites that they can trust wont be ripped off. As far as the matrix system being doomed illegal we have no control over that and it hasn't happened yet and I don't see it happening in the near future. I suppose if it does happen then you wont have to worry about ending our auctions anymore trying to promote our sites.

[MatrixWatch]

Welcome to the site.

[Got Matrix]

Thank you, I'm hoping to persuade your outlook of matrix sites. We're doing our best at GotMatrix.com to satisfy our members, and to this day we have done so. We've cycled over 1700+ people since March, 2003. I agree with you on certain points of your mission, there are a lot of "shady" owners out there that ruin it for the rest of us.

[MatrixWatch]

Well, you are welcome to start a couple new threads and lay out a few new arguments. I would also like it if you started a thread on your new site, MatrixAgency, and told your story and all the details leading up to your launch (i.e. why you did it (reasons), who agreed/disagreed with it, etc...). If you could get imatrix to come here and discuss it too, then that would be cool.

If you are making some arguments though, you'll need to really buckle down.. The members here are very smart and very well read. I hope that you will add the same depth that they have in the past few months..

[FightingBack]

I think it sounds like an okay site. I mean like if someone does want to invest it a site, this would be a good site to look at to see what sites are being honest. But when you put it as matrix police. It does sound a bit odd.

[MrBill]

"We are not biased at all, and we're accepting applications for our review board. We currently have 5 respected members of the matrix community."

All with first-names only/nicknames and no bonafide contact info -- looks like a teenage hacker-club member list. Why don't you all put your money where your mouths are and give the public a way to find you should your "certification" turn out not to be worth anything? Is widdle junior grifter afwaid?

[Got Matrix]

For what reason should we list contact information of our board members? Can you go to the BBB and find individuals contact information? To the best of my knowledge no you cannot.

[Arzel]

The BBB would not be of much use if you could not find out who was running the business in question. That is the whole point of such an organization. You open yourself up to show that you are going to be held to a higher standard.

[MrBill]

What a laugh. As if you actually researched the BBB's operating procedures and tried to model yourselves upon them (don't bother trying to lie and say you did, you'll get caught and embarrassed beyond description)

The BBB is a government agency and can't just disappear overnight. Perhaps someone quits and gets a new job elsewhere, but there will be someone who has taken over his/her caseload ... you get the idea. In addition, yes, you can get a REAL last name and extension number for anyone you deal with there. If you don't like the idea of putting your contact info in the phone book, why not at least register yourselves with the BBB? The worst that can happen is you get lumped in with some other scamsters and go to jail.

[Got Matrix]

Well at the moment we're considering taking site's that register's Real Name & Address, & sending them a verification letter that will have a pin that they'll need to complete registration. This will verify their address. This should be initiated within a few weeks, we're still working on the database for the site. I understand that some people are skeptical of are perception over sites and our complete outlook, but no matter what kind of business you run you're going to have that. I appreciate your criticism whereas we'll use it to better our site. We have many supporters and one person that thinks it's a waste of time/effort doesn't have much of an impact.

[MrBill]

"Well at the moment we're considering taking site's that register's Real Name & Address, & sending them a verification letter that will have a pin that they'll need to complete registration. "

Why not start by putting your "Real Name & Address" out in the open? Or have you already declared yourselves above suspicion?

Food for thought.

[Got Matrix]

What good would that do anyone? I don't understand your purpose? For what good would it know our personal information? We are a public service as is these forums, where's your personal information? Who goes around posting there addresses these days? NO ONE! Personal information needs to be retained to the minimal amount of people that need it.

[MrBill]

Public DIS-service is more like it. I stick to my contention that those who do business with the public should put their info out where we can see it, and it would appear that honest folk do -- because they have nothing to fear, unlike crooks.

Matrix sites don't need policing. They need to be flushed down the internet toilet and their owners put in jail, preferably for very hard time.

[FightingBack]

I think gotmatrix is right. No one goes around throwing their info around the internet. Plus it wouldn't be safe these days. MatrixWatch info is even fake. When you do a "whois" search bogus info comes up.

[MrBill]

Originally posted by FightingBack
I think gotmatrix is right. No one goes around throwing their info around the internet. Plus it wouldn't be safe these days. MatrixWatch info is even fake. When you do a "whois" search bogus info comes up.

Sure it's safe ... if you're clean and you do honest business, then there's no reason for anyone to do you harm, as I've said ad nauseam.

What's "bogus" about the Matrixwatch info? This claim sounds like smokescreen supreme with extra onions.

[Got Matrix]

It sounds like MrBill has had a bad experience with a matrix site, or site owner. Probably one that had false information registered with their domain so now he's out his money. If so I understand why you feel this way. I can honestly say that no information is falsified with my registration and anyone who wanted to find me could, but I'm not just going to post it where everyone can see, that would be putting me at a potential risk.

Matrix sites are here to stay, you're just going to have to adapt to the situation and either forget about it or join the crowd that's joining the various sites and benefitting from it. Perhaps stick to an established site that you know and can trust.

[Matrix-News.Net]

What makes a matrix site elligible to get this "seal of approval"? In my mind, the website should have a contact page with a valid phone number where people can call in conerning the website and a valid address. Another thing is the website should have a lisence so it can legally conduct buisness and pay taxes. What happens when a matrix site owner (approved by matrix agency) just shuts the website down and runs away with the money? No one knows who he is and how to get a hold of him. In my opinion, matrix agency is a good idea but it needs to be a lot more strict.

[MrBill]

No, I've never put a dime into a matrix and never will. It was obvious to me when I first noticed the matrix deals on Ebay that they were timebombs. I don't comprehend the stupidity of people who will try a new twist on what other folks have been righteously busted for, but grifters aren't usually the smartest around ...

As for matrix sites being here to stay, I doubt it. The long arms of Johnny Law are going to catch up with you and you're going to suffer. Hopefully it'll teach you something and you'll get a job instead of going back on the grift.

[uwantme]

Originally posted by MrBill
[B

What's "bogus" about the Matrixwatch info? This claim sounds like smokescreen supreme with extra onions. [/B]

Look up the whois for this site yourself. You will see it is not accurate and some parts are even missing.....

[dbright]

As far as site contact info goes , well, the advice from every consumers group and magazines i've read, including consumers reports, PC World, PC magazine, BBB, FTC, etc, etc pretty much tell you if the website business doesn't have valid contact info including a valid phone AND address, then you're better off staying clear of them. Why is it that nearly all matrix sites don't feel they should have valid contact info? They're running a business aren't they? Most valid on-line business sites have this info posted somewhere on the site (it may sometimes be hard to find but it's there) and the DNS entries are always valid.

If you're running a business then it is no longer "personal" info. It's business info that every one of your customers has a right to know and it should be available publicly. These sites take in too much money to not offer this "service".

In any case, as far as I can see, the vast majority of matrix sites still fit perfectly into the definition of a ponzi scheme and shouldn't be running in the first place.

[Agent|Star]

Originally posted by MrBill
"Well at the moment we're considering taking site's that register's Real Name & Address, & sending them a verification letter that will have a pin that they'll need to complete registration. "

Why not start by putting your "Real Name & Address" out in the open? Or have you already declared yourselves above suspicion?

Food for thought.


Im gonna have to ask.. Why should agents provide personal information? No money is being taken from anyone you act as if people are being robbed by the MatrixAgency. Have you even veiwed the site?

They work toward making everyone aware of scam or high risk sites so that no one will buy into them as well as acknowledging well established sites.. Why is this so funny? One person laughed and you all followed? It is a step toward matrix supporters helping out the matrix communtiy. You can view the current criteria yourself. It is honestly better then nothing!! All MatrixAgency agents do the work on their own time with no pay and no intentions of making profits... In fact, I dont see why one of you watchdoggies couldnt help out.

I've said it before.. Matrix supporters would show more respect to WatchDoggies if you people took the time to close down BAD sites and not the good sites.... When you surf this board you rarely come across a scam site being exposed here unless a customers joins this place with one quest "I want my money back". Other then that you all come here and quote bigger matrix sites on everything...

Laugh all you want.. I think the MatrixAgency is good for the community.

[MatrixWatch]

But isn't every matrix site "good" in the beginning. Then, the lists get a little long, people stop investing in the site, and the customers freak out. The site owner has to either dig into his own pocket and pay the people out, or run. Most do the latter, not because they are "bad people", but because they did not know what they were getting into. That "good" matrix site quickly becomes a "bad" matrix site after a little time, since the structure of the matrix-marketing model is doomed to failure. Why do we go after every matrix site, not just the "bad" ones? Because all the matrix sites are based on the model that creates "bad" matrix sites. They are all bad.

[hurley9192]

Yeah, I know that some of you have the best intentions, but the math will just do you in unless you can find something where what you are giving away is within reason and you make a huge margin on what you are selling and then plow the profits back into the business.

I don't understand why you require this site and Watchdog to cater to the other side. He's not running a business, just a forum. And there are no rules about discriminating here...it's not a free speech forum and everyone is entitled to bag on him and that they don't get fair treatment. We listen to the other side all the time and debate most things, but we don't have to cater to the other side. If you don't like the forum and the way it is run, then why come here.

Like TCB says, it's free will, so you shouldn't complain.