Crimes of Persuasion

Schemes, scams, frauds.



WISH Shopping Network LLC (W.I.S.H. Network)
Ron Gross and Colleen Gross (modelrep.com; modelportfolios.com)

(Ron E. Gross and Colleen A. Gross)

This company has received many consumer complaints (compared to other companies involved in the modeling industry), and all sorts of complaints:

(http://www.scranton.bbb.org/compid=10020644, Aug. 14, 2004)

Closed Complaints
   Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 30
  Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 12 months: 7
 
Complaints Concerning
    Advertising Practices - (6)
    Number in the last 12 months (4)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Resolved (6)
    Selling Practices - (1)
    Number in the last 12 months (0)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Company made every reasonable effort to Resolve (1)
    Delivery Issues - (4)
    Number in the last 12 months (0)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Resolved (3)
      Company made every reasonable effort to Resolve (1)
    Product Quality - (1)
    Number in the last 12 months (0)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Resolved (1)
    Refund Practices - (5)
    Number in the last 12 months (0)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Resolved (5)
    Contract Disputes - (12)
    Number in the last 12 months (3)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Resolved (10)
      Company made every reasonable effort to Resolve (2)
    Service Issues - (1)
    Number in the last 12 months (0)
    Outcome of all complaints -
      Company made every reasonable effort to Resolve (1)

Note the top three issues where most consumers were angry or upset: Contract Disputes (12); Advertising Practices (6); and Refund Practices (5). After reviewing the infamous WISH Network Contract, a copy of which was sent to Easy Background Check, it is easy to see why the most complaints against WISH were for its contract. Similarly, after reviewing the WISH Network advertising, it is easy to see why many of the complaints against WISH were for its advertising. And, after some email exchanges with Ron Gross, it is easy to believe the issue causing the third highest number of consumer complaints is their Refund Practices.

If you want your money back, as at least five consumers did, file a complaint with the BBB. It looks as if all five consumers got their money back, because it says all five of the complaints filed against the Gross Wish Network for their refund practices were "resolved." Evidently what happened is five people asked the Wish Network for their money back, and the Wish Network refused to return their money, so they filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau against Gross Wish Network for failing to refund their money, and, under pressure to keep from losing their BBB membership, Wish Network returned all their money.

BBB serving NE and Central PA
4099 Birney Avenue
Moosic, PA 18507

Phone: 570-342-5100
Fax: 570-342-1282
http://www.scranton.bbb.org/
http://www.scranton.bbb.org/complaint.html

Gross was contacted by email and asked:

YOUR WEBSITE CLAIMS YOU ARE A "published freelance photographer."

"The Modeling Cruise each year is intended to help bring our models together
and to meet our staff. PLUS, to have plenty of great modeling shots taken by
published freelance photographer, Ron E. Gross for your portfolios!"

IN WHAT PUBLICATION? WHERE IS YOUR PORTFOLIO? WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS IN
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY? HOW MUCH ARE YOU CHARGING FOR PORTFOLIOS?

Gross did not answer the questions.

Ron Gross was then contacted and asked basic questions about the WISH "Shopping Network."

PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. THESE ARE ULTIMATELY YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF
CREDIBILITY:

1. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP WITH WISH?
2. HOW MUCH HAVE THEY PAID YOU?
3. HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE EARNED MORE THROUGH WISH THAN THEY PAID WISH?

He refused to answer the questions.

Gross touted the so-called benefits of a "Flash portfolio":

> How about the Flash Portfolio that they get that retails for $79 per month and $1,000 to set up?

NOBODY NEEDS A "FLASH PORTFOLIO." NOBODY HAS TO PAY $1,000.
LOOK AT FORDMODELS.COM. LOOK AT THE REPUTABLE MODELING AGENCY WEBSITES. THEIR MODELS
DON'T USE FLASH. BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED FLASH. TO SUGGEST HAVING FLASH IS
GOING TO HELP THEM, OR THAT THEY ARE GETTING A DEAL OR A DISCOUNT IS WRONG!

Gross said: "Furthermore, our contract guarantees services of publishing and marketing and DOES NOT guarantee any specific amount of earnings to a model, only that the model receives their fee paid back through monthly gross revenue shares. Whether that is more than they paid is not the point."

Gross says it's not important if the models lose money by paying WISH. In other words, he doesn't mind if he gets your money, but you lose money.

For the very reason that "WISH DOES NOT guarantee any specific amount of earnings to a model," they should be told how many people earn more than they paid WISH. Most models get into modeling to earn money; therefore, they have a right to know if they are likely to earn a return on their investment. The best way to make an informed decision on the chances they have of getting a return on their investment is to know how many people in the past got a return on their investment and how many lost money.

The entire statement by Gross "the model receives their fee paid back through monthly gross revenue shares" is meaningless if the model only earns $1.00 or $2.00 per month in gross revenue shares. How many months would you have to wait to get your money back if you earned only $1.00 per month from Gross revenue? The bottom line is RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

Gross went on and on about the so-called benefits of WISH, but failed to answer the most important questions:

How many people have signed up with WISH?

How many people who have signed up with WISH have earned more than they paid WISH?

Consumers have a right to know the answers to these questions.

Consumer Complaint

Ron Grossman with Worldwide Internet Shopping Headquarters  (W.I.S.H.)

We paid $300 deposit and were supposed to receive monthly revenues, color prints of advertisements submitted to them,  % of sales, etc..... It was a one-year contract, but what they don't tell you is that it may take 10 years to get your deposit back, because of only $3 - $8 a month given back.  They claim to be a Christian organization and set up false pretenses.

Model

Read more:

http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2002/07/25/theFearlessConsumerOneBorn.html

RipoffReport.com Consumer Complaint

WISH Network Banned for life