CGI Communications Scam????

[arentzs]

I was solicited on behalf of George Weikert & Adams County today by CGI Communications. (See attached letter)
They are trying to sell the businesses in Adams County an online video to be displayed they say on the new Adams County Website they are going to provide.
The letter they provided me from Weikert encourages Adams County businesses to see what CGI can do for us.
I am appalled if in fact Weikert has endorsed this company to come into our community and rip us off. (I found a couple of complaint sites in a quick google search showing they provide substandard products for high prices and there is little to be done after the fact. Links follow)

800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-585-427-0020/4
www.bbb.org/upstate-new-york/business-reviews/video-production-services/cgi-communications-inc-in-rochester-ny-79000040/#cmpl

I encourage any business owner who is solicited by any company to verify the information they are giving you before you agree to anything...getting your money back may not be as easy as giving it away.

In closing my other complaint about this is if in fact Adams County wants to do this...WHY did they not choose a company from Adams County to provide it?

Attachments:

[Sky Writer]

And you are really surprised by this?? Just look at the appraisal company chosen by Weikert et al. A simple Google search would have turned up numerous complaints about 21st Century also. Business as usual!!!!!

[rock]

I'm myself with my business and don't need outsiders promoting me I do it by word of mouth. I have no need to get that big that I need to have anyone else come to work for me. Thanks for the heads up though I will be sure to keep my eyes open so I can round file it when I get it. ;D

[HoneyBadger]

If you believe it to be a scam (if it quacks like a duck) contact the state attorney general about it & ask if they have received any complaints about CGI Communications. And it never hurts to ask the Federal Trade Commission. They investigate consumer fraud.

I'm going to have to study upcoming elections carefully - county commissioners - no incumbents; school board - no incumbents.

[arentzs]

Weikert called me back yesterday and said that the company CGI had provided the county with a couple of videos at no cost to the county with the provision that they be able to solicit business from local businesses to link to the county. They are located on the this link in the Video Tour Book on the right hand side.

www.adamscounty.us/


I asked him if you wanted to do this or when they offered to do this why did you not make an offer to the county at large to see if someone wanted to offer you the same deal thereby giving a local company the work...he answered I did not know anyone in Adams County did this type of work.

I think this is exactly what one of the complaints on the links I looked at say it is. CGI offers an office of power in a community free videos for their website and then preys on local businesses for between 3-6K a video to link to their site.

I called one of the local businesses he quoted to me as having jumped on board and they told me they were gonna pay $4995.00 for their video and link.

I finally found a link to Gettysburg that led to the page where they link you from...

www.elocallink.tv/clients3/pa/gettysburg/tourplay.php?movie=gepawel_rev1_iwd&spon=welcome

To just link my website to this page for 2 years would cost me $1295.00...the video and the web link would cost me $3300.00

I am gonna pass thank you very much

BUT what I would like to know is why can't we link our business websites from the county or city web pages regardless of buying into this deal??

[Dexter]

I'm not going to defend this CGI much here as I know only what I've read so far on this thread. But, it sounds like this company is merely doing good marketing of its services. I'm not sure the County Government should be getting involved with them, but, in the end this company is merely trying to get its name out there.

[orrtannaoracle]

And I thought Weikert was the one commissioner with some modicum of intelligence - dumb me. None of them should be re-elected but the GOP in Adams County has rarely considered having any "real" qualifications to hold an office as a criteria for nominating and electing representatives. Tallman and Snyder being among the leading examples in the current crop. Not to mention the bozos now running Mt. Joy Twp., almost forgot that stellar band of dimwits. What did I just read recently about Paul Kellett from Freedom's involvement with businesses in which he has personal financial interests doing deals with the township?

[HoneyBadger]

I didn't like any of the info posted about CGI and I don't appreciate the commissioners "pimping" for CGI. I'm watching elections very carefully this year because I'm feeling strongly that new people are needed. I doubt that I'll vote for any incumbent.

[Mr Blonde]

Wow, just wow.

I know Wiekert and I am shocked he ok'd this, totally shocked.

[arentzs]

Nothing they do shocks me after the reassessment

[cgirep]

Hi all. I'm a CGI Sales Rep. I came across your post somehow and it really disturbed me for several reasons. First of all, we come in peace. We're not in your community to pillage the townfolk. As previously stated, we have a completely legitimate business model that we've used in 3000 communities. The only time people get upset is after we've already gotten there andwhen they haven't thought of our idea themselves. It's free commerce. Streaming video has been in effect since 2000ish? I assure you that there has been ample opportunity for a local company to step up and offer the community free videos. The fact that no one has is no fault of ours. We offer products that are between 1200 and 6000 dollars. If a business decides to do the basic 1200 level for 2 years, that's cheaper than a billboard, yellow page ad and most other printed forms of advertising. It's WAY cheaper than almost all online advertising. By adding cost, VOLUNTARILY, businesses do get a video. Again, it's free commerce. A product is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. We show all of our own samples in our demonstrations and no one is mislead into thinking they're getting Hollywood-quality movies. I make a living selling this product and what you're doing by putting forums like this into effect is making us seem like we're scam artists, which we're not. We're Americans like you, making a living. We're selling a product that people buy every day. If you elect not to buy it, it's okay but to slander a company that doesn't deserve it isn't necessary.

[MattC]

I'm serious here, if this is something that interests you I can do it better while undercutting them. No joke.

[arentzs]

Feb 25, 2011 14:54:36 GMT -5 cgirep said:

Hi all. I'm a CGI Sales Rep. I came across your post somehow and it really disturbed me for several reasons. First of all, we come in peace. We're not in your community to pillage the townfolk. As previously stated, we have a completely legitimate business model that we've used in 3000 communities. The only time people get upset is after we've already gotten there andwhen they haven't thought of our idea themselves. It's free commerce. Streaming video has been in effect since 2000ish? I assure you that there has been ample opportunity for a local company to step up and offer the community free videos. The fact that no one has is no fault of ours. We offer products that are between 1200 and 6000 dollars. If a business decides to do the basic 1200 level for 2 years, that's cheaper than a billboard, yellow page ad and most other printed forms of advertising. It's WAY cheaper than almost all online advertising. By adding cost, VOLUNTARILY, businesses do get a video. Again, it's free commerce. A product is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. We show all of our own samples in our demonstrations and no one is mislead into thinking they're getting Hollywood-quality movies. I make a living selling this product and what you're doing by putting forums like this into effect is making us seem like we're scam artists, which we're not. We're Americans like you, making a living. We're selling a product that people buy every day. If you elect not to buy it, it's okay but to slander a company that doesn't deserve it isn't necessary.

Well thanks for proving another one of the online claims...that cgi reps troll online forums trying to downplay local business complaints. Nothing like having a first hand confirmation

[Sky Writer]

Feb 25, 2011 14:54:36 GMT -5 cgirep said:

Hi all. I'm a CGI Sales Rep. I came across your post somehow and it really disturbed me for several reasons. First of all, we come in peace. We're not in your community to pillage the townfolk. As previously stated, we have a completely legitimate business model that we've used in 3000 communities. The only time people get upset is after we've already gotten there andwhen they haven't thought of our idea themselves. It's free commerce. Streaming video has been in effect since 2000ish? I assure you that there has been ample opportunity for a local company to step up and offer the community free videos. The fact that no one has is no fault of ours. We offer products that are between 1200 and 6000 dollars. If a business decides to do the basic 1200 level for 2 years, that's cheaper than a billboard, yellow page ad and most other printed forms of advertising. It's WAY cheaper than almost all online advertising. By adding cost, VOLUNTARILY, businesses do get a video. Again, it's free commerce. A product is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. We show all of our own samples in our demonstrations and no one is mislead into thinking they're getting Hollywood-quality movies. I make a living selling this product and what you're doing by putting forums like this into effect is making us seem like we're scam artists, which we're not. We're Americans like you, making a living. We're selling a product that people buy every day. If you elect not to buy it, it's okay but to slander a company that doesn't deserve it isn't necessary.

Dear CGI Rep, I believe that the one thing that folks on here do not egree with is the fact that the county, in their less than infinate wisdom, implies or lends their endorsement of your "product". If your company wants to provide the county with free video or video streaming, that is fine, but it is WRONG for the county to in any way endorse your product. Just another example of why Weikert, et. al. , should go away.

No one is slandering your company, just the way it, and the commissioners, attempt to do business!

[cgirep]

Well thank you for at least reading what I had to say. I'm not "trolling" comment boards lol....I have better things to do than do that all day. A customer had googled us and come across your board so I went to see what she was talking about. That being said- I hardly think any of you would sit idly by and let a bunch of people say things that were harmful to your livelihood. There's no harm in defending your company. In fact, I hope for your bosses' sakes that you'd be willing to go to bat for the place that writes your paychecks. I'm sorry for the quarrel with your county but the fact that this board is called CGI Scam??? is in itself slanderous so I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from in checking out the content. Have a good day.

[rienzi]

Feb 18, 2011 7:04:46 GMT -5 orrtannaoracle said:

And I thought Weikert was the one commissioner with some modicum of intelligence - dumb me. None of them should be re-elected but the GOP in Adams County has rarely considered having any "real" qualifications to hold an office as a criteria for nominating and electing representatives. Tallman and Snyder being among the leading examples in the current crop. Not to mention the bozos now running Mt. Joy Twp., almost forgot that stellar band of dimwits. What did I just read recently about Paul Kellett from Freedom's involvement with businesses in which he has personal financial interests doing deals with the township?

Wait, now. Didn't Mr Kellett recuse himself on that issue?