Envelope Stuffing : What you need to know
Envelope stuffing opportunities are still widely advertised in various publications and on the Internet. Many people who are beginning their search for ways to make money from home find this type of opportunity very appealing.
Why? Because it sounds like easy money!
Before jumping head-long into this thing, let’s take a critical look at how the envelope stuffing opportunity really works.
What’s Getting Stuffed Into Those Envelopes?
Who wouldn’t want to sit around the house and watch T.V while stuffing envelopes – and then the money just rolls in!
Not so fast partner! Ask yourself, “What am I stuffing into those envelopes?” Is it Sears catalogs? How ’bout Fingerhut? Maybe it’s Radio Shack’s Electro-Christmas Brochure? And they’re going to give you a big fat commission for every envelope you stuff with their catalog! Sign me up! Envelope stuffing never sounded so good!
Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Here is a common envelope stuffing scenario: You read an ad or get a piece of junk mail claiming that “Aunt Edna” makes $1,845.20 every week by doing fun and easy work right from her favorite armchair. For every envelope stuffed you earn $1 or $2 or some other amount.
Often the advertisement asks for an up-front fee of $29.95 or more just to make sure “you’re serious” about their envelope stuffing program. So far, so good. Easy work, big money. Being the cautious person you are, you may even read the ad several times to make sure you didn’t miss anything.
Nope. Didn’t miss anything. Sounds perfect! You pay the fee and send off for the package. After all, they guaranteed your satisfaction with their envelope stuffing starter package (watch out! did you read the conditions on that guarantee?). When your starter package arrives – assuming it does arrives – you gleefully tear it open. Yippee!
Your family watches you from a respectful distance, perplexed that you have found salvation in such a little package, and relieved because over the last few days you’ve been salivating so much there isn’t an unlicked envelope within 100 meters of the desk.
As you read the literature in the package, it slowly dawns on you – you’re not going to get paid $1 or $2 for every envelope you stuff. The instructions tell you to spread the news about the enveloping stuffing biz, then you’ll get paid. How, exactly, does that work, you ask?
By advertising the envelope stuffing program, of course. Yep, they want you to help them earn those up-front fees by sending out the same letter you read and got so excited about.
They didn’t tell you that part before you mailed your check, did they? You see, they won’t pay you until they get paid.
Details, details.
How might one be instructed to advertise the program to others? Well, you can place an ad asking people to send you a dollar to find out about the envelope stuffing program. That’s how you earn $1,845.20 every week. One dollar at a time.
Uh huh.
Or they might tell you to purchase a mailing list and send out a thousand or more of their “special sales letters”. Of course, the letter you send out is the same one you received from dear old Aunt Edna.
Oh boy.
Or perhaps you could put up a web site? They won’t tell you this, but make sure you don’t post a legit phone number or a physical address. People tend to get angry when they’ve been scammed. This is a big business. There are people promoting these envelope stuffing programs making thousands upon thousands of dollars from people who send in those up-front fees.
Does envelope stuffing represent a real business opportunity?
Does it provide a real service or product that has value?
While there are many variations to this envelope stuffing rip-off, they all follow the same pattern: get your money before you figure out how this scam really works.
Protect Yourself – Avoiding The “Hook”
The scammer looks for a “hook” to place in you. Even if they seem honest, don’t ask for money up front, and are easily accessible to answer your questions… watch your pocketbook!
They may be trying to gain your trust before asking for your bank account number or your social security number.
A good rule of thumb is… If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Some Common Scams
Pyramid Schemes – A pyramid scheme grants anyone membership for a fee, without giving something back of equal value. Not to be confused with multi-level marketing, which requires the sale of products or services from their members.
Chain Letters – A pyramid scheme. Illegal and they don’t work.
Envelope Stuffing – Legal prosecution for participants becoming more common.
Craft Assembly – It’s very hard to build a craft which meets their “standards”.
Fast Credit Repair – There is no fast way to repair credit. They teach you how to lie.
Medical Billing – Cost thousands to start and it’s very difficult to find clients. The medical community trusts only a few mega corporations for billing their patients.
Easy Work and High Pay -Beware of anyone that promises you lots of money for little effort. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it!
The True Path To Working Successfully At Home
Scams are plentiful both in the online and off-line world. You will notice that those who promote scams may not fully explain what it is all about. You will also notice that you must usually pay money up front before getting full details. Plus, it is usually impossible to contact the program’s promoter to get further details about their offer.
Should you invest your hard earned money without all the facts?
Would you buy a car this way?
Would you buy a pizza this way?!
No.
The true path to working successfully at home and making the income you want is:
- Do what you love.
- Commit to gaining the knowledge to succeed. Educate yourself.
- Build relationships along the way. Never be deceitful or shadowy. Always build trust through communication.
- Work hard. Then work harder.
- Help others along your path.
- Never give up.
- Never, ever give up.
There are ways to make money from home without getting that “I just stuffed a thousand envelopes and forgot to buy $390 worth of stamps” feeling. Lots of people are making excellent money working from home – without scams. Just do your research, and take your time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brett Krkosska provides how-to advice on small business and home-based work issues. His site, http://www.HomeBizTools.com, helps small businesses reach their fullest potential. He is also the publisher of Straight Talk, a fresh and original newsletter that offers a unique perspective on today’s business issues.
61 Responses to “Envelope Stuffing : What you need to know”
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Great entry!
And when you are really into the stuffing bussiness you’ll end up with your house looking like you’re moving a whole school from there.
I’ve seen that.
The whole family working to get a few dollars.
Hi Eve,
Thanks for the post. You have a good weblog too. I also have a work at home blog and one of the things I always try to do is helping people to avoid scams.
Please follow the link below and see the articles I have written about scams:
http://www.weboma.com/category/security/
Best regards,
Vahid
http://www.weboma.com/
This is an old scheme. Can you believe my mom was actually taken in by it (or something very similar) when I was little? However, even though it’s old, people are still falling for it. Good post!
Great post.
There are so many scams around.
these types of scams make me so mad. what a waste of time.
Yep, a most well written, ironical post :-)
The type of envelope stuffing scam described here sound like a pure pyramid scheme, and is illegal just about everywhere.
Another, similar approach you sometimes see is the “Data entry” jobs they try to fool people into believing they can make big bucks from. I have never bothered investigating them further, as they are so clearly fraudulent, but I really feel sorry for those who buy into it.
Great Post. I also wrote about signs of a possible home based job scams. btw your blog rocks!
Thanks everyone!!! I agree it is a horrible scam, but I was one of the many that fell for it as a teen! It seemed so perfect!
It is indeed a nasty nasty thing to ahve happen to you. It’s basically theft. The UK authority see it that way too. Almost fell for it 8 years ago but a small cynical voice said “what’s the catch?” I spent so long wondering that I “missed the boat” and was quite glad I did.
Good thing you listened to that voice!
hi i was just hopping that your start up fee is not that much. i get ssdi.and i have a 18mo old darghter.and we are not making ends meat right now bills are around 800.00 and i get 650.00 and my husband works in od jobs.so if you can help please do so thank you rhonda
I do not understand the question. The post you commented on was talking about a scam, so you shouldn’t be worried about a startup cost because you will not do envelope stuffing. Maybe re-read the article if you missed something.
We will be launching a site about “modern” day envelope stuffing, which will include info on the old scam.
HI I WANT TO DO THIS BUT I DONT HAVE THE FRONT CAST SO WHAT CAN I DO
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I’m not sure I’m following you. Would you mind elaborating some more on your first point?
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