Foley Belsaw "Prosperity Program"?

[Servalite6354]

Anyone else received this letter?

So I got some info from FB a while back, and after waiting awhile, they offered the $599 pay up front deal with snap gun. I planned on doing it, but was busy, and figured if and when I decided to do it, I'd just call and say "You offered me this before, can I still get it?". I've heard that's worked before.

The other day, however, I got this letter in the mail:

Notice the Presorted Postage Paid says Green Bay WI, but the flap has FB's (I think) address on it. No mention of FB on the envelope, though.

I figured it was some sort of gimmick, until I opened it, and read that it's about Foley Belsaw's Locksmithing Course:


The letter is basically an ad for the FB course, much like what I received before, only this time with the "you're special because you live in your state" angle.

I sent the "I would like to learn more" card back. Will this get me a better deal? No mention of the snap gun with this, no mention of any pricing, for that matter.

Sounds interesting, but I don't see it as being any better of a deal. Just seems like a clever marketing ploy, along the lines of "You're pre-approved for this credit card".

Will let you know what I find out.

[Servalite6354]

The capital "AUTO" on the address label makes me think for some reason I'm not that special of a "Qualified State Resident".

[esl_cherokee]

Yeah I just got one of those yesterday here in michigan.

[Servalite6354]

I'm curious...was it called the "Michigan Prosperity Program"?
Did you return the slip?

I haven't received any new information as of yet.

I started my new job yesterday.....my predecessor had a desk full of locks to various places in the plant that I've apparently inherited. My office lock is some sort of dimple lock, haven't figured out what brand yet, as I haven't gotten a key or had time to inspect it closely yet.... just across the aisle there's a storage room with a Simplex type combination lock, and this morning I saw a cool looking safe upstairs..... I think I'm going to like this job. Lots of cool stuff to learn about.

[esl_cherokee]

Yes it was called the michigan prosperity program. no I didn't send the slip in because I figured it would be the same thing I already got from them.

[Servalite6354]

Well, apparently all that happens is they send you the "best" deal again - the one with the pick gun and the pay-up-front price of $599. I'm still wrestling with whether or not I'll do it. I want to, but it seems like a huge cost for what it is.

[Crashbox]

Hmmm... if they happen to have the Washington (state) Prosperity Program I just might go for it. I reckon I could afford $599 for something I think would actually be fun...

[Servalite6354]

If you send for information from them, then wait long enough, they'll send you the $599 deal offer. If you wait even longer, they send the "Prosperity" deal, which is what I described above. When you reply to it, the merely re-send the $599 offer.

[WOT]

It looks like just another one of cookie cutter junk mail.

[Servalite6354]

Well, I finally signed up, using the $599 thing. We'll see how it goes.

[Servalite6354]

Mailed the first 15 lessons this morning. So far, I'm kinda disappointed. I know they said the first few would be too easy, but there wasn't much that impressed me in the first 15 lessons.

Ah well, it is interesting.

[Servalite6354]

Mailed the first 15 lessons this morning. So far, I'm kinda disappointed. I know they said the first few would be too easy, but there wasn't much that impressed me in the first 15 lessons.

Ah well, it is interesting.

Two weeks later, I call to see when my next set of lessons will be here. The lady I talked to typed for a while, then said, "We'll have those shipped out today, sir." Today!? It takes two days for them to get my letter, and they still haven't sent me new lessons?

Maybe they're stalling to burn up the "30 day money-back" thing?

So anyway, my advice to anyone taking this course is to call them as soon as you send in your lessons, requesting more. They were very nice about it, it just seems like they should have done it already.

[nostromo]

Maybe they're still using the same business model, processes, and PEOPLE since day one? I took the Locksmithing Institute course from Little Falls, NJ back in the 70's and it was like that. Mail in your homework, get the next batch a few weeks later because that's how long it took the nice lady who also had to handle the sharpening course, the resupplies, and answer the phone? This is back in the days when a company had 6 weeks to mail your order (and often did). We've gotten pretty used to making an order and getting things back in a couple of days. Anyway, I'm HOPING that that's what it is, and not trying to outwait out your 30 days. FB has been around a LONG time.

On another tack, the mailorder courses may not be of much benefit for someone like you who's been diligently pursuing independent study - figuring out what to learn, finding the material, setting up practice exercises, challengin yorself, etc. I just got a peek at the Penn-Foster course and it seems more a high-level overview and not a lot of depth, like my Little Falls course. Maybe it's just designed to get someone started? My son is in a local junior college auto service program and the materials in his courses seem alot like this, too. Most of the work is really hands on.

If the course material, tools supplied (mine were pretty minimal) and keymachine (if your offer includes it) doesn't seem worth it, you are probably right. If you don't feel good NOW, you probably won't later. Having low confidence in your knowledge level is not a good way to start a new job, if that's where you're going. That said, the Little Falls course was great for me at the time since I had no knowledge at ALL and I got a job right away based on it. But if this is continuing education, the forums and other references will be better. If it's not too late to back out, maybe see if someone on the forum will loan/sell you their course and you can check it over and see if you still want to go that route?

[Archive555]

Maybe they're still using the same business model, processes, and PEOPLE since day one? I took the Locksmithing Institute course from Little Falls, NJ back in the 70's and it was like that. Mail in your homework, get the next batch a few weeks later because that's how long it took the nice lady who also had to handle the sharpening course, the resupplies, and answer the phone? This is back in the days when a company had 6 weeks to mail your order (and often did). We've gotten pretty used to making an order and getting things back in a couple of days. Anyway, I'm HOPING that that's what it is, and not trying to outwait out your 30 days. FB has been around a LONG time.

On another tack, the mailorder courses may not be of much benefit for someone like you who's been diligently pursuing independent study - figuring out what to learn, finding the material, setting up practice exercises, challengin yorself, etc. I just got a peek at the Penn-Foster course and it seems more a high-level overview and not a lot of depth, like my Little Falls course. Maybe it's just designed to get someone started? My son is in a local junior college auto service program and the materials in his courses seem alot like this, too. Most of the work is really hands on.

If the course material, tools supplied (mine were pretty minimal) and keymachine (if your offer includes it) doesn't seem worth it, you are probably right. If you don't feel good NOW, you probably won't later. Having low confidence in your knowledge level is not a good way to start a new job, if that's where you're going. That said, the Little Falls course was great for me at the time since I had no knowledge at ALL and I got a job right away based on it. But if this is continuing education, the forums and other references will be better. If it's not too late to back out, maybe see if someone on the forum will loan/sell you their course and you can check it over and see if you still want to go that route?

From reading his posts, I'm inclined to believe that he isn't worried about his skills, hes worried that he's getting ripped-off (for lack of better words, and because I'm tired). I'm probably wrong though.

[gasterpend]

Do they send the key maker with the first lessons? It looks like the first lessons are about copying.