You are here: Home > Awards for sale: Not a rewarding experience

Awards for sale: Not a rewarding experience

By on July 22, 2008 in deceptive marketing, no trust

The Ballard Agency has won plenty of awards in their 45 year history, but this isn’t one they were interested in:

The Ballard Agency - Best of Bellevue Award

Chris Ballard, President of the the Bellevue-based insurance brokerage was surprised his company was selected. He’d never even heard of the U.S. Local Business Association.

Here’s the email he received, with hyperlinks removed:

I am pleased to announce that Ballard Agency has been selected for the 2008 Best of Bellevue Award in the Insurance category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

In recognition of your achievement, a 2008 Best of Bellevue Award plaque has been designed for display at your place of business. You may arrange to have your award sent directly to Ballard Agency by following the simple steps on the 2008 Best of Bellevue Award order form.

The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Also, a copy of the press release publicizing the selection of Ballard Agency is posted on the USLBA website. USLBA hereby grants Ballard Agency a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, and display this press release in any media formats and through any media channels.

In order to provide you with the best possible service, you have been assigned an award code that can be used on our website for quick access to your award information and press release. If you have any questions or comments, please include this code with your correspondence.

Sincerely,

Ashley Carter
Selection Committee Chair
U.S. Local Business Association

After doing a little sleuthing, the folks at the Ballard Agency realized it was a marketing scheme to sell overpriced plaques.

Chris didn’t appreciate having his time wasted, but took the time to share it with me, and now you.

Here’s a marketing tactic I hate: Winning fake awards or being “nominated for a “who’s Who” list, and all you have to do is pay for $100 award!

Clearly, this is a deceptive marketing tactic in the same category as the phony domain name and Yellow Pages bills that are sent in hopes your A/P department will pay them in error.

“The only way they’d ever get our business is on accident,” says Ballard.

And that, my Responsible Marketing friends, is no way to grow a business.

So, have you or ever been targeted for one of these “faux-wards?”

Comment below to share your experience.

UPDATE: Let’s fight vanity scams together is a follow-up to this post.

Subscribe to this feed.

. . .

Full disclosure: Outsource Marketing is a Ballard Agency client.

Related posts:

, , , , ,

Newer Comments →
  • http://www.nyskyride.om Myron Baer

    I too was surprised when the US Local Business Association sent me my ‘award’. What tipped me off to their scam was the award showed the corporate name rather than our regular trade name. How we could have won an ‘award’ with the corporate name seemed so unlikely in light of the USLBA claim that we won based on our marketing, and our marketing never uses the corporate name.

    So if you need an expensive plaque for your office – design it yourself and have it made – no need to buy theirs.

  • http://chefevan.com Laurette Elsberry

    Our little, struggling, restaurant seems also to have won an award. The minute I saw the word “plaque” I knew what to expect. Checking out the organization on “google” I saw that Ballard had it figured out and provided me with the clues I needed to dump this advertising trick without further research.

  • Wendy Symalla

    I was curious about this award because I had never heard of the USLBA. I “googled” it and was pleased to find my answer so quickly. I love “google”!
    Thanks to Chris Ballard for taking the time to post his findings!

    Wendy Symalla
    HBF Marble & Granite
    Denver

  • http://www.teausa.net Robyn Williams

    I too was curious about this award. It sounded so real and so good, especially for us, as we are a struggling growing small business and are always looking for very expensive ways to market our product. I also did some “google research” and found my answer very quickly about this deception. Thanks for Chris posting his experience, and thanks for all the comments.
    Robyn Williams
    T.E.A. Machine Components, Inc.
    Richmond

  • http://www.idesigninc.net Anthony Davis

    Yep, just won a best in Nashville Web/Graphic Design award.
    Darn!! I was so excited maybe to be recognized…kind of a bummer. Glad I didn’t order the plaque first…

  • http://www.BestCleanersOrlando.com Gary Shif

    Like everyone else. They misspelled our company name !@#$%^&*()

  • http://www.stephenbonanno.com Vivian Benvenuto

    I received my e-mail this morning and was so excited to see our little Mom and Pop business won a local award for the best Shoe Store in the Stuart area. It’s was about time!!! ;)
    I called our DBA president who said he had never heard of USLBA and googled them.

    Drats. It’s a fake!
    Like Anthony above, I was bummed.

  • http://www.onlinecad.net ONline CAD

    Just received notice of my “award” today. Thanks for the info and for saving me $100!

  • http://www.larsonpools.com Debi Larson

    I was suspicious when the notice said, “I am pleased to announce that Larson Pool Plastering has been selected for the 2008 Best of Roy Award in the Swimming Pool Services category.” We’re the ONLY swimming pool company in the city! Nice try, but I’m no fool!

  • http://greenbuilder.com billc108

    I got one today too – not that I’d have bought the plaque: we don’t have many web design/hosting clients coming to our home office or to our server room to view it!

    In our case, they got the city wrong. I don’t even know where Haywood is!

    Thanks for posting that this is a scam. It made my googling easy.

  • Tainio Technology

    I received the notice that we’d be receiving the “best of Cheney” award on Friday. I figured this could not be a real thing because we are located outside of the city limits and don’t even do much business in that town. I figured I would google just to double check and make sure that it was a scam, and not an actual award we’d be missing out on, and sure enough… Thanks for posting this article!

  • http://www.bowdishlake.com Bowdish Lake

    The two things that made me suspicious right away were the “Best of Milford” (the campground is nowhere near Milford) and the fact that they sent the message to webmaster@bowdishlake.com. If they were recognizing some great accomplishment, wouldn’t they send it directly to the people who run the campground? I only manage the website. So, I looked it up firstl I also love Google! Thanks!

  • http://mathusee.com/blog ethan

    Got the same email today, “Best of Richardson” award, they must be randomly generating names. A quick google brought me here, thanks.

  • Rich, the Builder

    Thanks for the heads-up, expecially to Ballard Insurance. We always thought we were the best homebuilder in Colorado, and it was nice to see the USLBA had figured it out and so notified me via email. Luckily I was curious about who the USLBA was–and google wonderfully explained. I think I would have rather been recognized by the U. S. Lawn Bowling Assoc.

  • Lisa

    I was suspicious when the email showed up this morning. If they were serious, why wouldn’t they have called or just sent the award? Thanks for the timely information.

  • Nat

    If you join any association anywhere in the world, you are usually required to pay dues to that association. It might be a sporting club or social club or even a business networking association. Every club or association usually gives awards to their participants, but where does the money come from for the creation of those awards? From the dues or receipts. It is completely honorable and above board to expect to be compensated for the actual award plaque. Someone has to pay for it. This association is legitimate, if you do your due dilligence. But presenting blinkered opinions like some of those above leads to unfair condemnation of an opportunity for legitimate businesses to feel empowered and encouraged to continue to provide exemplary services and products.

  • http://www.outsourcemarketing.com Patrick Byers

    Nat,

    Appreciate the counterpoint here.

    With all due respect, I’ve done a bit of due dilligence here. This association may be legitimate, but I don’t know what purpose they serve other than selling high-priced plaques.

    The problem is, the USLBA is telling folks they are being recognized as a great company, then are being asked to pay $100 or more for a $10 plaque.

    Their official sounding name makes it feel like a big deal. But when you look at their site, you realize it isn’t.

    Their mission (and my commentary):

    1. Be the primary repository of the best in local business information and resources. (it’s not)
    2. Attract the best people. (how?)
    3. Promote the best practices in the industry. (a list of mediocre articles accomplishes this?)

    The USLBA isn’t offering membership to a club or a business networking association.

    They aren’t offering an award to their participants.

    You say “But presenting blinkered opinions like some of those above leads to unfair condemnation of an opportunity for legitimate businesses to feel empowered and encouraged to continue to provide exemplary services and products.”

    To that, I’ll say this. Do you really want to call these “blinkered opinions?” None of the opinions above were solicited. They are honest responses from people that received this offer, thought it was fishy, then did a little research.

    They are smart enough to see through this deceptive marketing tactic.

    And they don’t need a plaque from the USLBA to “feel empowered and encouraged to continue to provide exemplary services and products.”

  • http://www.Mountainvalleyrvp.com Jerry Castorena (Manager)

    For those who recognize Rv Parks in their goals, it is unusual that “In recognition of your achievement “, would be noted on an email.

    We have no associations with or know the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

    Our sole stance for distinguishment is our customers and the number one service we provide to them. Bottom line.

    Thank you for you site in allowing us to post.

    Jerry Castorena
    Mountain Valley Rv Park
    Hemet Ca. 92543

  • http://www.autobahndetail.com bridgette tuttle

    Our auto detailing business was also selected. What I wanted to find out was how a Washington DC organization was made aware of our small business in Kirkland Washington. Apparently, information was gathered and third party info was taken into account. Vague? Yes. This is clearly a money-making scam. My business name was most likely found in a search of businesses. Or maybe my company info was purchased from a credit card company. Who knows? I agree- the plague is worth maybe $20. No one has heard of the USLBA unless they have been selected to buy a special plague. And there is no definite criteria for earning this award. How is this “award” going to help my business? I’m glad this article was posted so that my suspicions could be confirmed without too much time wasted.

    Thanks!
    bt

  • http://vacuumtubesinc.com James Cross

    I too got the email. I knew it was bogus right away, since I do no advertizing outside of our website. Just for grins, I googled and found this site. Thank Mr. Ballard for the original submission.

    To Nat, I would echo Mr Byers comments and add that the USLBA email only offers the plaque. It does not ask one to join their organization, or expound on any specific benefits of their organization. I just looked up the promised “Press Release” I was recognized in the category “Electronic Equipment & Supplies”. I went to the USLBA website to see who in the association might be in my category. So, I did a keyword search on my category, using the search on their website. What came up was a Yellow Pages search. The press release notes the USLBA is funded by “local businesses” Elsewhere on the USLBA website it notes “As an Award recipient, there is no requirement to join the USLBA. We simply ask each award recipient to pay for the cost of their plaque. The revenue generated by the USLBA through the Award Program helps to pay for operational support, marketing and partnership programs for local businesses across America.” In other words, the whole organization is funded by the sale of plaques. If you think this is legitimate and not a HUGE conflict of interest for a legitimate award program, I have a piece of the Everglades I would like to sell you….

    Here is the press release:

    “Vacuum Tubes, Inc. Receives 2008 Best of Orlando Award”

    “U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement”

    “WASHINGTON D.C., August 19, 2008 — Vacuum Tubes, Inc. has been selected for the 2008 Best of Orlando Award in the Electronic Equipment & Supplies category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).”

    “The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.”

    “Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.”

    “About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)
    U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.”

    “The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.”

  • http://www.btc-mobile.com Roy Pope

    What a cute little scam. Ours is a small restaurant in Mobile, AL. We’ve won actual awards locally, have been reviewed in magazines and newspapers and in the television news so much that it hurts my head to think about it. I would never stoop so low to embarass my company or the great people that work for me by displaying such a farce as this particular award.

  • http://www.quickbooks-consulting.com Denise Magee

    I too received my email saying my firm was selected. Since most awards are politically rewarded and not from blood, sweat, and tears, I knew it was a scam. I don’t participate in association that force me to pay for my achievements:) This blog verified that I was correct. THANKS!

  • http://www.centrestage.org Tim Brosnan

    A quick visit to the USLBA Web site, dispelled any excitement I might have felt about our professional theater in Greenville, SC winning a national award. Who else in Greenville had won awards? No answer. What’s the history of the USLBA? No answer. Who runs it? No. answer. Is there a phone number to call? No. Now what do we do? Buy a plaque. What’s the plaque cost? Enter all your contact information to find out. Now I have a new term to toss around at cocktail parties: “vanity scam.”

  • http://www.outsourcemarketing.com Patrick Byers

    Hello Tim,

    Great post that really sums this up well.

    I love the term “vanity scam.” Mind if I use it?

  • http://www.centrestage.org Tim Brosnan

    You are WELCOME to use it. Rock on.

  • http://www.meatoes.com Todd Gallopo

    Chris, thanks for starting this blog. It came in handy about 2 minutes after I too got the “vanity scam” (as Tim would put it) e-mail. The best part about it was that my company, meat and potatoes, is a graphic design company. And to see a crappy designed plaque made me laugh. We have been involved in our local community of Burbank, CA by donating proceeds to organizations in need. So, for a split second I thought it might be for real, but it did not come from the city, so I thought I would dig deeper. Thanks to all of you who were smart enough to take the time and post here. Most people are just falling for it, and that’s sad.

  • http://bierbaum.org John

    I received the same email indicating my son’s school was a winner for St. Louis in the “preschool” category. The email was addressed to the webmaster at our school’s web site, which forwards to my personal email address.

    The funny thing is, our school is a public elementary school, not a preschool, and our school’s web site is run by the PTO, a registered non-profit organization.

    So I was suspicious from the start by the award. I received an email reply when I sent an email from their web site asking for someone to call me, but it had the same vague info as the USLBA website. An additional reply from me calling their bluff and again asking for a phone call was never replied to, nor was I ever called.

    This is an obvious scam/marketing ploy to sell overpriced, meaningless plaques.

    Thanks for this blog! I wish I had seen it before I made my inquiries directly to the supposed USLBA.

  • http://unityofbellevue.org Michael Oliver

    Like many others before me I want to thank Patrick for this great blog! It really saved me the research time necessary to uncover this particular scam. A new twist: They got our “category” wrong which adds credence to the suspicion that they generate their “award list” from online seaches of yellow pages entries. Unity of Bellevue is a church with a small bookstore and our “award” was in the Metaphysical Supplies category. Still, it was intriguing enough to check out. After Googling USLBA (because no responsible office manager would click on the link in an email from a stranger) the first thing I found was that I couldn’t bring up their website so perhaps they realized that business probably won’t be booming for them anytime soon thanks to Google and The Responsible Marketing Blog. Thanks again!

  • http://www.dailylivingcenters.org Bill Weaver

    Our Adult Day Health Care organization has recently received a very nice award by being nominated by an unknown source, but there was a lot of paper work involved and no funds were expended by us. I thought this letter from USLBA was kinda off the wall and refused to even open the site. I am pleased to see this blog and want to thank you for setting it up.
    The term “Vanity Scam” is really good. I hope not many fall for this scam. Again, thank you

  • http://www.sweetbakerycafe.com Chris Sikora

    Imagine my surprise to be named best bakery in Ellicott City, in which we’re the only bakery. Also the name that was used in the email was our old name; we changed it nearly a year ago.
    I get so sad when I see so many people in sales and marketing think they have to pull some kind of scam or tricks in order to get business. Besides these vanity scams (GREAT term by the way), you see things like this in merchant services, insurance, credit cards, gas and electric providers, telephone service, etc. You know, I’ve made a pretty good living over the years in sales by being honest, trustworthy and selling a good product. Thanks for this blog!

  • http://www.missionoms.com Phuong Huynh

    Thank you for this blog. The email looked so legit but of course we’re skeptical whenever we receive an award notification, especially via email. Glad we performed our due diligence and found you.

  • Kyle

    E-mail was received on Sep. 3rd, oddly stashed in junk mail and addressed to a sample@ e-mail address. That’s where the eyebrow came up… for all of us that come across this blog or are sufficiently doubtful, I’m sure there are a many who spring at a chance to be “recognized.” This type of scam should be terminated just like any other… anybody know who is really behind this?

  • http://www.jewelmak.com Andy

    We also received this email at the end of July and wondered about this organisiation. After trying to validate the claim by phone, we received following reply by email:
    ——————————–

    Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 11:37 AM
    Subject: Re: Jewel Mak, Inc. Receives 2008 Best of New York Award

    Peter -

    First, I would like to congratulate you on your selection as a 2008 Best of New York Award Winner. Here is our contact information:

    US Local Business Association
    2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
    Suite #742
    Washington, DC 20006
    (800) 398-0462

    I would be happy to respond to any questions you have in writing. In order to remain neutral and maintain the integrity of our selection process, I am required by association by-laws to document any conversations with businesses that are under consideration for recognition or have been selected as winners.

    As an Award recipient, there is no requirement to join the USLBA. We simply ask each award recipient to pay for the cost of their plaque. The revenue generated by the USLBA through the Award Program helps to pay for operational support, marketing and partnership programs for local businesses across America.

    There are various plaques sizes and shipping options. Simply click on the link below and follow the instructions for pricing and to receive your award:
    Best of New York 2008 – Jewelry

    Sincerely,

    Ashley Carter
    Selection Committee Chair
    U.S. Local Business Association
    ————————–
    I agree with Kyle’s comments; that kind of scam should be made public and terminated. Can the BBB investigate who is behind this?

  • http://rapidcityjournal.com/blogs/business/ Jeremy Fugleberg

    Hello all,

    I too was perplexed when I received an e-mail from a reader and business owner who received a USLBA award. I came to this blog like all of you and interviewed Patrick for the article I wrote, below, for the Rapid City (S.D.) Journal:

    ‘Vanity scams’ woo local businesses
    By Jeremy Fugleberg
    Journal staff Tuesday, August 26, 2008

    Shari Rose, innkeeper of the Sweetgrass Inn in Rapid City, opened her business e-mail to see that her bed and breakfast had won an award. The U.S. Local Business Association named Sweetgrass Inn the “Best of Rapid City” for 2008.

    That seemed odd, since she had never heard of the Washington, D.C.-based group.

    Along with a pre-formatted press release her business could trumpet, the “association” offered an award plaque for the low, low prices of $79 and $99. Something didn’t seem quite right, and she wasn’t the only one to cock an eyebrow.

    “They’re selling high-price plaques,” said Patrick Byers, who heads up Bellevue, Wash.,-based Outsource Marketing and runs the Responsible Marketing blog.

    He posted alerts about the USLBA’s awards after his insurance agent received such an e-mail. With some research, Byers discovered the awards are not legitimate.

    “It’s a vanity scam; it plays off people’s vanity a little bit,” He said. “I’m sorry for the lady who received this. The only criteria for receiving this award is a heartbeat.”

    Rose and Byers’ insurance agent are not the only ones to receive the dubious distinction. Businesses nationwide have received the infamous e-mail, typically directed toward the business’ marketing director. Many have posted the press release with pride.

    “It just made me wonder if that brought them more business. It’s kind of like when you see testimonials from ‘John Smith.’” Rose said. “It sounded like anybody who did enough marketing could possibly qualify because of the amount of marketing that they did.”

    Usually, scammers try to take advantage of ignorance or guilt. But the U.S. Local Business Association comes from a different angle, offering what the Better Business Bureau calls a “vanity award.” The bureau has received numerous complaints about the awards from the USLBA, according to the Web site of the bureau’s Spokane, Wash., office.

    “There’s no harm done, unless you let go of the wallet,” Rose said, looking back at the offer.

    Although the fake awards may seem harmless, they undercut the honors and awards given to businesses that actually deserve them, said Linda Rabe, president of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce.

    “These kinds of awards lend doubt to the legitimate ones,” she said. “I just feel bad that there are people out there who do this, that, then cause that distrust.”

    The USLBA did not return several Journal e-mails requesting comment. Other than a generic comment form on the organization’s Web site, no other contact information is listed.

    Rose e-mailed the organization with a question and got a response. “Ashley” from the award-selection committee confirmed that Sweetgrass Inn was the only bed and breakfast to get the award in Rapid City. Not true, Rose learned. Peregrine Inn Bed & Breakfast also received a similar e-mail. It went straight to the spam folder.

    “The scams — they’re so prevalent on the Internet with e-mail and everything, and you just have to be careful,” Rose said.

    Rose put out the word to the other members of the Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota, an organization of people she trusts for information and advice.

    And, no, it does not send out e-mail awards announcements.

    http://rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/08/26/news/local/doc48b21cd175a7f531242070.txt

  • http://cheesecakeheaven.com Nancy Kimps

    I received the best of Green Bay in the bakeries catagory. I was flattered, but decided to wait for the phone call, or perhaps letter. Do you really receive an award like this via e-mail at midnight? I really don’t have time for this or all the other scams that clutter my life and my business. Can we stop this somehow????

  • Kristin

    I just got an e-mail from them this morning saying we won the 2008 award in the contractors category. Our business manufactures sensors! That threw me off, and I was thinking if this was a legit award, wouldn’t you think the city would call, or send a letter of some sort? But, it does look pretty real… came in my inbox without the [SPAM] in front so I thought it could have been real. Glad I saw this site!

  • http://www.floratiquefloral.com Rosemary Lucero

    In either case, you do not have to buy the plaque. They write a very nice press release that can be used for online marketing or local newspaper marketing either way. We have won Best of before with our local newspaper and we did not have to buy the plaque, but we were highly encouraged to take out an ad in the paper to advertise our winning. Different yes, but a similar idea so perhaps instead of debunking your work try to ride the press release to your favor. I am not sure why they would have a budget to go printing plaques for every winner. You win with the press alone for SEO back linking, etc…

  • Dee Dee DeSoto

    I received my “award” notification today. My smile lasted a second before I snapped out of it and checked it out . Of course the plaque costing $100 was all I needed to verify the scam. Vanity plaques is a perfect discription! I called the local BBB and reported it. What a disheartening way to make a living, off of struggling small businesses.

  • http://www.TheFancyShack.com Breezie Castell

    I’m so glad that I found this site. I got the email this morning and I was so excited until I realized that it’s all bulls*** . I am so livid about this scam, I want to hunt them down and yell at them for breaking my heart! I’ll be making sure to get the word out. Sorry to all you hard workers were misled.

  • http://www.quecheeinn.com K Kelley, Sales & Marketing Manager

    We too received this phony email saying we’d won an award. I Googled the uslba and found your website…thanks for confirming it was a scam.

  • http://www.houseofandrachelle.com margaret fergusson

    The certificate looked phony. There was no listing on the website of past winners.

    Too bad. Cheap and deceptive marketing practice.

  • http://islandsign.com Doug Allan

    well, I guess I’ve been selected as on of the “best” too, which I believe to be true in my region, but I never let my guard down enough to trust my scamspam. I pretty much trust my scamsense, but appreciated your blog being here to quickly verify the facts.
    Thanks

  • http://gardenrailwaygizmos.com Claudia Rollstin

    After reading my business award, scams being what they are, I wouldn’t even look at the links. Found this blog which confirmed my suspicion. Since Garden Railway Gizmos has been in existance less than a year, and most of the people in Wichita still do not know it exsists, USLBA had to be pulling a fast one.

  • http://www.autocraftsmen.com Amy Mattinat

    Gotta Love the Internet for providing information at your fingertips.

    I too won an award and saved $100.00 because I found your blog while trying to figure out if this award was legit.

    Your awesome… 43 comments x $100 = $4,300

    Mucho Gracias!

  • Clara

    I was too surprised to receive this mail this morning, which said our company has achieved exceptional marketing success. The fact is that we hardly do any marketing so I don’t have a clue why we got this award.

    I wrote back to ask for the specifics and selection criteria. They simply said “Unfortunately I cannot go into the specifics of the data we use in our selection process. We have non-disclosure agreements with the companies that provide us the data”.

    I become suspicous and then I found this site. Thanks for all information here.

  • David Bardwell

    I have to admit, that I was suspicious right from the start, since I had been approached personally with “Unwritten Poet of the Year” and “Outstanding Photo of Local Roadkill”, (or something like that), awards. I knew that they usually consisted of an overpriced plaque and/or payment for an overpriced banquet or lodgings to be present at an “award ceremony.” But, this tactic seemed like it could be legit, I was somewhat confused as to why one of our smaller centers would win an award when a couple of our larger ones were more visible and better known. That and the fact that I had beens sent the email notice, rather than our director, who’s email address is linked right above mine on our website. So, solely for the sake of argument, I first went to their “website” and found information so sketchy that I decided to “google” it and found this site. And, I agree with one of the earlier post about it being amazing, the number of people who proudly trumpet their purchase of this phony award. I am sure that pretty much everyone responding, has a website and that is where these scammers get their contact list from. Mine was addressed to the webmaster account. Hey, how about I offer each of you an award, for being smart enough not to take the bait? I’m sure that I could make my plaque even nicer and cheaper than theirs. Any takers?

  • Karen

    The couple of posters above that try to defend this company’s tactics must work for USLBA. I received my “award” email today. I knew immediately it wasn’t legit because it used our company’s old name–we legally changed our group’s name FOUR YEARS ago (the new name is materially different)! Even the old name as they used it wasn’t totally correct, and the “award” category they cite isn’t what we do. Not to mention that we don’t even do any marketing.

  • http://gojump.com Jule Fobert

    I just received an email from them today for our park Zero Gravity in Dallas, TX. The website let me know it was a scam. I did some searching and found your site. Thank God I followed my intuition!

    Jule Fobert
    Zero Gravity/AMI

  • Walter Jablonski

    We are a local excavating contractor in the Mahopac area and were thrilled to receive this award. We received it by mail. My wife was suspucious and googled the USLBA. She found your blog and saved me $100. Thanks for all your information.
    Walter

  • http://www.kronoslaboratory.com Dave H

    They basically sell overpriced plaques. If you look at their explanation:

    “As an Award recipient, there is no requirement to join the USLBA. We simply ask each award recipient to pay for the cost of their plaque. The revenue generated by the USLBA through the Award Program helps to pay for operational support, marketing and partnership programs for local businesses across America.”

    So your $100 pays for a $10 plaque and shipping fees. THe rest goes to thier operational expenses of sending out more email awards/solicitations to other local businesses. Yes its a scam, but it appears that they are doing nothing illegal.

Newer Comments →