Re: Russ or Reed A Scam? - Posted by Ronald * Starr(in No CA)
Posted by Ronald * Starr(in No CA) on December 18, 2002 at 21:00:47:
Chris------
I disagree with your contention that Jack “downgrades” the competition. He provides his view of various gurus. On the ones for which he is positive do you think he is “upgrading” the competition? He is helping educators that he feels good about sell more books, maybe in competition with Jack? Why would he do this? Does this make him a person to be admired?
I think that wishes to both sell more of the materials he writes and to help other people find the good educators and avoid the poor ones. And, if you have read much real estate education and heard the claims of speakers about real estate investing, I’ll bet you understand that there are a lot of so-called gurus who are scammers, dishonest, overly-enthusiastic salespersons. I have not seen Jack describe his own materials in a way that I would criticize or find dishonest. Not true for all the gurus, for sure.
I have not read material from all of the gurus he rates, but I have read some from many of them. His “recommend” ratings are, in my view very accurate. I, too recommend the people he recommends. Of the people that he “does not recommend,” I agree with him on virtually every one. There are a couple with which I do disagree–Bronchick and Kaiser. If you look at his recommendations, he usually gives you information about why he tilts one way or the other. If you read those reasons and feel that he has not gotten enough information to accurately recommend/not recommend somebody, then you can ignore that particular rating. I also disagree somewhat on his position that very-high-priced educational materials and seminars are to always be avoided and criticized. However, I do agree that there are a lot of over-priced materials which are sold to innocent beginning investors who don’t have the perspective to judge the quality.
So, Jack is a terrible person because he tries to sell his real estate educational materials on his website? Hmmm, well, sure we should all chastise people who try to sell things on their own websites, I suppose. That is the logic of what you present.
How many other gurus do you think have done time for criminal offenses? I’ll bet it is not many. I do believe that people can change over time, as they mature and get more experience. So, just because Whitney was a criminal when he was less than 20 years old, does not mean that he is now. There are varying opinions about his treatment of customers in recent years. But, I get the feeling that his average reputation is extremely low when compared to that of say Jimmy Napier, Joe Kaiser, or John Beck, for instance. And many other people, too numerous to mention.
I think your subject line is out of line. I don’t think that there is any doubt at all that Jack Reed is not a “scam” or “scam artist.” If your only complaint is that he does not like some gurus or the gurus materials, teachings, or prices, I don’t see how that comes anywhere near being a “scam.” I don’t think that you have to like Jack Reed. I’m not suggesting that you do. However, I believe in honesty and I find your subject line to be not honest. I hope that in the future, even when you criticize somebody, you will at least do so honestly.
Good Investing**********Ron Starr**************