What is wrong with joining trade groups?
As a recent Chairman of Ethics and Moderation for one of the trade groups dealing with internet commerce and eBay sellers, I have to say that the experience was interesting. As time went on, I had been involved in two groups. Some people know why I quit the first one. The second one promised to be even more open, member owned and transparent. As time went on I grew leary of these claims as things were done in the back room and not reported to the members. *edited*
Day three: The Ethics of that group decided it had gone far enough when the Board refused the Ethics committee vote and wrote their own ticket. The Ethics committee balked and posted a statement that the Board had overruled a vote and took their own vote. The Board promptly moved the post, Moderators promptly moved it back and after several attempt the post was deleted by the Board, the Ethics Chairman suspended which left members of the member owned group guessing at what happened. One Board member resigned, another threatened to take public action and was suspended… and that leads to this post.
Are these groups really worth it? I guess if all you are doing is gleaning information you’re in good company. But if you get sucked up in the rhetoric and start volunteering, watch out. Nothing in these types of groups is member owned, and here’s why.
1. The Presidents of these groups are often egotistical backed by a posse or hopefuls that will do or say anything to be part of the upcoming promised success
2. Hours can be invested to no avail because at some point it will be overturned by the Board who has gone googly eyed over their fearless leaders.
3. At some point, usually when $100,000 or more is in the kitty, someone wants to take all the glory and keep their own reputation from being besmirched while running things the way they seem fit. After all, they built this city and they should never be challenged.
Any questions?
on July 2nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Interesting to say the least. A little ironicthat the same ‘emperor with no clothes’ allegations that were hurled against the first group are now being hurled against the 2nd group. hmmm, just a few months until dues are renewed…the people will speak with their wallets and unfortunately, the bridges have already been burned for many.
~everybody knows there’s more than 1 mole~
on July 3rd, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I think it’s interesting that the first group evidently still isn’t non-profit and I hear there’s no real checks and balances to account for the money. I remember when the head of that group made his wife in charge of the money.
The 2nd group went out of their way to be non-profit to make a statement to the first group, but was really lax in writing their by-laws. The by-laws and forum posting rules are extremely lacking, and this has finally come back to haunt them.
I think that what is going on in the 2nd group now is beyond shameful. It looks like everybody who wants to speak their mind about what’s going on gets suspended without any trial or review. It’s all going to backfire on them, especially when the entire story comes out. And it will!
on July 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Rules lacking? Hardly. I’ve never belonged to a group that was so paranoid and had so many self-protection rules. Confidentiality began right after the conference when they tried to tell us we couldn’t share our notes from the conference. They went so far as to say what we wrote as notes didn’t belong to us and we weren’t to post the information to benefit others because those people didn’t pay for the information by attending the conference. Unbelievable, ridiculous, and totally overstepping their bounds.
It continued with posting to the IMA forums. Locked and deleted threads became the norm. Members attacking other members and more pointedly PESA until all that was left was a handful of regulars who never noticed they and the Chairman (owner in his eyes) had run everyone else off..
The whole “mole” thing is laughable and shows the level of maturity at the top. This has been going on since the inception and is the reason this group is imploding and has been imploding for months. The worst part is we’re paying to be a part in this sideshow. Ridiculous.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I never joined IMA long-term because I got a sense of the BS early on.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I’m just not sure at this point what is to be gained by your comments. Why the rush to get this posted when it seems like there has been no full response yet from the organization? And I’m not saying that you might end up being fully and completely right (or vice versa), but was this the ONLY WAY to get any response or action? Do you normally divulge such information (in what is basically a public forum) which was acquired in the course of serving as a Chairman of a group or committee? No matter the outcome, I find that somewhat unsettling.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I joined this group you are talking about and I have indeed learned a lot. One of the biggest things I have learned is that there are a lot of people who are successful in business who know nothing about business. There are some people who have an inventory with very high demand, and because of that they can do high volume and pull in big numbers. But the success isn’t really their own, it is the success of the widget they sell. But they think because they make $X per month they know everything about business, but in truth they are just lucky to have inventory because they know less than nothing about business. But they prattle on about how much they know and how much everyone wants to listen to how much they know. They don’t realize that a monkey could sell high-demand goods (just fill the orders) but a good businessperson can make a run selling anything. Half these folks would be lost if you take away their magic, high-demand inventory. RIP IMA, it was fun while it lasted.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I think any good business person would certainly pick a hot product to sell and I would applaud any solid choices for inventory selection. That seems to be a comical way to hold anything against another business person. I don’t see any names on the remarks left above. Why is that ?
I was a early member of IMA and will remain with the organization. I have found great benefit in the membership and wealth of knowledge presented. I will not bail at the first signs of mistakes made but do wonder just what all this is about and must say I don’t like being left in the dark to wonder. One must question just what sort of attack this is upon IMA - internal or external in nature. E-Bay id Cosmic-King
on July 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I kind of liked having the page view to give people regarding the feedback rules and how they effect and affect sellers. It sounds to me that he said she said he did what someone else said. Egos. check your ego at the door and look into your heart for ethical answers and not your pocketbook.
the previous poster is correct. Making big money doesnt make one successful. Maybe the members of the board and the ethics committee need to meet in person and sort out their differences. What is best for the group, rather than who has ‘control’. ma
on July 3rd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Boy I didn’t see this coming
on July 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Isn’t it a shame that these “big business” people still have middle school mentalities, no matter how successful their businesses are. Cliques, secret meetings, moles, self-importance, exclusions from the “in crowd”. . . . such a pathetic commentary on the ‘adults’ of today. The real shame is that these people are raising and molding the lives of our leaders of tomorrow.
Take a look at yourselves in the mirror, people. Do you like what you see? Would you be proud of your children if they acted the same way? Who’s going to teach them about Honesty and Ethics? Remember, kids learn by example. Think about it.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
[…] More information here from a disgruntled member of IMA […]
on July 3rd, 2008 at 8:41 pm
ColorMeSurprised asked if posting here is the only way to get a response.
The answer is: even doing that doesn’t get you a response. We’re talking email here. It only takes so long to write somebody back. Things I asked months ago got no reply. Things I asked last week about the current situation have received no reply. Even emailing the VP has brought me nothing but silence. I’d love if somebody emailed, “We got your email and are working on a response. We will be in touch in X days.” That would be fair, but I’m not getting that either.
This is just seems like a clumsy way for the board to try and control people who don’t agree with them. They suspended two people from the ethics committee without going through a grievance process on them. They claimed the ethics committee breached confidentiality and suspended them. If that’s true, why wasn’t every person on ethics comm. suspended? Once you’re targeting a few people, it’s clear that this is personal and not the real business of what a non-profit needs to do in accordance with its by-laws.
Nothing that has happened in the last week has been in accordance with the by-laws. I have no idea how the IMA can ever recover from this. This has the power to bring the entire IMA down. I hope the lies are worth it to the people high up who are doing these things.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
What has happened that will destroy IMA ? Nothing - IMA will go on and others will try to destroy it on rumors alone ? It is a strong group filled with bright members. It will take far more than hallow rumors to destroy the organization. If something so horrid has happened why is that silence is so damaging. Spill the beans if you have some secret or have you too been sworn to never speak ?
on July 3rd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Until IMA gets rid of it’s “founder” then it will remain a joke in true e-commerce circles.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
So please, explain to us exactly what happened.
Thank you
on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 pm
IMA members need to take a good long look at their current board of directors, and more precisely the top spots. The organization has good intentions, but the road to hell was paved with good intentions.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
As an early IMA member I thought it showed great promise. Unfortunately the huge egos of ben and steve made the group impossible to stomach. Thank goodness I came to my senses and went back the the drama-free “other” group.
on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
That is what I am waiting on…..
on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
As long as we can talk “openly” here, can someone give a “What Happened 101″ - I am late to the party and can’t figure out what all the hoopla is about except that the teenagers running the show have once again shown themselves to be unprofessional. So sad.
on July 4th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Having tried the ‘other white meat’ especially some years ago in wilder days, I would not call them drama-free! If you’re having a good experience there, good for you. Members deserve drama-free experiences.
Kirk, ask yourself the same questions again. What has happened that the Board has had to remove posts? What has happened that the Board decided to suspend some (not all) of the Ethics Committee without going through a proper grievance on them? What has happened that the Board rejected what the moderators and Ethics Committees found, which evidently has never happened before?
What has happened that the Board is trying to say the Ethics Committee is just too new to know what it’s doing… isn’t the Ethics Committee made up of moderators and Board members? Surely those people know what they’re doing by now.
I always tell people that if you’re proud of something, you get it out there. You say it. You stand up for it. When I see the IMA pulling what it’s pulled the last week, I see the actions of people who are not proud. I see the actions of people who are scared, and trying everything they can to have power. Why would the Board need to have power over wonderful people they trust like Larry and Suzanne? What could be so wrong with those two people that they should get temporarily suspended, but then welcomed back to their positions in a few days?
What could be going on that they’re lost another board member to resignation? And what could be going on in the board that is SO BAD that the member who just resigned admitted (before her post was taken down) that she resigned because of this mess?
Ask yourself those things, Kirk, and you’ll start to piece things together.
It won’t stay quiet forever. The IMA will not be able to hide behind what it has done, even though for now, it is trying everything it can. Even if the core of the story never came out, the posts here, in the IMA forum, and in other places make it clear that the membership will not stand for this. The IMA IS made up of strong, intelligent people, and I believe that those people will not stand for the manipulations of Steve and his henchman, or I might say Ben and his Master Du Jour. Anybody remember when Ben served Joe so rabidly?
on July 4th, 2008 at 12:31 am
What a sad group of people (minus Kirk). You don’t sign your names and you say things a 10 year old would be too mature to say.
Try signing your names to your statements, and then see if you still post the same words.
Pitiful! I can’t wait for you “future ex-members” to leave.
Bruce Hershenson
on July 4th, 2008 at 1:32 am
PS. I am so happy to be leaving eBay.
Bruce Hershenson
on July 4th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I think it’s sad that someone would come on here and ridicule and insult an entire thread of posters because they are expressing themselves. Talk about immature. But this seems to be your MO. This is the very thing that keeps new members away from IMA…the continuous insults and obvious pressuring from the good ole boys club. If IMA didn’t have so many ego maniacs at the helm, it could have been an organization that filled a need. But the heads of this group, and other arrogant posters/members who continue to belittle and insult people just because they choose to share their experience, is the real shame here. But you folks just don’t get it. IMA isn’t about serving people, it’s about preserving and promoting the ugliest attributes of the Human being. The power hungry, ego driven maniac who thinks it’s all about HIM. Truly sad.
on July 4th, 2008 at 2:21 am
I totally agree with what Get Real said. Post my name here so I can be attacked by Bruce, Kirk and the bullies on the IMA forum boards? Worse yet, I’ve been warned from saying anything by people who say my business would be at risk if I spoke out. Now, tell me again how brave it is to post here when you’re part of the problem?
on July 4th, 2008 at 3:11 am
I agree. Post our names? Why, so we can be ostracized in the group we paid to be members of. The IMA is broken and people at the top don’t realize it. They think this is just the members getting upset and it will pass. Wrong.
on July 4th, 2008 at 3:31 am
I remember when many of these people were part of an “other” group. The arguments were endless, repetitive and tiring. When they left they took the arguments left with them.
You are wise to post anonymously. To state your identity would be similar to arming an angry five year old with a slingshot and stones and holding still for them to actually hit the target (you).
on July 4th, 2008 at 4:25 am
post names? roflmao. i’m sure ima’s already started another thread about htis and other blogs/entries where posters have commented. every time someone dares speak out against ima, the BOD tries to go on a ‘witch hunt’ and wants people to ’step forward.’ or better yet, the BOD posts threads implying there’s a ‘mole’ within the group. for all the lip service paid to total transparency and how much better IMA is than PESA, you’d think they could muster up something better to do with their time than worry about a ‘mole’ or belittle members who have different opinions. in the ultimate hilarity, the BOD members who were warned that this would happen were the ones suspended. guess that ‘what problems in IMA? no one has problems’ attitude of the BOD was wrong, eh? ah, keep your friends close and your enemies closer…if only the BOD could pull their heads out of their A$$e$ to figure out which is which.
ps, there’s more than 1 mole within IMA
on July 5th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Well I’ll sign my name to this one because I’ve gone public with my story.
http://aswas.typepad.com/hall_of_fame/2008/07/my-ima-experien.html
It’s out there, and the board can’t pretend that nothing is going on and anything that is going on is covered by confidentiality. There is no confidentiality in the by-laws. Just search for that word here:
http://imamerchant.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=42&Itemid=72
It’s not there.
on July 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
… was never considered a serious Professional organization by the group of Powersellers on Ebay. Most people see it as a cult-clique, as you are not allowed to disagree with the head honchos. And if you dare speak out and disagree with the loyal followers, or the head of the group who is a borderline rip off artist who believes he can do no wrong and, who blatantly attacks other professionals in such a blind way, you will be skewed . Who in their right mind would stay a member in a group of such dysfunctional troubled souls? And this is supposed to be Professionals.
Seriously, for any of you who are wearing the … logo on your websites, you might think of removing it. As being associated with this group is bad news.
on July 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Believe me, right now the IMA BOD’s - at least what is left of them - has a mafia attitude. IF you speak out against them on your blog you will be banned for life.
You can bet that somewhere deep in the IMA there are workings to remove those members who have made blog posts. *edited*
on July 5th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I apologize for the previous comment I made and am glad it is still in “awaiting moderation” status. I can see now that your making this post was necessary.
on July 5th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Please accept my apologies - based on what has transpired since your first post - it DOES appear that this needed to be brought out into the open so that it could be taken care of. What a mess.
My hopes are that the IMA will emerge from this with a stronger sense of purpose and a clearer definitions of roles, responsibilities and the necessary checks and balances. Hopefully, IMA can be like WC Fields and say that “the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
on July 6th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Anyone giving this sham non profit their hard earned cash should save that same cash to have their head examined. Cult is the correct word. Losers is a better word.
on July 6th, 2008 at 4:30 am
As an outside observer can I just say, what is it you people get out of these riduculous groups like PESA and IMA? They seem so… arrogant, closed-minded and amateurish. Run by a bunch of monkeys. I was going to join IMA until I did research and looked at Steve’s website: www.budgetvideogames.com is quite possibly the worst website I have ever seen in my entire life. I though, this has to be a joke, these guys aren’t professionals at all.
I just felt like my time would be better spent doing something other than listening to these clowns.
on July 6th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I received this sad news this afternoon. It seems that the IMA BOD has managed to run off every board member that does not back up their decisions. I certainly understand Larry’s reasoning even though I am deeply disappointed. Frankly, I marvel that he has managed to deal with this situation without having a stroke as long as he has.
The following is the email I received from Larry this afternoon:
Here’s what I sent earlier today to about 18 IMA members. It includes my resignation notice, which was pulled within 5 minutes of me posting it. The mods never replied to my original request this morning (about 5 hours ago) asking them to approve the post before I issued it.
There is nothing that prevents my post from being posted. The bylaws state:
A Director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the President or the Secretary of the Association. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board or such officer, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
I posted in the Board Forum immediately after posting in the Member Forum. There is nothing that says I can’t post in the members Forum. This is a complete and total suppression of our ability to communicate. It’s a totalitarian organization being run by a megalomaniac.
Not sure what to do at this point. Probably just time to call it quits.
We’ll certainly stay in touch.
Larry
—– Original Message —–
From: Larry Phillips
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 12:06 PM
Subject: My Resignation from the Board
Hello all,
This email is going to a lot of current and former IMA members who have sent expressions of support this past week (I bcc’d 18 people on this). First off, thank you for your support. I have not told the Board this yet, and this is NOT official, but I intend to resign from the Board of Directors, hopefully today. I have written the following resignation, which I intend to post in the general Forum. I have first submitted it to the moderators, to ensure that I am not in violation of any posting guideline. I will wait a while for their approval before I post, but will go ahead anyway if I don’t hear, because the bylaws do not say anything about confidential issues relating to a Board member or their resignation. Here is the post:
It is with great regret that I tender my resignation from the Board of Directors. There is a fundamental philosophical difference between myself and the other Board members. I believe that there should be a body of some sort that has the power to review certain decisions without any involvement of the Board of Directors. The other Board members disagree.
Based on that fundamental philosophical difference, I am unable to remain on a Board who believes that they should be the ultimate authority for all actions and decisions, without any sort of reasonable check and balance in place. I therefore tender my resignation from the Board effective immediately.
I will remain an active IMA member, and still believe that there is an excellent future for the IMA. Please feel free to call on me with any comments or questions.
I’m tired of fighting these people. They believe that they were elected, and can do whatever they want. They have indicated that they don’t care what the members think about certain items. They consistently hide behind a veil of confidentiality and secrecy. If I don’t take this action myself now, they will quickly find a way to remove me for some trumped up charge.
I don’t need this crap any more. My business has suffered significantly. I am now outnumbered 3-1 on the Board. My wife just walked into the room fuming, as she heard me on the phone with Steve yelling and screaming. This is not good for me, my family, my health or my business.
Hopefully, my thread won’t get pulled, but I have sent you this to make sure that the message gets out. Thank you all for your support.
Larry
on July 6th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
This is a complete and total suppression of our ability to communicate. It’s a totalitarian organization being run by a megalomaniac.
The above statement is true. But it’s always been this way. Why is it that so many people suddenly see the truth? And why would anyone want to belong to an organization that doesn’t allow their members to speak or share?
on July 6th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I don’t. Before this fiasco, I hung around hoping there would be some benefit to membership that never materialized, but I’ll be darned if I quit right now in the event my vote is needed for an election. I suspect nothing would make Steve and Ben happier than for all those that have “suddenly seen the truth” to leave IMA.
on July 6th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I resigned as Treasurer of the BOD long ago and from IMA as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the support that Larry and others now have even though my situation and reasons were not dissimilar. Larry, you did the right thing….remember one of the reasons I resigned was the lack of Directors and Officers Insurance and here the BOD is about to get sued by two people without protection….this means that the individual Board members stand to lose everything personally if someone prevails in a lawsuit. Hate to say I told you all so, but I did.
on July 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Funny, certain IMA members complained about the group for months yet were branded “troublemakers” and/or “ganged up on” or deemed to be “disloyal” to IMA. Sad that only a handful of IMA members had the courage to speak up long ago and continued speaking up. Perhaps if others had taken off their cheerleading blinders and spoken up sooner, things could have and would have been different. Guess the shoe really does have to directly drop on a majority before most see the “light.”
As for an election, it likely will not happen. BOD is already working to hand select replacements for the 1, 2,3, no wait, it’s now 4 BODs who resigned.
on July 6th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF IMA
This group is a special meeting to be called by the members.
This special meeting is called to take place July 6,2008 and
commencing on July 10,2008. Please send this notice to all IMA
members. The meeting will take place at
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/imembers/
Reason for the meeting:
1. Because the IMA Board is now down to 3 members, we feel the Board
is crippled.
2. We also believe that there has been improper running of the
organization.
3. We need 114 members to login to enact the following rule:
………………..
A. We would like to take a vote on removing the Board and calling for a new election as proposed by others letting the Board run again if they like.
b. We would like to assign a committee of members to find an impartial
review panel for hire using up to $10,000 of the funds from the IMA’s
kitty (currently 78K). The review panel will review our bylaws for
issues and determine what they should say, privacy issues, what is
private and not private and other rules for running the organization
for the members by the members.
————————–
According to the Bylaws we can call this meeting with 114 members are present during it.(see below)
but if fifty percent (50%) of the voting members shall meet at any time and place, either within or without the State, and consent to the holding of a meeting, such meeting shall be valid without cause or notice, and at such meeting, any corporate action may be taken.
on July 6th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
Substitute “apology” for “nail.” I don’t have a problem disclosing my identity. I call for the board’s dismissal, and an apology. Bruce, it could have been handled with an apology. Time for the remaining three to pull their heads out. The facts as I know them are posted here:
http://sportinggoodsusa.blogspot.com/
on July 6th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I posted a respectful thread 2 days ago that was critical of IMA and those responsible for it’s current state. I mentioned no names and was very respectful. I logged on this morning and my thread was gone. I posted another thread asking why my thread has been deleted. I also resigned and asked for a refund. A certain member responded with arrogance and condescension to my post. I could not believe what a jerk this guy was.I answered his post publicly and privately. Now the thread is locked and my posts in that thread have been deleted.
I believe that I was member # 12 in IMA.
Who needs this? All I want now is a refund.
It has become a joke….worse than PESA was during it’s worst hour IMO.
on July 7th, 2008 at 2:29 am
The BOD just changed the bylaws to prohibit virtual meetings in response to the special meeting request.
These people are out of control.
on July 7th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Too Late, The meeting started at 3:53 and they ruled at 4:09. since the meeting had already begun it is completely legal.
on July 7th, 2008 at 2:39 am
awesome!
on July 7th, 2008 at 3:14 am
You go girl!
on July 7th, 2008 at 5:07 am
Posted: Mon 07 Jul, 2008 04:57 [1] Post subject: Filing Complaint with Florida Attorney General’s Office
——————————————————————————–
We now believe that it is in the best interest of the membership of the IMA to begin filing complaints with the Economic Crimes Division of the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
We want them to receive multiple complaints tomorrow. You can fill out the complaint report by going here:
[url]
http://myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/Contact?OpenForm&Section=Economic_Crimes[/url]
The official address of the IMA is :
Internet Merchant Association
11792 Osprey Point Circle
Wellington, FL 33449-8367
phone: 561 615-1471
The three remaining Board members are:
Steve C. Grossberg
sgrossberg@budgetvideogames.com
Ben Mandell
ben@avianaorlando.com
Cathy Aggelopoulos
info@visibilityunlimited.com
Under question or comment, you should state that The Internet Merchants Association is a Florida Corporation.
The primary complaint is that a Special Meeting was called by the membership to be held online, since IMA members are located throughout the US, Canada and the United Kingdom. After the meeting was announced, the Board of Directors changed the bylaws regarding where the meeting could be conducted, in an attempt to stop the meeting. Please note in your complaint that 3 of the 6 remaining Board of Directors resigned from the organization in the last 4 days.
If you prefer, you can call the Florida Attorney General’s Office at 850-414-3300.
We need as many of you as possible to file this complaint. We believe the actions of the Board of Directors to be illegal, and need to make sure that we have multiple reports into the Florida Attorney General’s Office, so that it gets the appropriate attention.
Board of Directors and Moderators - Please note that any removal or modifications to this post may be legally considered as grounds for obstruction of justice.
on July 7th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
We have written an article this morning reflecting the membership meeting and changes in the bylaws to prevent same here:
http://snurl.com/2ubs4
on July 7th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
The above post is nowhere to be found on the IMA boards.
on July 7th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Well imagine that! They are pulling posts that are not in the best light of the current ACTING BOD’s.
on July 7th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Two of my threads have been deleted today. I assume this one has as well. The BOD is removing members today and refunding prorated dues. Welcome to Venezuela.
on July 8th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
And just for posterity’s sake in case they decide it’s time to change it since it so appropriately shows Steve’s attitude about it being HIS organization, a screenshot is located at:
http://s351.photobucket.com/albums/q468/IMAhistory/
Since I made this post, and then another asking why it was deleted, and suggested they give me my full refund if they don’t want my posts, I am no longer a member. I have yet to receive my refund, of course.
on July 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I received a partial refund, but not the full amount. When I first clicked the “trial” link on their website, after reading that I could view the forums and see if I liked the organization, I found that the link took me directly to PayPal to pay $129. I thought it odd, but expected they would refund my money if I deemed the benefits not to be worth the money. Much to my surprise when I emailed the organization, Steve replied and did not offer me a refund. Even Cathy was surprised that I was not offered a refund.
I have put up with what I feel to be a sham of an organization for the last 5 months. These latest actions of the BOD that are all about themselves instead of the members is more than I can sit idly by and accept. I have demanded the rest of my money and will seek recourse to get it if it is not granted.
While writing this, I received the following from the organization in response to a demand for the rest of my money:
Please direct any and all future correspondence to IMA’s attorneys
Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP
Michael Kosnitzky
100 SE Second Street
Suite 2800
Miami, FL 33131
These are the attorney’s IMA hired with MEMBER money to protect the BOD and go after members that post to these blogs. They would rather spend member money for attorney fees than refund 5 months of dues totalling $53.75 they owe me.
Great organization, isn’t it?
on July 8th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
You know what I find truly sad and almost unforgivable–many of you members watched the head of IMA and other IMA members insult and rip apart posters on the powerseller board repeatedly in the past year or so. Each time there was a thread started on the powerseller board regarding IMA, other powersellers would ask direct questions or make comments, and instead of being treated with respect and in a professional manner, they were degraded, insulted, belittled and ravaged by the head of IMA and other members. I was one of those people. No one came to my defense. Now you are all screaming at how rude the head of IMA is??? After it was clear how horrible he was to innocent posters asking simple questions about IMA? Sorry, but all of this sudden awakening is long overdue and doesn’t say much about the membership to begin with. And I will never trust or respect the people who sat around and just watched innocent posters get ripped apart for no reason at all.
on July 8th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
So, I have a question for all of you innocent victims of this IMA mess. Who is more guilty???? the head of IMA and other members who were rude and nasty, or the members of this group/cult who just sat around and watched others be ripped apart on their on private board and on the powerseller board over the past year?
If you sat around and just watched, you closed your eyes and sold your soul just to belong to this group/cult!
on July 8th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Get real, say what you will. Everyone had a part in this, there is no denial from many of us on that. So please, feel free to point away.
The difference is when some of us gave us the IMA Kool-aid we realized what dolts we had been and were trying to right the wrongs. At that point we were shut down and shut out.
on July 9th, 2008 at 12:36 am
That’s an interesting point, and as you all know, I agree. I didn’t like what was happening on the IMA board, and have stood up for the people who have felt crapped on.
Where was everybody else? Why was everybody waiting for someone else to stand up to it?
I hope we all learn from this… the next time you see yourself or someone else being crapped on, especially by a power-hungry weirdo, STAND UP. Don’t enable that person. Don’t assume he’ll go away because he doesn’t. He may change venues, but he doesn’t go away. We have to stand up to him and let him know he can’t get away with it.
on July 10th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Get Real - I’ll accept some guilt for not standing up earlier. You are correct. Steve’s arrogance, nastiness, and insults have been going on for a long time. I don’t believe I ever handled myself that way. When I participated, I tried to take a more professional and appropriate perspective, hoping I could stop Steve from lashing out for the good of the organization. Many times, I didn’t disagree with his message, I disagreed with his delivery of that message.
As a Board member, and an IMA member, I had to pick and choose my battles. Trust me, I was on Steve’s “nuisance” list because I did frequently challenge him. But my mission was always to do the best thing for the organization, and that sometimes directed my actions, possibly in a way that you saw as accepting of his demeanor. That wasn’t the case.
So before you go and assume that the rest of us were complacent, or didn’t care, you should check us out. You may find the story is not what you think.
on July 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
YOU say: So before you go and assume that the rest of us were complacent, or didn’t care, you should check us out.
Oh, I have checked you all out. You’re no angel and neither are many of the screamers right now. You can BLAME steve for everything, like all of these disgruntled members. But some of you were no better.
And if you read my post, no where do I “assume” anything. I know all about the ins and outs of IMA first hand. So don’t YOU assume anything.
I’ve seen your posts on the ps board as well. And you have not acted in a professional respectful manner until now. Go search some of the old IMA posts. You’ll see who participated in the gang fight on the powerseller board. And if you’re going to state that none of the IMA members saw the posts and how members were publicly treated people, that’s another drink of kool-aid.
If you want to beat me up because I’m speaking up. Feel free. I can’t imagine how you must feel being taken on a joy ride by an ego maniac who only cares about his own agenda. But you were perhaps an assistant who went along.
on July 10th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
get real,
No, I don’t want to beat you up because you are speaking up. I applaud it. There are one, possibly two people who I know I treated wrong. And I have apologized to them.
You have not identified yourself, so I don’t know who you are, but if you wish to identify yourself, either publicly or privately, I will be happy to discuss specifics with you. I do not believe that I have participated in a “gang fight” in an awfully long time. But I totally know that I’m no angel, and I’ve done some people wrong. I can be very emotional, the same as many other people, and sometimes say something that I wish I hadn’t of said. For that I humbly apologize.
I don’t think I was ever Steve’s assistant, but as I said before, there were times I agreed with his message, I just disagreed with the way he delivered it. Sometimes I let him know, sometimes I didn’t. Again, I had the organization’s best interest in mind, and had to make decisions as to when to protest, when to try and divert his attention, and when to do nothing. I did the best I can.
on July 10th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Well, Larry, I applaud you for finally speaking up and clearing up the past. Especially apologizing to those who have been offended by what’s been said in the past. Thank you for doing this.
I truly have no beef with you at all. I just don’t really care for the strong minded, power hungry members who aren’t owning up to their part in all of this mess. It has left a bad taste for many people. And it’s not all of Steve’s doing, while he was the leader of the pack.
So,,I am just expressing my views, as it is time to allow people who feel they have been crucified in some way for no reason, to speak up without being beat up.
on July 10th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Some of us have been speaking up about IMA’s issues since nearly day 1 when the forum was on eBay’s boards and we spoke up to everyone who would listen, including ex BODs. After being accused of being a mole, trying to take IMA down, having a grand agenda against IMA, being a PESA plant, having an axe to grind, and just about every other conspiracy theory under the sun, it got old being the one constantly standing up ALONE.
It’s a bit ironic and hypocritical for people to NOW rewrite history and act like they voiced concerns all along or have some holy martyr cross to bear, especially as some of those NOW voicing concerns were some of the ones who were bashing those few souls who DID speak up long ago. IMA has always had issues and a few brave people DID speak up against them loudly and repeatedly before this latest implosion started.
Maybe if those speaking up now spoke up earlier or had removed their lips from Steve’s koolaid fountain, this would not have happened and things could’ve been different. Oh wait, people usually don’t speak up until the “and then they came for YOU” part of the poem occurs.
on July 10th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Don’t think that just because I never came out with this earlier, I was not standing up for those people or against the actions of some of the Board for sometime now.
on July 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Can everyone commenting on IMA please agree to stop with the Kool-aid cliche already?