Gopher Online Advertising Auckland City
Complaint #: 80
Gopher Hard Core Selling - No Delivery 
Whoah, don't touch these guys with a barge pole!
There are around 100 salespersons working the phones and a very small actual group of staff that do the services. Once they have your money there is no follow up. YOU have to call THEM to get anything done and it's so painful, but beyond that, they ARE snake oil salesman telling you everything costs extra.
I finally realized I was being played when yet another salesman rang me (after I had already shelled out $4,700 and had received no services within the time frame they told me) to sell me yet another thing, "for extra money my ad could be aimed or mobile phones OR desktops!" Wow! that is the equivalent of charging for air. I know how google adwords work and realized in that moment they were mere middle men charging double for the same thing I can do myself. I said I knew full well people could already look at my website from either device!
They are sharks. I then cancelled the Silver Adwords package within the five days "cooling off" period that any verbal and subsequent documented agreement which has which came about via an uninvited telemarketing call is in entitled and they are well aware of and this is on their invoices.
Guess what, they refused to acknowledge my cancellation. The guy on the phone said "I verbally acknowledged it and its recorded" and I said "but I don't have that recording - PLEASE respond to my email". He said he was really busy and would try and get it done by the end of the day. Then another said "a note has been put on your file" I said "that is not your acknowlegement to me". Oh yeah, I just knew it they would say they never received any notice, which I have seen in other complaints about them.
OK, get the picture folks? this is just the beginning of my story and I am battling on trying to get my money back, they are slipping and sliding, wriggling and pretending. They now say I have obliged myself to the previous contract which was replaced by the latter one (silver replaced the earlier bronze - they "upgraded" to get more money off me).
Oh yeah, knew they would try that. Pretty sure I don't have BOTH packages at the same time, just their twisting of words and wriggling out of returning my money for services they did not give to me, none of which I yet to receive.
So they are well outside the time they thenselves put on their invoices to have provided these services by.
I had the conversation of "how do you get the adwords starting - what is your process" - as I can turn on adwords in just five minutes, why had nothing happened in a week? they pretend its all like cutting diamonds, but in fact, they had just done nothing. They had my money and that was all that mattered.
Do not, do not, do not, buy any services off these guys. They are "selling sharks".
There are around 100 salespersons working the phones and a very small actual group of staff that do the services. Once they have your money there is no follow up. YOU have to call THEM to get anything done and it's so painful, but beyond that, they ARE snake oil salesman telling you everything costs extra.
I finally realized I was being played when yet another salesman rang me (after I had already shelled out $4,700 and had received no services within the time frame they told me) to sell me yet another thing, "for extra money my ad could be aimed or mobile phones OR desktops!" Wow! that is the equivalent of charging for air. I know how google adwords work and realized in that moment they were mere middle men charging double for the same thing I can do myself. I said I knew full well people could already look at my website from either device!
They are sharks. I then cancelled the Silver Adwords package within the five days "cooling off" period that any verbal and subsequent documented agreement which has which came about via an uninvited telemarketing call is in entitled and they are well aware of and this is on their invoices.
Guess what, they refused to acknowledge my cancellation. The guy on the phone said "I verbally acknowledged it and its recorded" and I said "but I don't have that recording - PLEASE respond to my email". He said he was really busy and would try and get it done by the end of the day. Then another said "a note has been put on your file" I said "that is not your acknowlegement to me". Oh yeah, I just knew it they would say they never received any notice, which I have seen in other complaints about them.
OK, get the picture folks? this is just the beginning of my story and I am battling on trying to get my money back, they are slipping and sliding, wriggling and pretending. They now say I have obliged myself to the previous contract which was replaced by the latter one (silver replaced the earlier bronze - they "upgraded" to get more money off me).
Oh yeah, knew they would try that. Pretty sure I don't have BOTH packages at the same time, just their twisting of words and wriggling out of returning my money for services they did not give to me, none of which I yet to receive.
So they are well outside the time they thenselves put on their invoices to have provided these services by.
I had the conversation of "how do you get the adwords starting - what is your process" - as I can turn on adwords in just five minutes, why had nothing happened in a week? they pretend its all like cutting diamonds, but in fact, they had just done nothing. They had my money and that was all that mattered.
Do not, do not, do not, buy any services off these guys. They are "selling sharks".
Comments & responses (8)
I have started a facebook page about bad experiences with this company - please leave your comments and Like if this applies to you
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gopher-Online-Advertisers-Avoid/1439850512979184
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gopher-Online-Advertisers-Avoid/1439850512979184
A real bunch of scumbags these guys are. Someone needs to contact the commerce commission about them.
I was invited to a meeting to resolve my website problems and ensure delivery within a reasonable (now well extended) time, which is ok by me. I visited the offices and had a cordial meeting with the co-founder.
I believe also I am getting my money back from the cancelled Bronze/Silver Adwords Package. So they are doing the right thing by me, although it really took something to get their attention. I shall mark this resolved once monies have been received.
I believe also I am getting my money back from the cancelled Bronze/Silver Adwords Package. So they are doing the right thing by me, although it really took something to get their attention. I shall mark this resolved once monies have been received.
All those who got taken by these scums should register "gophersucks.co.nz" and stick a forum at the site to gather momentum. Then one by one take Gopher to the Disputes Tribunal to get your money back. I'm sure when the disputes tribunal sees 20 or more cases against the same business for the same dodgy deal they will start passing the cases in favour of the claimants.
And then each of you should lodge a separate case to the commerce commission so they can fine Gopher. Dozens of cases involving the same issue will carry a lot of weight.
I'm glad you are getting your case sorted. That's great news for starters.
And then each of you should lodge a separate case to the commerce commission so they can fine Gopher. Dozens of cases involving the same issue will carry a lot of weight.
I'm glad you are getting your case sorted. That's great news for starters.
Gopher have really taken great care to make things right, the co-founder made himself available to take care of my situation and he quoted LV Martin and said "Its the putting right that counts", and they have now, very much so.
I think execution of my services "fell through the cracks" somehow. But they have really made amends now, and are taking great care with my website, being available and extremely courteous. I also have full refund for services I wanted out of.
10/10 for making right and thumbs up.
I think execution of my services "fell through the cracks" somehow. But they have really made amends now, and are taking great care with my website, being available and extremely courteous. I also have full refund for services I wanted out of.
10/10 for making right and thumbs up.
That's great news for you because you found a way to leverage your case and be vocal about it. However gopher continues to con thousands of unsuspecting mom & pop businesses throughout NZ. Think of that 60 year old trades person who has no idea how Google adwords and online marketing works. I can see these slimebags pulling a fast one over each one of these poor souls and sucking $1000's out of their hard-earned money. It's sickening to say the least.
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