Chris Pizzo - Close Combat Training, Noble Learning, Top Secret Training
Program review by Merle Braley, Internet Marketing AdvisorIs Chris Pizzo, also known as Lieutenant X - - the most hated martial artist on the planet?..
I’ll let you decide that… The story is that cancer survivor, Chris Pizzo created his Lieutenant X identity on his “Top Secret Training” web-site and became the scourge of the Internet discussion boards. Nobody knew who he was and everyone in the martial arts fitness arena was being accused of being Lieutenant X. But, that’s another story. Let’s look at what’s going on now with his information marketing on the Internet. Let’s see if you think he’s legit…
Chris Pizzo says he’s making more money than he ever dreamed of…
Chris Pizzo turned his knowledge of martial arts into a lucrative info marketing business. In ‘the Official Get Rich Guide to Information Marketing’ by Dan Kennedy, Bill Glazer, and Robert Skrob, Mr. Pizzo is quoted as saying “… My partners are now making more money that they ever dreamed of, and so am I.”
Well you know, that’s good for you and your martial arts partners Chris. But, what about your customers?
Is this a scam? Are customers being ripped off? Or, is this a legitimate forced continuity program…
A popular way for information marketers to increase their profits is to offer a free trial subscription and at the end of the free trial, they are automatically added to the continuity program if the customer hasn’t opted out of the program before the free trial is over. There are various ways that a “forced continuity” program can be implemented. Sometimes, it begins with the purchase of a book, or a $1 webinar. But, the goal is to feed customers into the monthly subscription to the program.
Forced continuity programs are not bad in themselves. Many ethical marketers use the program and profit nicely. However, it’s important that the marketer make it clear to their customers that they WILL BE BILLED after the free trial period is over. When greed sets in, as it often does with info-marketers, they will try to hide in small print or other distraction so people don’t realize that they are signing up for a subscription to the service.
Beware of any info-marketer who makes it super easy to GIVE THEM MONEY, but very difficult to contact by phone, email, fax, or smoke signals afterward. Is this the case with this company? Are people are signing up and don’t seem to realize that they are going to be billed for a continuity program? Are they reading the form when they sign up? Or, is it in mouse type, so you can’t read it? Are they are having difficulty contacting anyone at the company? So, buyer beware when dealing with Chris Pizzo or any info marketer who may be making more money than they dreamed of. There’s some responsibility that goes along with that.
UPDATE: What does Captain Chris Pizzo have to say?
See Captain Chris’ comments below as he “clears the air” and shares some lessons he learned climbing to the top. Good stuff! (Thank you Chris!)
Interview with Captain Chris Pizzo
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2 Responses to “Chris Pizzo - Close Combat Training, Noble Learning, Top Secret Training”
I ordered a $19.95 ebook from Close Combat on May 2. There was trouble with the confirmation. I sent an email and got no reply. On May 18, after my credit card was charged, I faxed them a letter with all details, a different link from the original email, and asking if I should get a refund, or refuse the package if it ever got here. Despite several emails, I can get no satisfaction whatsoever from them, and have been charged $19.95 per month for June, July and August. These people are not ethical or responsive.
By Tim on Aug 10, 2008
Captain Chris Pizzo (formally Lieutenant X) Clears The Air
Hey guys,
Just using this chance to not only “clear the air” but to help everyone avoid some of the mistakes and pitfalls I’ve fell into during my journey to the top.
1) Heck yeah…We had some MAJOR issues with our continuity porograms in the past. Merle is 100% on point; If you’re going to have a forced continuity program, you better have the customer support services already built to support it. Otherwise you will generate a lot of bad will and ticked off customers.
However…Customers do need to take some responsibility for what they order. Play it by ear and keep testing.
2) I’ve ALWAYS clearly spelled out, communicated, and made crystal clear that we are all about continuing memberships. People just either don’t likle to read or are flat out liers. We solved this problem by FULLY RESTATING the membership terms on our thank-you page and autoresponder sequence.
Trust me, its easier (and cheaper) to weed out the deadbeats BEFORE that first charge goes through. (customer service calls and chargebacks are EXPENSIVE)
“Tricking” people into continuity is a lose-lose business plan.
3) Remember, you don’t have to have continuity. For 3 YEARS straight I netted $1MM with just 3 products, my list, a daily email and affiliate programs.
4) Outsource, outsource, outsource. Now that I’ve fired everyone (criminal licensing partners, loser employees, and rip-off vendors) and outsourced everything, my business partner Gary and I have spent the past 10 months cleaning up the mess and implementing customer-centered systems and models.
We’re selling the hands-down BEST product the industry has ever seen, and testing some pretty cool stuff that should serve as a responsible model for information marketing across all industries.
If you want to swap war stories and strategies, come and find me at the GKIC Info-Summit this Nov. I’ll be happy to sit down with you.
- Captain Chris Pizzo
PS. On another note…not to brag, but my Close Combat Company, LLC was recently valued at $30MM. This ONLY happened because I was willing to put my neck on the line and TEST everything I could (opportunities, methods, partners, ideas, etc.)
This business is about big, brass BALLS. If you ain’t got ‘em, those of us with will eat you alive. Now stop reading damn discussion boards and go sell something!
By Captain Chris on Aug 26, 2008