Iamme
25th April 2004, 07:41 PM
I wasn't sure what forum to put this in.
Some of us posters here might be a little down on our luck...you know, with Bush's economy and all.:D So, if you have any stories regarding how you made a fortune the quick and easy way...I (we, I'm sure) would like to hear from you.
Here are some of MY past experiences: I started taking an interest in this sort of thing in the mid 70's. About that time, the flood gates were opened on these sorts of things. There was a guy by the name of Mark O. Haroldson who came out with his book on buying properties no money down.
Then, I was receiving in the mail, or finding mailings to others, where you could by products from these companies that imported products and you could buy them for a dime on the dollar and sell them for big profits. I sent for one of those "Miracle Cloths". I tried it out on our aluminumum (ha...I'll leave this for your amuzement) front storm door that had that pitted/oxidation on it. I was astounded, it took off the tarnish and made the door smoother. I decided I was going to start selling Miracle Cloths. But, I never did.
Then, I went business door to business door, getting business owners to front me money for a new ad business I was going to start. I never got the number I hoped for, quickly enough (I needed money fast) so I ended up giving the $50 each back to the half-dozen or so people I got to trust me.
Then I read an ad in the newspaper that you could get into the tire whitewalling business and make a killing. You could make $5 a tire ($20) and the process only took a few minutes to do. I saw big dollar signs. I arranged a meeting between myself, another interested party, and the seller of this business. We met him at a car dealership in a large city. He was actually there doing it for the dealership! He told us he had several dealerships as clients and the business was booming. We bought him out. I did the work while my partner was the investor. Yes, there was big money in this. But alas. The first winter, we found out that the whitewall came off in the snow!!!! We got out of the business out of fear of being sued by not just individuals but the dealerships!
A number of years later, I decided to try one of those property sheriff's sales on the courthouse steps. I bought this piece of vacant property in a vacation area that was growing. I turned around and sold that property about 1 year later at about $1500 profit after taxes!
Then I tried something really goofey. I made Jesus Plaques. I went door to door to retail businesses with these in a suitcase. I ended up selling some to private individuals...but again, not enough takers fast enough. So I unloaded my entire inventory to a consignment shop. She called me up several times and wanted more, but I told her I couldn't make money on them for what she was paying me.
Then, some years after that, I had the opportunity to learn of and aquire some rental property on foreclosure. I turned around and sold each of these within weeks and made $2000 on one deal and almost $3000 on the other deal. All I had to do is list the properties,and go in the units and clean them up a little.
Then, after his, I had some opportunities that went sour and I lost interest and simply started concentrating on JUST working everyday. In retrospect, I ask myself why I lost my nerve, or was it just the fact of getting older? what happened to cause me not to pursue some of these things even MORE so. I don't have the total answer.
The reason why I thought to bring up this subject is that the other night, I saw a brand new informational late at night. There was this private investigator selling this deal where he would teach you how to get information from courthouses and for as little as 1 to 1 1/2 hours work, you could make $4,000. You can make several thousand dollars part time and he claims you can make a 6-figure income full time.
------------------------------------
Any stories to share? Opinions of some get rich schemes? Or even about the informational I just talked about?
Some of us posters here might be a little down on our luck...you know, with Bush's economy and all.:D So, if you have any stories regarding how you made a fortune the quick and easy way...I (we, I'm sure) would like to hear from you.
Here are some of MY past experiences: I started taking an interest in this sort of thing in the mid 70's. About that time, the flood gates were opened on these sorts of things. There was a guy by the name of Mark O. Haroldson who came out with his book on buying properties no money down.
Then, I was receiving in the mail, or finding mailings to others, where you could by products from these companies that imported products and you could buy them for a dime on the dollar and sell them for big profits. I sent for one of those "Miracle Cloths". I tried it out on our aluminumum (ha...I'll leave this for your amuzement) front storm door that had that pitted/oxidation on it. I was astounded, it took off the tarnish and made the door smoother. I decided I was going to start selling Miracle Cloths. But, I never did.
Then, I went business door to business door, getting business owners to front me money for a new ad business I was going to start. I never got the number I hoped for, quickly enough (I needed money fast) so I ended up giving the $50 each back to the half-dozen or so people I got to trust me.
Then I read an ad in the newspaper that you could get into the tire whitewalling business and make a killing. You could make $5 a tire ($20) and the process only took a few minutes to do. I saw big dollar signs. I arranged a meeting between myself, another interested party, and the seller of this business. We met him at a car dealership in a large city. He was actually there doing it for the dealership! He told us he had several dealerships as clients and the business was booming. We bought him out. I did the work while my partner was the investor. Yes, there was big money in this. But alas. The first winter, we found out that the whitewall came off in the snow!!!! We got out of the business out of fear of being sued by not just individuals but the dealerships!
A number of years later, I decided to try one of those property sheriff's sales on the courthouse steps. I bought this piece of vacant property in a vacation area that was growing. I turned around and sold that property about 1 year later at about $1500 profit after taxes!
Then I tried something really goofey. I made Jesus Plaques. I went door to door to retail businesses with these in a suitcase. I ended up selling some to private individuals...but again, not enough takers fast enough. So I unloaded my entire inventory to a consignment shop. She called me up several times and wanted more, but I told her I couldn't make money on them for what she was paying me.
Then, some years after that, I had the opportunity to learn of and aquire some rental property on foreclosure. I turned around and sold each of these within weeks and made $2000 on one deal and almost $3000 on the other deal. All I had to do is list the properties,and go in the units and clean them up a little.
Then, after his, I had some opportunities that went sour and I lost interest and simply started concentrating on JUST working everyday. In retrospect, I ask myself why I lost my nerve, or was it just the fact of getting older? what happened to cause me not to pursue some of these things even MORE so. I don't have the total answer.
The reason why I thought to bring up this subject is that the other night, I saw a brand new informational late at night. There was this private investigator selling this deal where he would teach you how to get information from courthouses and for as little as 1 to 1 1/2 hours work, you could make $4,000. You can make several thousand dollars part time and he claims you can make a 6-figure income full time.
------------------------------------
Any stories to share? Opinions of some get rich schemes? Or even about the informational I just talked about?