Coastal Closers
The Coastal Closers, founded by Jim and Vickie Stevens, of the Coastal Masters Group, tries to capitalize on the success of the original Coastal Sales Center. You need to understand, they are not the WE CLOSE YOUR SALES team, they run their own program and have people in coastal vacations closing your sales. That is a conflict of interest.
They have been closing sales or attempting to do so, for about 2 years now. Many of their members come to the Original Coastal Call Center to use that model, because of members not being happy with customer service and a lack of follow up on calling leads.
Others have found success with this system and continue to use it.
My rating scale gives this program a 6.4 they lack good automation on websites, have poorly designed websites, and have price points that flucuate and are very confusing to Coastal Board of Director prices. Their site is found at: http://thecoastalclosers.com/
Since my company is being written about, let me provide some accurate
data for the readers / seekers, and point out a few things for those just
starting their search for a great Home Business.
I do expect this post to remain up for people to read, in all fairness to us
and to them, so they can get both sides of our story.
First, the topic of “ethics” has been raised with regard to pricing, whether
you should adhere to the “2 Up” versus “1 Up” (and let’s not forget the
NO up — just buy the CD and forget the UP or the package) systems.
When we started with Coastal, it was literally 2 weeks before the now
unforgettable date of Sept 11, 2001. If we had our “crystal ball” working,
my guess is, we wouldn’t have chosen a travel business to start in right
then. But, we didn’t … so we did.
At that time, Coastal Vacations had a “system” of Buy 1 Package (yours)
and sell 2 more (your “Training Sales”) to be qualified at the level of the
package you purchased. Level 3 didn’t exist then and Level 2 was barely
being formed.
Like many of you, we didn’t know there was any options at all to this. As
far as we knew, it was set in stone and not open to being changed. Not
so. At that time, up to this very day, it was a SUGGESTED PATTERN to
run your business by.
As a note of interest, we qualfied out with THREE Level 1 sales in our
first week …. not TWO. Why? Because our Director would not accept a
pure Retail Sale … someone who had no interest in the business … and
made us do a third sale to release us.
Why could he do that? Because, the system is “suggested” and at that
time … still one week from 9-11 happening … there was no “pressure” to
relax the standard and in fact just the opposite. Be more strict.
Flash forward in time to a few months. We couldn’t sponsor people into
Coastal, who would be “dumb enough” to get into TRAVEL then? But we
did devise a system to generate leads for retail buyers. In fact, starting on
the 22nd of Sept … just 11 days AFTER the disaster, we generated over
2,200 (yes two thousand two hundred) RETAIL leads for the Coastal
program. How? You’ll have to know us better to get that info.
That kept us busy for 6 months. Then, we started to see some interest in
the business again, from people wanting to know how this works. We
had built our first website and were getting phone calls about Coastal
and making money with it.
And … we learned things had “changed” on the landscape of Coastal as
well. How did I know this? Because of the first phone call that I got that
went like this:
“Hi … are you in Coastal Vacations?” Me .. “Yes I am.” Them .. “Great!
Can you tell me what it takes to become a Director?” Me .. “Sure .. all you
have to do is buy your package and pass two sales up.”
THEM…. “NICE TRY. NOT HAPPENING.”
And that was the start of what I call “Director Wars” in Coastal. I learned
then, the hard way …. in Coastal as a Director, you can do anything you
want with your business. Because it IS YOUR BUSINESS.
The next 4 1/2 years we saw everything. Packages for $350. Releases
for $100. We’ve seen it all and I’m sure you have too (or will if you do any
kind of searching).
Is it “ethical” to do that? Sure it is. Let’s think for a minute. You want to
buy a pair of jeans. You see your favorite brand and correct size at a store
for $65 a pair. Then, you see an ad for the same size, same brand at a
different store for $35 on clearance. What do you do?
On the subject of ethics, I will say this. I personally don’t believe it is in
any way ethical for a “group” (without naming names) to be bringing
people into Coastal, encouraging them to buy their package and then to
upgrade to higher Coastal Levels … and then DROP COASTAL as a
provider and leave all those people hanging.
Could a case be made for “we need better support” and we want a better
travel provider and we want ….. (fill in the blank with your favorite “want”)?
Sure. We did too. And instead of dropping Coastal, we simply added a
FULL SERVICE TRAVEL AGENCY with their own income stream open
to anyone who wants to add that … otherwise to use it is FREE as a
customer wanting to travel.
It’s not that hard to do that. Instead, raising the prices and cutting the
commissions … THAT to us, isn’t ethical. Enough on that because…..
Ethics isn’t the issue. YOUR SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS is the issue..
There are 4 Levels of support available in the Coastal Business (or really
any business out there that you could become involved in.
1. You got a website when you joined whoever it is you joined. Usual
cost per month for that … $50 to $90 per month / $600 to $1080 per year.
With this, you market to your site, you call your leads and prospects and
if your lucky, your Sponsor isn’t just 2 weeks older than you in Coastal
and will actually help you make those first 2 sales.
After the first 2 … you are “trained” and ready to take on the world of direct
sales on your own. Or you had better be, because they no longer have
any financial stake in your continued success. Correct? Yes it is.
2. Website AND a “group sponsored” weekly conference call or “webinar”
that you can drive people to, so they can hear more / see more than the
website alone.
This is much better. Cost to “belong” and have your site and this support
runs from $80 to $150 per month depending on the bells and whistles
that come with it. Or … $960 to $1800 per year.
Again … it comes back to YOU to close your deals if someone doesn’t
spontaneously erupt into a “buying mindset” after one of those calls
and throw their Visa or checkbook on the table for you.
Again … your sponsor’s financial interest in you dies after your first 2
sales, so like it or not, “help” goes away. Doubt that? Think of it this way.
When YOU are the one working with a group of people…. we’ll say 10 of
them … and 2 of the 10 have given you their sales and the other 8 still do
owe you sales .. AND … you’re up to doing their calls with them, making
their sales for them (like you hope your sponsor will do for you now!) …
how much time can you give the 2 that are DONE?
Right … so you get the idea.
3. Website and PERSONAL CLOSERS. This was the first Call Center for
Coastal people. NO .. it is not “sanctioned” by Coastal. No it’s not an
“authorized” call center. But it was the first one!
This level gives you the website and INBOUND CALL SUPPORT.
Meaning, if you can get your prospect to CALL THEM .. they will answer
the phone and talk to your prospect for you. Note … this person must
CALL THEM. Not email, not fill in a form, not be entered by you as a
direct referral that they could call.
Big step up though isn’t it? Because some people WILL CALL in.
Now, the subject of “conflict of interest” comes up about us, because all
(note … ALL) of our Staff are also in Coastal. Either before they join us
or we make them a Member of our Center when they are hired.
Think about it. The OWNER of every “call center” there are some call
center wannabee’s our there …. is in Coastal. The OWNER of the call
center is in Coastal.
If I was going to be worried about a conflict of interest, it wouldn’t be over
the STAFF being in Coastal. The owner MUST be in Coastal in order to
order packages. But honestly, unless he’s a thief and a crook, the issues
won’t be over “conflict of interest” over your leads or to call their own.
Here is what we found and why all of our Staff are in Coastal / a Member
of our Call Center.
How long do you suppose it would take for the Staff person to figure out
these facts:
1. They can talk to people.
2. They can talk to people about Coastal and this opportunity.
3. They can make sales to the people they talk to.
4. When they make that sale, a MEMBER makes $1,000 or more $$$
5. THEY as STAFF make a fraction of that.
6. If they were a MEMBER TOO … they could make MEMBER PAY TOO.
Now … come on. If someone ISN’T smart enough to figure that out, do
you really want them talking to YOUR PROSPECTS?
Going a step further …. if they are making any money at it …. if there is a
rule AGAINST them being a Member too and working for the call center,
HOW LONG SHOULD IT BE BEFORE THEY QUIT THE JOB AND JOIN?
4. The final level of Support. Someone who will CALL YOUR LEADS
(and the Staff Issue continued).
That is what was happening with us. Staff Members were quitting so they
could be “allowed” to be a Member.
We changed that stupid rule and instead, created a COMPLETE CAREER
PATH for them, that leads to Fully Qualified Level 3 in and out of the Call
Center … while working ON STAFF … with a team of people who OWE
THEM SALES and everyone benefits.
And … you get to keep your smartest and most talented people working
and the others who “don’t quite get it” …. shouldn’t be doing it.
BRING IT FULL CIRCLE.
We created our Call Center after watching the first one for a few months.
We saw what they did that worked and what we thought could be done
better. Then, in August of 2005, we did our “soft launch” and on Sept 11
of 2005 our Official Opening.
We saw it was better to have Staff calling from where they live, to take
advantage of time zone and languages. So, we are in over 80 countries,
calling in 11 lanugages and deal with every currency there is.
We saw (as covered earlier) we had to let our Staff be Members too, or
they would quit and then join so the could be paid Member pay too. Again
we have seen, if they are not smart enough to sort that out on their own,
you probably don’t want them calling your leads anyway.
We saw that by being a ONE UP instead of a two up, we could still keep
the “residual income” portion of the Coastal program alive. It doesn’t take
being owed TWO sales, to do that.
What does matter though, is this. If you are trying to get your busness in
profit fast … does having to give up that second sale matter? You bet it
does. When you are RECEIVING the “Up” sales … does it matter if the
person owes you 1 rather than 2?
The “calculator” says “of course!” Because it is twice as many, right?
Reality says “YES!” But for a different reason. If I only owe you ONE sale
and I know after that, the money is mine … I’ll get you that one sale.
If I “think about it” as I get started and get a few rejections before my first
sale and I realize I don’t just owe you this first one that is being hard to
get … I will owe you the NEXT ONE TOO …. you can figure out where that
goes in a hurry, many times. They quit.
We realized a lot of things. But here was the biggest one.
If you have to “get back to the person who invited you to this call” or if you
have to call that person who filled in the form on your $1000 per year
website and be the expert … and IF YOUR NEW PEOPLE HAVE TO DO
THAT TOO … that’s hard.
If you have to make your prospect CALL IN THEMSELVES … that is hard
too. But at least that does happen.
But … if you can SAVE $1,000 per year on the site … because we have no
website fee … and if you can just TELL US who is interested and let US
call them first …. that’s BETTER.
We also realized, if people weren’t lucky enough to find us FIRST, and
they did join a different Coastal Group … or any other “1 / 2 Up” business
and they haven’t had the success they are after, we should give them
some “credit” or “recognition” for that. Even though we didn’t make any
money on their prior association.
We save you $1,000’s in website fees alone, because we don’t make you
pay a website fee.
We put you in profit TWICE AS FAST (or faster with our Leap Frog options)
so you can start making money FAST.
We will make the outbound call to your prospects (certain qualifications
are required … we are not here to clean old lists!) and referrals instead
of you having to make them call us.
There is more … but at least this gives you an idea of who we really are.
And by the way …. beware of the “Titles” being thrown around like
“Master Trainer” and “Super Supreme International Level Director” and
you name it …we have seen them.
There are no such titles in Coastal beyond holding a Level 1, 2 or 3
Directors Release. Every other such “title” is SELF APPOINTED.
So, what would YOU like to be today? How about simply SUCCESSFUL.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Yours in Coastal Closing Center Success,
Jim Stevens
Founder and Owner
The Coastal Closers
http://thecoastalclosers.com
http://yescoastaltravel.com (the retail site you get too)
—————
Jim, glad you came here to offer your two cents. While I don’t agree with you on most of your points, I do respect your opinion and certainly feel your position and how you run your business would be of value to those who are attracted to doing it in that fashion.
Best of success,
Jeff
Thank you Jeff,
I’ve followed you from a distance, watching your path from Mentors In
Motion, Coastal, the “other Call Center” and now to Dani and can say
you have never backed off from putting it out there and working to keep
a pretty even and cool head on your shoulders.
We offer a “home” for people who don’t have the time, skills or yes, even
the money to get started in business and that’s really all we want people
to get from these posts.
There are many ways to work Coastal, and our system allows them to
retail, do the “Traditional” system outside our Center and have us call
their prospects and close them as well.
Keep up the great work and info flow. By the way, on a different topic
here, I did order your CD which arrived very timely, thank you.
My question is, I noticed in the letter that came and I think I’ve noticed in
the emails something to the effect that I had 60 days of the Mastermind
program, after which … here’s the question … do I need to notify you if I
DO want to continue on the paid monthly fee or do I need to tell you if
I DON’T (meaning it would automatically start biling my card) in a “must
opt OUT approach.
Thanks again … I’ll watch here for the answer.
Best to you Jeff …
Jim Stevens
Founder and Owner
The Coastal Closers
As a member of the Coastal Closers, I am also offering my 2 cents on this subject and the efficacy and service they offer.
I have been with the Closers since late 2005 and have seen the changes that have come with their “growing pains”. Initially, I didn’t agree with much of what was done, but as time goes on I have found that the Closer’s system is one that has enough flexibility to work for everyone who puts in the effort. The advantage of having a professional Closer call a personal referral is so effective as to be 100% – I have had every one of my Coastal Closer’s sales closed in this way. It works!
Not only that, but I was able to develop my own system for selling retail much earlier than I would otherwise because of the Closer’s one-up advantage.
The supposed “confilict of interest” is a non-issue. Every lead that is entered by a member is tracked by that member – they can’t be closed under another person, period, so there is no risk.
Now, I do have to agree about the quality of the websites, but since most in Coastal realize that a personalized website is the really the way to go, I have not let it detract from my use of the Closer’s services.
Jim, send me an email when you get the chance – I have some potentially interesting information for you.
Tonya Kopp
Platinum Director
Coastal Vacations
Hi Tonya,
I appreciate your input here and as a Heads Up … we are rolling out the
new Personalized Retail Site for all Director Level Members (meaning
like you, the person must L1 or above when they enter our Center).
This site is fully personalized with name, phone, shipping address, etc.
and is pure retail oriented.
In keeping with our approach to make it easy for Members to work with us,
the cost of the Retail Site is the same as the Closing Center site. ZERO!
It’s included as a Value Added Benefit.
You can see an example here: http://mastersite.yescoastaltravel.com
Thanks again Tonya … we appreciate all you’ve done for us the past 2 1/2
years you’ve worked with us.
Jim Stevens
Founder and Owner
The Coastal Closers
http://thecoastalclosers.com
http://yescoastaltravel.com