Is Rippln a pyramid scheme? MLM? fun game? You decide. [Archive] - RealScam.com

Newto

04-24-2013, 04:37 AM

Non Disclosure Agreement
It is understood and agreed between Rippln, Inc. and the signing party, (collectively referred to as “the Parties”) that the Parties herein
would each like to provide the other with certain information that may be considered confidential and/or proprietary. To ensure the
protection of such information and in consideration of the agreement to exchange said information, the parties agree as follows:

1. The confidential information to be disclosed under this Agreement (“Confidential Information”) can be described as and includes:
Technical and business information relating to proprietary ideas, patentable ideas and/or trade secrets, existing and/or contemplated
products and services, research and development, production, projections, customers, clients, marketing, and current or future business
plans and models, regardless of whether such information is designated as “Confidential Information” at the time of its disclosure.
In addition to the above, Confidential Information shall also include, and the parties shall have a duty to protect, other confidential and/or
sensitive information which is (a) disclosed as such in writing and marked as confidential (or with other similar designation) at the time of
disclosure; and/or (b) disclosed by in any other manner and identified as confidential at the time of disclosure and is also summarized and
designated as
confidential in a written memorandum delivered within thirty (30) days of the disclosure.

2. The parties shall use the Confidential Information only for the purpose of exploring a potential business and/or consulting relationship
between the Parties, and shall not otherwise disclose any confidential information to other parties unless mutually agreed in writing.

3. The Parties shall limit disclosure of Confidential Information within its own organization to its directors, officers, and/or partners a
need to know and shall not disclose Confidential Information to any third party (whether an individual, corporation, or other entity)
without prior written consent. The parties shall satisfy its obligations under this paragraph if it takes affirmative measures to ensure
compliance with these confidentiality obligations by its employees, agents, consultants and others who are permitted access to or use of
the Confidential Information.

4. This Agreement imposes no obligation upon the Parties with respect to any Confidential Information (a) that was possessed before
receipt; (b) is or becomes a matter of public knowledge through no fault of receiving party; (c) is rightfully received from a third party
not owing a duty of confidentiality; (d) is disclosed without a duty of confidentiality to a third party by, or with the authorization of the
disclosing party; or (e) is independently developed.

5. The parties warrant that they have the right to make the disclosures under this Agreement.

6. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating, conveying, transferring, granting or conferring upon either party any rights,
license or authority in or to the information exchanged, except the limited right to use Confidential Information specified in paragraph 2.
Furthermore and specifically, no license or conveyance of any intellectual property rights is granted or implied by this Agreement.

7. Neither party has an obligation under this Agreement to enter into any final and binding agreement with the other Party. Furthermore,
both parties acknowledge and agree that the exchange of information under this Agreement shall not commit or bind either party to any
present or future contractual relationship (except as specifically stated herein), nor shall the exchange of information be construed as an
inducement to act or not to act in any given manner.

8. Neither party shall be liable to the other in any manner whatsoever for any decisions, obligations, costs or expenses incurred, changes in
business practices, plans, organization, products, services, or otherwise, based on either party’s decision to use or rely on any information
exchanged under this Agreement.

9. If there is a breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Agreement, it is agreed and understood that the non- breaching party
shall have no adequate remedy in money or other damages and accordingly shall be entitled to injunctive relief; provided however, no
specification in this Agreement of any particular remedy shall be construed as a waiver or prohibition of any other remedies in the event of
a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement.

10. This Agreement states the entire agreement between the parties concerning the disclosure of Confidential Information and supersedes
any prior agreements, understandings, or representations with respect thereto. Any addition or modification to this Agreement must be
made in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties. This Agreement is made under and shall be construed according
to the laws of the State of Texas. In the event that this agreement, is breached, any and all disputes must be settled in a court of competent
jurisdiction in the State of Texas.

11. If any of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be unenforceable, the remainder shall be enforced as fully
as possible and the unenforceable provision(s) shall be deemed modified to the limited extent required to permit
WHEREFORE, the parties acknowledge that they have read and understand this Agreement and voluntarily accept the duties and
obligations set forth herein.

Rippln, Inc.
Address: 901 Sam Rayburn Highway
Melissa, Texas 75454

Not easy for simple minds like me to understand what that REALLY means.

littleroundman

04-24-2013, 05:42 AM

red flag #1:

this agreement is made under and shall be construed according to the laws of the state of texas. In the event that this agreement, is breached, any and all disputes must be settled in a court of competent jurisdiction in the state of Texas.

Newto

04-24-2013, 06:03 AM

And what is so special about the Law in Texas?

littleroundman

04-24-2013, 06:33 AM

And what is so special about the Law in Texas?

Nothing at all.

HOWEVER, it means no matter where the complainant resides, he or she will be forced to use the Texas court system to resolve any disputes.

Joe_Shmoe

04-24-2013, 07:24 AM

This posted over at TechCrunch What Not To Do In Your Startup Promo Video | TechCrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/22/what-not-to-do-in-your-startup-promo-video/)

jonathanbudd
11 hours ago
Hey techcrunch community,

This is Jonathan Budd. I'm one of the team members over here at Rippln, & first off... appreciate the time & thought everyone is putting into our model. We're honored to be a part of the conversation here...and look forward to clearing up a lot of the mis information, & opinions people are offering about our company.

It's difficult to deny the effectiveness of our opening marketing at this point, judging by how we are having this conversation on techcrunch's blog... so say whatever you will about that. But the assertions that we are operating an illegal pyramid scheme are false, & based on a lot of people's ignorance of the subject.

I'm a bit surprised that techcrunch allowed this article to be posted, with such a minimal amount of research into who we are, or what our model actually is. We are currently partnered with a software provider that is responsible for tracking the ripple, & has processed over $1 billion in transactions. Our partners have been behind many successful companies both domestically and internationally. Since we entered into our buzz building phase only 10 days ago, more information will be coming out about the Rippln model, ownership, & product roll out strategy soon.

Far from being a pyramid scheme... Rippln is the first incentivized sharing technology platform. Through our API, our platform gives users the ability to track their ripple effect across the globe as they share a new app, product, or service. We believe transparency is missing from the social graph, & that users have a right to know the value they are creating via their word of mouth marketing.
At Rippln, you will have the data of how your social influence spreads when you share one of our products, & if you decide to participate in our rewards program... you can monetize the transactions that take place inside your network. At it's core, Rippln is a user acquisition model for our core products we will be bringing to the market place. However unlike most companies, we believe the user deserves to share in the rewards of their word of mouth marketing. A concept that our users believe in too, as we've just crossed 200,000 people in our first 10 days.

We will continue to update the world as we get closer to releasing our first products, & activating the compensation side of the rippln plan.

We welcome feedback, and we iterate quickly based on how the market is responding. If you've got something to say that isn't an opinion grounded in absolutely zero knowledge of business opportunity rules, regulations, & case law... we welcome your insight into our model.
To be quite frank though, there's not a single person on techcrunch in this thread who's had one legitimate criticism about biz opp regulation. I can assure you, we have far more to lose than any one of you, and have thought a lot longer & harder then you have about the long term viability of this model. And we simply believe it's an idea who's time has come.

If you dislike our marketing... that's your opinion. But we're proud of the buzz we've created in the marketplace, and will continue to test new direct response concepts, ideas, & media as we roll out more of our company in the future. Hopefully there will be something other technology companies seeking to get buzz might be able to learn.

I'd be happy to answer any other questions as time permits, we're pretty busy right now. Thanks for listening.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Budd

ribshaw

04-24-2013, 07:58 AM

Our partners have been behind many successful companies both domestically and internationally.

"Many successful companies" anyone have an idea who these overachievers are? Seems to me these companies would be named in any promotional piece.

At Rippln, you will have the data of how your social influence spreads when you share one of our products, & if you decide to participate in our rewards program... you can monetize the transactions that take place inside your network. At it's core, Rippln is a user acquisition model for our core products we will be bringing to the market place. However unlike most companies, we believe the user deserves to share in the rewards of their word of mouth marketing.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the actual business merits of the app itself?

Dreamstealer

04-24-2013, 08:27 AM

From a pure business standpoint (all upline, captain, & loop d' loop nonsense aside) is there a large enough population of people that will opt for the advertising in order to save $15 and/or pay a premium for an app they can likely get elsewhere for free? I suspect not, but I am a dreamstealer who seldom sees the big picture.

Nothing wrong with being a dreamstealer.

littleroundman

04-24-2013, 08:29 AM

Does anyone have any thoughts on the actual business merits of the app itself?

I think Oz sums it up beautifully over on his BehindMLM.com (http://behindmlm.com/companies/rippln-review-mobile-app-recruitment/#comment-152065) blog

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/851/75323651.jpg

Dreamstealer

04-24-2013, 08:34 AM

Nothing at all.

HOWEVER, it means no matter where the complainant resides, he or she will be forced to use the Texas court system to resolve any disputes.

Don't think this is a red flag. I see this clause all over the place. I am a UK Chartered accountants and my own contracts specify UK court jusisdiction. I am not trying to scam anyone it is just common business practice.

Dreamstealer

04-24-2013, 08:39 AM

This posted over at TechCrunch What Not To Do In Your Startup Promo Video | TechCrunch (http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/22/what-not-to-do-in-your-startup-promo-video/)
We welcome feedback, and we iterate quickly based on how the market is responding. If you've got something to say that isn't an opinion grounded in absolutely zero knowledge of business opportunity rules, regulations, & case law... we welcome your insight into our model.
To be quite frank though, there's not a single person on techcrunch in this thread who's had one legitimate criticism about biz opp regulation. I can assure you, we have far more to lose than any one of you, and have thought a lot longer & harder then you have about the long term viability of this model. And we simply believe it's an idea who's time has come.

Hmm for a legit business they seem quite concerned to say they are legitimate, and have a long term viability. Not something you see on say apple adverts or microsoft letters quite so prominently stressed.

littleroundman

04-24-2013, 10:05 AM

Don't think this is a red flag. I see this clause all over the place. I am a UK Chartered accountants and my own contracts specify UK court jusisdiction. I am not trying to scam anyone it is just common business practice.

In itself, you're entirely correct, it's not unusual.

HOWEVER,

put together with other "clues" it becomes of importance to someone looking to separate marketing hype from hard cold reality.

"IF" and I do specify "IF" initial impressions turn out to be correct, the chances of anyone residing outside of Texas obtaining legal remedy are severely impaired by such a clause.

The fact the same or similar clause appears in the contracts of a UK based chartered accountants has little or no relevance to that same clause appearing in the contract of a multi level marketing company being promoted to every corner of the globe.

We're talking $300 and $900 charges here.

Try getting a refund for those amounts through a Texas court.

Normal practice or a risk not worth taking ??

http://www.realscam.com/images/misc/realscam-logo1.gif

YOU decide

Newto

04-24-2013, 10:34 AM

"Many successful companies" anyone have an idea who these overachievers are? Seems to me these companies would be named in any promotional piece.

iZigg, Burnlounge, ( FTC filed a lawsuit and shut them down) and LocalAdLink are the companies Brian Underwood the CEO was involved in.

successful???

kschang

04-24-2013, 10:58 AM

Does anyone have any thoughts on the actual business merits of the app itself?

Some rah-rah about gamification and social graph and other buzzwords, but basically, they want to pay people for doing "likes" and "pinning", at least that's what they say.

However, what they're doing right now is:

Pay into the system (be a "captain")
Find members to join (free)
Convert members to captains (paid)
Have captains do the same thing you did (recruit free and paid members)
When you get enough captains, you get paid.

Kinda like Wazzub, come to think of it.

fromthehood

04-24-2013, 12:31 PM

iZigg, Burnlounge, ( FTC filed a lawsuit and shut them down) and LocalAdLink are the companies Brian Underwood the CEO was involved in.

successful???

From the side of Ponzi/Pyramid promoter: resounding yes. I think that he truly believes that he is was successful businessman in his "industry".

fromthehood

04-24-2013, 12:39 PM

Does anyone have any thoughts on the actual business merits of the app itself?

There is no way to evaluate something that does not exist. They have zero info except "business" promo on their website. To be honest, I highly doubt that it will ever become available.

ribshaw

04-24-2013, 01:18 PM

There is no way to evaluate something that does not exist. They have zero info except "business" promo on their website. To be honest, I highly doubt that it will ever become available.

I tend to agree with everything that was posted, just wanted to make sure equal time was given in case I was being a Negative Nancy.

Assuming that it does come into existence I wonder what sort of apps they will have available? If I had the latest and greatest thing, lets call it the Ribs N Chicken App why would I not just create my own site and let people download it without cutting 400,000 ham and eggers in on the profit? Second, one of the reasons Facebook and others work so well is they are free to sign up and use, I suspect 400,000 people tweeting about some great app where they are going to earn a commission will get as old as Glister Toothpaste and SA8 laundry detergent being pushed by Uncle Harry at every family gathering.

Luzer

04-24-2013, 03:23 PM

Nothing wrong with being a dreamstealer.

LOL. Is that term still used? I remember some Amway people saying that "negative" nellies were dreamstealers.

kschang

04-24-2013, 05:41 PM

LOL. Is that term still used? I remember some Amway people saying that "negative" nellies were dreamstealers.

Oh, yes. Seen it used by Wazzub-ies, TVI-tes, and more.

A MLM Skeptic: Don't avoid dream-stealers (and beware of any one who tell you to) (http://amlmskeptic.blogspot.com/2012/06/dont-avoid-dream-stealers-and-beware-of.html)

kschang

04-24-2013, 10:48 PM

Rippln FAQ "4.0" uploaded only hours ago claimed they have SEO team standing by to "take care" of any negative commentaries. :D

Rippln FAQ v4.0 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/137843867/Rippln-FAQ-v4-0)

littleroundman

04-24-2013, 10:54 PM

Rippln FAQ "4.0" uploaded only hours ago claimed they have SEO team standing by to "take care" of any negative commentaries. :D

Rippln FAQ v4.0 (http://www.scribd.com/doc/137843867/Rippln-FAQ-v4-0)

OOOOOH, goody.

Hopefully they'll sue their detractors.

Wouldn't THAT make for an interesting court hearing ??

fromthehood

04-25-2013, 07:58 PM

Assuming that it does come into existence I wonder what sort of apps they will have available? If I had the latest and greatest thing, lets call it the Ribs N Chicken App why would I not just create my own site and let people download it without cutting 400,000 ham and eggers in on the profit? Second, one of the reasons Facebook and others work so well is they are free to sign up and use, I suspect 400,000 people tweeting about some great app where they are going to earn a commission will get as old as Glister Toothpaste and SA8 laundry detergent being pushed by Uncle Harry at every family gathering.

Found their FAQ. Only two large FAQ sections about how they are not scam or MLM.

"What can you tell me about the App that is being released soon – what will it be like and do?
Answer:

At this time we are not revealing the full features or compatibility of the application as we are trying to protect
the intellectual property of the company that is being developed. We are constantly evolving as our Rippln grows
exponentially so keep an eye out for updates!
"

"Full features"? I do not see any features? I think if it ever sees light of day it will be copy of some primitive app that already exist.

GlimDropper

04-25-2013, 08:13 PM

The latest steaming pile of sale pitch from Rippln:

For thousands of years, the process of making
 steel was virtually unchanged. It was very hard  
and time-consuming.

But in 1905, Andrew Carnegie added a new technology 
that made the steel-making process faster and easier...

And almost overnight, he made 1000 new millionaires, 
who were previously little more than normal steel laborers
 before the technology was introduced.

Here's the important history lesson:
When new technologies are introduced (that make
 processes faster and easier) it ALWAYS produces
 new wealth for the people.

We are currently living in an era where the technology has 
made the process of purchasing easier and faster than ever before.

In the past, we would have to carry checks, or lug around
 cash and coins, or even pull out our credit card and sign a receipt.

But today, through mobile commerce, even those old forms
 of paying are becoming more and more obsolete.

Let me explain:
Let’s say you have an iPhone and download a free app game
 like “Clash of Clans.” The purpose of the game is to create a clan,
 build a village for the clan, and train your warriors to protect your  
village from invaders.

But here’s where it gets interesting: although you can play for free
 and slowly earn virtual “gems” to help you fund clans projects.  
You can also make an “IN APP” purchase to speed up the pace  
of gem-getting.

For instance, with the touch of a finger, you can purchase a
 “pile of Gems” ($4.99), a “bag of Gems” ($9.99), a “sack of Gems” ($19.99),
 a “box of Gems” ($49.99), or…if you are feeling really ambitious to get
 some extra swords and sling-shots to fight off the barbarian invaders,  
you can touch your iphone screen and purchase a “chest of Gems” for only $99.99.

The company “Supercell” (based in Finland), who makes “Clash of Clans” earns just a tad over $1,000,000 per day through these “In-APP” purchases worldwide. Yes, that’s one million per day from people nonchalantly tapping their phone.

Apple gets a 30% of the cut (or about $300,000) daily just from Supercell. And Supercell brings home around $700,000 per day.

Not too shabby.

Remember this: when the ability to purchase is made easier through technology, more wealth is created FASTER than ever.

Remember this too: when people play “Clash of Clans”, they are encouraged to just press a button and invite all their Facebook friends to play with them. (BTW- if I get another Farmville invite I’m going to freak out!)

Anyway, some of the invited friends actually begin to play. And believe it or not, LOTS of those people end up purchasing LOTS of gems….which brings Supercell a healthy $1,000,000 a day.

Now…once again we have a curious scenario:
The users, the fans, and the players of “Clash of Clans” are the real evangelists and unsuspecting advertisers for Supercell. They invite their friends in droves. Their friends buy virtual “sacks of gems” like they are going out of style.

The math breaks down to something like this:
“Clash of Clans” Company = $1,000,000 per day
“Apple” = $300,000 per day (at 30%)
“Players who SHARE the game” = $0

Did you know the most bankable commodity in the world is not diamonds or oil, it’s your friends in your phone and in your social graph. Tech companies are currently harvesting that wealth in droves…and the people are shut out.

Does anyone else see an odd relationship with the way things currently are?
Imagine if the Ripple introduces a game like "Clash of Clans" (which would bring the ripple about $1,000,000 per day, or 365 Million in a year...from...a...game).

This doesn't even hint at the possibilities our platform provides.

We believe that just like Andrew Carnegie's new technology created over 1000 millionaires...we believe the ripple-tracking technology that RECOGNIZES and  rewards you for your social graph...may go down in history as one of the most innovative ideas of the century.

Let us be very clear: building your ripple right now may be one of the most important things you can possibly do in your entire life.

We will explain more later.

Keep Rippln!

Let's see:

“Players who SHARE the game = $0"

Add to that:

"The amount of money Rippln will ever make off of Clash of the Clans = $0"

God these people are in so far over their heads. The didn't seem to realize that with all the hype they were pumping out the tech community just might take notice of them. And when they did they laughed out loud at how stupid the sales pitch was. And I'm sure they didn't count on a tepid reaction from MLMer's like Troy Dooly. It's fairly certain that Jonathan Budd wont return to Oz's BehindMLM (http://behindmlm.com/companies/rippln-review-mobile-app-recruitment/#comment-153160) for another honest assesment of their business model.

All they have is hype. Well that and a very public impending failure on their hands.

kschang

04-25-2013, 08:49 PM

The problem with that bogus logic is simple: they can't TRACK the in-app purchases without tapping into Apple's API, or be the in-app purchase processor.

And Apple do NOT allow people to track / recommend apps. They already tossed AppGratis off iTunes app store. NO WAY they'll allow third-party access to in-app purchase data.

And NO WAY some game maker will choose to use Rippln's in-app payment processor instead of Apple's (or Google's, or Amazon's), that's assuming they have one.

So the only way to get such data is from the publisher themselves... You have to register your game twice: once with Rippln, and once with the game publisher. THEN the publisher have to tell Rippln who bought what, and give Rippln the rebate to be distributed.

Now why would any publisher do that, hmmm?

Logically this doesn't float, once you analyze the system. It looks good on the surface. It's a facade of high tech with nothing underneath.

kschang

04-26-2013, 12:17 PM

Seems this is just an offshoot of Lacore Enterprises (bHIP Global) as it seem to use Direct Sales Software Inc. (a part of bHIP)

kschang

04-27-2013, 01:21 PM

My long review is up. :)

Investigating Rippln, what does Rippln do? Who is behind Rippln? Is Rippln a Scam? Can You Make Money With Rippln? (http://kschang.hubpages.com/hub/Investigating-Rippln-what-does-Rippln-do-Who-is-behind-Rippln-Is-Rippln-a-Scam)

HARRISON

04-28-2013, 04:39 PM

Mike Briggs posted this on his FB page :

Yesterday near Handforth, United Kingdom.

300,000 people signed up to Rippln in just two weeks. You need an invite to join this latest communication revolution. I have just five invites to give out. If you want one, just ask. check out See Why #EverybodysRippln At http://GetMyRippleOn.Com (http://www.getmyrippleon.com) – Hangout With The Leaders Of Rippln And Learn Their Strategies! | Internet Lifestyle Network

Then, low and behold, today, THIS appeared on his FB page:
7 hours ago near London.
Are you Rippln yet?

I have just signed up my tenth person to Rippln. I now have a further five invites to give away.

If you want one, then get back to me asap as they will soon go.

Rippln is forcast to be bigger than Facebook, it is certainly growing faster than Facebook did when it was first released.

Telling lies already Mike..tut,tut,tut.:watching_you:

kschang

04-28-2013, 10:43 PM

We need a term for Rippln followers.

I coined the term "Wazzubies" for Wazzub followers. In that vein, I suggest RippleHeads. (All waves, no brains)

hendyphilhendy

04-29-2013, 08:10 AM

I see our old friend Iain Sherriff of Talking BB fame has now got rid of the Banners Broker ads and is promoting Rippln on his website instead.

UKLows - Index (http://uklows.com/forum/index.php)

There is defnitely a pattern arising of these scams and the people involved.

Joe_Shmoe

04-29-2013, 10:34 AM

I'm betting Roland Millward will be in soon.

scratchycat

04-30-2013, 09:15 AM

Came across this guy in FB spouting off about a book he had written and how you could "Think and Grow Rich". He seems to be connected several of these "programs/ponzis,etc".

Franco Gonzalez (https://www.facebook.com/FrancoGonzalez.SimpleFreedom)

In some of the links I followed, came across some videos on Rippln -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwxxEk6sLRc

His Google account shows that he is connected with Empower Network.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/107587944698746012549/posts

Franco Gonzalez - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/simplefreedomcrew)

littleroundman

04-30-2013, 10:00 AM

Yep, a definite serial get-rich-quick pimp

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc153/thelittleroundman/scams%202/franco_zps447a7455.jpg

HARRISON

04-30-2013, 02:33 PM

ribshaw

04-30-2013, 03:59 PM

Our Jamie...'The guy from England' explaining why he is 'trusted' by so many people. And how much easier it is to 'get people interested' in his latest scam..sorry, business.

Sippin and Rippln April 26th at GetMyRippleOn.Com - Rippln Live Training! - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abE9O5mNZZ4&feature=share)

What is it with these folks, their videos suck. It is like the circus is in town, but not the good circus, the one where you can smell the booze on the clowns and you have to worry about the monkey with the mohawk stealing your wallet.

37203721

JordanBright

05-05-2013, 03:14 AM

well I was here when the thread about banners broker started but then left because I had nothing really to do about it anymore and I didn't see anything coming from it so I just left all that in the hopes that banners broker will be closed sometime in the future and I still hope that.

I came here to worn you about Rippln and no I did not join that thing too I just stumbled upon a video talking about it in some sites that I visit and it looked like something is not right so I started reading about it more and BAM on the third link on google when typing Rippln I find this site - Rippln Investigation: Is It A MLM Pyramid Scheme Scam? - The Chris Voss Show (http://thechrisvossshow.com/rippln-investigation-is-it-a-mlm-pyramid-scheme-scam/)

I was thinking it was a promotion for Rippln saying it's totally not a scheme but no it was a real investigation about it, and also a good one. I don't knot chris voss maybe you guys do but I already like him.

so I got all my info and wanted to share with you that so you could start talking about it and bring info that I can't find or don't have the time to..

but the funny thing is that I just looked on Jamie Waters youtube channel, guess what? he is in rippln too :)

Jamie's Intro to Rippln - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzK6G4XUfQ0)
Why did I join Rippln? - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8u3riL5EAQ)

so yeah, nothing else to say really hope you warn people about this thing and if you think that it's the real deal tell us why.

oh and there was a story about it in techcrunch too.. http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/22/what-not-to-do-in-your-startup-promo-video/

(sorry if I broke a rule or something didn't really have the time to read it now)

ribshaw

05-05-2013, 11:15 AM

A lot of the BB pimps have moved on to Rippln. Not too long ago I would have given some a pass as just not really understanding how to evaluate a business opportunity. More and more I am really starting to think they are sociopaths in addition to being very dishonest. There is another Guy Al Sills who was promoting BB and in his last video he said he still believed, but lo and behold he is pushing Rippln. All the higher ups want is to suck people in and get referral fees, they could care less about the losses their followers suffer.

kschang

05-05-2013, 05:00 PM

@JB -- you're fine, AFAIK. A little late but fine. :) Tech Crunch and Chris Voss links are back on page 1 or 2. :D

Rippln *sounds* legitimate, but until they actually deliver an app, it's just an email harvest campaign. (Much like Wazzub)

ribshaw

05-08-2013, 05:48 PM

Just found this on the PS facebook page, looks like JW and the Rippln gang have some stiff competition.

3819

JustTooMuchTime

05-13-2013, 03:43 AM

The Droid has picked it up, too:

» Rippln Ripple Rippln Rip (http://saltydroid.info/rippln-ripple-rippln-rip/)

Michael75065

05-13-2013, 06:59 AM

i signed up and supposed to get a optin website and so I bought domain name and got Sh*t from them

poorly run hyped up company

Michael Ladd

Michael75065

05-13-2013, 07:02 AM

What is it with these folks, their videos suck. It is like the circus is in town, but not the good circus, the one where you can smell the booze on the clowns and you have to worry about the monkey with the mohawk stealing your wallet.

37203721

Re: Is Rippln a pyramid scheme? MLM? fun game? You decide.

i signed up and supposed to get a optin website and so I bought domain name and got Sh*t from them

poorly run hyped up company

Michael Ladd

ribshaw

05-13-2013, 08:52 AM

The Droid has picked it up, too:

» Rippln Ripple Rippln Rip (http://saltydroid.info/rippln-ripple-rippln-rip/)

Ha beat me too it JTMT, for anyone who isn't bothered by an occasional expletive or 5 the Droid really nailed it on this one.

kschang

05-13-2013, 04:32 PM

Lil Ol' Radical Me

05-13-2013, 06:50 PM

Apparently Dooly realized his mistake half-way regarding Rippln and kinda bumped it off his front page. He talked about apps, gamification, but tried pretty hard not to mention Rippln.

He did however, completely nuked the comments where I pointed out that Rippln doesn't have an app, and thus can't even be compared with iLA and Level 9. Now the thread has NO comments.

Ah, Troy Dooley, our favorite MLM Queen. Since his "Zeek Experience" I would think it is is obvious that this gentleman's opinion of what constitutes a legal, as opposed to an illegal, MLM is somewhat questionable. And that is putting it politely. Maybe "irrelevant" would be more correct.

Lil Ol' Radical Me

05-13-2013, 06:55 PM

The Droid has picked it up, too:

» Rippln Ripple Rippln Rip (http://saltydroid.info/rippln-ripple-rippln-rip/)

Hehe, Answer that and stay fashionable.

petepeters

05-17-2013, 02:37 PM

Oz over on his excellent Behind MLM blog (http://behindmlm.com/companies/rippln-review-mobile-app-recruitment/) has an analysis of Rippln and some of those behind the scenes of this "opportunity" (and, I use the word loosely)

have you ever heard about futuristic marketing? have you heard of the Reverse Funnel System or global resorts network? well, Ripoff Report | Global Resorts Network - Gold Crown Resorts - Reverse Funnel System - Ty Caughlin Complaint Review Pheonix, Arizona: 318260 (http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/global-resorts-network-gold-crown-resorts-reverse-funnel-system-ty-caughlin/pheonix-arizona-85027/global-resorts-network-gold-crown-resorts-reverse-funnel-system-caughlin-reverse-fun-318260) and other scam alert websites have all kinds of reports , complaints and scam alerts for them....they all use the same scam techniques, including unauthorized charges to credit cards etc...all of which Jonathan Budd was involved in and in fact was the "pitch man" for, just like he is now for rippln but additionally they have all flooded the internet to back up rippln, which i find amusing but clever.... they put out all kinds of pages with key words like rippln is a scam, when you click on the link (some you get a virus warning from your virus software) but all talk about how great rippln is, how it is not a scam etc... this is what these guys are experts at, flooding the internet with pages using the word "rippln is a scam" then the page itself is a pitch page in rippln favor and this way they have successfully buried the real pages, with real facts about rippln and all of the people involved in it...every single name involved with rippln, underwood, terry lacore, budd...every single one of them has long records and lacore himself was sued by the SEC in 2008 and was forbidden from being involved as an officer etc for 5 years.... interesting timing, 2013! that's 5 years... check the info on the government site yourself about terry lacore (the true owner behind rippln) Mark D. Woodburn and Terry LaCore: Lit. Rel. No. 20702 / September 4, 2008 (http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2008/lr20702.htm)
also i have found they all have all sorts of shell corporations they use, websites, website names etc... the main one budd uses is empowered entrepreneurs ... he uses all kinds of different addresses, network solutions records show some in CT and some in NC ... here is just some of the info, btw the phone number is a spint WIRELESS number:
Domain name: EMPOWERED-ENTREPRENEURS.COM
Registrant Contact:
empowered entrepreneurs
jonathan budd ()

Fax:
26 hampden rd
somers, CT 06071
US
Administrative Contact:
NA
jonathan budd (info@jonathanbudd.com)
+1.8609853985
Fax: +1.5555555555
empowered entrepreneurs
26 hampden rd
somers, CT 06071
US
and here is the info on that rippln site ripplestrategy.com that emailed me pretending to be corporate:
Domain name: RIPPLESTRATEGY.COM
Registrant Contact:
Empowered Entrepreneurs Inc.
Empowered Entrepreneurs ()

Fax:
3237 Fox Knob Road
Jonesville, NC 28642
US
Administrative Contact:
Empowered Entrepreneurs Inc.
Empowered Entrepreneurs (webmaster@jonathanbudd.com)
+1.8609853985
Fax: +1.5555555555
3237 Fox Knob Road
Jonesville, NC 28642
US
MY ADVICE IS DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION , JUST CHECK RIPOFF REPORT AND SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH PEOPLE'S CREDIT CARDS. ...(just watch and see what rippln will ask for after this pre-launch. Rest assured they will be asking for people’s credit card numbers for apps and other bogus purchases and charges, history is repeating itself) By the way all the new names that keep popping up with rippln, like mark hoverson etc... every one of them have ties to all the same scams....these are the people behind and promoting rippln, which by the way has already been tried before under different names like tsunami project etc....they are doing what they have always done using different company names, after rippln there will be another.... they are very smart in how they hide the truth and flood the search engines with their own pages endorsing whatever scam/shell corporation they are promoting at the time... funny how jonathan budds page does NOT have all the products and services from all these other companies he pitches .... this is only the tip of the iceberg as there is so much more but all ANYONE needs to know it’s a scam are the reputations of all the people behind rippln (from brian underwood and the “burnlounge” scandal to terry lacore and the sec scandal) every name behind rippln is a white collar criminal so watch out, because people are NOT players but rather getting PLAYED ....

Joe_Shmoe

07-08-2013, 04:52 PM

http://docs.rippln.com/rippln-myth-vs-fact.pdf

M yth vs Fact

TM

Let’s get started.
Evolutions in social media, data and technology have created massive opportunities forinnovative business models. Because these ideas are new and different, they often are noteasily understood in their early stages. That is the case with Rippln. Our mission and businessmodel are groundbreaking and we are working tirelessly to fully convey our idea and whyRippln’s time has come. Even still, there is mis-information being propagated and opinionsare being offered as facts, particularly on a select few internet blogs. We’re not surprised thatcritics have emerged, but we believe what is most important is for people to have accurateinformation. We want to clear up confusion about some common Rippln myths being spread.Thank you for taking a few moments out of your day to learn the truth about Rippln.

TM

2

myth #1 Rippln is a Pyramid scheme and a Ponzi scheme.

fact

Rippln is NOT a Pyramid or Ponzi scheme. Anyone can research these terms to learn what they really mean and see for themselvesthat Rippln is neither. A great reference for accurate information on this and related topics is www.DSA.org.
In short, the FTC defines a Pyramid scheme as something that promises large profits based primarily on recruiting others to jointheir program, not based on profits from any real investment or sale of goods. In a Ponzi scheme, payments are collected from astream of people, promising them all the same high rate of return on a short-term investment. In the typical Ponzi scheme, thereis no investment opportunity, and the promoter just uses the money from new recruits to pay obligations owed to longer-standingmembers of the program.
Clearly, Rippln doesn’t fit either of these definitions.
So what is Rippln? At its core, Rippln is a brand new model for the distribution of products and services, such as apps, software andhard products that merges mobile, online and offline technologies and practices. Rippln is a PLATFORM that tracks the value anindividual creates in the marketplace and rewards individuals for sharing goods and services. Rippln’s technology platform also usesgamification techniques to build an audience, promote continued involvement, share products and provide rewards.
It concerns us that some individuals are casually and irresponsibly labeling Rippln as potentially illegal. We take legality andcompliance with all state and federal laws and regulations seriously. At the same time, we still retain our sense of humor about lifeand this video in particular adequately explains the misguided opinions of many lay people when it comes to direct sales. Watch ifyou enjoy a good chuckle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZiw15VgWoI. It is very funny and likely very familiar to many of us.

TM

3

myth #2 Rippln is an MLM and only the owners and founders will get rich.

fact

Multi-level, or Network Marketing, is a business model that has provided tremendous income opportunities for many, many individuals.An estimated 92 million people are participating in direct selling worldwide with $153.7 billion in global sales in 2011 alone. Seereferences at www.DSA.org.
We are avid supporters of the industry. At the same time, we are not an MLM - Rippln is a user acquisition business model based onIncentivized Sharing. Our Rewards Program provides attractive rewards for each individual who chooses to participate. Much likeany business, the larger the individual’s network (their Ripple) the greater the potential monetary rewards. The amount of money anindividual can earn is based on personal production. Anyone who produces a large Ripple has the chance to earn a large income,even if they were referred by someone before them.

TM

4

myth #3 Rippln is all hype.

fact

Rippln was released to the world on April 13 and entered what we called our “buzz building phase”. The point of this phase hassimply been to share the concept of Rippln and allow people to begin laying the foundation of their Ripple.
Of course our communication during this time has been high-energy. We’re excited to be creating something that has never beendone before, and we are passionate about our mission. We see a future where anyone can participate in the value they create in themarketplace. It’s a simple concept and based on the numbers who have joined Rippln thus far, over 1 million people agree with us.
Like any start-up business, we have been fine-tuning our model as we prepare for launch. It is prudent to release details only asthey are finalized, which we have been doing and will continue to do. It is also important to remember that in today’s fast-pacedenvironment, market conditions change and the most successful companies are the ones that are agile. Our plan is to be massivelysuccessful, so it is highly likely that we will continually analyze and adjust our model to further strengthen it and to adapt to what’shappening in the marketplace.

TM

5

myth #4 Rippln is over-representing the money people can earn from their appwhich Apple likely won’t even allow in the App Store.

fact

Rippln is much more than one app. Rippln is a brand new distribution model incorporating a PLATFORM that gives individuals theability to track their social graph (i.e. personal relations of internet and mobile users) across the world and to be rewarded for thevalue they create in the marketplace as they share a new app, product, or service. Subsequently, the amount of money people canearn is based on the size of their Ripple and their product distribution.
Rippln will develop and acquire its OWN brand of apps for fans to use and will distributephysical hard good products through the Ripple as well. The income potential is very real.
The focus of Rippln’s tech team for the past eight months has been developing and innovating the Rippln Incentivized Sharingplatform, and laying the foundation for the upcoming Rippln product ecosystem. Currently, over 15 full-time engineers are workingbehind the scenes on the Rippln platform and more are being hired regularly. In addition, Rippln has partnered with a softwareprovider that has 14 years of experience and has processed over $1.2 billion in global transactions to track the Ripple.
There are no guarantees in life; however, we believe that over time we will be one of the largest app networks in the world becauseour users will have the chance to get REWARDED when they refer something... unlike all other technology companies in this space. Weare committed to constantly evaluating all products and services we bring to market through the Ripple to provide a robust andattractive value proposition for all of our users.

TM

6

myth #5 The Comp Plan pays people to promote Ripplnversus offering legitimate products.

fact

FACT: Nothing could be farther from the truth. First off, getting into the Ripple as a fan, with access to apps and innovative products,is free. Individuals who choose to participate in the Rippln Rewards program will earn a percentage of in-app purchases and othertransactions that take place within their Ripple. No money is made by referring others to refer others. Our model is the first evermodel to share the value taking place within a social network and customer transactions back with the people who shared thoseapps in the first place.
To learn more about the direct selling industry and distinguish opinions from facts, we encourage everyone to visit the Direct SellingAssociations official website at: www.DSA.org.

TM

7

myth #6 Rippln’s leaders aren’t credible or legitimate.

fact

There is mis-information and controversy posted on the internet about Rippln leaders that is unsupported. This seems to be driven bya few people who earn their living by ranking blogs, videos and content in search engines, often using negativity and blind accusationsto get higher rankings for their sites. Right now the Rippln brand name and its founders are popular keywords and thus a massiveopportunity for these types of individuals to capitalize on the search traffic. This traffic turns into money for them as people click adson their sites or join their lists. It’s an unfortunate side of the internet that people earn money this way. Just because you saw it on awebsite, it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The reality is that the Rippln leadership team is uniquely qualified to successfully execute Rippln’s vision. Our team possesses greatcredentials and represents many of the most proven and talented people existing in this space. Learn more about the key individualswho are driving Rippln’s formation and launch:

TM

8

Meet some of the Rippln team
Brian Underwood, Rippln CEO, is a successful serial entrepreneur with a long history of global innovation and forward thinking. Heis a global innovator, a title he’s earned over 20 years of building companies that transcend the marketplace. As a youthful motivator,he leads with authenticity, a team mentality and a passionate heart. He is a new breed of CEO. Renown as a world-class strategistand thought leader in the mobile space, Brian established one of the most recognizable brands in text marketing, iZigg and 90210mobile. As iZigg’s CEO, he did it in under a year. Today, as CEO of Rippln, his sights are set on creating a movement that will redefinethe interplay of social networks and mobile commerce. He and his team have developed a mobile platform that will sail in “BlueOcean” territory, using an enabling technology that is powered by the people to reward the people. It is based on a strategy of mobileengagement, gamification and transformation. The result will be a new monetary model for “Eyeball Acquisition”.
Jonathan Budd, Rippln co-founder, turned to the home-based business industry after earning his bachelor’s degree in Psychology. By theage of 26, he was one of the fastest and youngest success stories in the history of direct sales. He launched Empowered Entrepreneurs Inc. toteach others the principles of entrepreneurship and modern day marketing that fueled his success. This company has served nearly 100,000customers and is one of the largest training and empowerment companies in the industry, with hundreds of thousands a week tuning intoJonathan’s daily emails and inspirational messages. Jonathan plays an active role in defining Rippln’s marketing, product strategy andorganizational growth. Additionally, he pulls from a wealth of his relationship resources to ensure the company is always one step ahead ofthe game. His visionary leadership and product and marketing expertise are helping drive Rippln toward billion-dollar success.

TM

9

Ann Erlandsson is Rippln’s Chief Financial Officer. A certified public accountant originally from Sweden, she has advised directselling companies on a range of financial controls, planning and other accounting matters for several years. As a result, she hasdeveloped a unique and broad understanding of the business model associated with the payment of commissions, and the cost ofgoods sold related to direct sales. Ann guards the cash management of Rippln to ensure longevity for its distributors.
Jenifer Grace serves as the legal advisor for the Rippln team. After years of experience in litigation gained at a downtown Dallas lawfirm, Jenifer sought to help entrepreneurs build and sustain their future. Jenifer has gained years of experience in the industry byassisting clients with corporate formation and governance, advice on state and federal regulations related to their business modeland when necessary in the courtroom. Jenifer obtained her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 2000,then assisted the Dallas Court of Appeals as a Briefing Clerk. With a passion for the individual distributor, Jenifer represents Rippln toensure the vision of the founders is built on a solid foundation.
Craig Jorgensen lives and breathes all things design and technology. Starting in the high pressure world of traditional print andmarketing, he saw the opportunity to catch and ride the technology wave while combining it with his expert design skills. Craig isknown for healthily obsessing over projects, treating each and every one as his very own. This special trait along with his family valuesand attitude towards life and business have made him a linchpin for Rippln as he directs creative and product development.
Jana Lightfoot heads Rippln’s Global Systems and Commission Rewards Platforms. With more than 17 years experience in business,she has created and managed global systems that have supported hundreds of thousands of customers and have grown sales from$0 to $300 million in over 30 countries. Jana’s experience, versatility and passion for streamlining business processes make herexceptionally well qualified for her leadership role on the Rippln team.

TM

10

If you have questions or feedback, we can be reached at:support@rippln.com or compliance@rippln.comWe would love to hear from you.

TM

kschang

07-09-2013, 03:22 PM

Joe_Shmoe

08-11-2013, 07:15 PM

Brainwashing much Rippln?

Some of these folk are gonna look pretty stupid in a few months. I'll take that back, they look pretty stupid now.:RpS_smile:

Oh and any sign of the world changing App in any of the App stores yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzvP4Q26XNQ&feature=c4-overview&list=UUSO6XOhKfDZ_VBaaO8SJ8sQ

busttheblock

08-13-2013, 06:30 AM

I wouldn't be caught dead at one of these brainwashing events! WTF

GlimDropper

08-17-2013, 07:58 PM

Rippln right now is a bunch of empty promises lead generator that managed to suck in 1 million email addresses for NOTHING except empty promises. It is true that it is neither MLM nor Ponzi nor Pyramid... AT THIS TIME. It is NOTHING.

If and when they get their app launched, it will no longer be just the million or so people who decided to give Rippln their email address, it will be all their contacts as well. From Rippln's TOS (http://docs.rippln.com/tandc.html):

3. Communications; Data Collection/ Privacy; Contacts.

[Snip]

(c) Contacts.
As part of your usage of our Products, we provide you the opportunity to connect automatically with your friends. We employ various techniques in order to facilitate friends finding each other on our service, including offering contact importer tools to facilitate adding to your contacts (including Facebook Friends and contacts in your address book) so that you can more readily ask your contacts to join and communicate with you through the Rippln Products. With your permission, we will access your address book and import your contacts’ names, email address, phone numbers, image, geographic location and Facebook IDs to facilitate automatic connection with your friends. We do this only for contact matching to help your friends and you find each other. Also, when you invite friends to the service, we will access your Address Book and we will import your contacts names and phone numbers in order to facilitate the invitation. We may allow other users to use contact information they already have about you, such as your email address or your name, to determine if You are a Product user. If you are already a Product user, then others can add you to their contact list by choosing your name off of a list of users available via our products. We make your name available to others to help your Contacts find you. We also give you an opportunity to invite your Contacts to register at the Rippln Site and download the Products, and in connection with that activity you may provide us access to third party contact information. When you click to invite one or more friends to join Rippln an SMS invite is sent from you from your phone. By using the importer tools or otherwise assenting to such activities, you agree that you are providing us with consent for such activities.

So when someone downloads the Rippln communicator app they not only agree to share their phone number, email, facebook etc. etc. they agree to share the same information of all the people in their contact list, address book, facebook friends list etc. They might not care that their info will be sold and resold with countless bizzop spammers but will all their contacts (who never opted in) feel the same way?

I find it interesting that the core Rippln "Communicator" app isn't available for download yet. In the post Dallas hype **** circle jerk updates the delay was attributed to waiting for the Apple app store to approve the app. A week or so later it was pointed out that the Apple app developer website had been hacked last month and THAT is what was holding things up. Well the dev site was down for almost a week so almost a week of the delay might be blamed on that but wasn't the app originally slated to be released months ago? They knew they were hoops to jump through so why did they great business visionaries wait till after the company went "live" to see if Apple was going to bounce them out on their ear or not?

I came accross a somewhat paint by numbers version of their comp plan (https://s3.amazonaws.com/Rippln_Docs/How+to+Earn+Income+with+Rippln.pdf). Looks like claims that this is no longer a pyramid scheme might be a little exaggerated:

HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU EARN IN THE RIPPLE?

Just the residual income potential from player engagement bonus =

20 Players in your entire payable ripple covers all your
monthly costs. The ripple is FREE at that point.

100 Players in your payable ripple covers your phone
bill, plus cable and Internet.

1000 Players in your payable ripple pays your mortgage
every month, or more.

10,000 Players in your payable ripple is a $130,000 per
year income, completely passive and residual.

100,000 Players in your payable ripple is a $1,600,000 per year income, completely
passive and residual.

This does not include ANY of the other income you can earn as products flow through the Rippln Eco-System.
Imagine all the in-app purchases. Imagine all the hot new consumer electronic gadgets we love to buy. Imagine
the revenue from sharing hot new apps and getting paid. Imagine open authentication. The income from
players engagement bonus is JUST the start. It’s limitless where we can go from there.

Do you see why it’s SO INVALUABLE to start building your ripple today, and building your team of Players? This
is a path to complete financial freedom... with the most innovative and fun conversation to earn your living
we’ve ever seen.

So completely separate from any legitimate retail commissions you can earn $1,600,000 a year just for encouraging 100,000 to pay to become Rippln affiliates. THAT is a pyramid scheme and not a very well paying one at that.

But hey, the products ARE in the pipeline, Rippln has been crowing about beating Apple to the market with their very own SmartWatch. They appear to have entered into some form of agreement to market Martian's Passport wristwatch (https://store.martianwatches.com/passport-watches-s/1814.htm). You know those little bluetooth ear pieces you can clip to your ear and talk through your cell phone with? It's basically one of those, only with a wrist strap. PC Magazine summed it up this way in their product review (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414413,00.asp):

All told, the Martian Passport Watch is an interesting novelty, but it's too expensive and too limited to justify the $300 price. Its OLED screen and speakerphone function feel more like a next-gen smart watch from the late 1990s or early 2000s than a must-have accessory for 2013.

But Rippln floggers think it makes them look like "James Bond."

They're also rolling out what they are just sure will become the next viral game app, Photo Guessaroo. This too will roll out as soon as the Apple app store gives it the A-OK and I believe it should pass with flying colors. Why? It did when it was released last year. Yea, the game was in the app store and Guessaroo, the company then behind it had a website and a facebook page, both are now offline. A Google site for it still remains (https://sites.google.com/site/photoguessaroo/):

Photo GuessARoo - What is it

Photo Guessaroo... it is a phrase that has been popping up all over the Internet lately, but what is it? It is one of the hottest mobile gaming apps to hit the the Google Play Store and Apple iTunes App Store in a long time. Whether you like sharing photos with friends or playing games on your mobile devices... Photo Guessaroo is for you! It is that ability to cater to multiple verticals that allows this app to differentiate from its competition. But, what really puts this app on a different level is that it is the worlds first photo guessing app where the content is user generated. You read that right, you are putting yourself into the game by sharing your photos and the app will format them and put them into the game!

You will be able to either upload an existing photo from your mobile device or take a new one from your mobile devices camera and then turn into a puzzle to be entered into the game to be played by all! You will be asked to zoom into a specific part of the image to try an make it un-recognizable to someone who is trying to guess what it is. Then you will give it a simple description that describes your photo in a word or two... Photo Guessaroo will take care of the rest! It will convert the image and insert it into the game for everyone to try and solve!

When solving a puzzle, you will be given a selection of letters below the picture and some blank spaces to let the person know how many characters the simple description is. You will not be allowed to move onto a new puzzle until you solve the puzzle you are currently on. If you get stuck... you can either ask a Facebook friend for help, or use your virtual coins to get clues. Once you solve the puzzle, not only will you move onto the next level... but you will also earn more virtual coins to use. The best part is, you will be able to trade in those virtual coins for real cash... yes, you will be able to get paid to play Photo Guessaroo.

So, how "viral" did this game go after it was launched last year? A Google cache of the now deleted facebook page gives a clear indication:

5566

That facebook page was created on November 29th of 2012 and the Google cache snapshot was taken on June 5th of this year, and in that time Photo Guessaroo garnered 16 "Likes." Wow, that's massive viral growth but it's sound strategy, the brains behind Rippln have yet to demonstrate the technical ability to launch an app of their own and I bet they got the picture guessing game cheap. Rippln is the echo chamber of hype I have no doubt they can sell their "players" a bunch of over priced under featured "smart" watches and they sure as hell can get a lot more than 16 people to "Like" a game that almost vanished without a trace before they scooped it out of the app store trash bin.

felgercarb

09-09-2013, 05:18 PM

Speaking of Photo Guessaroo... I think Underwood just committed social media seppuku by blaming Apple for rippln's marketing mistake. They've been pushing this Sept. 5th-8th window for release, knowing that it might be delayed or rejected.

Facebook sepukku: https://t.co/ajW7d4Z1z5

felgercarb

09-10-2013, 01:49 AM

I'm surprised it was released. I really am.

And it looks like the people on Facebook don't care that Underwood didn't apologize. So I'm just a big fat idiot all around.

That doesn't for one minute mean people will actually make money from this app, or that it'll go viral. Even assuming they have the userbase they claim. Social media engagement is <3K unique individuals, usually the same ones, daily. It's one thing to have a big list of names, it's another to get them to do something you want, and something entirely else to make something go viral.

Photo Guessaroo is a distraction from the 5-month late Rippln Communicator, of which only mock-ups exist.

littleroundman

09-10-2013, 02:18 AM

And it looks like the people on Facebook don't care that Underwood didn't apologize. So I'm just a big fat idiot all around.

oh-BLOODY-dear

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9384/u0iq.jpg

felgercarb

09-10-2013, 03:19 AM

Hahah yeah, I saw that. Juan is in for a rude awakening.

felgercarb

09-10-2013, 04:01 AM

Did you guys know they're making up user numbers on rippln.com a la the javascript spinner from wazzub?

https://plus.google.com/109752959453719926997/posts/WGgpMoxhs8R

Joe_Shmoe

09-15-2013, 05:44 AM

Did you guys know they're making up user numbers on rippln.com a la the javascript spinner from wazzub?

https://plus.google.com/109752959453719926997/posts/WGgpMoxhs8R

Excellent find. I can't say I'm surprised though.

Joe_Shmoe

09-16-2013, 07:36 PM

WOW! a "company" that supposedly has 1.4 million members posts an important update & has has only 745 views in four days. :RpS_lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoilU8yrgs0
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoilU8yrgs0)
5872

felgercarb

09-17-2013, 10:58 AM

I've been saying for weeks that it's one thing to have a big list of names, even assuming that the numbers they're claiming aren't just made up, but another thing entirely to get any significant percentage of those people to do what you want, i.e. participate in rippln's promotion of an app, etc.

The business model is debunked by any kind of experience with people en masse.

Fat City, LA

09-18-2013, 12:55 PM

Jonathan Budd is part of this? He is like the MLM houseguest who wont leave.

GlimDropper

09-19-2013, 10:10 PM

Rippln is a particularly annoying scam to try to dig into. I'm a bottom line person, inputs, outputs and what's the transaction, Rippln on the other hand is about 97% sales pitch / mood altering manipulation. I swear if I didn't already know the people behind it and some of the people promoting it, I could almost write this one off as not worth an effort. But I do so that isn't really an option.

OK folks, here is a copy of the comp plan (http://docs.rippln.com/rippln_rewards_plan_full.pdf) that Rippln shows to the Troy Dooly's of the world. It is almost sadistically abusive of it's lower level affiliates who are making the thinnest fraction of rewards from the sales they themselves make while more advanced affiliates are making several and sometimes many times as much profit off of that same sale the low level affiliate made. But, I do not see it as being illegal. The entire goal of the plan, the ONLY way to make any appreciable money (and by appreciable money let's use a low bar, breaking even on your $30/month) is to recruit the liven daylights out of this one. But again, this (so far) isn't illegal because there is no minimum wage law in MLM.

But wait a minute, what about the comp plan snipit I posted up thread, the know, this one (https://s3.amazonaws.com/Rippln_Docs/How+to+Earn+Income+with+Rippln.pdf). Yea, funny thing about that. It isn't hosted on the official Rippln site and if push ever came to shove I'm willing to bet that Rippln corporate would disown it, it is after all a blatant pyramid scheme. So I can not stand here with a straight face and tell you that it's "official" but I am here to tell you it's real.

First off Micheal Rutherford, I found some of his old conference calls when he was talking about living in a residential / transient hotel with his wife working as a night shift waitress (paying the bills) until Brian Underwood got him started in his iZigg downline. Both Brian and Micheal rose to positions of prominence in iZigg before that can't miss technology MLM make a mockery of every income claim that the two of them ever sold to their affiliates and while the Rutherfords seem to be better heeled today not all that much else has changed. At least at one point in time Mike was mentioned as a Co-Founder in Rippln (https://sdripple.eventbrite.com/) and elsewhere he was referred to as the first person to get 100,000 in his ripple. Now Rippln has never been noted either for being honest or even consistent in what they tell the public, the story changes to fit the needs of the day. But It seems very safe to say that Micheal Rutherford is something of a big wheel in Rippln and here is his YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG3OGtNso78) walking us all through the "dirty little secret" comp plan.

All the cynics out there (and I love you all) are saying "Glim, you already admit you think these people are lying about a mega crap load of stuff so why do you believe this almost unsourced video is a de facto part of the Rippln comp plan"? Simple, it's the only part of their sales pitch that makes sense. If they had quarter to half a million paying members (they're lucky if they have 5k) AND if they had contracts with successful app producers then perhaps Rippln's share of the in app purchases they drove to a game just might yield some level of income for their members. But they don't have anywhere near that kind of user base and they most defiantly don't have any contracts with successful app producers so that point as rather moot. What does work is an incredibly top heavy pyramid scheme paying bottom level "pro players" about a buck thirty per moth on the paying players they recruit.

But wait a minute, doesn't the official comp plan state most clearly that:

Rippln Tracking System - RTP
One-time only $95 activation fee provides access to an enhanced version of the Rippln Dashboard

a state-of-the-art software platform that tracks the detailed analytics of your

Rippln social graph and increased data visibility for the ripple you build. This fee

includes the first month’s subscription to the RRS described below.

Rippln Reward System - RRS
$30 monthly subscription provides access to the Rippln Reward System

monitors and reports on reward

activities and statistics within your entire Ripple along with the
aspects necessary to participate in the incentivized sharing program (Rippln Rewards

Plan). Includes premium gamification, a complete set of marketing tools and features

to grow your ripple plus detailed tracking of all commerce taking place inside your
Rippln social network.

NOTE: NO rewards are associated with these fees.

Yes, it does say that and they mean it Godammit, only they left out an important detail. You see, paying $95 and $30/month only makes you a "player" and nobody but the company makes money off a "player." BUT, when a "player" signs up five free "fans" then their monthly fees become commissionable to their upline. When a MLM company uses such a transparent and legally irrelevant distinction like that to hide the "triangular" nature of their comp plan it is an insult, only not to the critics. It's an insult to the people who seek to make an honest and honorable living in network marketing, none of whom are involved in Rippln corporate.

Can I prove that they are using the "player engagement bonuses" as described in the "dirty little secret" comp plan? Indirectly, yes. You see, last Friday was Rippln's first pay run, (pro)players and above got paid. Now a few of them might have sold some E4 coaching packages and received a check for that but all qualified (pro)players got paid something. The Martian watches just arrived at Rippln HQ the other day and so far no one has sold any. The picture guessing game went live last week but if you read the comp plan "loyalty rewards" for any billable month (which would cover in app purchases) aren't paid till the middle of the following month. So where did last Friday's checks come from? Only one remaining possibility, the not quite official "player engagement bonuses."

Damn that's a whole lot of words just to tell you all it's (yet another) friggen pyramid scheme. (might be residual brain damage from sifting the 30 seconds of relevant details from each 30 minute "state of play" call)

Speaking of the calls, this was like, just the biggest week in the history of the entire universe Rippln. They finally got the already failed once picture game into the App Store and at the end of last week they were getting the word out that there are a bunch of hoops to jump through if anyone downloaded the game directly from Apple without using your affiliate link first. I think this speaks to some potential problems Rippln's affiliate model might have with Apple TOS, I mean why didn't Rippln integrate their own tracking systems directly into the app in the first place? It would have been better if putting people into your ripple "just worked" as apposed to needing to be worked around. And in all (and I do mean ALL of the prelaunch hype for the guessing game app it never occurred to anyone at Rippln to warn potential affiliates that if they only had an Android phone they'd be treated like a cross between a red headed step child and a rented mule waiting at least a month until they could join in the fun (and profit) from the game. To quiet the uproar another "work around" was devised, step one is "borrow an iPhone."

It was sorta amusing, as the complaints from Android only Rippln paying players mounted first they floated the notion that this was really just a great strategy for launching the app. You see, when they launch Apple only it will create such an amazing pent up demand in Android users that when the Android version does launch it'll just go mega friggen viral so much quicker. When paying players without iPhones asked how that helped their bottom lines till then,.... their dedication was called into question. It was a perfect cult like reflex, don't pose uncomfortable questions not because there just isn't a legitimate answer to them, don't pose those questions because it demonstrates your lack of faith.

I was only moderately surprised when the same tactic, dressed up better and more carefully parsed was used on the most recent "state of play" (https://soundcloud.com/rippln/rippln-state-of-play-replay-4) call (34 minutes of your life you'll never get back warning). I mention the mind games because, let's face it they are among the marketers who mix motivation and bull crap whipping it all into what is more or less a secular theology of greed and gratification. I'm not really going to delve into that here but there is a science of manipulation and many of the equations used in it include dollar signs. On to the very few points that made the listen worthwhile:

In a LoOoooong and motivational speech about the amazing accomplishments of the picture guessing game, filled with prevarications and full on deceptions Johnathan Budd, while telling us all just how much the launch had exceeded expectations finally admitted (bit after the 7 minute mark) that in it's first week they got almost 10,000 downloads. The thrill in his voice seemed oh just a wee bit forced, you see in some of last weeks calls they were giving step by step instructions for all loyal Ripplners to follow and if they did they would shock the world with 100,000 downloads in their first week. Yet somehow attaining less than 10% of their stated goal is just some amazing validation of their entire business plan. Oh, and the Martian watches are sitting in the office, go out and sell a bunch of them even though the Samsung Galaxy Gear Watch is about to launch with about 100 times as much functionality for the exact same price. GoOooo Rippln!!!

Some what a new development, "The Ultimate Game of Your Life" is being launched is, not so much hushed tones because Johnathan is bellowing about it (starts at the 11 minute mark and is worth listening to in this context) so much as without nothing but hype striped of details (from Rippln, surely I jest), here's Rippln's teaser video (http://www.startmyripple.com/preview/game) for it. Infiltrating downlines is pitifully easy if you have a stomach for dealing with these sort of people, on some of the ancillary calls more details are provided. Where Johnathan speaks of making your life better, releasing stress and increasing satisfaction, the boots on the ground paint a more direct picture. This is another "coaching" and affiliate acquisition sort of deal, lots of "marketing funnels" which almost do all the work for you but brass tacks, it's a $497 sale with a $250 payout, not to the person who made the sale but $250 "to the ripple" which means if a lowly (pro)player makes the sale they only get $25 but the mega honcho MVP player in their upline could make 2 or 3 times that (plus bonuses).

One other item of interest, Brian Underwood comes on the call and besides all of the other bull crap he has to say he confirms (about the 25 minute mark) that the first "loyalty rewards" were paid out last week. Earlier in the call they mentioned the watches would be available to sell pert near any day now and as mentioned above, loyalty rewards for in app purchases wont be available till mid next month, so what are they paying on (the dirty little secret comp plan) and pay they are and paying well. People in the call Brian assured us, had been working "home businesses" for two, three years or more and never earned the level of residual income they made in their first 45 days in the pyramid portion of Rippln's comp plan. I think he's lying his ass off (again) but it's good to hear him brag about the only part of the program that really does work, even if it just happens to be illegal.

.

Joe_Shmoe

09-26-2013, 03:27 AM

Some interesting stuff here

http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/mobile-marketing/why-i-left-rippln/

Joe_Shmoe

09-26-2013, 06:14 PM

http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/mobile-marketing/why-i-left-rippln/
(http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/mobile-marketing/why-i-left-rippln/)
Why I Left Rippln

September 26, 2013
Mobile Marketing (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/category/mobile-marketing/)

http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2-Sides.jpg (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2-Sides.jpg)Why I Left Rippln – And Why You Should Too!

Man alive – where do I start?
I guess I’ll start with the image to the left and why I chose it. You’ll notice it’s of arrows going in different directions. Why? Because the things I’m getting ready to say are 180 Degrees different than my beliefs a few short weeks ago, the things I’ll be sharing will be shrugged off as untrue by those at the top of and/or still in Rippln, and lastly – I’ve FINALLY wised up and will be walking away!
So here it goes.
I joined a company called iZigg in the Spring of 2012. I did so NOT because of the SMS Messaging they offered – but because of the promise that they were just about ready to launch something called AppCraze. It was going to be a way to share apps and get paid for it. That’s all I had to hear! I LOVE apps and Social Media – and couldn’t believe I’d have the chance to profit off of sharing both!
I attended my first event in Columbus, Ohio – and it (AppCraze) wasn’t ready – but it was coming!!!
I attended my next event in Atlanta, Georgia – and it wasn’t ready – but it was coming!!!
Thankfully I missed the Cabo (Mexico) event where they talked about it – but it wasn’t ready. But it was coming!!!
And I also missed the TWO San Diego, California events where they talked about it – but it wasn’t ready. Guess what though? It was coming!!!
Are you getting the idea yet? And YES – much like a dog that takes off running again and again for the fake throw – I clearly can’t see when I’m being played!
It’s OK though – because the Las Vegas, Nevada event I attended was going to have it! Wanna venture a guess as to whether or not it was ready? NOPE! But it was coming!
Then a full two years, hundreds of conference calls / emails / texts, and 7 conventions / events later – Rippln (NOT AppCraze) launched in Dallas, Texas. But NOT within iZigg as all of us were led to believe – but as a separate company with separate fees.
Was I disappointed? YES!
Was I excited? YES!
So were the other 700 + people!
It was a FRENZY! Invites to this “opportunity” were flying around like mad! And it was appearing to be something really cool!
From April 13th to present – I brought 98 personally sponsored fans into Rippln. And altogether my entire Ripple was comprised of 3581 fans in 108 countries. It got that big because it went 20 levels / ripples deep (Me sharing – then that level sharing – and so on.)
http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/9-26-2013-12-48-25-AM.jpg (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/9-26-2013-12-48-25-AM.jpg)

At the April launch event in Dallas, Texas – it was a who’s who of marketers.
Some were excited. Some weren’t. And some were in-between.
The same was true of those not in attendance. And just as there always are – the haters come out. They were ready to throw Rippln on a spear and roast it over the fire before they even knew anything about it.
One of the people I approached about Rippln told me a dozen times they had NO interest whatsoever in coming on board with the company. I asked and asked and asked again until they finally joined – more than likely to shut me up as opposed to wanting to. As soon as they joined – they put out a blog post that not only was named sorta negatively (But VERY fair and balanced) – but it also had company videos on it (And we weren’t supposed to do that – and were warned we’d be kicked out if we did as well as face legal action). I arranged a call with the leaders of the company to try and smooth things out. One because the person in question is a HUGE marketer that I didn’t want to lose and two because they had questions they wanted answered. To say the call didn’t go well would be an understatement. The leadership danced around and/or become combative with EVERY question. It was like I’d put my friend on with a child! Childish antics aside – they recognized how huge this marketer was and they didn’t want to lose ‘em either! So what did they do? They provided 100 unlocked invites to them – with the request to please not use this against us (This when almost everyone else had to get 5 accepted invites BEFORE another 5 would unlock). Unfair advantage? YEP!
After the EXTREMELY heated call – I called the marketer back and he was completely ready to cut bait. Again – I asked and asked and asked again for him to stay. At the time (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/quotes/henry-ford/time/) – it was all still free. So he said he’d stick around and see how things progressed. With the same blog post (mentioned above) he started off with – he ended up with 2444 fans. So it would appear things progressed quite well! NOPE!
Fast forward to the first payout. After 4 months of insane hype – and ANOTHER (Thankfully missed) event in Dallas, Texas – it was time (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/quotes/time-2/) to see the fruits of our labor!
I’m not sure what the fruit to money ratio actually is – but in my case with 3581 (A number most people in Rippln would NEVER see a tenth of) – I’d earned $32.95.
I’d like to tell you I didn’t cuss repeatedly for 5 minutes – but I’d be lying. The marketer mentioned above made a whopping $11. Those with much lower numbers (The majority of those in Rippln) went in the hole by $1.50 when they activated their account.
http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/9-25-2013-11-08-56-PM-287x300.jpg (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/9-25-2013-11-08-56-PM.jpg)
Remember when I asked and asked and asked again?
Now I was WISHING I’d asked him about this whole “opportunity” two years prior – and had LISTENED and LISTENED and LISTENED when he told me to cut bait!
You know how things in your rear view mirror (The whole hindsight is 20/20 thing) are MUCH clearer? Things I’d looked past started to haunt me. And when I started contacting people today – some where I said nice things and some where I said REALLY mean and childish things – I all of the sudden saw a post go up with an image of a city and the following text overlay, “There are 2 ways to have the tallest building in town. Build the tallest building or tear all the others down.”
And guess what? It couldn’t be more true! But – not in the context of THIS story!
You see – that message was put up because of fear. They know trouble is getting ready to bite them where it hurts – and they’re implementing damage control!
By the way – just like my first image – there are ALWAYS two directions / sides to everything.
I’m not going to pull anyone in my direction – instead I’ll just provide a few things to make you go, “Hmmmmmmm?”
Here we go…

Remember iZigg? It WAS a great company – until it was abandoned to market Rippln. And there’s a HUGE change that’s happened to iZigg that’s going to blow people’s minds (And NOT in a good way)! Dirty little secrets!
Even though it was against what we’d JUST been told not to do at the launch – the Rippln Leadership allowed my guy to not only keep videos on his site but also provided them with 100 unlocked invites. Think he’s the only one they did it for?
The Compensation Plan we were all sold on at the launch was quickly and DRAMATICALLY changed before we even had time to understand it!
We were told the app (The Rippln Communicator) we were sold on was coming – it WASN’T (And STILL isn’t)!
Depending on what number is correct – there were between 700 and 1000 people at the Dallas, Texas launch event. As I mentioned – those people went into an invite FRENZY! According to Rippln – these numbers grew to over 10,000 in the first week and to over 700,000 in the first couple months. At the time of this post (TWO months later) – Rippln states there are 1,426,184. Put your exponential caps on for a moment. If something can go from 1000 ish to 700,000 ish in a couple months – just each fan adding 1 fan each now and again should have caused a Rabbit Effect! Right?!? But it didn’t. Could the numbers have been cooked? Surely NOT!
Money was being accepted long before there was a product! Sure – there was a back office where you could track other people you’d got to spend money – but it had NO other benefit. Money with no product. There’s a name for that. Can you figure out what it is?
One of the 1st offerings from Rippln – was a “Smart” Watch that cost $300. The only thing smart about it was convincing people to buy a Bluetooth Headset for their arm at 3-4 times the amount they should be paying! That’s ALL it is! Are you hyped as an adult to play Dick Tracy?
The 1st App released (NOT the one everyone’s waiting for) Photoguessaroo – is average at best! The ONLY reason people are playing it and calling it addictive is because they think it’s going to make them money. PERIOD! Otherwise they would have moved on within minutes of downloading it. And instead of letting people do it on their own without being told to – which they wouldn’t – the Rippln Leadership is telling everyone to rate the app a 5 (The Best), to leave a positive review, and NOT to mention Rippln. Why? They KNOW that would have Apple on them like white on rice! Do you feel good pretending to love a mediocre app and giving fake reviews? Do you REALLY think you’re going to make money from playing it?
Over and over again – it’s stated that this is not about the money – yet peppered in with a must state disclaimer of income – it’s constantly hinted that those who build large teams are going to get rich. When THE top guy in Rippln saw a LOW 4-Figure Payout and the rest of us were in the 2 and 3 digits – EVERYONE found out real fast that wasn’t going to be the case! But it’s NOT what you were told was it?
Does Facebook know that when people play Photoguessaroo – their members are being put into Rippln? Do the people know?
One of THE top Rippln Leaders was just kicked out. This person WAS a MAJOR builder of the company. Think it could happen to you?

Those are just a few of the things happening within Rippln.
I told the Rippln Leadership that I’d make it a hobby in seeing them brought down – and then I realized that would be as much a waste of time and resources as promoting it was.
So instead I’ll provide you with the same advice I’m going to follow -

Leave Rippln!
Request a Charge Back on whatever you’ve purchased.
Contact the Texas Attorney General – Mr. Greg Abbott – and let him know Rippln is giving his great state a BAD name! Here’s his contact info -

www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/complain.shtml (https://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/complain.shtml)
www.facebook.com/TexasAttorneyGeneral (https://www.facebook.com/TexasAttorneyGeneral)

Contact Apple and let them know that reviews and ratings of Photoguessaroo are being manipulated. Here’s where to do it -

www.apple.com/support/mac/app-store/contact/ (http://www.apple.com/support/mac/app-store/contact/)

Contact Facebook and alert them to what’s going on. Here’s where to do it -

www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557/ (https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557/)

Make a POSITIVE Ripple – and repeat the above steps with your teams.
Share this Blog Post.

Then just sit back and watch Rippln do what it would have with or without the above steps. FAIL!
To EVERYONE I mentioned this to and/or that joined my Ripple – I’m sorry! I was sharing in good faith what I thought was going to be a HUGE opportunity! I would NEVER purposely lead you astray!
For those of you this post affects in a negative way – I’m sorry! I’m NOT tearing down buildings to have the biggest one. I’m simply trying to avoid any of you being hurt any more than you already have.
When you step away from the hype, greed, and lies – you’ll see I’ve not said anything here that’s untrue.
As always – have a DYNAMITE day (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/category/have-a-dynamite-day/)!

Last updated by Wes Wyatt (http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/author/admin/) at September 26, 2013.

GlimDropper

09-26-2013, 07:00 PM

Some interesting stuff here

http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/mobile-marketing/why-i-left-rippln/

Very interesting indeed, Thank you for posting that Joe. The first thing to jump out at me was:

I joined a company called iZigg in the Spring of 2012. I did so NOT because of the SMS Messaging they offered – but because of the promise that they were just about ready to launch something called AppCraze. It was going to be a way to share apps and get paid for it. That’s all I had to hear! I LOVE apps and Social Media – and couldn’t believe I’d have the chance to profit off of sharing both!

I attended my first event in Columbus, Ohio – and it (AppCraze) wasn’t ready – but it was coming!!!

I attended my next event in Atlanta, Georgia – and it wasn’t ready – but it was coming!!!

Thankfully I missed the Cabo (Mexico) event where they talked about it – but it wasn’t ready. But it was coming!!!

And I also missed the TWO San Diego, California events where they talked about it – but it wasn’t ready. Guess what though? It was coming!!!
Are you getting the idea yet? And YES – much like a dog that takes off running again and again for the fake throw – I clearly can’t see when I’m being played!

It’s OK though – because the Las Vegas, Nevada event I attended was going to have it! Wanna venture a guess as to whether or not it was ready? NOPE! But it was coming!

Then a full two years, hundreds of conference calls / emails / texts, and 7 conventions / events later – Rippln (NOT AppCraze) launched in Dallas, Texas. But NOT within iZigg as all of us were led to believe – but as a separate company with separate fees.

Was I disappointed? YES!
Was I excited? YES!

I knew some of the top level "team leaders" were old iZigg hands, Micheal Rutherford for example. I had heard bits and pieces about how aspects of what Rippln was selling themselves as may have started as some of the come along talk from Brian Underwood's previous "world changing" company but this is the first credible source indicating that the central Rippln MacGuffin, "AppCraze" began it's nonexistence before Rippln was born.

AppCraze is an impossible dream and bedrock of the Rippln sales pitch. You see, Rippln will grow into this amazing powerhouse of eyeball acquisition that all of the major app developers will quite literally fall over each other to cut Rippln in on the income those app developers earn from the multiple hundreds of thousand of new consumers that Rippln will drive to the company's apps. And of course Rippln will in turn share that income with the people who's ripples caused those purchases. Sounds great but before anyone is going to cut Rippln in on anything they need to be able to direct hundreds of thousands of people to make those downloads and they're not even able to produce a fraction of those numbers.

They had been hyping the picture guessing game for weeks solid prior to it's launch and they even held a step by step training call instructing affiliates on what simple things they all needed to do to achieve Rippln's stated goal of 100,000 downloads in the first week. That call was peppered with pitches about how important this goal was and how it would give the company amazing credibility in the app distribution world. Yet the next week's call sounded breathless with excitement over the fact they didn't even achieve 1/10th of their goal for week one downloads. And the numbers have been falling sharply since (http://www.distimo.com/iq/app/apple-app-store/surya-rising-ii-inc/photoguessaroo).

Another indication of what a plunky in the punch bowl the picture guessing game really was is how quickly the entire Rippln hype cycle forgot it exists. As soon as the first week's download numbers proved the game wasn't and would never be the "viral smash hit" that Rippln promised their affiliates it would be, they move on to 24/7 full on spin cycle hype mode promotion of Jim Bunch's "Ultimate Game of Life (http://www.theultimategameoflife.com/)" (TUG). TUG is a 90 day installment coaching, mentoring and motivational "transformational tool kit" with a sort of game style social model. TUG costs $497 (but ol' Jim used to sell it for twice that price to non Rippln members so it's really a deal!) with $250 of that paid out as commissions. Which means, as abusive of low level affiliates as the Rippln comp plan is, a level 1 Rippln "player" could sell this to a friend "in his first ripple" and make $25. That same level one player's upline would share the remaining $225 in commission from that same sale, between them.

It's been somewhat impressive how the entire focus of a cutting edge, one of a kind social sharing app company changed from earning money by "monetizing your social graph" to a company that wants to change the world (for the better) by selling Jim Bunch's coaching and mentoring products (needless to say Jim Bunch and Brian Underwood go back a ways). Here are Rippln's own Jonathan Budd's own words about TUG when confronting an international member of Rippln on facebook who suggested that more moderately priced products might have greater reach in some other parts of the world:

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s24x24/161343_552003720_1527233637_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/jonathanbudd)
Jonathan Budd (https://www.facebook.com/jonathanbudd) Oliver, what you say makes absolutely no sense. I am part of the management team, and I can tell you right now we have thought VERY strategically about this. This product is the PERFECT product for the ripple right now, at the perfect price. Period and end of story.

There is not another program like this that exists in the world. Nothing will help you become a successful human being, who doesn't make excuses for their life, like this program. It will help you in absolutely every way...and the cost of anything like this is normally in the thousands of dollars. Did you even watch the full video?

Frankly... all these money excuses are exactly that... EXCUSES. If something is important to you... you find the money to do it. So lets be honest here... it's just not that important to you!

And that's totally fine. No one is telling anyone they need to believe in us, or Rippln. You are welcome to leave anytime you want.

But the fact of the matter is... this program is WHO we are. This is WHY we exist. We are only building out the world's first incentivized sharing app network because we believe it's the FASTEST way on the planet to build an audience. Why do we want that audience? Because once we build an audience, we are going to funnel EVERYONE back to playing the Ultimate Game of Life... which will transform their lives & the future of our planet, and that is why we exist as a company.

If you don't believe in the vision, or it's not something important to you... then this is not the right place for you. Period and end of story.

If you do believe, and you want to be a part of something great, something different, and something that changes lives... then don't make excuses when it's hard... DIG IN DEEPER, find a solution, and get on a WINNING TEAM.

That's how you win. No one has a gun to your head my friend... you are here or not here by choice! Best of luck to you whatever that choice is.

All the best,
Jonathan Budd (https://www.facebook.com/jonathanbuddlive)

If Jonathan sounded just a wee bit testy it might have had something to do with a (now former) affiliate who was complaining in the same comment thread about being kicked out of the company in a dispute with their upline group and had the further lack of vision to point out their downline group had been added to the person who had her kicked out of the company. Mr. Budd needed to delete many posts in that discussion and in others as well. Sanitizing a facebook page can be a very trying ordeal, especially with a company like Rippln.

Fat City, LA

09-26-2013, 09:13 PM

"To say the call didn’t go well would be an understatement. The leadership danced around and/or become combative with EVERY question. It was like I’d put my friend on with a child!"
Judging from J Budds FB posting-think he was the leadership acting childish?

Amazing how the scammers like to capitalize words.

GlimDropper

09-27-2013, 06:15 PM

Some times when you focus on how stupid the core element of a con really is you lose sight of how clever the sales pitches can be. Rippln has been force feeding their affiliate base enough hype over the last six months than many of them are now in a diabetic comma. It was quite litteraly impossible for the company to deliver on all of the oh so many grandiose promises they made and now they are begging their members forgiveness and understanding because, well they just can't do the impossible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdN4ACEla-A&feature=youtu.be

That was not the typical Rippln glurgefest video, that was Brian Underwood doing his very best impression of someone who is honest and humble. He just about nails it, almost a day time emmy award winner performance but he lost points for the overly long tap dancing routine around the facts.

I do thank him for confirming (around the 4:20 mark) that the lawyers nixed the original pure pyramid comp plan (Brian calls it a "licensing Model") and if they had launched when originally planned with the original "licensing Model" some of their top earners would have been making six figures in the first month (around 12:40). With all the combined years of experience in MLM/Network Marketing that Brian Underwood and all his iZigg cronies have, not one of them recognized before weeks of hype that their original comp plan, sorry, "licensing Model" was a naked pyramid scheme? Maybe that was part of the marketing plan? The weeks when that comp plan video was "official" were followed by weeks when the "official" video had been removed but copies on it circulated on YouTube and in several languages, this was the period when their free member numbers were skyrocketing. It's no coincidence that by the time the reality of the new comp plan finally set in Rippln's member numbers are in decline.

This isn't to say the new comp plan is completely legal either, it's just a far more subdued and far less profitable pyramid scheme (https://s3.amazonaws.com/Rippln_Docs/How+to+Earn+Income+with+Rippln.pdf). Less profitable for lower level affiliates that is. If you got a ton of paying players in your ripple and they all have their minimum five free fans per, then you can start to hope (one day, perhaps soon) to be making some serious cash here. I'd love to know exactly what percentage of paying Rippln players are making enough to cover their $30/month fees, I'd bet it's less than 10%. I'd also bet that 90% of all money paid out to the field is going to less than about 3% of players. Now their selling some sort of "MVP Rewards" which in exchange for the purchase price, you double your commissions for the next year. Which means as a level one player your bonus for your two recruited paying players goes from $1.30 a month to $2.60 each, but for higher level players that doubling will cover the cost of the "MVP Rewards" package much quicker.

Brian covered the amazing invisible Rippln communicator app issue, just not realistically. They had pored hundreds of thousands of dollars and spent more than a year into creating the original communicator app but they just attracted WAY too many people and the old app couldn't handle all that traffic so they had to throw the old app out and start from scratch on a new one (bit after the 7 minute mark). This was truly one of those "how stupid" moments when you discover exactly how stupid Brian Underwood thinks you are to believe him. Increases in user traffic would require an increase in server capacity and from there you make any revisions to the app required to access the new environment. If you threw the old app out and started over it was because the old one sucked in the first place. Despite the fact that all of the ripple tracking software they need is already alive and functioning through their website they are still falling short on how to include that functionality in an app (without getting their app thrown out of the app store that is).

After about the 6:00 mark Brian does reveal something interesting, one of the big delays in rolling out was the difficulty they had lining up merchant processing and banking. Now he tries to paint this problem under the guise that no one would risk doing business with a start up MLM that was pushing out up to 50 million a month. Elsewhere he admits that total pay runs to date are in the hundred thousand dollar range so I don't know where the 50 million dollar red herring comes from. Of course they had trouble lining up anyone willing to process credit cards for them, these people have a track record that doesn't look all to encouraging on an application so they went with GPG to fund debit cards second hand.

From eight minutes on for a ways Brian does his most impressive verbal slight of hand trick. He points out how so many of the expectations for this company were just completely unrealistic in a business environment yet he made it sound like Rippln it's self didn't bare 100% of the responsibility for that. They have been in full on, pie in the sky, shining moon beams out of their asses for six months now yet it's other people who had unrealistic expectations about this deal?

Long story short, the expectations for this company are impossible to achieve. Brian now wants credit for admitting that and hopes that credit will keep people from pointing out that it was Brian and his whole team that made the expectations what they were in the first place (which of course still means they've never delivered on any of their promises yet).

felgercarb

09-27-2013, 06:38 PM

Nevermind, Glim, that making **** up as you go along is irresponsible, unethical, and actually illegal in a business setting. For them to have charged credit cards before any of this pie in the sky manifested as anything other than table scraps from failed projects was unconscionable.

I posted a link to the video elsewhere and debunked the "had to rebuild app to handle more people" statement. It's a change of narrative, too, because I can find videos and posts in May saying the reason the app was delayed was that they had licensed a VOIP app (from an undisclosed company) and had it branded for their use, but found out it couldn't meet their unanticipated user growth (it's a crap explanation, I go into the deets elsewhere).

This dog ate my homework act Underwood seems so fond of is getting old. Underwood, the CEO who cried, "APPS!"

GlimDropper

09-27-2013, 06:53 PM

Yea but their facebook page was in a state of simmering mutiny and ever after banning anyone who focuses on what they can see instead of on the grand "vision" they still have to keep deleting negative comments. Brian's Big Apology™ (part 1) changes the dialog and that's what they needed. He's getting so much credit for admitting he can't live up to all the lies that loyal Ripplnites plumb forgot he was the one telling those lies in the first place.

It's like a magic trick, he's making the blame disappear.

felgercarb

09-27-2013, 07:10 PM

One thing I've observed about Mr. Underwood is that he has an unconscious habit of phrasing things in a way that might be useful. Usually, he's on-message and careful about what he says. He cultivates the "aw shucks" wide-eyed optimism, but now and then there's a look to the left and then some weird non-sequitur comes out. Like in the previously linked video where he caught himself saying Dallas instead of Melissa HQ. Or that one call where he said "and my partner in crime" when they were talking about tracking in Photo Guessaroo...

felgercarb

09-28-2013, 11:14 AM

Part 2 of the apology video is online: http://youtu.be/jmq9LbE1vL8

At about 2 minutes in, Underwood makes a big deal out of having to put on his bifocals. Only problem is, those aren't bifocals, and probably aren't real glasses. You'll notice his eyes don't distort from the lens, and as his head moves, the bifocals don't change at the bifocal line.

Why did he lie about something so dumb? Probably because someone told him wearing glasses made him appear more vulnerable and trustworthy.

You notice he's also very, very careful answering the question about FTC involvement, saying he had never OWNED a company that had been under FTC investigation. That's true, but he's leaving out Burnlounge, which he was very much involved, but not high enough on the officers list to be in the court documents.

He also answered my question, "Isn't the Game of Life the same failed program Budd has been hawking for years?" and made up numbers. Thousands have benefitted, right.

felgercarb

09-30-2013, 04:34 PM

The day after releasing a post defending rippln... Troy Dooly goes down. Admin release: Adam Troy Dooly: Order Instituting Cease-And-Desist Proceedings Pursuant to Section 8a of the S... http://1.usa.gov/1bmTlVy

https://twitter.com/SEC_Enforcement/status/384785725364764672

Shared via Plume
http://bit.ly/GetPlume

Joe_Shmoe

09-30-2013, 06:56 PM

kschang

10-02-2013, 03:02 AM

BU is a good PR spin guy. The problem is he wants to be a "leader", not a spindoc. He ends up being neither.

felgercarb

10-05-2013, 03:46 AM

Guys, help me out here. There's a name that popped up on the domain registry for jiffylist.com, a new app published by Surya Rising II, the 90 day App Challenge shell company.

Andy LePore from ADL LLC. I know I've read that name somewhere, but I can't find a reference to association with Rippln.

So, I'm wondering if the cash influx (presumably) from association with Rippln has allowed them to go ahead with their own launches, or will JiffyList be claimed by Rippln as part of "app craze"?

Oh yeah, and the app itself is a standard, minimal list-making app with a really strange design a la guessaroo. There are way too many list apps in the store already. Don't know why this was made other than because someone was convinced his vision of a list app was the golden one.

felgercarb

10-05-2013, 03:57 AM

BU is a good PR spin guy. The problem is he wants to be a "leader", not a spindoc. He ends up being neither.

He's sure bad at making up software stuff. Bootstrap HTML5 for a platform? O RLY??!?!

GlimDropper

10-19-2013, 02:24 PM

Seems like a good time for an update. Not that all that much has really happened but a lot more promises are being heaped on Rippln's "to do" list that we don't want things to get lost.

The October 7th deadline for the android version of Photo Guessaroo came and went which is a shame because it genuinely seems the only people looking forward to playing the game are the ones who haven't tried it yet. Technical issues are cited for the delay, looks like android users will have to wait a bit longer to learn how forgettable the game really is.

The Martin Passport watch is shipping and for once I agree with Jonathan Budd when he calls it an emblem of the companies progress. Rippln is selling a watch with a mere fraction of competing smart watch's (the Samsung Galaxy gear watch for example) feature set and for the exact same price. So the simple choice is do you want the best product for your money or do you want a commission from Rippln?

And how about those commissions? Martian wholesales the watches to Rippln for $240 and retail is $299 so that's about $60 worth of bread cast upon the rippln water, how does that get divided up? Well, if you are a level one player and sold a watch to a US resident in your first ripple you would earn a solid $3, hey sell only ten of them and that month's membership is free. But if the person who recruited that L1 player was an "All Pro Player" they'd keep the remaining $57 from that sale for them self.

That being said a person would need to be a masochist to pay to join Rippln and try to make money by only selling products. First of all there are very few products to sell and most have strings attached. The picture guessing game app is useless to android phone users, the smart watch is only available to US citizens and the coaching products are only available in English. So if you're outside the US, don't own an iPhone and don't speak English, your friendly neighborhood Rippln rep has had nothing to sell to you. Yet this fact has in no way deterred Rippln from accepting membership fees from similarly situated international affiliates which is a point of some contention on Rippln's official facebook page and elsewhere. Second, even if you have a product to sell the overwhelming majority of the commissions are distributed among the people who recruit the most players, not the ones who sell the most products and that isn't even to mention the fact that "pro" player (and above) membership fees are commissionable to the ripple so the big recruiters still get paid even if nobody ever sells a product.

Validation

If you've been unfortunate to listen to any of the Rippln calls the last few weeks you hear that word a lot. Validation. Now Rippln writes it's vision and casts all their deadlines in Silly-Putty and sometimes it's interesting to watch them stretch things but they are going out of their way and in a repeated manner to explain just how much of their business plan they have already "validated." It's a useful question.

The core of the Rippln "vision" is being paid off the influence of your "social graph," how Facebook and the App Store are making billions off of and not sharing that money with the users who help generate that fortune. So, what has Rippln done so far to make that happen? They entered into partnership agreements with a watch manufacturer and two people with a close relationship with Rippln co-founders have sold an app and a motivational speaking product to "the ripple."

You know, if you strip away all the hype and techno babble Rippln is just another MLM company with a massive product shortage. It is fortuitous that Rippln will pay people to recruit other fans and "pro" players so there is income flowing to the more active recruiters even if there isn't a product to sell at any given moment. If this was the fact that Rippln wanted to "validate" then job well done folks. But everything they have accomplished can be described in multi level marketing terms from last century, they're selling products (and memberships) through a modified unilevel comp plan, there is no shame in that. But that is light years away from "validating the vision" of the company, they are selling products through a unilevel not the fevered dream of the "app craze" promise.

Which is why Rippln took the very interesting risk of making a very big promise on a defined timeline in the very near future. On the Oct.16th "state of play" call Brian Underwood himself announced that on October 28th of this year the mega hit game Candy Crush (he didn't say Saga) will be part of the "app share" program. If a Rippln player encourages a fan to download the Candy Crush app, Rippln will be paid $2 and that money is sent through the ripple. He was very specific and I downloaded a copy of the audio. October 28th, Candy Crush becomes a part of the ripple. He also added that to anyone who isn't a dues paying player on that date it will cost $199 in addition to the customary $95 and $30/month Rippln membership, in order to profit from "app share."

It's an interesting thing for Rippln to announce. Either they will blow all of our minds and produce evidence of some sort of partnership with the makers of Candy Crush or they have an instant top five candidate for the stupidest lie they ever told. At a minimum it gives some of their many disaffected paying players a reason not to cancel their sub for the month and depending on when they charge their monthly, Rippln perhaps could grab two months before they need everyone to stop asking about candy crush. If they want validation, October 28th is a big day for them. Do they deliver or does Brian Underwood do another heart felt "I'm so Sorry" video?

One random point about how Rippln is seeing the Martian Smart watch. The Watch Is Not Voice Activated, the watch has a microphone. There's a difference. The watch needs to be connected to your smart phone, if your smart phone is voice activated you can use your Rippln watch as a microphone to speak with your phone, if your phone lacks that feature the watch wont bring it to your phone. In fairness the watch they are selling does so very little for the money it costs that Rippln needs to exaggerate what little it does do but they are bordering on misrepresentation in some of their promises. Not that anyone should find that surprising.

I had meant to focus on some of the changing "optics" from the company. How the calls spend so much time explaining to all the people who lived through it just what Rippln has been doing for the last six months or so. It isn't an issue of Rippln thinking their affiliate base can't remember what has happened it's just that they remember it wrong. Too many of the affiliates who lives through the last six months are sounding like all the complainers on the official facebook page and are wondering what they're paying their money for. So Rippln's calls of late are trying to change that focus of those memories from all of the very many things Rippln failed to deliver to the almost nothing that they actually have delivered (except for fat checks to people placed highly in the comp plan).

felgercarb

10-19-2013, 02:31 PM

I don't think the date of the 28th for the "release" of App Craze is a coincidence. (It's also funny how Budd is now down on giving dates, except for this...)
If they had something to release, they'd release it at the live Huddle event on the 25th-26th.

GlimDropper

10-19-2013, 03:39 PM

One stray point from the recent hangout. Part of the $199 post October 28th fee paid by new "players" to join the "app share" will be paid out as some sort of "coaching reward." Mr. Rutherford didn't offer details (the concept is more important, a bit after 53 minutes into this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhqJbmUvaXg)) but part of that $199 will be paid as if the fee were a coaching product. But it isn't a product that any end user would purchase for their own use in fact the only use this fee has is to open up part of the compensation plan to a Rippln affiliate. A quick note from the Grimes and Reese website (http://www.mlmlaw.com/saleswatch/saleswatch10327.html) commenting on BigSmart, a previous company which was closed by the FTC:

Legitimate MLMs never pay a commission on the sale of catalogs, marketing literature, starter kits, and other sales aids. Only retailable products and services are properly commissionable. Bigsmart however, generated most of its commissions from the sale of malls, which are nothing more than electronic catalogs published on the web. They are certainly not retailable products since the only persons who would have any interest in purchasing a mall are those who wished to participate in the Bigsmart compensation plan. Other than the value the online mall presented by virtue of the attached income opportunity, the malls were otherwise devoid of intrinsic consumer value.

What "intrinsic customer value" does the $199 fee to join "app share" present? Zip, zero, nada.What % of that fee should be commissionable? Zip, zero, nada. Oh well, I don't think Rippln will last long enough to make any regulatory action cost effective. 95+% of paying "players" will lose money and less than 5% will profit at their expense. Just another gray area MLM company that will only attract honest feedback from industry experts in retrospect (or in private).

busttheblock

10-19-2013, 05:36 PM

Looks like SecondsOld (Brian Spatola) has hyped another blatant scam to his contacts. Nothing new for this guy!

baylee

10-19-2013, 09:19 PM

Looks like SecondsOld (Brian Spatola) has hyped another blatant scam to his contacts. Nothing new for this guy!
A leopard doesn't change his/her spots.

felgercarb

10-19-2013, 11:21 PM

What I can't get over is how they totally glossed over the mechanics for how the referral works for the candy crush download. There's zero detail on how it all works, just power up now and it'll save you money...

Candy Crush is a complex subject. Are we talking about the facebook app? The Android app? The iOS app? Or others? (I think it's on 7 platforms.)

Not one bit of detail was given on which version they were talking about but presumably when they say download they mean a mobile app.

felgercarb

10-23-2013, 07:48 PM

GlimDropper

10-23-2013, 09:08 PM

I'm a bit unclear on to what extent the rules for disclosure make Rippln naughty for not mentioning Guessaroo's meteoric fall in the Apple App market. Since the Rippln affiliates are more commissioned employees than investors, I suppose the partners have no obligation to disclose performance. (Just what is the corporate structure, anyway?)

To celebrate rising to a yawn-inducing #38 for revenue in their category (still only put them in the $44/day range which is a sad showing ) as if it were real validation, then to fail to mention the plummet to an average rating of #390 does seem fraud by omission.

I've seen people get fired for lesser omissions.

I'm pretty sure Rippln affiliates are just considered independent contractors and as far as income disclosures, this is MLM for God's sake. Unless it's publicly traded company they don't need to disclose much of anything. Hell, they seldom need to trouble themselves with things like drawing a clear line between customers and income opportunity seekers or provide anything like average affiliate earnings. It is possible to run a MLM business in an honest and honorable manner but it's SoOooo very profitable to stack the deck (comp plan) to lavishly compensate a very small percentage of founders and master distributors by financially raping low level affiliates that it's become almost a de facto standard. That and the industry as a whole seems to police it's self on the three monkeys system, see no evil, speak no evil.,....

Another boring Rippln call (http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=47203347), so many words used for so little to say but that's like the company motto. They are going balls to the walls on the "Candy Crush will be paying into the ripple starting Monday" (the 28th) story. With the possible exception of everything I've learned in my years of following scams and everything I've heard of and from the folks at Rippln, I can not think of a single reason to doubt that they can make this happen.

I need someone's help to fact check here. I don't know how long the link I posted above will remain live but someone listen the Jim Bunch when he gives the explanation of the following slide. No time stamp but from the little progress arrow you can see it's late into the call.

6218

What I believe Jim was saying is that the All-Star player in that example encouraged 100 people to download an app through the App Share Catalog and earned $2,500. Someone, please tell me I heard Mr. Bunch wrong because otherwise there's something really funny with their math. Granted I'm using Rippln's own sales pitch against them but the talk all week since Brian Underwood's big "Candy Crush" announcement has been that Rippln was going to be paid $2 for every Candy Crush download they drove and that money would be split up "in the ripple." One small problem, the 100 downloads the "All-Star" drove should mean $200 flows to the company so how are they paying them $2,500?

Rippln will become rather interesting next week. They will either shock the world (well, me at least) and demonstrate a surrealistically lucrative partnership agreement with at least one of the highest grossing app companies out there today or they are going to start spitting out some of the best "deep in denial" bull crap since Baghdad Bob (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrXhxmQJSS0). There's a sad truth here folks, an exceedingly small percentage of Rippln affiliates are earning the overwhelming majority of every dollar flowing through that comp plan while the rank and file rippln player loses money each time they pay their monthly fees. Whether the MLM Police Pollyanna's want to admit it or not those monthly member fees are being used to pay "engagement bonuses" and are the majority of the money that's flowing (upward).

The small number of people running the calls, writing copy and putting together the power point slides will be very well compensated for keeping the rank and file paying fees for another month or two. Would they outright lie about "App Share" to keep those fees flowing? Tune in next week to find out.

busttheblock

10-24-2013, 08:44 AM

A leopard doesn't change his/her spots.

Everyone should ask Brian Spatola (SecondsOld) how the PayofRewards PONZI scam is going for him? This just goes to show he is nothing more than a ponzi pimp praying on his flock of sheep!

here is his thread at the scam forum PayOfRewards - PayOfRewards.com (http://www.talkgold.com/forum/r398726-.html)

felgercarb

10-24-2013, 12:38 PM

The guys running Rippln are far worse than SecondsOld.

felgercarb

10-26-2013, 01:03 AM

Here's the latest video, this time featuring Budd and Underwood. Underwood is wearing non-prescription sunglasses. (Remember the bifocals he made up?)

Introducing "App Frenzy" by Rippln - Get Paid for Sharing Apps. - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-AiPQGB7QU)

As usual, lots of hype, no details at all.

This is so half-assed I don't even think these guys can muster much belief in their own bullshit at this point.

felgercarb

10-28-2013, 09:09 AM

Details for App Frenzy here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/Rippln_Docs/Appshare-information.pdf

Here's how they're going to get away with it: "Installs go into a ‘Pending’ status while it is reconciled with the advertising company and Apple / Google. Minimum 30 days"

GlimDropper

10-28-2013, 04:26 PM

Rippln (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln?hc_location=timeline)

9 minutes ago

Guess what?!? We have extended the option to Power Up to Player and be grandfathered into the AppShare Program until later this week at which point we will release AppShare! We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity as it will only be available for a limited time. Log in to your Startmyripple site to become a Player now!

6 (https://www.facebook.com/shares/view?id=540067239407333)Share (https://www.facebook.com/ajax/sharer/?s=22&appid=25554907596&p%5B0%5D=414185025328889&p%5B1%5D=540067239407333&profile_id=414185025328889&share_source_type=unknown)

Top Comments (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#)

14 people (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=540067239407333) like this.
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-frc1/s32x32/173606_660193437_613910783_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford)
Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) Awesome, love extra time. Time to get some more players powered up today! whoooo hooo
3 minutes ago

I knew they were being too quiet.

Rippln held another one of their pep rallies last weekend, Vegas this time. But unlike their previous pom-pom parties this time no videos or photographs brightened the wall of the company facebook page. Rippln's official blog has not been updated in 26 days and their SoundCloud page (https://soundcloud.com/rippln) hasn't had a fresh "state of play" call since the 9th of this month. And all this from a company that couldn't shut up about themselves since April. They would spam your ear off if you let them and now, on the verge of "validating" their business model they've almost gone radio silent. Except that the much anticipated launch of their app catalog will be delayed "till later this week."

Great time to launch a recruiting drive because "pro" player monthly fees are the vast majority of the "five figure" check Mr. Rutherford is bragging about cashing from the company the other week. He claims to have near a quarter of a million players and fans in his "Rippln Maniacs" organization. He knows as well as anyone that the only way to make real money in this company is to talk a whole bunch of people into paying to play. And when Rippln fails to meet yet another delivery date Mike does the only thing he can do, pretend it's a great thing and then try to recruit some more paying Rippln members to make next months check even fatter.

Fat City, LA

10-28-2013, 05:05 PM

Cant vouch for the others, but Jonathan Budd is probably planning his next program right about now.

felgercarb

10-28-2013, 06:50 PM

I knew they were being too quiet.

I have both the PDFs they pulled stored away. Having looked at them, my suspicion that App Frenzy is made up become much, much stronger.

They don't mention the name of the partner. There's an URL, but it's been shortened, so I can't validate it.

I do know this: There is no way to do referral counting with either the Google Play market or Apple App Store. You have to do it in the app itself using some kind of analytics API, which means those apps have to be built (or rebuilt) with that API.

I know I'm giving Rippln too much credit by assuming they have a partner, but I'm just hypothesizing here, so bear with me: Let's say that Rippln has a partner who has analytics/referral codes built into the apps in App Frenzy. The partner presumably has their own API which would handle these things, and it has been put in all of the apps.

There's an advertising company mentioned in the (now pulled) App Frenzy documents, but not by name. It's not unheard of to do this kind of app download tracking with referral codes, and it is not unheard of for an advertising company to do these things. But generally the relationship between the advertiser and the app-makers is more transparent.

My guess is they don't have a partner, that App Frenzy was just the big lure they needed to try to resurrect the gutted subscriber base, and keep the paying players. (If they do have a partner, it's probably bHip Global)
I think they'll make up the tracking numbers like they did with Guessaroo, and we'll hear some excuses for why the numbers don't match up with what people are seeing in the market, like they did with Guessaroo.

But I wasn't expecting them to delay the launch. They can't even manage to get a fraud done on time.

GlimDropper

10-28-2013, 08:36 PM

I need someone's help to fact check here. I don't know how long the link I posted above will remain live but someone listen the Jim Bunch when he gives the explanation of the following slide. No time stamp but from the little progress arrow you can see it's late into the call.

6218

What I believe Jim was saying is that the All-Star player in that example encouraged 100 people to download an app through the App Share Catalog and earned $2,500. Someone, please tell me I heard Mr. Bunch wrong because otherwise there's something really funny with their math. Granted I'm using Rippln's own sales pitch against them but the talk all week since Brian Underwood's big "Candy Crush" announcement has been that Rippln was going to be paid $2 for every Candy Crush download they drove and that money would be split up "in the ripple." One small problem, the 100 downloads the "All-Star" drove should mean $200 flows to the company so how are they paying them $2,500?

Mystery Solved

I was correct in reporting Mr. Bunch's presentation [same link as above] (http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=47203347). At the point in the update where Jim is discussing the slide pictured above he does say:

An All-Star player for example, who shared 100 apps would get 100 reward points so that would be worth $2,500.

But that didn't make a lick of sense, they would be paying out far more in rewards than they could ever hope to make off the downloads. In the finest traditions of this company Rippln didn't so much admit a mistake was made, they recorded a new video (in an airport departure lounge no less) with a new way to explain that slide, and this one doesn't violate the law of mathematics. About the 4:15 mark in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T_h6PY8QNs&feature=youtu.be).

Mike Rutherford clearly explains that it isn't 100 app downloads that the All-Star Player in the example needs to sell to get their hands on $2,500. No, they need to sell 100 $199 "App Share Catalogs". But wait, all your $199 is buying is the chance to get paid from directing app downloads, it is not any sort of product on it's own. There is nothing about it an end consumer would ever wish to purchase so it can not be commissionable.

Why can't you pay commissions on the sale of goods or services no one outside the income opportunity has any motive for purchasing? It's illegal for one and it's unsustainable for another. I've mentioned BigSmart up thread, this is from the FTC's post verdict press release (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/08/bigsmart.shtm):

Although Bigsmart claimed that members would make substantial amounts of money, the scheme was structured in such a way that realizing continued financial gains would depend on ". . . the continued, successive recruitment of other participants," not on retail sales of products and services to the public. The FTC charged that the claims that consumers who invested in Bigsmart would make substantial income were false; that promotional materials that made the false and misleading claims provided the means and instrumentalities for others to deceive consumers; and that Bigsmart was actually a pyramid scheme. Each of these practices were violations of the FTC Act.

Rippln has almost no products to sell to consumers. Still waiting on App Share but here to date the vast majority of the money flowing through that company comes directly from Rippln players heading directly to (a far smaller number of) Rippln players.

Free App Downloads, a commissionable MLM product, I'll believe that when I see it.

I have both the PDFs they pulled stored away. Having looked at them, my suspicion that App Frenzy is made up become much, much stronger.

They don't mention the name of the partner. There's an URL, but it's been shortened, so I can't validate it.

Yea, I wondered where those links disappeared to. I saw them both before they went dark and I'm wondering if this is just like "Jim said on Thursday but then Mike said on Sunday" deal mentioned above. They're just making this crap up as they go along.

I know I'm giving Rippln too much credit by assuming they have a partner, but I'm just hypothesizing here, so bear with me: Let's say that Rippln has a partner who has analytics/referral codes built into the apps in App Frenzy. The partner presumably has their own API which would handle these things, and it has been put in all of the apps.

There's an advertising company mentioned in the (now pulled) App Frenzy documents, but not by name. It's not unheard of to do this kind of app download tracking with referral codes, and it is not unheard of for an advertising company to do these things. But generally the relationship between the advertiser and the app-makers is more transparent.

This is the brilliant thing about this company, there is NO way what so ever to know where the lies stop. Call it "Dream Casting" or "Speaking the Vision into Reality" it's all cockamamie new age bull crap and it IS their business model. I have no idea about companies they might partner with to make some thin sliver of what they promised to come true but I do know that this isn't a company that has ever under promised or over delivered. There is another shoe and it could be dropping.

My guess is they don't have a partner, that App Frenzy was just the big lure they needed to try to resurrect the gutted subscriber base, and keep the paying players. (If they do have a partner, it's probably bHip Global)
I think they'll make up the tracking numbers like they did with Guessaroo, and we'll hear some excuses for why the numbers don't match up with what people are seeing in the market, like they did with Guessaroo.

But I wasn't expecting them to delay the launch. They can't even manage to get a fraud done on time.

bhip is Terry Lacore's other MLM company, in addition to his "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" role in Rippln. It was a nearly unmitigated failure in the US but went on to thrive in countries with less strenuous consumer protection laws (just sayin). Hey, Brian Underwood was the CEO in the early phase of that one, small world (I think Jonathan Budd was still helping Mike Dillard sell his Elevation scam (http://saltydroid.info/elevation-prophets/) at the time, but my timeline might be off). Yea, we're dealing with MLM Boy Scouts here.

I think the additional $199 fee which let's face it, goes to pay for the same "compensate you for the value of your social graph" sales pitch the entire company runs aground on so really it's like BUY NOW OR PAY AN EXTRA $199!!! Only they can push back NOW for as long as people continue spending $99 and $30/month. After all, when your only carrots are imaginary it's useful to wield a nice stick.

GlimDropper

10-28-2013, 09:25 PM

And early international reviews are being posted on Rippln's facebook page:

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash3/275239_1430907116_973656142_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/HenriMacMVP)Henrique Mvp Machado (https://www.facebook.com/HenriMacMVP?hc_location=stream)

Can someone answer me!!!!!!!!???????
How about us, Portugal and Brasil...... APP Share???????????
I am MVP from the begining!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 hours ago

Top Comments (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/s32x32/211089_414185025328889_1520337521_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln?ref=stream)
Rippln (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln?ref=stream) AppShare will be open to players in all countries who choose to participate when it is released. Apps through the catalogue will be available in countries as designated by the app creator.
2 hours ago
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s32x32/1117567_1169635689_1378115784_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/juan.mpm)
Juan Parra (https://www.facebook.com/juan.mpm) "Come and watch your ripple grow around the world"
29 minutes ago

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-frc3/370746_100002895167216_87674485_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/edson.castro.794)Edson Castro (https://www.facebook.com/edson.castro.794?hc_location=stream)

Promised to launch the app craze for October 28 (today), and by the way will not comply with that said, congratulations Rippln. And no more excuses for the love of God do not leave me more frustrated with both bla bla bla bla.

about an hour ago

Roberto Maldonado Nieves (https://www.facebook.com/saludybienestar.america) likes this.
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s32x32/1117567_1169635689_1378115784_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/juan.mpm)
Juan Parra (https://www.facebook.com/juan.mpm) Quiero mis 30 minutos de regreso...I want my 30mins back... (Translated by Bing (http://bing.com/translator?text=Quiero%20mis%2030%20minutos%20de%2 0regreso...))
1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=540194379394619) · 35 minutes ago

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s24x24/1119264_1652659201_1122544369_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/saludybienestar.america)
Roberto Maldonado Nieves (https://www.facebook.com/saludybienestar.america) More of the same nothing new to report. You're right 30 minutes wasted.
19 minutes ago
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-frc3/s24x24/370746_100002895167216_87674485_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/edson.castro.794)
Edson Castro (https://www.facebook.com/edson.castro.794) The size of the lack of respect is unbelievable Rippln
14 minutes ago

[Edited to add]

about an hour ago

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s24x24/1117567_1169635689_1378115784_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/juan.mpm)
Juan Parra (https://www.facebook.com/juan.mpm) Donde quedo la transparencia y honestidad? En otra respuesta dicen estar sujetos a la disponibilidad del distribuidor de apps. Si Rippln esta "comprando" las apps, no podria elegir apps disponibles para toda su ripple? Les preocupa el fraude decian, cual fraude?! Como es posible hacer fraude aqui?! Muchas preguntas sin respuesta. Mucha tristeza. De seguro nuestro lider me cuestionara por mensaje privado por publicar esto. Aqui si cuestionas algo es porque no tienes fe. Pero es valido cuestionar sin perder la fe. Tengo fe que algun dia recuperare mi inversión.Where is the transparency and honesty? In another answer they say to be subject to the availability of the distributor of apps. If Rippln is "buying" the apps, could not choose apps available for all its ripple? Worry said fraud, that fraud? ¿How it is possible fraud here? Many unanswered questions. Very sad. Insurance our leader questioned me by private message for posting this. Here if you question something is because you have no faith. But it is valid to question without losing the faith. I have faith that one day regain my investment. (Translated by Bing (http://bing.com/translator?text=Donde%20quedo%20la%20transparencia %20y%20honestidad%3F%20En%20otra%20respuesta%20dic en%20estar%20sujetos%20a%20la%20disponibilidad%20d el%20distribuidor%20de%20apps.%20Si%20Rippln%20est a%20%22comprando%22%20las%20apps%2C%20no%20podria% 20elegir%20apps%20disponibles%20para%20toda%20su%2 0ripple%3F%20Les%20preocupa%20el%20fraude%20decian %2C%20cual%20fraude%3F%21%20Como%20es%20posible%20 hacer%20fraude%20aqui%3F%21%20Muchas%20preguntas%2 0sin%20respuesta.%20Mucha%20tristeza.%20De%20segur o%20nuestro%20lider%20me%20cuestionara%20por%20men saje%20privado%20por%20publicar%20esto.%20Aqui%20s i%20cuestionas%20algo%20es%20porque%20no%20tienes% 20fe.%20Pero%20es%20valido%20cuestionar%20sin%20pe rder%20la%20fe.%20Tengo%20fe%20que%20algun%20dia%2 0recuperare%20mi%20inversi%C3%B3n.))
1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=540222429391814) · 53 minutes ago via mobile (https://www.facebook.com/mobile/)

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s24x24/1119264_1652659201_1122544369_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/saludybienestar.america)
Roberto Maldonado Nieves (https://www.facebook.com/saludybienestar.america) Tienes mucha razón tu comentarios...You're very right your comments... (Translated by Bing (http://bing.com/translator?text=Tienes%20mucha%20raz%C3%B3n%20tu%2 0comentarios...))
43 minutes ago

Why might paying Rippln members in other countires be feeling the least bit restive right now? Take look:

6237

Now that is the AppShare Catalog Rippln published earlier today, before they unpublished it. I'm sure they'll republish it, or something. Word on the street says they'll do so some time this week or so.

But it does show what apps they claim (or claimed) to have available, on what platform and how much you can make for directing each download. Well, not exactly, you only get half with 40% going to Rippln and 10% "going into the ripple." I almost wish they could get this launched because it's by far an away the closest thing to giving an honest commission for a legitimate sale this company has ever committed to paper. Hell, if you are a low level Player selling one of their blutooth watches your take could be as low as 1% of the sales price, at least on apps Rippln was pretending to give you 50%.

But the thing I'd direct your attention to is the list of countries on the right side of the frame. First and foremost, Candy Crush, the linchpin of the sales pitch.,.... US only. Rippln management was aware of this limitation for weeks but they wait until as many non US members as possible "power up" (pay them) before they come clean with the truth.

Look at the other apps and see what countries Rippln has been selling memberships in which have absolutely no apps to sell their friends what so ever. They NEVER warned those people that they would be paying "power up fees" without being able to share in the "AppShare" bounties.

This Company Pays You to Get Other People to Pay this Company.

And they don't care if they need to mislead people to get them to part with their money.

felgercarb

10-28-2013, 09:28 PM

You'd think with the Rippln Communicator (according to Rutherford) being "submitted to Apple" and videos of a rudimentary video messaging app with rippln branding floating around (especially one Budd assured us was world-class) that they'd want to make sure everyone saw it to get more people to power up for the extended offer.

Right?

From what I've heard of Vegas, there was no music or lights or stage shows or prizes, just pitchmen pitching their pitchy pitchers off. Like, they didn't even spend money for a buffet for the people who went.

SFX:<TITANIC HITS ICEBERG WITH REVERBERATING METALLIC SCREECH>

GlimDropper

10-29-2013, 12:29 AM

OK, so here we have Rippln, a company that promised oh so very much and has delivered almost nothing their affiliate's money isn't (directly) paying for and on the very day that their AppShare platform was promised to launch. Head honcho Brian Underwood could be mugging for the spotlight in his fake prescription sunglasses but on the very day his company, his dream, could prove the vision he had for it, he's feeling a wee bit shy and didn't address his affiliates.

On the day that Rippln defaulted on (yet another) promise Jonathan Budd used his marketing and communication skills to say.,...nothing. What could he say? Yoink?

Pecking orders and food chains, someone had to record 20+ minutes of update babble and Lord knows that person wasn't going to be anyone with some say in the matter. Which brings us to Mike Rutherford's 20+ minute "I can't stop talking but can't tell you anything and I do mean anything at all (http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventID=47656947)" call. Almost feel bad for they guy, he knows it's just his job to stand up and talk for 20+ minutes without saying anything, hey when the company films a video about you and your five figure pay check you know one day you'll have to take it for the team. Today was that day and unless Rippln stops lying it's ass off starts being a fair sight more transparent, tomorrow looks like another bad day for Mike as well.

Fat City, LA

10-29-2013, 02:31 AM

This sums up the current situation:
Derek Gardner
I have 40k members in 230 countries, and decided its time to downgrade from a player to a fan. Basically, there is nothing for me to "play", and sick of the "games". Only 4 of my top 300 are even players anymore, and when I reach out to them, they lash out. The people have spoken. State of play now, in my experienced opinion, can be summed up by one word..."disrespected". I am begging these guys to prove me wrong. I have 40k in my ripple, locked into double commissions for a year, mvp for coaching and loyalty offers, but, the principal of it all has left me with no choice. And no...rippln stopped caring about the founders many months ago, so im sure they read this and say "good riddens". Yes, its a choice to be here. Sucks that I went in with my reputation to my jv partners, my followers, my family, my friends, my contacts, etc, so when founders come on and blast people like me who went all in, and now feel screwed, and call it a choice to be here, shame on you! But hey ripplers, the game is always on, its just too bad, we were the ones being played......
Like · · 35 minutes ago via mobile
Derek Gardner likes this.

GlimDropper

10-29-2013, 08:42 PM

I'm doing my level best to catch you up on all the news about this company but there isn't any. One day AFTER the much promised "AppShare Network" failed to launch and the company as a whole are speechless (least now we know what it takes to shut these people up). No "State of Play" updates, no blog posts, not even a status update on their facebook page. Nothing.

Well, almost nothing, I listened to Mike Rutherford's team call. So yea, Nothing. As sort of a teachable moment during the call Mike spoke of advice that was given to someone who was going to fly down the Brazil and kick start their ripple there. Nowhere in this story did it occur to Mr. Rutherford that Brazil was one of the (many) nations which have no apps at all the get paid to drive downloads for so all the new Brazilian "players" would have no product at all to earn money on so could only profit from the "player engagement bonus" portion of the com plan. But they will be in the ripple. Mike could use a little cultural sensitivity, here's how he addressed a question on the rippln facebook page:

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s32x32/1117956_100000134724320_1822500391_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/nikola.kitic.14)
Nikola Kitic (https://www.facebook.com/nikola.kitic.14) And why can u share the apps only in some countrys?
Yesterday at 12:48am via mobile (https://www.facebook.com/mobile/)

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-frc1/s24x24/173606_660193437_613910783_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford)
Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) certain apps pay bounties/referral fees for downloads in certain countries. Some countries are full of fraud and they don't spend money in those countries getting downloads
1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=540071002740290) · Yesterday at 5:00pm

So if you have no apps to sell in your country it's because you're all crooked or broke and you sorta talk funny. But of course if you have $95 and $30/month then go ahead and "power up," then get 15 or 20 friends to pay to power up as well and then you'll start to make some money even without a single product to sell.

So, what's happening in Rippln today? Thundering silence. I see a fuzzy little groundhog sticking it's nose out of it's burrow and trying to see if there will be six more weeks of paychecks.

GlimDropper

10-30-2013, 09:56 PM

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/211865_100001756453934_757048749_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/balthazarnui)Rumen Kovachev (https://www.facebook.com/balthazarnui?hc_location=stream)

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p75x225/1383629_567531579982052_397796823_n.jpg
(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=567531579982052&set=o.414185025328889&type=1&ref=nf)

Share (https://www.facebook.com/ajax/sharer/?s=2&appid=2305272732&p%5B0%5D=100001756453934&p%5B1%5D=1073742240&profile_id=414185025328889&share_source_type=unknown) · 6 hours ago

Quoted for truth.

Let's see from our fun fact department: Rippln claims to have had 750 people attend their big viral kickoff event in Dallas last spring. On one of the calls this week Mike Rutherford sorta mentions in passing that 75 to 100 people attended their big "Rippln Huddle" in Vegas last weekend. Sounds about right.

Rippln has done away with "State of Play" calls and replaced them with weekly "Power Up" Sessions. They had one tonight (http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=47203410). The reason for this is two fold and I'll get the crass and commercial out of the way first, they're recruiting calls. Earhole one of your friends and make them listen to the call with you, let Jim, Mike and Brian sell this deal better than you ever could. The second reason is more laudable in so far as this format allows them to recycle all the bull crap they've been saying, over and over again for months and wrap it up just like it's new. This does puts downward pressure on the amount of new bull crap they'll need to create so I view this as a net positive.

This call unveiled their go to excuse for all the affiliates paying into the comp plan but the "AppShare Catalog" has not a single app available to share in their home country. You see, those people can still share those games with people in the countries they can be paid to direct downloads to. So they are saying to this guy:

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/623496_528658661_896990726_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/shubhobroto.sen)Ronnie Sen (https://www.facebook.com/shubhobroto.sen?hc_location=stream)

Its very disheartening to see None of the Apps in the App Share does not support India. Rippln Players in India are disheartened, moreover We Have Powered up for Nothing.
The Rippln Team should Pay back Indian players all they spent in Rippln ECO SYStem!!

What they're saying is get people in the US and Europe do download apps with his link while he's in India. Simple.

This company is flogging their players into a recruiting frenzy. Mike Rutherford has been shameless, training his teams to become "validators," show your prospect a video then trap them into a three way call with your upline. You "validate" what your upline says to your friend and they sell the deal "the right way." Mike's a Rippln All Star player and $13 out of the $30 bucks each "Pro Player" pays is flows up the ripple. No surprise he's the one they use to show how much "passive and residual" income you can make form "player engagement" bonuses. On his team call today Mike put his finger on the strategy it takes to win at the "rippln game": It isn't enough that you go out and get new people to bring their money into the game you have to get those people to go out and get still other people's money into the game.

There, I went and buried the lead again. Brian Underwood's explanation for AppShare's continued lack of existence:

"Extenuating circumstances with some of our third party technology partners."

But it'll be up in a day or two. (JUST DON"T STOP RECRUITING)

This company has grown beyond the point where they feel the need to be accountable to it's paying members. That's the best excuse they could come up with?

Not sure why I'm looking at this slide:

6247

OK, this is what is now being called their "Chat App" but for most of the program's life this was styled the "Rippln Communicator App." This has been promised for months and tall tales were told about how they spent $175K (or $300K) to develope it last summer but decided it couldn't handle Rippln's massive success so they took the first app, shot it in the head, buried it upside down in the back yard and pissed on it. Then they spent ANOTHER $175K (or $300K) to build a new one. Mike Rutherford assures us the app has already been approved by Apple.

Look at the list of things the app can't do (until later versions). No in app purchases? What was all of their "micro payment" ecommerce systems? This was one of the reasons excuses for why they needed to piss on the old app, it could handle all the transactions and now it seems that v1 of the Chat App can't either. You can't get someone to join your ripple through the rippln app (until version 2.x)? Isn't that part of the core vision (casting) here? And as a responsible commentator who values neutrality it might be beneath me to point out that the "Chat App" (v.1) hasn't figured out how to let people "audio chat" on a smart phone yet (or maybe not).

Seriously people, the lack of functionality in the core Rippln app is important. This isn't a technological problem, they've had months (or over a year depending on when they tell the story) to get one app up and running. I think, one way or another the Apple App store realizes they don't want scammy little pyramid schemers selling income opportunity apps. I do not know exactly how this works, freely admitted. Why was App Gratis banned last spring? App Gratis was getting paid by app developers to drive downloads outside of Apple's own distribution system. Was that why they got the boot? Would Rippln's attempt at an alternative distribution model be any better received (once in fact it get's noticed) even without the scammy pay plan?

In the words of Brian Underwood: Another day or two.

In the words of Mike Rutherford: RECRUIT RECRUIT RECRUIT RECRUIT!!!

The only portion of this program that works as promised is an illegal pyramid scheme.

A late Edit to add a ten minutes and thirty two seconds of your life you'll never get back warning:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axw0BPhulrQ

Same old rehashed, warmed over sales pitch from Brian's last 40 or 50 Rippln videos. One small novelty at about 7:20 Brian shows off the Chat App (so we know it's real). He recorded a short video message and sent it to a friend (no word if video messages are limited to 15 seconds like they were last August). A quick search reveals this is something a whole heck of a lot of app already do. Hurray for Rippln. Not sure if Brian misspoke but he clearly states the Chat app will be available in the App Store (at about the 8:35 mark) but he neglected to mention an Android version. The only Rippln members who ever talk about Photo Guessaroo anymore are the Android users who still have no chance to play the game. If the Chat App launches iOS only a lot more players are going to be pissed.

felgercarb

11-01-2013, 05:57 PM

So they advertised Candy Crush, and it was in the PDF that got pulled with the apps listed, but the released version of App Craze doesn't have Candy Crush.

The apps it does have don't add up to 1/10th the revenue of Candy Crush Saga.

I'm wondering if King C&D'd Rippln after having caught wind of their app's name being in official marketing materials. In any case, I'm holding onto my original PDFs in case someone needs it.

Fat City, LA

11-02-2013, 02:41 AM

littleroundman

11-02-2013, 03:04 AM

by the way, andy bowdoin / bernard madoff / paul burks / bryan marsden trevor reed / clayton kimbrell / charis johnson / carlo pietro giovanni guglielmo tebaldo ponzi have you built a better company?
Like · 2 hours ago

There, that sounds more like what's going on.

kschang

11-02-2013, 10:54 AM

The difference is Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, *are* making people money RIGHT NOW (their stocks keep going up)

Rippln thus far is only benefiting a few people in the top. The rest are paying monthly fees and buying crap (okay, maybe just medriocre stuff)

ribshaw

11-02-2013, 11:18 AM

Looks like our old friend Al Sills is promoting Rippln like a champ. Its not enough that he got people involved in Banners Broker and cost them money, now he is doing the same with Rippln.

6268

felgercarb

11-02-2013, 04:10 PM

At 6:44 into the video Brian Underwood appears to have a small stroke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtBaeC7_gok

Or, it could just be the embattled conscience of a very conflicted man telling a bunch of lies.

The "good" downloads vs. "bad" downloads bit is interesting, in that the analytics which are in almost every app should be able to determine this automatically, and submit it to the app developer, who is in theory in a partnership with an advertiser who is Rippln's partner. So they'd have the data, right?

So why are they lecturing users about it? That's a problem to solve with software.

JustTooMuchTime

11-02-2013, 07:30 PM

They have lined up some crackpots:
From the Rippln FB page:

R Melvin McKenzie If you are without mistakes and have no sin in your life, then YOU throw the first stone.
Like · 2 hours ago

Not only is that line or similar lines a huge red flag that something is a scam, it also takes the whole idea of the quotation out of context. I just pulled this page up randomly, but I think it gets the point across: Judge Not (http://www.inplainsite.org/html/judge_not.html#JN-Without)

GlimDropper

11-03-2013, 02:38 PM

They have lined up some crackpots:
From the Rippln FB page:

R Melvin McKenzie
To all my fellow positive-minded Ripplrs. No matter where you see green grass growing, you will still, unfortunately, find some weeds. But, despite the temporary setbacks that often occurs when doing something totally new and daring, you just continue growing your ripple day by day, adding people here, and adding people there and shutting your ears to all the negative comments and criticisms.

Careful Fat City, R Melvin is a multi talented man, he even invented his own martial art (http://www.amazon.com/Defend-Yourself-Secrets-Protect-Hostile/dp/1587368706/ref=sr_1_1/192-5774589-5371339?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383499326&sr=1-1). Do you have a dog?

The "good" downloads vs. "bad" downloads bit is interesting, in that the analytics which are in almost every app should be able to determine this automatically, and submit it to the app developer, who is in theory in a partnership with an advertiser who is Rippln's partner. So they'd have the data, right?

So why are they lecturing users about it? That's a problem to solve with software.

If someone had an app on their device before Rippln, deleted it then downloaded it with a Rippln affiliate link the "system" wouldn't recognize it is a new instal. Makes sense.

If someone just download an app but never uses it, that ain't so good for the ripple. Again, makes sense.

What goes unspoken here is if the average in app purchases per Rippln download isn't significantly higher than the "download bounty" money is being lost. If I asked my mother to, she'd download Game of War to her phone and maybe do the complete walkthrough. Brian would call this a "good download" but it wouldn't be one because I know my mother, she'd never really play Game of War and she'd certainly never spend money on it. It just isn't her sort of thing. But I'd make the same amount getting her to download it as if I sent it to some total gamer geek who spent $20 a week in the app. There are so many flaws in what Rippln is pitching that it's easy to lose count but this one is significant. Rippln is paying directly for downloads but know that most of those downloads will be relatively worthless to a publisher, this equation does not balance.

What numbers do ad up? Monthly membership fees. Each month a "Pro Player" pays their $30, $13 of that gets divided among their upline with the vast majority of it going right to the top. It's already been announced that app download "bounties" are delayed 30 days for validation and Rippln's Loyalty Rewards are paid out two weeks into the month after they were earned. A staunch skeptic, were one here, might point out that this could mean that the first ~significant~ App Share checks might not arrive till about January 15th. How many more five figure "player engagement" checks might the Mike Rutherford's of the world cash before App Share proves it's worth one way or another?

32 seconds. That's how long it took Brain Underwood to tell his first substantial lie in the video felger shared above. Where as I do admire his restraint I will point out that the first 15 seconds of that was the Rippln title sequence. Brain claims that the frenzy Rippln started was spreading "literally around the world." Player "power ups" are spreading around the world but the App Share opportunity isn't. After the 41:35 mark in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Me4PCdCFI) Brian announces (and I do mean introduces this idea publicly for the first time) that until you have 5,000 paying players per month in your country, Rippln isn't going to bother to find products to sell in your country. Brain insists that they have been honest about this "since day one" but repeatedly apologizes for not making this more clear. The video also clearly spells out that app share catalog will have nothing to share in the vast majority of the world. How sincere is Brain in his desire to manage expectations and inform international players exactly what to expect when they pay to "power up"? That video was recorded on Oct. 17th and was published online on Oct. 31st, AFTER almost two full weeks of hyper recruiting without first making that disclosure public and this video was just sorta squirted out along side of the breathless "We're Live" announcement.

In fairness an intentional affiliate can still earn from app share by getting one of their friends in the US or other blessed countries to download the apps. I'm sure everyone in Brazil or India has hundreds of US friends they can email their referral links to, maybe Rippln will help set up lead capture pages and marketing funnels to help drive free app downloads. No, that's stupid and it most defiantly wasn't what all those people were being sold when they bought into this. Just another Rippln bait and switch.

A not insignificant sum of money is flowing in from all over the world and landing in a tiny number of hands near the top of this company. For every dollar made by those favored few there are far more people all around the globe losing money on this deal. Good thing that Rippln is part of an industry where this isn't viewed as abnormal.

Jonathan Brand

11-03-2013, 05:22 PM

Given who I've seen promoting it, I'm expecting the worst. Maybe they will surprise me, but I am dubious of it. People who gravitate to illegal schemes like flies to dog poo are not a good sign.

Rippln is the very essence of an illegal pyramid scheme. I set up a site for victims of this and others with my international group at mlmpetition.com When do you think we will get our first Rippln complaint at it?

felgercarb

11-03-2013, 05:31 PM

You can't possibly think rippln is anything but legit. They wrote a press release on PRWeb announcing D-list celebrity Luke Goes has joined the ripple.

Rippln: Luke Goss First Official High Profile Celebrity Featured in the Ripple (http://www.prweb.com/releases/Rippln/Luke-Goss/prweb11290243.htm)

kschang

11-04-2013, 03:28 AM

Is that *the* Luke Goss that had only appeared in B-movies and bit parts? Like Death Race without Jason Statham?

Wonder how much of the Rippln crap they promised him, and how much profit? At the minimum he's gotta get one of those crappy Smartwatches for free. :)

kschang

11-04-2013, 03:32 AM

Rippln is the very essence of an illegal pyramid scheme.

Technically it's a ponzi / pyramid hybrid. You pay into the scheme, and pretend that your "commission" came from sharing the crap being sold to people under you. But that's splitting hair.

felgercarb

11-05-2013, 06:04 PM

I came across this post on Twitter.
Jaime Gueits | Press Release: Rippln-New App Release News! (http://www.ibosocial.com/Gnet/pressrelease.aspx?prid=315460)

In the second sentence, note the past tense, as in, already happened.

"And in the first day thousands of dollars were paid out to people just like you who decided to share apps
with their friends."

I noted this to the originator on Twitter, to which he responded that it was from official promotional material. Sure enough, it is, as anyone with rippln back office access could tell you.

What does this say about their intent? They intend people to believe that rippln players in app share have been paid already.

Yet, we know from the PDF that payouts happen... 6295

Oh dear. Another big, fat lie from Rippln HQ.

GlimDropper

11-08-2013, 12:57 AM

I'm afraid that "press release" was more likely authored by Mr. Gueits than anyone at Rippln hive mind central. When Rippln wants to use a free press release service they use a free press release service and not some hackneyed "IBO Toolbox" page. That and the only two Google hits for the text in question both bare Jamie's name (as will this one soon).

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/274445_100006439344237_803908081_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/robert.li.65)Robert LI (https://www.facebook.com/robert.li.65?hc_location=stream)

Hola, soy de los que hice campaña para conseguir afiliados en rippln, màs de 100 personas dadas de alta...En fin que me lo curre...y para que? Pues eso, màs de lo mismo. Tengo que decir que estoy completamente decepcionado con esta "aplicacion" o lo que quiera que sea. Tanto misterio, tantas palabras bonitas, tanto prometer para luego na de na. Otra mentira màs de tantas que circualan por la red. Pido disculpas a todos los que han confiado en mi cuando les hable de rippln, en mi defensa tengo que decir que yo tambien creì en ellos. Se que no os servirà de consuelo, pero yo he sido el primer engañado, manipulado y defraudado.
RIPPLN=DECEPCION/ENGAÑO/MANIPULACION

Hello, I am among those who campaigned for rippln affiliates, more than 100 people discharged ... Anyway what I curre ... and for what? For that, more of the same. I have to say I am completely disappointed with this "application" or whatever it is. Both mystery, so many nice words, both promise and then na na. Another lie that circualan many more of the net. I apologize to all those who have trusted me when I talk about rippln, in my defense I have to say that I also believed in them. It will not be a comfort, but I was the first deceived, manipulated and cheated.
RIPPLN = DECEPTION / CHEATING / HANDLING

Not untypical of the international user base. And I don't blame them in the least. How many people outside the US were bilked into paying their $95 and $30/month BEFORE App Share went live (to avoid the extra $199 fee) to share apps only to find out that there were no apps at all in their country to share? At this point there is no form of any product what so ever for these people to sell and the only way they can make money is to conn their friends into paying to join "the ripple" so they can keep a portion of the monthly fees their friends are paying in.

I was sorta hoping that Rippln was bluffing about the additional $199 "App Share Catalog" fee. It would have been a sufficient stick to wield to drive player "power ups" and you have to admit that the entire Rippln sales pitch without app share is pretty much nothing. They might as well admit that the new "power up" fee is $300 because, it is. About the only upside I can see is that since they are paying out commissions on that $199 it's just another blatantly illegal portion of their comp plan. If you did away with it and the "player engagement" bonuses Brian and Jonathan would be forced to spend their days lying about their next fraudulent biz opp.

I haven't worked all the angles yet but I think I know the real reason "app share" is not and will not be a global opportunity. If (and that's a big IF) Rippln is getting paid $4 for each Game of War download doesn't their partner need to average more than $4 in in app purchases per download to break even? They wont get them from Rippln in the US because they aren't rewarding in app purchases they're only rewarding bulk downloads. Now you see why they're delaying payouts, love to see the fine print on Rippln's contracts with them. But at least in US and Europe there's enough disposable income that some of those downloads will be profitable. I'm not saying no one in Brazil can afford to spend money on mobile gaming but if Game of War was available for download there at $4 a head, every iOS phone in earshot of a Rippln member would have it installed without much thought for the profitability or sustainability of the offering.

GlimDropper

11-08-2013, 08:19 PM

I know who their partner is.,....

Just using a random affiliate link off the web (and yes, referral links are just about the only technology required for "App Share"):

http://www.wheregoes.com/img/header_logo.gif (http://www.wheregoes.com/)

Results of Trace

http://goo.gl/d0l6g5
http://www.wheregoes.com/img/arrow.gif301 Redirect
http://www.startmyripple.com/ln/55A7812FTTLQ
http://www.wheregoes.com/img/arrow.gif302 Redirect
http://tracking.applift.com/aff_c?offer_id=1746&aff_id=4010&aff_sub=rpplna52f763de7449a9bcbec6f7fb8cf809c
http://www.wheregoes.com/img/arrow.gif302 Redirect
http://hastrk1.com/serve?action=click&publisher_id=11730&site_id=8838&offer_id=245226&ref_id=10265645f21e01d1a782b6c53a44e0&sub_publisher=Somo&sub_campaign=us-ipad-applift-&sub1=US&sub2=iPhone&sub3=4010
http://www.wheregoes.com/img/arrow.gif302 Redirect
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dragon-city-mobile/id561941526?mt=8

http://www.wheregoes.com/img/trace_complete.gif

OK, so the Rippln affiliate download link goes to one of Rippln's websites, from there it goes to the people who actually do what Rippln sorta pretends to do, AppLift (http://www.applift.com) then they get passed through an analytics company (hastrk1 = Has Offers (http://www.hasoffers.com/)). So after the traffic broker and the affiliate tracking site we finally get to the iTunes Store.

So Rippln didn't reinvent the wheel, they're just far more willing than most PPI (pay per install) affiliate firms to lie about how much they can pay. Can I prove that? Not just yet but their numbers are way out of line. I will caution to remind you that the core of their business model is to pay their affiliates with their own money. App Share is just a little twist on that.

HITFOX GROUP http://casualgamesassociation.org/ccimages/2013/sponsors/logo_hitfox_sanfran_2013.jpg (http://www.hitfoxgroup.com) http://casualgamesassociation.org/ccimages/2013/sponsors/logo_applift_sanfran_2013.jpg (http://www.applift.com) http://casualgamesassociation.org/ccimages/2013/sponsors/logo_ad2games_sanfran_2013.jpg

(http://www.ad2games.com)

HitFox Group is a fast-growing incubator focused on founding and developing companies within the mobile and online games distribution and user acquisition market. Our portfolio companies ad2games, AppLift and GameFinder are partnering with 180+ game publishers and 1000+ media companies such as EA, King and RTL. We are a team of 100 professionals (hiring at all levels) with headquarters in Berlin and San Francisco and local presences in Seoul and Paris. www.hitfoxgroup.com

AppLift (a HitFox Group company) is the world’s first mobile affiliate network, exclusively focused on mobile games. AppLift acquires high quality users for 150+ mobile game publishers and helps them monetize their traffic. The company delivers more than 1M quality users per month for its largest game publisher and rapidly executes on global and niche market campaigns. www.applift.com

ad2games (a HitFox Group company) is Europe’s leading ad and affiliate network for online games. ad2games matches renowned games of publishers such as Bigpoint, Gameforge, EA and Nexon Europe with quality users through its vast network of gaming portals in over 50 countries. www.ad2games.com
web: www.hitfoxgroup.com (http://www.hitfoxgroup.com)

felgercarb

11-08-2013, 09:40 PM

Glim, the copy Gueits used was from official promotional material in the rippln back office.

GlimDropper

11-12-2013, 12:06 AM

Tonight's Rippln call (http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=47897985).

I must admit some confuzelment. Rippln as a company has grown past the point where they hold conference calls for their affiliates where they make announcements or give news and updates. Oh, they still hold as many calls as they ever have but all of them are wall to wall non stop recruiting. Grab your friends, show them a video then get them on the calls, they'll sign up and you'll be recieve some of the money they pay to join the company. Which is kinda a shame because this means they sorta buried the lead so to speak, tonight Mike Rutherford announced that App Share is now World Wide. From about the 12:40 mark of the link above:

So think about this, just try this on for size. You become a Player in the Rippln community and you purchase our App Share catalog, It's less than $300 just so you know, to start your own app sharing business, world wide app sharing business. We have apps on Apple, we have apps on android, we have apps in the United States, all over the world. OK?

So you log in, click a button that says "Share Game of War." It pops up a tab that says "type in the cell phone number and the country code of the person you want to send this to," type in their email or tweet it out, what ever you want to do and hit "Share."

I'm sorry, but if you were so blessed as to have never sat through a previous Rippln recruiting call (which is the target audience) might that lead you to believe that you could get paid by sharing apps "all over the world"? But unless this is Rippln's way of announcing that all of the existing limitations on their app catalog (see below) are no longer in force, Mr. Rutherford was being grossly deceptive. See for yourselves:

6347

Does that look "world wide" to you? One Android app in a whopping total of 19 other countries and an iOS app in 7. That is what Mike Rutherford means when he says:

We have apps on Apple, we have apps on android, we have apps in the United States, all over the world. OK

When Rippln finally does drown in a puddle of their own vomit, stupid lies like this one will have been the figures it stuffed down it's throat.

GlimDropper

11-20-2013, 08:30 PM

You know, it wouldn't take too much artistic talent to change Rippln's logo to a tumbleweed.

Recruit, recruit, recruit is all they ever talk about and this isn't any surprise because new player fees and monthly subs are about 99% of the companies revenue stream. Yes, I am exaggerating, no way in hell AppLift is contributing 1% of their income.

There's another call tonight, wont bother to link because nothing Mike Rutherford is saying tonight in any different than what he's said on the last dosen or so calls. The Chat App, soon. Could have sworn Mike said it was approved by the App Store last month. I really expected Brian Underwood to come out of hiding tonight, Rutherford is doing the call from his living room kinda thought he'd like to say hi. Guess not.

Fun fact, Rutherford showed a little of his back office on last Saturday's Hang-Out and half way through a commission cycle Rippln's top money maker had earned almost $37 from sharing apps. This is the same guy who was bragging about his five figure paycheck and he's on pace to make less than $80 off of apps, better than 10 grand from the pyramid portion of the plan but less than $80 from apps. Yep, another Brian Underwood MLM company in full flower.

I'm not a social media expert. I had to look up what facebook's PTAT (people talking about this) number meant. It's the daily average (across a one week period) of the number of people who commented on, liked, shared or otherwise interacted with a facebook page. 415. That's about how many people interact with the official Rippln page of late. In fact it seems the total number of comments is actually dropping as complaints and spam are being deleted faster than legit comments are being made.

felgercarb

11-22-2013, 12:32 PM

It's a ghost town at Rippln's official Facebook page. 6395

felgercarb

11-24-2013, 02:41 AM

6401

The PTAT scores continue to drop lower than I have ever seen them.

felgercarb

11-24-2013, 10:02 AM

6402640364046405

This gentlemen has uncovered more evidence of systematic douchebaggery by Rippln.

felgercarb

11-26-2013, 10:41 AM

Looks like Rippln has been abandoned.

Several people have claimed on FB and elsewhere that they filed FBI/FTC/SEC complaints about unauthorized credit card charges.

It seems like Rippln's fearless leaders saw which way the wind was blowing and decided to call it done.

The punch line of Rippln: Even with all the hype, they never broke 1/3rd of Wazzub's internet footprint, indicating that Wazzub had a lot more people involved.

On a personal note: I don't intend to let any of the people responsible for Rippln escape their past. I will keep them on my radar and make sure they stay honest.

littleroundman

11-26-2013, 11:01 AM

http://imageshack.us/a/img842/5608/6kbg.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img607/4610/giiu.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img547/7562/k1cp.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img837/1951/arfm.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img20/7278/wqxx.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img690/8317/9alm.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img513/5769/jmo0.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img41/6114/ts3k.jpg

ribshaw

11-26-2013, 11:17 AM

On a personal note: I don't intend to let any of the people responsible for Rippln escape their past. I will keep them on my radar and make sure they stay honest.

Don't forget Al Sills. He loves when you drop by and comment on his videos. Everything is all aces when he is pitching the deal, and when it blows up he calls it a venture and plays the victim.

6418

littleroundman

11-26-2013, 11:24 AM

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/6397/xiaa.jpg

laidback

11-26-2013, 02:14 PM

Don't forget Al Shills. He loves when you drop by and comment on his videos. Everything is all aces when he is pitching the deal, and when it blows up he calls it a venture and plays the victim.

6418There! Fixed it for ya!

ribshaw

11-26-2013, 02:52 PM

There! Fixed it for ya!

Thanks, let's see if Al likes his new nickname. Have to screen shoot it, as the other comments have already disappeared. Think he is slowing down though, this is like the third time "James Evans" has made comments without being banned. In the past it Al would get all huffy and then ban you.

And as much as I enjoy acting like I am 12 and spamming his silly videos, would be investors should be asking WHY does Al Shills continue to promote things after they have stopped paying people?? That don't be seeming very honestable way to do bidness..

6422

busttheblock

11-26-2013, 06:53 PM

Looks one of the biggest pimps for this scam, Brian Spatola, has abandoned his MMG thread. No surprise, he has done this crap for years.

GlimDropper

11-27-2013, 02:41 PM

Case Closed: Rippln IS a Pyramid Scheme

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/373704_270450666300470_1575269755_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/MobileMarketingSanAntonio?ref=stream)IZigg Agent-Barbara Pahmeyer (https://www.facebook.com/MobileMarketingSanAntonio?ref=stream) · 330 like this
March 27, 2012 at 11:03am ·

Izigg 2.0 is here and WOW! It is going to blow you away!

Imagine all those apps you share with your friends on your mobile devices - Our new AppCraze program is coming soon --- It will allow you to share in this million dollar business; There are a million apps to share; 26 million apps are downloaded and shared every day. What if you could capitalize on that! Call or Text me or go to www.iziggmedia.com (http://www.iziggmedia.com/) to learn more about our other powerful products.

Sometime about a year ago, perhaps a little less, perhaps a little more iZigg Co-Ceo Brian Underwood decided that the "AppCraze" concept (https://web.archive.org/web/20130509182736/http://app-craze.com) that he'd been teasing the flagging iZigg affiliate base with would better be monetized without a lot of 90210 baggage. Rippln as it came to be known was launched more than a year after AppCraze was first promised to the iZigg faithful, why the bait and switch? I don't know for sure but suspect that a brand new round of affiliate enrollment fees and a completely clean MLM genealogy to build out from were significant factors in that decision.

Rippln kicked off last Spring with an amazing blizzard of bull crap, promising among other things that they would soon be "bigger than email." Proving that they were well versed not only in Pavlovian marketing but recent history of get rich quick schemes they hammered two points repeatedly and right on the button. The first is what is already a shop worn meme about massive internet companies making billions but not sharing that money with all the people who use their services for free and the second is the eternal classic, a pyramid scheme.

They quickly removed their original compensation plan video from their official YouTube page but it still exists (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXvga7zwEvo) and it served it's purpose. A lot of the people who play these less than legal money games took notice and were spamming Rippln to their email lists and very soon Rippln was bragging about how many people were signing up. I believe the original plan was to build a significant user base for the "Rippln App" by paying the affiliates with their own money and eventually they'd have enough "eye balls" that they could leverage for some more or less legitimate marketing. But a funny thing happened before they could start taking in money, someone somewhere pointed out how blatantly illegal their comp plan was and for reasons yet to be explained, Brian Underwood and the rest of his co-founders decided they needed to pretend to care about that.

"Not all multilevel marketing plans are legitimate. If the money you make is based on your sales to the public, it may be a legitimate multilevel marketing plan. If the money you make is based on the number of people you recruit and your sales to them, it’s not. It's a pyramid scheme. Pyramid schemes are illegal, and the vast majority of participants lose money". -FTC.gov on Multilevel Marketing (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0065-multilevel-marketing)

Rippln's original plan was to quite simply pay people to get other people to pay money to join Rippln. That was pretty much it, oh and they also had to get five free "fans" to sign up as well (who could later pay for the opportunity to get paid for finding still more paying players). MLM Attorney Kevin Thompson (http://thompsonburton.com/mlmattorney/about/) was hired to tell Brian Underwood what Brian already knew through his BurnLounge (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/03/burnlounge.shtm) involvement and Rippln scrapped their original comp plan. It's important to note that sometimes when an attorney is hired to advise a business that business does not always follow the advice they paid for to the fullest and when that happens it isn't the attorney's fault. It's also interesting to note just how close to impossible it would be for Rippln to earn any money at all in it's start up phase without operating like a pyramid scheme.

Rippln's core sales pitch is to "reward you for the value of your social graph." Facebook and Twitter are worth billions because tens of millions of people use their services yet they don't actually pay those users for the value they've added to those companies. Rippln seeks to change all of that by becoming a huge social platform with millions and millions of users but unlike those selfish giants they will share the value that gets created with the people who helped them create that value.

Here's where that idea falls apart, how much was Twitter worth back when it had fewer than 10k users? Worse still, how much would Twitter have been worth if it had far less than 10k users and the only reason anyone used it in the first place was that they were being paid to do so? Pretty sure we're talking about a negative number here (the money to pay those members has to come from somewhere). Millions of people use facebook and Twitter each day because they enjoy and find value in them, nobody has any use what so ever for Rippln other than the promise of getting paid. But if what Rippln could keep on paying more and more people to join the company and use their service till they had hundreds of thousands or millions of users, well then they would have enough users that they could make money in a number of ways off of that audience and finally they would have some income to start sharing with their users.

See the problem? Rippln has no way of making any money to pay their affiliates until they have many many many affiliates and there isn't a single reason to join Rippln other than getting paid. With one huge caveat, Rippln isn't promising to pay ALL of it's users it's only promising to pay the affiliates who pay Rippln first. So they do have a pre-monetization revenue source to share with their early affiliates, Rippln is paying their affiliates with their own money. What so ever could be wrong with that? The vast majority of participants end up losing money.

"In pyramid schemes, each participant pays money to the promoter in exchange for the right to recruit new participants. Participants then receive benefits for each individual they recruit or who appears below them. Earnings in a pyramid scheme are derived primarily from recruiting other participants into the program, not from the retail sale of products or service".

Is the above statement true about Rippln? When you consider the role the word "primarily" plays in the final sentence, yes it is. There is ~some~ retail activity involved in the program but they primary economic activity is the sale of memberships and recurring membership fees and none of that should be commissionable to the affiliate force yet it is. The following is taken from this document (https://s3.amazonaws.com/Rippln_Docs/How+to+Earn+Income+with+Rippln.pdf):

6427

And let's let Rippln Co-Founder Michael Rutherford explain this in his own words (at about 7:40 mark in this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG3OGtNso78)):

So what we've created is a residual model very simply off of just Pro Player fees we call the "player engagement bonuses," every single Pro Player that you have in your ripple, A Player is spending $30/month a Pro Player is a Player spending $30/month who has five free fans. We take $13/month and pay it into the plan.

So basically what we're talking about and no guarantees here, people are going to have to work to get paid, this is a little bit of an income disclaimer here you can read it below. It says this does not include any of the other incomes you can earn as products flow through the Rippln eco-system.

What we're talking about here is just that bonus that, almost like a loyalty fan bonus, $13 split between ten levels.

One very simple yet important key when it comes to MLM comp plans, if a customer wouldn't buy it, you can't pay commissions on it. What customer value does a monthly membership in Rippln hold? You can't use it for anything other than making (or vainly trying to make) money in Rippln. Let's face it, Rippln is dying, it's almost impossible to suppose that it will last long enough to get shut down, it's failing becuse of the greed and incompetence of it's founders so all talk of legality is somewhat secondary. The remaining issue has more to do with why pyramid schemes are illegal in the first place, the fact that the overwhelming majority of the people who pay to play will lose the money they invested to a small number of people at the top of the pyramid. Yes, I'm looking at you Mike Rutherford.

I do need to point out that the "official" Rippln comp plan (Link) (http://docs.rippln.com/rippln_rewards_plan_full.pdf) does not include the phrase "player engagement bonus" and clearly states that there are no rewards associated with the $95 and $30/month "player" fees. I will point out that "player engagement bonuses" are mentioned in several videos and on some calls and their existence can also be proved empirically. Rippln's very first pay run took place in the month of September in the week the Photo Guessaroo app was released, no retail product existed in the pay period leading up to the first check yet "loyalty rewards" were paid. Paid on what and with what money? The only money Rippln had taken in at that point was membership fees and all anecdotal reports of payouts conform to members expected returns from "player engagement bonuses."

Further the Rippln comp plan is being overly specific when it claims that there are no rewards paid on fees paid by "players." Yes, when a Rippln affiliate persuades someone to pay $95 and $30/month thereafter (making them a player) no potion of those fees are shared among that new "player's" upline but neither is that player eligible to earn any income. In order to earn any income that "player" needs to recruit five free "fans" but that will not pose a problem because based on some information I have seen I suspect that there is no email confirmation or login requirement to validate "fans" so it may be just as easy as typing in five made up email addresses into a form. But even if I'm wrong about that it would not change the fact that once a paying "player" gets their five "fans" they advance in rank to "Pro Player," are eligible to earn income and a portion of their $30/month membership fee is, as Michael Rutherford explained above, "payed into the plan." So Rippln does not pay any commission on the fees paid by "Players" but they do on fees payed by "Pro Players" and ranks above.

One could rightly question why the "official" comp plan document does not include the information about "player engagement bonuses" and I could speculate that they didn't do so for the very same reason they waited until after they launched their first app to make their initial pay run, they understand the value of pretending that they are not a pyramid scheme. By the time the first payment was made there was no income generated by the app (Photo Guessaroo) and it's very likely that no significant income has ever been generated by that app.

Also not included in the official comp plan document is fees relating to the CRApp Share Catalog. With the massive expense of updating PDF documents perhaps we can't blame them for not keeping their information current. But in mid October Rippln hit on a great way to milk even more money out of their deal. If you failed to become a dues paying member prior to the launch of the App share program you would need to spend an additional $199 to be able to get paid for sharing free apps. Two points on this:

First this was a way for them to slow the already growing exodus of paying members and even to rope in new people. All of Rippln's calls and videos extorted the members to go out and recruit, recruit, recruit, App Share was coming. Most offensively much effort was directed to recruiting people outside the US and a matter of a very few hours before App Share officially launched, a link to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Me4PCdCFI) was made public. In the opening moments of the video Jonathan Budd tells us that it was recorded on October 17th but only released on the 31st. Near the end Rippln announced for the very first time that they have "since day one" warned people that until they had 5,000 paying members in their country, Rippln would make no effort what so ever to provide them with products or support. Again, for the very first time Rippln announced that from day one they had been warning people. All the foreign affiliates who had been bilked into paying their money during the October recruiting orgy learned that they had been screwed.

Second. In this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T_h6PY8QNs) Micheal Rutherford announced an new aspect of the Rippln comp plan regarding the App Share catalog. The $199 fee which has no value other than to a paying Rippln member is commissionable. From the 4:40 mark:

As people start growing their ripples around the world not only are they going to be paid off of the individual downloads of the people they get to download an app for free. Free apps, real money. They're going to get an override of all the different app downloads of everyone in their ripple. But the biggest way they're going to be able to generate revenue is off the App Share catalog it self. So as people are coming in and buying the App Share Catalog, we're sending $100 out of the $199 immediately through the coaching rewards plan.

Again, if you had no interest in making money off of it, why would you buy the App Share catalog? It has zero value to a customer, none. It's only use is to open up a product category to Rippln affiliates. In short, it's illegal to pay a commission off of it. In commentary on a company called BigSmart 2000 the noted MLM law firm of Grimes and Reese explain this point (http://www.mlmlaw.com/saleswatch/saleswatch10327.html):

"Legitimate MLMs never pay a commission on the sale of catalogs, marketing literature, starter kits, and other sales aids. Only retailable products and services are properly commissionable. Bigsmart however, generated most of its commissions from the sale of malls, which are nothing more than electronic catalogs published on the web. They are certainly not retailable products since the only persons who would have any interest in purchasing a mall are those who wished to participate in the Bigsmart compensation plan. Other than the value the online mall presented by virtue of the attached income opportunity, the malls were otherwise devoid of intrinsic consumer value".

Needless to say the FTC closed BigSmart down.

Rippln is a dying company and while turkeys everywhere will wonder why Rippln isn't trussed up on a table with them this Thanksgiving it's important to do some math. Very few people are making money in this scam but almost all of them know Brian Underwood personaly. It costs very little to keep this company going and the inner circle is still getting paid. They could try to milk this for a while yet. But understand that 95+% of the money flowing to the top of this company is affiliate fees and not derived from any retail related activity. Funny note on this point, this is the November 16th Rippln Google Hangout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pauawDINpn4), at about the 20 minute mark Mike Rutherford shares a screenshot of his back office. Half way through a commission cycle he had earned less than $36 from sharing apps. This is the same guy who was bragging about his "five figure" Rippln pay check (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu1J0TsvNfI).

The only thing here that really pisses me off here is how few of the people who praise the virtues of Legitimate Multilevel Marketing care when affiliates are getting screwed by a company like Rippln. Brian Underwood is a hell of a nice guy, it would be rude to point out that he's a lying scumbag.

felgercarb

11-29-2013, 06:13 AM

Case Closed: Rippln IS a Pyramid Scheme

Rippln is a dying company and while turkeys everywhere will wonder why Rippln isn't trussed up on a table with them this Thanksgiving it's important to do some math. Very few people are making money in this scam but almost all of them know Brian Underwood personaly. It costs very little to keep this company going and the inner circle is still getting paid. They could try to milk this for a while yet. But understand that 95+% of the money flowing to the top of this company is affiliate fees and not derived from any retail related activity. Funny note on this point, this is the November 16th Rippln Google Hangout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pauawDINpn4), at about the 20 minute mark Mike Rutherford shares a screenshot of his back office. Half way through a commission cycle he had earned less than $36 from sharing apps. This is the same guy who was bragging about his "five figure" Rippln pay check (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu1J0TsvNfI).

The only thing here that really pisses me off here is how few of the people who praise the virtues of Legitimate Multilevel Marketing care when affiliates are getting screwed by a company like Rippln. Brian Underwood is a hell of a nice guy, it would be rude to point out that he's a lying scumbag.

The officers of the company have been completely silent for several days, even missing scheduled calls and hangouts. They have a good reason to stay far away: there are people filing complaints with law enforcement about the recent unauthorized credit card charges several people on FB have mentioned.

Even people as scummy as Rippln's founders are smart enough to make a risk/reward evaluation. While it may be profitable to keep the charade going, they are not even bothering with that, which leads me to believe that the complaints have them afraid of law enforcement, or at least the credit card companies.

GlimDropper

11-29-2013, 11:49 AM

It's been about a month since Brian Underwood or Jonathan Budd have made a public appearance, Michael Rutherford joined them about a week ago. No one stepped in to run the last three scheduled calls and we'll see tomorrow if that streak reaches four. The official facebook page hasn't has an update in over a week and more surprising, the negative comments aren't currently being deleted.

This is a danger point for a pyramid scheme, the game is almost over but the payment processors are still in place. Rippln is still taking in money but the new members have about a zero chance of breaking even. The only significant way to make any money is to recruit 20+ paying players in your first "ripple" and the only way for those 20 people to make money for them to go out and get 20 more each (and so on). The numbers here are staggeringly bad for the people at the bottom and that's finally being felt by the fat cats at the top. They were far too greedy with the legal aspects of the comp plan stacking the deck so that too much of the money went to too few players. Of course they knew they would be in the only position to take advantage of all of this, at the peak of the pyramid.

I don't honestly believe that this is how Brian Underwood wanted it all to work out but this is almost a text book example of how to run a modern pyramid scam. He had a bright line of chatter to make it look like this had the potential to be a legitimate MLM company and because they had an inspirational story in an aspirational industry, Brian's friends will view this as something like a noble if failed effort instead of a naked money grab. But in the end, which is coming soon, it will work out the same. Rippln took in well over a million dollars (conservatively), almost all of that going to either the company or a very small circle of Co-Founders and cohorts. Upwards of half of that money (if not more) coming from people outside of the United States posing a barrier for legal recourse and now all Brian needs to do is close this scam down before any regulators shut it for him and he and his friends will get to keep the money.

The most nauseating thing here isn't just that he could easily get away with it, it's that the MLM community will let him do it again. Six months, a year from now Brian could launch another hair brained scheme with lots of glitz and lots of buzz and no one will be there to stop him. I keep seeing the people who pass for the honest faces of this industry speaking of integrity, of ethics. They make fine speeches about needing to regulate this industry before it gets regulated for them and perhaps most galling, they pretend to hold the best interests of the individual affiliates close at heart. But when one of their friends, someone like Brian Underwood, bilk millions from thousands of those "reps in the field" they stand there in silence.

felgercarb

12-01-2013, 11:07 AM

Nauseating is the word, Glim.

How's this for nauseating? Someone deleted a good number of the incriminating posts from the official FB page. (Archived in this thread, fortunately)

So, the bastards can disappear, leaving their affiliates high and dry, but if there's something on the FB page that might make things easier for law enforcement, they show up ready for censorship.

felgercarb

12-06-2013, 06:15 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5apUqKkIH0A

Troy Dooly once again gives his clients/pals a nice friendly handjob with a happy ending. We're supposed to believe it has nothing to do with the check he's being cut.

You see, we were overreacting! The disappearance of Rippln HQ was just... the holiday! Nevermind that Thanksgiving isn't an international holiday, and no warning of the disappearance was communicated officially to assuage the concerns of the already-agitated international affiliates.

In spite of what Troy says, there were missed Hangouts and calls, 4 of them.

No mention is made of the Facebook censorship of credit card fraud allegations and negative complaints, the tanking social media numbers, or the former affiliates now in contact with law enforcement. And, if you believe Troy, Candy Crush is in App Share now.

No mention is made of App Share payouts not happening.

Again, he repeats the statement that "none of the investors are making any money", but we're just supposed to take his word for it.

And, he implies that Rippln cannot be a pyramid scheme because the monthly player payments are only $36.

Troy may find himself collateral damage when law enforcement concludes their investigation. I hope whatever he was paid is worth it.

felgercarb

12-06-2013, 06:48 AM

Oops, missed another lie: Troy says 1.4 million people were grandfathered in, and nobody paid $199 for App Share.

felgercarb

12-07-2013, 03:29 PM

Rippln's 6 month late chat app released for Android and iOS. Is it everything it was claimed to be?https://plus.google.com/109752959453719926997/posts/h7AcDfTP3q9

baylee

12-07-2013, 09:21 PM

Whip

12-07-2013, 09:30 PM

I don't believe he learned anything from Zeek! He was paid from zeek and was boosting zeek and now he is paid from rippln and boosting it.

remember he's had the same problem long before zeek. he's a lying scumbag scammer.

felgercarb

12-07-2013, 10:16 PM

He claims he is not paid by Rippln but rather by one of the founders/investors. He will not say which one, even when pressed.

"I just saw this question. Why does it matter who hired me, as long as you and the rest of the world know I have been hired? Will it change your position about RippLn?"

Other comments tend to point to Terry LaCore as his client. https://plus.google.com/109752959453719926997/posts/bM3MFMAMLty

"Interesting comment. Everyone talks about money, like RippLn is a client. My client has investments in several different network marketing companies. When I say anything about RippLn, it's out of friendship with some of the founders and many of those who are reps in the field with RippLn. "

I am not familiar enough with the laws to know if the kind of underhanded promotion by way of obfuscation and misinformation Troy engages in is illegal in itself, but it really is scummy and he should be ashamed of himself.

However, if there's one thing I know about human beings it's that rationalization and getting paid often go hand in hand. He sees himself as an advocate.

Whip

12-07-2013, 11:59 PM

When I say anything about RippLn, it's out of friendship with some of the founders and many of those who are reps in the field with RippLn.

Really? Well, how did that work out for you last time?

This is a great question, and I actually address this in a video I just did on XLER8.

Twice in 2009 I did not follow my own benchmarks, and guidelines due to personal relationships. Once was with Global Verge, the other was XLER8.

In both cases instead fo sticking with facts, I allowed my personal relationships with friends in those companies determine how we reported.

With Global Verge, I revered the category and gave them a chance to change, based on friends asking for me to let up.

I take full responsibility for this action, and within two weeks realized the corporate leadership had not changed, and came to the conclusion that those I called friends, may very well be involved in the overall culture that has been created.

When XLER8 left the MLM arena this week and left 6400 reps scrambling, I realized I had once again allowed friendships to interfere with the facts.

The quarterly report published in November was very clear, if the field did not increase sales of the product, instead of just recruiting new people to fill the void of those leaving, the company would have to focus on different marketing channels.

I read it, and did not report. I was a true wake up call for me to realize, friendships are great, but facts must be delivered even if it means friendships may be stretched.

No excuses the buck stops with me. I should never have reversed my stance, and since that time we have continued to focus and gather information on Global Verge.

I understand in most cases the Scam family and the MLMHelpDesk family do not see MLM in the same light. However, there are some good companies.

I want to thank you here at Scam for allowing me to post from time to time, and for accepting me as a guest to this community.

Hope this clears things up.

And... I promise I will not listen to my upline :)

Living An Epic Adventure,

Troy
__________________
Never Give Up,

Troy Dooly
MLMHelpDesk.com

Never gets old. LMAO

felgercarb

12-09-2013, 07:46 PM

Mr. Dooly has lost his mind if he thinks this is not FUD with the very specific purpose of trying to scare people from filing complaints about the Rippln Chat app on the app stores.

From https://plus.google.com/u/0/+TroyDoolyBeachsideCEO/posts/SWVsroVJcmF

"@John... The app world is changing faster than email, and that is because of demographics. Now, I will not say just apps, but when you review the statistics, you do see that more and more people and companies are shifting their marketing budgets to mobile over email.

We saw the same thing happen in 2000-2001 with a huge shift from direct mail to email marketing.

What are you reporting to Apple? I think I have missed something.

By the way, make sure if you really are contacting Apple that you are very specific. They are tightening up on people who just make complaints. I would not want to see your accounts hit for anything. "

Edit: Oh yeah, and asking me to write for his son's site is pretty "WHAAAAAT?" too.

JustTooMuchTime

12-09-2013, 09:29 PM

felgercarb

12-22-2013, 10:38 AM

Rippln is still chugging along, in spite of going from 15K PTAT on the official facebook site to under 200 over the last few months. They are recruiting, recruiting recruiting, but AFAIK nobody has a payout for App Share, and there is evidence that App Share is not exactly working as it should be.

6634

Mr. Dooly's efforts to head off any objections or serious questions notwithstanding, is there anyone who thinks Rippln isn't a pyramid scheme at this point?

GlimDropper

12-29-2013, 12:51 PM

All's Quite on the Rippln Front

I've been waiting for some sign of life from this company before doing an update. More missed call dates, no updates from corporate, in fact the only proof we have that these folks haven't blown town is that someone keeps editing less than favorable comments from the official facebook page. Well last night I did find something, I don't think it's the reason they stuffed a sock in their collective lie holes but it might prove an effective excuse for doing so.

A Tale of Two Ripples

Long before Rippln started hyping their flawed and failing vision of "commerce through the ripple" another company, a far more credible one, staked a claim to a certain intellectual property. Ripple Labs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripple_%28payment_protocol%29) is an interesting company, the type of small high tech firm that attracts favorable media coverage and capitol investments (http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/the-rush-to-coin-virtual-money-with-real-value/?_r=0). That alone should be enough to separate it in anyone's minds from a failing fraud like Rippln but I say that from the perspective of someone who is informed enough about Rippln to understand that they are not a technology company and to the extent that they have pretended to be one has been a huge and public embarrassment. However I don't have any sort of "skin" in this game. Rippln's assorted frauds and failures cost me nothing, the same may not true of Ripple Labs. Last Friday (the 27th) Ripple Labs filed a trademark infringement suit against Rippln in federal court, Northern District of California.

The complaint can be read here:
6698

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This is an action seeking injunctive relief and damages arising from the Defendants’
violation of the Lanham Act, the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (“ACPA”),
California’s unfair competition statute (California’s Business and Professions Code section 17200),
and common law unfair competition.

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
Plaintiff Ripple Labs and the RIPPLE Trademark

11. For many years, Ripple Labs has developed, maintained, and operated a hugely
successful currency exchange service that provides on-line, real-time currency trading and cash
management.

12. Specifically, Ripple Labs facilitates the transfers of electronic cash equivalents and
provides virtual currency exchange transaction services for transferrable electronic cash equivalent
units having a specified cash value.

13. Ripple Labs is the exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in U.S. Trademark
No. 4,453,543 for the word mark “RIPPLE” for “Financial services, namely, providing secure
payment options to members of an online community via a global computer network through the use
of traditional currency and virtual currency” in international class 036, and U.S. Trademark No.
4,453,376 for the word mark “RIPPLE COMMUICATIONS” for “Financial services and financial
transaction services, namely, providing secure commercial transactions and payment options” in
international class 036, as well as any and all common law rights and goodwill associated therewith
(collectively referred to herein as, the “RIPPLE Trademark”).

Defendants and Their Wrongful Conduct

19. Long after Ripple Labs and its predecessors established rights and goodwill in
connection with the RIPPLE Trademark, Defendants commenced adopted the confusingly similar
mark RIPPLN for its services.

20. The Defendants—using both the nearly-identical mark RIPPLN and identical mark
RIPPLE (“the Infringing Marks”)—provide network marketing services, whereby Defendants
compensate users monetarily and through value equivalents in the form of Defendants’ own
currency in connection with Defendants’ social networking platform. Additionally, Defendants
provide advertisement opportunities to third parties, and offer a payment system for sharing
applications under the Infringing Marks.

24. The Infringing RIPPLN Websites describe the following services offered by the
Defendants under the Infringing Marks: “bring[ing] long-over due transparency to the social
engagement business and has created a new monetary model for ‘eyeball acquisition.’”

31. Defendants and their Infringing Marks have also been associated with substantial
negative press. Several websites and blogs have characterized the Defendants’ application as a
“scam” and a “scheme.”

Say it ain't so. Oh, wait.,...;)

32. As a result, Defendants are harming consumers and irreparably damaging the
goodwill associated with Ripple Labs and Ripple Labs’ RIPPLE Trademark.
33. By using the Infringing Marks to promote their untrustworthy services, Defendants
are irreparably damaging the goodwill associated with the RIPPLE Trademark.

I gotta say, they do have a point. The complaint makes further note that Ripple Labs filed a timely objection with the USPTO seeking to block Rippln's effort to secure trade or wordmarks for the word "Rippln" and that process is ongoing so Rippln has known there was a dispute here since May 24th of this year and have chosen to proceed with their name and metaphor anyway. A simple Googling of "Rippln" and "Ripple Labs" turns up many results of people confusing the two companies or assuming they are one and the same. Needless to say any such confusion damages Ripple Labs' reputation and that's what this suit alleges. I think they have a strong argument here.

A preliminary injunction is being sought, which would prevent Rippln from at a minimum using the words "ripple" and "rippln" in any ongoing marketing. Is this why Rippln has been so silent of late? I don't really think so. They've known about the trademark dispute since May and this suit was filed two days ago. But this may be why they will continue being silent for the foreseeable future, depending on how this case progresses. I'll be the first to admit I believe the courts should shut Rippln down but I wanted their compensation plan to be the issue examined at trial, if that were to happen I have no doubt fraud would be found. But if they are prevented from further robbing the public for reasons other than that, it's still a net positive.

Joe_Shmoe

12-29-2013, 05:44 PM

I wouldn't be at all surprised if WhatsApp Inc came after them next.

6699

Fat City, LA

01-01-2014, 04:44 PM

littleroundman

01-04-2014, 07:47 PM

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b508/cabanefeline/Scams/rippln_zpsb2903f61.jpg

Justia.com

(http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/4:2013cv05974/273189)Unlike Rippln, Ripple Labs is a real company, with real products and is based in San Francisco

GlimDropper

01-04-2014, 08:06 PM

From the fb page: guess ya gotta have faith?

"R Melvin McKenzie
A Fan in my ripple shared with me the newly redesigned page in the COMMERCE tab. WOW! It is eye-catching and so cool. I don't know about anyone else but me and the hundreds of Fans & Players in my ripple are totally satisfied with Rippln, how they're doing things, and the direction they're headed in. I'm in this for the LONG-HAUL.

Some might think that Brian, Jonathan and the other leaders are sittin' on their duffs kickin' back and enjoying our money, but as a business owner myself I can say that what they're doing is using that money to help with further research & development, negotiating with myriad merchants in order that we can go to various stores like Best Buy, etc., to make a purchase and have some of the credit go to our Rippln account and much more.

Those who are not involved in high-level business negotiations cannot fully comprehend the incredibly stressful business negotiations the founders are constantly engaged in. I understand it because as a former Army sergeant, I worked in Command levels (similar to Corporate levels) and sat in on meetings with high-level officers and was instrumental in decision-making and the hammering out of policy & procedures. The only way someone can appreciate it is to be there. So, I'd like to take my hat off to the Rippln founders to say we will cheer you on and support you all the way. Thanks for providing a way for us to supplement our personal accounts and businesses with perpetual cash flow from the products you have supplied and will supply. GO RIPPLN!"

R Melvin's comment had some amusing follow ups (which no doubt will be deleted):

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s32x32/565092_100000728326620_413104435_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37)
Angel Gordon (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37) When I click on my commerce tab there is no change to my page Another change just for American ripplers?? :((
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=640445682686908) · January 2 at 2:15pm
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s32x32/1116791_100001644474690_94352432_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/Coach.HPPB)
R Melvin McKenzie (https://www.facebook.com/Coach.HPPB) It could be just signal interference within the Internet lines. I contacted about 15 people and two of them reported no change also, but the rest said it's fine. So, just check it every now and then. If it remains like that over a day or two, then contact Rippln Support.
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · January 2 at 7:35pm

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s24x24/565092_100000728326620_413104435_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37)
Angel Gordon (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37) Signal interference from the star ship Enterprise perhaps?? Hahaha
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=640673595997450) · Yesterday at 1:50am
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s24x24/565092_100000728326620_413104435_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37)
Angel Gordon (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37) Best excuse yet Melvin
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=640673765997433) · Yesterday at 1:50am
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s24x24/1116791_100001644474690_94352432_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/Coach.HPPB)
R Melvin McKenzie (https://www.facebook.com/Coach.HPPB) Angel, instead of being sarcastic, why not give an inference instead of resorting to nebulous phrases. I'm asking this in a humble way. Also, have you tried contacting Support?
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · Yesterday at 8:51am
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s24x24/565092_100000728326620_413104435_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37)
Angel Gordon (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37) Instead of nonsense, let's have some communication from the leadership! The rippln ship seems a bit rudderless at the moment
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=640926889305454) · Yesterday at 1:47pm
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s24x24/274259_100002054453050_2102395395_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/alex.walker.12177)
Alex Walker (https://www.facebook.com/alex.walker.12177) Angel, Internet Signal Interference (ISI) by the USS Enterprise doesn't make sense to me ..I think it would be more likely due to Klingon activity or solar flares

Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=640932185971591) · Yesterday at 2:00pm
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s24x24/1116791_100001644474690_94352432_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/Coach.HPPB)
R Melvin McKenzie (https://www.facebook.com/Coach.HPPB) Again, have you communicated with them?
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · Yesterday at 5:19pm
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s24x24/565092_100000728326620_413104435_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37)
Angel Gordon (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37) Ah I forgot about the naughty Klingons hahaha
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 16 hours ago
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/s24x24/565092_100000728326620_413104435_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37)
Angel Gordon (https://www.facebook.com/angel.gordon.37) contacted who R Melvin McKenzie? The Klingons or Rippln support? I think I will try both. I wonder who will answer first haha
Like (https://www.facebook.com/Rippln#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=641170702614406) · 16 hours ago

Internet Signal Interference (ISI) aside from a free member's view of the commerce tab there isn't a new video but the one that is there roughly corresponds to Melvin's description about as accurately as anything else he's said on that page. Qapla' Rippln.

OK, not even sure why I bothered sourcing but I'm calling BS on this, from the latest App Share Catalog:

6747

Am I reading this right? Rippln is claiming to be able to pay people for sharing Android Apps in Iran? Iran? No Apps in South America but Brian Underwood stuck up a deal with Seyed Ali Khamenei? OK, there is some thin possibility here: [Link to TechCrunch] (http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/26/android-developers-can-now-use-googles-play-store-to-distribute-their-free-apps-in-iran/)

Google today announced (https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AndroidDevelopers/posts/YCHtLJMXkYo) that Android developers can now make their free apps available in Iran (https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/138294), one of the few countries (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play#Availability) where app downloads through Google’s store were completely unavailable until now. Paid apps and apps that use in-app billing, Google notes, will still remain unavailable in Iran for the time being.

For developers, this move opens up an interesting new market, though given Iran’s tendency to shut down access to Google’s services, it remains to be seen how long these apps will remain available. Google and Iran, after all, have a pretty tumultuous relationship. Just this June, Google announced that it had uncovered an Iranian spy campaign (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/google-says-it-has-uncovered-iranian-spy-campaign/) that, ahead of Iran’s last election, targeted Iranian citizens through phishing emails.

No in app purchases means no one, especially AppLift, will pay Rippln for downloads in Iran. But Rippln has yet to find anything they couldn't lie about, why should this be any different?

NikSam

01-04-2014, 08:12 PM

Unlike Rippln, Ripple Labs is a real company, with real products and is based in San Francisco

but total idiots, they cannot possible win that as there is no infringement. on the other hand "RIPPLN" is a (tm) by Lacore since April
USPTO TTABVUE. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Inquiry System (http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qs=85758099)

and Ripple Labs does not look like have any (tm) and on top is not even remotely close to what they do or to the name.

Those idiots "Ripple Labs (originally called OpenCoin)" also suing RIPPLD LLC and someone who produces some "Ripple Cards"
their legal name Is OpenCoin Inc. not Ripple Labs , they cannot even get their own name right. and their claim that "RIPPLN" infringes on "RIPPLE" and "RIPPLE COMMINICATIONS" (tm)s which they just got - Dec 24 :)

NikSam

01-04-2014, 08:41 PM

Ripple labs / Opencoin - an anonymous payment processor – also has its fan base from people like us :)

Exposing the Ripple Scam | OpenCoin Inc's Cash In on Bitcoin's Popularity (http://ripplescam.org/)

kschang

01-04-2014, 10:12 PM

If OpenCoin / Ripple Lab claimed that they had been using that term since 2004 -ish then they can.

Trademark Status & Document Retrieval (http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85774758&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch)

The SM Rippln was applied in Oct 2012 and "published" (for reviews? Not too familiar with TM process) and OpenCoin / Ripple labs immediately filed a dispute.

kschang

01-04-2014, 10:45 PM

They are viewing it from the viewpoint of Cryptocurrency enthusiast though.

They basically claim that Ripple's "tokens", while interesting, doesn't have the same "chic" of Bitcoin and they rather believe in the few God-knows-who-runs-it exchanges around the world than the distributed gateways Ripple operates with, and since they all eventually go back to Opencoin, it's not as "open" as OpenCoin would like you to believe.

I'm not an economist, but basically what OpenCoin did is they created these "Ripples" (XRP) as a super-currency, but only for exchange purposes. It's a lot like dollars, or Euros are used in the world... as sort of a global exchange unit. Ripple wants to be the online equivalent.

I wouldn't call Ripple a scam just because a few Bitcoin enthusiasts say so, but I don't see why this one would succeed / replace Bitcoin either.

But it is SURELY more legitimate than Rippln. :D

NikSam

01-04-2014, 11:09 PM

about trademarks there is no infringement

Rippln is not Ripple;
They do not clash in same type of products of services and would not cause confusions between 2;
Rippln was registered before Ripple;
Rippln registration was not an attempt to pretend to be Ripple;

and Opencoin idiots more likely will get their ass kicked out of court because they suing everybody out there who has 5 letters "RIPPL"
in trademarks and they themselves have no legal claim for that 5 letter combination and such.

JustTooMuchTime

01-04-2014, 11:24 PM

From the fb page: guess ya gotta have faith?

"R Melvin McKenzie

Some might think that Brian, Jonathan and the other leaders are sittin' on their duffs kickin' back and enjoying our money, but as a business owner myself I can say that what they're doing is using that money to help with further research & development, negotiating with myriad merchants in order that we can go to various stores like Best Buy, etc., to make a purchase and have some of the credit go to our Rippln account and much more.

Those who are not involved in high-level business negotiations cannot fully comprehend the incredibly stressful business negotiations the founders are constantly engaged in. I understand it because as a former Army sergeant, I worked in Command levels (similar to Corporate levels) and sat in on meetings with high-level officers and was instrumental in decision-making and the hammering out of policy & procedures. The only way someone can appreciate it is to be there. So, I'd like to take my hat off to the Rippln founders to say we will cheer you on and support you all the way. Thanks for providing a way for us to supplement our personal accounts and businesses with perpetual cash flow from the products you have supplied and will supply. GO RIPPLN!"

The ol' "You can't know (what it's like)!" gimmick.

NikSam

01-04-2014, 11:51 PM

All other companies keep requesting extensions to oppose, except LaCore, who said NO, therefore has to be settled in court.

6748

Here is the dumb opposition OpenCoin filed: http://tsdr.uspto.gov/caseviewer/pdf?caseId=85758124&docIndex=5#docIndex=5

OpenCoin, Inc. (“OpenCoin” or “Opposer”), a company organized under the laws of
California with a principal place of business in San Francisco, California, will be damaged by
registration on the Principal Register of the mark RIPPLN, shown in Application Serial No.
85/758,124, filed by LaCore Enterprises, LLC (“LaCore” or “Applicant”),

...

Application sets forth a date of first use
of at least as early as July 31, 1998.
...

13. The appearance and sound between the parties’ RIPPLE Marks and the RIPPLN
applications create a likelihood of confusion among the consuming public. The Applicant’s use
of the RIPPLN applications in services identical or closely associated with Opposer’s services
creates an even higher likelihood of confusion among the consuming public.

14. In fact, Applicant has recently begun using the RIPPLN mark in commerce, and
there have already been instances of actual confusion with Opposer’s RIPPLE Marks.

They claim they used Ripple when they were in kindergarden :)

NikSam

01-05-2014, 01:08 AM

Would be nice if discovery happens both ways during a trial.
1. RippLN would be noticed as scam/pyramid
2. Ripple Labs/Opencoin - an anonymous unregistered payment processor - would be found violating California laws and FinCEN regulations for not being registered as MSB and violating AML laws.

Fat City, LA

01-05-2014, 07:21 PM

felgercarb

01-06-2014, 10:00 AM

Those of you who choose to stay in Rippln and are FORWARD thinkers, remember that prominent people like Raymond Aaron, New York Times Bestselling Author, and one of the world's top success coaches is a Rippln Player, as well as other famous actors, doctors, teachers, and hi-level CEOs of certain businesses that you buy from.

Isn't Raymond Aaron the guy who partnered with JT Foxx? Yeah, so he's someone only an MLM junkie would think was credible.

JustTooMuchTime

01-06-2014, 10:15 AM

ribshaw

01-06-2014, 11:51 AM

Regarding all the whiners that have been as impatient as a 2-yr-old baby, and posting all their negative and denigrating comments here, well, even if Rippln came out with an app that could transport us into the future at the speed of light,

That would be so swwwwwwwwwwweeettt. SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE, no one in Rippln has been paid, and we have all saved two years of HAPPY TALK being some sort of a valid business strategy. Alan Sills makes video 9349 telling people "it was a venture", but I have a still believe in Chris Smith being a man of his word.

Joe_Shmoe

01-06-2014, 12:17 PM

Wait a minute - wouldn't this lawsuit be the perfect excuse to change the name of Rippln and get a whole new string of suckers into the same deal under a different name? Their missing a golden opportunity!

I'm thinking it could give them an excuse to shut Rippln down altogether (through no fault of their own :RpS_wink: ) they can walk away from the whole Rippln mess with the money they have scammed so far.

They can then wait a little time, then come back with another scam.

Underwood & gang could then say "Hey guys we're as clean as a whistle, there was nothing wrong with Rippln it was just a name thing that got Rippln shut down.
Have you seen our new opportunity? It's gonna go ultra-mega viral. This time next year you could be a gazillionaire" :RpS_smile:

Fat City, LA

01-06-2014, 03:27 PM

He is at in again. Love the capitalized words.
Is he saying this 'tongue in cheek'? Try to force something to happen by Rippoffland Admin?
I added Bernie Madoff comment

R Melvin McKenzie
"It's great to see leaders like Jonathan and his lovely wife vacationing together during the holidays.

If everybody minded their own rippls and continue growing it into a truly worldwide organization, you'll be able to take long vacations like this too. Kudos to Jonathan.

Anyway, all the holiday hoopla is over now and everybody's back to work tomorrow. I have complete confidence we'll definitely hear from the leaders about the new events, products, apps, etc., coming down the pipeline.

Those of you who choose to stay in Rippln and are FORWARD thinkers, remember that prominent people like Raymond Aaron, New York Times Bestselling Author, and one of the world's top success coaches is a Rippln Player, as well as other famous actors, doctors, teachers, and hi-level CEOs of certain businesses that you buy from. There is no way on this earth that Rippln could scam them. So, trust that this is a truly unique business that will help you to earn substantial passive cash flow as the months and years flow by. (SEE BERNIE MADOFF)

Regarding all the whiners that have been as impatient as a 2-yr-old baby, and posting all their negative and denigrating comments here, well, even if Rippln came out with an app that could transport us into the future at the speed of light, the whiners would complain that even that's not fast enough.

The best thing to do is not even entertain those who are Griping, Whining, Grumbling, Beefing, Belly-Aching, & Moaning because when there is a problem, all they do is complain about it and inevitably become A PART of the problem."

good response:
"Angel Gordon Yeah it is great to see! I just want to see some action...some communication for the leadership in Rippln. Being positive is great but we need the company to deliver on what it proclaimed it was going to do! Photo guessero launch for android... Another 5 or 6 apps were promised.. Rippln open ID (where iPhone accessories etc would be sold through the Ripple)....A world class/revolutionary communication app was promised ( we got 'Rippln chat' app instead...full of bugs! )....no physical goods in the Rippln expect a watch for sale in the USA only...An app catalogue which has potential if you are in the USA ( which is the only product that Rippln is really promoting at the moment ).... No company hangouts...no blog updates.. Just rumours that senior people have left... It is great to be optimistic but sometimes it is not enough. I am still hanging in here but we just need some communication and knowledge of the company's future plans! That is the most important fact that we desperately need not hearing about so called amazing people and companies that can't be scammed. So what?? Everyone can be scammed... Just ask these guys on this list: http://en.wikipedia.org/.../List_of_investors_in_Bernard... Have a great day
Like · Reply · 2 · about an hour ago · Edited"

Fat City, LA

01-06-2014, 03:30 PM

https://www.facebook.com/Rippln/posts/571617792918944

Comments here before erased-Ripplers are irate.

Yaron Rechtschaffer Good luck to every one.
Unfortunately, this is how this industry works. Learn and see how you can do better next time.
Move on and better luck next time.
Like · Reply · about an hour ago via mobile

Renato Puccinelli **** !!!!! I created dollars and have not given me a penny, always pending .... after paying the membership and all fees from the first month (July) I was not given a **** ... GOODBYE
Like · Reply · about an hour ago
Hide 14 Replies

Angel Gordon How did you 'create' dollars?
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli google translator has translated so '
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli I worked and I have no money outstanding
Like · about an hour ago

Angel Gordon Did you use app share?
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli yes, now no more '' cause I'm almost 2 months that I have no money outstanding on the lead, and I have $ 15.50 on gpg that I can not cash
Like · about an hour ago

Andrea Allen Vlaanderen Renato a new pay period has started. We are getting paid on the 15th for the previous app share proceeds. It will show no money outstanding if you haven't had any app shares this month. ??
Like · 1 · about an hour ago

Angel Gordon Yes I was going to say wait till the 15th. I think you get money then
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli I was not given a penny of all that outstanding, I broke the balls
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli I waited too much and they have earned too much from me, now I just have them on behalf of lost and hello to all
Like · about an hour ago

Angel Gordon Keep faith until 15th of Jan. $15.50 is a nice sum of money
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli ahahhahaha .... I do not have to cash out $ 15.50, I have to collect about $ 60 and I paid from July to November 2 for my account and my wife, trying to make 2 accounts with the calculator, and then when I do not pay cash. ... I just closed ... good job to all
Like · about an hour ago

Angel Gordon I see... Well good luck
Like · about an hour ago

Renato Puccinelli grazie.... tanta tanta anche a te .... bye
See Translation
Like · about an hour ago

Angel Gordon Be happy
Like · 1 · about an hour ago

Jg Andres Diaz Soto **** ripplin too.i support to claus.
Like · Reply · 2 hours ago via mobile

Bruno Emanuel If you just like me are disappointed with #Rippln but trust in the vision of the company in the near future, just step aside for a while and use something that makes you real money NOW!

I found this very helpfull to make instant money to support me:...See More

Instant Payments to your paypal, payza, stp!
Instant Payments to your paypal, payza, stp! (http://www.feedermatrix.com)
Feeder
Like · Reply · 1 · about an hour ago

Claus Svensson **** rippln
Like · Reply · 3 hours ago via mobile

Joe_Shmoe

01-06-2014, 03:30 PM

For a company that supposedly has over 1,000,000 affiliates only 85 people on facebook are talking about Rippln.

6773

https://www.facebook.com/Rippln

kschang

01-09-2014, 12:33 AM

That's because they got banned on Facebook for link spamming back in November or December when they went for a "referral blitz"

NikSam

01-09-2014, 01:53 AM

...

I wouldn't call Ripple a scam just because a few Bitcoin enthusiasts say so, but I don't see why this one would succeed / replace Bitcoin either.

But it is SURELY more legitimate than Rippln. :D

Scam or Not, definitely problem with law , lets look in similarities with liberty reserve.

Anybody can create a ripple account without even name asked;
Anybody can transmit internal units to another account as matter of payment;
Anyone can convert real money into Ripple internal currency and back (using 3rd parties and some strangely affiliated with Ripple) ;
Ripple can create / emit any number of their units into existence without any limit or oversight;
Ripple is directly controlled by insiders;
Ripple transactions are non reversible;
International transactions and suspicious activities are not reported;

The anonymous use is directly enforced

now according to FinCEN documents not only exchangers are required to have a MSB registration but virtual currency administrators too,
emitter of a currency is de-facto administrator and they also in charge of all transactions.

it is way different than bit coins which technically does not have an administrator. As you can see all those things about their protocol is just a BS to ride along on bitcoin hype but in fact is nothing more than just another centralized payment processor. Open sourcing of all their tools might open a bigger problem , making any idiot try to run own processor.

The only thing Ripple does not have is alleged $6b laundered through it :) but they will get there if they get popular.

littleroundman

01-09-2014, 08:29 PM

Is this Jonathan Budd walking away from Rippln ??

YOU decide

http://imageshack.com/a/img208/1612/5q3i.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ft2h42ZZzHU

Whip

01-09-2014, 09:18 PM

he thinks he's a leader. lmao.
I notice it's shot from the waist up so you don't see his skirt.
Looks like he's headed to brain abundance. needs a fix for his shoulder.
he really thinks way too much of himself.
hilarious how he throws around the word 'companies'.
I just can't listen to sanctimonious bullshit very long. I bailed at 6:24

felgercarb

01-09-2014, 11:13 PM

I showed this video to my friend who is a physician. He said the surgery Budd is describing isn't feasible, but it most certainly wouldn't take place on a physical therapist's table. If he had such a surgery the scar would be elsewhere. (Not saying where in case Budd reads this.) He also said that easily-dislocated shoulders are fixable without surgery most of the time.

So, making up being related to Napoleon, making up a surgery... I really am beginning to think Mr. Budd is a pathological liar.

felgercarb

01-09-2014, 11:23 PM

Ok, seriously. I am so furious at Mr. Budd: using a molestation story, true or not, to get sympathy is about as alpha douche as it gets.

Fat City, LA

01-09-2014, 11:57 PM

He is setting himself up to leave Rippofflyn.

ribshaw

01-10-2014, 09:36 AM

Made it 8 minutes, shocking he had not dislocated his jaw 20 times, :pao::pao::pao:

Is there any part in the video where he offers to reimburse all the folks he screwed out of money?

JustTooMuchTime

01-10-2014, 11:30 AM

Ok, seriously. I am so furious at Mr. Budd: using a molestation story, true or not, to get sympathy is about as alpha douche as it gets.

Dr. Martha Stout was on the clinical staff at Harvard Medical for 25 years {appeal to authority! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_authority)} :: from her book The Sociopath Next Door …

"After listening for almost twenty-five years to the stories my patients tell me about sociopaths who have invaded and injured their lives, when I am asked, “How can I tell whom not to trust?” the answer I give usually surprises people. The natural expectation is that I will describe some sinister-sounding detail of behavior or snippet of body language or threatening use of language that is the subtle giveaway. Instead, I take people aback by assuring them that the tip-off is none of these things, for none of these things is reliably present. Rather, the best clue is, of all things, the pity play. The most reliable sign, the most universal behavior of unscrupulous people is not directed, as one might imagine, or our fearfulness. It is, perversely, an appeal to our sympathy …

More than admiration — more even than fear — pity from good people is carte blanche. When we pity, we are, at least for the moment, defenseless, and like so many of the essentially positive human characteristics that bind us together in groups … our emotional vulnerability when we pity is used against us by those who have no conscience."

From...

The Salty Droid – Psychopathic Pity Party (http://saltydroid.info/psychopathic-pity-party/)

GlimDropper

01-14-2014, 03:58 PM

Just to be clear, we have no solid evidence that he dislocated his arm all those times by patting himself on the back.

Well, J Budd is back in full on spam mode just not about Rippln. Much of it is rather repetitive but the general thrust seems to be I can make butt loads of cash by sending him some first. It doesn't really matter if Jonathan is or isn't a sociopath, he does a good enough job of playing one on the internet that some fundamental distinction has been lost. He doesn't need to be accountable for his actions he only needs to tell us he's accountable. It wont matter how many people lose money by following his "leadership" as long as he can keep recruiting fresh followers. And he's darn good at recruiting.

Which brings us to Mike Rutherford and the general state of modern MLM. Rippln corporate has not had any public communication in over a month but Mike has resumed his "team building" calls but down to three days a week. The two biggest downline groups on facebook have imposed self censorship refusing to discuss their disappointment with the company for fear of drive new recruits away and Mike Rutherford is coaching the members on how to build trust with their potential recruits. If they don't trust you, they wont follow you. This is very true but if the company your promoting is a staggering disappointment how exactly are you rewarding the trust you've earned?

Even the parts of Rippln's comp plan which aren't illegal are grossly abusive. I've said it before but the clearest way to make this point was (is?) the Martin smart watches. They retailed for $299 and Rippln got $60 for every sale. If you were a Level 1 Player and sold one you would earn $3 and the rest of your upline would split the remaining $57. Comp plans drive behavior, what behavior does that plan drive? There are no sales volume qualifiers for rank advancement, it all 100% recruiting related. The watch sale was legitimate retail sale but the people who recruit more paying (and free) members profit more from (other people's) retail sales than people who recruit less no matter how much they sell.

There are a good number of complaints that some of the App Share links are not working in the regions they are supposed to. I can only check US related links (your location is part of the equation) and last I looked three of the US games weren't working as promised but this didn't keep Rippln from updating the catalog with non functioning links. This is strange because it isn't a technology issue, it isn't that some links are "broken," the problem is the company Rippln partnered with (Applift) just isn't paying for those downloads at that time.

I'm not sure what to make with that but tomorrow is the long awaited first payday for App Share. I doubt we'll see too much check waving and not because of exemplary compliance training, I ~suspect~ most people will be too embarrassed to admit how little they made. Again, the only reliable way to make money in Rippln is to recruit $30/month players and lots of them. You have to get people to trust you if you want them to follow you and if you know what a piss poor deal your leading people into just ask yourself, how much is trust worth to you?

littleroundman

01-14-2014, 10:41 PM

Rippln has submitted an unopposed motion to EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR DEFENDANTS TO RESPOND TO COMPLAINT (http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/4:2013cv05974/273189/16) until February 20, 2014

Ripple Labs, Inc. v. LaCore Enterprises, LLC et al

Filing 16

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' UNOPPOSED MOTION TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR DEFENDANTS TO RESPOND TO COMPLAINT AND BRIEFING AND HEARING SCHEDULE FOR PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. Motion Hearing set for 2/20/2014 01:30 PM in Courtroom 3, 17th Floor, San Francisco before Hon. Richard Seeborg.Signed by Judge Richard Seeborg on 1/13/14. (cl, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/13/2014)

Fat City, LA

01-15-2014, 06:21 PM

Saw ZERO mention of a payday on their FB page. Today is the 15th.

GlimDropper

01-15-2014, 06:51 PM

I saw one question about it on one of the lesser traveled fb pages, not really sure what to make of it. Rutherford held a call today, nattered on for a half hour about how easy it is to recruit people when you find the people who want to be recruited but didn't say a thing about getting paid. I know paid members are on a separate email list from free members, perhaps some info was disseminated that way. At a minimum, no one at all is bragging about their earnings.

One small item of note about the non functioning app share links:

Thank you for contacting Rippln Support.

The Rippln AppShare catalog will be continuously amended on a weekly basis allowing for new apps to be shared through the catalog. The Publishing companies that we have relationships with are always running different promotions in regards to the apps that are available to us and these promotions may expire at any time. Unfortunately, the ones that were not working have expired and will be removed shortly.

Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Rippln Support

First of all, the only app publishing company Rippln has any relationship with is James Radina's Surya Rising, the Photo Guessaroo people and that relationship was in place before Rippln was launched (James is J. Budd's buddy). Rippln has a partnership with AppLift, AppLift has relationships with app publishers. But even that doesn't explain the "links don't work" issue. Some of the links work so it isn't like Rippln has been cut off (yet) but something about the way Rippln does business doesn't meet up seamlessly with how AppLift does business. My best guess (and it's only that) AppLift will contract with a publisher for X number of installs with all of their affiliates (of whom Rippln is only one of), once that number is filled either the contract is extended or the campaign is ended. When it does Rippln's links for that title go dark. Part of Rippln's problem might just be communication (duh). They could give daily updates, "hey, dragon city is off the list, Spirit Stones is on" but that would require at least a modicum of professionalism from the company so isn't happening.

Looks like we'll wait till February 6th to find out what Rippln will say about the lawsuit, let's hope people will be paid by then.

Fat City, LA

01-15-2014, 07:29 PM

ONLY because it pays so little compared to what it brings in...I'm surprised Rippofflyn cant pay on the regular.
The $30 they charge per month has to be much more than they owe most for app share, etc.

Seems short sited.

GlimDropper

01-17-2014, 10:52 AM

No App Share Pay Day,...Yet.

First Person

We're we to be paid on the 15th for app share?
Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#) · · Yesterday at 9:59am

2 people (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=208954062630513) like this.
Second Person That was the plan. I forgot to check..
Yesterday at 10:03am · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#)
Second Person I would give it another 24 hours, then contact support if they're not available. I know I will be..
Yesterday at 10:24am · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#)
Third Person :) I've got everything what I supposed to get ...
23 hours ago · Edited (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#) · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=208966002629319)
Second Person Support contacted..
3 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#)
Third Person...and ... already answer? ...oeps sorry, it's early morning in the USA ...
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#)
Second Person Hello, "Second",

Thank you for contacting Rippln Support.

Please understand, we are working with third party app companies to promote their apps. Once Rippln receives the funds from the appropriate app companies we will be able to pay out the pending commissions due.

We are optimistic that the funds should be arriving shortly. We would like to thank you for your continued patience and always supporting the Rippl. Please stay tuned for updates from Rippln HQ regarding AppShare bounties as well as new apps coming to the catalog.

If you require further assistance please email us back.

Thank you for your understanding regarding this matter.
11 minutes ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#)
Third Person I'm so sorry, but if I read this, they don't have a good contract with "the third party". I'm in business too, and if I make a contract for getting money, they pay me on what's in the contract. The problem they have, is that there is no activity no more, so the third parties are not happy and will keep the money behind ... just a thought of me, i cannot prove it.
4 minutes ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thetsunamiproject/#)

Quick notes. This came from a closed facebook group where members have an expectation of some privacy so I shielded identities. Also "Third Person" lives in a country with no apps to share so was not expecting any app income.

So Rippln hasn't been paid yet? Again they are sticking to their lie that they have relationships with individual app publishers when in fact their only relationship is with the app marketing company App Lift. Now let me remind you how this was ~supposed~ to work. Billing cycles were month to month, it would take a full month to "validate" app installs and pay cycles were on the 15th of the following month. App Share began on October 31st and I assume downloads from that day were just rounded into November. So, the January 15th pay day should have been for all app downloads driven during the month of November, November's downloads were to be verified in December and paid in January. But Rippln is saying they have not yet been paid for those November downloads.

Something is wrong here. "Third Person" sees it, we don't know what part of the contract with AppLift Rippln hasn't made good on but unlike Rippln, AppLift has a good name and reputation to preserve. If by the terms of a contract they owe one of their affiliates money, they'd be foolish not to deliver. There has to be something here Rippln isn't saying. In a bit more than an hour Mike Rutherford is scheduled to hold another pep talk call, I doubt he'll say anything but if he does you'll hear it.

And may I point out that it is astoundingly unprofessional for Rippln to just sorta try and let this slide on through without standing up and telling their affiliates what the heck is going on.

A late edit to add:

Rutherford flapped his gums for better than a half hour and said.,...nothing. At all. About anything.

But he seems to be trying to say something:

6862

And earlier from one of his henchmen:

6863

I think there's a message there.

Fat City, LA

01-17-2014, 07:06 PM

The decline into flat out ponzi/ripoff has begun.

6873

GlimDropper

01-18-2014, 03:24 PM

J.Budd sighting:

Hi Team,

Hope you all had some
amazing holidays and
are starting the year off
fresh! You deserve it.

I want to give you an update
on what's happening with Rippln
as it's been a while, and I know
many of you are probably curious.

First off, I just want to start by
saying that EVERYONE did
an absolutely phenomenal job
building Rippln coming out of
the gates.

You guys and gals broke every
record that existed in this industry,
and we caused a genuine viral
storm unlike anything that had
ever been seen before.

From the start of Rippln, it was
always our intention to do something
that hadn't been done before...

... and frankly, I think all of us knew
the risks we were taking on.

It's not easy to do something that
hasn't been done before, and you
face enormous challenges & roadblocks
that are very difficult to see in advance.

This is what happened with Rippln.

Even though we did a lot of things
right coming out of the gate, there
were still a lot of challenges happening
behind the scenes that were very difficult
to solve with the team & operating budget
we had.

In hindsight, which is always 20/20,
Rippln truly needed a $3-5million venture
capital budget from the start, along with a
lot of other resources we didn't have to really
have our best chance at succeeding.

We came incredibly far with our
technology, working with what we
had, but as is often the case in technology
start ups, success is more about "iteration"
then it is picking a product off a shelf &
selling that for years to come.

We found many flaws with the model,
& it required constant change & development
to continue to iterate the model to perfection.

Unfortunately, Rippln lost it's financing
capability to keep going in the Fall of last year,
and without proper financing there was no
way to continue to build out the technology
to get it to a mainstream worthy product.

The owners & investors of Rippln put in
over $2,000,000 of their own money...
which is absolutely NO small amount of
money at all. It stretched everyone in
big ways. But unfortunately a lot of money
was spent in costly learning curves, & in the
technology game we're playing in, much
more is often required.

It was NOT for lack of effort, or trying,
that the company lost it's runway.

Currently we're in the final stages
of negotiations to determine if a new partner
& financer will be brought on to finish
building out the next phases of Rippln 2.0.

These phases would be the cumulative learnings
of where we were at to get the product mainstream,
and would be the CLOSEST model to what
excited everyone from the beginning.

I will update you as soon as I know more,
but for now, I thought it was important that
you knew what was going on so you could
make plans for your own lives & businesses
accordingly.

The best part of Rippln for me was getting
to know all of you in a deeper way, & the
relationships that were forged.

I consider that an HONOR, and I'm very
thankful for it, & for your courage to step
into the unknown & dare greatly.

I would do it all over again in a heartbeat
if it was the difference between never going
for your dreams because of the risk it may
not work.

There are no guarantees in life. Cowards
sit on the sidelines. And no one can say
that about all of us.

Hopefully this update brings a little understanding,
and I'll follow up again as soon as I know more.

Yours in Leadership,
Jonathan Budd, & Our Ripple Team.

Did they really piss two million down this rabbit hole? If I was an investor I'd demand an independent auditing of those books. "Product" what the hell "product" was J. Budd talking about? They came out with a not in any way new chat app that should have cost about 30 grand and taken less than two months to deliver. Hiring someone to build that app for them is the closest thing to being a "technology company" that Rippln has come. They're "negotiating" to see if a new financial backer "will be brought on"? Gee, that's a funny way of saying they're trying to find someone stupid enough to give them more money. More likely they're trying to find someone dumb enough to buy the company from them, this ship is sinking and taking a lot of their individual credibility down with it. I think they'd love to wash their hands of it if nothing else than to just pretend things could have been better if they were still in charge.

Oh, and they put out an App Share Download Trouble Shooter report page (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ejqzTdPD7O9Y5Sap_c_sjm0SoRHB4ENr5FJ7t5nEemo/viewform). Rippln affiliates, in case you were wondering the answer is yes, they ARE insulting your intelligence. There's NOTHING wrong with your download links, they are all working PERFECTLY. They ALL lead either to an app download page or to a page served up by Ad2Games telling you that particular offer is unavailable. That "offer" being Rippln being paid for that download. The fact that Rippln refuses to keep their "catalog" updated is not a technological problem, it's a leadership problem. Sorry but Rippln has no report page for that.

It is good to see Jonathan Budd out and about, his unique skills as a bull **** artist were almost good enough to make that "Dear John" letter almost sound inspiring.

Fat City, LA

01-18-2014, 03:57 PM

J.Budd sighting:

Did they really piss two million down this rabbit hole? If I was an investor I'd demand an independent auditing of those books. "Product" what the hell "product" was J. Budd talking about? They came out with a not in any way new chat app that should have cost about 30 grand and taken less than two months to deliver. Hiring someone to build that app for them is the closest thing to being a "technology company" that Rippln has come. They're "negotiating" to see if a new financial backer "will be brought on"? Gee, that's a funny way of saying they're trying to find someone stupid enough to give them more money. More likely they're trying to find someone dumb enough to buy the company from them, this ship is sinking and taking a lot of their individual credibility down with it. I think they'd love to wash their hands of it if nothing else than to just pretend things could have been better if they were still in charge.

Oh, and they put out an App Share Download Trouble Shooter report page (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ejqzTdPD7O9Y5Sap_c_sjm0SoRHB4ENr5FJ7t5nEemo/viewform). Rippln affiliates, in case you were wondering the answer is yes, they ARE insulting your intelligence. There's NOTHING wrong with your download links, they are all working PERFECTLY. They ALL lead either to an app download page or to a page served up by Ad2Games telling you that particular offer is unavailable. That "offer" being Rippln being paid for that download. The fact that Rippln refuses to keep their "catalog" updated is not a technological problem, it's a leadership problem. Sorry but Rippln has no report page for that.

It is good to see Jonathan Budd out and about, his unique skills as a bull **** artist were almost good enough to make that "Dear John" letter almost sound inspiring.

LOL ALICE in Wonderland has less fantasy than above J Budd posting.

GlimDropper

01-18-2014, 07:24 PM

This has been a fairly informative evening in the psychology of network marketing, a study in contrasts in a way. On one hand there's a very nice lady who's doing what she can to provide the information the people who follow her need to understand what's going on with a company and what their next steps should be. On the other hand there's Micheal Rutherford.

To clarify one thing, the email from Jonathan Budd quoted above was no general accoutrement, it isn't on Rippln's blog* or even on their official facebook page. That was sent by J Budd to members of his personal dowline and I don't think I'm in any way cynical to suppose any followups to it will contain a link to Budds next once in a lifetime opportunity. The point is that message wasn't intended to go farther than that but it got passed around and landed on one of the private fabebook groups causing some buzz. Not long after that Mike Rutherford posted almost the entire message to his Ripple Maniacs group, the only thing he left off was any indication that he didn't write it, he didn't use J Budd's greeting or his sign off, nothing to indicate that he himself didn't write it (except for the post holiday greeting which sounded strange given he'd spoken to the group numerous times since the holidays).

OK, so the nice lady who runs the other large Rippln fb group actually called Brian Underwood to see what was going on. She describes the tears she shed and prayers she said so that Rippln might secure the funding it needs to avoid closing down. She made a moving speech thanking everyone in the group for the efforts they shared and things they accomplished together. She was very clear that she was not giving up on Rippln, that she was going to stick it out for as long as the company lasted but she needed to work on other things as well to make a living. She got the information she and all of her downline needed to make informed decisions and she shared it with them.

Mike Rutherford on the other hand, through his actions and inaction has his people looking forward to Rippln2.0. The comments on the post Mike borrowed from J Budd:

https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s32x32/1086392_1207992974_597762129_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/nino.galloway)
Nino Galloway (https://www.facebook.com/nino.galloway) Thank you for update Mike. As with most ventures there are always challenges! I excited to get into 2.0 once this hurdle is crossed!
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656094724442432)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/t5/s32x32/1117897_505070271_807928920_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/TheYardBoy)
Corey Smith (https://www.facebook.com/TheYardBoy) Thank you for the update.
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656096127775625)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/s32x32/211273_100006472324459_352322398_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.gledhill.92)
Elizabeth Gledhill (https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.gledhill.92) Thanks for the update Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) ... Pleasure working with you and looking forward to Rippln phase 2
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656098171108754)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s32x32/1118228_100000205624205_1299534751_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/uthenus)
Janiece Haynes (https://www.facebook.com/uthenus) Wow
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656098797775358)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s32x32/1116855_1630230822_1223083040_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/katrinalgray)
Katrina Young Gray (https://www.facebook.com/katrinalgray) Thanks for the update. I was about to cancel my membership but now I'm wondering, is our monthly charge still being charged while the company is in limbo? Is there any incentives for us to continue paying it?
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 3 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656100187775219)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/t5/s32x32/273718_1498991072_32362528_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/mark.forcinel)
Mark Forcinel (https://www.facebook.com/mark.forcinel) Thanks buddy! Still hanging in there.
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 3 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656102784441626)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/t5/s32x32/1117940_1561241964_1765926458_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/sooz133)
Sue A. Wolf (https://www.facebook.com/sooz133) Love ya Michael. Thanks
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656104067774831)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/t5/s32x32/1076846_100001128040460_1333898489_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/scott.viscio)
Scott Viscio (https://www.facebook.com/scott.viscio) Thank u for the update Mr. Rutherford. I would like to say that this was the first time I have ever done something like this, and I wasn't sure what I was getting into but I'm very glad I did. I met many great people thru rippln that I hope to continue talking with and possibly meet up with. I has been a true learning experience for me. Thank u for all has been taught to me.
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656106341107937)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/t5/s32x32/211542_660193437_1766181987_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford)
Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) I'm still hanging tough too. Christopher Columbus surely hit rough seas but thankfully they kept sailing To the new world
2 hours ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 3 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656106711107900)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/s32x32/211431_502621257_529347320_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/nlwight)
Nancy MacDonald Wight (https://www.facebook.com/nlwight) Thank you for the explanation Michael! I appreciate you greatly.
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656108941107677)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/t5/s32x32/1118326_1406740449_174088798_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/paul.hutchins.963)
Paul Hutchins (https://www.facebook.com/paul.hutchins.963) As I always say in rippln and in life journey #stayfocus (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/stayfocus) #maintain (https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/maintain) growth and we will learn that in any venture things happen. Guys you taught me my true potential I have never know I had you have given me knowledge of what it yakes takes to succeed. T...See More (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#)
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 4 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656111687774069)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s32x32/1117903_1427623990_783968149_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/julie.spiegel)
Julie Spiegel (https://www.facebook.com/julie.spiegel) Thanks for sharing Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) - I agree the connections made have been the most valuable and PRODUCTIVE in years !!! Not to mention new globally forged friendships!!! Thank you Nino Galloway (https://www.facebook.com/nino.galloway) for all ur hard work and time , Jay Wittwer (https://www.facebook.com/jay.wittwer) for forging a new respected friendship and my RippleWoman Team ! Looking forward to the next new Vision !
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656114954440409)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/t5/s32x32/211542_660193437_1766181987_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford)
Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) Y'all are making me super happy and excited. Loving these comments.
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 3 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656115337773704)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s32x32/1118273_1050455836_731460453_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/jay.wittwer)
Jay Wittwer (https://www.facebook.com/jay.wittwer) Well said. The future is bright.
Viewed the movie (The Departed) yesterday. Jack Nicholson said something in the first seconds .... powerful for all of us.
"I do not want to be a product of my environment; I want my environment to be a product of me".
46 minutes ago · Edited (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656117844440120)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/t5/s32x32/211542_660193437_1766181987_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford)
Michael Rutherford (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford) That's great Jay. Agree 1000%
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656118067773431)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/t5/s32x32/1118326_1406740449_174088798_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/paul.hutchins.963)
Paul Hutchins (https://www.facebook.com/paul.hutchins.963) These moments are what make this team great we are over 5000 and for a year we communicated no matter where we go we need to see the value of us all being together. This is the time we grow together its not the time to sit on a beach side waiting for ...See More (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#)
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656119034440001)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/t5/s32x32/1118326_1406740449_174088798_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/paul.hutchins.963)
Paul Hutchins (https://www.facebook.com/paul.hutchins.963) Awesome! Jay! This is our environment lets create it with motivaton for all of us. I feel noway ket down as rippln delivered everything promised thats why I feel honored.
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656119474439957)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-prn2/s32x32/274279_1470827783_8740961_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.b.brown1)
Stephanie Biener Brown (https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.b.brown1) Wow!
about an hour ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656119754439929)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash1/s32x32/369560_100000033505224_1084942676_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/brendan.kelly121)
Brendan Kelly (https://www.facebook.com/brendan.kelly121) Thanks Michael (https://www.facebook.com/michaelbrutherford), I had a blast building this alongside you brother. You are a powerful leader, I have learned a lot from you.
52 minutes ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 2 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656127894439115)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/s32x32/1086392_1207992974_597762129_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/nino.galloway)
Nino Galloway (https://www.facebook.com/nino.galloway) https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1/p75x225/1526248_10203177769584246_1309383264_n.jpg
(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203177769584246&set=p.10203177769584246&type=1)

46 minutes ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656130171105554)
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-frc1/t5/s32x32/372196_1456950446_727474720_q.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/staceywysocki)
Stacey Pirlot-Wysocki (https://www.facebook.com/staceywysocki) Thanks for sharing this with us all.
12 minutes ago · Like (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/#) · 1 (https://www.facebook.com/browse/likes?id=656140981104473)

I'd be tempted to ask which of the two leaders was making more each month off of the passive income player engagement bonuses and if you thought that might be shading their leadership but it's a stupid question. The nice lady helping to run the first downline group is being honest with her people and thinking about what the people she's leading need to know despite how that might impact her next check. Rutherford on the other hand is trying to take credit for someone else's disclosure and spinning it in a way to keep his residuals flowing.

Two entirely different styles of MLM leadership at work.

Oh, and lost in all of this is the fact that no money has yet been paid out from App Share and by the sound of it, it may not be coming any time soon.

* Funny but true, the last post on Rippln's official blog was made on December 9th and is titled "Before We Close the Doors! (http://rippln.com/blog/before-we-close-the-doors/)"

Fat City, LA

01-18-2014, 08:06 PM

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ripplemania/permalink/656090784442826/?stream_ref=2

This falls under :if your stupid today... your stupid tomorrow.

Joe_Shmoe

01-18-2014, 08:50 PM

Ha ha! Given his comment this guys name seems fitting.

6876

GlimDropper

01-24-2014, 02:50 PM

I don't know if this is some weird form of MLM Stockholm syndrome but I'm starting to feel bad for Micheal Rutherford. J Budd has hit the road and gone back to puking out his own marketing pablum and Brian Underock is hiding somewhere leaving Mike as the only public face of this debacle. He's still holding his thrice weekly calls, only problem is he isn't allowed to say anything.

I listen to a lot of conference calls. Well I don't know if it's a whole lot but it's certainly more than most people who aren't in any of those programs do. For the most part I just sift through the glurge trying to find details but after a while you start to get a good feel for glurge. Mike Rutherford is really good at holding these, I almost called them "update" calls but there are no updates what so ever. They're MLM pep talks and sorta training sessions. MLM is big on clichés and Rutherford can sling them, but to his credit he avoids many of the most trite aphorisms. I don't think he's dropped "people don't care about how much you know till they know how much you care" for example. But for the third time I can recall listening to different companies calls Mike trotted out the palpable absurdity that the reason the McDonalds hamburger franchise doesn't sell onion rings is because there aren't enough onions on the planet to fill what their need would be if they did.

This is where I start feeling bad for him. He really is the only member of the company making any effort to communicate with the field force but nothing he could say about Rippln would be at the same time encouraging and true. Be clear, he isn't standing up there fabricating sunshine out of whole cloth, he's just doing a little bit of knitting. J Budd's email to his personal downline became a company announcement and while some of the people who were negative before reading it grew more negative the people with a good attitude about the company were even more optimistic because of it. See, it was a Good thing. I see someone made mention of the trademark suit in one of the other downline groups, I'm looking forward to hearing Mike tell us how that's a Good thing too.

One minor update, no clue what it means:

hahaha, it goes well ...https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1625461_10151976952793644_386045492_n.jpg
(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151976952793644&set=p.10151976952793644&type=1)

That's the message you see when trying to log into the app share area of the Rippln back office. They still haven't paid anyone for the downloads and now they're blocking access to the catalog. Rippln has lied about almost every aspect of App Share so it's pert near impossible to determine what's going on. The fact they refuse to communicate with their affiliates doesn't help either.

Rippln is dead, they're just keeping the website online to keep billing their dwindling user base for another month or so. The only reason I'm still paying it any mind is to document how these people do business. Mike Rutherford is playing good soldier, falling on Brian Underock's sword. He will be rewarded in Brian's next once in a lifetime MLM opportunity. I want as complete and accurate a record as possible to exist for people at risk of getting earholed into that deal. What ever it turns out being.

Fat City, LA

01-24-2014, 05:09 PM

Dont worry folks. R Melvin McKenzie knows things about Rippln others dont.
Best believe him, he has picture of a Rolls and AND Villa on his FB page.

6901

felgercarb

01-24-2014, 05:24 PM

Meanwhile, Mr. Dooly has continued to evade a question I keep asking him, "At what point do you stop promoting Rippln as if it is a legitimate business which is likely to make people money?"

I hope the mustachioed MLM pimp gets another visit from the SEC.

GlimDropper

01-24-2014, 07:40 PM

Troy's just doing his job, my only complaint is his job isn't exactly as he likes to present it. He has signed no contracts with and owes no fiduciary responsibility to any the rank and file MLM affiliates anywhere. He has signed contracts and is responsible but only not to the people who are not paying him, nothing wrong with that. He likes to say that the best interests of the affiliate force is his passion and that may be true but it sure as hell isn't how he pays his bills.

I'm not one to burn bridges. I have said here and elsewhere that I like Troy and I do. I look back at his former body of work and find myself wishing that guy was still around. Those of us who have been at this for long enough remember the absurd fraud that was Global Verge. For those of you who missed it, Y'all missed some amazing ****. At one point in the saga (which is far too long to try to detail here) Troy made a mind boggling decision to, for a moment, cut the company some slack. I thought he made a huge error in judgement in doing so and guess what, Troy owned that error. Folks, you want to see the Troy Dooly I wish was still alive and kicking? Meet him here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9-ztqiLa90).

[Gentle Jackboot Warning: If anyone wants to start a Global Verge reminiscence thread, and recount Troy's coverage of it, feel free to do so and please post a link to it here. But this isn't the thread to have that conversation in. Thanks in advance.]

One thing I'll point out, as per what Troy has told us he knows better than we what the basics of the balance sheet are here, per my outside perspective Global Verge was a fraud on an order of magnitude greater than Rippln. For all the preposterous pretensions of a million plus members Rippln is and always was a penny ante operation. The number of thousands of people who wasted their money in this ridiculous farce of a MLM company was most thankfully small. Those who did waste their money however did so with the approbation of the same guy who used to use his voice to warn the reps in the field against companies who were ripping them off.

Now, Troy works for the companies that pay him.

It is my most fervent hope that history will prove me wrong. That Troy Dooly will stop being an apologist for less than honorable MLM companies and he'll remember the days he spent as a watchmen on the wall. Not for the ways those attitudes interfered with his potential paychecks but rather for the people who thanked him for that important service. It is within His ability to tell the truth but it isn't always in his best financial interests to do so. I'm not saying there isn't a balance scale to weigh warning signs verses dollar signs but I'm saying that any equation predicated on those conditions involves victims. How many victims? How many dollars?

Troy, I'm not saying this to piss you off, I'm saying this for you to prove me wrong.

baylee

01-24-2014, 09:49 PM

GlimDropper

01-27-2014, 02:11 PM

This just in from Rippln Co-Founder Jim Bunch:

Hi Friends,

I wanted to personally connect with you all and let you
know that Rippln will be closing it's doors very soon.

As you may have heard, I brought investors to the table
to acquire Rippln and bring it back to the original vision and mission.

Unfortunately, the due diligence made it apparent that we would
not be able to raise the next round of VC capital that would be necessary
to take Rippln where it needed to go and therefore the investors had to decline the opportunity to purchase Rippln.

Please know that I respect and appreciate each and everyone of you
and the contributions you made. Reaching out to your trusted friends
and family and sharing the vision shows a great commitment on your part.

Also know that the partners in Rippln invested an enormous amount of time,
energy and resources to give it a chance at success. The goal was to do
something that had never been done before...and while there were a number
of those things accomplished, in the end, there were a few things that could
not be overcome.

Please feel free to reach out to me personally if you feel the need to do so
and I'll be happy to connect with you each. There are a few really great lessons I personally am grateful for and I hope you invest a few moments in capturing your lessons and insights so we can all look back and appreciate the gifts we were given by being a part of this company.

It's now time to focus my full attention to the Vision and Mission of The Ultimate Game, which is to Inspire Happiness, Health and Wealth Worldwide.

Thank you again for your trust and energy, I really do love and appreciate you all.

I listened to Rutherford's ramble an hour or so before seeing that and had a feeling something was up. First he rambled on (and on) longer than usual but never seemed to find his usual comfort level. His focus was on risk vs. reward and harped again and again on how no one on the call has spent all that much money on Rippln. The then formulated the notion that because the individual dollar amounts were small no one could really feel as if they had been scammed. I don't know the specific sales technique he was using but segued from affirmative present tense statements to subjective past tense in a way that if you weren't paying attention you might not have realized he wasn't asking for an opinion so much as trying to form one.

He also finished off the call by saying he was going to speak with Brian (Underock) and was expecting to have news soon. There was something in his voice I couldn't quite make out at the time but after reading Jim Bunch's announcement we know what his news will be.

Fat City, LA

01-27-2014, 06:38 PM

https://www.facebook.com/Rippln/posts/581302211950502

R Melvin McKenzie -biggest BSer @ Ripplyn (and THAT is quite a BS er) has moved on:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=653201671411309&set=a.111509822247166.13762.100001644474690&type=1&stream_ref=10

Might as well start a thread on this one now.

GlimDropper

01-27-2014, 08:21 PM

I say we nuke them from orbit, it's the only way to be sure (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q).

Hey everyone. Just wanted to post really quick. I actually just got off the phone with Brian Underwood and wanted to update you with our conversation. Rippln is and has been in the process of negotiations to merge with another company. The decision of the investor Jim B spoke of is just one of many that they are in contact with . Brian has had his head down along with many others..negotiating and determining the best way to insure that we don't cancel our memberships before he can bill us for February the best future of Rippln. He assured me that they will come out publicly and let us know what happens. So I guess it ain't over until the fat lady sings?? Is that a saying LOL.

[To anyone who couldn't guess, I did slightly alter that quote.]

Son of a bitch. Underock doesn't have the guts to face his field force and tell them what's going on regarding:

Why App Share hasn't paid as promised.
When App Share just might start paying as promised.
That there is an impending lawsuit.
What Rippln hopes to do about the lawsuit.
Why anyone would ever be stupid enough to buy/partner with a colossal joke of a company which is facing a lawsuit and a negative balance sheet.

Yet on the 27th day of a monthly billing period he's asking people to wait just a little bit longer before canceling their subscriptions. Only he isn't doing it publicly, he's doing it second hand on facebook. THIS is LEADERSHIP Brain Underwood style. His members have $30 each and by the end of the week he can take it from them. And I'm sure he will and then admit that he's closing the company.

You got yourself one hell of a friend there Troy.

GlimDropper

01-29-2014, 03:37 PM

Well, I guess that answers that question:

Mike Rutherford missed his scheduled call today. No updates on the Ripple Maniacs or the official Rippln facebook pages. But every mention of Jim Bunch's "it's over" message was scrubbed from the page. This close to being able to ding the remaining affiliates for February's fees they don't want to admit this company is dead. For a few more days at least.

Brian Underwood is still hiding under a rock and not informing his field force what is going on in his company, no public communication since December 9th.

App Share isn't paying and the only reason more Rippln members haven't canceled their monthly fees is the misguided hope that one day it will. Classic good money after bad scenario.

Rippln hasn't charged for February yet, there are still a few days for Brian to grow a backbone, or a conscience. If they don't steal that last measure of their affiliate's funds I will thank them for it here. But that would require Brian Underwood to grow a conscience.

Fat City, LA

01-29-2014, 04:23 PM

By going out this way, Ripp off lyn is further stigmatizing the name of the company suing them.
Setting themselves up for more damages.

Fat City, LA

01-31-2014, 08:50 PM

R Melvin McKenzie is back and he understands things you dont!

R Melvin McKenzie I've benefited greatly. If people only understood THE POWER of THE LIST. If nothing else, I've added more than 20,000 to my list and have already signed many of them up to other affiliate programs. I fact, I put out the message last night that tonight, Jan 31 at midnight will be the last chance one can join a particular program and be GUARANTEED a check next month. When I check an hour ago, 122 people had signed up. That's the power of the list. Anyway, there's still a few hours left so if anybody's interested in checking out what I'm talking about, take a look here - Roll the dice (click mouse) For REAL Money! (http://www.leadsleap.com/go/48880)
Roll the dice (click mouse) For REAL Money!
Explosive Lead Generation System - LeadsLeap (http://www.leadsleap.com)
Like · Reply ·

(no mention that all the insider crap he claimed about Ripp off lynns activities and future were straight lies)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=573823199365070&set=a.449153441832047.1073741828.414185025328889&type=1&comment_id=1593875&offset=0&total_comments=9

GlimDropper

02-07-2014, 01:37 PM

Lack of Update Update:

I caught my first Mike Rutherford call of the week today. He missed the call on Monday and I missed the one he did on Wednesday. I don't think we missed anything.

There isn't anything in the way of company news, no communication between the leadership and the field (big surprise here), Mike can't talk about what the company is doing or where it's heading, the rank and file are canceling subscriptions fast enough already to risk being forthcoming. And the only thing Rippln has to pay people for and the only money thay have to pay with are those monthly subscription fees. THAT is why they are still billing affiliates to be part of this dying beast.

Yes, Rippln's premise was flawed and they never bothered, until it was far too late to ask themselves if they could ever deliver on what they were promising but the fatal flaw from the start is that they were always just an income redistribution scheme. More than half of any paying affiliate's monthly fee was paid out through their upline and there are very good reasons why that isn't legal. For mathematical analysis divide Rippln's product offering into two categories, affiliate fees and retail products.

First take the retail products, put them in a paper bag, burn the bag and scatter the ashes. It wont change the math very much if at all.

Now look at the monthly affiliate fees. Even in the post Kevin Thompson pay plan* MOST of any monthly membership fee was commissionable. You could quite possibly make money here without ever selling any retail product to any end user, which is damned helpful given that "App Share" isn't paying so Rippln is pretty much doesn't have products. So where we are at and to a lesser extent, always were at is a company where for every paying member "earning" money you need 15+ paying members losing money. Can you see why I'm glad very few people are making money here?

Not Much of a Legal Update:

Rippln's response to the request for a preliminary injunction was due in the court yesterday. So far it hasn't been posted on Pacer. When it is we'll make it available. The hearing for the injunction however has been moved back to March 13th. Hey, Brian get's to ding folks for (yet another wasted) month. Ripple Labs has added a number of additional attorneys to their cause, Rippln has been (surprise surprise) silent on the docket.

*(It's important to note that Mr. Thompson never endorses any of his client's companies.)

GlimDropper

02-09-2014, 07:15 PM

Looks like a deal's being cut:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
RIPPLE LABS, INC.,
F/K/A OPENCOIN, INC.,
A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION,
Plaintiff,
vs.
LACORE ENTERPRISES, LLC,
A TEXAS LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY;
RIPPLN, INC., A TEXAS
CORPORATION; AND
TERRY LACORE, AN INDIVIDUAL,
Defendants.
Case No. 13-cv-5974

STIPULATION REGARDING DEADLINE
FOR DEFENDANTS TO RESPOND TO
COMPLAINT AND BRIEFING AND
HEARING SCHEDULE FOR
PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR
PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

Pursuant to Local Rule 6-2, Plaintiff Ripple Labs, Inc. and Defendants LaCore Enterprises,
LLC, Rippln, Inc., and Terry LaCore (collectively, the “Parties”), hereby respectfully request by
Stipulation that the Court extend the time for Defendants to respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint (D.E. 1)
and extend the briefing schedule and hearing on Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction (D.E.
4).

Plaintiff filed its Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunction, and supporting papers, on
December 27, 2013. Defendants previously filed an Unopposed Motion to Extend the Deadline for
Defendants to Respond to Complaint and Briefing and Hearing Schedule for Plaintiff’s Motion for
Preliminary Injunction (D.E. 14). The Court granted that motion (D.E. 16), and the current schedule
calls for Defendants to respond to the Complaint and file their opposition to Plaintiff’s preliminary
injunction motion on February 6, for Plaintiff to file its reply in support of the preliminary injunction
motion on February 13, and sets the hearing on Plaintiff’s preliminary injunction motion for
February 20.

The Parties have entered into discussions that may resolve or limit the issues that need to be
presented to the Court in this matter, and request a brief extension of these deadlines to continue
those discussions. Specifically, the Parties request a one-week extension of the deadline for
Defendant to respond to the Complaint and the briefing schedule on the preliminary injunction
motion, and a two-week extension of the hearing date on that motion:

February 13 Defendants to respond to Complaint (D.E. 1)

February 13 Defendants to file opposition to preliminary injunction motion (D.E. 4)

February 20 Plaintiff to file reply in support of preliminary injunction motion (D.E. 4)

March 6 Hearing on Motion for Preliminary Injunction (D.E. 4)

The Parties agree that Plaintiff does not and will not waive any rights or make any
concessions regarding the seriousness or immediacy of its preliminary injunction motion and that
Defendants will make no arguments to the contrary based on Plaintiff’s stipulation to the extension
of these deadlines.

For the reasons set forth herein, the Parties respectfully request that the Court extend the
deadlines on extend the time for Defendants to respond to Plaintiff’s Complaint and extend the
briefing schedule and hearing on Plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction as set forth herein.

Respectfully submitted,

By: Jennifer Seraphine _______________ By: Karl S. Kronenberger
Jennifer Seraphine (Cal Bar. No. 245463) Karl S. Kronenberger (Cal. Bar No. 226112)
Attorney for Plaintiff Attorney for Defendants

PURSUANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED.

I'll link the document below.

Hmm, a casual, layman's reading seems to reflect Terry LaCore in a position perhaps somewhat open and receptive to compromise. Think (but don't picture) Larry Craig's "wide stance."

Rippln has abused any good faith it ever had with anyone who believed in it. To the extent there was ever a business model here, it's failed, miserably. Anyone responsible for this sad, pathetic joke of a company has backed as far and as fast away from it as they could. Hell, even CEO and Vision Caster in Chief Brain Underwood has been hiding out of sight from all his affiliates for more than two months now ('cause that's just the kind of leader he is).

What do you think Terry LaCore is negotiating about?

My guess, and it's only a guess is that it's how to give into to each and every one of Ripple Lab's demands in just such a way as to minimize the amount of money he has to pay them in addition to all the other money he pissed down Underwood's festering sore of a company. If he's approaching these negotiations from any other mind frame, he's delusional.

So I guess I'm admitting I have no idea what's going to happen.

Oh, and a late edit to add. This document was posted to the court docket before Rippln had an opportunity to charge their affiliates for the month of February. But Brian went ahead and charged them anyway 'cause that's just the kind of leader he is.

felgercarb

02-10-2014, 09:53 AM

It might well be that the negotiations are just a delay tactic to insure another billing cycle. Rutherford is still cynically signing people up for a dead company, which is about as scummy as it gets. Of course, anyone who signs up is le idiot. Even the Zarlinos with their SEO voodoo haven't been able to hide Rippln's demise from Google search results.

NikSam

02-10-2014, 04:35 PM

And here you go, scam processors based on OpenCoin/Ripple Labs/XNF already popping up:

NoFiatCoin - XNF - NoFiatCoin (http://www.nofiatcoin.com/)

felgercarb

02-16-2014, 11:26 AM

A deal has been reached. It is likely shutting Rippln down is part of the agreement.

The question which comes to mind is, "Why hasn't an announcement been made?"

Case3:13-cv-05974-RS Document30 Filed02/13/14 Page1 of 2

KRONENBERGER ROSENFELD, LLP

Karl S. Kronenberger (Bar No. 226112)

Virginia Sanderson (Bar No. 240241)

150 Post Street, Suite 520

San Francisco, CA 94108

Telephone: (415) 955-1155

Facsimile: (415) 955-1158

karl@KRInternetLaw.com

ginny@KRInternetLaw.com

Attorneys for Defendants

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RIPPLE LABS, INC., f/k/a OpenCoin,

Inc., a California corporation,

Plaintiff,

v.

LACORE ENTERPRISES, LLC, a Texas

limited liability company; RIPPLN, INC., a

Texas corporation; and TERRY LACORE,

an individual,

Defendants.

Case No. 3:13-cv-05974-RS

JOINT NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

AND STIPULATED REQUEST TO

CONTINUE DEADLINES;

[PROPOSED] ORDER

Plaintiff Ripple Labs, Inc., f/k/a OpenCoin, Inc. (“Plaintiff”), and Defendants Lacore

Enterprises, LLC, Rippln, Inc., and Terry LaCore (collectively, “Defendants” and together

with Plaintiff, the “Parties”) hereby state and request as follows:

WHEREAS, the Parties have reached a settlement of this case in principle;

WHEREAS, the Parties are in the process of finalizing a settlement agreement;

Case No. 3:13-cv-05974-RS

JOINT NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

Case3:13-cv-05974-RS Document30 Filed02/13/14 Page2 of 2

WHEREAS, the Parties anticipate filing a Notice of Dismissal within thirty (30)

days of this Joint Notice;

WHEREAS, certain deadlines are currently pending in this case, such as

Defendants’ deadline to respond to the complaint and motion for preliminary injunction on

February 13, 2013, Plaintiff’s deadline to file a reply in support of its motion for

preliminary injunction on February 20, and hearing on the motion for preliminary

injunction set for March 13, 2013;

WHEREAS, the Parties believe it would be more efficient for the Parties and the

Court to stay the case, and vacate these pending deadline and hearing, while the Parties

work to finalize the settlement;

WHEREAS, the Parties hereby stipulate and request that the Court stay the case

for a period of forty-five (45) days;

WHEREAS, the Parties hereby further stipulate that Plaintiff does not and will not

waive any rights or make any concessions regarding the seriousness or immediacy of its

preliminary injunction motion and that Defendants will make no arguments to the contrary

based on Plaintiff’s stipulation to the requested stay.

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

TURNER BOYD, LLP

KRONENBERGER ROSENFELD, LLP

By: s/ Samuel A. Lewis

Samuel A. Lewis

Attorneys for Plaintiff

By: s/ Virginia Sanderson

Virginia Sanderson

Attorneys for Defendants

[PROPOSED] ORDER

PURSANT TO STIPULATION, IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date:

The Honorable Richard Seeborg

United States District Judge

Case No. 3:13-cv-05974-RS

JOINT NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4m-xttMdT82UHNXTThOUjJaMHM/edit?usp=sharing

NikSam

02-16-2014, 05:09 PM

They realized if they show in court what the hell they both doing, it will be only trouble for each.

Joe_Shmoe

02-20-2014, 06:51 AM

Brian Underwood & his Rippln scam missed a trick there! :duh:

7072

littleroundman

02-20-2014, 06:59 AM

The guys from WhatsApp may be $19billion richer, but they're still not BadAss

GlimDropper

02-20-2014, 01:38 PM

Just When I Thought I Was Out,....They Pull Me Back In !!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU)

http://static.sendgrid.com/uploads/UID_702028_NL_1532711_d6fd12a9c0f5bd436f02c2824432 548e/eec331ed008470f3de4f87e1dda0f119

Hello Ripplrs.

Here at HQ, we wanted to get all of
the Players & Fans in the Rippln
Community a message on the State
of Play within Rippln.

We know there have been quite a
few rumors circulating out in the
marketplace. First and foremost,
these rumors are just that - rumors.
Rippln is still in business. We
continue to pour a lot of investment
money into the company, and our
employees are still coming to work
everyday. Rippn continues to put a lot
of resources into development, support
& streamlining this unique business
model. We have NOT shut our doors
at all. This doesn't mean we haven't had
challenges & set backs, it means that we
keep moving forward in the pursuit of
growing, learnging & evolving a business
model that has never been seen and
something that has never been done
before.

So you might ask...why no communication??

Over the last 6 months, we have been
in a lawsuit with Ripple Labs, as many of
you know. The lawsuit was for a trademark
and the use of the name Rippln & Ripple.
We have been in Stealth Mode since
December when papers were served and
the process of working with Ripple Labs to
settle this began. Our attorneys advised us
to limit all communication until we could
settle the suit with Ripple Labs, Inc. We
have finally come to an agreement with
Ripple Labs and will be updating the
Rippln Community with the details in the
upcoming weeks.

The Vision & Mission of Rippln has always
been to do what hasn't been done. We
made a definitive statement in the
marketplace as we grew a community
around the world that created a movement
based on showing the Ripple Effect that
one person could create by simply sharing
an idea, a concept, an App. This Vision &
Mission is still alive. Rippln is currently
streamlining the business model to create
a more simple, efficient and powerful way
to execute the original Vision.

Here is the current State of Play:

Rippln is currently working on a
Re-Branding Strategy. We have been in
many discussions over the last 4 months
with potential investors, partners and
companies that wanted to acquire Rippln
for what we have developed. Through
this business development phase of the
company, we have made a decision that
we are going in a direction of a Re-Branding
strategy & Business model revision. This
will be in alignment with what created the
1 million-person community in the first
100 days. We will be updating all 1.5 million
Players & Fans in the next several weeks
on the forward direction for the Vision &
Mission that we all got behind so passionately.

Rippln stopped charging credit cards
a month ago, so all Rippln Players
status will currently show as Fan status.
This status will remain until we make an
exciting announcement & at that time, all
Players’ statuses will be reinstated.

There will be some powerful releases over
the next 60 days with the Communication
App. So stay tuned to upcoming
announcements and further communication.

Thank you again for all your support & vision.
As a company, we know that we have been
through some tough times over the last year.
We honor those who Keep Moving Forward.

Remember:
The greater the struggle the greater the Victory!

Rippln HQ

http://cdn2nl.sendgrid.com/images/newsletter/design/facebook.png?r=1392641808 (http://www.facebook.com/rippln)http://d3o4166o83zs0.cloudfront.net/images/newsletter/design/twitter.png?r=1392641812 (http://twitter.com/ripplnmobile)http://cdn2nl.sendgrid.com/images/newsletter/design/youtube.png?r=1392641808 (http://www.youtube.com/theripplnapp)

To unsubscribe please click here

Rippln HQ
901 Sam Rayburn Hwy, Melissa, TX, 75454

If ANYONE is still pouring investment dollars into this company they're idiots. Want an overpriced smart watch? They still have a few in stock and that's about the only thing they have to sell you. (Just reread that email again and yep, no mention of why) App Share isn't paying. I've heard a rumor or two about why, nothing I can go to press with but I think it is safe to say that if there was any immediate hope of those paychecks going out that happy news would have been included above.

Now lets get to that happy horse crap about them staying silent because of the lawsuit. First off the lawsuit was filed at the end of December, so less than two months ago and not the six months the announcement claims. Brian Underwood's last public appearance was about three weeks prior to the suit being filed. By about the middle of next month we should have a clearer idea of what the settlement involves but we can see a little of it already, re-branding.

Bring the timeline into focus, Rippln knew about the trademark dispute last May but went ahead with their marketing plans anyway. Back when they were claiming to pay $20 for every five free "fan" accounts you signed up they grew to an alleged 1.4 million members in June. Late July they started billing members and by mid August they said they were thrilled with the almost 5,000 people who paid to join. September saw the launch of their photo guessing app and they tried to pretend they were happy with the near 10,000 downloads they were able to drive for an app so disappointing it's no longer talked about by the company which seems to wish we would stop reminding them about. Snap pivot to the sale of about 500 of Co-Founder Jim Bunch's "Ultimate Game" coaching products and you have Rippln's commercial high water mark. October saw a very manipulative and deceptive build up to the launch of "App Share" and that launch marked the beginning of the end of corporate communications. There was a full month's "validation" period for all downloads (pay cycle included November's downloads were to be paid in January) but the app industry generates it's user performance/behavior statistics in real time. The fact App Share didn't pay in January could not have been a surprise to anyone inside the company, in fact they may well could have known it by mid November, when they coincidentally started to stop talking to the field.

The lawsuit isn't the reason Brian Underwood went silent neither was it the reason that Jim Bunch and Jonathan Budd left the company. Underwood is using the suit as a convenient excuse hoping we'd forget their manifest incompetence and lack of fundamental business skill killed Rippln months before the suit was filed.

Brian claims he stopped billing credit cards "a month ago," I wish I believed him. I've seen complaints about January charges and further grumblings since. Has he reversed previous charges? I'll keep an eye out for anyone confirming this and I'll think he's a slightly less absessed pustule on the face of his industry if he does. But if anyone thinks he can build anything on the re-branded corps of this company just remember, he's a very large part of why it failed even before the lawsuit.