Internet_Kiosk_Business_Opportunities_Scam

							Title:
Internet Kiosk Business Opportunities Scam

Word Count:
682

Summary:
For the last several years there were many TV commercials and Internet
ads about Internet kiosk business opportunities. The idea is that any
person can purchase one or more kiosks, install them in public places,
sell Internet access plus some other products and make good profit.

This sounds like a good plan for many people. Some companies also
successfully implemented such ideas and do make some profit. However
whether this opportunity can be profitable for inexperienced e...


Keywords:
kiosk, internet kiosk, kiosk business, kiosk busines opportunity, kiosk
scam


Article Body:
For the last several years there were many TV commercials and Internet
ads about Internet kiosk business opportunities. The idea is that any
person can purchase one or more kiosks, install them in public places,
sell Internet access plus some other products and make good profit.

This sounds like a good plan for many people. Some companies also
successfully implemented such ideas and do make some profit. However
whether this opportunity can be profitable for inexperienced
entrepreneur-wannabes is very questionable.

According to a number of recent publications and lawsuits most of such
business opportunity ventures turned out to be scams. In this article I
will try to summarize facts about the Internet Kiosk business
opportunity.

The following arguments (the arguments can either be true, very
subjective or simply lies) are provided by Internet kiosk business
opportunity sellers.

* Many people need Internet access wherever they go. People would like to
pay for public Internet access.

* There are many potentially profitable locations – airports, malls,
truck stops, nightclubs, hair salons, etc…

* People made a lot of money out of ATMs and pay phones, now is the time
to profit from Internet kiosk business.

* You are just in the right place and in the right time! You are lucky to
be among the first who take this incredible opportunity. Other people are
already making $1000-$3000 a month. You must be not a smart
businessperson if you do not take advantage of this opportunity right
now!

* Investment amount ($7000-$15000 per kiosk) is very reasonable and will
be paid off in a matter of 1-2 years.

* You must act now in order to secure the best locations in your area. Or
other people will take this business.

* Quotes from trusted sources also support the idea:

o "250,000 to 300,000 terminals will be in service throughout the U.S. by
2005." - Frost & Sullivan

o "By the end of 2005, 71% of all users will access the Internet via an
appliance such as a terminal." - eTForecasts

o "High Speed Public Access Internet Terminals may soon become as common
in airports and shopping malls as pay telephones and vending machines”
USA Today

o "Public Internet Access Terminals will replace not only pay phones but
also banking machines, because they will offer capabilities as well as
all the other highway applications, from sending and receiving messages
to scanning maps and buying tickets. Access to terminals will be
essential, and available everywhere" -Bill Gates

Is there is anything wrong with the opportunity? The reality makes the
opportunity look different from what is being advertised:

* Not that many people actually need or want to use Internet Kiosks.
There is an increasing number of other ways (wireless services, mobile
phone devices, etc…) to connect to the Internet including free options
offered at many places such as hotels and coffee shops. Another rea son is
security. A responsible person may not want to type their private
information on a public Internet terminal.

* Equipment price is usually too high (100-300% more than it should be),
additional expenses are underestimated (or simply not mentioned), and
potential profits are highly overestimated.

* It s very likely that inexperienced people cannot operate this or any
other business without high risk and losses. Kiosk equipment is much more
complex than regular vending machines, therefore regular people can not
be qualified for this business.

* Once equipment is bought, people are not able to get locations. When
they use locator companies, many locators cannot provide good locations
or do not provide any location at all after taking money for their
service.

The actual Internet Kiosk Business opportunity business is to make money
for the opportunity sellers. They make money by selling overpriced
equipment while promising unrealistic returns. If a person or company is
trying to get into the Internet kiosk business, they do not need any help
from business opportunity sellers. There are many kiosk manufacturers,
trade shows and conferences where one can get objective information about
the business and industry. I believe there is no such thing as a turnkey
business opportunity. Only a qualified person or company with extensive
research and experience might be able to succeed in the Internet kiosk
business.