On a snowy day in January 2013, I accompanied a 12-person entourage of affiliates on a tour through the recently beefed up service lines for Banners Broker International.
The location: Whitby Ontario, a small city just east of Toronto, Canada.
Banners Broker is an international company and is registered offshore on the Isle of Mann.
Just next to the Isle of Man, then?
Its representative in Canada and other countries of the world is a new company called Stellar Point Inc.
This company was formed in place of Banners Broker Canada Ltd in late 2012 to accommodate the rapid expansion of Banners Broker International and to ensure legal soundness and longevity. This newly acquired office facility is its new home. (
Translation: our lie about it being an independent company was busted by the RS team)
Just as other large multinational corporations have separately registered companies that represent them and handle their legal obligations in other jurisdictions, so does Banners Broker. (
Translation: we're trying to distance ourselves from BB itself by claiming to be "independent")
Stellar Point is that entity.
Rajiv Dixit is its CEO.
Chris Smith is the CEO and sole owner of Banners Broker International.
So, when you say "Banners Broker," you are also talking about Stellar Point Inc. (
Translation: because there only is the one company, call it what you like)
But that's not all Stellar Point does. They have other clients as you can see on the banner in the office photo atop the page. (
Translation: none of these companies actually exist, but Raj registered some cheap websites)
We were toured through the facility that houses all of the Banners Broker service and technical support lines by none other than David Hooker, their new head of Business Development. (
Translation:he was the only one there)
As we entered, the building was clearly a work-in-progress, with renovations evident in unfinished concrete floors and walls, but it was business as usual – the place was buzzing with production. (
Translation: someone had filled a warehouse with rented cubicles and computers with no power supply)
The hum of activity was produced by one of the 3 shifts that cover 24 hours of every day but Saturday, handling tech support calls, ID and proof of address submissions, with cooks in the staff dining room preparing lunch for the crew on duty. (
Translation: unfortunately all the staff are vampires, so didn't show up in any photos)
A training session was ongoing in the main room, conducted by Stellar Point's corporate trainer - with about 10 staff in front of a large wall mounted screen. (
Translation: we sat through a sales pitch from SP's lay preacher, there may have been staff present, but they too appear to have been extras from Twilight)
The first leg of our tour was staged in the building’s first completed space – the recently finished staff dining/lounge area. (
Translation: the only things wired into the mains in the whole place are a microwave and a kettle)
Our host pointed out the large flat screen HD monitors on the wall – loaded with Netflix for staff entertainment on breaks or meal times. (
Translation: Raj's girlfriend wants her tv back)
Also, sophisticated monitored security systems were in place and operating - a must for a 24 hour staff. (
Translation: we need to know when the police are coming)
The nicely finished staff dining area was an indication of what the place would look like when it was all done – modern, tasteful and functional.
Hooker then launched into his briefing.
He dove straight into deep water, noting well the earlier slows on service lines to affiliates and how affiliates don’t care about BB’s issues internally – you just want fast service.
He did mention the causes behind slows, but didn’t justify them by blaming them on the phone company or gremlins…
He noted that every problem that Banners Broker has had has been “caused by ourselves, by the terms we use.” (
Translation: the affiliates are to blame)
Now, what did he mean by that? (
Translation: I'll say it again, the affiliates are to blame)
Well, BB is not an advertising company – they have nothing to do with advertisers per se. Hooker with his arms waving blurted, “We rent ad space!” (
Translation: we have to keep changing the description because not everyone is as gullible as our affiliates)
This fundamental error in terminology has led to trouble – as nowhere has anyone been able to find Banners Broker as an advertising company, because they ain’t. (
Translation: it's a ponzi)
So, in the early days, it was hard to find any information on Banners' Broker's business model... and anyone looking in the online advertising industry couldn't find them! (
Translation: it's a ponzi) The few pioneers running this booming operation didn't supply even the membership with adequate data to fully understand what the company did! (
Translation: it's a ponzi)
And where there is no data, people will invent it. (
Translation: we know, it's what "we" do)
So, in the cynical eyes of blogosphere pundits, Banners Broker became the most elaborate scheme in history... (
Translation: anyone with half a brain could see it's a ponzi)
This felony was then compounded by affiliate miscues. (
Translation: told you it was your fault, not ours)
Banners Broker is not registered in the United States, which means that affiliates cannot advertise in the US or hold public meetings. Private meetings fine, but no ads and no public meetings. (
Translation: 60 years of not being able to bend and pick up the soap doesn't appeal to Raj)
One smarter-than-the-rules affiliate did just that – ran ads in newspapers, and caused endless trouble. (
Translation: those pesky affiliates are at it again)
The trouble caused as a result is that the US Securities and Exchange Commission asked its Canadian counterpart to look into Banners Broker. (
Translation: we're screwed)
David noted that we should know about this as it would soon be plastered across the blogosphere,(
Translation: we're screwed, but we'll blame the bloggers this time) so we needed to have the truth.
Now, mind you, this has got to be a pain the proverbial ass, but David didn’t tell us this because we asked for it – he was straightforward in relating this story – and that BB’s legal team was all over it. (
Translation: we posted a nasty message on their Facebook page )
They are showing the agency exactly how BB makes money and is a legitimate business – albeit, a unique one. (
Translation: we're screwed)
Banners Broker clearly has nothing to hide. (
Translation: we're screwed)
The point David made was that BB is not an advertising company – BB is an on-line ad space rental broker. Simply. (
Translation: it's a ponzi)
So, anyone looking won’t find BB working with advertisers placing ads. They will be hard pressed to find BB at all because they fit between the front line broker (who deals with the advertisers and website owners) and BB's own affiliates. (
Translation: even I don't believe this crap, and I've written it)
There's no other company that is in this particular niche... (
Translation: everyone else is in jail)
One has to be really deep inside the industry to see this. (
Translation: no-one understands the business except the bunch of failed used car salesmen and double glazing scammers that promote BB)
So, the issue is this: Do legitimate companies ever have legal issues? Yes, they do; let’s take Amway – not close to a scam - but a successful decades old business. (
Translation: we're screwed)
Have they ever had legal issues? Yep, they have. Ever get shut down? Yep, in England… (
Translation: we're screwed)
Are they still there doing business as usual? Yep and bigger than ever. (
Translation: we're screwed)
Clearly there's a need for their product and their model works. (
Translation: eventually someone will point out we have no product)
Other such companies, conducting business in countries across the world, have also had such issues. Some Multi-level marketing companies won’t do business in some countries due to legal quirks. (
Translation: quirks like what they're doing being illegal)
Mexico for example – not saying Mexico doesn’t host MLM companies - they do, but at least one very legitimate MLM won’t do business in Mexico for reason’s legal. (
Translation: have you ever seen the inside of a Mexican jail?)
Note, Banners Broker, though not multi-level marketing, does have a referral aspect that bears similarity. (
Translation: that quacking sound is a duck)
The tendency in the sensational world of the Internet, is to consider the charged guilty before being tried. Hence if the Internet is where you get your news from, Banners Broker is already pronounced guilty by authors that have not chosen their facts properly. (
Translation: and here you are reading an article on the internet...)
The first missed fact is that Banners Broker pays its affiliates from advertising space rental revenue, which no one else does, which is a novel idea… (
Translation: we're in need more recruits, or we're screwed)
Possibly because some just don’t do their homework fully or because they are really just trying to make money pounding a keyword, we have a bit of a kangaroo court online. (
Translation: we're screwed)
The good point is when the legitimacy of the model is recognized – the dust will settle and Banners Broker will continue to grow. (
Translation: we're screwed)
That’s my prediction. (
Translation: we're screwed)
And let me not forget – the tour continued... Stellar Point's Tech Support team was there, computers monitors ablaze, on line with affiliates handling bugs. (
Translation: no bugger was there and nothing was plugged in)
The ID approval line was quietly reviewing submissions - and all seemed normal - except there were still wires being pulled through the ceiling indicating that there are still things to finish and perfect. (
Translation: are you buying this crap?)
And last but not least, David ushered his executive assistant to the conference table and had her answer all manner of technical accounts questions. (
Translation: it was Grant D'eall in a wig)
She gracefully fielded queries with her laptop open, deftly adjusting accounts right there for any affiliate present that had any bugs. (
Translation: "she" had the only functioning computer in the place)
So, what’s my overall impression of the Stellar Point trip?
Banners Broker with Stellar Point is coming to grips with its growth and its position in the world as a new business model that is a bit too good for some to fathom.(
Translation: it's a ponzi) That’s a large challenge – it’s just a matter of continuing to provide a needed product to its affiliates (
Translation: our affiliates are our only customers) and lots of fertile ad space for the advertisers that Banners Broker never really sees... (
Translation: because they don't exist)
While battling the ignorance that always accompanies something new. (
Translation: people pointing out that this is a ponzi is beginning to hurt)
That said, the game of business goes on and may the producer of a valuable final product continue to win. (
Translation: we have no product) Stellar Point is a strategic addition to the Banners Broker team. (
Translation: the lease runs out on the furniture on Friday)
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Originally Posted by Just_Passing
It makes me laugh how all affiliates see this as a business! I've run a buisness, retail. Its hard work! How can they possibly believe that there 'business' is sitting on there arses for ten minutes a day and clicking on a mouse for a few times on different coloured panels can constitute anything other than a SCAM/CON? 
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