I can’t stress this enough. How many times have you seen bonus abuse?
I’m talking about gurus or wannabe gurus using bonuses as a way to almost
force you into buying their product.
Look…
The way I see it, we already have enough on our plates in this day and age.
For those of us who are trying to make a living online, I believe this bonus
abuse is hurting the customer more than helping and that is a crime in itself.
Isn’t it our job as sellers to help solve problems?
Then why are we creating more problems instead of helping our customers
get more out of our product or service rather than clutter their hard drives
with more “stuff” that they’re likely never going to use just to entice a sale?
I’m not saying a bonus is bad. It’s just being abused. If your product is “great”
to begin with then all these so called “bonuses” are not necessary. A bonus is
supposed to be a compliment to the original product / service and not a means
to make the user feel forced into buying for fear of losing out on both.
I see this a lot recently both in internet marketing and affiliate marketing where
bonuses are being inflated and stacked to record numbers just to entice a sale.
Well I am sick of it. Stop bonus abuse. It’s not necessary. If you offer a great value
to your customers and help them get what you promised out of your product or
service then you have already given them the “BEST” bonus of all.
Let me know what YOU think about it.
Chris
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
Chris= Shame on you! You want to ruin all their fun? It seems to me that lately any Guru with a well known name can “launch” any kind of crappy product or “relaunch” a former crappy product and just set back and watch all the other gurus try to “out-bonus” the others! I agree with you, it has gotten ridiculous. Glad to see a prominent IM with a brain! You Rock. Les
Hi Chris,
Very interesting post and I do agree with you that the “Mega” Bonus trick is being overdone. Almost to the point that it takes away from the quality of the main product being offered.
Unfotunately, it has been going on for a long time and people almost expect a slew of bonuses with a product offer.
I hope the “smart ones” out there ( and you know who you are) can sift through all the bonus hype and see the product for the value it brings.
I also hope that people will buy the product from the marketer who has been providing outstanding help and services to them over time – i.e. the one marketer they have come to trust and therefore deserves the business. This allows that marketer to continue to offer great advise, products and services to their loyal subscribers.
I think this is the way things “should be” ..unfortunately, that’s not how it is or has been lately !!
Harry
Well there are two sides to it.
Yes there are a bunch of people just stacking bonuses for various launches that have nothing to do with the product being promoted.
However, if you are offering a bonus that helps the product actually be consumed you can improve the value and give the customer an edge.
The real problem is the promotion for money only not picking a product that resonates with you that you feel strongly will help the customer and not just because it is a paycheck for you.
The big launch thing is the real problem and causes the need for a bonus to set yourself apart from the 500 people mailing on the same day. Would love to see more people go to rolling launches instead of the big mega launch but as long as it keeps working well and it does it is not likely to happen.
Chris, you’ve hit the nail on the head. I will admit that I have bought products with dozens of bonuses that not only clutter my computer but have prevented me from moving forward due to being my original focus with too much information. To much information can stop people in their tracks. I would like to see this stopped also.
Thanks for all your comments guys.
Les – Not trying to ruin any fun because I’m not having it. Fact is, if you have a product that is great then you really need no bonuses.
Harry – I agree that it’s been overdone and done for a long time which is why we need to put a stop to it. Ultimately we’re only hurting those we claim to want to help.
I feel it’s our duty as marketers / product owners..whatever…to say that it is a mistake to push bonuses on you in order to sell you something. Fact is, if you have a great product and you are truly solving a problem and have a solution, there is no need to throw in these “so called bonuses”.
Mike – I agree as well with the bonus stacking issue, we can offer a bonus that actually compliments the offer without taking away from the initial product / service which is my point.
Now it’s almost customary to bog down the customer with 100 upsells and downsells and bonuses in order to make a single sale.
I know why it’s done and it’s all about conversions, but the problem is when you are selling something to solve a problem, you don’t want to create another one for the customer.
Some will say that’s business but I disagree! I think that if you are “Genuine” and have a real interest in helping others, then this madness of “Forced” selling is not necessary and in fact in injustice to your customers anyhow.
Pam – We CAN stop this, how about ordering something for its true value and refusing to buy from those who try and confuse you with so called bonuses designed to do one thing and that is make them cash.
I’m not saying not to buy from an affiliate who is recommending a product or service, especially if that person is sharing something with you that compliments you or will move your business forward. I am saying that you SHOULD NOT buy from these guys who offer huge bonuses which is a clear statement that “I don’t really care about you…I care about my commission check!”.
Chris
Chris,
I agree with you 100%. It’s amazing how many of these gurus kill the value of the package their providing bonuses for just so people can buy from them. It overloads the buyer with so many things, they end up using none of the stuff. Just more hard drive ornaments.
Guess why would they care. As long as they get their 50% to 75% cut, that’s all that matters to them.
Shame on you guys!
Thought you were here to help, not figure out every under-handed, dirty tactic you can to stuff your pockets with commissions.
You’re right Kenneth, so many “gurus” are killing their own products and doing a dis-service to those who could really use it. But due to information overload, the only thing they are doing successfully is hurting the person that they’re supposed to be helping.
Don’t say “Shame on you guys”…because I’m NOT one of them
But certainly those who abuse their customers should be ashamed. They know who they are.
Chris
Hmmm… interesting that adding value by providing an incredible bonus package is seen as manipulative. Is this a case of people just looking for something to complain about?
As a marketers, I’ve been harmed exactly twice by offering a bonus that was too large.
Incidentally, I’ve never been harmed by being offered a bonus that was too big. The thought is ridiculous to me, and I reject it as a premise as the purpose of this post… but I digress…
Here are the two times I was harmed by offering too large a bonus.
In an early bird promo for an event, the bonus package was so large, 600 people signed up for their $77 tickets… and 300 of them didn’t show for the event. Cost per head was $267…
Second, someone didn’t buy a product from me once when I was on stage. He said he didn’t want all the stuff in the package, and could he just get one item (a bonus item). I was the top seller at that event… so I guess my bonuses did work … but not in the desired way on that one customer.
Well…
If the bonuses are quality AND relevant…
Then I see it as adding value.
Yes, if product’s good, it’ll still sell…
But I wldn’t say it’s not “necessary”
At least not in a sales perspective…
I mean…
We all need food and clothes…
But you’ll still see coupons and discounts
Even rebates for “free” products
Does that mean the products are bad?
Are the stores/restaurants being abusive?
Again, if it’s a relevant offer…
It brings value to the customers.
They either get more for same price
Or they get it for less.
It’s marketing…
If done right to take care of your fans…
I don’t see anything wrong w/ it
Thanks Donna and Simon for your comments!
Donna – You know I love you and you’re a woman so “You’re always right!”
Simon – I’m not suggesting that bonuses themselves are all bad and not needed or can’t be used correctly, what I am saying is that recently more and more, bonuses are being used in an overkill fashion with no regard for the customer.
If it’s relevant and brings value to the original offer then yes, use it. But don’t abuse it. Meaning don’t offer a ton of bonuses that will do nothing more than push the customer further away from the original reason they purchased xyz product.
Instead, take more time in getting those who do buy from you and trust you to the end result that you’re promising in your sales copy.
Chris
Chris,
I guess I am the lone person to disagree.
Well, I don’t completely disagree because heaping on a lot of worthless bonuses can be dishonest (although it can be honest also).
I don’t think the purpose of the bonuses really has to be supportive or even related although I think they are much more valuable and help sales if they are.
But the purpose of the bonuses is really to increase the value of the package so as to take away the natural price resistance people have (almost everyone wants everything for free!)
If you find a car you really like but it costs $30,000 and that is more than you feel comfortable with then you likely won’t buy it.
But if I say that it comes with a diamond ring worth $10,000, a $5,000 Amazon gift certificate and an $4,500 Hawaii vacation the person now is not looking at the purchase of the car but the value of the entire deal.
None of the “bonuses” are related to buying a car and the person may not have been looking for anything but a car but now they need to evaluate the complete package (or which the car is only one component) to see if they are not only filling the need for a car but also a need elsewhere in their life (like “what do I get the wife for our 20th anniversary?”)
I actually like the added options because it enables me to get something I needed but might not have gotten and fills in other needs I had that I hadn’t addressed yet.
Can this be abused? Yes.
Is this abused? Sure it is, isn’t everything?
Just beause something isn’t always used honestly or in a good fashion does not mean it is wrong (be it an action, a concept, a method, etc.)
It doesn’t seem fair to me to punish everyone for the sins of a few and, really, after all, everyone is an intelligent, thinking and responsible adult.
Personally, another reason why I love these is because some of the bonuses are really good (maybe not applicable to the product but really, really good).
I’ve purchased products that I wasn’t particularly interested in because it contained one or more bonuses that I really needed at the time to help me grow my business and the cost of the product was less than what I would pay the bonus (or its equivalent) that I needed.
I am not the only one who has done that and without these over-the-top bonuses this wouldn’t be possible.
None of what I say invalidates what you are saying because some of them are pretty bad and meant to trick people into getting something they don’t need or can’t use.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t another side to it and it seems incorrect to just say that they are all bad and shouldn’t be done.
This “bonus abuse” can be very beneficial to a person and a business if you use them properly (both as a buyer and a seller).
Personally, I don’t buy something if I don’t have a specific reason and an action plan for its use but I have and will buy things even if I don’t want them if I can get specific value from a bonus. The rest can sit on my hard disk forever because I am better off with the part of the product I did use than I would have ben without it; anything else that might have been included is at best “gravy” and at worst, completely forgotten until I either need it or need the disk space.
Your thoughts?
David
Some definite good points there David and by all means Thank You for your thoughts here
I couldn’t agree more! I’m not saying I’m right 100% about this, there are two sides to every story and yes, some instances this bonus bonanza can be beneficial to the user.
I suggested just as you did that the customer or person who is buying xyz, truly look and evaluate the offer and bonuses and figure out for themselves if this is going to move them forward or take them backwards.
I’m all about moving forward!
Chris
In today’s financial climate, “even the good times are bad”… So more important it has to be all about value and them the customer, yes we all know in these hard times people will still spend money on good ideas that excite them “Yes I can Do that mind-set” at most, this is why everyone online should now more than ever focus on the ideas that are providing the would be customer with the value of ease thinking outside the box as an entrepreneur.
Are our ideas exciting, delivering value, making customers buy from us again and again? Our business should be all about value. We can’t just throw up a website, kick back, and expect people to buy in these crises times’ moneys tight! feelings of frustration are running high why pile up on them with tacky bonuses; ultimately a business that provides point and click value with some exciting ideas. There’s never been a better time to get started dangling the carrot by helping someone else’s finances and getting them started with there own online business.
All my best to you and your carrots
Phillip Skinner
Thanks for sharing that Phillip. Ultimately we know a good deal when we see one. As David said though, there are exception to the rules and I completely agree.
If we all just take a step back and truly evaluate the offer and or bonuses against what will truly move us forward then we’ll all be better off.
No more impulse buying because something is hyped up or a gazillion big name marketers are pushing xyz. Review the offer, take into account the bonus if any, and ask if this purchase will move you forward or will this get you stuck.
Chris
Excellent post, Chris. Obviously you touched a nerve, because you got some great, well thought out comments.
I’m kind of on the fence with this one. I see the value of offering a mega-bonus if it truly related to the original product. I have seen some marketers throw everything they own, including the kitchen sink to sell a product.
In a sense it does indeed de-value the original product. But I must confess to being guilty of buying a product, just to get the bonuses.
Some marketers do really de-value the entire process, but in an open market place, you have no control over what people charge or the bonuses offered.
I believe, and maybe I am misguided, if you offer a great porduct, with a great value, bonuses can really increase the value.
Chris, you have made a valid point. There are just too many bonuses being offered with products that one ends being distracted from using the purchased product effectively. Also, I tend to be put off sometimes from purchasing a product because there are many bonuses that I don’t require.
Chris,
I have read over most of the posts above and I don’t see any that mention the reality of the situation, which is these guys are all vying for the “pot of gold” for themselves. If they are the “top” affiliate they usually win some big bonus such as a Ferrari, Plasma TV….you name it, it’s being awarded to the biggest seller. So technically they are buying their way by offering the “best” bonus to promote their affiliate products. I’m new at this but I don’t think I’m too far off on this one, what do you think?
Live, Love, Laugh
Linda Curtis
Hi Chris
Great post. It’s nice to be offered a bonus or two but I think that internet marketers need to use their brains a little when it comes to buying products and really look at the product and only buy what they really can use. To buy on the strength of the bonus is impulse buying.
Michelle Jayes
Hi Chris:
Very good post. You know your right, my hard drive is full. But they have made business for others that they don’t even get commission on. Now I got buy a $200.00 pocket dive disk to put it all on. They have accomplished getting all my investment money and filling me up things I don’t no what to do with. but it isn’t all bad they stopped my impulse buying.
Thank You! “For a Place to Vent.”
Larry Seum – Texas
Thanks everyone for each of your own points of view. No one answer is right or wrong because ultimately it is you who must decided if the product being offered can stand on its own two legs without the bonuses.
Not to say you can’t buy a product only for the bonus because as stated earlier, some have bought the main product only because of a bonus so the main product in reality was the bonus.
It all boils down do moving your business forward…
Will this purchase move you forward or keep you in a stand still?
I started this post because I became upset about the way affiliates and gurus have used bonuses in such a way that it actually takes away from the main product.
Not to mention that with a huge amount of bonuses (good or bad, related or not) can actually have a very negative affect on the customer. Often times leaving them worse off then before they landed on your copy.
I know I hit a nerve and honestly, I’m not afraid to call it like it is
While this may not make me the most popular choice among the “gurus”, I am not in this to win any guru popularity contest either.
Thank you all for your thoughts and comments, they are much appreciated and welcomed no matter your stance on the issue. I think we can agree that no matter what position you hold with this post, the bottom line is helping those we come across keep moving forward!
Chris
First of all, Donna’s not always right because she’s a woman. It’s simply because she’s Donna
Anyway, the bonus wars are frustrating for affiliates who want to promote a launch and get squashed by the big bonus swooping in, and the encouragement for buyers to “clear their cookies” in order to get the bigger bonus.
It does clutter up the hard drives, and sometimes confuses the buyer if the product is not relevant.
However, if done correctly, a bonus will add value and perhaps encourage someone to make a buying decision that will in the end help them. If they don’t buy the product at all, it’s possible their inaction hurts them. If so, the bonus does a service.
Linda Curtis is absolutely right, and glad to see someone pick up on it. Almost all the bonuses being offered that you are pointing to Chris are offered as part of an attempt to win a contest.
Mike Paetzold has it right as well – more rolling launches are necessary (and usually quite profitable), and eliminate the over the top bonuses. Instead, if someone offers a bonus over a period of time, they are usually more in tune with what the customers actually need to consume a product.
Bob Jenkins
Thank you for the comment Bob…always great to hear from you!
As I said, everyone here has valid points and no one is right or wrong what ever side you go with.
As Bob stated and Mike, More rolling launches are needed and if we’d only use bonuses that are relevant to the main product and do not over power the main product, I think we’ve got the best possible solution for the customer.
Our job is simple…
Find the problem and offer a solution. Plain and simple. When bonus wars and bonus abuse occur, we’re doing our customers an injustice and only setting them back further rather than moving them forward!
Chris
Hey, Chris-
Wow! Popular post!
Good to get this thought out there… I am really of the opinion that $1483 dollars “worth” of products that are stacked on the end of a sales letter for a $37 E-book pretty much says it all for the e-book…
Unless the ‘bonuses’ are all related in some way to the product…
Even still, it is this “buy this and get ALL THIS FREE” tactic that ends up hurting more customers than it helps. A new marketer is gonna see all that ’stuff’ and just automatically download it cuz it’s FREE. How in the world can that do anything BUT contribute to Information Overload- ?
If a product is a good product, it should sell on its own. If you have a complementary product you can throw in, throw it in and explain how it relates. Wouldn’t, shouldn’t that be the plan- the style- of a caring marketer?
That always impresses me. What doesn’t impress me is a sales letter with a pile of PLR stuff that everyone already has or things that are sooo outdated they have no business being downloaded ever again… we can do better.
As far as the affiliate bonus craze, I have seen my opinions voiced in other comments here: It is too often just a contest for a super affiliate prize or more notice as an affiliate- I have seen some of the bigger marketers throw in the fine china for a $200 affiliate check. I mean, one guy was giving away ALL of his products for a dang cookie!
If you need to be Top Affiliate so bad that you will diminish the value of your own stuff… you might be sucking up a little too hard!
On the other hand- again, I say that a bonus that directly applies to the product, one that will help the potential purchaser’s experience with what they are considering, can only be viewed as a GOOD thing. I am crazy about Ross Goldberg’s new approach: the teleseminar built around the purchase. He will answer your questions live for you on how to use the product you purchase through his link. Brilliant! Way to go, Ross…
Honestly- a marketer’s approach to their bonus practices can be a telling thing…
Thanks for the great topic, Chris!
Keith deBolt
I have mentions this on my blog before, and it’s a serious problem. The way I see it is this:
Firstly you’re buying a product to learn something new, and those who are bonus whores, and you know who you are, are gong to continue chasing your pipe dream all the way to the next major product launch because you are probably going to end up spending more time looking at all the ridiculous bonuses instead of focusing on the main goal of utilizing the main product you just bought.
If you want to truely master something, you have to focus your efforts in that direction until you accomplish this goal, otherwise as mentioned above you will just continue floating throughlife chasing the next big project.
A big hint I can share is after you purchase any product from someone online, immediately Unsubscribe from their list. Being an Internet marketer myself, this is a disasterous suggestion in that the key to continued riches is mailing your list on a regular basis. If you want to stay informed about any marketer you can just subscribe to their RSS feed which will(if they are in the game for more than just money), be updated on a regular basis.
I recently unsubscribed from every list I was on simply because I need to focus all of my attention on my own goals.
Recently a top marketer released a new product that was very expensive, at the same time he was offering all of the major products he has released recently as bonuses. This alone tells me he doesn’t give a crap about his customers as he exploited them by throwing all these great products he has recently launched to sell yet another product. When is enough enough?
Follow me on Twitter @iPhonedevforum
Hey Keith, long time buddy. You need to email me ok and thanks for the post. Ross doing the teleseminar or webinar thing is a great example of how you can build upon that purchase.
How many times have you bought something and read the instructions or manual and felt dumb?
I get that a LOT and I’m a pretty technical kind of guy! Fact is, it’s much better to leave out these crazy bonuses that do nothing but cause info overload and confusion and focus more on helping your customers use it is what you’re selling…thanks Keith!
Hey Joshua…
Great post man! Pretty much the essence of why I posted here about this. I didn’t read your post but it sounds like I’m NOT the only one who has recognized this as a problem.
Now look, I don’t recommend unsubing from lists regardless of the if it affects anyone’s bottom line.
I encourage those who are on any of my lists to pick one or two guys who you feel actually know what they’re talking about and practice what they preach and unsub from the rest because too much emails and communications from multiple sources also cause one to lose focus and hurt the person on the other end and ultimately, that’s what we need to stay away from.
Listen, I know we do this for money, we couldn’t do what we do without it, but the point is, I believe that if you truly care about your customers, your list, your relationship with other people be it subscribers or other marketers…You OWE it to them and to the customer to find solutions to their problems, not create MORE!
Chris
I am with you all the way. Good on you for putting out there what a lot of us who are bombarded with excessive amounts of product feel. Frankly I stopped downloading a while ago. The stuff generally just collects cyber dust.
In the commercial business world we promote giving customers ‘value add’ bonuses that they really can appreciate not a load of mostly rehashed, recycled IM product.
There is a case for having your customers feel that they have received a bonus ‘of value’. When 6 to 20 are available it cheapens anything that is on offer.
Keep up the good work Chris.
Cheers and applause
Viv Deighton
Hi Chris,
This is a really hot topic and despite the fact that you’ve hit the nail on the head, it seems to have come down mere bonus battles just to win a sale.
Unfortunately for the consumer many of the bonuses are not relevant to the main product and in the end only lead to buyers remorse and a refund.
As I read your post I had to reflect on the bonus page I just put up for a recently launched product.
It doesn’t contain 15 million unrelated products and was designed to add value to the featured product.
Right now Internet Marketing is a lot like the Wild West and if you want to be the last man standing you have to do what’s necessary to compete without hurting the consumer.
Tough Job.
Cheers,
Nando
Hey Viv,
I completely agree with there being a LOT of rehashed crap being used as a OTO or bonus to an existing product…it’s crazy.
And I must say that with this post, I have now “Officially” become hated because the “Guru’s” didn’t want me to publish this information. Come on…we’re not stupid.
A bonus is supposed to be just that…A “Bonus”! A compliment to the original product. One that will add even more value to the original purchase and help the user get even MORE out of the purchase. It’s supposed to be a Win-Win. Remember that Guru’s? Win-Win.
Nando, I’m right there with you buddy. I want to be the biggest affiliate or get my name up there and recognized too…Who doesn’t?
But I think that I can compete just fine by NOT offering these crazy bonus items just to say I had one. I mean, if I don’t have anything to offer that completely will complement the original product then I don’t offer one. Instead I will review the product and if it’s something that I feel will help someone move forward…I recommend it.
What you won’t see me doing in ANY of my launches is stacking a huge amount of bonuses that overkill my main product. I really don’t need a bonus to sell my products…they’re just great on their own!
Chris
I’ve gone both ways on this one … Buying JUST to get a bonus or 2 and then also buying because the added value of the bonuses made it impossible to pass up, though admittedly I STILL have some of those ‘bonuses’ sitting unused – cluttering up my hard drive somewhere. I have also NOT bought because of just Too Many Bonuses! I agree… Stop Bonus Abuse! BonUs Responsibly!
I dont think its called being abusive..if you dont want it dont download it..If you think the products are things that are going to make or help your business get better then sure download if not then done..Alot of people take it to their advantage..and Your one of those people that dont..Its not like their asking for an arm and a leg for what they want..you have to know the right people and the fact of the matter is maybe you dont..
Hey Patricia,
Thanks for the comment. If you bombard a user with too many choices…too much information, statistics show that they will not do anything at all. So yes, it’s abusive.
The only ones who take offense to this are the ones who are doing the abusing. Anyone else who understands how frustrating it is to make a decision when your money is at stake as well as trying to move forward will tell you it’s abuse.
I know a lot of great people and yes, they are the right people to know
Chris
I absolutely agree. My harddrive is so full of stuff that I’ll never have the time to get through and much of which is either duplicates or clones of other bonus stuff. I now only download the material I purchased. I might peek at the bonus “JUNK” but rarely download it!
Great article!
Thanks;
Jaytay800
Oh yeah… I’m fired up about this. Now no offense to my buddies on here, but the feedback from Chris’s customers is what I really paid attention to.
I’m all about stopping this bonus crap. I’ve even bought the domain name (nothing there yet) DeathOfTheBonusPackage.com Not going to sell anything there, I’m just going to put a video about doing rolling launches and integration marketing…
I for one am taking a stand by not participating in launches any longer. A couple of months after the product has launched, I’ll be more than happy to spend a week educating myself and my people about a product, and then promoting it via teleseminars and the like if I feel it is something that my people will need.
I’m getting REALLY strict about this. I’m doing Jordan’s Hall launch right now just because it’s limited and OMG is going to help those techy challenged people.
At any rate, I agree Chris, and I think we can actually help our peeps by educating them about a product to sell it to them, rather than just throwing on the bonuses.
Liz
I think it’s information overload.I love learning new stuff but the rated speed of learning speed for me is medium.I’ll give you my blogg address and I’m going to post a article on it sometime this week.I’m relatively new to all this so I can’t really do more than what I can do.If you know what I mean.
Hi Chris,
THANK YOU! When a launch comes out that I am interested in, I only go with the affiliates that I know will and have helped me in the past regardless if they have a bonus or not. You and Liz T. are two of my favorite people. I trust you completely.
I think it has gotten to be a joke now with who can outdo the others with the bonuses. I’m just a little nobody but if I can see it – why can’t they? I have so many “Gurus” sending me emails daily, (stupid me!) but the second I see that they are promoting the next big launch with a mega bonus, I just delete the email without even opening it. I have lost a lot of respect for some of these gurus because of the heavy selling tactics.
One doesn’t teach honesty and integrity one minute and then try to shove sometimes worthless mega bonuses at you for a commission the next. Hey, I’m all for making a sale. That’s why we’re in this business – right? But I would rather it be because of the worth of the product and because my buyers trust me. Not because I had to bride them into buying it.
Thanks for this post and the opportunity to vent!
Mary
I like to tell you about what I am involved .I don’t like spam and I’m not involved in the bonus feeding frenzy either.I read about them and have purchased one out of interest and I felt cheated about it.What I’d like you see is free with no strings or hidden costs.It’s free. http://www.getthepowerbar.com
which is a forwarded domain name I use.
Ladies and Gentlemen I commend and view all of your replies as good input. Yes Having bonus adds to the Value of any said sales item. Yes there can be an overkill with 6 or 12 or more added bonuses. When I see all the bonuses I scan them to find if they will aid in my Business venture. It distracts from the original sales item. This is just my feelings here yet it seems bonuses can be utilized with great effectiveness. Yet care must be taken not to distract from the main sales approach. Each of you have a realistic and valid point much thinking must be done on this issue. Thanks Tony