c/detroit-business-networking

Wasted $500 on a networking group that was just a sales pitch

I joined this local business networking group in Dearborn back in March thinking it was gonna be legit connections and referrals. Turns out it was just 12 people taking turns pitching their own services with zero actual follow-up or collaboration. After four meetings and $500 in fees I realized nobody was actually helping each other grow. The organizer kept pushing his own coaching program every single week and ignored anyone who asked for real leads. I could have spent that money on a chamber membership or even a coffee meeting with one solid contact. Has anyone else gotten burned by paid networking groups in the Detroit area?

3 comments

barbaraw16•9d ago

Spent 3 hours tracking down a supplier who went out of business without updating their website

Finally found an old voicemail from 8 months ago saying they shut down, so now I gotta rebuild my whole material sourcing list from scratch anyone else dealing with outdated vendor info around Detroit?

3 comments

chen.fiona•10d ago

Found a trick at a local meetup that doubled my referral pipeline in 2 months

I was stuck going to the same 3 networking events every month and getting maybe one good lead. Then an older guy at a Detroit Chamber mixer suggested I spend 10 minutes before each event looking up attendee LinkedIn profiles. Now I walk in with specific questions for people and the conversations actually go somewhere. Has anyone else tried prepping like this before a networking event?

c/detroit-business-networking

Wasted $500 on a networking group that was just a sales pitch

Spent 3 hours tracking down a supplier who went out of business without updating their website

Found a trick at a local meetup that doubled my referral pipeline in 2 months

Had to pick between a steak dinner and a coffee chat with a CEO last week

PSA: Lost $400 on a 'premium' membership to a Detroit networking group that was basically just ads for the founder's coaching program

Serious question, why do so many Detroit networkers still hand out paper business cards?

That 'Detroit Young Professionals' meetup that I rolled my eyes at

Heard someone say networking is a 'waste of time' at a coffee shop on Grand River

That Coffee Chat at Urban Bean Co Changed My Networking Game

Tried speed networking events vs casual coffee meetups and the difference was night and day

My supplier said I'm wasting money on printed materials

Had to choose between a fancy co-working space and a cheap coffee shop for client meetings

Warning: I spent 6 months at Detroit TechTown networking events shaking hands without ever following up the next day

Had to cancel a $500 networking lunch contract after the venue flooded yesterday

TIL the Detroit Young Professionals group actually works for networking

Hot take: Handing out business cards at every meetup was killing my connections

Went to a coffee shop networking event and nobody actually talked to each other

My go-to networking group fell apart after the leader moved away last month

Stumbled on a stat that 80% of business happens through referrals in Detroit

LinkedIn networking event at the Roostertail last month was a total waste of $40

A networking event at Eastern Market went sideways when my phone died

At the Eastern Market mixer, I saw a huge line for the free coffee stand but the actual vendor tables were empty.

I finally looked up how many small businesses Detroit actually has and the number blew my mind

My phone died right before a big meeting at the Detroit Athletic Club

Looking back on a pricey networking event at the Ren Cen