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

3 Comments

jenniferb5314d ago

Honestly, did anyone ever follow up with you after those meetings? I mean, that's the whole point of networking, right? It sounds like the organizer was just using everyone to build up his own list of people to sell to. I'd be pretty ticked off wasting my time and money like that too.

finleycooper14d ago

Tried a similar group in Southfield back in 2019, three hundred bucks for six months and it was basically a sales floor with bagels. The guy running it spent half the time talking about his real estate side hustle while everyone else just traded business cards that went straight in the trash. Chamber of commerce has been way better for actual leads and you don't get the hard sell every five minutes.

amybarnes14d ago

Bagels and a sales pitch, what a deal, sign me up for the next one. Sounds like they charged three hundred bucks just to hand out business cards that make better trash can liners than leads. Real estate side hustle guy probably spent more time talking to himself than actually helping anyone.