TennisNinja
Hall of Fame
All marketing is a scam to you then isn't it Peter. Because the kids always ask their parents for the latest toys, games, etc.
So are the cute little girls selling Girl Scout cookies each year outside the grocery store. My kids beg me for those too
Parenthood is full of psychological scams everyday. It's really not evil, just life.
First of all, I have kids, been around many other kids, not one begs for girl scout cookies when we see the girls at the store.....the adults are asked by the scouts, and say yes or no as they walk past. Also, girl scout cookies (or the latest toys TennisNinja) don't ask for your parents credit card numbers, don't require obligated purchases, and don't have compliant after complaint when people try to cancel the service. That was the worst analogy of all time.
ADNA is a scam, pure and simple. Its not a sponsorship and they make it tough to cancel on purpose. Now please stop embarrassing yourself and learn some basics about life. If you have reached your age and don't know enough basic science and math to tell a double helix from an infinity sign, or how to protect yourself from marketing schemes that have been around in various forms for over 40 years, it is time to pay attention to things a little better.
a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation <an insurance scam>
Above from Merriam-Webster. Your concept of a scam is incorrect.
First of all, I have kids, been around many other kids, not one begs for girl scout cookies when we see the girls at the store.....the adults are asked by the scouts, and say yes or no as they walk past. Also, girl scout cookies (or the latest toys TennisNinja) don't ask for your parents credit card numbers, don't require obligated purchases, and don't have compliant after complaint when people try to cancel the service. That was the worst analogy of all time.
ADNA is a scam, pure and simple. Its not a sponsorship and they make it tough to cancel on purpose. Now please stop embarrassing yourself and learn some basics about life. If you have reached your age and don't know enough basic science and math to tell a double helix from an infinity sign, or how to protect yourself from marketing schemes that have been around in various forms for over 40 years, it is time to pay attention to things a little better.
The commitment works both ways so it should be difficult to cancel. This isn't like a mortgage that you can just up and walk away from your financial obligation (don't get me started on that topic). Seriously, if someone likes the clothes but not the plan, than pay full retail and buy it online. Sounds fair to me.
ADNA is merely mitigating risk by asking for a commitment and applying discounts based on a commitment and results. What you refer to as a scam I would label as a subscription plan. It's a sound business strategy for a startup for many reasons. I'm curious...why do you consider it a scam? Because it's not free?
Walk around any junior tournament and it's clear that the plan is being executed with success. Evan is a great guy, absolutely loves tennis, and spends a lot of time with the kids at tournaments. And you have to admit, the ADNA bus is way cool.
If you think it's a scam, don't buy it.
P.S. And in case you were wondering, my kids don't wear ADNA.
Walk around any junior tournament and it's clear that the plan is being executed with success. Evan is a great guy, absolutely loves tennis, and spends a lot of time with the kids at tournaments. And you have to admit, the ADNA bus is way cool.
What made you so angry and bitter TCF? Wow, you are sounding crazier than Number 1Coach (sorry Number1) with better grammar.
I haven't actually seen anyone post here that uses ADNA (not speculates like you) that they had all kinds of trouble. On the contrary, the people that actually have ADNA that post here like it. There are several prominent coaches across the country that use it as well. But why listen to them when you can go into a tirade over a subject that apparently shouldn't mean that much to you? Maybe those perfect kids of yours actually did something wrong (oh no!) and nagged you?
I'm sorry, I know, your kids are perfect. You are a perfect coach. You are a perfect dad. Let us all worship you. When you try so hard to present this view on the outside, there is something covered up on the inside.
All I did was mix up a helix and infinity (infinite, ha!) sign, but I could laugh about that. Sorry you are so unhappy now. Or did someone steal your username? This is just really manic behavior from you.
Keep bashing the "scam" as good or bad - PR is PR. I know many kids that just love their ADNA. Last 14s national in San Antonio had 4 boys in the semi's all wearing ADNA.
TCF - you have a clothing deal with somebody else?![]()
It is bigger with the younger kids up to the 14's.
I don't see the older kids ( 16's or 18's ) wearing it as much.
The question is will the younger kids keep wearing it as they get older,
or will they emulate the older kids and not wear it as much?
I am betting on the second.
A dad of a 14 year old who is a ranked 2 star and "sponsored"
was complaining that the company had lost its coolness....
It is bigger with the younger kids up to the 14's.
I don't see the older kids ( 16's or 18's ) wearing it as much.
The question is will the younger kids keep wearing it as they get older,
or will they emulate the older kids and not wear it as much?
I am betting on the second.
A dad of a 14 year old who is a ranked 2 star and "sponsored"
was complaining that the company had lost its coolness....
More scientific findings from tennis5. Look at their website, they have many 16-18's on their "Select Team"
Speaking of "Select", I could not find the word sponsorship on their website anywhere. Maybe I'm missing something and you could show it to us.
I am stating what I SEE at 14 and 16 year old tournaments.
My info is what other parents are talking about at the national
and local tournaments. They are saying their boys are sponsored.
So let us know what you observe at the tourneys with your
kids... and report back - ok.
Its a scam. The kids are told they are sponsored which taps into their ego. Parents, many of which do not know much about it or who want to placate their kids sign up. Monthly fee...so far, not great, pretty skeevy, but not yet a scam.
Now try to cancel. Oh my, we didn't get your letter to cancel...it didn't go to the right address....it was not certified....since it arrived a day later than the cut off date there is a $30 fee....oh you don't agree with the fee, we charge another month, now you owe us even more. How did my account incur all these sub charges??
In many cases parents have had to battle it out for months with their credit card companies.
The scam is not the apparel, its the system in place to make the cancellation process very difficult and incur more finance charges, etc. This and the fact it is not a sponsorship in any real way is filthy.
By the way, a certain chain of $10 fitness clubs uses the same exact methods to make cancellation very tricky so more charges are incurred while you think you have cancelled correctly.
Ask yourself why I have heard many complaints about this apparel company vs all the others? Ask yourself why one health club chain has 200 complaints on the internet about billing while another same size chain has maybe 10?
I deal with lots of parents, kids, coaches.....this one company stands out for the numerous issues I personally hear.
Its a scam. The kids are told they are sponsored which taps into their ego. Parents, many of which do not know much about it or who want to placate their kids sign up. Monthly fee...so far, not great, pretty skeevy, but not yet a scam.
Now try to cancel. Oh my, we didn't get your letter to cancel...it didn't go to the right address....it was not certified....since it arrived a day later than the cut off date there is a $30 fee....oh you don't agree with the fee, we charge another month, now you owe us even more. How did my account incur all these sub charges??
In many cases parents have had to battle it out for months with their credit card companies.
The scam is not the apparel, its the system in place to make the cancellation process very difficult and incur more finance charges, etc. This and the fact it is not a sponsorship in any real way is filthy.
By the way, a certain chain of $10 fitness clubs uses the same exact methods to make cancellation very tricky so more charges are incurred while you think you have cancelled correctly.
Ask yourself why I have heard many complaints about this apparel company vs all the others? Ask yourself why one health club chain has 200 complaints on the internet about billing while another same size chain has maybe 10?
I deal with lots of parents, kids, coaches.....this one company stands out for the numerous issues I personally hear.
Amazing how you keep bashing this company - year after year.
My son has been a member for a couple of years and I can assure you that not only do they send the products that you are promised - every pack includes numerous bonus items - extra shirts and shorts, hoodie, custom shirt, travel bags, etc. etc. - that makes the deal even better.
I also have several friends that found they reeived more clothes than they needed and all they had to do was email to the company or Evan to cancel - no questions asked!
If you also bother to learn something about their program, you will find that you do not have to sign up for their annual program. They offer a simple starter pack that you can get at the same discount.
As for financial informaiton - are you kidding me??? What does Head, Wilson, Prince and the other company ask for when you buy one of their packs?
Also, when look around at this forum and you will find that kids are claiming their are sponsored whenever they qualify for a discounted pack from again Head, Wilson, etc. Why? Because they have to be a certain caliber - ranking - to be offered the pack and as far as the kids go, they call that being sponsored.
Personally I love these guys. Not every kid gets to travel with a coach. When was the last time you heard of an apparel company taking the time to sit down with your kid following a bad loss at a super national to give encouragement and motivation - thank you Evan. You will probably find a way to call that a scam too - I for one found it to be priceless.
Finally - If you can find a way to stop companies to exploit the "Nag Factor" let me know. My daughter can not stop nagging me about buying her Lulu Lemon - talk about expensive apparel.
They DO pick out certain kids and families to take care of in regions, its part of the trick to recruit the other kids who get taken advantage of. We have plenty of lawyers whose kids take lessons down here, I think I will talk to a few about a possible class action suit.
What a shame you posted this. I had loved your information on Stefan Kozlov and how you went to bat for him when BB tried to imply he was lying about his age. I had thought of you as a good poster. Now you sound like another gullible tennis parent of a lower level player who got hooked by these guys.
But you have no credibility when you mention Head, Wilson, Prince. TOTALLY DIFFERENT model than this company. Don't lump them in with these creeps. I know way more coaches than you do, way more tennis parents, way more tennis kids at all levels. The amount of complaints vs these guys is HUGE. The complaints of the other companies zero. Their goal is the continual program, not the starter packs and you know that.
I have a file from one parent who spent 6 MONTHS, sent 10 letters, 15 phone calls, dozens of emails to cancel a deal. It was cancelled only after the mom hired an attorney. You tell me about ONE family that went through that with Head, Wilson, or Prince....just ONE.
Like I said....mob bosses. Their supporters are rapid and nasty. It is a SCAM. They DO pick out certain kids and families to take care of in regions, its part of the trick to recruit the other kids who get taken advantage of.
Myself and other coaches in our group have used our personal influence to notify 100s of parents about the scam. And we will continue to do so.
Thanks to posts like yours I will now quadruple my efforts to notify the tennis community about these creeps. Thanks for motivating me and firing me up. I had backed off a little on them....now I will go hog wild against them. I don't like scammers who take advantage of tennis kids and their parents. And now I will go back on the offensive, but much, much harder.
I won't even read any more posts on this subject. Its not worth my time as those who are fooled are fooled. Wasted energy to try to bother with them. Better use of my time to keep as many people away from these guys as possible. We have plenty of lawyers whose kids take lessons down here, I think I will talk to a few about a possible class action suit.
This is an emotional issue during a slam, because people take their junior apparel packages pretty seriously.
Thanks to posts like yours I will now quadruple my efforts to notify the tennis community about these creeps. Thanks for motivating me and firing me up. I had backed off a little on them....now I will go hog wild against them. I don't like scammers who take advantage of tennis kids and their parents. And now I will go back on the offensive, but much, much harder.
I won't even read any more posts on this subject. Its not worth my time as those who are fooled are fooled. Wasted energy to try to bother with them. Better use of my time to keep as many people away from these guys as possible. We have plenty of lawyers whose kids take lessons down here, I think I will talk to a few about a possible class action suit.
My kids deal is 100%. Irrelevant though to the fact that TCF is way off base.
That's great! And I'm sure it's well deserved. Every penny helps.
The newly appointed CEO came from Swoosh country which bodes well for the company. I expect them to continue on an upward path.
I think so, too, but not directly upward. Too many variables in their reputation and too many variables in the market.
I'm feeling their path will be kind of a double spiral with two parallel lines, kind of like a double helix.
Well, someone said the stuff is cool.
Tennis Coach FLA said it was not.
I said it was ugly, worse than Nike and adidas.
Then things got ugly.
TCFLA has had some bad experiences with ADNA. Scam-baggery.
Others have not. Better Business Bureau?
You never really know. REading everything there is to read here probably does not scratch the surface.
I personally stand by the ugliness of the ADNA line(s), and I generally make fun of the 'culture' of jr tennis.
Anyway, chalkflewup, there were hurt feelings and threats...
lawyers mentioned...
allegations alligatored, crocodiled and gila monstered.
Ignore buttons pressed, to no avail.
General keyboard warrior tendencies and fanboyism.
This is an emotional issue during a slam, because people take their junior apparel packages pretty seriously. And we're in the midst of a slam, so, just sayin', it's pretty amazing and epic and epic and amazing (I really just wanted to hammer those words into the ground, that's all).