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Information on the Shopping Sherlock discontinued direct selling program.
Shopping Sherlock is no longer active as a direct-selling company or business opportunity. The business later operated under the Sherlock Nation name before disappearing from the market.
Original Npros business profile for Shopping Sherlock, preserved below for archival purposes:
Shopping Sherlock was a California-based technology and network-marketing company launched in 2012 by Michael Wiedder through Best In U, Inc. The business grew out of technology acquired from My Shopping Genie, an earlier online-shopping MLM that had ceased operations. After acquiring My Shopping Genie's shopping-platform assets in 2012, Wiedder used the technology as the foundation for Shopping Sherlock. The company operated from Santa Monica, California, and positioned itself as a digital alternative to traditional product-based direct selling.
Shopping Sherlock's primary product was a web application that helped consumers compare prices while shopping online. The application worked alongside major search engines and displayed alternative prices, daily deals, coupons, and other purchasing options. Consumers could use the basic Shopping Sherlock application free of charge, while distributors shared the application with other users and could receive affiliate revenue when those users completed qualifying purchases.
The company expanded beyond online product comparisons to include travel, daily deals, coupons, and mobile shopping. Shopping Sherlock introduced a mobile version that used location information to identify nearby deals and discounts. In August 2013, Best In U announced that Shopping Sherlock had acquired Vi-Tel Wireless, bringing Vi-Tel's independent business owners and telecommunications services into the Shopping Sherlock organization. The expanded offering included wireless, cable, internet, digital-phone, and related home services.
Shopping Sherlock used a binary network-marketing compensation plan. One early enrollment option allowed participants to become Registered Representatives for $19.95. An Independent Sherlock Distributor could purchase the Sherlock System for $239, while a Registered Sherlock Distributor paid approximately $249 and could participate more fully in the compensation program.
Active, qualified distributors could earn $100 for every two Sherlock Systems they personally sold. The compensation plan also included binary team commissions, check-matching bonuses, team-builder bonuses, and other incentives tied to organizational sales and rank. In addition to commissions generated by selling distributor systems, the company promoted affiliate income connected to purchases made through Shopping Sherlock's shopping, coupon, and daily-deal platforms.
Shopping Sherlock reported rapid early growth. In October 2012, the company stated that new distributorships had increased by more than 300% over the preceding three months and that company revenue had risen by more than 50%. These figures were company-reported rather than independently audited, but they illustrate the rapid expansion Shopping Sherlock promoted during its first year.
Beginning around 2015, the business increasingly operated under the Sherlock Nation identity. Shopping Sherlock remained the name of the shopping application, while Sherlock Nation became the broader affiliate and business-opportunity platform. Distributor records show Shopping Sherlock recognition being issued in March 2015 and Sherlock Nation affiliate recognition by September of that year, documenting the transition between the two names.
Shopping Sherlock technology continued under Sherlock Nation for several more years. A revised Shopping Sherlock/Sherlock Nation mobile application entered beta testing in 2016, and the Android application continued receiving updates through at least June 2019. Sherlock Nation maintained an active public profile into 2019 and received a customer review in January 2020, indicating that the successor operation continued beyond the original Shopping Sherlock branding.
Shopping Sherlock is no longer operating as a direct-selling opportunity. The original shoppingsherlock.com domain is now listed for sale rather than hosting the shopping application or distributor program, and the former Sherlock Nation website no longer provides a functioning business-opportunity site.
Company Goals
Shopping Sherlock is owned by Best In U, Inc. Best In U, Inc. has a corporate mission to "be a leader in cause integration and set an example both in the Networking Industry and for corporations worldwide."
Enrollment Options
There are three options for those who want to participate in the Shopping Sherlock compensation plan: 1. Become a Registered Representative for $19.95 (does not allow distribution of free Web Apps); 2. Become an Independent Sherlock Distributor by purchasing a Sherlock System for $239.00, which allows distribution of unlimited free Web Apps and the ability to earn affiliate commissions; 3. Become a Registered Sherlock Distributor by purchasing a Sherlock System and paying a one-time enrollment fee for a total of $249.00. Registered Sherlock Distributors may qualify to participate in all aspects of the compensation plan. Shopping Sherlock Distributors can purchase banner ads, capture pages, customizable flyers, business cards, automated emails and more to promote their business.
Compensation Plan
Shopping Sherlock has a binary compensation plan. Active and qualified Registered Sherlock Distributors earn $100.00 each time they personally sell 2 Sherlock Systems, with no limit. Distributors who build an organization may earn team commissions, check match, team builder bonuses, and stock options, depending on the level they achieve.
Michael Wiedder, CEO
Best In U, Inc. aka Shopping Sherlock, a global direct marketer of innovative internet and mobile based technology solutions announced that on Saturday August 10th 2013 at the Vitel Impact Conference in Houston, TX, it was announced that Shopping Sherlock had completed a deal to acquire Vi-Tel Wireless, LLC with a target date set for September 1st 2013 to complete the acquisition and merger over...
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