Inside the Trump University 'playbooks'

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Nearly 400 pages of Trump University "playbooks" were publicly released Tuesday, detailing aggressive sales techniques and investing strategies taught at the real estate seminar business founded by Donald Trump.

The documents are evidence in a California class action suit -- Art Cohen v. Donald J. Trump -- that alleges the now-defunct Trump University failed to deliver on its promises to provide a premier real estate education with instructors "hand-picked" by Trump. The suit also alleges that the University would "upsell" students from one seminar to more expensive ones.

The order to release the documents was granted by U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel after a request by the Washington Post. Trump's attorneys had fought to keep the playbooks private, on the grounds that they contained trade secrets. Curiel, however, didn't find enough merit in that argument.

And, Curiel noted, there is now public interest in them since Trump "became the front-runner in the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential race, and has placed the integrity of these court proceedings at issue."

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2016/05/31/news/companies/trump-university-playbook-documents/

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Full document release

[PJMcK]

1. And the drip, drip, drip begins! (n/t)

[tonyt53]

2. Operated like most other for-profit schools that popped up in recent years. Most fraudulent.

[elljay]

13. As well as many "personal improvement" groups

The descendants of EST, as an example, use the same techniques for their seminars. They up sell participants to more expensive courses and make them recruit new people ( they are told that they have not progressed in the program if they cannot persuade others to join). Had an acquaintance go totally ballistic on me when I refused to allow my child to participate in such a program ( my child didn't want to go either). It is a common group-think practice and technique.

[scottie55]

3. Trade Secrets On How To Run A Scam And Bilk People

Muuuuust remain secret!!!!

[ProudProgressiveNow]

4. Trump uses that playbook in his campaign... nt

[TeamPooka]

7. clearly. It's all a huuuge pyramid scheme.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Upselling hardly a trade secret

nor is team marketing where they gang up on you and tout their expertise

Just go to a new car showroom and let the sales person, the cohorts, the sales
manager, the finance manager, the general manager all pump, push, twist, poke,
prod you along

Network (pyramid) marketing not much different, though enrollment fees in many
states limited to a specific amount, so your downside is known upfront

One could hope it had Ponzi elements, if proceeds were used to market to others,
but that's usually evidence of a business stretched too thin without other capital.
Oops. Maybe?

[TeamPooka]

8. It does show how he sees average people: as sheep to be fleeced. nt

[louis-t]

6. How long before Drumpf starts saying

"I don't know anything about that, they just paid me to use my name."?

[TeamPooka]

9. Isn't that was he's doing with the GOP? Licensing his name, except they haven't gotten the bill yet.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

11. +1 nt

[denbot]

14. Nailed it.. N/T

[LS_Editor]

10. Only an idiot wouldn't settle this behind closed doors and attach a nondisclosure clause.

Worst. Businessman. Ever.

[geek tragedy]

15. That's assuming plaintiffs are willing to settle under those terms nt

[keithbvadu2]

12. "upsell" students from one seminar to more expensive ones.

Sounds like Amwae.

[demigoddess]

16. sounds like a ponzi scheme to me.

They also so this with franchises in some fields.

[jpak]

17. Mexican Activist Judge Trump Hater!!!!!1111

[rladdi]

18. reading this playbook shows who the real Trump is. Trump may be elected and get indicted and

charge as a felon. Whether a dozen students said they were happy with Trump's scam, hoping the jury indicts him. Either the playbook shows how stupid Trump is or this is how he deals.

[kacekwl]

19. Trump supporters will

marvel at what a great business man he is. Isn't that the point to make as much money no matter how. Had a boss who started every day with the phrase..It's their money and its OUR job to take it.

[IronLionZion]

20. Well if Republicans want a successful businessman,

then they should NOT vote for Donald J Trump!