When Big Agencies With Big Promises Fall Short

A cautionary story from Ethan Sacowski of Shiftly Auto shows how large agencies often over-promise and under-deliver, leaving small businesses penniless and neglected.

Charles Ohl IV

9/2/20254 min read

a man sitting in front of a laptop computer

The Lessons Behind Ethan Sacowski’s Failed Partnership

(And why you don't want to make the same mistake)

A Familiar Story for Small Businesses

In the fast-moving world of business, partnerships can make or break a brand. For small businesses especially, choosing the right creative partner is critical. The wrong decision can drain time, money, and trust, sometimes all at once.

That’s exactly what happened to Ethan Sacowski of Shiftly Auto. In a YouTube video, he opened up about his experience with Andy Elliot’s group, a larger creative and training agency that promised the world but ultimately left his business burned. His story is not unique; it mirrors the reality countless entrepreneurs face when trusting agencies that stretch themselves too thin.

This story isn’t about pointing fingers, it’s about understanding a pattern. And most importantly, it’s about finding an alternative that ensures your business gets the attention and results it deserves.

The Story: Ethan Sacowski’s Experience

Ethan Sacowski, the founder of Shiftly Auto, entered into a partnership with Andy Elliot’s group with high hopes. Like many small business owners, he was sold on the promise of transformation, growth, and exposure.

But reality hit fast. As Ethan recalls in the YouTube video:

“Some of them legit did not want to do business with us because of Andy Elliot.”

This was shocking to hear. Instead of opening doors, his association with the agency actually closed them. The big promises of reputation and connections quickly turned into barriers.

Worse, Ethan’s team discovered that the agency was not keeping its end of the bargain. As he put it:

“We were supposed to get four story post from Andy Elliot which only really got two that month. And the reason for this was that the coaches and Andy were too busy to remember to actually deliver on what they had said they would."

"We just committed to a three-year contract and they’re already not delivering on everything that they said they would.”

The excitement of a long-term growth plan soured into frustration and regret. The agency’s confidence, polished branding, and motivational image masked a lack of follow-through. Ethan observed that:

“Andy knew nothing. His confidence level, you see him online as a super big motivational speaker. He’s super confident and everything. And I had a very different experience.”

It was a sobering realization. The partner he trusted was more concerned with appearances than with real results.

And perhaps the most telling part of Ethan’s story was this:

“All he cares about is the incentive that he wants to win this month.”

This wasn’t about long-term growth for Shiftly Auto. It was about the agency’s own short-term wins.

The Pattern: Why Big Agencies Often Fail Small Businesses

Ethan’s experience is more than an isolated story, it’s part of a larger pattern. Many big agencies chase volume. They bring in hundreds of clients, large and small, and inevitably their focus goes to the biggest accounts.

For the smaller clients, this means:

Over-promises: The sales pitch sounds amazing, with talk of connections, growth, and strategy.
Under-delivery: The actual work is rushed, inconsistent, or outright neglected.
Neglect: When push comes to shove, smaller clients fall through the cracks.

This isn’t to say that large agencies can’t deliver value. They often do for their marquee clients. But if you’re not at the top of their roster, you risk becoming an afterthought.

And as Ethan’s story shows, the cost of that mistake isn’t just financial; it can damage your reputation, strain your operations, and leave you scrambling to recover.

The Alternative: Personal Attention and Accountability

The good news? Small businesses don’t need to accept this pattern. You don’t need to get burned before you find the right creative partner.

Smaller, specialized agencies like C4 Productions offer a fundamentally different approach. Because we work closely with each client, we build partnerships rooted in:

Personal Attention: You’re never just another account in a massive roster. Your goals are our priority.
Accountability: We don’t lock clients into long-term contracts before proving ourselves. Our value is shown in results, not promises.
Consistency: With over a decade of experience in content production, story writing, and emotionally motivated sales strategies, we understand how to deliver every single month.
Trust: Our focus is on building long-term relationships, not chasing the next quick incentive.

At C4 Productions, we know how much is at stake when you invest in creative services. That’s why we treat every client’s business like our own.

The Takeaway: Don’t Wait to Get Burned

Ethan Sacowski’s story is a powerful reminder: bigger doesn’t always mean better. Large agencies can impress with flashy sales tactics and bold promises, but as many small businesses learn the hard way, those promises don’t always translate into results.

You don’t need to go through that experience yourself. You can start with a creative partner that values trust, consistency, and accountability from day one.

At C4 Productions, we’ve built our reputation on never letting our clients slip through the cracks. We combine professional expertise with personal attention to deliver results that actually move the needle for your brand.

Ready to Build the Right Partnership?

Your brand deserves more than promises; it deserves results. If you’re ready to work with a creative partner who puts your business first, C4 Productions can help YOUR brand.