Backlink Directories are Bogus

In order to get my fabulous newly launched website http://www.seafarergiftshop.com/ ranked higher as quickly as possible (so my site comes up on search engines closer to the top) I posted links on directory sites that claim to include your site in exchange for a reciprocal link. Come to find that they are bogus. They never add you or update their directories - they get the benefit of your reciprocal link and THEIR page rank improves. You on the other hand, get nothing. I pulled all their links. Glad I checked. :o(