I am a new small business out of DFW area, North Texas. Rob/Robert Mahanes came into my store twice end of last June persuading me to by an ad in the Metroplex Magazine. The first time I told him that I am a new business and can't afford to advertise yet. He sweetened the deal with a full page ad for half price because it was his last ad in that magazine, a down payment of $199, and no other payment until Oct 28, 2013. He also showed me a list of about 15 stores/areas in the Metroplex where my ad will show, and will be handed to 8,000 people a week. I took notes and told him I want to consult.
The second time he came to my store, like a tornado with all the distractions of a salesman like him. I confirmed with him the same information from my notes from the first visit. He agreed, and wrote the contract in half a minute. Here is my fault - I trusted his words and did not examine the contract closely - he quickly showed me the price per week, the $199, and where I need to sign.
To say the least, I screwed up on signing the contract without carefully examining it. I tried to CANCEL the contract 4 days after signing because they did not want to honor the $199 as a down payment, but they honored it back and convinced me that everything is okay now saying “we are working with you, why cancel”. Rob, the one time he answered my phone, was upset that I talked to the office, and told me to call him directly, not the office, if I have an issue because he made the deal with me and he “will take care” of me, and said “ just don’t pay monthly”!!!
The agency started sending a bill every month... August came, I checked the neighborhood store, but the ad was not there! To make a long story short, the agency claimed they published the ad in some TWO stores and NOT in the 15 or so stores Rob showed me on his brochure; their claim was that I paid half price! Where does it show in the contract TWO stores – God knows.
I tried to call Rob several times, left messages, but no answer. I called the agency several times and got an answering machine. Finally, when I got through, I tried to reason with the agency’s office and ‘manager’, but they were rude, did not want to hear me or work with me, and insisted on their scam story for the half price = two stores. I asked them to stop the ad and the deal; they said no and threatened to go to the collection agency.
Like the furniture store in Texas and many, many other Ripped off companies, I am not paying them another dime either! I will also report them to the BBB. I hope that other People will come forward and report them. This company is a BIG SCAM, RIPOFF - BE WARE of these people.
Advsvc.com Reviews
I am a new small business out of DFW area, North Texas. Rob/Robert Mahanes came into my store twice end of last June persuading me to by an ad in the Metroplex Magazine. The first time I told him that I am a new business and can't afford to advertise yet. He sweetened the deal with a full page ad for half price because it was his last ad in that magazine, a down payment of $199, and no other payment until Oct 28, 2013. He also showed me a list of about 15 stores/areas in the Metroplex where my ad will show, and will be handed to 8,000 people a week. I took notes and told him I want to consult.
The second time he came to my store, like a tornado with all the distractions of a salesman like him. I confirmed with him the same information from my notes from the first visit. He agreed, and wrote the contract in half a minute. Here is my fault - I trusted his words and did not examine the contract closely - he quickly showed me the price per week, the $199, and where I need to sign.
To say the least, I screwed up on signing the contract without carefully examining it. I tried to CANCEL the contract 4 days after signing because they did not want to honor the $199 as a down payment, but they honored it back and convinced me that everything is okay now saying “we are working with you, why cancel”. Rob, the one time he answered my phone, was upset that I talked to the office, and told me to call him directly, not the office, if I have an issue because he made the deal with me and he “will take care” of me, and said “ just don’t pay monthly”!!!
The agency started sending a bill every month... August came, I checked the neighborhood store, but the ad was not there! To make a long story short, the agency claimed they published the ad in some TWO stores and NOT in the 15 or so stores Rob showed me on his brochure; their claim was that I paid half price! Where does it show in the contract TWO stores – God knows.
I tried to call Rob several times, left messages, but no answer. I called the agency several times and got an answering machine. Finally, when I got through, I tried to reason with the agency’s office and ‘manager’, but they were rude, did not want to hear me or work with me, and insisted on their scam story for the half price = two stores. I asked them to stop the ad and the deal; they said no and threatened to go to the collection agency.
Like the furniture store in Texas and many, many other Ripped off companies, I am not paying them another dime either! I will also report them to the BBB. I hope that other People will come forward and report them. This company is a BIG SCAM, RIPOFF - BE WARE of these people.