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Report: #110391

Complaint Review: Training Advertising Sales - University Sports Publications - Elmont New York

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  • Reported By: Washington Township New Jersey
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  • Training Advertising Sales - University Sports Publications 570 Elmont Road Elmont, New York U.S.A.

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Training Advertising Sales, aka University Sports Publictions, is owned by Mitch Ziefmann and Mike Shabsels. This company is notorious for unlawfully withholding earned wages to their employees after they leave the company. Having filed a complaint with the New York Labor Department, I still have not received my final paycheck earned. Dave Strapinsky is the controller for the company and is at the center of the problem. In addtion, Mitch Gibbs and Eric Drimmer, who are in charge of the Manhattan office, (519 8th Avenue 25th Floor), also facillitate Strapinsky in withholding wages earned by supplying false/misleading information to their ex-employees.

I have the names and telephone numbers of at least 4 other previous employees/victims of this unscrupulous company. All of them are in their early 20's and probably did not file any complaints. I personally know that if given the opportunity to "blow the whistle" on this company, they would act accordingly. Please contact me with any assistance at all!

Joseph
Washington Township, New Jersey
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/27/2004 02:45 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/training-advertising-sales-university-sports-publications/elmont-new-york-11003/training-advertising-sales-university-sports-publications-unlawfully-withheld-wages-earn-110391. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
16Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#16 General Comment

University Sports

AUTHOR: Janet L - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, November 05, 2009

Possible Advertisers:

I cant speak for previous employees and all the "unlawful" things that the administration of this company is being accused of, but from a customers perspective Id like to say that my experience was a good one. I was a little taken back about the prcing compared to other agencies but then again if you look at the companies you are someimtes possitioned beside in the gameday/yearbooks for various sports teams, I kinda understand why the price tag is so steep in some cases (depending on ad szie of course). Be careful, this is obviously a commissioned based employment for the sales person you will be speaking with. Treat them like you would any car dealer, thats how I approached them. Got a little bit better deal handling it that way. I was happy in the end, for whatever reason I wasnt defrauded in anyway.

btw, really enjoy this site ROR! Great to get the word out

Janet

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#15 Consumer Comment

Not bad.

AUTHOR: Tonya Relsh - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, October 31, 2009

I used them for 3 years. Saw some pretty decent results. I considered them a little pricey for my particluar venture but I came out better due to these ads. Never felt wronged or misinformed. Just my opinion on them.

- T. Relsh

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#14 General Comment

USP

AUTHOR: Morgan S - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Im a marketing employee at a well known pharmeceutical. We have used other agencies but always find ourselves coming back to this company. We see high margins of success and really helps us in placing our new products in the exact segment we want on our perceptual maps. The flow of well timed ads in various sports publications has led us to become loyal to this affiliation.

Thanks USP,

Morgan S.

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#13 Consumer Comment

Simple Opinion

AUTHOR: Lauren McFadden - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, October 31, 2009

I have taken out ads for years with my company. We use them very frequently and every year we see results. Get your company noticed in some major publications. Plain and simple.


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#12 General Comment

Just an opinion...

AUTHOR: Garrett - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, October 31, 2009

Well I cant speak for withheld wages at this place, but I can tell you about my success in doing some business with them. We took out 3-4 ads in the past year, mostly half pages and we've seem a decent jump in sales within the areas of the ads. We are a new business and just opened a couple more locations in the area and these ads were directly responsible for giving us a boost and helping us take off. Plan to do more business in some new locations we plan to open. Any type of commission based job produces complaints like these, having been a salesmen myself at similiar type companies. Cant really give input on those.

 

Sincerely,

Mr. Aycock

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#11 General Comment

Satisfied Customer

AUTHOR: Bille - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, October 22, 2009

I had a good experience with these guys; good service, always seemed honest, and I had great results in my time with them. I highly recommend.

TG

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#10 Consumer Comment

Great company to do business with

AUTHOR: M Jackson - (USA)

POSTED: Thursday, October 22, 2009

I am very familiar with University Sports Publications and its affiliated companies. I have advertised with University Sports Publications and have been overly satisfied with the both the publications it prodcues and the exposure that has been gained for my company. Never have I felt misled or decieved. All of the reps that we have dealt wtih have always been polite and delivered on everything that was promised us.

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#9 Consumer Comment

Ignore the fake responses. Great company

AUTHOR: Dr JThomas - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

   I am very familiar with University Sports Publications and its affiliated companies. I have advertised with University Sports Publications and have been overly satisfied with the both the publications it prodcues and the exposure that has been gained for my company. Never have I felt misled or decieved.

   All of the reps that we have dealt wtih have always been polite and delivered on everything that was promised us.

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#8 General Comment

Really Superb Ads/Pubs

AUTHOR: Dr JThomas - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Really excellent group of people. I'm very shocked to see some negetivity. I enjoyed nothing but the best while working with this fine company. I hope to do further business with them while greatly increasing the awareness of my own ventures.

DP

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#7 Consumer Comment

What?! This is a great company..

AUTHOR: Chanty F - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 20, 2009

I am very familiar with University Sports Publications and its affiliated companies. I have advertised with University Sports Publications and have been overly satisfied with the both the publications it produces and the exposure that has been gained for my company.

Never have I felt misled or deceived. All of the reps that we have dealt with have always been polite and delivered on everything that was promised us.

 

Chanttelle :)

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#6 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I had a similar problem

AUTHOR: Mark - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, November 13, 2008

I worked there for 2 months and had a similar problem. I got my first paycheck, but my second check had a stop payment on it. I called my bank 10 times and 10 different people told me the same thing. When I brought it up at work they said nothing like this has ever happened before and kept saying they would get back to me and they would look in to it. When I said my lease was up in 5 days and I needed the money now to secure a new apartment they said ok, we'll look in to it and get back to you in a few days. Not satisfied with this answer, I insisted we get to the bottom of this before I "get back to my desk and make calls", which is what Steve Farkas had ordered me to do. They wouldn't give me a straight answer about anything. He told me to get back to my desk or get out, so I got out.

Luckily I didn't need a camera crew to get my paycheck, but this girl did:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkzU520s66Q

It took another 3 weeks to get what they owed me, making my paycheck over a month late...though they told my ex-co-workers that they got me a check the next day.

I don't understand why these things happen there but clearly there's a pattern.

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#5 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I am an x-employee/victim

AUTHOR: Trish - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, October 22, 2004

Joe I would love to speak to you and find out more. I was also withheld my earned wages, of $3,500 ("bonus check"). When I left the job I was told to leave the premise right away and he would mail my personal belonging on my desk. Which he did, I received them in a shoe box and everything was in pieces. I was lied to and this company practices dishonest behaviors.

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#4 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I am an x-employee/victim

AUTHOR: Trish - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, October 22, 2004

Joe I would love to speak to you and find out more. I was also withheld my earned wages, of $3,500 ("bonus check"). When I left the job I was told to leave the premise right away and he would mail my personal belonging on my desk. Which he did, I received them in a shoe box and everything was in pieces. I was lied to and this company practices dishonest behaviors.

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#3 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I am an x-employee/victim

AUTHOR: Trish - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, October 22, 2004

Joe I would love to speak to you and find out more. I was also withheld my earned wages, of $3,500 ("bonus check"). When I left the job I was told to leave the premise right away and he would mail my personal belonging on my desk. Which he did, I received them in a shoe box and everything was in pieces. I was lied to and this company practices dishonest behaviors.

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#2 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I am an x-employee/victim

AUTHOR: Trish - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, October 22, 2004

Joe I would love to speak to you and find out more. I was also withheld my earned wages, of $3,500 ("bonus check"). When I left the job I was told to leave the premise right away and he would mail my personal belonging on my desk. Which he did, I received them in a shoe box and everything was in pieces. I was lied to and this company practices dishonest behaviors.

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#1 Consumer Comment

My personal (not legal) advice ..I would not sit around and wait for the labor board to assert your rights for you

AUTHOR: Tim - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, September 27, 2004

If I were in your shoes, Joseph, I would not sit around and wait for the labor board to assert your rights for you.

I would first send a demand letter by certified mail to the president of the company and to the person handling payroll. Note in that letter that, if you are not compensated within thirty days, that you will seek any and all remedies available under the law and will report this incident to the attorney general of NY.

If this doesn't do you any good, then you may need to file a small claims action. You will probably have to file this claim in the court holding jurisdiction over the office you worked for. If you worked in New York City, that would be the appropriate district of the New York Supreme Court (New York is the only state that refers to its lower courts as "supreme"). Check the website for the New York State courts, it may contain all the information you need on where and how to file a claim.

You may be entitled to damages exceeding the amount owed per your employment. Keep in mind, though, that there are statutes of limitations in place, so don't drag your feet on this.

Good luck!

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