National Magazine Exchange William H. Hood III, CEO of SDP, Clearwater Florida

Every time you, Chuck, post an "open" letter to Bill hood, I'm sure it goes on deaf ears. In fact, I'm sure that most of what is said here falls on deaf ears. The people who read the rebuttals are mostly the "core" group of disgruntled ex-employees who ride their high horses with their holier that thou attitudes posting malign garbage, with only malice on the mind and no sincere desire to help people by posting a legitimate "rip-off."

Most of what is posted is asinine anyway; Company share sales, Managers who don't work for NME anymore actions 6 years ago, health care benefits, unionization, companies portfolios, who what fire and "why", et cetera.

Chuck you in fact admit that the Product NME sells is a Great deal. Why the beef?

P.S. Unfortunately the other reports posted by "consumers" consist of information that's pointless too (above for example) or people lying. There are some reports I guess that show a legitimate concern, but most of these could be solved if the customer actually called customer service (the site "ripoffreport.com" even says customer have exhausted all methods of solving the problem already...")

P.S.S. Where is the Credit Card fraud the rebuttal exclaims?

Karen is my Idol

While I have been as critical as anyone regarding Bill Hood and his company, I do not target people for retaliation who do not deserve it and are not part of the problem. Bill's wife and children are legitimate targets for peoples ire and should be left alone.

That is NOT right folks.

In a pivotal scene in the 1954 film On the Waterfront shattered, dejected ex-boxer now mob enforcer Terry Molloy (Marlon Brando) who lost his career by throwing fights, laments to his brother Charlie (Rod Steiger) the fellow who persuaded him to throw those fights: ...I could a been a CONTENDER, I could a been SOMEBODY I can't help but wonder if Bill Hood, in his most private moments is thinking the same thing about himself.

Those of you who have followed this string on the Rip Off Report for any length of time have probably read a report/rebuttal or two of mine, usually detrimental to Bill and his creation Special Data Processing (SDP) a.k.a, National Magazine Exchange. Some of you think I am some sort of crusader for taking this company on openly and without quarter, I am not. Others of you think I am carrying out a grudge, not really though, honestly that is closer to the truth. This company has had a particularly offensive arrogance over the last several years, thinking that it was above the law and above human decency. Management boasted that it could do whatever it wanted to with people and molest any law it wanted, whenever it wanted and get away with it. When I was threatened with termination if I blew the whistle, I manipulated them into firing me. I then decided to let in some sunshine.

When I came to work for SDP in the early spring of 1991, the company was only a little over six years old. It was still being run personally and directly by Bill and his then partner, Randy Romanow. It was a small family orientated company making about $10 Million or so per year at that point. The emphasis then was the people who worked for the company. The Bill Hood of 1991 realized that without many dedicated people like Ginny Jewl, Pat Romanow, Ron Kirkhoff, Debra Duff, Marty Sinack and so many others whose names even I can't remember anymore you would never have gotten out of your garage. The employees were actively solicited for their thoughts on how the company was run, suggestions were taken seriously and numerous staffers, me included, wrote many of the Rebuttals still in use today. It was not ideal, by any means, but it was a happy place to work, with real medical benefits, retirement, educational opportunities and a real chance to advance. In other words, Bill had created a growing, thriving business, still in sales, still using a sweepstakes, but a model of what a small company could be. A Hell of a lot better than what it became.

It is my opinion that the day Bill Hood sold much of the controlling interest of his business to Willis, Stein and Partners of Chicago, Illinois; he also sold a good part of his soul and the soul of his company. SDP is now comfortably a typical, low wage, no future employee hostile Florida business. Grinding out Magazine subscriptions, customers and employees like so much sausage. If you think success Bill is something that you measure in dollars, then consider the LOSS of revenue since your high of One Hundred Million in 2000.

You could have been a contender Bill; you really could have been somebody that people beyond your usual contingent of a**-kissers and yes men could have admired. It is too bad you didn't mean a word you said on that stage in September 2002 that you referred to in your letter of resignation. This is probably what makes me angrier than anything else, the fact that you betrayed your employees, and the fact you first had to betray yourself. Every thing that happened from that point, the FTC fine, the State of Oregon, banning and fining you, the countless lawsuits, screwing the pooch on One Switch and your contract with the US Postal service; promising living wages and then betraying your employees the second you accomplished your goal; the attempt to organize a union within the Company was because, in my opinion, you sold your soul and your employees hides for a few bucks and never looked back. And now as a final grand gesture, you are going to graciously appear in the cafeteria today, after hiding out in your office for years avoiding your employees like the plague.

Your Majesty now desires to say goodbye, and let people kiss your ring. Well, Bill you may kiss MY a**. I am so glad you are proud of your achievements and cost cutting measures as you referred to in your letter stepping down. Tell me Bill, how proud of your Company were you on September 11, 2001 when you refused to close or allow people to go home in spite of the horrific tragedy of that day, "sell them books! Tell me Bill, how proud of your Company were you the day it cut medical benefits completely and left many people on chemotherapy and other forms of expensive rehabilitation hung out to dry? Bet you got a BIG slap on the back for that one, didn't you? No one else will have the balls to say these things to you, but what the Hell, SOMEONE needs to so it might as well be me, it has been for the last three years. So Bill, enjoy your retirement, maybe someday you will realize how far you slipped into the abyss.

Scott Brady, I don't know you, I've never met you and I will not say one thing about you good or bad. You have been their long enough to know how the game is played. Follow orders from Chicago and you may have a long happy career, in my opinion, I am CERTAIN you have more pay plans in mind that your employees will absolutely love as they choose between gas and food.

Employees, keep hiding under your desks and quake with fear over losing your jobs, after all there is absolutely NO other employment in Tampa Bay. Whatever you do don't stand up for your selves or show the slightest amount of pride or dignity. You were born to be stepped on.

Consumers, continue to call in from those cards and keep the doors open, remember that the Magazine Fairy is going to shower you with Millions if your purchase, then write on this blog and whine about how you were Ripped-Off by your own stupidity.

You are done now with SDP Bill, we are now done with both of you.

Good-Bye

Chuck and Eileen.

The Pinellas County Tax Collector lists the owners of 16120 U.S. 19 North as



Rainier SDP Investors LLC



Rainier Capital Management LP

13760 Noell Rd. Ste. 800

Dallas, TX 75240



and shows taxes paid by



William H. Hood III

3962 Tarian Ct.

Palm Harbor, FL

34684-2473



Reverse Lookup of this address shows an unlisted number.