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Report: #131299

Complaint Review: Trident Media - Alexandria Virginia

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Reading Pennsylvania
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
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  • Trident Media 801 N Pitt Street, Suite 123 Alexandria, Virginia U.S.A.

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I was sent a letter from Trident Media, Inc.(AKA Washingtonhouse Publishing, Mandrill) while looking to get a novel of mine published. They advertised that they were not a vanity press, and that they could sell my book with big royalties for me, if I would send them a check for $1,800 for their editing fees. So I did.

First off, their edit was horrible, and it has been over a year without them making me one cent. when I called to see what was up they told me they were working hard to get my novel turned into a movie. Then when I started to ask questions, they got irrate, and never let me speak with the president, Sam Asinugo. I checked on the web and found out that they are scam artists and then felt robbed. I mean, my novel was to me very good, and now noone will be able to read it because they are doing nothing for me.

I have tried for help since September (BBB, district attornies in both of our states, FBI, etc. and have received no help). So if a letter comes to you from this company throw it away because you will lose money not get it. I will not give up on this case because I will do everything in my power to stop these frauds. There will be a lawsuit in the near future. If anyone can help please let me know. Thanks.

Peter
Reading, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 02/14/2005 11:09 AM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/trident-media/alexandria-virginia-22314/trident-media-inc-ripoff-phoney-literary-agents-ripoff-alexandria-virginia-131299. 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
11Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#11 General Comment

LOL

AUTHOR: Don Murphy - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, November 02, 2010

I'm satisfied now. Looks like Sam's goose was cooked. Enjoy prison, Sam. You deserve it. http://www.courts.state.va.us/opinions/opncavwp/1671094.pdf

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#10 Consumer Comment

Sam Asinugo

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

POSTED: Tuesday, December 02, 2008

......this would be the same person that I just commented on. Sounds like one unhappy customer out of many satisfied customers :P

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#9 Consumer Comment

Don't confuse this Trident Media with the real one

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

POSTED: Saturday, October 25, 2008

Trident Media Group of New York City is one of the largest and most respected literary agencies on the planet (www.tridentmediagroup.com).

They should not be confused with whatever phony group operates in the Washington DC area.

I am a published novelist, and I can give you a few guidelines about real literary agents.

First, a literary agency makes money by selling your books to publishers. The agent makes all of his money out of a percentage of royalites paid by the publishers to the author. THEREFORE, A REAL AGENT WILL NEVER ASK A WRITER TO PAY THEM MONEY. Money flows solely TO the writer, never from FROM the writer.

Second, a reputable literary agent never is part of a publishing business. Agents do not publish books. Agents do not work for book publishers. Agents represent authors, and their relationship with publishers is always arms-length.

Third, an agent might tell you your book needs work. If they are enthusiastic enough, they may even help you edit it to improve it...FOR FREE. An agent will not take money from you to edit a book. An agent is not an editorial service.

Fourth, an agent will not tell you that they will represent you if you employ a particular editing service. They might tell you they think your book needs professional editing (though this is rare). But they will not steer you to particular editors, nor will they make promises to take the book after editing.

Fifth, publishers have editors. Im fact, editors are the people who acquire the books and then work with the author to polish the books for publication. If your book is sure to be sold if only it had a little editing, then it will sell even without a little editing.

There are many scams in this industry--and, unfortunately, many of them aren't even illegal. Writers should check resourxes such as Preditors and Editors (http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/), the Bewares and Background Checks Forum on Absolute Write (www.absolutewrite.com), Writer Beware (http://accrispin.blogspot.com/) or many of the other useful sites on the web.

I am sorry to hear about the problems people have listed here; alas, these are all-too-common.

The problem, though, is that when people Google "Trident Media" they are directed not only to the real Trident Media Group, but also to this page (which is how I arrived here. Most writers would be overjoyed to be represented by Trident Media Group of New York City. But its clear you ouht to be sure which Trident you're talking about!

In any case: Real agents don't ask for money. And, Peter, if your novel is really that good, there are thousands of agents in this country who would be happy to represent you.

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#8 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I've seen it with my own eyes...

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

POSTED: Saturday, January 13, 2007

I've seen the inner workings of Trident with my own eyes.

For starters, the owner, Sam goes by two names. One is "Sam Asinugo" and the Other is "Mike"

He uses another front business called "Capital Literary Agency" to lead unwitting writters to Trident/New World Media.

When call to customers complain, Sam either tries to get them to send more money or tries to duck and dodge them. Once, he convinced a woman to send $200 dollars to basically edit her book after she hhad already paid him initially.

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#7 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I've seen it with my own eyes...

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

POSTED: Saturday, January 13, 2007

I've seen the inner workings of Trident with my own eyes.

For starters, the owner, Sam goes by two names. One is "Sam Asinugo" and the Other is "Mike"

He uses another front business called "Capital Literary Agency" to lead unwitting writters to Trident/New World Media.

When call to customers complain, Sam either tries to get them to send more money or tries to duck and dodge them. Once, he convinced a woman to send $200 dollars to basically edit her book after she hhad already paid him initially.

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#6 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I've seen it with my own eyes...

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

POSTED: Saturday, January 13, 2007

I've seen the inner workings of Trident with my own eyes.

For starters, the owner, Sam goes by two names. One is "Sam Asinugo" and the Other is "Mike"

He uses another front business called "Capital Literary Agency" to lead unwitting writters to Trident/New World Media.

When call to customers complain, Sam either tries to get them to send more money or tries to duck and dodge them. Once, he convinced a woman to send $200 dollars to basically edit her book after she hhad already paid him initially.

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#5 UPDATE EX-employee responds

I've seen it with my own eyes...

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

POSTED: Saturday, January 13, 2007

I've seen the inner workings of Trident with my own eyes.

For starters, the owner, Sam goes by two names. One is "Sam Asinugo" and the Other is "Mike"

He uses another front business called "Capital Literary Agency" to lead unwitting writters to Trident/New World Media.

When call to customers complain, Sam either tries to get them to send more money or tries to duck and dodge them. Once, he convinced a woman to send $200 dollars to basically edit her book after she hhad already paid him initially.

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#4 Consumer Suggestion

Literary Agent Capital and American Literary Agents

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

POSTED: Sunday, December 24, 2006

December 24, 2006

Peter,

Literary Agents sometimes charge the writer for the copying of the manuscript, as well as for the cost for the mailing/shipping cost of the manuscript to publishers.

People get very intense when their money is involved.

Literary Agents that are registered with the Writers Guild of America do not charge for shipping cost or copying. Those agents are very well onnected and only accept manuscripts that they think they can place, which usually are perfect, which means no errors and already edited.

Some editors are available and market themselves on-line.

If you pay a literary agent that makes the author pay for copying and shipping cost, and you did not edit or proofread your book, the literary agent can send your book to two million publishers, and it will never get published. That means that whatever amount is left after submissions the agent gets to pocket the money.

A new writer should work with a consultanrt/editor and deal only with agents that are registered with the Writers Guild.

If it is not possible to obtain representation from a Guild Agent, an agent that charges for copies and shipping is your next option.

A press or press/publisher like Trident Media and SEVERAL other companies can print your book for a fee if you like.

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Trident Media/New World Media Press/Publisher

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

POSTED: Sunday, December 24, 2006

It sounds like Peter expects a small press/publisher to do the job of a large publisher.

Trident Media, as a press, is only responsible for printing the book. The online distribution makes the company a publisher.

You have to pay for a proof-reader and an editor on your own before a press/publisher touches your book. That you know what will be printed before it is printed.

Press/publisher editing is not proof-reading and word deleting. The editing from a press/publisher is only taking your book from the manuscript stage to the page proof and then book stage.

Trident Media offers online distribution, which is good, but it is difficult to trace YOUR sales from a web site that does not notify YOU of book sales.

(((competitor's name redacted)))) can monitor sales, but they have to be notified to monitor sales as soon as the book is released for sale. (((redacted)))) can only monitor booksales through book stores and companies that have stores and sell online like Barnes & Noble that are linked to (((redacted)))).

It would be best to notify Barnes & Noble of the release of the book, start a (((competitor's name redacted)))), and inform anyone interested in purchasing to buy only from that company.

You will probably get no help from legal authorities, because the company printed a book and distributed by internet.

In my opinion Trident Media sounds like a legitimate company, that you have to montior through legal means that are available to all involved in the sale of merchandise.

sorry, allowing you to give a competitors name would instigate others to just file against their competition, to only come back later to suggest their company your comments on this policy are welcome! CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

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#2 Author of original report

New World Media, inc. (Same as Trident Media, Inc.)

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

POSTED: Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Sam Asinugo and Trident Media, Inc. are also trying a new scam called New World Media, and American Literary Agents of Washington are trying one called Capitol Literary Agents, or something like that. Beware.

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#1 Author of original report

American Literary Agents of Washington is associated with Sam Asinugo's Trident Media Inc. (Not to be confused with legitimate Trident Media Corporation in NY) AKA Mandrill, and WashingtonHouse Publishing. They are also a scam, stay away! Alexandria, Va.

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

POSTED: Monday, March 07, 2005

I found out that this company, which works with Sam "The Scam" Asinugo also extorts money from unknowing authors, who are seeking representation. They charge $200.00 for their services, and then you never will hear from them again, unless you keep calling them. Even then, they promise that they are really trying to help. I found a lot of people on www.speculations that have been robbed from both of these companies, with the lies they promise to take your money. Do not, I repeat do not have any business with either company, because you will lose money, not make a cent.

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