National Magazine Exchange - NME - SCOTT Lucky I asked for a statement by mail. I knew this was a scam. SCOTT, your an idiot! RIPOFF! Clearwater Florida

I received the same sweepstakes notice in the mail, in an official-looking pink slip titled "Important Delivery Letter." And it had a big rectangular area blacked out on the front, I don't know what for, but it certainly added to its officialness. And the notice inside had a TV Guide logo slapped on, certainly bespeaks to the credulous homemaker a credible source.

And that's exactly why I hate these bastards so much. Not only should they be put out of business, those executives should be stripped of all possessions and jailed for the remainder of their natural lives. And their pawns, the benighted salespersons, should be jailed in mental institutions until they learn how to use their mouths for legitimate means of living. How dare you use your s****.> I thank the Internet in general, and this site in particular, for doing such a wonderful service for the consumers, and expose the ill-witted minds that try to poke at the fine lines of the laws. They are geniuses that chose the dark path, scammers, spammers, identity frauds, the subhumans that selfishly benefit from the loss of others. They have no conscience and I believe they should have their brains removed.

showing the world the caliber of their employees.

cap lock key stuck.

doesn't know the difference between "!" and "?" and assorted other grammatical errors.

Not the type of person I would be willing to do business with.

Thanks for letting us know what type of folks work for them!

THE NATIONANAL MAGAZINE EXCHANGE IS THE 2ND LARGEST CLEARING HOUSE IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW. THE MAGAZINES THEY REPRESENT OUR MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS SUCH AS BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO RISK THEIR REPUTATION ON A COMPANY THAT MISUSES CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD INFORMATION.

NME HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS IN CLEARWATER FL SINCE 1984 AND HAVE SPONSORED A SWEEPSTAKES SINCE THEN ASWELL. ITS SO HORRIBLE THAT THEY GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO WIN 2.1 MILLION DOLLARS! WOW. AND THAT THEY ALSO OFFER YOU MAGAZINES THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO TAKE! IM SURPRISED THIS PLACE ISN'T SHUT DOWN BY NOW. OH I FORGOT THE WORST PART OF IT ALL.

IF YOU DO SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINES, THEY GIVE YOU FREE GIFTS! OH LORD! 2 GENUINE DIAMOND QUARTZ WATCHES AND A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC ORGANIZER. THOSE ARE YOURS FREE. WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH IS WHEN PPL HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY THAT THE FREE GIFTS ARE CRAPPY.

EVEN IF THEY WERE SO WHAT! THEY ARE FREE IDIOTS! AND THEN THEY BLAME NME FOR NOT SENDING THEM TO THEM WHEN YOU NEED TO SELECT THE STYLE FOR EACH OF THE DIAMOND WATCHES AND CHECK THE BOX NEXT TO THE ELECTRONIC ORGANIZER AND SIMPLY MAIL IT BACK TO WHICH WE TELL YOU OVER THE PHONE AND IT IS IN WRITING ON THE WELCOME LETTER YOU RECEIVE! IF YOU DONT SEND IT BACK YOU DONT GET UR GIFTS. ITS NOT NME'S FAULT YOU DONT SEND IT BACK.

NME DOESNT MAKE YOU GIVE YOUR CARD INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE. ITS YOUR CHOICE. UNFORTUNATELY ONLY THE WATCHES AND ORGANIZER ARE FREE. THE MAGZ DO COST MONEY SO UNFORTUNATELY IF YOUR INTERESTED IN THEM YOU KINDA NEED TO PAY FOR EM! AND NME WORKS WITH YOU ON THAT. IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY MONEY ON THE ACCOUNT AND YOU STUPIDLY GIVE OUT UR CARD # EVEN THO YOU KNOW THEIRS NOTHING ON WHICH WILL POSSIBLY GIVE YOU AN OVERDRAFT FEE IF ITS A DEBIT CARD THEY WILL DELAY BILLING FOR YOU FOR 7 DAYS.

DURING THAT 7 DAY PERIOD YOU CAN EITHER CALL AND CANCEL IF YOU WONT HAVE THE MONEY OR PUT THE MONEY IN YOUR ACCOUNT. AND IF YOU KNOW WHICH YOU SHOULD. THAT YOU DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BANK TO COVER THE PAYMENT AND STILL GIVE OUT UR CARD # SO THEY CAN RUN IT FOR THAT PAYMENT THAT IS YOUR OWN d**n FAULT IF YOU GET AN OVERDRAFT FEE! AND IF ITS A CREDIT CARD THATS MAXED OUT. THEY STILL GET YOU UR MAGZ AND UR FREE GIFTS OUT TO YOU AND JUST ESTABLISH UR ACCOUNT AND NOTIFY YOU BY MAIL TO MAKE ALTERNATE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS WHERE U CAN PAY BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER.

DO YOU THINK YOU COULD GO INTO PUBLIX WITH A MAXED OUT CARD FILL UP UR CART AND THEN WALK OUT WITHOUT PAYING AND JUST TELL THE CASHIER TO NOTIFY YOU BY MAIL TO MAKE ALTERNATE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS?! I DONT THINK SO.

OH NO THIS IS A SCAM THEY NEED MY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD # SO I CAN PAY FOR THE MAGZ IM ABOUT TO RECEIVE.Y CANT YOU JUST BILL ME??? BECAUSE NME IS NOT THE PUBLISHERS NME IS A CLEARING HOUSE WHO HAS TO PAY THE PUBLISHERS IN ADVANCE TO START YOUR SERVICE WHICH IS Y THEY GIVE YOU THAT 90 MONEY BACK GAURANTEE. AND EVEN AFTER THE 90 PERIOD YOU'LL STILL GET A REFUND FOR THE MAGZ YOU HAVENT RECEIVED.

YOU CAN CANCEL AT ANYTIME. THATS Y I KNOW ITS B.S WHEN I SEE POSTS ON HERE SAYING THEY WOULDNT LET ME CANCEL. WHATEVER. AND PIGS FLY.
NME IS A LEGIT COMPANY. THEY WOULDNT HAVE BEEN AROUND SO LONG IF IT WAS ALL A SCAM. THEY HAVE A SITE YOU CAN GO TO.

THEY GIVE YOU THEIR ADDRESS AND PHONE # SO YOU CAN REACH THEM WHENEVER YOU NEED TO. ITS A BUSINESS. THEY ENTER YOU INTO A SWEEPSTAKES SO YOU CAN POSSIBLY WIN LOTS OF MONEY. AND THEN THEY OFFER YOU MAGAZINEZ. TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST. FIRST THEY TELL YOU ITS 3 MAGZ AT THE RATE OF 7.29 A MONTH. WHICH ISNT THAT BAD. THEN THEY INCUDE 2 MORE MAGZ AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. GIVING YOU 5 MAGZ FOR THE RATE OF 7.29 A MONTH FOR ALL 5. AND THEN AT THE END OF THE CALL THEYPRETTY MUCH ADD FOR YOU 5 MORE MAGZ AND 28 ISSUES OF TV GUIDE WHICH YOU CAN SEND AS GIFT OR CHANGE AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.

I REALLY DONT THINK THAT 10 MAGAZINES AND 28 ISSUES OF TV GUIDE FOR 7 DOLLARS AND 29 CENTS A MONTH IS A HORRIBLE. PLUS FREE GIFTS. LIKE I SAID THEY ADD THE LAST 5 AT THE END WHICH ARE CALLED BONUS MAGZ WHICH IF YOU DONT WANT JUST TELL THE SALES MANAGER NOT TO ADD IT IN AND THEY WONT ADD IT IN FOR YOU. THE SALES MANAGER JUST ADDS THEM IN MAKE SURE YOUR REALLY HAPPY WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP WHICH I KNOW IS SO TERRIBLE OF THEM.

I THINK NME IS AWESOME. I LOVE IT. YOU KNOW WHAT KINDA DRIVES ME CRAZY THO. WHEN PPL HEAR THE ASSOCIATE ON THE OTHER LINE SAY THEIR IS NEVER ANY PURCHASE OR PAYMENT REQUIRED TO ENTER OUR SWEEPSTAKES AND THEN ARE OFFERED A DEAL ON MAGAZINES. AND OMG THEN THE CUSTOMER PICKS OUT MAGAZINES(MAYBE CUZ THEIR INTERESTED OR MAYBE JUST TO PLEASE THE ASSOCIATE PITCHING THE MAGZ I HAVE NO CLUE). GIVES THEIR EXPIRATION DATE. LISTENS TO THE BILLING. GIVES THE CARD #.

AND THEN WHEN THE SALES MANAGER GOES OVER THE BILLING AGAIN AND SAYS WITH YOUR PERMISION WE WILL PROCESS YOUR MAGAZINE ORDER OK? AND THEN THEY SAY YES. N THEN THE SALES MANAGER SAYS AND TO CONFIRM YOUR ELECTRONIC AUTHORIZATION FOR US TO BILL THESE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO YOUR VISA OR WHICHEVER CARD YOUR USING TODAY PLEASE ENTER THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF THE CARD YOUR USING TODAY THEN THEY PUNCH IN THE NUMBERS.

WHAT DRIVES ME CRAAAAZY IS WHEN THAT SAME PERSON WILL BE LIKE. UHHH. I THOUGHT THE WHOLE THING WAS FREE. I DONT GET IT. UHHH THEY CHARGED MY CARD. WHAT? FOR MAGAZINES BUT UHH WHATS GOING ON? WOW THEY USED MY CARD WHAT A SCAM! THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY.

WHEN U PICK OUT MAGZ EXCEPT THE BILLING AND SAY YES AND GIVE UR INFORMATION OUT WHAT DO YOU THINK NME IS GONA DO WITH THE CARD?! TALK TO IT? PLAY A FRIGGIN GAME WITH IT? NOOO! THEY RUN IT FOR THE PAYMENT YOU IDIOTS! LOL. NEWAYS IM DONE VENTING.

NME IS GREAT SORRY FOR YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DONT UNDERSTAND A GOOD DEAL AND A GREAT SWEEPSTAKES AND WHAT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BEING ENTERED FOR 2.1 MILLION DOLLARS AND GETTIN OFFERED SOME FRIGGIN MAGAZINES. SOME OF US IN THIS WORLD JUST NEED A LIFE. PEACE.

I had a lady call my house as well. I had just gotten off work and here she calls me with this blah, blah, blah, about ordering magazines. I have a subscription to Cosmo and Womens Fitness. I dont need anymore magazines. I dont even have time to read the ones I order. She start talking about how much I can save and so on. She was about to ask me for my banking information, and I dont know what happened. I just hung up the phone. I didnt want to talk to her manager. I got sick of her talking. I spend 10 hours a day talking to actual clients. I dont have time for this. I tell anyone if someone asks you for your credit card number or banking information over the phone and you didnt initiate the contact, DONT DO IT.

... but I'm not quite sure how my worth as a human being or bandwidth user is determined by the fact that I work customer service for a magazine company.

Do I like telemarketing? No. Could I do it? No. I'd be the person that explains what a great deal it is then move on when they say no. I think to anyone that reads magazines on a regular basis, it would be downright silly not to take the package. But at the same time, I do Customer Service, I don't sell. Making people satisfied and happy is my specialty.

If it were my company, I wouldn't hide behind the sweepstakes. Perhaps I would still do it, but not as the cover of the company. Personally I think it would be more effective if people got to sit down, read about the magazine deal and see the sweepstakes as well. I would also offer the option to pay as you go, rather than up front (although they can stretch payments out over a year, I'd still prefer some sort of "start up fee" and "pay as you go" system) so that people could really see the value that they're getting. All of us can afford $5 a month for half a dozen or more magazines.

And if anyone's wondering who the heck reads that many magazines... Lots of people! I could easily go through 5-6 magazines a WEEK at the gym alone. Most of the girls that go with are exactly the same.

Now perhaps an explaination on spin doctoring?

Frank from New Orleans is absolutely correct. Senior Management scans this site regularly to attempt damage control and will write in to do spin control under various names. Fact is I had a personal conversation with a member of Senior Management several weeks ago who admitted to me that the collective efforts of people on this website are making a deep impact on SDP's profitability. However in a classic can't see the forest from the trees dilemma, instead of greater efforts to clean up their act, they have adopted a siege mentality. In other words they continue to take it out on the employees. The pressure the customer feels to buy the magazines and take the upsells is minor compared to the pressure brought to bear on the employees.

Now, you may ask, why am I bringing this up? Fair question. Many of the people who write to this website regarding SDP/NME quite frankly are shooting at the wrong targets. The salespeople. These people quite frankly are under a tremendous amount of pressure to toe the company line. They are, from the first moment of training conditioned to be nothing more than script readers and rebuttal vomitors. Many vital pieces of information are never presented to them, particularly regarding state and federal TSR laws. If they try to show initiative, they are "profiled", selectively monitored by the Quality Assurance department and then ruthlessly harrased by their supervisors. Let me give you a perfect example of what I mean. A personal friend of mine who is the current head of the Union movement in the company, is being systimatically harassed for her Union activities by this method. Now, at SDP/NME the SSA is required to give three rebuttals to every customer they pitch (I won't even go into SDP/NME's ignoring the no rebuttal laws of certain states at this point)if you don't hustle the buck you can be written up.
The "up" goes to a verifier (misrepresented as a supervisor - in fact a closer) who can give them up to 5 ADDITIONAL rebuttals for their end. The Company also has a rule regarding not badgering customers when they say no. For obvious reasons, no manual the company has ever written has defined "badgering". You will see why in a moment. My, friend, an SSA, who has received NUMEROUS sales awards from the company and in the top ten for conversion, will be written up for not rebuttaling lets say an elderly individual, a 90 year old, who may not be able to fully hear or understand what is going on; and if she does rebuttal, she will then be written up for badgering them. The means that the company uses to support its position are in my opinion, and the opinion of others who have worked there, heavily edited tapes from the QA department to set up a possibly fradulant paper trail for the sole purpose of setting people up for termination. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Pretty obvious "Catch 22" isn't it TIM BECHTOLD, ROBERT GORMAN and LINDA H.? I ask these three members of management specifically because they are all people of impeccable character who would never participate in this sort of immoral, cowardly or dispicable conduct. Second, my friend, being a member of their department and team, would be protected by these champions of the Code of Ethics from this systematic harassment as she has chronic heart and other health problems. Right guys?? I KNOW you can spell l-a-w-s-u-i-t considering the number already in the docket pending against you. Oh, incidentally this harassment against my friend has only been in play since my friend took over leadership of Union organizing from former employee Eileen Adams who was also "seperated" from the company for enforcing her rights.

So the real target of those of us who write on and support this website and others like it, should be the ownership of this company, William H. Hood III, Willis, Stein and Partners out of Chicago, etc. The best way to target them is not to write "dear sir you cur" letters; but not to respond to the mailpiece. I don't mean call in, enter and hang up. I mean DON"T CALL, THROW THE MAILER OUT. Avarace, as I have said before must be fed to survive.

To the knee jerk company apologists, it isn't what you do, but the way you do it. Yes the sweepstakes is real (by the way, who won the TEXAS sweepstakes last year??) and the magazines are a good deal for $1.29 a week, but then again if you sell zero remits you'd make $$$ at 75 cents a week.

Note to Frank, good luck in restoring the Big Easy.

Chuck - Palm Harbor

PS Tim; so right about the drums, but some of us carry jackhammers. CD

I guess N.M.E., C.R.C., or whatever acronym your scam goes by these days pays you bonuses for trolling the Internet for sites that expose your sleazy company (or companies; it's hard to tell) and flame them with shill rebuttals. I guess Kevin got burned out on writing them, so now it's Liz's turn. Or is Liz actually Kevin (Scott?) in literary drag? Wouldn't surprise me.

You magazine scammers aren't worth using much valuable bandwidth on, so I'll refer you to the ripoff report wherein we educated Kevin (Liz? Scott?) a while back:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff135630.htm

Same chapter, different verse.

But, take heart: if your scam goes bust, there's always room for you at Primerica. You'll fit right in.

Reading reports like this simply makes my jaw drop.

As a Customer Service Representative for NME, I assure you that:

The sweepstakes they hold is legit, in fact the ceremony is held a few rooms away from where I sit and all are invited to attend. One will be coming up in approx. 6 months.

Second of all, it is their job to sell. As you make comission from loans, those representatives make commission from sales. From the tone and attitude behind your post, it sounds to me like you probably intimidated this individual that you are mocking for "stuttering".

I'm sorry that you feel such hostility that you felt you needed to write such an incredible report. The representatives were doing no more than their job.