Comments on: Duped by a Magazine Salesman and My Experience with Unlimited Sale, INC.

By: raven

raven — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:10:20 +0000

my poor husband being the nice guy he is fell for this scam. I was upstairs taking care of our new baby when i came down their they were on my couch. I was totally sketical but my husband said we could call the phone number and canel the order and the kid would still get credit for sale. Thats what he was told anyway. I called the number they said the order could not be canceled by phone and that we had to do it through the mail though you only had 3 days to get it back to them even then it said you have to wait 3 months for your refund to be mailed back to you. So its been six months from then and we still have no magizes and are still 65 dollars short. What a rip off. I only wish I had come down sooner instead of when my husband was already filing out the form. Oh well lesson defintaly learned by him.

By: bouncy

bouncy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:33:21 +0000

and if an agent seems to want to come in or wants something to right on its a way to “get in the door” which make it feel closer to a sale like if they let u inside then they most likely will buy. but as a good agent if they are really good they wont even want to come inside they are good enough to get u to buy in just a few minutes. so if you dont want a mag dont let them in. or if they are rude to u haha you can tell them to take it deep! its a mag saying and they know what it means!

By: bouncy

bouncy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:29:03 +0000

well being a ex mag agent is what we are called i apoligize for the pushy kids but PCCS isnt a scam i worked with them for 4 years and was a top sales agent who won a trip to hawaii (where i live now) i won a trip to las vegas too. mistakes on address and how you pay for mags depends on when u get them. if you do buy mags do check with the bbb and pay close attention to the recipes it does say mags take up to 120 days for the first to arrive. however working their for four years the company does higher basically anyone so often people do get scamed and are treated rude by an disgruntled agent. but their are good hardworking people that do sell mags door to door and it is a great way to see the us and meet all kinds of cool interesting people i loved doing it but am VERY happy i dont have to do it to make a living now !

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:27:18 +0000

So what did you end up doing? I’m curious as the same thing just happened to me. I don’t know whether it is worth the risk to cancel my check (the bank only cancels it for only 60 days when you read the fine print) and be out of $34, mail in the little yellow slip to cancel my order, or to just wait for the magazine. Has anyone actually experienced losing money from their bank account for more than the check you wrote out was worth? It makes me scared just thinking of what might happen.

By: Gatorgal

Gatorgal — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:50:24 +0000

Just to follow up on my last entry… I used the number you provided in your entry, poor Steve. It announced itself as the Pacific Coast Clearing House, one of the premier publishing distribution companies, blah, blah, blah. It then sent me through a menu, to my irony. Two of the choices had to do with refunds and when the subscription should arrive. There were two others that had to do with swapping and customer service. I chose #8, customer service… at 5:53 Central Time. Lo and behold, I was told that the customer service department was closed because the regular business hours were from Monday through Friday 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Pacific Time is only two hours behind Central Time. I called on 04 June 2009, a Thursday, 3:53 Pacific Time. Buyer beware!!!!!

A word of advice to those unfortunate… high pressure sales are high pressured for a reason. High pressure sales usually have the intent of duping the buyer. High pressure salesmen are either oblivious to what they are doing or are perfectly aware that they intend to screw you over in the interest of their own wallet; either way, you will ultimately assume responsibility for everyone’s poor judgement. When someone you don’t know shows up unexpectedly at your door, expect a high pressure SOMETHING, whether it be a sale or a religious lesson. Don’t ever let your guard down and always realize that the friendly smiles are cover for true intention.
In this day and age, you need to protect yourself. There are ever- increasing ways for people to scam you and if you follow this rule of thumb, you will most likely keep yourself safe: don’t give out any money or intimate financial information to people or businesses that you don’t know. Your personal identity is the most precious thing you have. Protect it like you would your family. You can always refuse to give this information… it’s much better dealing with the temporary disappointment of a potential criminal than to have to deal with years of trying to prove you are yourself. It’s kind of like being stopped on a dark road by an unmarked car with a red light on the dash- you are not obligated to stop if you think that stopping would impair your safety- drive straight to the police station for confirmation. If your inquisitor veers from your course, you’ve just saved yourself.

By: Gator gal

Gator gal — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:16:30 +0000

I just had an experience with two young men today. I was told that they were working on a points program that would help them out with $5,000.00 toward their entrepenurial dream. They were at about 67,000 and they needed to get to 100,000. I figured I’d give a listen and see what they were about. One boy was a redhead, about 230 lbs and maye 5′ 10″. He was the quiet one. The speaker was approximately 5′ 7″, 150lbs., short brown hair, and electric blue eyes. They were both pleasant enough so I invited them to the back deck (which is Gator orange and blue- the short boy made quick mention of the fact he was an Ohio State fan… I let him know that I wouldn’t hold that against him because we kicked their #sses) and made sure that my dog was with us. After about 5 minutes of being buttered up, I was told that they sell subscriptions to magazines. Fair enough, I asked them how much they were- I’d figured I’d spend $20.00 in support. I was told that it depended on which magazine I would want, so to pick out two magazines. Okay, fair enough. Then they started filling out these little reciepts with my info… stupidly enough, I gave them my name. Then when they were filling out the sheets, the speaker then gave me a yellow sheet of paper to have me chose my “free gift”. I picked one, and then was given the reciepts after they were done filling them out. I was told that I had 10 seconds to figure out the acronym at the top of the receipt- ” T.A.M. and G.B.Y.” I was told that if I guessed correctly, they were obligated to wash and wax my truck. I took a guess- “take a minute and go blow yourself” is what I came up with. He told me that it actually meant Thanks a Million and God Bless You, but that he and a friend of theirs said they had a version that was very close to mine… take a magazine and go blow yourself. I like mine the best, because it is perfectly fitting for this situation. I was also given this shred of sticker with yellow highlighter on it to stick on my door. When I asked what it was, I was told it was a “bug off” sticker so that I wouldn’t be harangued by the droves of teams just like him that would knock on my door if we had a sale today. Slick. I was told that for the two magazines I picked out that the total was nearly $150.00. When I asked when this was due, I was told today. That’s when I let them know that this would be a problem… I mean, come on! We are in the midst of a recession, the worst in my lifetime. To compound that, I was injured by my doctor two years ago and lost my livelihood as a result… and openly told them so. I told them that I would need to call my husband about this, as I would need to talk with him. I just wasn’t ABOUT to spend that kind of money on magazines without consent… and frankly was hoping that they could hear the resounding “No” come through the phone. I’d also told them that today of all days, my husband took my checkbook- and that’s the absolute 100% truth! They waited while I made my phone call. He didn’t answer. I came back outside armed with more questions, because I had them. I’m not too easy to scam, even if what you’re offering seems to be on the up and up. I asked him more about pressing skateboards- that’s what he said he wanted to do. He almost seemed impatient that I didn’t know what one was, or what it looked like, just like a few other times when I asked him to clarify what he was saying because I couldn’t understand his occasional mumble… this is when I started noticing more closely that he was just scrawled with homemade tattoos (don’t get me wrong, I LOVE tattoos that are done well). These tattoos looked like the renderings of a very troubled young man who had engaged in self- mutilation at one point or another- the lines of his tats were inconsistent and looked as though they may have been done on an Ecstacy binge… you know how they kind of disappear into their own everything feels good world and they start waving their arms around in psychedelica? That’s what these tats looked like. In reference to one tattoo I’d seen, I’d asked him if he was Jewish, because of the six- pointed star on his left calf. He said that he was. I asked what the numbers below it meant- there were three single digits. He said they were numbers that he made up for his family. He was wearing flip- flops with big, craggy foot and toe callouses and dirty, uncut toenails. The more questions I asked, the more his true nature showed. The redheaded boy was just as quiet as a church mouse. I told him that I couldn’t get in touch with my husband and tried one more time, to no avail. After the second attempt, I told them that I was being open and honest with them, that I wasn’t yanking their chain, but that I would not be able to explain to my husband a purchase of magazines that was so pricey. The little one then said, “Here, let me see that receipt.” I gave it to him, he crossed out something, and gave it back to me and then said that he would “give” me one of the subscriptions and that all I would have to to was pay for 1/2. I explained that this was still $72.00 more than I ever planned on spending on magaizines. This is when he offered me 3 options to pay… cash, ATM, or pay by phone. I told him again that I could not do this without my hubby’s consent. He then had the nerve to characterize my husband and say to me that he was sure that my husband wouldn’t mind supporting the young entrepeneurs of America… then went on to say that maybe one day my son could come to work for him making boards and that my daughter could work for his friend who wanted to be a photographer. At that, I told them that I don’t want my children working for anyone but themselves, sorry…He told me that if I decided against the purchase that I could cancel the sale within 3 days. I told him that that was not my style, and that if I buy something, I’m not in the habit of canceling sales, so, no, I wouldn’t be doing that- and if I did, I would earn myself an #ss chewing for the next week ( and if I did, I would SO deserve the chewing) Then he tried to ask me how old I was… I told him “alot older than you”, and he said, ” Okay, okay- maybe you’ve heard of this saying then- and he spouted one that I can’t remember ( I was incredulous) and then said, ” In other words, oatmeal is better than no meal.” NOW WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN in relation to his trying to have me succumb to a last minute, high pressure sale? So I told him that I AM eating oatmeal. That’s when he told me that all he was doing is trying to do was to support the future entrepeneurs of America and that’s why he gave me the three payment options. That’s when I told him all I did was live in my house today and never imagined that I would be asked to spend an astronomical amount of money on magazines. Our discussion was promptly ended after that, with Mr. Stimpy Blue Eyes turning grey. He and his friend shook my hand and wished God to bless me. The nerve. I could’ve been Muslim, Hindu, or atheist. Oh- when they knocked on my door I was told not to worry, they weren’t on a religious mission or anything. I could have been a witch to him at that point and given them a very pointed piece of my mind, but figured it was easier to just let them walk away without my money. Achoo, thank you.
My advice to the company that sent these boys to my front door ( Pacific Coast Clearing House in Gig Harbor, Washington… near the Sonic at the bottom of the Green Bridge, according to Ren and Stimpy)… there has got to be a better way to sell your wares than to place people in potentially dangerous situations. You never know, Ren or Stimpy could have a record I don’t know about, and then again, I could’ve been one of those Texans just itching to defend their home with their 1st Amendment rights. You are playing a dangerous game to sell magazines and send young ones out on a wild chase after $5,000 and a trip to Australia. P.S.- Appearing clean and non-criminalesque should be a part of your dress code. Achoo again! Gee, thanks.

By: JC

JC — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:57:38 +0000

Steve,
This is exact same scenarion happened to me yesterday. I was in my driveway getting ready to leave. A boy named John Warrington walked up my driveway. Showed me some identification and told me the whole story that you explained above… almost word for word. I luckily did not let him in my house, but as soon as he left I realized what I may have done. I called my bank 3 times yesterday and the cost to cancel both the check and the electronic version of the check is almost the amount that they charged me for the renewal of a magazine subscription I wanted to get for my boyfriend. I’m even considering cancelling my account… it’s all I can think about. Not to mention that the bank hasn’t been too friendly about it and even further rubbed salt in the wounds by telling me that this day in age you should never just give a stranger a check. Thanks guy.

Did anything come of following the cancel payment procedure? I hope everything turned out to be okay. This is ridiculous. I am going to call the local police station and let them know to be out on the lookout. This kid said he was from NJ travelling up and down the East Coast with a group and I can’t remember the name. He got a certain amount of points for a purchase and he was in 4th place out of 364 to win a trip. I can’t even believe this kind of stuff goes on anymroe… but I guess I can.

By: T. Smith

T. Smith — Sun, 17 May 2009 04:44:06 +0000

I just got done sending the cancellation notice to the company and followed that with calling the bank and putting a stop payment on the check. It cost me $25 for the experience but have learned my lesson. It so happened there was an article in the paper the next morning about these types of sales and to be warned. The company that I bought the magazine from is South Pacific Subscriptions. The statement on the bottom of the order form says “This sales company has contracted Pacifc Coast Clearing Services Inc. to guarantee the fullfillment of the terms of this agreement.” Guess what, they have the same address and the BBB has never heard of South Pacific Subscriptions. Glad I went to breakfast and bought the paper.

By: Feeling Stupid

Feeling Stupid — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:36:43 +0000

I was just duped myself, caught off guard while in the middle of something. I was shocked that the guy came inside my apartment; I’m a single woman living alone and am very careful about who I let inside. We had a friendly chat and I guess that’s what got me to open up for me. However, I think I did something safer–I gave him cash, not a check or credit card. So, in a way, I gave him my money, but I didn’t give him the keys to the entire barn. I just wanted him out of there, even if he made me feel at ease.

Tomorrow I will be sending in the cancellation form, and if I don’t get my money back, I will be following up with the BBB and maybe the state Attorney General’s office.

By: Erin

Erin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:46:06 +0000

Today I finally got around to checking up on this, suspecting it was a scam, but now I am sure.

A few months ago some kid came to my door, caught me off guard, I was right in the middle of doing something and just wanted to get him out of there. Just like everyone else, before I knew it he was sitting on my couch and I was ordering some book I didn’t even need.

Well, it’s April and I ordered it in November and no sign of it. I have been almost certain I was duped and out $65.00 but atleast now I know for sure.

If they ever come back here, they better watch out.