I wrote for a magazine called Urb1 Magazine, created by Urb1.com. Rod, the owner is a sneaky, dishonest man and I decided (two different times) to not write for the magazine anymore.
I had coaxed my little brother into purchasing a one year subscription, which came to about $16.00. Rod, encouraged people to send cash. Since I felt I "knew" him, I thought it would be OK.
The magazines were supposed to be sent out bi-monthly, but never were. No explaination was ever given on why. The subscribers, most of them young and who had paid in cash, RARELY received their magazines.
When I finally quit the magazine (due to the fact that they were poorly done and never sent out on time, with no explaination given) I wanted to cut ties with the magazine and website all together. Rod offered a refund to cut ties.
I had sent my address to Rod on MANY different occasions for various reasons. I told him to send the refund to the same address, and e-mailed it to him just in case he lost it. Months later there was no refund.
I e-mailed him again and claimed he never got the address. But that "there were reasons" my refund was not sent out.
Months after that I asked where my refund was again. "U MAD?" was his reply. That is an immature, internet way of antagonizing someone. Basically saying that I would not be getting the refund.
On top of everything, the magazine runs ads for clothing companies that make bootleg Nike sneakers. Collecting money for the ads, Urb1 does not pay taxes or is even a registered business.
It is not so much that my younger brother needs the $16.00 he paid for the year subscription. The problem here involves a man, who clearly does not know how to run a business, getting away with ripping people off. If people paid in full they should get what they paid for. If for any reason the magazines cannot come out on time, the customers should be notified. If a refund can not be taken care of in a timely fashion, an explaination should be given.
This "man" - actually a 21 year old boy - basicaly stole young children's money (the readership is mostly southern high school students). He has no ethics and is not handeling his business legally.
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