Fanfare Media Works used a deceptive sales pitch including gross misrepresentation of material facts to sell me a listing in a very sparsely distributed publication called "Free Movie News."
The Fanfare Media Works salesperson claimed that "80 to 90 percent" of advertisers in Free Movie News renew their advertising, and that only one of a particular type of business (one pizza place, one home improvement contractor, etc.) would be in the guide. The sales rep further stated he "had one space left to finish the book, " and he "had to finish it today."
The copies of the guide Fanafare Media Works themselves sent me another home improvement contractor in addition to me in the book, as well as unsold spaces. When I called the other home improvement contractor, they expressed surprise, and said they were also told they would be the only home improvement contractor in the book by their salesperson.
After the ad was supposedly out for several months without my receiving even one call from the ad, I asked Fanfare Media Works to sell my space in the guide to somebody else, and they told me I was stuck with it, and to contact my sales rep. I called the sales rep, and he informed me that he had left the organization, after realizing that only about 25% of the businesses he contacted for renewal were renewing, and that many of the advertisers were very displeased. He said he "felt bad" about selling this ineffective product. He is now a very successful advertising salesperson for another organization.
Furthermore, he said they tried to charge him $700 for "not returning his training materials" which, in fact, he had returned to Fanfare Media Works right when he left them. The training materials probably cost on the order of tens of dollars to produce. Apparently this is another way Fanfare Media Works tries to scam people.
On September 11, Fanfare Media Works agreed in a fax to write off $353.33 of the balance if I make payments of $51.50 for the next 6 months totaling $309.00. I do not expect they will honor this agreement if it is satisfied.
I'm convinced the contracts Fanfare Media Works secured for advertising in this Free Movie News are voidable on account of gross misrepresentation of facts that are material to whether or not a business will decide to purchase the advertising. I'm also convinced this organization relies upon a pattern of legal maneuvers and shady practices to deceive and squeeze money out of everybody they can (e.G., trainees and salespeople who leave), in every way they can.
Fanfare Media Works should pay back all the money they have taken from all the businesses they hoodwinked into purchasing advertising in this Movie Guid they know is ineffective, and persist in selling based on grossly inflated claims of its effectiveness and outright misleading and false statements.
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