Same as with the other complaints already filed, a National Advertising Center sales rep approached me to advertise in the The Green Magazine, a bi-monthly publication distributed at WHOLE FOODS. This representative claimed that the particular WHOLE FOODS store was one of "their" busiest stores with an approx. circulation of 15, 000 every two months. Furthermore, I was assured that the magazine was placed in a highly visible location near the doorway of the store. I was lead to believe this was being done in cooperation with Whole Foods and had no reason to doubt it based upon the "Green" nature of the magazine.

What in fact followed was anything other than promised. I called WHOLE FOOD'S corporate offices and they claim never to have had a business relationship with NAC, much less anything resembling a contractual agreement to distribute their magazines on their property. One of my fellow advertisers in the magazine told me they even went to the particular Whole Foods and spoke with the store manager who also disavowed any agreement with NAC. When I brought this up to NAC, Stephanie who I believe is in their customer service department, claimed that in February of 2009, NAC approached Whole Foods National about distributing their magazines at their stores. According to her, Whole Foods National told them that such matters are handled at the store level. Afterwards, Stephanie claims NAC sent their reps to all the individual stores managers and obtained agreements to distribute. When confronted with the denial of any agreements by Whole Foods, Stephanie explained that the store managers were concealing the truth of the alleged agreements "because they didn't want to get in trouble." In short, by their own admission, NAC appears to have NEVER secured valid distribution rights with Whole Foods and have no proof thereof.

There are now two new substitute distribution locations, however they are nothing like Whole Foods in either volume or consumer profile that are remotely comparable. Moreover, after having inspected one of them they weren't any Green Mags at the location and the store manager said she had never even seen or heard of the magazine. I found a smile pile near the floor at the second location where I wouldn't expect more than one or two people a week to even notice the obscurely placed stack of magazines.

Without beleaguering the point, NAC representatives have ranged from rude to unresponsive. They more often than not, don't return calls and refuse to take responsibility. They point you to the contract that basically says they can don't have to make good on anything the sales rep sold you on.

Between all the advertisers, I'd estimate that we got taken for a collective $15, 000-$20, 000 for a 20-page pamphlet that I doubt they print more than 600 per year, a far cry from the 7, 500 a month that was told to me to get my money.