How is that for a start? Like most businesses you do anything and everything when you start to find out what kind of advertising works for you. Here is my scenerio with Idearc. Talked to the rep, filled out a form, faxed it in….That was the easy part. Next you are suppose to get a proof sent to you for approval. Here is what I received:

1. Proof (100% different from my ad specs) When I contacted the rep about it I was told “ya I know just wanted to show you this”….For what reason I have no idea

2. Received a PDF file that was suppose to be an extension I was given due to not having a proof. Instead the PDF was actually a letter to the court requesting getting out of jury duty due to having to work from my rep….(Why I needed that I have no idea)

At this point I realized this was apparently too much for my rep to handle so I called and said to cancel the ad, I also sent an e-mail to the rep. In return I got a phone call to my storefront from the rep (I was not there) stating the ad was going to run and it did not matter about canceling it was too late.

Well low and behold the ad did run (with mistakes in it). Contacted Idearc and after 4 months of going back and forth I am given 2 choices:

1. Will take off 25% of the cost for the ad

2. Can get a free ad next year if I pay in full this year

To me this made no sense. But, the reason I was given is you only have 5 days to cancel the contract once signed. My question is if you never receive a proof then how would you know if it is wrong or not? So Idearc can basically run any ad they want and you just basically suck it up…..And if you complain then they will give you a “percentage” off the ad of what they deem fit.

Obviously I am still fighting with them, but on the good side I now know i’ll never advertise with Idearc again. I actually should not of even gotten involved with them in the first place due to my last “full year” ad resulted in basically no revenue.

For the cost to advertise with Idearc you have allot more options available by doing something else with your money….. If you are currently dealing with Idearc and want to stop but not sure what to do about advertising then let me know. I’ll be glad to help any “previous” Idearc advertiser.

Dan
Computer Repair Business Lessons Learned

p.s. I have all the docs to support this i.e. “jury duty” “wrong ad” etc….