ADCO Media
reviews and complaints

I have had three different accounts with your company, out of those tree I have ordered one thing an recieved one thing something I did not want or need.
Just about what im getting about your company what with your enouying notifacatoins hourly to much way to much, an now this problem im having trying to renew my payment card details. So im getting alittle anoyed with it, will try one more time after that im finished with it! So take payment details or leave me out of ye notifcation crap. Thats it. Got no more to say apart from all ye stuff is fake full stop an you owe me a wireless phone charger. So sort ye [censored] out or leave me out or im gonna go over ye heads an complain to soneone who will do something.

I was sold a marketing/media package in Orlando Florida by Paul Jones. He told me at the time of the sale it was the last day, so in order to expedite the process, I should write him the check and he would process everything immediately. After I gave him the check I asked for a contract and he sent me an invoice for the amount of the check, $1135. The following month, I could not get a hold of Paul, for weeks he claimed he was in the hospital. All the while, I'm waiting to get started with my company marketing campaign. Finally after several attempts to reach Paul, I looked up the company headquarters. I called to resolve the situation, and the President of the company told me that I had created the invoice that I received from Paul, and that he had no contract with me. I told him Paul had obviously committed fraud against me. He told me that he would do nothing about the situation and that was between me and Paul. So this man, PAUL JONES, is not to be dealt with in Orlando. And obviously, Adco Media does not care how they make their money. I have nothing to show for the $1135 that I paid Paul Jones, and ADCO is doing NOTHING about it. Look at other reviews online through various sites and see that I am not alone. This company is FRAUD...

ADCO MEDIA launches another new publication to DUPE SMALL BUSINESSES into advertising! In order to get around all the complaints posted about their other titles, they've launched The Best Of whatever city, town or neighborhood, in order to secure outrageously expensive ad rates. They have a new website, mytownsbest.com, to support their claim of internet advertising, which is nothing more than the ad. While they sell a 6 months shelf life, they never tell their clients how many copies they print. And, they do not print anywhere near enough to keep their rack stocked. I know, as I monitor the rack on a 3x weekly basis and I've seen ADCO cycle through several different titles. These sales reps will say anything to get a sale, and they will charge only a few dollars to the last few who agree to run. They close the sale by saying it is the "STORE'S" magazine - and in some cases, that the store has the final say on who gets to advertise in it! And, they rarely, if ever, make good on the tv promise...which is nothing more than your same ad if they ever do it.

We have been VERY unhappy with ADCO MEDIA aka TRISTAR. They are located in California and this is not a COPYCAT company as some of these posts suggest. ADCOMEDIA.COM is their website. They were unprofessional and rude as well as not fulfilling the promises of cable TV spots! There was one mistake after another and I can NOT recommend them to any business. We feel we just threw our money away! BUYER BEWARE!

Truly wish I would have researched this company before advertising, but, as with anything in business this has definitely been a learning experience. The sales rep was personable, friendly and persuasive - last time we fall for that. After she walked out the door with the signed contract, dealing with Adco Media has been nothing but a headache.

Nothing that was communicated in the face-to-face meeting w/ the sales rep was completed by the company as promised. Weeks passed before "magazines" were placed in local store. To call it a magazine is a long-shot. It's the biggest waste of money to have an ad in a 6 page "flyer". We were told our print ad would run in conjunction with our tv spots. No tv spots as of yet (5 months into contract) and we have been advised by Adco Media they have 6 months to complete the ads. I've filed my complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I'm contacting my credit card company today as well to file a dispute. FUTURE PURCHASERS OF SPACE FROM ADCO MEDIA BEWARE -- THEY ARE A SCAM IN THE BIGGEST WAY!

We went into contract with Adco media to utilize their advertising with a pamplet being handed out in Blockbuster movie stores and a TV commercial that would run for 6 months. As of September 21 st, 2009 we have recieved and seen only 1 copy of the supposed ad and no TV commercial. We have been given the same run around as several others with this promotion and have never actually been able to get any real answers. I have filed a complaint with the BBB and Adco offered a $150.00 dollar refund citing that is more than the cost of $16.00 per advertiser to produce and air a TV commercial for 6 months. The BBB has now closed my complaint claiming they can not help any further. Adco has refused to hand over any paperwork showing their cost at the time of printing or distribution. They have given me 2 tracking numbers. They claimed they would give the information to the BBB as long as the BBB would not hand it over to us, then accused me of Blackmailing and Extorting money from them. We have been in business for 23 years and not by shady business practices. I would strongly suggest any company thinking of doing business with Adco to give it a long hard look, there is considerably more bad complaints then good, and a long record with the BBB as well.

Steve Barenfeld called my business 3 times. He asked to speak to me, that I was highly recommended. My secretary took down his info. The first thing I did was google his name. I had my secretary call him and ask if it was a sales call, he said it was not. I decided never to call him. That was last week. Today, I received a call and he spoke to another secretary, said he was "RETURNING " *MY* call, and he said my name. My secretary gave me the phone and I spoke to Steve.

He said that he did a local interview of a nearby grocery store anda found out that we came HIGHLY recommended. That they were doing this FREE cable advertising that they would do the production and everything, that they would put my business in this great magazine that I'd never heard of called American Home. Then he said that my customers could win a cruise and if they did, I automatically did. He said the cost would be 50 dollars. He paused. 50 dollars a week he continued. For how long was the campaign 6 months, (26 weeks) 1200? No, 1300 for 26 weeks. I asked him how long our company would be featured in the commercial "10 seconds" he said. I asked him if I could use my own video which I am working on, he said NO, that it's a video that showcases still images and that it promotes the magazine and has to promote the magazine.

I said, do you have any samples of work that you've done, can you send me a video, he insisted on meeting in person. I said, I wouldn't want to waste your time without looking at your media first, since I have a very special way of marketing and I won't accept certain formats and ways of marketing of my company. His voice went down an octave. He agreed to let me see the website, and then I told him that I had heard of Adco, he said "how? I've never told you about it" I said, I googled your name and read some negative things about it. He suddenly got quieter. Well, I'll be in town until tomorrow. I said great, I'll let you know, and I took down his number.

Susan Liddy is a liar. She said they would have my add in time for Thanksgiving as I am a holiday shop and the add was not even sent out until Dec. 10. Lots of promises short on Delivery. Susan Liddy apparently says anything to get the sale.