Responses
Stephen Yeargin, The Pacer, 11/22/2004, 5:13:08 PM
Most national advertisers, particularly 360 Youth, are very stingy when it comes to tear sheets. We've run into numerous problems dealing with the wrong sales rep, because it appears that the accounts are reassigned almost weekly.
We even had a check in hand from them, and got a harassing call about tear sheets. My suggestion is have someone who only deals with national advertisers, and they need to be fairly strong willed. Otherwise, they'll get run over by the system.
As to your last point, don't bother contacting the companies directly. All they do is pay 360 Youth to saturate your market.
As I said, they are a pain to deal with, but it's the price you pay to get national ads. Call and ask to speak with a superviser, and start writing down all those I/O numbers they are yet to pay you on. They'll probably say the deadline has passed to file tear sheets, so be prepared to eat most of that cost.
Stephen Yeargin
The Pacer
http://pacer.utm.edu/
Laura, 11/22/2004, 8:40:53 PM
Oh yes, we've been dealing with that problem for years. Last year they decided to automatically make us pre-pay only without telling us (it costs us a 10% discount but we're not complaining), except for their Adrax posters, which they owe us for months.
Just this past week they canceled an already-run ad because of a lack of tearsheet, despite the fact that we sent them tearsheets 3 times (once in the same envelope as another tearsheet which they somehow received). It's annoying, but we get a lot of our ads though them so we have no choice but to deal with it.
I wish they had some kind of feedback form. It seems we're not alone in our troubles with this company, so why not join together and see if we can get some improvements made?
Rhonda Freeland, Editor-in-Chief, TCC Times, 11/23/2004, 3:03:52 PM
We just started working with 360 Youth, but are running into the same problem with Berman and Associates. I finally told them to tell thier client that if we are not paid current by the next issue, we will terminate all current and future contracts with them. It states in our ad contracts that they sign, paper reserves the right to cancel the contract for non-payment. Notice - it does not say that in thier contracts. It got thier attention. Because if thier client cannot advertise in the market they want then why have the ad agency to neg. for them. There has to come a time when you as ad manager have to put your foot down and say no even if means not printing there ad. You are producing a product where you cannot get your product back with the client defaults, so why should you keep printing thier ads. You are just basically giving them free advertising. They are still hitting the market they want and making a profit even though the media buyer has a balance on your books. Also talk to the Attorney General in your state. In some instances you can start suing or the legal collection procedures.
Laura, 11/24/2004, 2:13:36 PM
We have the same problems with 360 Youth. We deal with other national advertisers and rarely have these problems. It seems like more recently, however, 360 is requesting numerous duplicate tearsheets and is taking a "media discount" on the ads they run. Even though we've disputed this discount (it is not one we offer) they have failed to acknowledge and send a correct payment. In the past, 360 has even requested us to return payment they have sent us (two years later) because they couldn't find the tearsheets!
R. Velella, 12/15/2004, 8:54:23 AM
I agree; 360 Youth has some problems, but they do get us ads (though in less quantity than at my previous institution). Repeated tearsheet requests have only recently become a problem. But, we do required pre-payment (not just nationals, but everyone), so we've been getting our payments... albeit with that "media discount" that I never agreed to. Even so, my overall experience with 360 Youth has been positive.
It's some of the other national agencies that we do have problems with. MJS Communications and Y2M, in particular.
Anyone out there using Vaward Advertising? How are they? Any similar problems? We started using them, but haven't seen too many ads come through.
Rob Velella
Director of Student Newspaper & Radio Station
Washington & Jefferson College (PA)
John P, 1/19/2005, 9:12:22 AM
We have had similar experiences with 360 Youth. They are not the best to deal with but what can you do.
We have used Vaward and although they don't give us too many ads, they are much better to work with.
Laura H., 1/26/2005, 9:22:09 PM
We work with them also, but we've never had problems with them. As for the people, 50% are really cool, but 50% are a little touchy. Their payments are prompt, and they've never missed one, during the three years we've worked with them.
A. Valenzuela The Lake Front - OLLU San Antonio, 2/25/2005, 12:39:45 PM
Like everyone else, The Lake Front has experienced this problem with 360 youth as well.
Does anyone know of another firm that works with universities?
Please let me know.
lakefront@lake.ollusa.edu
E. Bolton The Pointer, UW-Stevens Point, 2/28/2005, 5:07:07 PM
Wow, I was just talking about 360 Youth with my business manager, and hopped on-line to see if anyone else was having a problem with them. You would think, in a case such as this we could collectively protest or something. We have been trying for weeks to get someone on the phone over there without success. I will definitely check out Vaward, but 360 is so huge that I don't know how we would fare without it.
Rob V., 4/13/2005, 3:18:32 PM
I've had problems with them, but I've never had a problem getting 360 Youth on the phone... make sure to call during business hours (theirs, not yours) and at least someone will answer. Try calling the individual representatives for each ad (listed on the insertion orders they fax or mail to you).
Also, 360 Youth is pretty particular about proof of publication being sent on time, and how many "full issues" they want. Send an invoice along with these proofs.
Either way, don't give up on this!
Rob Velella
Red & Black adviser
Washington & Jefferson College
Bill Welch, Mercyhrust COllege, 6/29/2005, 9:17:01 AM
By the end of the past year we were pretty fed up, too. We are up to date, but lost tear sheets are quite frustrating.
Someone recommended to me sending tear sheets by certified mail. For the extra few bucks it ought to save lots of grief. Then you can wave the receipt under their nose (figuratively) and arrange to Fax the tear sheet if they still can't find it.
By the way, I now imagine a place where stacks and stacks of tear sheets litter one desk after another, spilling onto the floor and no one but no one having any idea where anything is.
Stephanie, 7/14/2005, 2:42:29 PM
I am the business manager for my paper, and I have ran into the same problem with 360 Youth. Last time I talked to them I told them they're the ones with the problem and they better figure it out. I haven't gotten any complaints since, but we'll see what the new school year brings. I am sorry everyone else is having a problem too, but at least I can now say I know I'm not the only one with this problem with "lost" tear sheets.
