Were you bit by The Good Life?

Consider this a warning. I was scammed last year and I just realized that it was a scam a few days ago.

I am sure that many of you have get calls from companies selling ads or computer services for your businesses. Yup, I get them too. Thanks, but my business is doing well, I don't need your assistance. Besides why do I want to pay you to get me a lot more business, when in the warm months, I am already booked solid? I don't want another artist. I am staying solo.

But...this caller was from the magazine "The Good Life." This "was" a publication sent to members of country clubs in wealthier areas across the country. They wanted to have an ad for only ONE face painter; they were getting ads from businesses in assorted industries. I was skeptical. The salesman was persistent. I said that I had to talk to my partner (my husband) before I spend $350 for an ad.

My husband thought it could be a good idea to get an area of clients that I don't usually get calls from. It would be a tax write-off, so should we? They sent me the paperwork with the specs for the ad that I was going to design for them and the fax for their printing department to send my ad when I designed it. They would publish my ad for six months and would send me the first issue with my ad in it. We agreed, did the artwork, sent it and paid the amount.

I kept waiting for the magazine, but it never came. Every few months, I would send an email or try to call, but never received a response. I thought "typical salesman: there to make the sale and then forget you."

Well the other day, I googled The Good Life and found listings, but when I clicked, it took me to domains that are no longer in use. RED flag. That didn't happen when I bought the ad. Then I also saw listing to the Better Business Bureau. There were complaints for people, just like me, who were waiting for their copy of The Good Life with their ad in it.

Dang! Well there is $350 that I am not getting back. So BE CAREFUL! These con artists were slick and had all their ducks in a row: phone numbers, web sites and faxes. Worst thing, I paid with my credit card. I'll be calling my credit card people tomorrow. I know they never used my number for anything else, but I want to alert them just in case, The Good LIfe wants to take more of my money.

Darn! (Glad they didn't call me!)

Same happened to me.

When did you get called?
Did you buy into it too?
When did you know it was a scam?

See if your credit card company will pursue them for fraud. Maybe you can get your money back.

I think it was March 2013. They did send me a signed contract and the actual ad. I wanted to make some changes to the ad, so I emailed and called back and talked to "designer". The changes were made. Another guy called me and wanted to "upgrade" me to the first page, I just had to pay additional $150, so the total would be $500 ($350+$150). He left his number, I called him back and said I didn't want to upgrade. The magazine never came, I did call, email-nothing.
Yesterday when I read your post I finally realized that it was a fraud.

Glad that you didn't give them the additional $150. Did you pay by credit card too? That is a bit disturbing.

Ugh. Thanks for the tip. I hate that it happened to you.
I paid for advertising once. I got one whole gig from it.
Now I have my vehicle graphics and my semi-pro GigSalad account. That's it. GigSalad sends me plenty of leads and it is another place my website shows up, so I keep it.

Watch out for "Outrank" as far as site upgrades as well.


"Party-pop" has always paid off for me.

I did pay with the credit card. I actually paid and then called back again because it strucked me that it could have been scam. You should never give anyone your card's number over the phone, right? So I called back and the guy was there, talked to me again. It was very convincing with contracts and the ad. I mean, was it worth for them to design the actual ad, make changes to it?!

Today is my lucky day. I called my credit card company to see if there were other charges from Good Life Multimedia. Nope, just the one from May for $359.99. I called to say "never give them $$ again, if they try to put my card through. They told me that they are not the card police, but they could refund my money. Hot dang! I didn't think that would happen. I am blessed! Now I am going to go through my statements with a fine tooth comb to make sure there are no small bogus charges. Then I am filing with the BBB (not that it matters, but it's there for others like me) and I am NEVER buying an ad over the phone. Lesson learned.

Great, I'll call my credit card company! Thanks for the tip!