Apologies if anyone thinks this is regarding the book, Reader Magnets, which I've read and taken many points from! Maybe that was the point of the company picking that name?

 

A search using the term "readers magnet scam" turned up the following:

https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/dont-get-scammed-by-companies-like-readers-magnet/

https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2018/02/03/dont-get-scammed-by-companies-like-readers-magnet/

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18715656-anyone-here-ever-contacted-by-readersmagnet

http://www.yscam.com/readersmagnet-49

So, it's even worse than a vanity press--it's a straight-up scam with no services whatsoever, just convincing people to pay them money in hopes of getting something. That's why they phone--more chance of flimflamming.

 

They've been leaving me countless voice messages lately, despite my severe lack of responding.

 

My philosophy is that anyone who cold calls me (phone or email or snail mail) goes into the round file. No way am I engaging with those people.

A good way to search for stuff here is to do a general web search and add kboards to the terms used.

 

They've been leaving me countless voice messages lately, despite my severe lack of responding.

What's worse than a scammer calling you? A scammer constantly calling you! I'll have to tell my SIL to just say she has no idea who Kit Sergeant is and to stop calling her.
Thanks everyone for confirming my suspicions!

 

What's worse than a scammer calling you? A scammer constantly calling you! I'll have to tell my SIL to just say she has no idea who Kit Sergeant is and to stop calling her.
Thanks everyone for confirming my suspicions!

"I'm on the do-not-call list. Call here again and I will report you" often does it for me.

Obviously, doesn't help with auto-dialers and robocalls, but when you actually have a "real person" calling it will generally be enough to stop them.

 

Blacklist Plus (Android)

Set it so all calls and texts are blocked except those from your contact list.

 

I've had several complaints about Readers Magnet - as has Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware. Its a vanity press set up by former Author Solutions staff, apparently. (Not the first either)

 

What's funny is that they're calling about a book I published in Jan 2015, and she keeps saying how they see potential in it. Um, thanks? I've been full-time for 3 years and had two books make the USAT list.

Doesn't surprise me that they're related to AS. Before I published a book or knew anything about vanity presses, I asked for information from one of those companies (I kept seeing ads all over the internet) and they called me with just as much frequency. They sure are persistent!

 

Persistent is the word. When S&S ran that romance writing comp back in November or something, I signed up to get more info and got 50 sales calls/emails over the next few months from Author Solutions.

 

These people have not given up. I reported them to the Do Not Call registry. They called before 8am this morning! I'm done just ignoring them.

 

I got a call today, so they haven't given up.  Beware.  I made a complaint at the BBB.  (For some reason they have a A rating.)  I hoped by making a written complaint the A rating will go away.

 

Thank you for your feedback @KitSarge and to all those who commented in the thread. We humbly apologize for the inconvenience it has caused everyone here. Your voice matters to ReadersMagnet, as we try to improve our service to the best of our abilities. We will take this matter and put it into action in resolving the situation. Rest assured we are legit and not a scam. We are in fact BBB accredited. Recently, we just joined the LA Times Festival of Books 2019 where several authors signed up and participated in the event under ReadersMagnet. Moreover, we will again join another book fair in New York this coming May to June.

 

Calling people when they don't want to be called is the mark of a shady operator, not good business practice.

Some people certainly have had bad experiences with you and some call you a scam.

https://medium.com/@jmcogdell/authors-beware-watch-out-for-this-scam-jeans-writing-on-wordpress-com-a6a1683f940f

https://authorchristopherdschmitz.wordpress.com/2017/09/08/dont-get-scammed-by-companies-like-readers-magnet/

http://www.khristinachess.com/blog/2017/12/29/readers-magnet-scam-5amwritersclub-amwriting

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18715656-anyone-here-ever-contacted-by-readersmagnet

http://www.scamion.com/readersmagnet-49

Your company has complaints and bad reviews--and then a rash of fake-looking 5-star reviews all in March of this year...not believable IMO.

https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/san-diego/profile/digital-marketing/readersmagnet-1126-172021180/customer-reviews

...and finally, anyone who has to create a web page that says "we're not a scam"...well, let's just say reputable companies don't need to claim "I'm not a scam!" Just like truthful people don't have to preface their statements with "This is the truth! really, it is! I swear!"

https://www.readersmagnet.com/readersmagnet-is-not-a-scam-here-is-why/

 

"Greetings of peace and joy!"

Was this written by an AI hell bent on destroying earth?

 

Oh--and one more thing--real publishers don't spend big bucks to set up big tents in book festivals trying to get authors to sign up to pay them money to publish their books. That's a hallmark of vanity publishing, just like Author Solutions and its ilk.

So, thank you for showing us that your goal is to sign up hopeful authors, not to actually publish and market and sell books to make money for yourself and the author--which would be what real publishing is.

 

Thanks David - for the posts, and the links.  Much appreciated.

 

Thanks for the links, David. Big help for newbs and those unaware of the various ways these companies try to get you.

Also note that the company in question has signed up to comment, as they do anywhere they're called into question (as far as I've seen).