The "Trivia Pages" is presented as an entertaining laminated booklet displayed in restaurants and other high traffic eating establishments. However, businesses complain they are getting cheated when they purchase advertising space from Northwest Publishing—the Portland, Oregon-based company, located at 2705 SE Ankeny St, also goes by NW Publishing, NWP, and Table Topics. Accusations that the company over-promises and under-delivers are common.
Business complainants report that the company exaggerates the publications exposure; "Trivia Pages" are not displayed in specific restaurants as promised by Northwest Publishing sales personnel, and in some cases, the restaurants have never heard of them. Some say that there is a delay in service and refunds. Others allege that no service has been performed after payments have been submitted. In some cases, when complainants seek resolution from the business, phone calls go unanswered, e-mails are not responded to, and refunds are not provided.
"In a time when advertising dollars are more important than ever, it seems unfathomable that a publishing company would take advantage of advertisers at local businesses," said Robert. W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington.
With 138 complaints in the last 36 months, several complaints remain unresolved or unanswered. BBB gives Northwest Publishing an "F" rating
For tips on how to steer clear of shady advertisement publishers, please visit www.bbb.org:
Do research before purchasing an ad. Make sure that the company you are dealing with is properly licensed. Get online and look up the name of the business and its publication or Web site. Find out if they are a member of their local Chamber of Commerce or a BBB Accredited Business; make sure to check out their BBB Reliability Report.
Request work samples and check references. Talk to former clients about their experience with the company. Request a copy of their previous publication.
Don't pre-pay in full for the ad. Always get a proof of the ad before it is published. Setup a payment plan with a contract and detailed schedule contingent on services delivered. Beware of companies that refuse to provide a written contract or expect the full payment in advance.
About your BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington:
Your Better Business Bureau is a not-for-profit organization funded by Better Business Bureau Accredited Businesses. The BBB’s mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust. For more information about the services and products provided by your BBB, call 206-431-2222 or 253-830-2924 in Washington, 503-212-3022 in Oregon, 907-562-0704 in Alaska, or visit our Web site at www.bbb.org.