This post is based on my personal experience with an advertising network known as Versa Needs.
If you are looking for an ad network to monetize your traffic, I haven’t had the best personal experience with VersaNeeds Advertising Network.
Let me back up.
Since 1994 I have founded and sold multiple companies and been involved in hundreds of web projects. One of my current sites is RinkTime and it’s mainly ad revenue driven.
I have several established relationships with various ad networks and never before has one disappeared on me.
But that has happened now.
VersaNeeds no longer responds to my emails or phone calls. Nothing. Their website is still up, the reporting still shows that they clearly owe me money, but NOTHING.
I have even gone to the extent of sending certified letters to the company and it’s owner Nick Salgado yet have received no reply.
I estimate that they owe me between $4,000 and $5,000 and I’m a little disappointed about being stiffed. In my opinion they are stealing money that belongs to me. Unfortunately, their publisher agreement doesn’t allow for me to sue them in the US, even though Versa Needs, L.L.C. is registered, based in and operates from Arizona.
So I guess I’m writing for two reasons.
First, I want to share my own personal experiences with VersaNeeds Ad Network so you can be aware.
Secondly, I’ve found others who have had bad experiences and I’m wondering if there are yet others who have just been quite.
Let me know if they owe you money too…
UPDATED: October 18, 2011
Another apparent victim of Nicholas Salgado and VersaNeeds – ComicBookMovie.com.
John Kirker started his first internet software development company in 1994. Since he has been involved in over 800 web-projects working with the who's-who of modern day business.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
To all – I want to make it very clear that any and all readers understand that I have no way of substantiating the claims and/or comments made by others on this site. Therefore, I am simply allowing them to share their purported experiences which they are sharing with me and anyone else.
In the event any of these comments are untrue, libelous or deemed to be defamatory in any way, please contact me so that I can give them a closer look. Please also be prepared to offer insight to substantiate your claims.
Hey John, I approached VersaNeeds as an advertiser and prepaid them $30K for some campaigns around 4 months ago.
Wired money to a Bank of America account in Santa Barbara. We tested around $6K worth of traffic and it didn’t work out. The assured me that I could utilize the 24/hour out clause. Been trying to pursue them for 3 months with no success.
No email replies, no phone answers, etc.
They owe me $24K!
I even found the company that they were buying and brokering the traffic from. The company says that they still have money – so it is weird. They aren’t taking the money and running – they just disappeared off the map.
I have tried sending complaints to their hosting company, tracking down addresses, emails, etc. but they are MIA!
Let me know if you make any progress.
I can sue them because I am not a publisher!
Hi Eric, thanks for reaching out.
That’s awful… Same thing here. Nick just disappeared. Were you dealing with him as well?
I did send several certified letters to them at various addresses. Most of them were signed for however the one to their office address listed on their LLC documents bounced back. Let’s keep in touch with each other. Where are you located? I’m in CA.
My attorney and a few others have given me advice. None think that he is actually protected by the St. Thomas V.I. clause for venue. But that would come down to the judge’s opinion. So I’m weighing my options.
You obviously have many times more at stake than I do. What are you thinking? Where are you located? I also know that we’re not alone…which makes me want to get in line for a judgement.
Hey Eric,
My website had the same experience. VersaNeeds owes me $9,000. This is sounding more and more like a purposeful scam rather than an inept company. I call Nick Salgado’s number every so often, but nobody ever picks up. Their website should NOT still be soliciting publishers when they are clearly ripping us all off. Good for you starting a website about it. We need to get the word out and marshal anyone else who has been scammed by this guy.