Complaint Review: Smart Guide Publications - New York Internet

This is Frank Jerome of Smart Guide Publications rebutting the posting of Calgarian. Calgarian is an angry malcontent who apparently failed our proofreading test and is seeking revenge by posting false information all over the Internet in an attempt to destroy our publishing company and tarnish our reputation. Smart Guide Publications, Inc. is an established publishing company with offices in Norman, OK and New York City with a website www.smartguidepublications.com. Our headquarters are located at 2517 Deer Creek Drive, Norman, OK 73071, phone 877-912-5378.

We post jobs for editorial work only on Craigs List and on no other site as falsely stated by Calgarian. Naturally we need to know the skills and abilities of our applicants and to determine this we give the applicants a test. The proofreading test took less than an hour and a half to complete - far less time than getting dressed and traveling to an interview.

For the proofreading position we posted an ad on Craigslist on February 18, 2011 which was up for less than a day. After receiving 223 applications in less than a day we removed the posting. We did not run the ad for months as falsely claimed by Calgarian. Each applicant received exactly the same two chapters of the book. We did not send different chapters of the book in an effort to get the book edited for free as falsely alleged by Calgarian. Everything he has alleged in his posing is false and made in viscous attempt to damage our company. Why he is doing this we can not fathom as we had no contact with him prior to receiving his profanity laden email on February 19th which is reproduced below.

Out of 223 applicants only one had a perfect score. Most of the applicants failed the test miserably missing most of the mistakes we created in the manuscript. Upon selecting the successful candidate the next day on February 19th we sent the applicants a letter reproduced below advising them not to proceed taking the test or completing it. We also offered them our first two Smart Guides for free when they are published as ebooks.

Look at the profanity laden emails from Calgarian below and you can see for yourself the kind of individual who has posted these false and vicious allegations that have no basis in fact or truth. Consider his motives. Clearly his is upset that he didn't get the job he applied for and that he failed the test.
 
February 19, 2011

Frank Jerome,

You are a piece of s**t. Are you f**king kidding me? Trying to get people to edit and proof your crappy publication for free by exploiting the job postings and telling people it's a part of some f**king application or testing process.

We understand that these are hard times but don't f**king try to bullshit people with hopes of some non-existent job/payment. Anyone dumb enough to proof an entire chapter for you - for free - is dumb enough to do a really shitty job.

You just f***** with the wrong internet personality. I am f**king plugged in, b***h. I am going to raise so much internet s**t about you and your non-existant company, Smart Guide Publications, your book will never see the light of day.

Have a nice day.

b***h.

February 21, 2011

. . . for the next week it is going to be devoted to destroying your scammy bullshit.

February 22, 2011

I can read the name on the post, d****ebag. And it is just a name. Go on and double check the email, you p***k. It doesn't match up.

It is the same as me posting somewhere and calling myself "frank jerome."

It doesnt mean I am you. Don't believe me? Contact the site admin yourself [email protected]

I am, however, going to post this entire email conversation in the tread. Dirtbag. Let the whole world see.


February 22, 2011

I don't care what you 'think.' You've already demonstrated your intelligence to be below average.
Contact the site admin yourself [email protected] it will be the first smart thing you have done
 
The letter was sent to the applicants after we hired the successful applicant:

Dear Applicant,

This is to let you know that we have filled the position for proofreader for Smart Guide Publications that you applied for. If you are in the midst of completing our examination or have been contemplating taking our examination there is no need to continue.

This an automated e-mail to all 223 applicants. For those of you who submitted results we would like to let you know that you missed at least the following mistakes: page 234 - line showing through the art in the sidebar; page 235 - the widow at the top of the page and chapter 21 - the typo in the left page running head where bachelorette was misspelled as bachlorette.

For those of you who submitted test results, we want to thank you for your effort and wish you the best of luck in your search for employment.

Our website will be launched around mid-March when our first books will be available as ebooks. (Printed books will be available in April.) We will inform you then and offer you a free download of our first two books - The Smart Guide To Bachelorette Parties and The Smart Guide To Wedding Weekend Events.

In 2011 we will be publishing 46 titles competing with the Complete Idiot's Guides and the Dummies Guides.

Frank Jerome
Smart Guide Publications

This is the Craigs List posting for the proofreader position posted at a cost of $25 (not for free as falsely alleged by Calgarian)

PROOFREADER - PART TIME

Smart Guide Publications seeks a proofreader to compare it's finished books with the original manuscripts to determine if anything has been omitted in the production process.
This relatively simple task pays $15 an hour.

While we do want to see your resume, we do not really care about your education or prior background - all we need to know is that you have the skills to accurately and rapidly do the task.
In lieu of an interview you will be required to take a test proofreading two chapters of one of our books which have deliberately have had omissions put into them. This is a pass-fail examination.

This is a ongoing freelance position where you will work from your own premises. We have 45 books to publish this year.

Please put PROOFREADER in the subject line of your reply and include your resume as an attachment.

Please state if you are currently employed and how many hours a week you can devote to this position.

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