If I have (and have obviously forgotten about it), charge it to old age.

If I haven’t, allow me.

Before I get into my mini-rant, let me preface it all by saying that what I am about to post is NOT to say that I discriminate on WHO I do business with. At the end of the day, if there’s a service that I need and there’s a person or group of people who are not Black that are able to give it to me, trust me…I’m all for it. However, I have always been one to strongly support Black businesses. No real reason…I’m just always happy to see my people ‘win.’ However, I really need to say that there are some Black businesses out there that REALLY need to get their act together. And I’m speaking from my PERSONAL experience.

Without straight up mentioning names, we’ll call the company in question the Aggravation Agency. When I started my blog back in 2009, I was told by another blogger that I should contact _____ at the Aggravation Agency and begin working with them because they do a LOT for urban bloggers and would be a good start for me. I contacted them and was immediately put on.

The first thing that should’ve been a sign about AA was the customer service. Anytime I’ve emailed, called or sent out a smoke signal, I got little to no response. When I DID manage to be told that the people over the company were still breathing, the answers I received were short and choppy and oftentimes somewhat condescending.

I let it go though…not b/c of the money (trust me, it was never enough to keep mum about) but b/c I didn’t want to ruin any potential possibilities or networking opportunities with them or anyone else.

I quickly added two more ad agencies to my “list” of incomes and once I saw how they operated, I began to give the side eye to AA. Late payments (or no payments at all), unwillingness to explain HOW I got paid or how often, returning emails with a nasty attitude. I was over it. After having a discussion with another blogger about the issues that she was having with the same agency, I decided that it’d be best to cut my losses and just be done with them. I asked the ‘owner’ to cut me my final check and let’s part ways.

Fast forward to about a month and a half ago. I was sent an email by the owner of the company asking me would I be interested in doing an ad campaign for a major hair company. He went on to explain that he understands how things were in the past, but things have been straightened out, he would be better and he was interested in making money. Of course, I’m not turning down a money opportunity with a major ad campaign. I agreed to the terms as a ‘one last time’ type deal and he said ‘Great…the ad is slated to run the first week of June.’

I informed him that during the first week of June, I’d be in the process of moving and wasn’t sure when my internet services would be up BUT he could always hit me by phone or email (since it goes directly to my Blackberry). He said no problem and everything was a go.

Well the first week rolls by and I don’t hear anything. “I” initiated contact with AA, only to find out that the campaign had been pushed to the second week in June. Once again, I agreed. Waited and waited…didn’t hear anything. I initiated contact again, just to make sure that the campaign was still going. I was then advised that the campaign would be running at the end of June.

Well…here we are…in the beginning of July. I hadn’t heard a word…until yesterday.

I noticed that the rep that I frequently talk to was on AIM, so I IM him and ask him what the deal was. I hadn’t heard anything from them and was wondering what was going on.

He said…and I quote…”Oh, the campaign is already going. You don’t have any of our codes on your site.” << No question mark, no updates on shit. That was it. I advised him that I didn’t know that I needed to and that if someone had told me, I would’ve been quick to do what I had to do so that we could get it cracking. After that, he didn’t say a word. Which brings me to today. LONG IM cut short, I basically asked that the company remove me as an “option” for any future business b/c they have not proven to be business like in the past. From late payments, to NO payments, to cutting payments short, attitude laced emails, not explaining THEIR business correctly, playing favorites between bloggers, initiating bogus contacts for business opportunities…I could go on and on.

Again, I’m not going to put the name IN the blog. If you’re a blogger and want to know, feel free to email me and I’ll be glad to fill you in.

I told that backstory to say this…Black people, please…learn to take your business more seriously. Of course we all want money and we all want to succeed. But you can’t be successful if you’re into the shady business. Professionalism is key. Updating people would be nice too. This blogging/entertainment world is messy enough as is without having to stir people who don’t know how to be business professionals into the mix.

I have had some great experiences with blogging but I’ve also had some rough ones that were brought on by people who you’d THINK had it together but were really only out for themselves. In spite of all this, I will continue supporting Black businesses…just not ones like Aggravation Agency.

Tell him “I” said that…..

PS: I’m too tired to fix errors but if you see some, point ‘em out.