800-803-6885

This is what I found about them so far. My wife was contacted at her work (she manages a very large auto collision repair business) by Kelly at API in regards to advertising with them. She was told that the Ads run from $699 per year for business card size to $2500 for a full page. Supposedly this company is "legit", but I highly doubt that. Keep in mind that they are located in a little strip mall out in the middle of nowhere in Florida, so it's quite easy for a company who don't own their own building to just up and disappear in the middle of the night. Also, after doing a little research on them, Alpha Publishing is a SCAM. There is NO Set Aside directory for the US Government. The SBA has even verified that this company is a SCAM. While their website has been around since 1998, this does NOT mean they are a Legit company. Anyone can pay an 11 year registration fee...

Registrant:
Alpha Publishing
3336 Grand Blvd.
Holiday, FL 34690 USA

Domain Name: SETASIDE.COM

Administrative Contact:
Scott, Chase admin@setaside.com
Alpha Publishing
3336 Grand Blvd., Suite 201
Holiday, FL 34690 US
(800) 803-6885 fax: (727) 841-0933

Technical Contact:
Network Solutions, LLC. customerservice@networksolutions.com
13861 Sunrise Valley Drive
Herndon, VA 20171 USA
1-888-642-9675 fax: 571-434-4620

Record expires on 13-Jul-2011.
Record created on 14-Jul-1998.
Bulk whois optout: N
Database last updated on 19-May-2009 14:49:49 EDT.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS49.WORLDNIC.COM 205.178.190.25
NS50.WORLDNIC.COM 205.178.144.25

I received a call and a follow up 2 days later.  I spoke with a Kathy.  I own a Welding and Trailer Hitch Business in South East Missouri.  I do some contract work for the government, and never heard of these people in the past.  I'm registered with the CCR, and have a DUNS number.  This is requred to do government work.  When I went to their web site at setaside.com everything I clicked seemed to kind of take me in a loop, which turns out to be their "Tour".  In order to see anything other than that, requires a membership log in for only a mere $499.00 Fee.  Something about the whole thing seemed a little bit off to me.  I'll probably just be keeping my $500 in my pocket.

I have also recieved a phone call from "setaside.com" a gal named allison called my Body shop and then sent me a fax to get access to heir website. I didn't have a chance to go to the website by thetime she called me back. Long story short, after asking her some legit questions like "give me names and numbers of other body shops that use this" and after she tried to tell me that they "only use the best in the business" I asked her "how do you know I am the best in the Busines"? " you haven't even asked me any questions about myself yet"? She replied, humina humina humina,ha! Well I wil be keeping my $700. SCAMMERS!!!!!!!!!

Got a call from Charlotte and asked if I wanted to move Government employees..... I am in the Limo/Black car business. I asked where? she said good question..... I could hear tons of other people selling in the background and immeadietly knew this to be a boiler room. Told her I was not the person who could decide took her number and said happy fourth of July ( It's the Friday B4) Save your money folks, spend it on a Limo ride in Boston!!!!!!

Cheryl Gilmore from the company API left a message on my business phone on Friday. She said that her company was a Government contractor and that they were looking for Faux Finishers because President Obamma had just awarded my state 10Mil. worth of money for Federal Buildings to go green and be redone.  She said that there was no bidding or red tape.  That there are lots of moneies out there right now for people in my field.  If I were interested to call her back @ her extension #223.  After reading other information that others have posted, I'm sure they're just trying to get money.  I don't think that they're a government contractor at all.

Received call 08062009 from 800-803-6885 API "Roma Hunter, ext-304".  Caller left voicemail offering business repairing government/military vehicles, and be paid on same day of service. Huh? Complaints filed with BBB, FCC (http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm), FTC (http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall), local PD, county sheriff, and Secretary of State in Alabama and Florida.  Hope these links help other receipients of this scam.  If you ever see these people crossing the street, don't brake ...

Just rec'd a call from API telling me that my auto repair shop qualified to do government repairs under $3k as those don't require bidding. Wanted to talk to my husband - he and I own the shop jointly - did not want to deal with me as I was full of questions. I asked what API stood for and she said Alpha Inc which is incomplete so it took some digging to get to the bottom of who this really was.  I asked in what state they are incorporated and she said Florida.  Once I found who they are they are not just Alpha Inc they are Alpha Publishing Inc and have had 33 BBB complaints in the last 36 months. They are totally misrepresenting who they are and what they do.  Buyer beware!!!

Received a call from Cheryl Gilmore, EXT 223. Said the same to me. Needed a bodyshop to do contract work for local goverment and that there was no bidding. I thought something sounded a bit odd. So getting nothing from me! If it sounds to good to be true...check it out...and it goes to show you it is!

As an employee of Alpha for over 13 years I can honestly say that iv'e seen only good things come from their program. Not only does Alpha advertise businesses statewide in front of virtually every federal dollar being spent but they also provide every customer with the names and numbers to every federal buyer they deal with which is approx. 2000 per state. A lot of work has gone into the development to build this company and no way would they give their customers this kind of info if they were a scam.

I was sold a bill of goods from these guys. Told it was exclusive and used greatly amongst goverment buyers. I not only bought in, but they talked me up from the couple line ad ($200 or so) to the $850 package 1/4 page deal because "my phone will ring every day". Over a year and a half, not a SINGLE CALL. No, I don't mean I didn't get any big orders...I mean I never received one call. I remember sitting by the phone the day our ad went "live" waiting for the phone to ring. Man, do I feel like a maroon! Can you see "sucker" written on my forehead?  We sell promotional products that are used by nearly every local, state and fed agency. Items like printed coffee mugs, t-shirts, desk folders, key tags, pencils, campaign signs, binders, balloons, ballpoint pens, etc., etc....not like we are in an industry with lack of market share. I called the "contacts" on their supplied list via CD, the phone numbers and names that were actually current (and there were few of those) and was told by the buyers that they never use those lists. There are free, government based sites that you can list all of your NAIF codes, SIC's, keywords, status (small biz, disadvantaged, etc) for free, that the buyers actually DO use. Don't waste a dime or a minute talking to these rip off artists. It was always in my mind to find a place on line to lambast these guys but I always just put it off. I just got a phone call from them like I was a "new prospect", within a couple of minutes I realized it was "API" and gave them a piece of my mind. She said there is no negative info about them on the web because they are not a scam. So I did a quick google, found this posting...and here I am!  Oh, one more thing;  Every couple of months (you know, while I was sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring...) they would call to sell me more services for website optimization and the like. Told me if "I'm in it for an ounce I should get in for a pound" to increase my chances that their piece of crap list would work better for me. Can you believe that?  Me neither. Don't walk away from these guys, RUN.   My $0.02 worth. Doug

I keep getting calls from this Kelly from API from number 800-803-6885 x 303. She has been calling for the owner and trying to sell some advertisement for jobs and customer lists in the area. She called back yesterday and when I keep telling her that the owner is not available. She was very rude and demanded a number for him. She called back the following day and spoke with the receptionist and because she could not get in touch with the owner, she was rude again. I called her back and told her to take our number off the list, she said they did not have a list, well that is funny, she's been calling for 2 weeks. She was was rude and was trying to argue with me.  I finally just hang up on her. Then my phone rang back (6) times, the caller ID showed a private number. Everytime I would answer, no one would say anything. I feel it was Kelly doing this.

I received a call from Allison on 12/03/09 asking to speak with owner of the company.  He wasn't available so I asked to take a message.  The call was for doing service work in our area.  Knowing the owner was not interested I told her so.  She was very rude saying "not interested in getting paid."  I told her we were very busy.  Her reply was "yeah, it sounds real busy there is dead silence in the backgound, have a nice day [***]!!

Jeff, please read my comment.  Your company may not be a scam like you say but why would you have an employee like Allison?????

How amusing, I got a call from Denise from API extension 227 at my work (an auto body shop) stating that she wanted to know if our owner was interested in working on government vehicles. When I told her sure, but they would have to talk to the owner in person, she stated that it didn't work that way and for us to call back if interested... Can anyone say scam?

sound like nigerians

I work for WEB.COM and this company (ALPHA)is ripping people off left and right. A cleaning service company in Atlanta was ripped off for $ 999.00 involving the promotion of a website for their business and the site cannot even be found in the search engines and was a complete rip off.

Anybody can register a domain name but not everybody can stay a member in good standing of both the Chamber of Commerce and BBB. If you took the time to go to the website you would have known this. Before you cast aspersions, check your facts.

As a direct competitor, I should expect no better from you.  I will take the high road, and not comment on your company.
Mike Weisberg
Sales Manager
API Internet Services
1-800-803-6885 ext 228


Judge not lest you be judged          Luke 6:37

Thank you for your input.  Allison is no longer an employee of our company.  Should you have any further problems with any of our employees, please contact me directly at 1-800-803-6885 ext 228. Thank you.

Mike Weisburg
Sales Manager

And..... What is your point. That is how the company is run and if you are interested give us a call.