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Jackie Bushman and Buckmasters

8,427 Views | 25 Replies | Last: 14 yr ago by Texas 1836
Sean Jeffrey Babineaux IV
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If you've ever watched the Outdoor Channel, or some variation of an outdoor network, you've probably seen the Jackie Bushman advertisement of his trophy hunt sweepstakes. Well, back in November I saw that commercial and submitted my email address and a telephone number in his sweepstakes thinking, “Why the hell not?” Well, that turned out to be one of the worst decisions I have ever made.

Shortly thereafter I began receiving annoying phone calls from hodunks working for Buckmasters offering magazine subscriptions and whatnot—of course I declined stating I wasn’t interested and asked to please stop calling. The calls continued and were all the same until I received a different phone call around February. The coonass on the phone wanted to know when I was going to be sending my $137.50 pledge to the “so-and-so annual cripple hunt” sponsored by Mr. Jackie himself. My response, “what $137.50 pledge? I did no such thing. And who the hell makes a fifty cent pledge?” His reply, “yes you did, I have it right here that you verbally committed $137.50.” I told him he was full of s**t and I wanted no such thing to happen, and then asked that I be taken off the list of “donations” and cancel whatever I had been subscribed to (note I had not received any magazine or merchandise). He said he couldn’t do that because the money had already been given to the foundation and I owed Buckmasters that money. I proceeded to tell him where he could stick that donation into Mr. Bushman and hung up the phone. Haven’t received a phone call since then. I never get that worked over on the phone, but this had me fuming. Oh but wait, it ain’t over.

Last week I received a letter from a collection agency stating that I owed $137.50 to Buckmasters for a year’s subscription to Buckmasters Magazine. I could not believe what I was reading. Disguising a magazine subscription in the form of a donation?! This is some kind of scam this piece of s**t is running—and I do mean a piece of s**t. The outdoor community needs to take note of the operation this asshat is running here. DO NOT sign up or purchase anything with the Buckmaster logo on it. Lesson learned.

What should I do?

/rant


Gig'em

EDIT: we can't all be perfect


[This message has been edited by KeithStone (edited 5/23/2011 10:22p).]
Mr07Ag
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That sucks. I would have been cussing up a blue streak after they called me after I said to take me off none the less when they called telling me about a "donation" I made.

I don't know what you can do now that a collection agency has been brought into the mix but you could look into filing something with the FTC about violating do not call lists. Link
giddings_ag_06
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I'm with you on this one. I had sent in my email one time and got the first call. I didn't think a subscription would hurt, so I signed up for it and didn't really mind. Within a week I started getting calls about the "Rack" magazine (no, this isn't a playboy style rack). They must have called 3 times a week for a month asking me to renew my Buckmasters (which I had for less than a month) and subscribe to the Rack magazine also. I told them a million times to take my name off of the list because it was getting old hearing the same cheesey lines about how hunters like me need to keep supporting the outdoors so the hippy liberals in California won't get all of our rights taken away. Apparently when you have your name taken off the list they cancel your subscription all together because I haven't received a magazine in months from them. Screw Buckmasters


The moral of the story is don't email Buckmasters for the sweepstakes hunt!!
txaggie02
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I've always thought Jackie Bushman was a huge dewsh. This just confirms it.
hellapark
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If you have any lawyer friends, get them to write a threatening letter to whatever department at buckmasters your dealing with.
StupidisMe
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Quick Google search:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211742

quote:
I got a call afew months back from Buckmasters and they try to sell me the "program". I said let me see a copy of the mag. They say okay send one out if you like it we will sign you up for the lifetime membership and give you all these gifts.I recieve the mag fing it to be only fair in quality and do not respond to join.Now they send me to collection for a membership I never wanted and said I did verbally.Watch out for these guys fellows real scammers. Hey Jackie...
SanAntoneAg
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Bushman's outfit has been notorious for years pulling this crap.
StupidisMe
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quote:
Buckmaster's is nothing but a joke and a scam
Around five years ago, they called and tried to get me to join. I said NO.
A few weeks later, a magazine and an envelope showed up in the mail. The envelope was bill, for the memebership I did NOT want. I ignored it, and trashed the magazine.
A few days later their telemarketer's started calling, wanting to know if the payment for the membership I did NOT want, had been mailed.
I was more than alittle upset. I recorded a couple of the conversations, then had my attorney send them a notice that unless the harrasment stopped, legal action on my part would be forthcoming.
The last five years, has been peaceful.
StupidisMe
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One more from the link:

quote:
Hi Everyone, this is Jackie Bushman. It was brought to my attention that I should read a thread that was on this website. I have read the thread and I apologize to those who have had such a tough time. But I’m glad it was brought to my attention, and it will be handled immediately.

We are one of about seven affinity organizations nationwide for the outdoorsman. We deal with not hundreds, not thousands but hundreds of thousands of people each year. With that being said, we are going to make mistakes along the way. This is the reason we all have customer service departments.

As far as I’m concerned, one complaint is one too many. My policy is that the consumer is always right no matter what the situation. The old saying is not to believe something until you hear it from the horse’s mouth. Well here it is: if anyone reading this message is having a problem with your membership, I will personally guarantee we will make it right and hope you will give us a chance to earn your respect again. Also, if anyone from Buckmasters has been rude or disrespectful to you, I want to know the day, time, your phone number or the person’s name you talked too. This will be taken care of immediately!

The bottom line is that we all make mistakes. In our case, the only way to fix them is for you to contact our customer service department. Over the past 21 years, we have taken great pride to promote the great sport of whitetail hunting through our magazines and on our TV shows. We have more than 400,000 members and subscribers to our publications. We have taken more than 6,000 disabled hunters out to the field; we have made more than 700 seriously ill children's dreams come true; we have fed more than 6 million people through Project Venison; and we are starting a new program this year called “Takin Heroes Hunting” where Buckmasters will be buying our wounded soldiers adaptive equipment and taking them on hunts.

We are proud of our sport and want to continue to do everything we can to protect it and promote it. All the things I’ve mentioned above have happened due to the strong commitment of Buckmasters members. When I read something like this thread, it hurts. Our goal over the years has been to unify deer hunters, not to divide them. With all this said, here is what I need you to do: a new email address has been set up to handle complaints or questions: customerservice@buckmasters.com

If you have any concern whatsoever, please email us right away. Be sure to include your full name, address, and phone number (this information will only be used to address your complaint). If you prefer, you may call 1-800-240-3337 and ask to speak to Kevin in Customer Service .

Thank you for reading & Good Hunting,

Jackie Bushman
rock08
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I asked the lady to remove me from the call list. Its been a year with no calls. Hallelujiah
Sean Jeffrey Babineaux IV
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^
|

I wish I was as fortunate as you.

I think I'm just gonna have to get a lawyer friend into this. Aggressive approach and it seems effective.


Gig'em
Caliber
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I've usually had good luck with merely threatening legal action verbally when dealing with collectors that won't stop when they have the wrong address/name/phone numbers. I try to be nice the first time, but any call after that, I simply let them know that I am "recording" this call and all future calls; and that unless all call cease within 72 hours, I will be proceeding with legal action to stop the harassment.
I've yet to have one call back after stating that.
Doc Hayworth
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I had the same thing happen to me. Got a call, I said no thanks and hung up. A few weeks later, I got a magazine in the mail. A few weeks later, I received a bill for $137. I called them and asked what the bill was for since I declined their offer.

They replied that I authorized the subscription by phone and that they record all transactions by phone. I then asked them to play the call for me. They would not do it. I then told them if I receive any more notices for a bogus bill, I would be forced to hire an attorney, and at that time I would file suit to recover all lost monies spent getting this finalized. I have not had any more calls. Thank goodness.
dodger02
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I've agreed to give to "charities" in the past over the phone...only to do some homework later and realize the organizations aren't all they make themselves out to be. I then throw away the pledge sheet when it comes in the mail.

After a while, the phone calls and mailings stop and they just go away.

I'll know to look out for the Buckmasters folks, though.
ZoneClubber
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to the OP, I suggest this type of action, but put it in writing and send it to them. dispute each and every bill or letter that they send you:
quote:
They replied that I authorized the subscription by phone and that they record all transactions by phone. I then asked them to play the call for me. They would not do it. I then told them if I receive any more notices for a bogus bill, I would be forced to hire an attorney, and at that time I would file suit to recover all lost monies spent getting this finalized. I have not had any more calls. Thank goodness.
MasterAggie
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I got roped into going to one of their banquets a few years ago. Free dinner and beer so I figure why not. As normal you put your info on your ticket for a free subscription. I got one magazine and then the relentless calls started. I kept getting bills as well for $137.50 but no more magazines. Then I get a collection notice. Wrote a nasty letter to both parties threatening legal action and have heard nothing more from either in over a year.
XIIth Man
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I had a very similar experience with them, thankfully they never sent anything or billed me. I listened to their talk a couple of times then asked to be added to their do not call list. That didn't work until the second or third time I asked to be added to the do not call list.

The most annoying part for me is that they would call and let it ring twice. My phone forwards, so by time I could pick it up to answer they had already hung up. It took several weeks of getting several calls a day, at all hours, before I was able to answer fast enough to get officially added to the do not call list.

Thankfully I haven't heard from them since.

The real issue seems to be that their staff doesn't make any money unless they sell subscriptions. No telling how many people are trying to scratch out a living forcing that product on people. Unfortunately a lot of them have gotten to the point that they are doing it dishonestly.

[This message has been edited by XIIth Man (edited 5/24/2011 9:20a).]
Stinky T
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They have a D+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. By the way, you can always contact the BBB and ask them to help resolve the issue.

http://www.bbb.org/central-alabama/business-reviews/publishers-book/buckmasters-ltd-in-montgomery-al-40000437

Oh, and as a commentary. Those comments from Bushman quoted in the post above are a load of crap. You don't get a D+ BBB rating because of a few isolated "mistakes". As the CEO of this company he knows better. As an outdoorsman, I am disgusted by his company's dishonest tactics.

[This message has been edited by Stinky T (edited 5/24/2011 10:15a).]
NW80
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Jackie Bushman is NO outdoorsman!
He apparently is a former Tennis "Player' who saw what J.Johnston had done with Trophy Hunters and preyed on the "Bubba Deer Hunters" of the deep south.
He and his "Rainbow Coalition" group then spread to Texas and predated on Texas boys.

How ANY credible "Outdoor Celebrity" could let themselves be associated with him is beyond me.

His group tried the same thing on me and I had NEVER contacted them in anyway!

I thought when they called it was a friend of mine pranking me ( they all know what I think of J. Bushman). I proceeded to tell them how gay he was and he was a gut-shooting cracker that didn't know jack about deer.

They hung up and didn't call back.

Turns out it wasn't any of my buds, but some buckmaster representative.

He is a real low life S.O.B.

Ha!
aggiesq
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self edit to remove contact info



[This message has been edited by aggiesq (edited 5/24/2011 4:41p).]
BULL
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same thing happened to me 2 years ago.....what a bunch of crap.
Needless to say, I DO NOT watch his shows or have anything to do with Mr. Bushman.

Seriously, I do not know how he gets away with it and stay in good graces with all the celebs he deals with.
Sean Jeffrey Babineaux IV
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Aggiesq, email sent. Thank you.

D+ rating by the BBB, that's incredible. He's very fortunate to get that in my opinion! The more I read stories similar to my own, the more I truly despise this man and his operation. Is there anything SOMEBODY can do to shut this crap down?

Gig'em
Dr. Maturin
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Guys this is not an isolated incident as Jackie's response indicated. Me and my buds attended the local Buckmaster's Banquet a few years ago and have had the same issues. DO NOT GIVE THESE BASTAGES A WORKING PHONE NUMBER.

After a couple of years of no calls from these guys, I started getting calls from Buckmasters again this year. I am assuming the economy is hurting and they are reaching back in their call lists. They have finally stopped now (for the time being) after consecutive blow ups by me followed by hanging up.

I hope the local community reads this and refuses to sponsor the Buckmaster's Banquet. There are a lot of other outdoors and firearms organizations much more deserving of our support.
Guardian
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quote:
Well, that turned out to be one of the worst decisions I have ever made.


I've made worse
BullSprig07
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Holy Carp! Like the whole dam Outdoor board has been through this!
Cowtown Red
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It's like a giant plastic pumpkin full of suckers!
Texas 1836
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yep, they got me, too.

claimed they had me recorded giving verbal authorization. I asked them to play it. Said he couldn't. I called him a liar and threatened legal action.

Sent emails to Jackie's contact info, too.

Calls finally stopped.
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