Foster City Islander

Best customer service I’ve seen in this field. Jim Watson was very helpful in covering my dance school event. He went out of the way to talk to the chief guest to get his opinion of the performance. He was very prompt with emails and very patient in answering all my questions. We highly recommend Foster City Islander for any local event coverage.

If anyone has dealt with these 2 brothers in the past and would like to join my class action lawsuit against them, please message me here through Unilocal,so that I can add you to the lawsuit.
If I could give these crooks NO stars I would. These 2 brothers that run this newspaper Jim/​Mark Watson are liars and defraud people.
Please DO NOT use them to advertise. They use a UPS store in Foster City as their physical address so you cannot get a hold of them when they scam you out of your money. I have filed an investigation complaint with the San Mateo County District Attorneys office for fraudulent services NOT rendered.
Like you can see from others who have used them as well who have provided reviews, they promise to advertise, take your money and then lie to you hoping you will just give up and walk away.
I paid Foster City Islander $ 99.00 dollar to advertise my Order to Show Cause Name Change from the San Mateo County, CA Superior Court. Not only did they not advertise my NC-​120 form from the court as they were paid to do. They (Jim) blatantly lied to me, a second time when I was finally able to get him on the phone, that they advertised the NC-​120 form for a second time in their newspaper, after not advertising the first time.
Because of their failure «2 times» after they were paid to advertise my Name Change from the San Mateo Superior Court, I will have to wait now 3 months in order for my Names Change to be approved from the Court, which only should have been 4 weeks to wait.
They have cost me time and money for a very simple process, and have still not returned my money, and I am suing them in court because they have done this to a number of other people in the community.

The FCI staff is great! They have exceptional customer service skills, and are prompt in their execution off much needed tasks.
I needed the Foster City Islander to publish my upcoming name change information, and they far exceeded my expectations. They got the necessary paperwork to the court with very little notice, and everything went totally seamlessly.
I greatly appreciate local businesses that treat you like a human, and do their job (and well, to boot!).

Truly awful and disorganized.
Dealing with the FCI has been one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had in a long time; advertise with anyone else.

When I heard that my grandson might of been in a article in the FC Islander I call and spoke with Jim. He went well beyond what I expected. He not only just talk with me, he went into the archives, sent me three different articles until he found what I was looking for.
Great man, great paper
Thank you

I called Foster CIty Islander to publish a fictitious name statement. Jim was great in answering my questions as well as giving great input about obtaining a Trademark in California. He has returned my calls promptly & everything as been handled quickly & professionally. I Highly recommend the Islander for whatever your needs are, as these guys are top notch!

New owners Jim and Mark have spiffed up the Islander into something special for Foster City. They’ve added more local news coverage, more color pages and a local sense for Foster City. The paper has been around for 30 years and now it looks the new management team will make sure it serves for another 30!

Jim at the Foster City Islander is seriously one of the nicest guys you’ll meet over the phone. I called multiple times inquiring about publishing a fictitious name in the paper and he helped answer my questions over and over again! I’m not sure about these poor reviews, but I believe the Foster City Islander got taken over by new management recently and from my experience, they are really terrific and super helpful.

Where do I start??? As a new business owner, I was so excited to go through the process and was told that I have to run my ad in public newspaper and so I did. I found out that Foster City Islander was the closest, so; I choose that. I called the office and left a message, the very next day I got a call back from Marge, I must say, I was impressed! BUT… that feeling was short lived. In March she was to start my ad. Well,
First week: was a misspell of my name, I called and left a message, 5 days later Marge calls me back and, she promised she will correct the mistake.
Second week: first week misspelling wasn’t corrected. I called again, this time very disappointed; I got a call back 6 days later, each time she blames the mistake on her SO CALLED EMPLOYEE (never spoke or saw that person). I went there in person and the place was closed each time for the next few days, no matter when I went there, the store looked like no one cleaned it for some 20 years!!!
Third week: Marge calls me back 4 days later, once again, promising that this time she is on top of it… great news, it was corrected. BUT… guess what… again, I waited for Fourth week, to find out when she is going to submit SM County the publication? and now; she ask me how did you pay for it? I said; by cash and I got the receipt, then she said, we have no record you paid! And therefore; I can’t give the County confirmation; my employee must have misplaced it. I then decided to go there in person, and show her the receipt; she didn’t seem bothered by anything, almost like business as usual for her.
I waited additional 2 weeks, and then I called Marge again (voice mail) and ask to know the status with the county, this time no call back. A week later, she said; I can’t talk to you right now, I know who you are, and I got another client on the phone call me by WED and will talk about it. I never called!!! as I got tired of this bullshit run around. I waited another 3 weeks in hopes she got the message and hoped she will feel guilty by her screw-ups.and maybe she will submit to SM County the publication.
BUT!!! She didn’t. .Since March 2012 to today June 23 2012 she hasn’t submitted to the county the publication!
PEOPLE, please save your money and go to a place that can offer you customer service, reliability and respect. Marge you need to retire and sell your dad business, you are long overdue a long vacation, do yourself a favor; sell the business and enjoy the fruits of your father work!

I have absolutely no idea what anyone that rated this paper with 1 star is talking about. These people have been in business as long as they have for a reason.
I’m disgusted by the number of nasty, not to mention ageist comments regarding the age of the woman that answered the phone. (old = witch? «old fart») Guess what folks, you too shall grow old if you are that lucky. There is another review which states, «i think they were rude and racist». Since when does being rude mean you are a racist? Did she hurl racial slurs at you? If you wish to spew vitriol over the Internet, don’t hide behind your computer screen. Head down to Chess Dr. and state your opinion in person.
That being said, if you want to pay $ 160 for a Public Notice for Petition for Name Change, than by all means, call the Daily Journal. If you would like to work with an efficient, knowledgeable, courteous professional, and save $ 40, call the Foster City Islander.

I have been advertising with F.C. Islander for years. Great prices and wonderful to work with. Marge is a straight shooter and Barbara very helpful.

02/​03/​2012
attention: owners, supervisors or managers
my sister just called this newspaper and inquired info on the phone to place an ad and this lady told her she did not have a crystal ball to figure out what she was talking about… i think she did
wanted to update this review because I was really really mad when I wrote it! I was offended at the services we got and never heard from them regarding the bad customer service. Although I am no longer mad at them I am still offended at their bad services.