Elite Marketing - Atlantic Consultants - KGV Advertising - WRS Promotions This ripoff company goes by many names, they are a part of DS-Max, Quantum, Innovage, Cydcor, and Granton, employment search for jobs ripoff too many to list! Livonia Michigan

I worked in the field from March of 2006 to August of 2007. A year and a half in the field. No office. No glam, no glory.

I was apart of the Brainwashed Bunch.

How working for Corporate America is a big mistake. Be a business owner! Be your own Boss!

These "bosses" or "owners" had BOSSES above them telling them what to do. I saw many "owners" go back into the field and lose their office they worked hard in the field to attain.

You never owned anything if it can be taken away by the man sitting on top of you in the pyrmaid scheme.

I'll tell you what happened to me while here.

I lost my boyfriend of 7 years. He didn't get the "business" and it was either love or success. I chose success and it was a horrid mistake. The business encouraged us to distance ourselves from friends and family members who discouraged us. Those who could see because they weren't apart of this brainwashed occult.

I was in 2 accidents that totalled two vehicles. One was mine that I'd owned for 5 whole months. The other was the unfortuate woman who I was soliciting in the field with. My knee to this day is damaged and she was whisked away in an ambulance. Screwed we were, since none of us had insurance or any type of benefits from the company. In the 17 months I was in the field, at the mercy of the weather, I was in a total of 7 car accident and spent thousands of my dollars and my trainers/partner-in-the-fields gas and other car repairs. 

My other car that replaced the one I totalled was also damaged in the field. A $2,563 job that my parents graciously paid since God knows I couldn't afford it.

Since I made about $40 a day after gas and pay out to the team mates below me (Yay, I was Leader .... *thumbs down*), my car was reposessed. It has been two years and I have yet to bounce back from this business mistake I made.

My health deteriorated. My feet had corns and bunions. My face broke out in acne. I threw everything away for the idea of owning my own business.

I was so broke, I had to rent a rental vehicle so I could "sell" and owed Enterprise. My brother whom I ridiculed for being apart of the "rat race" footed the $400 rental bill because I, the pompous future business owner, couldn't afford to keep the rental.

I left in 2007 to work for a REAL company, a company you won't find haunting the pages of Rip O ff Report and spend everyday rebuilding all that I lost, and regretting the decisions I made that caused me to damage relationships with loved ones.

You will lose more than you can ever gain in this business.

Please. Do not allow anyone from any of these companies to fool you.

You. Won't. Make. It.

I am a recent college grad. looking for advertising/pr/marketing work. I have gone on three interviews for these companies that scam young individuals who are looking to get their foot in the door.

I used to work for Maximus Marketing and my boyfriend still works for a similar company. Jessie, I don;t even know you and I already love you! I was a manager there and you are exactly right. The shorter your interview was the less interested they are in working with you.

I am not saying none of the stuff in this report isn't true, I could almost tell you who M.G.'s leader was (were you a "soldier"?) It is sad that there are leaders like that, only out for number one. Julian, the owner, is very self less and tries to make sure all of his guys are taken care of. I know for a fact if he finds out someone is lying he will get rid of them.

They used to do a residential campaign but now it is a business to business campaign. My honey hasn't worked a Saturday in months. I guess the hours never bothered us because our parents taught us the value of hard work. My dad had 3 jobs and I have always had 2.

If you are dumb enough to believe everything you read on here as the gospel truth then I feel sorry for your future, you will probably end up bagging my groceries at Kroger.

And if you don't think sales is a legitimate form of marketing, then (assuming you went to college and ACTUALLY took a marketing class) call your professor and ask him.

Our country's youth is spoiled. For some reason people think a bachelor's degree is enough to get them a dream job. Have you guys not heard the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades?!?! And you are too chicken to work for commission? Hell, I made more money doing sales for Julian than I did as a bartender!

Some of the owners of these companies are idiots, yes. But not all of them. In the last few years I have gotten to know many of them and not just in Nashville. Meeting the admin and owner are a pretty good guage of the company. And if you don't have a good mental attitude don't even bother applying.

I used to work for Maximus Marketing and my boyfriend still works for a similar company. Jessie, I don;t even know you and I already love you! I was a manager there and you are exactly right. The shorter your interview was the less interested they are in working with you.

I am not saying none of the stuff in this report isn't true, I could almost tell you who M.G.'s leader was (were you a "soldier"?) It is sad that there are leaders like that, only out for number one. Julian, the owner, is very self less and tries to make sure all of his guys are taken care of. I know for a fact if he finds out someone is lying he will get rid of them.

They used to do a residential campaign but now it is a business to business campaign. My honey hasn't worked a Saturday in months. I guess the hours never bothered us because our parents taught us the value of hard work. My dad had 3 jobs and I have always had 2.

If you are dumb enough to believe everything you read on here as the gospel truth then I feel sorry for your future, you will probably end up bagging my groceries at Kroger.

And if you don't think sales is a legitimate form of marketing, then (assuming you went to college and ACTUALLY took a marketing class) call your professor and ask him.

Our country's youth is spoiled. For some reason people think a bachelor's degree is enough to get them a dream job. Have you guys not heard the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades?!?! And you are too chicken to work for commission? Hell, I made more money doing sales for Julian than I did as a bartender!

Some of the owners of these companies are idiots, yes. But not all of them. In the last few years I have gotten to know many of them and not just in Nashville. Meeting the admin and owner are a pretty good guage of the company. And if you don't have a good mental attitude don't even bother applying.

I used to work for Maximus Marketing and my boyfriend still works for a similar company. Jessie, I don;t even know you and I already love you! I was a manager there and you are exactly right. The shorter your interview was the less interested they are in working with you.

I am not saying none of the stuff in this report isn't true, I could almost tell you who M.G.'s leader was (were you a "soldier"?) It is sad that there are leaders like that, only out for number one. Julian, the owner, is very self less and tries to make sure all of his guys are taken care of. I know for a fact if he finds out someone is lying he will get rid of them.

They used to do a residential campaign but now it is a business to business campaign. My honey hasn't worked a Saturday in months. I guess the hours never bothered us because our parents taught us the value of hard work. My dad had 3 jobs and I have always had 2.

If you are dumb enough to believe everything you read on here as the gospel truth then I feel sorry for your future, you will probably end up bagging my groceries at Kroger.

And if you don't think sales is a legitimate form of marketing, then (assuming you went to college and ACTUALLY took a marketing class) call your professor and ask him.

Our country's youth is spoiled. For some reason people think a bachelor's degree is enough to get them a dream job. Have you guys not heard the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades?!?! And you are too chicken to work for commission? Hell, I made more money doing sales for Julian than I did as a bartender!

Some of the owners of these companies are idiots, yes. But not all of them. In the last few years I have gotten to know many of them and not just in Nashville. Meeting the admin and owner are a pretty good guage of the company. And if you don't have a good mental attitude don't even bother applying.

I used to work for Maximus Marketing and my boyfriend still works for a similar company. Jessie, I don;t even know you and I already love you! I was a manager there and you are exactly right. The shorter your interview was the less interested they are in working with you.

I am not saying none of the stuff in this report isn't true, I could almost tell you who M.G.'s leader was (were you a "soldier"?) It is sad that there are leaders like that, only out for number one. Julian, the owner, is very self less and tries to make sure all of his guys are taken care of. I know for a fact if he finds out someone is lying he will get rid of them.

They used to do a residential campaign but now it is a business to business campaign. My honey hasn't worked a Saturday in months. I guess the hours never bothered us because our parents taught us the value of hard work. My dad had 3 jobs and I have always had 2.

If you are dumb enough to believe everything you read on here as the gospel truth then I feel sorry for your future, you will probably end up bagging my groceries at Kroger.

And if you don't think sales is a legitimate form of marketing, then (assuming you went to college and ACTUALLY took a marketing class) call your professor and ask him.

Our country's youth is spoiled. For some reason people think a bachelor's degree is enough to get them a dream job. Have you guys not heard the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades?!?! And you are too chicken to work for commission? Hell, I made more money doing sales for Julian than I did as a bartender!

Some of the owners of these companies are idiots, yes. But not all of them. In the last few years I have gotten to know many of them and not just in Nashville. Meeting the admin and owner are a pretty good guage of the company. And if you don't have a good mental attitude don't even bother applying.

Just a few quick notes.

1. If you are saying that your interview is short, it's because they didn't like you or because they don't think you are a very good candidate. So, I'd stop saying your interview was short because you are saying your an idiot. Managers spend more time with better qualified individuals. Just because they don't like you today, doesn't mean they can't learn to like you tomorrow and that's why you still get a call. Managers put the interest of the office first, not their own.

2. They don't say it's commission in the first interview because you didn't ask. If you ask, they tell you. Also, why wouldn't you think commission is involved in a sales role? Do you think this is McDonald's?

3. Angry man from Jersey just above. You are laughing because they called you for a 2nd interview. YOU STILL DON'T HAVE A JOB!!! WHAT IS SO FUNNY!

4. They don't speak about details in the first interview because it doesn't matter unless they invite you for a second interview. Who wants to waste time answering questions from people that they don't want to work with? TIME IS ONE THING THAT CAN NEVER BE REGAINED ONCE IT IS GONE. WHY WASTE IT???

5. DO YOU PEOPLE READ THIS s**t? ITS A JOKE! PEOPLE GIVE ADVISE TO NOT GO ON JOB INTERVIEWS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THEIR EXPERIENCE. WHAT KINDA CRAP IS THAT? I DON'T EAT MEAT, BUT YOU DON'T SEE ME TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO EAT MEAT! IF SOMEONE DOESN'T LIKE SALES, OR COMMISSION, WHY WOULD I CARE? WHY WOULD YOU CARE? YOU DON'T CARE THAT I DON'T EAT MEAT! OR DO YOU? IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW WHAT I JUST SAID, CALL SOMEONE SMARTER THAN YOU THAT HAS A JOB AND ASK THEM.

Under the name of Fusion Inc.(not sure if it is a subsidiary or sister company of the so many above-listed scam companies) this type of scam has crossed borders north into Canada!

Recently I have just gone to an interview with Fusion Inc in Ottawa, Ontario. I became very suspicious and sceptical after the initial 5 minute interview where they didn't answer any of my questions regarding what the job is actually about or what the pay structure will be. However the recruiter said all my questions will be answered on the 2nd interview...so I waited.

On the 2nd interview I met up with two other unlucky interviewees and got dragged into the field to "observe". The recruiter drove us across town (while our own cars were parked at their office) and dropped us off at some sales booth selling 3rd rate cosmetics. I was so pissed off when I realized what I got myself into. A job that is 100% commission based, whereby you'll probably end up selling NOTHING all day.

1) They drove us and left almost immediately after, so we were stuck with the "promoter", who in reality is just a sad looking salesman trying to sell clearance costmetics.
2) After only "observing" what this salesman did for about 15minutes, chirping and hollering at passerbys to check out this "new line of cosmetics" we realized just how INSANELY boring and depressing this job is.
3) a) As we tried to leave, the salesman told us to just watch his booth for a moment while he go to "grab some forms" ( or grab a coffee or something). Then he'd be gone for hours and let you wait at the booth. THIS IS A SCAM if i ever heard of one.
b) As alarm bells rang in our heads, we immediately told him we cannot help him watch his booth, and since we had no way of going back, we had to pay for a very expensive cab ride back to the office.

After reading the so many posts about this kind of shady, immoral, and unethical way to conduct business, I am glad I did not stick around for more of the kind of sugar coated B.S. that would have come from this company.

Under the name of Fusion Inc.(not sure if it is a subsidiary or sister company of the so many above-listed scam companies) this type of scam has crossed borders north into Canada!

Recently I have just gone to an interview with Fusion Inc in Ottawa, Ontario. I became very suspicious and sceptical after the initial 5 minute interview where they didn't answer any of my questions regarding what the job is actually about or what the pay structure will be. However the recruiter said all my questions will be answered on the 2nd interview...so I waited.

On the 2nd interview I met up with two other unlucky interviewees and got dragged into the field to "observe". The recruiter drove us across town (while our own cars were parked at their office) and dropped us off at some sales booth selling 3rd rate cosmetics. I was so pissed off when I realized what I got myself into. A job that is 100% commission based, whereby you'll probably end up selling NOTHING all day.

1) They drove us and left almost immediately after, so we were stuck with the "promoter", who in reality is just a sad looking salesman trying to sell clearance costmetics.
2) After only "observing" what this salesman did for about 15minutes, chirping and hollering at passerbys to check out this "new line of cosmetics" we realized just how INSANELY boring and depressing this job is.
3) a) As we tried to leave, the salesman told us to just watch his booth for a moment while he go to "grab some forms" ( or grab a coffee or something). Then he'd be gone for hours and let you wait at the booth. THIS IS A SCAM if i ever heard of one.
b) As alarm bells rang in our heads, we immediately told him we cannot help him watch his booth, and since we had no way of going back, we had to pay for a very expensive cab ride back to the office.

After reading the so many posts about this kind of shady, immoral, and unethical way to conduct business, I am glad I did not stick around for more of the kind of sugar coated B.S. that would have come from this company.

Under the name of Fusion Inc.(not sure if it is a subsidiary or sister company of the so many above-listed scam companies) this type of scam has crossed borders north into Canada!

Recently I have just gone to an interview with Fusion Inc in Ottawa, Ontario. I became very suspicious and sceptical after the initial 5 minute interview where they didn't answer any of my questions regarding what the job is actually about or what the pay structure will be. However the recruiter said all my questions will be answered on the 2nd interview...so I waited.

On the 2nd interview I met up with two other unlucky interviewees and got dragged into the field to "observe". The recruiter drove us across town (while our own cars were parked at their office) and dropped us off at some sales booth selling 3rd rate cosmetics. I was so pissed off when I realized what I got myself into. A job that is 100% commission based, whereby you'll probably end up selling NOTHING all day.

1) They drove us and left almost immediately after, so we were stuck with the "promoter", who in reality is just a sad looking salesman trying to sell clearance costmetics.
2) After only "observing" what this salesman did for about 15minutes, chirping and hollering at passerbys to check out this "new line of cosmetics" we realized just how INSANELY boring and depressing this job is.
3) a) As we tried to leave, the salesman told us to just watch his booth for a moment while he go to "grab some forms" ( or grab a coffee or something). Then he'd be gone for hours and let you wait at the booth. THIS IS A SCAM if i ever heard of one.
b) As alarm bells rang in our heads, we immediately told him we cannot help him watch his booth, and since we had no way of going back, we had to pay for a very expensive cab ride back to the office.

After reading the so many posts about this kind of shady, immoral, and unethical way to conduct business, I am glad I did not stick around for more of the kind of sugar coated B.S. that would have come from this company.

Under the name of Fusion Inc.(not sure if it is a subsidiary or sister company of the so many above-listed scam companies) this type of scam has crossed borders north into Canada!

Recently I have just gone to an interview with Fusion Inc in Ottawa, Ontario. I became very suspicious and sceptical after the initial 5 minute interview where they didn't answer any of my questions regarding what the job is actually about or what the pay structure will be. However the recruiter said all my questions will be answered on the 2nd interview...so I waited.

On the 2nd interview I met up with two other unlucky interviewees and got dragged into the field to "observe". The recruiter drove us across town (while our own cars were parked at their office) and dropped us off at some sales booth selling 3rd rate cosmetics. I was so pissed off when I realized what I got myself into. A job that is 100% commission based, whereby you'll probably end up selling NOTHING all day.

1) They drove us and left almost immediately after, so we were stuck with the "promoter", who in reality is just a sad looking salesman trying to sell clearance costmetics.
2) After only "observing" what this salesman did for about 15minutes, chirping and hollering at passerbys to check out this "new line of cosmetics" we realized just how INSANELY boring and depressing this job is.
3) a) As we tried to leave, the salesman told us to just watch his booth for a moment while he go to "grab some forms" ( or grab a coffee or something). Then he'd be gone for hours and let you wait at the booth. THIS IS A SCAM if i ever heard of one.
b) As alarm bells rang in our heads, we immediately told him we cannot help him watch his booth, and since we had no way of going back, we had to pay for a very expensive cab ride back to the office.

After reading the so many posts about this kind of shady, immoral, and unethical way to conduct business, I am glad I did not stick around for more of the kind of sugar coated B.S. that would have come from this company.

Hey everyone.. I'd like to share my experience..

I found this job ad on Craigslist as many of you have already said looking for "Entry Level Sales & Marketing" "Fortune 500" "Sports minded individuals" blablabla...

I IMMEDIATELY ((yes, while I was on the phone with the girl who called about my awesome resume)) knew there was something up. I felt like I was being read a script and not talking to a person... And the way she tried to set up an appt with me felt more like a sale than an interview. I know how these companies work and how they try and sell their products... I'm not an idiot.

Needless to say I went straight to the computer to check out their "website" which doesnt really say anything. No offense to whoever made it but its a load of bull. Sure it looks pretty but theres nothing there otherwise. I googled them as well and all I found was a rip off report and a few other complaints.. I knew it was fraud.

So I tossed and turned, literally, all night, and decided to just go anyway. I needed to go to a nearby Verizon store so it wasnt COMPLETELY out of my way, hah.

I walk in and sure enough there are several other poor souls sitting in the crowded waiting room, THREE girls, not two! sitting behind a desk who looked like they were still hungover from the night before, one claiming that she was!!-- and one gentleman who was the "hiring manager."

The "interview" lasted 7 minutes long and it consisted of another script that this guy memorized and fed to every idiot that walked through those doors looking for a $40,000 salary. HAH.

I got a call back, LOL. A second interview which is 9:30-6:30 and no... There was NO discussion of salary, paid training, money.... nothing. I sat back and laughed to myself about the entire situation. I kinda needed to see for myself but SAVE YOURSELF THE TROUBLE AND TIME AND GAS -- Unless you need to go to Verizon too!! ;)

I just wanted to say a few things about this scam of a company:

1. These guys wear suits and ties to give the appearance of being phenomenally successful businesspersons. Nothing could be further fromt he truth. Most "owners" live with each other in the same house and can barely keep the lights on. I have been in some tough situations before and I don't judge people whom are struggling. However, it is ridiculous that they maintain these situations while claiming to be making six figures!! Insane!! And then the bald-faced lies to recruits about opportunity and money. It really is remarkable the psychology going on in these places.

2. They will hire anyone. In my small little campaign of less than 20 people, we had an ex-con, a high school dropout running the thing, a 50-year-old failure, and a slew of complete non-entities. And we were supposedly the "elite" group.

3. Our manager was as slimy as could be. The guy was obviously trying to cheat on his wife with a 20 something employee if he wasn't already. He would lie to people about anything and everything. The guy was a disciple of Scott Williams of New Line in San Diego. Scott Williams was chased out of his old office by SD 6 and was indicted on fraud charges in two other states if I'm not mistaken.

4. All employees would lie without flinching to potential customers regarding their TV service. Since the actual service would not need to be installed to get paid, it was open season to say whatever you wanted. And one guy was "let go" for lying to customers. LOL. Everyone was lying their butts off in that campaign!!

I could go on and on. Maybe I will in a bit..

It was fun to read all these comments. It brought me back so much memories. I worked for the company just few weeks and learned a lot. I didn't wanna stay there that long and using what i have learned from there I made discusting amount of money later on. I still make lot of money using what i learned from DS-Max. I don't con people. The Ds-Max helped me to become good sales person and strong business owner. i always feel sorry for guys who got stuck there. I had many friends there and warned them all that they won't make it and most of them were so juiced up and they didn't listen. Later on they realized that i was right.

Anyways, I miss Ds-max at the same time. So much fun memories too. By the way I'm wondering if San Diego offices are still around.

If you are reading this and if you are ex Dsmax from san diego please write me at (((ROR redacted))) and i would like to hire you guys. I know if you were in dsmax at least 2 weeks, you have lot to offer to me. Cause they really make you solid.

Ex juice

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Hi M.G. I have an appointment with Maximus Mktg scheduled this week. I would like to speak with you before i commit the time to go. I am in Nashville as well. Please contact this site to get my email address and send me an email message and I will follow-up with you. This sounds like a big waste of time. The job posting is nothing like the experience that you have described. Maybe we can network to find some decent marketing jobs in the Middle TN area? To this site administrator, it is O.K. for you to give M.G. in Nashville my email address, but please keep it confidential and do not post it on the site. Thanks!

AXIS ADVERTISING is another one! In Tempe AZ I have the same exact story as everyone else... super weird...How is deceptive hiring legal??? or is it not?

I have read quite a lot of these comments about these so-called "legit" marketing firms. I have noticed 2 very important overall factors about the comments.

1. The negative comments VASTLY exceed the feeble attempts of employees trying to defend their employers. Every business is gonna have some disgruntled employees, but when were talking about a figure that something like 99-1, then something is seriously wrong.

2. There is an absolutely astounding ammount of negative comments and they span a great deal of time. So these un-ethical business practices have been going on for quite a while.

I want to be very clear to anyone (especially the defenders of these marketing companies) that I DO NOT think that selling products door to door is a scam. I have no problem with commission based earnings. I even believe some (very few) people have been successful at working for one of these companies.

I do however think that the way these companies represent the job is a bigtime scam. Many other commentors have already very thoroughly explained the interview process so I will not go into that again. I will however tell folks a little about my experiences with Maximus Marketing in Nashville, TN.

1. When I was interviewed for the first time, I was given absolutely no info as to what the job really was. There was no mention of commission, door-to-door sales or anything like that. So already, I have wasted time, money and gas (an issue that seems to be a constant re-occuring theme).

2. The second day when, I went out into the field with my so-called "trainer", I was not thrilled by the idea of selling product door-to-door but I thought, "hey, I'll give it a try. I've never been defeated by any job so I know I'm capable." So after the "field interview" I was sitting in the office of the manager (Julian) and we were going over the questionaire I had filled out. There was a section that allowed me to write any questions I had for him. I asked if there were benefits, 401K, paid vacation, holiday pay etc etc. The man looked me right in the eye and said, "Yes" to those questions. He led me to believe that some of those benefits were not immediately available but intime would be. This was a huge factor in my decision to take the job, and ultimately the main factor in my resignation. I WILL NOT work for a liar. Ethics are the most important and valuable resource at any company and here are some more examples of this deceit being practiced in lower levels of this office:

3. Our job was to talk people into switching from their current Cable TV, Internet and phone services to a competitor's products. I have no problem with that in theory. I think it was actually a good product. Here is where I have problems. One night I saw my trainer switch some very elderly people from their current service to ours. In fact, the man was in his nineties and very obviously not completely lucid in his mental process. My trainer just essentially represented himself as an agent on behalf of the company's whose services we were trying to sell (whom these people had for phone service already) and just kind of took it upon himself to switch their tv service from satellite to cable. They never truely said, "yes, I want that." In fact the man kept saying things like, "I dont know what were doing here.", "why are we changing anyway?", "why are we doing this?" He was just simply confused.. no other way to put it. And this New service was put in HIS NAME! I left with a sick feeling after that. That is no way to get sales and borders on fraud and abuse of the elderly.

4. Another day I was told by my team leader that I needed to attend a team breakfast meeting before our day began on Saturday. Well, for starters I was sick of coming in early and leaving late every day so the idea of starting early on saturday too kind of annoyed me. That's another thing they dont tell you.. You're gonna be working 50-60 hours a week. Even with a lower paying hourly job, I cold make more than what this company was promising. At any rate, I was broke! At this point, my expenses were way higher than what I had made (again.. gas, food,time etc). So I said, "I really cant afford anything like that right now." Another of my very new co-workers said something similair to him. And he said, "my treat." Needless to say, I ended up paying for my own breakfast that morning. I would have just ordered a water if I knew that was going to happen. So this was about the twentieth time in a week that I had been misled, lied to or witnessed unethical treatment of employees or customers.

5. It has been a month since I resigned and I have still not received my so-called earnings. Believe me, I will show up with the police if that is not resolved very soon. I will try to update on this site about that situation.

So, please please please research any company that sounds AT ALL like this one or the ones listed above thoroughly. Is what they do illegal? No, but it sure ought to be. And again, its not the job itself that is a scam.. believe me, I know how to sell. It is the lies and deceit coming from the companies MGMT that IS a scam. Be careful. Hope this helps.

M G

Nice try Lycowarrior85 but these business professionals agree that this is a scam. The people who are successful business owners that work when they want to knew what they were getting into when they decided to be self-employed. These people didn't go to a job interview and be promised this and that when it all isn't true. Most of them worked salary jobs in the beginning and some odd jobs on the side to be able to save the funds needed to develop their industries.

The person that is supposedly giving you advice from this company does not make 500K a year, there is only 2 consultants in all of Cydcor that make that much. Your average manager will make maybe 30K, your average promoting owner will make about 60K. And even if they do make more, they don't work when they want to, they have to work about 80 hours (nothing wrong with hard work), but don't try to get the idea that these people work whenever they want to.

You say that it's called Franchising and you don't have to invest money out of your own pocket, now that is not true. During the interview process they tell you that you will make X amount of dollars as an Acct. Exec, X amount of dollars as a leader, X amount of dollars as an Asst. Manager. Now during this breakdown they usually tell you that as an Asst. Manager will make between 1000 and 2000 on average. If this was true then you would be getting a paycheck of that much, however YOU have to save 10K over the next few months in the corporate account to start up your business. This is money you were told you were going to earn as compensation for your work. When your phase as an assistant manager is complete you then open your office and start with the 10K that you have saved. This is supposed to be YOUR money, which means you are investing money out of YOUR pocket to start up your business. It is true that overhead costs are cheap so for you to say little investment would justify your claim, but you said no personal investment which is another false claim by an ignorant young employee of the company.

Just to give you an FYI, the only reason that these so called "scam" companies keep opening up is because other "scam companies just closed down. The amount of offices never increases. In Cydcor there have been many cities that have seen 4 different companies come in and out in a 2 year span working on the same campaign cause it's just not profitable.

Well that is all for now, thanks for your time. Maybe you will wake up and realize rich dad poor dad doesn't pertain to organizations with cult like motives and shady recruitment practices.

I like to keep things simple, from my observation, while the complaints keeping coming in this company is growing at an unbelievable rate even while people scream recession this company still grows. This is proven because every few weeks there is a new "scam location" to watch out for.

But everyone do yourself one this, find a business owner who is successful, and I don't mean a small business owner I mean someone who WORKS when they choose to work and the rest of the time they spend with their family at the huge house and taking amazing vacations. The ones who make well over 500k per year.

Take this company's business plan to them and ask them what they think. You will be surprised.. I was.. Its called franchising, only one exception, you don't have to invest money out of your pocket.. like the fast food industry.. maybe that is why most people don't except it... hmm.. but what this company does is provide the opportunity at a very low risk to the person opening up. Maybe that is why so many "scam" offices have been popping up all over the place. because instead of listening to mommy and daddy who make 60k to 100k a year COMBINED, they choose to listen to someone who makes 500k a year and only works about... i dunno... whenever they feel like it.

Read the Book rich dad poor dad, before you listen to your parents advice... (and its not their fault) your choice 60k (employee) or 500K (business owner)

I like to keep things simple, from my observation, while the complaints keeping coming in this company is growing at an unbelievable rate even while people scream recession this company still grows. This is proven because every few weeks there is a new "scam location" to watch out for.

But everyone do yourself one this, find a business owner who is successful, and I don't mean a small business owner I mean someone who WORKS when they choose to work and the rest of the time they spend with their family at the huge house and taking amazing vacations. The ones who make well over 500k per year.

Take this company's business plan to them and ask them what they think. You will be surprised.. I was.. Its called franchising, only one exception, you don't have to invest money out of your pocket.. like the fast food industry.. maybe that is why most people don't except it... hmm.. but what this company does is provide the opportunity at a very low risk to the person opening up. Maybe that is why so many "scam" offices have been popping up all over the place. because instead of listening to mommy and daddy who make 60k to 100k a year COMBINED, they choose to listen to someone who makes 500k a year and only works about... i dunno... whenever they feel like it.

Read the Book rich dad poor dad, before you listen to your parents advice... (and its not their fault) your choice 60k (employee) or 500K (business owner)

I like to keep things simple, from my observation, while the complaints keeping coming in this company is growing at an unbelievable rate even while people scream recession this company still grows. This is proven because every few weeks there is a new "scam location" to watch out for.

But everyone do yourself one this, find a business owner who is successful, and I don't mean a small business owner I mean someone who WORKS when they choose to work and the rest of the time they spend with their family at the huge house and taking amazing vacations. The ones who make well over 500k per year.

Take this company's business plan to them and ask them what they think. You will be surprised.. I was.. Its called franchising, only one exception, you don't have to invest money out of your pocket.. like the fast food industry.. maybe that is why most people don't except it... hmm.. but what this company does is provide the opportunity at a very low risk to the person opening up. Maybe that is why so many "scam" offices have been popping up all over the place. because instead of listening to mommy and daddy who make 60k to 100k a year COMBINED, they choose to listen to someone who makes 500k a year and only works about... i dunno... whenever they feel like it.

Read the Book rich dad poor dad, before you listen to your parents advice... (and its not their fault) your choice 60k (employee) or 500K (business owner)

I like to keep things simple, from my observation, while the complaints keeping coming in this company is growing at an unbelievable rate even while people scream recession this company still grows. This is proven because every few weeks there is a new "scam location" to watch out for.

But everyone do yourself one this, find a business owner who is successful, and I don't mean a small business owner I mean someone who WORKS when they choose to work and the rest of the time they spend with their family at the huge house and taking amazing vacations. The ones who make well over 500k per year.

Take this company's business plan to them and ask them what they think. You will be surprised.. I was.. Its called franchising, only one exception, you don't have to invest money out of your pocket.. like the fast food industry.. maybe that is why most people don't except it... hmm.. but what this company does is provide the opportunity at a very low risk to the person opening up. Maybe that is why so many "scam" offices have been popping up all over the place. because instead of listening to mommy and daddy who make 60k to 100k a year COMBINED, they choose to listen to someone who makes 500k a year and only works about... i dunno... whenever they feel like it.

Read the Book rich dad poor dad, before you listen to your parents advice... (and its not their fault) your choice 60k (employee) or 500K (business owner)

To those of you who defend the company (and yet manage to do so without mentioning which company you work for): it's not about the commission-based sales or anything, it's about the ads that assert that it's a "management" job, promise that you'll make at least $600 a week, and don't state what you're actually doing. It's about the office managers who tell you that your second interview day is from 7 am until 5 pm and then make you wait in the office for at least an hour and a half in the morning. It's about the "trainers" who take you out in their cars without telling you what you're actually going out to do, and then bring you back to the office well after 5 pm. It's about the bosses who pressure you to work, threaten to let you go if you don't work enough for their taste, and dictate where you are working and what you are selling, when they have no right to do any of those things, as you are a mere independent contractor. They act outside their rights, lie, and exaggerate, and the worst part is, they can keep doing so because they prey on the vulnerable. This economy leads to desperation, and they know how to milk it.

In my area, the company is known as (Take) Advantage Marketing.

To those of you who defend the company (and yet manage to do so without mentioning which company you work for): it's not about the commission-based sales or anything, it's about the ads that assert that it's a "management" job, promise that you'll make at least $600 a week, and don't state what you're actually doing. It's about the office managers who tell you that your second interview day is from 7 am until 5 pm and then make you wait in the office for at least an hour and a half in the morning. It's about the "trainers" who take you out in their cars without telling you what you're actually going out to do, and then bring you back to the office well after 5 pm. It's about the bosses who pressure you to work, threaten to let you go if you don't work enough for their taste, and dictate where you are working and what you are selling, when they have no right to do any of those things, as you are a mere independent contractor. They act outside their rights, lie, and exaggerate, and the worst part is, they can keep doing so because they prey on the vulnerable. This economy leads to desperation, and they know how to milk it.

In my area, the company is known as (Take) Advantage Marketing.

To those of you who defend the company (and yet manage to do so without mentioning which company you work for): it's not about the commission-based sales or anything, it's about the ads that assert that it's a "management" job, promise that you'll make at least $600 a week, and don't state what you're actually doing. It's about the office managers who tell you that your second interview day is from 7 am until 5 pm and then make you wait in the office for at least an hour and a half in the morning. It's about the "trainers" who take you out in their cars without telling you what you're actually going out to do, and then bring you back to the office well after 5 pm. It's about the bosses who pressure you to work, threaten to let you go if you don't work enough for their taste, and dictate where you are working and what you are selling, when they have no right to do any of those things, as you are a mere independent contractor. They act outside their rights, lie, and exaggerate, and the worst part is, they can keep doing so because they prey on the vulnerable. This economy leads to desperation, and they know how to milk it.

In my area, the company is known as (Take) Advantage Marketing.

I have read most of these comments about scams and they all have something in common. The people that are writing them obviously didn't make any money. Why you ask? It's not because it is a scam it is because it is a commission job. So what you thought you were mislead by a description of the job on a job search website. You obviously did one of two things. #1 you went to the interview and said this isn't for me (commission based job is not for everyone. Not everyone has the ability to make money strictly off of their performance and if that was the case then everyone would be making great money am I right?) #2 You decided to give it a try (Again you gave it a try which was your decision and no one else and if you could not hack it then you could not hack it period). It just boggles me that people will try something and if it doesn't work out they blame someone else but themselves. Hence the word performance based commission. you knew what you were getting yourself into when you came back from the 2nd interview people, and if you have a high cancellation rate the only person you can blame is yourself and not another soul. So go on with your lives and your 9-5 job that you are going to be stuck with probably the rest of your life and quit trying to ruin it for everyone else that can succeed in the business.

First of all... You arent going to get rich. Dont listen to the owner. You got to look out for yourself.

When you go out there with your trunk full of junk you need to stroke everybody you can. I mean. For a 10 dollar item you pitch it for 20. If they are slightly interested let them work you down to 15.
sell if for what you are supposed to as a last option

The owner makes as much as you or more per item you sell. He wants you to blow your order out because thats how he gets his money.... Dont forget tho...
you arent going to get rich. You wont own your own office and even if you could... you probably wouldnt want to. Really its the difference between you making 50 and you making a hundred

I would say 200 a week is pretty valid for 75% of people that work in these places. After you gas up your car and drive all over town. That doesnt mean that they arent trying hard enough or talking to enough people.
When i went out there i was so artificially excited about the junk i sold that it didnt make any sense. It wasnt my inability to sell so much as it was the products and the bad rep they have on the street. Its flat out impossible to get 97% of people excited about Disney books. Its low quality. Even the name branded stuff
is like the bottom of the bottom. I remember selling vivitar binoculars. Supposedly brand new binoculars were already broken. So i dont kno. Get a job pretty much anywhere else and you will make more money and work less hours

First of all... You arent going to get rich. Dont listen to the owner. You got to look out for yourself.

When you go out there with your trunk full of junk you need to stroke everybody you can. I mean. For a 10 dollar item you pitch it for 20. If they are slightly interested let them work you down to 15.
sell if for what you are supposed to as a last option

The owner makes as much as you or more per item you sell. He wants you to blow your order out because thats how he gets his money.... Dont forget tho...
you arent going to get rich. You wont own your own office and even if you could... you probably wouldnt want to. Really its the difference between you making 50 and you making a hundred

I would say 200 a week is pretty valid for 75% of people that work in these places. After you gas up your car and drive all over town. That doesnt mean that they arent trying hard enough or talking to enough people.
When i went out there i was so artificially excited about the junk i sold that it didnt make any sense. It wasnt my inability to sell so much as it was the products and the bad rep they have on the street. Its flat out impossible to get 97% of people excited about Disney books. Its low quality. Even the name branded stuff
is like the bottom of the bottom. I remember selling vivitar binoculars. Supposedly brand new binoculars were already broken. So i dont kno. Get a job pretty much anywhere else and you will make more money and work less hours

First of all... You arent going to get rich. Dont listen to the owner. You got to look out for yourself.

When you go out there with your trunk full of junk you need to stroke everybody you can. I mean. For a 10 dollar item you pitch it for 20. If they are slightly interested let them work you down to 15.
sell if for what you are supposed to as a last option

The owner makes as much as you or more per item you sell. He wants you to blow your order out because thats how he gets his money.... Dont forget tho...
you arent going to get rich. You wont own your own office and even if you could... you probably wouldnt want to. Really its the difference between you making 50 and you making a hundred

I would say 200 a week is pretty valid for 75% of people that work in these places. After you gas up your car and drive all over town. That doesnt mean that they arent trying hard enough or talking to enough people.
When i went out there i was so artificially excited about the junk i sold that it didnt make any sense. It wasnt my inability to sell so much as it was the products and the bad rep they have on the street. Its flat out impossible to get 97% of people excited about Disney books. Its low quality. Even the name branded stuff
is like the bottom of the bottom. I remember selling vivitar binoculars. Supposedly brand new binoculars were already broken. So i dont kno. Get a job pretty much anywhere else and you will make more money and work less hours

Did this for maybe half a year. I was out of a couple offices in the Detroit area. Best to avoid the Schoolcraft office in Livonia and anything the proprietor (who i will leave un-named) is involved with. You will not make good money unless you are willing to completely kill yourself every day. Matter of fact... even if you kill yourself everyday there are no guarantees. I've heard a lot of people claim innovage and the outfits that serve their crap up to be a cult. There is alot of bizzare chanting. 90% of the people who show up to the interview and go out on their day of observation will not come back. The ones who try and decide they dont want to do it get berated by the owner after they are gone. The guy is rather petty. I thought it was all pretty silly really.

Most people who do this are there at 6am. They drill each other on how to sell whatever is in the warehouse at the moment. There is typically a pep talk followed up by 1 or more of several "juice" chants. 10am or so they are loading up their cars. 6pm or so they are back at the office. You may not get out till 7:30 PM. Its known to happen.
Ill say this: reason i stuck with it was i like running around the city talking to people all day. No supervision. I told the owner that i DID NOT care to start up a crew. I DIDN'T want to own an innovage office. Told him I didnt want to participate in the meetings. Told him i just wasnt a very Juicy person. Pretty much told him i was willing to show up and sell his stuff. Didnt make him happy at all. He mostly ignored me after that although once in a while he would say something sarcastic in front of the group.... So 6 days a week i would run around town. All told it probably occupied 70 hours of my time per week. Everyday i made 60-70 dollars. I usually was the 3rd highest or 4th highest out of 9 or 10 guys. If I didnt collect all of my sales tax. Well i may walk with 50 something. People dont like to pay sales tax on the street. Say i made 375 or 400 in a week. Divide that by 70 hours. Thats like 5 dollars an hour.... Less than minimum wage.

That would be considered a good week too. It could be worse. Plus gas.... Truth of the matter... Now i work half the hours and make twice the money.

Hope this was helpful

isn't there a federal law that states all companies must set a minimum wage?

if they can't give you a "base pay" then you know something illegal is going on.

i wonder... if the irs ever contacted the owners. i hope they're reporting all the earnings and paying all their taxes.

this is how i see it...

owner-100,000/yr (obvious... the evil genius?)
next down-30,000/yr (the one that realizes but needs to find a new job)
next-15,000/yr (the one that realizes after a few months)
next-2/hr (the one that quits)

mind you... the "next's" are all the ones that put 70 hrs/wk into it.
the owner "works" too i suppose...but not walking around all day..this is the one that hires the 2/hr kids.

all an opinion...

isn't there a federal law that states all companies must set a minimum wage?

if they can't give you a "base pay" then you know something illegal is going on.

i wonder... if the irs ever contacted the owners. i hope they're reporting all the earnings and paying all their taxes.

this is how i see it...

owner-100,000/yr (obvious... the evil genius?)
next down-30,000/yr (the one that realizes but needs to find a new job)
next-15,000/yr (the one that realizes after a few months)
next-2/hr (the one that quits)

mind you... the "next's" are all the ones that put 70 hrs/wk into it.
the owner "works" too i suppose...but not walking around all day..this is the one that hires the 2/hr kids.

all an opinion...

isn't there a federal law that states all companies must set a minimum wage?

if they can't give you a "base pay" then you know something illegal is going on.

i wonder... if the irs ever contacted the owners. i hope they're reporting all the earnings and paying all their taxes.

this is how i see it...

owner-100,000/yr (obvious... the evil genius?)
next down-30,000/yr (the one that realizes but needs to find a new job)
next-15,000/yr (the one that realizes after a few months)
next-2/hr (the one that quits)

mind you... the "next's" are all the ones that put 70 hrs/wk into it.
the owner "works" too i suppose...but not walking around all day..this is the one that hires the 2/hr kids.

all an opinion...

isn't there a federal law that states all companies must set a minimum wage?

if they can't give you a "base pay" then you know something illegal is going on.

i wonder... if the irs ever contacted the owners. i hope they're reporting all the earnings and paying all their taxes.

this is how i see it...

owner-100,000/yr (obvious... the evil genius?)
next down-30,000/yr (the one that realizes but needs to find a new job)
next-15,000/yr (the one that realizes after a few months)
next-2/hr (the one that quits)

mind you... the "next's" are all the ones that put 70 hrs/wk into it.
the owner "works" too i suppose...but not walking around all day..this is the one that hires the 2/hr kids.

all an opinion...

Are you energetic, sports minded, and want to make a zillion dollars a year selling trinkets outside of your local gas station? Then we are the job for you!

If you have been to college you should know to stay away from companies like these. They are the worst kind of bottom feeders. Get 1000 people to waiste thier time with lies regarding employment to get 1 who will believe all the hype.

KSL Concepts at 3525 Piedmont Rd #7-100 in Buckhead (Atlanta) GA is another CYDCOR ICL peddling AT&T UVerse service. A scummy bunch of preening d****ebags, all happy to fill your ears with lies about how much money they're making and what a WONDERFUL opportunity it is to work there. STAY AWAY!

HELLO guys,
Beware!!!!!! of a company in florida called top flight marketing also going by advanced marketing. they are a scam!!!! i applied via careerbuilder a week ago, they called me the same day asking me to come in that day. i scheduled an interview the day after. that day, there were about 7 others in the small room. I got the 5 minute interview, they told me to come in the next day for the "day of observation" which is not payed for!! I wasnt too sure of what i would do, i thought it was a position where you would call people and do marketing that way. when i came in, they surprised me and asked me to use MY car for transportation.

when we finally got to the plaza they told me "this is what were selling!". some stupid coupon pamphlet. we spent ALL day going to all types of plazas harrasing people to buy. of course, out of all the people we asked only 2 bought it. we finally finished at 7. oh and by the way, they say lunch is on them...ha. the guy took me and another new employee to mcdonalds and didnt even buy us anything but a small cup of water. so when we get back to the office, all these amped up employees high five you and "Get to know you". its all very cult like. they offer me the job and ask me to come on a SATURDAY to work. i say i cant but monday i will be there. the guys working there took my number and were like "are you sure youre coming back? please make sure to come back". of course, i didnt. they only gave me $10 for gas to top it off. it was def more than that. it screams scam how they dont ask you to submit to a drug test, or criminal backround or anything. they dont even talk to you about your salary. the guy rushed through everything and i couldnt even ask anything. they say you earn about 35,000 annually but its all commision based. supposedly $700 a week, but the guy i was with the whole day accidentally let slip he got $200 last week. so yeah, STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE LOCATED AT 4600 SHERIDAN ST SUITE 300 ON THE WACHOVIA BUILDING!!!!!!!!!
its all a scam they have ads on careerbuilder every week!

Dont forget about Genuine Marketing Solutions part of quantum events, located at 37519 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, Michigan, 48150, 734-953-2605. They sell things in the name of a missing children orginazation and only actually give 5% of the profits, and mislead the customers into buying things giving the impression all of it is going back when it actually goes in the owners pocket.

I appreciate this thread for giving us a list of the different names of these MLMers

The same thing happened to me with these guys.

I live in San Diego and fall into the lovely category of "laid off, no college degree, but too experienced to find a job". Or, so it seems... I made $63,000 at my last position and have had no luck finding a new job. I'm desperate, I'm applying for everything I can on careerbuilder/monster/indeed/beyond/you name it. I heard back from both New Line and LH International today and got so excited that for the first time, I had two interviews set up for one day - tomorrow. THANK GOD I googled one of the companies and ended up here. I have half a tank of gas and no money in the bank. I would have burned most of it on these so-called "preliminary interviews", and most likely wouldn't have gotten anything out of it. Thanks again.

I'm hesitant to leave my name, as I don't wish my employer to find this information.

I've always had an interest in cults. I always have, and always will, find the psychological manipulation of otherwise intelligent people by the charismatic to be fascination. The strangest thing about the company, to me, is the interview process.

Please keep in mind that I adore the individuals I work with. The owner of my branch is a wonderful woman who legitimately wants us all to succeed. My leader was honest, from the get-go, about the nature of the position I'd be taking.

I get the feeling, as I watch the high turn-around in my office, that not all of the other leaders are as honest as mine has always been.

During Atmosphere, we're all encouraged to be crazy, loud, energetic, and happy. We play Pictionary, we play charades, and we do all sorts of silly things. We are all sincerely happy when another person gets promoted or has a good day. The door between the Atmosphere room and the lobby is one big window.

About a week after I was hired, they covered the window with horizontal blinds. Why?

They don't want the interviewees to see us. If they're still in the lobby when AM Atmosphere has ended, we have to either wait for them to be led to the cafeteria in the basement for their interviews (Upwards of 5 interviews, one morning!) or we have to leave the office in groups of three or less to get out onto the field for the day.

The fear is that we'll scare the interviewees off. Wouldn't we prefer to scare them off now, instead of bringing them into a supposedly orderly office on Monday to find a lot of yelling and high-fives?

If an interviewee is led to the cafeteria, and other people need to wait for their leaders, we have a 'babysitter'. A leader has to hang back, and they often direct the conversation to the point where they won't let someone who has been there for a few weeks answer questions... even personal ones. "How do you like it here? Is it hard?" "Just ask a leader any questions."

At one point, a girl pulled me aside to ask for a tampon. A (male) leader came up to us and told her to direct any questions to him.

"Fine," she smiled, "Do you have any extra tampons?"

They don't want us talking about crazy customers to the newbies. They want them indoctrinated before they let us speak to anyone alone. One girl took a liking to me and we exchanged numbers. We were texting back and forth all day, one Sunday. I told her everything, completely honest the whole time.

I haven't seen her again. I've learned not to get attached... If you have loyalty to people, this job can be a living hell. Try not to care about anyone, or you'll hate everything about this job.

This is information that I feel that you should know about this company and its owner. This is NOT to harm Holly Turner or Tallen Incorporated(s) reputation in any shape or form. This is knowledgeable information that applicants need to be informed of. Tallen Incorporated is an outsource marketing firm for Innovative Merchant Solutions, an Intuit Company, they are the makers of Quickbooks, Quicken, and TurboTax. It is a management training program for individuals who are career or goal oriented, self motivative, and strive for professionalism. Applicants who are great in sales, competitively driven, and strives for advancement, Tallen Inc. may be for you, but there are a few things you should know before hitting the "submit" button for your resume. First the interview process. Once an applicants resume has been reviewed he/she is called in by the admin. They are immediately scheduled for a brief interview. When I say brief, I mean approximately 5-8 minutes. As you arrive at the office, an application is required, and waiting time is minimal. Either Manager (Holly Turner), Assistant Manager, or the Admin, introduces themselves and briefly explains the business and asks a few questions pertaining management skills. They DO NOT go into further detail about what the job entails and speak so fast that you DO NOT clearly understand them. If you are considered for a position you will be contacted for a 2nd interview the following day. The second interview or "day of observation" is an 8 hour process. Applicants arrive early that morning and are asked to wait in the lobby until called upon. While waiting applicants usually hear a lot of chaotic noise of clapping and cheering, sometimes even running in the meeting room. Once the meeting is released, the applicant is called upon and is introduced to a field representative that they will be spending the day with. SOMETIMES there will be 2, one of which is in training, who did their "day of o" the previous day. Applicants still have not the slightest clue to what is going on, I thought I would be spending a day AT THE OFFICE, not out of it. They explain to you that you will be observing to get a better aspect of the business by meeting with "customers and clients" and at lunch will be given a "breakdown of the business." when the applicant returns that afternoon, a brief questionnaire is required. The applicant leaves the office and literally gets in the car with someone they just met to travel to their "territory" where they will be spending the rest of the day with. The field rep asks several questions regarding you and your aspects and opinions. When I asked a question from the get go relating to salary or what they actually do while driving to their territory, I was told "I will explain all that to you over lunch" basically the car ride is a casual conversation, so no need to be nervous.

MY EXPERIENCE:
Once we arrived at her territory, we pulled into the business, she pulled out a notebook, and started to write the business name down. Once we walked into the business, I thought to myself "is this like soliciting?" and that is exactly what it was basically. We went around all day discussing with business owners their credit card processing and how they can save money with Innovative Merchant Solutions. At lunch time we sat down and discussed the opportunity of operating my own business. They were explained in a 4 phase program. Entry Level, Leadership, Assistant Manager, and Management. Building and maintaining my own team, consistency in the field, and following the system, will better my chances at owning my own business within a years time. Financial security, unlimited income, and early retirement, is what got me interested.

OK NOW THE MONEY PART
The biggest question is of course money. Unless the pay has changed in the past year, the salary is performance based, 100% commission. The young lady I was with didn't "show me the money" that day, but of course she explained that like any other job you will have your bad days and good days. Understandable. Compensation anywhere between $100-$300 a day.
100% COMMISSION BASED, NO BASE PAY INCLUDED!!! NO BENEFITS

On the way back to the office, she did NOT speak to me at all. I thought "geez what the hell did I do?" I couldn't help but doze off a few times because it was an hour drive back to the office. When we finally arrived, I went upstairs, filled out the questionnaire, and was offered the position. It's all scripted to happen that way!

WORKING AT TALLEN
My first day was kinda weird, they played games, clapped, listened to loud music during training pitches. The meeting was really motivational to get everyone hyped up for the day. Training days are approximately 3 days, after that I was on my own. After the day is done, everyone comes back to the office to do the same thing that morning, play games and ring bells. The ringing of the bells is to congratulate those on a job well done that day. A typical day while at entry level, is from 8-6, must go no later than 6. Long day isn't? Seen nearly 50-60 businesses, 10 in which were business owners, and maybe pulling 1-3 statements a day was typical. In about 1.5 weeks, I made it to Leadership. This is where my opportunity really began. I was in the position to build my own team, teach and train others, and take on more office responsibilities. My hours changed as well, now I had to be in by 7:30 (preferably 7:15 or earlier) to 6, sometimes until 7 p.m. Then drive an hour back home. Speaking of driving, I had to pay for my own gas, drive practically out of state to my territory, then back to the office, then home. So yeah my day was about 13.5 hour days, 5 days a week. Now with leadership comes a lot more invasive, basically I had to take my work home with me. Short term and long term goals had to be written out, high roller speeches, and daily impacts all due the following day. (Goals due on Monday morning) not to mention goals for your team as well. We had weekly meetings on Monday nights and team night once a week. More time away from home and family, without compensation. Business trips a week at a time, not required but suggested. As though it doesn't seem that way now, I was really open and understanding to the opportunity. I grew professionally, became more positive, and carried a lot that I learned from the business with me today. If you are not careful though, it can get to you as it did me. I got into a slump and couldn't pull my way out, I was rolling (not ringing the bell) 2-3 times a week, felt like I was stuck! A one point I rolled all week, meaning I didn't get a paycheck, so basically I was working for nothing. I became unhappy, literally dreaded coming to work, and at that point thats when I knew I had to move on, even others in the office were feeling the same. When I took out interviews, I so badly wanted to tell them exactly how it is, but felt that I would be taking away their opportunity, just because I wasn't succeeding, doesn't mean that they will do the same. I felt that I was a failure because I was letting down the office. At one point I felt alienated and ignored. A tactic that they used to push myself harder. If you roll (don't make a sale) 2 days in a row you have to arrive at work on time but sit in the lobby while the leaders meeting is in session and wait with the trainees. Once a week there is an opportunity meetings explaining the different campaigns, organizations, money, and clients of the Cydcor family. Turn over rate with companies like these are not unusual, there are several out there just like this one, maybe different campaign, but the same in every other aspect. Now I am not discouraging anyone in applying, I just feel that applicants need to know EXACTLY what they are getting into and the price that you have to pay.

PRODUCT
The product or campaign is very legit. Business owners are hounded day to day with reps promising to save them money especially with this kind of business. Credit card processing is a very competitive market. There are some businesses that can't be helped and YES THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES that are cheaper than Innovative Merchant Solutions. (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH INNOVATIVE MERCHANT SERVICES) Although other credit card processing companies my not have the same incentives offered by IMS. Even if it was 2 bucks savings, we made it a huge deal that they HAD to switch to IMS. We were instructed to not inform business owners of anything regarding termination fees UNLESS asked, so we didn't enclose all information before signing. So when owners wanted to cancel their membership, they were outraged of the $295 cancellation fee. Does that define integrity?

TRICKS I LEARNED
Once in leadership, I learned that the whole process is an illusion. From the phone call for an interview to the hiring is ALL scripted and repetitive. The truth is that they NEED people in order to grow, but yet want to "fear of loss" people making them feel as if they are not needed, but reeling them in at the same time. I have seen things and heard things that turned out to be untrue, Holly Turner is a dishonest person and is the type to step on those just to get ahead herself. She belittles those who are not succeeding, because they are not making HER money. Sound like a pyramid? YES! She still acts as if she is in high school. Be cautious when working for her, she may turn on you at any given moment. I am not out to get her in any way, but people out there deserve to hear the truth, hopefully if she reads this she will get a better look at herself and the person she has become.

Do your research! CYDCOR, Innovative Merchant Solutions, Ken Lear, Brandi Rucks, Sarah Spears, Credit Card processing

I wish you and anyone else working for this company and others like it all the luck, I hope everyone else has a better outcome from this than I have. Thank you for reading! Anonymous Spring Hill, Tennessee
U.S.A.

Their ad from Jobing.com says:

"NEW FULL TIME Positions Entry Level, Paid Training
All Star Promotions - Las Vegas, NV
No experience is required but the willingness to learn is expected. THIS IS NOT A TELEMARKETING POSITION OR A DOOR TO DOOR POSITION OR BUSINESS TO BUSINESS----SORRY!"

Right. Don't be fooled. Their address is the exact same as Phase 4 Marketing and their full ad gives the same rah-rah, vague info. It took me 2 seconds to figure it out. Stay away from them!

I read a report yesterday on LUPINE GROUP, Inc. It really opened my eyes. I'm hurt because there are alot of ppl out there who are honestly looking to change fields or find a good job. I wasted alot of gas and time today and friday. I was invited back for a 2nd observational interview today and I drove to the office. I came in sat down, and was very uneasy. I heard and saw things that someone else on this site had described. There was the loud music, the bell on the desk. That instantly prompted me to exit, to run as if I was being persude by the predator! Part of me wanted to stay but then i realized i would be there for 4 hours. Thank you so much RipoffReport.com!

I went through the same thing with these guys in Detroit. They are still at it!

I saw their ad on careerbuilder.com and was going to call them, but thank God I found this page. Everything that has been said about these hundreds of other companies applies to them. Here is their ad:

Entry Level Marketing, Opportunity to Advance, FUN ATMOSPHERE!

Company: PIV, Inc.




Description

ENTRY LEVEL MARKETING POSITIONS
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY ~ INTERNS & RECENT GRADS WELCOME!

This Position Will Put You on the
Fast Lane to Success!


ABOUT US:
Phase IV Marketing is one of Las Vegas's newest, most progressive marketing firms with an exceptional track record of satisfied clients and customers. Along with the variety of products and companies we are involved with, we also are extremely proud of the charitable causes we promote throughout Las Vegas.

With our recent expansion, and more to come over the next few months, we currently need to fill IMMEDIATE entry level positions to help service our growing client base. We are looking to train the right candidates as soon as possible!

Candidates will be cross trained in:
Event Marketing
Event Management
Promotional Sales
Public Relations
Customer Service



NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY!! If you're looking to get into a NEW CAREER or just an individual looking for a career change, then please apply!

CONTACT US:
INTERVIEWS ARE BEGINNING THIS WEEK! Please contact Chris James at 702-252-7429 to set up an immediate interview with our hiring manager. Or, you may submit your resume to [Click Here to Email Your Resum] for immediate review.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and communication skills
Ability to work effectively and succeed in a fast paced environment
Must have (or be able to learn) leadership skills
Ability to prioritize job responsibilities and manage time effectively
Must be able to get along well with other team members!
Have a Student Mentality.

WWW.PHASE4MARKETING.COM

I've already avoided two other sales-scam jobs this week, so I'm getting pretty suspicious and I am checking out every single company I'm applying to. I recommend that everyone do this as there are A LOT of scams out there.

I have had experience with a couple different Innovage-based companies.
They are not right for everyone, for sure.

Those who are of the belief that the world owes them, or are just plain lazy, need not apply.

The individuals associated with Innovage earn every dime they make.

It is unfortunate that their employment ads need to be a bit misleading.
However, if they were completely truthful, how many calls would they get?
Would you answer an ad which read:

WANTED Individuals to work 10-14 hours a day on their feet, mostly outdoors,
no matter the weather; must be willing to deal with rude people on a regular basis;
you may or not make money.

My suggestion to anyone who reads this and is looking for work is to answer one of those ads, open your mind, go on a day of observation.

You may just enjoy the day, unless you are predisposed to look only for negatives.

I have had experience with a couple different Innovage-based companies.
They are not right for everyone, for sure.

Those who are of the belief that the world owes them, or are just plain lazy, need not apply.

The individuals associated with Innovage earn every dime they make.

It is unfortunate that their employment ads need to be a bit misleading.
However, if they were completely truthful, how many calls would they get?
Would you answer an ad which read:

WANTED Individuals to work 10-14 hours a day on their feet, mostly outdoors,
no matter the weather; must be willing to deal with rude people on a regular basis;
you may or not make money.

My suggestion to anyone who reads this and is looking for work is to answer one of those ads, open your mind, go on a day of observation.

You may just enjoy the day, unless you are predisposed to look only for negatives.

I have had experience with a couple different Innovage-based companies.
They are not right for everyone, for sure.

Those who are of the belief that the world owes them, or are just plain lazy, need not apply.

The individuals associated with Innovage earn every dime they make.

It is unfortunate that their employment ads need to be a bit misleading.
However, if they were completely truthful, how many calls would they get?
Would you answer an ad which read:

WANTED Individuals to work 10-14 hours a day on their feet, mostly outdoors,
no matter the weather; must be willing to deal with rude people on a regular basis;
you may or not make money.

My suggestion to anyone who reads this and is looking for work is to answer one of those ads, open your mind, go on a day of observation.

You may just enjoy the day, unless you are predisposed to look only for negatives.

I have had experience with a couple different Innovage-based companies.
They are not right for everyone, for sure.

Those who are of the belief that the world owes them, or are just plain lazy, need not apply.

The individuals associated with Innovage earn every dime they make.

It is unfortunate that their employment ads need to be a bit misleading.
However, if they were completely truthful, how many calls would they get?
Would you answer an ad which read:

WANTED Individuals to work 10-14 hours a day on their feet, mostly outdoors,
no matter the weather; must be willing to deal with rude people on a regular basis;
you may or not make money.

My suggestion to anyone who reads this and is looking for work is to answer one of those ads, open your mind, go on a day of observation.

You may just enjoy the day, unless you are predisposed to look only for negatives.

I was wondering if anyone could give me information about the Cleveland offices - my friend is engaged to a Cleveland employee and I am concerned about their future. Her boyfriend has a college education. When he first started, he was making a lot of money. He was also promised promotion and an office of his own. (Still has not happened.) When I ask him about his work, the answers seem to change - can't get a clear answer what he is doing - along with the business name. When he does receive a check, they are frequently from different business accounts. He has sold siding, windows, gas cards, Indians discount cards, Subway discount cards - which by the way are not honored by some Subways, etc. At one time he said he was salary but is now working commission.

After a bit of time, the income started to decline - dramatically. Months later, they are always late in paying the rent, their cable & internet are shut off every month - which results in a reconnection fee they can not afford, they had to make payment arrangements to keep the electric on since it has not been paid for several months along with their water bill. The bank has tried to reposses his car on a regular basis. His cell phone has been shut off so he is using a friend's phone.

My friend hardly sees her boyfriend - he leaves after she goes to work in the morning and does not get home until after 9 PM sometimes a lot later. He also works Saturday. He has to go out of state for his job at times - and I don't know if he is reimbursed when he goes out of state for gas, food & hotel fees but I know he goes through over $100 in gas a week when working in the Cleveland area - with no reimbursement. As far as I can tell - he avearages between $2 to $4 an hour in wages by the time he pays for gas & food - he eats out frequently since easier than packing lunch. I have taken my friend to the grocery store - numerous times - and bought them groceries so they would not starve - and I am talking over $100 each time. I have also given them money to keep their checking account from being overdrawn. They do not go out often for supper, movies, etc like many young couples do. He complains to her if she spends $2 for lunch (while working) and does not want her to waste her gas.

I think his boss is trying to break them up. When she confronts him about not bringing in enough money to pay the bills - he tells her to just leave - that he will move in with his boss to save money - numerous times this has happened. He tells her to leave her apartment keys and her engagement ring (which the jewelry store also wants to reposses). I think his boss wants them to split so he has more control over him. This way they can work together and sleep under the same roof. I can't imagine anyone wanting to move into their bosses home instead of staying with the woman who wants to become his wife.

But my friend is madly in love with this guy and has talked about moving out but never does. I think this is actually verbal abuse - she is so hurt when he does this. I have read her wedding blogs and she idolizes him and never speaks a bad word in her blogs about him or his rediculous job. He will then call back later and apologize and tell her he loves her.

Can anyone tell me if this is what they have experienced in Cleveland? I have read two other rip off reports related to Cleveland - both were new prospectives that were abandoned after they were told they did not want to work there - they had to pay for cabs to take them back to their cars. I have read very similar stories about other locations. My friend is trying to talk him into getting a different job - but he thinks this is his DREAM job. He just has a fancy title but no money to go with it if you ask me. She is actually looking into getting a part time job to help make ends meet - she already works full time.

Thanks for the info! I was supposed to have an interview tomorrow but thanks to you all I'm canceling it :D

BTW this company has moved to MILWAUKEE, WI under the name AXIS MARKETING GROUP, INC (not to be confused with the REAL axis marketing group that markets restaurants)

BEWARE!

I agree with the person above who said that if you really want to spread the word, file a new report on this site instead of making rebuttals. These ripoff reports come up pretty high on Google and if you make your own report with the name of the company in the title and with all of the company's info, that will really help people (namely prospective employees) who are doing research on companies.

I am giving everyone the names of these companies not because I particularly believe that Innovage is a bad company and that no one should ever work with them... ... but, because everything isn't for everybody, and if this isn't for you then you shouldn't waste your time or the time of these companies.

I've worked for MP3 Enterprises. I know the owners of L2 and Associates, A1 Imports, and Seam Marketing, personally. I will be the first to admit that there are negatives about working with these companies. Please, let me be the first to hit the negatives on the head:

1. LITTLE TO NO PAY! - If you want to earn $250 - $900 a week this is not the opportunity for you. I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. I personally made an average of $350 a week... as a DISTRIBUTOR - which is the lowest level of the business. So, it's possible to make more, but the chances of anyone doing so is slim.

2. LONG WORK HOURS!!! I'm sorry, but you must be able to arrive at the office by 7 a.m, and expect to leave the office around 7:30 p.m. As you move up in rank, be prepared to leave the office at later times. I'll also say this THERE ARE SUCH THINGS AS NIGHT ORDERS!!! I've personally worked from 7 a.m until 2 a.m just to reach my goals. I wasn't TOLD to do so; I did it because I needed to succeed, simple as that.
At the moment, I work for another company and my manager works about 4 hours longer than I do, on a DAILY basis. He does repairs, paperwork, orders supplies, etc. He actually makes more than I do, but it's still the fact that as a manager you are the BACKBONE of your company's success and you're going to do everything that you have to do in order to succeed.

3. OWE TAX MONEY!!! Now, here's the big part!!! This year, I owed the State of Maryland approximately $900 in State taxes. Many of these companies WILL tell you that you're going to have to file a 1099 tax return, however, unless you actually know what a 1099 tax return is, you're going to be unaware of the taxes you are obligated to withhold from the LITTLE BIT OF EARNINGS YOU MAKE DAILY. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE SALES TAX THAT DISTRIBUTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO CHARGE THE CUSTOMERS. I'm talking about the Social Security taxes, Medicare, etc. When you file your tax return at the end of the year, you WILL have to pay these taxes... so, if you're an employee of any of these companies... look up your personal State tax percentages, start seperating that percentage of your earnings, place it in a seperate account, and have it ready for the IRS next year.

4. AS A MANAGER, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN! Yes, you will get support from your promoting manager. However, trust that you are now on your own. Remember that your promoting manager also owns a company; is probably supporting other companies that he's/she's promoted out, also. Don't think that you're supposed to get 100% of his attention because you're the new kid on the block. They will help you, but you have to show some initiative now.

Now, there are also some good parts to these types of companies:

1. MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE!!! I don't care what these people on this site says, you WILL gain managerial experience if you have a student mentality. I've learned how to train others; how to have CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS with other people; how to NOT show your subordinates when you are UPSET; how to motivate others; how to set goals for your company; how to meet deadlines; how to REALISTICALLY evaluate your finances; how to put in 110% in my company; how to maximize my time; the value of time; THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN AT THESE COMPANIES.

2. OWNERSHIP!!! I would not waste my time lying to anyone about this. You will be able to own a company working for one of these companies. You will have the POTENTIAL to earn up to $100,000 annually as an owner. I've seen new companies formed. I've helped new companies form. I'VE WENT TO OTHER STATES AND OPENED THE DOORS TO NEW COMPANIES WITH NEW OWNERS. You will get a truck load of MERCHANDISE arrive at your door. They will pay two months of your companies expenses. They will help you advertise your business. They will help you recruit new members. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT BABY YOU. YOU HAVE 60 DAYS TO GET YOUR BALL ROLLING; some people will hold your hand a little while longer. If you meet that promoting owner, then you're lucky. But, they aren't obligated to do your work for you.

3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS- You learn how to read people. You learn how to communicate with others. This is no lie... I can sell water to a whale, now. I've worked with that company less than a year and I've learned how to impulse people into almost ANYTHING!

4. PROFESSIONALISM- If you've reviewed any of these reports, you will notice that every manager these people have ever met possess a huge level of professionalism. They dress extremely well. They speak very well. They are always well groomed. JUST AS A MANAGER SHOULD BE.

I want to be honest with everyone. You will not be told everything upfront. Please, people, lets discuss this realistically. Even at your current job, there's alot of information that you are not given. Certain information is always kept from you, until you reach a certain level of the business. For example, your company owner will more than likely NOT tell you they are in the red... but, they will begin laying people off. They will not tell you why they are doing certain things, but the company will begin making changes and moving in a different direction.

I truly do not agree with the withholding of information form these companies. However, I can not say that I would be able to do what they do, in any way different. Maybe I would be able to help the distributors place money aside for their taxes... but, then again, when one of them is about to go home with $40 bucks for 12 hours of work... can I really say to this guy... hey, lets put 25% of that to the side for Uncle Sam?? Lets be honest. Will this guy come back to work tomorrow if I'd said that? We're talking about Human Resources, people. That's one of the TOP ingredients of any business. Every business is required to have human resources.

All in all, I'm not bitter about Innovage, at all. I wish that I could have AFFORDED the opportunity that they gave me. Maybe if I had more money in the bank, I could have actually made it to management; I was promoted to Team Leader, which is one step above Leadership, for the record. However, when sales slow down, because they do... every business has its highs and lows... I wasn't able to make ends meet at home and I had to go. THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE LEAVE THESE COMPANIES IS BECAUSE OF MONEY! If I had more to invest in this venture, then I would probably be in my office, right now... getting my company ready for tomorrow. Hope this helps someone.

I got roped into the second interview and I was wearing a skirt and high heels. No one told me to dress sensibly or warm or anything of that nature. My second interview was in December, the day after a major snow storm. Three days prior I had had a minor surgical procedure which I was still very sore from. The really messed up thing is on my first interview I told the man who interviewed me and wanted me to come in for the second interview a couple days earlier I couldn't because I was having the procedure done. So here I am cold, sore, dressed for an indoor desk job about to be totally taken advantage of. THESE GUYS KNOW HOW TO WORK PEOPLE OVER. I had just finished my master's degree and was very desperate for a job because my school living stipend was about to run out. They definately picked up on this and the fact that I was very interested in fashion and makeup. On the second interview before the day of door to door selling in a horrible little town a man took me into a room and showed me rows of highend makeup - some I was familiar with. I am then introduced to another male who I am told to follow outside. I ended up shadowing two guys who were selling coloring books and ceramic christmas trees. Within the first 45 minutes I had to buy new shoes ($30.00) because I was limping so bad from my heels (which were very expensive and completely ruined from salt slush and ice). I was with two very nice guys who had clearly bought into this scheme and were overworked overstressed and overtired. When the slime bag who runs the operation is driving a mercedes and you are barely scraping by there is a problem (I hope both of them have since realized this and got out). I didn't get home until 9pm and spent the next three days recovering from a cold that was no doubt the result of being outside for an entire day in office clothing. HORRIBLE

From the moment you get involved with one of these companies you are lied to. You read a shady advertisement speaking nothing of door to door sales and will not mention it is commission. Or they will contact via a resume bank and say you are interviewing for a management position. You are in reality applying for a door to door sales job in which less than 1 percent of the people who walk in will walk out a manager. Now alot of companies do the same thing in which not many people will get promoted, however Cydcor companies make sure that is all they talk about even when the owners know there is no legitimate chance for most people to make management. In other companies if you are not cut out for management, management opportunities will not be spoken of in your presence.

In the same sense, athletes are not promised to make any amount of money, in Cydcor they specifically tell you what a manager makes and its not true. Therefore we are walking back into our world of lies.

Your family members may own their own business and work all those hours. The big difference is they have nobody to answer to. They actually run their own businesses. In Cydcor you are a fake company since you must live by Cydcor standards. If these owners were truly their own bosses they wouldn't get all worked up about a visiting consultant of even be afraid that they will get on a consultants bad side.

That is the true taste of reality. If you want to run your own business, this is not the way to do it. You will always have a boss who will be a promoting manager or a consultant. Do you like your family members and open a business the honest way. Through hardwork, honesty, and integrity. This cannot be done in Cydcor.

You know I'm Reading these reports, and it kinda reminds of a country song. I lost my wife, my dog, my car, my house and all in a 3 week time frame. Now don't get me wrong, some people are not cut out do this type of business. weather it be B2B or H2H or events.Whatever it is, it is business.

I'll be the first the first to tell you the pay is 100% commission. The people that work for these businesses are completely unmanaged. If they were payed a salary they would do what nearly every other person on the planet does. As little as possible.

Now the people that said the owners don't make the money the money they are promised. You are some don't make what others make. Just like some athletes make more than others. You might think there worth a million bucks, but when put to the test they are only worth 100,000. Just like Danny Wourfel, Ricky Williams, Ryan Leaf and many pro football players like them. At first they looked great but then they didn't.

You are worth as much as you earn. Understand it is your Business. If you don't work hard you don't make money.

As for the long hours. Everybody in my family owns there own Business and they all work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. This is what Small Business owners do until they can turn it into big business.

If you are somebody going on an interview with one of these businesses all I ask is that you give it an Honest look. Not the opinion of someone who failed at it. Some people on here are correct that some of the people are shady. But its not the Business that is shay is the person running it that is. Not everybody is perfect just look at ENRON. How many people thought that was a good company

Hey! if u hear the name Justin Roy in the Pa Area, than bware. The company moved but still out of Harrisburg,most likely changed there name. SO BWARE. OH YEA! He still owes me $750. SO DONT 4GET THE NAME JUSTIN ROY!

Anhonestopinion,

The promotions that never happens

Now yes you did see one promotion, now the question is, how many did you see? Then calculate that by how many people you met while working at said company. Was the percentage over 2 %? More than likely you saw over 100 peope come and go which would mean that promotion is less than 1%. Do other companies have small promotion success rates? Yes, they do. The big difference is that these companies tell everybody they are going to get promoted. In reality the managers know that these people have no chance, therefore you get ruled as a scam.

Most of those said companies that work off commission usually offer a base during the training period. A cydcor office may offer a bonus but by no means is it a base. And at these commission based jobs you speak of the training period is usually 3-4 months to make sure that the employee doesn't succomb to hardships due to the fact that they are working on commission.

Let's discuss the tactics of interviewing, and this ties right in with your commission statement. If you were to take a commission based job with another company, you would know that it's commission based before the first interview is over. They do not wait til lunch time of the second day in order to educate you on the pay structure.

When you were told to never lie to an interview, it was because they had been lied to enough already. So what you're telling me is that you went into your first interview, they sat you down and said, hey this is a face to face sales job where you will be walking into businesses without prior notice and that you will be paid strictly on commission. I highly doubt that happened. Think about it from a management perspective, the manager knows he's lieing and hiding as much truth from the interview as possible, so the last thing he needs is for his leaders to realize he did the same thing to them. Therefore, your job is not to lie, and in the end you don't realize you got scammed yourself. I know the business and that is how it works. Honesty is not something that Cydcor offices are into, whether its dealing with employees, customers, interviews. There is always something sneaky and shady going on.

And finally, a little reality check for you, if there was an office by your home town you wouldn't work for it. You would say you would, then you would go to the field. After being in the field for maybe 2 to 3 days, you'd say maybe this isn't for me. Walk into the mangers office, and be like hey I'm sorry I thought i can do it but I realized that this isn't for me. And you would move on wondering if you made the right decision.

This is to all of the people that are commenting on the companies listed in this rip off report. You all keep saying that this is a scam, and that the owners/managers of the companies are lying. Then why haven't you taken this to the Better Business Bureau? They deal with things like this on a regular basis. Not only that, but they have to investigate all claims against a company. Since I have done the research (On the companies that I worked for, as well as the other companies in the organization) and found no such claims, I have to assume that these fraudulent activities are not going on. This site is just for general information only. If you want to see legitimate cases, go to the BBB.

I worked for one of these "Scams" in Charlotte, NC then moved with one of the leaders that was promoted to manager to Nashville, TN. I witnessed the "promotion that never happens." I can tell you that it does. You have to work really hard making a small amount of money every week, but it does happen.

As for the people that say that all sales jobs have a BASE pay + Commission. Sadly, you are wrong! I have researched many sales jobs with REAL "Fortune 500" companies, and a lot of them are commission based. The management position in the company is Manager/Owner. When you own your own company, you work for commission. If no one in your company makes money, you don't make money. I will admit that there were some times working for the company that I had a pay check for $200 (It was never less than that), but I also remember my largest pay check being $2,872 (It only happened once). Being that I could never count on having a consistent pay check, I always tracked my checks. I usually planned on my pay checks being around $600-$800. Being 100% commission, there were days that I went home making nothing for that day, but that is the nature of the beast. I always had a pay check.

Now, lets discuss the tactics of Interviewing. I can not speak for companies other than the 2 that I worked for in Charlotte and Nashville. I know that I was always told to never lie to an interview. And I didn't. Just like any other company, if I thought that an interview was a good fit, I would "sell" them the position. If you don't believe that other companies do this, go on a random interview and see for yourself.If someone asked to be driven back to the office (Which both were in beautiful corporate parks with fountains and nice landscaping), I took them back.

The only thing that I would say is, "When you agreed to come out today, you committed to a full day interview. We can just BS when we are not in a business, but would you mind if we finish out the day being that we only have a couple more hours left?" If they still said they wanted to go back, I would finish what I was doing and get in the car and take them back. I would even offer to buy them a soda for the ride back if they wanted.

Now, you are probably asking why I am no longer working for the company? That answer is simple, because I needed to move back home to take care of a sick family member. I am still in my home town which unfortunately does not have a CydCor office. If they did, I would still work for them. Currently, I work for a Call Center in my home town. This company has offices across the country and around the world. All of their offices are under the same name, and we have several government contracts. This office is run much like a cydcor office except I no longer have the opportunity to own my own company.

Well one of the best things that you can do is to file your own report using all the company title instead of reply to this thread. Any person looking for a job will google the company's name, and the rip off report comes up in the search engine. It worked for us! North Wind Promotions hasn't posted anything on the websites in three weeks, and they had the audacity to call my husband to try to intimidate him to take it down.

All criminals asess risk, rapists, theives, and con-artists alike. I believe that they called him to asess the risk, but they can't do anything to us, like harass us via telephone or harm us, because then that would give us grounds to take them to the police. For the most part, we've moved on with our lives and not taken the extent of action that we could have. I have several courses of action that could be taken, one includes several powers of the press. (Two of my friends, one a professor, are editors of college newspapers, and one of my friends writes for both our newspaper and another major publication here.) This is just one of the actions I've refrained from doing.

Also, I got them kicked out of Belk's where they were running their scam competing with Salvation Army, ripping people off at Christmas time, to boot! Since then, I've seen them and refrained from going to the manager. The risk factor with us is extremely high. We just haven't done anything because we've moved on with our lives and our happy. If they do continue to harass us, we unfortunately will have to use the powers we have to retaliate for the protection of ourselves and of present and future employees. Hopefully, they won't be daft enough to try that again.

Whenever the legitimate party goes up against the con-artist, the legitimate party wins, so they will never folow through because that would force the victim to take action on them.

JUICE

Join Us In Creating Economic Devastation
Join Us In Creating Exploited Employees
Join Us In Creating Excellent Ways to Bring Down Your Company.

File your own Rip Off Report. Use the Company Name.

My husband and I are living the lives of our dreams since we got away from that company. We live in a nice new apartment and we are able to send him to college.

Thank God for Rip Off Report and Thank God We Got Out!

I moved here from England looking for my first job to support my wife and I - after going to college for 3 years I wasnt about to settle for any old job, but then one advert stuck out:

"Boomerang Marketing Group needs toung executives to work with Pro sports teams, unlimited potential"

So of course I applied, got a phone call the same day.


Checked out their website, all professional, and a nice photo of their office building which looked like an impressive skyscraper. So anyway, Charlotte is an hour away, so I go there the next day for my "interview" and i will be damned if I couldnt find the place.......where is that skyscaper? Turns out the skyscraper was a single story shared office complex and this particular company was located in a small office space. Had my interview (if you can call it that) basic quesitons, do you drive, how many hours are you willing to work etc. Nothign fancy and I didnt go out of my way to make myself sound special. The fact that the photos of the place on the website seemed fishy, so I was unsure. Anyway I leave and that evening get a "congratulations" from the guy who interviewed me (think his name was Greg). He tolsme to dress professional as I was going "on the field" for a whole day with one of his top managers. Great, now I get to meet the high ups in sports teams and see how negotiations go down right? Well....

...I go back to the place, and immediatly get told I need to take my earing out (Ok???) and I meet a guy named Justin (23 years old). He is going to "show me the ropes". So we go to his car (which isnt nothing fancy, a 92 land rover) and head on the road. In the car he starts explaining the job a bit. Working with a pro sports team consisted of selling buy 2 get 1 free tickets to a semi pro/college basketball game and also tickets to a golf course. And not going to some huge company to negotiate a deal on these tickets either, no, no, we are going to cold call local business places to do this. And what do we make if we sell a ticket? 10 dollars! So anyway, after a while of the "no, no, no get out" responses, I asked him "why are we going into these places when a sign quite clearly says no canvasing or soliciting?" his answer - "we are not doing that, we are offering them free tickets" YEAH RIGHT! So after 13 hours (yes my 2nd interview lasted THAT long) we finally go back to the "Skyscraper" - on the way back, he's totally happy that he made 50 bucks by selling 5 tickets (it was actually 40 as one woman wante dher money back after an hour). I get told that he is going to "reccomend" me for hire. By this point, I'm not wanting to deal with them anymore, but they mentioned the training would be paid for a for my first week, and I need the cash. And Justin was already a manager after being there 3 weeks, this is a great job, right?


So I do my training, which is basically scripting a pitch involving lies about the product. How to get around the "no's" etc. On the field, I get given gold course tickets to sell, which I have to sell from my own car, burning my gas. I sell 2 in my first day and make 20 bucks. I get back to the office, when everyone counts up their takings - this is where the cult part kicks in - everyone cheers and claps for every ticket you sold! They try and make you feel like you did a good job, even though you busted your balls to make 20 dollars, so you go home feeling like you achieved. It cost me 10 dollars a day to drive there and I was about to run out of my savings to pay for the house, so I just did not go back.........not even a "where are you" phone call.

Avoid this like the plague

I moved here from England looking for my first job to support my wife and I - after going to college for 3 years I wasnt about to settle for any old job, but then one advert stuck out:

"Boomerang Marketing Group needs toung executives to work with Pro sports teams, unlimited potential"

So of course I applied, got a phone call the same day.


Checked out their website, all professional, and a nice photo of their office building which looked like an impressive skyscraper. So anyway, Charlotte is an hour away, so I go there the next day for my "interview" and i will be damned if I couldnt find the place.......where is that skyscaper? Turns out the skyscraper was a single story shared office complex and this particular company was located in a small office space. Had my interview (if you can call it that) basic quesitons, do you drive, how many hours are you willing to work etc. Nothign fancy and I didnt go out of my way to make myself sound special. The fact that the photos of the place on the website seemed fishy, so I was unsure. Anyway I leave and that evening get a "congratulations" from the guy who interviewed me (think his name was Greg). He tolsme to dress professional as I was going "on the field" for a whole day with one of his top managers. Great, now I get to meet the high ups in sports teams and see how negotiations go down right? Well....

...I go back to the place, and immediatly get told I need to take my earing out (Ok???) and I meet a guy named Justin (23 years old). He is going to "show me the ropes". So we go to his car (which isnt nothing fancy, a 92 land rover) and head on the road. In the car he starts explaining the job a bit. Working with a pro sports team consisted of selling buy 2 get 1 free tickets to a semi pro/college basketball game and also tickets to a golf course. And not going to some huge company to negotiate a deal on these tickets either, no, no, we are going to cold call local business places to do this. And what do we make if we sell a ticket? 10 dollars! So anyway, after a while of the "no, no, no get out" responses, I asked him "why are we going into these places when a sign quite clearly says no canvasing or soliciting?" his answer - "we are not doing that, we are offering them free tickets" YEAH RIGHT! So after 13 hours (yes my 2nd interview lasted THAT long) we finally go back to the "Skyscraper" - on the way back, he's totally happy that he made 50 bucks by selling 5 tickets (it was actually 40 as one woman wante dher money back after an hour). I get told that he is going to "reccomend" me for hire. By this point, I'm not wanting to deal with them anymore, but they mentioned the training would be paid for a for my first week, and I need the cash. And Justin was already a manager after being there 3 weeks, this is a great job, right?


So I do my training, which is basically scripting a pitch involving lies about the product. How to get around the "no's" etc. On the field, I get given gold course tickets to sell, which I have to sell from my own car, burning my gas. I sell 2 in my first day and make 20 bucks. I get back to the office, when everyone counts up their takings - this is where the cult part kicks in - everyone cheers and claps for every ticket you sold! They try and make you feel like you did a good job, even though you busted your balls to make 20 dollars, so you go home feeling like you achieved. It cost me 10 dollars a day to drive there and I was about to run out of my savings to pay for the house, so I just did not go back.........not even a "where are you" phone call.

Avoid this like the plague

I moved here from England looking for my first job to support my wife and I - after going to college for 3 years I wasnt about to settle for any old job, but then one advert stuck out:

"Boomerang Marketing Group needs toung executives to work with Pro sports teams, unlimited potential"

So of course I applied, got a phone call the same day.


Checked out their website, all professional, and a nice photo of their office building which looked like an impressive skyscraper. So anyway, Charlotte is an hour away, so I go there the next day for my "interview" and i will be damned if I couldnt find the place.......where is that skyscaper? Turns out the skyscraper was a single story shared office complex and this particular company was located in a small office space. Had my interview (if you can call it that) basic quesitons, do you drive, how many hours are you willing to work etc. Nothign fancy and I didnt go out of my way to make myself sound special. The fact that the photos of the place on the website seemed fishy, so I was unsure. Anyway I leave and that evening get a "congratulations" from the guy who interviewed me (think his name was Greg). He tolsme to dress professional as I was going "on the field" for a whole day with one of his top managers. Great, now I get to meet the high ups in sports teams and see how negotiations go down right? Well....

...I go back to the place, and immediatly get told I need to take my earing out (Ok???) and I meet a guy named Justin (23 years old). He is going to "show me the ropes". So we go to his car (which isnt nothing fancy, a 92 land rover) and head on the road. In the car he starts explaining the job a bit. Working with a pro sports team consisted of selling buy 2 get 1 free tickets to a semi pro/college basketball game and also tickets to a golf course. And not going to some huge company to negotiate a deal on these tickets either, no, no, we are going to cold call local business places to do this. And what do we make if we sell a ticket? 10 dollars! So anyway, after a while of the "no, no, no get out" responses, I asked him "why are we going into these places when a sign quite clearly says no canvasing or soliciting?" his answer - "we are not doing that, we are offering them free tickets" YEAH RIGHT! So after 13 hours (yes my 2nd interview lasted THAT long) we finally go back to the "Skyscraper" - on the way back, he's totally happy that he made 50 bucks by selling 5 tickets (it was actually 40 as one woman wante dher money back after an hour). I get told that he is going to "reccomend" me for hire. By this point, I'm not wanting to deal with them anymore, but they mentioned the training would be paid for a for my first week, and I need the cash. And Justin was already a manager after being there 3 weeks, this is a great job, right?


So I do my training, which is basically scripting a pitch involving lies about the product. How to get around the "no's" etc. On the field, I get given gold course tickets to sell, which I have to sell from my own car, burning my gas. I sell 2 in my first day and make 20 bucks. I get back to the office, when everyone counts up their takings - this is where the cult part kicks in - everyone cheers and claps for every ticket you sold! They try and make you feel like you did a good job, even though you busted your balls to make 20 dollars, so you go home feeling like you achieved. It cost me 10 dollars a day to drive there and I was about to run out of my savings to pay for the house, so I just did not go back.........not even a "where are you" phone call.

Avoid this like the plague

I moved here from England looking for my first job to support my wife and I - after going to college for 3 years I wasnt about to settle for any old job, but then one advert stuck out:

"Boomerang Marketing Group needs toung executives to work with Pro sports teams, unlimited potential"

So of course I applied, got a phone call the same day.


Checked out their website, all professional, and a nice photo of their office building which looked like an impressive skyscraper. So anyway, Charlotte is an hour away, so I go there the next day for my "interview" and i will be damned if I couldnt find the place.......where is that skyscaper? Turns out the skyscraper was a single story shared office complex and this particular company was located in a small office space. Had my interview (if you can call it that) basic quesitons, do you drive, how many hours are you willing to work etc. Nothign fancy and I didnt go out of my way to make myself sound special. The fact that the photos of the place on the website seemed fishy, so I was unsure. Anyway I leave and that evening get a "congratulations" from the guy who interviewed me (think his name was Greg). He tolsme to dress professional as I was going "on the field" for a whole day with one of his top managers. Great, now I get to meet the high ups in sports teams and see how negotiations go down right? Well....

...I go back to the place, and immediatly get told I need to take my earing out (Ok???) and I meet a guy named Justin (23 years old). He is going to "show me the ropes". So we go to his car (which isnt nothing fancy, a 92 land rover) and head on the road. In the car he starts explaining the job a bit. Working with a pro sports team consisted of selling buy 2 get 1 free tickets to a semi pro/college basketball game and also tickets to a golf course. And not going to some huge company to negotiate a deal on these tickets either, no, no, we are going to cold call local business places to do this. And what do we make if we sell a ticket? 10 dollars! So anyway, after a while of the "no, no, no get out" responses, I asked him "why are we going into these places when a sign quite clearly says no canvasing or soliciting?" his answer - "we are not doing that, we are offering them free tickets" YEAH RIGHT! So after 13 hours (yes my 2nd interview lasted THAT long) we finally go back to the "Skyscraper" - on the way back, he's totally happy that he made 50 bucks by selling 5 tickets (it was actually 40 as one woman wante dher money back after an hour). I get told that he is going to "reccomend" me for hire. By this point, I'm not wanting to deal with them anymore, but they mentioned the training would be paid for a for my first week, and I need the cash. And Justin was already a manager after being there 3 weeks, this is a great job, right?


So I do my training, which is basically scripting a pitch involving lies about the product. How to get around the "no's" etc. On the field, I get given gold course tickets to sell, which I have to sell from my own car, burning my gas. I sell 2 in my first day and make 20 bucks. I get back to the office, when everyone counts up their takings - this is where the cult part kicks in - everyone cheers and claps for every ticket you sold! They try and make you feel like you did a good job, even though you busted your balls to make 20 dollars, so you go home feeling like you achieved. It cost me 10 dollars a day to drive there and I was about to run out of my savings to pay for the house, so I just did not go back.........not even a "where are you" phone call.

Avoid this like the plague

I used to work for one of those companies in Savannah, GA by the name of Northwind Promotions. They prey on people looking to leave a bad job or people needing to get a job. Those companies are listed all over legit job posting sites and it making it hard for people like myself who are seriously looking for a marketing career because the sites are full of bogus jobs. I wish their was a way to shut them down or at least keep them off legit job posting sites.

I'm so glad for ripoff report. I just left an interview with Child Safety International, Inc. Thankfully I grabbed one of their magazines on the way out of the interview. They are part of Quantum. They've also going by CA Enterprises. On they're post on career builder they claim all of their positions are management and that they pay $28K to $42K. This is not the case. No commission based job should claim a specific pay range like that. Thankfully I did get another job working for the CDC. They claim that they raise money for charities like D.A.R.E and and The Missing Children's Network. This isn't exactly the case. I missed a day of work with my old job, but thankfully I'm not going to get sucked into this scam.

Other Names

Child Safety International, Inc.
CA Enterprises
Executive Associates Enterprises.... That's all I can think of right now.

AC Slater,

First of all, if a job advertises as Secretary on career builder or any other job website, and I show up for an interview to do Construction, that is definitely misleading, and not what I signed up for. Likewise, if someone is intereseted in a Marketing Position, it is a fraudulent business practice to advertise that when they could just write "Sales" and in the description "sell products outside of stores in competition with other young people for a one management position in a years time, long hours, no health insurance benefits, poor pay, no compensation for supplies, food or gasoline." If you are, in fact, well-aquainted with sales jobs, you would know that all reputable sales jobs start out with a base pay PLUS commission, starting at least at 8 dollars an hour. Also, if you are into "recruiting smart people to do monotonous tasks" you can join a staffing agency, and make more money doing clerical work, with health insurance, vacations, and paid holidays. If that's not working out for you at your work, let us know. I notice that you didn't have the integrity to disclose which company you work for.

It's ignorant to say that you have to pay alot of money for an education "only to have a bunch of people try to hire you for less than you're worth." This can only be the defense of someone who has not attended college, or completeted a degree program. Alot of states offer federal and state funding to go to college. Trust me, I don't know alot of people who graduate from law school or medical school having trouble finding work. If you want to make "the big bucks", put the work into it and go back to school. I, myself, learned the hard way that everything in life takes patience and hard work, but I'm back in school and looking forward to the future.

What do you mean by "that's how companies in the real world do it". This is the real world. No response could reveal your naivity any more. Yes, to quote you: "Some company in China mass produces some crap product which they ship to some other company's warehouse which then gets shipped to a retailer that then gets sold to the end consumer at a higher price...everyone gets there cut along the way." However, the difference is that the retailer has to practice fair business practices, such as paying a base pay, plus commission, and they are not allowed to falsely say they are non-profit and on behalf of charity, which is a common theme of deception for all the companies on this board.

The promotion in itself is a lie, as well. I'm not saying that you don't get the promotion, if you are really good at lying on behalf of false charities and taking peoples money, if you are making top dollar for the scam artists, and only walking away with 10 dollars an hour for a sixty hour week (may i point out that other people would make overtime), you may just get your office after a year, year and a half, but you will pay for all of your office furniture, and your money will be dependednt on the people beneath you, and you will only be making a little bit more, doing alot more work, only not having to sell the stuff anymore. Eventually, the people in the office fail, they always do, it only takes so long before these things get found out, that's why the companies so often move or change their names.

Well, sadly, maybe for you it is a step up from K-Mart, yet, I am still reminded that even at K-Mart you would be making overtime, which none of these compnaies offer. At least at K-Mart, you didn't have to lie to people and tell them you were a non-profit selling things on behalf of exploited children. At least there, you could look yourself in the mirror, and know that you were doing an HONEST days work for an HONEST days pay. If you are truly the kind of unfeeling sociopath that you claim to be, than by all means continue, to take advantage of other people with no regards to the toll it will take on your self-value.

Most of these people are fairly young, because this company preys on young people, who they assume do not know any better. We don't deserve everything, but we do deserve honest pay for an honest days work; we do deserve to be treated fairly. Integrity means that if you say you're going to do something you do it. Where is the integrity here?

I hope we are proof that the world has deserving people. As victims of the fraudulent business practices, we deserve to be treated fairly, and consequently have moved on with our lives.

My husband and I are a success story, in that, since we left the Quantum company, our lives have been happy. We both work at jobs where we make enough money, and most importantly, are happy with what we do, and are able to help other people, rather than take advantage of them. We just bought a new apartment, and love our new place. If my husband was still working for North Wind Promotions, we would never have been able to do all this.

So, thank God for rip off report, and thank God we got out!

I heard about these companies and decided to look them up on here. I'm blown away by all of the posts concerning these companies. But I gotta say, as someone that doesn't work for the company, you people who are complaining about this company are out of your minds if your only complaints are that they sell crappy products or that they try and recruit smart people to do monotonous tasks.

News flash people, that's life. paying lots of money for an education only to have a bunch of people try to hire you for less than you are worth. And to those of you that complain about this company's methods of selling product. that's how companies in the real world do it. Some company in China mass produces some crap product which they ship to some other company's warehouse which then gets shipped to a retailer that then gets sold to the end consumer at a higher price...everyone gets there cut along the way.

Now I don't approve of companies lying to potential employees, but them telling people they can gain promotions and make lots of money and yada yada yada, is hardly a lie. If one person in the company has ever gained a promotion through their process then that is their proof that the process does in fact work.

I worked for K-Mart when I was 17 and was promised promotions and more pay and "K bucks" and such, but received almost none of that. I guess I should file a report on them for their unethical hiring practices. Most of you sound fairly young though and uneducated, and you Y generation people are part of the "I deserve everything" group. Man you people are proof that this world just has too many deserving people.

I worked for Innovage for almost a year.

They call it "putting lipstick on the pig"

They sell products that "Dollar General" sells at the discounted rate.

They tell you that the retail price is higher and the price tag reflects it, fact of the matter is they sell JUNK.

They want you to become an owner and after you junp all of the hoops and barrels you Never get it.

They hire young people who dont know any better.

Innovage needs to be reported to the US Attorney General.

Deceptive business practices and Fraud.

QUANTUM SCAM/NORTH WIND PROMOTIONS set up in Savannah, GA, run by actors, one by the name of Shanan Davis, whose real name is Alexa Davis.

Here are just some of the lies that need to be exposed:

1. There are no managers, or leaders, they are all employees with more responsibilities and none of the benefits.

2.Promotions never happen. You just get paid to start the scam somewhere else, buying the office furniture, gas and meals your self. You don't make 45k-60k a year, you make profit off of all the 'managers' so you don't have to sell yourself. Only as an 'owner' will you make money and not have to work, but by this time you will be in alot of debt, and unable to look yourself in the mirror after the next thing I am about to ufold.

3. This is a for-profit business, that donates 20% to charity of one or two items, and 0% to charity to all of them. They make the real money by selling useless items to other people by manipulating them and pulling on their heart strings into thinking they are helpind missing children. This hurts both the customer and the charity. The customer's been swindled into donating to a cause, when their money goes straight in the owner's pocket. The charity suffers when people find out what's really going on, and people fail to donate to causes such as Missing Children, believing that they don't actually get the money.

4. If you enjoy working 60 hours a week, and actually sell items, you can find a legitimate company that doesn't pose as charity and do the exact same thing.

5. Ask to see their paychecks, and proof that they are making money. The 'owner' of this company has her car door a different color than the rest of her car, but apparently is very successful.

6. They are located in a dirty building that's really a warehouse for unloading their cheap goods.

7. I applaud anyone who thinks their education is worth making 3 dollars an hour selling crap out of gas stations in bad neighborhoods. The only difference between you and a bum, is that you make less than the bum hawking crap, because you have to pay out of pocket to find nice work clothes.

I have been here for about 6 weeks now and I see all the Brainwashing that goes on. I have seen people come and go as hey stay until they find a new job. I was sucked in by the ads that they posted everywhere. Telling me I would work with PRO sports teams and so on. This is all lies. All you do is what everyone had wrote. You go out and hit doors all day. My day starts at 6:15 when I wake up, I get to the office at 7:30 and leave there after 9am to get to the "field" Where me and the people I rode in the car with stay until 5pm or later. When we get back to the "office" we stand around a bell asking what worked for everyone else.

I walked out today after I couldnt take anymore of this cult brainwashing me with "the big picture" I ran through 2 pairs of shoes before realizing that this is not what I want to be in life, A GLORIFIED COUPONS SALESMAN. Their job postings are very deceiving and the only way you are going to get a salary is if you are a receptionist with a nice rack and a cute face. I hate to say it, but if you read the other post all the receptionists are very good looking. I hate that I wasted 6 weeks that I could have been out looking for an actual job. Thanks for the heads up guys.

I found a job description quite similar to this on Craigslist, but due to the desperation of my job search at that point, I decided to reply to it and went in for an interview. It seemed like a good opportunity and at that point didn't raise any red flags. The name of the company listed was Imperial Marketing (http://www.imperialmv.com/), located in Nashville, TN on Harding Road.

Their office is in a run-down looking business park next to the interstate. Now, have you seen those commercials where the sketchy guy with mismatched socks tells the lady on the bus that she has won a lottery she never entered in a foreign country and needs to pay him a small fee so he can give her her winnings. She looks at his homeless-man-like appearance and walks away. Then it says something like "Scams don't work face to face...that's why they do them online." The same kind of applies to situation. In this case...the appearance of the office. The carpet was cheap and dingy, the white walls had black marks and scratched paint, and besides a reception desk, the office was mysteriously devoid of much else. Nothing hanging on the walls besides a large sign that said "Maximus, Inc." -- I thought the name of this place was Imperial Marketing? What is this Maximus Marketing? Red flag number one. There were two receptionists who were blaring Top 40 music out of computer speakers and one talked to me while she was talking on the phone to another interviewee. Rude to both of us, not to mention unprofessional. Red flag number two. Through open doors and glass viewing windows, I could see two of the offices. The desks were your basic metal and laminate two-drawer office desks and they each had a phone and a couple of office supplies scattered on them (stapler, pens, etc.) The offices didn't seem personal and had absolutely nothing on the walls and nothing in them besides the desks. No personal effects on the desks either. I thought they were unused, but no...apparently a girl was working from one of them. Skipping ahead for a moment...the office I interviewed in wasn't much better. There was a dry erase board hanging on the wall and two chairs for interviewees...and this guy actually had a computer on his desk...but that was it. I guess in most offices you expect to see filing cabinets, art or awards on the walls, personal effects on desks, etc. From this office I got the feeling that it could be emptied out in a hurry....if I came back in two hours it'd be completely abandoned and bare with some trash on the floors...like in the movies. Huge red flag number 3. And after filling out a pointless questionnaire with questions like: "what are three forms of marketing? Which one do you think is most effective?" (What?! Am I back in college?!), I finally met someone. I was asked to bring my resume because their printer was broken (no worries, I do that anyway)...but still. The guy I met with was young....in fact all the people (4) I saw in the office couldn't have been much older than me. I'm 23 and they all looked, at most, 25. Well this guy looked like he stepped out of 'The Office'. Cheap button down shirt and tie, talked like a frat boy, acted like he didn't really care about his job. Everytime he would ask me a question, he'd let me talk for about 10 seconds before he cut me off and would ask the next one. Talk about pushy. And the job description...sounded like a pitch. He talked SO fast that I couldn't really follow that well and only picked up 40% of what he was saying. Probably because what he was saying was sketchy. So this guy...he is supposed to be the President. THE PRESIDENT. He could use an office that looked more like an executive's. You know, I've actually just looked him up. His name is Elijah Medge. Here is his MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/tuffalump) and he's only 24. MASSIVE red flag number 4. I DO NOT want to work for someone like that.

He told me that they would make their decisions and call people back for a second interview that night between 6 and 7. Mind you that was 2 hours from when I left their office. After I left I was actually praying they wouldn't call. And they didn't. It's just hit me as to WHY. He asked me what I looked for in an employer. I said that above all I wanted to work for an ethical company and also one that had a long-term business plan and wanted to build quality relationships with their customers. Maybe that's it...maybe not...take it for what it's worth. Either way, I'm sorry I wasted my time and gas money going to this lame interview. After doing some Googling I've found that this is a scam...and more than anything I HATE SCAMMERS. Hence why I've written this long reply.

I "interviewed" for this JUICE cult scam in 2001. They were going by the name "Grand Promotions" at the time. I should have had a clue something was up when the interviewer said "This is not a JOB, it's an opportunity. You want a job, go work at Burger King." He said he was going to start me in the "marketing" division. I went off with a "manager" and a few other girls. They were trying to convince college students to sign up for K-Mart credit cards. The entire group received $0.50 for each completed application. All money earned was divided up at the end of the day between everyone in the group. I wondered how the heck does anyone make any money? We then went to the university campus and tried to lure college students over to us with free prizes. Someone must have called security as we were asked to leave. We then went to the community college. A security guard spotted us in the parking lot. She said "I know who you are, you're that group that tries to solicit for credit cards. I recognize those backpacks." (They all carried black backpacks with applications and cheap prizes) The manager said "Oh no, we're just here to get applications and catalogs." The guard said "well then I better see you coming back with materials."

So we walked onto the campus and tried to ask a couple people to sign up but no one was interested. I went to the admissions office and grabbed a couple of brochures. Then we left and drove back to the university. We got kicked out again. The manager took me for a walk by myself to talk to me about the "opportunity". She said they loan you $10,000 to open your own office after you move up to office manager. She said you make a lot of money. All the girls were constantly saying "JUICE" this and "JUICE" that. It seemed very cultish to me. This company is always changing names but advertises in the Employment Guide and other job papers. They always advertise for "wild and crazy, loud, party" types. They also advertise for the "art" jobs (selling paintings.) Please beware.

So I will first start of by saying that this company lies to you from the get-go. I graduated college with a degree in financial economics and a minor in marketing. I was also a division 1 athlete, so obviously, when I saw the title of MARKETING and SPORTS MINDED PEOPLE, I'm thinking "wow.. this could be a perfect opportunity."

Fortunately, I was able to see through the veil of lies these companies create to misdirect, and deceptively empower you into believing that you can succeed. The fact of the matter is, of all the sales jobs you could potentially take, this is probably the lowest chance of survival.

The day started with me interviewing (as with everyone else, I too was called VERY quickly regarding my resume and a "potential fit".) I interviewed with the assistant manager, who was evasive and more or less useless in answering questions. I was also told they'd be interviewing many and picking one or two people.. the cream of the crop. Once I heard this, I already knew what was going on. I had been in telemarketing sales for 10 months previously, and I grew tired of that job, but not sales itself. They were making me want to be a cream of the crop candidate. Too bad I knew better.

I was called back for the 2nd interview within 2 hours of leaving the interview, another indicator of shady business. So, being that I had nothing to do for the rest of the week, regarding interviews, I decided I'd go for a Day of O and see what this was about. It was exactly what I expected it to be, a pyramid scam. My leader was evasive about all monetary questions, claiming that if he thought I was GOOD ENOUGH to know about their pay structure, he would break it down for me. Shocker, come lunch time, he did. Indicator #3 was listing out the pay structure. I was told I would be on strict commission and I would keep 28% of the sales I made. 28%? Where did that number come from?

Anyways, after the lunch, which I made the guy pay for because as "we" were cold calling, he wanted to see what I could do. Needless to say, of the 5 doors I knocked on by myself, I sold 2 toners for Quill, a commission I knew I would never see. I figured, since he would get credit on the $200 I made for him, the least he could do was buy me some d**n lunch. After the pay structure was listed out for me, I told him that I was not interested in a pyramid scam, and that I'd like to be dropped off in White Plains. His territory for the day was Stamford, CT, and he was very unhappy that I asked him to drop me off, because he was "losing out" on money. My only comfort of wasting my time that day was knowing 2 things.

1: I made him waste his day bringing me back to my car, just as the company wasted my day.

2: I made more money as a shadow than my leader did, without ever practicing their pitch.

Final word of wisdom. I'm 23 years old, and I ended up finding a job at a real Fortune 500 company, working in a Corporate Sales division. I'm currently 130% quota YTD, and if there is one thing I can relay as a message to all of you reading this, it is that even if we are young college graduates, many of us still have the tools to succeed.

Be patient and find yourself a real company that will INVEST IN YOU. A real company will pay for your training, as my company paid for my 2 weeks of training in full, from hotel room (which was a Courtyard Marriot), all lunches and dinner, AND gas allowance. THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD BE. The only way to make companies like this go away, is by attacking them where it hurts the most, their turnover rate. If no one takes their jobs, it is impossible for them to make money. Be smart. Life isn't meant to be easy, but it isn't meant to be hell either.

So instead of stating a dollar amount you state that you made a ton of money. Well money can mean many things, from pennies to 6 inch pieces of cotton paper. I will assume you made a ton of pennies because I seriously doubt you made a ton of paper banknotes (1 banknote/0.9265306g * 454g/1 lb * 2000 lb/1 ton = 980,000 banknotes [Which is at least $980,000]). But since you made pennies you made crap basically. ($1/100 pennies * 1 penny/2.5g * 454g/1 lb * 2000 lb/1 ton = $3632) These calculations include rounded numbers so results are approx., but rounding errors are insignificant.

Now, it is actually quite hilarious how all the defence rebuttals read. Some read like infomercial testimonials and should include a statement to the effect that results are not typical and represent only the top 1%. Others read like these companies were the only hope of the writer and without the "admitted lies and deception" they would have been able to make that first step in the working world, which is pathetic and dillusional.

It sounds like you still need your parents to lie to you about various things for your own good. That just shows you are easily manipulated and in todays business world would be a back trait. Companies don't want push overs they want new ideas and "real decision makers", they don't want mush that they have to hold hands with. Furthermore your rebuttals sound like an extension of what you were taught to think about the team and how you were taught to think in your life by the people who pulled you in.

I actually went on the Day of O at Valiant Marketing Concepts owned by William Gallagher. (The reports of managers still working the field are true. Look under comments and you will see a comment by Kristina "Hey you aren't you supposed to be in the field?" Why would his friend ask a question like this if it was not true?)

The whole time while one this "interview" I was fed one pitch after another. The layout for the "Management Trainee" plan was funny. An Assistant Manager, who was my "interviewer" for the Day of O, and I were at lunch (Free food was the only plus for the day) and I had to go deep down to not laugh my way into spitting out my drink when he was laying on more candy than willy wonka about the "program."

How did he expect me to believe that he made over $1000 a week and still drove a standard model late 90's saturn with fading paint. It was really not believable, at least not to me. Back at the office when filling out the "Questionaire" (Really just a stale tactic to let everyone try and "juice" you up before you leave, by making you think it is important. [Like sending the hot bodied, big tit dumb blond to try and make me want to work there to be near her.])

The whole situation was calculated, although very poorly. It is a one size fits all brainwashing technique, playing on the human need to belong. They make you want to belong to the group although you know the job is bad. It is how they keep you there to by playing with the natural human reaction of feeling guilty for not going along with everyone. They tried to make me feel guilty for not accepting the job on the spot. They tried to make me feel like I was betraying them for needing a few days to think it over, by trying to make me feel like I owned them for allowing me the opportunity.

The brainwashing techniques begin as soon as you get there for the 1st interview. I can't name every detail of it or I would have to sell this as a book. But, the point I'm getting at is that it is a constant sales pitch. And if they are acting like that 12-15 hours a day then most likely they act like that all the time. If you start working there then you also will be expected to keep up with this scheme.

I don't think I want to live my life in a pool of lies, not someone else's or or the one's I help create. (Funny note when telling my friend about that day I came off the top of my head with "I haven't lied to that much since [Ex-Girlfriend {Name}]." We had a big laugh and you would have to know me and the girl to know why that was so funny and why he was surprised that this can be allowed to go on.

Last, there is a basic human nature to defend one's actions no matter how wrong they are or how ignorant they make one look. That is the problem here. Some people have a hard time coming to terms and admitting, to themselves and everyone else, that they were fooled and made a stupid decision. You will notice that most of the ds-max opposition comes from people who didn't actually go through with accepting this "opportunity", either it be by not going to the interview or being the rhino headed away from the particular company.

There are a few who have an even bigger need for revenge and the need to help others than the need to conceal embarrassment. They are the ones admitting to actually getting suckered. But they had enough sense to cut their losses. It's kinda like the stock market. You can't always make a gain and sometimes you pick a bad stock and it goes down. You have to learn to cut your losses and learn from your mistakes.

Some people keep hanging on allowing their losses to accumulate while trying to show they and prove they didn't make a mistake. I have a good feeling that is why most of the rebuttals read like infomercials (practiced sales pitches trying to convince others) and pathetic "I had no other options and I'm glad they deceived me". If they were to be really convincing they would include real numbers instead of, about $$$, around $$$, over $$$, more than $$$.

If they were to be really convincing they would sound like they were coming from a real person and wouldn't be hostile toward people against ds-max. Hostilities arise from the insecurities one has within about their own actions. If one were totally secure with one's actions then he/she would not feel the need to argue over it, because like you said its not for everyone.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has posted because I was almost taken by this scam. I found the job opening on monster and every other job website imaginable. It was asking for "sports minded" people, the whole fortune 500 company and opportunity to run your own office in a year thing. It matched word for word what everyone on here was saying. I went for the first interview and was pumped to get through to the 2nd interview, which I was told would be from noon to seven riding around basically shadowing someone.

It sounded too good to be true and thats when I found this site. The companies in Knoxville are new so they are not listed yet, but the 2 that I have found are INNOVATIVE ACCESS MARKETING and WINSTEAD MARKETING. Luckily I found this site before I went for the 2nd interview. Once again thanks to everybody for posting and I just wanted to get the names of these two "new" companies out there for anyone else who may be researching it!

I am currently taking the opportunity that was set before me, however, i am not going to lie, these reports haven't really helped out my attitude at all ( Not to sound brainwashed or anything.) althought, even saying that has made my boyfriend reply with "but, babe you are brainwashed" and it's making me think about the fact even my vocab has changed a bit. ex-stop neggin me out guys! lol...but no seriously...i am someone who does want to be in school, however i'm in my early 20's, i've been on my own since 17, and my parents don't really help me with my life like many of student friends with their silver spoons in their mouths, so i have one of 2 choices in my debt ridden life...go work in a strip club and get paid to be naked, or give this whole thing a shot and see how it goes. I work for Sentinel marketing that has contracts with DARE and Toys for Tots so far in baton rouge. and you know...there are days when it does get old, however i am a leader, i have started building a crew of people like me who need something to believe in and enjoy teaching others. I'm making a good $800 a week, so tell me...what hourly job would even give a 20 year old girl with no skills other than how to pour a shot or bring someone a bowl of pasta enough hours to make that a week? i have yet to find one.
Did i think the recruiting was shady? HELL YES! But you know what...so have A LOT of other jobs that i've been involved with. Every individual company can do things how they want too, and trust me...mine will be run A LOT differently than the one that i am involved with. I'm not really saying that if you are a college grad then you should shoot for this opportunity, however i really think that for people out there like me, who found this at the end of their ropes, the things that are being said could stop someone from getting involved in a company that could give them something to look forward too.
It's not for everyone, and you know...after i pay off some of my debt, it might not be for me anymore, but for right now, i'm making good money, i have a positive atmosphere to look forward to everyday, and although ALL of the money that we make doesn't go to the charities, a HUGE difference has been made in the charities ever since they signed contracts with us. Last year over 2.7 million dollars was given to the dare program...that's a whole lot more than the government gives it. So quit knocking it...it wasn't right for you. Some people don't like it...there are days i don't like it...but honestly, it's better than not being able to pay my bills and having creditors calling me at all hours. Plus, i have learned a lot on how to be cheap...which can be a good thing when retail therapy i couldn't afford used to be a part of my week.

I too almost got taken by this scam. I went on Friday to an interview and was talked out of doing the office customer service job and told I was wanted for manager trainee. I was told to come in Monday at 9 until 6 to "shadow" and would not get paid for the day as it was a second interview. I was also told to not wear heels. Something just didnt sit right with me on this so I decided to look more into the company and found nothing. So I decided to Google the name from my interviewer and found a newspaper article from two years ago:



Daily Press ARCHIVED STORY

Sunday, April 10, 2005
Questionable business advertising clashes with applicants' expectations

By GARY GEORGE/Staff Writer

APPLE VALLEY He was told that they were taking him to a warehouse to interview for a forklift job, but instead he was driven out of town to make sales.

Martin Nustad, 45, of Helendale, went to Apple Valley for what he believed to be a second interview for a warehouse job. Minutes later he realized he was on his way to Lake Los Angeles in another job hopeful's beat up car along with a supervisor, he said.

When the car's driver stopped for gas, Nustad thought he was being misled and demanded to be taken back.

"If you don't take me back immediately, I'm going to go to that pay phone over there, call 911 and tell them I'm being kidnapped," Nustad said he told the supervisor.

The supervisor had him driven back, Nustad said.

Nustad had sought the warehouse job with Entra Imports, a business on Highway 18. After he showed up to what he thought would be a second interview, the company's management asked him to sign a document saying he would not be paid for a day of orientation, Nustad said.

At 9:45 a.m., he was asked if it was all right if he was returned to his car by 7 p.m. and he agreed. He climbed into a car for what he said he thought would be a trip to the company's warehouse. Instead, they headed for Lake Los Angeles, he said.

He later phoned the company and insisted to get paid for two hours at minimum wage. When he threatened to file a complaint with the state's labor board, company officials sent him $13.50 on a check marked "Refund."

Entra Imports owner Abrahim Robbin said the incident was a miscommunication.

"If he said that he wanted to be a warehouse worker, I would have sent his application to my warehouse manager. This was a miscommunication. If they ask, I tell them it is sales work," Robbin said.

Robbin said his company doesn't even do business in Lake Los Angeles and that Nustad must have heard wrong information. Robbin said his business is not a scam and that he owns a few of the thousands of locations that Entra Imports runs.

"My Apple Valley location took in $1.2 million last year. All the people who use their cars here are independent contractors. We have contracts with them saying they are not an employee of the company but we supply them with merchandise," Robbin said.

Robbin said if Nustad had finished the second day and liked what he saw, he would have been offered paid training at $400 a week for two weeks and afterwards, if ready, would work on commission.

Robbin said his company's only warehouse is next to his office on Highway 18. Yet an Internet search on yellow pages.superpages.com shows two Entra Imports locations, one at the company's Highway 18 office and another on the corner of Dale Evans Parkway and Otoe Road the location Nustad believed was a warehouse, where he thought he would be taken for a second interview.

State Labor Commissioner Spokesman Dean Fryer said Friday that Nustad may have been thrown into an employment situation where he might be expected to perform.

Robbin said Nustad would be asked to do nothing but watch.

He would have even gotten a free lunch, Robbin said.


The company has moved three offices down now and is going under the name of Coast to Coast Imports, Inc. they even have a website as well: coasttocoastimports.net.

I just want to thank you all for the heads up on this. I am a single mother and do not have time for this. I need a real job with real pay to keep my son fed and housed.

Michelle

Right on...also known as DJL & Associates in Woburn, MA.

Hi - thanks to Danielle for her efforts! Just wanted to let everyone know that this does NOT refer to Elite Designs Kithen & Bath LLC, a very reputable company in Westland, Michigan with a similar name to the one described. Thank you.

Hi - thanks to Danielle for her efforts! Just wanted to let everyone know that this does NOT refer to Elite Designs Kithen & Bath LLC, a very reputable company in Westland, Michigan with a similar name to the one described. Thank you.

Hi - thanks to Danielle for her efforts! Just wanted to let everyone know that this does NOT refer to Elite Designs Kithen & Bath LLC, a very reputable company in Westland, Michigan with a similar name to the one described. Thank you.

I used to work for Cydcor for over 5 years (I feel like I'm at an AA meeting). This is a sales organization first and foremost, do not let them tell you otherwise. As are their former sister parent companies of: Granton Marketing, Innovage, DS Max and many others I've heard of since I left and all their local marketing offices that some other people have been so kind to list in earlier posts (there are literally hundreds if not thousands of them by now).

You do not get promoted because you are a smart businessman or businesswoman. You get promoted based on your numbers and you move up from there based on...your connections and your numbers. That's just the facts.

While technically not a pyramid scam or scheme, it only skates that definition by some nifty legalese and by forcing all local offices to incorporate for themselves and not under the Cydcor name. It's honestly a smart business practice and saves them all the legal exposure that these local companies generate. They have to deal with the nuisance of being "associated" with these local companies, but have no legal responsibility for their actions. In fact, people have long suggested they just franchise but that would take away from the
"opportunity" they are offering. No investment, work hard and you'll get ahead, etc. etc. etc.

Let me be the first to tell you, that the chances of making it and being successful and financially comfortable (in their system) are less than .1 percent. Let me repeat...LESS than .1 percent. They're honestly less than that, but I guess it all depends on one's own definition of success.

Once you are managing your own office, you have not "made it". In fact, that is probably the biggest misconception that any new recruit has. Managing an office is tough and it takes a lot of time, money, determination and honestly luck to be one of the ones that can actually be financially secure simply by running a CONSISTENT office and having a steady stream of revenue.

I am not trying to bad-mouth the "opportunity" as it is valid, but it is not as "pure" as they make it out to be. Far from it. The stories I could tell about internal politics would make a better TV drama than anything on TV. I thought I got involved with the company because it was 100% merit based and free from internal politics. That's the picture they try to paint, but it couldn't be further from the truth. After working in the corporate world the last few years, I realize how frought with policits the Cydcor world really was and was actually worse at Cydcor I am sad to report.

Is the experience all bad? No. Honestly, I would recommend spending 3 months in an office to almost any recent college grad that can AFFORD to do it. When I say afford to do it, I mean that you are living with your parents and your parents are still supporting you. You do learn great skills that will serve you well later in life and they're the types of skills you probably won't go out and acquire on your own. To get them you'd need to do things like: join Toastmasters, sign up for Franklin Covey time management classes, go to motivational speaking events, and other things like that. Stuff that we all think is all well and good, but will rarely pack into our daily schedule unless we are forced to do so.

Their biggest crime? Running employment ads that promote them as something they are not, inside office jobs. They'd get a lot more respect and build their brand how the higher-ups always envisioned it if they would just say what they were. A sales organization looking for bright, young, talented sales people to do door-to-door or B2B sales.

Unfortunately, the local offices are not confident they can recruit that way, so they try to mask their sales job descriptions as legitimate inside desk jobs. UNDERSTAND THIS, EVERY job they are offering is the same job and they are all for door to door or B2B selling. That's simply unfortunate for all job seekers out there, not just college grads, who are NOT looking for what these offices are actually offering. They simply waste a lot of other people's time, efforts and money and don't care about compensating them or even offering an apology and that's just selfish, unethical and honestly, it's just sad.

I was contacted in response to my resume for a call center position in customer service. I did find it a little odd that they wanted to schedule an interview so quickly without even asking me any additional questions. When the woman I talked to emailed me the directions to the location, I noticed they are in a business complex that is infamous for fly by night telemarketing companies and MLMs.

I went to careerbuilder as well as several local job listing pages and found that they have positions listed for an odd array of positions including customer service, sports marketing, foreign purchasing expeditor, and animal kennel help. I figured there was a possibility they might be some kind of staffing agency but obviously these listings are all just to get the attention of different people looking for different types of positions and trick them into interviewing for this one. I'm so glad I checked here first. I responded to their email with the directions and just said I wouldn't be coming for the interview.

I was contacted in response to my resume for a call center position in customer service. I did find it a little odd that they wanted to schedule an interview so quickly without even asking me any additional questions. When the woman I talked to emailed me the directions to the location, I noticed they are in a business complex that is infamous for fly by night telemarketing companies and MLMs.

I went to careerbuilder as well as several local job listing pages and found that they have positions listed for an odd array of positions including customer service, sports marketing, foreign purchasing expeditor, and animal kennel help. I figured there was a possibility they might be some kind of staffing agency but obviously these listings are all just to get the attention of different people looking for different types of positions and trick them into interviewing for this one. I'm so glad I checked here first. I responded to their email with the directions and just said I wouldn't be coming for the interview.

I was contacted in response to my resume for a call center position in customer service. I did find it a little odd that they wanted to schedule an interview so quickly without even asking me any additional questions. When the woman I talked to emailed me the directions to the location, I noticed they are in a business complex that is infamous for fly by night telemarketing companies and MLMs.

I went to careerbuilder as well as several local job listing pages and found that they have positions listed for an odd array of positions including customer service, sports marketing, foreign purchasing expeditor, and animal kennel help. I figured there was a possibility they might be some kind of staffing agency but obviously these listings are all just to get the attention of different people looking for different types of positions and trick them into interviewing for this one. I'm so glad I checked here first. I responded to their email with the directions and just said I wouldn't be coming for the interview.

I was contacted in response to my resume for a call center position in customer service. I did find it a little odd that they wanted to schedule an interview so quickly without even asking me any additional questions. When the woman I talked to emailed me the directions to the location, I noticed they are in a business complex that is infamous for fly by night telemarketing companies and MLMs.

I went to careerbuilder as well as several local job listing pages and found that they have positions listed for an odd array of positions including customer service, sports marketing, foreign purchasing expeditor, and animal kennel help. I figured there was a possibility they might be some kind of staffing agency but obviously these listings are all just to get the attention of different people looking for different types of positions and trick them into interviewing for this one. I'm so glad I checked here first. I responded to their email with the directions and just said I wouldn't be coming for the interview.

I did the interview & a day of observation. My interview was misleading. I was never told it was door to door sales. I was under the impression that this was a marketing/promotions position. The parents company name "this time" is Cause Marketing Soltution, and the local branch was JK Group. I also heard names like Cydor, US Concepts.

They went door to door selling coupon books.

If consumers didn't want to buy the coupon book we they selling, they asked for a small donation for the Nat. Wheelchair Basketball Assoc. The employees would just pocket the donation they received! I couldn't believe my eyes. The employee I observed told me that they weren't even allowed to collect donations for NWBA because they were independent solicitors, but it's just an easy way of making another $10-20.

They are unlawfully collecting these funds that consumers believe is going toward your great cause!!!

Also, during their sales for these coupon books, they make people believe that all of the proceeds are going directly to the NWBA. I know they are not. We were also trespassing and soliciting on private property.

P.S. I was also hit on by an employee on the way out.

People really have to be ignorant to fall for this. Good thing for them, there are plenty of uneducated ignorant people around.

Metro MSI:

My ex-Fiance' became employed with Metro MSI one year ago. She was promised a managers postion within 6 months of hire date. After 6 months came and went and no manager postion. She was then promised a managers position within 8 months. 8 Months came and went and still no manager position became available. Now it is comming up to one year and my fiance' puts in well over 80 hrs a week and brings home barely $350 a week on an avarage. We have had many, many arguements over this job and it eventually was the demise of our relationship. So many hours invested, while her manager recognizing that my fiance' was making alot of money for them. Management set goals for each individual, (Goals consist of making a certain amount of cash sales per day). when in actuality, its not the employees goal, but rather the manager who sets the goals in order to make money for management, leaving the one who labors broke...

It is a pyramid scam... You have to get a certain many employees to work under you for a certain period of time. This can also be seen in Amway type pyramid scams. It does not work because of the type of people the job attracts. Every now and then, Metro MSI gets a good person (like my ex-fiance') and this is how they make their money. Exploiting good intentions from good people in order to gain for themselves.

After my fiance' was employed with Metro-MSI, she had to ride with a manager to go from business to business trying to sell cheap junk that most dollar stores will never carry. While doing door to door, the managers car was broken into and my fiance' had her purse stolen... Metro-MSI didn't feel obligated to pay for this. I had to argue and fight to get only 50% back.

After approximately 8 months of being employed with Metro-MSI, my ex had to go with new applicants into the field to do sales. While she stopped to get gas, the two applicants went into her purse and stole all of her money, and the money that was collected from sales for the day. Metro-MSI made my ex, and I pay all of it back...

Please, do not be sucked in to this company... You will not progress forward in life. You can make way more money working at Mc Donalds with the hours they enforce at Metro-MSI. Metro-MSI pays commission only, so remember this when you try to sell somebody a piece of junk. They actually put you through alot of fake "positve self improvement" crap that actually blinds the employee into thinking this company cares about the employee, when in actuality all they care about is their own pockets getting fatter and fatter.

Ever seen requiem for a dream? Remember "JUICE BY SARA, JUICE BY SARA, GOOOOO SARA!!!!!" They actually say this and use "Juice" as some type of metaphore for positve affirmation... I think it is very cult like, and very scary that the woman I was with for 5 years was so easily manipulated into this crap....

Remember, if what they say is true, and thousands upon thousands of people who work for Metro-MSI are successful people, then don't you think everybody would be doing it?

CRAZY

Hey, if you're aware of exactly what this company is, and what it isn't and you're still happy there, more power to you.

I can't speak for you office workers, but as far as distributors (who make up 99% of the workforce) there are no employees. There are no benefits. There is no guaranteed income. You could walk around in the field for 9 hours and not even be able to afford lunch the next day.

If you've worked there, you know these people literally have manipulation down to a science. We would spend hours going over sales pitches every word, every gesture was pre-scripted to convince a random person do something he probably wouldn't do if he had a few minutes to think about it (remember the impulse curve?)

My question is "do you really think the manipulation ends with customers in the field?" You've fallen victim to a classic bait and switch sales tactic. You want to work hard, you want to be part of a team, you want to get ahead in life but if you people who have bought into the JUICE think you're somehow immune to manipulation, you need a reality check. Your determined work ethic is being used against you.

From the moment you read the entry-level marketing position available ad in the paper, through a meticulously controlled environment and presentation, you have been led to believe to best path to success is the path your owner has sold you on. Its not. You've been successfully pitched by your owner and leaders.

What gets me is the time factor involved. The schedule is crazy with low-level distributors and gets incrementally more insane the higher up the pyramid one progresses.

I don't know for sure how much money my owner was making, but let's say he was telling the truth and was really pulling in $150,000 a year after expenses. The guy got up at 5am to be at the office by 6:30 and didn't get home at night till after 7:30 or 8:00 6, sometimes 7 days a week.

What good is all the money in the world if you can't even take a minute to enjoy any of it? And wouldn't it be worth some money to interact with your family more than just saying goodnight when you get home and crashing so you can get up again before they're awake?

Don't buy the company line that anybody who quits couldn't hack it or got negged out. I hacked it. I was solo in the field after 2 days. Got the first day bonus. I was promoted to leadership 5 days after that. I reached volume discount my first week solo in the field.

Jessica said I read these things and find it funny that everyone is so overdramatic because they couldn't handle the job, but its not really funny when you see the real-life consequences these professional manipulators have on young naive people who are tricked into buying the company BS.

I stopped showing up after a couple weeks; partly because i forgot what my friends looked like, and partly because I saw what the company was doing to a nave young guy struggling in the field with a girlfriend and new baby at home. The guy was just no good and couldn't even afford a car. He and his GF must have been really hurting just to pay rent and provide for the kid, essentially with only her income, but the owner kept him pumped up, always telling him that success was within his reach, rather than leveling with him. It was pretty sad and very disgusting.

Don't work for nothing now for the promise of proper compensation in the future the proper compensation part of it seldom materializes, and the ones promising it don't have your best interest in mind.

I saw an ad on Monster.com for F.P. Marketing in Charlotte, NC. I had been job searching for a couple of months and they magically called me not even 24 hours after I submitted my resume where as a couple of other legitimate customers waited maybe a week at the very least.

I did some research and was sure glad to find about Cydcor and their ways here on Ripoff Rpoert. I of course did not go on an interview and plan to avoid them at all cost. Funny thing after reading about their interview process I remember going to something like this right after I graduated High School and thought "this place is weird."

I just got hired at a company in Michigan. Does anyone know WTF the deal is with the Home Depot partnerships? Appearantly I am going to be "promoted" to do that, and I will make an actual paycheck from the Home Depot Corporation. I already find it funny how nobody tells you anything about the company when you ask until its time for it to happen, like pay, etc. So if this is another goal they are going to dangle in front of my nose with some sort of a false hope, I just would like to know. I am not defending anybody, I am just curious if I should stick with it or quit while im ahead..after all, ive only worked one day and im exhausted and sun burnt from selling stupid merch to people in one of the worst parts of Detroit.

The only reason I chose to go along with this is because I am desperate and hard up for cash right now. I dont need my situation to get worse. I was offered an okay base pay, but the hours already suck and if im this tired after two days..

Feel free to respond or e mail me at (((ROR REDACTED E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES))) if anybody knows anything.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

Red Line Events in VB, VA is also a division of Quantum Marketing and holds by the same scamming principles. They actually convinced me to give up a paying job for theirs (I needed marketing experience for graduate school). Fortunately, I realized the scam after only a day and went back to my old job. Stay away!

There are different positions in the company, I've been working under cydcor for sometime, honestly, I love it. I read these things and find it funny that everyone is so overdramatic because they couldn't handle the job.

I've seen some great people make it to the top. I've done paychecks for this company, it's no bull s**t, they pay great, it depends on you as an individual, you as a person. There is so much opportunity, some people aren't willing to take that extra step to make it happen.

As for the entry level admin, this is the person that sets up the interviews, does paperwork, etc. It is not commission based because they aren't selling anything. They basically are the HR side of the company. This is my current position, I love it, I love the guys I work with, I love the owner, I love cydcor!

They treat employees well. Like any other company there are some that aren't very honest, harder to deal with, or flat out lie. You haver to be the judge for yourself. The company can be something your looking for and have you excel in many aspects of your personal and professional like, or like lots of you, can be too much for you to handle.

The Admin in the company can also grow. It's great to see first hand who has excelled. I've seen it, I want it, I'll do it.

I few posts up, someone mentioned a New Orleans company "Golden Acquisitions, Inc". They did not offer up much information about the company or even provide and personal experiences so how are we to know that "Golden Acquisitions, Inc" is related to these other companies in any way shape or form. I have recently been offer a job with "Golden Acquisitions, Inc". The listing is below:

-------

Entry Level Administrator
Company: Golden Acquisitions, Inc


Description
Golden Acquisitions, Inc has an immediate opening for an energetic AdministrativeAssistant/ Office Manager. Must have excellent communication skills and be able to multi-task in a fast paced environment. LOOKING FOR THAT RIGHT PERSONALITY WHO IS A TEAM PLAYER!!

Benefits:

Salary-based compensation
Travel Opportunity
Fun Working Atmosphere
Advancement Potential
Bonus Structure

Requirements
Multiline Phone, General Office, MS Excel, Must be Proficient in Word And Excel. Great Attitude, good Computer Skills in a Window Environment, good customer service skills, ability to work in a rapidly changing and growing work environment.


Contact us @ 504.522.7991
Also visit our website at www.goldenacqinc.com
Fax resumes to 504.522.7971

--------

If this Company is the scam that they are being made out to be, WHY ARE THEY OFFERING UP JOBS LIKE THIS? Any Ideas?

Well, I actually have a CPA (call me crazy) and he did my taxes. In all honesty, everything that we say you can deduct is deductible. Crazy, I know. It's not words, it's my CPA's.

So I take it you were either:

A. A current or former manager

B. A liar and a swindler who told lies to customers in order to make money

or...

C. All of the above.

These companies teach you how to either lie directly to a customer or how to sell in a very gray area that is extremely detrimental to the customer. On top of that, they lie to employees that gas and lunches for interviews are all tax-deductible, which they are not unless you are a 1099 employee which most aren't. When you question how you are going to deduct, you are told to lie to the IRS. Boy, would I loooove to see some of you get audited!

So I take it you were either:

A. A current or former manager

B. A liar and a swindler who told lies to customers in order to make money

or...

C. All of the above.

These companies teach you how to either lie directly to a customer or how to sell in a very gray area that is extremely detrimental to the customer. On top of that, they lie to employees that gas and lunches for interviews are all tax-deductible, which they are not unless you are a 1099 employee which most aren't. When you question how you are going to deduct, you are told to lie to the IRS. Boy, would I loooove to see some of you get audited!

So I take it you were either:

A. A current or former manager

B. A liar and a swindler who told lies to customers in order to make money

or...

C. All of the above.

These companies teach you how to either lie directly to a customer or how to sell in a very gray area that is extremely detrimental to the customer. On top of that, they lie to employees that gas and lunches for interviews are all tax-deductible, which they are not unless you are a 1099 employee which most aren't. When you question how you are going to deduct, you are told to lie to the IRS. Boy, would I loooove to see some of you get audited!

It is indeed a sales company and sorry to say people really do make good money when they do well. If you are not good at sales then you will not make money. I made a ton of money in the field. I just find it hilarious that people who don't do well in the field all of a sudden want to come and make sure that others that will probably be very good don't take the opportunity. Just cause you couldn't make it, now you despise the world and want to make sure that others can't have a chance to do a better job than you. It's so typical.

I could cry as I see how many people were tricked just as I was. Call me crazy but I am still haunted by this job. I worked for Oxford Marketing Solutions in Narberth, PA about 5 years ago. Out of curiosity I just tried to look them up and the phone is disconnected and after a coupld name changes it looks like they closed. I have no idea how this company thrives...oh yes I do, deception.
Please, all of you who are defending your current positions with these companies, please trust me. it will not pay off. You are only making the head honchos richer- you will never be an owner. No disrespect to you, please put your skills to better use.

5th Dimension Promotionz is one company you should definitely stay away from.

To all that gives Cydcor a bad name.

I worked for Cydcor for a long time. I know longer do towards a great opportunity I chose to take. I will tell you that if you aren't a salesman you will not succeed in the business. No and, if, buts about. It is a cut-throat business.

Few and far between do make but yes a lot do who have the skill set and drive to fight through everything. I was the best in the field, week after week, no matter what campaign it is on. My office was great. For you who are young and want to learn a lot about sales, and to even see what you are made of..it is great experience and a lot of companies will look at you if you are there long enought to gain this experience.

Trust me, it helped me. For people who say they can't make money, no offense but is not hard to sell office supplies if that is your campaign to people. Everyone in each office I was in sold minuimum 3 accounts per day. How hard is to sell cases of paper which people use everyday for $10 cheaper than what they are already paying. Plus, the environement of people you work with is great.

If you can sell $357 of anything in one day it is $100. I sometimes made over $1,000/week. Even my first week on another campaign I made $1600 knowing hardly anything but knowing that in any sales position, it is all a numbers game. I have met the best friends of my life through this company and even know we are apart now, we all stay in touch and visit all the time. I was kicked out of 7 buildings in one day, it still made money. Even by a customer of mine bc they were having a bad day and is wasn't the right time.

Now to support you guys. Yes, there are bad managers out there. Trust me I traveled to enough offices to see it. One thing is to be successful you have to tell the truth. Everyone that was underneath me knew every little thing about the company and I let them know about. Trust me one of my managers turned evil so-to-say and is why once I and another left, the manager dwindled down because people were following us to open up. You can see people get promoted quick. I have saw plenty. One even if their first 3 months into promoted. If you can do the sales, and teach others it isn't hard. If you significant other can't make money check their sales ability. It isn't made for everyone.

Cydcor's worst downfall is each office isn't Cydcor. It does make it seem like a shady business with all the different names, yet they have low expenses which make high profit and is a great outsource for the clients they deal with. Every company has its faults. You just have to find the right companies. People do succeed but yes it is a survival and you have to be good and strong to surive.

I wouldn't be where I am at today without the knowledge and experience I gained as well what I learned about what I am capable of and willing to do.

To all that gives Cydcor a bad name.

I worked for Cydcor for a long time. I know longer do towards a great opportunity I chose to take. I will tell you that if you aren't a salesman you will not succeed in the business. No and, if, buts about. It is a cut-throat business.

Few and far between do make but yes a lot do who have the skill set and drive to fight through everything. I was the best in the field, week after week, no matter what campaign it is on. My office was great. For you who are young and want to learn a lot about sales, and to even see what you are made of..it is great experience and a lot of companies will look at you if you are there long enought to gain this experience.

Trust me, it helped me. For people who say they can't make money, no offense but is not hard to sell office supplies if that is your campaign to people. Everyone in each office I was in sold minuimum 3 accounts per day. How hard is to sell cases of paper which people use everyday for $10 cheaper than what they are already paying. Plus, the environement of people you work with is great.

If you can sell $357 of anything in one day it is $100. I sometimes made over $1,000/week. Even my first week on another campaign I made $1600 knowing hardly anything but knowing that in any sales position, it is all a numbers game. I have met the best friends of my life through this company and even know we are apart now, we all stay in touch and visit all the time. I was kicked out of 7 buildings in one day, it still made money. Even by a customer of mine bc they were having a bad day and is wasn't the right time.

Now to support you guys. Yes, there are bad managers out there. Trust me I traveled to enough offices to see it. One thing is to be successful you have to tell the truth. Everyone that was underneath me knew every little thing about the company and I let them know about. Trust me one of my managers turned evil so-to-say and is why once I and another left, the manager dwindled down because people were following us to open up. You can see people get promoted quick. I have saw plenty. One even if their first 3 months into promoted. If you can do the sales, and teach others it isn't hard. If you significant other can't make money check their sales ability. It isn't made for everyone.

Cydcor's worst downfall is each office isn't Cydcor. It does make it seem like a shady business with all the different names, yet they have low expenses which make high profit and is a great outsource for the clients they deal with. Every company has its faults. You just have to find the right companies. People do succeed but yes it is a survival and you have to be good and strong to surive.

I wouldn't be where I am at today without the knowledge and experience I gained as well what I learned about what I am capable of and willing to do.

To all that gives Cydcor a bad name.

I worked for Cydcor for a long time. I know longer do towards a great opportunity I chose to take. I will tell you that if you aren't a salesman you will not succeed in the business. No and, if, buts about. It is a cut-throat business.

Few and far between do make but yes a lot do who have the skill set and drive to fight through everything. I was the best in the field, week after week, no matter what campaign it is on. My office was great. For you who are young and want to learn a lot about sales, and to even see what you are made of..it is great experience and a lot of companies will look at you if you are there long enought to gain this experience.

Trust me, it helped me. For people who say they can't make money, no offense but is not hard to sell office supplies if that is your campaign to people. Everyone in each office I was in sold minuimum 3 accounts per day. How hard is to sell cases of paper which people use everyday for $10 cheaper than what they are already paying. Plus, the environement of people you work with is great.

If you can sell $357 of anything in one day it is $100. I sometimes made over $1,000/week. Even my first week on another campaign I made $1600 knowing hardly anything but knowing that in any sales position, it is all a numbers game. I have met the best friends of my life through this company and even know we are apart now, we all stay in touch and visit all the time. I was kicked out of 7 buildings in one day, it still made money. Even by a customer of mine bc they were having a bad day and is wasn't the right time.

Now to support you guys. Yes, there are bad managers out there. Trust me I traveled to enough offices to see it. One thing is to be successful you have to tell the truth. Everyone that was underneath me knew every little thing about the company and I let them know about. Trust me one of my managers turned evil so-to-say and is why once I and another left, the manager dwindled down because people were following us to open up. You can see people get promoted quick. I have saw plenty. One even if their first 3 months into promoted. If you can do the sales, and teach others it isn't hard. If you significant other can't make money check their sales ability. It isn't made for everyone.

Cydcor's worst downfall is each office isn't Cydcor. It does make it seem like a shady business with all the different names, yet they have low expenses which make high profit and is a great outsource for the clients they deal with. Every company has its faults. You just have to find the right companies. People do succeed but yes it is a survival and you have to be good and strong to surive.

I wouldn't be where I am at today without the knowledge and experience I gained as well what I learned about what I am capable of and willing to do.

To all that gives Cydcor a bad name.

I worked for Cydcor for a long time. I know longer do towards a great opportunity I chose to take. I will tell you that if you aren't a salesman you will not succeed in the business. No and, if, buts about. It is a cut-throat business.

Few and far between do make but yes a lot do who have the skill set and drive to fight through everything. I was the best in the field, week after week, no matter what campaign it is on. My office was great. For you who are young and want to learn a lot about sales, and to even see what you are made of..it is great experience and a lot of companies will look at you if you are there long enought to gain this experience.

Trust me, it helped me. For people who say they can't make money, no offense but is not hard to sell office supplies if that is your campaign to people. Everyone in each office I was in sold minuimum 3 accounts per day. How hard is to sell cases of paper which people use everyday for $10 cheaper than what they are already paying. Plus, the environement of people you work with is great.

If you can sell $357 of anything in one day it is $100. I sometimes made over $1,000/week. Even my first week on another campaign I made $1600 knowing hardly anything but knowing that in any sales position, it is all a numbers game. I have met the best friends of my life through this company and even know we are apart now, we all stay in touch and visit all the time. I was kicked out of 7 buildings in one day, it still made money. Even by a customer of mine bc they were having a bad day and is wasn't the right time.

Now to support you guys. Yes, there are bad managers out there. Trust me I traveled to enough offices to see it. One thing is to be successful you have to tell the truth. Everyone that was underneath me knew every little thing about the company and I let them know about. Trust me one of my managers turned evil so-to-say and is why once I and another left, the manager dwindled down because people were following us to open up. You can see people get promoted quick. I have saw plenty. One even if their first 3 months into promoted. If you can do the sales, and teach others it isn't hard. If you significant other can't make money check their sales ability. It isn't made for everyone.

Cydcor's worst downfall is each office isn't Cydcor. It does make it seem like a shady business with all the different names, yet they have low expenses which make high profit and is a great outsource for the clients they deal with. Every company has its faults. You just have to find the right companies. People do succeed but yes it is a survival and you have to be good and strong to surive.

I wouldn't be where I am at today without the knowledge and experience I gained as well what I learned about what I am capable of and willing to do.

Thanks to all of you that are working to get all this know. I had an interview with Pereira today and after reading this website, you can imagine that I am not going to waste my time.

I applied at about 19 places, looking for a job in Medical/pharmaceutical sales, and one of them were Verdigris in Kansas City. I scheduled an interview, but am sure glad I chose to read here, first. Thanks!

I dont know if that company is anything like mine. My company does VIP Packs "coupons" and some other companies do product (like disney stuff). In either case, I suggest that you try it out. If you go to the interview and find out it's not for you, then it's not for you. But, at least you gave it a fair shot. You are looking for a job opportunity, right? What could it hurt? By the way, I grew up in Poughkeepsie. It's cool to see you're from there.

I recently applied to Pereira Marketing Group in White Plains, NY. The first interview was exactly as described in all of the above posts, and I was called back for a second interview. I am extremely skeptical at this point and I'm looking for advice...

-John

Wow, I was willing to risk my current job just for the all day field training. I was contacted by JDC Marketing and Consulting a few weeks ago. I didn't answer the phone, but they kept living me messages on my voicemail. I finally got curious and called back one day, set up the first interview.

I went, fell all for it the nice "suite", the elegant office. Yet a few things made me suspicious. On the t.v. Comedy Central was on. What serious company is going to have comedy central on at there lobby?! And second, I get there and the "receptionist" has a mess all over her desk, papers, food, drinks, everything.

Saw a few more people come in, didn't think much of it. I was asked by the interviewer to go upstairs, everything looked too nice. He kept mentioning, "fun" 'young" "active" "social". The guy seemed nice, yet intimidating. Told me I would get a second call from him later on in the evening if I was accepted. He did call and set up a training date. Said to wear confortable shoes. I was excited, thought I would finally get out of my boring job.

I decided to do research on the company, looked at their website and it all seemed really vague. no real information about anything. Job descriptions were also very general, could of fit the description of a lawyer as well as a garbage man. I googled it and came across this page. Was very skeptical at first, but as I read on, all was very familiar to me. I have the interview tomorrow at 11:15 supposedly until 5 pm.

I'm glad to say I won't be missing work tomorrow. I am a college sophmore looking to get a head start on my Marketing career. This is definately not wHere I want to start at. The problem is that anywhere I post my resume, these type of companies search us "young and naive" people and tempt us. I find it very unfair.

Final thought, I just hope those other people being interviewed that day see this before they are also sucked in.

Wow, I was willing to risk my current job just for the all day field training. I was contacted by JDC Marketing and Consulting a few weeks ago. I didn't answer the phone, but they kept living me messages on my voicemail. I finally got curious and called back one day, set up the first interview.

I went, fell all for it the nice "suite", the elegant office. Yet a few things made me suspicious. On the t.v. Comedy Central was on. What serious company is going to have comedy central on at there lobby?! And second, I get there and the "receptionist" has a mess all over her desk, papers, food, drinks, everything.

Saw a few more people come in, didn't think much of it. I was asked by the interviewer to go upstairs, everything looked too nice. He kept mentioning, "fun" 'young" "active" "social". The guy seemed nice, yet intimidating. Told me I would get a second call from him later on in the evening if I was accepted. He did call and set up a training date. Said to wear confortable shoes. I was excited, thought I would finally get out of my boring job.

I decided to do research on the company, looked at their website and it all seemed really vague. no real information about anything. Job descriptions were also very general, could of fit the description of a lawyer as well as a garbage man. I googled it and came across this page. Was very skeptical at first, but as I read on, all was very familiar to me. I have the interview tomorrow at 11:15 supposedly until 5 pm.

I'm glad to say I won't be missing work tomorrow. I am a college sophmore looking to get a head start on my Marketing career. This is definately not wHere I want to start at. The problem is that anywhere I post my resume, these type of companies search us "young and naive" people and tempt us. I find it very unfair.

Final thought, I just hope those other people being interviewed that day see this before they are also sucked in.

Wow, I was willing to risk my current job just for the all day field training. I was contacted by JDC Marketing and Consulting a few weeks ago. I didn't answer the phone, but they kept living me messages on my voicemail. I finally got curious and called back one day, set up the first interview.

I went, fell all for it the nice "suite", the elegant office. Yet a few things made me suspicious. On the t.v. Comedy Central was on. What serious company is going to have comedy central on at there lobby?! And second, I get there and the "receptionist" has a mess all over her desk, papers, food, drinks, everything.

Saw a few more people come in, didn't think much of it. I was asked by the interviewer to go upstairs, everything looked too nice. He kept mentioning, "fun" 'young" "active" "social". The guy seemed nice, yet intimidating. Told me I would get a second call from him later on in the evening if I was accepted. He did call and set up a training date. Said to wear confortable shoes. I was excited, thought I would finally get out of my boring job.

I decided to do research on the company, looked at their website and it all seemed really vague. no real information about anything. Job descriptions were also very general, could of fit the description of a lawyer as well as a garbage man. I googled it and came across this page. Was very skeptical at first, but as I read on, all was very familiar to me. I have the interview tomorrow at 11:15 supposedly until 5 pm.

I'm glad to say I won't be missing work tomorrow. I am a college sophmore looking to get a head start on my Marketing career. This is definately not wHere I want to start at. The problem is that anywhere I post my resume, these type of companies search us "young and naive" people and tempt us. I find it very unfair.

Final thought, I just hope those other people being interviewed that day see this before they are also sucked in.

I am a recent college grad who saw a job posting for Grayson Advertising on careerbuilder.com. It says it is a "pro-sports and entertainment marketing and advertising firm" looking for entry-level management for advertising, marketing, and public relations. it is located in Suwanee, Ga. i went in for my first interview yesterday and they asked me to come back today for a full day "on the field."

After reading what everyone has written, I am learly of this company and think it might be a scam.

Has ANYONE ever heard of Grayson Advertising?? or know ANYTHING at all about this? Thanks!!

I interviewed with Child Safty Enterprises, which is one of the companies listed in these rebuttals. I just want to send a warning to anyone doing the all day interview with this company or any others. On the first interview they asked me to come back for a second all day interview.

They told me that I would be at an event where they would be promoting the DARE program. after seeing this website I checked the DARE website to make sure they were affiliated and they were. I went to the all day interview, and what they didn't tell me was this "event" was a table set up infront of a supermarket!!!!

I was Outside all day and the weather was really bad, with the wind chill factored the temp did not rise above 40 degrees and since I was not told I would be out side I was wearing spring weather cloths a very light jacket with a thin button down shirt, slacks,and stockings with no socks, my toes actually went numb!!! so my advice to anyone who chooses to go on these all day interviews is:

!!!!!!Dress For The Weather!!!!!!!!

you never know when you will have to spend the whole day outside!

Hey people.

I have found this site quite informative. Not meaning it taught me something I diddn't already know, but just affirming what I was feeling to begin with.

I to fell into the bear trap, but luckly enough, i pulled my leg out before it snapped shut.

For me, It was New Line Promotions near San Diego.

Found the job listing on YahooHotjobs. Thought it sounded alright, might aswell give it a shot eh? So I did, and I was very surprised when i recieved an email so quickly. I immediately called the posted phone number (me ending up living with my mother again, being 22). A nice, inviting female voice answers and an interview is set up.

And from there, I can see it has been said several times in the exact sequence and fashion that I had experienced.

Anyhow, I pride myself on usually being able to read people, see between the lines. And lemme tell you, the boss guy of the office, or owner or whatever must not lose a wink of sleep for the amount of misdirective stuff that flows from his mouth hole. Dude amazingly passed by my person reading incredibly well. But that can be forgiven.

What really started to bother me was when i started to notice that everyone in the office was nice.

Please, how is it possible for 30 people sharing two offices, two "impact" rooms and one conference room be so damned nice? It's just not right, diddn't make any sense. But now i see how.why this happens.

You know that peer pressure they warn you about in school? For instance, maybe there are some people who would like you to try drugs.

No, wait. Wrong analogy. What about the mentality of the average gang member? How they feel that their true family is in the gang because they all understand them, look after them and help them along. That is what they try, and usually accomplish at these places.

They try so hard to make it always "JUICE!" and "Who's on team number three? OOOOOOOOOHHH!!!" and so on. Probly almost like a frat house experience.

Alot of people sadly miss that kind of interaction in their lives and that very fact is what allows this to be so effective. It's very unfortunate.

Anyway, my second interview went the exact same as what has been said. I got the pleasure of carrying around their brand new, just in Exotic Racers, dual cars on seperate frequencies so you can race together and not have them crash into eachother. When i saw these, i immediately thought about those countless toy booths at Swap Meets. Unnamed hunks of plastic built by the lowest bidder. Then there were the "Magic Pen\Calculators" An item one person actually said can be found at a dollar store. I just so happened to "borrow" my demo model. It is nifty indeed, but in no way worth $5, even if you get two more for free.

Today was my actual first day on the job. the 12 hours of straight walking really didn't bother me. I love getting free exercise. I was pretty comfortable walking up to and talking to strangers, no problems there. But, on the morality level, I was a bit put off.

Because I've had guys like this come up to me in a parking lot before, usually when i just bought a new DVD and i just want to get home to relax by the t.v. and get my movie on. And me knowing how annoying that feels, made me feel like crap. At that moment, i was THAT guy. And I dont want to be THAT guy, I want to be Dan. And to be totally honest, when the "leader" was nowhere in viewing range, I still walked passed people, I still said hello, how ya doing. But that was it. Usually ended with a "Have a pleasnt day" or in one instance, a quick conversation about Camaros.

All in all, I'm sure one could make some kind of money from this, but in weighing the work against the pay, it just isn't worth it. I always say, you need to work to live, which I do believe is true. But there is no point to working, if you are unable to live.

To those of you who enjoy this line of work, good for you. It's always good to find something you love doing, it's what everyone strives for as their ultimate goal. But know this...

You say that 99% of people wouldn't be good for that job, thats fine. ive actually heard that exact line three times from three different mouths today. but us 99% totally outnumber your 1% and we are the ones that dictate that little business you got going there. We are the consumer and we will totally annihilate your precious "Law Of Averages"

You say direct advertisments are the stronges? You're wrong. Word of mouth is the true champion. Best start believing that.

P.S.
I do have to say, the best part about being at that office, was the eye candy. The women that worked there were hot. Too bad they're the types of chicks I wouldnt touch with a thirty foot pole. All stuck up, high on themselves. Gimme an honest, down to earth chick anyday. Because women can be hot, but it takes more than looks for a woman to be beautiful.

I tried so hard to ignore this web site but if people are actually going to use it like Wikipedia I guess I'll have to respond. I am a UNC Chapel Hill graduate; I speak 3 different languages, and I was on the Dean's List at school. I go door to door and business to business. Would you like to know why I continue to work here? It's because, unlike the majority of America, I don't want to be in the rat race. I don't want to work for someone else for the rest of my life and I don't want to worry about how I am going to pay for my kids education and my retirement. You don't have to believe that this company makes young millionaires. However, if you are so inclined to be such a skeptic take a look at the sales industry and how much money it grossed last year alone. Yea sometimes you are short of cash, but the end result of this entry level job is the key to your own office within 6 to 12 months. How can that be? Come to an interview and we'll show you. If you've ever tried to start your own business you know the ups and downs. No one can guarantee that you'll be an all star and no we do NOT offer everyone a job. If you are hired, I can tell you that you will grow in your communication skills, your overall attitude and your work ethic. We build CEO's. Now think about how many people you actually talk to in a day, you, the average person. How many conversations do you have with different people? 10 maybe 20. We talk to at least a 100 people a day, that's at least 500 people a week, just for our job. To me that's cool. I'm not in a cubicle, I'm developing myself, my communication skills, and my people skills. I am also getting paid to do it. In addition to that, I get free sales lessons in the morning, and I help companies by significantly increasing their customer base and foot traffic. I get to meet with clients like the Cleveland Indians, the Charlotte Bobcats, and the Montgomery Bears. I love traveling. Listen, if you're looking to stay in the rat race, this isn't for you. This job is not easy, but it's worth it. Here are some good books to read by the way "Rich Dad, Poor Dad," "What Got You Here, Won't Get You There," "Sun Tzu: Art of War" (believe me it relates to business) and any book by John C. Maxwell. Oh and no you're not selling for the rest of your life. The average time before someone is handed over an office is 6 to 12 months and you don't have to sell anything after that. Oh and maybe you should read up on Bill Gates, or Michael Dell. Anyway, I hope you guys research before you judge next time. Also, realize not everything is for everyone so don't knock it if you don't like it. But have a great day ya'll.

There are two names in New Orleans that fit these descriptions exactly. They share office space, phone numbers, fax numbers, and are very vague in their job descriptions. Please beware:

Golden Acquisitions, Inc.
Yeager and Associates, Inc.

TD&L Associates (Inland Empire Area of CALI) should be added to the list...they use the same marketing tactics!!! Such as New Line Promotions aka LH International... Beware of the marketing cult!!! Once they start mentioning disney, crayola, nba, etc... they are all connected...

Thank you for putting up this information. The Charlotte Observer/careerbuilder.com has info in today's paper from F.P. Marketing. I googled the company to learn more, but found this website first. Thank you SO MUCH for keeping us informed!

I would like to thank Juju from Murfreesboro for posting the following scam companies to beware of in this area. I wanted to put them all together in one post for future job seekers.

Beware of the following companies in the Nashville, TN area:

Xcel Marketing, Inc.
Atlas Promotion
Stallion, Inc.
Black Sea, Intl.
Valiant Marketing Concepts

I was about to schedule an interview with Valiant Marketing Concepts, but was skeptical. After doing a little research, Valiant Marketing led to Xcel Marketing, which then led to this page. I'm glad I found this page.

Best of luck to everyone's job search. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is....

In the Charlotte, NC Area look for these names: Perth Aquisitions, Kleer Concepts Inc., & F.P Marketing. All these companies are advertising the same general job descriptions as stated in the previous rebuttals. Same old stuff, general sweeping claims about working with "Fortune 500 Companies" doing "advertising" and "marketing".

As always, beware of companies that will not give any details about the position for which you are applying,especially when you can not get any info after speaking with someone that works for the company or after you go to their respective websites. The question should always be "What are they hiding?"

Well, this week I applied to a job that really sounded interesting to me on Careerbuilder.com with marketing and management openings.

Within 30 minutes of clicking the apply now button I received a voice mail message from the company (PNG Promotions) to contact them for an interview.

So, being excited about the job I try to call the girl back at the number she gave me, but was only able to reach her voice mail.

I then noticed on my cell phone that the original call came from another number. I tried calling that number and it was the same person on this line but the company she said was Lucky7 Promotions - Boston. That raised the suspicion level immediately.

Eventually she contacts me back about the job interview. After being suspicious I had a few questions for her and exactly what this company was (since their website is so ambiguous about exactly what they do - www.pngpromotions.com).

I was then told that they are contracted out by major companies to make detailed marketing campaigns for them since many companies do not have their own marketing department, and they were looking for someone like me to lead a new team they were setting up.

Having a college background in Fine Arts; this made me exceptionally excited about the job because I thought it would include magazine layouts, etc (graphic design work/marketing). So I set up an interview for next week.

Something still ate at the back of my mind. Like, it was too good to be true and the fact that I could call two different numbers and get the same person answering the phone for both seemed out of place, too.

Decided to google the company and I am glad that I did after finding this and seeing the comapny in one of the lists posted above.

Defineately won't be attending this interview now. Although, I might still go just to get a good kick out of and confront them knowing what I know now.

I've read through most of these, and I see DMG Racing as well as Icon Marketing International are only mentioned about once. Does any one know that there actually located in the same building? YES two seperate marketing companies are renting out the same office space, with one administrator handling interviews for both companies.

That should be a clue right there, they obviously cant afford to have there own office or just to cheap to do so. I am currently employed with this company and I'm slowly realizing the lies. I'll start posting more things obviously after I quit. Like how everything is a script, and how when people ask questions we have the answers to beat around the bush and avoid the point.

I'm not sure if Landmark Galleries in Virginia Beach is associated with the previously mentioned companies, but it is the exact same scam! While working a productive, legit, IT consulting job I started to get bored and looked for other types of employment. I have always been interested in marketing so while searching on careerbuilder or some similar site found Landmark Galleries in Virginia. I applied, and was called in the same day! So I flew back in town (was working on a job in Florida), to schedule the interview which was a joke. I went in for like 10 minutes or less, to some "office" that looked like it was set up a day before and talked to some joker who couldn't answer any questions about payment, duties, or anything else. All he could tell me was that it was a "entry level manager" position and they were going to pick only a couple of us (out of like 15) to train. I got a call back within about 10 minutes of leaving to go for the all day interview the next day. I went, rode around town with some girl trying to sell horrible reproductions of art work to businesses. It was terrible, at one point I even saw a sign on a door which we went into, that stated "no sales people, including people with artwork". I couldn't believe it, she just walked right past people telling her to leave to try and sell the crap to other people. Then I took the same pointless quiz at the end of the day while she told the owner why he should hire me not the others. EVERYBODY in there that day was offered a job. I didn't go back, but they tried to get me to immediately quit my other job to sale ridiculous products out of the back of my car!

If you've encountered anything like this, just stay away and get a real job. Sure some people can do it, heck I could have done it. I can lie and con pretty well myself. But payment only after selling, if your conscience didn't get to you, the lack of sleep and or stress from not having enough money to eat would!

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff144791.htm

I used to work for Global Horizon Advertising (now Atlas Promotional Group) out of Nashville, TN. To start off with it was the greatest job in the world and i was making a lot of money. (400 to 500) for the first two weeks. and lost about 15 pounds too.

Then they sent me to Atlanta to work with the snot wod of a boss, Justin Cobb at IPG & Associates. (now vantage marketing international). He was supposed to be the best and has the ego the size of God. he didn't impress me at all. that week i made a grand total of 2,400 dollars by selling those god-awful papa johns cards. (i took all of my money out in cash and set aside stuff for taxes.) the thing is we were given 12 hours "out in the field" and i would make that by usually 3pm. since it was winter, i would find warm places to go for the rest of the day. and this was out in the middle of all of the mexican area with the help of a little mexican kid named manny.

so on saturday for the team day i was teamed up with the snot wod, justin. he placed a bet and said, "double or nothing, i will out sell you. if you out sell me you get my profits as a manager, if i win you don't make anything today." not the one to back down from a challenge, i took him on. we had 100 papa johns books with us and so we hit this ritzy subdivision and the first house i come to was none other than Mr. rip-off king himself, Bill Heard. I lay it on thick and being the impulsive man that he is, he bought it hook line, and sinker. sold all 100 cards and made 3200 dollars in a matter of minutes. that little snot wod cussed me out and told me i was a loser. and wanted to go back to the office for more discount books. i told him to drop me off at the mall down the way, i'm watching King Kong, and he can sell whatever the rest of the day.

i worked there for another month and my boss in nashville was getting pissed off at me because i didn't stick to a "scrpit" and i was very nice to people. i averaged about 800 a week and he was mad because it wasn't anything he taught me.

i led a trip to cleveland, TN to do pizza hut and my girlfriend (now fiance) showed up and she could tell i was very unhappy. that was on friday, i left the company that saturday because i knew there was more to life than selling stupid pizza cards. there was something i was missing, my family and friends.

my boss was royally pissed off with me and with held money from me until i showed up one day with a police officer and my lawyer. i haven't heard from him since and he went bankrupted because he didn't know anything about business or how to treat people

positives
-i lost 50 pounds

negatives
-i almost lost the love of my life

Fourtune 5 Marketing Executive advertising and associates inc Essential communications

These are in the Jacksonville Florida area

What is even sadder is I have reported the fraudulent ads to EVERY SINGLE job search engine that these companies are on, nothing. I have backed up my story with legitimate complaints off these website along with my story and nothing has happened.

I wish I could find a pay stub to fax to these people to show them you do NOT get a base AND commission. I have been doing this for months and sadly, still nothing has happened. On WorkJacksonville.com they are even listed as a ELITE employer. Sadly all the job.com people care about is cash, these people post 10-20 ads a WEEK. *red flag*

Some things to look out for (most of this already posted but I will repeat for the Jacksonville people as well)

These are actually job headlines they have

Inside Sales/Customer's Come to You!!!
Hospitality/Restaraunt/ Food Industry Experience Needed!!!
Military Experience Wanted In Leadership Role
Start a Career with Unlimited Growth Potential
College Grad looking to gain Experience in the Corporate world?
Project Manager - Entry Level
Energetic Sports Marketing Advertising Firm Wants YOU
TIRED OF WORKING NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS?? LOOKING FOR GROWTH!!
JUNIOR EXECUTIVE NEEDED! TRAINING AVAILABLE!!

Wow, a whole different array of job opportunities for the same exact job. Military experience? Please! Tired of working nights and weekends? Better not get this job. You will be working till 8 at nght on weekdays and till 7:30 at night on Saturdays.

Lets move on to how they suck you in. here are a few things that are taxes directly from their ads, and what they really mean.

What they say- WORK WITH PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS, TOP NOTCH RESTAURANTS, and ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.

What they mean- Work with other recent college grads doing door to door sales, or accosting customers in a cingular store and trying to sell them Bellsouth products. You may run into a professional sports team player

What they say- company name here was founded on the premise that what you have accomplished is not nearly as important as what you can accomplish. When we evaluate a new candidate, we are much more interested in your potential than your past.

What they mean- If you can breath, your hired. We will feed you the dream of a new office so you will work 68 hours a week trying to sell our product.

What they say - Of course it takes years of experience to reach CEO status.but where do you get that experience? (

What they mean- We will work your butt off wile telling you this is how hard CEO's work CEO's do not work 60 hours a week. Most CEO's that I know barely work 40, that's why they have that position, other people do the work for them.

What they say - WHAT WE OFFER:
UNPARALLELED WORK ENVIORNMENT
UNLIMITED GROWTH FROM WITHIN
COMPENSATION BASED ON PERFORMANCE
THE MENTALITY THAT THE ENERGY YOU INVEST IN US, WE WILL RETURN

What they mean-
You will have to stand (no sitting or leaning allowed) in the atmosphere room at least three hours working on your sales pitch wile listening to loud top 40's rap music, clapping and cheering.
You get promoted when your trainees train other and get promoted (pyramid scheme)
If you rip people off you get money.
You will work 68 hours a week and we might pay you enough to survive.

What they say - A large part of our success is due to our "hands on" management training program, which teaches our business system and focuses on developing people's abilities to train and manage others with a team based philosophy

What they mean - you teach your trainees they teach others and so on. We force feed you sales pitches and rebuttals for three hours and then send you out in the field for 8.

What they say- We are looking for team players, creative thinkers and self starters who are goal and detail-oriented and have an affinity for working with people. Our philosophy and mentoring program supports each individual with the training, encouragement, and opportunity to encourage career growth.

What they mean - We don't want you to have an outside life. We want you to spend all your time with the people you work with. If you don't get a long with us we will neg you out so bad you quit.

What they say- Opportunities are limited to candidates who are driven for advancement and can thrive in a high energy, enthusiastic work environment.

What they mean- If you can stand on your feet for 12 hours a day and still clap at the end of the night, we want you.

What they say- If you desire to enhance your interpersonal skills and professionalism, want continued growth based on individual merit, not seniority, and rapid advancement into leadership roles, join our elite team of professionals

What they mean- We don't have seniority because we would have to pay you more. If you can make us 100 dollars a week you will become a leader Our professionals are recent college grads


What they say- LOOKING FOR A SALES POSITION, BUT DON'T WANT TO DO TELEMARKETING OR COLD CALLING?

What they mean- You will be going door to door posing as a legit company unannounced or you will be accosing customers in a store trying to sell them a product that has nothing to do with that store.

What they say - Salary:
Base AND Commissions!!

What they mean- your base pay is 6.15 an hour. We don't pay you overtime so your commission should bypass it. If it does you do not get the base pay.

Basically, what it all boils down to is these types of companies will Spam these website so that no matter what kind of job you are looking for they will pop up in your results. Just remember the golden rule. If it sounds too good to be true, It probly is!

Read on

To all the juicies out there.

I don't know whether to be really upset at you for spouting lies like that or feel extremely sorry for you. I was in the biz for 7 weeks. My total pay the whole time was a whopping 1,500 dollars at best. Why? Because The sales I DID close somehow were magically denied. I also did not lie to my customers. If I was going to raise their bill, I told them. I laid everything out on the table just like I was taught NOT to do. I also had about 30 applications stolen by high leaders in the field, when I complained I was being a Neg Bomb

As for people not sticking it out, I am happily one of those people. I saw 4 people loose houses, families and cars. Why? Those four people were from out of state sucked into this horrible companies pyramid scheme and the promise of $$$. These people did not just go back on rent for a few months, they got their credit ruined, lost relationships with family and friends, lost houses and cars, basically lost EVERYTHING.

And let me tell you something, these people were well trained highly qualified individuals. These people worked their asses off! When I hear the phrase they did not try hard enough I want to scream. I heard this in my office everyday because that was about how often someone left. Trust me, if your credit is on the line YOU TRY REALLY HARD! Some did resort to lying to close a deal and they STILL did not make any money. Why? Because Cydcor took it. They told them that someone canceled or they did not fill out the paper work right and kept the money for themselves.

One of the big things in our company was actually FORGING initials on the price sheet if someone forgot to sign a spot. Their reasoning for committing a felony? One, they did not want the transaction denied because of paperwork and two, they already closed the deal and actually thought it was okay since the person agreed with the welcome center.

Also we checked all the paper work every night when we got back, so we knew what was wrong and what wasn't. Trust me, if the paper work is wrong then you don't get paid, so the paper work was ALWAYS RIGHT, if it weren't, they forged it.

So we know right there that paperwork was not the issue. As for the canceling? Funny thing that is. The consumer has to cancel within THREE DAYS. I had ONE person do that in the store. No one will know they got ripped off until they get the bill, so in essence maybe 1 out of 100 people will cancel before they get the bill. That little printout that you get with your commission check is a purely computer generated forgery in my opinion. They will type in Denied and keep your hard earned cash. If you are willing to stay in an environment such as this it does not mean you have the balls to stick it out, it means that you are so sucked into their little game that you don't care.

Did you ever go one of the most horrible excuses for a business trip that you have ever been on. Let me ask you, how many people were sleeping in your bed with you? For me it was one other complete stranger. Did you get paid for traveling time? I bet you didn't. I'm going out on a limb and saying they made you provide transportation, or you rented a car. Did they reimburse you for wear and tear, gas, anything? I say no. I bet they a) told you to get it from other people traveling with you. Or B) use it as a tax write off.

When I went, I was told my gas would be reimbursed, after I over drafted my account 200 dollars because they did not deposit my check on time I called to get the money wired to me from my Oh so wonderful manager, he told me that I was supposed to be getting it from the people riding with me. That was really fun, having to go tell 3 other people they owe me money after they were told that gas was taken care of.

REAL business trips consist of paid transportation there and back, if you DO have to use your own car you are reimbursed Gas and then given somewhere around 10 to 30 cents a mile traveled for wear and tear on your car. You get to sleep in your own bed, WITH NO ONE ELSE. Meals may be taken care of and you are paid for time traveled. That is was a legitimate company does.

Lets get into pay shall we? When you were hired you were told that you get base plus commission. Base being the min wage for your state! Then your first check comes and you see that you only get the base pay if your commission does not bypass it! But that's okay because your Leader told you your first week you would get 400-700 dollars, when you got to Account manager you would be getting 800-1000 as a leader you would be topping 1,000 most weeks and as assistant manager you would receive 1500 plus, then when you ran your own company you would be in the 6 digit incomes. Since your going to be in all that money, a few bucks really doesn't matter huh?

Lets start with the manager, honestly if they were making the income they said they were, would they live with their Assistant Managers (mine did), would they be driving the 12 year old cars (mine did), would they REALLY have such a crappy office that 9 times out of 10 they are sharing with another Cydcor affiliate? I think not. In my office the biggest pay out I saw was 1,300 dollars.

Why? Because we saturated the market in New Orleans, and I'm really sorry to say half the people in out office including the one who made that much took advantage of these poor hurricane victims that were just trying to put their lives together and get a phone put in their Fema trailer. My highest check was for 380 dollars at Account Manager status.

Yes, I never made it to leader? Why, I never lied! When someone asked what they would make. I told them. When someone asked about the hours, I told them 68 but you only get paid for 60. When they asked about anything I told them the truth, just like I did with my customers.

Back to pay. If you are a leader you have to go in at 8:30 and most night don't leave till 8. I'm being very generous with the hours, I know of nights that A.M's had to stay till 8:30. Saturdays you did not have to go in till 9am and you left around 7:30. that's SIXTY EIGHT HOURS A WEEK! This is where some of you will say that people that own their own businesses work those hours, get out of fairy land, no they don't! So you work 68 hours a week.

BUT! You have to take an hour out for lunch each day. And we ALL KNOW you NEVER take a lunch. So now your down to 63 hours a week. BUT Your manager makes you sign out at 7:30 (this I never understood) So now your only working 60 and a half hours a week. THAT'S 20 HOURS OVERTIME. And let me tell you, Cydcor companies (if you do get that minimum wage base pay because you didn't get good commission for the week).

Do not believe in OVERTIME WAGES. But lets say they DO pay overtime. If you made min wage at least you would pull 562.62 before taxes. Not bad if your willing to work crazy hours. THEN you have to take out all the cost associated with your job. The closest store to my office was 2 miles, the farthest, 120. So lets just pretend your car gets GREAT gas mileage and say that you only spend 50 a week in gas. Then lets say that YOU DO get that lunch hour, so about 60 a week in food if your by yourself.

But wait, you have a trainee with you and you have to buy their lunch for three days (supposedly covered but its not) so now your lunch cost just raised to 90 for the week. So far your out 140. Once again, ill humor you and lets just say YOU DO GET OVERTIME. Now your total pay for the week is 422.62. Oh wait, the IRS wants their cut as well lets say 20%, now your pay has dropped to 338.09. Now we can REALLY see what you make an hour. A whopping 5.58 an hour.

If you made a 1,000 dollar week then just double it, so your making 11.00 an hour. Honestly, just go get an office job anywhere and you can make that much with PAID benefits. Something Cydcor does NOT offer. Lets also remember, 1,000 dollar weeks are NOT common. For all the people that come here and say it is, all I have to say is, you're the one that is going to have to answer for your conniving ways when the time comes.

Lets not forget the paperwork in itself. For 5 weeks our office did not even have PRICE SHEETS for a customer to sign and know what they were getting. It was our WORD that they had to take. Then when we did get price sheets, the taxes were wrong. Honestly, is a person only going to pay 14 dollars in taxes on two phone lines and an internet connection? I think not. We were taught that when a customer questioned the integrity of the price sheet to just tell them there are a few minimal taxes that are not on the form. That is a LIE.

We had practice sessions, here is how one would go.

You- Well Mr. Smith, it seems I can help you today. Here is what I did, You phone bill is running you about 80 dollars a month and you have no perks what so ever! So what I've done for you is upgraded you to our new pricing you now have unlimited long distances calls Free of charge per minute, lots of extra's like caller ID, I have also included our DSL in your package as well and this is going to cost you about the same as you are paying now, All I need you to do is sign here.

Mr. Smith- what is this I'm signing, why does this say 7.99 in taxes?

You- Your new pricing system is going to be 45 for your phone line, 25 for your DSL and that 7.99 is the taxes that we can guarantee, there will be a few other minimal charges on your bill for a connection fee for your internet but they are small.

Mr. Smith - GREAT! *signs paper*

You- One last thing Mr. Smith. The modem for your computer will be 75.00 but don't worry you will receive a 100.00 Gift certificate by mail courtesy of Bellsouth and Cingular. Also now Mr. Smith You are eligible for a 10.00 discount off your Cingular Cell phone bill, its just a little thank you from us for using our services.

Mr. Smith. Really, oh thank you so much. You have a nice day.

The real story. Mr. smith thinks his bill will now be around 90 dollars. He's getting a TON of extras and internet to boot, great huh? NO! Mr. Smith most likely will not receive his gift certificate, and his bill will most likely cost him around 130 dollars a month because in fact there are A LOT of other taxes, they are just not on the sheet he signed. We were told by Cydcor that Cingular is offering 10.00 off the bill when they get the highest plan with Bellsouth.

Actually, Cingular only offers 5 dollars off. (I called myself to set a customer up with the deal) We were told since we have received no Official word from Cingular to continue telling customers that there will be a 10 dollar discount. LIE. What did you just make for ripping off Mr. Smith, maybe 20 bucks. 20 dollars is not worth my integrity.


Cydcor is not a scam I love this statement. Just refer a few paragraphs above and there is your proof. But here is a breakdown.

- Managers condone forging a customers signature.

-They are committing fraud on the internet as well. (any ad I've seen says base and commission pay TOGETHER see above)

-No paid over time, no paid vacation

-Cydcor will tell you they pay for your benefits, they don't.

-You are almost always told that you make your own schedule, you don't. God forbid you need a sick day.

-They say they will cover business expenses. They don't.

-Legitimate companies do not FORCE you to go to office meetings about 3 times a week. If a REAL company does have meetings after work 9 times our of 10 your meal is paid for. This is not the case with Cydcor and its affiliates.

-Legitimate companies let you take time off from work when you have an emergency. My father is a 3 times a week dialysis patient, (his kidneys are non functional) I am his legal guardian and power of attorney since he cannot read the medical paper work very well. There are times that I have to leave work because he has an issue with the artificial vein in his arm and it has to be cleaned out, this is an EMERGENCY SURGERY if he does not complete his issued 4 hours for the day he gets extremely ill. I have to take him to the hospital to get it fixed, I have to fill out paper work, wait on him to get out, and drive him home, this becomes an all day affair. I also have to take him to a hospital in Gainesville 4 or 5 times a year, once again, I have to take off all day.

Before I got hired I laid this on the table to my manager and he told me it was fine. When it came time to take my dad to these medical procedures, I was told I was throwing away the job of a lifetime, and that my priorities were not straight. MY FAIMLY is my priority.

-Legitimate companies NEVER put me down for taking care of my father, I am usually praised for being such a dedicated daughter.

-A legitimate company encourages you to spend time with family. My old job even offered free counseling to employees and the immediate families. Cydcor looks down on you having any other kind of life outside of the office.

-Legitimate companies let you take a lunch break. Our motto at the end of the day? FIRST ONE HOME FIRST ONE TO EAT!

-Legitimate companies base promotions on productivity. They are not a Pyramid Scheme like Cydcor.

- When I quit my address on my checks mysteriously changed Luckily I came and got my checks personally. They did not correct it until I forced the Admin to do it right in front of me. Surprise, It is now Feb. 26th NO W2. I've called twice and contacted the IRS and reported them. A legitimate company would not screw you out of your last paychecks and your W2.

- Legitimate companies do not interview 20-30 people a day. Cydcor does.

-Legitimate companies do not post 20-30 ads a week.

- Legitimate companies have LEGITIMATE ad's. Cydcor affiliates DO NOT.

- Legitimate companies do not have to hire 20,000 reps a year to cover turnover rates.

- Legitimate companies do not make you go on an all day interview without compensation. Cydcor does.

- Cydcor hires anyone that breathes. Legitimate companies don't.

- Legitimate companies let you use the company name. Cydcor doesn't.

-Legitimate companies let you give out business cards. Cydcor doesn't.

- Legitimate companies use their name on the uniform, not the name of the product you are selling.

-If you have ever been with a leader wile they were conducting an interview you know they DRILL into your HEAD to NEVER talk to the potential employee, why? They don't want you to TELL THEM THE TRUTH! Legitimate companies condone employees talking with potential employees.

They lie to you and lie some more and then once your hired you get so brainwashed into thinking that your making so much money that you just throw away all your ethics and your integrity and just go with it. If this is not a scam I do not know what one is.

I will agree Cydcor taught me a few things. I used to be timid and afraid to ask for what I wanted, but after dealing with these scumbags I realized if you do not stand up for yourself you will become a doormat. I am not willing to become a doormat. It also taught me how to take no for an answer. It also taught me how to hold an intelligent proactive conversation. Account Manager in Sales does look good on a resume. I just wish that I did not have to go through all the bull-crap to get to this point in my life.

The biggest argument I come against is If Cydcor is such a bad company then why is the company doing so well? This is an easy question to answer. Because there are people out there that are easily conned. They do not pay their employees right. They have nearly ZERO overhead costs. They Give managers their own office so that way if the office does something wrong, Cydcor can just say, sorry, we had a bad apple Cydcor and its affiliates are nothing but con artists hiding behind the prestigious Fortune 500 title.

If you can not see this for yourself then you are officially brainwashed It is not only the pay here, it is the whole integrity of the company as a whole. I do wish the best for anyone in the biz. Just because they sweet talked you into the game doesn't mean you deserve to loose everything you own because of it. This is why I post so many time on this website. I do not want a poor unsuspecting soul to get caught up in this trap. Please do your research!


Regards,
A


P.s - I forwarded my story and many others to all the job finding websites and any place I see Cydcor offering jobs. I picked apart their whole ad mainly focusing on pay and the actual job description. Nothing happened. Same with the IRS. They will not do anything to force their hand until AFTER filing season. They are still out there. I am looking to go higher in the future, I want these people and these companies shut down.

Pps- I am forwarding this page to the news channels in my area, with one company it wasn't so bad, but now three. I cannot let this happen.

Thank you all for your information, I have another name for your list;

Prodigy Conceptz

I went in for the interview. they claimed they wanted to fill their postions right away. it was a very old office building, with bars on the doors and windows, outdated furniture and posters all over the wall, adverising Toys for Tots, DARE, and other nonprofit organizations, my interview was 10 minutes long. and at the end I was told that I was going to be pushed thru to the 2nd interview, which was an all day follow along (9:30am - 5:00pm) with a "top leader".

I told them I would check my schedule and get back to them. I'm sure they won't notice that I havent called them back, any semi educated person would see the red flags.

Thanks again, still job searching in NC!

Thank you all for your information, I have another name for your list;

Prodigy Conceptz

I went in for the interview. they claimed they wanted to fill their postions right away. it was a very old office building, with bars on the doors and windows, outdated furniture and posters all over the wall, adverising Toys for Tots, DARE, and other nonprofit organizations, my interview was 10 minutes long. and at the end I was told that I was going to be pushed thru to the 2nd interview, which was an all day follow along (9:30am - 5:00pm) with a "top leader".

I told them I would check my schedule and get back to them. I'm sure they won't notice that I havent called them back, any semi educated person would see the red flags.

Thanks again, still job searching in NC!

Thank you all for your information, I have another name for your list;

Prodigy Conceptz

I went in for the interview. they claimed they wanted to fill their postions right away. it was a very old office building, with bars on the doors and windows, outdated furniture and posters all over the wall, adverising Toys for Tots, DARE, and other nonprofit organizations, my interview was 10 minutes long. and at the end I was told that I was going to be pushed thru to the 2nd interview, which was an all day follow along (9:30am - 5:00pm) with a "top leader".

I told them I would check my schedule and get back to them. I'm sure they won't notice that I havent called them back, any semi educated person would see the red flags.

Thanks again, still job searching in NC!

A new division of New Line Promotions has popped up in New Jersey. Beware, no salary, door-to-door sales and marketing for commission only.

Dakos Marketing
8 E. Stow Rd.
Ste. 110
Marlton, NJ 08053
(856) 985-8774
(856) 632-1414 Fax

I blew off a interview with Siler Milton today and also remember a pinnacle Advertising, guess what both of them are at the same address...17177 N Laurel Park, Livonia MI.

Two shady companies in the same building, I also two years ago applied to MCM Promotions in Livonia, I was called in for a interview and NOT called back for a second one. I must have really BOMBED big time for a shady MLM scam to not want me back.

4D Marketing, I do not know how recent this office has opened, but when they sent me an email, the link for the website was not even up and ready, the page I loaded up was one of those search engines you get when you call up a domain name no one owns yet.

NOT A GOOD SIGN.

I know why they advertise their jobs as "ENTRY LEVEL MARKETING MANAGMENT" because no college grad or even a Beauty School Dropout will knowingly sign up for a DOOR TO DOOR sales job.

I got a total distase for that when the fund raising arseholes would shot up to my school to get me to sell greeting cards for PRIZES.

I applied for and Blew off a Interview with them and SIler-Milton thanks to this site.

I give SM credit at least they have a functioning and professional looking website.

4d no such luck, the email I was sent had a link to a website that sent to to one of those sites that you see for a domain name no one owns yet. That was my first RED FLAG.

Then after reading the descriptions of these type of jobs, I expect them to stop calling em by Thursday and already begin looking for their next batch of fresh meat.

Look out for fancy craigslist.org and careerbuilder.com postings from Icon Marketing International. Don't be fooled by the humanitarian intentions on their website either.

www.iconinternationalinc.net.

Although the company claims to do a number of great things, like working alongside non-profit organizations like the Child Protection Education of America (CPEA), DARE, and Toys for Tots and providing direct marketing services to help in their fundraising efforts, anyone who understands the smallest iota of economics will understand that this is completely untrue.

I was fortunate enough to get out early and avoid transforming into a walking contradiction. For any of you looking for work in the Sacramento area, do not put any of your time into this so-called company that works at the "grassroots level". They will easily grant you an interview, and as long as you can dress, talk, and appear to be professional they will invite you to join their team for a day of observation. To spare you the gas money you spend to get out to these two separate occasions, I'll let you know what exactly goes on during a day of work for Icon.

You will come in at 9 or 9:30 along with 5 or more other people and be told that only 1 or 2 of you will be offered a position. Then you drive out to one of their pre-scheduled "events", which is actually just you and a "team leader" standing out in front of a retail store at a table. On top of the table is a banner which reads "free fingerprinting" for kids and has the CPEA logo. Behind the banner is a letter from CPEA with the contact information and half a page written about the group's efforts to locate missing children. Right next to that is a few envelopes which contain order forms to register a child with the FBI's Amber Alert program if a child goes missing. This represents the extent to which one could help a viable, philanthropic, humanitarian missing children's charity. However, this is not all the company does.

On the way out to the place, you will be flooded with information about the company. They operate on the principle of the law of averages, in that 1 out of 10 people will want to help an organization and the other 9 will simply be negative and leave. You are then rapidly told some of the logistics, how it is partnered with Innovage and Quantum, the former being a global merchandise supplier and the latter being Icon's parent company. Basically, instead of just spreading awareness about missing children and trying to do something good for mankind, you are also enticing people to open their wallets and impulsively buy a Disney or Warner Brother's trademarked good, and have people believe that the money they spend goes to the organization.

However, by taking this in through an economically objective lens, anyone can see that this process acts in the completely different direction than the notion of charity. For example, one innovage-obtained item can be sold for $10, when in stores it costs atleast 20 or more in retail. I asked how we could get the merchandise for so cheap, and was told that Quantum's bulk purchases bring the price way down for us. Additionally, he goods are all made in China, where American designed products are becoming increasingly outsourced to be manufactured, and often times labor conditions are no better than a slavery system. The real gravity of the whole scenario is that, upon further research after hearing this, is that Innovage is "strategically allied" with Three Sixty Ltd., which owns factories all throughout Asia and can easily give Innovage a reduced rate for its purchases. Now some of you may not see a problem in buying factory direct or whole sale prices, but when it is priced that much cheaper one can only speculate. And it certainly isn't factory direct because Innovage serves as a middle man. And when that cheap price is made available to people who believe that the proceeds are going to help a charity, the contradiction builds.

The harsh reality is that at most, 20% of that $10 will go to help missing children, and the person who spent that $10 is perpetuating a market driven by profiteers and the young people who feel that they will be able to own and effectively run their own businesses based on these priniciples.

For any of you who wish to help out a non-profit organization in a profit-motivated world, steer clear from Icon or the myriad of other figureheads it takes the shape of. Its organizational structure is a pyramid scheme no different from any well-run terrorist organization, in which there are a few leaders, some supporters, and a lot of sympathizers, who will eventually move up and become supporters when the leaders are caught after an attack is made. For Quantum's scheme, more and more people are needed at the bottom to replace those who leave the top when they either realize the hypocrisy in their actions or simply cannot make ends meet and find a different job. People are led to believe that in no more than 8 months, they can train enough people to falsely represent a benign humanitarian cause and then utilize those human resources to open another office and raise money for whatever organization they would like to.

If you want to help a non-profit organization, simply volunteer, intern, find a way to get employed with one, donate, or just be the change you wish to see. Putting your time into a company like this will not give you any insight into charity or non-profit operations, and in fact will provide you with elementary sales tools and catchy acronyms which are meant to create a false sense of empowerment.

Because my experience with Quantum/Innovage only lasted so long I didn't see too far down the rabbit hole. But for those of you in the Sacramento area or even Northern California in general, beware. Plans for opening a Bay Area office are in the works, which can cause a rise in these profit-driven, 3rd party sales companies utilizing charitable groups and people as a front for their scheming recruiting practices and unethical financial endeavors.

I hope that this post has been informative not just for people in this area but for other people witnessing similar job-hunt scenarios. Thank you to everyone else who has put up great information about the JUICE CULTure on this page and please keep spreading awareness about this widespread rip-off.

For those of you who wish to learn more about non-profits and their organized efforts, definitely check out www.idealist.org.

Best of PLuck (Persistent Luck) to all of you in the job search. To do what you love is the real freedom.

Look out! I just went for one of these interviews at Platinum Trey Marketing and thaught it to be very suspicious. I found this site and want all those out there responding to the Register Guard ad to save your gas. The interview was a joke and the guy giving me the interview could not give me the address of the warehouse I was being interviewed for. To all those in the Eugene/Springfield area, go at your own risk.

I made a post a few days ago regarding a particular marketing company which is located in Riverside, Rhode Island. It's name is Tradewind Promotions. They claim to be an EVENTS PROMOTION COMPANY. ANyways, I was supposed to have an interview with them, but I cancelled because this company didn't answer questions over the telephone for me. They wanted me to come in to interview with them.

I am trying to find out whether or not this particular company went under another name in the past? I am finding out that there are many marketing and promotion companies out there that are advertising in Careerbuilder.com, Hotjobs.com and other professional employment websites. I believe that we must all do something in order to prevent all of these marketing and promotion companies from being able to advertise their "dead end" jobs to college graduates and to other educated people. They are doing nothing but lying and deceiving the educated public who is looking for a "real" job.

If there's anything that people in here can do in order to STOP these "fake" marketing and promotions companies from advertising in the above online career websites that would be nice. I am sick and tired of these companies claiming to be "legitimate" when they are NOT.
It would be nice to do something about this. There are too many of these companies taking up job advertisements trying to get educated people to slave for them for no money.
This has to stop.
Let's all do something about it.

They have all changed their names again, Granton Marketing the apparent company who is the supplier to all the smaller sales offices is now Smart Circle International, Kelly Advertising formally located in Orange County is now The Landers Group, which is now located in Los Angeles, and Ds-Max and Cydcor which are the clearence and communication divisions have all followed suit. Will this scam ever stop...

I was on one of the job search websites a few days ago and I applied for various job positions with a company called TRADEWIND PROMOTIONS in Riverside, Rhode Island. Their address is:

120 Amaral Street
Riverside, Rhode Island

Just one day after I applied, I received a telephone call from a female receptionist who told me that I was selected for an interview. I started asking her about the job position and she told me that it was an entry level Marketing Representative position and that the company does "EVENT BASED PROMOTIONAL COMPANY". I asked her to give me more information about the company and to explain more about this position in detail to me, but she said that she couldn't and that I have to make an appointment to meet with one of the managers at her office in order to get more information about the job position. SO, I ended up setting up an appointment with them for an interview, but I am not sure whether or not this particular company is a legitimate company. I have been trying to find information about this particular company and the ONLY thing that I can find is their website which is:

www.tradewindpromotions.com

I noticed that this particular company mentions on their website that there is absolutely NO DOOR TO DOOR SALES OR TELEMARKETING INVOLVED.
On the Careerbuilder.com jobsearch website where they advertise the do not mention any type of salary for any of their job positions. They also advertise on Hotjobs.com and on Hotjobs.com, they post a salary of $30,000-$45,000 for an "Entry Level Public Relations" position and for an "Events Coordinator FOR NO PROFITS" position.

I would like to know if anybody in here knows anything about WHAT THE JOB POSITION DUTIES ARE at this particular company?
Do they pay a salary? Or do they pay ONLY a commission.

Earlier this afternoon, I called the company so I could to speak to the person who is supposed to interview me in order to find out more about what the salary of this particular entry level job position is going to be. The person whom I was supposed to speak with was not there. One of the "EVENT COORDINATORS" happened to answer the phone when I called. I started to ask her about TRADEWIND PROMOTIONS and about the job position that was available that was being advertised in Careerbuilder.com and whether or not it was a salary position. The girl on the phone was trying to avoid my question. She said that I would have to speak to the person who is going to interview me about the job. I immediately told her that I live over 1 hour away and that I didn't want to waste my time driving down to Rhode Island if the job postion was going to be a COMMISSION ONLY POSITION. I asked her again in a nice way to tell me whether or not the job positions that they had available on Careerbuilder.com were SALARY POSITIONS. She responded to my question by telling me that every job position at TRADEWINDS PROMOTIONS pays differently, but that everyone makes a salary. She ALSO told me that her company does promotions and public relations for big companies like MGM and DISNEY. I asked her to tell me more about this and she couldn't. She asked me to come in for the interview in order to find out more about the postion and about the salary. I left it at that and I said that I would see the manager who is going to interview me.

I would like to know exactly what the hell a ENTRY LEVEL MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE does for this company? Also, what the hell does an ENTRY LEVEL PUBLIC RELATIONS person do? And what the hell does an EVENT COORDINATOR do? What the hell are the JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES of each of these particular job positions? I would like to know.

When I went to the www.tradewindpromotions.biz website, I was unable to find any information about exactly where this company's headquarters is located or any descriptions or information about any of the job positions that are being offered on Careerbuilders.com. All they mention on their website is that the company is "AN EVENT BASED PROMOTIONAL COMPANY" that works with the community to create awareness and revenue for charitable and non profit organizations for children. They also mention on their website that they "PROVIDE PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR CLIENTS AT LOCAL RETAIL VENUES, SCHOOLS, FESTIVALS AND FAIRS." I also mentioned earlier that this company does promotions and public relations for MGM and Disney. They also mention on their website that there are 4 different stages of postions within the company. They are:

1. Entry Level Marketing Representative

2. Training Manager

3. Assistant Manager

4. National Manager

Exactly what job duties and responsibilities does each of these job levels have? I would like to know.

What can you tell me about this particular company? I checked out the Whois.com website and I noticed that the TRADEWINDPROMOTIONS.BIZ website name is ONLY 1 years old. Is this a brand new company or did they change their name from a previous name?

I don't want to drive 50 miles one way and waste my gas and time driving 1 hour for this job interview if the job position is a 100% commission only position.

What can you tell me about TRADEWIND PROMOTIONS and its various job duties and responsibilities for the various job positions that it's currently offering. And what is its compensation and salary plan like to its employees? I would like to know.

Thanks

Here are some more names to be aware of:

Tallen, Inc.
Brentwood, TN

Black Sea Intl.
Franklin,TN


All these companies are the same. You start out with a 10-15 minute preliminary interview which basically tells you nothing about the company and then afterward are invited back for a full-day shadowing interview, but still you aren't told what you're going to be doing.

In most cases, it is door to door marketing, or with others you will set up promotions for "charities" in rough areas and play upon people's emotions to get them to buy products they don't really need, under the guise that all profits are going back to the charity. Beware of these companies. They will totally scam you and lead you to think that you can "advance" in 4-6 or 8-10 months. This is untrue and you will waste time and your own money trying to just get by.

If a company won't tell you up front what they do, they are more than likely not reputable and just out to make a quick buck. I hope that someone will be helped by this and can avoid wasting their time, effort, and gas money as I did.

Here are some more names to be aware of:

Tallen, Inc.
Brentwood, TN

Black Sea Intl.
Franklin,TN


All these companies are the same. You start out with a 10-15 minute preliminary interview which basically tells you nothing about the company and then afterward are invited back for a full-day shadowing interview, but still you aren't told what you're going to be doing.

In most cases, it is door to door marketing, or with others you will set up promotions for "charities" in rough areas and play upon people's emotions to get them to buy products they don't really need, under the guise that all profits are going back to the charity. Beware of these companies. They will totally scam you and lead you to think that you can "advance" in 4-6 or 8-10 months. This is untrue and you will waste time and your own money trying to just get by.

If a company won't tell you up front what they do, they are more than likely not reputable and just out to make a quick buck. I hope that someone will be helped by this and can avoid wasting their time, effort, and gas money as I did.

Here are some more names to be aware of:

Tallen, Inc.
Brentwood, TN

Black Sea Intl.
Franklin,TN


All these companies are the same. You start out with a 10-15 minute preliminary interview which basically tells you nothing about the company and then afterward are invited back for a full-day shadowing interview, but still you aren't told what you're going to be doing.

In most cases, it is door to door marketing, or with others you will set up promotions for "charities" in rough areas and play upon people's emotions to get them to buy products they don't really need, under the guise that all profits are going back to the charity. Beware of these companies. They will totally scam you and lead you to think that you can "advance" in 4-6 or 8-10 months. This is untrue and you will waste time and your own money trying to just get by.

If a company won't tell you up front what they do, they are more than likely not reputable and just out to make a quick buck. I hope that someone will be helped by this and can avoid wasting their time, effort, and gas money as I did.

Here are some more names to be aware of:

Tallen, Inc.
Brentwood, TN

Black Sea Intl.
Franklin,TN


All these companies are the same. You start out with a 10-15 minute preliminary interview which basically tells you nothing about the company and then afterward are invited back for a full-day shadowing interview, but still you aren't told what you're going to be doing.

In most cases, it is door to door marketing, or with others you will set up promotions for "charities" in rough areas and play upon people's emotions to get them to buy products they don't really need, under the guise that all profits are going back to the charity. Beware of these companies. They will totally scam you and lead you to think that you can "advance" in 4-6 or 8-10 months. This is untrue and you will waste time and your own money trying to just get by.

If a company won't tell you up front what they do, they are more than likely not reputable and just out to make a quick buck. I hope that someone will be helped by this and can avoid wasting their time, effort, and gas money as I did.

I just finished my first interview with Titan Advertising Conceptions in Cincinnati. I was congratulated by the interviewer as one of the few who get asked back for my second interview and field training. I had a feeling that it was total crap, considering they claimed to be a sports and entertainment marketing firm, that had a 2 office suite with one receptionist. The man told me, already forget his name for I stopped listening or caring after I got there. So I did some research found this site and I knew that it was crap. I asked many questions that were unanswered, including where do I train, which he told me they have 100's of campanies throughout the US. Huh? I was told to wear weather appropriate, yet comfortable clothes to my 2nd interview. I thought they were going to ask me to hold up signs for apartments or restaurants at this point. I can't believe these people would waste college graduates time. The money wasn't that great they offered, I have a degree in Journalism and have done marketing and advertising previously, so it sounded interesting. I can't believe they would want me to try and sell s**t on the streets. Those of you who made it with them, that don't think it is deceitful or downright wrong, you have been brainwashed or you are truly ignorant.

Duping college grads into wasting their time to be fed lies about advertising and marketing for pro sports teams, when you sell s**t door to door. I had to get a babysitter for my son so I could attend this interview and was going to go back, because the guy told me they baically did things like get unused tickets for the Cincinnati Reds, give them to other businesses and all parties were happy. I'm tempted to go back to that office and punch that a-hole right in the jaw. I had a gut feeling when they called it was bs, and I should have figured after they conducted about 50 interviews per day. I truly hope the government would take a stand against companies that are flat out scams. At least I did enough research to figure out I'm going to curse that evil witch receptionist who is in on the deceit.

Names in Nashville:
Xcel Marketing Inc.
Atlas Promotions
Stallion, Inc.

I stumbled upon this site when searching on Google and typed in Stallion, Inc. in Nashville only to find that it is a subsidiary of Quantum, which is associated with all the other companies mentioned in this report.

Everyone beware of these companies. They will start you out with a "short prelim" interview that tells you absolutely nothing about what they do, which most of the time is door to door marketing in residential and "rough" areas of town trying in any way to sell people things they don't really need.

Then they bring you in for a second interview where you shadow one of their salespeople. You still are told basically nothing about the ins and outs of the company, but are pushed at the end of the day to join or someone else might get your opportunity. This is a big warning sign.

If a company won't tell you a specific job description or at least a figure for salary or compensation, politely turn them down and get the heck out of there. It is a scam. I only wish I had found this sight sooner, before I wasted two days interviewing with Xcel Marketing, a total scam.

DC Advertising
Innovative Marketing Group
Signature Concepts
Marketting Sessions
GQ

All under the mother company "Smart Circle"

They are all scams....

The usual....lie to lure you in...drag you out all day...make you feel bad if you don't attend a meeting...pressure you to work Saturdays (even though it is not mandatory) You think you are working for one company and you are really working for another.....When you quit and realize it is a scam they take FOREVER TO PAY!!

I spent 2 months working for one of the Cydcor companies out of the Northeast. Looking back, that is the most stressed out and miserable I've ever been. My life revolved around getting 2 sales a day and ringing the friggen bell or sounding the horn. Needless to say after the 2 month mark I posted my resume EVERYWHERE. The thing is, so many potential employers knew about this marketing company and figured if I could be successful at a job like that, I could handle anything. It really helped me get my foot in the door and I was offered some great legit sales related jobs. You just can't get training like that at any other job. I have a ton of respect for those people who can survive the long hours and endless no's and open their own offices.

If you see any of these names on any serch engine do not apply. They recruite all the time. Find a real job

SageCal Present in Tigard, OR seems to be apart of this whole scam. I went on Monday for an "interview", if you can even call it that. I knew somthing was weird when i showed up at the office it was pretty shabby, loud dance music playing and when i asked the girl at the front desk if this was a temp agency or what she couldnt even tell me the answer!!! all they asked me was want part of the business i wanted to be apart of: Amin. Asst., Mgmt Trainee, or warehouse. Then if i could come back tomorrow for an all day introduction to the company from the field. Well i was going to go, i really need a job, but it all seemed pretty weird.

Anyways later that night i got a call back from a potential employeer that wasnt sagecal, that was actually legit, and cancelled. But my boyfriend urged me to try to re-sch. so i did for tomorrow. Well anyways i fould this website and am not going. Thanks to everyone who posted!!!!

Watch out young desperate college grads of Portland, Oregon. This is a waste of your time!!!

I worked with Ds Max and its affiliates from the end of 1999 to the middle of 2003.

I began in the advertising division and was promoted to assistant manager in about 8 months.
Then I began to test market various divisions. I worked in credit cards. Quill office supplies. Did some clearance. Test marketed sams club. And finally found a home as a manager with the QUantum Division under Mike Putnam.

I am a success story for two reasons. I did very well in a small market and made allot of money. The second reason, I got out while I was ahead financially.

Its funny, the person who is working for Quantum feels like they are doing good. What's your pitch? Do you tell people your doing work for charity. That all the money goes to charity. Buy an item and money goes to charity. ALL LIES. It worked differently when I was managing but they switched to 20% of certain items give money to charity. The rest is clearance crap that gets recycled through Quantum.

Someone said that 99% wont succeed and that 1% will. Well, my question is succeed at what. Ask your owner if you may look at his books. I was a good owner, never lied, allowed anyone to look at my financial books. Luckily I made the money and had the success to back it up. But given time I would have failed. The best owners I know failed. Even the VP's fail.

Look at Dave Keenan, had to go back to running an office. Geudreu never stopped, Kernan, Colontonio, Putnam. They all run offices indirectly. THey are still in the muck. Believe me, many of these guys have owed me money as an assistant manager and as a manager and it was a hell of a time getting paid anywhere from 1 to 5 thousand dollars that was owed to me from some of these guys.

Listen, I am not saying it cant work. I am saying that even if it does, your not getting where you want to be. Geudreu makes money, Tennanbaum makes money. Most of the VP's do. But they spend it as fast as it comes in on business stuff. It is all crap. Or at least most of it.

As far as the "disinterested" party who claimed that there is a chance of libel. First, I know your a manager, otherwise, you would not care. Second, TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE TO LIBEL AND SLANDER. Prove us wrong. Remember, I kept notes and still have my books to show your wrong.

Look, all in all, it was not a terrible experience for me. If your not good, you will know in 3 months. I was good and found success, although limited. So, if your all juiced up and dont want to believe what the overwhelming majority of people have written here, stick it out see what happens. But remember, see if your manager will let you look at his books ask questions. AND IF YOU SUCK YOU SUCK.

Additionally we all worked on IDA's except for Cydcor when I was there. I heard most of this has changed. However, those making minimum wage, I am sure your getting screwed, or lying to us here somehow.

I unfortunately made the mistake of joining one of the "cults" of Innovage. I was a recent college grad. having a hard time finding a job in my field (sport management). I got an interview with Nine Zero Marketing in Queens where I was quickly sucked into the excitement and opportunities that they try to create for you. I loved the people that worked in the office and was suckered into believing the opportunity that I thought would follow of obtaining my own office. It was definitely a quick way to make fast cash and you could definitely make a lot of it! But then there were the days that you worked your butt off and went home with nothing since there is no set salary or even hourly wage.

Basically if you sell nothing, you make nothing. I was part of the newest division which was Liz Claiborne cosmetics and was told that Innovage was going to be expanding it's deals with the professional sports leagues. I figured I would stick it out with the Liz Claiborne with hopes of getting the sports division started. This company will really get inside your head and I always thought that I would be smart enough to recognize a scam when I saw one. They will keep banging it into your head that the harder you work the faster you will get your office. I did get sent on an all expense paid trip to visit one office in the Dallas/Fort Worth area which really made me wonder why I would every second guess myself about the company.

The trip was for an awards meeting and when I saw the amount of people from different offices in attendance I never thought it could be a scam. I also was sent on a road trip to the Baltimore office as well as one in Pennsylvania. It finally clicked in my head that this was a big scam when the company was supposedly looking for my office that I was supposed to be running. I was with the company for almost 6 months at that point and had relocated to NJ from the Queens office after about three months. The NJ office was Signature Concepts. It was apparant that it was a scam when they wanted me to relocate to Chicago, paying my own way with no job security if my office failed from poor business.


This company will train you to lie. They want you lie to the people you are selling products to and to the people you are training. I always felt guilty taking people out on interviews and telling them that they would have their own offices within 90-120 days because it was obviously not the case with myself. My friends and family all tried to tell me it was a scam and like a cult but they continued to support me because I was so passionate that things were the way they said they would be. It was the Chicago move that really pushed me over the edge on top of the 80 hour weeks.

They will make you work 6 days a week and make you feel guilty if you don't work the Sat. or attend the meetings. All of these things are supposed to help you get ahead faster but they won't. I was sucked into the lies and deceptions of this company and I hope that my story prevents anyone else from getting involved with it. I got my interview through CareerBuilder and had the same story as everyone else...I came in for the initial interview and got called back the next day. The only thing I don't regret about the job is the friends that I made and the confidence I gained in myself from being forced to talk to people in every situation. One other thing..they will try to get you to buy people lunch that you are training and to save any receipts from your expenses because they will all be tax write offs. THEY WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR ANY GAS OR MILEAGE so do not believe them...you can only attempt to write it off in your taxes. AVOID ANY COMPANY THAT HAS TO DO WITH INNOVAGE!!!!!!! THEY CAN NOT BE TRUSTED. DO NOT GET SUCKED INTO THE LIES. THEY ARE NOT HONEST PEOPLE DESPITE HOW NICE OR SUCCESSFUL THEY COME ACROSS.

If you are not a "door to door" sales company, then how do you make your commissions?

Are you a 1099 employee (independent contractor)

What is the "slight percentage"? I have never heard of monthly deductions for health insurance unless the employee is paid monthly. Usually it is deducted every payroll.

Also, if you have a pre-existing condition and have been covered under insurance continuously for 12 months, then ANY group plan is required to accept you under federal law. Just an FYI.

When I worked for Rockland International, I was told that I would be eligible for health insurance. All they do is set you up with an insurance agent to get an individual plan. What a ripoff.

so obviously you didnt get ANYTHING that i said. i worked for this company for a LONG time and i got screwed and i watched hundreds of other get screwed too! i now have a job where i work with hundreds of companies assisting them in finding great employees and i see what other companies have to offer and how terrible these companies are. you dont know what you are talking about, i give you another couple months befor eyou are just as upset and bitter as everyone else and then we'll see what you have to say. you are a moron! get a real job that you learn real skills!

not to mention i grew up with my parents in the health insurance indistry and you obviously have no idea what you are talking about with insurance. sit down and talk to your parents, if you have no degree and you are young, you are extremely niave as well and maybe they can explain things to you so that you underst and instead of putting yourself in this situation any longer. do you really think there are HUNDREDS of these postings for nothing? i think not!

No this is a company that was started under Quantum. I have heard of sydcor and such and those are companies that yes you do the crappy commission based sales. However I am still a new employee and I seriously make $400 a week and that is great for me for being so young and no degree yet. The job and employees and people I get to meet are great, and the people I help out, are even better.

As for the benefits, no it's not all out of pocket, all you are responsible for is a slight percentage from a paycheck each month, and the copay is only $15-$20 for anything, and they don't deny you for having certain conditions, because I do too and I have the benefits. But as for paying a part of the insurance each month, Consumers Energy, Dow Corporation and other big companies do the same. Nothing new there.

You can't judge a company based on what "you've heard" or think you know about them. Don't judge a book by its cover. Judging doesn't get you far with anything.

Last thing, get your companies right as well as your facts, and this is to anyone. You have the companies mixed up. The offices located in Saginaw as MCM Promotions or the Livonia office, are all under Quantum. Innovage included is started directly under them.

Get your facts straight.

Wow Lisa, it seems that you have fallen for their trap just like many others. I DID work for the company, and they are a huge scam. Just give it some time and you will see, how lnog have you been there? a month or two? If it is a company under Cydcor/Granton/DS Max then you are wasting your time. I worked with them for over a year and guess what, they did offer benefits but it was individual plans and nothing was covered by the company itself, its all out of pocket. That and when you have a pre-existing condition, like mine that I was born with, then they dont offer you coverage, so I am s**t out of luck.

All these companies work/market/promote for good companies, like Verizon, Bell South, etc. So Toys for Tots is just another one that doesnt realize that in some aspects yes utilizing these business way can be helpful but for the most part it is hurtful.

so if you are paid on a percentage, does that mean you rely on everyone else that you are working with to excel as much as you are to get your bills paid?

i am now a recuiter for a very large company and I must say, it sure is nice to get a real offer letter in writing, a base pay plus commission, TIME OFF that is PAID, and FULL MEDICAL BENEFITS. You think this is a great opportunity now until you get burned from someone in the business, just you wait.

if not and you make it, good for you, that means you will mislead everyone that works under you and you will be the hated one.

smarten up and work for a company that will benefit your future, not put you in debt and make your life hell.

I have recently started to work for the company named MCM Promotions, the newest location in Saginaw Mi which expanded from Livonia. This is not a company that scams, its sales and like all sales positions it takes only people who can handle it and who are motivated to do the type of work. Here's some insight to all of you who think so poorly about these businesses. Just like any business they start out at a negative insight, and the longer they are in business the more they get known and are seen in a positive light, even with negatives still. It is like that with any business that starts out. Thats what business is all about.

As for the company itself here are some facts that are TRUE from an actual employee instead of someone who only had an interview. No person in the 1st interview is told anything of the actual facts of the company until they are officially hired in.

THIS IS NOT A DOOR TO DOOR, BUSINESS TO BUSINESS OR WHATEVER TYPE OF COMPANY. We are an EVENT PROMOTION company. Its a type of marketing or advertising business. We set up events to raise money and awareness for charity/non profit groups, this is not SELLING. We do not stand out there and try to sell you stuff, we are not solicitors. We work with D.A.R.E and Toys for tots and more. These companies actually come to us for help and support because they know we can do just that plus more. Since them trying to get a word out to a regular person without a promotional view involved, no one will hardly help out those charity groups and thats d**n true.

Another thing, there ARE benefits, before you go off the high end, like i said you aren't aware of any of the higher aspects of the company until you are officially hired in. The companies you need to watch out for are the jobs that ARE door to door actually SELLING stuff without helping out anyone but yourself and your company. That job is nothing but commission, as where as this job with these companies, it's not commission. It's percentage base during the week, and if you don't raise money then you get paid a set amount of salary per week depending on the hours you are there.

Also someone stated you have to go out every week with coworkers on team night, that is not true. It seems that way, but if you already have plans they understand and hope you can go out the next time. We are just group of companies based on trying to promote non profit organizations that help out people and children and families in need.

Do not judge people or anything else before you know the TRUE details that you only find out when you actually know a person for a while or are involved in a company as a true employee such as this matter. How about making a rip off report about vector marketing selling knives door to door to people who care less. Now they are scammers.

Two Years ago when I was looking for a job after graduating from college I saw an ad for BMK Marketing Group on careerbuilder. It sounded like a great opportunity. I went in for an interview with them and was told they would be interviewing hundreds of people and only 2 would be offered a job.

The next day after my interview I got a call back from them, telling me I had been invited back for a second interview. This second interview was when I went out for my day of "O". This job didn't seem so professional but the opportunity sounded good so when I was offered the job I took it.

Big Mistake! I worked there for a little over 2 months usually from 8am to 7pm. I was selling Verizon Centrex lines door to door by myself in ghetto places. In the two months I worked there I never saw a paycheck, for that matter I never saw anyone else receive a paycheck either. I spend my own money paying for tolls and gas to get to this "turf" where we would go sell door to door to businesses but never received a dime from this company.

After 2 months I decided that enough was enough, so I left. Now I feel like such an idiot that it took me so long to realize what a scam this was!

Don't let these places take advantage of you. This is not a professional job where you will make money and have opportunity in the business in the future.

Two Years ago when I was looking for a job after graduating from college I saw an ad for BMK Marketing Group on careerbuilder. It sounded like a great opportunity. I went in for an interview with them and was told they would be interviewing hundreds of people and only 2 would be offered a job.

The next day after my interview I got a call back from them, telling me I had been invited back for a second interview. This second interview was when I went out for my day of "O". This job didn't seem so professional but the opportunity sounded good so when I was offered the job I took it.

Big Mistake! I worked there for a little over 2 months usually from 8am to 7pm. I was selling Verizon Centrex lines door to door by myself in ghetto places. In the two months I worked there I never saw a paycheck, for that matter I never saw anyone else receive a paycheck either. I spend my own money paying for tolls and gas to get to this "turf" where we would go sell door to door to businesses but never received a dime from this company.

After 2 months I decided that enough was enough, so I left. Now I feel like such an idiot that it took me so long to realize what a scam this was!

Don't let these places take advantage of you. This is not a professional job where you will make money and have opportunity in the business in the future.

Two Years ago when I was looking for a job after graduating from college I saw an ad for BMK Marketing Group on careerbuilder. It sounded like a great opportunity. I went in for an interview with them and was told they would be interviewing hundreds of people and only 2 would be offered a job.

The next day after my interview I got a call back from them, telling me I had been invited back for a second interview. This second interview was when I went out for my day of "O". This job didn't seem so professional but the opportunity sounded good so when I was offered the job I took it.

Big Mistake! I worked there for a little over 2 months usually from 8am to 7pm. I was selling Verizon Centrex lines door to door by myself in ghetto places. In the two months I worked there I never saw a paycheck, for that matter I never saw anyone else receive a paycheck either. I spend my own money paying for tolls and gas to get to this "turf" where we would go sell door to door to businesses but never received a dime from this company.

After 2 months I decided that enough was enough, so I left. Now I feel like such an idiot that it took me so long to realize what a scam this was!

Don't let these places take advantage of you. This is not a professional job where you will make money and have opportunity in the business in the future.

Two Years ago when I was looking for a job after graduating from college I saw an ad for BMK Marketing Group on careerbuilder. It sounded like a great opportunity. I went in for an interview with them and was told they would be interviewing hundreds of people and only 2 would be offered a job.

The next day after my interview I got a call back from them, telling me I had been invited back for a second interview. This second interview was when I went out for my day of "O". This job didn't seem so professional but the opportunity sounded good so when I was offered the job I took it.

Big Mistake! I worked there for a little over 2 months usually from 8am to 7pm. I was selling Verizon Centrex lines door to door by myself in ghetto places. In the two months I worked there I never saw a paycheck, for that matter I never saw anyone else receive a paycheck either. I spend my own money paying for tolls and gas to get to this "turf" where we would go sell door to door to businesses but never received a dime from this company.

After 2 months I decided that enough was enough, so I left. Now I feel like such an idiot that it took me so long to realize what a scam this was!

Don't let these places take advantage of you. This is not a professional job where you will make money and have opportunity in the business in the future.

I have read all of the comments above and the more I read the less I like it. Sadly I have to say it isn't just the USA where stuff like this goes on. I live in a city in England called Norwich where I had the misfortune to work for a company called Orbital Promotions (part of the Cobra group). Be it Granton, Cydor, DS-Max or Cobra, it just baffles me how similar everyone is treated. Reading all of the reports I have on this website regarding these types of marketing companies, I cannot fathom how identical everything is (ie: the hours, lack of pay, terms like Juice, Neg-head, Leader, SEE, KISS, 8 Steps etc....).

I worked for this company for 10 months, I started with everything at my feet, fast promotion to leadership, trained new guys, but once the shrowd of the darkside started to lift, I was not able to continue after being kicked out of my parents due to not paying my way, I spent 3/4 months staying at various friends houses. Basically I was a vagrant. I had no registered home address, all because I had been brainwashed into thinking I had the chance to make thousands of pounds.

The more concerning thing is, I've always thought of myself as quite a 'switched on' individual who would not be had over very easily & yet I was so taken in by the 'Juice' opportunity & convinced I wasn't a 'neg-head' I overlooked things like not having any money & struggling with working 75 hours a week & not being paid for it.

Basically it is a cult. Pure & simple. Isn't Cobra's 'JUICE' just a alternate word to the n**i's 'Sieg Heil'? The Propaganda you are fed is of such epic proprtions you are convinced nothing else matters. You are entwined with a Cobra world & a Cobra world only where friends & family outside of the organisation do not exist. I was actually considered an outcast from my office for not wanting to take my crew to the pub on a Sunday (my only day off).

The jist of it is they don't want you spending time with non-door knockers who will kick seven shades of sense into you. Almost a year on from my experience, I now work as an estate agent, working 9-5, getting paid relatively well & more so, I am not tired anymore. I have my friends back (after alot of bridge building), I have built my relationship back with my parents & I am happier than ever.

I sincerely hope that people don,t take all the BS negatives that they are reading on this site for reality.

There will be 99% of the people employed with any of these companies that definitely will never succeed, and the other percent may or may not. I guess what I am trying to say is that the goldmine is not handed to you but it is definitely there.

I do not care where in the world you go to work, unless it is absolutely for yourself you will be making someone more money than you are making.

I could go into detail on the negatives that happened to me and yes the working hours and sometimes the money matters that people are talking about are true. I fortunately made quite a bit of money for the two years that I was there.

As a Mechanical Engineer on graduation in 1996 I wanted to make money AND have opportunity, both were put in front of me and all I had to do was sieze them.

There are millionaires because of luck and there are millionaires because of hard work, and I do not forsee any of the people that have time to sit and complain about a great company like this being millionaires from hard work. This company puts money and opportunity in front of everyone that passes through its doors.

I failed at my opprtunity when it was given to me in 1996-1998 but I learned an incredible lesson and 99% of what I achieved came from what I learnt in Rochester hills under Renee Bronner.

I would like to personally thank her and the overall company for such a great opportunity and the lessons that are not taught in university about hard work, excitement and what it truly takes to get ahead in life.

After leaving that organization in 98 I worked for someone else for two years and then have never looked back, because I realized that to show full potential I had to do everything I was shown in that company.

Again maybe I am just fortunate but I squeezed 40 years of hard work into 5 by simply using what I was shown while with Granton, cydcor, etc.

I urge anyone that has a chance to be involved with these companies--do it-- If nothing else you will get excellent training for what you feel is your future, and you will make money doing it.

I have never used my college degree and wish that I found these companies earlier.

Please feel free to contact me if ther are any questions, but do not take the opion of the disgruntled ex employees to heart.
Some are true but some people expect everything for free.

Ray

Well were do I begin?? Not getting enough hours at work, I went online in hopes fcr something new. Needless to say, I came acrossed an "opportunity for management" company, where I was promised the world.

I quit my job, planned to quit school, heck what do I need college for?? I'm goin be making $4000-6000 a week in less than a year! Well I worked for 4D marketing and Associates, in Auburn hills, (an hour away from where I lived) less than a week. I would've stayed probably a lot longer, if it wasn't for this website.

Everything just sounded to good to be true and apparently it was. They did all the methods, the all day interview, the ringing of the bell, the promises of promotions towards managment......

Only being there a few days, I watched people make good money on one day and none on the other. It's hard work, and I suppose in the long run you really will get a company and make good money, but at what expense?? Your life?!?!? Thanks but no Thanks!

I just wanted to wish everyone good luck in their job search, as I get to go and tried to get my job back. Thanks to all who worked on this website!! I would've ended up in big big trouble.

Bridget
clio, Michigan
U.S.A.

Marketing groups such as BMK Marketing and TMP Marketing (in Conshohocken, PA) are NOT affiliated with Cydcor or DS Max. Anymore, that is. Cydcor used to be the parent company of BMK Marketing in White Plains, NY but they have branched off from them. They still, however, use the same tricks and tactics that Cydcor uses to fool people into believing that they will be millionaires by the time they are 26.

I worked at BMK for 6 months before the smoke cleared from in front of my eyes and I left. Shortly after that, the whole office left. The problem is not the door to door sales. I was aware of that on my Day of O. The problem is that they brainwash you into believing that you will be making at least $500 a week.

They are not selective with their hiring process. They make you believe that you are the one special interviewee that they decided to hire, but when you get into atmosphere the next day, you will see a few people that were waiting in the lobby with you on your first interview. They will hire just about anyone stupid enough to take the position. The person I took out on a Day of O could barely pronounce the name Verizon (which is the campaign) and she was hired.

Please be warned people. They lie in their job ads. Why do they stress that they want sports minded people, when phone lines are their campaign? If they were honest and stated that they are door to door sales, then those people who want those types of jobs will apply. Any company that has to lie to get interviews should put up a red flag in your mind.

This is a very unprofessional company, and they don't tell you the truth. If someone quit, they would tell you that they got fired because they weren't strong enough for the business, or they didn't act right. When I called people that were "fired" they always told me that they quit. They were never fired. If you see any ads that they put out, do not even respond to them. If you ignore me, just beware that I warned you. You will not get paid for at least 3 months. And with this type of campaign, we didn't even get cash in hand. We "sold" centrex lines to small business owners. Centrex is where you dial 9 to get an outside line like most companies. We signed them up for that service. We had bodegas dialing 9 in a deli!! And, once that account was switched onto centrex, there was a whole other process to get your commissions from that. What's worse is when they cancel their contract with verizon, you don't get the commission! We couldn't even say that we were from Verizon.

We had no ID, no badges. People were printing out their own business cards that said Verizon on it, just so business owners would believe them. We only got about $250 a week and after working 60 hrs a day, that's a little over $2 an hour!

I wish I found this site 3 years ago when I got the first interview. I wish someone had let me know the tricks of the game before I got it. I stayed because I was dreaming of this "opportunity" they kept saying was so great. I honestly thought that 3 years later, BMK would be out of business by now. BMK is a scam and they are frauds. If you don't believe me, go ahead and take a job with them. They will hire you. They hire anyone so that they can brainwash them. If I have stopped one person from going to that first interview, then I have served my purpose on Earth.

Mike-if you have seen my name so much, maybe then YOU have been spending too much time looking at these sites (not sights). I am here to help those who have been screwed as well as prevent future employees from being screwed.

Obviously you have never worked for a Cydcor affiliate or you would understand. Libel? They wouldn't dare. They would have to prove that what I have said was intentionally slanderous and false. I have solid proof of every claim I have made here. I have an awesome job now, with dependable income, but it took me a long time to recover. I understand the devious practices of these companies.

So before you get on a soapbox, maybe you should understand what it is that you are talking about. I made a bad choice in working for this company and I'm not about ready to sit back and do nothing to help others avoid the same traps. You need to find something else better to do with your time if you have nothing productive to say.

I usually look at this site just for kicks. I mean, you can talk about anything from the BBB to your ex-girlfriend. Isn't America great. What I don't get is why all the ill feelings. Some of you never even interviewed with these companies and for those of you that have worked for them...get over it.

Yes you feel as if you have been screwed. I understand. But some of you have made this your life. For example: Danielle-Royal Oak, I have seen this name more than anybody on these sights. It strikes me that somebody would spend all this time and effort just talking and not doing.

Then there are the others who actually take he time to research and find all these business names from all over the country. I commend you, because thats a lot of work. What if you were wrong? What do you think could happen if you listed somebodys company that had nothing to do with the others.

My best advice is to be careful. The laws are changing. Some of you even have the guts to mention specific names of these individuals. That is considered libal. Well, not yet with the internet cause it is tricky.

In closing I wish the best of luck to all of you in your search for the perfect job. When and if you find it, please let me know...i'll search them on this sit for you.

A few years ago I was out of work and went on one of these day long interviews. I knew the owner of the "company" so I was moved right in. What I saw was horrible. The poor girl I was riding with would go into businesses in her area and try to sell them AT&T Business service and some of them had signed up with someone else and never received the service! There was no customer service here, just selling.

It doesn't have to be RC Cars it can be legit stuff!

When I got back the idiot interviewer couldn't tell me a salary, he couldn't promise me benefits just that I would "make lots of money".

I politly said thanks and that I would think about it and walked out. Of course he tried to stop me but I kept walking.

Now I work in advertising sales and while it is hard, I have benefits, I have a base, and I have job and life security. I am convinced that anyone of these poor kids could have done the job I have now if they had just paid attention when they found these crap companies. That company has changed its name so many times since I have no clue what they are called now.

Don't listen to the kids that work there, they don't know any better. And as for the kid that said he is making $600 a week... Um for the hours that you work that is like $7.50 an hour. And you went to college for this? Why not just keep the 80,000 you spent on college and go flip burgers?

I can't thank those of you who have taken the time to report these companies enough. I have an interview with one today in less than 3 hours! I had reservations about the interview before, but now I know I wont be attending. They are using the name Shauckent Enterprises Inc and are in Webster, Tx. I had doubts about applying for the job to begin with. Sounded to good to be true. Then they called me at 7:30 pm to schedule an interview and wouldn't tell me what the position was. I went to their website and it is under consruction.? Wouldn't an established company already have a website? And I know the location where they are at and it is more like a building for no name compaines that are run buy individuals. All this made me suspicious. That's why I started researching them. I may be in my mid 20's, but I am no dummy. To many questionable factors. Once again thankn you for the warnings. I will definately take the advise given.

Thanks to Daniel in Charlotte for mentioning Bullet Marketing Group in Raleigh. I was called for an interview as well. They called me on Thursday and asked me to come in on Friday for an interview. I took a day off from work and went to interview in Raleigh (an hour and a half away from where I live). The whole interview process took less than 10 minutes.

The man I spoke with told me about how they act on behalf of their accounts, etc. I got a call back that night asking me to come in on Tuesday for an "all-day interview". Said they would set me up with an account manager, etc.

I checked my email this morning before I left for my interview and a friend had send me this site, telling me that they were worried this was gonna be a scam. I told him that I had some questions to ask when I got there and if it wasnt legit, I was leaving.
So I took ANOTHER day off from work to go and "interview" with them.

I went in and met the account manager, who had only been with the company for a week and was already promoted!
Found out that it was door to door sales, and he couldnt give me a straight answer on salary. I told him thank you but no thank you, this isnt what I was looking for, and walked out the door.

I came home and finished reading the article and noticed that the place I had "interviewed" at was listed.

It's not worth it.

Look guys, you all have your negative feedback about innovage, but the truth is that most of us in this business didnt start as great asles people, most of the successful people in the biz came from dead end backgrounds... unskilled labor and such, and would never have answered and ad that said sales. Personally Im thankful. They tricked me into getting out of my comfort zone and taught me to be self confident. Im a totally different persona now than i was 4 years ago and I owe it all to the people in Innovage who took the time to care about me.

Ive seen a lot of people come and go, and some on bad terms, but Ive seen a lot of really positive results in what we do. Unfortunately you wont see people with positive stories posting here, because theyre pobably too busy with their careers to worry about gossip forums for people who cant get over the fact that someone tried to give them a career they didnt want. I mean really, dont you think some of you guys are a little excessively obsessed with Innovage to post and repost all the time here, and try to get TV specals done... we dont hurt people.

If you want to go after something why not go after something serious and dedicate you time to that like feeding the homeless, or doing charity work.

In addition, the names of the "direct advertising" companies operating currently in Portland are:

Wheeler Imports
Hyphire Solutions
Sharpe Marketing
Orcanus Enterprises
or any group affiliated with:
Merrimack Group
World Access Marketing

These companies will be evasive about what the job entails. You'll read/hear "performance based compensation" which means commission-only.

They will want to schedule you for a "preliminary interview" of around 15 minutes then will tell you they'll call back if interested in you for a "full day" interview.

I interviewed for one of these companies and was scheduled for an interview at another one before I realized they were both the same kind of marketing scheme. That's a whole afternoon of my life and a couple gallons of gas that I'll never see again.

My Constructive Solution on How to Avoid This Ripoff in the Future:

Avoid job descriptions with the key words:
"entry-level sales/marketing"
"100% promotion from within, 0% senority"
"sports marketing & management"
"sports & entertainment marketing"

Also, avoid jobs that sound like these but don't include their name on the job posting.

If you honestly don't mind a 12 hour a day door to door sales job, pick a company that is honest and up front from the beginning that this is what the job entails. If they won't give you specifics in the call to schedule your interview, or during the interview, hang up or walk away.

If I remember correctly I worked with someone who took over 2.5 years to get her company and she was going to name it 4D Marketing and Associates. I heard she moved back to Auburn Hills, Michigan and opened up so add her place to the list... Four D or 4 D Marketing and Associates. Cherie Patterson is the owner.

If I remember correctly I worked with someone who took over 2.5 years to get her company and she was going to name it 4D Marketing and Associates. I heard she moved back to Auburn Hills, Michigan and opened up so add her place to the list... Four D or 4 D Marketing and Associates. Cherie Patterson is the owner.

Ashley-you neglected to say if you worked for a Cydcor affiliate. If you do, give it some time and you won't be as excited. You're right, the direct marketing field is not for everyone. However, Cydcor makes you pay many expenses out of pocket that legitimate companies would not make you pay for- i.e. gas, lunch for interviews, etc. Most stable companies have expense accounts and reimbursement. So please do not think that the comments on this site are aimed at direct marketing in general. They are aimed at the scams that Cydcor pulls on unknowing employees.

I have happily been employed by a marketing firm for several months and I could not be happier. When I was conducting my immediate job search in Baltimore I went into several similar firms and each one of them was very sketchy to me. Everyone seemed to be reading froma script and vague with answers to any questions I had. I was about to give up on the search when I came across my current place of employment.

I had a great feeling the second I walked into the office and still can't wait to go back into work everyday. Everyone in the office was up front about answering all of my questions and if they didnt have an answer, they were sure to find someone who did. I understood that I was going to be paid on comission but decided to give it a try anyway and I have had no problems.

The direct marketing field truly is up to you... you are as successful as you choose to be. Is it hard work? Yes. Long Hours? Yup. Do I have blisters on my feet every day? Absolutely. But I also have so much more. I have found the quality of my life has improved because I am constantly happy and excited. I set short term goals for myself and have reached them all so far. This field is not for everyone and not all companies treat you with the respect and honesty that mine does but if you are outgoing and don't mind a little hard work this profession can be very rewarding.

Does anyone know about Texas International Promotions, Inc.? I interviewed with them for an entry level management training position yesterday and they scheduled a full day interview that's coming up soon but something about it doesn't seem right. They are a little vague about what they actually do but they represent some pretty big names like Discover, Citi, D.A.R.E., Toys for Tots, etc. Thanks for the information. http://www.texasinternationalpromos.com/

I specifically signed up to this site when i saw the company named that i worked for, when everyone explained what was going on i tuned my breain in for hours to read, and wass exactly like what the job was. but if u wanna hear something , my first day involved walking in a d**n near bilzzard in dress shoes in the middle of december trying to do s**t in a fing dress shirt and froze my b**ls off. but i was broke and needed cash.

what else was funny was our asst. manager was in what i know was a scam, a brainwash used to lure people into dedicating themselves into pointless work for a pyramid scam thats leads to "the man". i wanted to believe in the company "pinnacle advertising, livonia michigan" its like a cult, my own business??? yeah right i just odnt see how some people an work there and have any relationship whatsoever. they tried to talk me into breaking up with a girl just to work there. im tired of people getting ripped off, ch skne fran cold be thy name of the damned who do this but we all know the buls"**t, dont go for it , advertising my a** selling pizza coupons in freezing wather, suck my b**ls!

I'm really glad I found this website. I actually have interviews planned with one of the companies listed here and two listed from other reports. I actually went through this before right before I graduated from college. Looking for a job the opportunity sounded great. I became suspicious, when the same day they asked me to go into the field with one of the reps.

Luckily I was driving my car so I didn't get stranded. On my way home I received a call requesting I come in for a second interview. The same day? This is what I'm thinking. I went back. (I failed to mention, I drove from Detroit to Southfield 20min, to Ann Arbor to shadow 50min, back to Southfield another 50min for the second interview, and back to Ann Arbor surprise that's where I was going to school I know the area pretty well I guess that's why I was sent there). Not only did I complete two interviews and shadow a rep, I received an offer the same day. It was when the rep snapped at me on the phone and told me that if I wanted to earn a base salary then maybe this wasn't the company for me. I politely agreed and turned down the offer.

You know I was just taking my chances again with these companies. It's a shame how they lure people in looking for Marketing people in their ads but you find out the job is actually an outside sales position. I wouldn't say the jobs are illegal or even a rip-off. You just have to be a person who is willing to work not knowing if you're going to get a check the next week.

Like many have said already. Just be aware of companies that have multiple ads, with slightly different wording for the same job. Posts with dates from over 30days ago for similar positions can also be a give away. What one of the reps told me about the company I interviewed with. (Reminded I was looking for a Sport Marketing position.) She said, they pull key words from the backgrounds of their current and past employers. These words are used in their job descriptions to bring more people to their job posts. I would have been doing b2b sales looking for companies to switch their phone service to SBC. Nothing to do with sports or marketing.

Also be aware of companies that respond to you through e-mail to request an interview. If a company is truly concerned about who they are bringing in, they will call you, not send an
e-mail to request an interview.

Also beware of people who talk to you very quickly on the phone not allowing you the chance to ask preliminary questions.

Also beware of companies that offer you very quick advancement. Manager in a month, and business owner in two.

Find out in advance, if possible, where and how far you will be going if you have to go in the field. And drive your own car, agree to follow, if possible. Some won't let you, they prefer you ride with them. (It gives them a chance to talk you into taking the job before you even get an offer).

I wouldn't say don't go after the job, because some people can go far with jobs like this. Just know what you are cable of and what you are looking for. If you are a person who can work on commission only, these may be perfect opportunities for you.

I'm really glad I found this website. I actually have interviews planned with one of the companies listed here and two listed from other reports. I actually went through this before right before I graduated from college. Looking for a job the opportunity sounded great. I became suspicious, when the same day they asked me to go into the field with one of the reps.

Luckily I was driving my car so I didn't get stranded. On my way home I received a call requesting I come in for a second interview. The same day? This is what I'm thinking. I went back. (I failed to mention, I drove from Detroit to Southfield 20min, to Ann Arbor to shadow 50min, back to Southfield another 50min for the second interview, and back to Ann Arbor surprise that's where I was going to school I know the area pretty well I guess that's why I was sent there). Not only did I complete two interviews and shadow a rep, I received an offer the same day. It was when the rep snapped at me on the phone and told me that if I wanted to earn a base salary then maybe this wasn't the company for me. I politely agreed and turned down the offer.

You know I was just taking my chances again with these companies. It's a shame how they lure people in looking for Marketing people in their ads but you find out the job is actually an outside sales position. I wouldn't say the jobs are illegal or even a rip-off. You just have to be a person who is willing to work not knowing if you're going to get a check the next week.

Like many have said already. Just be aware of companies that have multiple ads, with slightly different wording for the same job. Posts with dates from over 30days ago for similar positions can also be a give away. What one of the reps told me about the company I interviewed with. (Reminded I was looking for a Sport Marketing position.) She said, they pull key words from the backgrounds of their current and past employers. These words are used in their job descriptions to bring more people to their job posts. I would have been doing b2b sales looking for companies to switch their phone service to SBC. Nothing to do with sports or marketing.

Also be aware of companies that respond to you through e-mail to request an interview. If a company is truly concerned about who they are bringing in, they will call you, not send an
e-mail to request an interview.

Also beware of people who talk to you very quickly on the phone not allowing you the chance to ask preliminary questions.

Also beware of companies that offer you very quick advancement. Manager in a month, and business owner in two.

Find out in advance, if possible, where and how far you will be going if you have to go in the field. And drive your own car, agree to follow, if possible. Some won't let you, they prefer you ride with them. (It gives them a chance to talk you into taking the job before you even get an offer).

I wouldn't say don't go after the job, because some people can go far with jobs like this. Just know what you are cable of and what you are looking for. If you are a person who can work on commission only, these may be perfect opportunities for you.

I'm really glad I found this website. I actually have interviews planned with one of the companies listed here and two listed from other reports. I actually went through this before right before I graduated from college. Looking for a job the opportunity sounded great. I became suspicious, when the same day they asked me to go into the field with one of the reps.

Luckily I was driving my car so I didn't get stranded. On my way home I received a call requesting I come in for a second interview. The same day? This is what I'm thinking. I went back. (I failed to mention, I drove from Detroit to Southfield 20min, to Ann Arbor to shadow 50min, back to Southfield another 50min for the second interview, and back to Ann Arbor surprise that's where I was going to school I know the area pretty well I guess that's why I was sent there). Not only did I complete two interviews and shadow a rep, I received an offer the same day. It was when the rep snapped at me on the phone and told me that if I wanted to earn a base salary then maybe this wasn't the company for me. I politely agreed and turned down the offer.

You know I was just taking my chances again with these companies. It's a shame how they lure people in looking for Marketing people in their ads but you find out the job is actually an outside sales position. I wouldn't say the jobs are illegal or even a rip-off. You just have to be a person who is willing to work not knowing if you're going to get a check the next week.

Like many have said already. Just be aware of companies that have multiple ads, with slightly different wording for the same job. Posts with dates from over 30days ago for similar positions can also be a give away. What one of the reps told me about the company I interviewed with. (Reminded I was looking for a Sport Marketing position.) She said, they pull key words from the backgrounds of their current and past employers. These words are used in their job descriptions to bring more people to their job posts. I would have been doing b2b sales looking for companies to switch their phone service to SBC. Nothing to do with sports or marketing.

Also be aware of companies that respond to you through e-mail to request an interview. If a company is truly concerned about who they are bringing in, they will call you, not send an
e-mail to request an interview.

Also beware of people who talk to you very quickly on the phone not allowing you the chance to ask preliminary questions.

Also beware of companies that offer you very quick advancement. Manager in a month, and business owner in two.

Find out in advance, if possible, where and how far you will be going if you have to go in the field. And drive your own car, agree to follow, if possible. Some won't let you, they prefer you ride with them. (It gives them a chance to talk you into taking the job before you even get an offer).

I wouldn't say don't go after the job, because some people can go far with jobs like this. Just know what you are cable of and what you are looking for. If you are a person who can work on commission only, these may be perfect opportunities for you.

I'm really glad I found this website. I actually have interviews planned with one of the companies listed here and two listed from other reports. I actually went through this before right before I graduated from college. Looking for a job the opportunity sounded great. I became suspicious, when the same day they asked me to go into the field with one of the reps.

Luckily I was driving my car so I didn't get stranded. On my way home I received a call requesting I come in for a second interview. The same day? This is what I'm thinking. I went back. (I failed to mention, I drove from Detroit to Southfield 20min, to Ann Arbor to shadow 50min, back to Southfield another 50min for the second interview, and back to Ann Arbor surprise that's where I was going to school I know the area pretty well I guess that's why I was sent there). Not only did I complete two interviews and shadow a rep, I received an offer the same day. It was when the rep snapped at me on the phone and told me that if I wanted to earn a base salary then maybe this wasn't the company for me. I politely agreed and turned down the offer.

You know I was just taking my chances again with these companies. It's a shame how they lure people in looking for Marketing people in their ads but you find out the job is actually an outside sales position. I wouldn't say the jobs are illegal or even a rip-off. You just have to be a person who is willing to work not knowing if you're going to get a check the next week.

Like many have said already. Just be aware of companies that have multiple ads, with slightly different wording for the same job. Posts with dates from over 30days ago for similar positions can also be a give away. What one of the reps told me about the company I interviewed with. (Reminded I was looking for a Sport Marketing position.) She said, they pull key words from the backgrounds of their current and past employers. These words are used in their job descriptions to bring more people to their job posts. I would have been doing b2b sales looking for companies to switch their phone service to SBC. Nothing to do with sports or marketing.

Also be aware of companies that respond to you through e-mail to request an interview. If a company is truly concerned about who they are bringing in, they will call you, not send an
e-mail to request an interview.

Also beware of people who talk to you very quickly on the phone not allowing you the chance to ask preliminary questions.

Also beware of companies that offer you very quick advancement. Manager in a month, and business owner in two.

Find out in advance, if possible, where and how far you will be going if you have to go in the field. And drive your own car, agree to follow, if possible. Some won't let you, they prefer you ride with them. (It gives them a chance to talk you into taking the job before you even get an offer).

I wouldn't say don't go after the job, because some people can go far with jobs like this. Just know what you are cable of and what you are looking for. If you are a person who can work on commission only, these may be perfect opportunities for you.

I was given two options today, since i was only able to move to pieces. 1. take my bonus money that was owed to me and to never come back....i don't know what the other one was, cause i never made it that far. Since I no longer work there I have no qualms about doing this.

There is a new management training office, ran by people that came from the GQ Imports office in addison (chicago area). Alliance Advertising in Gurnee, IL. The manager of this office is Michael Ryberg. As my former coworker stated, if you make manager, you still don't get the money you worked so hard and long for.

I think the best part of my conversations with Mike, was the fact that 99% of everything he said was lies. From my interview to the moment I quit. The best part was he tried to say that I didn't call in sick, when I did and I left a voice mail-its still in my call log, date and time stamped.

The point is, if you want to play the game, take on undue stress, and sometimes work 12 hours a day for less than $2 an hour, go ahead, but youre still not going to the money that was promised. I wasted about 2 1/2 weeks, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I turned down two jobs for this one, big mistake and now I'm unemployed (about the same condition I was while working) and with bills due and about 3 months till college loans are due. If you are a college graduate, don't bother with alliance or any of the other companies, you don't make enough to support yourself, let alone pay off your tutition loans.

I was given two options today, since i was only able to move to pieces. 1. take my bonus money that was owed to me and to never come back....i don't know what the other one was, cause i never made it that far. Since I no longer work there I have no qualms about doing this.

There is a new management training office, ran by people that came from the GQ Imports office in addison (chicago area). Alliance Advertising in Gurnee, IL. The manager of this office is Michael Ryberg. As my former coworker stated, if you make manager, you still don't get the money you worked so hard and long for.

I think the best part of my conversations with Mike, was the fact that 99% of everything he said was lies. From my interview to the moment I quit. The best part was he tried to say that I didn't call in sick, when I did and I left a voice mail-its still in my call log, date and time stamped.

The point is, if you want to play the game, take on undue stress, and sometimes work 12 hours a day for less than $2 an hour, go ahead, but youre still not going to the money that was promised. I wasted about 2 1/2 weeks, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I turned down two jobs for this one, big mistake and now I'm unemployed (about the same condition I was while working) and with bills due and about 3 months till college loans are due. If you are a college graduate, don't bother with alliance or any of the other companies, you don't make enough to support yourself, let alone pay off your tutition loans.

I was given two options today, since i was only able to move to pieces. 1. take my bonus money that was owed to me and to never come back....i don't know what the other one was, cause i never made it that far. Since I no longer work there I have no qualms about doing this.

There is a new management training office, ran by people that came from the GQ Imports office in addison (chicago area). Alliance Advertising in Gurnee, IL. The manager of this office is Michael Ryberg. As my former coworker stated, if you make manager, you still don't get the money you worked so hard and long for.

I think the best part of my conversations with Mike, was the fact that 99% of everything he said was lies. From my interview to the moment I quit. The best part was he tried to say that I didn't call in sick, when I did and I left a voice mail-its still in my call log, date and time stamped.

The point is, if you want to play the game, take on undue stress, and sometimes work 12 hours a day for less than $2 an hour, go ahead, but youre still not going to the money that was promised. I wasted about 2 1/2 weeks, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I turned down two jobs for this one, big mistake and now I'm unemployed (about the same condition I was while working) and with bills due and about 3 months till college loans are due. If you are a college graduate, don't bother with alliance or any of the other companies, you don't make enough to support yourself, let alone pay off your tutition loans.

I was given two options today, since i was only able to move to pieces. 1. take my bonus money that was owed to me and to never come back....i don't know what the other one was, cause i never made it that far. Since I no longer work there I have no qualms about doing this.

There is a new management training office, ran by people that came from the GQ Imports office in addison (chicago area). Alliance Advertising in Gurnee, IL. The manager of this office is Michael Ryberg. As my former coworker stated, if you make manager, you still don't get the money you worked so hard and long for.

I think the best part of my conversations with Mike, was the fact that 99% of everything he said was lies. From my interview to the moment I quit. The best part was he tried to say that I didn't call in sick, when I did and I left a voice mail-its still in my call log, date and time stamped.

The point is, if you want to play the game, take on undue stress, and sometimes work 12 hours a day for less than $2 an hour, go ahead, but youre still not going to the money that was promised. I wasted about 2 1/2 weeks, and I couldn't take it anymore.

I turned down two jobs for this one, big mistake and now I'm unemployed (about the same condition I was while working) and with bills due and about 3 months till college loans are due. If you are a college graduate, don't bother with alliance or any of the other companies, you don't make enough to support yourself, let alone pay off your tutition loans.

Upon finishing college, I went on what I thought was a really promising interview in Atlanta, GA. (Make note that I live in SC over two hours away.) The company was Wentworth Marketing. I went on the first interview which was a complete cattle-call... I should have known better from that point. I received a call back later on that day asking me to schedule an all day "second interview" the next day.

It was quite an experience. The girls (members of their sales team) that I rode with that day were very unprofessional. I had to give out a great deal of personal information not needed for interviewing purposes. (I will say that Ed, the owner of that particular company was very nice and professional... but that's about the only positive thing I can say about this company.) They could never tell me what "management training" actually consisted of. Also, couldn't give me an exact answer regarding their salary or commission structure.

Now there's a company, Zuelan Group, who has moved into my area and is posting to every job board you can think of. Just a word to recent college graduates, or anyone else... If it's sounds too good to be true, it probably is. These companies are definitely not worth your time!

Brooke
Greenville, SC

Upon finishing college, I went on what I thought was a really promising interview in Atlanta, GA. (Make note that I live in SC over two hours away.) The company was Wentworth Marketing. I went on the first interview which was a complete cattle-call... I should have known better from that point. I received a call back later on that day asking me to schedule an all day "second interview" the next day.

It was quite an experience. The girls (members of their sales team) that I rode with that day were very unprofessional. I had to give out a great deal of personal information not needed for interviewing purposes. (I will say that Ed, the owner of that particular company was very nice and professional... but that's about the only positive thing I can say about this company.) They could never tell me what "management training" actually consisted of. Also, couldn't give me an exact answer regarding their salary or commission structure.

Now there's a company, Zuelan Group, who has moved into my area and is posting to every job board you can think of. Just a word to recent college graduates, or anyone else... If it's sounds too good to be true, it probably is. These companies are definitely not worth your time!

Brooke
Greenville, SC

Upon finishing college, I went on what I thought was a really promising interview in Atlanta, GA. (Make note that I live in SC over two hours away.) The company was Wentworth Marketing. I went on the first interview which was a complete cattle-call... I should have known better from that point. I received a call back later on that day asking me to schedule an all day "second interview" the next day.

It was quite an experience. The girls (members of their sales team) that I rode with that day were very unprofessional. I had to give out a great deal of personal information not needed for interviewing purposes. (I will say that Ed, the owner of that particular company was very nice and professional... but that's about the only positive thing I can say about this company.) They could never tell me what "management training" actually consisted of. Also, couldn't give me an exact answer regarding their salary or commission structure.

Now there's a company, Zuelan Group, who has moved into my area and is posting to every job board you can think of. Just a word to recent college graduates, or anyone else... If it's sounds too good to be true, it probably is. These companies are definitely not worth your time!

Brooke
Greenville, SC

Upon finishing college, I went on what I thought was a really promising interview in Atlanta, GA. (Make note that I live in SC over two hours away.) The company was Wentworth Marketing. I went on the first interview which was a complete cattle-call... I should have known better from that point. I received a call back later on that day asking me to schedule an all day "second interview" the next day.

It was quite an experience. The girls (members of their sales team) that I rode with that day were very unprofessional. I had to give out a great deal of personal information not needed for interviewing purposes. (I will say that Ed, the owner of that particular company was very nice and professional... but that's about the only positive thing I can say about this company.) They could never tell me what "management training" actually consisted of. Also, couldn't give me an exact answer regarding their salary or commission structure.

Now there's a company, Zuelan Group, who has moved into my area and is posting to every job board you can think of. Just a word to recent college graduates, or anyone else... If it's sounds too good to be true, it probably is. These companies are definitely not worth your time!

Brooke
Greenville, SC

I got such a great laugh from all the people that write about how wonderful the company is.... Especially the Donkey that admitted that its all lies, but its ok, because you can see through them.

I saw too many good people lose cars and significant others because of this loser company. I came close to losing my g/f because of it, and I think at the time, if it came down to it, I'd have left her to stay there. I was brainwashed.

Anyone who says otherwise is an owner of one of these scam jobs and is trying to hang out to any last person they can hold on to to hawk their flea market crap.

I worked at GQ Imports in Woburn, Ma for about five months and let me tell you, it was five months too many. I won't lie and say I didnt enjoy it for a while. I have fun because the office loved me, I was wild, outrageous and a good time to hit the field with; perhaps thats why it took me so long to see through the BS.

GQ Imports moved to the Baltimore and Chicago areas. The Woburn office turned into something else. I am so embarassed that I ever set foot in that place.

Everyone should know what they do to hook you in:

First, they make you think they are only asking 'one or two' people back for a 2nd interview.

EVERYONE gets a call back

Second, they get you at the office for your 2nd interview which is 1 full day, unpaid, walking around carrying a remote controlled car or fleece blanket.

When you get back to the office (if you actually stayed the whole day) they set you up with a questionaire which is meaningless. Then, and this is good; after you finish your interview, the 'leader' that took you out makes you tell him/her 3 things about you that set you apart from everyone else and you're told its because its a tight race and he's only thinking of bringing ONE person aboard. A BIG light should have went off in my head when there was one other guy there that interviewed the same day as me and that we both edged out this really professional looking woman.

Then you're telling people the same exact thing and you have to lie to the very people you're asking to trust you that this business is legit.

BEWARE of anything to do with Innovage or DS-MAX. You can and will lose your home/apt. wife/husband, b/f - g/f etc etc.

It is complete BS and if the person that wrote to FOX news wants some back up on this. I am 100% willing to support you!

I hate these companies and am so disgusted that they are allowed to exist

I worked for Granton Marketing in an office in Cleveland, OH. I was there for about six months. I can honestly say that it is not for everyone. I was lucky to work with some of the top "owners" in the company. These included Derek Colantonio (spell check), Mike Putnam, Kelly (I forgot her last name, but she was the youngest female to become an "owner"). These people had great intesity for their jobs. That is the problem with some people in their jobs is that they have no intesity. I did learn alot from these people because there is no way that a company has lasted this long without knowing what they are doing. Sure they sugar-coat the job, but if you are young and wanting to increase your people skills, give this a try. I was only part of the "advertising" division. It makes sense selling coupons for $20, because it was a win win situation for both companies involved. I could not have part of the clearance division because I would think it would be hard to sell a stapler to someone who doesn't need it. They actually sent me to Los Angelos for the DS Max Annual meeting. I got to hear the original owners of the company speak, and they made sense. They know people and know how to hit people's hot buttons, but that is what makes any good salesman. It's all about the money. Join Us In Creating Excitement. JUICE. That is not a bad thing.