Usacomplaints.com » Internet & Web » Complaint / Review: TPL Global Logistics Services - David Brown I thought I was applying for an assistant manager job (yeah, I m dumb) but it was a package forwarding scam. #996110

Complaint / Review
TPL Global Logistics Services
David Brown I thought I was applying for an assistant manager job (yeah, I'm dumb) but it was a package forwarding scam

I began looking for work at the end of October and I did part of my job search on Craiglist. I received a response by email that looked hopeful. It was for an assistant manager position where I would train for one month at home and then work from the office. I I thought it was too good to be true but then again I figured "at least I can say I have a job now". I thought I was doing well when I waas able to send the packages through the postal office with no problem and I began on November 12th and then I went on a vacation on November 21 and then came back November 28th and I went to the post office to do as I was instructed, send the package to a supposed client that can't receive products from the United States straight from the merchant so people like me receive it and send it off. Then the post office informed me of a scam where people steal credit cards, order merchandise and then send it to people who naively think they have a job in reality are accomplice to a crime of trafficking stolen merchandise. I feel so dumb. I should of thought it was odd to receive an email from a gmail email address, when it should be a company email address, for me to not have a live, in person interview, no one would answer the phone, I did have one phone interview but after that it was all through emails, every time I emailed him I got an email back immediately. I feel more than dumb to have given them my address. I received this email explaining the process.

I received this job description:

Once again, Thank you for applying for position of Assistant
Logistic manager with our company. It is our firm belief that
training a new employee, who is eager to learn is much more
effective than retraining a person who already has some
experience in logistics with another company. If you are reading
this document, you already passed preliminary selection and now
can advance to the next stage.

Our company offers intelligent warehousing and order fulfillment
for miscellaneous internet companies as well as expeditor
services. Now we are expanding even more, and we are opening a
new location. We would like to make sure that we have enough
trained employees by the time we open the warehouse and office
space, so we can start right away, without wasting any time.

Below you will find detailed description of the employment
process, training program, which will be commenced upon your
successful completion of preliminary employment steps as well as
salary information for each stage.

Pre-Employment stages.

You will be interviewed over the phone or in person by one of
our HR managers;

If considered necessary at this stage, we might require a
background check.in this case, you will have to give your
consent for us to perform one; There are no expenses on your part

Final interview will be conducted;

If background check will be satisfactory and results of the
final interview are positive, you will sign Contract Agreement,
Non-Disclosure Agreement, and will have to fill out tax forms;

Once all the forms are completed and documents are signed you
will start working with our company.

Employment stages.

Stage I. Probation period. Duration: 1 month. Salary $2350month.

This is your probation period during which you will get
acquainted with our operations. This is a test of all your basic
skills: attention to details, responsibility, ability to
multitask and complete several assignments in a short period of
time without any additional help. You will receive one of our
smaller client companies and will serve as correspondence agent
for this company, receiving and managing parcels, packages and
other shipments to be delivered for them. Your ability to
maintain proper documentation and logs will be tested. You will
work with the Sales department and regional offices of the
company, in order to plan necessary expenses and terms of
delivery to the Clients.

You will get familiarized with all modules of our proprietary
logistics software and will obtain basic skills necessary for
advancement to the next stage.

You will start learning our Warehouse Management System
integrated with clients Supply Chain Systems, and Electronic
Data Interchange (EDI),

You will be familiarized with our warehouse RFID inventory
system.

You will have to learn and pass test of knowledge of OSHA
requirements.

Conditions for passing of this stage are

No misplaced or lost packages. No mistakes in logs or insurance
documents. No delays;

Successful passing of all pertinent tests;

During Stage I you will be working and learning from home, part
time. When we find a suitable warehouse office space, (it will
take about 1 month) you would have to start working from office
in order to continue training.

Stage II. Training. Duration of this stage will be determined
upon completion of stage I and will vary between 3 to 4 months.
Salary will be paid on monthly basis, calculated from base salary
of $36Kyear. You will be working with one of our trainers in
order to learn and gain ability to efficiently and independently
complete the following tasks:

Be responsible for shipments, scheduling, ordering of equipment
and supplies, ensuring on-time performance;

Delegate tasks to ensure successful completion of operating
plans with a strong focus on safety and efficiency;

Assign daily work schedule based on our open order reports
(shipping). Monitor the amount of man power being used for each
department according to the amount of units been received and
shipped on each calendar day;

Manage and coordinate maintenance plans to ensure maximum
facility utilization;

Supervise the floor on a constant basis going true each step
from receiving of goods finishing, picking and packing stations
to assure all customer requirements are been followed, managing
the work flow in order to reach highest efficacy and
productivity;

Supervise maintenance of all company warehouse equipment such
as pallet jacks, forklifts, etc. Necessary to run shipping and
receiving departments.

Process all paper work for outbound loads including scheduling
appointments with LTL and FTL carriers, checking in drivers,
checking and signing the BOLs, and Confirming all orders shipped
complete in PKMS.

Develop and implement warehouse design to include traffic
patterns, pedestrian walkways, staging areas, loading and
unloading procedures that would improve productivity in
receiving, warehouse & shipping efficiency.

Order and maintain inventory control for all warehouse raw
materials that include pallets, tapes, machine shrink wrap, hand
wrap etc;

Evaluate manpower needs and control costs for overtime and
plant expenses.

Promote a safe working environment by providing safety training
and enforcing OSHA rules and regulations.

Plan, direct, and coordinate day-to-day operations:
Warehousing, Purchasing, Inventory, Customer Service.

Stage III Final stage. You become part of our company.

Upon successful completion of Stage II you will sign a contract
with us with the following conditions and benefits contingent on
your performance during the preliminary stages:

Starting salary between 46 and 48Kyear;
Medical insurance for you, your spouse and up to 2 dependents;
2 weeks paid vacation and paid holidays;
Salary will commensurate with experience;

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me over the
email. If you would like to continue the employment process,
please reply with an email containing your most recent phone
number, your updated resume pasted in email body (it is
important, please don't send attachments) and preferable time
interval when we can contact you. We will set up an interview and
will continue from there.

Best regards, David

David Brown
HR Manager,
TPL Global

When I asked questions as to why these labels had my name all over them and how does the whole process work, why have people mail things when the company can mail it directly. I got this explaination.

I apologize for my delayed response
About your questions.
1. Stage I is mostly testing of your abilities to work without constantsupervision, how well you manage your time and wether you can maintainconsistency in all reports, avoid mistakes etc. Simple stuff, but veryimportant and as it turns out to be not everyone can do it.
2. Official start date is November 12.
3. Many expeditors would not release package to you unless your name ison the package. And in order for it to be on the package it has to beon the invoice.
You should take all invoices from the package.

Now about your understanding of our business. It is mostly correct withone small exception: you mixed up two separate lines of work:)
First one is order fulfillment, and it is exactly what you described. We don't work with such big companies as Nordstrom though. Our clientsare small companies that can not afford to have a large warehouse.
We don't sell any products from our own stock. We provide orderfulfillment, but it is a completely different story and we will get tothat during the next month. We only provide logistics services forcompanies and individuals. And goods forwarding for private individualsis the simplest part of our business. This is why we start our Stagewith goods forwarding. Let me explain why there is such a high demandfor it.
In many cases it is impossible to order directly from an e-shop. Manycompanies have representatives abroad and agreements of exclusivityforbid them from selling to any region other than the region they havea license for. Just like with Iphone, there are many other cases wheresome particular product is forbidden for sale or available only on amuch later date than it is in US. For example in some countries ofEastern Europe Iphone 5 will be available only by late December. Andright now it sells for up to 3000$unit there, basically 4 times morethan it does in US. Right now it sells on what is called "grey market". It is legal to buy an Iphone there, but only for individuals. Nocompany can legally sell an Iphone there before December. So theseindividuals use our services to deliver Iphones there.
In many cases there are special agreements and limitations on sales ofsome products and in other cases reasons why a certain product isunavailable in particular region is an enigma. For example in EuropeChanel (French company) does not sell "stay on lipstick". At all! Nobody knows why. So we have several customers in France, home ofChanel, who buy it from Chanel New York through us.
Plus we have special arrangements with Pitney Bowes (major provider ofservices related to packaging mailing and shipping) so that our tariffsfor international shipments are much lower than what a privateindividual would get.
So if someone in Europe wants to buy a product which is available herein USA but not it Europe, and there is no way to ship it directly, theyuse our services. Right now we are very much interested in EasternEuropean market. It is a very risky but very promising market with verygood clientele.
I hope that now you understand how it works.
Best Regards, David

When there was a delay I got this email:

Hello Victoria,
Please dispatch all packages ASAP because the labels expire with time.
Postal office will not accept those after certain date.
Best Regards, David

When I complained that I found this to be a scam:

I got this email:

Hello Victoria,
We've been notified about this scam and it worries us because itcreates problems for legitimate companies like ours. I understand yourconcerns. We are aware of this situation on the market and the reasonssuch scam companies exist is because they are mimicking absolutelylegitimate companies which are in this business for years.
As it is stated in our contract, you are getting your paycheck onDecember 12, but I will do my best to expedite your check. It is verylate today, my assistant will call you tomorrow morning and we aregoing to resolve it. Don't worry, this is a temporary problem.
It is quite possible that your postmaster is a typical representativeof old school brought up on concept that Russia is somethingdangerous. It is his point of view and he definitely has a rightto have it. If there were any actual reasons to believe thatsomething is going wrong, postmaster would hold on to all packages. Right now, he is merely expressing his point of view. Our point ofview is that Russia is a prominent and promising market with great future. Are you familiar with BRIC abbreviation? It is the opposite of PIGS. BRIC is Brasil Russia India China-countries developing very rapidly with great opportunities forbusiness. PIGS is Portugal Italy Greece and Spain - countries withgreatest risks, most troubled economies. Of course Russia is riskyfor multiple reasons. But there is no good business without the risk. If you are uncomfortable working with Russia, I can switch you toanother region. But we have to resolve problems with delayed packagesASAP or our clients will be very angry. You can use another postaloffice if this one is giving you trouble. As I said, if there was anactual reason to be worried, they would confiscate the goods. So rightnow it is merely his assumption.
Best Regards, David

So, as conniving as they are, I am glad I at least did not do it for months like some people reportedly have. I am sending things back as I send this and going to the police department.

I know some people arent as naive and dumb as I am but I wanted to let people know of this company and even though you are unemployed and desperate, Be ware!



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