Kirby
Vacumns - A Scott And Fetzer Corporation Working For Kriby - No Pain, No Gain. Plenty of Shame

I would like to recount my experience as an Employee (or should I say an Independent Contractor) of Kirby. It all began with an afternoon stroll. I was taking a break from my job as a waiter and decided to walk downtown to scout for a better opportunity. After walking for a bit I noticed a help wanted sign in a store window. Above this was the business' name, Wiley Promotions, scrawled hastily in what looked like pink window chalk. For a while I assumed, quite erroneously, that this was a talent agency or something along those lines. I didn't go in, but I remembered the place and moved on.
A few months later, I found out my fiance at the time, was very pregnant and that our income would have to be substantially augmented if we hoped to survive. Having no real skills aside from the ability to be charming and relatively well spoken, I sauntered down to Wiley Promotions knowing that the position would be closed and that I hadn't acted quickly enough. But, sure enough, as I approached the building the help wanted sign was still there and it offered me a small measure of hope.
I went inside and was immediately greeted by a well-dressed man named John. He asked me how I was, what I was looking for etc. I told him that I was seeking more gainful employment.
"Great!!!", he exclaimed, "We are actually doing some hiring, do you have a few minutes to fill out an application?"
I told him yes, that I would be more than happy to oblige and set to work. John walked upstairs to his office. A couple of minutes later I finished and called politely to him to inform him of the fact. He asked me nicely to come upstairs and have a seat in front of his desk. I did. He spoke with me about a few of my qualifications. I remember feeling so under qualified! I answered his questions, doing my best to convey to him my natural intelligence and my desire to succeed. After he had finished interviewing me he asked if I had any questions. I did of course, and chief among them, "What is it that you do?"
He told me that his company was Kirby and then went on to explain the 2000 dollar a month guarantee, which sounded very fine indeed. I came on with alot of high hopes and dreams.
After being in the field for about three months and having moderate success as a salesperson, I was promoted to a DPS (Dealer Power Specialist). Now my job was to hire people and teach the the essentials of selling a Kirby. I was quite good at this. I brought in many new dealers and, in the process, almost starved to death. The 2000 dollar a month guarantee is contingent upon doing a set amount of demonstrations (60).
I never once did 60 demos while in the field. It is a very difficult feat, though I was taught to make it seem easy.in Kirby, the indoctrination starts at day one. I almost believed what I was teaching the people myself, but I know deep down how difficult it was to make it in this business. Please don't misinterpret, a good Kirby dealer can make a very nice income with no real skills to back it up, but sadly these are skills the average, broken souls looking for employment with Kirby lack.
As a DPS, the biggest paycheck I recieved for one week of work was about 900 dollars. As a dealer I had a good week and made 1400. I wasn't phenomenal, but I could have been. The only thing was that every time I sold one of these vacuums or one of those kids on selling them, I gave away a little piece of my integrity. After a while I began hating my job, hating everything that Kirby stood for. I made a few acquaintances there and met some very nice people, but I knew it was something I couldn't do forever.
I left Kirby after four months of being a DPS. I took a job in fast food and went back to college. My boss told me that it was foolish to trade hours for dollars. Better time than virtue, I thought.
Since leaving I have gotten an associates in Computer Science and now work as a computer programmer. Needless to say, I am much happier in my new position. Still, I can't help but feel bad about all the people I misled in my own zealous attempt to succeed. And that, I think is the ultimate price of working for Kirby. I remember what it was like to hear 2000 a month and believe that my financial situation was going to improve significantly, only to have a ridiculous schedule and insane sales goals. Once again, I apologize.

The moral of the story: You can make great money working for Kirby, but not forever and not without paying a significant price. Don't trade your life for Kirby.

Company: Kirby
Country: USA
State: Kansas
City: Leavenworth
Address: 620 Cherokee St

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