Problems with Closet World start with the training of new designers. There is a one week unpaid in-house closet design training program, sometimes followed up with two more days for two other product lines. Commissions are explained on the last day. Commissions are paid after a job is installed, usually 2 1/2 to 3 weeks after the sale and on the next two week paycheck. Typically Closet World pays 6 weeks after the sale.
There is no base pay, a deposit of $350.00 has to be made for the sales kit and a $10.00 per month cost for a pager is mandetory (not one Designer I know uses theirs) It's a good money maker for them at 300 or 400 reps. At $10.00!!
There is NO overseeing a new designers work. Designers are specifically told not to get involved with the instalation in the first few weeks. Designers mistakes are corrected without feedback to the designer.
Designers already low commissions are heavily discounted when having to negotiate below certain levels. Sale management will try to get the job at any cost and sometimes discounts so that our commission percentage effectively halves our commission.
Out of a typical class of 20 new recruits, 15 will be gone in a short period, shaking their head in frustration.
As time goes on no designer wants to go to their installations, as 9 times out of 10 it's been screwed up. We get NO comunication from the installation dept. About our jobs once we have booked them.
I have personally lost many future jobs due to the attitude of management and the installation dept.
This is truly the most disfunctional company I have worked for. It is run by several family members and an owner who is out of the dark ages, but believes he is so honest it makes you want to puke.
Management is unlike anything I have seen before, with managers trying to manage 25 to 30 people. Recruiting is constant even though there is not enough work for the existing Designers. I have never had a full days work and most weeks we average 3 to 4 appointments for the week. My last manager has never made any comment about any sale I have made. No pat on the back, nothing.
There is a bonus system based on the percentage of sales made versus appointments given. However this has become a joke, as many appointments are no shows or are for a product we do not sell (even though the customer specified what they wanted) Old clients are called and pressured into giving an appointment because we have a "special discount" so they stand us up.
The basic product is super overpriced due to high priced advertising, which is a very large part of their overhead.
The shame of it is that it could be a very good company with better management. I have designed some really good Closets or Office systems and do have some happy customers.
AND I have to say that they do eventually correct their mistakes and usually at their cost, unfortunately their careless attitude so often damages any chance of future business.
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