I am a small business owner who just started my company in the last 6 months. I design and manufacture contemporary women's clothing and needed a sales rep to sell my new line. I posted an advertisement on a well known TRADE publication, a paper that is respected and specificaly services the fashion industry.
I received several responses, including the one from Tribes Group. They sent me a letter pitching their services, a contract of what our agreement would be, kept in close e-mail (and phone) contact while I was making my decision - basically everything you would expect from a serious and professional sales group. I even had a lengthy conversation with the president, Jeff Park!
After much consideration, and the desire to be represented on the west coast (my company is in new york) we agreed to hire them on. They promised "big sales" and that their top customers were stores like Nordstroms and high end resort shops, etc... They loved our product and thought they could do close to 1 million in sales the first year, etc...
They required a 10% commision and a retainer fee of 1,500.00 which would be deducted from their first commission check. They also asked that we send them 3 sets of samples and any looks books we had. All of this is pretty standard so it didn't raise any red flags. Plus, they were great about keeping in contact with us via e-mail.
However, after we sent our samples and the check - the trouble started. We were unable to contact them - their phone number went straight to voicemail... We requested status reports via e-mail and that someone contact us to talk and were given the brush off or not answered at all.
Needless to say the big orders never came... NO ORDERS CAME AT ALL! After trying to talk to someone and get any kind of update what-so-ever (thinking maybe they were really busy) for over a month - we finally decided to pull the plug and knew something was not right. When we requested our samples be returned we got a repsonse stating that they thought they had already returned our samples. Of course, my response to that was not kind or patient!
Since then, I have heard nothing from this company at all. I have been looking online tryng to find anything on them that I can... My searches came up with 0 results! (astounding since they claimed to have been in business for 12 years!) I finally came to my senses and checked the Better Business Bureau website (something I will always do 1st from now on) and, of course, they were listed with a rating of "F" and had several similar complaints, dating back to 1991.
All in all, I think my company took a $2,000.00 hit - very hard to swallow when you have only been in business for 6 months and haven't even sold 1 thing! These guys are one of the worst types of con artists in my opinion - those that prey on new/young business owners... It is hard enough to make it work without them out there! My warning - never trust tribes group and tell all your friends!!! And always check the BBB before you make any decision to hire a company.
Fashion Company
New York, New York
U.S.A.
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