In need of work, I applied to work for "Versachannel" via an ad on Craigslist. I met with the "Alex Cornwell" (Aside of that, there were a number of red flags. I have worked in advertising/marketing and sales for a number of years... Never have I seen a guy in any capacity not have a computer of any kind. "Alex Cornwell" office had a desk, a sizeable cabinet with some sports stuff. Now this is where it gets hectic.
Marketing with no media kits. Okay, no problem. No one was in the office, they were all in the field, ok. They say "professional attire", I saw guys in courderoy jackets with high waters and white socks with cheap loafers. Ok, dont be a snob. I met with a "supervisor" who was to evaluate my pitch in the field. All of these "marketers" met at the "office" at 9 and rallied themselves into a pitching fervor... Discussing their successes on how they got people to sign up for Home Depot services in kitchen resurfacing or other "clients".
Now, I dont know what area of sales some of these people trained, but no one walks around saying, " let me hear your pitch, let me hear your pitch". They then "study" and "teach" principles and fundamentals on getting people to sign up for services and continuously preach on how their people were responsible for generating "millions in revenue" by dedicated employees of the "firm".
Teams were then dispatched to a select group of targetted Home Depot's to speak to people and get them to sign up for free kitchen re-surfacing in home estimates. You are on your feet, walking the store, hawking and ogling, going after customers who are there to do legimate shopping. Now, the service is valid but here is the kick. The appointments must be made over the phone AFTER a prospect has signed, you are supposed to use the house phone to contact the call center, but it is advised you use your cell... To prevent a fish getting off the hook.
The call center asks questions that DONT coincide with your own and usually kills the deal. You do this from say 11 am to 7, sometimes 8 or later. Then, you drive back to the office to turn in your sheets, and give a breakdown of the day. Then you discuss on tactics to gain more signatures. The second day, you hear the talk of top sellers that are moving on to start their own marketing firms and all this crappola.
The first three days, you are supposed to make $8 bucks an hour (what is that, I'm a grown a* man, but I needed a few bucks to hold me over until another gig popped off), then after three days, you made commission per confirmed signature AND appointments kept. After the second day, unless you are a desperate fool OR a master at getting signatures, you stay on.
After 6 months, you get "promoted" to Supervisor/trainer with the ultimate goal of being team leader and eventually, moving on to starting your own "firm". Its nothing but a pyramid scam. Tony Rodriguez, maybe in another life, we couldve sat down and drank a beer... But that pyramid of a company he is running is nothing but bunk!
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