Picture it. Fort Collins, May. After a long search for employment after graduating with a degree in Communication and Journalism, I found an ad that seemed to be something of interest as I had bills to pay and no time to waste doing so. At this point I was ready to accept employment anywhere with little to no discrimination as to what the job was or what it involved. The ads I answered to were as follows:
Source - Fort Collins Coloradoan - Fort Collins, CO
COLLEGE STUDENTS
AND OTHERS
Want to MAKE and SAVE MONEY
18-24 individuals needed to meet summer
demands. Earn weekly and monthly bonuses Plus $400 - $625 week. Call for Interview Sunday thru Tuesday. 663-*
H H H H H H H H
ATTENTION
Guys & Gals
Company expansion in progress. 21 openings!
$475-$750 week to start No previous exp or
degree req. Must be reliable. FT permanent.
Call Today for interview (970) 493-* 416-*
Source - Fort Collins Coloradoan - Fort Collins, CO
I called on a Monday, interviewed that same day. Hmmmm. Sounds good as I do have sales experience and $475 to $750 a week sure does sound nice. I was told that it was the Kirby company and that I would recieve $month as a base pay whether I sold any or not. Okay. Fair enough. Where do I sign up?
So, I arrive at the orientation the following Wednesday eager and ambitious. They go through the whole shpeal with bells and whistles including a power point presentation. You know - to make it look and feel professional.
We are told that we have appointments already setup and all we have to do is go to the appointment and demonstrate the machine. Now, I am a believer in the Kirby. My great-grandma and my grandma were and still are pround owners of a Kirby. For that reason, I was comfortable selling the machine. Our only requirement was 60 demonstrations in a month. Long story short, I completed the orientation (which isn't paid btw).
So, my first week in the field and I am asking my self "what the heck did I get myself involoved with?" I was gone from my house at 9:00 A.M. And returned home around 12:00 or 1:00 in the morning - sometimes later if I had to got to the store or whatever when I returned. I was encouraged to keep up with it for at least the first month and then decide if I wanted to stay. "At least get your $2000" I was told.
During the hours of the day, our team leader would scope out neighborhoods and we were then sent knocking on doors when the neighborhood looked "juicy". We had the Police called on us 2 or 3 times, baking soda thrown back at us, cussed out like fellow sailors numerous times, and all the while packed like sardines in a van meant to carry 5 people with 7 or 8 inside.
I began to question fellow employees. I heard through the grape vine that the $month was only guarunteed the first month as they assumed that you would be able to make more than the $2000 in commission. Here is where the problem began.
The second week of my doomed employment, I was approached and told that they wanted me to answer phones and schedule interviews. I was fine with that. Who would complain - an air conditioned office or a sardine can - you be the judge. I was aksed to do Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday's in said office for hourly pay - while still going out in the field. I knew this was going to take away from the time that I needed to get my 60 demos in but I went for it because they said they would work with me on the number of demos that I needed to complete.
As a side note - I am the only person left out of an orientation class consisting of around 15 people.
Here I am, the 5th week of employment with these people and I am informed that I would not be getting paid because I was unable to meet the 60 demo requirement. Nevermind my kids have not eaten or barely eaten within this 4 weeks. Nevermind my car is about to be taken away from me. I will be evicted and homeless with my children on the street. Forego the fact that my phone will be disconnected. And nevermind that creditors are calling me day and night. I am stressed, depressed, and have had thoughts about ending it all. I am only 27 and I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I am a failure to myself. I did not go to college (self funded) for this.
My beef is that it is not fair. I am not sure whether or not it is even legal. I cannot count the number of 12 hour days that I spent hopelessly knocking on doors that had already been knocked on - or doing demos for people who absolutely love the machine and me but cannot afford $1800 for a vacuum no matter how much they wanted one. Kirby makes you believe that if you are not selling a machine to these people that you are doing something wrong. I busted my a* and this is what I get. Kirby got 4 weeks of free labor.
This is a plee - if this is illegal (what they have done to me) I am ready to battle. I am sure there is some false advertising going on here among other things also. There is more to this story but I would have to write a book or at least a mini series to tell it all. This is above all a warning to anyone who finds themselves in an interview confronted with "We are Kirby" - RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! If you love yourself and your sanity RUN! I wish I would have. I have never been lied to or decieved more in my life. I am embarassed and humiliated. I am taking a stand.
Michele
Wellington, Colorado
U.S.A.
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