I worked for the wonderful people at northwind promotions at the beginning of 2007. I had recently gotten off active duty with the army and really needed to find a job. I saw the ad on Monster and savannahhelpwanted for Public Relations. Since I was interested in that sort of thing, i figured what the hell. I made the call to the office the same day I found the ad. I was asked to come in... That day. I had heard of open interviews but that was kinda ridiculous (first clue). I said that the next day would be better because it was almost six pm (second clue). The woman on the phone sighed but reluctntly agreed.
I showed up at the given time dressed in a suit and tie. I was there with several other applicants who all were recieving interviews. A normal buisness practice... I thought. I did the intial interview with Shinon and was told that if I was selected for a second interview I would be called soon. I left the office (Which was in a small warehouse kind of building) and barely stepped foot into my front door when my cell phone rang. It was Shinon saying that she wanted me to come back for a ride along training day second interview thing. I aggreed and was actually very excited.
The next morning I drove back to the office and was told that I would be riding with Lindsay, a pretty young woman who was a training manager. First thing in the car I was asked a series of questions. I answered them but when I started asking questions I was told to wait for lunch. We drove about an hour away to a little truck stop where we set up a table and and placed all of our CPEA items on it. I was told all the tricks of the trade. (Less stuff on the table, a sense of urgency, etc.) I watched as Lindsay flirted and flaunted to get truckers and passers by to purchase something to help "raise money for missing kids".
Lunch came and I finally got to ask about pay. Profit sharing. Thats all I was told. I said so its bassically a commission based job. And I was firmly corrected. (PROFIT SHARING IS COMMISSION) Even though I knew that it was difficult to make money on a strictly commission job, I continued.
The day went on and I was told to start talking to people. I did and sold quite a bit of stuff. Finally we packed up and left. We got back to the office at about six. (we started at eight) and I was told to follow into a room where there were no chairs and everyone was going nuts. Screaming and jumping around as if they were on drugs. But you know, It was fun. I had just gotten out of the army. I was hell bent on having a job without as many rules and that I could have a little fun.
That night I was told that if I were to get the job I would be recieving a phone call. So I went home. (no i did not get paid for this day). I got home at about eight and at ten recieved a phone call saying I got the job and could start the next day!
Well, I went in and it was the same as my interview, yelling screaming, loud music, people playing catch. Seemed like fun. I was sent out again to the same truck stop with Lindsay and was told to sell my little heart out. I did. And over the course of the next few weeks I continued to do the same. Finally I was given my checklist for training manager. I completed all those tasks and within three or four weeks of starting I was promoted. (no pay increase just a cool title.)
With only making a couple hundred dollars a week I was barely paying the bills, but still the thought of owning my own buisness in the long run seemed to be worth it. I had already decided where I wanted to go, what I would call it, everything. I was still kinda into it. Naive. The hours were long and the pay sucked but at least I was going somewhere.
Then I was told that in two weeks I would be going on a buisness trip and be given my own team. With the money I was making, I couldnt afford to eat while I was there so I took out a small loan from Shinon. Basically a cash advance that was going to be taken out of my check. Then next morning still a week out from my trip I was sent to a little drugstore in the ghetto. I didnt sell anything. Not my fault. I knew the area. I tried to tell them that I was from here, my best friend lived only two blocks from the place. And that there was REALLY no money there and that honestly, a little white boy in a suit and tie on the bad side of Waters avenue... Would probably get shot. SO they switched me to the KB toys in the ogelthorpe mall.
I figured that would be ok and it was I sold a lot of stuff. But then I recieved another call. This one from my friend that lived over near the drugstore on waters and knew that I was there the day before. He also knew that I had complained to Shinon that it wasnt safe there. The reason he called is that there was now a small little girl working the same event that I begged them to cancel. If I, a former US Army soldier, shouldnt be working the even, why should a young girl? I was outraged. I called Shinon and she said that there must have been a mistake and that she would fix the issue immediatly. (found out later that she did not). I said ok and went about my day.
That was the day something started to seem really weird, people were quitting, Shinon was getting desperate for money, all this stuff was going on. I went home that night and looked up our parent company because I wanted to report Shinon to the next higher up. What I found was... Nothing. No real website for Quantum, innovage, nothing. I mean there were sites, but nothing that looked legit. Then I googled it again. Just Quantum Promotions. And what I found was the rip off report.
The next morning I went back to that KB toys and worked for about half the day. Then I made the call I should have made in the first place. I called Shinon and told her that I quit. No two weeks, nothing. I told her to mail my last check to me, and that they could pick up their stuff at the mall. I left it all. The money, the table, the items. Everything. I walked through the mall yelling that it was a scam and that people shouldnt give their money away to this company.
Its been over a year now and when it came time for me to do taxes this year, I called Shinon to let them know about my change of address for my W2s. I was told that they had already been mailed out and there was nothing that they could do. I never did recieve those forms. Speaking of which I never did recieve my last check either.
To all who have worked for the company, I share your pain. FOr all who are considering it, FORGET IT. And for all those innocent people that I conned, I am deeply sorry. Had I known the breakdown I would have never done it. I was trying to do something good.
Heres the real breakdown:
5% CPEA
30% Employee Paycheck
65% SHINON (Owner/Operator of this SCAM)
Dont give these people your money, If you see them on the street pass by.
SCAMMED
Savannah, GA
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