I was almost roped into being a salesman for this company, but as I was signing up I noticed something that set me off: The call-in policy. Prodigy asks its salesmen to call in to their team leader at every appointment, and have the business owner speak to them. I found this immediately conspicuous, then there was more:
"Your team leaders are here to help you and to improve the quality of the appointments that you receive. If we never get the opportunity to speak to the merchant, we cannot help you and you have no one to blame but yourself. (!) If you call after you leave the appointment, you will be asked to return to the appointment to allow us to speak to the merchant before you can receive your next appointment." (!!!)
Explanations points were my device. I immediately looked this business up online, as I should have done sooner. Usacomplaints.com was the SECOND result preceded only by the business' actual website.
After reading the reports for this business I was disgusted and no longer wished to do business with them. My materials came in the mail today, so I opened them to see if the consumer complaintsers were telling the truth.
Ok, so besides the call-in policy which I already knew to be true, another issue the ripoff-reports spoke of was the fact that these business whom I had been told "were already interested in the product" were not really interested. They were told I was going to drop off some info and no one said anything about an appointment.
Here's what the training manual has to say about this, page 4-21:
"Occasionally, even after a merchant agrees to a valid, confirmed appointment, they will make up an excuse to avoid meeting with you. They might say something like: 'I was told that you were just going to come by and drop off some information.' OR 'I never agreed to a meeting and I don't have time for this.'"
(Every merchant is going to make the SAME excuse? And furthermore, why?)
There it is clear as crystal. It made sense to me: How could Prodigy find me 3-5 appointments a day that were valid people interested in the product? I live in a rural area! It's apparent that they do their best to make an appointment, but if all else fails they say 'Do you mind if he just drops off some information?" And they send you in there none the wiser like a complete unsuspecting idiot.
Here's another issue: Prodigy charges outrageous fees for services they are already getting at a fraction of the price. Prodigy purposely leaves the price info out because it's so expensive no body would buy it.
Ok, in my information, as I was told, the prices for this equipment are nowhere to be found. Maybe they will tell me during training. Who knows. All the equipment is listed and described, but with no prices!!!
Issue: Prodigy uses unscrupulous high-pressure tactics. Right on the head.in my 20 page script I am to learn, very silly and poorly written by the way, there is little foot notes in between paragraphs such as "Don't tell them any cons, let them come up with them." Also, as you get closer to the end nearly every paragraph of your speech is followed by: "If they are still not interested say..." Over and over, bugging the person until they kick you out or cave-in. Then of course you have the pleasure of asking them if you can call-in and have them speak with them. If they refuse you get no more appointments. How fun
This position is nothing but telemarketing with someone else doing the cold-calling. If I hadn't found ripoff report and had gone to local business that had no desire to speak with me I would have felt like a moron. If you have no scruples and don't mind being lied to by your employer, by all means sign up with them, this is your decision, we're only giving you the information that you are entitled to and should be provided by the employer.
Cirrusnarea
Frankford, Delaware
U.S.A.
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