About two years ago I modeled for an online Adidas add. After that I was in the mall and approached by a woman who was working at an "Industry Model and Talent" booth. She told me how good looking I was, and I should come in to be photographed. Naive at the time, I went in with my mother for the free consultation. At the meeting I again was told how good looking I am and was persuaded into paying 800 dollars for a photo-shoot that was to be taken that day. (I should have known it was a scam when they rush you to sign a contract and take pictures in your everyday street clothes.) After taking the photos, surprise, surprise, I never heard from them again.
(While I am not advocating that every person who takes pictures with them, doesn't get a copy of the pictures, I didn't receive a copy of mine. You may very well get a copy of your pictures... But that is where it will stop. They promise you the world, and you will get nothing but a copy of pictures that you can have taken at a photo store at the mall for a fraction of the price.)
I could go on and on, but I will try and keep it short and simple. Fast forward to two years later. I again was approached by a sales rep at the mall from an Industries Model and Talent booth, and again told how good looking I was. (If anyone takes the time to stand around and watch these sales reps, no offense to anyone, but they will say that to anyone and everyone that walks by.) Older and wiser, I decided to speak to the woman who kept heckling me and let her know how upset I was with her company. She immediately sympathized with me and had me fill out a complaint form and assured me someone would contact me within 24 hours, after all, I am a valued costumer. (Something gave me the impression like this was a routine speech that they are trained to give to angry customers.) Anyways, two days went by and I received no such phone call from anyone. Yes, after I got ripped off two years ago I let it go, and took it as a lesson to be learnt, but now after this sales rep reminded me about it, and the utter disrespect the company has, I decided to take the initiative to call myself. After being passed around like a football on the phone, I was finally given the managers extension and was told to leave a message and she will call me back. I followed the instructions and waited a full week without hearing anything from anyone. I followed up with another phone call 7 days later and again was passed around on the phone only to be told to leave another message. Again I didn't hear from anyone. What business doesn't return phone calls to their clients?!
To make a long story short, (I could go on for hours...) you are going to do what you want, and my complaint may not be enough to stop you, but at least now you cant say after reading this that you weren't warned.
Corey
Oradell, New Jersey
U.S.A.
0 comments