Ample Opportunity / Quill Office supplies... Crazy salespeople and liars. Altamonte Springs Florida

I had never heard of Quill office supplies until I went for an interview at a place called "Ample Opportunity". I was jobless for many months after being laid off of my job I had for almost two years. Upset and unable to find work for nearly six months, I was excited when I got called in for an interview after sending my resume to this company. The job post said that they were "looking for people for management training" in their Altamonte Springs office...first lie on their part..but I'll get to that later...

A few days after they contacted me by phone, I go into my interview, where a very friendly man asked me a few questions. I guess I did alright during the interview, because I was immediately asked to come back for a second interview, which would involve job shadowing one of their employees. The man even said that the person who I would be job shadowing was a salesperson and that would not be my job...lie number two.

Later that week, it was either a Thursday or Friday, I arrived at the office around 9 am for my second interview, which would last all day until 5. While waiting downstairs for my interview to start, I saw several salespeople with briefcases walk out the door...but didn't really see that many people staying in the office. There were only two people left in charge of their entire office- The same man who interviewed me upstairs and another man who I have never met before on a computer downstairs.

I created small talk with the man downstairs in an attempt to cure my boredom while waiting for a salesperson to come and get me. After talking about music and other various topics, I decided to ask some questions about the job. I asked if the sales peoples' jobs included door-to-door soliciting, and if I would have to do that (because cold calling and soliciting are two things that I will NEVER do).

The mans attitude changed immediately after I asked him that question, his reply was "I DO NOT KNOW, OKAY. I JUST WORK IN THE FRONT ON THIS COMPUTER, SO I AM NOT ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT", which was said in a very, VERY rude tone of voice. (he was lying, he did know. But again, I will get to that later...)

So finally, after waiting for about 30 minutes, the salesperson arrived to get me. He seemed nice at first, asking me the typical questions that an employee would during an interview. He explained that the position I applied for was an entry-level sales position..which WAS NOT stated on their online job posting. He explained that everyone would start off in outside sales,then be promoted to a management position "in about 2 years or so".

I didn't mind this at first, I had some experience with retail sales, so I didn't think it would be too bad. But then he told me that I was not allowed to ask any questions until the end, which I thought was very sketchy. After demanding that I be silent during our long, awkward ride, we finally arrived in his selling "territory".

As we approached the first business out of 61 that we would be visiting that day, my worst fear became a reality...This was a door to door soliciting job. For the first few hours of the day, I walked into several businesses with this man who refused to let me speak or ask him questions, embarrassing myself as nearly every business owner gave us a very angry NO while we were reciting the selling script to them.

Finally, around 12. It was lunch time, which meant no sales or embarrassment for about 45 minutes or so. On most interviews I have been to like this, the employer bought lunch..which is usually a very kind and professional thing to do for somebody who you hope to employ. But that was not the case here.

Usually, I wouldn't mind buying my own lunch..but this man was so unprofessional about it..as we pulled up to a restaurant (one of his choice), he said to me " I HOPE YA BROUGHT LOTS OF MONEY CUZ THIS PLACE IS GOOD".

After lunch, I thanked the man for taking me along with him, but then explained that I was not interested in this field of work. His response was "Well I gotta make a sale or two so you gotta stay wid me da whole day alright?" (and fyi, this jerk did not make a single sale ALL DAY)

Most of the businesses we went to, he would give his speech, and the people would kindly say no thank you, they were completely satisfied with their office supplies provider and that they had no interest in switching. But that answer was not good enough for him. He would try to force these people into buying products by saying "WELL YA KNOW, OUR PRODUCTS ARE A LOT CHEAPER SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SET YA UP WITH AN ORDER OF 5 PACKS OF COPY PAPER AT THE LOW PRICE OF 28 DOLLARS EACH". Usually after that, we would very angrily be asked to leave their establishment.

And if telling him that I was not interested in the job was not enough for him, He forced me to stay well after five o clock because "He had to make a sale". around six thirty, My boyfriend and sister started to call me a lot, because they were worried about me and wanted to know my whereabouts. Finally around 7, I was brought back to my car and was able to return home...

I suggest you don't work here, unless you like being lied to, like being controlled by your pushy salesman mentor, and if you would like to kidnapped by him as well and forced to stay there against your will.

*anonymous*
Orange city, Florida
U.S.A.