Axiom Advertising Smart Circle EMPLOYMENT SCAM !!!!! Girard, Ohio

After reading through these, as a former Distributor, I would like to add my thoughts. 

For one thing, I do not think that Linda, or anyone, mislead or lied to me during the time I worked for them:

I was informed from the onset that I was an "Independent Distributor" and that I would be working as a contractor. I was told that I would need to either provide my own transportation or ride with someone else and help them with thier expenses (ie. gas money). I was told the hours that they worked and the general area in which they worked. I was shown the type of products/promotions they sold and informed on the per-unit amounts that you make. Additionally, I was invited to do a ride-along in which I could see how they worked. 

I feel that the people at Axiom were perfectly honest in representing thier business as well as very helpful and positive in thier training methods. I went to work with them with my eyes wide open concerning the benefits and detractions of the job. 

Why did I leave them then? I have a family to support and was not making enough money for the expenses in addition to not liking the amount of hours I spent away from my family. However, those are not the company's fault. Linda and the other's I worked with consistently kept up a positive attitude toward me and provided incentives for growth. Additionally, they provided me with a positive reference when I left them for a more traditional job. 

Several years ago, I worked for Axiom while I was in college.  You know that feeling that you get when something just isn't right.  Well I had that feeling with this company, which is why I was only there for about 2 weeks.  It is now a few years later and as I'm working on a job, I come across the question as to whether someone is an employee of a company or a sub-contractor.  Sadly, many companies who are trying to increase their bottom line net profits will choose to make their employees sub contractors.  It is a way of getting around paying their half of the employment taxes, and instead puts all of the taxes on their employees.  Anyway, this is from the IRS website and in bold is what Axiom does in regards to that point.

Types of Instructions Given An employee is generally subject to the businesss instructions about when, where, and how to work. All of the following are examples of types of instructions about how to do work.

When and where to do the work. (You are told that you must be at Axiom's office by no later than 7:30 and that you must leave to go to the town that the owner determines for you by 9:30)

What tools or equipment to use.

What workers to hire or to assist with the work. (You are assigned with another Axiom sales rep to go to said town)

Where to purchase supplies and services.

What work must be performed by a specified individual.  (You must do door to door business sales)

What order or sequence to follow when performing the work.

Evaluation System

If an evaluation system measures the details of how the work is performed, then these factors would point to an employee. [During your "training" (we will get to this one in a few) your trainer, or the team leader, evaluates your sales pitch, your close, etc. and reports back to the owner]

If the evaluation system measures just the end result, then this can point to either an independent contractor or an employee.

Training

If the business provides the worker with training on how to do the job, this indicates that the business wants the job done in a particular way.  This is strong evidence that the worker is an employee.[Upon hiring, you spend several hours being trained on how to do your sales pitch, you're also trained for several days/weeks by a team leader] Periodic or on-going training about procedures and methods is even stronger evidence of an employer-employee relationship. [The two hours every morning spent in the Axiom office, are training on how to do your sales pitch, these are also hours that you're not paid for, but must be at.] However, independent contractors ordinarily use their own methods.

Basically, if the IRS got a hold of this information, I would believe that Axiom Advertising would be under some serious investigation into their business practices.  I also want everyone to know that this IS employment scam.  This company is making you work the way that they want you to work, to sell what they want you to sell how they want you to sell it, and are then making you pick up the gas money and both your and their taxes.  Stear clear of any company like this because not only is is an employment scam, but if you DO end up getting into their management, you will be liable as well!

Reference:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=179111,00.html

I am an ex-employee of the company from about April to late June. I was a leader after my first week because I worked for it. Let me start by saying that the 2.5 months I worked for this company were probably the most fun months of my life. Had I lived closer to either branch, I would have probably stayed longer with the company. While I was there though, I learned so much about running a business and how to be an all around positive person.

The positives about this job are simple. You will make money if you work hard and keep a positive attitude. Simple as that. It is easy to be discouraged after not selling anything for 5 hours, but that doesn't mean if you work hard enough, and find the right person, you won't sell everything you have. It has happened to me and many people I have worked with. You have the opportunity to walk away every day with 100-200+ dollars in your pocket. One day I made 240 dollars and a total of around 650 for the week.

That leads to the negatives. You could walk away with $10 for the day, or even worse, nothing. It is all a matter of practicing. People don't ever want to practice pitch in the morning, but this is where you learn to succeed. My biggest negative was the wear and tear on my car, but I lived 40mins for the office. 

There are definitely ups and downs of this job. What I will tell you though, is that the people that work here (Especially the managers, Linda and Jimmy) seem hard nosed at first, but they are some of the most fun people you could be around. Every day was an adventure (selling baseball tickets to amish, the lumberjack dance and "blowing doors".) It was also really cool that on my first day of work, I got to meet the Cleveland Indians marketing staff and also got treated to a free game! This job was fantastic if you like people, I just lost that sales drive.

The people who rag on this company were merely just unsuccessful and . Sure some of the morals are a bit off, but that is sales for you. You gotta act like the best to be the best.

I am a recent college graduate living in Youngstown region and I applied for an administrative position with this company last week after finding their ad on Craigslist. I received a call from them expressing interest and excitement about my resume on Friday after a long day at my current job and was planning on calling them back tomorrow to set up an interview. I was beyond excited because I majored in PR in college and thought this would be a fabulous way to get my foot in the door at a legitimate company. Based on what I've read here and at other websites, I can tell you that I will not be going in for an interview, especially if it is this kind of sales. Sorry, I'm interested in marketing strategy and public relations planning, not holding signs and selling coupon books! If I'm going to work as an administrative assistant too, I don't expect to have to go around Ohio doing this. Also, it should be noted that there are two Axiom Advertising companies. One is in Indiana and has a legitimate website, appears to do real work and has a very credible board of directors. The one in Girard has an awful website and not much description on their website. Truly, it seems like a scam. I never go in for an interview without researching a company first and in this case, I am glad I did.

sorry buddy but PERHAPS you cant accept the fact YOU cant sell at all, or that someones actually better then you at selling product(jealous much)..not one of your talents perhaps:)... and even when you say anyone can do the job and get hired if you have a half a brain... i understand now so YOUR statement is stating simply U only have half a brain correct? do you open with that in your pitch? LOL that may be the root of your problem just saying.... dont be so hard on yourself though its ok lol. So overall the topic is to put down the company but at the same time throughout your whole verbal dihrea  you contradicting yourself perfusely. oh and FYI there system is EVERYONE goes through the training, the sales (walking buisness to buisness occasionally in the rain..you poor soul a little water..) gradually earning your way up to a management/ ownership position... but hmm lets connect the dots here then wouldnt that mean the owner did the same thing as you only she maybe bought something called an umbrella or a poncho and sucked it up to reach ownership. i dont know, just sayin maybe your not used to working, mommy and daddy bought you everything... but in the adult world sometime you just got to get your feet wet:)


:)Good Luck in the job hunt!!!!!!

I would like to point out the use of the term business to business sales used by Linda in her rebuttal.  For people considering this job, please understand that this is NOT business to business sales.  You are going business to business yes, but it is still business to consumer sales.  As we were TAUGHT by Linda, in the training, we were to go into the businesses and sell our pitches to the employees of the business, NOT the business itself.  When we were paid, we were paid out of pockets by the employees, we were not written a check by the business, we did not create an accounts receivable with them, we did not sell anything to the business.

This is just another example of her word manipulation that she is so fond of.  I wouldn't buy from her, and I wouldn't work for her again, most people will not buy a product or anything from someone who comes across as being dishonest.  The whole theory of fake it, is exactly that. (something else she brought up)  This company teaches people to be manipulators, I believe that the world of marketing is moving towards building lasting customer relationships, not moving backwards to using manipulation to gain customers.

about 2-3 years ago I had a very similar experience. I applied to a position in Columbus. It said for Marketing and Advertising. I recieved a phone call approximately 2-3 days after submitting my resume to the company for the Marketing and Advertising. She explained she worked with the Columbus Crew(professional soccer team), some other 'up and up" businesses. So  she asked me to come in for an interview. at this point I was pretty excited. most places of work if theres music in the background it's "softer" and i'm dead serious when i say this. I was walking down the hallway of this facility(it is an office building) I could hear the music before i got to the door. I thought that was a little odd but I didn't say anything. the interview was literally 5 minutes. She obviously hadn't looked at my resume because RIGHT ON IT list my education and she asked me about my education. So she really liked my answers so she sent me out with 2 gentlemen to sell this coupon books in front of Sam's Club. REALLY? this is what the job is? selling d**n coupon books. Then what REALLY ticked me off. They had this planned due to the fact they WOULDN'T allow me to drive to the Sam's Club I had to ride with the 2 trainers. So  I asked him nicely could he please take me back to my car due to the fact I'm not interested in the job. He said he could not due to the fact his boss would get very upset. I called a cab and they took me to my car. It was 35 dollar cab fare. I should of sent the bill to the company. but i know she wouldn't of paid it.

I appreciate the statements from the alleged victim and agree with the reasons he/she stated them. However, I REALLY appreciate the statements from the owner of Axiom. Coincidence that I just had a pre-interview and now here I am replying to this..

From what I've read, I now think I would be an even better contractor or employee for this company. I like all of the explanations from the owner. It's on the person to progress in this company which is normally difficult but if you are given the chance(which sounds like it's easier than one would think... Hallelujah! ) you can learn what it takes in this business. I'm new to it but extremely anxious to learn something new. Also, I immediately liked the atmosphere. Music in the background, friendly "Admin" guy and the person that spoke to me was extremely cool in every way.

Naturally, I'm cautious of trying this and of what people say about it. Anyways, long story shorter.. I am looking forward to a possible future with this younger,outgoing, possibly occasionally fowl-mouthed crowd! What a breatof fresh air compared to what I'm used to...

There are too many issues to address here.
So I copied the original post and the items in bold are my comments to her allegations. 


The coupons and promotions they sell are legit and do save consumers money on things they would normally purchase anyway.  The clients they represent such as Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Erie Otters are reputable and endorse the coupons/gift certificates. Management or more specifically, the owner does not condone misrepresenting clients in a way as to mislead consumers by providing false promises.

However,she does not discriminate (discriminating is against the law) when hiring. If you want the job, and have half a brain, she 'hires'(contract) you, with little to absolutely no regard of a person’s personal ethics (Our success has always been in the development of people, personal ethics is different than business ethics).

So some representatives have made false promises to intentionally mislead consumers into buying the product (when that happens the client rep is taken off the campaign and we refund the card).
 
Also, some clients use this form of advertising to entice new customers because they have lost the old clients do(due) to lack of service.  This is mostly seen in "ma and pa" salons and
hotels.  Basically, you are told that you are getting luxury, but you end up with less than terrible service and or product. (We advertise for clients we do not meet them and greet them at the door. We cannot control their service and experience. All certificates come with a 30 day money back guarantee) my advice, if you are unfamiliar with the company (ie salon, restaurant, hotel) don’t buy the promotion.  (I agree)

As a former "employee"(Contractor not employee), I recommend strongly against even going on an interview....its a waste of time. (However at the end of your post you list everything you learned????) EVERYTHING, the owner tells you is a lie!!!!! (I am the most straight forward person you will ever meet; your perception is your reality)

Lie #1 - "we have administrative positions available" - complete lie(I have a list of 10 girls that have been hired in as my admin in the last year, many of them were not multi tasked enough)!!!She already has an admin. (We only run ads for Admin when we need one, 99% of all recruitment ads are for advertising, marketing and sales.)

The owner tells people this to get them in the door, convince them to go on "day of Observation", and then promises( i do not promise anything except the fact that they will get trained to operate in a 30K status, what they do with that training is on them) that they will make a ton of money( I do not convince people to do an observation, if they are open to more than one position we discuss their opportunities)

They actually use the term "closing"(it’s called a close because we don’t hire them, its contract) in regards to convincing(if it’s a good fit, it’s a good fit)someone to take the position.  "Team leaders" who take individuals on their Day of Observation will come back to the office and
 brag (?????)how they "closed" someone and that person would be starting work the
next day.

Lie #2 - "We only have 3 positions available" (we accept applications for various departments,
all pre-management positions start in the client service sales department)
- complete lie!!!! Recruiting is the only thing the owner does. 
They have multiple ads out on careerbuilder, monster, yahoo hotjobs, craigslist. (Yes we do...
motivated people are hard to find. 3% of the people we train will make it to management)
They even have multiple phone numbers( we operate 3 companies out of our facility) and give false administrator names so that the sheer volume of their ads get missed by the untrained eye, or that the ads pop up as "NEW" position available.  If you have, warm blood running through your veins, and APPEAR to be sane, they will hire you.  Do NOT believe for a second that you are as special (everyone is special, in big companies most of the owners wouldn’t even know your name) as they say you are,  because they don’t care(that’s interesting, I seem to remember this girl that after I sent her to LA for a week to learn more and sent her on a cruise, was getting surgery, and she wouldn’t have been able to make any money for weeks in the field…so I paid her to do miscellaneous things and found things for her to do around the office in the meantime so her bills wouldn’t get behind as she was healing. That by all means is me NOT caring about someone) and, they just need bodies to do the work the owner is not willing to do herself (I have taken thousands of people out and trained them personally. As I personally took you out. I would never expect anyone to do anything that I have never done and I started the same place as everyone else. In the corporate world many CEO’s and Presidents golf all day.)

Lie #3 - "We are expanding and opening a Canton/Erie/Wheeling facility" – complete lie! I personally knew of one new facility that opened, Erie, but it closed again within months (they are called satellites; we open them for a short period of time to sustain the clients in the area).
The owner tells people who live in Akron/Canton area that a new facility will be opening, and it never does,(We planned to have a location be open by DEC. however we sent a manager to open in the Pittsburgh market instead . We need to have a place by BASEBALL season in CANTON, currently looking at buildings now! Get excited!)Forcing those people to drive (spending their own time and money) to Youngstown.

Lie #4 - "You can expect to make $10/hr"(never said that. 1st off the reps make typically $10 per card registration, so to an employee mindset it is equivalent to 10 an hour if you register 1 an hr. Everyone is different)

COMPLETE LIE!!!!!!   The average rep that I personally talked to made an
average $70-$80/day(someone that make 30,000 a yr after taxes takes home 22,500.
Divide that by 52 weeks that is $432 week take home. Divide by 5 days is 86.00
a day)(my average one month was $300/wk).  That's $350 -$400/week.

The hours the owner expects you to work are 7am - 6pm. (this is not a job;it’s an opportunity to learn business, marketing, sales from the ground up. I cannot teach someone how to run a million dollar company in a 40 hr week. ANYONE THAT MAKES 100K or more a year works a lot. DID SCHOOL PAY YOU TO GO? Everyone leaves when they want, some reps leave at 4:30?? People leave when they want to leave; many of our reps make their own schedule. The ones that are here late aren’t “working” they are hanging around with each other picking each other brains and think tanking ideas. I usually have to kick everyone out of the office). That works out to be a min of 55 hrs/wk. The Math works out to be between $6.36/hr to $7.27/hr. 
Minimum wage in Ohio for 2011 is $7.40.  You can work at McDonalds and make more money.

ALSO, you are required to pay your own expenses including gas @ $3/gallon, phone(???), wear and tear on vehicle(tax write off),and food(where are the places that  people work at that pay for your food?).I personally drove an hour or more 3 out of 5 days/week.  I drove consistantly (consistently)to Erie, Canton,Wheeling, and all their surrounding suburbs

(everyone picks where they want to go and on what campaign. You would have chosen to go that far, I don't send people anywhere).  ALSO,if you stay long enough and make it to "Leader" status, you will be expected to stay longer at night to plan territories for the next day(again learning experience. Most people want to learn. Information =motivation=personal growth). 
Why the owner cant complete this task sitting in an office all day is beyond my comprehension.  !!!!!!

This is a commission (it is NOT commission… there are no claw backs,
like most commission based business...however IT IS A performance based income.
Flat rate piece rate, you make your money daily regardless of customers
returning items that we refund if people have buyer’s remorse! I tell EVERYONE
that in the selection process) only position.  !!!!!!There are no benefits! (Not for entry level positions, Contract to hire. Then there are benefits) 


Lie #5 - "You will get a chance to run your own campain" (campaign)  
Not a complet (complete)lie, but the owner sensationalizes this opportunity.  Running your own
"campaign" means you get to plan maps and decide which sales teams cover which territories and keeping track of the progress that has been made through the territories.  You DO NOT get a chance to work with the clients who want the advertising, nor do you get to design the graphics(where did you hear this, I’d like to know?) that go into the coupons/gift
certificates.   You will get an additional $.50 - $1 per coupon sold throughout the duration of the campaign for your efforts, but you have to "qualify" to get the additional compensation.  You have to sell 100 certificates in one wk or 75/wk for 2 wks straight.  The reality of the situation is the average rep sells 6-8 pcs/day (30-40 certificates/wk). So you stay extra hours managing territory but likely will not get compensated because you didnt qualify. (It is a performance based business. Whoever won the super bowl last year didn’t get the trophy this year)



Another thing I want to point out is that the owner will give training compensation anround around)
$400/wk for the first two wks depending on how much she "likes" a person.  She does not offer this training wage to everyone.(absolutely, people that are on the phone all day, people not trying, paid training is based on effort NOT sales)



Additional information: The environment is not always professional.  Swear words (Nowhere in real life or in the movies do you ever NOT hear BAD words. Freedom of speech is prevalent and still alive.) and derrogatory (derogatory) slander is tossed around the office like candy in a parade.  The owner constantly wears grossly innapropriate (inappropriate)attire that litterally (literally) leaves her chest out of her shirt.(I shop at the limited, as long as my husband thinks I look professional that’s all that matters to me :))

She calls her favorite reps (male and female) inappropriate pet names(honey, babe, or at the end like Craigers?? I do invent words) and slaps them on the butt.(ha-ha,where was I?)  She trains her "leaders" to repeat the same lies that are listed above to any new applicants and justifies the lies by telling them that people are conditioned to believe in a 9-5 working mentatlity mentality)and that she is changing the world by showing people how to be entrepreneurs. (Read RICH DAD POOR DAD)

"Fake it till you Make it"( "Fake it till you make it" (also called "act as if") is a common catchphrase that means to imitate confidence so that as the confidence produces success, it
will generate real confidence.

[1] The purpose is to avoid getting stuck in a self fulfilling prophecy related to one's fear of not being confident, e.g., by thinking,
"I can't ask that girl out because she would sense my lack of
confidence." The article How You Too Can Be an Optimist in Prevention
points out, "In research at Wake Forest University, for example,
scientists asked a group of 50 students to act like extroverts for 15 minutes in a group
discussion, even if they didn’t feel like it. The more assertive and energetic
the students acted, the happier they were".[2] Wikipedia,)

is their mantra.....literally. 

You will be SEVERLY berated for voicing any negative concerns you may have in regards to selling techniques, bad campains,(campaigns) or just bad luck(no such thing as luck).
 If you didn't sell enough, then it is entirely your fault and you will be read the riot act.
 (We are about making people better. If someone didn’t do well, we want to help them get better. I’d like to read the riot act? Didn’t realize that going over weakness to develop strengths were a bad thing for someone that wanted to better their skills)


Also want to point out the fact that whatever profit you make, the owner makes as well.  So while you are out walking for hours in the pouring rain,dealing with some of the most unpleasant people, she is sitting at her desk making the same profit as you PLUS the same profit the rest of the sales
staff makes. Without out the wear and tear on the car or the outrageous gas costs.
(I started the same way that everyone  else did!! That is called capitalism. It is called direct marketing, business to business sales. WE do what other companies don’t want to do THAT’S why we are growing in a receding economy. That is also called capitalism. The business I am president of, I did not buy. I worked for it and I have passed that opportunity on to everyone one else that is motivated and has gone thru training. Not everyone is successful.  Bill Gates makes more money than entire countries.)



The practice of deception (perception is reality; we are straight forward with everyone.)
at this company in regards to its hiring and employment practices are disturbing.  I can only give such detailed information because I, sadly, got suckered into this situation and I quit when I realized that I had to lie to other people and the innapropriate (inappropriate) and completely
unprofessional behavior was discovered to be a habit and personality distinction versus just an occasional Freudian slip.
 (Freudian slip:statement or action that inadvertently reveals unconscious motive or desire)


There are some positives to this position that I feel need to be shared to give a complete account in order for you to make an informed decision.  You will get paid cash every day.  You will learn sales skills that you will not learn anywhere else that are valuable, such as building report, asking for
the business, and learning to persuade individuals to buy in multiples; all of which will be accomplished in an average 2 min sales call.  This is not easy to do and once you've mastered it, you can use the skill set in any other aspect of business.  The position will also teach you how to respond to negative responses effectively without losing your positivity.  You will get the chance to actively recruit, hire, train, and manage a small group of people.  This teaches you how to disquinish (distinguish) between good personality traits and the overally (overall) embellished personality traits as well as how to motivate others toward a common goal.  And if you have an entrepreneual spirit, the position will give you the opportunity to pursue that endeavor with little to no investment.

(NOT TO MENTION YOU may WIN AN 50inch FLAT SCREEN TV for a sales bonus like the said mystery complainer and then sell it??)


Also, if you cant get a job anywhere else because of a DUI or suspended liscense (license) or even a criminal background, you will (may) get hired (an opportunity) at Axiom. (We do not discriminate that my friend is against the LAW)

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AXIOM Advertising is not a JOB. It is an opportunity to gain experience, learn and grow as future CEO’s of an every growing industry representing Local Business’ as well as International Clients. We are not looking for people that have a 9-5 employee mentality. This is a Career with Rapid advancement opportunities for the hard working entrepreneur.

Some people invest 6 months of their life and realize that they are not cut out for this line of work. Just like the sports player that gets cut from the team or he’s not willing to train harder to be on the starting lineup, they begin to hate the team and the coach they were once so in love with.  I understand all this. People, marketing, sales and management are ALL PSYCHOLOGY. We get it. We don’t hand out Gold Bars like lollipops. You have to work for what you want in life. Some people want a paycheck that dictates what you’re allowed to make an hour vs. what you can or want to make in an hour.

We prefer at AXIOM to work with people that are independent creative thinkers and see the glass as half full vs. half empty. If you’re looking for instant success, we are the wrong place. If you’re looking for a place to experience hands on training working with Major Sports Teams in a Fun and Friendly environment than you’re in the right place.

Google ANY successful Company, where you bank, eat, shop or even go to school, there are always disgruntled people that have a problem. That’s what makes this world so interesting.  

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Here’s a fabulous story which illustrates the point that you can’t please everyone. It is adapted
from Aesops’ fable “The Old Man, the Boy, and the Donkey.” I often quote it to
illustrate the importance of focusing everything you say and do only on the
niche you’re trying to serve, and on no one and nothing else.

The message in the story is so true. You’re making a big mistake if you aim your business and your
marketing messages at everyone who maybe, possibly, somehow, could, might, or some day, have the capacity to buy your product or service. Take the message to heart and enjoy.

The Old Man,the Boy, and the Donkey

An old man, a boy, and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey and the old man
walked beside him. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.

Later, they passed some people who remarked, “What a shame! He makes that little boy walk.” They then decided they both would walk.

Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So they both rode the donkey.

Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.The boy and man said they were probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal, and he fell into the river and drowned.

The moral of the story?
If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your a*s goodbye.