Gateway Executive Group - Gateway Executive Marketing and Advertising scam St Louis Missouri

After submitting my application through CareerBuilder.com I go to the interview answer all their questions and I am asked to come to a second interview or a job shadow the next day from 12-8. During the interview I was told that they are a company that has marketing and advertising campaigns with local restaurants, golf courses, and sports teams. He asked if I was available and I said yes.

So he tells me to dress sharp and everything else. Well I go yesterday for this shadow and this other girl who is shadowing as well and I are paired up with the biggest nerd Danny. Well first of all I'm already a little leary because I was told the day before that I was going to be shadowing with a woman named Peggy.

So Carly and I leave the building with Danny and he tells us that we are riding with Debbie. We get in her car and the first thing she asked was if we minded that she smoked. We both said it was fine not knowing that she was a chain smoker one right after the other. Carly and I both believed that we were heading to area businesses to see about some of the campaigns that this company is supposedly doing.

Well we drive and we drive and we drive. He is asking us business and personal questions about ourselves. So then I make the mistake and said I was dating someone as well as did Carly, and Danny asks us if our significant other was ever in the military. I said that mine was and then he pulls out this coupon book and said that is part of the campaigns that this company does.

He told me that I would be very happy to hear that the nonprofit organization that they were helping was the Wounded Soldiers Fund. So I said ok how much are these entertainment books and he said $31. So I asked how much actually goes to the Soldiers Fund, and was told 50 cents. So I'm really not happy at this point.

So we still drive and drive and are about 45 mins from St Louis at this point. We pull into a subdivision and Carly asks what is going on because she believed that we were going to area businesses and Danny states oh no this is door to door sales. Ok so this subdivision that we are in has signs all over the place saying no soliciting.

Carly asks exactly how can they do this in this area. Danny replies back with that it isn't really soliciting because the people will have the product in their hand and called it more like peddling. Hmmm but isn't that a form of soliciting? So we get out and start walking around. I'm so embarrassed to be walking with this guy. Seriously if he makes so much money then how come he cant buy a pair of glasses that are not broke, a suit that actually fits him, a suit that doesn't have holes, and a pair of shoes that doesn't have holes.

When we get out of the car Danny takes his suit jacket and tie off and buts on this nasty looking fleece sweatshirt and a stocking cap so he isn't looking professional at all. So Carly asks if we know this job isn't for us can we be taken back to our cars. He said no because we signed a contract to be out there until 8. I'm thinking hell no at this point.

So I start to text for someon to come and get us, but can't find anyone who. Plus even if they could I have no idea where we are. So we know we have to at least walk with these people until 3 because our purse is locked in the car. So we walk for 2 hours with this jerk who is asking us the whole time if we like making money and want advancement and everything else.

Carly and I both probably told him 20 times each that yes we like making money just not this way. We both try to be as polite as possible to him, until we just give up. I person can only say so many times that they are not interested. So finally we get back to the car and Carly said that her dad would probably come and get us.

So we are thinking that they are at least going to drop us off at a restaurant. No we pull up to an intersection and Danny said gas station or Walgreens. Well we picked Walgreens and thank god Carly's dad did come and get us and took us back to St. Louis.

Just wanted to make other people aware of this because after what happened yesterday it felt as though we were kidnapped. Neither one of us girls had any idea it was going to be that type of job. Never in the interview did they say they do door to door sales like that. I have learned my lesson that next time I am on an interview or second interview I will take my car.

It was the worst experience being taken into the middle of no where like that and not be able to get home. I have no idea what I would have done if I was alone with these people. Thank goodness that someone else was with me at the time.

Fanofcards29
Godfrey, Illinois
U.S.A.