J. Reider Group, D. F. W. Affifiates Inc., Exclusive Advertising, AMF & Associates... all The SAME! This group will deceive you into thinking that they are a successful, attractive company when they're not. They will waste your time and be very vague. Austin Texas

Hi,
The reason I'm writing this warning is to help other innocent individuals who may be contacted by this tricky "advertising" group. It's simply not kind to prey on individuals by presenting yourself as something that you simply are not. I found them on yahoo "hotjobs" and applied. They quickly contacted me, emailed and called, me and seemed very eager to meet with me. I was a little nervous, since I actually have no experience in the advertising field and they seemed all too eager. Also, when I was emailed by a "Melissa England," and called the number, that person didn't exist.

Instead, there was a lady with the last name of "Austin" which seemed strange since that was the same as the city. Well, the secretary told me that Melissa Engand wasn't there, but that I could pick a time for an interview. I picked a time, and it worked for them. I was asked to bring 2 references and my resume, which they said they'd already looked over. I looked up everything I could about J. Reider Group, and mostly found their ads for job interviews, which are all over the internet. There were some articles that were written by J. Reider public relations, praising them for being the only advertising group that's doing marvelously in these economic times, and praising themselves for doing other special sports advertising things that supposedly no other ad groups are smart enough to think of.

I called the secretary and asked if there was a salary, or if it was pure commission, and she said it was her second day, and she didn't know. She said I'd have to ask a manager when I came for the interview. I asked her if she knew who the group worked with, and she mentioned the Texas Rangers. I decided to come for the interview, not knowing it was fake. When I arrived, it was a business building that seemed legit. Looking back on their office, now it seems strange. It was very bare. The secretary was a young blonde, very personable. The manager I met with was about in his early to mid 30's, with brown hair and eyes, and unusually crooked front teeth.

He was very confident and asked me to tell about myself, and interrupted me at the beginning and changed the subject. That room was totally bare, with hardly any decorations other than a few frames of some businesses. The interview was also attended by the secretary for some reason. There were 3 ways that he said they marketed, but they didn't actually make since. Basically it sounded like you set up booths in stores, and walk around talking to businesses about other businesses, and if you progress, you could be made a manager of another store that they wanted to open up.

If I was one of the 2 of many people that was chosen for a second interview, he said I'd be called in a couple hours. For the second interview, he said I'd have to clear out an entire day to job-shadow one of their salespeople. He also said the job would require 60-70 hours a week. Some of the companies they say they work with are Sam's Club, H-E-B, and the Texas Rangers. The interview seemed to go well, and the man interviewing was very smooth. I did have a strange feeling though, like something wasn't legit, and all the answers were vague and didn't make sense. Thinking back now, I feel embarrassed for taking it seriously.

When the secretary went back in the main area, there was another lady waiting for her interview--poor lady! I hope she reads this! The whole time I was in the lobby, the same phone call I had received was being copied with other interviews being set up. Sure enough, I did get a call back. I then read more articles about the group and found out that the exact same thing had happened to people in Dallas with this group! Even the crooked-tooth guy was in their experiences! Every detail seemed the same as other people who were interviewed, although they explained that once they started working with the group, the salary was a lie, they were asked to do illegal soliciting, and were mistreated.

I'm so glad I read those articles before agreeing to go back on the second interview. I can see now that it IS a scam. Please, if you've been contacted by a "sports advertising" group, please don't be hoodwinked by them. They change their name so you can't read the dirt about them from the other disgruntled people. I really hope that this helps some people to avoid even wasting the time and hopes on this interview. It's sad that we have to be so wary of jobs these days. I hope that people in the J. Reider Group will consider their consciences and changing careers to jobs that won't harm other innocent bystanders. Business isn't "just business" when it hurts others and their families.

Mary t.
Austin, Texas
U.S.A.