REVIEW UPDATE: June 5, 2018: Sales and Marketing Group remains committed to increased customer satisfaction and has improved their business practices over the years to better serve their customers. Sales and Marketing Group is truly dedicated to making sure their customers are satisfied and that any complaints which do arise are addressed promptly and fairly.

To date, Sales and Marketing Group has made good faith efforts to resolve all complaints reported on Ripoff Report. Based on our experience, the member business has proven to be among the top members of the Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program as a Verified Safe Business™.

Over time and since becoming a member, Sales and Marketing Group has remained actively engaged and improving the way they address customer service complaints. As an active and current member of the Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program we are happy to report that now more than ever Sales and Marketing Group remains committed to improving customer satisfaction.

Remember, no company or individual can ever satisfy 100% of the people 100% of the time. There are no products or services that will always be perfect for everyone and even the best companies will receive complaints from time to time. However, by participating in the Corporate Advocacy Program, the member business has made a commitment to working with its customers to resolve complaints quickly and fairly whenever possible.

Please keep in mind that as a consumer you have some responsibilities as well. Success has many definitions that based on your past experiences, current situation and your perceived expectations. Success with any product or service is always based on the proper application and understanding. The fastest car will not run if you never turn the engine on. Look at how you used the product or service that was provided in relation with the instructions that you received. The Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Customer Satisfaction Program will help you get your voice heard but please be prepared with documentation and fair representation of your concern, also have an idea of how the company can fix your concern. Can they offer additional services, extend warranties, offer a fair refund or just get you talking with someone that can help. ..let them know and let us know!

*Any consumer not receiving satisfaction from a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program should email us at editor@ripoffreport.com.

Ripoff Report Verified™ REVIEW:

EDitor’s UPDATE: Positive rating and recognition has been given to Sales & Marketing Group, Inc. (SMGI) for its commitment to excellence in client and employee satisfaction.

Sales and Marketing Group, Inc and its diverse workforce provide world-class marketing solutions to its Fortune 500 clients. SMGI empowers their people, and cultivates them to help them develop into future leaders. It is because of this commitment to employee growth and retention that SMGI has enjoyed double-digit growth and geographic expansion every year it has been in business.

Sales and Marketing Group, Inc employees work hard and play hard, and every corporate employee is afforded 2 hours of daily personal development time to take them to the next level of their career. While the projects SMGI undertakes are challenging, and client expectations are high, SMGI supports and rewards its people with top pay, incentives, and frequent travel opportunities. Because the company in growing rapidly, employees hit the ground running quickly and are given significant autonomy from day one.

Ripoff Report’s discussions with SMGI have uncovered an ongoing commitment by the company to total client and employee satisfaction.

All prospective employees are required to spend one full day with the company before an offer is extended to join the team. “We look for someone who is dynamic, flexible to our Fortune 500 clients’ needs, and who desires to move up the ladder quickly,” said Tim Koontz, Director.

”With our expert teams and diverse capabilities, we can offer a variety of solutions to satisfy your organization’s marketing and brand management needs. Contact us for a free consultation so we can show you the value of teaming up with SMGI.

SMGI offers a higher compensation and bonus structure than any of its competitors, and it is important that its new hires understand its clients’ goals and their role in fulfilling them. Not all of their client projects involve glamorous ad campaigns or corporate event planning, and SMGI makes sure that the job and the potential new hire are a perfect fit for each other. The hiring process involves 3 rounds of interviews, which gives the potential employee a comprehensive process to ask questions and get real answers to evaluate the job they will be doing, and the compensation package SMGI offers. This type of hiring process is unparalleled in the marketing industry, and makes for happier, more engaged employees who get a chance to not only be interviewed for a position, but also to interview the company that is looking to hire them.

Once an employee is hired, he or she is able to roll up their sleeves and get to work right away. Landon Atkinson, Director of Marketing, is a former entry-level Account Executive and knows just how much opportunity is available. “Opportunities are endless at SMGI. There is a lot more experience to be had compared with entry-level positions elsewhere.”

SMGI listens carefully to client and employee concerns and sees them as an opportunity to learn and become more responsive. By always putting its employees first, SMGI has been able to grow rapidly and respond quickly to client needs. “Marketing is a demanding field,” said Tim Koontz, “And client demands can change quickly. Our employees are given the best training and tools in the industry so they can execute on behalf of our Fortune 500 clients.” Because of its commitment to employees, SMGI won the prestigious Best Place to Work award from the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The information provided in this report is based on comments made by Tim Koontz during an on-site inspection held by a third party verification company with no biases toward Sales and Marketing Group, Inc.

Ripoff Report Verified™ .. part of Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program.A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business..

Sales and Marketing Group, Inc. deals extensively with outsource sales, marketing and advertising projects. Their clientele include companies such as Verizon and AT&T, as well as several energy corporations. In addition, they also deal in brand management and event planning.

SMGI begins their sales process by first contacting the key decision maker. For example, if their client were an apartment complex, they would contact the property manager or leasing agent. From there, they plan an event in which they pre-market, host, and follow up in order to close the sale.

When dealing with a complaint, SMGI provides 24 hour customer service and promises a one week turnaround.

During the course of the onsite interview, Mr. Koontz described an instance when a client was not satisfied with the level of service they received: “A client claimed he did not get all the services that was described when they signed up for cable service. I gave the customer back their money for that time period and he was satisfied with the results.”

When addressing the complaints that were made by former employees about not receiving proper payment for work, Mr. Koontz said that in order to resolve these issues: “[Employees] were paid out commission whether [they] were owed or not.” He went on to say that: “Service is number one and this is communicated to our clients during the first sentence that a sales person speaks.”

In order to reduce complaints against SMGI, Mr. Koontz explains that: “[The company has] taken on the attitude that if someone brings up a claim, it must have some validity to it.” In addition, they are more focused on the relationships they form with their employees, knowing that disgruntled workers are more likely to make complaints upon leaving the company.

When asked what SMGI’s relationship with CXN looked like, Mr. Koontz stated: “On paper none. They are out of business. 6 people from CXN work for SMGI.”

SMGI is very appreciative to be a part of the Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation and Consumer Satisfaction Program. They believe it will give customers a true picture of their brand.

As a leader within SMGI, Mr. Koontz most often advises employees on how to make their clients happy. When asked how he provides this guidance, he explained: “If there is a complaint, we figure out what it is. We conduct internal audits and follow up with compliant. In addition, we aim to create policies that will eliminate the problems for good.”

Sales & Marketing Group, Inc. (SMGI) / Management Statement

” Sales and Marketing Group, Inc employees have expressed that they feel valued working for Sales and Marketing Group, Inc. The company’s headquarters are structured in a way that fosters collaboration and teamwork, with lounges set up in common areas so that employees can share best practices. Employees who have private offices always leave their doors open, encouraging spontaneous conversation and collaboration.

One thing that is great about working here is that all employees get together every Thursday after work to celebrate company successes,” said Landon Atkinson, Director of Marketing. Employee feedback and surveys reveal comments such as this: “If you’re serious about your career, great place to get foot in the door. Amazing experience so far. First job position taken after college graduation, and I advanced within 7 months of being in an entry level position. Four years with company, still growing in upward mobility.”

This kind of employee satisfaction drives client engagement. Unlike other companies who struggle with employee performance, happy and productive employees have been SMGI’s DNA since inception. The company’s event marketing division is now responsible for 34% of all sales for a major multi-national Fortune 50 client, with better results than its internal marketing teams."

” We thrive off a competitive, structured environment on all levels,” said Tim Koontz, Director. “This belief has allowed us to expand our company from a small start-up team to a nationally recognized organization making a very large footprint in the marketing community.”

Ripoff Report was pleased to learn that SMGI’s past and current approach is focused on its pledge to total commitment towards client and employee satisfaction.

STATED IMPROVEMENTS FROM SMGI

Sales and Marketing Group, Inc recognizes that if handled correctly, complaints can be valuable learning opportunities. With the feedback generated by Ripoff Report’s review, SMGI has made organizational changes allowing its clients and employees a more streamlined approach to problem resolution and a commitment to a great employee and client experience.

In summary, after our review, which included discussions with all top SMGI management, Ripoff Report is convinced that SMGI is committed to an enhanced and comprehensive complaint review and resolution process, resulting in total satisfaction.

Read more about why consumers should feel confident when doing business with a member of Ripoff Report's Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program. Yes, it’s a long name for a program that does a lot for both consumers and businesses alike.

Read about Ripoff Report Corporate Advocacy Business Remediation & Customer Satisfaction Program,.. A program that benefits the consumer, assures them of complete satisfaction and confidence when doing business with a member business. this program works.

As a matter of policy, when a business becomes a member of the Corporate Advocacy Program they agree to allow Ripoff Report to contact every client who filed a complaint so they can make things right with them. In order to confirm that the complaints were resolved, Ripoff Report is copied on all responses so we can insure that the member business did right by their customer.

------------------------------------------------ NOW TO THE ORIGINAL REPORT THAT WAS FILED

SMGI Philadelphia SMGI, SMGI Philly, CXN, CXN Inc, CXN Philadelphia SCAM, TRAINED TO MAKE YOU BELIEVE THEM!! DO NOT TRUST THEM!! Conshohocken Pennsylvania

The truth from an insider:  These people steal money from you. The people at the "top" of this straight commission paying company WILL manipulate you. I am about to tell you everything about this company from the inside out:

Interviewing process: firstly, Megan or one of her trained "Administrators" will call you. "Hi, this is Megan with SMGI Philadelphia. How are you?" She is trained to "build a relationship" with you over the phone. The point being to stand out from other companies to get you to want to show up. She will tell you they are a "sales and marketing firm." I.e. door to door, commission sales. But, you won't find that out till you get there. She will say "we are looking for someone that can not only handle the sales and marketing aspect of what we do, but be able to move into a management position whithin about a year. That's something you can handle, right?" Challenging your ego, and exciting people that are too gullible to realize they are being played. Megan gets paid based on how suckers she can bring through the door to interview. SHe will say you will be meeting with one of her "hiring directors". These people will be one of the following:

Landon Atkinson: Fauxhawk, blue eyes. We got more complaints about this person lying and making the position sound "cool" than any other person. He won't even really tell you what we do. He will just ask you a multiple questions about yourself. He is trained to make you like him so you show up. He will introduce himself as the "director of marketing". He holds this position because Verizon fired him for fraud on several occasions, and Tim Koontz kept him on because he was a "friendeve disregarding the fact by that he told me on many occasions that he was terrible at his job. (Obviously. Just look at all the rip-off reports filed). Verizon is not aware of his presence on more than many occasions where he will still go to the "field" with a female trainer or rep to try to seduce them.  

Jason "Jay" Scott: Tall, African-American, hard a*s type. Not a strong interviewer, but comes across as "intimidating". Not much to say about this guy. He's useless. However, I was told by Tim and MJ that he was easily manipulated and therefore a strong asset. I wouldn't be surprised if his new title was "project manager".

MJ Fruman: will never do an interview and hardly ever shows up at the office for any reason other than to show off his jeep, suits, or show you that he "cares" by being there when you get back from a 9 hour day going door to door.

Tim Koontz - the biggest peice of s**t in the company. The only reason he will ever do anythintho their than run a morning meeting is if his guys aren't making him make money. He is extremely manipulative. So much so that he hcheat ones on his fiancé on multiple occasions, and she is still with him. (She's a sweetheart, by the way. I feel terrible for her). For more information on Tim, just check out the rip off reports on his old Cydcor company CXN, inc. He will not hesitate to stab a friend in the back to make a dime. All this lazy guy does is make his managers do everything while he talls to MJ on the phone to discuss "business". Usually he's talking to a girl because it is the only time he can talk to a female with out his fiancé knowing what he is up to. This is fact, not a hunch.

If you are young, decent looking, or talkative they will invite you back for a "2nd interview". You will get there, they will proceed to "set you up" with a leader (trainer) and they will take you out to a neighborhood for the day to see them go door to door. At lunch they will do a "lunch time break down" where they will sell you on the management training program, the time within each position, and finally pay. Then back to the field.

Leaders meeting: this is where the aforementioned employees will teach the trainers how to sell people on taking the position, or where they brainwash them to want to stay. I know because I did this. A lot of good information is actually taught here... However, you hide the bad with the good. This is the major selling point. (That and the fact that everyone is wearing suits and looking sharp... Until they change into red verizon polos and hit the streets)

the company goes door to door for Verizon and has a revolving door of other companies that require door to door work, but can't seem to make them work.  No benefits. I-99 pay. This means they do not take out taxes and you will owe at the tend of the year. 

the "management training program" will consist of 4 positions: entry level (field rep), leadership or corporate trainer (also field rep, but you have to train entry levels), assistant manager, then manager. Each position pays roughly $400-700 less than what they will tell you. But, by the time you find that out you have so much time and effort invested, you will decide to deal with it until they lay you off after reaching a management position because the $900 youre working 70+ hours a week to make is putting them in the red. Lets not even start with the amount of money you will lose on "cancelations".

on Thursday nights, after you worked until 10pm, they will convince you to go to "team night". The sole purpose of this is to make you hang out with them to make you think they are cool. You'll fall for it. 

Pay: Verizon pays SMGI roughly $450 for every application done. Of that, the rep will see never over $120 of it. if you want to go door to door, go through corporate. $50 goes to Tim. $150 of each app will go to paying overhead costs. The rest goes to MJ and his business partner, Justin S. (very very short guy. Blonde spikey hair)

the business model is meant to allure young, sharp people to set aside their degrees and go against their better judgement to work for them, so that cool, goodlooking, and young people will work for them. Why? To hired more. Birds of a feather. Look around. The only old guy at the company is the owner, MJ. they even go as far as labeling older people as an OG on the applications. (OG=Old Guy) or 110. Draw a line from the top of the first "1" to the bottom of the second "1". What does it say? It says "NO".

these people are not to be trusted with your future. Corporate America may not be the answer, but working for people that make money by walking on the backs of others (you) is only a worse idea.

Tim trained me personally for years. Everything I'm saying is true. He screwed me over just like the manager he fired before me, who was what I thought to be his only actual friend in the world.

Do yourself a favor. Don't be an idiot. Keep looking for another position.