#1 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: Megan - Rancho Cucamonga (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, May 22, 2008
POSTED: Thursday, May 22, 2008
I just wanted to add to the post because I had almost the same experience with another scammish company, Scanno Advertising. There are constant postings for this company, advertising entry level, advertising agency positions in and around Orange County. They were super eager to have me come in immediately, and I had a great interview when I went in to meet with them.It would have normally been a great thing, but sometimes I think that strong interest and having someone really pusruing you as a position candidate should put up some red flags. I went back for a second interview, which instead of a standard interview, involved me having to take the entire day off work so that I could go with a representative and a few others interviewing, in field to see what they do. It was horrible. Their way of getting around the whole "advertising" thing was they do direct advertising, aka direct to consumer sales (although they would never say that). Not that I have anything against sales, but spending the day with them showed me what a terrible line of business they are actually in. We literally spent the entire day, showing up unexpectantly to random business communities. The person working for Scanno would tell all these business owners that they had to purchase posters (for alot of money) for employees to have in break rooms to read their employment rights. They said that by law these posters had to be up and if a representative from the state ever came into the business and saw that the employer didn't have them, they would be sued for a lot of money so it was worth their while to buy them now. Most business owners started out by being nice and listened to the sales speal or said that they would just get these posters through the state if this was an issue. Or, if they already had their posters, the Scanno representative still pryed them to actually physically see them, so that they could "check" to see if they were up to date with all the laws that needed to be on them. No matter what, the representative always found something that was missing (supposedly) and continued to pry the business owner to purchase updated posters from them. Throughout the interview day, I saw many business owners upset and having hostile relations with the Scanno representatives because they were irritating and unwanted. Many owners had no soliciting signs, but despite this the Scanno representative kept going in and trying to push these people into spending over $50 on posters by scaring them into something bad that could happen. It was completely ridiculous and obvious to me and other people that were also with me as part of the interview. Several people even left in the middle of the day because they didn't like what they were seeing. I wish I would have left sooner, it was so clear that this was another one of those scammy companies to stay away from after only a few hours. I just was new to the job market, really in need of a job, and unaware that there are companies out there like this. Despite being unaware of this, I think that anyone sucked into this would catch on right away that there was something really dishonest and wrong about what was going on here. If there is anything I got from this experience, I hope that I can at least save other people from having to go through the same thing in your job searching. Please, stay away from Scanno Advertising, US Marketing Alliance, Level 1 Enterprises etc. They are all the same game, and all listed all over the place on popular job search engines like careerbuilder and monster.com. Also, keep in mind, when you see something advertising tons of positions, entry level, great pay!! etc. be extra aware, because most of the time if they seem too good to be true, they're likely to be one of these companies.
#2 Ex-Employee
AUTHOR: Todd J - Claremotn (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
POSTED: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
From the beginning I thought it was out of the ordinary that a company would constantly advertise jobs on multiple websites. I submitted my resume anyways. The process of getting hired takes 3 interviews. On the first interview, it is hardly an interview, I spent almost an hour driving to the Anaheim office, for 10 minutes of a conversation that sounded as though I was applying to be a ticket scalper. No serious questions were answered, benefits were never discussed, nor was the pay. The second interview is with a field representitive, you will go out to businesses and try to solict products for sale, such as Angels, Ducks, and Clippers tickets in group packages. The price of the package is reasonable, I have to give credit for that. By the way, you are expected to work 50 to 60 hours a week, six days a week. The pay is strictly commission. Starting off, the field representitive said I would make in the range of $300- $600 a week. Do the math, that's at best $10 an hour (likely less), plus I would spend over $100 a week in gas driving from the San Gabriel Valley to the office in Anaheim. Next, you have to visit multiple locations in Orange County, from Brea to San Clemente Entry level is a theme that is stressed. We all have to start off somewhere, I'll agree with that. However, I went to college and graduated with a Bachelor's degree. If you work as a manager for General Motors, you don't have to know how to paint the hood of a car to be successful. The hiring manager will tell you that you can't be successful unless you have worked every aspect of the business personally. I think that I am more qualified than to stand in a retail store and ask hundreds of customers throughout the day if they want to buy sports tickets. I was embarassed. As a college graduate one should expect to start off in a management role. A degree shows inititiative and generally is substituted for some experience. After observing what goes on in the field, I went back to the office with the account manager. After spending hours in a retail store asking hundreds of customers if they wanted to buy sports tickets, I thought why the hell would I go to college and graduate with a Bachelors degree to do this line of work. Sure if you are 16 and going to school, I think it great to do a job such as this. If you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond and you have made a respectable income, you are likely going to be disappointed. I was going to leave the office skipping the third interview, but the account manager was waiting near the stairs, so I could not leave. I was offered a job, but declined. If you apply to work at Scanno, ask the hiring manager on the first interview what realistic compensation will be, and what benefits are being offered, and why so many people have to be interviewed in one day for such basic work that a teenager could do. Just remember everything here is a numbers game, at the office, and on the field. It doesn't matter if you quit, there are multiple people that interview on a regular basis. On the field, you may talk to 100 people and make 5 sales.
#3 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: Kelly - Los Angeles (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
POSTED: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Hey, I just wanted to let you guys know that I really appreciate this post. I was actually getting ready for the interview by doing some due diligence on the company when I stumbled upon this dialogue. You have saved me both TIME and MONEY!!! I wrote them an email letting them know that I would not be attending the interview due to some interesting "scam" postings I had found and that they should never contact me again. Haha!! Thank you!!!!
#4 Individual Responds
AUTHOR: Purkov - 14 Surfside Ct (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
POSTED: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
I just returned from my first inetrview with them. Being a professional who had just been laid off after 12 years of marketing it was easy to see for a lack of better words scam. It is not a scam just a terrible way to make little money. They try and sell you on the concept that they deal with large corporations like the la clippers which they probably do but so do the homeless ticket scaplers standing outside of the staples center. Put it this way; anytime you are asked to come in for an interview and the interviewee does more rehearsed talking about themselves or the company that should raise a red flag! On any of the legitamate interviews I've been on the HR or hiring manager usually wants you to do the talking and explain why they should invest in you. Scanno claims there would be no cold calling but didnt say you would be going door to door selling products. In addition the pay sucks! Like they said in the above response, no gas reimbursment and 50-60 hours a week for about 10 dollars an hour, Thanks for your previous responses as I had scheduled my second interview next monday. Lets just say I wont be there. P.S. how do you like it when someone comes to your home or place of buisness trying to sell something you have no interest in????
#5 Employee
AUTHOR: Chill8815 - Hemet (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Friday, February 13, 2009
POSTED: Friday, February 13, 2009
So first thing is first. Obviously these people feel insecure about not being qualified for the positions offered or feel that even in this economy, their time is much too valuable to actually work for their money. I was an employee of US MARKETING ALLIANCE but now operate my own business thanks to them. If you have any educational background you will realize that very successful people that become buisness owners don't just have a business laid out on a silver platter for them, they have to work for it. The way that our company is laid out is we are an outsource marketing firm for fortune 500 companies. These companies hire us to do their marketing, advertising, SALES, and public relations. Yes, sales. If you are going to be a successful person you realize that you must have skills is sales which is vital to your career just in regards to selling yourself! Even in this dire economy our company is flourishing because for our clients, we are a much more economical source for market expansion than any other form of marketing and advertising. We deal with existing customers on behalf of our clients in regards to maintaining and stabilizing their accounts for them. Any yes, all of our employees are PAID as well as full benefits. If you feel that you have good work ethic 1-5 years of experience in marketing, advertising, sales, customer service or public relations and want to have a CAREER not a JOB then feel free to apply. However, you should be the judge of your own job opportunity, not someone who wasn't a good fit for the job and is now posting blogs.
#6 Individual Responds
AUTHOR: Johnny B. American - Santa Ana (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Monday, March 16, 2009
POSTED: Monday, March 16, 2009
Did you just copy that little piece off of your website? Can it be anymore absurd? Come on. You're mental! You're brainwashed. Just by reading half of the dribble you wrote I could tell you're crazy. It's not that people feel insecure or not worthy of the job offered, it's the fact that most of them were lied to, or back stabbed, or hired under false pretenses. I was hired by Savanh Marketing Systems out in Corona, Ca (i wrote a full report, check it out. SMS - Savanh Marketing Systems). These companies lie. They don't care about you or anyone as long as they're raking in the cash. Whether it's "B2B" or door-to-door, it's all a scam. You know very well that your owners and managers hire individuals with no experience, no prospects and yet they claim they only want "professionals". I was 18 when SMS hired me and I just had one job before that and they still hired me. They were "impressed" with my resume. If that does not yell dodgy, shady company, I don't know what does. Next time, why don't you write a piece on how it's a commission based job? On how you will drag your interviews on a 8+ walk around businesses or neighborhoods? How about mention to them how they will get attacked or have the cops called on them? How they will get verbally and physically abused by disgruntled (and often times crazy) individuals? Of course you won't mention your companies (or any other companies for that matter) faults because who would want to work for you knowing that up front? Trust me, there's better ways to own a business. Go to school. Get a good education. Work for a LEGITIMATE company. Work your way up and run it. A company that doesn't require you to walk around California on a summer afternoon, with a suit on, under 100 degree weather bothering and pestering people. Hey "chill8815", next time you come out and write a rebuttal defending the honor of your fraudulent company, please provide some facts so that the individuals can make an informed decision, not the dribble you copied off you website. No one cares about your company and marketing for "fortune 500" companies. Tell them the truth. And by the way, any idiot can go door to door and lie to customers just to get a sale, so don't say that people weren't fir for the job because in reality, everyone is. They just chose to stop working there not because they're not fit for it, but because it's a fraudulent, useless, degrading job. I mean, it's a door to door, commission based job, where you pay for gas, cell, and food. Give me a break.
#7 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: Ladyadria - Rialto (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Thursday, June 11, 2009
POSTED: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Out of nowhere i get a call from this company called U.S Marketing alliance saying they saw my resume on Hot Jobs and they were "impressed" and thought that i was a perfect fit for a position in their Rancho Cucamonga office as an Account Manager, now i dont have very much work experience on my resume for anyone to be "impressed" per say but i started asking questions, what is the position for? What would my job duties consist of? and such pertinent questions and all the girl on the other line could do is give shady answers and said that much of the answers would be given to me at the time of the interview. I was scheduled to go out there on Friday but thanks to your report i will not be wasting my time and money with these leeches scam people.
#8 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: David - Redlands (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Monday, August 10, 2009
POSTED: Monday, October 12, 2009
This would have been round two for me. I have already been stuck in a marketing scam, the ever popular Scentura Creations perfume deal. Now, I almost fell for this one. Good thing I am familiar with this site. I will NOT be at my interview tomorrow.
#9 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: BigK - Los Angeles (USA)
SUBMITTED: Monday, October 12, 2009
POSTED: Monday, October 12, 2009
I used to work with LA Marketing Firm and was a part of Jaime’s sales org and Cydcor. I was frequently one of the top reps on my campaign and I had up to 14 guys on my team. I love sales. I still work in sales and business development. However, now I make more money and get full benefits which I pay nothing for (FYI, if you’re good at sales, you don’t have to worry about job security).
I not going to completely insult the business structure or the field. However, I can say that the business is not what it appears to be and that many Cydcor managers (owners so they say) are naïve, ignorant, and completely unfit to be running a business. After my experience I must tell you not to work there if you are a female or find any of the following behavior or scenarios inappropriate . . .
Sean’s 30 something year old assistant manager sleeps with a teenage girl on his team . . . and gets her pregnant . . . about 15 feet from where the Sean sleeps (they might’ve tried to hide that one but 40 weeks makes it pretty obvious).
Your boss actually argues with you that when a girl says “NO!” she usually means “Yes” . . . and then tries to prove it to you.
Your boss refers to his admin as the “third base coach” in reference to her sexual activity before her boyfriend.
Your boss tells you, “I want to f*k you!”
Your manager tells you that every guy in the business wants to f*k you.
Your boss, while in the office, refers to a girl on your team as “c*-dumpster”
While trying to train the new admin she freaks out and looks up at you in disgust as a response to the pornographic photos floating across the screen of the bosses laptop.
Someone you see as a “mentor” calls you late at night to get you to come over to his hotel room.
You tell a superior you aren’t interested and he is then a complete d*k to you.
While in the office, your boss asks you or the admin if you’ve ever kissed a girl. . . . then he asks you if you would have a threesome with one of the Cydcor employees.
Your manager says he wants to f*k Vera Q (sorry, I think the VP of Operations at Cydcor deserves a little more respect than that)
Your manager/owner and another manager frequently joke in front of you about one of them f*king the others admin.
Another manager in your sales organization cheats on his wife with an employee.
There is no HR.
The punishment for sexual harassment is getting yelled at (that's how you handle it professionally . . . right?).
A manager/owner asks you for a 1 on 1 . . . you think it is because you high rolled the office that day by making $250 . . . you then realize that he simply wanted a chance to hit on you and grope you.
Your boss tells you that you should “expect” to be hit on at work. When you ask what you do differently that dozens of other people in the office you are told “Have you looked in the mirror? You don’t look like [them]”
The boss’s response to being called unprofessional is to tell people their idea of a professional environment “doesn’t exist.”
You boss tells you that a girl who had barely sold anything during her 6 weeks of employment was allowed to stick around bc she’d come to work with her shirt half un buttoned and it was entertaining to the guys.
Two superiors constantly talk about implying a “NO GIRLS ALLOWED” rule because females are high-maintenance (all females I ever saw get anywhere were considered so).
I’m so embarrassed that I was associated with these people and managers who know about this behavior and do nothing about it. Furthermore, I’ve felt incredibly guilty not talking about this when I know women are constantly interviewing to work in these offices. After sticking around, I realized why there are few to none female managers working with these guys. Hopefully, this will keep other young, bright, ambitious driven and somewhat naïve people from making the same mistake I did . . . looking the other way when the above kind of behavior was happening all around me.
Thanks to my time with Cydcor offices, I can tell you that you should never work for someone who:
Doesn’t pay you
Teaches you to fudge sales #’s in Merlin and yells at you when you do it correctly.
Owes you over $1000
Owes one of your guys $200
Lies to you
Lies to a new hire in front of you
Has been sued my multiple past employees
Plays video games instead of hitting the field
Reads gossip collums while he should be working.
Tells you he is hitting the field and goes home to sleep
#10 Employee
AUTHOR: Spencer - (USA)
SUBMITTED: Monday, July 12, 2010
POSTED: Monday, July 12, 2010
I work out of the same office as USMA. USMA even coordinates with my employer, Experiment Inc, in recruiting. Yes the positions offered are 100% commission but they also include an employer contribution for benefits. If you are not proficient or skilled enough to be successful in outside sales you need not apply. It isn't MLM or pyramid by any stretch. AT&T hires USMA to sell U-verse, the reps make commission, the owner makes commission. That is how USMA works. Experiment Inc is the same deal except Intuit hires us to sell Intuit Merchant Services (IMS), the reps make commission, the owner makes commission. There is no scheme it is simply a reputable company such as AT&T or Intuit outsourcing marketing and sales. If you are successful and have the ability to train other reps there is an opportunity to open your own office. Multi-billion dollar companies like Intuit or AT&T looking to expand will pay bonuses both to owners whose reps open offices and to reps who go on to ownership. Its all very legitimate but obviously for people like Brent who don't have the skill set or drive for commission based outside sales it isn't worth it.
#11 Consumer Comment
AUTHOR: A - Milwaukee (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
POSTED: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
USMA and Experiment Inc work for Cydcor, their contract is with Cydcor and not directly with AT&T or Intuit. These companies hire Cydcor and then Cydcor has the ability to do whatever they want with that market. The only thing that makes USMA and Experiment Inc independent is the incorporation papers they filed with the state, this is just to keep all liability away from Cydcor as they can just remove these companies from the market at any time they want. Don't be fooled by these companies, it's just a pyramid scheme that has found a way to shift around the laws.