Holmes Distributing/ Kirby Company Misled from Day One Clinton Iowa

Ok 1st let me clarify that I didn't work for the Clinton outfit, but rather a distributor in Des moines. I will not say the name of the owner because I appreciated being given a chance.

Basically selling Kirby vacuums door to door is next to impossible, unless you have fancy clothes, slick hair and are a fast talker who is extremely persuasive. I would guess that most people who get hired end up quitting within 3 months, tops.

What they do is place newspaper ads week after week usually in the general section. The ads are extremely vague and don't mention what you will be doing. So then you call the number and they tell you to stop by to fill out an app. They claim a certain weekly wage as well as incentive trips. This is done because if they were TRUTHFUL about the job and posted it in the SALES section and included the words "kirby vacuums" and "door-to-door" nobody in their right mind would apply! Especially in cold weather. With that in mind, here's my experience:

I applied and then was called for an interview. The interviewer said I would simply be shampooing carpets and did NOT say I would have to sell the machines or get myself in the door! I asked about the pay and expected a response like "x dollars per hour" I was told "x dollars per week" I do not recall how many hours per week she said were required to make said amount. It sounded ok. They called me back and said I was hired and to come for training. They had us take apart and reassemble the vacuums and do sample presentations and gave a history of the company and had us take notes etc. Then we were issued a vacuum each to do "demos" for people we already knew to practice.After completing training I started by observing other employees knock on doors and try to get people to let them in. We did this 12 hours a day and after a while, I was "cut loose" and began to pitch people myself.

I tried this for about 3 weeks and never made a single sale. Every day we had a meeting at the office where everyone that made a sale told their story to the other employees. Many of these stories included words like "sucker" or "idiot" and they basically made fun of all the customers.This came as somewhat of a shock to me. There were a number of things about the job that didn't sit well with me.I walked into the owner/distributor's office one morning and voiced my concerns about the job regarding the price of the equipment, the fact that some places require a peddler's license to go door to door, the long hours, and the fact I hadn't made a dime. He then proceeded to show me handfuls of receipts from customers, adding that some even paid in cash. Then I asked about the possiblity of running out of neighborhoods to try. He claimed that over 50,000 people moved in and out of the city each year. I was not able to confirm this but it could be true. After 3 72-hour weeks I had enough and informed him that I no longer wished to work there. I didn't even make any money, I was starving-it was 100% commission with no base pay.

Bottom line; They don't give you the scoop on the job until AFTER you've been hired, you will work a ridiculous amount of unproductive hours, they will not take out taxes from any checks you may get and refer you to a tax preparer to learn how to file your own as a contractor. If you are not already a proven salesperson and you don't like walking for hours on end then AVOID THIS JOB AT ALL COSTS. At least at a fast food place you would have something to show for your time as well as documentation of hours worked, taxes, etc..If you are not real talkative you will fail...miserably.

Don't be fooled by vague classified ads...ask questions even before applying. If they insist that you come down there and fill out an app. don't even bother-it's probably something shady like Kirby sales, door-to-door meat sales, MLM, Quixtar,etc.

I took a couple days of training and decided not to pursue working for the distributor.

I have some tax and business experience and have discovered that their contract withe the dealers is illegal. Both at the state and federal level there is a legal defintion of an employee and an independent contractor. The contract that dealers sign with the distributor is so restrictive that under the law the dealers are defined as employees.

That means that the distributor must withhold federal and state income tax (if your state has income tax). The distributor must also pay their share of medicare and social security tax and federal state unemployment tax.

You should file a complaint with your state department of labor and department of revenue.

If you are classified as an employee the company owes you the minimum wage for the hours you worked or at least 40 hours a week.

If you have filed a tax return as independent contractor you should go the website www.IRS.gov and download form SS-8, fill it in and send it to the IRS.

Note: I am not a labor lawyer but you have the right to file a complaint with the state agencies and the IRS and have them make a determination of your employment status with the Kirby distributor.

To the OP:

It doesn't take your report to give Kirby a bad name.

This is an MLM, purely commission based, "mass recruiting" gig. VERY few recruits will ever make any money.

Stay away from Kirby at all costs. There's a reason why "vacuum cleaner salesman" is a standard joke profession.

I just recently began working for Kirby through TenHaken and Associates.  So far the company seems legit.  They have fun, they do talk of drinking a lot but I don't see anything wrong with that as long as they get their jobs done.  I just started a couple of days ago though and am still going through training.  I am going to stick it out and see if it pays off, but if it does not, i will be sure to file through the BBB.  Thanks for the heads up about your department. :) always trying to watch my back on these kinds of jobs.