Scentura Creations Aka E.p.w. Larry Hahn World Perfume ripoff liars thieves scum of the earth Moreno Valley California

I can't believe how people rush to the defense of this pseudo-pyramid scheme. They are either willfully blind or have no moral compass.

Designers International, xxx Management, Blah-Blah Wholesale, whatever incarnation it is at any given moment, are all connected to either Scentura or World Perfume. Their recruiting practices are misleading, dishonest and unethical. People considering this "opportunity" - please read the negative comments here and on other complaint sites. I cannot vouch for individual experiences and unique horror stories, but be assured that the "business model" is always the same.

The defenders of this scheme always try to emphasize that this is a "business opportunity".   I have yet to see a single one of their ubiquitous "Management Trainee" classified ads state this in print.

The defenders of this scheme always state that "it's not for everyone".   Correct.  It’s not for anyone who wants to sleep soundly at night and/or be able pay their bills.

The whole system is based on lies. The recruits are lied to and misled before they even walk in the door. They are then trained to lie to prospective customers. If they lie long enough and well enough, they get to open their own office, become a Chief Liar and perpetuate the scam.

The defenders of the system insist that it's not a pyramid scheme.  BS.  Sure, the recruits don't directly shell out money up front, but what about the fuel spent driving around during "training" for 6-8+ weeks?  What about the initial "practice" sales to friends, family, starter kits, etc?

The fact is that this system requires a constant influx of new recruits to replace the brighter ones who leave almost immediately.  If it weren't for the "new blood" continually coming into the office it would close. 

This is the definition of a pyramid scheme and Scentura was found to be such: "In 2001, the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the contract between Scentura and Long (office owner) was a "pyramid sales scheme", violated the law and was unenforceable under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act."

The year is 2014.  I put up with 2 days of this bullshit back in 1990.  It’s still going on.  Rob & Ricki Zuckert were the owners of the Illinois office I blundered into.  They move around the country quite a bit, it seems – currently operating as “Wholesale Texas Fashion” on Facebook. 

If you had a successful business, with a quality product and an effective sales force why would it be necessary to move several hundred miles from your previous location every 2-3 years?

Job-seekers, do yourselves a favor and run from this “opportunity”. 

Defenders of the Scam, please don’t attack someone who is trying to save others from grief and disappointment.  Besides, if I can identify you and you’re anywhere within 100 miles of my location I’ll come drag you out of your respective parent’s basements and kick your asses.

A lot of people come onto these complaint boards to slam Scentura, or the office that recruited them, or the product, etc.

It's really not that complicated... You're given a product that you don't have to pay for until after you sell it.  Then you're taught how to sell it.  It's a numbers game, just see the people. Not a very exciting or glamorous way to sell something, but it works. Companies all across the country are using this sales strategy. It's called Direct Sales, and it's not illegal. Warren Buffett recently bought a direct sales company (The Pampered Chef).

Once you're strong in the field, you train others and run sales trips. This is a microcosm of running an office.  Learn to run a sales trip and manage money/merchandise for 3 or 4 people, then move onto running an office with 20 or more people, and thousands in money/merch.

After you've learned to run teams and trips, you learn the administration and recruiting.

Then you get a shot to run you're own deal.  That's all there is to it.


It's not a job, it's a chance to learn a business FOR FREE.  It's a chance to have someone else fund the opening of YOUR business.  And yes, they make money when you open your office.  Which is why they are invested in your success.  This is why they start new groups every week. The more people they can teach this business and get them into their own office, the more money they make.  That's how you know their desire to help you succeed is for real, that's how you know they're not lying to you - YOU WILL GET YOUR OWN OFFICE if you finish training.  

Every owner pays the same price on the merchandise.  There are people who have only been open a couple years that are making more money than people who've been doing it 5 years. It's not a pyramid, it's a level playing field.  Everyone has the same opportunity to open their own office and promote out new owners.  The margins and the opportunity to make money are the same, whether you've been around for 20 years, or you're brand new. And doesn't it make sense to work in an environment where everyone around you actually wants you to succeed, versus secretly hoping you fail so you don't take their job?  You decide.

If it's not for you, don't do it.  The way people talk on these scam boards, they act like someone held a gun to their head and made them do it.  And I'd be willing to bet they were NEVER ONCE told they'd receive a salary, an hourly wage, or any other set pay during training or when they open.  More likely, they were given income PARAMETERS.  Which means if you do things right, you can expect to make between X and Y.

And once they started, they probably signed an Independent Contractor agreement. You know what that means? It means you're not an employee.  You know why?  Because it's not a job.  You're in training to learn a business.

Either do the business, or don't.  It's not that complicated.

Come on now, You own your own buisness? This scentura thing sounds alot like another fishy deal called Ds-max....Let me guess, an enrty level job that promised $300-$500 a week. You go door to door or to other "high foot traffic" locals to peddle foriegn goods? Is that about right? And if you can recruit enough people you can "open your very own buissness" is that right?Everything on consignment right? THIS BOGUS JOB IS A EPIDEMIC. These slim-ball salesman con undereducated and unemployed people with this shotty line...your own buissness?You wont own anything more than a lease on a small office room with a large garage, everythings on consignment(at least with ds-max) so you dont even own the merchandise, but its your own...i mean you buy the merch all from the same company who by the way recruited you, the merch costs $5 for you but only $3 for the guy who recruited you and you sell it for $10 giving all the little drones you've suckered into working for you $2 leaving you a whopping $3...but if you could do this maybe a 1000 times a day and after all those taxes it is your buissness you'd be lucky to make 1500 a month...
A bit of advice to those that want to start a real buissness, figure out what you want not some quick talking speed freak, dont settle for some stale middleman system.

First of all let me say I am sorry that your girlfriend got stranded. I don't know how or why she did...I've never heard of that happening before. Anyways, I am disgusted at the way you look at Larry Hahn. It is not his fault that your girlfriend quit, or that anyone else who quit never had the balls or ovaries to finish. People that stay there for 3 days wouldnt get their office. Why? And I'm sure your girlfriend knows...the training last 60-90 days!!

People just don't listen. I am one of those fortunate people that did listen. I am one of the few who are actually strong enough to go through the tough part first, and now I am rewarded with not just an office, but my own business. For those of you who are currently training to own your own business, don't quit.

You can either take this for granted or take the advantage. The reason you are working hard will be the reason you quit! Anything worthwhile is worth working hard for. Remember..everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die!! Peace!