The Edge Marketing Group Employment Scam, fake sales and marketing job, fake company Cincinnati Ohio

You were completely right about the deception involved in the interview process for the former Edge Marketing which was located in Cincinnati, Ohio. I know, because I worked there for a year. The reason for the quick talk and the "pulling the wool over your eyes" is because it's a job that no one would really want. He wasn't trying to scam you or get free information, but instead was getting through the interview as fast as possible because he quickly wanted to eliminate those who had doubt or were unwilling to try. Believe me, I was as skeptic as they came, but I recently lost my job and my wife and I were about to be thrown out onto the streets, so I turned to the first "business" that opened it's doors to me.

If you survived the first interview and showed initiative, you were sent out to the "field" for an unpaid second interview. Now this is where we lost 99% of people. We packed everyone into a car. Everyone was dressed for success and then boom, it hits you. We are handing out coupons!!! The job was literally to go from door to door selling a coupon book. I was blown away when I found this out and was about to head for the hills, if he wouldn't have driven so far away. Anyway, very few would suck it up and go along for the 12 hour workday without complaining.

Those that did make it and wanted to actually make money, came back to go out on there own. My first week was rough, I sold maybe 4 books the entire 6-day week, but the "boss" was true to his word and handed be a $400 check saying that I was only good for one more and then I would have to start pulling my own. So I bogged down and became the best salesman I knew how and brought in about $200 a week. Mind you, that's horrible pay, but I was desperate.

At the height of Edge Marketing's success, they had about 12 employees including me. Soon though, they would all start dropping off like flies. I soon succumb to the grueling hours and low pay myself when I noticed I was the only one left.

Now, there was a promise to those that completed a year that they would be allowed to branch out on there own and begin their own office. Which was true, but after seeing what had happened to this one, it would be way to difficult to maintain. The commission was 50%. So a $40 coupon book would net you $20. In a business where 99% of people just slam the door on you or worse, that's not too much money.

But, you see that it is a legitimate business and job, it's just a crappy one. I'm sure also, that there are still a few offices hanging around in the continental United Sates. If you're reading this and you know of any others, I'd love to know.

Well, I hope this made you feel better that you did the best thing by not coming back for a second interview.

Actually, I used to work for this company (The whole DS-Max, Cydcor, Granton thing) but my office was up in Buffalo.

Though the offices are real companies, the rip-off/scam lies in the fact that they misrepresent themselves in many ways.

You will NOT get a base pay of any kind. Lie.
The job is door-to-door sales. Misrepresentation of "marketing". Most people who work in actual marketing don't go door-to-door.
You are not an employee. Lie.

If so many managers are willing to post on here defending their business, I pose this question: why do you have to misrepresent your "companies" so much to get people to apply - and not just list the ad as door-to-door sales? Why do you hone in on people who are poor, hungry, and desperate? Why do you advertise a "base pay" or "employment"?

I guess I was one of those "losers" who couldn't "hack" going door-to-door in the rain, snow, and sweltering heat in the ghetto. Such a "loser" that I now have a career with an amazing, ACTUAL base pay and I work regular hours AND have time for a personal life! Sounds like it sucks, huh? LOL.

PS - I GUARANTEE that my car and house is nicer and more expensive than your manager's. I'll bet you your whole next week's commission - and when I win it, I can use it to get a new manicure and pedicure to sit in my air-conditioned office with :-)

This is a real company. They promise you that you will make lots of money and soon be able to OWN YOUR OWN COMPANY! Pat (the man who did your interview) also did mine. He was the "owner". What they did as far as hiring was prey on the weak.. they would write PHD on some apps. What that meant was "P"oor "H"ungry and "D"etermined. They'd work for anything. They tell you you may get a call back for a second interview but they interview a lot of people and only a few get the job. The thing is though that after 11am, they do interviews the whole day. They don't tell you anything until your second interview when you spend a day in the field with one of the "top people in the company" That's when you reallize that hey.. this is door to door... and we're selling coupon books! I did this as a fundraiser in high school. The sales reps work long hours.. I would work 9am to 9pm m-f and the 9-6 on saturday. 70 hours and sometime only bring home $200 or $300 a week. I had no time for my life and it got to the point where it was no fun. To say its a scam might be overstepping because although the first interview says nothing, you spend the whole day with them the second interview. by the time you accept the job or reject, you know what you've gotten yourself into. um... i wouldn't recommend the jobv to anyone but its not a scam.

This is a real company. They promise you that you will make lots of money and soon be able to OWN YOUR OWN COMPANY! Pat (the man who did your interview) also did mine. He was the "owner". What they did as far as hiring was prey on the weak.. they would write PHD on some apps. What that meant was "P"oor "H"ungry and "D"etermined. They'd work for anything. They tell you you may get a call back for a second interview but they interview a lot of people and only a few get the job. The thing is though that after 11am, they do interviews the whole day. They don't tell you anything until your second interview when you spend a day in the field with one of the "top people in the company" That's when you reallize that hey.. this is door to door... and we're selling coupon books! I did this as a fundraiser in high school. The sales reps work long hours.. I would work 9am to 9pm m-f and the 9-6 on saturday. 70 hours and sometime only bring home $200 or $300 a week. I had no time for my life and it got to the point where it was no fun. To say its a scam might be overstepping because although the first interview says nothing, you spend the whole day with them the second interview. by the time you accept the job or reject, you know what you've gotten yourself into. um... i wouldn't recommend the jobv to anyone but its not a scam.

This is a real company. They promise you that you will make lots of money and soon be able to OWN YOUR OWN COMPANY! Pat (the man who did your interview) also did mine. He was the "owner". What they did as far as hiring was prey on the weak.. they would write PHD on some apps. What that meant was "P"oor "H"ungry and "D"etermined. They'd work for anything. They tell you you may get a call back for a second interview but they interview a lot of people and only a few get the job. The thing is though that after 11am, they do interviews the whole day. They don't tell you anything until your second interview when you spend a day in the field with one of the "top people in the company" That's when you reallize that hey.. this is door to door... and we're selling coupon books! I did this as a fundraiser in high school. The sales reps work long hours.. I would work 9am to 9pm m-f and the 9-6 on saturday. 70 hours and sometime only bring home $200 or $300 a week. I had no time for my life and it got to the point where it was no fun. To say its a scam might be overstepping because although the first interview says nothing, you spend the whole day with them the second interview. by the time you accept the job or reject, you know what you've gotten yourself into. um... i wouldn't recommend the jobv to anyone but its not a scam.

Ok, Edge Marketing is a real company who did relocate from Milwaukee. What they do is door to door and business to business sales. He is actually a college graduate and is truly incorporated. There are about 100+ offices like this that fall under the Granton Marketing, Cydcor, Innovage, or DS-Max umbrella. I know because I used to own one.

Do not misunderstand me this isn't the type of job you should take if you want stability and a personal life. This business offers a person the chance to run their own office as long as they can give up EVERYTHING. The manager you met had to give up his entire life and devote it to his company. He works even more than the sales staff opening his office probably around 8-9 am and not leaving his office until 10-11 pm everyday even on Saturday. I feel sorry for him because his office will fail and he has put in so much time and money he probably feels he can't leave even if he wanted too.

As far as the rest of your questions, they do probably have 12 sales reps that go door to door from 11 am to 8pm, yep...long day. The sales reps make anywhere from $9 to $20 a card (100% commission) depending on the price and division of the company. It is a great way to learn entry level sales and work ethic but not the type of place someone should really put too much stake into. I had people in my office get evicted from their apartments, car repossessed, family disowned them, girlfriend left them, and even some got divorced over this job. People get sucked in and believe so much that they are willing to give up everything for their one shot. I like to refer to it as brain washed.

I am only writing this because I don't think it is fair to say he doesn't own a real company. It might be a terrible place to work but the certificate on the wall, the tax id #, the clients, and the sales reps are all real.

If you would like more information on this company or any others that fall into this category look up
http://groups.msn.com/DSMAXTheAftermath.
Many of the companies around the world are listed on that site so if you think you might have gone on an interview with a company that sounds similar go look it up. Have everyone you know check to make sure they don't apply or work for one of these companies. I would hate to see even one more person get their lives ruined by this opportunity.