Got an interview but...

MsTina · Jun 17th, 2008, 05:20 PM

I finally got an interview but now I not so sure I want to go! I submitted my resume to a small company, Ekquisite Marketing (ekquisitemarketing.com) , I researched a little bit before applying and I thought it was okay, any job is better than no job. Plus it was listed in many sites like ellegirl.com and aftercollege.com so I figure it was a decent company.

So I got an email today saying they wanted me to call them to set up an appointment so I did and its for tomorrow. It turns out the job is not located in Manhattan but in Queens, not a big problem since I live in Queens and something about the lady on the phone didn't sit right with me so I googled the company again and look what I found!

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...Off0198847.htm

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=32262

Now I feel iffy about going to the interview! I am planning on going but I don't want to get the job and end up doing smoething completely different! What do you guys think I should do?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

ImASadGiraffe · Jun 17th, 2008, 05:29 PM

If you have red flags, I would not go. Those two websites alone would make me want to run in another direction.

There are plenty of other marketing firms out there that will be straight-up with you.

uafly1 · Jun 17th, 2008, 05:34 PM

I agree, if it does not feel right do not go.

MsTina · Jun 17th, 2008, 06:01 PM

I just talked to my friend and she said maybe I should go to the interview tomorrow and if it is like what the other peolpe said then I shouldn't return for a second. I also thought of maybe writing them an email saying I got an offer from another company so I can't come in but I hate lying!

If I don't go at all I feel like they are gonna hound me! They have my number (house and cell), emails addresses and home address! Why is this so complicated?!??!!!

True Religion · Jun 17th, 2008, 06:30 PM

Oh - please don't go! Call in and cancel and say you decided to go in a different direction.

I got suckered into one of these 'scam' companies a few years ago. They present themselves as "marketing" companies and say that their clients are "top companies" - which is technically true, but in all honestly it's just a sales job where you are expected to go door-to-door, both in residential areas and in business parks and shopping centers. The reviews at ripoffreport.com are absolutely right.

The only marketing you do is making a sales pitch on the products that you are assigned to sell. You ONLY make money if you make sales. From what I was told a few years ago, each time you sell a product, you get to keep only a 1/3rd of the sale, the rest goes to the cost of the product and also to your agency/boss/manager.

A small percentage of people may be able to succeed in such an environment but it's not fun. They'll tell you success stories of how some new person came in and made $100k their first year or whatnot, but it's really not that easy. The only way you might be able to see viable income is if you are pushy and very hardnosed, to the point where people will buy from you only because they don't know how to turn you down. When you try and make cold sales pitches people WILL be very rude and mean to you, tell you they're not interested, slam the door in your face, ect. You are literally soliciting for sales - people can and will tell you that what you are doing is illegal, and that you have to get off their private property.

There are lots of these "marketing" companies out there and they are all just scams. They recruit lots of people because the turnover rate is so high. Because they classify you as an independent contractor, they owe you NOTHING - no benefits, no salary, no overtime. You being there helps them so much more than it helps you, only because they don't have to pay you a penny if you don't make sales, but they take 2/3rds of the income you DO bring in... Get it? That's why they want you - it's basically a pyramid scheme where the workers get the short end of the stick. You're on your feet ALL DAY, while the management sits in the office and only collects the money that comes in.

If you can't find a job right away that has to do with your college degree, my advice is to get a job in retail or sales where you make base salary + commission, and work your way up. Look into corporate jobs at retail chains.

DO NOT go to this interview, unless you just want to go for the interview practice... Or to ask them hard questions about the scam they're pulling, heh.

guccimamma · Jun 17th, 2008, 07:05 PM

i would tell them you found another job, and ask them not to contact you again.

Crystalina · Jun 17th, 2008, 07:54 PM

Personally, I wouldn't go. I'd do as guccimamma suggested---call them and tell them you found a job.

mmmpurses! · Jun 17th, 2008, 09:03 PM

Legitimate work offers would NOT be discussed on ripoffreport or scam.com that is a red flag right there.

Listen to your instincts, you'll be kicking yourself over if you go and fall to their pitch. Whatever you do, if you end up going, make certain to not hand in money for "franchises" or "inventory" or "training" etc. That is how many of them lock you in to get your money.

mmmpurses! · Jun 17th, 2008, 09:11 PM

On the issue about receiving sales calls, first you must tell them NOT to call you again and ask that they remove your information from their lists.

Also make certain your phones are listed with the "do not call" registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx your phone number must have been on the registry for 31 days before this takes effect.

If any company hounds you with their sales calls you can file a complaint with that website.

If you have callerid and an answering machine that also works well for these problems...

UK2ME · Jun 17th, 2008, 09:21 PM

Three words for you:

Don't
Do
It.

Seriously.

redney · Jun 17th, 2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UK2ME

Three words for you:

Don't
Do
It.

Seriously.

Ditto ditto ditto

Jill · Jun 17th, 2008, 09:51 PM

SCAM ALERT!

dont go...waste of time!

madem0iselle · Jun 17th, 2008, 10:28 PM

mmph
I'd go, but make sure my friend (preferbly a guy) waits outside in case anything happens. Just go see how these scammers work, ask straight up questions, get a feel about it. Tell them that you'll think about it and leave.

but to be super safe, just dont go unless you're like me ---curious.

Flipper · Jun 17th, 2008, 11:47 PM

Reading those pages, I'd be too scared to go! Don't bother if you have doubts, spend your time finding a legit job that makes you feel good and secure.

MsTina · Jun 18th, 2008, 11:45 AM

I have decided not to go and I wrote them an email thanking them for their offer and hopefully thats it! Instead I am going to the beach!

Jun 17th, 2008, 05:20 PM	#1
MsTina Official Tailgater Joined: Dec 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 782	I finally got an interview but now I not so sure I want to go! I submitted my resume to a small company, Ekquisite Marketing (ekquisitemarketing.com) , I researched a little bit before applying and I thought it was okay, any job is better than no job. Plus it was listed in many sites like ellegirl.com and aftercollege.com so I figure it was a decent company. So I got an email today saying they wanted me to call them to set up an appointment so I did and its for tomorrow. It turns out the job is not located in Manhattan but in Queens, not a big problem since I live in Queens and something about the lady on the phone didn't sit right with me so I googled the company again and look what I found! http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/...Off0198847.htm http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=32262 Now I feel iffy about going to the interview! I am planning on going but I don't want to get the job and end up doing smoething completely different! What do you guys think I should do? Thanks in advance for your advice! __________________ Penn State Class of 2008

Jun 17th, 2008, 05:29 PM	#2
ImASadGiraffe Twilight 11/21/08 Joined: Aug 2007 Location: IL Posts: 2,733	If you have red flags, I would not go. Those two websites alone would make me want to run in another direction. There are plenty of other marketing firms out there that will be straight-up with you. __________________ "If you want to be loved, be loving." - Ovid

Jun 17th, 2008, 06:01 PM	#4
MsTina Official Tailgater Joined: Dec 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 782	I just talked to my friend and she said maybe I should go to the interview tomorrow and if it is like what the other peolpe said then I shouldn't return for a second. I also thought of maybe writing them an email saying I got an offer from another company so I can't come in but I hate lying! If I don't go at all I feel like they are gonna hound me! They have my number (house and cell), emails addresses and home address! Why is this so complicated?!??!!! __________________ Penn State Class of 2008

Jun 17th, 2008, 06:30 PM	#5
True Religion Member Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 263	Oh - please don't go! Call in and cancel and say you decided to go in a different direction. I got suckered into one of these 'scam' companies a few years ago. They present themselves as "marketing" companies and say that their clients are "top companies" - which is technically true, but in all honestly it's just a sales job where you are expected to go door-to-door, both in residential areas and in business parks and shopping centers. The reviews at ripoffreport.com are absolutely right. The only marketing you do is making a sales pitch on the products that you are assigned to sell. You ONLY make money if you make sales. From what I was told a few years ago, each time you sell a product, you get to keep only a 1/3rd of the sale, the rest goes to the cost of the product and also to your agency/boss/manager. A small percentage of people may be able to succeed in such an environment but it's not fun. They'll tell you success stories of how some new person came in and made $100k their first year or whatnot, but it's really not that easy. The only way you might be able to see viable income is if you are pushy and very hardnosed, to the point where people will buy from you only because they don't know how to turn you down. When you try and make cold sales pitches people WILL be very rude and mean to you, tell you they're not interested, slam the door in your face, ect. You are literally soliciting for sales - people can and will tell you that what you are doing is illegal, and that you have to get off their private property. There are lots of these "marketing" companies out there and they are all just scams. They recruit lots of people because the turnover rate is so high. Because they classify you as an independent contractor, they owe you NOTHING - no benefits, no salary, no overtime. You being there helps them so much more than it helps you, only because they don't have to pay you a penny if you don't make sales, but they take 2/3rds of the income you DO bring in... Get it? That's why they want you - it's basically a pyramid scheme where the workers get the short end of the stick. You're on your feet ALL DAY, while the management sits in the office and only collects the money that comes in. If you can't find a job right away that has to do with your college degree, my advice is to get a job in retail or sales where you make base salary + commission, and work your way up. Look into corporate jobs at retail chains. DO NOT go to this interview, unless you just want to go for the interview practice... Or to ask them hard questions about the scam they're pulling, heh. __________________ Own: Balenciaga black City 2005 ● Coach pastel scribble tote ● Elisa Atheniense aluminum Amsterdam Hayden-Harnett ink Mercer satchel ● Marc Jacobs taupe Selma ● Rebecca Minkoff yellow Plan B Want: RM Nikki (Navy Luxe or Ocean), RM Morning After (Violet or Yellow) Chloe Paddington, Juicy Couture Quilted Princess Hobo (Rose), LV Ribera, Chanel Baby Cabas!

Jun 17th, 2008, 09:03 PM	#8
mmmpurses! Member Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,433	Legitimate work offers would NOT be discussed on ripoffreport or scam.com that is a red flag right there. Listen to your instincts, you'll be kicking yourself over if you go and fall to their pitch. Whatever you do, if you end up going, make certain to not hand in money for "franchises" or "inventory" or "training" etc. That is how many of them lock you in to get your money. __________________ I can't be good all the time.

Jun 17th, 2008, 05:34 PM	#3
uafly1 Member Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 224	I agree, if it does not feel right do not go.

Jun 17th, 2008, 07:05 PM	#6
guccimamma guccimamma Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,668	i would tell them you found another job, and ask them not to contact you again.

Jun 17th, 2008, 07:54 PM	#7
Crystalina Member Joined: Mar 2007 Location: West Coast Posts: 310	Personally, I wouldn't go. I'd do as guccimamma suggested---call them and tell them you found a job.

Jun 17th, 2008, 09:11 PM	#9
mmmpurses! Member Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,433	On the issue about receiving sales calls, first you must tell them NOT to call you again and ask that they remove your information from their lists. Also make certain your phones are listed with the "do not call" registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx your phone number must have been on the registry for 31 days before this takes effect. If any company hounds you with their sales calls you can file a complaint with that website. If you have callerid and an answering machine that also works well for these problems... __________________ I can't be good all the time.

Jun 17th, 2008, 09:21 PM	#10
UK2ME Go on, I dare ya! Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Maine Posts: 474	Three words for you: Don't Do It. Seriously. __________________ *Wear clean knickers!* (As my mother always told me, you just never know when you'll be run over by a bus.)

Jun 17th, 2008, 09:51 PM	#12
Jill Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 23,539	SCAM ALERT! dont go...waste of time!

Jun 17th, 2008, 10:28 PM	#13
madem0iselle Member Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 317	mmph I'd go, but make sure my friend (preferbly a guy) waits outside in case anything happens. Just go see how these scammers work, ask straight up questions, get a feel about it. Tell them that you'll think about it and leave. but to be super safe, just dont go unless you're like me ---curious.

Jun 17th, 2008, 11:47 PM	#14
Flipper eXmotion Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 501	Reading those pages, I'd be too scared to go! Don't bother if you have doubts, spend your time finding a legit job that makes you feel good and secure. __________________ ~ http://www.waterscape.cc \| flipper's weblog ~ Always dreaming of the next bag...

Jun 18th, 2008, 11:45 AM	#15
MsTina Official Tailgater Joined: Dec 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 782	I have decided not to go and I wrote them an email thanking them for their offer and hopefully thats it! Instead I am going to the beach! __________________ Penn State Class of 2008