Complaint Review: Adaptable Business Concepts

I am embarrassed to admit that I fell for this scam, as well. I was looking to move to the area and received an email regarding a position with this company. Over the phone, I was told the job was an account manager of direct marketing job for various clients with two pay structures, including commission only and a base salary plus commission. With either plan, I was promised the least one would make was $40,000 annually.

I took days off of work from my current job to attend an interview, costing me hundreds in last minute plane ticket fees. I was called in to an interview that lasted five minutes. I was told I'd received a call before the end of the day, informing me whether or not I'd be called back for a second and third interview.

I called to follow up before the end of the day,explaining that my flight would be leaving the following day.  They asked me to come in the following day and to prepare for six hours of interviewing. I had to go out and buy another suit and shoes, as they'd ask us to wear comfortable shoes. 

The second round interview included myself and another candidate going to a deli. We were asked to go back to the office to determine a third round, which I was invited and offered a position. During the interview, the job was explained as a management training program more than sales. The position was for an account manager, but one could quickly move to a manager's assistant and within two years could be a manager, if not sooner. 

I moved half way across the country and quit my current job to take this position. I was never offered a reimbursement for flight costs or moving costs. The first day I started involved spending two hours in a conference room practicing " a pitch"- a sales pitch to sale door to door Verizon. There was no marketing involved. 

The account manager position did not even exist. You began as a trainee, which involves a week of riding with a car full of people to an area of town, being dropped off and given a list of doors to knock on. You make no money while you're in training, because the person you are with has to make money for their sales. You are offer a $200 training bonus, which equals about $88 after taxes are taken out. The training can last 1-2 weeks. I trained for five days and was allowed to go out on my own the sixth day. For those five days of training, you are working for free. 

After you go out on your own, you're expected to make 1-2 sales per day. This means knocking on about fifty doors per day in the rain, 106 degree weather, or whatever weather the day calls for in various areas of Philadelphia. Most people don't even come to the door or they'll threaten you to get out of their neighborhood. 

Not only are you working for free, you are required to come in at noon every day (but they prefer you arrive at 11:30) where you do nothing for two hours. Some of the time is spent practicing your script, while the other time is spent "recognizing people that made high sales"-EVERY SINGLE DAY. They also have game time that lasts about thirty minutes, where everyone plays rock/paper/scissors or some other game...time that could be used to work. 

You must then drive to 'the field' at 2:00 P.M. where you knock on doors until it's time to be back at the office, which is 8:30 P.M.  For another hour, you go in the office to ring bells and stand in a circle to cheer everyone on and leave. I must also mention that you're either spending a ridiculous amount of gas to get to and from the field OR you are encouraged (and made) to ride with a group of people working nearby areas. The downside to riding together is that you have no way out. If it rains, if you have to use the restroom, if you need a drink-you are stuck.

I have such a bitter taste in my mouth regarding this company because I feel as though I was lied to. I even listened to the HR representative calling potential candidates and it is such a lie. It's a place where people drag in around noon dressed in business suits to pretend as if they're going to board meetings and such. Then, the change into flip flops and Verizon polos to sell door to door cable. The management training is a scam, too. They only way you're promoted is if you make $500 in sales a week or more. If you've been there a while, you may get a slow laptop that takes forever to load. If not, you must use your cell phone to dial in to a call center. There is no gas reimbursement at all. 

It is a pyramid scheme-a good pyramid, but still a pyramid scheme. The people are kind, but the other employees treat you like a child, constantly checking in with you to make sure you're getting sales. I cannot justify working Monday through Friday 12-10 and Saturday 10:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. with no guarantee of a paycheck. The only reason employees dress in suits in the morning to to trick potential candidates coming in for interviews, or as they said,"dress like what you aspire to be,not what you are."

Don't fall into this trap, as I did. It's not worth the hassle.