BOSS Advertising SCAM Scamming manipulators! Complete con artists! Auburn Hills Michigan
So I'm not sure where to even begin with this saga.
I live in Grand Blanc, Mi. For those of you who aren't familiar with it- it's about 10 minutes south of Flint. It had been a hectic week bustling around the area, as well as farther south of here, interviewing for numerous job positions.
I was searching on www.mlive.com and saw a job opening ad that read "Advertising - ENTRY LEVEL! PLAY PLAY PLAY! Innovative Sports Marketing Company is in need to fill Entry level Positions ASAP. * Paid Training * Must work well in fast paced environment. * Must have strong PR skills and professional image. No experience necessary, we will train. Call Carter 248-370-9161"
Thinking "Okay.. entry level, paid training, and no experience necessary?" This could be a good thing. So I called and asked for "Carter." "Carter isn't in right now, but I can go ahead and set up an interview if you'd like." "Awesome," I thought.
Thursday, March 20, 2008, I drive down to Rochester/Auburn Hills. I exit @ University Dr. and turn left. I go about half a mile and turn right into an office complex off the same road as a Delphi building-High Meadows Circle. I find the RANAL Building, go inside, and follow the hallway all the way down to the right where I find 'suite 190.' I texted my boyfriend, Ryan, and my mom and told them both to wish me luck.
Ha. A monkey wouldn['t have even needed luck for this lousy job- But I didn't know that yet.
I waited in the lobby for about 20 minutes until 'Thomas' comes out and greets myself and another girl for our interviews, and takes us both back to another man, Paulos, office. He talks about the business and how they sponsor Wheelchair Basketball and advertise for businesses and sports teams such as the Pistons, Tigers, Little Caesars, Papa Johns, Hungry Howies, etc. He said it wasn't sales- it was "servicing exhisting customers." I couldn't have been more excited when he asked me to come back @ 9:30 a.m. the next morning for a job shadow.
The next morning, Friday, March 21, 2008, I arrive @ BOSS Advertising @ 9:30 a.m. in nearly the same attire that I had on the previous day. After all, that is what he told me to do. I arrive in black dress pants, stilettos, a blouse, and a light leather jacket. "You look very professional," I was told. I wait in the lobby with approximately 10-12 other poor souls for about 25 minutes until we all begin to get called back one by one and matched up with an "awesome rep."
I get matched up with this girl thats 5 months pregnant, Shawn. "Whatever she tells us about you at the end of the day will weigh heavily on whether we ask you to come back or not," some tall man named Nick told me. "I hope you've cleared your day out until about 7 or 7:30 p.m."
What the HELL? 7:30 P.M. for a GD JOB SHADOW?! Holy sh*t I kept telling myself... But whatever.
Shawn took me in some back room and asked me if I drove- in which I did. She told me that that was a good thing because there was another person coming with us and we were going to an 'event.' The vehicle they were planning on taking wasn't going to fit the 3 of us, and their stuff.I didn't think it was going to be that big of a deal.. So I'd drive myself. Whatever. It was probably for the better. Until she asked me to pop my trunk and started putting the s**t in my car.
Hm.. Maybe there wasn't enough room in their vehicle for the both of them AND their stuff...? Until she climbed in the backseat of my 2008 2-door cobalt, and a 400 lb. man got in my front seat. I couldn't help but look at them both and say "What the f*ck." Confused, unhappy, disgusted, irritated, and even more confused, they said we were only going up the road a few miles and they'd give me directions as we got closer to the roads.
The event we were doing today was at the Kroger grocery store. I still had no idea what the hell an event was, nor did I have a clue as to what my job was really going to entail. All I knew was that I was stuck. We were in MY car, in an area I was certainly NOT familiar with, and I really needed a job that Thomas told me would make me about $80-120 a day, and anywhere from $32k-$38k a year.
As we arrived at the Kroger grocery store and pulled their s**t out of my car...I went and parked while they 'set up.' As I walk back towards the inside of the store, I realize that they have set up OUTSIDE of the grocery store, next to the cart corral. This wasn't funny in the least bit. And when I saw Shawn and the fat man, Adrian, begin to pull out COUPON BOOKS from a box, I knew I was screwed.
The way they advertise for all those companies is by making COUPON BOOKS for them- and compiling them all together with numerous other businesses.
The book included sit down restaurants, pizza, automotive, entertainment, and golf. "A little something for everyone." - Get bent! 50 cents of every book sold is what supports Wheelchair Basketball- and the SALES PEOPLE get paid $10 per book they sell, which costs $30.
So here I was, standing next to wet, snowy carts all day long from 10:15 a.m. until 6:45 p.m. in my stilettos and dress clothes- freezing my a*s off getting snowed on myself while getting wind burn on my face.
I couldn't believe what the hell I had gotten myself into. I was ANGRY. They could have taken their 'paid lunch' Chinese food and 50 cent 'hot chocolate' and shoved it up their a** for all I cared. The rice wasn't warm and the hot chocolate was brown water. I couldn't have gotten anymore lucky.
I was stuck listening to Shawn say the books were just "30 bucks"... which couldn't have sounded any more unprofessional. How about dollars? Wouldn't that sound nicer? And the fat man Adrian who had gastic bipass surgery certainly STILL couldn't have given a sh*t about his weight because everytime I looked at him he was guzzling yet ANOTHER energy drink (WITH sugar) and taking a smoking break every 20 minutes. Not only did I not want to smell his ashtray breath, I'm sure that every disgusted grocer that he tried speaking with didn't want to either.
So much for these people being such high professionals that work at the "youngest, most sought-after advertising firm."
Yeah..right.
Over lunch with Shawn I learned that she, Thomas, and a homosexual man, Darren, all moved here from Grand Rapids from one of their other offices. They were currently renting a house together... and were going to do the same again in May when they transferred down to Indiana for another office they were opening up. Once again...3 co-ed co-workers living together...? Sounds even more unprofessional to me...
I got back to their professional APPEARING office around 7:15 p.m. to tell them this was NOT for me. I don't want your job. This is a joke. The advertisement I had read was an absolute bluff and there wasn't any way in God's creation I was going to spend my days and earning a living selling COUPON BOOKS in front of grocery stores, businesses, and even door-to-door for the poor residentials that happened to be home when they knocked on your door. "Are you sure..?" some young kid Drew asked me? "Shawn had nothing but positive things to say about you and we'd like you to start as early as Monday?"
I couldn't have been more in shock. I didn't want this job. I couldn't stand this job. I couldn't have been paid a million dollars to go back to that job. It was an absolute JOKE. A ripoff. A scam.
I drove home in tears, with no paycheck, an empty gas tank, damp clothes, and FROZEN finger and toes.
After all, I had been standing outside for 8+ hours in stilettos with no gloves, hat, scarf, etc. My boyfriend, Ryan and his friend Derrick looked at me like I was insane when I tried to tell them about the numerous castastrophes I had encountered in my day. I was hungry, tired, and pissed. I had wasted 2 days and a full gas tank on a lieing joke.
I don't recommend ANYONE for this job.
Get away.. get out.. run away...far away if you're in this business and/or are interviewing with them.
PS. There really is no Carter- it's just a name they used to cover their asses so people reading the ads wouldn't put that business with this one. They'd think it was a different company since the names PAULOS, NICK, and THOMAS weren't on there.
Kaila
Grand Blanc, Michigan
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Boss Marketing Concepts
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Engineerguy
Fort Wayne,Indiana,
U.S.A.
Stay Away.........
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, December 23, 2008
I have no problems with an employee coming on here and stating their case. Actually it supports our cause, so please, keep them coming. The only thing this type of company does is give you an opportunity. Same as any other company, the fact that they "hired" you is irrelevant. They hire anyone, so long as you can walk during the day and talk to people! Do you know the success rate of people who are in this business? Less than 1%. Now, being as that I am educated, and most in the business aren't, you can tell these odds aren't in your favor. You have a short term solution to a long term problem, which is finding a good job that pays well and allows you to see your friends and family. Which this one does NOT. Now, I was wise and left the business, graduated college and earned my degree. Then I went BACK to college where I earned my Masters degree, I have a job that pays twice the amount as a normal person would make. Am I bragging, NO, my point is that anything in life you want bad enough you need to work for. And education is the ONLY way to do this! You might "talk" about making thousands and driving a nice car one day. Come to my house and you can see how it really works, through hard work, education, and a REAL job. I work 40 hours a week, have a NICE salary, new car, nice home, and I see my family and friends ALL the time. Anyone who gets caught up in this business will work 70-90 hours or more a week, have NO friends or family to see, get into debt, and likely leave the business eventually with NO money, No friends, and NO education.
NOW, I fully understand school isn't for everyone, I have no arguments there, it isn't! BUT, you can certainly make more money doing something else, and have solid job experience to put on a resume someday. Please, look around this website, you will see thousands who have been hurt by this company, make up your own minds people, but take it from me, a person who lived the life and made it out. It's not worth it!! God Bless all of you still in the streets slaving away,
Boss Exec
Auburn Hills,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Exaggeration at its finest....
#6REBUTTAL Individual responds
Wed, December 10, 2008
Im am the pregnant woman that is in this story. I work for Boss Executive Group. We are a marketing firm that represents fortune 500 clients and also for the past 8 years has been raising money for the National Wheelchair Basketball Association and our local team, the Michigan Thunderbirds. At this time we have raised upwards of 3.5 million dollars for them, as well as other local and national Charities.
We take a direct approach to our advertising, going directly out to the public with our promotions. We not only help drive in more foot traffic for our local businesses, but also provide jobs in a failing economy and help consumers save money on things they do everyday. This is our primary focus when we meet you at your home, business or when you are shopping. The small portion that goes to wheelchair basketball, The United Spinal Association or even US Wounded Soldiers Foundation is just a bonus for us.
I remember the instance in which Ms.Kaila is talking about clearly. I was set up with her in the morning, and from the office, my assignment for the day was to work at a Kroger with one of many of our promotions. The promotion I was working on for that day was a localized community savings book, one of our most popular promotions to date.
When we arrived at the Kroger we set up our display INSIDE the main entrance. I, at the time was pregnant, and I noticed that she was wearing uncomfortable looking shoes, so I arranged to have a chair set out so that she could sit and I also could take short breaks. My goal, whenever I take out an interview to see what I do, is to make them as comfortable as possible. And during the colder months, I even make sure to have any extra pair of gloves, hat and whatever else is needed, this prepares me for any situation, such as this one. It was cold inside the entrance, so I repetedly offered Kaila hat and gloves, in which she refused many times. Any effort I made to make her more comfortable she refused.
I also view it as my responsiblity to take any of my interviews out to lunch. This lunch break provides me an opportunity to explain our business to people, why we do what we do, and why I'm so excited to be doing it. We went to a chinese resauraunt that happened to be one of our clients. I ordered whatever it was that I ordered, and they mistakenly brought her just plain white rice. When I asked if she wanted me to have it taken back so she could recieve he correct order, she refused that as well. We spent the remainder of the lunch chatting about her goals, and where I planned to go with the company. For the rest of the day our sales progressed and she even started pitching people, nearly making a few sales herself. And as the day ended, I felt good about the work that I had done, but couldnt read Kaila as to how she felt about the day. I decided to bring her in for a third interview anyway.
Seeing how she never gave me any feedback about how she was feeling throughout the day, I was shocked when this report came up, bashing not only our company but also myself and other reps involved, exaggerating facts and twisting the truth to her advantage.
I also want to add, in regard to my company, Boss Executive Group, I am very appreciative to have been given the opportunity to work where no one else would give me a job because I was pregnant. BEG and its president have supported me and helped me in nearly every mannor that I have needed both during my pregnancy and after. I have been offered the opportunity to grow within the company, now working as the administrator, operating the front desk. I love my job, my co-workers, and my boss. I have found this to be a perfect fit for me and my prefrences, and Im sorry that this wasnt a good fit for Ms. Kaila.
If anyone has any questions regarding this report please feel free to contact me at, 248.370.9161.
Engineerguy
Fort Wayne,Indiana,
U.S.A.
They do anything to cover their @sses
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, August 19, 2008
It has been several years since I have been up to Michigan and worked in and with "boss"! Matter fact it was 1999/2000 to be exact, however the main people are still up there from what I am told, even though they have changed names several times. I started off in the company much like every else. It was the summer in between my freshman and sophomore year in college. I wanted a job to make some money, so I called and was set up with an interview. You all know the story....day of Observation, you're hired, and you are the most excited person in the world. I thank god everyday that I got away from "ds-max"! I dropped out of college and worked for them for almost a year, with promises of riches and owning my own deal. I finally wised up after awhile, left, enrolled back in college and graduated with my degree. I now work full time as a mechanical engineer and I am less than a year away from my Masters in Engineering. Education is the key to success in this world, nothing is free, especially a job that hinges on lying to unsuspecting individuals for the greater gain of the owner. If you happen to see a company like this..... don't even think twice, walk away. Sure, college isn't for everyone, I am certainly not saying that, but earning an honest dollar is, and it certainly isn't with this company. God Bless
Amber Sahr
HOLLAND,Michigan,
United States Minor Outlying Islands
BOSS ADVERTISING AND DS MAX IS NOT A SCAM OR A CULT
#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, June 17, 2008
I AM A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF TRISTAR ADVERTISING WHICH WORKS DIRECTLY UNDER BOSS ADVERTISING AND HAVE THE SAME JOB DESCRIPTIONS.THEY DO NOT LIE TO EMPLOYEES OR RIP THEM OFF.THEY GO OUT OF THERE WAY TO TEACH,MOTIVATE AND HELP YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL.AT THE TIME I WORKED FOR THEM I WAS A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOTHER AND HAD NO DIRECTION IN LIFE.THEY GAVE ME SELF CONFIDENCE,SELF DISCIPLINE AND TAUGHT ME MANY TOOLS I STILL USE IN MY CAREER NOW.SOME OF THEIR JOBS MAY REQUIRE YOU TO WORK OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE,LIKE WORKING IN THE COLD ETC.. BUT IF YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH A DAYS WORK IN THE WORST OF CONDITIONS IT'S A HUGE SELF ESTEEM BOOST.I ON THE OTHER HAND WORKED IN AN OFFICE AND OCCASIONALLY DID SALES,OR WORKED IN THE WAREHOUSE.I SAY THE PEOPLE WHO SAY IT'S A SCAM WEREN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO HACK IT AND IF THATS THE CASE HOW COULD THEY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO RUN THEIR OWN BUSINESS WHICH IS WHAT THE JOB TEACHES YOU TO DO.EVEN AFTER I STOPPED WORKING FOR THEM THEY CONTINUED TO HELP ME BY GIVING REFERRAL LETTERS SO I COULD GET A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE.WHICH I DID,THANKS TO THEIR HELP.I WOULD RECOMMEND ANY PERSON WHO IS LOOKING FOR A CAREER NOT JUST A JOB TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE,IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND THE SKILLS THEY TEACH YOU ARE PRICELESS,THEY ARE A FANTASTIC COMPANY TO WORK FOR AND THEY ONLY WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES I AM PROOF OF THAT.SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BOSS ADVERTISING AND TRISTAR ADVERTISING FOR TAKING A CHANCE ON ME AND HELPING ME BLOSSOM INTO A RESPONSIBLE,SMART,HARDWORKING WOMAN.
Kaila
grand blanc,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Another person' pathetic account of BOSS Advetising...
#6Author of original report
Mon, March 24, 2008
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/278/RipOff0278716.htm