Complaint Review: Distinctive Marketing Solutions

It is a legitimate business, albeit one that preys on naive college grads and older job searchers wanting to make a change.  

Your first clue that something is amiss should be the "cult-like" atmosphere of standing in a circle ringing bells, having a talk with your manager about distancing from friends (in my case my fiancee) who "don't get the opportunity" and were holding you back.   The long hours don't help, arriving at a designated meeting spot like Panera Bread at 7am and sometimes making it to the office around 7:30 because you are busting your hump to have a somewhat productive day.   You are constantly in competition with those around you...and yet Eric Chapman bought a house and couldn't furnish it for at least a year!     Kind of scary, no?   
Or would you be even more scared to learn that Mr Chapman brags that his superiors at Cydcor, etc, threw him a tip that it could be written off on his taxes as "farm equipment".
Not to mention that same "cult" mentality that breeds inter-office relationships taking advantage of the newer employees.

It isn't just Distinctive Solutions (changed from Distinctive Marketing Solutions to avoid all the Ripoff Reports coming up on google for potential new hires), it is also Cydcor as the umbrella and other "branch" offices like The Intuitive Group in Wash. DC, Dynamic Business Group in PA, the 212 Group in Columbia, Maryland..I could go on and on.  These companies spread like a rash, with many of them failing quickly.

The widespread, somewhat libellous reviews of the Cydcor sales entities generally hinge on a few (misguided) tenets:

-- That the company itself is a scam and is falsifying its affiliation with clients (Verizon, Quill, etc).
-- That the primary intent of the door-to-door sales process is to, at best, upsell clients on unnecessary services and, at worst, outright swindle them into signing contracts for expensive services.
-- That the company that scams its staff and somehow "tricks" people in the interview process.

I worked on the Verizon B2B campaign out of the Distinctive Baltimore office in the summer of 2008, and I can tell you that these assertions are all incorerct.

*Regarding the company's legitimacy, the illogical arguments being waged against the Cydcor entities are beyond baffling.  Anyone who worked there can tell you that you regularly have "product knowledge training" with business development from the organizations, who fully support and back what the Cydcor offices are doing.  Moreover, when you actually sell through (I'll use Verizon as an example), you connect directly to a REAL employee of the client organization that certifies your authenticity, certifies the process with your customer, and assures a smooth transaction.  If there are any issues or red flags, the client representative will *NOT* allow you to push through a deal.

In terms of affiliation, Cydcor reps are instructed to state, right off the bat, that they are stopping by on *BEHALF OF* Verizon.  No "from Verizon," "with Verizon" or any other misleading preposition.  All identification badges tie the rep back to his Cydcor office rather than the client compny itself.  So, there's no gray area.

Companies like Verizon are very aware and happy to utilize the Cydcor sales forces because it makes perfect business sense.  Under this arrangement, Verizon pretty much only pays when revenue is generated.  It doesn't pay the reps salaries, it doesn't pay for sales training (it only officially offers the "product knowledge training") and thus doesn't take any risk.  It's a total "winner" of a strategy.

*Regarding the sales process, checks-and-balances are done to assure complete transparency with the customer.  All prices and services must be signed by the client, and any changes that would affect the overall account are run through the Verizon helpdesk (with an ACTUAL Verizon rep).  Discrepencies in the pricing of services are flagged, meaning the deal cannot be pushed through until the customer signs an order form at the appropriate price point.

I am not going to say that there are no unscrupulous reps working for Cydcor companies.  But I will tell you that it does not come from managers like Eric Chapman, who take any customer complaints very seriously and have *FIRED* significant money earners who have engaged in shady dealings.  The company is committed to the big picture and will indeed turn down short-term money if it creates long-term integrity problems.

But what's great about many of the services Cydcor sells is that "shady" sales tactics are not needed to close the deals.  Why?  Many of the contracts, especially when repping clients like Verizon, actually involve account logistics rather than "products."  Verizon customers routinely go off-term on their contract, run up long distance charges that exceed the price of an unlimited line, fail to upgrade to newer lines that come with lower taxes/fees and better termination fee situations, etc.

Particular to the Maryland area, at least during the time I worked there, is the fact that Verizon *OWNS* all of the landlines in the area.  That means that competing organizations were 3rd party carriers and thus inevitably making a profit (in some way) over wholesale.  In many of these situations, customers previously with Verizon were misled into signing with competing carriers, often unaware that they were basically paying a "handler" a surcharge to use the same Verizon lines.  "Winning back" these customers was not simply valuable for Verizon--it made total sense for customers who should not have to pay extra for the same Verizon service.

Not trying to brag, but I had at least two people refer to me as a "life saver" (and when I made a return check-in visit, one used the quote, "So glad you're here, because I feel like whenever you're here, our problems go away") by bringing them back to Verizon after they were tricked into signing with a competitor.

I knew multiple reps who REFUSED to sign a deal with a customer that would make the customer's phone bill go up.  These were often the most successful representatives, revealing that for many campaigns, Cydcor offices are CUSTOMER SERVICE outlets first and sales people second.

*Most baffling are the claims that the company's hiring process itself is some sort of "scam."  I have never been able to follow the logic here.

-- Unlike most companies, the Cydcor offices actually let you shadow an existing rep before taking the job.  Yes, I'll admit, I probably thought it was a bit more glamorous than door-to-door sales when I first interviewed, but it's not like the shadow day was a lie.  I saw exactly what my days would entail at Distinctive.  If I take the job, do I still have the right to b***h about lengthy days in the field?

-- Unlike most companies, the pay structure is entirely transparent.  For the first two levels of reps, there are fixed "rates" for each product sold.  Put a line back on term?  You get ___.  Add an unlimited plan to an account?  You get ____.  You know exactly what you'll make for each transaction and thus have a realistic sense of income.  Plus, because the rates and products are dictated by Verizon rather than Distinctive, there's no "politicking" for discounts and other deal sweeteners.  Everyone is selling the same stuff and getting paid the same amount for it.

-- It is a pure meritocracy.  All "promotions" are based on specific KPIs; personality, attractiveness, etc only matter insofar as they might make you a better sales person.  You start as an account rep.  Want to become a leader?  You must hit ___ in sales over the time period of ____ to get promoted.  Similar KPIs exist as you move up the ladder before, ideally, being granted your own business.

-- The hyped success is attainable, albeit not always easy.  I entered this job with absolutely no sales training and had no problem booking $1000/week in personal, pre-tax earnings.  It came down to working hard (visiting 80-100 businesses per day, every day), knowing the product and being honest with the customers (again, this stuff really sells itself).  But simply being a good salesperson is not all it takes to "receive your own business"--you also have to be a great trainer who can replicate your success in others and a great, multi-tasking manager who can hit his own goals while dedicating a portion of his time to coaching team members.  Not everyone is cut-out for this, but many will be able to make a sustainable living simply selling.  And those who ARE good at all facets do indeed get their own businesses; I know two who were 'promoted out' after about a year.

-- No base salary, no or little healthcare coverage, no or little mileage coverage (but this is a tax deduction at like $.60/mile), long days walking outside (rain or shine) are all true.  But they're all expressly part of the job--no trickery or shamming.

-- "Cult" like culture?  Maybe.  The company definitely promotes a team atmosphere, but it helps.  It creates instant bonds on the job and paves the way for a better professional and personal life.  Are you FORCED to socialize with the group?  No.  But if you want to do so, the Distinctive atmosphere is far more conducive to it than most cubical settings.

-- Valuable training.  Even if you do not "click" with this atmosphere and have no desire to stay, the sales training is legitimate and valuable.  I worked at Distinctive as an intern and have since moved on, in less than 3 years, to running a multi-million dollar wing of a corporate services giant, and I regularly deal with sales reps and directors who are paid nearly six figures for their work.  The skills they use to pitch these high-profile clients are barely any different than what you'll use to pitch SMBs on the job for Distinctive.

This is absolutely not for everyone--frankly, it wasn't even for me, as I did not feel it was going to quite the long-ter "test" for which I was looking as a developing professional.  You'll work hard, the pay won't be great, and it'll be a challenge to get to the top of the tier.  But as someone who enjoyed his time in a Cydcor organization very much, I do feel it is important to clear up some out-of-place, incorrect criticisms that are being leveled against branches like Cydcor.  There's complete transparency in the sales process and a complete meritocracy internally.  Whether you want to get some sales/marketing/management training or fully want to commit to running your own branch, the value is indeed there.

This report just copied and pasted another one and substituted Eric Chapman's name for George Papalexandratos' name. I think that takes away from the legitimacy of these claims, first off.

Second, every account I read of someone saying this is a scam, never explains WHY, and WHAT CONSTITUTES the scam in the first place. You are not REQUIRED to work there. They work with Fortune 500 companies: Quill (Staples warehouse division), Direct Energy (Centrica, leading gas company), Verizon... Like, there is nothing skeevy about the process. If you suck and don't make money off commission I could see why you wouldn't want to work there, but don't bash the company. A lot of people work very hard and get pretty good money doing work there.

And another thing. Eric Chapman was 100% moral and ethical. He'd frequently talk about doing the right thing when it came to sales and there have been people fired for doing shading things. The marketing company can only do so much as their clients allows them to.

DMS is definitely a scam. I worked with them a lllloooonnnnggg time ago and received to checks from them. Both checks were no more than $15.00. They expect you to commute to their location on gas that is not being provided for or reimbursed in a check. They are extremely sorry, and highly unprofessional in the way they handle businesses by creating a fake environment. The purposely hire college students or recent post graduates due to the fact that they know individuals this age are naive, and do not do their research. I was a victim, but my family snapped me out it. Eric is definitely a con. The first sign to any business that is not financially flourishing, is the when they tell you that they can only do direct deposit for their employers through one bank...smh....now that's pathetic. That's a reflection of no resources. Don't waste your time with a company like this, unless you are willing to suffer and have a true desire to be a salesman. My degree was marketing, but not sales. Therefore, my hopes were burned lol.

The description of this office being like the tv show the office is so true...it made me laugh!

The description of this office being like the tv show the office is so true...it made me laugh!

The description of this office being like the tv show the office is so true...it made me laugh!

The description of this office being like the tv show the office is so true...it made me laugh!

I will start off by positioning myself as a former employee of DMS who was one to play an instrument on a regular basis, and therefore, bad sales performance has nothing to do with my displeasure with this company. Moreover, the pyramid aspect of DMS, and the rest of the large family, has no sway as well.

What really "grinds my gears" about DMS is the unprofessional activity within the company. My prime goal, yes I did indeed set goals before I knew about the heralded goal sheet, was to obtain an internship which would give me great sales experience. DMS seemed to fit. As a product of a reputable business school, I have (at least) a strong foundation of knowledge in terms of professionalism, management and ethical standards. I was promised a "kick ***" recommendation letter, which was not a lie I am sure. However, putting a company like this on my resume would have been career suicide.

Kindergarten is not what I signed up for. The "atmosphere" room is something out of The Office television series with any given leader (Michael Scott) coming up with a silly game that relates to the field while the majority (Dwight Schrutes) eat it all up. I was stuck as a part of the minority (Jim Halperts) who tended to look up at the camera with that comical, What the hell is going on around here? expression. The fun, games and seemingly relentless smiling faces provided me with such a fake and hollow image that the reputation of the company could not be repaired (I needed money, something to do, I continued for a few more weeks). Upon returning from the bathroom after a long day of kicking *** in the field ($222 profit), I was scolded by two leaders (on separate occasions-showing terrible management skills) about how I needed to treat atmosphere with respect and learn from it, not go to the bathroom. Upon being forced to weigh the value of my bodily functions against the security of my job, I still went to the bathroom, got a drink of water whenever I wanted.

DMS expected me to conform to their stupid education/motivation program which is supposed to stimulate one to perform better in the field. By no means am I a bad employee, I simply know when enough is enough. Having to play games, teach theories, blow smoke up many an *** hole, there really is no time for everyone to get to know each other. You are not allowed to talk about anything else but telephone service! Get over yourselves! The leaders above you and those above them have so much confidence built up in them that they think they are better business individuals than you are, no matter what your background is. What is funny to me is that they believe they are actually managers! They don't know the meaning of management and are taught wrong from the start. Take an actual course on management- you'll learn there that it is more than OK to allow your employees to use the bathroom.

The company is what it is, a mindless machine of false smiles and hopes. DMS is positioned where it wants to be. Despite what they say, they want the lowest of the low. They do not seek out individuals of higher education for a reason. They simply want individuals who will buy into their program without asking too many questions. I feel as if I had asked questions on my first day that nobody had ever asked! Cydcor, the answer to my questions, was never mentioned and obviously danced around. The line is crossed when a company violates your personal life. DMS does this in many ways. The hours are long; I do not like Panera and certainly hated going there every morning at 7:30am! Phone service, as well as the selling tactics that come with it, is not that complicated and does not require that much engaged education on a daily basis.

Many (not all) employees are under the magical spell of Cydcor and cannot be brought back. I write this as a warning to anyone planning on working for a company like this, even for an internship! Even though you were awesome at sales, the next company interested in bringing you on will research your previous employers. DMS would hinder and of course not help you with getting another job. DMS on my resume would cause people to raise questions about my own integrity, sanity.

I hope this company can repair their reputation in conducting honest business with its employees first and foremost. This is an aspect that has not sunk in yet. Until it does, DMS will have the reputation as one of the lowest and more dishonest companies in the area. Colleges should warn against DMS and all companies it is a part of.

This is not a company that cannot be fixed, saved. Respecting each and every employee in terms of time put in is a start. Expecting the long hours out of people on comission based pay is insane. Be honest. Relax with atmosphere, sales will get closed without it. Treat employees not as children who know nothing, but rather as valued individuals who each have something unique to offer. Reputation, Reputation , Reputation!!!!

So you say it sucked your life away. And you say you had no money even though you put in the time and effort. And you also say that you felt wrong going to businesses talking to owners about the newer products the client wanted the office to offer.

So pretty much what you are saying is that you do not understand the purpose of a direct marketing strategy, and the value you bring to the client and the customer. The fact that you say you had no money just means you have terrible people skills. Because to be honest, the only thing the job takes is a smile and knowing how to have a conversation with someone.
Now if that is too difficult, take your cubicle. Because the purpose of what we do is to not be stuck in an office atmosphere, and to control our own destiny. Obviously being an entrepenuer is not suited for you. So I am sure you will enjoy a 9-5 job where you have to wait for a grey beard to die before you can actually get promoted to a position of meaning.

So to pretty much sum it up, do not be bitter because you are not suited to the field you applied. This job is not for everyone. And you actually learned a lot about yourself through the struggles you had with dms. And to call it a pyramid scheme, thats blasphemy. You have no idea how the corporate side begins to function. It is laughable how you say you were with the company for 8 months and you speak of it like you barely made it out of training. It is a little thing called performance based pay that the clients we have determine.