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Global Marketing - World Perfume ripoff HOMEWRECKERS, Liars, Unbelievable Scottsdale Arizona
This is my story. My husband had recently quit his job in hopes of finding something better because we had our second child on the way in a couple of months.
He answered an unnamed ad and was very excited that they had responded. After his first interview it was unclear to both him and I what the job description was, and all the necessary details that a legitimate workplace would let you know. He continued on with going to work everyday and not being home until very late.
He was promised full benefits (medical, dental, etc.). Please keep in mind that I was pregnant and our family depended on these things. Nothing but promises from Global Marketing.
Still they had him convinced that he should leave me at home with our two year old through all hours of the night to sell perfume "because one day you too can have this too" (nice car, house...).
Every Wednesday he was required to show up at "Wings" for a few hours after work. Every Thursday was "overnights" selling fake perfume. Every Saturday was either at Derek's house or Jillian's at Desert Ridge for plenty of booze and late-night carousing, spending money that we weren't making, trying to keep up with the guys at the top of the pyramid. Then Sundays my husband would be required to go on road trips to other states until Tuesday.
I never saw my husband nor did our two year old. The money never came in, and we suffered "big time" (as Derek likes to say).
We eventually lost our apartment, our vehicle, and our motivation. But my husband kept on truckin'.
We were told to just hang on a little longer, that it was all going to work out. I ended up giving birth and getting evicted in the same week because of these people. Promises, promises, promises. Don't believe them.
Derek Mason didn't start to make his money until last October in '03. He's been with the company for 10-12 years. And the only reason he is still in business is because of Dan Long. And he made his money elsewhere (in real estate). Dan Chasin who is Derek's right hand man, doesn't even have a vehicle because the company doesn't pay.
My husband and I lost almost everything beacause of this scam of a company. Derek feeds off of these people who are in search of the better things in life, mainly to get by. That's how they keep you. He relates to you and can see your position yet in the back of his head he knows that things are falling apart for you and he could care less.
Bottom line: Don't fall into the trap. They want young people because they are naive and will believe that they can have the riches if they sell fake perfume. We actually had to pay out our own money so that Derek's "settle-up" would be correct. Jobs are supposed to pay you, not vice versa. Please learn from our mistake. Suffering is a terrible thing, and believing that someone like Derek Mason actually has a heart and cares for you is worse. The man sees dollar signs when new people walk into his office, and to him, that's all you ever are.
Listen to what others have to say (family, friends, even co-workers who have "blown-out"). It's true. Do things that better yourself, not the guy reaping all the benefits. Ask Derek what his family thinks about his career choice, if you can call it that. Evading the IRS and shredding documents is not a way to make a living. He will eventually get caught. Why do you think everyone makes their money and retires? So the blame isn't on them, and the finger is pointed at you.
I'm just glad we got out before things got worse, and trust me, they would have.
Jennifer
Glendale, Arizona
U.S.A.
20 Updates & Rebuttals
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Are you going to believe "Maria" or the Attorney General's office of Illinois?
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, April 22, 2005
THE WORLD PERFUME / SCENTURA SCAM
For much more on the World Perfume /Scentura Scam (over 400 pages) go to:
Groups.google.com
and type:
Scentura
Or
World Perfume
>>>Direct response to "Maria" below the 2 Attorney General investigations of World Perfume distributors and the 2 negative news reports on World Perfume distributors.
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TWO ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ARTICLES:
--------------------------------------------
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS BRINGS SUIT AGAINST WORLD PERFUME DISTRIBUTOR
MADIGAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST COOK COUNTY COMPANY THAT LURES POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES WITH FALSE PROMISES
TWO MEDIA ARTICLES:
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PERFUME SALESWOMAN: BOSS WANTED MENAGE A TROIS
SCENTS OF DECEPTION: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
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Attorney General of Illinois brings suit against World Perfume distributor
Chicago Daily Herald July 31, 2003, Thursday
www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
In these times of rising unemployment, Gil Fergus, the chief of the attorney general's consumer fraud division, warned people to check out companies before entering contracts with them.
As prosecutors announced the suit against Best Gourmet, they also announced a filing against a Schaumburg firm accused of promising people managerial positions, then making them sell perfume on the street.
Prosecutors say Archie Penson, managing Executive Design of Schaumburg, promised a managerial position to a Streamwood woman, Gina Romano, for sales of World Perfume imitation fragrances.
Instead, prosecutors said Romano, as part of her "training," was forced to sell perfume on the street and in shopping mall parking lots. Though company officials maintained they were "marketing" and not selling, prosecutors said, police ticketed Romano and others for failing to have a license to sell.
The company's telephone line was "being checked for trouble" Tuesday.
In each case, prosecutors asked for restitution, a permanent injunction against the defendants, and penalties of up to $100,000.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
.The second case filed today names Archie M. Penson individually and d/b/a as Executive Design, 1205 Remington Road, Suite M, in Schaumburg, for violating state consumer laws by advertising "management" positions for a line of imitation fragrances manufactured by World Perfume, Inc. Executive Design is not incorporated nor is it registered with the state.
According to Madigan's complaint, Penson has placed classified ads in newspapers since December 2002 seeking applicants for salaried branch managers. Applicants, including a Streamwood woman who complained to Madigan's office, were told they would be paid during training. However, after a few days, trainees were paired up and told they must "market" products on the street and in mall parking lots as part of their training. According to the complaint, several trainees were ticketed by local police for not having a business license to sell products even though Penson said the activity was legal because it was only "marketing."
Although the defendant interviewed the Streamwood consumer for an alleged job, he failed to tell her that she would be required to sell products, and he led her to believe she would be paid during a training period that was to last between 10 and 13 weeks. A $50 ticket she received for peddling in mid-December from the Schaumburg Police was later dismissed. At the time the consumer filed a complaint with Madigan's office, Executive Design had not paid her for the training period.
Madigan's suit seeks a permanent injunction against Penson, a civil penalty of $50,000 and an additional penalty of $50,000 if the court finds the acts were committed with intent to defraud. The suit also seeks restitution and costs. Assistant Attorney General Janice Parker is handling this case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.
MADIGAN FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST COOK COUNTY COMPANY THAT LURES POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES WITH FALSE PROMISES
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2004_04/20040414b.html
Chicago - Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed charges against a Lombard-based business that lured job seekers with false promises of extensive training, steady paychecks and managerial positions only to send the employees out on the street to sell knock-off fragrances.
Madigan's complaint - filed in Cook County Circuit Court - charges International Management, Inc., with multiple violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act. The company, which operates out of an office in Lombard, is an independent distributor of imitation designer perfumes manufactured by World Perfume, Inc.
"Job seekers reading these ads in major Chicago-area newspapers had no reason to believe that the opportunities touted in the ads are essentially false," Madigan said. "Unfortunately, once they are reeled in, they learn the jobs basically involve hawking fake perfume on the street."
Madigan's complaint alleges that instead of looking to hire full-time, salaried managers as their ads claim, International Management actually wants independent contractors who would be paid only on commission and essentially work for themselves.
According to Madigan's complaint, International Management has placed advertisements in Chicago-area newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Herald. The ads claim the company is hiring for management positions and is willing to train applicants. Job applicants allegedly also were told that the advertised position, full-time branch manager, is a salaried position.
Once they were hired, the job applicants allegedly entered a training program in which they were told to go out and find a location to "market" the World Perfume product. The applicants then discovered that they were independent contractors, receiving only a commission, and not salaried employees as promised in the ads, according to Madigan's suit.
Moreover, according to the complaint, International Management never informed the applicants of the legal requirements on independent contractors. For instance, independent contractors who sell merchandise from a non-fixed location must comply with the provisions of the Illinois Transient Merchants Act, which requires vendors to obtain municipal permits. Additionally, independent contractors who are selling products must collect and pay sales tax, as required under the Illinois Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. International Management allegedly never told the applicants about these clear legal requirements.
Madigan's complaint charges International Management with violations of the Consumer Fraud Act for misrepresenting the nature of jobs offered by the company, failing to provide trainees with full-time, salaried positions or paid management training as promised, and failing to notify the independent contractors of the applicable state and municipal laws.
Madigan's suit seeks to prohibit the company from engaging in any further activity that violates the Consumer Fraud Act. In addition, Madigan is seeking an order requiring International Management to pay restitution and court costs, civil penalties of $50,000 for each violation of the Act and additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation that the court finds the defendant committed with intent to defraud.
Assistant Attorney General Janice Parker is handling the case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.
SCENTS OF DECEPTION: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
Report on World Perfume
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
Ron Regan Finds Out The True Scent
POSTED: 5:43 p.m. EST November 2, 2001
CLEVELAND -- Brett McCoy, a former salesman: Smell that one, this is Freedom by Tommy Hilfiger.
Ron Regan: Brett McCoy claims this was his "sales pitch" to dozens of women.
See, I was just selling them at the show for 60 bucks and I need to unload them.
Regan: McCoy claims he convinced women they were buying expensive designer fragrances--the real thing...for the half the price. In fact, they were expensive knock-offs.
McCoy: From there, we can make up any lie, any story to make the sale. And if I asked if this is the real thing you say--"its the real thing.
Regan: McCoy worked for a company that placed these ads that began running last summer. So we decided to answer one of them.
Regan: Is it perfume? I've heard of, is it sold in department stores?
McCoy: Yes, we carry anything from like Versace, to Liz Clairborne to what else --Polo.
Regan: On another day, dozens of young people, trusting those ads, fill a room in this office labeled "International Management." Listen to exactly what they're told.
Seminar sound: Same ingredients, mixed the same way, without the same cost.
Regan: The company behind those fragrances is headquartered 1,300 miles away...deep in the heart of Texas.
World Perfume...I recently bought some perfume from a guy pumping gas...this is the real white diamonds right...yes...do many people know that they sell them in different bottles, oh yea, I mean we get it all from the manufacturers we use them in fragrance show that's what we do.
Chic Enterprises is home to World Perfume Inc., a company founded by J.D. Whitworth, a Dallas businessman, who now lives in this million and a half dollar home.
Small compared to the home he recently sold.
Regan: Hawking perfume brought Whitworth the sweet smell of success. In the early 90s, he bought this home now valued at $3.5 million.
It's a company, this father says, recruited his daughter through newspaper ads.
Richard Whitney: They can't have a pager, a beeper, can't call home during the middle of the week or during the day.
Regan: Richard Whitney complained to the Better Business Bureau.
Whitney: My wife and her family compared it with a religious cult, it was like they were brainwashing.
Regan: At the time, World Perfume denied any wrongdoing, saying it's "proud of the quality of its work and ethical business practices."
But when we wanted to ask a few questions inside their Dallas headquarters...this guy blocked the hallway.
Regan: Is there any reason why you won't talk with us? And remember the company representative you first saw in our undercover video? Regan: This is International Management, we're part of a larger company called World Perfume. When we caught up with him...the story changed.
Regan: Who do you work for?
Rep: It's my company.
Regan: Oh, it your company.
Rep: What is World Perfume?
They are one of the distributors--is that who supplies you--yes, they are one of my suppliers and I am asking you to leave my office right now.
Regan: Even the sales force ran for cover.
Regan: Do you tell people it's the real fragrance.
I have no comment.
Regan: Why won't you speak about it.
Rep: Because I'm very busy and I'm off somewhere right now.
Regan: And customers who bought Brett McCoy's sales pitch say they wasted their money.
Diane DiCarlo, a customer: It's like $28 a bottle for watered down ...nothing.
Regan: Finally, we found job applicants, lured by huge incomes.
Rep: And our top range managers making $75 to $85 thousand dollars a year. Managing new locations.
Regan: Right now, the company is undergoing a $10 million expansion plan to open ten new offices.
Left only....with a "training" office.
Regan: Do you pay these people anything?
Rep: Yeah, they get paid off their sales.
Regan: They don't get paid a salary?
Rep: No.
Regan: An office with plenty of free time.
International Management insists it tells its sales force that the fragrances that they sell are renditions only and not the real thing. The company declined an opportunity for an on-camera interview to fully discuss its sales practices.
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PERFUME SALESWOMAN: BOSS WANTED MENAGE A TROIS
One Perfume Called 'Sex In A Bottle'
POSTED: 12:12 p.m. EST November 13, 2001
CLEVELAND -- She was recruited for a sales job, but a Cleveland woman is telling an outrageous story of sex on the job, NewsChannel5's Ron Regan reported.
Last week, WEWS told you about a company that lures young people with the promise of big salaries. Read part one.
The earlier report got official's attention, but lurid stories of a menage a trois are surfacing.
The Ohio Attorney General's office is reviewing a report to determine potential actions against International Management and World Perfume.
"It's called sex in a bottle," said Lauren Busek, 18.
WEWS reported that when Busek watched the undercover report, some ugly memories resurfaced. She said she was often told to wear short skirts, flirt or even take off her shirt.
Like a former salesperson WEWS interviewed for part one, Busek claims that she convinced customers that they were buying expensive designer fragrances.
Video
Her Boss Wanted Sex
Busek said that she too convinced customers that they were buying expensive designer fragrances for half price.
Busek added that she was told to target men.
"We always told them it was sex in a bottle, the panty dropper," said Busek.
WEWS reported that Busek, like many other young people, reported to work at the International Management office.
Inside, sales recruits are told that they are in management positions, who make between $75,000 to $85,000 a year.
"I never got paid," Busek said.
WEWS said that Busek was two weeks away from marrying her fiance when she was asked to have sex with a manager.
"She told me, that he really wanted to have sex with me," she said, adding that a female and male manager wanted a threesome.
WEWS tried to speak with International Management, but was asked to leave.
In addition, NewsChannel5 tried to talk with World Perfume, based in Dallas, but no one would talk. Regan was told, however, that there would be an investigation.
As a result of our investigation, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason said that his office will begin investigating the business practices we uncovered.
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Response to "Maria":
"The thing is, there is just so much information that is given to you in small loads so that you have a better understanding, if you knew everything about running an office right away you would be overwhelmed and confused."
So when World Perfume distributors promise $50,000 a year pay checks in the first and second interview, this is true? No, it is a lie.
When World Perfume distributors tell trainees to lie to customers that the product is authentic when it is a cheap knock off, is this true? No, it is a lie.
When World Perfume uses the same script as Scentura does, with the Friends and Family contest, the same deceitful practices, then is this true? No, it is a lie.
Do as Maria said: "ask questions, find out the answers." But not from sleazy, immoral, lying distributors. Call the Attorney General of Illinois and ask them about the World Perfume "opportunity", the same Attorney General which recently shut down 2 of these pyramid scams.
The only "small loads" of information that Maria and other distributors provide are lies and half truths, they know that 99 out of 100 of the trainees will figure out that it is a scam, and quit, and that the same eternal advertisements in the classifieds will be answered by other naive trainees to replace the current "quitters". Thus, they will try to get as many sales out of the new trainees as possible:
With the friends and family scam.
"Practice selling on your family and friends!"
Maria
Minneapolis,Minnesota,
U.S.A.
Maria "Minnesota Hard HItter"
#21Consumer Comment
Sat, April 16, 2005
Where to begin. First of all, this company is NOT a SCAM. Although it may appear to be that way at times, it is all a matter of how you look at it. Everything that people say, can be interpreted in anyway that you desire. I ran an office in Minnesota. When I first joined the company I didn't really know what was going on, but I was having fun, and I am competitve and out for a challenge.
The thing is, there is just so much information that is given to you in small loads so that you have a better understanding, if you knew everything about running an office right away you would be overwhelmed and confused. Also, if you are skeptical about stuff, ask questions, find out the answers.
You should never take a job unless you are 100% sure you want that job. You can make money in training, I made anywhere from $500-$1000 a week while I was in training...and I PAID TAXES!
THat is completely your decision to pay taxes, you are an independant contractor after all, it is your duty to take care of that...not to mention they tell you to save your reciepts (ie...gas, cell phones, clothing, food...etc...)to use as a tax write off.
If you aren't making money, you aren't motivated enough. They tell you that you will sell perfume in the field during your training period. Road trips aren't mandatory,they are just extrenmely fun and useful.
Wings, good to show up, not mandatory to stay. Plus free food, and you can bring your family and friends to wings. They tell you everything you will be doing in training over and over again the first two weeks. With any job you need to give it at least two weeks to see how you feel about it.
IF after two weeks, you don't mind putting in the effort or the hours so that you can one day run your own office, then good for you, otherwise it is not for you. As far as running your own office, they tell you that the first couple of months is going to be a grind, and it is hard, but in order to be successful in the business..in which you can...you need to be determined, motivated, have the right attitude and also...very important...ETHICS.
Sometimes it just so happens you might get put with a crappy partner who doesn't have the same work ethics as you, or just get stuck with a bad egg. Running an office...and training is difficult..but they tell you this is the hardest job you will ever have.
So as grueling as training can be...if you really DO trust your branch managers that they will put you in an office...they will. Once you get to an office...it is up to you, to follow their examples in order to be successful. But they are right there beside you to guide you. Some people just aren't cut out for the business.
And then there are those amazing individuals who can totally rule the business like Dan, Duke, and Derek, and other people as well. I learned alot from working there, and it made me a stronger individual with a better self esteem...it takes a lot of balls to walk up to a random person and sell perfume.
If it weren't for the fact that I ended up with a crappy partner who ripped me off, I would still be there, and the fact I had to leave for maternity. Anywho..... if you don't like it..don't do it. "Motivated ..motivated, down right dedicated, if youre not motivated get the f**k out
Greg
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
I can't believe this scam is still active!
#21Consumer Comment
Thu, March 31, 2005
The 'make your fortune in perfume' scam has been going at least since 1980.
Just think people----do you think you can get rich selling fake cologne and perfume on consignment?
The out of town sales trips for this scam actually helped create laws that say if your company takes you on a road trip, they must get you back.
An acquaintence of mine was taken 150 miles away in the mid 80's, and was refused a ride home because the scammers claimed his sales were falling short.
Amazing how many unfortunate people are brought into this scam.
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
How to shut down world perfume / Scentura distributors
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, March 30, 2005
An easy way to shut down your local World Perfume or Scentura office
How our efforts CLOSED a local World Perfume distributor in less than two months
In October-November 2002, Waterfront Design, a distributor of World Perfume advertised in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News.
I responded to one of these ads, within 5 days, I learned that World Perfume was a fraud.
Within two months we had closed down Waterfront Design.
I had written letters to:
*The classifieds, with supporting evidence (BEST WAY)
Remember: Scentura and World Perfume distributors survive on new trainees to respond to fraudulent advertisements in the classifieds every week for as long as the business is open.
In early December it appeared that Waterfront Designs could no longer afford to pay a secretary, and their weekly meetings had been interrupted. Waterfront Design also appeared to advertise much less frequently.
In late December Waterfront Designs telephone number was shut off, and the business was CLOSED!
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HOW TO SHUT DOWN YOUR LOCAL WORLD PERFUME / SCENTURA
What YOU can do
Getting [Scentura and World Perfume distributors] kicked out of the newspaper [classifieds] would be about the biggest problem you could cause. I once got kicked out of the paper in DC and it took me almost a year of advertising in the smaller, local papers before I could finally get them to let me back in. Big hassle.--Mike Barrick, Scentura distributor for ten years
I think an effective way is to cut their ability to advertise for the distribution centers. If a dist. center forgets to run its ads for a week it really hurts them for about 5 weeks due to not having new people start and sell to their friends and families. I have considered complaining to the local paper here, telling them I went on an interview and realized they aren't really hiring, just looking for independent contractors. If someone complains sternly enough the papers will at the least investigate to protect their reputation.
In some cities Scentura offices are very restricted on what they can print in the ads (In the Chicago Tribune they have to say marketing in their ads, in some papers they have to put sales, ind. contractor, etc.).
-Traci, former Scentura distributor
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THREE EASY STEPS TO STOPPING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER
Step 1: Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds (Scentura)
Step 1: Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds (World Perfume)
Step 2: Threatening letter to the newspaper classifieds
Step 3: Letter to other local news sources in your city
STEP 1:
Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds Scentura
(see below for letter regarding world perfume)
Address of newspaper in your area:
http://www.zuzu.com/helpful/new-add.htm
YOU NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (THIS IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE; IT ADS AUTHENTICITY TO THE LETTER)
[You local Newspaper Classifieds Address Here]
Dear ______________,
My name is _______________.
On ________ (DATE)________ I applied for a job in your classifieds:
________________________________
________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE)
________________________________
I found out that this company is fraudulently advertising in your classifieds. This company is actually a distributor of Scentura perfumes. Scentura is an Atlanta based perfume company that runs a "pyramid sales scheme". (This is according to a ruling of the Appellate Court Of Illinois, Second District, see attached article)
Scentura sells imitation perfume to distributors across the country. All distributors must sign independent contractor licenses stating that the parent company is not liable for anything illegal or unethical that the distributors do.
There is no MANAGEMENT RECEPTIONIST (CHOOSE ONE) position available with this company. When I arrived for training, the company wanted me to:
-sell perfume to my family and friends,
-sell perfume in parking lots illegally without a business license, and
-lie to customers that this perfume was authentic when it is an imitation.
There was no office work involved with this company. It is a 100% commission job.
The managers of this business where incredibly deceitful, and lied throughout the entire interview.
(YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLES HERE-
FOR EXAMPLE:
MENTION THE FEE FOR THE BOGUS BACKGROUND CHECK,
THE FEE FOR THE PERFUME STARTER KIT,
THE PROMISE OF A LARGE YEARLY SALARY )
Scentura Distributors survive by advertising the same deceitful advertisements every week. The RECEPTIONIST MANAGEMENT (CHOOSE ONE) position, which is advertised in your classifieds, will never be filled. Every week this Scentura distributor will advertise in your classifieds.
Every week new young adults will answer these deceitful ads and be promised a management position at a later date after 'initial training', which lasts several weeks. This 'initial training' is selling perfume in parking lots and door to door to business illegally without a peddler's permit. The vast majority find out this is a scam and quit within the first two weeks, those who stay get a percentage of the sales of the new recruits and help train them. Eventually a person can open his own office with his own money, and begin to place ads in classifieds all over again. The person who initially hired this new "office manager" gets a percentage of his sales. A classical pyramid scheme, as the Illinois Second District ruled.
Every week Scentura distributors lure young adults by these deceptive advertisements. Please read the attached news articles about Scentura. If your classifieds stops allowing this Scentura distributor to advertise, then their deceitful pyramid scheme will collapse. Please stop allowing this firms to advertise in your classifieds.
Thank you,
ATTACH 20 ARTICLES AND ONE COURT ORDER ABOUT SCENTURA TO LETTER
IF AVAILABLE, ATTACH PETITION TO LETTER.
TOP OF PAGE
STEP 1:
Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds WORLD PERFUME
Letter to your local classified advertiser about World Perfume
Address of newspaper in your area:
http://www.usnpl.com/
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media
/Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/
http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/
newspapers.htm
YOU NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (THIS IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE; IT ADS AUTHENTICITY TO THE LETTER)
[You local Newspaper Classifieds Address Here]
Dear ______________,
My name is _______________.
On ________ (DATE)________ I applied for a job in your classifieds:
________________________________
________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE)
________________________________
I found out that this company is fraudulently advertising in your classifieds. This company is actually a distributor of World Perfume. World Perfume is a Dallas based perfume company that runs a "pyramid sales scheme".
World Perfume sells imitation perfume to distributors across the country. All distributors must sign independent contractor licenses stating that the parent company is not liable for anything illegal or unethical that the distributors do.
There is no MANAGEMENT RECEPTIONIST (CHOOSE ONE) position available with this company. When I arrived for training, the company wanted me to:
-sell perfume to my family and friends,
-sell perfume in parking lots illegally without a business license, and
-lie to customers that this perfume was authentic when it is an imitation.
There was no office work involved with this company. It is a 100% commission job.
The managers of this business where incredibly deceitful, and lied throughout the entire interview.
(YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLES HERE-
FOR EXAMPLE:
MENTION THE FEE FOR THE BOGUS BACKGROUND CHECK,
THE FEE FOR THE PERFUME STARTER KIT,
THE PROMISE OF A LARGE YEARLY SALARY )
World Perfume Distributors survive by advertising the same deceitful advertisements every week. The RECEPTIONIST MANAGEMENT (CHOOSE ONE) position, which is advertised in your classifieds, will never be filled. Every week this World Perfume distributor will advertise in your classifieds.
From what I learned on the internet, from other people who have worked with other distributors , and what they taught us in training is that every week new young adults will answer these deceitful ads and be promised a management position at a later date after 'initial training', which lasts several weeks. This 'initial training' is selling perfume in parking lots and door to door to business illegally without a peddler's permit. The vast majority find out this is a scam and quit within the first two weeks, those who stay get a percentage of the sales of the new recruits and help train them. Eventually a person can open his own office with his own money, and begin to place ads in classifieds all over again. The person who initially hired this new "office manager" gets a percentage of his sales. A classical pyramid scheme.
Every week World Perfume distributors lure young adults by these deceptive advertisements. Please read the attached news article about World Perfume. If your classifieds stops allowing this World Perfume distributor to advertise, then their deceitful pyramid scheme will collapse. Please stop allowing this firms to advertise in your classifieds.
Thank you,
*ATTACH ARTICLE:
Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html TO LETTER
*IF AVAILABLE, ATTACH PETITION TO LETTER.
TOP OF PAGE
STEP 2:
Threatening letter to the newspaper classifieds
Wait 2 WEEKS.
If you receive no response from the classified newspaper and the advertisements are still published:
First try to call the editor of the newspaper and talk to the editor of the classifieds.
If you cannot talk to the editor, or the editor refuses to take out the ads send this letter:
****
YOU NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
Dear ______________,
My name is _______________.
On ________ (DATE)________ I sent a letter to you about a fraudulent classified advertisement in your classifieds. I am disappointed that no action was taken / you did not respond (CHOOSE ONE)
The company I complained about was (NAME)
Which runs this weekly advertisement:
________________________________
________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE)
________________________________
I feel that it is very important that other people are not deceived by this company. Therefore, if I do not hear from you within two weeks, by (DATE) I will be forced to contact other news media in the area about your continued support of this company.
I will be forced to contact:
LIST NAMES AND ADDRESSES / TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF :
NAMES AND ADDRESSES of competing newspaper in your area:
http://www.usnpl.com/
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/
http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/newspapers.htm
NAMES AND ADDRESSES of television stations in your area:
http://www.gebbieinc.com/tvintro.htm
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Television/By_Region/U_S__States/
NAMES AND ADDRESSES of radio station in your area
(CHOOSE ONLY RADIO STATIONS WITH NEWS BROADCASTS):
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Radio/By_Region/U_S__States/
http://www.gebbieinc.com/radintro.htm
http://www.npr.org/members/
College radio stations: http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Radio/Stations/College_and_University/By_Region/U_S__States/
TOP OF PAGE
Step Three:
Letter to other local news sources in your city
It is best to call the other news sources in your city.
But a letter may suffice:
YOU NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
Dear ______________,
My name is _______________.
On ________(DATE)_________ I sent a letter to _______________ explaining about a fraudulent experience that I had with a company that was advertised in their newspaper classifieds. Because of an unsatisfactory response, I wrote them a second letter. There was no response to this second letter.
I therefore would like to let other news organizations know about this fraudulent company, ______________ and how our local paper refuses to stop allowing this company to advertise in the classifieds.
Please investigate this situation.
Attached are the two letters I sent to the classifieds, and supporting evidence.
Thank you for your time and support,
Attachments
ATTACH:
1) TWO LETTERS SENT TO THE CLASSIFIEDS AND
2) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE (NEWS ARTICLES AGAINST THE COMPANIES (AND COURT ORDER IN CASE OF SCENTURA)
SEND THIS LETTER TO THE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT OF THE NEWSPAPER WITH A "CC:" AT TOP LISTING THE NAMES OF ALL OF THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS YOU HAVE CONTACTED. YOU DON'T NEED TO INCLUDE THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE AGAIN TO THE ORIGINAL CLASSIFIEDS.
Tyson
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
One more thing Derek What comes around goes around in the business world.
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, March 08, 2005
You see, you can not say I was not successful at what I did with GMI. I made about $2,000 in the month I was there. each bottle sold had a overhead of $19 and I maybe paid GMI $350-400 so I sold 18-20 bottles. How do you think I made so much money?
Well I can not tell you but lets say I sold a lot of perfume with 0 overhead. How did I do it? The same way you make money. I used the same techniques you used against all the poor people that are desperate for a job and will listen to anything.
That is taking advantage and thats why I took advantage of you for a breif while. You know now that I have a lot of friends in this area I am going to teach them how to do it and send them for interviews.
They will get hired! They will make money for themselves not you. You are not smart enough to figure out how to do it. What comes around goes around in the business world.
Tyson
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
It is a scam!!!!!! They want to hang out at gas stations to sell perfume
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, March 07, 2005
I am a former "Employee" but before I say anything let me tell you who I am. I am an ex-pro athlete with a degree from a major University from the Big 12 conf. I have a job that makes more than Derek right now and I am one of the hardest working people you ever met. I have also started my own successful business on the side from my daily job. Let me tell you, it will be harder to go through Global Marketing to make money than becoming a pro athlete, starting your own successful, or landing your dream job. Which I have already done. You see I moved to Arizona and just applied for any job because I was wanting a job instead of staying home. Let me tell you Global Marketing is full of it. They want to hang out at gas stations to sell perfume. I would have quit earlier than i did but I just wanted to see how much bull s**t it was. Once I heard Derek going off about lazy people and swearing told me that he was not a professional. I did not loose anything or suffered any effects from my so called emloyment. I just learn how shitty of an environment it is for weak minded desperate people in search for a good job. They are promised the world but get s**t. For you Derek, I have mine, so what, "you can pump my gas". Also I know that was you in one of the rebuttals. Because, I have a brain and know what you would say. "laugh while you pump my gas".
Grow up! and Dan Get a car, if you want to borrow one of mine give me a call. Derek, you still drive the Jeep? I have an Overlander. I will give you a ride if you want. HA HA Ha Ha
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Complain to the Texas Attorney General's office today
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, February 19, 2005
It is getting really bad for World Perfume,
I just found another World Perfume distributor had a lawsuit filled against it by the Illinois office of the Attorney General.
Since World Perfume's headquarters are in Dallas, Texas, you can write an online complaint to the Texas Attorney General right now, it only takes 5 minutes! :
Instructions:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/complain.shtml
Form:
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/forms/cpd/cpd_getcounty.php
Items you can mention
(If possible, please use your own words!):
The esteemed Attorney General Greg Abbott,
I would like to file a complaint about a company near Dallas:
World Perfume, Inc.
1400 Bradley Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007
Dallas is the headquarters for this MLM pyramid scam.
The Illinois office of the attorney general recently filed a law suit against two World Perfume distributors:
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2004_04/20040414b.html
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
There is also a Illinois news report on one of the distributors:
www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
The Better Business Bureau has filed negative reports against World Perfume distributors:
http://search.cincinnati.bbb.org/default3.asp?strTheForm=2&ID=1&strBCode=02920000&ComID=0292000036004780
http://www.baltimore.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0011000023013083
http://www.thebbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=37002753
http://www.tucson.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=4001388&national=Y
http://www.chicago.bbb.org/common.html?location=/home/common/www/mis67/report.php&bureau=chic&compid=62001336
The truth is that Johnny Whitworth, the president of World Perfume used to be one of the largest distributors of Scentura, a MLM scam that the Illinois Appellate court ruled was an illegal "pyramid sales scheme".
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm
(The defendant in this case, Dan Long, also a former distributor of Scentura, now works for World Perfume.)
"A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: " He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000."" (Scentura used to be called WMI)
---E. Thomas Jr..Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5)
Like Scentura, World Perfume uses an "independent contractor" license to shield itself from civil and criminal prosecution.
Like Scentura, all of the distributors use a script and are trained to lie to potential employees. The script in fact, is almost exactly the same as Scentura's script.
(Mr. Whitworth took the script when he left Scentura in 1994 to start his own perfume business.)
I successfully closed down a distributor in Salt Lake.
http://www.saltlakecity.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=6001157&national=Y
(The statement that "The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company since the Bureau file opened in November 2002." is completely inaccurate, I filed a case in November 2002.)
Also there are many angry former employees of this scam:
http://ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=world+perfume&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0
I would hope you would investigate this multi-level marketing scheme.
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Complain to the Texas Attorney General's office today
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, February 19, 2005
It is getting really bad for World Perfume,
I just found another World Perfume distributor had a lawsuit filled against it by the Illinois office of the Attorney General.
Since World Perfume's headquarters are in Dallas, Texas, you can write an online complaint to the Texas Attorney General right now, it only takes 5 minutes! :
Instructions:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/complain.shtml
Form:
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/forms/cpd/cpd_getcounty.php
Items you can mention
(If possible, please use your own words!):
The esteemed Attorney General Greg Abbott,
I would like to file a complaint about a company near Dallas:
World Perfume, Inc.
1400 Bradley Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007
Dallas is the headquarters for this MLM pyramid scam.
The Illinois office of the attorney general recently filed a law suit against two World Perfume distributors:
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2004_04/20040414b.html
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
There is also a Illinois news report on one of the distributors:
www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
The Better Business Bureau has filed negative reports against World Perfume distributors:
http://search.cincinnati.bbb.org/default3.asp?strTheForm=2&ID=1&strBCode=02920000&ComID=0292000036004780
http://www.baltimore.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0011000023013083
http://www.thebbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=37002753
http://www.tucson.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=4001388&national=Y
http://www.chicago.bbb.org/common.html?location=/home/common/www/mis67/report.php&bureau=chic&compid=62001336
The truth is that Johnny Whitworth, the president of World Perfume used to be one of the largest distributors of Scentura, a MLM scam that the Illinois Appellate court ruled was an illegal "pyramid sales scheme".
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm
(The defendant in this case, Dan Long, also a former distributor of Scentura, now works for World Perfume.)
"A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: " He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000."" (Scentura used to be called WMI)
---E. Thomas Jr..Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5)
Like Scentura, World Perfume uses an "independent contractor" license to shield itself from civil and criminal prosecution.
Like Scentura, all of the distributors use a script and are trained to lie to potential employees. The script in fact, is almost exactly the same as Scentura's script.
(Mr. Whitworth took the script when he left Scentura in 1994 to start his own perfume business.)
I successfully closed down a distributor in Salt Lake.
http://www.saltlakecity.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=6001157&national=Y
(The statement that "The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company since the Bureau file opened in November 2002." is completely inaccurate, I filed a case in November 2002.)
Also there are many angry former employees of this scam:
http://ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=world+perfume&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0
I would hope you would investigate this multi-level marketing scheme.
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Complain to the Texas Attorney General's office today
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, February 19, 2005
It is getting really bad for World Perfume,
I just found another World Perfume distributor had a lawsuit filled against it by the Illinois office of the Attorney General.
Since World Perfume's headquarters are in Dallas, Texas, you can write an online complaint to the Texas Attorney General right now, it only takes 5 minutes! :
Instructions:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/complain.shtml
Form:
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/forms/cpd/cpd_getcounty.php
Items you can mention
(If possible, please use your own words!):
The esteemed Attorney General Greg Abbott,
I would like to file a complaint about a company near Dallas:
World Perfume, Inc.
1400 Bradley Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007
Dallas is the headquarters for this MLM pyramid scam.
The Illinois office of the attorney general recently filed a law suit against two World Perfume distributors:
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2004_04/20040414b.html
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
There is also a Illinois news report on one of the distributors:
www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
The Better Business Bureau has filed negative reports against World Perfume distributors:
http://search.cincinnati.bbb.org/default3.asp?strTheForm=2&ID=1&strBCode=02920000&ComID=0292000036004780
http://www.baltimore.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0011000023013083
http://www.thebbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=37002753
http://www.tucson.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=4001388&national=Y
http://www.chicago.bbb.org/common.html?location=/home/common/www/mis67/report.php&bureau=chic&compid=62001336
The truth is that Johnny Whitworth, the president of World Perfume used to be one of the largest distributors of Scentura, a MLM scam that the Illinois Appellate court ruled was an illegal "pyramid sales scheme".
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm
(The defendant in this case, Dan Long, also a former distributor of Scentura, now works for World Perfume.)
"A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: " He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000."" (Scentura used to be called WMI)
---E. Thomas Jr..Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5)
Like Scentura, World Perfume uses an "independent contractor" license to shield itself from civil and criminal prosecution.
Like Scentura, all of the distributors use a script and are trained to lie to potential employees. The script in fact, is almost exactly the same as Scentura's script.
(Mr. Whitworth took the script when he left Scentura in 1994 to start his own perfume business.)
I successfully closed down a distributor in Salt Lake.
http://www.saltlakecity.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=6001157&national=Y
(The statement that "The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company since the Bureau file opened in November 2002." is completely inaccurate, I filed a case in November 2002.)
Also there are many angry former employees of this scam:
http://ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=world+perfume&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0
I would hope you would investigate this multi-level marketing scheme.
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Complain to the Texas Attorney General's office today
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, February 19, 2005
It is getting really bad for World Perfume,
I just found another World Perfume distributor had a lawsuit filled against it by the Illinois office of the Attorney General.
Since World Perfume's headquarters are in Dallas, Texas, you can write an online complaint to the Texas Attorney General right now, it only takes 5 minutes! :
Instructions:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/consumer/complain.shtml
Form:
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/forms/cpd/cpd_getcounty.php
Items you can mention
(If possible, please use your own words!):
The esteemed Attorney General Greg Abbott,
I would like to file a complaint about a company near Dallas:
World Perfume, Inc.
1400 Bradley Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007
Dallas is the headquarters for this MLM pyramid scam.
The Illinois office of the attorney general recently filed a law suit against two World Perfume distributors:
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2004_04/20040414b.html
http://www.ag.state.il.us/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
There is also a Illinois news report on one of the distributors:
www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
The Better Business Bureau has filed negative reports against World Perfume distributors:
http://search.cincinnati.bbb.org/default3.asp?strTheForm=2&ID=1&strBCode=02920000&ComID=0292000036004780
http://www.baltimore.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&ComID=0011000023013083
http://www.thebbb.org/commonreport.html?bid=37002753
http://www.tucson.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=4001388&national=Y
http://www.chicago.bbb.org/common.html?location=/home/common/www/mis67/report.php&bureau=chic&compid=62001336
The truth is that Johnny Whitworth, the president of World Perfume used to be one of the largest distributors of Scentura, a MLM scam that the Illinois Appellate court ruled was an illegal "pyramid sales scheme".
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm
(The defendant in this case, Dan Long, also a former distributor of Scentura, now works for World Perfume.)
"A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: " He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000."" (Scentura used to be called WMI)
---E. Thomas Jr..Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5)
Like Scentura, World Perfume uses an "independent contractor" license to shield itself from civil and criminal prosecution.
Like Scentura, all of the distributors use a script and are trained to lie to potential employees. The script in fact, is almost exactly the same as Scentura's script.
(Mr. Whitworth took the script when he left Scentura in 1994 to start his own perfume business.)
I successfully closed down a distributor in Salt Lake.
http://www.saltlakecity.bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=6001157&national=Y
(The statement that "The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company since the Bureau file opened in November 2002." is completely inaccurate, I filed a case in November 2002.)
Also there are many angry former employees of this scam:
http://ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q5=world+perfume&submit2=Search%21&q4=&q6=&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0
I would hope you would investigate this multi-level marketing scheme.
Jd
Dallas,Texas,
U.S.A.
Dan Long was once a big distributor of Scentura, like World Perfume president Johnny Whitworth
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, February 19, 2005
Hey Dan, Derek, and you other worthless sleazy snake oil scam artists.
You want proof that you are a scam, here it is, THIRTY THREE pages of proof that you are a scam:
Like Johnny Whitworth, Dan Long used to worked for Scentura. Both Johnny Whitworth and Dan Long were once top distributors in the pyramid scam Scentura, the same organization that was determined to be an illegal pyramid scheme in Illinois. There was a falling out, and Scentura sued Dan Long.
Well, Dan Long won the case, because Scentura was shown to be a multilevel marketing scam. (NOTE 1)
Thing is World Perfume is ran almost exactly like Scentura. Same scam. Since Scentura was proven to be a multi-level marketing scam, and World Perfume is ran the same exact way, this proves that World Perfume is a MLM scam too. (For the striking similarities, see NOTE 5)
In addition, World Perfume has gotten a lot of bad press lately, including a television news station catching their distributors in several lies and the attorney general filing charges against a distributor. (NOTE 2)
In addition, a lot of local Better Business Bureaus have caught on to the World Perfume scam (NOTE 4) Now, if the BBB, a corrupt organization (NOTE 6) that is supported by the companies it is supposed to monitor states that world perfume is a scam, you know it is a scam. [Because of the independent contractor license, the headquarters of World Perfume is a BBB member]
What has the president of World Perfume done is response to all this bad press? Well Johnny Whitworth, president of World Perfume is trying to shut down ripoffreport.com.
(NOTE 3)
For a larger discussion of the World Perfume and Scentura MLM scam go here:
www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff36647.htm
or go to groups.google.com
and
type
Scentura
------
NOTE 1
Scentura sues Dan Long, a big distributor of Scentura, and is shown to be an illegal MLM scam.
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS SECOND DISTRICT SCENTURA CREATIONS, INC. court case September 18, 2001
Ruled AGAINST Scentura Creations inc. because it was found to be a multi-level marketing scam.
Scentura ruled by Appellate court to be a multi-level marketing "pyramid sales scheme":
"In our view, the consignment contract between plaintiff and defendant is properly characterized as a chain referral sales technique or pyramid sales scheme, which falls within the protection of section 2A of the Act."
"By virtue of this legislative enactment, the state has determined that the eradication of chain referral sales techniques and pyramid sales schemes is an important interest. Although the power to declare a private contract void as contrary to public policy is to be used sparingly, we may utilize this power when the contract at issue is clearly contrary to the constitution, the statutes, or the decisions of the courts."
"While defendant contends that the consignment contract falls squarely within the protection of section 2A of the Act, plaintiff contends that the contract cannot be construed as a chain referral agreement or pyramid sales scheme because furnishing names of other consignees is not a condition precedent to defendant's financial gain. Plaintiff also asserts that section 2A of the Consumer Fraud Act does not apply because plaintiff did not "sell" merchandise, but, instead, it delivered the perfume on consignment. We find plaintiff's asserted distinctions to be unpersuasive and nothing more than an exercise in semantics. "
Defendant said that the:
"plaintiff breached the agreement, that the agreement was not supported by consideration, that plaintiff destroyed evidence, and that the agreement was illusory and unconscionable."
--------
NOTE 2
World Perfume has gotten a lot of bad press, including a television news station catching them in a lie and the attorney general filing charges against a distributor.
Attorney General of Illinois brings suit against World Perfume distributor
Chicago Daily Herald July 31, 2003, Thursday
In these times of rising unemployment, Gil Fergus, the chief of the attorney general's consumer fraud division, warned people to check out companies before entering contracts with them.
As prosecutors announced the suit against Best Gourmet, they also announced a filing against a Schaumburg firm accused of promising people managerial positions, then making them sell perfume on the street.
Prosecutors say Archie Penson, managing Executive Design of Schaumburg, promised a managerial position to a Streamwood woman, Gina Romano, for sales of World Perfume imitation fragrances.
Instead, prosecutors said Romano, as part of her "training," was forced to sell perfume on the street and in shopping mall parking lots. Though company officials maintained they were "marketing" and not selling, prosecutors said, police ticketed Romano and others for failing to have a license to sell.
The company's telephone line was "being checked for trouble" Tuesday.
In each case, prosecutors asked for restitution, a permanent injunction against the defendants, and penalties of up to $100,000.
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html
.The second case filed today names Archie M. Penson individually and d/b/a as Executive Design, 1205 Remington Road, Suite M, in Schaumburg, for violating state consumer laws by advertising "management" positions for a line of imitation fragrances manufactured by World Perfume, Inc. Executive Design is not incorporated nor is it registered with the state.
According to Madigan's complaint, Penson has placed classified ads in newspapers since December 2002 seeking applicants for salaried branch managers. Applicants, including a Streamwood woman who complained to Madigan's office, were told they would be paid during training. However, after a few days, trainees were paired up and told they must "market" products on the street and in mall parking lots as part of their training. According to the complaint, several trainees were ticketed by local police for not having a business license to sell products even though Penson said the activity was legal because it was only "marketing."
Although the defendant interviewed the Streamwood consumer for an alleged job, he failed to tell her that she would be required to sell products, and he led her to believe she would be paid during a training period that was to last between 10 and 13 weeks. A $50 ticket she received for peddling in mid-December from the Schaumburg Police was later dismissed. At the time the consumer filed a complaint with Madigan's office, Executive Design had not paid her for the training period.
Madigan's suit seeks a permanent injunction against Penson, a civil penalty of $50,000 and an additional penalty of $50,000 if the court finds the acts were committed with intent to defraud. The suit also seeks restitution and costs. Assistant Attorney General Janice Parker is handling this case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau.
SCENTS OF DECEPTION: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY
Report on World Perfume
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
Ron Regan Finds Out The True Scent
POSTED: 5:43 p.m. EST November 2, 2001
CLEVELAND -- Brett McCoy, a former salesman: Smell that one, this is Freedom by Tommy Hilfiger.
Ron Regan: Brett McCoy claims this was his "sales pitch" to dozens of women.
See, I was just selling them at the show for 60 bucks and I need to unload them.
Regan: McCoy claims he convinced women they were buying expensive designer fragrances--the real thing...for the half the price. In fact, they were expensive knock-offs.
McCoy: From there, we can make up any lie, any story to make the sale. And if I asked if this is the real thing you say--"its the real thing.
Regan: McCoy worked for a company that placed these ads that began running last summer. So we decided to answer one of them.
Regan: Is it perfume? I've heard of, is it sold in department stores?
McCoy: Yes, we carry anything from like Versace, to Liz Clairborne to what else --Polo.
Regan: On another day, dozens of young people, trusting those ads, fill a room in this office labeled "International Management." Listen to exactly what they're told.
Seminar sound: Same ingredients, mixed the same way, without the same cost.
Regan: The company behind those fragrances is headquartered 1,300 miles away...deep in the heart of Texas.
World Perfume...I recently bought some perfume from a guy pumping gas...this is the real white diamonds right...yes...do many people know that they sell them in different bottles, oh yea, I mean we get it all from the manufacturers we use them in fragrance show that's what we do.
Chic Enterprises is home to World Perfume Inc., a company founded by J.D. Whitworth, a Dallas businessman, who now lives in this million and a half dollar home.
Small compared to the home he recently sold.
Regan: Hawking perfume brought Whitworth the sweet smell of success. In the early 90s, he bought this home now valued at $3.5 million.
It's a company, this father says, recruited his daughter through newspaper ads.
Richard Whitney: They can't have a pager, a beeper, can't call home during the middle of the week or during the day.
Regan: Richard Whitney complained to the Better Business Bureau.
Whitney: My wife and her family compared it with a religious cult, it was like they were brainwashing.
Regan: At the time, World Perfume denied any wrongdoing, saying it's "proud of the quality of its work and ethical business practices."
But when we wanted to ask a few questions inside their Dallas headquarters...this guy blocked the hallway.
Regan: Is there any reason why you won't talk with us? And remember the company representative you first saw in our undercover video? Regan: This is International Management, we're part of a larger company called World Perfume. When we caught up with him...the story changed.
Regan: Who do you work for?
Rep: It's my company.
Regan: Oh, it your company.
Rep: What is World Perfume?
They are one of the distributors--is that who supplies you--yes, they are one of my suppliers and I am asking you to leave my office right now.
Regan: Even the sales force ran for cover.
Regan: Do you tell people it's the real fragrance.
I have no comment.
Regan: Why won't you speak about it.
Rep: Because I'm very busy and I'm off somewhere right now.
Regan: And customers who bought Brett McCoy's sales pitch say they wasted their money.
Diane DiCarlo, a customer: It's like $28 a bottle for watered down ...nothing.
Regan: Finally, we found job applicants, lured by huge incomes.
Rep: And our top range managers making $75 to $85 thousand dollars a year. Managing new locations.
Regan: Right now, the company is undergoing a $10 million expansion plan to open ten new offices.
Left only....with a "training" office.
Regan: Do you pay these people anything?
Rep: Yeah, they get paid off their sales.
Regan: They don't get paid a salary?
Rep: No.
Regan: An office with plenty of free time.
International Management insists it tells its sales force that the fragrances that they sell are renditions only and not the real thing. The company declined an opportunity for an on-camera interview to fully discuss its sales practices.
---
NOTE 3
Johnny Whitworth, president of World Perfume is trying to shut down ripoffreport.com
http://creditsuit.org/credit.php/blog/comments/is_ed_magedson_owner_ripoffreportcom_an_extortionist/
--
NOTE 4
A lot of local Better Business Bureaus have caught on to the World Perfume scam
World Perfume Distributors
Cincinnati Design (World Perfume?)
636 Northland Blvd Suite 170
Cincinnati, OH 45240
Original Business Start Date: 4/1/2002
Principal: Dennis J Mulhearn, Owner
Local Phone Number: (513)825-4333
Email Address: djmulhearn@aol.com
TOB Classification: Business Opportunity Cos.
Nature of Business
This firm offers rendition fragrances and other fashion related items from Designers International, Inc., based in Homewood, Alabama.
Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to its failure to substantiate or modify advertising claim(s).
When evaluating complaint information, please consider the company's size and volume of business. The number of complaints filed against the company may not be as important as the type of complaints and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed.
Closed Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in May of 2002: 3
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 2
Complaints Concerned
Advertising Issues: 2
Outcome of all complaints -
Resolved: 2
Sales Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Resolved: 1
Company Advertising
In August 2003, the Cincinnati BBB requested proof of the company's earnings claims, that people responding to the employment ads will make $30 K with up to $435.00 per week in training.
In response, Dennis Mulhearn, the owner, stated that his business is a wholesale for retail company which sells its products to flea market vendors, and to small businesses through independent distributors. Mr. Mulhearn stated that distributors are not expected to purchase any products nor make any monetary investment to further their careers with him.
He further clarified, I train these individuals by instructing them on the techniques for successfully marketing Cincinnati Design's product lines, how to operate, manage their branch office, and how to further build and expand their business. I establish offices in the Cincinnati metro area as well as other areas in the United States, lease office space, purchase office furniture and equipment, obtain necessary licenses and then recruit individuals for employment as well as for management opportunities.
However, Mr. Mulhearn has not provided substantiation for the advertised earnings claims.
Additional File Information
A report on the supplier, Designers International, Inc., may be available online from the Birmingham, Alabama Better Business Bureau that covers the area where the company is based. The web address to search for a company report is www.bbb.org.
Dynasty International Purfume
8633 Loch Raven Blvd.
Towson, MD 21286
Local Phone Number: 410-661-1201
TOB Classification: Cosmetics & Perfumes
Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaint(s).
Lakeshore Design
10828 Gravelly Lake Dr SW
Lakewood, WA 98498
(253) 582-6669
BBB Business Classification: Retail-Cosmetics & Perfumes
Customer Experience Record
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaints.
International Design
326 S Wilmot Rd Tucson, AZ 85701 Tucson, Arizona.
Mrs. Johanna Godfrey 520-571-1758
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaint(s).
...
The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's file was opened or over the last 36 months, whichever is less.
Closed Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 3
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 12 months: 0
Complaints Concerning
Service Issues - 1
Number in the last 12 months - 0
Outcome of all complaints:
1 - Closed when company did not respond.
Delivery Issues - 1
Number in the last 12 months - 0
Outcome of all complaints:
1 - Closed when company did not respond.
Refund Issues - 1
Number in the last 12 months - 0
Outcome of all complaints:
1 - Closed when company did not respond.
International Management
55 West 22nd Street suite 112 Lombard, Illinois
President: Tracy Bencal
630-424-1643 630-424-1642 630-424-1673
...
Closed Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in November of 2002: 3
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 3
Complaints Concerned
Sales Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Resolved: 1
Guarantee or Warranty Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Resolved: 1
Refund or Exchange Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Resolved: 1
---
NOTE 5
Striking similarities between World Perfume and Scentura
"A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: " He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000."
--- From "Who wants to be rich? Larry Hahn: from sleeping in a car to a $5 million home", E. Thomas Jr.. Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5) [Scentura was once called W.M. Industries Inc (WMI)]
Keep in mind that Johnny Whitworth, now president of World Perfume up until the 1994 was one of Scentura's top distributors.
======
ARE WORLD PERFUME AND SCENTURA THE SAME COMPANY?
Because of Scentura's horrible reputation, World Perfume distributors and the headquarters office aggressively attempts to distance itself from any association to Scentura.
The fact is that World Perfume and Scentura are two distinct companies, but they have virtually the same business models. World Perfume and Scentura's training is exactly the same.
The President of World Perfume, Johnny Whitworth, worked for Scentura for years as Scentura's top distributor. Mr. Whitworth left Scentura to start his own perfume business, World Perfume, in 1994. When he left he took the business model with him and applied it to World Perfume. He also stole the training manuals, which can be clearly seen in the training sessions showing the training sessions are EXACTLY alike.
Many distributors have been lured away from Scentura to work for World Perfume.
Scentura and World Perfume may not be the same company, but their distributors have almost identical business models:
*Sell perfume in parking lots
*FFAAR (Friends, family, associates, and relatives) contest
*All distributors buy products on consignment
*Same fraudulent classified advertising
*Same Multi-level marketing scheme
*Very similar training, using the same analogies, promises, lies, and acronyms
(K.I.S.S. FFAAR, Training=Torture, Fear of Loss, "Drop", P.M.A.=O.P.M. ).
========
Comparing the two MLM scams side by side:
========
Start date
World Perfume
1994 after being a distributor of Scentura
Scentura
Larry Hahn began Wholesale Merchandise and W.M. Industries (WMI) in 1975 in Atlanta Georgia. WMI was a wholesaler of consumer products, which have included tools, artwork, kitchen products, and electronics.
In the mid 80's the name was changed to Scentura Creations and the company began to focus exclusively on perfume sales.
======
Headquarters
World Perfume
Dallas Texas
Scentura
Atlanta Georgia
=========
Distributors
World Perfume
About 50 sales offices according to inside sources.
Scentura
570 sales offices worldwide according to Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Mar 28, 1992
Offices across the US, England, Canada, and Israel.
==========
The striking similarities between the two companies
Name of imitation perfume:
World Perfume
Parfum Du Monde
Scentura
Observ L ssence
==========
Both titled:
The opportunity page.
World Perfume
www.worldperfumeinc.com/opp.asp
Scentura
www.scenturacreations.com/ opportunity.htm
=================
The spiel on the opportunity page
World Perfume
Imagine being your own boss. Imagine having financial freedom.
Scentura
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in business for yourself.
============
FFAAR contest
World Perfume
FFAAR contest (Family, Friends Acquaintances and Relatives contest)
Scentura
FFAAR contest (Family, Friends Acquaintances and Relatives contest)
===============
The spiel behind the FFAAR contest
World Perfume
Practice selling on your family and friends.
Scentura
Practice selling on your family and friends.
================
Advertisements in the classifieds
World Perfume
Always advertise no experience necessary and management positions available in the classifieds, every week for as long as the local business is open.
Scentura
Always advertise no experience necessary and management positions available in the classifieds, every week for as long as the local business is open.
==============
Taxes
World Perfume
All employees are responsible for declaring and keeping track of their own taxes.
Scentura
All employees are responsible for declaring and keeping track of their own taxes.
==============
Independent contractor contract
World Perfume
Before going out and selling perfume, all employees must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the employees do.
Scentura
Before going out and selling perfume, all employees must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the employees do.
=================
Independent contractor contract for distributors
World Perfume
All distributors also must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the distributor does.
Scentura
All distributors also must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the distributor does.
=============
Distributors have been reported many times to encourage employees to lie and say that the product is the original, and not an imitation.
WORLD PERFUME
Regan (reporter): McCoy claims he convinced women they were buying expensive designer fragrances--the real thing...for the half the price. In fact, they were expensive knock-offs.
McCoy: "From there, we can make up any lie, any story to make the sale. And if I asked if this is the real thing you say--"its the real thing."
-- Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
SCENTURA
Media report on Scentura: "We didn't have these products until the day after we sold them," he said. "And then they brought in the different types of cologne and perfumes, and that's when it really caught me. I said 'Wait, this isn't what I was selling to people.'"
----Perfume Jobs Smell Fishy, BBB Says New Orleans news report on Scentura: Trainees Promised High Pay, Given Hard Labor
Media report on Scentura: They told would-be customers they were selling famous- name perfumes dirt cheap as part of a promotion. Buyers reported the scents were similar, but not identical, to the originals.
----Anchorage Daily News. Anchorage, Alaska: May 27, 1991. p. B.2
Media report on Scentura: It's a scheme that victimizes two sets of people: The customers who buy the phony fragrances and the unsuspecting job applicants who end up doing the selling. Our investigation unravels the setup and takes down the guy at the top.
Continued:
Ingold: "I thought I was buying a bottle of Chanel No. 5. When the package came, it was in a red bottle. When I contacted them, they said that's why it's less expensive, because it's generic packaging. Then I smelled it, and I don't know what it was."
Parsons: "Was it even close to Chanel?"
Ingold: "No."
Parsons: "You know the difference?"
Ingold: "I know the difference."
She had purchased an inexpensive fragrance manufactured by a Georgia company called Scentura Creations. They're known in the business as renditions, or knockoffs of popular brand-name perfumes.
Scentura is up-front about its products being imitations. Not so with the local independent office that sells them, an unincorporated outfit known as Pittsburgh Wholesale.
Jill Barrett, former employee: "We were supposed to tell them that it was the exact same thing, just promotionally packaged. And we were supposed to say the reason they paid so much for Calvin Klein was the bottle it was put in -- that whatever is in the Calvin Klein bottle is in this bottle."
-- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nov. 23, 2004 http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/team4/3944970/detail.html Team 4 Investigates Perfume Sales (You can watch video of this at this link)
===============
===============
----SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF WORLD PERFUME AND SCENTURA TRAINING---
===============
===============
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
The ad:
After seeing an ad in the Salt Lake Tribune for managers, I called and went to the interview.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030104220435/home.att.net/~m-cronin/scentura/story.htm
by Michael Cronin formerly at: m-cronin@att.net
The ad:
After seeing an ad in the Times (south suburban Chicago paper) for 25 full-time positions, up to $575 a week, I called the phone number that was listed there during my lunch hour on a Monday afternoon.
===
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
The Business:
The building was unmarked with no sign out front.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE
The Business:
I showed up at Extreme Enterprise in Portage, IN. Or at least I thought I did. I figured it had to be it based on the directions that I had, although there was a sign out front, nowhere did it say which suite belonged to Extreme. Very nice. No name on the building and no address anywhere to be seen. My house at least has the address posted. And most people's houses have their name on the mailbox or a decorative plaque on the front door or something...but this business can't even manage that. Probably because they don't expect to be there long enough to bother...
=====
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
The resume and interview
The First Interview
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
(I interviewed alone, but some people interviewed in groups of two)
Ms. Kukal had me rate myself from a 1 to 10.
She also had me list three qualities that describe myself.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE
The First Interview
Monday, December 10, 2001
So after filling out a form ...with a bunch of questions about how I rate myself dealing with other people and where my last job was and how much I made there and how much I'd like to make... I met with Jenny with another applicant in the room. She just went over a few of the questions on the form and ...verify(ed) my address...
So we went through the questions and then she told me to call back later that evening and she would tell me if I was selected for a second interview. I left then, and I assume the same thing happened with the other woman in the room.
=====
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
2nd Interveiw
Group (Second Interview)
Thursday, October 24, 2002, 12 PM
The class started late, as we waited Ms. Kukal made small talk. There were about 30 people in the room.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE
2nd Interview
The Second Interview
Thursday, Dec 13, 2001
When I went back on Thursday, Jason Mergl (District Manager) was in the lobby, so that's the first time I met him. I sat around for a few minutes while a few other people arrived and then we went into the conference room, where there were already about 20 other people. Jason went on about how he went to Southern Arkansas University on a football scholarship and then got hurt and lost the scholarship, so he was living on his dad's couch and working at Hobart Lumber. And then...he and his girlfriend find out they're pregnant! What's he going to do? Lo and behold, he found Scentura Creations! He drove to Lombard, IL every day for training. I'm figuring that would be about a 1-1/2 hour drive in good traffic.
=====
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
Background on company
Ms. Kukal asked us to write this name down, it was very important: Dan Long, our regional manager, who is out of Scottsdale.
Ms. Kukal said that the company name is "Waterfront Design" and the parent company is "World Perfume" John Whitworth is the president, but he goes by the name of Johnny.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE
Background on company
He told us that the Portage, IN office is a distribution center and the training center for the region. He said that he'd been with the company for 12 years, since he was fresh out of college. Scentura Creations, the parent company, has been in business for 27 years and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The owner of the company, Larry Hahn, is worth over $500 million now, but when he started the company, he parked his car 3 blocks from his house so that the repo man wouldn't find it. Nice touch, eh?
=======
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
Big Expansion Lie
Mr. Maner then went into expansion.
There is East to west coast expansion. There will be 4-5 new offices in the Salt Lake City area in the next 2-6 months.
-Florida: Miami, Tampa, Orlando--future expansion
-Office in Jacksonville
-Office in Atlanta
-Office in Boston
-Possibly future Ohio offices
-Offices in Memphis, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Dallas, all for future
expansion
-Possibly future Houston
-Offices in Colorado
-4 offices are now in Phoenix
-Offices in Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Seattle (several)
-Northern California wants to expand, Southern California wants to expand.
In Utah, there will be 5 offices: In West Jordan, Sandy,
Holliday/Cottonwood, Wasatch Area, bountiful area
In the future: Provo/Orem area, possibly downtown area.
$3-5 million for Salt Lake City area set aside [COMPLETE LIE]
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE
Big Expansion Lie
Scentura is currently going through it's largest expansion, opening 100 new offices nationwide...25 in Northwest Indiana and the south suburbs of Chicago.
====
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
The Gigantic Company Lie
World Perfume has 1/4 of the worlds market share.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
The Gigantic Company Lie
About the company: Scentura is a distributor of designer fragrances (he did not say knock-offs) in the United States and 14 foreign countries. The company moves 20,000-50,000 bottles a week.
There are supposedly 8000 distributors. Our job would be to work with them. I wrote down the words "200M gross last year". I don't remember what that's for, but I figure the company must have had $200 million in sales last year.
======
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE
Job Description
After training Distribution manager:
*inventory, cash flow, upfront, supervise, secretary, interview process correctly; supervising distributors; mapping out sales; set goals
Did not write my notes about this in detail, but what my managers said was EXACTLY the same.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE
Job Description
The first job description we got went as follows...we would open and close the office. We'd have an assistant or an assistant manager to help out. We would be handling the money that went through the office ($500K to $1.5M per year). Balancing the books would be about 10% of the job. We'd also have to manage the inventory. Once a year, we'd take a physical inventory. We'd work with a secretary or two, the district manager and an office manager. During the training, Jay would cover all the day-to-day procedures of the office. After having our own office, we'd report the results to Jay on a weekly basis and talk to Larry Hahn occasionally (maybe once a year)
=====
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Company Trip
Distribution Manager Contests
Mr. Joe Maner then went into a spill about this wonderful business trip that he took, how the robes in his room where monogrammed.
You have two required vacations:
1st There is a business meeting in Dallas and Phoenix --guest and motivational speakers give you a weekend to 'hang out'
In July there is a trip to Las Vegas and Mexico for a half a week
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Company Trip
Jay then pointed out the calendar on the wall that had the Independence Day weekend highlighted. That's the weekend for the annual company-paid trip to Las Vegas. Jay then told us about how there's a day of training seminars and the rest of the time is yours to gamble or see shows or whatever.
...
After one year with the company, we'd earn one week of vacation, two weeks for two years, three weeks for three years, etc.
=====
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Training Period
Training program
10-13 weeks
2 stages:
Basic training (3-5 weeks)
Fundamentals, you are on the "low end of the totem pole"
3 stages:
1 marketing
2 management
3 administration
Executive level (8 weeks):
*Running crews between 3-5 sales distributors
*Toward end you run crews of 5-6 people
*Hands on management experience
After training Distribution manager:
*inventory, cash flow, upfront, supervise, secretary, interview process correctly; supervising distributors; mapping out sales; set goals
1 Marketing will be part of sales
First 2-9 days commission pay (but this time depends on how long much a person sell)
Managers will hold your our new managers hands like a little kid, pushing them along, learning what they do.
2 Management one week
3 Administration one week
Phone work-do ads for paper
Inventory cash counting
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Training Period
He also started talking about the training program at this point...here's where a lot of lies started flowing. He said that the training period would last from 60-90 days, maybe less. The minimum time that must be spent in training would be 6 weeks.
The training program consists of four parts. The first part is the basics. We have to learn 30 transactions (sell 30 bottles of perfume). This should take 2-9 days. We'll learn hands-on-selling because it's important that we understand what the salespeople are doing on a daily basis so that we can motivate them and so that we know their needs and can keep control. We'll learn how to treat the customer. We'll touch on the six phases of marketing:
1. Teach business-to-business marketing (go from the gas station to the video store to the muffler shop trying to get the people that work there to buy stuff)
2. Individual sale (stop someone in the parking lot of the video store or at the pump of the gas station and try to get them to buy stuff)
3. Corporate Accounts
4. Employee Discount Plans
5. Satellites (a car of four or five people going to a town where there isn't an office and trying to get people to buy stuff)
6. FFAAR - Friends, Family, Associates, Acquaintances and Relatives (for the first 48 hours, we're allowed to sell to people we know)
The second phase of training is learning how to train other people. We'll train other people one-on-one in the phases of marketing
The third phase is the management phase. We'll go on a satellite and learn to manage 2-5 people. Manage a few people before being responsible for managing a lot.
The fourth phase is the administrative phase. This would cover the opening and closing of the office, the paperwork, accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory, etc.
===============
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Cutting the training period if you are motivated spiel
Mr. Maner then said that he wanted the remaining 8 people to be put on a "fast track" this fast track would mean that we could finish training in 6-8 weeks. This meant maybe coming in 15 minutes earlier and maybe leaving 15 minutes later.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Cutting the training period if you are motivated spiel
She also tells us that there are three keys to getting promoted...and she would know since she just got out of training 2 or 3 weeks before. We need to have extra enthusiasm, we need to be aggressive, and remember that one day on a satellite takes one week off your training. Two days takes two weeks off.
=============
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Training and training pay:
Pay during training:
Meager (emphasized) during basic training
Basic training will be $250-$550 a week
Executive level will be $100-$300 more per week
(No mention of commission pay)
Scentura
Training and training pay:
TRAINING = TORTURE
It's unbelievable how often they bring up that he said training is torture. Like that makes all the crap that they make you do okay.
He also mentions for the first time the pay in training...important info. During the first two phases of training, the average take home pay is $175-225 per week. During the third and fourth phases, the average is $225-400 per week. These numbers are based on commission, incentives, training people and managing people.
Income
$30-50,000 year per manager
More realistic figure is the average office last business quarter dropped 800 pieces per week. (64 offices), this comes out to $40-$45,000 per manager per year.
Regional offices
In 13-14 months after you run a district you can become a manager of a regional offices: $85-95,000 year
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Income
The income for an average first-year manager once they're out of training is supposed to be from $30-40K. An average second-year manager will make $40-60K. It jumps in the second year because then you're eligible for profit sharing. A long term plan would be to get promoted to regional manager, at which point you manage at least five offices.
The minimum salary for a regional manager is $100K. All of the promotions are merit-based. There are no bigwigs in the company. Everyone in the company started out in this training program, just like us.
....
Jay talks some more about the pay...He states again that first year managers average $30-40K and second year managers average $40-60K.
================
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
National Screening Application
(1st Interview Day)
Mr. Maner then had us fill out a background check paper, entitled a National Screening Application.
The paper had us list:
-Social security number
-Date of birth
-Marital status
-Own home
-Rent
-Number of dependents
-Spouse's name
-Our make of car, license plate number, whether our car was insured
-Our health, whether it was excellent, good, fair, or poor
-Whether we had medical coverage -Nearest relative not living with you
-Any convictions
-Three character references
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Background check
That's why we have to have a background screening done before we start training. Fortunately, even though it costs $40 for the background check, the office is going to pay for it.
The day begins with filling out the background check form. All kinds of useful information, like my social security number, driver's license number, date of birth. Since I'd be parking my car in their lot, they'd need the license plate number along with the make, model, year and color of my car. Three personal references with addresses and phone numbers. At least they didn't ask for a credit card number or my mother's maiden name.
Then they said they'd fax these to the home office in Atlanta and they'd fax them to the background check company and if there was anything that wasn't kosher they'd know by the end of the day. Then we all went into the conference room and sat down.
The interview form
Now, about that form. After I finished college in April, 2001 I've been on a few interviews for computer science-type positions at different companies. That, and being somewhat involved with the interview process at Carson's makes a lot of the stuff on that form stand out.
1. They ask your age on the form. A potential employer cannot ask your age on an application. They can say that you need to be over a certain age and ask you if you are over that age. A question like, "If you are not 18, list your date of birth" is fine, but they have no right to ask whether you're 20 or 50 or anything else.
2. They ask for your marital status. That's illegal too. Along with inquiring about children. Of course, Scentura would prefer people who are single. Fewer people to try to talk some sense into you during the brainwashing.
3. They ask if you own your own transportation. To the best of my knowledge, you can't ask that before you hire someone. It's been found that people that are from economically depressed areas usually don't have a car, and take public transportation. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but if an employer has that information ahead of time and uses it to make a decision about where you live and how well off you are before they hire you it is a form of discrimination. I'm not sure that it's illegal to discriminate based on transportation, but depending on where you're from, it pretty much becomes a form of racial discrimination. A lot of companies don't ask about that until after they hire you. United Parcel Service wanted you to tell them after they hired you so that they would know which people were taking the buses so that they could negotiate with the bus companies for additional service if they needed to and also so that during the holiday season when the shifts start earlier than in the rest of the year, they know which people will still have to come in at the regular time because that's when the buses run. But they don't discuss that until after you're hired.
4. They ask you how much you took home at your last job. Come on, people. That's as bad as places that want you to give salary information before they interview you. They're trying to pigeonhole you into a salary before you step in the door, taking away some of your negotiation power. Scentura does it hoping that if you're already making above what they say you'll make you probably won't be in the room in the first place. Then they ask you how much you'd like to take home, expecting that they'll tell you that that's possible there. Of course it is, right? I'd like to go on an interview with Microsoft and tell them how much I'd like to take home before I ever sit down in the interview. Sorry, that's just not how it works.
5. They don't ask how long you've been at your last job, or even what job you had before the last one. Or what you did there. Because they don't care. Even if there's no experience necessary (like for the retail positions I'd review applications for) I'd like to see that you've had a job before, didn't change jobs every 6 months, got promoted at another job or at least got a raise or two. Just a little history to show that you take work seriously. Scentura only cares about how desperate you are.
OK, that's all of the stuff I can remember from that form, so I'll move on.
I called back that evening to find out that I'd been selected for the second interview. Probably along with just about everyone else, right?
-------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Qualifications
600 people called us, and there are only 21 people in the room
[DUBIOUS, THIS IS A TYPICAL LIE OF MANY DISTRIBUTORS-DISTRIBUTORS WANT EMPLOYEES TO THINK THEY ARE SPECIAL]
*Attitude: consistent positive attitude
Corporate atmosphere stems from a good attitude
*Honesty
*Hardworking Hard work, ethics
*Trainable
*Commitment/priority You must make this a job commitment
Scentura
Qualifications:
To work for Scentura, we also have to follow-through on things. We can't do something halfway and not finish. We have to be dedicated. And we have to be trainable (brainwashable?).
------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Insurance
Once a distribution manager after 30-90 days you receive:
100% medical (no co-pay)
[AGAIN A COMPLETE LIE, NOTICE WHILE YOU ARE IN TRAINING HOW MUCH THE STORY CHANGES WITH YOUR DISTRIBUTORS, THIS IS A SIGNAL OF SOMEONE LYING TO YOU-A DAY LATER WE FOUND OUT THAT WE PAY FOR OUR INSURANCE BY OURSELVES, FROM THE MONEY THAT WE MAKE FROM SELLING PERFUME-THERE IS NO 100% MEDICALBENEFITS-THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE (Scentura distributor who have said the same lies in a media report)]
dental and eye plans
It is a very good plan, Mr. Maner then talked about what a wonderful plan this was.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Insurance
When we complete the training program, we'll be eligible for insurance. The cost of the insurance is deducted from the profit of the office, not out of our own pocket.
--------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Break down of how the office makes money
Cash
$26 +$2 tax
------
Check
$26 + $2 tax + $2 service charge
------
Charge
$26 + $2 tax + $2 service charge
Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover
Name as appears on card
Account number
Exp Date
Amount of Sale
Money orders same as cash
Do not take starter checks
Checks payable to "Waterfront Design"
Driver License Number; Expiration Date; Date of Birth; Phone Number
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Break down of how the office makes money
How the Office Makes Money:
Jay said the average office moves 300 bottles per week, then showed us this breakdown for a 200 unit (below average) office:
For each bottle sold:
For each bottle sold
Revenue
$27
Commission
-7
Cost of Goods (back to Larry)
-11
Sales Tax to the State
-1
PROFIT
8
So selling 200 bottles, with $8 profit on each nets $1600 per week or $82,000 per year.
For each bottle sold
Revenue
$27
Commission
-7
Cost of Goods (back to Larry)
-11
Sales Tax to the State
-1
PROFIT
8
So monthly expenses are $1500, or $18,000 per year.
Under this scenario, the office profit (the manager's income) is $64,000 per year. And that's below average!
----
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
The call-back-to-see-if-you-have-a-job con
That night we were supposed to call the office at different times to make sure the background check went through. When I called the office, they said that my background check had passed and they ask me if I had sold (dropped) any bottles.
[I SUSPECT THAT THE ONLY REASON WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CALL WAS TO HAVE THE MANAGERS REINFORCE AND REMIND US THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO SELL TO OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS]
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
The call-back-to-see-if-you-have-a-job con
He tells us to call back that evening to find out if we've been selected. Since he makes it look like a below-average person can make $64,000 a year, every person says that they're interested and leaves the room, one-by-one. ... I call back a few hours later to find out that I've been selected! Yay! They tell me to be back there at 9:30 Monday morning to fill out some paperwork and to have an EXCELLENT weekend.
-------------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Training:
Day One to Three
Monday October 28, 2002
FFAAR
Friends, Family, Associates, Acquaintances and Relatives
Mr. Maner then continued:
We are now going to have a fun contest. [FFAAR, EVERY OFFICE DOES THIS SCAM, BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THEY GET A MAJORITY OF THEIR REVENUE FROM NEW TRAINEES]
A few years ago, a single mother told Johnny that she would have to leave because she needed to make money and since there were going to be no sales the first couple of days she couldn't stay. Johnny decided to let this woman sell to her family and friends to make some more money to get her through training.
[THIS STORY IS A COMPLETE LIE, SCENTURA CREATIONS STARTED FFAAR YEARS BEFORE WORLD PERFUME BROKE OFF FROM SCENTURA IN 1994]
I talked to Johnny yesterday, and he said gave us permission to do this contest.
[THIS IS A TYPICAL LIE, THAT BOTH SCENTURA AND WORLD PERFUME USE-"JOHNNY/LARRY CALLED THE OFFICE OR WE CALLED JOHNNY/LARRY AND HE SAID THAT WE CAN DO THIS CONTEST"]
We have a goal of selling 15 bottles for each person. If every person sells 15 bottles, then there will be a cash prize of $500 first place, $300 second place, and $200 3rd place.
[MANY SCENTURA AND WORLD PERFUME DISTRIBUTORS FAIL TO MENTION THE "IF EVERY PERSON SELLS 15 BOTTLES" PART UNTIL THE NEXT DAY]
Joe then passed out a poorly photocopied, unprofessional looking two-sided list of fragrances that World Perfume sells
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
FFAAR
Friends, Family, Associates, Acquaintances and Relatives
Then he started talking about a bonus for tomorrow. Cash. $500 in cash. What would we have to do? He'd get to that. Then he told us to take a fresh sheet of paper and start making a list of everyone we know, and to make sure that we numbered it. So we get a few minutes to write down names...just first names. After a few minutes, he started asking people how many names they had. A lot of people were in the 50's and 60's. I had 75. The girl next to me had 77 I think. Someone was in the 90's and someone had 125 or something like that. Unbelievable! [Jay's eyes buggin' out]
Scentura
FFAAR - Friends, Family, Associates, Acquaintances and Relatives
We're supposed to take the list of people we know that they had us make and start talking to people. Whoever gets the most orders by tomorrow morning gets a $400 bonus tomorrow morning. Whoever gets the second most orders gets $100. The average for FNPs during FFAAR is 17 bottles. The record for the Portage office is 72. The company record is like 407 or something like that by some guy in Los Angeles. We figure he had somewhere to go with the stuff ahead of time. In addition to the bonus, we'd also get $7 for each bottle we sell. So if you do a below average job and sell 5, you get $35. If you do 20, you get $140. But if you do 21, you get $200 and your first 30 bottles are wiped out. And you get your name on the "21 Clubber" plaque. Then the "Kick-a*s Bonus" kicks in at 30 bottles. Sell 30, you get $250...sell 43, you get $350...sell 50, you get $450, sell 100, you get $1000. But there's a catch...to get the bonus money, the whole class has to make the average. There were 12 people in the room, so if everyone did 17, the room would sell 204. Since Jay's such a nice guy, he knocked 70 off of that. So if the class did 134, the leader could get the $400.
Just a few more words from Jay before we get the rest of the day off to go sell to our friends...
100% of the people that we don't talk to won't order.
The first 5 people we talk to will be hard...do not get discouraged.
Jay invented a word for a quality that we need to have: stick-to-it-iveness.
Then he told us to call back a few hours later to check on the status of our background check to make sure nothing bad came up.
-------------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
The "since you didn't sell very well with FFAAR yesterday,try again tonight" con
Mr Maner passed out payment for the perfume we had sold in cash, in white envelopes. Of course, no one made enough sales to win the cash contest.
Mr. Maner felt like we could still have someone win the FFAAR "fun contest". He said we could do the contest for another day.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
The "since you didn't sell very well with FFAAR yesterday,try again tonight" con
Since we didn't get the goal for FFAAR the first day, we could take bottles and try to sell more to get the goal, and then if we got the 134 that we had to get, the winner would get a $300 bonus.
---------------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Independent Contractors License
Same, also called a "Cosigment Agreemnt" not an "Independant Contractor License".
We then had to sign an independant contractor license, Tammy was very vague about the details, and seemed to want to skip over it, which many people picked up on and started to ask specific questions.
The contract said that we couldn't divulge anything that was said in training. It also said that we were responsible for taxes and everything else.
One man wanted a copy of this contract, and two days later, he still hadn't recieved it by the time I quit.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Independent Contractors License
So we go through a simple little consignment agreement that says if we don't return the bottles, it's considered theft, blah blah blah.
======
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Product Knowledge
We will talk about product knowledge
Lowest grade
| --Eau de toilette 1-3% oils; lasts 2-4 hours
| --Cologne 4-7% oils; lasts 4-6 hours
| --Eau de Parfum 10-15% oils; lasts 12 hours
V --Perfume 15-20%; lasts 24 hours
Highest Grades
Most perfumes are 1.7 ounces our fragrances are 3.3 ounces
....
Ms. Kukal then showed us a bottle of an expensive cologne (it had yellow and white stripes), and one bottle of a cheap imitation, which also had yellow and white stripes. She asked us to read the bottle, which said that only the name and design of the box were patented. She pointed out the scent was NOT patented. She then had us read the ingredients in the cheap bottle and the warning. The cheap bottle had butane in it. "What does butane do?" She asked, "It catches on fire."
Ms. Kukal then told us the definition of a "rendition market" that it is the exact same fragrance, except the consumer does not pay for promotional advertising.
Ms. Kukal then asked us how much contact lenses cost to make each and how much they sell for.
...
She then explained the different grades of perfume:
*Au Toilet (forgive my spelling) is French for toilet water, it is the worst grade
*Au Perfumeis the second best grade, and this is what World Perfume sells.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Product Knowledge
Jenny passes out three sheets of paper. I threw these out quite a while ago, so I'll go from memory. The top sheet had some info about the perfume. All perfume has a few ingredients. The oils and essences are the important part, and that varies based on what type of fragrance you have.
Then there's alcohol and water (to keep the oils dissolved so that it can be sprayed and to make the product last longer). There was a chart that broke down the different strengths of perfume.
In the United States (I assume it's the same in other countries as well),
parfum strength fragrances consist of 20% or more of oils and essences (the part that actually carries the scent).
Eau de parfum is from 10-19%,
something else is 6-9%,
eau de toilette is 4-5%, and
aftershave is 1-3%.
The more oils in the product, the longer it lasts on your skin. Makes sense.
All of Scentura's Observe L'Essence fragrances are 18% oils. That's more than almost everything on the market. The first page continues with how Scentura's fragrances are a rendition.
...
Jen went on to tell us that most of what you buy in the store is 4-5% oils, the eau de toilette strength, so Scentura's product is 18%, so it lasts 10-12 hours longer on your skin, and you get twice as much for half the price.
===============
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
The Supreme court case
Ms. Kukal then said to also write this name down, Mark Larecy. Mark Larcey was a master perfumer, he left his company (Calvin Klein) and wanted to take the scents with him (I believe she said that she left and worked for "our company"). He was sued by "Calvin Klein". The court case went all the way to the supreme court. The supreme court ruled that you cannot patent a scent.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
The Supreme Court case
The first page about perfume continues with how Scentura's fragrances are a rendition. It's a copy of the real fragrance. Jen mentions something about the case "that went all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States!!!" that concluded that you cannot copyright a fragrance since a scent is a natural thing. So that makes copying the fragrance perfectly legal.
============
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Perfume Size: a real bargain
Ms. Kukal then ask how big is the average perfume bottle, around 1 oz. She then explained that World Perfume sells 3.3 and 3.4 oz bottles. Roughly double the amount of what the originals sell.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Perfume Size: a real bargain
The second sheet listed all of the fragrances that Scentura makes like White Diamonds, Curve, CKOne, Romance, Nautica, Obsession, Issey Miyake and a bunch more. It lists the retail price for the 1.7 ounce bottle, which was quoted at $55 and up depending on the fragrance. Then the price for Scentura's was quoted right next to it. $27 for each one. And that's for a 3.3 ounce bottle! Twice as much for 1/2 the price! At the bottom it said that the retail prices were gathered during a survey of stores in the Chicago area. Yeah, right.
================
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
The Five impulses
Notice how this is the exact same training material as Scentura
5 impulses
1) Greed: want more for less
Use terms like:
60-80% off
good deal
discount
free sample
promotion
Emphasis the size of the bottle, oil content
2) Association
Use terms like:
most popular
best seller
rated number one
my favorite
3) Fear of loss
Use terms like:
"only get it today"
"we are just passing through"
"only here today"
"MY LAST ONE"
4) Indifference
Don't let the no's effect you.
4) Sense of Urgency
"This will just take a second"
"I have a quick question for you"
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
The Five impulses
Notice how this is the exact same training material as World Perfume
Then she goes through the five impulses. These are the things that we need to tap into to get people to buy. The five impulses:
1. Greed (3.3 oz bottle vs. a 1.7 oz bottle -- save money!)
2. Association (my sister wears this...that guy over there just picked one up...this was rated the sexiest men's fragrance by GQ magazine)
3. Fear of Loss (this is my last one)
4. Sense of Urgency (look, my boss is waiting for me, do you want to pick this up or not?)
5. Indifference (I've got someone else who wants this too, so I'll just go talk to him)
====================
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
Trainers in the room with trainees for day three training
When I came in this day, the people in the next room were yelling and screaming, Joe explained we like to get excited and pumped up.
The "trainers" people who had been in the program for more than two weeks, then joined our dwindling number of people for training.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
Trainers in the room with trainees for day three training
This time, there are a few people from the day before and a whole bunch of other people that I had never seen before. (trainees--editor)
...we find out that some of the other people are from the Hobart, IN office and the Lansing, IL office. Including the owners of those offices, the managers and their FNPs. Some of the other people in the room are from the Portage office. They're people that are still in training, but are further along than the FNPs. Some of them are about to get their own offices.
==============
NOTWORLD_PERFUME'S WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
The 8 steps to success
8 point management guide:
1) Great Attitude PMA=OPM
Positive Mental Attitude = Other People's Money
2) Be on Time
If you never want to be late, always be early
3) Be prepared (Marketing, management, administration)
4) Work 8 hours >>Friday is the best day
3 reasons why you shouldn't be lazy:
1) Money
2) Advancement
3) Push others to work harder
5) Work territory correctly
Different accounts
..didn't complete the 8 steps in my notes
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
The 8 steps to success
He told us about the 8 steps to success:
1. Always have a good attitude
2. Be on time
3. Be prepared
4. Work 8 hours every day or until you reach your goals
5. Work territories correctly -- the correct way for this would be to start in the middle of two traffic lights. One person heads to the left, one person heads to the right in the opposite direction. When you get to the traffic light, cross the street and head back to the middle...you should meet up somewhere across the street from where you started. Then move the car to the next block and do it again. Remember the law of averages. If you talk to 300 people, 100 people will sample the product...of those 100 people, 10 will buy. The more people that say no, the more likely it is that the next person will say yes. You must be a rhino. Have a thick skin. When a rhino doesn't like something what does it do? It charges...it takes it on. Kill people with kindness. Spend 2-3 minutes per person. Go business-to-business...creates return sales and establishes commercial trade. Never ever skip a business, including businesses with no soliciting signs.
6. Spray the goods
7. Always rehash (suggestive or add-on selling...one for your wife, mother, etc.)
8. Make a call after the sale
9. Bonus Step!!! Have fun!!!
--------------------
NOTWORLD_PERFUME's WORLD PERFUME EXPERIENCE:
5 Steps to a sale
The pitch 15-20 seconds
K.I.S.S. --Keep it short and simple.
Use terms like:
*
Top 25 colognes
*
60-80% off
*
Free sample
*
Which one can I get for you?
Show merchandise
2) Get the bottle in their hand
3) Close the sale "Would you take cash, check, or charge?"
Call backs ARE NOT greenbacks--avoid call backs, because they usually don't turn out.
4) Rehash- doubles, triples, sales
5) See the people--"law of averages" --see as many people as you can.
MICHAEL CRONIN'S SCENTURA EXPERIENCE:
5 steps to a sale
Then he goes into the Five Steps to a Sale:
1. The Intro - have an orgasmic attitude, avoid open-ended questions (over and over again they referred to open-ended questions as those with a yes/no answer...questions with a yes/no answer are closed-ended...you want to ask open-ended...it makes them think of a real answer...I never had the heart to tell them that)
2. Story (KISS -- Keep It Short and Simple...Hi, I'm with a wholesale company and we're in the area doing a promotion with men's and women's fragrances today. What kind of perfume do you wear?)
3. Spray - get bottle in hand
4. Close -- 3 parts to the close: (1) HI/L
Derek
Tempe,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Jens - get a life.
#21REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, February 18, 2005
Jens - if you want to make your story public, then let's do it!
Jens was a person who started in training awesome. He had a great attitude, great results, showed ambition. As time went on Jens started to show his true colors. He always seemed to be the person that had the dirt on everyone. Time has shown me that this equates to one of two types of people. The first is the one who is truly concerned about the well being of the office and others working there. The second is the person that tries to bring up bad things on others only to distract bad attention from themselves and put them in a good light. I told you, Jens towards the end of our business relationship, that I had a bad feeling about you. I told you I didn't know exactly what it was, but I would figure it out....
This is a man who knew exactly what he was getting into but wants to play the innocent one. #1.) I explained to you and your wife, very specifically that you would be the names on the lease for your building / your business. You replied, My wife has messed up my credit so bad that I don't care. #2.) Your wife says that you had to get money from your parents to pay for my settleup ? That was your settleup that you were short on, about $1500.00. You were consigned those products from World Perfume. In case you forgot, they consigned you products for up front for free. You signed paperwork agreeing that you would be honest in paying in for those products that were sold. In essence, you stole from the company and used the money for other things. By the way, I don't remember you ever paying for those products. Instead, one of the people you nicely listed their phone number to the public(Dan Long), paid for that shortage - and covered your a*s! You never paid for anything!
You said that all meetings are scripted and untrue. #1.) Every story told is a true story. #2.) These scripted meetings are what we use to teach how to run an office. It's called a training program! Your son's teachers will have lessons to teach and a system to go by. What are you going to do, accuse them of being a scam also? I heard that you have accused me of making a fake video of a company trip just to make people believe that we take trips. So basically I hired actors to play volleyball, act like their having fun and staying at some resort in Florida? Not to smart are you.
You talk about not making money like what was explained to you in 2nd Interview. You had your people sell bottles $1 above your own cost. I never taught you that! I know you did this because a few of your people came to my office after you left and let me know how YOUR OFFICE operated. You promised promotions and other things to your people that they shouldn't have gotten. You did not run your office like you were taught. When you say your office just did sales, you're right. All you saw in your people were sales. You just wanted more bottles to be moved. Not having any profit coming in is a common sense business mistake! You did the same thing in training. Didn't care about profit, just wanted numbers for goals. What did I tell you during training? What you do in training is what you will do in your office. You did not train your people to run an office you taught them to sell for you! If you were only in my office to sell, how did you get to run an office? - Einstein. I gave you a shot, why didn't you do the same for your people? You're the scam, and a bad example of an office. Your pathetic business habits are why you couldn't get anyone to stick in your office, so don't blame everyone else for your mistakes!
Your wife can talk about the time you spent in training away from your family and how we supposedly brain washed you all she wants. I'm not falling for it. Certain days you did work late hours - but what job doesn't sometimes? You stayed at wings as long as you wanted to, so whatever you told your wife about it being mandatory is crap! Road trips is the biggest joke that I heard from her story. You had a pregnant wife while you were in training. From my recollection I never expected or forced you to go on any road trips. In fact you only went on ONE your whole training program! I adjusted a ton of things because of your situation. You were home more than me!
Your wife knows nothing about me and when I started to make my money. Your accusations about Dan Long making all of his money in real estate is a joke! How could you possibly know this information? You talk about losing everything, but forgot to mention your NEW HOUSE. You talk about how bad of a person I am, but forgot to mention how you used your receptionist's name (Summer) and her personal information to get a cell phone for you and your wife. Now she has a $1200.00 cell phone bill from you. Or the sexual harassment complaints from her on you. Or the $500.00 that you never paid her for work. You lied to us about your car getting repossessed. You told me it was stolen! You challenge my character, but seem to overlook your own flaws. Just like you did in your training program.
Your accusations on me and the IRS is ridiculous. If they had a problem with me I guarantee they would shut me down. Anyone with any intelligence, I hope will see through your shallow, weak and desperate attempt to make yourself feel better.
You and your wife say that I'm cold hearted and don't care about people. I know that you say this only because I've told you that, in my eyes, that would be the lowest thing a person could say about me. Not only did I care about you, but so did others. You had people that backed you, and you show your appreciation this way? Who were the first people at the hospital when your son was born? (Dan C. & Derek). Who covered your shortage on bills when times were tough? (Derek & Dan L.). Who covered your a*s when you stiffed your receptionist (Tasha for $900.00). (Derek). Who stood up for you when I was doubting your ability to run an office? (Dan C.). You had a lot of people that cared about you and trusted you, (Tasha, Summer, Mark, Dan C., Dana, Jebus, and the other people that worked in your office) and you were not honest to any of them.
You say that you have proof that what we do is a scam. That you have documents to prove it. Prove it! You say that you are taking me to court . Do it! You have nothing, and you know it. This is perfectly in line with your character, to do something like this. The day that you finally look in the mirror and see yourself for what you are, is the day you will quit blaming everyone else for your failures. So, keep acting like the innocent one if it makes you feel better, and by the way you were @ $6,000.00 short (you stole) on your inventory. Which, again Dan Long & myself had to pay for - temporarily. See ya soon!
Truly, if this is such a scam, why are you the only person that has run an office after my training, that feels this way?
Usually, I will not respond to a complaint on this site because anyone with a little common sense can see that all of the complaints are from people who didn't feel comfortable with the hiring process or people who worked at an office for a couple of days and didn't like it. Every person relates that they went through the same process and the end theory is that it is a scam. Noone has anything on there that explains how it is a scam. Because, it isn't. In anything in life you have people that will do good, bad, and great. Noone is taking money from anyone. Noone is hurting anyone. I am there to teach how to run an office. You learn a system that has proven to work very successfully. My office extends itself to the point of even giving out our cell phone numbers to people in training so they can call us anytime. To have these listed publicly is a slap in the face. Jens is someone who has twisted facts to make himself look perfect. Noone is perfect including myself and my office. These accusations are insulting. I felt the need to at least explain my side of the story as to balance out this hateful story. You can make your own choice from here.
Jens
Burbank,California,
U.S.A.
Linz, When you are not with your gay boyfriend Ryan anymore who is with the company, you will talk sh*t too!!!
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 21, 2004
To be honest, I have moved on and really dont care anymore about Global Marketing. All my Lawyer is telling me is that they are not doing so well since they Are in my Office Space becouse they could not afford there own space.
All I know is that i have two years from July 04 to serve Derek Mason and people for a law suite i am putting together with financing
help by people a little better of than Dan Long,Derek's puppet Master.Dan you know who they are.One is my parents and my brother, But come to find out Jeebus' Father and uncle want in on the action.
I have been in contact with a few people who use to work there with me and before me who are willing to give up the truth.I also have received a tape of the secound interview were Derek Mason clearly states you will make no office will do under 200 sales a week= $30,000 a year. Oh yea, I have the d.c. packet also.Linz, I think its funny Derek talk alot of Sh*t about my office and now is in their. Oh yea, Mark and I never went looking for an office and when we were signing a paper we did not know it was a lease, we thought it was an application, We never had the lease broken down for us.
Let Derek know that Linz.Oh yea, you wont see me at a gas station, since i do work for my brother and make a little more than your boyfriend who goes around showing everyone his c**k, guys that is, and Dan who likes to see it and Derek who just started to get paid a year ago and also got shut down in portland. I see what a 20 million dollar company and a $2,000 dollar company do not have in common. And i am glad i work for a 20 million company.
Jens
Burbank, ca
Jens
Burbank,California,
U.S.A.
Linz, When you are not with your gay boyfriend Ryan anymore who is with the company, you will talk sh*t too!!!
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 21, 2004
To be honest, I have moved on and really dont care anymore about Global Marketing. All my Lawyer is telling me is that they are not doing so well since they Are in my Office Space becouse they could not afford there own space.
All I know is that i have two years from July 04 to serve Derek Mason and people for a law suite i am putting together with financing
help by people a little better of than Dan Long,Derek's puppet Master.Dan you know who they are.One is my parents and my brother, But come to find out Jeebus' Father and uncle want in on the action.
I have been in contact with a few people who use to work there with me and before me who are willing to give up the truth.I also have received a tape of the secound interview were Derek Mason clearly states you will make no office will do under 200 sales a week= $30,000 a year. Oh yea, I have the d.c. packet also.Linz, I think its funny Derek talk alot of Sh*t about my office and now is in their. Oh yea, Mark and I never went looking for an office and when we were signing a paper we did not know it was a lease, we thought it was an application, We never had the lease broken down for us.
Let Derek know that Linz.Oh yea, you wont see me at a gas station, since i do work for my brother and make a little more than your boyfriend who goes around showing everyone his c**k, guys that is, and Dan who likes to see it and Derek who just started to get paid a year ago and also got shut down in portland. I see what a 20 million dollar company and a $2,000 dollar company do not have in common. And i am glad i work for a 20 million company.
Jens
Burbank, ca
Jens
Burbank,California,
U.S.A.
Linz, When you are not with your gay boyfriend Ryan anymore who is with the company, you will talk sh*t too!!!
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 21, 2004
To be honest, I have moved on and really dont care anymore about Global Marketing. All my Lawyer is telling me is that they are not doing so well since they Are in my Office Space becouse they could not afford there own space.
All I know is that i have two years from July 04 to serve Derek Mason and people for a law suite i am putting together with financing
help by people a little better of than Dan Long,Derek's puppet Master.Dan you know who they are.One is my parents and my brother, But come to find out Jeebus' Father and uncle want in on the action.
I have been in contact with a few people who use to work there with me and before me who are willing to give up the truth.I also have received a tape of the secound interview were Derek Mason clearly states you will make no office will do under 200 sales a week= $30,000 a year. Oh yea, I have the d.c. packet also.Linz, I think its funny Derek talk alot of Sh*t about my office and now is in their. Oh yea, Mark and I never went looking for an office and when we were signing a paper we did not know it was a lease, we thought it was an application, We never had the lease broken down for us.
Let Derek know that Linz.Oh yea, you wont see me at a gas station, since i do work for my brother and make a little more than your boyfriend who goes around showing everyone his c**k, guys that is, and Dan who likes to see it and Derek who just started to get paid a year ago and also got shut down in portland. I see what a 20 million dollar company and a $2,000 dollar company do not have in common. And i am glad i work for a 20 million company.
Jens
Burbank, ca
Brent
Glendale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Whatever
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, October 21, 2004
I may be young too but obviously not naive enough to defend a company like that. Also too if global marketing is so good then why are you not with them today? Sorry but your defense is like one out of many posted against this company. So bottom line people do not get sucked in with this company and dont respond in an ad that asks for managers.
Lindsey
Glendale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Brent your 18
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, October 20, 2004
Ok Brent you are 18 maybe 19 by now so get off the whole "youung" trip and no i wasnt brainwashed ... obviously im not brainwashed if i dont work there anymore....bottom line Good people
Good company...
Brent
Glendale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
you obviously dont see the real story with Global Marketing
#21Consumer Comment
Tue, October 19, 2004
Sorry to say Lyndsey but you obviously dont see the real story with Global Marketing. I'm guessing you were brainwashed just like all the other people were. It seems to me your probably young and naive. I again worked for Global, and I too was braiwashed for awhile. All they do is lie to people and if you werent so young and did your research you would know.
Lindsey
Glendale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Lazy people telling lies.. jens jen brent
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, September 28, 2004
Ok first of all to all who feel the need to WARN everyone about Global Marketing, let me first say I also am an ex employee of Derek's. The main reason why people like Jens and his wife and whomever else wants to say UN- true and rude things about the business the only reason why you have things like this to say is because you are mad that you couldn't quite make it in the business, lazy, selfish, "I expect my fortune to fall in my f**king lap" type of people...
True this business is commission and it is a*s busting hard work, but these are all things you are told before you are hired, yes it is long hours and long work weeks, but does it pay off... sure it does if you don't loose track of your goals.
do you make money .. I did alot actualy enought to pay all my bill and shop w/o looking at price tags.., and the only reason why Jens didn't is because he was to lazy and always had an excuse, and Jennifer (Jens wife) GMI didn't wreck your home it was you cheating husband that wrecked your home, so I know its hard to swallow but Jens never wanted to come home ... so he didn't... Bottom line is Derek Dan And Ro are all good people, This is a real business and you can get rich there you just have to WANT to nothing in life is handed to you, so if you want it you have to work hard for it ...its funny I see people that talk s**t about this company and say its not a "real job" then I see then pumping my gas or cleaning up after me at a restaurant... makes me laugh.
Jens
Glendale,Arizona,
U.S.A.
MY WIFE IS RIGHT, IT IS A SCAM, I HAVE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE IT, DEREK, YOUR GOING DOWN!!!!
#21UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, July 30, 2004
I did lose everything. I am 26 years old and now living with my parents with my wife and two kids. For some reason i did believe in this scam.
Who ever reads this and is working at global, ask Derek who Jens was.
I will tell you who i am.I am some one who got screwed over.I went through the training program.One thing they did give me was an office.But that office scamed other people.Thats what they teach you."You have to fake it till you make it", as Derek always say's.He sat me down one day and told me i always have to have a $100 dollar bill on me at all times.He also taught me how to carry my money and to show it off.
He also taught me when i do my cash recon,"settle up", to get rid of the papers every two days so you can "screw" the i.r.s.
Every office is a sales office.Yuo are nothing but an independent contractor selling knock off cologn and perfume for them.
Whats funny is that they talk about Dan Long making all this money,Yeah, he did make all this money, but in real estate and his contruction company.
All the stories and meetings are scripted. None of them are true. I was givin the "d.c. packet" wich has all these papers in it.Then also you feed ideas and "PAINT PICTURES" for the "TRAINEES".Tell them they are not here for sales,YA RIGHT
The lease, Phones,ETC... is all in your name. When derek "CLOSED ME DOWN" i went to my landlord of my office and he informed me that when Derek was looking for my office space, He kept telling him he wanted no part with being on the lease.
I now have bad credit due to my 3 year lease not being paid for and also phones and other things not being paid for due to , DAN LONG, DEREK MASON, DAN CHASIN, ROWINA, "DUKE", AND THE MAN HIM SELF, JOHNNY WHITMERTH A.K.A. THE OWNER OF WORLD PERFUME INC.Everything was in my name.They dont tell you that when you get hired.
They tell you that you will get paid $250-$550 a week through training, Then they tell you that 200 sales a week will bring in $1600 profit wich $1000 goes to office budget and $600 to each manager=$30,000 a year per manager, two per office.Dont see how that works.
I felt bad every time i gave a 2nd interview, and looked in the eyes of 20-30 people and told them all this good stuff, and promised pay, and benefits, paid vacations, a awsome carrer and all that time i was telling them i am thinking all these people are here for is to sell bottles of perfume for me and to make me money.I had my office for about four months and scamed about 600-1000 people.Gave them false belives.
Can you make money at this, yes. But you have to have a cold heart and not give a d**n about anyone.
PEOPLE TRUST ME, IT IS A SCAM. I WAS PART OF THAT SCAM FOR A WHILE. WE NEED TO SHUT DOWN THIS GLOBAL MARKETING, 42 CONSULTING, WORLD PERFUME INC., AND ALL OTHER SCAMS, IF WE DONT, PEOPLE WILL BE GETTING SCAMED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER........
THESE ARE THE SCAM ARTIST;
DAN LONG(42 CONSULTING) 480-241-0419
"DUKE"(42 CONSULTING) 312-339-8572
DEREK MASON (GLOBAL MARKETING) 480-203-9069 OR AT Derek_Mas@msn.com
DAN CHASIN (GLOBAL MARKETING) 623-451-5350 IF HE PAID HI BILL,IT WILL BE ON.
I am in the process right now in taking Global to court,I will bring them down.
File your own Rip-off Report if you want to help bring down the scam, Yeas Derek it is a Scam, STOP TELLING YOURSELF ITS NOT!!!!