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Options Talent, Emodels Hired me and I quit in the same day because I couldn't stomach the lies Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I spent the entire afternoon today at a job interview. The ad said that it was a "dream job" with "money-making potential" up to $70,000. Wow. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, take my word for it: it is.
Options Scouting Company is a world-wide organization. They hire honest, hardworking people as "scouts" through all types of media, proclaiming the earning potential to be "outstanding". Of course, you must work awfully hard at deceiving people to get anywhere near "pretty good".
I went in there looking for a decent job that paid well, but I was a bit leary at first. As the day went by, the feeling in my gut was telling me that something was amiss. The more information I got from the franchise owner and co-office director, the more I was sure this place was conning people out of their money. I came home, jumped online, and started doing research. After about 45 minutes, I have decided never to go near that place again.
Everything I have read from former employees about their deceptive tactics is true. They "scout" models and actors. What this really means, is that they want you to walk up to anyone on the street and hand them a card inviting them to an "open call". If they decide to go, they will be evaluated by someone who works there, but may or may not have experience in the industry. After that, the potential model will be scheduled a call from the "corporate" office to offer them a position on the website. What they don't tell you, is that EVERYONE receives this call.
Why is that? Because these people calling the potential models are nothing but telemarketers, in my opinion. They say that they can have your compcard put on their website and tout big-name companies and agencies that use their site. All for a one-time fee of $595. Then there are the maintenance fees....$19.95 every month. Then, they will pressure them to use their photographers. More money lost, because they are over-priced.
Of course, the scouts work off of commission at first... then are told they will be given a base plus commission after 30 days or so, unless you sleep with Alec or Ryan, or both. Most scouts don't make it the first week. Then you have to rely on "corporate" to make the sale, so you can get your money. No way would I trust a bunch of strangers down in Florida to handle my money. That's just ridiculous.
Anyway, I wanted to share my info with others before they got into this, because when I realized what Options was actually doing, it made me sick. I wasn't hurt or cheated in any way, other than a wasted afternoon, but there are, I'm sure, some people who will return for the training tomorrow. I hope they look into this for their sake.
I welcome any questions, or comments regarding the OKC location, or any other location, for that matter. Also, I'm going to contact the local media to see if I can get them to blow the public whistle on this place. If anyone is interested in that, please contact me here.
Tonya
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Tonya
Oklahoma City,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
Author of Original Complaint
#11Consumer Suggestion
Thu, July 15, 2004
Two years ago I filed the original posting on this particular board. The rebuttals attached recently are the first in all that time (3). I am not stupid, nor am I gullible. After my incident at Options, I finished school and have been a juvenile detention officer for a year and a half.
I have had 3 promotions in that time, and make more money than I ever have. Also, I am secure in the knowledge that I am a decent, honest, hardworking individual, who would never fudge the truth to make a buck. This is basically what I was instructed to do as a "scout" in the "interview".
If there are people who choose to make their living this way, it's none of my business. Some people just need the money. Others may not want to lower their standards that way. I will say this: My report was based on information that I gathered not only through the all day "interview", but also through the internet (sites including BOTH pro and con information).
I made an honest, educated choice, and that was not to fall for the BS they gave us. If there are people out there who disagree with my opinion (and apparently there are), that's fine. Last time I checked we are still free to think what we want. I also think that name-calling is something best left to the third-graders, but apparently, some "adults" think it's appropriate.
My point is simply this: opinions are like a**holes; everybody's got one, and they all stink. I am still talking, trying to get the word out about Options, though. This isn't the only place where there are reports of fraudulent acts by the people who work there, and many of the franchises are currently being investigated for that reason. From what I have learned so far, there are far more complaints than the so-called "success stories" that Options touts. Official complaints about this company are made frequently, and eventually, they will be shut down.
A very funny thing happened to me when I went to the movies a couple of months ago. A "scout" targeted me. He came right up and started giving me his spiel: "Oh, you have an interesting look", "you're pretty", "great eyes", "nice figure", "you could really make it as a model", yadda, yadda, yadda. After a standard anti-Options spiel of my own I told him, " I am a model- a role-model".
I took a $5, gave it to him and walked away. But I never said he was stupid, or made a personal crack at him- just the company. That's how us grown-ups like to do it. :-)
Debra
Wichita,Kansas,
OH PLEASE!! ..To the above rebuttal
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, August 24, 2002
To the above rebuttal......Aren't we the mindless drone?$80 grand a year? BULLS***!!!!
I applaud the others for not taking a job that would beat down a person's self esteem and empty their wallets.I had once considered having my daughter become a model but then I decided that would not be the best thing for a child, especially in their formible years - It is now an iron clad decision after reading a report by a jerk that would put dollar signs before a human being--- This is just something else I get to teach her....To stay away from trash like you. Good luck to the people who are following their dreams --- You'll need all the luck you can get with rattlesnakes like the money hungry pirana above;}
(P.S. My Daughter Is Beautiful).
Debra
Wichita,Kansas,
OH PLEASE!! ..To the above rebuttal
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, August 24, 2002
To the above rebuttal......Aren't we the mindless drone?$80 grand a year? BULLS***!!!!
I applaud the others for not taking a job that would beat down a person's self esteem and empty their wallets.I had once considered having my daughter become a model but then I decided that would not be the best thing for a child, especially in their formible years - It is now an iron clad decision after reading a report by a jerk that would put dollar signs before a human being--- This is just something else I get to teach her....To stay away from trash like you. Good luck to the people who are following their dreams --- You'll need all the luck you can get with rattlesnakes like the money hungry pirana above;}
(P.S. My Daughter Is Beautiful).
Debra
Wichita,Kansas,
OH PLEASE!! ..To the above rebuttal
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, August 24, 2002
To the above rebuttal......Aren't we the mindless drone?$80 grand a year? BULLS***!!!!
I applaud the others for not taking a job that would beat down a person's self esteem and empty their wallets.I had once considered having my daughter become a model but then I decided that would not be the best thing for a child, especially in their formible years - It is now an iron clad decision after reading a report by a jerk that would put dollar signs before a human being--- This is just something else I get to teach her....To stay away from trash like you. Good luck to the people who are following their dreams --- You'll need all the luck you can get with rattlesnakes like the money hungry pirana above;}
(P.S. My Daughter Is Beautiful).
April
Moreno Valley,California,
U.S.A.
Kim needs to grow up!
#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, August 20, 2002
Kim, I am sorry--who is a bigger idiot?? Someone who reads up on a company and makes an informed decision? Or someone who is supposedly a grown up but yet resorts to name calling. (and poor name calling at that)
1st of all, I would bet good money that you are no a scout but rather a corp. employee.
Profiteers of Deception
Second of all, if you are a scout-what a wonderful person you must be. Tell me-how does it make you feel at night when you look yourself in the mirror knowing that you work for a company who has a large amount of "top dog" hiding under aliases? How do you feel about having people throw away hard earned money on a set of lies? How do you respond to the fact that Disney claims no affiliation with Options? Same with Maz Azria and Don Johnson? If Options is so damned ethical, then why doesn't anybody claim to be associated with them?
April
Moreno Valley,California,
U.S.A.
Kim needs to grow up!
#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, August 20, 2002
Kim, I am sorry--who is a bigger idiot?? Someone who reads up on a company and makes an informed decision? Or someone who is supposedly a grown up but yet resorts to name calling. (and poor name calling at that)
1st of all, I would bet good money that you are no a scout but rather a corp. employee.
Profiteers of Deception
Second of all, if you are a scout-what a wonderful person you must be. Tell me-how does it make you feel at night when you look yourself in the mirror knowing that you work for a company who has a large amount of "top dog" hiding under aliases? How do you feel about having people throw away hard earned money on a set of lies? How do you respond to the fact that Disney claims no affiliation with Options? Same with Maz Azria and Don Johnson? If Options is so damned ethical, then why doesn't anybody claim to be associated with them?
April
Moreno Valley,California,
U.S.A.
Kim needs to grow up!
#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, August 20, 2002
Kim, I am sorry--who is a bigger idiot?? Someone who reads up on a company and makes an informed decision? Or someone who is supposedly a grown up but yet resorts to name calling. (and poor name calling at that)
1st of all, I would bet good money that you are no a scout but rather a corp. employee.
Profiteers of Deception
Second of all, if you are a scout-what a wonderful person you must be. Tell me-how does it make you feel at night when you look yourself in the mirror knowing that you work for a company who has a large amount of "top dog" hiding under aliases? How do you feel about having people throw away hard earned money on a set of lies? How do you respond to the fact that Disney claims no affiliation with Options? Same with Maz Azria and Don Johnson? If Options is so damned ethical, then why doesn't anybody claim to be associated with them?
April
Moreno Valley,California,
U.S.A.
Kim needs to grow up!
#11UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, August 20, 2002
Kim, I am sorry--who is a bigger idiot?? Someone who reads up on a company and makes an informed decision? Or someone who is supposedly a grown up but yet resorts to name calling. (and poor name calling at that)
1st of all, I would bet good money that you are no a scout but rather a corp. employee.
Profiteers of Deception
Second of all, if you are a scout-what a wonderful person you must be. Tell me-how does it make you feel at night when you look yourself in the mirror knowing that you work for a company who has a large amount of "top dog" hiding under aliases? How do you feel about having people throw away hard earned money on a set of lies? How do you respond to the fact that Disney claims no affiliation with Options? Same with Maz Azria and Don Johnson? If Options is so damned ethical, then why doesn't anybody claim to be associated with them?
Kim
Denver,Colorado,
Don't Take The Job
#11UPDATE Employee
Fri, August 16, 2002
I am a scout with Options. I have been scouting with them for over 1 year and last year I made about $80,000.
Your description of the compensation was accurate, except you forgot two things:
1. You also earn residuals as soon as you become vested which is now a large part of my income.
2. The greatest reward I have had with the company is seeing the people I scout and hearing wonderful success stories. I have a woman who's sayghter I scouted who calls me her daughters fairy godmother.
When I started their were people lik you in my training class. They said that they took the job just to "check the company out" and that they wern't sure about Options.
You are stupid and you will fail. People may decide that Options is not for them as a scout or as a model, but I think it is clear that they lay everything out in full. You decide to do it or not.
I am happy to see that after spending a full day at a meeting and hearing everything for yourself first had you are going to let some idiot posting on the internet help you make a career choice.
Alison
Atlanta,Georgia,
Recently HIRED
#11UPDATE Employee
Thu, August 15, 2002
I went to the "interview" yesterday in Atlanta. I stayed for hours, growing more leery by the minute. I need a job and I need one fast, and I thought this would be a good way to make money. Training starts tomorrow and now I'm wondering if I should even go. I keep remembering things the Office Director said, and I wonder which statments were even true, if any.
The office was barren (as I read in another report), and the pitch was all fast-talking and stupid jokes.
The lowdown is this: For the first 30 days, you are in a Training period. You must get 25 enrollments in that time, or else you're out. Enrollment is $595 plus $19.95 a month for a space on the website. But in order to get 25 enrollments, you have to scout a ton of people! They gave us a breakdown of the percentages, claiming that if we scout 4 people an hour and work 40 hours a week, we should have no problem.
If you get 1-3 people enrolled per week, you make $25 per person. The scale goes up from there. For the first month, that is your only income. The next 90 days are your Probation period. You are given a "base" salary of $600/week, but that is only if you continue to enroll 5 people per week. So by "base" they really mean "commission" though you make an added commission on any people you enroll over the necessary 5.
After those 90 days, you become a full-time employee and make $700/week, while maintaining that 5 enrollments per week. After 90 days you get a cell phone allowance and insurance coverage. After 180 you get travel expense reimbursement.
Now that I have laid it all out, I'm still not sure what to do. Personally, I don't "believe in what the company does" as the office director put it. I don't think anyone will even pay that much money to participate. Not to mention, there aren't too many attractive people in this city anyway. So I'm asking for advice from former or current employees. Should I start the training process or should I just let it go and keep looking?