- Report: #149847
Complaint Review: Automax - Glendale Pontiac GMC - Glendale Arizona
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Automax - Glendale Pontiac GMC
4510 W, Glendale Rd Glendale, 85301 Arizona, U.S.A.
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602-5731460
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Automax- Glendale Pontiac GMC Ripoff car sales interview scam/ripoff, misrepresentation, misleading Glendale Arizona
I recently ran into this scam while looking for employment. I did not take the bait, so I feel quite good about myself, however I want to get the word out so others don't fall victim at a vulnerable moment. I don't have sour grapes (other than the embarrassment of falling for one of the oldest scams in the book--if only briefly).
I have contacted all of the relevant local authorities and filed formal complaints about the entire process in the hopes that people will not think paying $499 will promise them a job (as the sales rep/interviewer/trainer openly suggested). It doesn't, but the Automax people want you to believe that you really are in the midst of the dealership's hiring process.
Now, I'm sure a FEW of these individuals MAY in fact become employed by the dealership. The thing I take issue with is the FACT that the dealership does NOT hire all of these people EVEN if they pay the $499. The training course is NOT represented as a COURSE it is represented as part of the HIRING PROCESS. They are leading people on, trying to make them think that they're already "in". This is patently FALSE. They run ads talking about PAID TRAINING. The only PAID TRAINING is the training you are paying for out of your own pocket. They put this across as "the same as a real estate license" or "like renting office space for your own business"--very misleading.
(Interestingly, though the dealerships USE Automax they are quick to distance themselves saying they are "not directly affiliated" when questioned about hiring practices.)
These people also openly employ of the most rank of "persuasion" techniques to hook their "students" and to "teach" them. Honestly, the class itself is their first lesson in the harsh realities of unscrupulous sales, shills, racketeers and swindlers.
NOT all salesmen/women are like this NOR do they have to be this way. For me, ANY way into a business (whatever it may be) will be OTHER than through this company. I'm sure there are good car salesmen/women (I have met a few) but this sort of thing is not good or above-board. I'm not sure they are technically illegal but I'm betting they're at the very least BORDERLINE.
My warning: If you are contacted by this company offering "employment" recognize they are not an "employer" they are in fact a head-hunter/training outfit that want YOU to pay THEM and not the other way around. You may be able to go this way and get into sales, but, keep in mind there may be other ways that DON'T involve trickery and money out of pocket.
ALSO, be wary of anyone who claims you will find easy money. Rule to live by: If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Whatever you do, be it car sales or medicine or custodial work, you will still have to work to earn your keep. Anyone who says otherwise is probably trying to fool you and there is ALWAYS a catch.
Good luck!
Charlene
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
I have contacted all of the relevant local authorities and filed formal complaints about the entire process in the hopes that people will not think paying $499 will promise them a job (as the sales rep/interviewer/trainer openly suggested). It doesn't, but the Automax people want you to believe that you really are in the midst of the dealership's hiring process.
Now, I'm sure a FEW of these individuals MAY in fact become employed by the dealership. The thing I take issue with is the FACT that the dealership does NOT hire all of these people EVEN if they pay the $499. The training course is NOT represented as a COURSE it is represented as part of the HIRING PROCESS. They are leading people on, trying to make them think that they're already "in". This is patently FALSE. They run ads talking about PAID TRAINING. The only PAID TRAINING is the training you are paying for out of your own pocket. They put this across as "the same as a real estate license" or "like renting office space for your own business"--very misleading.
(Interestingly, though the dealerships USE Automax they are quick to distance themselves saying they are "not directly affiliated" when questioned about hiring practices.)
These people also openly employ of the most rank of "persuasion" techniques to hook their "students" and to "teach" them. Honestly, the class itself is their first lesson in the harsh realities of unscrupulous sales, shills, racketeers and swindlers.
NOT all salesmen/women are like this NOR do they have to be this way. For me, ANY way into a business (whatever it may be) will be OTHER than through this company. I'm sure there are good car salesmen/women (I have met a few) but this sort of thing is not good or above-board. I'm not sure they are technically illegal but I'm betting they're at the very least BORDERLINE.
My warning: If you are contacted by this company offering "employment" recognize they are not an "employer" they are in fact a head-hunter/training outfit that want YOU to pay THEM and not the other way around. You may be able to go this way and get into sales, but, keep in mind there may be other ways that DON'T involve trickery and money out of pocket.
ALSO, be wary of anyone who claims you will find easy money. Rule to live by: If it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Whatever you do, be it car sales or medicine or custodial work, you will still have to work to earn your keep. Anyone who says otherwise is probably trying to fool you and there is ALWAYS a catch.
Good luck!
Charlene
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
FD
Scottsdale,Arizona,
USA
See it through to the END!
#2
Mon, September 14, 2009
This "applicant" might have been a nervous nellie and should of seen it through all the way to the end to know the "full" story. The dealer(s) are actually the ones paying the recruiting company "AutoMax". How they do this is they have the employee front the money and then give it back to them in 90 days. See, if the dealer paid the recruiter upfront then there would be no reason for the employee to "stick it out" through the first couple of weeks when it is the toughest. I was hired this way with having a monetary investment in my future success. I called it "tough love". Dangling that $500 dollar carrot in front of my nose for the first couple of months to keep me from wanting to quit. This is not a get rich quick job and my first 3 weeks in the biz I hadn't sold a car and wanted to quit but stuck it out to get my $500 back and the rest was history. I've made over a million dollars selling cars and I never would have of if it wasn't done this way (which has been going on in the car biz for over 40 years). If the dealer pays upfront and someone quits in the first week or two, then what did the dealer get out of it? If someone pays the $500, stays 90 days and then gets it back, then what are they out? Nothing! You are not paying to get a job and you are not paying for training. The dealer is, just 90 days later back to you. What you are doing is showing your loyalty to the business that you are fronting the dealers money for the recruiting, advertising, interviewing, training, and placement. If you would of paid your $500 and stuck it out you would have found out that even if the "host" dealer didn't hire you that the recruiter/trainer would have gotten you a job at a different dealer with all of the same stipulations. Why should a dealer take the risk that you might "flake out" on them after they paid thousands of dollars for the newspaper ads, online ads, recruiters expenses, etc. to have you quit on them because you aren't selling 10 cars your first week in the biz and then they have to rerun all of the ads all over again to do it again?! They would rather have these job fairs once a year instead of every couple of weeks because they are very expensive and they want the "committed" person working for them. If they are going to pay for your drivers license test, drug test, background check, sales license, uniforms, etc. then they want you to stay because it really isn't fair for them to give you a chance when you have no experience. So many people say that they are a "man of their word" only to quit, the way to prove it is that money talks. Put yourself in the dealers shoes and realize why this is the only effective way to insure that you retain their employees, an "insurance retainer" basically that you will still be working there, plus what if another dealer see's the ad and sends their sales staff there for free training? Since the bottom line is that you get all of your money back as long as you don't "flake out" on them, then essentially it is COSTING YOU NOTHING!! NOT A CENT!! Shame that you didn't see it through to the end and got a job at one of the dealerships and made the money that I and my co-workers have made in a great industry and easy job. FD
