Anonymous
Beltsville,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, April 21, 2008
I worked for the company for 6 months... 6 months I wish I could get back. I was a leader for almost all of my time at Champion Marketing Group, and never promoted one person to leadership beneath me... I'm told that my skills as a leader are to blame for this... Actually the truth is that I couldn't lie to people. I refused to manipulate my "Day of O's" into believing this was some miracle company. I was actually the "leader" that took the above person out on her Day of Observation. I was privied to a lot of information through those months, because... I actually looked sharp, was smart, and was in the "Manager Training Program" as opposed to the "Sales Training Program"... these are the same... but the MTP people are better groomed, and have higher potential of being Managers one day, so the Owners claim. I was spending at least 80 hours a week at work. The only day I had off was Sunday, and sometimes if there was a roadtrip, or conference, or some other event, I didn't even have that day off. Every Sunday I was to call everyone on my "team", because if you left one day to let them think about what life would be like without the company... they wouldn't come back on Monday. So why did I stay for so long? My friends. That's it. I was actually pretty good at sales, one of the highest in the company. I was one of the best trainers, and was constantly taking out new recruits. I stayed late every night for "fast track to management" as they call it. The company does suck you in, like a cult. You have no time for anything else but work. I stayed at the office until around 11 almost every night, because I thought that if I didn't, I would be treated as one of the Sales Training people. These fast track meetings consisted of talking badly about other people in the office, and how to use and manipulate the people under you so that you can advance. This system shows how you can step on people to get ahead. I just completed my taxes for 2007, and I pray that I won't get audited. Since Champion is based on commission, you don't get a paycheck. You receive cash everyday, which is a bonus... you always have money and are never waiting 2 weeks to get paid. Since there are no paychecks, there are no taxes! I regret not keeping a mileage log, but I do have about 300 receipts. I put about 45K miles on my car in the 6 months I worked there, so I was able to write off a lot of expenses. (Since you are an independant contractor, you can write things off as business expenses.) My tax forms from Champion state that I made about 10K... in 6 months? Ok... so thats 20K a year... I thought I was promised 32K? And I said I was one of the top sellers in the office. So let's do basic math, for a basic sales person at Champion. At a base pay of 350 a week, at 12 hours a day 10-10 (yes it really happens, everyday) for 6 days a week... You make 4.86 an hour. Ok... I'll take some time off, because Saturday is a "short day" so... 68 hours a week, leaves you making 5.14 an hour. Horray! I was told many times, that only the strong survive and that only a very select few actually make it through the program. I think leaving was one of the best things I've ever done, and starting and staying was the worst. I have morals and ethics, and couldn't use people to get myself ahead. This experience has taught me a lot however. It's shown me the person I will never be, the way not to be treated, and it's given me strength to stand up for what I believe in. I didn't quit because of the snow, or rain, or heat. I worked in it all. I didn't quit because I had a relationship within the company that went bad. I stuck around for 2 months afterwards to try and prove that I wasn't there for that, which no one ever believed me anyway. I didn't quit because it was door to door sales. I actually thank the "excersize program" for any weight loss. I wasn't embarrassed to knock on someone's door, it wasn't about the job, or the hours. You'd think that would be enough to make someone quit, but it wasn't. I didn't mind any of that. I quit because of the owner. Thomas Briscoe. I worked my butt off every single day for him, much more than the rest of the office, who usually slacked off. I was belittled, and ridiculed, screamed at, harrassed, and mortified. I was told that people quit people, not the company... well... if that was the case, then I wouldn't still be friends with the people who left the company... yet I still talk to most of the people I trained, and a few I can call my best friends. For this reason alone, I cannot regret working for Champion Marketing.
L
Fairfax,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, December 19, 2007
Thank you for posting your interview experience with this business. Fortunately, I live in the area so I didn't go the lengths you did just to get an initial and 2nd interview. I scheduled an interview with this business and I am more than likely will *not* go after hearing your (and one other) experience. I also have a degree from college and worked elsewhere at a reputable company and all you described just smacks of an unethical, unorganized, and *not* professional employer! No respectful company would behave in this manner to a potential employee!