Duane And Greg
Gilbert,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 23, 2005
Patrick, I have a couple of questions for you to answer. First, why is your phone disconnected and or shut off? Second, When were you going to notify your distributors that you were closing the doors? Third, Why did you not write a letter of intentions to all of your (1000) or so distributors you SAY you have? Fourth, Is it not customary to inform everybody of what is happening, unless you have something to hide or lie more about. Fifth, How many of your distributors are actually still in operation? Sixth, You and Richard Sciatchetano and Keith Wymann who sold us our Fortune in the Sky, have continuously lied, why should we believe you now. I don't think you know what the truth is or do you? Seventh, What are you going to do for those of us that have NUMEROUS other distributors in the same area? Especially after we were told or lead to believe by your sales staff NOBODY else was in the area. Not to mention the fact we re-located here from Chicago on Keiths word, that we had to be in place before June 1st 2004 and up and running because you were making a commercial for this area (Phoenix,AZ), that was going to start airing on June 1st 2004. Plus, we would receive 1 case of coffee or $15.00 for every lead that we spoke with. Let's see where these questions take us, that is if you decide to answer them. Hopefully it won't be like your letter saying we have to re-train ourselves. That was BOGUS and you know it. Remember what I said in the letter to the NBOB, Justice Will Prevail! Think about it!!!!!!!!!!!
Robert
Lake Worth,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 23, 2005
Mr. Steven Chase The information about Espresso and it's intentions are just that, information as it has been made known to me, if you can prove anything different, go ahead and try. I only defend what I am told is fact or what I have seen myself!! Did the company make some mistakes and bad decisions? Yes, who doesn't! Do they appear to have intention of correcting the issues and righting the wrong? Yes! That is the reason for the downsizing. Was I the hatchet man? Yes, so, I am the bad guy!! Now, I am on the outside looking in. Can you prove I am lying? Do you have physical proof based on current events and current actions being taken by the company that I am Lying? PROVE IT!!! As far as the rest of the allegations...What a CROCK!! First let me say that the "Pass System" was implemented by the previous Mgr. due to the fact that there were numerous times when more than half the Sales Floor was either on break, in the bathroom, on the balcony smoking, or simply flitting around the Office, at the same time. For over two years I had to listen to the rantings of the previous Mgr., because people refused to be conscientious of how many were away from their desks at any given time. When promoted, I was asked to continue enforcing that "System". Yes, there was a time when the shift started at 9:30am, and there was a time when the shift started at 10:00am(when I was hired). However, the company decided to change the start time to 9:00am,(before I was promoted) and yes, there was one exception. (It's funny that there were only a few of you that had a real problem with being on time or adjusting to the new start time, one would think it would be those who worked for the company a lot longer and were used to coming in at 10:00am...hmmmm!) The individual you gave reference to was hired under the pretense that he had another obligation to fulfill in the morning. The individual you gave reference to was consistently productive and was consistently ahead of his draw. Had you worked soley on a commission basis, and were not being paid a draw/loan from the company, that may have been a different story. You Steven, were no less than combative in nature when it came to playing by the same rules as everyone else, you wanted to be the exception to just about every rule or policy, whether it be new or old. I warned everyone that there will be a level playing field and that everyone will be held to the same standards, you unfortunately wanted to test the mettle. As far as dismissing you for eating breakfast at your desk? You had been asked, implored and yes, even commanded not to do so on several occassions AFTER TWO SALES MEETINGS, where i explicitly asked everyone (1st meeting) and then TOLD everyone (2nd), there was to be no more eating breakfast, AFTER YOUR SHIFT BEGAN!!! Remember, the company was in fact paying you a draw to render services as it deemed fit under the terms of the IC Agreement that you all had signed. It wasn't the breakfast at the desk Steven, it was the principal of the matter (eating after you were supposed to be there and working) and other issues. That was just the straw that broke the camel's back!! Furthermore,You had missed alot of time from work, you apparantly had been sick (or so you said), and there were other issues that we bumped heads on (being on time, sticking to the script, compliance violations which are ON FILE with the company... i.e. blatantly telling prospects that we had been in business for over 10 years, rather than 4; telling people they would be able to talk to people in their area, etc.)(Don't play stupid, Steven, I kept notes and did file reports), and after the "lecture(s)" as you implied, you went out on the Sales Floor and started making jokes about it and breeding contempt. This was heard by the same person you claim to be an "insider that tipped you off" and was conveyed to me as well as the owners, by him. You see Steven, he was playing you, and possibly even me and the company. You blatantly lied to me stating that you were promised a Closer's position by the previous Mgr., he denied promising anything. You told me that he agreed to pay you an overide on your "friend's" deals, just because you "brought him in", now that was proposterous!! By the way, your friend Jeff, thought he was cute by eating his breakfast in the break room at 9:25 am, the day after the meeting where the policy was set, and he was not terminated for that!!! He was sent home later that morning for not working, (rather talking to you and other's around the two of you), with an invite to come back when he could take the job a "little more seriously". He said, " Okay, I will see you Friday!" This took place on a Tuesday! Hmmmm! When he came in Friday he expected a draw check, guess what, NO CHECK!(he didn't work the week before that, he was out taking care of some personal matters). He was invited to stay and receive a draw check for the next week, he opted not to!!! His choice!!! Let us not forget the number of times I had asked, told, and yes, even barked a couple of times for your little clique to get on the phone and stop talking!!! So, somewhat productive, at times yes, team players? NOT!!! Steven, as far as the monies that were owed to your friend, the commission check was in fact given to the receptionist to be mailed. I know for a fact that the check was cut and was to be mailed. As far as you are concerned, look at the bottom of your LAST draw stub, and you will see what in fact you owed as a draw, and then do the simple math!! You weren't due anything or any portion of that commission, as of last count you owed $1750.00 or so, and at the 5% commission on the deal, a NO CREDIT CARD deal at that, it hardly covers your draw, so the commissionable amount was in fact applied to the draw amount. Again, all of this is on file with Espresso. You act as if the company owed you something, you weren't on a commission only basis, you were unruly and argumenative, and you weren't as good as you claim you were. You were good, and that is why I strove to work with you and your primadonna mentality, but you were the one that didn't want to play by the same rules as everyone else or work with me or the company. Steven, keep in mind, everything I enforced or implemented on that Sales Floor, was under the approval or at the urging of the owners. Everything was presented to them and they in fact wanted the "Pass System" in place, as stated above, and I had no control over the actual reason why the owners promoted me. What I will say is this, in downsizing the Sales force, and weeding out those who did not want to play by the same rules as everyone else, what I did was to give those who had a longer proven track record, an opportunity to step up and start making money again. These remaining few had been loyal and committed to their success in the company and has stuck with the company through the highs and the lows, and have made money in the past. All of this was done without negatively impacting the overall production of the Sales Floor, (same number of fronts with less people and overhead) again, THIS IS A MATTER OF RECORD, with Espresso Italia. You know Steve, frankly the owner's didn't seem to have a problem with my management style, or the effect that it brought (less overhead, same production or better in some cases), the problem here is your fragile ego got trampled on and you didn't get your way. But let me warn you specifically, you do not have any credibility with Espresso Italia, (all they have to do is pull your file and pull the reports that were filed from my self and another), nor will you have any credibility in a legal venue once those reports are brought forth. By the way Jeff, I know you are reading this... NO ONE WAS ORDERED OUT THE DOOR!!! AND THERE WERE NO DISTRIBUTORS (AS YOU MENTIONED in your previous postings) THAT WERE ORDERED OUT THE DOOR EITHER!!! and Steve, I never said I was an instrument to chase people out the door, don't putting words in my mouth!! As far as the rest of your slanderous comments about my character, that is your spin on your perception of me as an individual, and as an individual, your perception of me (or others that read this) does not matter to me!!! Just remember, it is okay to voice an opinion, not okay to make untrue or unproven false statements or allegations. So, KEYWORDS are SLANDEROUS SPEECH and DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER!!! State your opinions all day long, that is your right!!! Do not continue to make libelous, slanderous, or defamatory statements or allegations. It is MY OPINION in this matter, that the two of you, Jeff and You Steve, are the ones who are insecure, incompetent, and inherently arrogant and eternally ignorant. So, perhaps we should all go to therapy together and get a discounted group rate. If my opinion is off base, then why are the two of you making an issue of this. If in fact the two of you are as professional and as good as you make yourselves out to be and the company is so bad, and I was so bad to work with or for...Why not just write it off and consider the source??? Do you really think you are achieving any monumental task or goal??? Other than being an annoyance to myself and Espresso??? Get a Life GUYS!!! I will say this in closing... Was I frustrated? Yes!!! I was working 67 to 70 hours a week (getting there most days by 8:30am to 8:45am, getting the coffe started, opening up and getting ready for the day crew, and not leaving until 10:00pm or in some cases 10:15pm Monday thru Thurday, and Fridays 8:30 am to 2:30pm or 3:00pm and then Sundays 2:00pm to 8:00pm), I put my heart and soul into the company to do everything in my power to get it back on track. My frustration also stemmed from watching people take for granted their opportunity, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity afforded them! Was I strict? Yes!! I was fighting two and a half years of apathy and complacency that was allowed to be bred by the previous mgmt. and according to the owners they wanted that changed! Remember, I started there long before you and Jeff did, and was privy to a lot more information than the two of you were in your positions. I worked with most of the Contractors for a longer period of time, and if anything I expected more resistance from them during the transition, then they offered. I also had to be strict due to the number of people that were employed there and the fact that one compliance officer could not monitor so many at one time. So, there had to be some Control to ensure continuity in what was being said to to the prospect, and again to "level the playing field" for all. Arrogant??? NO!!! Indignant at times, YES!!! I have found that those who refuse to play by the same rules as everyone else and create the biggest stink about being made to do so, especially when willing to do so myself, are not deserving of much respect, but are deserving of the benefit of the doubt and trying to get them on the same plane as everyone else. When all else fails, weed 'em out!! Those who I expected to provide the most resistance, offered the least!! Those were the people that the company wanted to work with and help get back to making money!! Not just my words, it is the path the company was on before the change of mgmt. Remember all the people that were dismissed before the Christmas Party??? Not by my doing!!! So, before you use me as a scapegoat, get your facts in order, and think back!! Insecure??? You have got to be kidding me!!! Perhaps insecure of the future, but certainly NOT insecure in my ability to do what was necessary and as called upon to get the job done, and render the effect the company was looking for!!! As far as my incompetance as you seem to think, that only stems from the lack of ability to kiss the rear-ends of (in my opinion) a few self indulgent, self imposed, ego maniacle, primadonas, who thought they were SO good that they should be held out as the exception to rules and regulations that EVERYONE was expected to adhere to!!! When in fact (REALITY CHECK!!) there were others that were in fact more productive and more successful as EI's records show, that were in fact compliant and were willing to step up to the "Level-Playing Field" and play by the same rules. So, if that makes me incompetent, insecure, Power Hungry, arrogant and invincibly ignorant...THEN GUILTY AS CHARGED!!! Everything I have posted can be proven through eye witnesses, and or actual documentation on file with Espresso Italia. The only reason I give you the satisfaction of responding and defending my self is certainly not because I have some need to vindicate my actions in your eyes, you all know the REAL truth and are putting a good spin on what actually transpired, it is to set the record straight in the eyes of the third party who may be reading this. Until you can provide sufficient proof otherwise, express your opinion, but if you want to state facts, then state the facts, the Good, the Bad and otherwise! Stop Making Slanderous and Defamatory statements which you are miscontruing as factual events!!! Like I said earlier, GET A LIFE AND GO ON WITH IT!!!