Erica R.
Virginia Beach,#2Consumer Comment
Fri, October 31, 2008
I live a few blocks from Investors Place and they did move their establishement to Virginia Beach Blvd right next to the Aarons Furniture place. They are a scam. When I worked there (Investors Place) it was LMG and we were told that we shouldn't tell them our real name because it would open a can of worms in regards to the many inquiries about the type of company we were. We also were supposed to say that we were based in Florida and not Virginia. My fiance worked for them on Virginia Beach Blvd and they were PRS. I am not completely certain of why they lie if the business is legit but I want nothing to do with it. I worked there for like two weeks before I got tired of it and my fiance lasted for maybe three days. They drop your pay for an entire week if you are late or miss a day. On my first day I actually made like six sells and I never got the commission for it. I also made another four sells the next day and never got paid for it. Their excuse was that I was a newbie and that I was not eligible to get the commission because the incentives they had in their hands was money that was earned by the reps already there even though they were not making the sells to get it. I was. They also did not invite me to the Christmas party they had because I was a newbie. Last time I checked, once you sign up with a company you are a part of them so anything that happens after you are hired should include you as well. They have been scamming people for years. And why won't they sell to people over sixty nine years old? If someone is sixty nine or above you are not allowed to give them subscriptions. There were a few people of that age or older who wanted the subscriptions and I had to try to explain to them why I could not go any further with them. Scandalous! I also cannot understand why you are not allowed to leave the building once you enter. The straw that broke the camels back for me was the fact that I was in a hurry one morning and mistakingly left my lights on. I saw that from the upstairs window but when I attempted to go and turn them out I was told that I was not allowed to go outside and if I did I was going to be terminated! Huh? It was like twenty minutes before my shift started. I also got reprimanded for going to Starbucks on my breaks. I thought that a break meant you could spend it any way you wanted. This entire company just spells FRAUD and PARANOIA!!!
Ann Hughes
Naples,#3Consumer Comment
Tue, September 09, 2008
That is terrible about the scam they are doing! I am co-owner of a company called IMA International Marketing Association, Inc., in the state of Florida. We do educational marketing seminars. We have nothing to do with that company in Virginia and are clearly dismayed about their apparent behavior. Our website for further clarification is www.internationalmarketingassociation.net. Ann
Barry Wallace
Portsmouth,#4Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2008
To Bethany - Norfolk: I believe the people you are speaking of have now set up shop at 3509 Va Beach Blvd. They call themselves International Marketing Association and the "PRS" has now changed to "NRS" - National Readers Service. I know this because I answered their ad in the Virginian Pilot for telemarketers. I am looking for a part-time job and I thought this would be a good way to make some decent money. After the three hour orientation, they took us up to the sales floor and we were each supposed to sit in with a trainer and just listen. Then we were supposed to take over and try it ourselves. I lasted through the "listening" session and decided that it wasn't for me. First of all, the "script" made me sick to my stomach - it was SO "cheesy". Then I felt like I was in a wrestling match with the person on the other end of the line, and that I was trying to cram something down their throats, that they did not want. The work pace was another issue; it was nothing short of draconian. Also, the pay that was described at the orientation was not what was advertised in the paper. I asked the girl that answered the very first time I called if the pay was wage plus commission and she said, ... no, the pay described in the paper was as advertised..., (or something to that effect). Well, we would all find out that commission was indeed a part of the pay package. The "script" that you described was nearly identical to the one that IMA/NRS (or whatever they call themselves - IMA is on the front of the building) were going to have us "feed" to the [what I would now describe as]"suckers". You could tell that a great deal of painstaking research and expense went into developing their business "model" or "script". It was a very carefully thought out process that , in retrospect, was designed from square one, to prey on the hapless and stupid. There is an old saying that goes, "A fool and his money are soon parted." That is not only a proverb, of sorts, but gospel truth to this organization. By the way, I am still looking for part-time work if you know anyone hiring.