You Fools
Jackson,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, December 13, 2007
"Shanara got a new office"... they story of her life, honey! I worked for Innovative less than a year ago and she had three offices while I was there. One on Pear Orchard, One by Wal-Mart on Wheatley, and one way out on Highland Colony. Did I mention I was only there for 2 and a half months? So Shanara now has a new office in Northtown, which would make 4, in 10 months.... FOUR offices in TEN months. That should speak to the validity of this business. Don't be another person fooled by their tricks. I actually made some good money there, and it was a great place to make some money while I waited to find a real job. P.S. Just because you play dress up everyday does not mean that you have an 'opportunity.' You are still jumping around the room like monkeys in your suit and tie, "guys."
Martymcfly
Brandon,#3Consumer Comment
Sun, September 09, 2007
THEY TOLD ME I WOULD GET A BETTER DEAL.... IN REALITY THEY SIGNED ME UP FOR A BUNCH OF CRAP AND DIDNT TELL ME OR WAS HONEST,,,, SHANAR IS RICH ANYWAY.... THEY GOT A NEW OFFICE 16 NORTHTOWN JACKSON MS SUITE 102
Craig
Brandon,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, August 19, 2007
I still remember the my first day of employment under Shanara Anthony at Innovative Vision Group. I started on September 22, 2004. I remember that day like it was yesterday because I was enthralled to get "a job". I was a recent college graduate in Information Technology and Marketing and was trying to find "a job" in my field. This office was selling BellSouth (Now AT&T) products such as POTS lines, DSL, voicemail, and Long Distance. I had several classes in this field in college and it instantly interested me. I knew going in that it was a straight commission job with no benefits. I knew that I would have to work very hard to make the money I needed to survive. I also knew that there was opportunity for advancement though very little chance of making it to "the next level" which was ownership. I have known about this string of posts from the very first day they started. I worked with Caroline and Jon (who have posted previously in this string) for the whole time they were employed as well as Lawrence (for a short time). I worked for Shanara's organization for about 15 months before I moved to Jacksonville Florida with Daren Abreu on Shanara's first "outside deal". In Cydcor terms I was a veteran in "the business". I also worked for Daren in Jacksonville for a little over a year. The job itself when outside of the office is a typical door to door sales job. Many of the people who respond to these posts in a negative manner do not understand the basic nature of telecom sales. As a matter of fact, the telecom industry was built on and still runs off door to door "solicitation tactics". The only negative about this line of work is that some people are not cut out for it and get angry when they find out what it is. Many people believe that salespeople are a low form of life that somehow got drug out of a tar pit in South America. People who get hired into positions with Cydcor (if they have a brain) know what they are getting into either before they take the position or shortly after they take the position. I will tell anyone that the experience I gained from working for Innovative Vision and Advertising Alliance (both falling under the umbrella of Cydcor) has been priceless to me in my current career of choice. The process tought by Cydcor shows an almost flawless approach in being successful at impulse marketing/selling. I make more than $80,000 a year with another telephone company in Jackson Mississippi (XFone Communications). I am the top sales rep in the company and I have no doubt that if I had not worked under the Cydcor umbrella, I would not be nearly as good at what I do as I am now. I took a mixture of selling tactics I learned from Cydcor as well as a mixture of what I was trained on with XFone to create the success I am enjoying today. If you are looking to get into a crash course that will teach you the work ethic and skills to be successful in sales, I suggest you save a couple of thousand dollars for security and learn what they have to teach. Ignore all of the rah rah tactics you hear every morning from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Don't get too excited about "owning your own business" and making $300,000 a year free and clear. Enjoy yourself at the once a week evening parties they throw (but be ready to pay for drinks and dinner) to "bond with your team". If you make it 6 months, you have learned enough to make most reputable companies interviewing you for a job beg for you to come work for them. If you are going in looking for opportunity and money, please pass on the position without hesitation. I can honestly say that for about a year, I was in it for the opportunity of owning my own business and making boat loads of money. I was one of the top ten sales reps in the country for 8 months out of my time there (on 3 occasions number 2). I was mentioned in the infamous "Cydcor Times" on many occasions. I built a team here and in Mississippi and trained people on what I had learned. My second year as one of the top sales reps in the company, I made $35,000 in commissions total. I paid for my own gas, health insurance, car insurance, and other business expenses myself out of that. I showed more people than I can count an opportunity that was rarely ever seen. I don't know how many people I put in financial strife by lying to them and telling them how attainable the ultimate goal was. My failure with the company and the whole reason I did not make it to "ownership" was ethics. I couldn't continue telling people (who clearly did not have the sales or motivational skills) that they were going to be the owner of their own business and making an easy 6 figures every year. On the other hand, there were few and far between that did have the skills to make it into "ownership". Once you get to "ownership" you run into the same ethics problems but on a much larger scale. If you are looking to take a job with a Cydcor company, please take my advice and take it for what it is. Have a wonderful day and God Bless you all.
Haha
Jackson,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, June 20, 2007
I began work for Innovative Vision Group in October 2006 and obviously I am no longer employed there. I had a decent experience, I have no fraud to report, nor mistreatment. I never worked with anyone named Lawrence, so I assume he was long gone by the time I got there, as are most people. While you are investigating this company and whether or not you want to work for them, go ahead and Google the name Kevin Tabereaux, the assistant manager. I was very upset to discover he is a convicted felon... who served time in prison for vehicular manslaughter. This concerns me most because he trained me and I actually rode in his car with him driving during business hours with no knowledge of his past! I have nothing against Shanara. I found her to be a nice person, but she is also about business, which should be expected. If you want to make a couple grand in a month or so, this is a great way to do it. For long term employment, you would do best if you were unmarried with no children and willing to put a lot of money in your gas tank.
Jason
Madison,#6Consumer Comment
Fri, March 16, 2007
Today I was offered a job with this very company and I was very jazzed up about going to work for them. I told them I would have to talk it over with my wife before I accepted. When I got home my wife suggested that I ask my father-in-law his thought on the matter and suggested that I look up their history on the internet. This report horrified me because it mirrored my experience with them since I first got their call. Listening to the cheers and games going on in the back of the office before I was sent out today to observe two realy great guys do their jobs. The long ride to a far off territory the whole nine yards. My wife and I were on the fence about me leaving my present job that leaves a lot to be desired but after reading this I would be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Thank you so much for posting this. I hope that you can find some peace in your ordeal in knowing that you have saved a man that is tring to take of his family from the same mess you went through.
Jon
Colorado Springs,#7UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, March 14, 2006
I worked with Shanara Anthony and worked with Caroline also. Every single word of what Caroline said is true, I can say that with confidence because I was there, and saw it with my own eyes. You might have heard the name Daren Abreu before. He was my "team leader", still is a good friend, and was Shanara's only ever outside deal. Daren quit the business a few months ago because of Cydcor's unethical practices. Cydcor makes from Bellsouth $200 a new line... you make $35 or $40? You can understand the motivation of rah-rah speaches, questionable ethics, and desire to always hire "fresh" when you know what's at stake. Daren and I, as I have stated, are still friends, and talk quite frequently. We're both in real estate now, and make six figure incomes (well, I do, and he will). I can't help but think that my success hinged on a lot of things. And I can even attribute some of my selling ability to what I learned working under Daren. The truth is, only 1% of people in Cydcor end up having offices - which is the "big sell" in your line of work. So you can get off the "you couldn't do it and now you're jaded routine". It's not true, and you'll learn it soon enough. What I never understood about Cydcor... your reward for completely killing yourself in the field, lying to people constantly about their future job, and getting paid nothing in the meantime is what? your own office where you have to put up with totally bogus interviews? If you work as hard as you do making your 28,000 for Shanara... you could easily make over $150K doing what I do. I know that with confidence, as well.
Todd
Pomona,#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, March 05, 2006
Hello, To the most recent person who submitted a post, I just can't believe that you researched the company you are working in too well. There are loads of testimonials on ror about them. There is an msn user chat group with lots of bad things to say about this group by former employees. And there are other places on the net with stories too. And yet you understood all these risks and claim to be making loads of money? And this money will be enough to cover your taxes and all the money that you pay out just to work and attend the unpaid meetings, with out even trying to spend money on building a crew... What could have been your last job that was so terrible in relation to this? Were you a moonie or a drug dealer? More likely it is one of two cases: 1) you did no research what so ever, you were really hard up for cash, you are doing ok on the current campaign you are on, thought you'd take the job and see where it goes and now after attending all these meetings, learning all the chants and songs and being lured by this false dream of financial independance, you are 100 percent convinced. My friend, now is the time for you to really learn why so many people complain about the job you now have. Scratch a lie catch a thief. You got lied to in the add you answered, because they needed to trick you into accepting the job to keep you. Educate your self and move on. If it sales you want, doubtless you have picked up some more skills, now go to a legitamate place and not a sales sweat shop. 2) you are an owner dending the business so that your new people don't quit. I've got news for you - most of you owners never make the money. Get out now while you might be a head. Why try for something with so little chance of success. Good luck to you.
Lawrence
Jackson,#9UPDATE Employee
Sun, March 05, 2006
Actually Ya'll, have had many sales jobs where I was ripped off, so did my research before I went into it. How is it that all of you are blameless in this? I have my eyes wide open. The telling thing to me is that ya'll seem to go straight for the personal attacks. You lose all credability in my eyes. So others can see it from both Sides, I have never been promised more than I have recieved by Cydcor, or Innovative. My pay has been excellent and yes the hours are long, but I get weekends off, and freedom in my Job. If you really want to know about a company, ask the ones that are successful at it, not the bitter ex employees that cannot see that they made the mistakes, and ultimately screwed themselves.
Lee
Marlton,#10Consumer Suggestion
Sun, February 26, 2006
Lawrence, I can't wait until you realize how horrible this business is and you get out. Then you'll be on here complaining like everybody else. But, until then, you are just another sheep that believes everything you are told about bulls and rhinos and other animals. If you've been there 2.5 months, you must be only 3.5 months from your own office. I'm sure you are about to be an assistant manager and making $50K guaranteed. Why is it only Cydcor and it's companies have 100s of reports done? Don't you think other big companies have employees coming and going? Why aren't there 100s of ex-employees of AT&T, IBM and other big companies complaining? Maybe because there aren't as many criminal activities? It's so funny listening to someone defend the business knowing he will be adding his own report how awful the business is in just a few months. Unless he's really stupid then it might take a bit longer. They keep dangling the carrot and fools like you Lawrence continue to follow it. There is nothing wrong with a 100% commission job until you are expected to pay all of your own expenses and work for more than 4 hours without pay EACH day.
Lee
Marlton,#11Consumer Suggestion
Sun, February 26, 2006
Lawrence, I can't wait until you realize how horrible this business is and you get out. Then you'll be on here complaining like everybody else. But, until then, you are just another sheep that believes everything you are told about bulls and rhinos and other animals. If you've been there 2.5 months, you must be only 3.5 months from your own office. I'm sure you are about to be an assistant manager and making $50K guaranteed. Why is it only Cydcor and it's companies have 100s of reports done? Don't you think other big companies have employees coming and going? Why aren't there 100s of ex-employees of AT&T, IBM and other big companies complaining? Maybe because there aren't as many criminal activities? It's so funny listening to someone defend the business knowing he will be adding his own report how awful the business is in just a few months. Unless he's really stupid then it might take a bit longer. They keep dangling the carrot and fools like you Lawrence continue to follow it. There is nothing wrong with a 100% commission job until you are expected to pay all of your own expenses and work for more than 4 hours without pay EACH day.
Lee
Marlton,#12Consumer Suggestion
Sun, February 26, 2006
Lawrence, I can't wait until you realize how horrible this business is and you get out. Then you'll be on here complaining like everybody else. But, until then, you are just another sheep that believes everything you are told about bulls and rhinos and other animals. If you've been there 2.5 months, you must be only 3.5 months from your own office. I'm sure you are about to be an assistant manager and making $50K guaranteed. Why is it only Cydcor and it's companies have 100s of reports done? Don't you think other big companies have employees coming and going? Why aren't there 100s of ex-employees of AT&T, IBM and other big companies complaining? Maybe because there aren't as many criminal activities? It's so funny listening to someone defend the business knowing he will be adding his own report how awful the business is in just a few months. Unless he's really stupid then it might take a bit longer. They keep dangling the carrot and fools like you Lawrence continue to follow it. There is nothing wrong with a 100% commission job until you are expected to pay all of your own expenses and work for more than 4 hours without pay EACH day.
Lawrence
Jackson,#13UPDATE Employee
Sun, February 26, 2006
I am reading this character Assasination of Shanara Anthony, and getting angrier by the paragraph. Caroline, you and I bith know that there is more to the story than you wrote. I get sick of seeing bitter people who failed in the business or just didn't like it whine about the company. I can attest that Shanar is a great boss, who takes very good care of her employees,and our office has a very low reject rate on our Apps. If you don't make money in this business, it is because you do not have the skills, that is not a bad thing, some don't. By the Way, I have worked for many traditional jobs that were commission only, worked more hours than I was paid for and had pay issues, it happens people, get over it. FOr the Record, I have now worked for Innovative Vision for two and a half months, and made plenty of money, after expenses, and love my Job, and do it honestly.
David
Birmingham,#14UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, October 30, 2004
I believe it ... I have worked for another office under cydcor. The only things that I have ever heard about the Jackson office have been negative. I have met Shanara and to be honest I was not impressed at all. The clothing that was worn was not business casual or anything else maybe something to go to the club in. I was very suprised to hear that you had lost money in the dealing with her. I have also heard from other owners about her un ethical conduct and she does have the highest reject percent of all Bellsouth offices, due to the fact that her people do lie and do what is right by them not the company they are there to help.
Todd
Pomona,#15UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, July 04, 2004
Caroline, Have you gone to the police? Reported this to the department of labor? How about the IRS? I suggest getting the government involved. And I would be curious to know what bell south says about this too. Check out the msn chat group [DELETED]. Unfortunately, you will see other similar storys. At least you will know you are not alone and maybe see what others have done in your situation. Good luck to you.
Caroline
Jackson,#16Author of original report
Fri, July 02, 2004
I would urge all former employees of Cydcor offices that are owed money to strenuously pursue being given your proper final pay, even if it is for a low sum. Registering legitimate complaints with the campaign company (and, if applicable, TPV) seems to guarantee that you will be brought to Cydcor's attention. I would also strenuously recommend tracking down other former employees and seeing if they are in a similar situation. give them the contact information that you have garnered, and/or have them register legitimate complaints with the campaign company as well. This appears to be an effective method of revealing fraud/theft, or at least ensuring that you will not be ripped off/ scammed/ fleeced one last time. Since posting my original report yesterday, I have learned that the gentleman who contacted me and took down my many complaints is actually some sort of liaison between Bell South and Cydcor. I believe that he is an employee of Cydcor, and not Bell South. Upon being questioned this morning about when I could expect Shanara to contact me, he informed me that he had been trying to contact her since my previous call, but that she has taken a vacation "for the holiday" and he had thus far been unable to locate her. He asked me if I had given his phone number out to other former employees, I confirmed that I had. I then put forward that we were very concerned because we had filled out our W-2 forms and had earned money, but as we had never received full and proper payment we had incorrect tax information. He stated that he understood such concerns and that he would get back to me. I still need to address Shanara's reported claim that she is reissuing checks that I did not cash, as she is actually issuing checks that I never received in the first place.