Complaint Review: KB Promotions - Tampa Florida

www.thecaribbeancruisescam.com

This will give you solid insight how they operate.  

Look at this research below.  There's nothing redeeming about ripping people off.  The defender of the post clearly has a high paying position at KB.  Well, here is a looking glass for everyone.  I really don't see anything legit about this business.  Everyone else can make up their own minds.  SO KEEP SCAMMING AWAY!
check this out:  www.thecaribbeancruisescam.com

I have reported this company to wage and hour. Independant contractor. HA. You cannot work as an independent contractor without your own FIN and your own workers comp or workers comp exempt and investigation is taking place. I am NOT the discruntal employee to get violent. Just the discruntal EX-Employee that will make you do things legal or shut you down.

Working at KB Promotions is definitely an interesting experience, and as with any workplace there are definite pros and cons. The hiring process is very straightforward, and the training protocol simplistic. Make sure you read the 10/99, as it explains pay will be dropped from 9.00/hr to 7.25/hr the second week. This is to motivate the employee to make more commission, but left me feeling swindled from the beginning as I was promised 9.00/hr without commission. The commissions are not based on giving away the free cruise, but selling a $700 extended stay accommodations package to the customer that they did not call in for. You don't get paid a dollar for collecting the $118 port tax as well as the customer's credit card, which is a bait and switch sales pitch to push the extended stay. As you can imagine, it is difficult to find customers with an extra $700 lying around, especially considering that they called in thinking they were winning a free cruise. Some leads are transfers from customers that just made a purchase from another company, so KB leans to max out their credit or debit card if they possess one. Not to mention any intelligent customer could research the accommodations offered in the ship and hotels online and find out they are less than comfortable, which usually ends the call pretty quickly. Just hope your customer is landlocked and without a computer or willpower. The company expects the employee to post 3-4 deals a week, which is possible but depends on the leads you pull. I do enjoy having music in the background while I'm working, but sometimes it was just so loud I could not hear the customer or could not gain their trust where otherwise I would have closed the deal. I am amazed customers actually agreed to pay me $600 while a hip-hop song about "thuggin'" and "gettin' right" blared in the background. If you have a desire to walk over others to fill your pockets, this job is definitely for you. Those with a conscience; look elsewhere.

First of all, let me clear up a few things the poster listed about this job.
You are hired as an independent contractor and are responsible for paying for your equipment necessary to preform your job ($60 headset, to be taken out of your first check). Secondly, you are guaranteed minimum wage in the event that you do not break commission for the week. You are only charged a $20/week rental fee in the event that you do break over minimum wage so you will never make less than minimum wage.

 This is a sales based position and if you cannot sell, you cannot make above said minimum wage but there is no limit to the amount of money you CAN make on consistent sales. Your commission is paid out on a per sale basis. If a customer gets a refund for the service they paid for, you also receive a charge back for the amount of commission on that sale. This will be postponed to a time when your check is well above minimum wage.

In the event that your checks are consistently low and you have a few charge backs, these will be done overtime so as not to hurt your financial situation. And you are paid for all hours worked, regardless of whether you are logged in at the computer or not (meetings included).

And as far as standing on the job, this is a morale boosting exercise and being asked to stand for an hour to show your commitment is Much less than is required for most positions in any industry.

The company also has extra incentives and constant bonuses/holiday raffles to boost employee morale. As far as a 1 month veteran, that this is the amount of time it Should take an employee to become adept at the position and become eligible for a promotion if one is available.

As far as the product sold is concerned, it regards a free cruise with the option to buy extended accommodations at a one time promotional rate. Since this cruise does go outside the country, the government requires a tax per traveler and this is the only out of pocket expense regarding the cruise (this is not $500!). And as far as the credit card is concerned, it is required for incidentals on board the ship so non card holders are ineligible, but still allowed to apply once they meet the requirements (a card is not the only one).

I hope this has cleared up a few things for any people that might have been left confused by the previous poster's accusations. KB Promotions is a very good company that will take care of it's employees, but has no room for people who are not committed and do not want to be there. Just like any job, failure to meet your job requirements is grounds for dismissal. If you have any other questions regarding this post, feel free to contact me.

i have recently become employed by KB marketing.
after reading your report, i am astonished at your hatred.

first things first... when you got a job at KB promotions, you were given a contract. if you had taken the time to read that contract you would have known what was going on, and then you could have made an informed decision on what you wanted to do.

during the interview process you are taken directly onto the sales floor. that is where the interview takes place, and that is where you work if you choose to work there. during the interview you are asked if you are comfortable working in this environment.
clearly, you answered affirmatively. yet here you are complaining.

the company does charge you $20 per week to use their leads, desks, phonelines, electricity, paper, pens, zon (credit card running) capabilities, restrooms, refrigerators, etc..
this is standard practice in telephone rooms that have you work as an independent contractor. a position you chose to accept, outlined clearly in a contract you chose to sign.
in fact, as an independent contractor (10/99), the company is not required to pay you anything that you did not earn. basically, that min. wage pay that you got when you didn't do your job properly, they did not have to pay you that. independent contractors generally work for commission only, with no base pay. i am very happy that they offer a fallback in case i have a bad week.

yes, in order to use a headset you had to buy one. you did have the option to bring your own, or go purchase one elsewhere, which i guess you chose not to do. again, it is very courteous of KB to allow you use of the headset without any upfront money (which most unemployed people dont have before their first paycheck at their new job).

In any sales position, especially phone sales, leads are recycled.
a lead is a lead is a lead.
just because i'm not in the market for something today, doesn't mean i won't be tomorrow.
a lead is a valid lead until they ask to be removed from your list or they buy.
this is sales, not customer service.
you don't walk into a store and expect them not to try to sell you something, so why would you register for something and then expect not to be sold?
it is clear that you have no knowledge of this industry.

again, in a sales position, if you sell something and get paid commission on it, and then that person cancels legally, that money is taken from your next commission.
this is the case in almost any commission job.
ask your insurance agent. same thing happens to him if you cancel your policy,
but he's not on here complaining, because he knows that is standard.

bee-bop music at club levels and screaming? ABSOLUTELY. just like when you were interviewed and accepted the position. you didn't have a problem with it when you needed a job, did you?

sales meetings where management staff pushes you to do your job better?
that's insane!
wait, no, that's there job. so, why were you complaining about someone in charge of you asking, pleading, yelling at you to make more money for yourself and for them?
yes indeed. managers will tell you how to do your job. because that is their job.

3 people at your table were on probation, and you complain about that?
well, if they weren't able to get a job they would be out committing crimes.
are you one of those people who believes that criminals should never be able to get a legitimate job?
if they can't get a legit job, they will go back to what they know, what they are trying to get away from: crime.
and maybe one day they'll be in your neighborhood.
other jobs that hire criminals:
restaurant waiters (who take your credit card and disappear into the back)
landscapers
window cleaners
maids
mechanics
factory workers
phone companies
cable companies
maintenance men
plumbers
painters
carpenters
pool boys
HVAC
wal-mart
burger king
mcdonalds
hungry howies
pizza hut
little ceasars
chinese delivery places
hair and nail salons
pest controllers
dry cleaners
and many, many more.
criminals are everywhere. ex-cons need jobs too.
these are all people you let hold your credit cards regularly.
you call them on the phone and give them your card number.
you hand them your credit card and let them walk away.
you let them in your house when you are not home.
you leave your kids with them.
you leave your car with them.
you let them bring you food when you're home alone.
the further i read into your comments, the more i realize that you chose a career field you were not prepared for.

as for the pooh bear, and the 15-20 mins of break (in only a six hour work day),
well:
actually, you get half an hour a day for break.
although, you are there to make money, not hang out, and really don't need that long.
it's only 6 hours of work.
as for the pooh bear,
well, it's a tigger actually, and yes, you have to take it on break.
this way there are never too many people on break at the same time.
we receive inbound calls, and if everyone were on break simultaneously there would be no one to answer the phones.
this allows you to know how many people are on break at any given time, and assures that large groups of people will not go on break together.
this is something called good management.
it's clear that you are not good at working for people and following their rules.

These are just a few of the problems you experienced?
sometimes, when you have issues, it is not an outside source that is causing them.
sometimes it's just you.

if you had heeded the warning when you were interviewed in a loud call center and asked if you are comfortable with the environment,
(to which you were clearly amicable at time of your hiring)
or maybe even,
had you read and taken the time to understand the contract that you signed prior to your employment,
or possibly,
if you had ever worked in a telephone sales room, or taken the time to get to know people who you clearly feel are beneath you,
you may not have had the issues you feel you had.

sorry about your luck,
but all in all it is good to have a job.
i hope you have found something you like to do
that doesn't involve having to follow directions or company rules.

I went in today to submit my resume.  A lady immediately took me into the 'call center' for an interview.  They took me in a room full of people standing up, yelling, and listening to extremely loud music.  We sat down at two chairs by a window, not even a desk or a private place to interview.  The interviewer didn't even look at my resume, talked to me for less than 5 minutes, and offered me the job. I should have known better, as I was walking in, a guy in basketball shorts and flip flops was holding a new hire paper as well.  Very sketchy, don't waste your time.

I was let go tonight after being there for a wk. Everything that the person wrote above is the truth! I will stand up in court and swear to that! I was let go after I informed my "TO" of a Heart condition I have had. He told me to take care of my health first, then come back when Im ready. However I wasn't even out of the door on the "Call Center" Floor and he came chasing me down to tell me that they were going to have to let me go! He I am suffering from Irregular Heart beat pain, brought on by the stress they cause to be the best on the phone. And they guy is adding more stress by telling me this. I have seen a certain TO tank my closing! they are "the closers" and they don't know how to close a sale without insulting the customer or harping on them till they give in! I am Not one who take's things lightly....rest assure this will be brought out in the public spot light really soon. They tell you in the training that you have to get 3 "Posts" a week if you don't they do call you lazy and names....the ghetto music blasting on the speakers tonight was full of cuss words that even I was shocked to hear in any call center!!! For the record I had 3 deals as of tonight.....I was let got, they claim I wasn't excited enough tonight! You try being excited and having the feeling of your heart  & chest fluttering! Its not a fun and excited feeling...more a scary feeling your going to die!!!

I know this company, though never having been employed there. But I know plenty about this company and have worked for a similar company. I know you mentioned that you were hired on as an independent contractor, but you should have some rights. Have you tried complaining to the Department of Labor? The IRS has a guide: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p15a/ar02.html#d0e617 the basically determines if you are a contractor or an employee. I think the best step you could take here is reporting them to the IRS and or state authorities. And I'm sure you're not the first person that has been wronged by them and you won't be the last. They take advantage of people that are poor, uneducated, out of work, on probation, or living in halfway houses. Someone has to do something so that it doesn't continue. Another useful piece of information is here: (((Redacted))) Good luck. Next time, if a call center wants to hire you as an independent contractor, I would run for the hills... CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.