Complaint Review: Kirby Vacuum Sales - Springfield Oregon

To start off, in technicality it is not the company of kirby that is at fault. Most fault are the distributors for their misleading information that falls in rank with an unfortunate number of "companies" When I first encountered NWDC ( Northwest Distribution Center) , after falling victim to scentura creations, I was wary and rightly so, however through creative misleading information I was wooed. Fortunately after a few days I recognized it for what is was and left. Flat out the entire situation is a technically legal Hustle. On the day that I called in two weeks ago I had a variety of questions. What industry is this? how is it handled? Is it a call center? Is the pay guaranteed? Here is what I was told. Very different from the truth. I was told, that the base pay would be $400 to $600 a month based on appointments. This was guaranteed as long as you worked. I was informed that there were also "incentives" and benefits. I was also told that I would be an employee. I was lead to believe in the first interview that they were looking for a new manager and that training would be supplied. I was told I would not be calling out setting up appointments, that they had a call center specifically for that. Furthermore there would be "canvassers" knocking on doors to set up appointments as well as homeowners calling in. Transportation would be provided by "company vehicles". Here is where it differed. No one except those in the office as assistants are employees. The base pay was not pay but an "incentive" you were required to be there 6 days a week and have 15 appointments for the $400 incentive. In order to get paid $600 you must be there 7 days a week and have 18 appointments. Furthermore this incentive only lasted 90 days, after which time it was commision only. The incentives and benefits were contests and competitions which are used in sanctioned strategies which I will discuss later. The "call-center" for setting up appointments did not exist, and your first weekend you had to set up your own with friends and families. They were "short" on canvassers. Furthermore the "company vehicles" were the cars of the "managers". It was quite expected of you to set up your own appointments after the first week and to "knock-in" to illegally solicit homeowners for an appoinment. Appointments also had their own requirements and so did your commission. Commission is what you sold over the price of what they bought it for and in organizing "deals" your commission was first to go. Appointments were only for homeowners in order to be counted as an incentive and must be at least two hours long. The main selling point is shock value, more on that later. I had to cancel 3 of my appointments that I was forced to set up because they were not homeowners. after that there simply was not enough time in the week to make up enough to get paid at all. I was able to make 1 and forced to sit in on another that did not count, with only 3 days left I was out of luck. The Nitty Gritty: Here is where the technical legality comes in and why I mention to people that the customers are not the ones being sold. In the Kirby service you are not an employee, you are an independent contract ie; a separate business. This goes to say that Neither Kirby nor NWDC are responsible in any way for your pay and hours. Not to mention benefits, licenses and taxes. They are a separate entity and therefore untouchable. SO those who worked 9 am to 11pm seven days a week are technically breaking the law as far as hours and wages go, but since you are the company that you are working for you can only sue yourself and not the entity truly responsible. As an independent contractor you, not kirby are responsible for some very important things. Taxes, and business licenses for every city you are selling in, not to mention a license to solicit. Each sale you make you are breaking the law and suspect to a hefty fine and possibly jail time. Furthermore you are encouraged to make multiple (shifty at best) tax deductions. Each Distributor office is a separate business from kirby and not associated with the company of kirby itself or any other offices that distributes and sells kirby machines. I hope you see a pattern here. There are at least two other businesses, both mentioned on this website that follow this doctrine and boast being Fortune 500 companies to boot, they are Scentura Creations (the mother name of that line) and The Maxis Consulting Group (of which I am sad to say I do not know what the base line is) The Money Doctrine: The distributors buy the newest model of vacuum at full price or Distributor discount from Kirby. These are then loaned out for sale to the Independent contractors who are not paid for the hours put in as explained above. Independent contractors are told to start the selling price at twice that of which the Distributor bought (to note this is not overtly known simply numerical fact). The first thing to go is the commission on which the contractor would be paid which is furthermore based and reduced by factors governing the sale and the method of payment. This method is also used by the above listed companies. How they reel you in: The Second Doctrine This is a method of psychology and methods I have seen used by these Distributors and those of other companies. Not quite too good to be true- it sounds just almost too good to be true but just real enough to be believable Independent Contractors are kept excited- This is based off an effective sales tactic, if the salesperson feels good or excited, the likelihood of a sale increases. This is why there are incentives and "bonus trips", parties, and the like. They give you a goal and keep your hopes up. The downside, they prevent you from questioning and or realizing what is really going on. You are encouraged to "have fun" "stay positive" and other such statements of blind faith. Important questions are quickly sidestepped- generally this happens in the beginning. The coach or interview with flat out lie and mislead you regarding the questions I stated in the beginning of this report. They are contradicted later when you are excited and your guard is down. Most people do not notice. Be your own boss- every "company" of this type has used this statement or it's like to excite people. It is especially effective against people who realize how poorly they get paid in relation to the profits of an actual corporation. SHOW your assets- it is common for the owner to show off his mansion, money, jaguar etc... to give contractors hope of that life. Establish Loyalty and Betrayal: The Third Doctrine Create Loyalty- Independent contractors are lead to believe that the "company is looking out for them" and that you are in it together with all the other people there . more contractors, managers, assistants, owners. The idea is to make everyone feel like they are part of something and truly getting a piece of the pie. Establish Betrayal-Make it seem as all those who leave have betrayed you, failed, couldn't handle it etc... this specific point I cannot say about NWDC but only because I was the first to leave. These doctrines are not heresay, theories, or rumors. They are examples and explanations of attitudes and methods use in these "businesses" The sad truth: Kirby sells vacuums off it's website at half the price that people buy them from NWDC and other distributors. It is possible for people to make money doing this but it should be remembered that it is a hustle and whether you like it or not illegal. Independent Contractors are unknowingly breaking the law and shouldering the responsibility, but as the law states Ignorance is neither an excuse nor a viable defense in court. I invite anyone from the mentioned companies to prove me wrong. That what I have stated are individual examples of corruption instead of widespread encouraged ideals. The catch is that only truth and fact will be accepted.