Warning to all - do not make the same mistake I did.
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS FIRM.
I replied to an ad online that led me to believe jobs were available. How wrong I was! This very deceptive ad had requested personal information before you could go anywhere on the site. I gave in and filled it out. Subsequently, I received a phone call from a very nice person representing McKenzie Scott.
I was telephoned multiple times each day by this person who during our many conversations found out that we knew each other from high school. Needless to say I trusted what he stated concerning McKenzie Scott. The pitch I received from the sales rep concerned their exclusive dB. With their proprietary application(s) they have the most extensive open position dB culled from business publications, newspapers, listings from corporations, etc.; and along with McKenzie Scotts assistance I would be having interviews within 10 13 weeks and offers shortly thereafter.
Bottom line - I bought into his sales and marketing pitch to sign-up with McKenzie Scott and gave him $5,500 hard earned dollars after we negotiated the fee down from the initial asking price of $9,500(RED FLAG #1). I feel like a total fool.
After I signed they scheduled an appointment with me for my person to person consultation. When I met with my assigned consultant Jay Ashton based in New Jersey, he preached on all the topics that most individuals searching for a position already know about and are doing: NETWORKING, REVIEW THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, BUSINESS JOUNALS, ETC. for opportunities and most importantly downplayed the MCKENZIE SCOTT dB(RED FLAG #2). Nothing like agreement and continuity within an organization. End result is they did less than nothing for me - other then gaving me some good looking materials. I went to New Jersey for a seminar to learn ABSOLUTELY NOTHING new(RED FLAG #3). I should have walked out right then and there.
However right after this consultation I spoke with my rep and he reiterated to me the dB was the key to success. What I found when I accessed their search site was a list of many of the job sites I already had been searching the prior four months(Red Flag #4).
Within three weeks of my signing with McKenzie/Scott the rep who convinced me McKenzie Scott was the way to go left the firm(RED FLAG #5).
I basically gave up on McKenzie Scott in my second month because I found they were all smoke and NO SUBSTANCE. This past July 7th I finally wrote to them to express my disappointment with the firm, people(who would either not return calls until week(s) later or not respond to emails at all) requesting a refund. On July 22nd I received a call from Jim Zuzzolo, V.P. in charge of their New Jersey office looking to resolve the problem. He offered to either redo the whole marketing plan or issue a refund. I told Mr. Zuzzolo that I appreciate the offer to start over but I rather we go our separate ways at this time.
He asked me how much I felt I should be returned and said that the amount I requested was greater than he was authorized to approve. He stated he would forward a summary of our conversation to Paul Bokelmann in their Colorado headquarters and that Mr. Bokelmann would be in touch with me no later than the 25th of July. On July 28th Mr. Bokelmann called. I repeated all that was said to Jim Zuzzolo and subsequently received a letter from Mr. Bokelmann with his proposal. In a letter dated July 29, 2003 to me from Mr. Bokelmann he presented the same business proposition initially offered by Jim Zuzzolo and an amount he believes is a reasonable refund. I can only say that Mr. Bokelmann's bonus must be based on how little he will refund a disenchanted and formerly duped client. In addition if Mr. Bokelmann and McKenzie/Scott Partners believe they are 100% right in their actions why would they be offering a refund at all?
In addition to all this his letter references a clause in a contract that is different from the agreement I signed.
If you are thinking about signing up with McKenzie Scott you are wasting your MONEY and TIME. Go anywhere but here.
I REPEAT DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS FIRM.
Vincent
Cornwall, New York
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on McKenzie Scott