Noah From Chicago
Chicago,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, June 16, 2009
I though my work was done and stopped posting for a couple of weeks only to come back last night and see Scentura Insider Earley Gaynor posting his same stupid story and personal attacks over everyone's honest reports. As long as Scentura owners are posting here I'll just have to keep hitting them back with hard facts. WAKE UP EARLEY!! Nobody gives a flying f**k how much money YOU made last week or about your stupid little Crookie of the year award!! You told me yourself that there are no negative reports about you or Selah Management on this site so.... why not just go away already? Your hateful, negative rebuttals are only making you look unintelligent. If you don't stop with the hateful personal attacks I'll start posting MORE FACTS about Scentura so....... Shut up Aleady! Anyone who has any questions about how this criminal Pyramid Scheme operates and has screwed tons of people over HARD just to make a few people rich..... Email me at (((ROR redacted))). 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.
Mdwethebest
Lanham,#3UPDATE Employee
Sun, June 07, 2009
First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Earley, I went through training a year and a half ago in middlesex, new jersey. When I first started I answered the ad just like everyone else. But unlike the other people that I started with, I stuck with it and I finished the program. When I started I was in Job Corp, I was broke and I had no plan in life. I went from job to job to job until finally I answered the ad, Donnie did my first interview and he gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. When I started I had to do some sales (just like everyone else) but instead of quitting, I had to work harder. Long story short I finished the program in ten weeks (two weeks shorter than my goal). I now run a location of my own in Lanham, Maryland, which means I am a promotion of Donnie and Holly's. I now do the same job that they do, I signed up to be a manager and that is exactly what I am. I didn't get in this to do sales (which no one does). Donnie told me that I could make 30K my first year in the first interview. But in my business in its first year, I made $82,000. I feel like I scammed Donnie. People who blow out in their first or second week obviously didn't understand the business. They give anyone, no matter what race,color,gender, or age, the same opportunity they gave me. Free merchandise, free training, (the day you have to pay for something should be a red flag for you no matter what business) and they also give you the opportunity to move to any state with a business for free. Like I said I went through training in New Jersey and I got the freedom to move to Maryland. Any person with a brain can look at all these negative letters and see that people run offices all over the country. So ask yourself, how did they get there? They got promoted there obviously. Running your own business isn't going to happen overnight, it takes more time and dedication to be successful in this and in any business. Anyone who says this is a pyramid scam or that you dont get promoted doesn't know what THE F*** your talking about. Everyone has the exact same equal opportunity. All it takes to complete training is working hard( for yourself), dedication, and a little blind faith, believing that Donnie and Holly will get you open. I am so confident that I am going to leave my phone number (NOT FOR BLOWOUTS) but for people who actually want some advice on how to run a successful business for Scentura. (((ROR redacted))). I have alot of respect for Donnie and Holly because if I was in the position, I wouldn't even bother running an office I would retire. They are great people and unbelievable promoting owners. I am 21 years old, I am black and I make decent money. Thanks to Larry Hohn for giving me the opportunity. When an opportunity like this comes your way it isn't about what someone else did or does for you but what you do with the opportunity yourself. See you at the top. 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.
Anonymous
St.louis,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, June 05, 2009
I found a ad on Craigslist about a year ago saying manager needed for growing company- need a fun energetic person with a positive attitude. no experience nessecary will train. Please send resume. So I did and I was called that day and they wanted me to come in that day for an interview. So I did and they said to call them back that day around 4pm to see if I was selected for a second interview.(alittle odd why should i call you??) Anyway I did call back and I of course was selected!! So I started on the following monday and I shouldn't have to explain myself it's the same as everyone reported on this site. Well the second day they had us sign some paper before we went out to start selling their knock off perfume! I was like umm I didn't sign up to go sell anything I wanted this because I thought I was going to be trained to be a manager and run my own office..........well anyway I thought scam..... well anyway I did I went to walmart parking lot, lowes parking lot, anywhere I could think of and didn't sell anything and got kicked off the property! I quit that day...... Now there back! new location though this time the last time it was off Dorsett in Weldon parkway.... they have a ad on craigslist saying....... Office Opportunity- Growing company seeks goal oriented and ambitious people for a face paced and fun work environment. Several locations available. Basic computer skills and phone skills is a must. The use of excel and word are greatly encouraged. also good communication skills is required please email your resume. Must be 18+, HS or GED, No felony convictions The better you dress, the bigger your smile... the better your chances! Location: st. louis/st. charles counties Compensation: tbd Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster. Please, no phone calls about this job! Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests Yeah I replied to this ad for the fun of it....They called me the next day wanting me to come in for an interview that day.......Sooo I did I was curious if this was the same place......well sure enough I walk in and it's the same d**n thing!!!!!!! Now it's off westport and fefe rd. it's 2305 suite 3.........PATHETIC don't go to these people i had the same experience as everyone else on this site I just didn't go into detail I think you all get the hint....anyway I saw a bald headed heavyset guy with his eyebrow pierced and ear pierced.... They are also using the name Enterprises LLC now.. at least thats what showed up on my caller ID....well anyway be aware!!!!!! When I walked in and saw it was the same thing I walked right back out by the way. All they want you there for is to go out and sell door to door their knock off perfume.......you will make nothing!!!!!
Stephen
DesPlaines,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, May 02, 2009
I worked for Scentura Creations for 2 weeks. I was hired by Rob and Ricky in the "Firebird" office. They rushed me through training and after my 3rd day in the office I was told that I had to make a choice of either going out with the team on a 5 day long sales trip referred to as a "seek and destroy" or to be a "p***y" and fired. Rob commonly referred to anyone who lost the will to continue in this outrageous scam a "p***y". This seemed odd to me because i recalled them telling us we would NOT have to sell perfume. We were constantly told that we were in training to be managers and have our own offices. So off to Kentucky I went without a dollar in my pocket and hopes of making desperately needed money. The trip was going alright until we ended up in Newport. The police got called on us and made us leave the town. I asked my "superiors" if what we were doing was illegal. They assured me I had nothing to worry about and all that could happen to me was getting the product confiscated. But I was also told if this happened I would be responsible for the product and the cost of it would come out of the little money I actually did make so any encounter with the police should be avoided at all costs. Every day during the trip we woke up at 5am and started out to sell perfume only having went to sleep at maybe 2am. Yes im aware that is 3 hours of sleep. I did this for 5 straight days barely making enough money to eat. When I returned from the trip I actually had less money than I had when I left. My bank account was in the negative after the trip seeing as some nights I didn't make enough to eat 3 times a day. Not when I had to also pay for the room and gas out of the few bottles I did sell. These were referred to as "gas bottles" and "room bottles". When I told rob I wasnt making anything on the trip he told me "Your numbers were great! You shouldnt have spent your money on crap you dont need". When I told him i only spent money on food he told me i was lieing and must have forgotten what i spent it on. It wasnt until the 2nd trip i was required to go on that was only a 3 day "satellite" ,as it was called, that i had enough. Day 1 I sold next to nothing and day 2 was even worse. I called up Rob and told him I hadnt eaten in a day and a half and I just wanted to go back home. He made me put him on speaker phone and chastised me in front of everyone in the car. He told me how much of a "p***y" I was and that it was my attitude that was making us not be able to sell bottles. He then pulled the "Satellite" and had us come home. Once in the office he tried to convince me to stick with it and be a "Rhino". But after not eating anything for 2 days. I really had enough of listening to his bull. I quit that day.
Er
Dallas,#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, January 03, 2009
you can make money with world perfume. I did for many years. the funny thing about all these testimonies is that they are from people who worked for less than a week. I am sure the majority of you are still jumping job to job and have no idea why!! Maybe the companies you work for are not to blame, but only yourself. I made so much money when I worked for WPI. I had a blast traveling. The only reason I left was to go back to school full time. You really need to be careful about slamming people on websites. Your actions will always come back to haunt you. (Matt read that and know your life will be hell...always!) And back to everyone making these claims...we used to laugh at people like you. We knew you would never make it. We knew you would be living paycheck to paycheck for the rest of your life! It takes a special kind of person to be a self starter and make something of their life. Unfortunately, there are not many people like that. I wish all of you luck in this economy. Go out and work for someone else!!! Maybe they will be out of business in a year. If you work for yourself, only you can control your destiny!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gweedoernie
Montebello,#7UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, October 14, 2008
Let me start of by saying that I dont regret working here. Sure, business ethics do not exist here, but I did have a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience from doing this. I have sooo many stories from this. I lived in Baldwin Park, CA at the time. The office was located in Pasadena, CA. The Manager was Daphne and her assistant was Becky, who had nice body. Right off the bat you know this is something different and not quite legit. So after about a week of selling this stuff (which is actually a good product) to your relatives and sitting in parking lots, they do whats called a "Satellite". It begins on Thursdays and ends on Sundays. So they get some of the better personalities/sellers to go to the "Main Office" in Culver City, CA. There are about 50 suckers.....err..people there from other offices. They partner different people up in groups of 4 & 5. Sometimes it's all men or all women, and sometimes its mixed. Now at the time, I was 19, good-looking, muscular, and got along with the Manager. So I was able to arrange my Satellites to my advantage, meaning that I would usually get partnered up with the hottest girls for those 4 days. After they have announced the teams and the cities that you are going to be working in, they have you get with your team and drive to that particular city's Motel 6. You are then to check in and basically use your own money (you are "reimbursed" when you sell your first few bottles) and it works this way until Sunday. But boy were those nights fun. I have never had so much sex in such a short period of time. And this went on for 10 months. The only reason why I left is because they (Culver City) would not let me partner with this girl that I was close with and doing really well. They actually made prejudice comments and told her that she should be with people like them (white) and with similar backgrounds (rich)??? The way it works when you have an office is like this: You find an office and they will pay the first month of all your overhead. You buy the perfume/cologne in bulk at a discounted price, about $5-$7 a bottle (1997). You have all the new people (unaware) sell at the highest rate $25-$30 their first day. They get no commision from this. After that, they have a rate based on their title, which means that the new hires have a $20 rate, the "Assistant Managers" have a $15 rate, and the "Managers in Training" have a $10 rate. So basically, you have to bring back that amount for every bottle you sell. Most of my time there was as a Manager in Training. I used to sell 10-12 bottles a day for $20-$25 each. So i was making about a $100 a day at least (for a 19 year old was pretty good). As a Manager, you were making most of your money off the new hires and the first day people. Profits were about $20 per bottle, with a small portion of that going to Culver City, which is at the top of the Pyramid. The one thing that I took away from this "job", is the experienced I gained at talking to people. I am now an Advertising Consultant for a Media Corporation and making close to 6 figures. I credit my success to slangin bottles in parking lots.
Gweedoernie
Montebello,#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, October 14, 2008
Let me start of by saying that I dont regret working here. Sure, business ethics do not exist here, but I did have a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience from doing this. I have sooo many stories from this. I lived in Baldwin Park, CA at the time. The office was located in Pasadena, CA. The Manager was Daphne and her assistant was Becky, who had nice body. Right off the bat you know this is something different and not quite legit. So after about a week of selling this stuff (which is actually a good product) to your relatives and sitting in parking lots, they do whats called a "Satellite". It begins on Thursdays and ends on Sundays. So they get some of the better personalities/sellers to go to the "Main Office" in Culver City, CA. There are about 50 suckers.....err..people there from other offices. They partner different people up in groups of 4 & 5. Sometimes it's all men or all women, and sometimes its mixed. Now at the time, I was 19, good-looking, muscular, and got along with the Manager. So I was able to arrange my Satellites to my advantage, meaning that I would usually get partnered up with the hottest girls for those 4 days. After they have announced the teams and the cities that you are going to be working in, they have you get with your team and drive to that particular city's Motel 6. You are then to check in and basically use your own money (you are "reimbursed" when you sell your first few bottles) and it works this way until Sunday. But boy were those nights fun. I have never had so much sex in such a short period of time. And this went on for 10 months. The only reason why I left is because they (Culver City) would not let me partner with this girl that I was close with and doing really well. They actually made prejudice comments and told her that she should be with people like them (white) and with similar backgrounds (rich)??? The way it works when you have an office is like this: You find an office and they will pay the first month of all your overhead. You buy the perfume/cologne in bulk at a discounted price, about $5-$7 a bottle (1997). You have all the new people (unaware) sell at the highest rate $25-$30 their first day. They get no commision from this. After that, they have a rate based on their title, which means that the new hires have a $20 rate, the "Assistant Managers" have a $15 rate, and the "Managers in Training" have a $10 rate. So basically, you have to bring back that amount for every bottle you sell. Most of my time there was as a Manager in Training. I used to sell 10-12 bottles a day for $20-$25 each. So i was making about a $100 a day at least (for a 19 year old was pretty good). As a Manager, you were making most of your money off the new hires and the first day people. Profits were about $20 per bottle, with a small portion of that going to Culver City, which is at the top of the Pyramid. The one thing that I took away from this "job", is the experienced I gained at talking to people. I am now an Advertising Consultant for a Media Corporation and making close to 6 figures. I credit my success to slangin bottles in parking lots.
Gweedoernie
Montebello,#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, October 14, 2008
Let me start of by saying that I dont regret working here. Sure, business ethics do not exist here, but I did have a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience from doing this. I have sooo many stories from this. I lived in Baldwin Park, CA at the time. The office was located in Pasadena, CA. The Manager was Daphne and her assistant was Becky, who had nice body. Right off the bat you know this is something different and not quite legit. So after about a week of selling this stuff (which is actually a good product) to your relatives and sitting in parking lots, they do whats called a "Satellite". It begins on Thursdays and ends on Sundays. So they get some of the better personalities/sellers to go to the "Main Office" in Culver City, CA. There are about 50 suckers.....err..people there from other offices. They partner different people up in groups of 4 & 5. Sometimes it's all men or all women, and sometimes its mixed. Now at the time, I was 19, good-looking, muscular, and got along with the Manager. So I was able to arrange my Satellites to my advantage, meaning that I would usually get partnered up with the hottest girls for those 4 days. After they have announced the teams and the cities that you are going to be working in, they have you get with your team and drive to that particular city's Motel 6. You are then to check in and basically use your own money (you are "reimbursed" when you sell your first few bottles) and it works this way until Sunday. But boy were those nights fun. I have never had so much sex in such a short period of time. And this went on for 10 months. The only reason why I left is because they (Culver City) would not let me partner with this girl that I was close with and doing really well. They actually made prejudice comments and told her that she should be with people like them (white) and with similar backgrounds (rich)??? The way it works when you have an office is like this: You find an office and they will pay the first month of all your overhead. You buy the perfume/cologne in bulk at a discounted price, about $5-$7 a bottle (1997). You have all the new people (unaware) sell at the highest rate $25-$30 their first day. They get no commision from this. After that, they have a rate based on their title, which means that the new hires have a $20 rate, the "Assistant Managers" have a $15 rate, and the "Managers in Training" have a $10 rate. So basically, you have to bring back that amount for every bottle you sell. Most of my time there was as a Manager in Training. I used to sell 10-12 bottles a day for $20-$25 each. So i was making about a $100 a day at least (for a 19 year old was pretty good). As a Manager, you were making most of your money off the new hires and the first day people. Profits were about $20 per bottle, with a small portion of that going to Culver City, which is at the top of the Pyramid. The one thing that I took away from this "job", is the experienced I gained at talking to people. I am now an Advertising Consultant for a Media Corporation and making close to 6 figures. I credit my success to slangin bottles in parking lots.
Gweedoernie
Montebello,#10UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, October 14, 2008
Let me start of by saying that I dont regret working here. Sure, business ethics do not exist here, but I did have a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience from doing this. I have sooo many stories from this. I lived in Baldwin Park, CA at the time. The office was located in Pasadena, CA. The Manager was Daphne and her assistant was Becky, who had nice body. Right off the bat you know this is something different and not quite legit. So after about a week of selling this stuff (which is actually a good product) to your relatives and sitting in parking lots, they do whats called a "Satellite". It begins on Thursdays and ends on Sundays. So they get some of the better personalities/sellers to go to the "Main Office" in Culver City, CA. There are about 50 suckers.....err..people there from other offices. They partner different people up in groups of 4 & 5. Sometimes it's all men or all women, and sometimes its mixed. Now at the time, I was 19, good-looking, muscular, and got along with the Manager. So I was able to arrange my Satellites to my advantage, meaning that I would usually get partnered up with the hottest girls for those 4 days. After they have announced the teams and the cities that you are going to be working in, they have you get with your team and drive to that particular city's Motel 6. You are then to check in and basically use your own money (you are "reimbursed" when you sell your first few bottles) and it works this way until Sunday. But boy were those nights fun. I have never had so much sex in such a short period of time. And this went on for 10 months. The only reason why I left is because they (Culver City) would not let me partner with this girl that I was close with and doing really well. They actually made prejudice comments and told her that she should be with people like them (white) and with similar backgrounds (rich)??? The way it works when you have an office is like this: You find an office and they will pay the first month of all your overhead. You buy the perfume/cologne in bulk at a discounted price, about $5-$7 a bottle (1997). You have all the new people (unaware) sell at the highest rate $25-$30 their first day. They get no commision from this. After that, they have a rate based on their title, which means that the new hires have a $20 rate, the "Assistant Managers" have a $15 rate, and the "Managers in Training" have a $10 rate. So basically, you have to bring back that amount for every bottle you sell. Most of my time there was as a Manager in Training. I used to sell 10-12 bottles a day for $20-$25 each. So i was making about a $100 a day at least (for a 19 year old was pretty good). As a Manager, you were making most of your money off the new hires and the first day people. Profits were about $20 per bottle, with a small portion of that going to Culver City, which is at the top of the Pyramid. The one thing that I took away from this "job", is the experienced I gained at talking to people. I am now an Advertising Consultant for a Media Corporation and making close to 6 figures. I credit my success to slangin bottles in parking lots.
Standingup
Shipman,#11UPDATE Employee
Sun, July 06, 2008
This company is located in Maryland Heights, MO at the moment but I am sure they will be running pretty soon because everyone is catching on to them. the director or manager whatever you want to call him is Richard he is white and he is in his 40's or 50's and also he is skinny and bald, then there is Sara which is a really hyper/ energetic hispanic woman, and Jez is a white bald heavy set guy with an eyebrow pierced and I believe his ear is also pierced. The receptionist is white and heavyset with brown hair. I went to both interviews and should have figured out this was a scam right off the bat. They hired me as an manager position with no highschool diploma or any other kind of education. They tell you you will make between 35,000-40,000 a year and then they tell you that you will make between 200-500 a week during training but they tell you that you will not have to sell any fragrances. When you show up for your first day of work you are told about a fun competition that includes you selling perfume which is suppose to be the real stuff but you find out after you take it home that it is a fake the smell doesn't even last 5 mins. so all I got to say is if you see this company advertising do not apply it is a waste of gas and time.
Jl White
Gresham,#12UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, July 02, 2008
http://www.scenturacreations.com/customer_service.htm on this page there is a list of email addresses for you to contact an "Independent Local Representative". Someone needs to contact all of these people and find out where these offices are. I mean hell, looks like Scentura is willing to tell us where they are.... so why not find out then get rid of them?
Jl White
Gresham,#13UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, July 02, 2008
Type: World Perfume into google and you will get this ripoff report second to the wikipedia entry. What interests me however is the fourth site on the list.... http://express-press-release.net/26/WORLD PERFUME - World Perfume offers the best in the world%20 of perfume World Perfume%20 World perfume offers the best in the world of perfume.php Its kind of funny really. Just one sad attempt to defend bad business. The format of this 'press release' as well as the tone of the scammers themselves makes me think of one word... cult. Its amazing that after so many years these companies are still alive and practicing business exactly the same. Down to every little detail this scam is run over and over for years exactly the same by the same company. How is it that we allow them to get away with it? Mr. Whitworth... are you really that much of a jackass? Do you really think you can tell people that your not a scam. That your not responsible...... at this point your claiming to be more intelligent than the whole nation. You are truly an idiot Mr. Witworth, and I honestly hope you go bankrupt and end up being ridiculed and laughed at everywhere you go. You deserve it for the thousands of peoples lives you screwed with for a few bucks. YOU Mr. Whitworth trained the initial distribution offices. You taught them to be liars and cheats. Then you told taught them to multiply and teach others to lie and cheat.... all for you. All so in the end you can drive a nice car and live in a big house. THIS is how you are guilty my man, and you will reap what you sow. I almost pity you.
Jl White
Gresham,#14UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, July 02, 2008
I almost fell for it too. I went to the two interviews and the orientation. It was only till I typed in "Scentura Creations" into google that I realized this was a scam. maaaan do I feel like an idiot. In anycase, I'm not going to just sit here knowing that someone is out there screwing other people. So I plan to use all the information here (yes i read it ALL) to shut this office down. Not only that but I plan to search for any offices in the northwest so as to expose them as well. Okay heres the data on this location. "Alias" Syndicat Management Location 122nd and Market, Gresham Oregon. in the Borne Plaza Ad Being Ran Management, Office Assistant The one i responded to was on craigslist, but im sure its in the oregonian and other newspapers too. People in Charge Tony and Jeremy (I will update later with their full names) Everything in the scam is identical. Its pretty much a constant lie to your face from the moment you call the ad. Down to every word they say, how they act, the way the office looks, the music they play, etc etc. Its all one huge lie. I remember at my first interview there was a lady in her mid 40s who was interviewing with me (they where doing it in doubles(this place is scamming approx 10 new people a day)). During the interview I remember she mentioned having management experience (she went on to explain). This lady was not at the second interview. Why? They didn't call her back because she is a prime example of the kind of person that would catch onto this scam in the second interview. Im not exactly sure on how I want to approach this. I was thinking that I might walk in tomorrow as if im still suckered. Just until I can get into the meeting and expose them in front of everyone. However I do it I know that I won't stop until these guys find another job. Suggestion: Why not destroy the whole company? Yes right of course this has been talked about many times, however it's always been related to the "Head of the beast" idea of taking down something large from the top down. Obviously these two companies can never be brought down in court because they are legally seprate from the individual offices. What we all know is that the offices survive only because of the ads. We also know that Scentura and World Perfume only survive because of the offices. The problem remains that if you take down one office the people running it may go broke and give up, but theres still hundreds of more offices nationwide. As well as the office that trained them that is still making more offices. Its like a virus on our nation. Okay so now to the real bulk of my suggestion...... Why not create a website that lists all the known locations, linking to any information available about each location. The websites front page should be a simple form for consumers to report their local offices. We need a place dedicated to resources for the destruction of these offices, listings of UPDATED contact information for the local media/AG in EACH AND EVERY MAJOR CITY. This website should regularly send out letters to all major newspapers with information on this scam. There needs to be more awareness to the public about this scam. We have all heard about all those mail scams where they send you a fake check, and I bet most people would laugh if someone tried that one on them. We should all be so informed that we laugh when we see the Scentura scam. NOBODY should ever get past the first interview!!! If this was to happen, offices all over the country would die. Starting with the smallest ones, moving up to the oldest branches and all the way to Scentura/World Perfume. Why did the chicken cross the road? You should already know the answer to this timeless joke, just as well as we should all know the answer to the joke name Scentura.
Michael
Bronx,#15UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, June 03, 2008
What is described here is deadly accurate. The uniformity of this organization across states lines is amazing. I was employed by this company a year ago. Scenura, called 'Linche Managment' [and nothing relevant comes up when you google them] operated out of Brooklyn, NY. They were location outside of an unmarked building adjacent to the Junction Street station. Inside, you had 3 individual teams: Linche DSM [Diva Style Management] G-Unit [this should have been a sign, but when you are broke and don't go online you don't see this board] Classified ads were placed in the NY Post and NY Daily News. The names of the people in charge here were: Nakesha Johnson and Tory Gates. And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if these names were fabricated. Truthfully, what opened up my eyes was I was on the subway heading to 149 St and 3rd Avenue to sell perfume for the day and my 'team leader' just looked at me and said, "you don't have a computer at home?" Now, why would she blurt something like that out. After that point, I had to get a public computer and lookup some stuff. I came back the next day and tried to tell everyone there the story and just to look at this stuff. After that, I left. The truly sad part about these people is that they are highly skilled talkers and would probably be succesfully selling other things like real estate, insurance, securities, etc. and yet they have choosen to perpetuate a pyrimad scheme for a living. If you have any specific questions about how they operated in NYC let me know.
Martyrprojekt
Concord,#16UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, May 21, 2008
What can I say that has not been said already. This whole company was a scam. I will start from the beginning on how I got screwed into working for this MLM back during my Freshman year of college. It was my first summer at college and I did not want to go home. Instead I stayed at school and tried to find a job for the summer. First interview was cush, the distributor was hot, so I stuck around. The people she had working with her were shady folks but, I did not mind. I was just trying to get a job that paid decently and that would keep me occupied. Well, I did not sell perfume to my friends and family my first night. I hustled the stuff in the ghetto of Sac, To Taco Bell employees, etc. I even hustled some German kids into thinking they were designed perfumes. And, lets all be serious. We all know these are renditions. Not originals...Regardless of what they tell you. I am sure you have some independent thinking brains in your head. My first night I sold 15 bottles. I was told it had never legitimately been done before. Usually when someone sold over 5 the first night they were trying to scam the scammers. And, that my friends never happens. After that I was off, slanging perfume all around the West Coast. I was banging the boss lady and the new chicks when they came onto the road crew. Which I was now in charge of. It was one long drunken orgy of a summer. Then when summer was about to end and I tried to ask for the $19K I had earned that summer by the boss lady Erica Patterson...suddenly, she went crazy. Saying I got paid and all this other bull. At this point I was angry and I decided to grab my stuff from her apartment and go back to my place. When I got to her lace to grab my stuff she went psycho on me. I even had to get a civil standby with the Sac Sheriff's Department just to get my belongings from her. She even hid my guitar in her trunk. She decided I owed her money and I was ungrateful. Funny thing was this, I never got paid for a whole summer of free work. I had fun...But, while I was spending my next years tuition thinking my money was siting in an account waiting for me to collect...I ended up dropping out of school and moved back home... This chick ruined my life. If anyone knows how to contact her. I would appreciate it. Karma is a Bit**
314firemedic
St.charles,#17UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 01, 2008
my story is the exact same as everyone elses, almost to a T. Attitude Check!!! theres this guy Rich who is the president of the st.louis office and David the vice president, these two guys are scumbag filth of the earth and deserve to be in jail. there are no offices anywhere in st.louis other that the one you "train" at they hire you hoping you sell a few bottles of cologne and then quit. i will say one thing the girl workin the front desk answering the phone is hot, but shes obviously in on the scam as well and probably a worthless b*tch herself, and and then theres Sara loudmouth mmmm... anyway its a scam i have no idea how theyve gotten away with it for as long as they have i worked 3 days of training before i realized it was a joke scam. if i ever see david or rich in public i dont care if im in jail for awhile both of them are going to be eating out of a straw for the rest of their lives. to make someone think they landed this job making 36k with no college degree or experience doesnt happen not in the world is messed up. i knew better but i was in between training for my real career i had just finished emt training and was starting paramedic school so i took the job think it wont hurt to see what happens found out it was a big lie scam and when they sent us out the first time to do business to business sales i got the f*ck outta there, i wasnt walkin into business like some joke as* mugg asking people that are either working are trying to get sh*t taken care of if they wanna buy some cheap dollar store knock off cologne. the real funny part is my mom works at macys in fragrances and none of the cheap cologne i had smelled like the real sh*t at all not even close the polo blue smelled like that sh*t you buy for your car interior at autozone for 99cents
314firemedic
St.charles,#18UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 01, 2008
my story is the exact same as everyone elses, almost to a T. Attitude Check!!! theres this guy Rich who is the president of the st.louis office and David the vice president, these two guys are scumbag filth of the earth and deserve to be in jail. there are no offices anywhere in st.louis other that the one you "train" at they hire you hoping you sell a few bottles of cologne and then quit. i will say one thing the girl workin the front desk answering the phone is hot, but shes obviously in on the scam as well and probably a worthless b*tch herself, and and then theres Sara loudmouth mmmm... anyway its a scam i have no idea how theyve gotten away with it for as long as they have i worked 3 days of training before i realized it was a joke scam. if i ever see david or rich in public i dont care if im in jail for awhile both of them are going to be eating out of a straw for the rest of their lives. to make someone think they landed this job making 36k with no college degree or experience doesnt happen not in the world is messed up. i knew better but i was in between training for my real career i had just finished emt training and was starting paramedic school so i took the job think it wont hurt to see what happens found out it was a big lie scam and when they sent us out the first time to do business to business sales i got the f*ck outta there, i wasnt walkin into business like some joke as* mugg asking people that are either working are trying to get sh*t taken care of if they wanna buy some cheap dollar store knock off cologne. the real funny part is my mom works at macys in fragrances and none of the cheap cologne i had smelled like the real sh*t at all not even close the polo blue smelled like that sh*t you buy for your car interior at autozone for 99cents
314firemedic
St.charles,#19UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 01, 2008
my story is the exact same as everyone elses, almost to a T. Attitude Check!!! theres this guy Rich who is the president of the st.louis office and David the vice president, these two guys are scumbag filth of the earth and deserve to be in jail. there are no offices anywhere in st.louis other that the one you "train" at they hire you hoping you sell a few bottles of cologne and then quit. i will say one thing the girl workin the front desk answering the phone is hot, but shes obviously in on the scam as well and probably a worthless b*tch herself, and and then theres Sara loudmouth mmmm... anyway its a scam i have no idea how theyve gotten away with it for as long as they have i worked 3 days of training before i realized it was a joke scam. if i ever see david or rich in public i dont care if im in jail for awhile both of them are going to be eating out of a straw for the rest of their lives. to make someone think they landed this job making 36k with no college degree or experience doesnt happen not in the world is messed up. i knew better but i was in between training for my real career i had just finished emt training and was starting paramedic school so i took the job think it wont hurt to see what happens found out it was a big lie scam and when they sent us out the first time to do business to business sales i got the f*ck outta there, i wasnt walkin into business like some joke as* mugg asking people that are either working are trying to get sh*t taken care of if they wanna buy some cheap dollar store knock off cologne. the real funny part is my mom works at macys in fragrances and none of the cheap cologne i had smelled like the real sh*t at all not even close the polo blue smelled like that sh*t you buy for your car interior at autozone for 99cents
314firemedic
St.charles,#20UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 01, 2008
my story is the exact same as everyone elses, almost to a T. Attitude Check!!! theres this guy Rich who is the president of the st.louis office and David the vice president, these two guys are scumbag filth of the earth and deserve to be in jail. there are no offices anywhere in st.louis other that the one you "train" at they hire you hoping you sell a few bottles of cologne and then quit. i will say one thing the girl workin the front desk answering the phone is hot, but shes obviously in on the scam as well and probably a worthless b*tch herself, and and then theres Sara loudmouth mmmm... anyway its a scam i have no idea how theyve gotten away with it for as long as they have i worked 3 days of training before i realized it was a joke scam. if i ever see david or rich in public i dont care if im in jail for awhile both of them are going to be eating out of a straw for the rest of their lives. to make someone think they landed this job making 36k with no college degree or experience doesnt happen not in the world is messed up. i knew better but i was in between training for my real career i had just finished emt training and was starting paramedic school so i took the job think it wont hurt to see what happens found out it was a big lie scam and when they sent us out the first time to do business to business sales i got the f*ck outta there, i wasnt walkin into business like some joke as* mugg asking people that are either working are trying to get sh*t taken care of if they wanna buy some cheap dollar store knock off cologne. the real funny part is my mom works at macys in fragrances and none of the cheap cologne i had smelled like the real sh*t at all not even close the polo blue smelled like that sh*t you buy for your car interior at autozone for 99cents
Nathan
St. Louis,#21UPDATE Employee
Sun, April 20, 2008
First off, this jd person stated he was an employee for 5 days if I remember correctly? How can you possibly have this much of a grudge for a week of working somewhere? I'm in the training program and am at the manager level. Seeing all of this at first is kind of alarming and put doubts in my head to say the least, BUT, I know it works. Can you succeed working at a promoting office with scentura? Yes. What he is saying for the most part is true, yeah it is commission, during the training program. If you're the type of person that already has debt and a lot of bills you are responsible, then don't do this. Seriously, it will mess you up. If you do not have a lot of financial responsibilities, then do this. Where else can you go 45-90 days and end up making 36,000 a year? Being in the training program for this long and having only a few more weeks to go, I know there is a high, extremely high turnover rate. Out of a group of 20, you might have one or two people that will stick it out. Anybody CAN succeed. If you don't have the right attitude, then of course you won't make it in sales!! Are the ads in the paper a lie?? No. You are training to be a manager. You will be managing in a sales atmosphere. If you hate sales, either learn to like it or find something else. If you get to the point where you do satellites, you will probably make 200$ a week. It doesn't sound like much, and it really isn't. I don't have many bills to pay, many things to worry about like some of you others out there, and I'm sure this is part of the reason jd is so bent on turning people away from the company. If I was in a position like some of you people were in when joining the company I'd probably be pissed too. There is a guy that just started, I trained him the other day, he is quitting his job for this when he will probably quit this in a week when he finds out what it's all about. I'm not negative about the company at all. I don't feel like I have been lied to, I know that what I make is dependent on me. I kind of like knowing that what I get is a result of what I put in. If anything changes, if somehow I get incredibly screwed over then I'll tell you guys and update you. It's a tough business... just like anything else in the corporate world.
Nathan
St. Louis,#22UPDATE Employee
Sun, April 20, 2008
First off, this jd person stated he was an employee for 5 days if I remember correctly? How can you possibly have this much of a grudge for a week of working somewhere? I'm in the training program and am at the manager level. Seeing all of this at first is kind of alarming and put doubts in my head to say the least, BUT, I know it works. Can you succeed working at a promoting office with scentura? Yes. What he is saying for the most part is true, yeah it is commission, during the training program. If you're the type of person that already has debt and a lot of bills you are responsible, then don't do this. Seriously, it will mess you up. If you do not have a lot of financial responsibilities, then do this. Where else can you go 45-90 days and end up making 36,000 a year? Being in the training program for this long and having only a few more weeks to go, I know there is a high, extremely high turnover rate. Out of a group of 20, you might have one or two people that will stick it out. Anybody CAN succeed. If you don't have the right attitude, then of course you won't make it in sales!! Are the ads in the paper a lie?? No. You are training to be a manager. You will be managing in a sales atmosphere. If you hate sales, either learn to like it or find something else. If you get to the point where you do satellites, you will probably make 200$ a week. It doesn't sound like much, and it really isn't. I don't have many bills to pay, many things to worry about like some of you others out there, and I'm sure this is part of the reason jd is so bent on turning people away from the company. If I was in a position like some of you people were in when joining the company I'd probably be pissed too. There is a guy that just started, I trained him the other day, he is quitting his job for this when he will probably quit this in a week when he finds out what it's all about. I'm not negative about the company at all. I don't feel like I have been lied to, I know that what I make is dependent on me. I kind of like knowing that what I get is a result of what I put in. If anything changes, if somehow I get incredibly screwed over then I'll tell you guys and update you. It's a tough business... just like anything else in the corporate world.
Nathan
St. Louis,#23UPDATE Employee
Sun, April 20, 2008
First off, this jd person stated he was an employee for 5 days if I remember correctly? How can you possibly have this much of a grudge for a week of working somewhere? I'm in the training program and am at the manager level. Seeing all of this at first is kind of alarming and put doubts in my head to say the least, BUT, I know it works. Can you succeed working at a promoting office with scentura? Yes. What he is saying for the most part is true, yeah it is commission, during the training program. If you're the type of person that already has debt and a lot of bills you are responsible, then don't do this. Seriously, it will mess you up. If you do not have a lot of financial responsibilities, then do this. Where else can you go 45-90 days and end up making 36,000 a year? Being in the training program for this long and having only a few more weeks to go, I know there is a high, extremely high turnover rate. Out of a group of 20, you might have one or two people that will stick it out. Anybody CAN succeed. If you don't have the right attitude, then of course you won't make it in sales!! Are the ads in the paper a lie?? No. You are training to be a manager. You will be managing in a sales atmosphere. If you hate sales, either learn to like it or find something else. If you get to the point where you do satellites, you will probably make 200$ a week. It doesn't sound like much, and it really isn't. I don't have many bills to pay, many things to worry about like some of you others out there, and I'm sure this is part of the reason jd is so bent on turning people away from the company. If I was in a position like some of you people were in when joining the company I'd probably be pissed too. There is a guy that just started, I trained him the other day, he is quitting his job for this when he will probably quit this in a week when he finds out what it's all about. I'm not negative about the company at all. I don't feel like I have been lied to, I know that what I make is dependent on me. I kind of like knowing that what I get is a result of what I put in. If anything changes, if somehow I get incredibly screwed over then I'll tell you guys and update you. It's a tough business... just like anything else in the corporate world.
Millattobeauty06
Denver,#24Consumer Comment
Mon, March 24, 2008
I can appreciate where you are coming from...that is your job and you feel the need to protect the people that you work for. However, don't you find it rather interesting how people who have never met, and live on opposite sides of the country have managed to have the exact same (if not eerily similar) foul experience? There are hundreds if not thousands of reports that pretty much all read the same, and they've been piling up for years. Like comedian Katt Williams says "Dont nobody say the same thing about you for 20 years and it not be true..." Did you know that many MLM schemes run the same sort of way~? A perfect example of this would be the striking similarities between World Perfume and Kirby Vacuums. Both run ads promising management positions, under the pretense of general office work. Both recruit young, un suspecting individuals to come into barren "thrown together" offices, sit through about three days of training classes, taking extensive notes, both companies rely on their new recruits to take the product home (weather it be a high priced vacuum or cheap knock off perfumes) and sell them to their friends and family, they also make you sign papers saying basically that they can prosecute you if you fail to bring the products back. And the grand slam of them all- They all have some spill about making some kind of salary-running your own business, trying to dazzle you with stories of the head honchos driving such and such cars and living in this and that house going on those and these vacations...... and all of them FAIL to tell you about working 12 hour days going door to door "business to business",and living off commissions. These businesses are the same because thats the proven formula for MLM scams... they know what works, and what doesn't, so they follow the plan and make a ton of money and a ton of people very very angry. If you still refuse to believe that your individual companies are basically the devil incarnated, then all I can do is wish you the best, and hope you have some kind of back up plan when they screw you over, because eventually they will.
Cice
Hollywood,#25UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, December 19, 2007
You know when you believe your own lies, you have been scamed, that is why you believe the product to be real, because they got you. the product is synthetic bs, nice and diluted yeah, its real, real fake...don't even respond to this because we know the facts, you may just need to learn a bit more about life and who your working for, when you have facts - then you can argue this article, till then just listen... By the way thanks to your message posting its appreciated...by people like us who have been scamed by SCENTURA and realized, before working the streets for a dollar... also the people responding to these adds contradicting factual reality are people that are still part of the cult... More so people place these adds for rip off for your protection, you should be a bit more grateful, because you too can be part of a scam...
Steph
Upland,#26UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, December 07, 2007
I WENT THROUGH ALL THE CRAP AND WASTED A TOTAL OF 4 DAYS MAYBE. But when they got to the part where they wanted me to sell to my friends and family, for a contest, I knew something was wrong! I went home that day feeling like crap I was decieved! So I looked them up on the web and got all the dirt, I was right. But I felt bad because my friend had also gone there to get a job with me, but he didn't believe it was a scam. He went back the next day after he had sold 7 bottles to his family, then they took the group to Chino which is a couple cities away, to a grocery store parking lot and had them sell the perfume there. They said it was because they needed to practice selling! Anyways the main guy mike gilchrist owed my friend 20 bucks for selling something and never gave it to him, when he asked for it Mike said he didn't have change. how ridiculous is that! anyways my friend had to give his family the cheap perfume and it smelled like pure alcohol. I really felt bad because my friend was in more need of a job then I was, and he had wasted a whole week with this crap! anyways I filed a report of my own, and ever since someone who is an employee I guess, keeps filing rebuttals on mine and just trashing me, and I'm sick of it! Micheal Gilchrist even has a myspace page along with some of the others I dealt with you should check it out. all they do is flaunt how much money they have and show off there big mansions and cars. just go to myspace and search Michael Gilchrist. anyways, keep up the good work!
Jon
Keizer,#27UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, November 17, 2006
Scentura and World Perfume are not the same company. But they seem to definately be the same scam. The acounts in this report are entirely true. I was in this scam for weeks. I have met the charismatic "Dan" and his huge wad of cash that he carries around in his front pocket. I HAD in my possesion the contract and location picked out for my office. "Maria" was going to be my partner. I made it. Then I realized that I could not put another human through this torture. I also didn't hurt that I almost got arrested, my car impounded, and my inventory confinscated (which I would have been required to pay for), because I was selling merch in a parking lot. AKA "Parking Lot Pimpin" My boss denied knowing who I was to the police, he told me that cops aren't laywers and they don't know the law. I guess the BS gets slung right until the end and the denial of knowing you as an employee is the main catch for the "independent contractor". They don't pay worker's comp, payroll taxes and probally not even income taxes on the business itself because you are an independent contractor. This office has moved on to a different location and before them there was another in the Portland, OR area. Beware, there will be one again. If you read these reports 2,3 or 10 years from now...You need to know that nothing has changed. If your experience seems like any of the the accounts for World Perfume, Scentura or whatever name. It is. Run. -Scentura -DS Max -World Perfume -Any "Fly by Night" Marketing -If the office looks unfurnished just leave. Do you want to work for a business that can't afford to furnish an office? -If you don't have experience, no but one of these scams will hire you for a mangement position. Think about it. $40,000 for a 20yr old college drop out? $50,000 for a kid fresh out of high scholl? -Did they just ask you if you had reliable transportation? Leave... -Business to Business Marketing = door to door sales -Test Marketing (for pricing) = door to door sales (specifically test marketing for pricing is seeing how little someone will pay for a piece of crap coloring book) -Not from personal experience but I've heard that vaccum sales sucks too.
Mileena
Huntington,#28UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, September 29, 2006
Just wanted to advise that I just had my interview with Elite Enterprises in Hicksville, Long Island NY. I went online to find info since they were so vague in the initial interview. It just didn't feel right to me. They would not pin down a number on what I would be paid during training, and would not answer any of my other questions, other then stating that it would all be answered in the 2nd interview, which is scheduled for next week, but after training I would run my own office. They did mention Scentura was their "parent company" and was the 3rd largest perfume distributor in the nation. I thought the spelling was probably Centura so I didn't find anything, but I looked up 'elite enterprises perfume' in google and that is how I found you. I'm so glad I did before I wasted any more time with them. But now I am not sure what to do-I feel bad for all the other people that will get scammed by this, so I feel like maybe I should still go the the 2nd interview and find out the info, and once it is shown that it is exacly as listed above (which I'm sure it will be) then I can let the other people know.....If I do I will report back here. For now, beware, they are still going strong!
Demitri
Conroe,#29UPDATE Employee
Thu, August 24, 2006
When I first read the ad in the newspaper I was just calling around looking for jobs not expecting much. When I recieved a call back and they said come on in between 3 and 4pm I couldnt believe it so I got dressed and went. When they said call them in about 45 minutes I did and was excited to find out they wanted me to come in for a second interview so I did. I couldnt believe it when they told me how much they liked me and knew I would be one of there top people and to be 1 of the 6 out of 78 people I was happy. So again I went back the next day they told us to sell to our FFAR to see if we could hustle and of course again I did what they said. I sold 19 and they where happy I sold the most! So when they said well we will give you a chance because we believe you can do it I sold 26 like they wanted and they told me I would have a bonus as well as 2 weeks of my training. But when I went home my family told me that something just didnt sound right 2 weeks of training how would you know to be a manager and instead of them giving me a pay check they where just giving me cash "money laundering" is what that is called. They told me after selling 26 to try and go to stores and sell so you I could train on how to tell other people to do it. That night they wanted me to come in there office they wanted me to go on a trip to Dallas,Texas to sell so I decided to go home and tell my wife what they where saying and she just couldnt believe what was going on what you just started they dont even know you is what she said and the answer was NOOOO!! So here I am now I decided to go and check out what this was all really about and to find out every thing my family said was right but for once I wanted to be right!! I am just happy I know now before I went to Jail like yall. The name of the company I worked for (WORK) was modern concepts in Houston Texas. I am going to call BBB tomorrow and tell them what is going on.
Dante
Houston,#30UPDATE Employee
Fri, July 21, 2006
I had my 2nd interview today, I emailed you will you please email me back, I left details in the email that I don't want to leave on this site YET!! I will next week. I'm going in on monday to get my hands on the contract and to tell everyone what's going on. Also they are doing a few things different now. I will also file my own report next week. I waiting so that the office I got scammed into going to for an interview doesn't get tipped off!
Russ
Brandon,#31Consumer Comment
Tue, May 30, 2006
The office here in Flowood MS is dark and their ads are no longer running in the Clarion-Ledger. Keep one's eyes and ears open as this company keeps resurfacing...
Russ
Brandon,#32Consumer Comment
Tue, May 30, 2006
The office here in Flowood MS is dark and their ads are no longer running in the Clarion-Ledger. Keep one's eyes and ears open as this company keeps resurfacing...
Russ
Brandon,#33Consumer Comment
Tue, May 30, 2006
The office here in Flowood MS is dark and their ads are no longer running in the Clarion-Ledger. Keep one's eyes and ears open as this company keeps resurfacing...
Russ
Brandon,#34Consumer Comment
Tue, May 30, 2006
The office here in Flowood MS is dark and their ads are no longer running in the Clarion-Ledger. Keep one's eyes and ears open as this company keeps resurfacing...
Russ
Brandon,#35Consumer Comment
Wed, May 17, 2006
They are called "Scentsational Fashions" and their office in Mississippi is 660 Katherine Dr #400. Beware!
Cassie
Bonneau,#36UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, May 10, 2006
I went for an interview yesterday, and thought it sounded a little weird, but said that I would come back for the 2nd interview. I decided to look up more info on the company, because the lady was very vague about the job description, and ended up coming across your site. there is a new office that opened in North Charleston, South Carolina and is going by the name of Coastal Fragrances Inc. It opened only 3 weeks ago, and is planning on 3 more areas in the lowcountry (southern SC). thank you for helping me not waste my time with these scams.
Russ
Brandon,#37Consumer Comment
Mon, May 08, 2006
And now, this bottom feeding company is here in Flowood, MS. Their ad in the Jackson Clarion Ledger reads "Assistant Managers needed" with a phone number. As soon as I saw the ofice I walked right out the door. Thanks to RipOff Report, I was saved time, aggravation, and $$$. Hopefully, others will be spared.
Christopher
Dallas,#38UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, May 02, 2006
Besides the 151 postings and all the other names this company uses, there are hundreds of others who have been ripped off that also posted inside many of the 151 Rip-off Reports when searching Scentura. If you search World Perfume you will find 76 Entries and many other complaints inside many of those reports.. If you search Platinum Marketing International - Platinum Fragrance International you will find so much more, enough to get anyone sick! I once worked for this company and defended it many times. I am ashamed of myself. This is door to door rip-off scam needs to be stopped! I worked for them knowing what they did but looked the other way. I finally realized what I was a part of and doing was so bad I could not live with myself any longer. The money was good but not worth the karma and the drama that goes on. They are ripping off consumers and the employees. I am posting today becuase I can see they are still at it. Why haven't the authorities stopped them. I am willing to help any lawyer to sue them to hopefully put them out of business. I have information no one else has. The owner always talked bad about Rip-off Report saying the best thing all the employees could do was to spread negative untrue stories about this website so no one will believe what customers post on this website. Well, there are 151 postings today just under one of the many names they use. Anyone reading would clearly see, this is a rip-off and I am sure if it, this is why this great website exists today. I am truly sorry for any pain I caused anyone and I know there are many. Hopefully God will forgive me.
Cynthia
Houston,#39Consumer Comment
Fri, January 06, 2006
It was great to find your website, after the second "group" interview I was certain this was a parking lot job. Also the "owner" had a condescending attitude and treated everyone like were not worth his time. (Preparing us to be fired before we ever got to the management level) They talked about how much money they made, and how we were going to receive our own "keys" to our own location after twelve weeks of training. Of course at the end of the presentation he did say that we would ask us to sell products to family and friends as a leverage..., but that he would only ask us to do that one time and never again. I guess that meant that after that he would recruit new people and get rid of us. Well I am going to print this report a attached to a letter I wrote them telling them that I discovered their scam.
Sabrina
Columbus,#40UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, September 09, 2005
I use to work for them. Yes they have reached Columbus Ohio. They do have a office in Toledo and Cleveland. The name of the business is Elite Management which is located 5320 Warrensville Ctr Rd #200 Maple Heights, OH 44137 Owner name is Tracie Harris #216-475-6800 Manager is Latisha Williams and Karen Blythewood. Both manager is opening an office in Columbus. The address is 4711 Indianola Ave #290 Columbus ohio 43229 the office # is 614-431-8506 and the Regional Manager's name is Mauris he goes by the name (MOE) and his # is 614-670-9261. I am really glad I don't work for them anymore. It was that the fact you can't make any $. They lied to everyone that you can make money. And the office manager position was bogus. Their ad in the paper said"RECEPTIONIST with style & flair. No experience necessary. 614-431-8506" They said that they had an ad in the paper for Office Manager which was a lie because I check with the paper. They encourage their people to steal. Which I was shocked and then I quite right away when that happened. They sexually harass their workers. I just feel bad that the others are still there.
Secret
FLOSSMOOR,#41UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, May 27, 2005
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, THEY HAVE BEEN FRAUDING PEOPLE FOR YEARS, I NEED YOU TO SEND ME THOSE PDF FILES to [email protected], I am going to get them for this, i would leave details but they mught be watching this page email me asap
Jonathan
Indianapolis,#42UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, March 29, 2005
The Divisional Management is no longer located in Nobleville, In. It has now moved to Indianapolis.
Jd
Salt Lake City,#43UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, January 12, 2005
The sad truth is that Ripoffreport gives consumers the truth, whereas often the better business bureau has been bought off by sponsors and is not very ethical, not accurate. You will never see a BBB website like RipoffReport.com In response to Mr. Whitworth, president of the multi-level marketing scheme World Perfume, modeled after Scentura, which he worked for until 1994: Whitworth wrote: >>>>Myself, my family, my kids (8,4,2,and 1),my dog and My Business was attacked by rip-off reports. Isn't that sweet. Poor Whitworth, people viciously attacked his kids and wife: this is a complete lie! PROVE IT WHITWORTH! Except if he means indirectly, people attacked his unethical business. Even the biggest unethical person has a family. What a joke. >>>A complaint about another company called Scentura somehow in this anonymous complaint got related to me. Somehow? Facts: Johnny Whitworth was one of the biggest distributors of Scentura until 1994 (NOTE 1), when he quit and started his own multi-level marketing scam, which is almost a mirror image of Scentura (NOTE 2). Notice how he never mentions this? That is why people continue to post on Ripoffreport showing how BOTH organizations use an independent contract license to shield themselves from the unethical practices of their distributors. Actually, World Perfume is smaller than Scentura, but since it is modeled ALMOST EXACTLY like Scentura (NOTE 2), it has the same legal problems and bad press. Negative BBB reports against their distributors (NOTE 3), an Attorney general attempting to close down one of their distributors, and a negative television report (NOTE 4). In these misleading, libelous, defamatory post they even put info about my wife and kids. A complete lie. Johnny Whitworth cannot produce this ripoff report, because this ripoff report does not exist. POST THE LINK MR. WHITWORTH! >>>In the report there is a story about Josphine villesenor. Josie is my dog, but some person with a vendetta against this other company has gotten me totally mixed up. Whoa, hold on Mr. Whitworth, the person who posted was told Josie was Chris Doan's dog. See Chris Doan, is Johnny Whitworth's brother in law, he also works at world perfume. Chris Doan claimed (or people who write defending him claim) that it was Chris's dog. See Chris Doan would post as Josie, a World Perfume distributor in Colorado. Josie would post all kinds of lies and half-truths, including: *You don't have to have a peddler's license to peddle perfume in parking lots (false), *You can be arrested for picketing his business (false) * World Perfume and Scentura are nothing alike. (false) (NOTE 2) There is a Scentura distributor in Chicago called Josephine Villesenor. People incorrectly assumed that Josie was Josephine Villesenor. Hypocrisy: Both Mr. Doan and Mr. Whitworth are angry because this person will not reveal their identity but for several years, they have been posting as Josie, a distributor in Colorado. You can see why people don't give their identity, because they are attacking Ed, suing him simply for posting legitimate grievances against their multi-level marketing scheme. >>>Ed has even posted on this anonymous complaint. Yes, he posted against Chris Doan, Johnny Whitworth's brother in law, he told Chris Doan, in not so many words, accurately, that he was a snake and a liar. Ed's comments: Mr. Doan's comments are indeed curious! This victim quoted information from the Salt Lake Tribune and discussed expansion using another name "Waterfront Design." But Mr. Doan does not address that information. Does Mr. Doan challenge the veracity of the reporting of the Salt Lake Tribune? Of course not. That would make him look foolish. As for Mr. Doan's quibbling whether or not he is a "distributor," if he would like to engage in an exegetic discussion, he came to the right place. The term "distributor" has several definitions and usages. Does Mr. Doan engage in the sale of a product? Sure! Then that sale is a form of distribution. I think the only thing Mr. Doan got right is the fact that he is a simple employee. In fact, his simplicity is what perhaps what he has demonstrated most. We encourage dialogue, but Mr. Doan has provided absolutely no evidence that anything posted here is false. Before you get your thong all twisted, next time, take a breathe, think it out and formulate your argument cogently. That way you will preserve, what is left of your rather tarnished pride. >>>I contacted Ed over 2 years ago and a couple of months ago about removal of this material that has nothing to do with my company. HE AGREED THAT THE COMPLAINT DOES HAVE ME TIED IN WITH THIS OTHER COMPANY! I got this on tape. I also have mine and Ed's conversation on tape whe he told me about the consumer advocacy program and only way to info corrected and look at was if I pay $ 840.00 per complaint. Why do I have to pay to when the complaint are not mine. He then began to explain about his server and that all this stuff would be highly rank, so the one thing I can do Is to buy the CAP. I again said why do I need to pay for someone else's problem and he said : it's your only option if you want these posting removed. This is not fair and I am glad I have recorded phone conversations. It is legal for me to tape here in Texas with only one person knowledge. This is a rehashed claim that other sites have claimed. (NOTE 6) POST THE TAPE MR. WHITWORTH. On your website. And if it is forged, say Chris goes in the other room and calls you, and then you claim it is Ed, then Ed could sue you! Wow, that would be poetic justice wouldn't it? I am not Ed, so Ed may do this, but considering Mr. Whitworth's and Mr. Doan's other lies (including the one above, that his family has been attacked (NOTE 5 for other lies), I seriously doubt this claim. In fact, this will be added to the list of blatant lies Whitworth! Three lies people have caught you in and counting! >>>It is legal for me to tape here in Texas with only one person knowledge. That is why I am going and have met with several different A.G office. Even the F.B.I didn't blow off. They wanted to know as much info as possible. There is mountain of evidence in his own site. About the AG office, I find it ironic that while Johnny Whitworth crusader for truth and justice (at least in his own mind) is attacking a company with the Texas A.G, one of his distributors are being attacked by another state A.G. Ed shouldn't be worried, a former trainee who viciously attacked me, found out more about me in one e-mail than Johnny Whitworth and his cronies have tried to in three years of trying. Johnny is just blowing hot air. I welcome the day he goes to court and the court finds that Johnny's business is a pyramid scheme just like they did with Scentura. >>>>>Ed had posted everywhere about everything with no regard to the truth. Ed actually allows angry people to post on his site, people who have been f*cked over by sleazy snake salesmen like yourself Whitworth. >>>>He believes that he is god, judge, jury, and consumer advocate. I am doing something about this. What ever your beef is with federated I really do not understand, but whatever. Of course you understand! You have fought bad publicity since you first opened, and in the process possibly closed many websites down for their negative content about you! Looks like you will have to threaten this website with legal action to remove this posting too! What a complete joke. You will always be second best to the top scam artist, Larry Hahn, president of Scentura. Christine, the yahoo groups actually posted a response to some of these allegations. (ALSO NOTE 6) ------------- NOTE 1 Johnny Whitworth was one of the biggest distributors of Scentura until 1994: A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: "He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000." --From article WHO WANTS TO BE RICH? LARRY HAHN: FROM SLEEPING IN A CAR TO A $5 MILLION HOME. E. Thomas Jr..Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5) Keep in mind: Johnny Whitworth was one of the largest distributors of the Scentura before he quit and started his own pyramid scheme, using all the same tactics as Scentura. If Scentura is considered an illegal Pyramid Sales Scheme, what does this say for Johnny Whitworth's character, as one of the former top distributors of Scentura? With a work history like this, would you trust this man and the company he created? ---- NOTE 2: World Perfume is almost a mirror image of Scentura World Perfume and Scentura are almost exactly alike. World Perfume was started by Johnny Whitworth, one of Scentura's biggest perfume distributors. (See the email from Johnny saying he left Scentura in 1994) He left to start his own perfume business, World Perfume, with the same deceptive practices. World Perfume uses almost all of the same tactics as Scentura. Both Scentura and World Perfume Distributors: *Sell perfume in parking lots *FFAAR (friends family associates and relatives) contest *All distributors buy products on consignment *Same fraudulent classified advertising *Same Multi-level marketing scheme *Distributors receive a percentage of sales of those below them, those who recruited and trained them get a percentage, and those who trained them get a percentage, all the way up to the president. (Pyramid scheme) *"Employees" will never receive a paycheck, the job is a 100% commision job. *Very similar training, using the same analogies, promises, lies, and acronyms (K.I.S.S. FFAAR, Training=Torture, Fear of Loss, "Drop", P.M.A.=O.P.M. ). *Both have French sounding name for their imitation perfume World Perfume and Scentura have identical business practices, different name and headquarters. That is why Scentura distributors quit Scentura and go to World Perfume: Johnny Whitworth and Dan Long are two. It is not a tough transition because they have IDENTICAL business models. Side by side comparison of world perfume and Scentura: Start date World Perfume 1994 after being a distributor of Scentura Scentura Larry Hahn began Wholesale Merchandise and W.M. Industries (WMI) in 1975 in Atlanta Georgia. WMI was a wholesaler of consumer products, which have included tools, artwork, kitchen products, and electronics. In the mid 80's the name was changed to Scentura Creations and the company began to focus exclusively on perfume sales. Headquarters World Perfume Dallas Texas Scentura Atlanta Georgia Distributors World Perfume About 50 sales offices according to inside sources. Scentura 570 sales offices worldwide according to Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Mar 28, 1992 Offices across the US, England, Canada, and Israel. The striking similarities between the two companies Name of imitation perfume: World Perfume Parfum Du Monde Scentura Observ L ssence Both titled: The opportunity page. World Perfume Scentura The spiel on the opportunity page World Perfume Imagine being your own boss. Imagine having financial freedom. Scentura This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in business for yourself. FFAAR contest World Perfume FFAAR contest (Family, Friends Acquaintances and Relatives contest) Scentura FFAAR contest (Family, Friends Acquaintances and Relatives contest) The spiel behind the FFAAR contest World Perfume Practice selling on your family and friends. Scentura Practice selling on your family and friends. Advertisements in the classifieds World Perfume Always advertise no experience necessary and management positions available in the classifieds, every week for as long as the local business is open. Scentura Always advertise no experience necessary and management positions available in the classifieds, every week for as long as the local business is open. Taxes World Perfume All employees are responsible for declaring and keeping track of their own taxes. Scentura All employees are responsible for declaring and keeping track of their own taxes. Independent contractor contract World Perfume Before going out and selling perfume, all employees must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the employees do. Scentura Before going out and selling perfume, all employees must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the employees do. Independent contractor contract for distributors World Perfume All distributors also must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the distributor does. Scentura All distributors also must sign an independent contractor contract, stating that the parent company is not liable for anything that the distributor does. Distributors usually encourage employees to lie and say that the product is the original, and not an imitation. World Perfume McCoy claims he convinced women they were buying expensive designer fragrances--the real thing...for the half the price. In fact, they were expensive knock-offs. -- Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy Scentura Media report on Scentura: "We didn't have these products until the day after we sold them," he said. "And then they brought in the different types of cologne and perfumes, and that's when it really caught me. I said 'Wait, this isn't what I was selling to people.'" Media report on Scentura: They told would-be customers they were selling famous- name perfumes dirt cheap as part of a promotion. ---- "A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: " He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the "WMI" way, after one year his income hit $600,000." --- From "Who wants to be rich? Larry Hahn: from sleeping in a car to a $5 million home", ---- My World Perfume Experience The ad: After seeing an ad in the Salt Lake Tribune for managers, I called and went to the interview. ==== Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience The ad: After seeing an ad in the Times (south suburban Chicago paper) for 25 full-time positions, up to $575 a week, I called the phone number that was listed there during my lunch hour on a Monday afternoon. === My World Perfume Experience The Business: The building was unmarked with no sign out front. === Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience The Business: I showed up at Extreme Enterprise in Portage, IN. Or at least I thought I did. I figured it had to be it based on the directions that I had, although there was a sign out front, nowhere did it say which suite belonged to Extreme. Very nice. No name on the building and no address anywhere to be seen. My house at least has the address posted. And most people's houses have their name on the mailbox or a decorative plaque on the front door or something...but this business can't even manage that. Probably because they don't expect to be there long enough to bother... --- My World Perfume Experience The resume and interview The First Interview Wednesday, October 23, 2002 (I interviewed alone, but some people interviewed in groups of two) Ms. Kukal had me rate myself from a 1 to 10. She also had me list three qualities that describe myself. --- Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience The First Interview Monday, December 10, 2001 So after filling out a form ...with a bunch of questions about how I rate myself dealing with other people and where my last job was and how much I made there and how much I'd like to make... I met with Jenny with another applicant in the room. She just went over a few of the questions on the form and ...verify(ed) my address... So we went through the questions and then she told me to call back later that evening and she would tell me if I was selected for a second interview. I left then, and I assume the same thing happened with the other woman in the room. --- My World Perfume Experience 2nd Interveiw Group (Second Interview) Thursday, October 24, 2002, 12 PM The class started late, as we waited Ms. Kukal made small talk. There were about 30 people in the room. -- Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience 2nd Interview The Second Interview Thursday, Dec 13, 2001 When I went back on Thursday, Jason Mergl (District Manager) was in the lobby, so that's the first time I met him. I sat around for a few minutes while a few other people arrived and then we went into the conference room, where there were already about 20 other people. Jason went on about how he went to Southern Arkansas University on a football scholarship and then got hurt and lost the scholarship, so he was living on his dad's couch and working at Hobart Lumber. And then...he and his girlfriend find out they're pregnant! What's he going to do? Lo and behold, he found Scentura Creations! He drove to Lombard, IL every day for training. I'm figuring that would be about a 1-1/2 hour drive in good traffic. --- My World Perfume Experience Background on company Ms. Kukal asked us to write this name down, it was very important: Dan Long, our regional manager, who is out of Scottsdale. Ms. Kukal said that the company name is "Waterfront Design" and the parent company is "World Perfume" John Whitworth is the president, but he goes by the name of Johnny. --- Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience Background on company He told us that the Portage, IN office is a distribution center and the training center for the region. He said that he'd been with the company for 12 years, since he was fresh out of college. Scentura Creations, the parent company, has been in business for 27 years and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. The owner of the company, Larry Hahn, is worth over $500 million now, but when he started the company, he parked his car 3 blocks from his house so that the repo man wouldn't find it. Nice touch, eh? --- My World Perfume Experience Big Expansion Lie Mr. Maner then went into expansion. There is East to west coast expansion. There will be 4-5 new offices in the Salt Lake City area in the next 2-6 months. -Florida: Miami, Tampa, Orlando--future expansion -Office in Jacksonville -Office in Atlanta -Office in Boston -Possibly future Ohio offices -Offices in Memphis, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Dallas, all for future expansion -Possibly future Houston -Offices in Colorado -4 offices are now in Phoenix -Offices in Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Seattle (several) -Northern California wants to expand, Southern California wants to expand. In Utah, there will be 5 offices: In West Jordan, Sandy, Holliday/Cottonwood, Wasatch Area, bountiful area In the future: Provo/Orem area, possibly downtown area. $3-5 million for Salt Lake City area set aside [COMPLETE LIE] ---- Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience Big Expansion Lie Scentura is currently going through it's largest expansion, opening 100 new offices nationwide...25 in Northwest Indiana and the south suburbs of Chicago. ==== My World Perfume Experience The Gigantic Company Lie World Perfume has 1/4 of the worlds market share. --- Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience The Gigantic Company Lie About the company: Scentura is a distributor of designer fragrances (he did not say knock-offs) in the United States and 14 foreign countries. The company moves 20,000-50,000 bottles a week. There are supposedly 8000 distributors. Our job would be to work with them. I wrote down the words "200M gross last year". I don't remember what that's for, but I figure the company must have had $200 million in sales last year. --- My World Perfume Experience Job Desciption After training Distribution manager: *inventory, cash flow, upfront, supervise, secretary, interview process correctly; supervising distributors; mapping out sales; set goals Did not write my notes about this in detail, but what my managers said was EXACTLY the same. --- Michael Cronin's Scentura Experience Job Desciption The first job description we got went as follows...we would open and close the office. We'd have an assistant or an assistant manager to help out. We would be handling the money that went through the office ($500K to $1.5M per year). Balancing the books would be about 10% of the job. We'd also have to manage the inventory. Once a year, we'd take a physical inventory. We'd work with a secretary or two, the district manager and an office manager. During the training, Jay would cover all the day-to-day procedures of the office. After having our own office, we'd report the results to Jay on a weekly basis and talk to Larry Hahn occasionally (maybe once a year) --- I have many more pages (about 5) but don't have time to cut and paste them, contrasting how similar world perfume and scentura are. ----- NOTE 3: Negative BBB reports against World Perfume distributors Attorney General of Illinois brings suit against World Perfume distributor Chicago Daily Herald July 31, 2003, Thursday In these times of rising unemployment, Gil Fergus, the chief of the attorney general's consumer fraud division, warned people to check out companies before entering contracts with them. As prosecutors announced the suit against Best Gourmet, they also announced a filing against a Schaumburg firm accused of promising people managerial positions, then making them sell perfume on the street. Prosecutors say Archie Penson, managing Executive Design of Schaumburg, promised a managerial position to a Streamwood woman, Gina Romano, for sales of World Perfume imitation fragrances. Instead, prosecutors said Romano, as part of her "training," was forced to sell perfume on the street and in shopping mall parking lots. Though company officials maintained they were "marketing" and not selling, prosecutors said, police ticketed Romano and others for failing to have a license to sell. The company's telephone line was "being checked for trouble" Tuesday. In each case, prosecutors asked for restitution, a permanent injunction against the defendants, and penalties of up to $100,000. .The second case filed today names Archie M. Penson individually and d/b/a as Executive Design, 1205 Remington Road, Suite M, in Schaumburg, for violating state consumer laws by advertising "management" positions for a line of imitation fragrances manufactured by World Perfume, Inc. Executive Design is not incorporated nor is it registered with the state. According to Madigan's complaint, Penson has placed classified ads in newspapers since December 2002 seeking applicants for salaried branch managers. Applicants, including a Streamwood woman who complained to Madigan's office, were told they would be paid during training. However, after a few days, trainees were paired up and told they must "market" products on the street and in mall parking lots as part of their training. According to the complaint, several trainees were ticketed by local police for not having a business license to sell products even though Penson said the activity was legal because it was only "marketing." Although the defendant interviewed the Streamwood consumer for an alleged job, he failed to tell her that she would be required to sell products, and he led her to believe she would be paid during a training period that was to last between 10 and 13 weeks. A $50 ticket she received for peddling in mid-December from the Schaumburg Police was later dismissed. At the time the consumer filed a complaint with Madigan's office, Executive Design had not paid her for the training period. Madigan's suit seeks a permanent injunction against Penson, a civil penalty of $50,000 and an additional penalty of $50,000 if the court finds the acts were committed with intent to defraud. The suit also seeks restitution and costs. Assistant Attorney General Janice Parker is handling this case for Madigan's Consumer Fraud Bureau. SCENTS OF DECEPTION: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY Report on World Perfume Ron Regan Finds Out The True Scent POSTED: 5:43 p.m. EST November 2, 2001 CLEVELAND -- Brett McCoy, a former salesman: Smell that one, this is Freedom by Tommy Hilfiger. Ron Regan: Brett McCoy claims this was his "sales pitch" to dozens of women. See, I was just selling them at the show for 60 bucks and I need to unload them. Regan: McCoy claims he convinced women they were buying expensive designer fragrances--the real thing...for the half the price. In fact, they were expensive knock-offs. McCoy: From there, we can make up any lie, any story to make the sale. And if I asked if this is the real thing you say--"its the real thing. Regan: McCoy worked for a company that placed these ads that began running last summer. So we decided to answer one of them. Regan: Is it perfume? I've heard of, is it sold in department stores? McCoy: Yes, we carry anything from like Versace, to Liz Clairborne to what else --Polo. Regan: On another day, dozens of young people, trusting those ads, fill a room in this office labeled "International Management." Listen to exactly what they're told. Seminar sound: Same ingredients, mixed the same way, without the same cost. Regan: The company behind those fragrances is headquartered 1,300 miles away...deep in the heart of Texas. World Perfume...I recently bought some perfume from a guy pumping gas...this is the real white diamonds right...yes...do many people know that they sell them in different bottles, oh yea, I mean we get it all from the manufacturers we use them in fragrance show that's what we do. Chic Enterprises is home to World Perfume Inc., a company founded by J.D. Whitworth, a Dallas businessman, who now lives in this million and a half dollar home. Small compared to the home he recently sold. Regan: Hawking perfume brought Whitworth the sweet smell of success. In the early 90s, he bought this home now valued at $3.5 million. It's a company, this father says, recruited his daughter through newspaper ads. Richard Whitney: They can't have a pager, a beeper, can't call home during the middle of the week or during the day. Regan: Richard Whitney complained to the Better Business Bureau. Whitney: My wife and her family compared it with a religious cult, it was like they were brainwashing. Regan: At the time, World Perfume denied any wrongdoing, saying it's "proud of the quality of its work and ethical business practices." But when we wanted to ask a few questions inside their Dallas headquarters...this guy blocked the hallway. Regan: Is there any reason why you won't talk with us? And remember the company representative you first saw in our undercover video? Regan: This is International Management, we're part of a larger company called World Perfume. When we caught up with him...the story changed. Regan: Who do you work for? Rep: It's my company. Regan: Oh, it your company. Rep: What is World Perfume? They are one of the distributors--is that who supplies you--yes, they are one of my suppliers and I am asking you to leave my office right now. Regan: Even the sales force ran for cover. Regan: Do you tell people it's the real fragrance. I have no comment. Regan: Why won't you speak about it. Rep: Because I'm very busy and I'm off somewhere right now. Regan: And customers who bought Brett McCoy's sales pitch say they wasted their money. Diane DiCarlo, a customer: It's like $28 a bottle for watered down ...nothing. Regan: Finally, we found job applicants, lured by huge incomes. Rep: And our top range managers making $75 to $85 thousand dollars a year. Managing new locations. Regan: Right now, the company is undergoing a $10 million expansion plan to open ten new offices. Left only....with a "training" office. Regan: Do you pay these people anything? Rep: Yeah, they get paid off their sales. Regan: They don't get paid a salary? Rep: No. Regan: An office with plenty of free time. International Management insists it tells its sales force that the fragrances that they sell are renditions only and not the real thing. The company declined an opportunity for an on-camera interview to fully discuss its sales practices. BBB reports: (these may be Scentura reports): World Perfume Distributors Cincinnati Design (World Perfume?) 636 Northland Blvd Suite 170 Cincinnati, OH 45240 Original Business Start Date: 4/1/2002 Principal: Dennis J Mulhearn, Owner Local Phone Number: (513)825-4333 Email Address: TOB Classification: Business Opportunity Cos. Nature of Business This firm offers rendition fragrances and other fashion related items from Designers International, Inc., based in Homewood, Alabama. Customer Experience Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to its failure to substantiate or modify advertising claim(s). When evaluating complaint information, please consider the company's size and volume of business. The number of complaints filed against the company may not be as important as the type of complaints and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment on the validity of complaints filed. Closed Complaints Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in May of 2002: 3 Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 2 Complaints Concerned Advertising Issues: 2 Outcome of all complaints - Resolved: 2 Sales Issues: 1 Outcome of the complaint - Resolved: 1 Company Advertising In August 2003, the Cincinnati BBB requested proof of the company's earnings claims, that people responding to the employment ads will make $30 K with up to $435.00 per week in training. In response, Dennis Mulhearn, the owner, stated that his business is a wholesale for retail company which sells its products to flea market vendors, and to small businesses through independent distributors. Mr. Mulhearn stated that distributors are not expected to purchase any products nor make any monetary investment to further their careers with him. He further clarified, I train these individuals by instructing them on the techniques for successfully marketing Cincinnati Design's product lines, how to operate, manage their branch office, and how to further build and expand their business. I establish offices in the Cincinnati metro area as well as other areas in the United States, lease office space, purchase office furniture and equipment, obtain necessary licenses and then recruit individuals for employment as well as for management opportunities. However, Mr. Mulhearn has not provided substantiation for the advertised earnings claims. Additional File Information A report on the supplier, Designers International, Inc., may be available online from the Birmingham, Alabama Better Business Bureau that covers the area where the company is based. The web address to search for a company report is Dynasty International Purfume 8633 Loch Raven Blvd. Towson, MD 21286 Local Phone Number: 410-661-1201 TOB Classification: Cosmetics & Perfumes Customer Experience Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaint(s). Lakeshore Design 10828 Gravelly Lake Dr SW Lakewood, WA 98498 (253) 582-6669 BBB Business Classification: Retail-Cosmetics & Perfumes Customer Experience Record Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaints. International Design 326 S Wilmot Rd Tucson, AZ 85701 Tucson, Arizona. Mrs. Johanna Godfrey 520-571-1758 Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaint(s). ... The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's file was opened or over the last 36 months, whichever is less. Closed Complaints Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 3 Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 12 months: 0 Complaints Concerning Service Issues - 1 Number in the last 12 months - 0 Outcome of all complaints: 1 - Closed when company did not respond. Delivery Issues - 1 Number in the last 12 months - 0 Outcome of all complaints: 1 - Closed when company did not respond. Refund Issues - 1 Number in the last 12 months - 0 Outcome of all complaints: 1 - Closed when company did not respond. International Management 55 West 22nd Street suite 112 Lombard, Illinois President: Tracy Bencal 630-424-1643 630-424-1642 630-424-1673 ... Closed Complaints Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in November of 2002: 3 Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 3 Complaints Concerned Sales Issues: 1 Outcome of the complaint - Resolved: 1 Guarantee or Warranty Issues: 1 Outcome of the complaint - Resolved: 1 Refund or Exchange Issues: 1 Outcome of the complaint - Resolved: 1 ----- NOTE 4: Attorney general attempting to close down one of World Perfume distributors, and a negative television report -------- NOTE 5: Other lies of World Perfume headquarters I decided to call the company They denied even having been in the area 4 years ago From: Bruce Ferguson Chris Doan, the brother and law of Johnny Whitworth, president of World Perfume, wrote this at I work for World Perfume,Inc. We are NOT in Salt Lake City. That report is false, that business name DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. That address DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. The Utah Better Business website contradicts this: Waterfront Design World Perfume 3640 W 2100 S Salt Lake City, UT 84120 Type-of-Business Classification: Retail-Cosmetics & Perfumes The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources. Customer Experience Our file shows mail sent to this company was returned by the Post Office as moved, left no forwarding order, forwarding order expired, or unable to locate. NOTE 6 Attacks on Ed, author of: Same story as Whitworth: Ed Magedson wrote to us on 12/31/04, in response to our lawsuit against him, offering to give us a good testimonial for "a reduced fee of $2,500 up front and a monthly monitoring of about $125 a month...The normal cost for the amount of Reports you have would be about $9,000 and much more of a monthly monitoring fee...An investigative Report by Rip-off Report...would be a very positive one, turning all the negatives into a positive. Anyone would want to do business with your company. You will wish there were more Rip-off Reports on you, ...NO joke..." Whitworth's claim: I also have mine and Ed's conversation on tape whe he told me about the consumer advocacy program and only way to info corrected and look at was if I pay $ 840.00 per complaint. EZRIPOFFLAWSUIT SITE - The owner of site, is also prominently displayed on the front page of ripoffreport: - (on ripoffreport top right corner, photo of woman) - Ripoff report: - - Domain Name.......... Creation Date........ 2004-06-02 Registration Date.... 2004-06-02 Expiry Date.......... 2005-06-02 Organisation Name.... Helene Goldnadel Organisation Address. 2646 Dupont Drive (C270) Organisation Address. Organisation Address. Irvine Organisation Address. 92612 Organisation Address. CA Organisation Address. UNITED STATES Admin Name........... International Creative Artists Admin Address........ 2646 Dupont Drive (C270) Admin Address........ Admin Address........ Irvine Admin Address........ 92612 Admin Address........ CA Admin Address........ UNITED STATES Admin Email.......... ezripofflaw@y... Admin Phone.......... +1.9492509888 Admin Fax............ +949.2503222 ---- BUREAU OF ETHICAL INTERNET COMMERCE SITE - Registrant: Bureau of Ethical Internet Commerce 2247 pennsylvania Ave washington, District of Columbia 22141 United States Registered through: () - See the blog about this site: - - The name of the organization sounds good, but if you look at the webpage a little closer, you see it is a front for character attacks on certain people: - - I typed in the name of these "criminals" listed on this page, and found a lot of character assasination sites. It appears from the "ontherun" site that the creator is involved with acting/modeling and has an axe to grind. - - Probably the owner of all these attack sites is: - - Surprise, suprise, alpha model group is also on ripoffreport: - - the author of all these sites attacks EZBC, a site which gives consumers criminal background checks. --- - Type in Ed Magedson at: Guess what? "No offender records were found that matched your search criteria. Please review your search criteria for misspellings and/or incorrect choices. If your search criteria is correct then remove some of the criteria to broaden the search."
Shawna
Irving,#44Consumer Comment
Thu, January 06, 2005
I was quite anxious to start off my career with a BANG!!! I looked in the paper read the ad: Got personality?? 33 new employees needed to replace 33 who wouldn't do the job. Assistant management positions availible now. Paid training. Call Beth (########). I went to the first interview thinking, whew, I can do this....paid training and an assistant manager position. I waited in a room with about 10 other people, the manager had on Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. "What a strange work environment." They didn't even ask me for a resume. I made the 2nd interview, but the morning of, my boyfriend did a little research and stumbled across this website. We found out that WPI (World Perfume Inc) was a complete scam!! The name of the office that I went to was called Innovative Marketing Solutions. How could a company that claims to be so successful not have any information about them on the web. I am sooo glad that I didn't even bother attending my 2nd interview!! You can rest assure that you have done your job in informing others of the misleading company of "World Perfumes"!! What a joke!!
Kip
Jacksonville,#45UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, December 15, 2004
Wow... Back in 1991 if I remember right I recently dropped out of school and found myself in a bad spot. I knew I had to do something...and fast. I Saw an ad similar to those listed above. I can't believe they are still using the same tactics, even more so I can't believe they are still working! Every thing wasexactly the same I remember it well, it was a sunny day as I walked into an office building in Jacksonville, Fl looking for D & D Import/Export. The building was quite impresssive. 2 stories, set back off the highway (Phillips for those familiar), nice cars in the parking lot. All I could think was wow, I really want this job! Well...I got it! Read on for the changes... 1. In the initial "group" interview we were all told that we were called back becasue there was something about us! I had a head the size of Texas. Only on problem...there were only 6 positions available. He could not hire us all if he wanted to. Here comes the best part... Since we would have to be trusted with a very high amount of "product" we would have to submit to a background investigation. No problem I think to myself...ahhh....but wait there is more. This "backgtound investigation" is not free. The JSO (Jacksonville Sherrif Office) charges them a fee of $25 for this service. Now as previously stated I was broke, I rode my brother's Honda Elite50 scooter (remeber those) about 45 min to get to this interview. I was not about to let $25 stand in my way. So...I called my father to tell him the great news. He was excited for me right up until the time I asked for the $25 and he started in his Dad way..."son...it is a scam...come home" I begged and begged and told him all the great things about this complany. I guess he thought the only way I would learn this lesson is for him to spend $25...so he gave it to me (thaks Dad)! So the next day I take them the $25. The sooner I got it to them the sooner my background would come back and the sooner I could start. I wanted no one else to take "MY OFFICE" away from me! Great News...I WAS HIRED!!! Training started. Record below 0830 Arrive for training. 0830 - 0900 Learn the matchstick method of numbers. This means that for every perosn you talk to and pitch correctly remove a match. When the book was gone, you have one sale. It is a matter of numbers. If you didnlt have a sale, you must have not approached correctly at least once. 0900 - 1000 Learn the pitch. Ussually through role playing. This was a big excercise to learn how to respond to "That is a fake" 1000 - ???? Now go sell! (matchbooks were provided) When you have 5 to 7, which at $7 a bottle would be $35, come back. It took me about 5 days to realize the training was the exact same everyday. I know I was kind of slow back then. I guess this was just my vent. I thought this scam was long gone but I guess it is still going strong! For the record..I have Scentura Creations to thank for one thing...I have not been scammed one single time since this incident. In my case I lost $25 and a week of my life I will never get back but I gained an uncanny ability to spot a scam before it even comes close to me. THANKS Scentura Creations!
Sally
Miami,#46UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, December 14, 2004
I almost fell for this scam when I first graduated from college in Florida in 1995, and I can't believe it is still around. In my case they were operating as Scentura Creations, though the office when you called, gave some acronym standing for who knows what. Everything was just as described...the bare office, the group interviews, the music and attempt to appeal to the young and naive. And the "friends and family" selling. I saw that first day that it was going to be simply a matter of being a perfume salesperson...I had a very bad feeling about it, especially after my group cornered someone who had worked there several months and got her to admit she did not yet have her office with her own employees, as we had been assured we would have in 6 weeks. When I called the supervisor, trainer, whatever to tell her I would not be returning, she gave me some line about not being able to count on my family and friends, etc...I was a psychology major and to me this really reminded me of how cult leaders recruit young people...it only reinforced that my bad feelings about the whole thing were justified.
Sally
Miami,#47UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, December 14, 2004
I almost fell for this scam when I first graduated from college in Florida in 1995, and I can't believe it is still around. In my case they were operating as Scentura Creations, though the office when you called, gave some acronym standing for who knows what. Everything was just as described...the bare office, the group interviews, the music and attempt to appeal to the young and naive. And the "friends and family" selling. I saw that first day that it was going to be simply a matter of being a perfume salesperson...I had a very bad feeling about it, especially after my group cornered someone who had worked there several months and got her to admit she did not yet have her office with her own employees, as we had been assured we would have in 6 weeks. When I called the supervisor, trainer, whatever to tell her I would not be returning, she gave me some line about not being able to count on my family and friends, etc...I was a psychology major and to me this really reminded me of how cult leaders recruit young people...it only reinforced that my bad feelings about the whole thing were justified.
Sally
Miami,#48UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, December 14, 2004
I almost fell for this scam when I first graduated from college in Florida in 1995, and I can't believe it is still around. In my case they were operating as Scentura Creations, though the office when you called, gave some acronym standing for who knows what. Everything was just as described...the bare office, the group interviews, the music and attempt to appeal to the young and naive. And the "friends and family" selling. I saw that first day that it was going to be simply a matter of being a perfume salesperson...I had a very bad feeling about it, especially after my group cornered someone who had worked there several months and got her to admit she did not yet have her office with her own employees, as we had been assured we would have in 6 weeks. When I called the supervisor, trainer, whatever to tell her I would not be returning, she gave me some line about not being able to count on my family and friends, etc...I was a psychology major and to me this really reminded me of how cult leaders recruit young people...it only reinforced that my bad feelings about the whole thing were justified.
Sally
Miami,#49UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, December 14, 2004
I almost fell for this scam when I first graduated from college in Florida in 1995, and I can't believe it is still around. In my case they were operating as Scentura Creations, though the office when you called, gave some acronym standing for who knows what. Everything was just as described...the bare office, the group interviews, the music and attempt to appeal to the young and naive. And the "friends and family" selling. I saw that first day that it was going to be simply a matter of being a perfume salesperson...I had a very bad feeling about it, especially after my group cornered someone who had worked there several months and got her to admit she did not yet have her office with her own employees, as we had been assured we would have in 6 weeks. When I called the supervisor, trainer, whatever to tell her I would not be returning, she gave me some line about not being able to count on my family and friends, etc...I was a psychology major and to me this really reminded me of how cult leaders recruit young people...it only reinforced that my bad feelings about the whole thing were justified.
Alisha
Bloomington,#50Consumer Comment
Wed, December 08, 2004
Hi everyone I saw a add in the paper for a management position with no experience nessesary and 30,000 to 40,000 a year and I was broke so I amswered the add and I am telling you what everyone has said one these pages is all. I had just been called back and was to start my first day of training when I was talking to someone online and telling them about my "wonderful" new job he asked where it was that I started working and I told him for sentura he told me I needed to check out a web sight and sent me hear. I wanted to see for my self what was gonna happen and yep this company is a crock of you know what. They sure do want you to sell in parking lots of malls and store, they sure do try to get you to lie and rip off your family I didn't even stay for the whole day of the training I knew this was some grimy company and didn't want anything to do with it. They are in Minnesota, if you see the add in the star tribune do not answer you don't want to waste your time
Lisa
Dallas,#51UPDATE Employee
Sun, December 05, 2004
To anyone, World Perfume is a great company. I never have aeen or been around anything negative with them. They explained I had to sell perfume at first and then learn how to manage crews and thats exactly what happened. I made any where from $$325.00 a week to my best week was over $1325.00. I made money in a check each week $100.00 car allowance,overrides on myself,plus overides on my crew,and I also made $100.00 to $300.00 in cash profit. We sold original name brand fragrances(the top of the line) as well as high quality knock offs. We even carry the original one and a rendition. So customers have choices. I never once heard people lie about anything. I was very skeptical at first due to my 15 month old as wellas my mom,but I took it one day at a time and it all worked out. I am not alone. There are many successful people at World Perfume and its distributors. I read all these stuff on this report and watch very cosely to them,but none one lied. The only negatives come from some company called Scentura or they are put up by not_world,J.d, or tge many other anonymous posting he has done in this site. I know J.D you think I am an idiot,but I am not at home spending thousands of hours harrasssing a company. Everyone in the company knows of this site and they pass out copies to anyone. Living at home and attacking a company because you are at the "lowest part of your life when you answer the ad" Why at that time were you at the worse point? It was World Perfume fault. I talked to the President of World Perfume yesterday and he told the vast amount of effort you have been putting into this. If you apply that same work habit in life you should'nt have been at the"worse part of your Life". Have fun with your crazy hobby,but no women out there want someone with this much negative obbsession. World Perfume has been great for me and my kid. I have an office and things are going well. Also, I never lie and tell people that renditions or real(how can I when we carry both)I always explain very throughly how a person gets their paycheck each week. Personal overrides, $100.00 car bonus each week,overrides on crews you manage, feid profit and other daily bonus's. You can run a perfume office and be straight and for the most part every disteibutor I have met does the same,but World Perfume is a large company so they are always some crazy people. World Perfume not only direct sells original name brand fragrances but also high quality knock offs. World Perfume also sell retail and whole sale to stores through out the world. World Perfume also designs,manufacturer and distributes private line fragrances for other companies and people. World Perfume bottles for many other companies out there. World Pefume is liscened distributors of many of the top name brands as well sole distribtion rights(U.S) to many european companies. I know all this because I see it with my own two eyes. I have set customers in the city i am located in for alot of different fragrance lines. Be smart and check it out!! HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!!
Jd
Salt Lake City,#52UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 25, 2004
Hello Trevor, You can close down the affiliate of Scentura, but Scentura is protected by the independant contract license--anything illegal that the distributors do, the main headquarters is legally protected. You wrote: "Also John Whitworth and World Perfume is free and seperat for scentura he is not affiliated in any way at all." The ARE independant companies--your statment is correct, but misses a BIG point. John Whitworth was the top distributor of the scentura scam until the mid 90's when he decided to start his own Scentura-tpye business. They are almost identical businesses, with more similarties than differences. -- If you are serious about closing down Scentura here is how: -- HOW TO SHUT DOWN YOUR LOCAL WORLD PERFUME / SCENTURA What YOU can do Getting [Scentura and World Perfume distributors] kicked out of the newspaper [classifieds] would be about the biggest problem you could cause. I once got kicked out of the paper in DC and it took me almost a year of advertising in the smaller, local papers before I could finally get them to let me back in. Big hassle. --Mike Barrick, Scentura distributor for ten years I think an effective way is to cut their ability to advertise for the distribution centers. If a dist. center forgets to run its ads for a week it really hurts them for about 5 weeks due to not having new people start and sell to their friends and families. I have considered complaining to the local paper here, telling them I went on an interview and realized they aren't really hiring, just looking for independent contractors. If someone complains sternly enough the papers will at the least investigate to protect their reputation. In some cities Scentura offices are very restricted on what they can print in the ads (In the Chicago Tribune they have to say marketing in their ads, in some papers they have to put sales, ind. contractor, etc.). -Traci, former Scentura distributor I encouraged people to use the anger and bitterness that they had toward either World Perfume and Scentura, in positive ways, preventing other people from being lied to and mislead. I have a FLYER and PETITION to the NEWSPAPER that the classified ads run in which you can print. You could have people in your training group sign the petition, with their names, addresses, and telephone numbers. This petition would go to your local newspaper that advertised your local World Perfume or Scentura distributor in their classifieds, complaining about how fraudulent your local World Perfume or Scentura distributors are. My local distributor, and two other distributors were forced to change their advertising after I wrote a letter to the classifieds. Scentura and World Perfume must continue to recruit people every week to survive. That is the crux of the pyramid scam. If they are barred from advertising in your local classifieds, the pyramid collapses, and these distribution centers will shut down, one by one. THREE EASY STEPS TO STOPPING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER -- Step 1: Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds (Scentura) Step 1: Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds (World Perfume) Step 2: Threatening letter to the newspaper classifieds Step 3: Letter to other local news sources in your city STEP 1: Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds Scentura (see below for letter regarding world perfume) Address of newspaper in your area: http://www.usnpl.com/ http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/ http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/newspapers.htm YOU NAME YOUR ADDRESS YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (THIS IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE; IT ADS AUTHENTICITY TO THE LETTER) [You local Newspaper Classifieds Address Here] Dear ______________, My name is _______________. On ________ (DATE)________ I applied for a job in your classifieds: ________________________________ ________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE) ________________________________ I found out that this company is fraudulently advertising in your classifieds. This company is actually a distributor of Scentura perfumes. Scentura is an Atlanta based perfume company that runs a "pyramid sales scheme". (This is according to a ruling of the Appellate Court Of Illinois, Second District, see attached article) Scentura sells imitation perfume to distributors across the country. All distributors must sign independent contractor licenses stating that the parent company is not liable for anything illegal or unethical that the distributors do. There is no MANAGEMENT RECEPTIONIST (CHOOSE ONE) position available with this company. When I arrived for training, the company wanted me to: -sell perfume to my family and friends, -sell perfume in parking lots illegally without a business license, and -lie to customers that this perfume was authentic when it is an imitation. There was no office work involved with this company. It is a 100% commission job. The managers of this business where incredibly deceitful, and lied throughout the entire interview. (YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLES HERE- FOR EXAMPLE: MENTION THE FEE FOR THE BOGUS BACKGROUND CHECK, THE FEE FOR THE PERFUME STARTER KIT, THE PROMISE OF A LARGE YEARLY SALARY ) Scentura Distributors survive by advertising the same deceitful advertisements every week. The RECEPTIONIST MANAGEMENT (CHOOSE ONE) position, which is advertised in your classifieds, will never be filled. Every week this Scentura distributor will advertise in your classifieds. Every week new young adults will answer these deceitful ads and be promised a management position at a later date after 'initial training', which lasts several weeks. This 'initial training' is selling perfume in parking lots and door to door to business illegally without a peddler's permit. The vast majority find out this is a scam and quit within the first two weeks, those who stay get a percentage of the sales of the new recruits and help train them. Eventually a person can open his own office with his own money, and begin to place ads in classifieds all over again. The person who initially hired this new "office manager" gets a percentage of his sales. A classical pyramid scheme, as the Illinois Second District ruled. Every week Scentura distributors lure young adults by these deceptive advertisements. Please read the attached news articles about Scentura. If your classifieds stops allowing this Scentura distributor to advertise, then their deceitful pyramid scheme will collapse. Please stop allowing this firms to advertise in your classifieds. Thank you, ATTACH 20 ARTICLES AND ONE COURT ORDER ABOUT SCENTURA TO LETTER IF AVAILABLE, ATTACH PETITION TO LETTER. TOP OF PAGE STEP 1: Cordial letter to the newspaper classifieds WORLD PERFUME Letter to your local classified advertiser about World Perfume Address of newspaper in your area: http://www.usnpl.com/ http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/ http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/newspapers.htm YOU NAME YOUR ADDRESS YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (THIS IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE; IT ADS AUTHENTICITY TO THE LETTER) [You local Newspaper Classifieds Address Here] Dear ______________, My name is _______________. On ________ (DATE)________ I applied for a job in your classifieds: ________________________________ ________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE) ________________________________ I found out that this company is fraudulently advertising in your classifieds. This company is actually a distributor of World Perfume. World Perfume is a Dallas based perfume company that runs a "pyramid sales scheme". World Perfume sells imitation perfume to distributors across the country. All distributors must sign independent contractor licenses stating that the parent company is not liable for anything illegal or unethical that the distributors do. There is no MANAGEMENT RECEPTIONIST (CHOOSE ONE) position available with this company. When I arrived for training, the company wanted me to: -sell perfume to my family and friends, -sell perfume in parking lots illegally without a business license, and -lie to customers that this perfume was authentic when it is an imitation. There was no office work involved with this company. It is a 100% commission job. The managers of this business where incredibly deceitful, and lied throughout the entire interview. (YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLES HERE- FOR EXAMPLE: MENTION THE FEE FOR THE BOGUS BACKGROUND CHECK, THE FEE FOR THE PERFUME STARTER KIT, THE PROMISE OF A LARGE YEARLY SALARY ) World Perfume Distributors survive by advertising the same deceitful advertisements every week. The RECEPTIONIST MANAGEMENT (CHOOSE ONE) position, which is advertised in your classifieds, will never be filled. Every week this World Perfume distributor will advertise in your classifieds. From what I learned on the internet, from other people who have worked with other distributors , and what they taught us in training is that every week new young adults will answer these deceitful ads and be promised a management position at a later date after 'initial training', which lasts several weeks. This 'initial training' is selling perfume in parking lots and door to door to business illegally without a peddler's permit. The vast majority find out this is a scam and quit within the first two weeks, those who stay get a percentage of the sales of the new recruits and help train them. Eventually a person can open his own office with his own money, and begin to place ads in classifieds all over again. The person who initially hired this new "office manager" gets a percentage of his sales. A classical pyramid scheme. Every week World Perfume distributors lure young adults by these deceptive advertisements. Please read the attached news article about World Perfume. If your classifieds stops allowing this World Perfume distributor to advertise, then their deceitful pyramid scheme will collapse. Please stop allowing this firms to advertise in your classifieds. Thank you, *ATTACH ARTICLE: Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html TO LETTER *IF AVAILABLE, ATTACH PETITION TO LETTER. TOP OF PAGE STEP 2: Threatening letter to the newspaper classifieds Wait 2 WEEKS. If you receive no response from the classified newspaper and the advertisements are still published: First try to call the editor of the newspaper and talk to the editor of the classifieds. If you cannot talk to the editor, or the editor refuses to take out the ads send this letter: **** YOU NAME YOUR ADDRESS YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS Dear ______________, My name is _______________. On ________ (DATE)________ I sent a letter to you about a fraudulent classified advertisement in your classifieds. I am disappointed that no action was taken / you did not respond (CHOOSE ONE) The company I complained about was (NAME) Which runs this weekly advertisement: ________________________________ ________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE) ________________________________ I feel that it is very important that other people are not deceived by this company. Therefore, if I do not hear from you within two weeks, by (DATE) I will be forced to contact other news media in the area about your continued support of this company. I will be forced to contact: LIST NAMES AND ADDRESSES / TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF : NAMES AND ADDRESSES of competing newspaper in your area: http://www.usnpl.com/ http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/ http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/newspapers.htm NAMES AND ADDRESSES of television stations in your area: http://www.gebbieinc.com/tvintro.htm http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Television/By_Region/U_S__States/ NAMES AND ADDRESSES of radio station in your area (CHOOSE ONLY RADIO STATIONS WITH NEWS BROADCASTS): http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Radio/By_Region/U_S__States/ http://www.gebbieinc.com/radintro.htm http://www.npr.org/members/ College radio stations: http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/Radio/Stations/College_and_University/By_Region/U_S__States/ TOP OF PAGE Step Three: Letter to other local news sources in your city It is best to call the other news sources in your city. But a letter may suffice: YOU NAME YOUR ADDRESS YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS Dear ______________, My name is _______________. On ________(DATE)_________ I sent a letter to _______________ explaining about a fraudulent experience that I had with a company that was advertised in their newspaper classifieds. Because of an unsatisfactory response, I wrote them a second letter. There was no response to this second letter. I therefore would like to let other news organizations know about this fraudulent company, ______________ and how our local paper refuses to stop allowing this company to advertise in the classifieds. Please investigate this situation. Attached are the two letters I sent to the classifieds, and supporting evidence. Thank you for your time and support, Attachments ATTACH: 1) TWO LETTERS SENT TO THE CLASSIFIEDS AND 2) SUPPORTING EVIDENCE (NEWS ARTICLES AGAINST THE COMPANIES (AND COURT ORDER IN CASE OF SCENTURA) SEND THIS LETTER TO THE CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT OF THE NEWSPAPER WITH A "CC:" AT TOP LISTING THE NAMES OF ALL OF THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS YOU HAVE CONTACTED. YOU DON'T NEED TO INCLUDE THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE AGAIN TO THE ORIGINAL CLASSIFIEDS.
Josh
Arlington,#53UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, November 25, 2004
Again a complaint about scentura being put on a supposed world perfume complaint . all complaints have nothing to do with world perfume. I know this for a fact i worked in the richmond office for several weeks and never heard of world perfume til i went to this site. I have since checked out World Perfume with a lot of due delligence and I am going to work for them. Myself and 5 other managers. They have a better system and you make real money.
Nadene
Richmond,#54Consumer Comment
Wed, November 03, 2004
Hey thanks for this report on Scentura it was just the kind of thing that I suspected. I live in Richmond, VA and today went to apply for what I thought, and was advertised as a receptionist position. But when I got to this shaky unfinished looking establishment the things that they promised seemed incredible....c'mon 30K a year from a company that didn't look as if they made 30k a year. It was located in an old dilapidated building about size of a large living room. They offered me a management position seemingly trying to dissuade me from the receptionist job that I was originally interested in and were so vague in their description of the position. I tried looking up "Enigma Management" locally however they are listed as having a legit business permit in VA. Jinger Pintu is listed as the owner and he works with a lady named Kitty -who did my interview, and seemed to dance around giving me her full name and more info. It all didn't seem right even though there were a couple of sites that claimed this business was legitimate. But thanks to you, I find that I am not the only one found this business to be fraudulent. The interesting thing is that later on that day while looking in the paper I found another business under a different name, number, and location that said they were hiring for "Customer Service Representatives". Instead of going to this place I listened to what kind of business they were over the phone, again they were vague and said they were in the scented oil/ perfume business. -Needless to say I declined the interview.
Nadene
Richmond,#55Consumer Comment
Wed, November 03, 2004
Hey thanks for this report on Scentura it was just the kind of thing that I suspected. I live in Richmond, VA and today went to apply for what I thought, and was advertised as a receptionist position. But when I got to this shaky unfinished looking establishment the things that they promised seemed incredible....c'mon 30K a year from a company that didn't look as if they made 30k a year. It was located in an old dilapidated building about size of a large living room. They offered me a management position seemingly trying to dissuade me from the receptionist job that I was originally interested in and were so vague in their description of the position. I tried looking up "Enigma Management" locally however they are listed as having a legit business permit in VA. Jinger Pintu is listed as the owner and he works with a lady named Kitty -who did my interview, and seemed to dance around giving me her full name and more info. It all didn't seem right even though there were a couple of sites that claimed this business was legitimate. But thanks to you, I find that I am not the only one found this business to be fraudulent. The interesting thing is that later on that day while looking in the paper I found another business under a different name, number, and location that said they were hiring for "Customer Service Representatives". Instead of going to this place I listened to what kind of business they were over the phone, again they were vague and said they were in the scented oil/ perfume business. -Needless to say I declined the interview.
Nadene
Richmond,#56Consumer Comment
Wed, November 03, 2004
Hey thanks for this report on Scentura it was just the kind of thing that I suspected. I live in Richmond, VA and today went to apply for what I thought, and was advertised as a receptionist position. But when I got to this shaky unfinished looking establishment the things that they promised seemed incredible....c'mon 30K a year from a company that didn't look as if they made 30k a year. It was located in an old dilapidated building about size of a large living room. They offered me a management position seemingly trying to dissuade me from the receptionist job that I was originally interested in and were so vague in their description of the position. I tried looking up "Enigma Management" locally however they are listed as having a legit business permit in VA. Jinger Pintu is listed as the owner and he works with a lady named Kitty -who did my interview, and seemed to dance around giving me her full name and more info. It all didn't seem right even though there were a couple of sites that claimed this business was legitimate. But thanks to you, I find that I am not the only one found this business to be fraudulent. The interesting thing is that later on that day while looking in the paper I found another business under a different name, number, and location that said they were hiring for "Customer Service Representatives". Instead of going to this place I listened to what kind of business they were over the phone, again they were vague and said they were in the scented oil/ perfume business. -Needless to say I declined the interview.
Nadene
Richmond,#57Consumer Comment
Wed, November 03, 2004
Hey thanks for this report on Scentura it was just the kind of thing that I suspected. I live in Richmond, VA and today went to apply for what I thought, and was advertised as a receptionist position. But when I got to this shaky unfinished looking establishment the things that they promised seemed incredible....c'mon 30K a year from a company that didn't look as if they made 30k a year. It was located in an old dilapidated building about size of a large living room. They offered me a management position seemingly trying to dissuade me from the receptionist job that I was originally interested in and were so vague in their description of the position. I tried looking up "Enigma Management" locally however they are listed as having a legit business permit in VA. Jinger Pintu is listed as the owner and he works with a lady named Kitty -who did my interview, and seemed to dance around giving me her full name and more info. It all didn't seem right even though there were a couple of sites that claimed this business was legitimate. But thanks to you, I find that I am not the only one found this business to be fraudulent. The interesting thing is that later on that day while looking in the paper I found another business under a different name, number, and location that said they were hiring for "Customer Service Representatives". Instead of going to this place I listened to what kind of business they were over the phone, again they were vague and said they were in the scented oil/ perfume business. -Needless to say I declined the interview.
Trevor
Roy,#58UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, October 27, 2004
Hello My name is Trevor. I was recently employed for scamtura. i am getting a lawsuit together to take these people and make them run to another state or possibly get them shutdown completly. I need as many of you that have been scamed here in utah to e-mail me and give me your info so i can get ahold of you to help with my case. I personally have signed no papers that can be used in a court of law, and i am willing to help anyone and everyone recive what is owed to them. Please contact ASAP to [email protected] Also John Whitworth and World Perfume is free and seperat for scentura he is not affiliated in any way at all.
Oni
Tucker,#59Consumer Comment
Wed, October 20, 2004
Thanks for this awesome website. I hope this people involved will be prosecuted for the way they took advantage of people financially, mentally and emotionally. They should spend time in prison.Fraud is a crime and they need to pay. They enjoyed the finances and bragged about it with no remorse.
RENEE
Raspeburg,#60Consumer Comment
Wed, October 06, 2004
HI, MY NAME IS RENEE WHITE-SCOTT AND MY HUSBAND RAYVON SCOTT WORKS FOR CHIC ENTERPRISES INC. IN TIMONIUM, MARYLAND, A WHOLESALE DEALER THAT GETS PRODUCTS FROM WPI. AT FIRST I WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND I WAS EXCITED THAT WE WOULD SOON BE OUT OF DEBT AND ON OUR WAY. THEN HE HIT A HARD TIME AND THE NUMBERS WEREN'T MEATING THE QUOTA SO HE WAS NOT BRINGING MUCH HOME AS IN MONEY WISE. HE LOST HIS TRUCK TO NOT HAVING MONEY AND HE STILL MADE IT TO WORK, HE CAUGHT A BUS AND THE LIGHT RAIL TO TIMONIUM EVERY MORNING AND HAD TO LEAVE AT 6 A.M. TO GET THERE BY 830 A.M. WE RECENTLY GOT A RENT-TO-OWN CAR AND HE WAS GETTING 40 OR MORE SALES A WEEK, I ACTUALLY WENT OUT WITH HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES AND YOU MIGHT NOT THINK THAT IT IS HARD TO SELL THIS STUFF BUT HE HAS TO TALK TO LIKE 30 PEOPLE TO GET LIKE 3 OR 4 SALES. THE JOB IS HARD AND YOU HAVE TO BE DEDICATED TO IT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THE TRAINING PERIOD. SOMEONE HAD SAID THAT YOU DON'T GET A PAYCHECK DURING TRAINING, I WANT TO INTERVENE (IF THAT IS THE RIGHT WORD) ON THAT FOR A MINUTE. MY HUSBAND HAS GOTTEN A PAYCHECK ALMOST EVERY WEEK SINCE HE STARTED IN MAY, IF YOU GET 40 SALES YOU GET AN OVER-RIDE ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY FOR $120, $3 A BOTTLE, AND THEN IT GOES UP I BELIEVE FOR 60 OR SO TO $4 A BOTTLE OVER-RIDE AND IF YOU GET 100 BOTTLES IT IS $5 OVER-RIDE. NOT TO MENTION THE $5-$7 OR MORE $$$ YOU MAKE ON COMMISSION PER BOTTLE, HE COMES HOME WITH LIKE $30 A DAY ON AN ALRIGHT DAY. THEN ON SATURDAYS THEY HAVE PROMOTIONS AND PLAY SOME KIND OF POKER GAME WHERE YOU CAN WIN MORE MONEY, ONE TIME HE CAME HOME WITH $60 FROM A GAME THAT HE PUT "NO" MONEY INTO. THEN WE HAVE THE CREWS THEY GO ON "EVERY WEEKEND" WELL IT DOES GET OLD FAST NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP WITH YOUR SPOUSE ON SET DAYS OR ROLL OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND ASK HIM/HER TO GET THE BABY THAT YOU DID IT LAST TIME, BECAUSE HE ISN'T HOME. BUT THAT IS A MONEY MAKING TIME TOO. THE BOSS DIRK AND OR CHRIS (NOT SURE HOW THE MONEY THING WORKS IN THAT OFFICE) PUT UP CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF MONEY EACH WEEKEND FOR EITHER BASEBALL POINTS OR FOOTBALL POINTS AND THEN THEY PLAY "FIRST TOOS" AND THEN GET THE POINTS AND SPLIT MONEY. I DON'T KNOW HOW SOME FIANCE, GIRLFRIENDS OR WIVES ACT WHEN THEIR MAN IS IN THIS BUSINESS, BUT I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU MY ATTITUDE FLUCTUATES A LOT, BUT NOT BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST HIS JUDGEMENT BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE 4 YOUNG CHILDREN, RENT, CAR, WATER, GROCERIES, ELECTRIC AND CLOTHES TO BUY AND PAY FOR. AND WITH HIM BEING THE ONLY ONE WORKING BECAUSE OUR YOUNGEST IS 19 MONTHS AND OLDEST IS 7. CHILDCARE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION!!! I HAVE "NO" REGRETS IN MY HUSBAND TAKING THIS JOB AND I COMMEND THE TIME THAT DIRK ACTUALLY HAD TO TRAIN AND THAT HE HAS THE PATIENCE WITH SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TO DO HIS JOB. I HAVE HEARD SOME STORIES. AND YES SOME ABOUT MY HUSBAND HE HAS GOTTEN IT FROM DIRK ALSO, BUT IF YOU LET THEM GET AWAY WITH AN INCH THEY WILL TAKE A MILE. KEEP TRAINING AND IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TIME CONSUMING JOB, AND YOU GET INVOLVED DON'T b***h OR COMPLAIN ONCE YOU GET IN JUST DO WHAT YOUR ASKED AND YOU CAN GET TO WHERE THEY SAY YOU CAN BE. MY HUBBY IS ALMOST THERE AND IF I HELD ON THIS LONG I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE NOW. NEXT YEAR THIS TIME AND HOPEFULLY BEFORE THAT I WILL BE ON VACATION IN THE BAHAMAS DRINKING MAH TAIS. ONLY THING I WILL SAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SERIOUSLY STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPOUSE MALE OR FEMALE REALLY THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU JOIN, BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE YOU AWAY FROM HOME ALL THE TIME. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE AS DEDICATED TO IT AS MY HUSBAND IS. THANKS FOR LETTING ME TYPE ON HERE, HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT I AM DOING THIS BUT WHO CARES AFTER READING THIS HE WILL PROBABLY SMILE AND GIVE ME A BIG HUG. DIRK OR CHRIS IF YOU ARE READING THIS: MY HOT DREAM DATE IS ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS? WELL MINE IS MY HUSBANDS. LOVE YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO AND FOR "RAY"VON HE IS A GREAT HUSBAND AND A WONDERFUL FATHER, I KNOW ONE DAY "VERY" SOON HE WILL MAKE A WONDERFUL OWNER IN ONE OF THE NEW EAST-COAST OFFICES. THANKS AGAIN
Scott
Midwest City,#61Consumer Suggestion
Sat, September 25, 2004
"I have received several compliments on the perfume I bought from this company. I enjoy being able to buy my perfume at a discount price. My boyfriend also gets his cologne from Scentura and he is pleased as well. I don't understand why this company is facing hard times but I just hope they don't go out of business " We are not really talking about the fact that they are selling "discounted" perfume (even though you are talking about knock-offs in which are not the originals at all in which the price based upon is not there in which there is no discount! We are talking about Taking Advantage of the everyday hardworker. Making them think that they can get a good job that pays 35k + a year "With no experiance or managment skills needed" And making them go out and sell 50 bottles for them in a plot and only for the plot for them to sell those 50 bottles and if they stay. well good they can sell another 50 and help 5-6 others sell their 50. If they go they just "hire" 20 more do it again 20x50=1000 per group and I am guessing they make about 10 or so a bottle so lets just say they scam 10 per 1000 bottles = $10,000 per group. And If they can swing um about keeping the life span average 2 weeks and everyone gets atleast 50 sold if not more and swinging maybe 2 more groups. = $30,000 every two weeks / 2 = $15,000 a week x 52 = $780,000 a year. Realisticlly. Ok they are making money on one plot. Sell the 50 Atleast. There is no job waiting. No Huge Salary. No 5 Paid Vacations. Just LIES. LIES. and what? More Lies? Oklahoma. Oklahoma City. EVERYWHERE. I mean. You have the everyday Fry person at Mcdonalds thinking if he sells these 50 he will make more money than he ever dreamed. And what do you think he will do? Do anything he can to Sell those 50 of course. =)
SHANNON
Richmond,#62Consumer Comment
Fri, September 24, 2004
I have received several compliments on the perfume I bought from this company. I enjoy being able to buy my perfume at a discount price. My boyfriend also gets his cologne from Scentura and he is pleased as well. I don't understand why this company is facing hard times but I just hope they don't go out of business Very Satisfied Customer,
Scott
Midwest City,#63Consumer Suggestion
Thu, September 23, 2004
I was tricked in that they are looking for managers with manager background and ect ect. I went to the first and secound interview and they aimed on young individuals that basiclly are people that are low income or no income and are looking any corner desperate for money. They are a scam that they sell 50 bottles of cologne per person within a certain time and the brain wash World Purfume video too. I was told that they are looking to expand like 5 locations in oklahoma and hiring Branch managers. But first you must do a 2-3 month training in which the main incentive was to sell the 50 + bottles in which we will make something like $150. I then thought to myself if this man that says his name is "Bubba" Really need a Branch Manager making 30k a year why am I in a room with 18-22 year olds that look like they are very unsuccessful and have no money? Why does'nt he look for qualified people? Myself as a Assistant Manager was looking for a better job am thanking god that I reliezed before I quit my good paying job to join this scam. He told us that The Areas that they are Branching too in Oklahoma is Edmond, Del City, Tulsa, Witchata, and Norman. Then he goes on to tell us Abururm, Mempuis, and Kansas. But we can't go to Chicego, Phinex, or Dallas because they are all taken. Though when someone said they wanted a office in chicago he said fine you could go there. WTF? He did some stupid figures to trick these people like. A bottle of CKL goes for 60.00 at Delards and out of that 30 goes to delards , and 25 goes to CK for the name and 5 for the manufacturer and 1.25-2 for the fragrance. He said there is 3 types of cologn 1. Original -Exact same but we buy wholesale to resell. 45-60 most popular. He said if Ck he could buy a 1000 for 20$ each he would and then resell for 30 making 10 each a bottle in which makes a figure of $10,000 but the real fked up scheme is the payouts to the pyramid scheme. 2. Rendition or knock off Save money, Save consumer money, and make money. Cant put patenit on natural resources such as oil, achohol or water and how that its legal to copy the products. Only can pateniet on something you create. 3. Dealer only item. Most popular over seas. Cant buy anywhere. Ex Biongeo Imported from Italy. Then they have the market cornered. In the secound interview he put on the board. 4 Things that we need and they are looking for 1. Honesty 2. Great Attitude 3. Easily Motivated Trainable 4. Hard Worker also on the board * Be on time * Care * Start really means his start time is 15 minutes later so he is not interupted. Rules * No Drugs * No Drunks * No BS Basiclly trying to scam to think this is a real deal. Bubba even goes far to say that "Some of you in this room think I'm Bull Shyting you, but that is ok because with us you can make real money" Then he goes on how messed up his life was and family. And why there is younger people in here because he was young when hired and that inspired more young managers and some more b.s. He goes on how rich he is now and says "would it be nice to make blah blah blah and buy blah blah blah" Goes on and says that people that say money does'nt bring happieness is a lie. Money does bring happiness. When you buy things that make you happy. Then he goes on some more b.s. And goes saying that he writes all the things off on his income tax. He even has a 60 some inch tv at his home that he wrote off blah blah blah. Then he goes on three more things 1. Wholesale perfume 2. Market up 3. Sell up Then he goes on and says they have 100-125 types of fragrances. And you need to know because of inventory. 7 things we need for a office 1. Branch Manager / Owner -Owner More Money -No one bosses -Branch manager runs like they want to Must know everything 2.VP right hand man Knows everything 3.Office Manager Day to Day Operation answer phone Day to Day operations Can run the office for a day 4.Reptionist Answers phone 5. Managers in Training 6. Assistant Managers in Training 7. Dealers This kind of operation setup just says "Scam" All over it. 3 Training phases they go on. Phase I -2 1/2 - 3Months Go Through own pase Fastest 6 Weeks Marketing Inventory Problem Solving Satellite Office Accelerated Training Deal with $400-$500 of inventory Phase II Managment 4-6 People Manage Self and Others Time, Money, Friends, Car, Family, Meetings, Inventory manage. Fear of loss Hope to Gain $3-5,000 deal with inventory Phase III Office Training Phones, Interview, Inventory. 4 NoteBook system- Payroll, Nut Balance, Profit loss, Checks, and balances Taxes Deal with $25,000-$30,000 Video 10 minutes long Where I got the Name World Purfume from and how I found out the the scam it was when checked online. Then he talks about money Office . Self or for Them Dealers Get the items 18-30 and sell for 7-10 more. Sell 10-15 a day $70-150 a day x 5 $350-600 a week he says "Cash Money" Market Managment of people He says you have 4-6 People He says if they sell 50 a week x 6 people per is 300 sold a week total He says that you make $1 per sold which would be $300 a week just for managing those people extra. Then he goes on if you work on a "satilite" you will make double that because you are far away from where you live and make $2 per. Plans for payments Plan A Intown Out of Town 50x3=$150 50x3=$150 300x1=$300 300x2=$600 _____ ___________ $450 a week $750 a week $100 car bonus or Plan B Which he murmered. "If your lazy and don't want to work you want this plan" $1,500 a month paid Bi-Weekly. You can only switch the plan once though the training. Run a office for them once trained Bubba said $35,000 a year salary 1/4 quarterly bonus = $2,500 x 4 = $10,000 so he said $45,000 possible If your office sells 300-500 bottles a week 8-10 a bottle x 8 $2,400 - $4,000 you make a week he said say $1,000 bills you make $1,400-3,000 week He said that basicly that once you branch off to a office he gets $1 from each bottle. He said that if you branch someone off he gets 50cents and you go $1 and if they branch off he gets 25 cents you get 50 cents and the one you trained gets a dollar. then after that he gets nothing from the next branch. He said he on the phone call will ask if you are a fast tracker 4-6-8 weeks of training sharp people Learn fast Apply Satellite office Call 3:45 - 4:15 pm ask for him Bubba In the orintation you need 1. Copy of Drivers lisence with Picture ID 2. 3 Character Referances, though if they live with you that will not work. 3. Emergancy contact - loved one 4. Managers notebook 5 Dress casual while in the secound interview he had to dress in managment or business atire more to trick these people 6. Smile He talked with alot of cussing and profanitiy that was unprofessional. I think it is because the people he is getting is not really managment material more or less people that are easly brainwashed that can related to a fk'ed up life which he discribed and they prob curse too. The location that I went to is called Scentex In a bussniss card I received he has the name "William Bammer" which is the person that joined us with the meeting that was a success story in which he is getting his own location. blah blah blah more brain wash. They are located at 8801 S. Olie #5 Oklahoma City, OK 73139 in which there office is. The main thing that got me is that it does'nt make sense that they are consitantly hiring which triggered SCAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMm. If you can't tell I took good notes.... And wasted my time ...
Jd
Salt Lake City,#64Author of original report
Mon, September 13, 2004
This post is probably from the president of World Perfume, johnny Whitworth: - "He refers tp other posting to give validity to 1000 pages of testomonies against world perfume ,but he either created or added or name and cut and paste their compaint like its ours . just look at this particular web site. you see that complaints are solely about another company John - Dallas, Texas U.S.A." - Johnny wrote: - ""He refers tp other posting to give validity to 1000 pages of testomonies against world perfume ,but he either created or added or name and cut and paste their compaint like its ours." - No proof given, you are just supposed to take his word for it. - - Johnny wrote: "you see that complaints are solely about another company" - There are 2 companies, 1 world perfume and the other Scentura, which Johnny Whitworth worked with until 1994. Before 1994, Johnny did the same thing as Larry Hahns (Scentura) other distributors: con people. - Johnny then left and started his own pyramid scheme, which is almost exactly like Scentura, and the business model is exactly the same. - Unlike Johnny Whitworth, here is proof, backing up my allegations: - How Scentura and World Perfume both operate: http://geocities.com/scentura2mlm/what_is_scentura_and_world_perfume.htm - Is World Perfume and Scentura the same company: - http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/are_world_perfume_and_scentura_same_company.htm - - Two articles specifically about World Perfume, which are highly negative: - http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/media_reports.htm#Attorney_General_of_Illinois - http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/media_reports.htm#scentsofdeception - The reason that there are not more negative articles about World Perfume is not because World Perfume is better than Scentura, it is not, it is practically the same scam: - http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/are_world_perfume_and_scentura_same_company.htm - The reason there are less World Perfume articles is because: *the Scentura pyramid scheme started in 1975 as Wholesale Merchandise and W.M. Industries (WMI) * The World Perfume scam started only in 1994, and is much smaller than Scentura, with fewer independent distributors. - Notice also how Johnny Whitworth does not argue any of my points, he ignores most of them, because the evidence against the World Perfume pyramid scheme is to obvious and too overwhelming. - As I wrote in the last posting: "These stories described horrible experiences that customers had had with this dealership, a pattern of deciept and immoral activity across the country. Added to these media reports are hundreds of negative testimonies, written in a variety of different styles, explaining hundreds of locations that one single person could not possible know about." - E-mail some of these people located here who say that World Perfume is a scam, wereas some of the e-mail addresses are no longer valid, I am sure you will get some people who will validate their testimonies: - http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/World_Perfume_employees_two_years.htm - http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/World_Perfume_employees_less_week.htm - Again, I am repeating myself: - Lacking any credibility next to the overwhelming negative facts, Johnny, like all World Perfume and Scentura distributors, tries to muddle the facts just enough so that you may doubt the website: www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/. -- Maybe just enough so you will be duped into doing Friends and Family, or "drop" a couple of bottles before you quit, like 99% usually do. -- After all, that is all he can do, next to the overwhelming facts that have been compiled he has no credibility.
John
Dallas,#65UPDATE Employee
Sun, September 12, 2004
He refers tp other posting to give validity to 1000 pages of testomonies against world perfume ,but he either created or added or name and cut and paste their compaint like its ours . just look at this particular web site. you see that complaints are solely about another company,
Jd
Salt Lake City,#66UPDATE Employee
Sat, September 11, 2004
Complete absurdidies: these people's acusations are becoming more absurd as the evidence becomes more overwhelming. -- THE CAR DEALERSHIP ANALOGY -- Lets say you were going to buy a car. You wanted to get an opinion on the dealership, and so you went online to find out if the national car dealership was reputable. -- What you found on the internet absoluty shock you. There were 27 articles, from all over the country about this national car dealership, all of them highly negative. These stories described horrible experiences that customers had had with this dealership, a pattern of deciept and immoral activity across the country. Added to these media reports are hundreds of negative testimonies, written in a variety of different styles, explaining hundreds of locations that one single person could not possible know about. -- Then after reading ALL of this, you come upon Cristy - Atlanta, Georgia posting, which says that only one person is responsible for all of these negative postings, and he has a serious ax to grind. -- Would you buy a car from this dealership? -- Media articles about world perfume and Scentura: http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/media_reports.htm -- LARGE CREDIBILTY GAP OF CHRISY -- Cristy (9/9/2004 7:30:10 PM post) is lying. We all know that, only a fool would believe that Chisty is credible. -- Christy are you saying that I wrote all of the negative media articles too? -- Did I somehow make up the lawsuit brought against a world perfume distributor in Illinois, by the Attorney General of Illinois? -- http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/media_reports.htm#Attorney_General_of_Illinois -- All of your arguments are the same old tired, pathetic accusations that we all have heard before. -- JOSIE IS A DOG? -- Josie the dog must be a d**n good typer because she has written a lot of emails, how did you train a "dog" (as you claim) to type Cristy?: -- http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/index.htm#skyline_intro -- I have argued for months with Josie. She was the queen defender of World Perfume, before I destroyed all of her accusations and made her look like a complete fool and charlatan (similar to what I am doing to you right now) -- Josie even has a report with the BBB? Have they started to give dogs business licenses now Cristy? -- www.chicago.bbb.org, and type in skyline advancement, the link is way to long to cut and post here. -- Chrisy why do you waste my time? Every silly allegation is covered in depth by television reporters or my own website: -- Like most lies, there is some truth to them, to make the accusation seem more credible. -- Christy wrote: "Do this one simple thing to prove all these postings are done one by one person (98.9% are not real complaints or they have to with Scentura." -- My response: Christy offers a very weak litmus test, which ignores everything else that has been written on this scam, her "proof" that World Perfume is not a scam. -- "when you walk into office ask to see only the name brand fragrances. If they are they then all of this web site is bunk. Its even on our web site. You can call World Perfume and order the name brand originals(coolwater, burberry, or you name it)" -- The whole truth is this, found on the world perfume website: -- "World Perfume, Inc. carries both name-brand original fragrances, as well as our own private line, called Parfum Du Monde. -- From: www.worldperfumeinc.com/products.asp -- So what does Christy's litmus "test" prove? -- Nothing. Lacking any credibility next to the overwhelming negative facts, Christy, like all World Perfume and Scentura distributors, tries to muddle the facts just enough so that you may doubt the website: www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/. -- Maybe just enough so you will be duped into doing Friends and Family, or "drop" a couple of bottles before you quit, like 99% usually do. -- After all, that is all she can do, next to the overwhelming facts that have been compiled she has no credibility. -- CHRISTY ACCUSATIONS, LINE BY LINE - -1- Christy wrote: "This one guy...almost all the complaints come from him with anonymous postings and anonymous e-mails." (No evidence provided, you are just supposed to take her word for it) -- Christy's "one person argument" has already been refuted before: -- http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/RESPONSES_OF_DISTRIBUTORS.htm#oneperson - -2- Christy's post: "There are some distributors out that may not do things right. i know, but over 75% of world Perfume offices are not like these postings." -- Christy's "The practices that this web page explains are the exception, not the norm. Most World Perfume/Scentura distributors act differently." argument has already been refuted before: -- http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/RESPONSES_OF_DISTRIBUTORS.htm#NotTheNorm - -3- Christy's post: "1000's of hours he has put in on trying to relate World perfume to Scentura" -- Christy's "World Perfume is nothing like Scentura" argument has already been refuted before: -- http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/RESPONSES_OF_DISTRIBUTORS.htm#Independent - -4- Christy wrote: "He has agenda , not to save the world from world perfume" (Again, No evidence provided, you are just supposed to take her word for it) -- http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/RESPONSES_OF_DISTRIBUTORS.htm#competitor (This is a response to, Mr. Johnny Whitworth, President of World Perfume who said I post all of this information because I am trying to extort him, different allegations, same baseless accusations) -- -- -- ETC. -- Most of these distributor articles have this same line: -- "I talked personally to the president of world perfume" -- This really adds credibility to your statement. -- So you have the choice, take the word of one web posting, or the facts presented here: http://www.geocities.com/scentura2mlm/
Cristy
Atlanta,#67UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, September 10, 2004
Hi, There are some distrubutors out that may not do things right. i know,but over 75% of world Perfume offices are not like these postings. This one guy has a serious ax to grind for his wasted 5 days. Geez!!, 1000's of hours he has put in on trying to relate World perfume to Scentura and almost all the complaints come from him with anonymous postings and anonymous e-mails. He creates postings on one site or takes a Scentura posting and adds world perfumre. Then he acts like in this web site it looks like there hundreds of complaints. One main thing is the person the refer to Josphine Villesonor is our company dog. You can see her on our web site. www.worldperfumeinc.com. I think they is a josie at scentura but i really dont know. 2. when you walk into office ask to see only the name brand fragrances. If they are they then all of this web site is bunk. Its even on our web site. You can call World Perfume and order the name brand originals(coolwater,burberry,or you name it) Do this one simple thing to prove all these postings are done one by one person (98.9% are not real complaints or they have to with Scentura. He has agenda , not to save the world from world perfume,but as he says nothing is for free.I talked personally to the president of world perfume after i saw these post and he answered and talked to me on any topic I wanted. Iworked ther for a while even though I moved on I didnt understand these attacks. He seem not to really saay anything bad about these postings":just they whis thanks they were close to the truth"
Cristy
Atlanta,#68UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, September 10, 2004
Hi, There are some distrubutors out that may not do things right. i know,but over 75% of world Perfume offices are not like these postings. This one guy has a serious ax to grind for his wasted 5 days. Geez!!, 1000's of hours he has put in on trying to relate World perfume to Scentura and almost all the complaints come from him with anonymous postings and anonymous e-mails. He creates postings on one site or takes a Scentura posting and adds world perfumre. Then he acts like in this web site it looks like there hundreds of complaints. One main thing is the person the refer to Josphine Villesonor is our company dog. You can see her on our web site. www.worldperfumeinc.com. I think they is a josie at scentura but i really dont know. 2. when you walk into office ask to see only the name brand fragrances. If they are they then all of this web site is bunk. Its even on our web site. You can call World Perfume and order the name brand originals(coolwater,burberry,or you name it) Do this one simple thing to prove all these postings are done one by one person (98.9% are not real complaints or they have to with Scentura. He has agenda , not to save the world from world perfume,but as he says nothing is for free.I talked personally to the president of world perfume after i saw these post and he answered and talked to me on any topic I wanted. Iworked ther for a while even though I moved on I didnt understand these attacks. He seem not to really saay anything bad about these postings":just they whis thanks they were close to the truth"
Johnny
Richmond,#69UPDATE Employee
Thu, September 09, 2004
Scentura Creations also supplies "Enigma Management" here in Richmond, Virginia.
Monica
Indianapolis,#70Consumer Comment
Wed, September 08, 2004
The following ads have recently been listed in the IndyStar: Assistant Management *NO EXPERIENCE.PLEASE* Expanding co. seeks 25 Asst. Mgrs. We train. If you're worth more than you're making. call by Wed. 585-9999 Ask for Staci. There is another ad on the same page that reads as follows: *CRAZY* Expanding co. needs 12-15 people to manage new locations. If you like $$, music&fun, Call Julie 585-9999 by Wed. The ads themselves waved a monstrous red flag. To humor myself I responded to the 'CRAZY' ad and it was all of what I expected and more. The offices at 'Divisional Management' were barron of dignity and class. A guy wearing a stick on name tag with the name "Big" Buck written in blue magic marker tended to me. He was in his late twenties and had brown glossy hair. Although his hair was a huge distraction for me I picked up the the lines "perfume company," "8-12 week management training program," and "absolutely no experience." I knew it was a scam but out of curiosity I looked it up this morning and what ya know?
Meladie
Toledo,#71Consumer Comment
Thu, September 02, 2004
I have been hired by Essence Management Company to begin a four to six week management training program. I asked for 24 hours to discuss the situation with my family. I have also gon on-line to check out Essence Management. They are not listed, but WPI and Scentura sound a lot like Essence Management in their operations. I, thankfully, am not desperate for a job, and will turn down the position based on what I have read on this web site. Thank you for the work you are doing.
Brandis
Atlanta,#72UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, August 20, 2004
On August 16020004 I responded to an ad in the Employment Guide.. I went to an interview and was told that I would be called if I made it to the second interview. I did not feel right when I went to the first interview. Itlooked like it was in an abandoned office. The man their "Alex" did not want to answer my questions. I went to the second group interview and was given a speech on how great this job was. I decided to look them up online and found this site. I got hired but am not going. THe numbers they are 770-453-9998 and 404-763-8483. Please watch out for yourselves!!They said they were called Fashion Design. That is a lie. I can be reached for comment via rebuttal to this Rip-off Report[DELETED]. [Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]
Jens
Glendale,#73UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, August 02, 2004
I was trained out of scottsdale, a.z. by Dan Long and Derek Mason. I did get my office and i had to sign papers which said it is knock offs and other stuff. I have alot of information that could get them shut down and in trouble with the i.r.s. please help me shut them down. [DELETED] [Place your comments below as a rebuttal if you have additional information and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]
Jens
Glendale,#74UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, August 02, 2004
I was trained out of scottsdale, a.z. by Dan Long and Derek Mason. I did get my office and i had to sign papers which said it is knock offs and other stuff. I have alot of information that could get them shut down and in trouble with the i.r.s. please help me shut them down. [DELETED] [Place your comments below as a rebuttal if you have additional information and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]
Jens
Glendale,#75UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, August 02, 2004
I was trained out of scottsdale, a.z. by Dan Long and Derek Mason. I did get my office and i had to sign papers which said it is knock offs and other stuff. I have alot of information that could get them shut down and in trouble with the i.r.s. please help me shut them down. [DELETED] [Place your comments below as a rebuttal if you have additional information and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]
Malinda
Atlanta,#76Consumer Comment
Sun, July 11, 2004
I saw an advert being run in the Atlanta-area "Creative Loafing"s for months on end advertising (often two or three inches high, using big, bolded print with lots of exclamation points) that young, motivated people (sometimes they specified 12) were needed ASAP for a "fun" management job where they'd get to work in a "rock'n'roll atmosphere". I never responded to it, because it smelled fishy (no job is truly "fun" at all times, especially when you're young and have minimal experience). Does this ring any bells? Is this the advert placed by the fragrance pushers? I can't add anything in the way of personal experience to the discussion one way or another, but I can vouch that the advert is very enticing and, if there are really no management positions available as stated, it is also untruthful. If things haven't changed much, I think the Loafer categorizes jobs by whether they are part time or full time only, then alphabetizes every add according to what the (optional headline or) first characters / words are. This would make it easier for a disreputable company to avoid being specific about what KIND of job you're calling about. On the other hand, I'd say that 30% of the "jobs" offered in the Loafer are, through no fault of the publishers, not exactly earthshaking opportunities. Transcontinental Talent (discussed at length here) has reportedly run adverts in the Loafer. Ditto Herbalife. Caveat Emptor.
JOSH
FORT WORTH,#77Consumer Comment
Sat, June 26, 2004
Everything complaint is true WPI or the arlington texas based office is called scentura or something and the office is called buffaloes or something they are liars the first interview like everyone says is kinda shaky and not quite right. The boss is extra nice and really motivated he tries to sell himself and you all know what im talking about, the second interview you sit in a room with 10-15 other people and they talk about the money you can make and then the third day they tell u about the satellites and how to make bonus money they are a fraud I was sitting there on the third day and the man was saying charge the customer whatever you want. I was thinking that is not right but his philosophy was like "forget the customer get the money" he bragged about how much money he made in one week and tries to make it seem like he is just trying to help you out well after the third meeting i asked him "hey if we dont sell anything do we get paid" and his response was "hey dont be negative be positive" they just run away from the questions and they are a waste of time and gas i drove from 8-845 n the morning to arlington in a ford expedition and that was gas its not worth it and i wont be going back!!!!
Sheka
Kissimmee,#78Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 25, 2004
I responded to the ad for a admin/recpt, co. expanding, will train, in the Orlando Sentinel )5/19/04. In the first interview, the receptionist was very vague on details and even more so when I asked her the about key details of the company. I was invited back to a second interview with her boss. Before the second interview the Company's location had changed as well as their name. They went from forest city in Orlando, off of Lee Rd to Longwood off of Ronald Reagan Hwy. The company's first name was EOE Management, then I went to my second interview it was called Millenia Management and after the second interview, I learned the company was really called Scentura Creations. The second interview was exactly like the rest of the "second" interviews I read from companies such as World Perfume. I was promised the 30,000 a year mgmt position and the possibility of opening up my own office and cash bonuses for selling to FFAAR (family friends associates acquaintances and relatives). This fradulent company publishes miultiple ads in the paper under customer service, management and administrative and they also have at least 4 to 5 different phone numbers with the same girl on the answering machines for the two companies. One number is 407-332-0030, 407-834-4887, 407-293-3305, 407-331-1713, 407-834-1175. I wrote this Rebuttal because I don't want anyone else to get caught up in this scam. Everyone should recognize that this is a MLM scam in all its illegal glory. Please write to your local newstations and newspapers as well as the better business bureau. Also inform your local State Attorney's Office so they can bury these creeps under the letter of the law.
Sheka
Kissimmee,#79Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 25, 2004
I responded to the ad for a admin/recpt, co. expanding, will train, in the Orlando Sentinel )5/19/04. In the first interview, the receptionist was very vague on details and even more so when I asked her the about key details of the company. I was invited back to a second interview with her boss. Before the second interview the Company's location had changed as well as their name. They went from forest city in Orlando, off of Lee Rd to Longwood off of Ronald Reagan Hwy. The company's first name was EOE Management, then I went to my second interview it was called Millenia Management and after the second interview, I learned the company was really called Scentura Creations. The second interview was exactly like the rest of the "second" interviews I read from companies such as World Perfume. I was promised the 30,000 a year mgmt position and the possibility of opening up my own office and cash bonuses for selling to FFAAR (family friends associates acquaintances and relatives). This fradulent company publishes miultiple ads in the paper under customer service, management and administrative and they also have at least 4 to 5 different phone numbers with the same girl on the answering machines for the two companies. One number is 407-332-0030, 407-834-4887, 407-293-3305, 407-331-1713, 407-834-1175. I wrote this Rebuttal because I don't want anyone else to get caught up in this scam. Everyone should recognize that this is a MLM scam in all its illegal glory. Please write to your local newstations and newspapers as well as the better business bureau. Also inform your local State Attorney's Office so they can bury these creeps under the letter of the law.
Sheka
Kissimmee,#80Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 25, 2004
I responded to the ad for a admin/recpt, co. expanding, will train, in the Orlando Sentinel )5/19/04. In the first interview, the receptionist was very vague on details and even more so when I asked her the about key details of the company. I was invited back to a second interview with her boss. Before the second interview the Company's location had changed as well as their name. They went from forest city in Orlando, off of Lee Rd to Longwood off of Ronald Reagan Hwy. The company's first name was EOE Management, then I went to my second interview it was called Millenia Management and after the second interview, I learned the company was really called Scentura Creations. The second interview was exactly like the rest of the "second" interviews I read from companies such as World Perfume. I was promised the 30,000 a year mgmt position and the possibility of opening up my own office and cash bonuses for selling to FFAAR (family friends associates acquaintances and relatives). This fradulent company publishes miultiple ads in the paper under customer service, management and administrative and they also have at least 4 to 5 different phone numbers with the same girl on the answering machines for the two companies. One number is 407-332-0030, 407-834-4887, 407-293-3305, 407-331-1713, 407-834-1175. I wrote this Rebuttal because I don't want anyone else to get caught up in this scam. Everyone should recognize that this is a MLM scam in all its illegal glory. Please write to your local newstations and newspapers as well as the better business bureau. Also inform your local State Attorney's Office so they can bury these creeps under the letter of the law.
Sheka
Kissimmee,#81Consumer Suggestion
Tue, May 25, 2004
I responded to the ad for a admin/recpt, co. expanding, will train, in the Orlando Sentinel )5/19/04. In the first interview, the receptionist was very vague on details and even more so when I asked her the about key details of the company. I was invited back to a second interview with her boss. Before the second interview the Company's location had changed as well as their name. They went from forest city in Orlando, off of Lee Rd to Longwood off of Ronald Reagan Hwy. The company's first name was EOE Management, then I went to my second interview it was called Millenia Management and after the second interview, I learned the company was really called Scentura Creations. The second interview was exactly like the rest of the "second" interviews I read from companies such as World Perfume. I was promised the 30,000 a year mgmt position and the possibility of opening up my own office and cash bonuses for selling to FFAAR (family friends associates acquaintances and relatives). This fradulent company publishes miultiple ads in the paper under customer service, management and administrative and they also have at least 4 to 5 different phone numbers with the same girl on the answering machines for the two companies. One number is 407-332-0030, 407-834-4887, 407-293-3305, 407-331-1713, 407-834-1175. I wrote this Rebuttal because I don't want anyone else to get caught up in this scam. Everyone should recognize that this is a MLM scam in all its illegal glory. Please write to your local newstations and newspapers as well as the better business bureau. Also inform your local State Attorney's Office so they can bury these creeps under the letter of the law.
Cynthia
Milwaukee,#82Consumer Comment
Thu, April 01, 2004
I answered an ad for a job stating they were looking for guys and girls who loved music to call them. When I called I asked if they could tell me a little about the job, they stated it all depended on what we were hired for. So me and my fiancee went to the first interview and found out it was selling perfume from a supplier named scentura. We were both called back for the second group interview, but decided not to go because of seeing this on the internet. This is a new office opening in Milwaukee, WI. It is running under the name of Great Lakes Management.
Kimberlee
Jacksonville,#83UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, March 26, 2004
I moved to the Florida area last June from San Diego. I responded to an aid almost exactly as the one you have in here. I went through the 2 interviews, just as you described. I was also placed in the "fast-paced" training program which was supposed to get me through the "training" much faster so I would be able to run a business of my own. I worked for them for about 4 weeks selling the perfume on the streets. Then, I had the "ooportunity" to go on a road trip over Labor Day weekend to Mrytle Beach, SC. After only 10 minutes after arriving in Mrytle Beach, I, along with 1 other person was arrested and sent to jail for selling without a peddler's liscense. Peddlers liscense-I had no clue!!! I spent 22 hours in jail before my boss, Jeremy Keifer, finally bailed me out. I never spoke to Jeremy after this incident. He never tried to contact me to apoligize or anything. I had to learn the hard way. I now have a misdeamor on my record that I can not get removed. DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM!! Yes, they all sound so nice and yes, the job was FUN, we had a lot of fun and the people seemed so cool and so nice but, trust me, they dont give a s**t about you or anything. Learn from my mistake! Please feel free to email me if you have any further questions post them below! Thanks
Ryan
St Louis,#84Consumer Comment
Thu, March 25, 2004
I just came back from an interview with a place called gateway management and earlier today a place called bsd management. first thing i noticed that was a little strange were that the places were almost identical in the way the offices looked. its almost as though they were tossed together over night with a few simple things such as 3 or 4 workers, a couple waiting room chairs, 2 or 3 offices, and a receptionist. oh yea and the applications were both exactly the same.hmmmmmmm interesting huh? it gets a little better the first interview with gateway management was real sketchy about the duties of the job i was applying for and the lady kept blowing off my questions like if we got paid weekly and how much during the training process. my other interview with bsd was even more interesting. the lady doing the interview was reading off of a fricken notebook. saying the exact same the thing the woman at gateway told me. the whole hiring process is SCRIPTED!! oh yea and after the first interview your asked to call back to see if u qualify for a second interview. one more thing they schedule it the same time as everyone else. smells pretty fishy to me so i think ill take my job hunting elsewhere and as far away from these people as i can. P.S do not and i repeat DO NOT waste your time and gas on these people.
C.
Clarkston,#85UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 17, 2004
I just finshed my 1st day of training with Fashion Design Inc.Norcross, GA (Atlanta Metro Area), an affiliate of Scentura Creations. I answered an add in a free community newspaper. I was hired on my second interview before they even did my background check. After reading articles online I don't think I will return to training. I am so glad to have found this information this early in the game. I wish there was another way for me to takedown the company other then standing outside the training office passing out information. I don't want to go any where near that office "training center" ever again. Any Ideas?
RHIANNON
ABERDEEN,#86UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 11, 2004
I was the owner of ELITE MANGEMENT, the fragrence distrubution center in Jacksonville, FL. First and foremost I want to address the response I read from Kim (a former "independent contractor" of mine that I personally trained in the feild, and in the office) ... Kim - I know you and Robert did get arrested in Myrtle beach, and I'm sorry! I never did get to talk to you about it, because you up and left to California. You were an a great girl, and awesome on the phones. There was so much drama going on at that time, with Frank/Todd/Molly sharing our office and Jeremy and I were not receiving any help finically or mentally from DAN LONG with that entire situation, and I was facing the wrath of Nicizo to top it all off! But I want you to know, that the second I knew you were arrested (keep in mind I was on a road trip in Panama City beach) I did EVERYTHING I could to get enough money to Jeremy to bail you out! We were on the phone with Dan Long in South Africa. Kim, I spent $700 out of MY own bank account to get you guys out. Believe me, I know what its like getting arrested for selling perfume for WPI... does SONIC in ALAMAGORDO New Mexico sound familiar??? It sucks, and is ridiculus. The entire company is! Kim I am sorry! You and Lisa were the 2 most loyal, fun, and dedicated girls in the world. What you need to realize is, its a game. Once you get so deep in the company, and worked there for so long, you are trapped. You want to get out but you cant! After awhile, you see yourself getting deeper and deeper in debt! You cant take care of your body or mind! Contact with family and friends are gone. YOUR NAME and CREDIT is in Jepordy, your belongings are trashed(Car,Cell Phone, Clothes) from the, LITERALLY, all night work schedule! Your life is taken over by Fragrences. And what can you do to fix it? "Get to work Rhiannon", "Figure it out Rhi!", "Don't be a weak-peice-of-s**t" and many other "WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT" from Nicole. I know I was lying to all you guys, But I had to repeat the lies I learned from Chris & Nicole (my promoting owners from Arizona) in order to survive. I do wish you never had to be a victim of that. I was only 18... 3000 miles away from home in FLORIDA trying to run my own Kaotic business without help from anyone. I was so convinced I could make this fake job work out, because I was brain washed, "DAN LONG did it on his own" , "Nicole and Chucky figured it out!", "TERRY & TRACY didn't become millionaries over night!" If they could do it, I could do it, and I had no choice after a while. I was tought to out "HUSTLE" my bills, and basically I had to lie, cheat, and steal EVERY SINGLE DAY! I knew it was wrong and I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life like that, no matter how rich I became. Nothing was legal, we didn't pay our bills, or taxes, or do anything LEGIT. We coiuldn't, we didn't have the guidence, money, or time. All I knew (or thought I knew at the time)was the harder I worked, the longer I stayed awake, and the more "bottles I dropped" for me and for my guys I was training, WOULD PAY OFF! Slanging fragrences, and more fragrences, and more fragrences was all I knew! Dan Long never sent us checks in the mail to pay for the expences of starting and maintaining our business. We had no family or friends for support. In the morning we would be in the office to recrut/run meetings. Then go in the field with you guys in the evenings and nights, then late night I was STILL merching to try to make money, enough money to at least break even from when I started working for this company. Sleep was a an occational bonus, and sleep in a bed was even more uncommon. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! It is almost virtually impossible to in any way profit from WPI. "100 bottle road trip!", "21 CLUB", "GET EVERYONE MOTIVATED", "POWER CAR", "BOOM CHICA BOOM" "TOOTY TOT","ROLE CALL","WALKING LOTS", "LITTLE SALLY WALKER", "WPS" "HH","ROAD WARRIOR" and the worst phrase of all that will haunt me for the rest of my life..... "E-V-E-R- Y-T-H-I-N-G" All of you who know me, worked for me, worked for the company, or have maybe only heard stories of WPI you know exactlly what I mean with those phrases. ** Heads up to any FNP (friendly new people), be carful, there are many crazy perfume cults out there. Yes they are fun at first, but please dont get in to deep that you cant get out! Nothing that is written or said at the office, or in meetings, or in the feild by your trainers is reality! ** I don't hate anyone who lied to me, to make money off me. I know you too were just trying to survive in the company. They are lucky they found me and sucked me in because, d**n, all I know is that I mad someone at the top of the food chain a lot of money! It was my own fault I didn't quit early on before I became $20,000 in debt, lost my new vehicle, got 3 apartment evictions, office evictions, and many other illegal and fraudulant things under my name. Yes the promises of large Profit, the Drunkin Lavish parties, rides in Dan Long's Hummer, the wings & karaoke, Occastional peticures and shopping, meetings in Scottsdale, trips to the OMNI in Chicago, The Hyatt Resort in Orlando,(Which I have to say was off da hook thankx to alot of vodka, cranberry juice, and TERRY) =) was a ton of fun a fun while it lasted. But fun is not what everyone is looking for. I personally don't regret calling the ad in the Arizona Republic that afternoon. I met some of the most influencial people, traveled all over the country, had a lot of fun, learned ALOT of Spanish, and a little Creole, and most importntly I LEARNED WHAT I DON'T want to do for the rest of my life.... Lye to people, be stressed out, and have no personal time outside of work. I am planning an ELITE MANAGEMENT, UNLIMITED MANAGEMENT, 42 CONSULTING, GLOBAL MARKETING, DIVERSIFIED MANAGEMENT,& INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT Reunion! Those off you who read this and remeber me, please get in touch with me. And to anyone who read this that I may have lied to in the past, I am truely sorry! I had to do what I had to do to survive and get out of WPI!
Mandy
Houston,#87UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, January 30, 2004
WELL, SOMETHING DIDNT SEEM RIGHT THE WAY THEY TALKED IN THIS SO CALLED 2ND INTERVIEW ANY PROFESIONAL COMPANY WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT HAVING A HANG OVER, SWEARING EVERYOTHER WORD,ETC. THAT JUST ISNT PROFESIONAL. WHAT REALLY GAVE IT AWAY FOR ME WAS WHEN THEY CALLED US IN THE OFFICE IN GROUPS OF 3, AFTER THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE TALKING TO US ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS. THEY ASKED ALL OF US THE SAME QUESTIONS, AND ONE OF THE LADIES BARELY SPOKE ENGLISH AND SAID IT WAS HER FIRST JOB EVER!! WHAT COMPANY IN THERE RIGHT MIND WOULD HIRE SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER WORKED A DAY IN THEIR LIFE TO RUN A OFFICE? NOT TO MANY... THEN AS I WAITED OUTSIDE FOR MY RIDE EVERYONE THAT CAME DOWN STAIRS GOT THE SAME CONGRATULATIONS THAT I DID? HMMM... INTERESTING. THAT IS WHAT SPARKED MY INTEREST TO SEE IF THERE REALLY WAS A COMPANY CALLED 3RD COAST MANAGMENT, I DIDNT FIND ANYTHING, I LOOK UP PERFUME DISTRIBUTORS I FIND THIS WEBSITE, EVERYTHING THEY HAVE ON HER FROM DAY 1 INTERVIEW IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.. CONISIDENCE, I THINK NOT. THE COMPANY'S NAME IN 3RD COAST MANAGMENT, PHONE # 713-688-7112, 2844 ANTOINE SUITE 2844, HOUSTON, TX DO WITH THE INFORMATION AS YOU SEE FIT. JUST DONT GET CAUGHT UP IN THEIR FAKE LIVES. BY THE WAY, CESAR AND MARVIC IF YOU REALLY THINK YOUR SUCCESSFUL, KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT, IT IS TRULY SAD, WHY DONT YOU GET AN EDUCATION AND TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING OF YOURSELF WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG. PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE WHY PEOPLE LIKE ME LOOK INTO THIS TYPE OF STUFF, GOOD LUCK LIVING A LIE.
Mike
B'ham,#88UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, November 23, 2003
I started off working in B'ham at Designers Int'L in Sept of 2003. I got promoted up through the ranks from FNP to E.O. I was at my E.O. for 4 weeks (3 months into training i might add). I learned so much about the company, It is the most illegal, legal company in the world. They con everyone into working for them for free, except once you get to the Man. level you get overrides the at E.O. leel you get more overrides. for the 3 months that i worked there i might have made and average of $100 a week, NO LIE. Thats not counting what i had to pay for gas and food. I worked under Rob and Rikki Zuckert. They claimed they were Larry Hahn's protege and everything and that they were one of the top people in the business. They promise you so much stuff and then one day out of nowhere they discide that they dont need you anymore and let you go. "I think it is better that we part as friends" are the exact words. Well you know what i think...i think it is better that you never make it to freinds b/c i am warning you it is not worth the time, or the effort, or the money. Please i am telling you....dont do it....go in tomarrow and tell them that Mike said that they are phony and they dont have much time left to keep coning people. If there is anyone that has ?'s about the company just just post your comments below.
Davina
Columbus,#89UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, November 17, 2003
I went through the two interviews with this company very happy and ready and willing to start work.. I tried to find their website online so that I can have some knowledge when I went in for my first interview and could not find anything. The interviewer later told me that this they did not have their website open yet but they were a Fourtune 500 company? Now the first thing I thought if your a fourtune 500 company you should have a website but i didn't say anything about it. The more and more I set on the 2nd interivew (group interview)..I just knew that it sounded to good to be true..So towards the end of the interview i just knew something wasn't right and I walked out.. thinking to myself that I might have missed out on something I said Nahhh I will go home and really check on this to see if something is found on the web. Well today I found something and I am grateful that I did. The name that is used in Columbus, OHIO is Steller Enterprises or Stellar Enterprise. everything that was said on this website was exactly what happend I am so glad I didn't fall for it..and really glad that this website is up and running. Thank U
Kenneth
Chesapeake,#90Consumer Comment
Thu, October 23, 2003
Dear Editor, I would like to thank whoever posted the story regarding the Wholesale Fragrance company. I was almost a victim. I was lured in by an ad that promised $500+ per week. I went in on an interview, and was scheduled for a second, however today I read the account published on your website, and EVERYTHING that was documented was almost exactly what this company promised. I was just fortunate enough to search for the company online, and found no trace of it. I was also furtunate in that I found your website by accident! The company that I applied to was under the name Atlantic Enterprises. The phone number listed was 757-572-0414. If there is anything that I can do to help, contact me, as I still have an appointment tomorrow (10/23) at 11:30AM. The only thing that I can offer as advice is that with the documented information; phone conversation, interview recording, etc... Why don't you call the corporate offices of some of the fragrances being sold, and use that incriminating evidence to win a lawsuit, so this business can't get away with this anymore. Thanks Again,
Jd
Salt Lake City,#91UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, October 20, 2003
Sir, I am so tired of the same distrtions that distributors like yourself put out. I now have almost 300 PAGES of testimonies against Scentura and World Perfume. That is about 400-500 people that have written about the complete scam that World Perfume and Scentura really are. The ONLY reason there is not as much people complaining about World Perfume is because Scentura is so much bigger. So much for me being the only person who "slanders" World Perfume. ***** I guess you are from Florida, so you must know the former owners of the World Perfume Distributor that we closed down here in Salt Lake City. ******** "TELLING PEOPLE LIES AND GIVING PEOPLE HOME ADRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS TO WORLD PERFUME PEOPLE" I NEVER, EVER offered home addresses and phone numbers of people. This is probably yourself, masquarading as me, posting these messages on chat boards around the internet. You people never cease to amaze me--all the sleezy tactics you try. This just shows the type of moral charcter of World Perfume distributors. This is very similar to what happened to Mike. Mike Barrick, who was with Scentura for ten years and actively explains how much of a scam it truly is. Someone started to post pornography in his name on the senior-site. World Perfume continues to try to distant themselves from Scentua, when they are almost identical--you even try the sme sleezy tactics to try and have people focus away from the overwhelming evidence we have compiled against your scam: "he has offerd settltment offers to people or he will keep harasing them at home and at work." Another variation of a silly lie. How in God's name am I harassing people at work and home? A good indication that someone is lying is that their story continues to evolve and change. Johnny Whitworth has complained many times that I will not call his company--and now you claim that I constantly call... "Plus, what he post on your site is full half-truths and out right slanderoud lies." What lies? What half truths? I have addressed every single allegation and only get silence--again and again. NONE of you have ever mentioned or try to defend against this daming news article against World Perfume: None of you have ever argued against the numerous testimonies against your company (link above). Continuing to call "World Perfume a Great Company" doesn't make it true--nor does it convince anyone-- Continuing to post complete lies about me threatening your quasi-legal company in no way lessens the evidence against World Perfume. In fact, it just shows how sleezy and low-balled distributors and World Perfume itself can truly be. You folks talk so much about "slander"--and look at all of the complete, fradulent lies that you continue to post about my imaginary threats to your company. If we ever end up in court, I will use these and other posts to prove the only party slandering is World Perfume against myself. Look at the facts and decide for yourself. This link will show you how to shut down your local distributor like we did: http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura+shut+down&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=d1036f37.0308062043.594b9373%40posting.google.com&rnum=1 (Cut and paste this long address into your address bar)
Al
Miami,#92UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, October 20, 2003
Afte reading the respone that one person outs up is no reflection of the company. i worked there for over 4 months and never encountered anything dishonest or shady. THEY PROBABLT WONT ADD THIS TO THE SITE! He is abusuing what this site is about.ONE GUY IS SLANDERING A GOOD COMPANY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR HIS OWN PURPOSES HE TELLING PEOPLE LIES AND GIVING PEOPLE HOME ADRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS TO WORLD PERFUME PEOPLE. he has offerd settltment offers to people or he will keep harasing them at home and at work. Plus, what he post on your site is full half-truths and out right slanderoud lies. World Perfume has great deals on name brand perfumes , not knock-offs.all 972-245-3366 and ask if World perfume carries name brand stuff. that will prove just one of his lies. Your trully,
Anne
Richmond,#93UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, October 12, 2003
I live in the Richmond, Va area. Back in late August of 1998 I responded to an ad in The Richmond Times-Dispatch saying, "Make big money working with wild and crazy people. No experience needed" I had just lost my job and was desparate for money. I went to the interview and while I was waiting I asked the receptionist what the job entailed. She reponded that they would go in to that when I had my interview. I went in the office and the person whose name is Jacenta told me the job would be selling designer perfumes. I tried to keep an open mind about it and went to the second interview. During the interview several people walked out, but I tried to keep an open mind and find out more about it. The company's name was Northwest Promotions. They promised me a job in managment running a business similar to this after only six weeks of training. That day they tried to get us "riled" up by having "attitude checks" where they would us it as a motivator to "yell and sell" as they said. I must say they were very convincing. After some information about the products were giving and we tested them on ourselves they gave us an assignment to sell to our friends and family that evening. That night I managed to sell about 8 bottles which at the center they found to be impressive. The second day they had us go out to shopping malls and parking lots. They gave us a sales pitch which was, "Hey, I have a crazy question for you, what kinds of colognes or perfumes do you like?" That day we went to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart associates kindly asked us to leave. That was the case with most businesses we went to. However, again I was successful in my sales. As the week went on I noticed less and less people were showing up. The managment at the center called those people who quit, "flakes". I was suspicious at that but again...I wanted to keep an open mind. The next week we went on a "sattelite sale" down in Raleigh, NC. There were two other women and me. We had to sell one bottle to get our hotel room. Because I drove I got a mere one dollar less cash in than the rest. That week I didn't do as well. I would work 12 hour days to only sell 2 or 3 bottles. At the end of the week we met up with other "employees" and drove down to Atlanta, Ga where they were having a convention. The next week I went on another sattelite sale where we went to Winston-Salem, NC. This time it was three other men and me. I did a bit better that week averaging 8-10 bottles per day so my spirits were again lifted and I had what I recall as "born again" confidence in the company. Meanwhile everyone at home that I knew thought that I had flipped my lid. My parents were skeptical about this company, but I did everything I could do to defend them. At the beginning of the third week there we took another sattelite sale down to Raleigh, NC once again. My sales weren't nearly as good. Different people in the group were arguing and tensions ran high. At the end of the week we headed back. On the way back we stopped in Cary, NC in a shopping mall and tried to drop some more bottles before we got back to Richmond. I got out of the car and locked up. I headed south in the parking lot towards a Taco Bell and sold one bottle. I got back to the car and noticed that my door was unlocked. I didn't think much about it at the time because I assumed the money was on one of the other people. Eventually we grouped back up and headed home. Once we dropped one of the girls off we went to count the money. The girl who I thought had the money went back out to my car and came back in, glared at me and said, "Where's the f'ing money"? Puzzled, I looked at her and said, "I thought you had it on you" She looked at me sternly and said. "No, I left it in the car" Then the vision of the unlocked door came back to me and I panicked. I went outside and basically tore up the car looking for it. I freaked out and said..."OH my God, what happened to the money"It was obvious. It was either stolen out of the car in Cary, NC or one of the other girls took it. After that everyone started pointing fingers. They said since I had the key I had to have stolen it. I investigated the car and didn't see any type of the tampering with the locks. I knew I had a key magnet hidden under the car. I looked under the car and saw that it was missing. But, again I had no proof that any of them did it. We called the manager, Michael Gilchrist in themiddle of the night and explained what happened. He seemed to be little concerned and cursed us for waking him up in the middle of the night for such a bogus excuse. The next day I showed back up at work and he told us that between the 4 of us we had to pay all of the almost $600 back. I was all upset. I didn't take it. I didn't lose it so I shouldn't be responsible for paying it back. I payed it back anyway but then resigned from the company because of that incident. I think that Northwest Promotions of Scentura holds an abysmal business ethic and hope that anyone who reads this will take that in to consideration before they work there. I know for me that no one could have told me and that I had to learn myself about this company. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Mike
Ft. Lauderdale,#94Consumer Suggestion
Tue, October 07, 2003
I saw the same listing in my the Sun-Sentinal Newspaper,serving Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Of course, I thought it was too good to be true WILL TRAIN YOU to be a manager with 10-15 people under you in no time. I went on the 1st interview to check it out, filled out my questionaire, waited in a tiny room wth 10 other people loacted in shitty office off of I-95, meet with the interviewer. ARE YOU A HARD WORKER AND HOW WOULD YOU RATE YOURSELF ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10? It was a short interview, the shortest one i have ever been on. Towards the end of our 5 minutes together he said to show up at noon next Thursday. I left feeling happy about this opportunity. UNTIL I got home and turned on my computer to do a little research. What I found was not surprising the whole process being at that office felt a little shady. Though I will not be returing for the secound interview which I am sure I will be hired just like anyone else I feel obligated to report this new raquet spriging up in the FT. Lauderdale area. I-95 North to Commerical head West right past powerline rd. On right 941 W. Commerical Blvd. You can't miss it the building is a piece of s**t.
Kathy
Cleveland,#95UPDATE Employee
Sat, October 04, 2003
this is really not what i wanted to see when i looked up information on perfume renditions. I just replied to an ad in the plain dealer and it was for NEED MANAGER TO STAFF MY OFFICES..... I thought I had more brains then this but I am ashamed to see that I don't. The name of the company that is doing the same exact thing as far as the 1st and 2nd interview is NORTH EASTERN MANAGEMENT on state rd. in cleveland, ohio. Today I was called to be informed that they had accepted me to be hired, oh joy. now I lost 3 days that I could've used to look for a job. What ********.!!!!
Kiesha
Birmingham,#96UPDATE Employee
Fri, October 03, 2003
Hey, I just started with designers international/scentura creations and everything that I have read so far from the original report is exactly what I have experienced with the exception of the two page contract. I've only been there for 4 days but from day 1 I thought there was something kind of fishy and with each day that feeling has gotten stronger and stronger. Something just didn't seem right so I came online and looked them up. Low and behold all of this is what I've found. Out of my 4 days there I've made, are you ready for this one? Six dollars! Yeah......that's really nice considering I've spent over 20 in gas money getting to and from there and gas getting to different areas to "merch" as they call it. And how do they fool us into doing this crap?? They say, "We train you in marketing first to weed out the flakes and weak pieces of sh*t, and also to see who the hard workers are." Anyhow.....yeah..it's all a bunch of bull. By the way...the person that had the e-mail address: [email protected], I tried e-mailing you and it failed so please e-mail me at: [email protected]. Anyone else that wants more info on this company may e-mail me as well.
Kent
Sandy,#97Consumer Suggestion
Sun, September 07, 2003
Attn Josi Aka Debra LeFevre This is going under the assumption you are a Female then i would have to guess you didnt actually lie about having a picture on the site you would be in one of the pictures on the desk of MR Johnny Whitworth however there is a dog cant tell if its male or female! You are extremly hostile towards people so let me enlighten the missing facts Josephine Villasenor is a wpi distributor a very nasty person but none the less a distributor. gee did i miss that part about her being a friend of Mr Christopher E. Doan! i had a little trouble trying to figure out who you are not that i really care but you are definatly an WPI Shrill how ever im a little confused you were sighning as Josie - Denver, Colorado and now as Josie - Dallas, Texas Where you transfered or do you just have trouble with what truth is? truth is good purfume has a higher oil/mineral consentrate so the skin will absorb it ..WPI sells lighter fluid! However It does remind me of the saying tell the same lie long enough and some one will belive it. WPI has been telling it so long There own employees belive it. but thats about what you get when you buy Perfume from a kid in a parking lot. Just how stupid do you think people Are! now i know you will come back with a great rebuttal so let me save you some time ignore all the facts and go directly to pointing out grammar and spelling errors. That is the only defense you have anything else would prove YOU lied on how to figure out who you are! Johnny Whitworth CEO John W. Whitworth President Eric R. Williams Divisional Manager Debra LeFevre Customer Relations Manager Christopher E. Doan Operations Manager World Perfume Inc. 1400 Bradley Lane Carrollton, Texas 75007 972.245.3366 972.242.7016 [fax
Kimberlee
Jacksonville,#98UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, September 03, 2003
I worked for a distribution center in Jacksonville, FL for 2 months. They got their product through World Perfume. During training and the rest of the time there, we were all told that this was the original fragrances and we sold it in parking lots, gas stations, businesses, family, friends etc. This past weekend they sent 4 of us to Myrtle Beach, SC to sell up there. We were told we would make such good money and it would be so fun. 15 minutes after arriving there, 2 of us were arrested for selling product without a business license. We were not ever told we needed one and were shocked!!! Our boss kept us in there for 19 hours until he finally bailed us out. We now have a misdemeanor on our records and my boss hasn't even contacted me since to see if I am OK. These people are scam-artists! I know that it is fun to work there and all the people are awesome! But jail IS NOT worth it!! Please be aware that their practices are illegal. We also found out that the perfume is all stuff that World Perfume makes, it is NOT the original fragrance! They said, "if it was fake, we couldn't put a label on it" but, they did!! I called World Perfume and they admitted it was not original!! They are all liars; get out now if you can before you end up broke and in jail. They also lie about money, I made on average $100/week there for 2 months and I worked about 60 hours/week! This is NOT worth it!!!!
Josie
Dallas,#99UPDATE Employee
Mon, August 11, 2003
I don't know where you get your BS info, but I am NOT Josephine Villasenor, and I DO NOT run a distribution center! Do a little research and you can EASILY find my identity. I work IN the WPI office, their ONLY office, in Dallas, TX. If you did a little serious research, rather than reading the second, third, and fourth hand accounts that you claim as FACTS, you would EASILY find my true identity. There is NO Josephine Villasenor involved with WPI, there never has been, and NOBODY at WPI has ever HEARD of Josephine Villasenor. As for all of your secondhand (and third, fourth and fifth) accounts of "FACTS," I was always taught that just because it is in print, it doesn't make it true. The only thing that you write that ticks me off is that I am Josephine Villasenor. WHO THE HELL IS THAT? I have never heard of her, except through you. Put some real work in, and find my TRUE identity. I told you that my picture is posted at worldperfumeinc.com, yet you are really too dense to go to that site and locate me. I have NO ads in the paper, I do NO FFAR, I have NO independent contractors, and I have NEVER signed any contracts with WPI, EVER. Thanks.
Jd
Salt Lake City,#100UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, August 09, 2003
*****
206 pages of testimonies against world perfume and Scentura:
Skip to testimonies 2 of 4: World perfume testimonies; people who stayed with scentura for less than a week
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308072125.67d5f691%40posting.google.com&rnum=2
Skip to testimonies 3 of 4:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308062051.650ca80b%40posting.google.com&rnum=1
Skip to testimonies 4 of 4:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308052000.157ce7b1%40posting.google.com&rnum=2
**********
**********
Go to section 1 and 2: TELEVISION, MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER REPORTS (17) AND COURT ORDERS AGAINST WORLD PERFUME AND SCENTURA Section 2: WHAT IS WORLD PERFUME AND SCENTURA?
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308072134.67abf472%40posting.google.com&rnum=1
*******************
Go to section 3:
Section 3: What You Can Do To Shut Down Your Local World Perfume & Scentura
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308062043.594b9373%40posting.google.com&rnum=2
*******************
Go to section 4:
Scentura Better Business Reports; Description of what happens, Day to Day ; Response to World Perfume headquarters email and chat line message ; Sources of info on world perfume and Scentura
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=d1036f37.0308051744.97e2fa4%40posting.google.com&rnum=2
********************
List of hundreds of Scentura and World perfume Distributors:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308052002.25c57a32%40posting.google.com&rnum=5
********************************************
********************************************
Anyone who wants to talk with Jospehine, you can look in the Chicago Tribune classifieds, for an ad for Skyline Advancement.
In fact her is all of the info I have collected on Josephine, which she herself posted:
Skyline Advancement Corp. 417 S. Dearborn suite 200 Chicago IL Skyline Managers: Josie Villasenor http://www.skylineadvancement.com/ 312-360-0051
Info on Josie:
( http://www.seniors-site.com/fraud/1333.html 12-Oct-2002 or July 25, 2001 while she was still at Scentura)
Josie thinly veiled threats to a former employees:
http://seniors-site.com/fraud/1399.html
Josie trained Thanh, Thanh showing his "WPOS " mentality
(http://www.seniors-site.com/fraud/1383.html )
Thanh's husband, Simone, wrote this threating letter: ( http://www.seniors-site.com/fraud/1398.html ) (Mention of Simone: http://seniors-site.com/fraud/1411.html )
Josie is the former owner of Diamond Star International (above) and like many World Perfume distributors, a former Scentura distributor starting in 1995 [She regularly defended Scentura and now regularly defends World Perfume]
BBB address: 125 N. Halsted St., #202 Chicago, IL 60661
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 36 Months: 9
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 2
Dissatisifed trainees:
http://seniors-site.com/fraud/1572.html trainee state that Joie's business was advertised as "Grand Opening" at 417 So. Dearborn Suite 200 in classifieds message dated Sept 9, 2001 or Feb 17, 2002 ) :
GENERAL OFFICE 22 F/T positions $575 per week no experience nec.
Paid trainning Grand Openning 312 360-0051
Chicago Tribune ad, July 2003, listed as an "Admin - Clerical" job:
General Office FT
CAREER
Positive & worth $600+ a wk?
Josie: 312-360-0051. BBB/EOE.
As you see, the Chicago Tribune tells you to ask for Josie. Josephine Villasenor is also listed on the chicago BBB as the owner of the business. So Josie is actually in Chicago, not Denver Colorado as she has claimed in earlier posts, or in Dallas Texas. I have caught her in another lie.
****
Josephine writes:
"Of the 17 articles, how many were about World Perfume, or any of its distributors?"
--
I never said that all 17 were about World Perfume Josephine. Now that we are on this subject Ms. Villasenor, what do you think af the newspaper report? Aptly named "Scents of Deception"
--
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
--
Every misleading and devious lie that this reporter caught the distributor in is norm and typical of World Perfume distributors.
--
If you don't believe me go to my new post, that World Perfume and Scentura, unlike the other two web posting sites, will be unable to take down.
--
These are 23 pages of testimonies against World Perfume, some of these people where with a World Perfume distibutor for months:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308072125.67d5f691%40posting.google.com&rnum=2
---
They describe the same lies that the newsreporter from Akron, Ohio caught the distributor in.
--
Ad this to the other 4 pages found on the chat boards (it takes 3 to 9 hours for a posting to appear, so I don't have the webpage addy yet) and that is 27 pages of testimonies against World Perfume.
--
Actually the number of complaints against world perfume and scentura has balooned to 209 pages. So 27 of those 209 are about World Perfume, which is consistent because Scentura is much older (late 70's and early 80's). The full article about the history of Scentura (which mentions Johnny Whitworth, president of World Perfume, as one of the largest distributors) can be found here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=scentura&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&scoring=d&selm=d1036f37.0308072134.67abf472%40posting.google.com&rnum=1
--
World Perfume broke off from Scentura in 1994, stealing its business model, so it doesn't have as many distribution centers, thus less complaints, as Scentura.
--
Call Scentura about this one if you don't beleive me:
(770) 455-0947
--
"The Illinois case was a civil suit that SCENTURA brought against Dan Long. You seem to insinuate that the state brought the case against him, which is a TOTALLY FALSE ASSUMPTION. "
--
I said that the Illinois court of appeals ruled against Scentura. I never claim that the Illinois court brought a law suit against Scentura, and if I have (which I dont think I have) then I apologize for the confusion and my mistake. I have almost 400 pages of materials against World Perfume and its sister company Scentura, so I am bound to make a few mistakes. I jsut admonish people to look at the bigger picture: A pattern of fraud and deceipt.
--
Josephine, a former Scentura distirbutor, shows in this web posting that she is lying through her teeth by stating she is in Dallas when her distibution center is in Chicago.
--
How many lies do I need to catch these distributors in before these people admit they have lost and the evidence is overwhelmingly against them?
--
Josephine wrote:
"The state ruled that if Dan Long was indeed responsible, then Scentura would be classified as a multilevel scheme, which would nullify Dan's suppoesed responsibility for these offices."
--
I agree. The state threw out the case against Dan Long becuase:
"In our view, the consignment contract between plaintiff and defendant is properly characterized as a chain referral sales technique or pyramid sales scheme, which falls within the protection of section 2A of the Act."
The court case is found here:
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm
--
"At WPI each office is independently owned, so according to this particular case, WPI is definitely NOT multi level."
--
Josephine, replace the word WPI with Scentura and you would be describing Scentura.
--
At SCENTURA each office is independently owned, so according to this particular case, SCENTURA is definitely NOT multi level.
--
We both know that the sales techniques explained in this case describe World Perfume exactly. World Perfume distributors sell perfume on cosignment, just like Scentura.
--
Also World Perfume is as guilty as Scentura in "unpersuasive [arguements that are] nothing more than an exercise in semantics"
--
"While defendant contends that the consignment contract falls squarely within the protection of section 2A of the Act, plaintiff contends that the contract cannot be construed as a chain referral agreement or pyramid sales scheme because furnishing names of other consignees is not a condition precedent to defendant's financial gain. Plaintiff also asserts that section 2A of the Consumer Fraud Act does not apply because plaintiff did not "sell" merchandise, but, instead, it delivered the perfume on consignment. We find plaintiff's asserted distinctions to be unpersuasive and nothing more than an exercise in semantics."
--
Josephine wrote:
"Read the case for yourself, I did. You will easily see that this case actually proves that WPI is NOT multi level. "
I don't know what case you read Josephine, but it wasn't the same one that I read. The case simply shows that Scentura is a multi-level marketing scheme. My assertion has been the entire time is that World Perfume has the exact same fradulent sales tactics as Scentura. It is ran the exact same way as Scentura. Independent distributors buy perfume on cosignment. This is true of both Scentura and World Perfume.
--
"My favorite is the comments about Josephine Villasenor. Josie is definitely a BIG part of World Perfume, but she is not Josephine Villasenor. Ms. Villasenor, whoever she may be, HAS NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH WORLD PERFUME. Ask people who are involved with WPI if they know Josie, and they probably do. Anyone who knows Josie and has read notworldperfume's comments about Josie realize that notworldperfume has done NO research as to the true identity of Josie.
--
Notworldperfume looks like a total dumb@$$ for even suggesting that Josie is Josephine Villasenor. But he is not suggesting that Josie is Ms. Villasenor, he thinks that he KNOWS that Josie is Ms. Villasenor. Hey, mr. notworldperfume, why don't you go to www.worldperfumeinc.com and look closely at the pictures. You will find a picture of Josie, and she is certainly NOT a distributor, much less a "big distributor." Hey everyone, look closely at what this man writes. He shoots from the hip. He does no research to verify his "facts", he simply writes what he wants you to beleive as true. I am extremely offended that he tells all of you that I am "Josephine Villasenor" which is the most ridiculous statement that someone could
make. If you ever come to the WPI office, be sure to say hello to me. I will happily prove to you that notworldperfume is a complete liar. The simple fact that he tells you that he knows my true identity makes him a liar."
--
I stand by my comments. I may be wrong, since I have had to piece together evidence on the net, but I stand by my assertions.
--
--
--
"As to what you are doing, I GUARANTEE that the libelous statements that you post are INDEED illegal. As soon as your identity is found, a suit will be brought against you, and not one jury would EVER find you not guilty. It is illegal to tell people that our business practices are the same as Scentura. "
--
Ahh...hear comes the empty threats. You must be a lawyer and a prophet Josie!
--
I know, as you do, that Scentura and World Perfume's business models are exactly the same. And yes, if we were to go to court, I would be able to prove this. It is all there:
>The FFAAR (Friend Family Associates Aquantiences and Relatives) scheme. They even have the same acronym.
>The fradulent advertisements in the newspapers.
>The promises of offices (5-8 weeks) after training
>The selling perfume in parking lots and door to door to businesses.
>The sale of perfume on cosignment
>The independent contractor licenses
>The empty first interview followed by a large group interview
--
Josie, lets admit, these are all things that World Perfume does. And this is exactly what World Perfume does too.
--
I thought you were in Denver Josie?
http://ripoffreport.com/view.asp?id=36647
--
Get your story straight. Because it makes you look like you are not telling the truth. I beleive that you have also in other postings that you were a distributor, not working in the main office.
Your quotes:
"I would also like to state that I get a PAYCHECK every single friggin' week! Yes, it is based on commissions, but that is how I get paid.
--
I have caught you in so many lies over the months Josie. I will post all of our letters back and forth below.
--
By the way, I called the Chicago Revenue department. 744-6775 The Revenue department said that a person needs a license to peddle door to door to BUSINESSES. She said that a Peddlers license is $75 and that the person must also get a tax number. This is for businesses NOT residentual areas. The woman I spoke with said these licenses are available in room 107. This is the exact same thing that the business office said in Denver. That it is illegal to peddle products with out a licence.
--
"Every person who reades your postings and decides to "make a difference" by going onto someones property and passing out flyers is guilty of tresspassing, libel, and slander."
--
Had problems lately with your distribution center lately Josie?
--
So sue them. They can turn around and sue the distribution center for grevious lies and false advertising. I just love how crooks like yourself use the law as a shield.
--
In one of your postings you brought up a lot miselading and ridiculous claims about the constitution to <
Josie
Dallas,#101UPDATE Employee
Wed, July 30, 2003
Of the 161 pages of testimony, how many were about World Perfume? (I don't know, but it is a very small number) Of the 17 articles, how many were about World Perfume, or any of its distributors? (After reading them, I found that only TWO of them were referring to a World Perfume distributor.) The Illinois case was a civil suit that SCENTURA brought against Dan Long. You seem to insinuate that the state brought the case against him, which is a TOTALLY FALSE ASSUMPTION. The case reads as "Scentura vs. Daniel Long." The reason that Scentura filed the suit was that when Dan Long had left Scentura to become a distributor of WPI, several other offices left as well, but did not pay for all of their merch. This upset Scentura, so they brought a civil suit against Mr. Long, claiming that he was responsible for the owed balances of these other offices. The state ruled that if Dan Long was indeed responsible, then Scentura would be classified as a multilevel scheme, which would nullify Dan's suppoesed responsibility for these offices. At WPI each office is independently owned, so according to this particular case, WPI is definitely NOT multi level. Read the case for yourself, I did. You will easily see that this case actually proves that WPI is NOT multi level. My favorite is the comments about Josephine Villasenor. Josie is definitely a BIG part of World Perfume, but she is not Josephine Villasenor. Ms. Villasenor, whoever she may be, HAS NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH WORLD PERFUME. Ask people who are involved with WPI if they know Josie, and they probably do. Anyone who knows Josie and has read notworldperfume's comments about Josie realize that notworldperfume has done NO research as to the true identity of Josie. Notworldperfume looks like a total dumb@$$ for even suggesting that Josie is Josephine Villasenor. But he is not suggesting that Josie is Ms. Villasenor, he thinks that he KNOWS that Josie is Ms. Villasenor. Hey, mr. notworldperfume, why don't you go to www.worldperfumeinc.com and look closely at the pictures. You will find a picture of Josie, and she is certainly NOT a distributor, much less a "big distributor." Hey everyone, look closely at what this man writes. He shoots from the hip. He does no research to verify his "facts", he simply writes what he wants you to beleive as true. I am extremely offended that he tells all of you that I am "Josephine Villasenor" which is the most ridiculous statement that someone could make. If you ever come to the WPI office, be sure to say hello to me. I will happily prove to you that notworldperfume is a complete liar. The simple fact that he tells you that he knows my true identity makes him a liar. And again, no court has EVER ruled that WPI is a "multilevel schem." The state of Illinois simply ruled that Scentura's claim that Dan Long was financially responsible for all of the offices would be a multilevel setup. WPI is NOT set up that way, go read the case for yourself. And to notworldperfume, I would suggest that you be careful. Selling perfume the way that we do is NOT illegal. If you really think taht it is, come sue us. As to what you are doing, I GUARANTEE that the libelous statements taht you post are INDEED illegal. As soon as your identity is found, a suit will be brought against you, and not one jury would EVER find you not guilty. It is illegal to tell people that our business practices are the same as Scentura. It is illegal to post lies about a company, especially with the intention of "shutting it down." Every person who reades your postings and decides to "make adifference" by going onto someones property and passing out flyers is guilty of tresspassing, libel, and slander. I have personally seen someone arrested for attempting to enter someone's office with flyers after being asked to leave. YOU are the one who is doing illegal things, not us. YOU are the one attempting to brainwash innocent people, not us. YOU are the one posting lies, not us. YOU are the one who is wrong. I have found over the years that there is something called KARMA. What goes around, comes around. We do right to others, so I know that we will be okay. You can only keep your identity secret for so long, sir. Every time that you post something new, we get that much closer to finding your identity. All that we have to do is pinpoint your general location, then the local law enforcement will take over.
Josie
Dallas,#102UPDATE Employee
Wed, July 30, 2003
Of the 161 pages of testimony, how many were about World Perfume? (I don't know, but it is a very small number) Of the 17 articles, how many were about World Perfume, or any of its distributors? (After reading them, I found that only TWO of them were referring to a World Perfume distributor.) The Illinois case was a civil suit that SCENTURA brought against Dan Long. You seem to insinuate that the state brought the case against him, which is a TOTALLY FALSE ASSUMPTION. The case reads as "Scentura vs. Daniel Long." The reason that Scentura filed the suit was that when Dan Long had left Scentura to become a distributor of WPI, several other offices left as well, but did not pay for all of their merch. This upset Scentura, so they brought a civil suit against Mr. Long, claiming that he was responsible for the owed balances of these other offices. The state ruled that if Dan Long was indeed responsible, then Scentura would be classified as a multilevel scheme, which would nullify Dan's suppoesed responsibility for these offices. At WPI each office is independently owned, so according to this particular case, WPI is definitely NOT multi level. Read the case for yourself, I did. You will easily see that this case actually proves that WPI is NOT multi level. My favorite is the comments about Josephine Villasenor. Josie is definitely a BIG part of World Perfume, but she is not Josephine Villasenor. Ms. Villasenor, whoever she may be, HAS NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH WORLD PERFUME. Ask people who are involved with WPI if they know Josie, and they probably do. Anyone who knows Josie and has read notworldperfume's comments about Josie realize that notworldperfume has done NO research as to the true identity of Josie. Notworldperfume looks like a total dumb@$$ for even suggesting that Josie is Josephine Villasenor. But he is not suggesting that Josie is Ms. Villasenor, he thinks that he KNOWS that Josie is Ms. Villasenor. Hey, mr. notworldperfume, why don't you go to www.worldperfumeinc.com and look closely at the pictures. You will find a picture of Josie, and she is certainly NOT a distributor, much less a "big distributor." Hey everyone, look closely at what this man writes. He shoots from the hip. He does no research to verify his "facts", he simply writes what he wants you to beleive as true. I am extremely offended that he tells all of you that I am "Josephine Villasenor" which is the most ridiculous statement that someone could make. If you ever come to the WPI office, be sure to say hello to me. I will happily prove to you that notworldperfume is a complete liar. The simple fact that he tells you that he knows my true identity makes him a liar. And again, no court has EVER ruled that WPI is a "multilevel schem." The state of Illinois simply ruled that Scentura's claim that Dan Long was financially responsible for all of the offices would be a multilevel setup. WPI is NOT set up that way, go read the case for yourself. And to notworldperfume, I would suggest that you be careful. Selling perfume the way that we do is NOT illegal. If you really think taht it is, come sue us. As to what you are doing, I GUARANTEE that the libelous statements taht you post are INDEED illegal. As soon as your identity is found, a suit will be brought against you, and not one jury would EVER find you not guilty. It is illegal to tell people that our business practices are the same as Scentura. It is illegal to post lies about a company, especially with the intention of "shutting it down." Every person who reades your postings and decides to "make adifference" by going onto someones property and passing out flyers is guilty of tresspassing, libel, and slander. I have personally seen someone arrested for attempting to enter someone's office with flyers after being asked to leave. YOU are the one who is doing illegal things, not us. YOU are the one attempting to brainwash innocent people, not us. YOU are the one posting lies, not us. YOU are the one who is wrong. I have found over the years that there is something called KARMA. What goes around, comes around. We do right to others, so I know that we will be okay. You can only keep your identity secret for so long, sir. Every time that you post something new, we get that much closer to finding your identity. All that we have to do is pinpoint your general location, then the local law enforcement will take over.
Josie
Dallas,#103UPDATE Employee
Wed, July 30, 2003
Of the 161 pages of testimony, how many were about World Perfume? (I don't know, but it is a very small number) Of the 17 articles, how many were about World Perfume, or any of its distributors? (After reading them, I found that only TWO of them were referring to a World Perfume distributor.) The Illinois case was a civil suit that SCENTURA brought against Dan Long. You seem to insinuate that the state brought the case against him, which is a TOTALLY FALSE ASSUMPTION. The case reads as "Scentura vs. Daniel Long." The reason that Scentura filed the suit was that when Dan Long had left Scentura to become a distributor of WPI, several other offices left as well, but did not pay for all of their merch. This upset Scentura, so they brought a civil suit against Mr. Long, claiming that he was responsible for the owed balances of these other offices. The state ruled that if Dan Long was indeed responsible, then Scentura would be classified as a multilevel scheme, which would nullify Dan's suppoesed responsibility for these offices. At WPI each office is independently owned, so according to this particular case, WPI is definitely NOT multi level. Read the case for yourself, I did. You will easily see that this case actually proves that WPI is NOT multi level. My favorite is the comments about Josephine Villasenor. Josie is definitely a BIG part of World Perfume, but she is not Josephine Villasenor. Ms. Villasenor, whoever she may be, HAS NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH WORLD PERFUME. Ask people who are involved with WPI if they know Josie, and they probably do. Anyone who knows Josie and has read notworldperfume's comments about Josie realize that notworldperfume has done NO research as to the true identity of Josie. Notworldperfume looks like a total dumb@$$ for even suggesting that Josie is Josephine Villasenor. But he is not suggesting that Josie is Ms. Villasenor, he thinks that he KNOWS that Josie is Ms. Villasenor. Hey, mr. notworldperfume, why don't you go to www.worldperfumeinc.com and look closely at the pictures. You will find a picture of Josie, and she is certainly NOT a distributor, much less a "big distributor." Hey everyone, look closely at what this man writes. He shoots from the hip. He does no research to verify his "facts", he simply writes what he wants you to beleive as true. I am extremely offended that he tells all of you that I am "Josephine Villasenor" which is the most ridiculous statement that someone could make. If you ever come to the WPI office, be sure to say hello to me. I will happily prove to you that notworldperfume is a complete liar. The simple fact that he tells you that he knows my true identity makes him a liar. And again, no court has EVER ruled that WPI is a "multilevel schem." The state of Illinois simply ruled that Scentura's claim that Dan Long was financially responsible for all of the offices would be a multilevel setup. WPI is NOT set up that way, go read the case for yourself. And to notworldperfume, I would suggest that you be careful. Selling perfume the way that we do is NOT illegal. If you really think taht it is, come sue us. As to what you are doing, I GUARANTEE that the libelous statements taht you post are INDEED illegal. As soon as your identity is found, a suit will be brought against you, and not one jury would EVER find you not guilty. It is illegal to tell people that our business practices are the same as Scentura. It is illegal to post lies about a company, especially with the intention of "shutting it down." Every person who reades your postings and decides to "make adifference" by going onto someones property and passing out flyers is guilty of tresspassing, libel, and slander. I have personally seen someone arrested for attempting to enter someone's office with flyers after being asked to leave. YOU are the one who is doing illegal things, not us. YOU are the one attempting to brainwash innocent people, not us. YOU are the one posting lies, not us. YOU are the one who is wrong. I have found over the years that there is something called KARMA. What goes around, comes around. We do right to others, so I know that we will be okay. You can only keep your identity secret for so long, sir. Every time that you post something new, we get that much closer to finding your identity. All that we have to do is pinpoint your general location, then the local law enforcement will take over.
Josie
Dallas,#104UPDATE Employee
Wed, July 30, 2003
Of the 161 pages of testimony, how many were about World Perfume? (I don't know, but it is a very small number) Of the 17 articles, how many were about World Perfume, or any of its distributors? (After reading them, I found that only TWO of them were referring to a World Perfume distributor.) The Illinois case was a civil suit that SCENTURA brought against Dan Long. You seem to insinuate that the state brought the case against him, which is a TOTALLY FALSE ASSUMPTION. The case reads as "Scentura vs. Daniel Long." The reason that Scentura filed the suit was that when Dan Long had left Scentura to become a distributor of WPI, several other offices left as well, but did not pay for all of their merch. This upset Scentura, so they brought a civil suit against Mr. Long, claiming that he was responsible for the owed balances of these other offices. The state ruled that if Dan Long was indeed responsible, then Scentura would be classified as a multilevel scheme, which would nullify Dan's suppoesed responsibility for these offices. At WPI each office is independently owned, so according to this particular case, WPI is definitely NOT multi level. Read the case for yourself, I did. You will easily see that this case actually proves that WPI is NOT multi level. My favorite is the comments about Josephine Villasenor. Josie is definitely a BIG part of World Perfume, but she is not Josephine Villasenor. Ms. Villasenor, whoever she may be, HAS NEVER DONE ANY BUSINESS WITH WORLD PERFUME. Ask people who are involved with WPI if they know Josie, and they probably do. Anyone who knows Josie and has read notworldperfume's comments about Josie realize that notworldperfume has done NO research as to the true identity of Josie. Notworldperfume looks like a total dumb@$$ for even suggesting that Josie is Josephine Villasenor. But he is not suggesting that Josie is Ms. Villasenor, he thinks that he KNOWS that Josie is Ms. Villasenor. Hey, mr. notworldperfume, why don't you go to www.worldperfumeinc.com and look closely at the pictures. You will find a picture of Josie, and she is certainly NOT a distributor, much less a "big distributor." Hey everyone, look closely at what this man writes. He shoots from the hip. He does no research to verify his "facts", he simply writes what he wants you to beleive as true. I am extremely offended that he tells all of you that I am "Josephine Villasenor" which is the most ridiculous statement that someone could make. If you ever come to the WPI office, be sure to say hello to me. I will happily prove to you that notworldperfume is a complete liar. The simple fact that he tells you that he knows my true identity makes him a liar. And again, no court has EVER ruled that WPI is a "multilevel schem." The state of Illinois simply ruled that Scentura's claim that Dan Long was financially responsible for all of the offices would be a multilevel setup. WPI is NOT set up that way, go read the case for yourself. And to notworldperfume, I would suggest that you be careful. Selling perfume the way that we do is NOT illegal. If you really think taht it is, come sue us. As to what you are doing, I GUARANTEE that the libelous statements taht you post are INDEED illegal. As soon as your identity is found, a suit will be brought against you, and not one jury would EVER find you not guilty. It is illegal to tell people that our business practices are the same as Scentura. It is illegal to post lies about a company, especially with the intention of "shutting it down." Every person who reades your postings and decides to "make adifference" by going onto someones property and passing out flyers is guilty of tresspassing, libel, and slander. I have personally seen someone arrested for attempting to enter someone's office with flyers after being asked to leave. YOU are the one who is doing illegal things, not us. YOU are the one attempting to brainwash innocent people, not us. YOU are the one posting lies, not us. YOU are the one who is wrong. I have found over the years that there is something called KARMA. What goes around, comes around. We do right to others, so I know that we will be okay. You can only keep your identity secret for so long, sir. Every time that you post something new, we get that much closer to finding your identity. All that we have to do is pinpoint your general location, then the local law enforcement will take over.
Jd
Salt Lake City,#105UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, July 26, 2003
(Response below) --- I have over 370 pages of info on Scentura and World Perfume. I collect the info to warn others of this horrible scam: -- 161 pages of testimonies from people like you who have been ripped off and cheated by world perfume or scentura: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8356.html -- 81 pages on world perfume and scentura, 17 news articles, 1 court order: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8233.html -- Folks, CURRENT LUDICROUS DEFENSES OF WORLD PERFUME "Jeff" wrote this: "From every thing i read on internet it seems to be posted by one individual not_worldperfume. All posting have same content. Its sad that rip-off wouldnt notice this." I have been waiting a long time for this incredible proposterous and ridiculous defense of World Perfume. Is this man trying to tell you that I wrote everyone of the 161 pages of testimonies against World Perfume and Scentura? Most with varifiable email addresses listing information about cities all over America that one person could not possibly know about? (link below) Is this man trying to tell you that I wrote 17 newspaper articles against Scentura and World Perfume in at least 16 different cities? (link below) Is this man trying to tell you that I was on the panel of judges in Illinois which ruled that Scentura was a "multi level marketing scheme"? The distributor which was being sued, Dan Long, in that case took all of his knowledge of Scentura's pyramid scehme and started working as a distributor for World Perfume. Since they have identical business practices, it wasn't hard to make the transition. This is typical:Josephine Villasenor, a big distributor for Scentura is now a distibutor of World Perfume. Johhny Whitworth himself, president of World Perfume was one of the top seller of Scentura before leaving in 1994 and starting a busines 99% identical to Scentura. (link below) PAST LUDICROUS DEFENSES OF WORLD PERFUME Distributors of World Perfume have used every lame brained tactics to try and convince people that what I and others, hundreds of others, have written is false. That World Perfume is: *not a pyramid scheme, *that it is not illegal to sell perfume without a solicitors license, *that the business I closed down in Utah never existed *That the distibution center practices of this Utah distributor was not normal business practices (which they support and encourage, which is shown by these same people opening up another World Perfume distributor in Tampa Florida) *That the people who are saying these things are "Weak Peices of Sh*t" (WPOS) who couldn't make it. (Are the reporters and the judges that write critical articles about Scentura and World Perfume also "WPOS") "Straw man tactics" (attacking the messenger instead of the message): *My favorite, from the President of World Perfume: that I am trying to extort a bribe from his company, with ZERO evidence backing this up. *Another favorite of mine, also from the President of World Perfume, that I work for a competitor. And it goes on, and on and on....The bottom line is "Jeff" and all of his distributors are immoral charletons who want to put a good light on a multi-level pyramid scheme. "Jeff" has a vested interested in making sure that his "son" (if the story is legit) continues to run the same misleading advertisments in the classifieds and draw in unsuspecting desperate young adults into the scam. "Jeff" never talks about his "son's" job: how there are hundreds of people that answer his son's ad , sell perfume to their family and friends, illegally on the streets and in parking lots, often quit good paying, stable jobs, realize it is a scam and they will never make any money and quit. No "Jeff" never wants to talk about these hundreds of people. He just wants to talk about a few of the immoral monsters at the top of the pyramid, like his "son" that are making money off of manipulating and lying to employees and customers. DON'T FALL FOR THE SCAM. READ THE OVER 350 PAGES OF INFO which I have compiled. Don't help pay for this and other charleton's mortgages while you make no money. Don't fall victim to this scam. How much information will their have to be out their before we convince these chareletons that they have lost the propoganda war? **** You can easily shut down your local world perfume or scentura distributor: http://dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8037.html ***** I have over 370 pages of info on Scentura and World Perfume. I collect the info to warn others of this horrible scam: -- 161 pages of testimonies from people like you who have been ripped off and cheated by world perfume or scentura: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8356.html -- 81 pages on world perfume and scentura, 17 news articles, 1 court order: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8233.html -- "Losers never quit": a heart wrenching story from someone who stayed with Scentura for 5 months--EVERYTHING that Scentura does in this story is exactly the same as World Perfume tactics http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/8692.html -- 100+ pages is an adobe acrobat file that a former distributor sent me describing the unethical, behind the scenes pracites of Scentura (available from me by request) -- Hope this answers your questions. **** You can easily shut down your local world perfume or scentura distributor: http://dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8037.html *****
Chris
Detroit,#106UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, July 09, 2003
I have read what some people post about world Perfume and most of it is not true. They are a honest company and never lied to me. It was not a a scam. If you look at most postings its all by the same person. world perfume is a large company if they where doing wrong than why is it only one person posting lies. WORLD PERFUME IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RIGHT PERSON. HAVE A NICE DAY
Jd
Dallas,#107Author of original report
Fri, July 04, 2003
Chris Doan, one of the people in World Perfume that works in the head office in Texas, has always claimed what he claimed above: "I work for World Perfume,Inc. We are NOT in Salt Lake City. That report is false, that business name DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. That address DOES NOT EXIST in Utah." --Rebuttal REBUTTAL employee Submitted: 1/8/2003 2:33:58 PM Modified: 2/9/2003 8:14:16 PM Well, unforunatly for world perfume, I recieved this email yesterday: "And as far as the Salt Lake office that you claim to have closed down goes. Well, they left Salt Lake (can you blame them take a look around) but I can guarantee you that their up and going again. And doing better than ever. You probably actually did them a favor. (I'm sure Tammy & Joe send their thanks)" --from [email protected] So either Chris Doan is lying that a world perfume distributor has never been in Salt Lake, or this person who worked for WPI for "two years" and myself are lying. Based on the hundreds of testimonies and the 17 newspaper articles exposing this scam, who are you going to beleive? Get the real facts, not distortions from people who simply want your money: **** You can easily shut down your local world perfume or scentura distributor: http://dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8037.html ***** -- i have over 350 pages of info on Scentura and World Perfume. I collect the info to warn others of this horrible scam. -- 100+ pages is an adobe acrobat file that a former distributor sent me describing the unethical, behind the scenes pracites of Scentura (available from me by request) -- 161pages of testimonies from people like you who have been ripped off and cheated by world perfume and scentura: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8356.html -- 81 pages on world perfume and scentura, 17 news articles, 1 court order: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8233.html Hope this answers your questions. **** You can easily shut down your local world perfume or scentura distributor: http://dcregistry.com/forums/employment/messages/8037.html *****
Janis
Burleson / Fort Worth,#108Consumer Comment
Wed, June 25, 2003
The company that W. P. is using in the Fort Worth area (Euless, Texas) is Innovative Marketing Solutions, 2275 West Park Court Suite 201, (817) 283-4566. The office manager is Belinda Chamber, she is the one that took me back for a more one on one interview to gather more information. After the group orientation, Belinda took 3 of us (including myself) to her office. I am a business professional, current working for a local goverment agencies, the man in charge read and marked my application. After Belinda complete my one on one interview that 3 other people listed to my person information, my kids, how I would rate myself, my address and phone number and where I work! I was given a card and told to call back in about 45 minutes to see if I made it through the first cut. Hesitant, I called to see, I was told that Belinda really loved my personality and thinks that I would be great. I was told to dress sharp and plan to spend 3-4 hours on my next interview. I was promised 375.00 a week paid training, and that nothing would be coming out of pocket. I could tell that these people were very nervous with me setting in that room, I am in law enforcement. They were sweating bullets, I was in and out needless to say. This is a joke, after setting through the meeting and now reading this, it confirms that this is a scam, regardless what state you are in, they are all saying the same things. Please don't fall for this, it is not worth your time or money... Thanks for listening.
Tonya
Duncanville,#109UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, June 23, 2003
The company I went to was named Unique Interprise rhe people who taned me was Yvette and andre. But are regional manger was Eric he wanted us to call him "uncle Eric". the was located in duncanville. They wanted us to go out of town the next day. I said no and the regional mager act like he got attitude so I left. He explained the rendetions and orginals. I hate this comolany and I hope it get shut down!!!!!!
Blade
San Bernardino,#110UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, June 16, 2003
in San Bernardino, California where Me and My Fiance live their under the name O'Factory Imports I have read most of the postings here and it sounds exaclty like what My Fiance was bout to get ripped off Im glad a friend turned Me onto this site so She wont be making the same mistakes as others have and I do feel for them believe Me Im posting this for My Fiance as She is a former employee of O'Factory Imports phone number 909-384-7003 their advertisment reads as a Customer Service Will train no exp necassarry Good Benefits
Jd
Dallas,#111Author of original report
Tue, May 20, 2003
******** PERFUME SALES JUST A SMELLY SCAM? YOUNG PEOPLE SAY AMHERST COMPANY FAILS ON TRAINING, PAY PROMISES Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Mar 28, 1992; By James T. Madore - News Business Reporter; A group of young people is accusing an Amherst perfume distributor of falsely advertising career opportunities and of asking them to smuggle products into Canada. They describe Nautica Stars Inc. as nothing more than a sophisticated "scam" that preys on people made desperate by unemployment and the recession by promising them career advancement and paid training -- and then not delivering on the promises. They say they were told they could earn up to $35,000 a year or about $600 a week. However, they say they were lucky if they made $50 per week. The 18-to-23-year-olds have reported their concerns to the Better Business Bureau of Western New York, which has launched an investigation, according to Dolores J. Liberatore, the bureau's vice president. Founded in January, Nautica Stars, 331 Alberta Drive, distributes generic perfumes that are similar to Obsession, Eternity and other popular fragrances. The products are manufactured by Scentura Creations of Atlanta, Ga., a 17-year-old company with 570 sales offices worldwide. John D. Disbro, a Williamsville resident, owns Nautica Stars. He and Michael E. Wallette of Cleveland, a regional vice president for Scentura, deny all the accusations made by the young adults. Both described their venture as "honest" and "not meant to hurt anyone" in an interview Friday. Jennifer E. Andrews of Kenmore disagreed, saying: "We were basically misled . . . it was totally different than they said it was. We ended up spending more money than we were making." She explained that she and her friends were given perfume by Nautica Stars to sell on consignment. They could charge whatever price they wanted, as long as $19 was paid to Nautica Stars for every item that was sold. Financial records provided by Nautica Stars show that the disgruntled individuals earned between $20 and $66 during the two weeks they spent selling fragrances. All of them left the company about a week ago when their sales declined. Wallette, the firm's supervisor, said it is possible for teen-agers to be successful selling perfume. For example, he said, a 19-year-old woman from Rochester was Scentura's top salesperson in New York in mid-February. And Mark M. Riedel, 28, of West Seneca is planning to open his own sales office in Cheektowaga, after being with the company for barely 3 1/2 weeks, Wallette said. "This isn't a scam," he said. "And I don't want our name to be tarnished by a few bad apples." Amy Eddy of Buffalo and Brian Bader of South Wales don't consider themselves troublemakers. They say all they want is to be reimbursed for their expenses and paid for the training sessions they attended. Bader explained that he and his friends applied for jobs with Nautica Stars after reading a newspaper advertisement seeking managers and assistant managers. The ad promised paid training, and the potential for cash bonuses plus health benefits in the future. "We never got paid for training," Bader said. "There was a lot of talk and promises; not must else." He estimated that Nautica Stars owes him $655 for the use of his car and $442 in training wages. Miss Eddy and Miss Andrews each claim they are owed $260 for expenses and $680 in wages. "If they have receipts, I will reimburse them. But I won't be raped," responded Wallette, who supervises Nautica Stars. Owner John Disbro acknowledged that his advertisement was misleading and said it has been changed. "It was unintentional," he said, adding "I will do anything to make this right." The young adults also allege that Wallette took them to Canada on selling trips and told them to lie to customs inspectors. He forced them to smuggle, they said. Wallette denied the charge and said Nautica Stars has never sold perfumes north of the border. Since January, about 250 people have sold perfume for Nautica Stars. However, only about 50 are still with the firm, Disbro said. "This isn't for everyone. But we are providing an opportunity for young people to make money," he said. Paul Gabriel, a former salesperson, described Nautica Stars as a revolving-door operation, where young people are urged to sell perfume to their friends and family, and then discarded when sales drop. "No one stays very long, they give up because they can't sell enough of the stuff to make money," said the 34-year-old Buffalo resident. "They know these kids can't get jobs elsewhere so they use them," he added. Bader, whose 18 years old, concluded: "We had such great hopes and then we found out it wasn't for real." ****** FORMER EMPLOYEES CHEER REPORTS PERFUME FIRM IS OUT OF BUSINESS Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Jun 13, 1992; By James T. Madore - News Business Reporter; Nautica Stars Inc., an Amherst perfume distributor, has apparently gone out of business after being accused by a group of young people in March of false advertising and smuggling products into Canada. Sources say the small business closed its doors in mid-May -- just six weeks after the students' allegations were reported by the media and an investigation was launched by the Better Business Bureau of Western New York. The young people never did get the money they alleged was owed them by Nautica Stars. But Amy L. Eddy of Buffalo says she is pleased her former employer has shut down. "I'd rather have them go out-of-business than get my money back and see them do this to other people," the 20-year-old said Friday. She claims the company owes her $260 for expenses and $680 in wages. Founded in January, Nautica Stars distributed generic perfumes that are similar to Obsession, Eternity and other popular fragrances. The products are manufactured by Scentura Creations of Atlanta, a 17-year-old company with 570 sales offices worldwide. Miss Eddy and five other whistle-blowers describe Nautica Stars as nothing more than a sophisticated "scam" that preyed on people made desperate by unemployment and the recession by promising them career advancement and paid training -- and then not delivering on the promises. The 18- to 23-year-olds say they were told they could earn up to $35,000 a year or about $600 a week. However, they say they were lucky if they made $50 per week. The young people explained that they were given perfume by Nautica Stars to sell on consignment. They could charge whatever price they wanted, as long as $19 was paid to Nautica Stars for every item that was sold. The young adults also allege that they were taken to Canada on selling trips and told to lie to customs inspectors. Nautica Stars forced them to smuggle, they said. The company's owner, John D. Disbro of Williamsville, and his supervisor Michael E. Wallette of Cleveland denied in March all the accusations made by the young adults. However, Nautica Stars closed its offices at 331 Alberta Drive during the first or second week of May, sources say. The telephones were disconnected and mail has been returned unopened to senders. In addition, no one seems to know where Disbro has gone. His home telephone number is unlisted. And New York Telephone Co. and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce say he did not give them a forwarding number. "He's not doing business with us anymore," said Bob Hasty, vice president of Scentura Creations, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of the perfumes sold by Nautica Stars. "I think he's gone out of business," Hasty said. He also noted that Wallette, the Cleveland man who was supervising Nautica Stars, also has stopped selling perfume. Before closing his business, Disbro wrote to the five young people who had accused him of fraud. In the letter, he denied owing them any money because they had worked as independent contractors. Between January and March, about 250 people sold perfume for the company. However, only about 50 were still with the firm on March 27. The apparent disappearance of Nautica Stars, however, hasn't ended perfume sales in Erie County. Earlier this week, a young man was seen selling similar fragrances in Buffalo Place, the pedestrian mall downtown. ********** A detailed explanation of how to close down your office can be found here: http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/8038.html Its easy! ********* *** I called all of the local new stations and newspapers to report what they are doing. We found 3 offices here in Denver and I am happy to say that the newspapers are pulling there help wanted ads from the newspapers*** http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/6707.html From: [email protected]. My name is Shauna, I was hired for an office of Scentura creations out of Denver, Colorado. The morning before I was scheduled to go in for my first day of training, I decided that I would look up information on the internet on Scentura creations only I did it to impress them with having knowledge about the business. Well I was horrified by what I had found instead. Then I told myself that I wasn't gonna go in for training at all, but then I thought what about all of the other people that would be victims by their lies. These people had me excited and convinced they could easily do it to other people also. So I called all of the local new stations and newspapers to report what they are doing. We found 3 offices here in Denver and I am happy to say that the newspapers are pulling there help wanted ads from the newspapers and a local news station is gonna do a story on them to warn people about what they are doing. I caught them in so many lies by researching about them on the Internet. First of all they said that this supposed Larry Hahn person lives in San Diego, that he lived in the house from the old basic instinct movie and that it over looked Madonna's house. Well, I was amazed by this when I first heard it but when I caught them in so many other lies. I thought that it would be fun to check this one out too. Get this they said he lived in san Diego well the old basic instinct house is in san Francisco 500 miles away from san Diego and Madonna lives in lake Hollywood. So I don't know how that could possibly happen, I would bet that the man doesn't even exist. I just want to make sure that they don't lie and try to con anymore people so I am working on getting them kicked out of Colorado for good and would really like to help people all over the country. So if there is anything that I could do please contact me at my email address [email protected]. ********** A detailed explanation of how to close down your office can be found here: http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/8038.html Its easy! ********* *****Here's my story from about TEN YEARS AGO!***** - http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/4070.html JJ [email protected] June 01, 2001 at 2:46 PM - First off, YOU ARE VERY SMART TO DO YOUR RESEARCH! Second, get the hell away from this "company" as fast as you can! They are truly a scam! Here's my story from 1991... - I was just out of school and responded to one of their "Management Positions Available - NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!" ads in the newspaper. (OKAY, THIS IS B.S.!! NO COMPANY IS GOING TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH NO EXPERIENCE, SO THERE'S YOUR FIRST CLUE!) I interviewed with them and they told me I was "really sharp" and would "be perfect for the job"! B.S.! I HAD A PULSE! That is the only requirement! - Anyway, they told me I would be in charge of "marketing and distribution" of their line of fragrance products. - In their defense, that isn't a lie, it's just misleading as hell! - When I arrived for my first day of "work", I was surrounded by about 12-15 other "sharp individuals", many had QUIT THEIR PREVIOUS JOB to come to this hole! The "managers" then told of their "rise to greatness", how this company is so fun and how you've gotta be "fired up" to succeed. They bragged about getting thrown out of the Omni Hotel for being loud and boisterous at one of their "meetings". They cussed like sailors and didn't directly answer A SINGLE QUESTION! - I was starting to get a bit uneasy when suddenly we were handed boxes of knock-off, crappy perfume and were told to hit the streets with our "managers". (The requirement to be a "manager"... sell 100 bottles a week!) I about had a coronary! I hit the roof and threatened to call the BBB, the news media and anyone else who would let me vent. They calmed me down and talked me into "trying it". - I then went out with "Bob", a burned-out complete idiot who dressed like a homeless bum! But, he was "fired up" and "nothing's gonna stop me from dropping 100 bottles this week!" We went into dozens of businesses and literally got thrown out of 95% of them! I was so ashamed of myself... what had I reduced myself to? A F**KING PEDDLER SELLING KNOCK-OFF CRAP! I refused to sell this crap, it was garbage and I knew it! I STILL remember the "sales pitch"... "Listen, really quick. My manager's told me I gotta sell this stuff before I can go back to the office. I normally sell it for $40, but for you I'll take $20. Okay?" The response 95% of the time? : - "NO! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE I CALL THE COPS!" The other 5% would laugh at us, I honestly think they felt sorry for us. - When I got back to the office (about 5:30 PM!), I turned in my box and told them I wanted my training pay and I was quitting. Their response? "You don't get any training pay because you quit and you can't take the heat!" - I WENT OFF! I called every name I could think of and stormed out! It's Karma that they are FINALLY being shut down... they have done this THROUGHOUT AMERICA for YEARS AND YEARS! - Memo to "Larry Hahn", (you know, the "founder" of this "company"?): "Go back to sleeping in your f**king car, you piece of dog sh*t! GO TO HELL!" ********** A detailed explanation of how to close down your office can be found here: http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/8038.html Its easy! ********* ***** I have never seen any of these offices stay open longer than a few months except for those at the top running the scam******* Posted by Catherine ([email protected]) on April 30, 2001 at 09:59:22: In Reply to: Why don't some of you people get a life? posted by kim on April 21, 2001 at 02:20:34: I believe you need to study a little more about what you preach. First of all Amway is a bad example if you are looking for a company to compare Scentura too, in order to defend it. Amway was a pyramid scheme, and is famous for that. Scentura is operating in the same manner. Scentura, is distributing it's products to these companies, to sell, in knowledge of the fact that these offices are practicing illegal business practices. The whole scam of the situation is, they place ads in the news papers looking for management people, in which they all have a script that they read from, and can't even use real names for contacts. The ads placed usually state you can make between exp: 400-600 a week. So you contact this company thinking this is a great opportunity. So you go to the interviews in which they all act professional, however they are not very proper for a business management interview, they tell you that you will get paid while you train to become an office manager for new offices they will be opening. So you get excited go through to their second interview, oh yeah and this was just so professional, what's your favorite sex position? That's a business like question isn't it? You go through the training in which you are lead to believe that you will be getting paid for, but they tell you that you have to go out and sell so that it helps you experience the business, but they seem to leave out the part that unless you sell their product you don't get paid anything. $400-600 a week, you have to turn in 20 a bottle and if you sell them for 25, so you would have to sell 80-120 bottles a week to make that amount of money. It is impossible to do, no one person can sell that on the streets and if they say they did they most likely bought the bottles themselves, in which they will realize that the money they just wasted on trying to up their sales, is money they are going to need because they will never make it. Also, they seem to leave out that certain cities, have solicitation ordinances in which you could get arrested for not having a solicitation license. Now let's talk about their "fun cars" and their selling trips! Lets see, they send you to a far location and give you so many days to "drop" so many bottles, and ummm you have a certain number of bottles that are sold to pay for your hotel room, but geez that's the only money you have, because they tell you not to take any money or food with you, because you need to earn your money to pay for this. So how many other people slept in their vehicles? And what about the taxes? I am sure Uncle Sam would love to know about all the "cash" flowing through these offices that are never claimed for taxes. I am not telling anyone what to do, people will find out on their own. The group I worked with managed to shut down our office with the media, I suggest the rest of you do the same. Funny we haven't had another office open back up in this area in the past 6 years. Also, if you are one of those who are still involved with the company that I have seen posting their ridiculous and idiotic comments to those on here trying to warn others, stop and think about what's going on, no professional business behaves in the manner that these offices do, I'd like to see any top company that you walk in and hear people swearing and screaming at the top of their lungs. If you think that the company is wonderful, stop back in 6 months after you learn. The whole game of these offices are to brainwash you, and many people lost loved ones over the fact that they were brainwashed to defend this company. They teach you ignorance and try to turn you away from everyone that loves you and is watching out for you. I have never seen any of these offices stay open longer than a few months except for those at the top running the scam, such as Labbi International in Cinci, Leah, she's so great and everyone's best friend, but god forbid you p*ss her off cause then you're on your own. They don't care about you, all they want is money, and the whole name of the game is everyone is disposable, bring in as many people as you can and get them to sell to all their friends and family, then bring in new people to do the same. I am just trying to help others from falling into the same trap. Take Care and Good Luck! ********** A detailed explanation of how to close down your office can be found here: http://dcregistry.com//forums/employment/messages/8038.html Its easy! *********
Jd
Dallas,#112Author of original report
Fri, May 09, 2003
Scanned copy of the immitation perfume list that world perfume distributors give to employees http://www.geocities.com/s camdocuments/perfumelistpage1.html ***** Chris Doan, the brother and law of Johnny Whitworth, president of World Perfume, wrote this at http://www.ripoffreport.com/ reports/ripoff36647.htm: I work for World Perfume,Inc. We are NOT in Salt Lake City. That report is false, that business name DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. That address DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. I guess I must have made up this perfume list from thin air. ****************** 81 pages on world perfume and scentura, 17 news articles, 1 court order http://dcregistry.com//forums/ employment/messages/8230.html ***** 113 pages! of testimonies from people who believe that world perfume and Scentura are frauds http://dcregistry.com//forums/ employment/messages/8231.html ****** Update on world perfume and Scentura distributors addresses and names: http://dcregistry.com//forums/ employment/messages/8268.html ******** UPDATES ON PROVEN LEGAL WAYS TO CLOSE DOWN YOUR LOCAL WORLD PERFUME and SCENTURA distributors http://dcregistry.com//forums/ employment/messages/8038.html
Tricia
Altamonte Springs,#113UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, May 04, 2003
I too live in Orlando, and when I graduated from High School back in 1992 that summer I went to an interview and met with a lady by the name of Jolene. I will never forget this because this was the first job I ever went thru a interveiw process for. She said that I could be in my own office in as little as 6 weeks. She was in an independent office she was not at the main office building. After the interview she called me and told me where to report it was at a location in Orlando off of Lee Road right across the street from the Ross plaza that is next to Royal Volkswagen in that little office park. It was weird because my first day there Todd Ulrich who is a reporter for Channel 9 WFTV news showed up and was asking questions about whether or not this was a legitimate business. They wouldn't open the door to him but a crack and the owners went out to speak to him. I guess alot of ex employees had called him (he's a consumer advocate) and he paid them a visit. I should have left right then and there, and some people did. That first night I was given three bottles to sell of IMITATION perfume. I worked for SCENTURA and we never had the REAL perfume. I sold those to my mom and the next day they sent me to a parking lot! I am a woman and I just didn't feel comfortable walking up to a comoplete stranger to sell ANYTHING. That was my last day. During my initial interview with Jolene, I wasn't told about selling in parking lots or I never would have accepted the position. It was a complete waste of time, and the perfume doesn't even smell that good to boot!
Chris
Orlando,#114UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, April 30, 2003
I worked out of one of the two Orlando offices that were being marketed during my very short and brief time at Scentura Creations. Contrary to some of the messages posted, Scentura Creations certainly does not carry authentic bottles of perfume or colgne. Even during our "orientation", it was clearly explained that they were imitation perfumes and they explained how a "master perfume mixer" concocted the perfumes to create a product almost identical to the real thing. Fortunately, I was smart enough to get out before I had invested/wasted too much time in a worthless cause. A lot of fabrications were included during all interviews and meetings. The biggest lie was that the first day that we actually had to buddy up and go out with other people to sell the perfume was the first day that I realized that we would be selling this crap in parking lots, restaurants, malls, or basically any other place where there were people. They sugar-coated busniess selling tactics by advising us in many many words that we would NOT be selling door-to-door but rather business-to-business as if they had previous consented contacts with these places we were going. It was quite embarassing to have to confront people with a fake product in hopes of actually selling it only to be either ignored, laughed at or pushed away. I think I worked 4 days and made a measely $90 and worked basically 12 hour days. I can also say that it was not a professional office environment and a lot of cursing and derogatory comments were made for those who by their terms couldn't cut it. These distribution owners seemed desperate to get people out on the street to sell the products that in my own eyes were clear imitations and lacked the name behind it to push a sell. But at the time, I was young and willing to do just about anything to make a paycheck although everything was purely commission. I pondered whether or not it was just an isolated case with myself or if this is how they really operated and thanks to reading this I realized that it was indeed a rip off. I can remember at the beginning of the meeting there were like 19 people and I thought to myself how stiff the competition was but as people started to just leave and not show up the next day or people that voluntarily just left, I started to think why. The ironic part of it is that the distribution owners didn't even accompany us on these outings as if we knew what the H*ll we were doing. I was promised a management position just like the rest of us but the actual condition of the "distribtion center"/office was pretty bare and bated. I'm glad that I left while I could and I have a much much better job now with a regular paycheck and stability behind it. They target predominantly young people because we are too arrogant to grasp the idea that there is no such thing to quick money. With this quick money comes alot of hard work in which you should get compensated for fairly. I hope that people read this.
Dominika
Dallas,#115UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, April 09, 2003
Wow! It was a Rip-off I got this www.google.com site for my boyfriend's sister. I am so glad because until today I was not really sure if my decision about not wanting to go back to this horrible place was a good idea or not. As I started reading all the names that you had mentioned above were the same all the practices that they were doing through out the training were also the same. My company's office was in Lombard I was there for one week. I did sell about 30 bottles of their product. There was no pay check NOTHING I made little money (I got so scamed!!!!!). After I told my parents what was going on my father wanted me to quit (right after the second day) but I thought that the "game" that they were playing was something to push people out and only to keep the strongest. I was wrong!!!!!! So wrong!!!! On top of what you said we also had something called road trips!!! I never went bacause I was so tired after the first 5 days. I felt horrible people were kicikng me out of the stores it was raining outside and the only thing that they kept on saying every day was: Be positive, smile, motivation, get to know the market and people that are going to be working for you one day in the future. Wow! is the only thing that I can say right now. The office in Lambard was under a lady named Tracy Bencel head president in Chicago 33 year old woman who scamed me so bad!!! Dan Long, John Whitworth, Mark Larecy... were some of the names that she had mentioned. I do not have the copy of the contracy that I had signed. Name of the company was: Parfum du Monde, in 3.4 FL.oz bottle. I think that what you did on the site is Great!!!! I feel strongly for all the people who are still there. I feel horrible because I had never been scam to before in my life. Because I had found this letter of yours I feel so much better. As far as it goes for the locationof the Lombard Office is: 55 West 22 St. sweet 112 phone number: 1(630)424-1643. My first Intv. was 3/19/2003 second the day after, the add in the paper: Entry level Menagement Position, people in there were really loud, happy-"motivated" and all the good stuff. The first time I started asking myself what was going on was after they told me that I have to go on the parking lots, stores,... the second thing was everything was behind a close doors! One day I wanted to go to the bathroom and I had to ascorded by one of the managers right after he asked for the promission from someone else. I want to talk to you more about my experience If you willing to listen. Me email adress: [email protected] I waisted whole week with them I might know some more insides that you are going to be able to use on your future web sites... Thank you! Even do I don't know you I think you are doing great thing for letting the people know what is going on. I wish that there would be something more that I could do to get back on the company Please let me know, maybe we can start a club of people like me and you. My background: I had graduated from NMU with degreee in Marketing and International Business curently not working still looking for a job. This time I am going to be much more careful at least I will try. Maybe one day I will find a way to make a change toward this horrible scam. Maybe I should go back to school and study Law for a change...hahahaha I hope that you are going to have a secon to get back to me Again chuge thanks Dominika
David
Arlington,#116UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, April 02, 2003
I worked at an office that distibutes world perfume products and at no time was it a multi-level organization(THERE IS NO INVESTMENT).I worked there for 5 weeks. I moved on . They didnt lie to me about anything. They had originals name brand fragrances as well as knockoffs. NOT_WORLDPERFUME HAS A HIDDEN AGENDA. iI EVEN GOT PAY CHECKS. DONT BE FOOLED OR USED BY HIM!!!!!! HE HAS TO BE A COMPETITOR!!\ tHANKS P.S this is a test. Will you believe internet bias or you can make up your own mind.
Hard Hitters 3
USA,#117UPDATE Employee
Tue, March 25, 2003
If you paid attention during first interview, second interview, O.R., Class and all meetings held since you were hired; I suggest that you go back through your notes (assuming that you were able to take them correctly) and check your information. Mark Larecy began the rendition business. In the begining, Scentura was the leader in the renditions market. Due to unfair/illegal business practices, another company was created called World Perfume International; which was headed by Johnny Whitworth and later with the help of others (including Dan Long) became a multi-billion dollar industry. Unfortunatly as there is in any business, there were and will most likely continue to be those who choose not to uphold the integrity of WPI and "change" the way that things are done. This is where you run into the "scams" that you've stated. The way that the company was explained to me, and the way that I will explain it to my own employees is this: *This is a comission based business (as with ANY sales/marketing business- such as car sales, Jones Store commissioned employees etc) *You will go through a training process in which you will be expected to market both rendition fragrances as well as designer fragrances. *WPI makes no claims that any designer made the renditions for WPI (in fact, designers do not make the fragrances for themselves either) and does not encourage employees to make such claims either. In fact, the independent contractors' agreement which you sign states that "no distributor shall misrepresent the product in any way". This is a basic order that no distributor may say that for instance 'Hugo Boss makes this rendition' when it is infact made by WPI. However, as in any business there will be employees, managers, etc that choose not to follow this rule- even though they have signed the law binding agreement, which is of no fault to WPI. *At no time does WPI state that it will pay for your office rent etc. When you finish training and go about finding an office location. You must sell the bottles (called openers) in which the money made from those is used to pay for the office, housing, desks etc. Less than one month ago, the company paid for several employees who are getting offices across America to go to a company paid meeting in Chicago, IL. Were your statements true, it would make no sense that the company would pay close to one million dollars to fly around 55 employees to Chicago, as well as put them up in the OMNI hotel for 2 nights, and pay for all food and entertainment during their stay in Chicago if they were "just after our money". This does not include all company rallys etc. in which the company pays for all expenses. I could sit here and explain why all of the claims that you have made about WPI are either misleading, misrepresented, or completely false- however I am sure that you only made the mistake of not paying attention while the process was being explained to you. I apologize that you are bitter, however- you should realize that just as with any type of business (sales, retail, service, etc) there will always be those that have chosen not to do things "the right way". However, it is not only incorrect but also ignorant to attack an entire company simply because and individual mislead you.
Josie
Denver,#118UPDATE Employee
Tue, March 18, 2003
Why will you not acknowledge that we carry NAME BRAND ORIGINALS. We sell VERSACE, PERRY ELLISS, LIZ CLAIBORNE, ELIZABETH ARDEN, and FUBU just to name a few. These are the EXACT SAME perfumes, in the exact same packaging, that you would buy at a department store. For the love of GOD, please acknowledge that we DO carry NAME BRAND ORIGINALS. Why are you completely IGNORING the fact that we DO carry NAME BRAND ORIGINALS?
Jd
Dallas,#119Author of original report
Mon, March 17, 2003
Josephine wrote: "Also, ED, I would like to point out that you try to ridicule a Mr. Chris Doan toward the top of this page. You state that Mr. Doan does not "challenge the veracity of the reporting of the Salt Lake Tribune..(because) that would make him look foolish." I agree, that would make him look foolish because there WAS NO REPORTING DONE BY THE SALT LAKE CITY TRIBUNE." Yes, Josephine, there were no reports done by the Salt Lake Tribune. The Editor (Mr. Magedson) was incorrect. But there were news reports done by a Cleveland Ohio reporter, which I believe the editor (Ed) was referring to: Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassig nment/1040015/detail.html Which you have never once given any rebuttal for. **** Josephine, the editor of rip off report did not use 150 year old laws to support his stance; which if you look closer, have nothing to do with peddling door to door without a license as you have: http://www.dcregistry.com/forums/ employment/messages/7871.html There is a big difference between an honest mistake, which the Editor of rip off report made and an obvious fraudulent attempt at distorting the facts, as you have done repeatedly Josephine. **** My message about the legality of peddling door to door without a license can be found at: http://dcregistry.com//forums/e mployment/messages/7864.html **** Josephine wrote: "As for you "quibbling" as to whether or not he is a distributor, I would have to say no. Is the dockworker at Sears considered a "distributor of Sears products?" I would say no, the dockworker is a dockworker. If you say that the dockworker is a distributor, then you could classify Chris as the same. But I think that 99.9% of all people would disagree with you, ED. " I was incorrect in assuming that Chris was a distributor of World Perfume as you are. He works in the office in Dallas, Texas. In regards to Sears, Josephine loves to quote legitimate businesses to try and defend her quasi-legal business. I wonder how long the classified advertisements you advertise in every week would allow you to continue if they knew the true nature of your business? I wonder how interested the business licensing department would be if they knew you were telling your employees that they didn't need a license to peddle perfume? Sears employees don't lie to prospective applicants. They don't market there item as something that it is not to customers. This is what World Perfume distributors do across the country. This is the norm not the exception.
Josie
Denver,#120UPDATE Employee
Thu, February 13, 2003
WE SELL NAME BRAND ORIGINAL PERFUMES in addition to imitations! Again, I ask you, how could we market imitations as originals? What about the ORIGINALS (Versace, Perry Ellis, Liz Claiborne, etc.) that we carry? You always fail to mention that we DO CARRY NAME-BRAND ORIGINALS! WHY? You ALWAYS bring up the court order from illinois. Yet you ALWAYS fail to mention that the individual involved in the suit AGAINST Scentura was Dan Long, a WPI Distributor. Why do you fail to tell people this? Because you know that DAN LONG left Scentura because of their business practices, and now is with WPI because we DON'T DO BUSINESS LIKE SCENTURA. Why else would Mr. Long work with WPI UNLESS we were different from the company that treated him wrong? And how in the he## did you get my e-mail address? Did ED give it to you? Also, ED, I would like to point out that you try to ridicule a Mr. Chris Doan toward the top of this page. You state that Mr. Doan does not "challenge the veracity of the reporting of the Salt Lake Tribune..(because) that would make him look foolish." I agree, that would make him look foolish because there WAS NO REPORTING DONE BY THE SALT LAKE CITY TRIBUNE. The "victim" quoted from the CLASSIFIED SECTION of that paper. Do you think that reporters fill out the classifieds? NO. THERE WAS NO REPORTING DONE BY THE SALT LAKE CITY TRIBUNE. I know who Chris is, and I don't even like him. He is arrogant and egotistical, but I still want to point out how foolish you look, ED, for trying to prove a point to him, when there is no point. THER WAS NO REPORTING DONE BY THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SO WHO LOOKS FOOLISH, ED? As for you "quibbling" as to whether or not he is a distributor, I would have to say no. Is the dockworker at Sears considered a "distributor of Sears products?" I would say no, the dockworker is a dockworker. If you say that the dockworker is a distributor, then you could classify Chris as the same. But I think that 99.9% of all people would disagree with you, ED. And the "thong all twisted" was extremely juvenile, Ed. That made you look foolish as well. Shoot, I don't know why I am pointing all of this out. Ed and NOTWORLD_PERFUME need no help from me to look foolish.
Jd
Dallas,#121Author of original report
Wed, February 12, 2003
Josie thinks that he has a smoking gun with my deifintion of a pyramid scheme, but look closer and you will relize that Josie's rebutal is nothing but "unpersuasive and nothing more than an exercise in semantics. " (from the Illinois court ruling against Scentura http://www.state.il.us/court/ Opinions/AppellateCourt/2001/ 2ndDistrict/September/Html/2000964.htm ) >Josie wrote: [email protected]: Our income is based on direct sales business to business, NOT new recruits. Josie, what city are you in? How long have you ran the same ads in the same classifieds year in and year out, positions for management positions (or maybe receptionists)? I bet the answer is for as long as you have been in the business. In fact, for as long as you are in business you will run those same ads. This is exactly like Scentura. I have the Scentura training manual, which I would be happy to send anyone who asks. The similarities are incredible between these two companies. >>>Josie wrote: [email protected]: You do NOT have to recruit new distributors to be successful. This is true. There are some distributors of Scentura that have web pages and sell products this way. You could make money without advertising every year, year in and year out. But most of these web pages are attached to training centers. >>>Josie wrote: [email protected]: Our marketing is based on DIRECT SALES, not new recruits selling to friends and family. Of the thirty or so people who you train every week how many do you present the FFAAR program (Friends Family Associates and Relatives program) to teach new recruits how to sell? Do you run the FFAAR program at your office? I bet you do because every Scentura and World Perfume distributor who I ever have come in contact does. Scentura and World Perfume training program work like this (this is from the experiences of others and my own notes in class--I believe it is basically correct) : 1) Sell perfume to your family and friends 2) Step one: sales: Go out and knock on doors and work in parking lots 3) Step two: management: Lead newer recruits, who were just like you a week or two ago, out to sell perfume, knocking on doors and working in parking lots. (I believe you get a percentage of these newbies sales, but may be wrong) 4) Get your own office, which you usually pay for by dropping (selling) x amount of bottles, you then start advertising every week the same fraudulent ads in the newspaper. In you office you get a percentage of those sales that the recruits get, the person who hired you, gets a percentage of your sales. 5) Those that you hire become owners themselves; you get a percentage of their sales; and the person above you gets a percentage of their sales. >Josie wrote: [email protected]: As for the pyramid collapsing, all pyramids do. But we are not a pyramid, so we will NEVER collapse. If you stopped running your fraudulent ads every week Josie, what would happen? You would collapse. >>Josie wrote: [email protected]: The definition also points out that when a pyramid collapses, everyone loses money off the investment. THERE IS NO INVESTMENT WITH WORLD PERFUME SO WHAT MONEY WOULD YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Who is paying for your office every month Jose, who is purchasing the perfume every week from headquarters, who is paying to run the classified ads every week? If those weekly classified ads stopped what would happen then? You would lose your shirt, but Johnny Whitworth would still be making money from other distributors. >>Josie wrote: [email protected]: Yes, people do receive financial compensation for opening a new distribution office, but you make money running an office by doing DIRECT SALES. If you choose not to help anyone open their own office, you will still make money, because this business is based on DIRECT SALES. Yes, Josie office focuses on direct sales, but that is only half of the equation. How does he go about getting these sales? Every week Josie advertises in the newspaper for a management. If this stops, the money stops too. This is the greatest weakness in both the Scentura and World Perfume companies. >Josie wrote: [email protected]: If you did help someone become a distributor for WPI, wouldn't you EXPECT something in return? ABSOLUTELY. WPI does give financial incentives to people who help open new distributors, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! So Josie do you get a percentage of every sale of those distributors below you? This sounds like Amway, which is a legal MLM scheme too. >>Josie wrote: [email protected]: I used to work at MBNA America as a telemarketer. They would give me a $200 bonus for any person that I recruited to work there. Does that make them a pyramid? NO, they are telemarketing, but feel that they can get more good people by giving incentives to bring these people there. Did you get a percentage of the sales of those you recruited? And a percentage of those people they recruited? I beat the answer is no. But in World Perfume that is exactly what you do. Plus were you asked to sell products to your family and friends? That is what you do with every training group, every week, week in and week out. >>Josie wrote: [email protected]: WPI bases their sales on DIRECT MARKETING, and that is NOT ILLEGAL! The business model is completely legal. I never argued this point. Although the judges against Scentura disagreed and said Scentura's business model was illegal. World Perfume and Scentura are shielded from legal action because you had to sign an independent contractor clause just like everyone that sells for World Perfume and Scentura. What is illegal is: *I DO know that it is illegal in most cities not to have a door-to-door vendors license. *I DO know it is illegal to misrepresent a product and claim that your imitation perfume is a original not a imitation. So is it illegal to post deceptive ads? Is it illegal to ask tell people they are going to make $30,000 a year? Is it illegal to misrepresent yourself? Maybe, maybe not. There are a lot of pyramid schemes that are legal. That does not make them a good investment, nor does it make them ethical companies. >Josie wrote: [email protected]: I am so happy that you typed up the legal definition of a pyramid, because anyone of average intelligence will see that your definition clearly shows that WPI is NOT a pyramid. Lets go through the definition I quoted: In generic form, a pyramid scheme is an organization in which the members obtain their monetary benefits primarily from the recruitment of new members rather than selling goods and services to the public. The main benefit of membership is the right to recruit others and to receive monetary compensation for doing so. *World Perfume advertises week in and week out for management opportunities. The main benefit of membership in World Perfume and Scentura is the right to recruit others and to receive monetary compensation for doing so. *Those in management training get a percentage of what those below sell. Those above get a percentage. Like multi-level marketing programs, pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. Josie acknowledges this. Pyramids compensate distributors almost exclusively for recruiting other distributors; product marketing activities are merely incidental. *Do you get a percentage of every sale of those below you Josie? If one of your traininees opens an office do you get a percentage of his sales? You talk about compensation but you are very vague about what that compensation is to open a new office. Pyramid schemes, unlike multi-level marketing plans, are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When the plan collapses, most people-- except perhaps those at the very top of the pyramid--lose their money. *How long would your business last if you didn't have your classifieds every week Josie? ***** The most damming evidence that World Perfume is a Multi-level marketing scheme is the court order against Scentura. "In our view, the consignment contract between plaintiff and defendant is properly characterized as a chain referral sales technique or pyramid sales scheme, which falls within the protection of section 2A of the Act." http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions /AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/ September/Html/2000964.htm As much as World Perfume advocates (poorly) try to distance themselves from Scentura the facts are: -Johnny Whitworth was one of the best sellers in Scentura before starting World Perfume in 1994. A WMI brochure describes the experience of Johnny Whitworth, who is still with Hahn: He left behind a salary of $150,000, but that didn't bother Johnny. With hard work, enthusiasm, and doing things the WMI way, after one year his income hit $600,000. Scentura and World Perfume may not be the same company, but their distributors have almost identical business models: *Sell perfume in parking lots *FFAAR (friends family and relatives) contest *Same training program set up *All distributors buy products on consignment *Same independent contractor licenses *Same fraudulent classified advertising *Same Multi-level marketing scheme *Very, very similar training, using the same analogies, acronyms: (K.I.S.S. FFAAR, Training=Torture, Fear of Loss, Drop, P.M.A.=O.P.M. ), promises, and lies. Read my account of what my training was like go to: http://dcregistry.com/forums /employment/messages/7719.html Under description of what happens, Day to Day Then read the Scentura account about training: http://home.att.net/~m-cronin /scentura/story.htm **** Conclusion The simple fact is that World Perfume and Scentura have almost exactly the same business model. Scentura was found to be a multi-level marketing scheme by a federal court in Illinois. Both practice the same unethical and quasi-legal schemes. Don't let Josie and the other World Perfume and Scentura advocates confuse you. Read the 74 pages I have about Scentura and World Perfume. If you are angry about being scammed, help close down the distributor in your neighborhood to prevent others from being mislead.
Josie
Denver,#122UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 11, 2003
The definition of a Pyramid Scheme is: "In generic form, a pyramid scheme is an organization in which the members obtain their monetary benefits primarily from the recruitment of new members rather than selling goods and services to the public. The main benefit of membership is the right to recruit others and to receive monetary compensation for doing so. Like any chain letter, a pyramid scheme is just a mechanism to transfer funds from one person to another" (from "Like multi-level marketing programs, pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. Pyramids compensate distributors almost exclusively for recruiting other distributors; product marketing activities are merely incidental. Pyramid schemes, unlike multi-level marketing plans, are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When the plan collapses, most people-- except perhaps those at the very top of the pyramid--lose their money. " From the Federal Trade Commision http://www.ftc.gov/reports/fraud97/law-enf.htm THIS DEFINITION WAS POSTED BY [email protected] according to this definition of a pyramid scheme, WPI is absolutely NOT a pyramid. Our income is based on direct sales business to business, NOT new recruits. You do NOT have to recruit new distributors to be successful. Our marketing is based on DIRECT SALES, not new recruits selling to friends and family. As for the pyramid collapsing, all pyramids do. But we are not a pyramid, so we will NEVER collapse. The definition also points out that when a pyramid collapses, everyone loses money off the investment. THERE IS NO INVESTMENT WITH WORLD PERFUME SO WHAT MONEY WOULD YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Yes, people do receive financial compensation for opening a new distribution office, but you make money running an office by doing DIRECT SALES. If you choose not to help anyone open their own office, you will still make money, because this business is based on DIRECT SALES. If you did help someone become a distributor for WPI, wouldn't you EXPECT something in return? ABSOLUTELY. WPI does give financial incentives to people who help open new distributors, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! I used to work at MBNA America as a telemarketer. They would give me a $200 bonus for any person that I recruited to work their. Does that make them a pyramid? NO, they are telemarketing, but feel that they can get more good people by giving incentives to bring these people there. WPI bases their sales on DIRECT MARKETING, and that is NOT ILLEGAL! I am so happy that you typed up the legal definition of a pyramid, because anyone of average intelligence will see that your definition clearly shows that WPI is NOT a pyramid. As for the lemmings who just believe all of the negative HYPE that you print, they do not have the ability to be successful at ANYTHING. If you read about all of this negative stuff, and actually believe it, TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF. Is your family proud of you? Do you live in your own place, or do you depend on someone else for support? Do you own a car, or do you call people for rides? Is your mama happy about what you do with your life? If you can answer yes to ALL of those questions, then I would bet $1000.00 that you are smart enough to read between the lines and see that notworld_perfume is the scammer. If you say no to any of those questions, quit bothering us and worry about fixing YOUR life.
Josie
Denver,#123UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 11, 2003
The definition of a Pyramid Scheme is: "In generic form, a pyramid scheme is an organization in which the members obtain their monetary benefits primarily from the recruitment of new members rather than selling goods and services to the public. The main benefit of membership is the right to recruit others and to receive monetary compensation for doing so. Like any chain letter, a pyramid scheme is just a mechanism to transfer funds from one person to another" (from "Like multi-level marketing programs, pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. Pyramids compensate distributors almost exclusively for recruiting other distributors; product marketing activities are merely incidental. Pyramid schemes, unlike multi-level marketing plans, are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When the plan collapses, most people-- except perhaps those at the very top of the pyramid--lose their money. " From the Federal Trade Commision http://www.ftc.gov/reports/fraud97/law-enf.htm THIS DEFINITION WAS POSTED BY [email protected] according to this definition of a pyramid scheme, WPI is absolutely NOT a pyramid. Our income is based on direct sales business to business, NOT new recruits. You do NOT have to recruit new distributors to be successful. Our marketing is based on DIRECT SALES, not new recruits selling to friends and family. As for the pyramid collapsing, all pyramids do. But we are not a pyramid, so we will NEVER collapse. The definition also points out that when a pyramid collapses, everyone loses money off the investment. THERE IS NO INVESTMENT WITH WORLD PERFUME SO WHAT MONEY WOULD YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Yes, people do receive financial compensation for opening a new distribution office, but you make money running an office by doing DIRECT SALES. If you choose not to help anyone open their own office, you will still make money, because this business is based on DIRECT SALES. If you did help someone become a distributor for WPI, wouldn't you EXPECT something in return? ABSOLUTELY. WPI does give financial incentives to people who help open new distributors, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! I used to work at MBNA America as a telemarketer. They would give me a $200 bonus for any person that I recruited to work their. Does that make them a pyramid? NO, they are telemarketing, but feel that they can get more good people by giving incentives to bring these people there. WPI bases their sales on DIRECT MARKETING, and that is NOT ILLEGAL! I am so happy that you typed up the legal definition of a pyramid, because anyone of average intelligence will see that your definition clearly shows that WPI is NOT a pyramid. As for the lemmings who just believe all of the negative HYPE that you print, they do not have the ability to be successful at ANYTHING. If you read about all of this negative stuff, and actually believe it, TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF. Is your family proud of you? Do you live in your own place, or do you depend on someone else for support? Do you own a car, or do you call people for rides? Is your mama happy about what you do with your life? If you can answer yes to ALL of those questions, then I would bet $1000.00 that you are smart enough to read between the lines and see that notworld_perfume is the scammer. If you say no to any of those questions, quit bothering us and worry about fixing YOUR life.
Josie
Denver,#124UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 11, 2003
The definition of a Pyramid Scheme is: "In generic form, a pyramid scheme is an organization in which the members obtain their monetary benefits primarily from the recruitment of new members rather than selling goods and services to the public. The main benefit of membership is the right to recruit others and to receive monetary compensation for doing so. Like any chain letter, a pyramid scheme is just a mechanism to transfer funds from one person to another" (from "Like multi-level marketing programs, pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. Pyramids compensate distributors almost exclusively for recruiting other distributors; product marketing activities are merely incidental. Pyramid schemes, unlike multi-level marketing plans, are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When the plan collapses, most people-- except perhaps those at the very top of the pyramid--lose their money. " From the Federal Trade Commision http://www.ftc.gov/reports/fraud97/law-enf.htm THIS DEFINITION WAS POSTED BY [email protected] according to this definition of a pyramid scheme, WPI is absolutely NOT a pyramid. Our income is based on direct sales business to business, NOT new recruits. You do NOT have to recruit new distributors to be successful. Our marketing is based on DIRECT SALES, not new recruits selling to friends and family. As for the pyramid collapsing, all pyramids do. But we are not a pyramid, so we will NEVER collapse. The definition also points out that when a pyramid collapses, everyone loses money off the investment. THERE IS NO INVESTMENT WITH WORLD PERFUME SO WHAT MONEY WOULD YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Yes, people do receive financial compensation for opening a new distribution office, but you make money running an office by doing DIRECT SALES. If you choose not to help anyone open their own office, you will still make money, because this business is based on DIRECT SALES. If you did help someone become a distributor for WPI, wouldn't you EXPECT something in return? ABSOLUTELY. WPI does give financial incentives to people who help open new distributors, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! I used to work at MBNA America as a telemarketer. They would give me a $200 bonus for any person that I recruited to work their. Does that make them a pyramid? NO, they are telemarketing, but feel that they can get more good people by giving incentives to bring these people there. WPI bases their sales on DIRECT MARKETING, and that is NOT ILLEGAL! I am so happy that you typed up the legal definition of a pyramid, because anyone of average intelligence will see that your definition clearly shows that WPI is NOT a pyramid. As for the lemmings who just believe all of the negative HYPE that you print, they do not have the ability to be successful at ANYTHING. If you read about all of this negative stuff, and actually believe it, TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF. Is your family proud of you? Do you live in your own place, or do you depend on someone else for support? Do you own a car, or do you call people for rides? Is your mama happy about what you do with your life? If you can answer yes to ALL of those questions, then I would bet $1000.00 that you are smart enough to read between the lines and see that notworld_perfume is the scammer. If you say no to any of those questions, quit bothering us and worry about fixing YOUR life.
Josie
Denver,#125UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 11, 2003
The definition of a Pyramid Scheme is: "In generic form, a pyramid scheme is an organization in which the members obtain their monetary benefits primarily from the recruitment of new members rather than selling goods and services to the public. The main benefit of membership is the right to recruit others and to receive monetary compensation for doing so. Like any chain letter, a pyramid scheme is just a mechanism to transfer funds from one person to another" (from "Like multi-level marketing programs, pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. Pyramids compensate distributors almost exclusively for recruiting other distributors; product marketing activities are merely incidental. Pyramid schemes, unlike multi-level marketing plans, are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When the plan collapses, most people-- except perhaps those at the very top of the pyramid--lose their money. " From the Federal Trade Commision http://www.ftc.gov/reports/fraud97/law-enf.htm THIS DEFINITION WAS POSTED BY [email protected] according to this definition of a pyramid scheme, WPI is absolutely NOT a pyramid. Our income is based on direct sales business to business, NOT new recruits. You do NOT have to recruit new distributors to be successful. Our marketing is based on DIRECT SALES, not new recruits selling to friends and family. As for the pyramid collapsing, all pyramids do. But we are not a pyramid, so we will NEVER collapse. The definition also points out that when a pyramid collapses, everyone loses money off the investment. THERE IS NO INVESTMENT WITH WORLD PERFUME SO WHAT MONEY WOULD YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Yes, people do receive financial compensation for opening a new distribution office, but you make money running an office by doing DIRECT SALES. If you choose not to help anyone open their own office, you will still make money, because this business is based on DIRECT SALES. If you did help someone become a distributor for WPI, wouldn't you EXPECT something in return? ABSOLUTELY. WPI does give financial incentives to people who help open new distributors, BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! I used to work at MBNA America as a telemarketer. They would give me a $200 bonus for any person that I recruited to work their. Does that make them a pyramid? NO, they are telemarketing, but feel that they can get more good people by giving incentives to bring these people there. WPI bases their sales on DIRECT MARKETING, and that is NOT ILLEGAL! I am so happy that you typed up the legal definition of a pyramid, because anyone of average intelligence will see that your definition clearly shows that WPI is NOT a pyramid. As for the lemmings who just believe all of the negative HYPE that you print, they do not have the ability to be successful at ANYTHING. If you read about all of this negative stuff, and actually believe it, TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF. Is your family proud of you? Do you live in your own place, or do you depend on someone else for support? Do you own a car, or do you call people for rides? Is your mama happy about what you do with your life? If you can answer yes to ALL of those questions, then I would bet $1000.00 that you are smart enough to read between the lines and see that notworld_perfume is the scammer. If you say no to any of those questions, quit bothering us and worry about fixing YOUR life.
Jd
Dallas,#126Author of original report
Mon, February 03, 2003
.
Stephen
Cedar Grove,#127UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 21, 2003
Sounds to me like the person or persons above is making excuses for why the business failed them. I am an ex-employee of Scentura Creations but I quit because I found out that my business partner was stealing money from me. I didn't quit because of what was going on.
Not only is what Scentura doing NOT illegal but it's actually done at most businesses to some degree. The bottom line is that some people just can't sell anything so they want to blame their failures on the business.
True, there is selling involved but exactly what makes that different from Walmart, Target, or Best Buy? You go into those buildings and make purchases. Well, the people in your Scentura company bring the purchases to you. I was very good at selling and worked my way up into my own company within 2 months and I will admit that it's not for everyone just like the military isn't for everyone.
Scentura does not make you pay one dime up front to get into the business. It's like the library-they give you the fragrances in exchange for $15.00 for every bottle which you need to be selling at $26.00. If you work the business correctly, you make $10.00 profit per bottle. The people I read about who complain obviously didn't sell them at $26.00 to make a profit and/or didn't sell anything at all.
Only losers make excuses when things don't go their way when a proven system has worked for others. Just accept the fact that it just didn't work for YOU!!!!! I wouldn't work for Scentura again but only because my ex-partner's antics left a bad taste in my mouth but I like Scentura. As a matter of fact, I still buy the fragrances. Oh yeah, as far as the fragrances being "lies", Dupont chemical company makes Calvin Klein's fragrances so there's no patent on the ingredients used to make fragrance, only patents on the name so yes, they are "renditions" of the original fragrances that we all have foolishly purchased in stores for about 70% more than we should have, so who's being lied to??
Stephen
Cedar Grove,#128UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 21, 2003
Sounds to me like the person or persons above is making excuses for why the business failed them. I am an ex-employee of Scentura Creations but I quit because I found out that my business partner was stealing money from me. I didn't quit because of what was going on.
Not only is what Scentura doing NOT illegal but it's actually done at most businesses to some degree. The bottom line is that some people just can't sell anything so they want to blame their failures on the business.
True, there is selling involved but exactly what makes that different from Walmart, Target, or Best Buy? You go into those buildings and make purchases. Well, the people in your Scentura company bring the purchases to you. I was very good at selling and worked my way up into my own company within 2 months and I will admit that it's not for everyone just like the military isn't for everyone.
Scentura does not make you pay one dime up front to get into the business. It's like the library-they give you the fragrances in exchange for $15.00 for every bottle which you need to be selling at $26.00. If you work the business correctly, you make $10.00 profit per bottle. The people I read about who complain obviously didn't sell them at $26.00 to make a profit and/or didn't sell anything at all.
Only losers make excuses when things don't go their way when a proven system has worked for others. Just accept the fact that it just didn't work for YOU!!!!! I wouldn't work for Scentura again but only because my ex-partner's antics left a bad taste in my mouth but I like Scentura. As a matter of fact, I still buy the fragrances. Oh yeah, as far as the fragrances being "lies", Dupont chemical company makes Calvin Klein's fragrances so there's no patent on the ingredients used to make fragrance, only patents on the name so yes, they are "renditions" of the original fragrances that we all have foolishly purchased in stores for about 70% more than we should have, so who's being lied to??
Stephen
Cedar Grove,#129UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 21, 2003
Sounds to me like the person or persons above is making excuses for why the business failed them. I am an ex-employee of Scentura Creations but I quit because I found out that my business partner was stealing money from me. I didn't quit because of what was going on.
Not only is what Scentura doing NOT illegal but it's actually done at most businesses to some degree. The bottom line is that some people just can't sell anything so they want to blame their failures on the business.
True, there is selling involved but exactly what makes that different from Walmart, Target, or Best Buy? You go into those buildings and make purchases. Well, the people in your Scentura company bring the purchases to you. I was very good at selling and worked my way up into my own company within 2 months and I will admit that it's not for everyone just like the military isn't for everyone.
Scentura does not make you pay one dime up front to get into the business. It's like the library-they give you the fragrances in exchange for $15.00 for every bottle which you need to be selling at $26.00. If you work the business correctly, you make $10.00 profit per bottle. The people I read about who complain obviously didn't sell them at $26.00 to make a profit and/or didn't sell anything at all.
Only losers make excuses when things don't go their way when a proven system has worked for others. Just accept the fact that it just didn't work for YOU!!!!! I wouldn't work for Scentura again but only because my ex-partner's antics left a bad taste in my mouth but I like Scentura. As a matter of fact, I still buy the fragrances. Oh yeah, as far as the fragrances being "lies", Dupont chemical company makes Calvin Klein's fragrances so there's no patent on the ingredients used to make fragrance, only patents on the name so yes, they are "renditions" of the original fragrances that we all have foolishly purchased in stores for about 70% more than we should have, so who's being lied to??
Stephen
Cedar Grove,#130UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 21, 2003
Sounds to me like the person or persons above is making excuses for why the business failed them. I am an ex-employee of Scentura Creations but I quit because I found out that my business partner was stealing money from me. I didn't quit because of what was going on.
Not only is what Scentura doing NOT illegal but it's actually done at most businesses to some degree. The bottom line is that some people just can't sell anything so they want to blame their failures on the business.
True, there is selling involved but exactly what makes that different from Walmart, Target, or Best Buy? You go into those buildings and make purchases. Well, the people in your Scentura company bring the purchases to you. I was very good at selling and worked my way up into my own company within 2 months and I will admit that it's not for everyone just like the military isn't for everyone.
Scentura does not make you pay one dime up front to get into the business. It's like the library-they give you the fragrances in exchange for $15.00 for every bottle which you need to be selling at $26.00. If you work the business correctly, you make $10.00 profit per bottle. The people I read about who complain obviously didn't sell them at $26.00 to make a profit and/or didn't sell anything at all.
Only losers make excuses when things don't go their way when a proven system has worked for others. Just accept the fact that it just didn't work for YOU!!!!! I wouldn't work for Scentura again but only because my ex-partner's antics left a bad taste in my mouth but I like Scentura. As a matter of fact, I still buy the fragrances. Oh yeah, as far as the fragrances being "lies", Dupont chemical company makes Calvin Klein's fragrances so there's no patent on the ingredients used to make fragrance, only patents on the name so yes, they are "renditions" of the original fragrances that we all have foolishly purchased in stores for about 70% more than we should have, so who's being lied to??
#1310
Sun, January 12, 2003
@@@@@@SECTION TWO@@@@@@
@@@@WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SHUT DOWN YOUR LOCAL WORLD PERFUME & SCENTURA@@@@
******HOW TO SHUT DOWN YOUR LOCAL WORLD
PERFUME / Scentura What YOU can do*******
Getting [Scentura and World Perfume distributors] kicked out of the newspaper [classifieds] would be about the biggest problem you could cause. I once got kicked out of the paper in DC and it took me almost a year of advertising in the smaller, local papers before I could finally get them to let me back in. Big hassle.--Mike Barrick, Scentura distributor for ten years
I encouraged people to use the anger and bitterness that they had toward either World Perfume and Scentura, in positive ways, preventing other people from being lied to and mislead.
I have a flyer and petition below, which you can print.
You could have people in your training group sign the petition, with their names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
This petition would go to your local newspaper that advertised your local World Perfume or Scentura distributor in their classifieds, complaining about how fraudulent your local World Perfume or Scentura distributors are. My local distributor, and two other distributors were forced to change their advertising after I wrote a letter to the classifieds.
Scentura and World Perfume must continue to recruit people every week to survive. That is the crux of the pyramid scam. If they are barred from advertising in your local classifieds, the pyramid collapses, and these distribution centers will shut down, one by one.
FLYER
Those who feel mislead and lied to by World Perfume / Scentura I encourage you to:
*Print off the below flyer and distribute in class
*If you quit already, post this article on the windshields of cars in the parking lot on the first or second training day every week (usually the same day the next week, every week)
*Also, If you quit already, you can also stand outside of the parking lot, on the sidewalk and wait until training ends. Hand out this flyer as people stop to turn out of the parking lot on to the street. Have them sign the petition. This is legal under the first amendment, because the sidewalk is a public, not private property.
You can also enclose any of the articles below.
Those unemployed job hunters who found out that World Perfume or Scentura was a scam and quit or will quit, I wish you all the best of luck in finding a job.
Address of newspaper in your area:
http://www.usnpl.com/
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/
Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/
http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/newspapers.htm
******FLYER TO PASS OUT ABOUT WORLD PERFUME/ SCENTURA *******
If you are in training with a
World Perfume (WPI) / Scentura distributor
You need to know this information
World Perfume/Scentura teaches its employees to blatantly lie to consumers, it lies to its employees, and it has many unethical business practices, many illegal. The head office is protected by a large legal loop hole: independent contractor licenses, no matter what your distributor or you do or say (you must sign an independent contractor license too) they are not legally responsible.
****Generic Company Names****
The company, officially named World Perfume/Scentura, operates in many areas under many different business names to avoid too much bad press. The local company name such as Waterfront Design in Salt Lake City is a name the local distribution manager has decided to use for their operations in a certain area. A quick web search will tell you why. The name Waterfront Design is generic enough to disallow any curious soul to do a search on the name, but search for World Perfume / Scentura and you will find hundreds of horror stories about this company. These people lie for a living. What they do is at best unethical, and at worst illegal.
Why would a company want to use a different name than their parent company?
This makes no marketing sense unless the parent company has a very bad reputation.
****Your job WILL be selling perfume in parking lots****
Your training manager will state that World Perfume/Scentura sells cologne and perfume door to door to businesses. The training manager will fail to tell you that the majority of your time is ACTUALLY spent trespassing in Wal Mart, Target, and grocery store parking lots, selling perfume to shoppers as they enter and exit the stores, until you are kicked out by management. Often, your managers will also go out and peddle perfume with you. Do you want to peddle perfume in parking lots for this for the rest of your life? If this really a real career that these distributors promise? Notice how much money each one of your trainers are making every day selling perfume. Will selling 1 or 2 bottles of perfume a day make you rich?
****Peddle perfume to your family and friends***
The crux of the scam is so vital to the business that they even have an acronym for it: FFAR. It stands for Friends, Family and Relatives, and that's who you're suppose to practice selling on. This is the cornerstone of most direct marketing pyramid schemes.
The newbie salesman must first practice the pitch to his or her parents and grandparents, and since many of them tend to be teenagers or early 20-year-olds, the relatives usually buy something out of pity. This results in a few quick sales for the company that would have never even come close to getting those sales on their products merit alone. That, combined with the sales kit that you usually have to purchase, results in a small but notable profit for the company. After these FFAR sales the vast majority of workers realize that this isn't a real job at all, and quit. Of course, no one cares that you have quit, because you're already made the company a few bucks and there's another su*ker just waiting to fill your shoes for the next few weeks. The ad you responded to in the classifieds will continue to run as long as your local World Perfume or Scentura distributor is in business.
****Your future with World Perfume****
Even when you are in training as a manager, you only make a percentage of the sales of those newer employees below you. If this sounds like a multi-level, pyramid scheme, that is because it is. You must sign a two-page contract the day before you go door to door to businesses. The contract also states that you are a private contractor, and thus World Perfume headquarters and distributors are not liable for Workman's Comp and you are responsible for your own income taxes. By signing this contract you are also legally liable for all tickets for peddling perfume illegally.
***World Perfume is a break off of Scentura****
Johnny Whitworth admitted in an email that he left Scentura in 1994. They have the same business model. Both:
*Sell perfume in parking lots
*FFAR (friends family and relatives) contest
*All distributors buy products on consignment
*Same fraudulent advertising
*Same Multi-level marketing scheme
*Almost the exact same training, using the same analogies, promises, and lies.
****News reports on Scentura and World Perfume****
There are damming news reports on World Perfume:
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment
/1040015/detail.html
On Scentura:
"Perfume Jobs Smell Fishy, BBB says"
http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/no/
6onyourside/stories/6onyourside-20000719-165758.html
These are examples of dozens of newspaper articles on World Perfume and/or Scentura.
Scentura was found to not legally entitled to money because it was an illegal pyramid scheme in the state of Illinois:
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/
AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/
September/Html/2000964.htm
This is a very small sample of the vast amount of information about this unethical multi-level marketing scheme.
World Perfume (probably) recently shut down my site that explained everything in more detail. They also recently (probably) had a chat provider erase hundreds of messages against their company:
http://www.snowcrest.net/writers/fraud.html
Right now, please email me at [email protected] if you have more questions.
Please don't waste the time that I did with these crooks!
Please share this information with your class!
The best way to close your local distributor is to write or call your local classifieds and tell them that world perfume/ Scentura is advertising fraudulently. Ask them to put the ads in the sales section and that the ads are fraudulent and do not belong in the office management section. Every week, weekend and week out, these distributors advertise for trainers just like you. If the advertising stops, then the pyramid fails.
This worked for us with the Salt Lake city newspaper's classifieds. The distributor was forced to advertise as: "sales, fragrances" not for management or office positions, as your classified advertised.
If a petition is available, sign your name, address, and telephone number to mail to your local newspaper classifieds.
Telephone number and address of your local classified ads:
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
****************************
****PETITION****
Address of newspaper in your area:
http://www.usnpl.com/
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media/
Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/
http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/newspapers.htm
Dear _____________________,
After Applying for a job with _____________________, telephone ___________________ which
advertises in your classifieds weekly, we found that _______________________ has no management positions. The job is 100% sales and should be added to the sales section of your newspaper and the management position titles should be taken out of the classifieds.
Name---Telephone ----------------------------Email
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
*****
***Scentura letter to your local classified advertiser***
Address of newspaper in your area:
http://www.usnpl.com/
http://dir.yahoo.com/News_and_Media
/Newspapers/By_Region/U_S__States/
http://www.floridalink.com/thenews/
newspapers.htm
YOU NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER
YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS (THIS IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE; IT ADS AUTHENTICITY TO THE LETTER)
[You local Newspaper Classifieds Address Here]
Dear ______________,
My name is _______________.
On ________ (DATE)________ I applied for a job in your classifieds:
________________________________
________________________________(TYPE COMPLETE ADVERTISEMENT(S) HERE)
________________________________
I found out that this company is fraudulently advertising in your classifieds. This company is actually a distributor of Scentura perfumes. Scentura is an Atlanta based perfume company that runs a pyramid sales scheme. (This is according to a ruling of the Appellate Court Of Illinois, Second District, see attached article)
Scentura sells imitation perfume to distributors across the country. All distributors must sign independent contractor licenses stating that the parent company is not liable for anything illegal or unethical that the distributors do.
There is no MANAGEMENT RECEPTIONIST (CHOOSE ONE) position available with this company. When I arrived for training, the company wanted me to:
-sell perfume to my family and friends,
-sell perfume in parking lots illegally without a business license, and
-lie to customers that this perfume was authentic when it is an imitation.
There was no office work involved with this company. It is a 100% commission job.
The managers of this business where incredibly deceitful, and lied throughout the entire interview.
(YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXAMPLES HERE
FOR EXAMPLE:
MENTION THE FEE FOR THE BOGUS BACKGROUND CHECK,
THE FEE FOR THE PERFUME STARTER KIT,
THE PROMISE OF A LARGE YEARLY SALARY )
Scentura Distributors survive by advertising the same deceitful advertisements every week. The RECEPTIONIST MANAGEMENT (CHOOSE ONE) position, which is advertised in your classifieds, will never be filled. Every week this Scentura distributor will advertise in your classifieds.
Every week new young adults will answer these deceitful ads and be promised a management position at a later date after initial training', which lasts several weeks. This initial training' is selling perfume in parking lots and door to door to business illegally without a peddler's permit. The vast majority find out this is a scam and quit within the first two weeks, those who stay get a percentage of the sales of the new recruits and help train them. Eventually a person can open his own office with his own money, and begin to place ads in classifieds all over again. The person who initially hired this new office manager gets a percentage of his sales. A classical pyramid scheme, as the Illinois Second District ruled.
Every week Scentura distributors lure young adults by these deceptive advertisements. Please read the attached news articles about Scentura. If your classifieds stops allowing this Scentura distributor to advertise, then their deceitful pyramid scheme will collapse. Please stop allowing this firms to advertise in your classifieds.
Thank you,
******How our efforts closed a local World Perfume distributor *******
In October-November 2002, Waterfront Design, a distributor of World Perfume advertised in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. Waterfront Design forced to change their advertising:
OLD ADVERTISING:
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
START NOW New office needs help, will train.
No experience necessary.
Various office positions avail. Call 972-3219.
and
GENERAL OFFICE WANTED:
12 HARD WORKERS To replace 12 who wouldn't.
No exp necessary. 972-3219
New advertising after I wrote a three-page letter to the classifieds and many people complained:
MANAGEMENT / Fragrances WANTED:
12 HARD WORKERS To replace 12 who wouldn't.
No exp necessary. 972-3219
AND
MANAGEMENT START NOW
Office Mgr. needed for fragrance co., will train.
No exp. necessary. Various office positions avail.
Call 972-3219.
Remember: Scentura and World Perfume distributors survive on new trainees to respond to fraudulent advertisements in the classifieds every week for as long as the business is open. The second ads are much more specific. Two other Scentura/World Perfume distributors were also forced to change their fraudulent advertisements. (Executive Design and Commercial Design)
In early December it appeared that Waterfront Designs could no longer afford to pay a secretary, and their weekly meetings had been interrupted. Waterfront Design also appeared to advertise much less frequently.
After calling the classifieds, and complaining about Waterfront Design and two other Scentura offices, it appears that all three offices were forced to stop advertising in the classifieds.
In late December Waterfront Designs telephone number was shut off, and it appears as if the business was CLOSED!
***********************
***********************
*********File a complaint with Better Business Bureau, US office of consumer affairs, Federal Trade commission, and your state's attorney general's office all at one time******
You can also file a complaint online to, Better Business Bureau, US office of consumer affairs, Federal Trade commission, and your state's attorney general's office at one time automatically!
http://www.consumerprotectionagency.us/
**********************
*************Letter to your local tax commission**********
To find your local tax commision:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Government/U_S__
Government/Taxes/State_Tax_Agencies/
Re: ______________ and tax fraud
The office I would like to report:
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
_________________ is not collecting income taxes from new trainees.
When my training group of _____ people started for ___________ no tax forms were filled out.
On the first and second day of training, _______________(DATE) the manager, ____________ said we were going to have a fun contest. _______________ practices a program called FFAR. FFAR stands for Friends, Family and Relatives. Employees are supposed to "practice" selling perfume and cologne on family and friends. The newbie salesman must first practice the pitch to his or her friends, parents, and grandparents. _______________ paid all of these trainees $7 per bottle in CASH in envelopes. No income taxes were taken out.
On the third day of training, ____________________ had the trainees sign an independent contractor agreement, explaining that all employees must pay income taxes themselves. Many of these employees that had sold perfume had already quit, and so therefore did not sign an independent contractor license. The turnover rate at this company is over 100%, many new trainees realize that this company is a scam, and quit before signing this independent contractor license but after they have received the cash prizes.
______________________ is a multi-level marketing scheme that is dependent on new employees. Every week this cash contest is repeated.
Please investigate this company.
Thank you,
********World Perfume and Scentura Aliases*******************
PLEASE EMAIL ME ([email protected]) THE ALIAS NAME OF WORLD PERFUME & SCENTURA IN YOUR CITY.
I WILL ADD IT TO THIS INFORMATION SO WHEN OTHERS IN YOUR AREA SEARCH THE WEB THEY WILL FIND THIS INFORMATION.
Apex Distributors ( Tulsa, Oklahoma )
Bayside Enterprises Don goff, 260 Gateway Drive Suite 7-8B
Bel Air, MD 21014 410-399-9898
Centex Enterprises
Chic Enterprises
Cincinnati Design
D & D Enterprises New
DBA International Marketing
DBA International Marketing ( Kansas City )
Designers International Homewood, AL.
LA Wholesale Memphis, TN.
Dimensions
Distributor: Michael Hales quit running a Scentura office so he could work with Johnny Whitworth. He kept all of the merchandise Larry Hahn had consigned and continued to run an office making false claims. He effectively "stole" merchandise from Larry Hahn. (From defunct chat board)
Dynasty International, Towson, Maryland (from http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff24900.htm )
Elite marketing 704-393-3453 2818-o I-85 Service Road Charolette NC 28208
Executive Design
Executive Design ( Chicago )
Global Marketing ( Scottsdale, Arizona ; classifieds: Arizona Republic )
Horizon Unlimited
International Management Inc
Lakeshore Design
Promotions Silver Stone Enterprise
Scentex ( Austin Texas )
Unlimited Marketing
Waterfront Design 3640 West 2100 South Salt Lake City Utah 84102 972-3219 (Now disconnected!)
World Management 314-739-0255 Saint Louis, MO (from Ida [email protected] )
World Marketing &
World Perfume Company
***
Executive Design 261-4261 Salt Lake City Utah
Commercial Design 467-8972 467-8971 Salt Lake City Utah
From defunct chat board, which Scentura or World Perfume (probably) had shut down:
500 W. Cermak, Chicago Illinois
A.I.S. 9960 NW 116way ste.9 Miami Fl. 33178 Steve Tejeda
Alabama Tillmans' Corner - Rangeline Rd. 334-602-5706
Atlantic Processing Virginia Beach, VA RJ and Christine
Azure Enterprise 22 Dehart Avenue Staten Island, New York 10303. De Hart Ave (718)702-8523 Karen Cirago Don waleski Regional managers
C.S. Enterprises 7667 N. 56th St., Tampa FL 33617 914-7224. Owners: Michael Landrian and Valerie Barry. They claim to come from Miami. They say that they have been under the wings of Steve Tageda
Camelot Management Richmond Virginia manager: Jon Barber
Capri Unlimited Clearwater Florida managers: Emily and Brandy
'CEI' Concord Essence Inc, Paramus, NJ
CnC enterprises Brooklyn N.Y.
Coastal Management of Richmond Inc ( Richmond, Virginia )
Creative Expressions 2001 E. Texas Street, Suite 4, in Bossier City, LA 318-741-3003
Creative Images Aurora, Illinois
Designer Concepts 5544 west 147th St Oak Forest Illinois 708-371-8330
Designers Accent Designer Accent Arkansas
Designers International Birmingham Alabama
Destiny International Seattle James LeBlanc
Detroit Manager: Leah Laho
Diamond All-Star International Chicago owner: Josie Villasenor
Distributor: Ben Montgomery a.k.a. Rhino 26 Harrison St., Apt. #1 New Chicago, IN 46342 219-613-4483
Divisional Management Indianapolis Indiana
Divisional Management Indianapolis Indiana owners: Katie & Chuck
DMD and DMG Harrison and Kearny New Jersey Warren Nuno Elizabeth
Douglas Amysu Zirbel 1698 Aryana Drive Encinitas, CA 92024-1293 (760) 634-3524 San Diego California
Dynamic Management International 0031 620791256 0031 181615782 Holland Contact Michael Hales from Houston
Egotrends 12445 E. 39th Ave. Suite 503 Denver 303-307-0457
EMO Orlando Florida, Lisa Piccione 5448 Hoffner Suite 301 407-737-6556
Essence management largo Florida Jessica Klispie and Alan Zemnovich
Essene Management Largo, FL Managers: Alan and Jess
Extreme Enterprise 3545 Scottsdale St. 219-364-8152 Portage Indiana Jason Mergl and Ben Montgomery
Extreme Management Chicago Heights, IL (708) 754-6927 Manager: Scot Croycraft Scott
Fashion Design Inc. Atlanta
Gateway management David & Stacey Babb St. Louis Missouri. Manchester & 270. (04/26/2001)
Gateway St. Louis Missouri Manager: David assistant: Jenny. 314-432-4010.
Global Enterprises , Centura Creations and Extreme Indiana
Heaven Scent
Impact U.S.A. Roland Bolas Clearwater Florida
James LaBlance and Mallory in Washington and California
Josh Starks
Josie Villasenor 2118 S. Wabash Chicago, IL.
Kiwi Enterprise Hobart Indiana
Kreative South Bend Indiana managers: Sarah Darwin Woods Commerce Dr, by the South Bend regional airport 605 W. Washington, right accross from Tippecanoe Place
L & L Systems Denver Colorado 303-232-8966, 303-650-1135 and 303-779-0646
Labbi International Cincinnati
Liquid Assets Wembley Park, London UK Advertise on the local newspaper as "An american based company undergoing a 5 million dollar expansion, 30 people needed to be trained into management positions
Mercury Wholesale Portland Oregon
Middlesex, NJ central NJ Donny Zinkin as the regional manager and Holly Jacobetz as the District Manager
Miracle management
National Wholesale Colorado Springs Michael Black
National Wholesale Distributors Atlanta Chamblee
New Trend Promotions Bossier City, Louisiana, East Texas Street, 71112
Ol'Factory Wholesale 2785 N. Speer Blvd Denver CO. Phone # is 303-433-6900
P&B International Montgomery Alabama
Pacific Design Scents LA area 13030 Inglewood, 1 block north of Rosencranz
Pacific Design. Manager: Daphne Bach with the help of: Gat, Joshua, Brian, Jen, and Reina. 13030 Inglewood Ave. #105, Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 644-8946
Phoenix Management Lincoln Blvd Middlesex , New Jersey 732-764-6868 (ripoffreport.com)
PN and B marketing 9129-100 Monroe Rd. Charlotte North Carolina 28270 704-847-6002 Managers: Kerry and Mike (ripoffreport.com)
Prestige management New Jersey
Prodigy Advancement Chicago Illinois
R & R designs Murfreesboro Area 826 Memorial Blvd Suite 200 615-907-2068
Scentex
Skyline Advancement Corp. Josie and Thanh 417 S. Dearborn suite 200 Chicago
South Bay Management 2309 Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90501-2520 tel: (310)618-1535 Manager: Reina
Success By Design Louisville , KY
T&A International
Tennessee Managers: Eric Berry And Troy
Titan Marketing Bloomington Minnesota Dan Thompson
Ultimate Concepts Nashville, Tennessee (possibly Murphysboro Rd)
United front Rep: Gloria 818-988-6625 fax# 818-594-7230 VAN NUYS, CA 91406 Juice 10 Kopta, Shannon David and Stacey Babb Richard Wentz
Universal Wholesale Distributors
W.H.O.A. Brandon Florida president is Wilson Roldan. Vielka Lopez & Jennys Nunez VPs
W.T. Enterprises Orlando
WHOA Enterprises 601 S Falkener Road Tampa, Florida
Xanten Group Torrance, CA Managers: Helena Vargas Daniel Huerta
Zirbel Enterprises Inc. San Diego Doris Cornejo ,manager Doug Zirbel ,owner. 858-554-1156 6790 Top Gun street, suite# 5
Scentura Distributor Aliases:
(from DEFUNCT web page now erased off of Google's cache:
http://www.csh.rit.edu/~davek/scentura.html and the currently working:
http://www.intergov.org/InterGOV_Newspaper/09-09-02/scam_information1_14.htm )
Atlantic Enterprises New Jersey
Atlantic Promotions Kannappolis, NC
Austin Concepts Austin, TX
Bayside Enterprises Maryland
Ciptiques Management Middle Village, NY
Commercial Wholesale Salt Lake City, UT 300w. and about 2900sRichard Greenly manager
Cream Enterprises Allentown, PA
Designers International Burmingham, AL
Designers International Las Vegas, NV
Distribution Company Fresno, CA
Divisional Management Noblesville, FL
Divisional Management Noblesville, IN
Essence Management St. Petersburg, FL
Essence Unlimited Garden City, NY
Extreme Enterprises Portage IN
Gateway Management St. Louis, MO
Hylcon Riverside, CA
International Design Chicago, IL
International Design Lathrup, MI
International Design Southfield, MI
J&T Enterprises New Jersey
JP&A management Pittsburgh, PA
Meridian Management Ewing, NJ
Modern Concepts Houston, TX
Observe L'Essance Pittsburgh, PA
Odyssey Imports Fresno, CA
Opportunity Knocks Burmingham, AL
Pheonix Mangement Middlesex, NJ
Phoenix Management Middlesex, NJ
Platinum Enterprises Long Beach, CA
PMA Management West Haven, CT
PN&B Marketing Charlotte, NC
Progressive Design Jacksonville FL
Progressive Designs Jacksonville, FL
Regional Design Indianapolis, IN
Skyline Management Chicago, IL
Stellar Essence Salem, OR
Texas Scents International San Antonio, TX
Titan Wholesale Industries Nashville, TN
Utopia Enterprises Sacramento, CA
Texas Scents International (http://www.texasscentsinternational.com/fragrances.html)
Designers International, Inc (http://www.designersinternationalinc.com/aboutus.html)
Fragrances By Nat (http://www.fragrancesb
ynat.com/products.html)
------------------------
(KEYWORDS)
KEYWORDS:
World Perfume WORLD PERFUME worldperfume cologne scam perfume better business
bureau BBB World Perfume international Scentura John Whitworth Johnny Whitworth
scams fraud scam
#1320
Sun, January 12, 2003
Scentura and World Perfume Scam If link broken press the cache button at google.com Scams Fraud (74 pages); 17 news articles on Scentura
World Perfume and Scentura scam
Current contact Info: [email protected]
Pay special attention to Section 3, What You Can Do To Shut Down Your Local World Perfume & Scentura to help others avoid being scammed.
-
-
-
INDEX:
---------------------------
SECTION 1:
TELEVISION, MAGAZINE, NEWSPAPER REPORTS (17) AND COURT ORDERS AGAINST WORLD PERFUME AND SCENTURA
* Scentura creations is a multi-marketing scheme, according to appellate
court of Illinois second district (DISTRIBUTORS: Is Scentura or World Perfume headquarters
threatening you with legal action? You can possibly use this court case as legal precedence to
receive judgment in your favor)
* Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy
Cleveland Ohio report on WORLD PERFUME
* Dream Jobs That Turn Out To Be Nightmares
Orlando Florida Television Report
* Denver Post
The victim was walking along West 32nd Avenue near Zuni Street
selling perfume when two men approached her and dragged her into an
alley. They took turns sexually assaulting her, according to a
police report.
*Perfume-Selling Operations Smell Like Scam, Women Say
Cleveland Ohio Newspaper Report
*If it sounds too good to be true
Noblesville, Indianapolis
* Perfume jobs smell fishy, BBB says
New Orleans
*Perfume Bandits. (Fake Perfume Offered In Parking Lots)
Kristen Stieffel Orlando Business Journal, Sept 14, 2001 v18 i16 p23
* Know What You Are Applying For When Answering A Want Ad
Richmond Times - Dispatch; Richmond, Va.; Jun 9, 2002; Iris Taylor;
* Perfume Purveyors Are Real Thing, Even If The Myth Isn't
Richmond Times - Dispatch; Richmond, Va.; Dec 6, 2000;
* There's Big Dollars In Street Scents
Intelligencer Journal; Lancaster; Mar 07, 1997; Flannery, Thomas L;
* Perfume Sales Just A Smelly Scam? Young People Say Amherst Company Fails
On Training, Pay Promises
Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Mar 28, 1992; By James T. Madore - News Business Reporter;
*Former Employees Cheer Reports Perfume Firm Is Out Of Business
Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Jun 13, 1992; By James T. Madore - News Business Reporter;
*Perfume Sales Company Recruits In Munster, Indiana
The Times (from Munster Indiana), 06/22/2001 Kim Chievrue
*Ads Spur Warning On Jobs Company's Internship Is Sales Spot, BBB Says
St. Louis Post
* Workers Say Perfume Business Stinks
www.thewpbfchannel.com
*Too True To Be Good
Charles Elmore
Palm Beach Florida
* Who Wants To Be Rich? Larry Hahn: From Sleeping In A Car To A $5 Million Home.
(History and inner workings of Scentura, 3 page article, including one court order against Larry Hahn's
company and police complaints)
E. Thomas Jr.. Atlanta Business Chronicle, Oct 5, 1987 v10 n19 p1(5)
*Officials: Scent Of Fraud Lingers In Sales Scheme (title only)
The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Ga.; Feb 15, 1996; Associated Press
*120 PAGE INNER ORGANIZATION DOCUMENT ON SCENTURA AVAILABLE
*Index of main book
** Excerpts from book:
* Chapter one: Find an office space
(Teaching new Scentura distributors how to lie to their new landlords)
* Chapter 4: Insurance from Atlanta (showing a solid link between distributors and main office)
SECTION 2:
WHAT IS WORLD PERFUME AND SCENTURA?
*Keep in mind this about World Perfume and Scentura
*What can I expect from training?
*Are World Perfume and Scentura the same company?
SECTION 3:
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SHUT DOWN YOUR LOCAL WORLD PERFUME & SCENTURA
*How to shut down your local World Perfume / Scentura distributor
What YOU can do
*Flyer for your class and cars in the business parking lot
*Petition for newspaper
*Letter to your local classified advertiser about Scentura
*How our efforts forced a local World Perfume distributor to change their classified advertising
* File a complaint with Better Business Bureau, US office of consumer affairs, Federal Trade commission, and your state's attorney general's office all at one time
*Pre-made Letter to your state Tax commission, against your local Scentura/ World Perfume distributor
SECTION 4:
VARIOUS OTHER SUBJECTS
*BETTER BUSINESS REPORTS ON SCENTURA DISTRIBUTORS:
*BBB REPORT
St Louis (not included for lack of space)
*BBB Reliability Report,
Salt Lake Scentura distributor (not included for lack of space)
* BBB of Central Florida (not included for lack of space)
* BBB Indy Design, Cincinnati, Oh (not included for lack of space)
*BBB Creative Designs, Memphis TN (not included for lack of space)
*BBB Scentura Creations Modern Concepts, Houston, Texas (not included for lack of space)
*Is Scentura a stable and wise career path for your future? List of 23 out of 50 closed Scentura distributors on the BBB website (not included for lack of space)
*TAX FRAUD OF ONE SCENTURA DISTRIBUTOR (not included for lack of space)
*Description of what happens, Day to Day (not included for lack of space)
*First and second interview (not included for lack of space)
*First training day (not included for lack of space)
*Response to Mr. Christopher Doan's email and chat line message (Mr. Doan is a big distributor of World Perfume)
*Other sources of information on Scentura and World Perfume
*Contact World Perfume and Scentura headquarters directly
*Other aliases for World Perfume and Scentura
-
-
-
-
@SECTION ONE @@@@@@@@@
@@@@@TELEVISION, MAGAZINE, AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS AND COURT ORDERS AGAINST WORLD PERFUME AND/OR SCENTURA@@@@@@@
** SCENTURA CREATIONS is a multi-marketing scheme, according to APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS SECOND DISTRICT *************
(Remember World Perfume has the exact same business model.)
SITE:
http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions
/AppellateCourt/2001/2ndDistrict/
September/Html/2000964.htm
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS SECOND DISTRICT SCENTURA CREATIONS, INC. court case September 18, 2001
Ruled AGAINST Scentura Creations inc. because it was found to be a multi-level marketing scam.
Scentura ruled by Appellate court to be a multi-level marketing pyramid sales scheme:
"In our view, the consignment contract between plaintiff and defendant is properly characterized as a chain referral sales technique or pyramid sales scheme, which falls within the protection of section 2A of the Act."
"By virtue of this legislative enactment, the state has determined that the eradication of chain referral sales techniques and pyramid sales schemes is an important interest. Although the power to declare a private contract void as contrary to public policy is to be used sparingly, we may utilize this power when the contract at issue is clearly contrary to the constitution, the statutes, or the decisions of the courts."
"While defendant contends that the consignment contract falls squarely within the protection of section 2A of the Act, plaintiff contends that the contract cannot be construed as a chain referral agreement or pyramid sales scheme because furnishing names of other consignees is not a condition precedent to defendant's financial gain. Plaintiff also asserts that section 2A of the Consumer Fraud Act does not apply because plaintiff did not "sell" merchandise, but, instead, it delivered the perfume on consignment. We find plaintiff's asserted distinctions to be unpersuasive and nothing more than an exercise in semantics. "
Defendant said that the:
"plaintiff breached the agreement, that the agreement was not supported by consideration, that plaintiff destroyed evidence, and that the agreement was illusory and unconscionable."
************
Scents Of Deception: To Buy Or Not To Buy: World Perfume
http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html
Ron Regan Finds Out The True Scent
POSTED: 5:43 p.m. EST November 2, 2001
CLEVELAND -- Brett McCoy, a former salesman: Smell that one, this is Freedom by Tommy Hilfiger.
Ron Regan: Brett McCoy claims this was his "sales pitch" to dozens of women.
See, I was just selling them at the show for 60 bucks and I need to unload them.
Regan: McCoy claims he convinced women they were buying expensive designer fragrances--the real thing...for the half the price. In fact, they were expensive knock-offs. McCoy: From there, we can make up any lie, any story to make the sale. And if I asked if this is the real thing you say--"its the real thing.
Regan: McCoy worked for a company that placed these ads that began running last summer. So we decided to answer one of them.
Regan: Is it perfume? I've heard of, is it sold in department stores?
McCoy: Yes, we carry anything from like Versace, to Liz Clairborne to what else --Polo.
Regan: On another day, dozens of young people, trusting those ads, fill a room in this office labeled "International Management." Listen to exactly what they're told.
Seminar sound: same ingredients, mixed the same way, without the same cost.
Regan: The company behind those fragrances is headquartered 1,300 miles away...deep in the heart of Texas.
World Perfume...I recently bought some perfume from a guy pumping gas...this is the real white diamonds right...yes...do many people know that they sell them in different bottles, oh yea, I mean we get it all from the manufacturers we use them in fragrance show that's what we do.
Chic Enterprises is home to World Perfume Inc., a company founded by J.D. Whitworth, a Dallas businessman, who now lives in this million and a half dollar home.
Small compared to the home he recently sold.
Regan: Hawking perfume brought Whitworth the sweet smell of success. In the early 90s, he bought this home now valued at $3.5 million.
It's a company, this father says, recruited his daughter through newspaper ads.
Richard Whitney: They can't have a pager, a beeper, can't call home during the middle of the week or during the day.
Regan: Richard Whitney complained to the Better Business Bureau.
Whitney: My wife and her family compared it with a religious cult, it was like they were brainwashing.
Regan: At the time, World Perfume denied any wrongdoing, saying it's "proud of the quality of its work and ethical business practices."
But when we wanted to ask a few questions inside their Dallas headquarters...this guy blocked the hallway.
Regan: Is there any reason why you won't talk with us? And remember the company representative you first saw in our undercover video? Regan: This is International Management, we're part of a larger company called World Perfume. When we caught up with him...the story changed.
Regan: Who do you work for?
Rep: It's my company.
Regan: Oh, it your company.
Rep: What is World Perfume?
They are one of the distributors--is that who supplies you--yes, they are one of my suppliers and I am asking you to leave my office right now.
Regan: Even the sales force ran for cover.
Regan: Do you tell people it's the real fragrance.
I have no comment.
Regan: Why won't you speak about it.
Rep: Because I'm very busy and I'm off somewhere right now.
Regan: And customers who bought Brett McCoy's sales pitch say they wasted their money.
Diane DiCarlo, a customer: It's like $28 a bottle for watered down ...nothing.
Regan: Finally, we found job applicants, lured by huge incomes.
Rep: And our top range managers making $75 to $85 thousand dollars a year. Managing new locations.
Regan: Right now, the company is undergoing a $10 million expansion plan to open ten new offices.
Left only....with a "training" office.
Regan: Do you pay these people anything?
Rep: Yeah, they get paid off their sales.
Regan: They don't get paid a salary?
Rep: No.
Regan: An office with plenty of free time.
International Management insists it tells its sales force that the fragrances that they sell are renditions only and not the real thing. The company declined an opportunity for an on-camera interview to fully discuss its sales practices.
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Dream Jobs That Turn Out To Be Nightmares
http://www.icflorida.com
/partners/wftv/consumer/2001
/job_scam0211.html
(02/11/02) -- Each week you see ads in the paper offering high paying jobs that offer on-the-job training. But sometimes those dream jobs turn out to be a nightmare and you're left paying for it.
"They said they'd pay you $52,000 a year, and they're training. That's easy. Train me. I'll make that," Amanda Henderson told Action 9. She answerd an ad in the local paper for management, but soon she felt scammed.
"They don't tell you that you're going to go walking around the Walmart parking lot and ask people as they're getting in their cars to buy perfume," she explained.
Rebecca Baldwin responded to a similar ad and the pitch was the same. Company representatives explained that hands-on-experience was the only way to go. "Now you'll be managing a team that's going to be selling this imposter perfume. In order to manage a team to do that, you need to walk in their shoes." Rebeca recalled company representatives told her.
Walking in their shoes meant showing up in parking lots and gas stations. Both Amanda and Rebecca soon discovered their dream jobs were nothing more than peddling imposter perfumes by Scentura Creations -- right out of the trunk of their cars.
How does it happen? Our Action 9 team went undercover to find out. Action 9 Consumer Investigative Producer, Lawan Williams, answered an ad in the paper for an administrative assistant. She ended up at an Orlando company called E.M.O.
Day One - our producer is told there is no admin job, but there's a better opportunity to run her own office and make big bucks. But there is a small catch - first there's 8 weeks of training -- all at no pay. And that's not all. Our producer soon discovers, she's not the only candidate - there's 30 others applying.
First assignment, sell perfume to family and friends. Candidates are told if they can't sell to family who could they sell? The mission - prove you can sell and cut that 8 week training in half.
"The more you sold, the quicker you got out of training. Then you could get into your office and then you could make money," our producer reported. Candidates are told to get the product sold - even if it means blackmailing family and friends or simply buying the product themselves.
The next morning, the candidates collectively turned in orders for 68 bottles at $20 a bottle. And E.M.O. representatives were on hand to collect the cash -- all tax free and labor cheap.
That same week, our producer is paired with a trainer to learn the ropes fast. Back roads, even gas stations . . . trainers show us how easy they peddle phoney perfumes in parking lots -- far, far away from high paying office jobs.
Action 9's Consumer Investigative Reporter Todd Ulrich caught up with E.M.O. president, Lisa Piccione at her office. "Are you really hiring any managers for 30 to 50 thousand dollars. Do you tell your salespeople to lie?," Todd asked. Lisa Piccione had no comment.
But, to Rebecca Baldwin it was clear. She wasn't being "hired" to do anything, just tricked into peddling perfume. "They're taking advantage of you. They're using you and she's keeping the money," Rebecca concluded.
Now, Scentura Creations in Atlanta makes the perfume and supplies it to independent contractors like E.M.O. A Scentura spokesman says it's not responsible for the job ads or the way it's sold.
Remember, whenever unemployment rises, so do the number of risky job ads. Be careful with any company that requires unpaid training. Stay away from any job where you have to pay a fee first. And finally, always check out any company's record with the Better Business Bureau first.
And if there's confusion of whether you should be considered an employee or a contractor - check the IRS definitions of employees. If you feel you've been classified incorrectly you can file a complaint with the IRS and they will investigate.
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From chat message 92 at http://www.seniors-s*te.com/fraud/:
The person selling the perfume in the news (Dream Jobs That Turn Out To Be Nightmares) was my "partner" -- Karyn Ramirez [email protected]
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RAPE
Denver Post
November 11, 2001;
Page B-02
3 rape suspects sought in 2 incidents in Denver. Denver police are looking for three suspects in two rapes that occurred on Friday and Saturday. The first rape was around 4 p.m. Friday. The victim was walking along West 32nd Avenue near Zuni Street selling perfume when two men approached her and dragged her into an alley. They took turns sexually assaulting her, according to a police report.
Thanks to Schauds ([email protected] ) for alerting me to this:
In this past Sundays Denver Post I read an article that horrified me. A girl selling perfume less than 1/2 mile from the Ol' Factory Wholesale office [Scentura distributor] was raped at approx 4:00 PM on Friday. This was the first day of training folks. And although I cannot say that she was selling Scentura Products, I can only imagine someone that I had interviewed with was walking away from her first day of training to find her very first sale and becoming a victim of a horrible crime. [Posted on November 12, 2001 at 11:11:42 on http://www.seniors-s*te.com/fraud/):]
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PERFUME-SELLING OPERATIONS SMELL LIKE SCAM, WOMEN SAY
Monday, March 4, 2002
By Lornet Turnbull
Columbus Ohio
Dispatch Staff Reporter
The lowest point of her short-lived career in perfume sales came on the day Kim Aston and her colleagues were shooed away from the Bogey Inn near Muirfield.
A 30-year-old from Pataskala, Aston and the others had been hitting strip malls, parking lots and office buildings around Columbus peddling rendition perfume -- knockoffs of designer fragrances.
But instead of offering to buy, Bogey Inn managers called police. The salespeople were a nuisance, restaurant managers said, and had no license to sell. They were asked to leave and not return.
It was an early clue to the peculiarity of the new career Aston had chosen when she responded to a newspaper ad offering "serious'' money for a management opportunity that required no experience.
Midwest One in Worthington recruited her and more than a dozen other central Ohioans -- mostly women, and none of them licensed -- to peddle Scentura Creations' line of rendition perfume called Observe L Essence.
Based in Atlanta, Scentura creates fragrances that mimic such designer brands as Giorgio, Poison and Obsession. The company sells them through a network of independent distributors such as Midwest One, which opened here in January.
"Most of these kinds of operations are as predatory as hell,'' said Columbus police spokesman Sgt. Earl Smith. "Over the years, we've had companies bring in vanloads of kids and send them out into neighborhoods, cold weather, hot weather . . . If it's not legally dishonest, it's morally and ethically so.''
The vendors were told that potential buyers were everywhere: in hotel lobbies, elementary schools, grocery stores, bars and strip clubs.
Not even hospitals and funeral parlors were off limits.
"We'd go through the drive-through at fast-food restaurants and ask if they wanted to buy perfume,'' Aston said, laughing at the memory of the sales pitches. "We wouldn't be buying anything ourselves.''
Eventually, after five to eight weeks of training, the promotion says, the vendors could open offices of their own, with free startup money from Scentura. As entrepreneurs, they could expect to earn $52,000 or more annually after recruiting new vendors for training -- starting the cycle all over again.
Aston and the others learned quickly that the path to entrepreneurship wasn't paved in gold: One disappointing sales stop followed another as they tried to convince people that a $20 bottle of imitation Giorgio was as good as the real thing.
"People treated us like we were nothing; it was embarrassing,'' Aston said. "We felt like the people who walk up to you on the street in New York, opening their coats and trying to sell you hot watches.
"The one thing that kept me going for two long weeks was the belief that I would be able to make $52,000 a year.''
It would never materialize.
And eventually, the company's entire sales force quit at once -- all after three weeks or less.
Midwest One owners Stan and Sarah Niemeic and their now-former sales force disagree over various aspects of their relationship.
The sellers, for example, said they were promised a weekly paycheck of $295 or more.
But the Niemeics say the sellers were told that as independent contractors, their income would come from the profit of each sale.
They could keep any amount over $18 for each bottle they sold, Mrs. Niemeic said.
"They were being trained, and during that time they were given the opportunity to make money,'' Mrs. Niemiec said.
She said most of the vendors were under 20, unmotivated and most probably would have been dismissed if they hadn't quit.
"This is an opportunity for a person who does not have a lot of education or experience,'' she said.
The positions are an alternative to $6- and $8-an-hour jobs in fast- food restaurants and retail stores, she said.
"If you want to make more money, you work a little harder. I don't think there was a lot of effort among many of them.''
The Niemeics came to Columbus from Arkansas last December. They have been Scentura distributors for seven years, opening their first office in Mobile, Ala.
Janet Robb, president of the Better Business Bureau of Arkansas, said inquiries and complaints against the company there centered around its hiring practices.
"We'd get calls from the parents of 17-year-olds asking about their financial claims,'' Robb said.
"We never got complaints about the knockoff Gucci perfumes. It was always about these management positions that paid a lot of money. In most cases, there were no management positions, and there was not a lot of money to be made.''
Hundreds of Internet postings make similar accusations against Scentura distributors across the country. A scattered handful of them are from people who had completed the training and were successfully running their own businesses.
Kip Morse, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, said that although businesses such as Midwest One are legal, their hiring practices can be misleading.
"If you're advertising management positions and it takes three days of somebody's time, energy and hopes before they come to grips with what it is really about, you've got deception.''
Morse warns potential recruits to check out these kinds of management offers before responding to ads.
"You've got to be realistic,'' Morse said. "Is it feasible that this is a product somebody will want to buy? Is there a market for this product? Am I the kind of person who would want to sell this product this way?''
On top of everything else, Aston and the others were operating illegally when they sold their perfumes without peddler licenses throughout Columbus and some other central Ohio cities.
Niemiec said sellers are told from the start that they are responsible for obtaining their own licenses, as well as paying taxes. Vendors disagree.
Columbus also requires Midwest One to have a peddler promoter license, said Craig Coloby, a licensing officer in Columbus. He said neither the company nor its vendors are licensed.
It's not unusual.
Often, officials don't learn of peddler violations until someone complains; businesses seldom do, Coloby said.
Unlicensed vendors roll into town offering a variety of products for sale.
"Magazines are the big thing,'' Coloby said.
Experts say these kind of "business opportunities'' seem even more appealing when the job market is weak.
Sheena Wicks, 18, said she was looking for a job to help pay the bills and prepare for college after she lost her job when American Eagle Outfitters closed its Northland Mall store.
The Columbus resident earned less than $20 during her two weeks with Midwest One.
"So many people would laugh at us,'' Wicks said. "Some would just plain get mad.
"Or they would smell the stuff for half an hour and then not buy anything -- wasting your time.''
Aston, a mother of a 7- and a 4- year-old, said that in the end she probably sold 13 bottles before she finally quit. In two weeks, she, too, had earned about $20.
With transportation expenses and child-care costs, the position she had taken to help with the household bills ended up pushing her deeper into debt, she said.
"I didn't have a car, so I was offering the others gas money,'' she said. "We were all broke all the time because we weren't selling anything.''
[email protected]
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IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
Richard Reeve/Eyewitness News
Noblesville, Indianapolis Aug. 26
So why are people crowding a Noblesville parking lot? "They said we're going to make like $75,000 the first year," recalls Dan Penale.
Callista Kellas came "with the impression I was, you know, (going to) have this great management job."
They saw an ad for international wholesale assistant managers, maybe $400 a week.
"It fell into the category of, too good to be true." Kent Koven, a recent Ball State grad, liked what he heard from a regional manager for Scentura Creations, assistant manager, cool! "The truth is, you have to sell so many bottles to open your own store."
Bottles? Bottles of what? Perfume, it turns out. "Selling is not important, that's what they told us, over and over, we're management, we're not supposed to sell, however that's not what I found," says Koven.
But he, and several others, soon discovered they were going to be salespeople, not managers.
Linda Carmody with the Better Business Bureau thinks, "it's misleading."
Not illegal, the BBB says, but maybe not very truthful. "Our report does state about the ads, about it saying that it's management. And that people should realize it's an independent contractor and would be responsible for their own business."
That means you'd make the sales and get a cut, but pay the taxes and get your own licenses, if needed.
Eyewitness News wanted to find out more, but company representative Katie Metzger wouldn't speak with us at first. She later told us we'd have to leave.
Dan Panale left too, after hearing Scentura's pitch. "It was more gonna be all sales and like the managing was going to be one or two people getting a managing job. That's not, that's something false from what they said last week."
One young person said, they should've just come out and told us.
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PERFUME JOBS SMELL FISHY, BBB SAYS
http://www.theneworleanschannel.com
/no/6onyourside/stories/6onyourside-20000719-165758.html
New Orleans news report on Scentura:
Trainees Promised High Pay, Given Hard Labor
Recent college graduates and teenagers looking for summer jobs need to be aware of one local business that advertises high-paying management positions.
When he responded to a classified ad posted by a company called International Designs, Michael Torres thought he was applying for a good job. But he said the training turned out to be more like hard labor.
"You go out and spend eight hours in the field and you basically made $4," Torres said.
After interviewing with the company, Torres and about a dozen others were sent out on aggressive sales ventures. With just a list of product names, trainees were told to sell as many products as they could to friends and family.
Another part of the training involved sending the employees to parking lots to approach people and sell perfume using a tactic called "cover and smother," 6 On Your Side reporter Stephanie Boswell said.
The trainees made just $2 for every bottle sold, and Torres became suspicious of the job and the product.
"We didn't have these products until the day after we sold them," he said. "And then they brought in the different types of cologne and perfumes, and that's when it really caught me. I said 'Wait, this isn't what I was selling to people.'"
Scentura Creations of Atlanta manufactures the perfumes. International Designs is one of its distributors. Both stand by the product.
One of Torres' friends, Chris St. Pierre, was not happy with his cologne purchase.
"When I called Scentura in Atlanta, they said they had scent tests," St. Pierre said. "Fifty percent (of respondents) say it's the same, and the other 50 percent say it's close. And it's not."
Torres said he's embarrassed that he sold the product to his friends and wants to put this work experience behind him.
Boswell said this is not the first time that 6 On Your Side has received complaints about Scentura Creations and International Designs, but Scentura said it is not affiliated with the individual distributor.
6 On Your Side was unable to reach the distributor, but the Better Business Bureau warns consumers to beware of high-paying jobs that require little training.
Have a complaint about employment compensation?
The Wage and Hour Board advises people who have not been paid or who have questions about the payment they've received. (504) 589-6171 Or call the 6 On Your Side hotline at (800)416-NEWS.
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PERFUME BANDITS. (FAKE PERFUME OFFERED IN PARKING LOTS)
Kristen Stieffel.
Orlando Business Journal, Sept 14, 2001 v18 i16 p23
The message: A cautionary tale describing people who approach women in parking lots and ask them to "sniff perfume that they are selling at a cheap price. This is not perfume - it is ether. When you sniff it, you'll pass out, and they'll take your wallet and heaven knows what else."
The e-mail usually contains several accounts of people, who were approached in parking lots or at gas stations but, because they had. read' a Previous version of the email, avoided disaster by escaping.
The truth: Although it is wise to avoid strangers in parking lots, ether isn't potent enough to knock someone out with only a couple of casual sniffs.
As with many urban legends, however, this story does contain a grain df truth. Two unrelated grams, actually.
According to the Mobile Police Department, on Nov. 8, 1999, Bertha Johnson claimed. to have been rendered unconscious after having smelled an unknown substance. She told. police that, as she was entering a bank (with $500 of her own money and $300 belonging to her employer), she was approached by a woman selling perfume. Johnson sniffed the perfume, lost consciousness and came to some time later at another location. All the money was gone.
Johnson's case appears to be the only one of its kind. Toxicological reports showed no unusual substance, ether or otherwise, in her system. No arrest has ever been made, and the case remains, open.
As for bands of perfume-wielding villains prowling the nation's parking lots, there appears to be some truth there also, though whether the perfume in question contains ether is anybody's guess, since all of their would-be victims have been tipped off to the scheme But at least one company, Atlanta-based Scentura Creations, does sell perfume in this way.
Scentura is described by the Better Business Bureau as a "multilevel selling company." The firm manufacturers inexpensive imitations of designer fragrances. Salespeople are sent out, often in pairs, to hawk the product door-to-door or, yes, in parking lots.
Sightings of such peddlers seem to have lent credence to the original scare story, in spite of the fact that, other than Johnson's univerified assault, no one has ever been found to have been "ethered" by a perfume salesperson.
If a suspicious e-mail lands in your in-box, before forwarding it to everyone in your address book.
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KNOW WHAT YOU ARE APPLYING FOR WHEN ANSWERING A WANT AD
Richmond Times - Dispatch; Richmond, Va.; Jun 9, 2002; Iris Taylor;
A Richmond reader who is employed but actively looking for a new job answered an advertisement in The Times-Dispatch for an assistant manager.
She said she went on two interviews but became suspicious of many things, including the company's complicated, multitiered training and money-making structure and its use of many different telephone numbers in ads, all leading to the same office.
She said in a group interview, "a very smooth-of-the-mouth, very fast talker" spoke of bonuses, benefits, profit-sharing, trips, awards, giveaways and future office locations.
But, she said she had trouble getting straightforward answers to how much money she'd make and whether the job involved selling, which she did not want to do. She said she was offered a position "on the spot," but declined after deciphering that the 'job' entailed consumer watch selling bottles of cologne to family members and people on the street.
She said while trying to research the company on the Internet, she learned it was linked to the Atlanta-based perfume products company Scentura Creations Inc., the subject of scathing denunciations by people who claimed to have worked for it.
"Suppose I had been green enough to quit my job and be put out there?" she asked. "I have a mortgage, two children and a car note. I can probably tell you after the first day, I would have been gone. I would have been out there starting over from point one."
She said she believes this is an employment scam and she wants other readers to be warned.
I contacted the company that the reader complained about - Infinity Management in Richmond, which is one of many independent distributors of Scentura Creations. Scentura supplies, but does not own, Infinity Management. There are no complaints filed against Infinity Management at the Office of Consumer Affairs in Richmond or on the Better Business Bureau's Web site.
John Barber, the general manager in Richmond, said Infinity Management is an 11-month-old sole proprietorship that recruits and trains people to go into business for themselves as independent contractors.
He said people are made aware that they're not being hired as employees and that selling is involved because they sign independent contractor and consignment agreements "saying we're giving them merchandise [to sell] on a signature.
"Yes, there is sales involved in the learning process," Barber said. "We completely state that." But, "we don't come out and use words like selling. We would lose those types of people we're trying to appeal to." Rather, business jargon such as "direct marketing" is used, he said. Knowledgeable applicants understand that direct marketing means selling, he said. If they don't, "it's on their end to ask those types of questions."
Barber said Infinity Management uses multiple telephone lines because "we have about 300 different ads" and want to see which ones "pull" the best. Whether the ad asks for a branch manager/manager trainee, assistant manager or manager, "it's the same position," he said.
Infinity Management is licensed to sell business-to-business and to individuals on the street "anywhere in Richmond that is zoned commercial, but not on private property" such as malls or store properties where soliciting is not permitted, Barber said.
Training is progressive, done in several phases, and when completed, those who "prove themselves" are set up in a location with a small staff and budget. They are expected to turn enough profit to support operating expenses. They have other requirements, such as they must "do 30 transactions in one week" in order to keep their office location.
Income is commission-based, and there's no guarantee how much will be made, said Barber. Income is boosted by recruiting others to sell. Selling is done in teams - three-person groups that get cases of products to sell on consignment. They must report their progress twice a day.
I also called Scentura and spoke with Karey Smith in accounts receivable. She said the people who complain on the Internet think they're working for Scentura, but actually they're recruits of the independent distributors. "We've got some great owners," she said. But, "sometimes people open, and are not ready to open," while others misrepresent themselves as part of Scentura, but they're not.
On its Web site, however, Scentura takes credit for developing the concept that distributors use as a model for running their businesses. Also, the distributors receive from Scentura what Barber refers to as "overrides" or "residual income." So, Scentura and its distributors are strongly linked.
If you were looking for employment, would you, like the reader, wonder if you were being offered a job that enables you to support yourself and your family? Or, would you conclude that this is a business opportunity that involves hard work and risk?
Here are five tips from experts which, together with the questions contained in the help box, can help clear up confusion, misunderstandings and miscommunication that can occur in any interview:
* Be persistent in learning what the position entails. What a company is doing might not be anything illegal, said Sue Scott, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Employment Commission in Richmond. But, if the interviewer isn't being up front, the job seeker needs to ask probing questions.
* Look for buzzwords. "Selling" or "sales" are terms that scare off applicants. They often are camouflaged by such terms as marketing, direct marketing, telemarketing or telesales. "Probably the best suggestion is they should learn some business terminology," advised Infinity Management's Barber.
* Look for red flags in the advertisement. Ads of legitimate companies should contain the company name, a job title or job description, said Ron Brown, vice president of Excel Staffing Services Inc. in Richmond. "If you have two or three" of those pieces of information, "fine. If you have none of them, I'd start raising my eyebrows. Any company on the level will be proud of their name and give their name."
* You should be asked to fill out an application. Most legitimate businesses ask respondents to fill out an application, said Brown. "This isn't always true," but it is "in most instances. If they bring you in, take your Social Security number and say they're going to put you on the payroll, I'd start to question that."
* Do not rely on verbal promises. "Get all details regarding an employment opportunity in writing," advises the Greater Atlanta Better Business Bureau in its report on Scentura Creations. To review the report, go to www.atlanta.bbb.org. Click "company reports," then, "additional options," and "Scentura Creations." You will learn that it sells "fragrance products" to wholesale distributors who then resell the items to the public.
One method used by the independent distributors to recruit sales people is the placement of classified advertisements in the employment section under the heading of "Management," the BBB reported.
It said, "Scentura Creations has had no complaints." However, you can read plenty of complaints by going to a search engine and typing in Scentura Creations. Scentura Creation's Web site is at www.scenturacreations.com.
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PERFUME PURVEYORS ARE REAL THING, EVEN IF THE MYTH ISN'T
Richmond Times - Dispatch; Richmond, Va.; Dec 6, 2000;
Like the scents they sell, tales of alleged perfume-wielding perpetrators continue to weave and waft their way about town.
For those who are joining the program currently in progress:
On Nov. 17, The Times-Dispatch ran a story about a mass- distribution e-mail that warned shoppers to watch for people selling perfume in parking lots.
The e-mail warning - featuring various women in various places who consequently were drugged and robbed - turned out to be an urban myth most likely based on a single incident reported in Mobile, Ala., more than a year ago. (That case is still unsolved.)
The bottom line was "Don't believe everything you hear, but better safe than sorry."
Within two days, however, several women from the Richmond area called to say something similar had happened to them.
One anonymous caller said she was approached on Election Day by a young woman selling inexpensive perfume at the Mechanicsville Wal- Mart. "I was going to my car, and luckily a man came along who was parked by me. Then she walked away."
No crimes reported
Apparently, people are peddling perfume in public places. But they don't appear to be doing so with evil intent, as suggested by the warning e-mails - no ether sprays or robberies associated with perfume sales have been reported to the Richmond Police Department's Economic Crimes Unit, which usually handles scam-related reports.
One young salesman even offered cologne to a Henrico County policeman at the scene of a crime. The officer was in uniform at the time, so it's likely the vendor's intentions - if not his timing - were benign.
A similar encounter alarmed Betty Anne Howell at the Midlothian Turnpike Kmart. "A nice-looking lady had a box in her hand and said something like, 'Would you be interested in some perfume?'"
Howell thought it was unusual and left quickly. The woman probably was selling something cheap at a hiked-up price, she said, but who knows?
Mary E. Woodley said she was approached the morning the article appeared by a young man in front of the Library of Virginia on Broad Street. He asked her what kind of perfume she liked and began to open a black bag.
"I immediately said no and proceeded on my way back to work," said Woodley.
Another Mary, who asked that her last name be withheld, said she was getting out of her car at the Short Pump Wal-Mart last spring or early summer when a young man suddenly appeared behind her.
"He said, 'Excuse me, ma'am, if you have a minute.'
"I don't know that there was anything dangerous about the situation, but I put the fear of God into that young man. I said, 'You are making a big mistake' . . . I don't know what you have in that backpack, and you have no idea what I have in my pocketbook."
As he took off, Mary noticed one or two other young people with backpacks toward the rear of the parking lot.
Filling a quota
"These poor kids are probably brought out here and dropped off in the middle of nowhere," she said. "They probably have some quota . . . but it's just not a good idea, even in broad daylight."
Whenever someone reports such an incident, said Jim Kloosterman, manager of the Short Pump Wal-Mart, "We go right out and tell them to leave our property."
Kloosterman said the vendors usually are college-age and generally are selling perfume. "In the last three years, we've probably run them off four or five times."
Mary Brinkley, an assistant manager at the Wal-Mart at Parham and Brook roads, said people have been asked to leave because solicitation is not allowed on Wal-Mart property. Generally, they cooperate and move on.
Diane Pedraza of Richmond thinks the proliferation of perfume peddlers may be related to a company called Scentura Creations.
Scentura, according to its Web site, began about 25 years ago in Atlanta and has evolved into a "multimillion dollar company that distributes perfume to independent business owners on an international level."
The company revolves around the sale and distribution of its Observe L Essence line of "rendition" fragrances, created to mimic designer perfumes at a reduced price.
Scentura's Web site - though it includes no contact information for prospective employees or interested parties - offers a "once-in- a-lifetime opportunity to be in business for yourself," claiming the potential for a six-figure income and financial independence.
Not so, said Pedraza, at least not in her experience. She worked for a division of Scentura near Old Bridge, N.J., for about three weeks in 1998.
"When you first starting working for them, they say you get paid at least $200 a week.
"The only money I made was from perfume I sold on the street. I'm not a very good hustler, so I probably sold seven bottles the whole time."
According to Pedraza, her employer "took me to bad places. Where they tell you to go, you have to go . . . to parking lots, inside random office buildings."
Problems like that stem not from Scentura itself, but from its business owners, or "customers," said Karey Smith, who works for the company in Atlanta.
"Customers buy the perfume from [us], and the way they sell it is up to them," she said. "They cannot misrepresent the product [by saying it's the real version of a given scent] or say they're employees or work for us."
Web sites set up by Scentura representatives - which seem a safer venue than parking lots from which to sell a product - offer the 3.3- ounce bottles of perfume for anywhere from $19.95 to $39.95. Because customers own their own businesses, Smith said, they set their own prices and keep the profits.
Customers may employ anywhere up to 50 people on the local level to make the actual sales.
Most people, Smith said, learn about Scentura from having been introduced to its products. "People who want the perfume will call and say, 'I bought it in the Wal-Mart parking lot and can't find the girl who sold it to me.'*"
Customers and their employees are allowed to sell wherever they like, Smith said, as long as it's not illegal.
Scentura has about 200 to 300 customers at any given time, including some currently in the Richmond area.
If customers' tactics are questionable, Smith said, they usually don't last. "It's very easy to cut off the supply."
Whether or not the perfume-mongers can be traced to Scentura customers or similar operations, it pays to be alert, especially during high-volume shopping days.
And it wouldn't hurt the sellers themselves - whoever they are and no matter how good their intentions - to take a tip from Mary:
"I don't have Mace or anything, but some people have that on their key chain.
"You run into one of these feisty middle-aged West End women, and they're likely to sling it at you."
*******
THERE'S BIG DOLLARS IN STREET SCENTS
Intelligencer Journal; Lancaster; Mar 07, 1997; Flannery, Thomas L;
To hear Warren Jentis tell it, peddling bottles of perfume on the streets of Lancaster will catapult you into the world of the rich and famous.
But to hear city officials and business leaders tell it, what Jentis is doing will, in all likelihood, make only make one person rich:
Warren Jentis.
A Barnegate, N.J., native. Jentis said he moved to Lancaster on Jan. 31 with his girlfriend/partner Betsy Schuyler, rented a vacant three-story building at 114 E. Chestnut St. and opened WBI--short for Warren and Betsy International.
Jentis, who has the intensity of a get-rich. quick infomercial, describes himself as a "direct marketer of rendition perfumes he buys from Atlanta-based Scentura Creations.
Since no one may patient a scent, what Scentura dues is analyze the contents of popular fragrances, then replicate them and sell them under their own names at rates far lower than their original counterparts.
Jentis said he buys the perfumes at a deep discount and provides them to his sales force at prices ranging from $10.50 to $20 a bottle, and they, in turn, peddle the products for $24.95.
After about two months, Jentis said that "successful" salespersons are offered contracts with annual salaries ranging from "$30,000 to $35,000 and a car," and that free vacations are commonplace.
None of the seven people interviewed by the Intelligencer Journal said they have ever met or known anyone who received a contract, but two said they were off to Florida this weekend on Jentis' tab.
Since Jentis' arrival in Lancaster, police said they have been inundated with complaints of high-pressure sales tactics by the young sales crew Jentis calls "independent contractors"--made up primarily of felons, admitted drug dealers and hard-luck youngsters, the youngest being 17.
Hardly a day goes by, said the Downtown Investment District bicycle police officers, when they don't cite one or more of Jentis' crew for soliciting without a permit.
DID Police said most are repeat offenders and face fines between $50 to $600 on each daily charge.
Jentis and Schuyler insist the ordinance is not legal and said they plan to challenge it in court.
Jentis' attorney, Kevin C. Allen, could not be reached for comment.
"Crazy, Greedy ... Must like $$$, music and fun. Office and general work. Call Warren ... ," reads Jentis' ad in all three local newspapers.
And, according to Jentis, 29--a ponytailed, modern-day version of super salesman Prof. Harold Hill of "Music Man" fame--call they do.
"What's wrong with giving people the opportunity of a lifetime," said Jentis, waving his right hand, bedecked with a gold ring topped with a dollar sign. "I'm just teaching people to do what I do, and they learn as they earn."
After paying a non-refundable $25 fee for a nondescript "background check." the fledgling salespeople begin a four--to eight-week training program that includes stints at various locations throughout the county under Jentis' tutelage, Schuyler said.
Jentis said hundreds of people have passed through his doors, but admittedly few make the cut. One training class started with about 70; five remain.
Sam Loth. the DID's new executive director, said Jentis has scheduled a meeting with him next week.
What Jentis won't find when he gets to Loth's office is a sympathetic ear to his pleas of police harassment.
"Apparently Mr. Jentis feels he's free to operate outside the rules and regulations of the business community," Loth said.
Loth said he plans to continue to utilize the city's ordinance regulating vendors and peddlers "to help protect the community."
As does the man who heads the city's licensing and permits section, W. James Schelling.
"The problem is that Mr. Jentis is portraying his business as one that participates in business-to-business sales, and that's just not the case," said Schelling.
"The city doesn't issue permits that allow anyone to enter a business or stand directly outside a business and solicit that business's employees or customers," Schelling said. "Why? Because that's not legal."
Schelling said the only permit Jentis' sales force might be able to get is a peddler's permit that allows for door-to-door sales.
But that would require criminal records checks, and because most of Jentis' workers admittedly have had run-ins with the law, the applications would be denied, Schelling said.
Lancaster Bureau of Police Chief Michael L. Landis said enforcement of the city's vendors and peddlers law is complaint-driven, and that legitimate operations know they need a permit to do business in town.
Landis said he has received a number of complaints about Jentis' high-pressure tactics, misleading help-wanted advertisements and calls from parents of minors worried about what Jentis is really up to.
********
PERFUME SALES JUST A SMELLY SCAM? YOUNG PEOPLE SAY AMHERST COMPANY FAILS ON TRAINING, PAY PROMISES
Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Mar 28, 1992; By James T. Madore - News Business Reporter;
A group of young people is accusing an Amherst perfume distributor of falsely advertising career opportunities and of asking them to smuggle products into Canada.
They describe Nautica Stars Inc. as nothing more than a sophisticated "scam" that preys on people made desperate by unemployment and the recession by promising them career advancement and paid training -- and then not delivering on the promises.
They say they were told they could earn up to $35,000 a year or about $600 a week. However, they say they were lucky if they made $50 per week.
The 18-to-23-year-olds have reported their concerns to the Better Business Bureau of Western New York, which has launched an investigation, according to Dolores J. Liberatore, the bureau's vice president.
Founded in January, Nautica Stars, 331 Alberta Drive, distributes generic perfumes that are similar to Obsession, Eternity and other popular fragrances. The products are manufactured by Scentura Creations of Atlanta, Ga., a 17-year-old company with 570 sales offices worldwide.
John D. Disbro, a Williamsville resident, owns Nautica Stars. He and Michael E. Wallette of Cleveland, a regional vice president for Scentura, deny all the accusations made by the young adults. Both described their venture as "honest" and "not meant to hurt anyone" in an interview Friday.
Jennifer E. Andrews of Kenmore disagreed, saying: "We were basically misled . . . it was totally different than they said it was. We ended up spending more money than we were making."
She explained that she and her friends were given perfume by Nautica Stars to sell on consignment. They could charge whatever price they wanted, as long as $19 was paid to Nautica Stars for every item that was sold.
Financial records provided by Nautica Stars show that the disgruntled individuals earned between $20 and $66 during the two weeks they spent selling fragrances. All of them left the company about a week ago when their sales declined.
Wallette, the firm's supervisor, said it is possible for teen-agers to be successful selling perfume. For example, he said, a 19-year-old woman from Rochester was Scentura's top salesperson in New York in mid-February. And Mark M. Riedel, 28, of West Seneca is planning to open his own sales office in Cheektowaga, after being with the company for barely 3 1/2 weeks, Wallette said.
"This isn't a scam," he said. "And I don't want our name to be tarnished by a few bad apples."
Amy Eddy of Buffalo and Brian Bader of South Wales don't consider themselves troublemakers. They say all they want is to be reimbursed for their expenses and paid for the training sessions they attended.
Bader explained that he and his friends applied for jobs with Nautica Stars after reading a newspaper advertisement seeking managers and assistant managers. The ad promised paid training, and the potential for cash bonuses plus health benefits in the future.
"We never got paid for training," Bader said. "There was a lot of talk and promises; not must else."
He estimated that Nautica Stars owes him $655 for the use of his car and $442 in training wages. Miss Eddy and Miss Andrews each claim they are owed $260 for expenses and $680 in wages.
"If they have receipts, I will reimburse them. But I won't be raped," responded Wallette, who supervises Nautica Stars.
Owner John Disbro acknowledged that his advertisement was misleading and said it has been changed. "It was unintentional," he said, adding "I will do anything to make this right."
The young adults also allege that Wallette took them to Canada on selling trips and told them to lie to customs inspectors. He forced them to smuggle, they said.
Wallette denied the charge and said Nautica Stars has never sold perfumes north of the border.
Since January, about 250 people have sold perfume for Nautica Stars. However, only about 50 are still with the firm, Disbro said. "This isn't for everyone. But we are providing an opportunity for young people to make money," he said.
Paul Gabriel, a former salesperson, described Nautica Stars as a revolving-door operation, where young people are urged to sell perfume to their friends and family, and then discarded when sales drop.
"No one stays very long, they give up because they can't sell enough of the stuff to make money," said the 34-year-old Buffalo resident.
"They know these kids can't get jobs elsewhere so they use them," he added.
Bader, whose 18 years old, concluded: "We had such great hopes and then we found out it wasn't for real."
******
FORMER EMPLOYEES CHEER REPORTS PERFUME FIRM IS OUT OF BUSINESS
Buffalo News; Buffalo, N.Y.; Jun 13, 1992; By James T. Madore - News Business Reporter;
Nautica Stars Inc., an Amherst perfume distributor, has apparently gone out of business after being accused by a group of young people in March of false advertising and smuggling products into Canada.
Sources say the small business closed its doors in mid-May -- just six weeks after the students' allegations were reported by the media and an investigation was launched by the Better Business Bureau of Western New York.
The young people never did get the money they alleged was owed them by Nautica Stars. But Amy L. Eddy of Buffalo says she is pleased her former employer has shut down.
"I'd rather have them go out-of-business than get my money back and see them do this to other people," the 20-year-old said Friday. She claims the company owes her $260 for expenses and $680 in wages.
Founded in January, Nautica Stars distributed generic perfumes that are similar to Obsession, Eternity and other popular fragrances. The products are manufactured by Scentura Creations of Atlanta, a 17-year-old company with 570 sales offices worldwide.
Miss Eddy and five other whistle-blowers describe Nautica Stars as nothing more than a sophisticated "scam" that preyed on people made desperate by unemployment and the recession by promising them career advancement and paid training -- and then not delivering on the promises.
The 18- to 23-year-olds say they were told they could earn up to $35,000 a year or about $600 a week. However, they say they were lucky if they made $50 per week.
The young people explained that they were given perfume by Nautica Stars to sell on consignment. They could charge whatever price they wanted, as long as $19 was paid to Nautica Stars for every item that was sold.
The young adults also allege that they were taken to Canada on selling trips and told to lie to customs inspectors. Nautica Stars forced them to smuggle, they said.
The company's owner, John D. Disbro of Williamsville, and his supervisor Michael E. Wallette of Cleveland denied in March all the accusations made by the young adults.
However, Nautica Stars closed its offices at 331 Alberta Drive during the first or second week of May, sources say. The telephones were disconnected and mail has been returned unopened to senders.
In addition, no one seems to know where Disbro has gone. His home telephone number is unlisted. And New York Telephone Co. and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce say he did not give them a forwarding number.
"He's not doing business with us anymore," said Bob Hasty, vice president of Scentura Creations, the Atlanta-based manufacturer of the perfumes sold by Nautica Stars.
"I think he's gone out of business," Hasty said. He also noted that Wallette, the Cleveland man who was supervising Nautica Stars, also has stopped selling perfume.
Before closing his business, Disbro wrote to the five young people who had accused him of fraud. In the letter, he denied owing them any money because they had worked as independent contractors.
Between January and March, about 250 people sold perfume for the company. However, only about 50 were still with the firm on March 27.
The apparent disappearance of Nautica Stars, however, hasn't ended perfume sales in Erie County. Earlier this week, a young man was seen selling similar fragrances in Buffalo Place, the pedestrian mall downtown.
*****
PERFUME SALES COMPANY RECRUITS IN MUNSTER, IND
The Times (from Munster Indiana), 06/22/2001 Kim Chievrue
Perfume Sales Company Recruits in Munster, Ind., Area
Jun. 22--A Georgia-based company that sells knock-offs of designer perfumes has begun recruiting in Northwest Indiana, with classified ads, which offer "management positions" earning more than $500 per week.
While the business operates legally, according to the Better Business Bureau, one local resident who applied for a management position said he was surprised by what he found. The applicant is a Porter County resident who asked that his name not be used in print.
"At first, they wouldn't even tell us what they were selling," he said of the mass interview he attended. "I got as far as the second interview, but then I checked them out on the Internet."
He said the company offered to pay for the training, in cash -- that red flag made him suspicious enough to begin his online research.
What he found, he said, was pages of comments from employees and former employees of Scentura Creations nationwide. Some said they had made a good livi
tim
grand haven,#133Consumer Comment
Sat, January 11, 2003
JD, I applaud your committment to doing what you can to make things difficult for the perpetrators of this MLM scheme. You have inspired me to investigate some help wanted ads in my local paper, which by the paper's guidelines must offer bona fide employment, not an independent contractor or comission gig (these must be posted under "business opportunities" or "sales positions"). Your report was rather lengthy, and I fished out of it what I could, but if you (or the editor) have any more advice as to what we can do in our respective communities to shut down these fraudulent companies (MLMs) please let us know!
Christopher
Dallas,#134UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 08, 2003
I work for World Perfume,Inc. We are NOT in Salt Lake City. That report is false, that business name DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. That address DOES NOT EXIST in Utah. I am NOT a distributor, I am a simple EMPLOYEE of World Perfume, why do you let this person post false information about me? Why do you allow people to post false information, period?