David
Burleson,#2Consumer Comment
Thu, December 02, 2004
I have recently attended the Scentex follow-up interview and can see the deception and evasiveness already. However you wish to attempt to bring this company to justice, I will help in any way possible. Thanks,
Jd
Salt Lake City,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, October 18, 2004
> For more on World Perfume go to: google.groups.com and type World perfume Over 400 pages on the World Perfume and Scentura scams! --- [Attorney General of Illinois brings suit against World Perfume distributor] Chicago Daily Herald July 31, 2003, Thursday TOP OF PAGE 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. http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/pressroom/2003_07/073003.html .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. TOP OF PAGE SCENTS OF DECEPTION: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY Report on World Perfume http://www.newsnet5.com/specialassignment/1040015/detail.html TOP OF PAGE 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. --- --- LIES OF DISTRIBUTORS: - - Distributor: The practices that this webpage explains are the exception, not the norm. Most World Perfume/Scentura distributors act differently. World Perfume and Scentura distributors use a script. Every distributor uses the same script. World Perfume stole the script from Scentura when one of Scentura's top distributors, Johnny Whitworth, decided to quit Scentura and start his own mulit-level marketing pyramid scheme in 1994. For the Scentura training manual, vividly illustrating the many decpetive practices of Scentura and World Perfume. For evidence of the same exact training practices world wide, please read the 300 pages plus of testimonies against World Perfume and Scentura. Also the 27 + media reports against these companies. -
Ed
Austintown,#4Consumer Comment
Sat, October 16, 2004
Hey mike, If your 17 and working as an independant contractor for this company i suggest you check your facts. A minor can not enter into an independant distributorship. Thats a fact. But its okay right cause your making money and they havent done anything to screw you over yet right? Well if they are willing to break any law what makes you think they wont break other ones? By the way osha should hear about this.I could be wrong here so please reply but scentura operates alot like ds-max, in that mlm you have to sign a contractors agreement and since its clear you are commission only i doubt they are picking up their half of your fica taxes. Or any taxes for that matter...of that $700 you made uncle same wants his part....
Michael
Bedford,#5UPDATE Employee
Sat, October 09, 2004
I perfectly understand the way you feel about this job Jitan. And I know you also understand the effort required to be successful in this job. It isn't by far for everyone. Everyone that comes into the interview doesn't feel comfortable finding out that they will be selling perfume. But, those who give it a chance, and have a good trainer that first saturday, see just how easy it is. I had a horrible trainer my first day out in the field. My whole car did 0 bottles. I didn't let that deter me from coming back the next day to go out of town. I went to Oklahoma City and sold 58 bottles. I hit my goal, and made about $700 that week. $250 of the money made was from field profit alone. I know you won't reveal your worth, but thats quite a bit of money for one week. I know it may not seem like a lot to most because of bills; but one thing I didn't tell about myself is that I am only 17. I would never imagine seeing anything close to 400 let alone 700 dollars my first week in this job. Thats how I knew that this job is the one for me. I do understand that for now I am making money for somebody else also, but I do know that the harder I work, the faster I will have people working under me. I'm not so worried about tricking people into working; because what trick or lie could I tell people coming into my interviews. I will be just turned 18 and making well over a couple g's a week. If that isn't enough motivation to work, no matter what the work is, as long as it's legal, I don't know what is. I've had my triple expresso with extra sugar already, and It's awaken my abilities and mind to an opportunity that I can take as far as I want it to go. And when my new trainees see an 18 year old kid driving a BMW 330 Convertible, which by the way is what I drive as of this recent week when I put my earnings on a down payment with financing on my fathers credit, that will be enough motivation for anybody to want to sell "lysol."
Steve
Cali,#6UPDATE Employee
Fri, October 08, 2004
I dont know anywhere can get money this fast. Still dont know if I will do it though,may go abck to school. This company has been on the up and up with me, i talked this morning to the ownwer about web site, he was open for any question. Thanks, Steve Go dodgers!!!!!!!
Jitan
Cottage Grove,#7UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, October 06, 2004
Michael - Bedford TX I certainly don't want to burst your bubble, but the chantings of success have soaked in pretty good. You are viewing and thinking just like they want you to. (No disrespect) I was in school and found the same type of ads everyone saw. I answered and applied hoping for a few extra bucks. In about 2 short months, I was worn and tired. By the way, I did give it 100% and running around on my own dime. One will have to get used to Ramen noodles real quick. The vision of fine dinners, money and overall success is a good method in winning recruits' hearts and minds. The reality is this...you are only filling the bank accounts of the one person who is at the top. HIS/HER dreams are fulfilled through your sweat and effort. Your passion is to be commended. However, this input is to say that maybe you should start looking and invest yourself elsewhere. Get out before it's too late. How many times have you walked through neighborhoods, or a mall, or even run someone down in a parking lot and try to shlep one of these bottles of "Lysol"? Ever notice the look on people's faces when you halt them? They think they're going to get mugged or something. Fast talking and deception is the only way to make a sale. If this company is really as big or strong as they often claim they are, why not go retail and price it accordingly? Go online, or even QVC TV shopping? Get a spot at a local mall and sell, sell, sell! Why do all that when they have you! Since you are going to open an "office" soon, what are your thoughts on overhead and general expense? Used a calculator to find this out lately? Are you going to duplicate the efforts already semanted in you? Putting out ads that read the same way, and end up deceiving people the same way? It's a vicious circle, and I am sorry to inform you that there will be hardship for you if you proceed. Sorry for sounding so negative. Just a stranger who went through it, saw it, and bailed out of it. Suggestion...study hard, or work hard to achieve your goal. Being a Subway sandwich artist, or a Walmart greeter isn't so bad. How do you know whether this person is a Masters of Business Administration student, or working their way up the corporate ladder? Is the person the Subway franchise owner...running to bank everyday at 2 and 5 with about 2-4K to deposit? Please do not be synical to such individuals who truly work hard, collect a check and planning their future. So who is this stranger babbling away? Just a guy who was there and got out. Worked hard and fulfilled my goals and enjoying the things I've always wanted to do. I'm not going to list by possessions and reveal my worth. That is rather bold and brash in my opinion. However, I'm not Trump by any standard. But life is good. Get out while you can. Should try a triple espresso...if that doesn't wake you up, not sure what else will.
Michael
Bedford,#8UPDATE Employee
Mon, October 04, 2004
Scentex does not rip people off. It gives people an opportunity to make something of their lives. It gives those people who just show up to work, clock in, and drag through the day for a minimum pay check, to turn their lives around. I have been personally working for the company 8 weeks, and have amassed close to $2500. Thats $1250 a month, which is way more than any Subway artist, or Wal-Mart greeter will ever earn. This money is then fronted to me as I need it, in the form of cash, or check, depending on the amount. This job is an opportunity of a lifetime for those whose choose to make it one. It requires hard work, dedication, enthusiasm, and a good attitude all the time. The work is a little difficult in the beginning, but there are always people there to help you with your every need. Those people who quit or say it isn't worth it, are weak-minded and don't want to work hard enough to secure their future. I will have my own office open by April next year and will be making what I have made in the last 2 months in a WEEK! I am very dedicated and work hard to making it happen. Thats why this job is a great opportunity for anybody. It isn't a show up and mope job, its a come to work to make LOTS of money, as long as your willing to work job. It annoys me when weak minded people, like Matt, knock on something. I guarantee he didn't put forth even a 1/4 of the effort I've put into this business. Oh well. 10 years from now when I'm driving a luxury car, and he's driving a lemon, and I live in a house, while he's in an apartment, we'll see how big of a rip-off job this is.
Amanda
Richland Hills,#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, July 25, 2004
my complaint is in this site also how ever you choose to shut this compny down I will help you.