- Report: #288847
Complaint Review: Smart Circle - Granton Marketing - DS-Max - Innovage - Anaheim California
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Smart Circle - Granton Marketing - DS-Max - Innovage
thesmartcircle.com Anaheim, California, U.S.A.
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Smart Circle - Granton Marketing - DS-Max - Innovage moving away from door-to-door sales but still uses the same deceptive tactics Anaheim California
All of the DS-Max/Cydcor/Granton/Smart Circle ripoff reports I've seen here involve door-to-door sales. Just to let everyone know, said companies are expanding into the Home Improvement market. I worked for a Smart Circle offshoot for about a month pitching free sunroom and cabinet refacing consultations to people in Home Depot. It's called 'lead generation' now.
The 'HI' market, as it's being called, is looking to become a new outlet for Smart Circle and its spawn. In fact, they do contract with Home Depot - you sign a vendor's log when you arrive at and leave the store, which, dangerously, makes the whole scam seem more legit.
But:
You still attend unpaid morning meetings. You practice your pitches with your coworkers and leaders. You still have your fives and eights (if you've worked for one of these companies, that phrase just made you cringe). The 'leadership' structure is identical. The 1st interview/Day of Observation/3rd interview structure is identical. The offices with the music blasting and the yelling and high-fiving are identical. The manipulation and cult-like ritualization are still very much there.
You still make COMMISSION ONLY. The advertisements still reel you in with promises of a 35-50K/yr salary, which is bull. Unless you're pushing the national record for lead generation EVERY SINGLE DAY, you will make only a small fraction of this. Expect to make $50-$75 on a good day, not counting what you spend on gas and food. If you're a monster of a salesperson you can make a living wage, but you might as well cashier for a living - it'll be easier on your feet.
The 'owner' will lie to you about how much money he makes. He/she gets a cut of every lead/sale generated in the office, but most of that revenue goes to payroll taxes and office carrying costs. It explains why my boss supposedly made $3000 a week but was shopping for apartments, living with 3 other employees, and couldn't afford to replace the desk in his office. The promises they feed you about a six-figure income 'after the field' are lies, plain and simple.
They will eat every second of your time. You will live and breathe lead generation. You will pitch people in your dreams - I know I did. You will drift away from your friends and loved ones. My girlfriend still works for this company (she's a gifted salesperson so she manages to stay afloat financially) but she talks about nothing but the office, talks TO no one but co-workers, and has no energy to do anything but generate leads and sleep. We get into a fight everytime I bring up what s**t this company is, and I'm starting to fear losing her to these people.
All the other lead generators in my office had big hearts and big dreams. Everyone was desperate for one reason or another - be it money, self-esteem, whatever. They will talk about you like you're the greatest thing in the world. They will promise you hope. They will exploit your need for affirmation and wealth. If you're looking into getting into this field, please, don't. Chances are good that you'll end up broke. One-tenth of one percent of those who enter the field make it to management, and even those in management are flat broke.
Chris
Lakewood, California
U.S.A.
The 'HI' market, as it's being called, is looking to become a new outlet for Smart Circle and its spawn. In fact, they do contract with Home Depot - you sign a vendor's log when you arrive at and leave the store, which, dangerously, makes the whole scam seem more legit.
But:
You still attend unpaid morning meetings. You practice your pitches with your coworkers and leaders. You still have your fives and eights (if you've worked for one of these companies, that phrase just made you cringe). The 'leadership' structure is identical. The 1st interview/Day of Observation/3rd interview structure is identical. The offices with the music blasting and the yelling and high-fiving are identical. The manipulation and cult-like ritualization are still very much there.
You still make COMMISSION ONLY. The advertisements still reel you in with promises of a 35-50K/yr salary, which is bull. Unless you're pushing the national record for lead generation EVERY SINGLE DAY, you will make only a small fraction of this. Expect to make $50-$75 on a good day, not counting what you spend on gas and food. If you're a monster of a salesperson you can make a living wage, but you might as well cashier for a living - it'll be easier on your feet.
The 'owner' will lie to you about how much money he makes. He/she gets a cut of every lead/sale generated in the office, but most of that revenue goes to payroll taxes and office carrying costs. It explains why my boss supposedly made $3000 a week but was shopping for apartments, living with 3 other employees, and couldn't afford to replace the desk in his office. The promises they feed you about a six-figure income 'after the field' are lies, plain and simple.
They will eat every second of your time. You will live and breathe lead generation. You will pitch people in your dreams - I know I did. You will drift away from your friends and loved ones. My girlfriend still works for this company (she's a gifted salesperson so she manages to stay afloat financially) but she talks about nothing but the office, talks TO no one but co-workers, and has no energy to do anything but generate leads and sleep. We get into a fight everytime I bring up what s**t this company is, and I'm starting to fear losing her to these people.
All the other lead generators in my office had big hearts and big dreams. Everyone was desperate for one reason or another - be it money, self-esteem, whatever. They will talk about you like you're the greatest thing in the world. They will promise you hope. They will exploit your need for affirmation and wealth. If you're looking into getting into this field, please, don't. Chances are good that you'll end up broke. One-tenth of one percent of those who enter the field make it to management, and even those in management are flat broke.
Chris
Lakewood, California
U.S.A.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Urbanastronomy
Lakewood,California,
U.S.A.
Actually
#2Author of original report
Wed, February 27, 2008
Funny, that. My girlfriend's seen the business for the scam that it is, and has found a real job with real marketing. She's happier than she's been since she went on her Day of O, and we're talking marriage. Meanwhile, I'm making the 40K a year I was promised but never got with smart circle. Not to mention medical benefits and a guaranteed paycheck. The best part is, I don't make my living lying to people. It's a good feeling. You're an ex-employee. That happened one of two ways: you got fired, or you quit. You've got to be pretty sad to get fired from that gig, so your talk about how important 'drive' is seems like a load of crap. Judging by the literary skill of your response, I'm guessing Smart Circle was the only chance you'll ever have at making something of yourself. Good luck in the future.
Joe
Lancaster,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
you are an idiot
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 27, 2008
WOW!!! sounds like your jealous. Don't get upset because she is doing well. Sounds like your girl is very driven. Your upset because you didn't make it through the program. What you don't understand is to be successfull it takes long hours and commitment. Which your not willing to do. You worked for the company for a month, what makes you a expert? People like you are the people that work the 9 to 5 job that will serve us coffee and take are trash out. You know nothing about this business. I'm sick and tired of people like you bad mouthing companies that you have know idea about. It's a scam it's this and that how can it be a scam if we don't ask for any money just time and effort and we will give you a business. Or the fact that we work with major clients. Do your research jackass. Sounds like a good oppurtunity to me. Hard work = rewards. Your girl should leave the loser that you are.
Joe
Lancaster,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
you are an idiot
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 27, 2008
WOW!!! sounds like your jealous. Don't get upset because she is doing well. Sounds like your girl is very driven. Your upset because you didn't make it through the program. What you don't understand is to be successfull it takes long hours and commitment. Which your not willing to do. You worked for the company for a month, what makes you a expert? People like you are the people that work the 9 to 5 job that will serve us coffee and take are trash out. You know nothing about this business. I'm sick and tired of people like you bad mouthing companies that you have know idea about. It's a scam it's this and that how can it be a scam if we don't ask for any money just time and effort and we will give you a business. Or the fact that we work with major clients. Do your research jackass. Sounds like a good oppurtunity to me. Hard work = rewards. Your girl should leave the loser that you are.
Joe
Lancaster,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
you are an idiot
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 27, 2008
WOW!!! sounds like your jealous. Don't get upset because she is doing well. Sounds like your girl is very driven. Your upset because you didn't make it through the program. What you don't understand is to be successfull it takes long hours and commitment. Which your not willing to do. You worked for the company for a month, what makes you a expert? People like you are the people that work the 9 to 5 job that will serve us coffee and take are trash out. You know nothing about this business. I'm sick and tired of people like you bad mouthing companies that you have know idea about. It's a scam it's this and that how can it be a scam if we don't ask for any money just time and effort and we will give you a business. Or the fact that we work with major clients. Do your research jackass. Sounds like a good oppurtunity to me. Hard work = rewards. Your girl should leave the loser that you are.
