I've noticed that this little man, Sean Gustavson is still up to the same antics from MO now to MN. Each time there are several reports filed and complaints made about him and his scandalous operations, the man changes what he promotes of his sorry excuse for a company and moves to a different location.
How pathetic this man is but the most pathetic thing is that he is still in business. For those of who that are hearing about this for the first time and thinking about starting an "entry-level managing" postion, this is how they conduct business...
Misleading Job Posts- The ad online states that it is an entry level marketing management position with a starting salary between $38000-$42000 a year.. Big lie.. All these idiotic little scumbags will have you do is sell DTV setups at a SAMS club or BestBuy. They intentionally send you to low income neighborhoods that are impossible to make money. since you will be operating as an independent distributor you are only putting yourself at risk and not Sean Gustavson . The job is entirely commission based therefore the salary advertised by them is false. The average distributor makes $200 a week (if your good) after working about 70 hours so if you do the math, this is way below minimum wage and a complete waste of time. He has been in business for a year and has only made 800 a month if that. There are no management positions available, their plan is to have you work for as long as possible and make as much money as they can from you while they can until you get sick of their despecable business and personalities and QUIT!! They will give you motivational speeches to keep you in their game for as long as possible.
Do the research people all these business out there that have "entry-level" marketing positions are all from Smart Circle. Just do a google search on Smart Circle scams.
Sexual Harassment-This has been an ongoing issue at this mans company and the fact that no action has been taken against him is incredibly disturbing..From touching women and men inappropriately, to asking women out on dates within the company, making offensive remarks and on one occasion that i remember clearly while still at the company..the manger Sean Gustavson, had the leaders in his office including myself and he decided to discuss the women he has had sexual relations within the company as well as other sub companies he works with...ACTION NEED TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THIS PRIMITIVE, CLINICALLY ILL AND IMMORAL MAN! If you want a real job then go work for a real company.had the leaders in his office including myself and he decided to discuss the women he has had sexual relations within the company as well as other sub companies he works with...ACTION NEED TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THIS PRIMITIVE, CLINICALLY ILL AND IMMORAL MAN! If you want a real job then go work for a real company.
Unprofessionalism-The most unprofessional bunch i have ever worked with and Sean Gustavson is the main culprit considering that he encourages and promotes this bad behavior instead of standing aganst it. With his companies website stating "We are dedicated to 100% professionalism on any given day. You will find that our representatives are courteous, professional, and committed to customer satisfaction." The most common is the unecessary and ignorant deragatory remarks made towards peoples backgrounds and this distorts the employees comfort level.
To be honest and simple...STAY AWAY FROM Superior Managment Solutions.
Do the research people all these business out there that have "entry-level" marketing positions are all from Smart Circle. Just do a google search on Smart Circle scams...Or DTV -sams club or bestbuy scams. These companies are struggling to make any money whats so ever. DONT WASTE YOUR TIME...
Giselle
Bloxwich,#2Consumer Comment
Sun, October 12, 2014
You state you were "selected" for an interview: LOL, yeah you and anyone else naive enough to apply and even some who didn't (resumes are harvested online and those people are contacted without them ever applying).
You state you were impressed with the office setting and the friendly people: Are you going to try and pretend it was a swanky office? No, I didn't think so. And newsflash: I don't know how old you are, but I have never interviewed at a company where people were not friendly! That is just the norm.
The hiring manager was dressed in a suit and professional: LMFAO! Really dude?! He was dressed in a suit! WOW! And he was professional! Did you get his autogragh? Tell me you at least asked him where he shops for suits! This just keeps getting better!
It was addressed as a management training program: Yeah yeah. These offices always say that to lure youngsters in. Logically, ANY company could tell prospects the same thing, i.e. work hard and you could one day be a manager or an owner/partner, whatever.
I was invited back for a second round interview: Yes, you were. You and pretty much everyone else.
..shook hands with the General Manager and several employees of Best Buy: OMG! You shook hands with some people! WOW! You have convinced me now this is all legit! I wanna work there too! LMAO! First off, Best Buy does not get involved with whether these offices are paying their workers. They aren't concerned about that. Second, if you pay attention, the former and current employees who post reviews about these offices are not complaining about the product (DirecTV). They are complaining about misleading ads and lies about pay/benefits/duties/hours/job duties. DirecTV is a LEGIT company with a LEGIT product and that is who Best Buy has a relationship with! DIRECTV! Not these indpendent offices who push the product on behalf on DirecTV. The bottom line is: DirecTV is legit and BB and other retailers do not care whether you are fairly paid or not! They are getting paid by DirecTV so that is all they care about. You have a lot to learn kiddo!
..he doesn't bellieve in 100% commission because that generates just sales people in which they are not looking for.... What?? LOL! They are not looking for just sales people, when this is 100% a SALES JOB! Well smartypants, tell us, what are they looking for, if not salespeople for a sales job? Are they looking for mechanical engineers? Geriatic nurses? Sous Chefs? Deep sea divers? Underwater welders? Hairstylists?
He was straightforward...The pay was $570 weekly plus commission: Get it right. These offices do not offer a weekly base plus commission. They offer a clawback. Let me exlain what that is: A clawback is an ADVANCE. It is money that is given but then taken back. So you are advanced money but then when you make some sales, it is taken back. That is hardly what anyone would call a base pay! it is a loan!
Any major company with huge growth is going to have bad reviews, look up Ford Motor Co. and Microsoft, etc : Your little independent offices are hardly on the scale of an international corporation! What a joke! (your jokes keep coming). OF COURSE you can find negativity about Ford, Microsoft (you people use Walmart as an example typically) BUT the negativity is mostly about their products and customer service. These companies do NOT post misleading ads and they don't jerk people around on their pay! If you work for them, you are an actual employee with a salary, benefits, paid days off, a REAL chance for advancement, paid vacations, a work/life balance, etc. When they interview, they aren't interviewing children who are in awe of someone in a suit and overwhelmed with how nice people are. The people who go to interviews at these places aren't given a SALES presentation, in order to SELL them the job (like you did)! These companies don't have to do that because they are LEGIT! People WANT to work for them! You won't see them posting job ads everyday. People who apply with them KNOW what they are applying for. There is no bait and switch. These people know what their pay is and they know they will get paid, when they will get paid and how much they will get paid. You sound RIDICULOUS to compare your little sales job to international LEGIT corporations! BTW: All the so-called positive points you try to make is nothing more than a simple regurgitation of what your suit-wearing manager drummed in your head. I have seen MANY defenders of these Smart Circle offices say the sale ole' s***, time and time again.
You posted your rebuttal in May. I bet anything you are no longer at this office that you so lovingly defended.
Giselle
Bloxwich,#3Consumer Comment
Sat, October 11, 2014
What a joke! "Brittany" used almost the same identical language that I have seen others use on various websites, in defense of Smart Cicle. I actually started laughing when I read "her" posting because she must think everyone is thick. I am betting her posting is just a regurgitation of what someone at Smart Circle originally wrote and sent out to office managers to use to "combat" negative postings.
Brittany Coleman
Indianapolis,#4UPDATE Employee
Sat, May 24, 2014
I applied to one of their Careerbuilder ads and received a phone call from the human resources team! I had my preliminary interview on a Monday and was invited back for a second round interview that Thursday. During both interviews the manager went over the entry level position I applied for and also brought up the management training program, which really sealed the deal for me! I had my first day of training the following Tuesday. I moved from Indiana and never looked back since!
Work hard, play hard" is probably the best way to describe the company. If you are looking to work hard and grow your career while getting a stable paycheck, then you should apply. They offer everyone salary plus commission. Starting base salary usually falls between $480-$600 a week with uncapped commissions.
Everyone starts full time and entry level - they don't hire anyone for upper level positions until they learn the basics. Just like any other entry level position if you prove yourself and do well you get promoted, but if you slack or are high maintenance they will replace you. They do team nights weekly to give back to the employees, and have holiday parties and summer BBQs. I'm still working here because I feel the company cares and because I don't have to worry about the politics game (had too many other positions where people were promoted based on how well they played the politics game or kissed-butt to management).
I applied to one of their Careerbuilder ads and received a phone call from the human resources team! My entire interview process took about 4 days. As soon as my background check cleared I was able to join the Chicago Marketing team.
If you are looking for a challenge and amazing growth opportunity, I recommend applying!
Anonymous
Minneapolis,#5UPDATE Employee
Fri, May 23, 2014
I was contacted by Superior Management Solutions and was selected to go in for a preliminary interview. I did research before going in and found this blog. After reading the report I almost did not go in myself but decided to go and check it out.
I went in for the interview and wasn't expecting much but I was actually really impressed by the office setting and how friendly the staff was. The hiring manager Sean was dressed in suit and very professional in the interview. I was told specifically that they do new client acquisitions and in store promotions for DIRECTV, through retailers like Sam’s Club, Menards, and Best Buy while also working with Costco. It was addressed as a management training program.
I was invited back for a second round interview. This is where my confusion lies, in the fact we went into an actual Best Buy and shook hands with the General Manager of the store and numerous employees of Best Buy said hello to the Account Manager conducting the second round interview. We were more than welcomed and that is why I am so confused as there is no way DIRECTV and Best Buy would allow this if it were not legitimate. The thing that was intriguing is there not looking for just marketing/sales reps but more so representatives to fill the future management positions.
I was hired on by Superior Management Solutions and start on Tuesday. I questioned them about the pay because I am a collage grad and am intimidated by only commissions. Sean went over they don't believe in 100% commission because that generates just sales people in which they are NOT looking for just DIRECTV sales. He was straight forward and there pay scale was better than any other marketing firm in town. The pay was $570 weekly plus commissions wouldn't believe everything you read on these reports. Any major company with huge growth is going to have bad reviews look up Ford Motor company, and Microsoft etc…
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/great-first-quarter-superior-management-205647864.html