- Report: #606997
Complaint Review: VMI - Internet
Reported By:
Bill -
Schaumberg, Illinois, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
VMI
600 Hunter Drive St. 250 Internet, United States of America
Phone:
Web:
www.vmi-usa.net/
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
VMI Blue VMI, it is too good to be true Internet
I recently graduated college from another state school and moved back home to the Chicagoland area. While I was still at school I used Careerbuilder to set up a few interviews with three companies, VMI, Marketing FX, and Keynorth Consulting. While all three seemed to be similar companies I was still happy to have some interviews set up for when I got home.
I interviewed at VMI and Marketing FX on day one. After those first round interviews they each asked me back from a second round interview that would last "a day long". I set up my VMI 2nd round for Thursday. I had my Marketing FX 2nd round set up for Friday (to much disappointment of my interviewer Jimmy who wanted me the next day).
Arriving at VMI on Thursday with limited background check on them I was greeted by one of the assistant managers "Desh". He introduced me to a woman named Brooke and let me know I would be spending the day with her.
We got into Brooke's car and she mentioned to me her territory was Wheeling. One of the first questions I asked her was "How many candidates are back for 2nd round interviews?" She quickly responded, "There are 20 of you for only 3 spots." I immediately figured I would have to be on the ball for the day.
We went door to door to businesses supposedly consulting with "ComEd" but yet claimed to be employed by "Great Lakes Energy". Essentially what the day entailed was going into businesses that said "No Soliciting" and in fact, soliciting them.
When I asked Brooke at one point, "So you even go into businesses that say No Soliciting on them?" She scoffed and remarked, "Of course, that doesn't matter!"
Surprisingly, she informed me that my 3rd and final round interview would take place as soon as we got back from the office. That seemed surprising to me, because wouldn't they want to get feedback from all of the candidates?
We arrived back at the office after closing only 2 accounts all day, which ironically was the first place we visited. Brooke claimed that she typically closes 4-6 accounts a day (a number I would thoroughly disagree with).
The round three interview was simple, basically just reviewed my day and told them that I could see myself working there, blah blah. Sure enough they offered me a job. They wanted me to start the next day, but when I told them I needed the weekend to think about it they were not happy, but eventually said okay.
As I walked out of the office I knew something was up. That is when I found this website and realized I had just wasted my entire day. I politely called them the next day and declined their pyramid scam of a job.
What I think would have happened from what I've gathered from this website and others is that I would be under Brooke's "wing". Once Brooke gets enough people under her she then becomes an assistant manager. Once she learns the business (which consists of constantly recruiting innocent people and making them false promises) she then goes on and creates her own VMI. Some of the other spin offs include Marketing FX, Blue, Keynorth Consulting, Exclusive Dynamics. The list will continue to grow as more of these shell companies expand. Basically just fire up Careerbuilder and type in Entry Level and any description that includes "Very rapid expansion, entry level marketing" job is a pyramid scam.
Don't waste your time even going through a 1st round interview with them. Let other reports on here show you that it is only a waste of time and money. Finally, I'll list some of the red flags I had throughout the day I spent on the job:
Driving far away from the Oak Brook office without the company paying for gas
When I asked Brooke why she didn't ever say she was from VMI she quickly told me to never say VMI, but rather always Great Lakes Energy (as if I said VMI people would know its a scam)
They didn't pay for, or even offer to pay for my lunch and it was an INTERVIEW, very strange
The morning I showed up as the whole office was leaving for their territories it was a slew of young people (literally like 30 plus people) all leaving, just seemed odd
Clearly soliciting places that said "No Soliciting"
I was offered a job right away, without showing even a driver's license, much less a SS card to prove I was a US citizen
I was offered a job before the other candidates came back from their 2nd round interviews
They didn't show me a compensation plan or anything. (the less questions you ask, the better they like you)
They wanted me to start the next day and when I told them the day after it was the end of the world to them. I was flattered at first they wanted me there so bad, but realistically no other company would be like that.
I hope this report, and the many others filed here helps you not even try to interview with this place. I'm still unaware if Brooke really even knew what she got herself into, but she said she'd been doing it for a year, so I imagine she was.
VMI=Scam
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
It is MLM actually...
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, June 04, 2010
If you do a little online investigating and read reports of others who have worked for this company, it is apparent the "compensation plan" is absolutely a form of MLM..."matrix" to be more specific..quoted from the wiki web address left in the last post...
"Matrix plans This type of plan is similar to a Uni-Level plan, except there is also a limited number of representatives who can be placed on the first level. Recruits beyond the maximum number of first level positions allowed are automatically placed in other downline (lower level) positions. Matrix plans often have a maximum width and depth. When all positions in a representative's downline matrix are filled (maximum width and depth is reached for all participants in a matrix), a new matrix may be started. Like Uni-Level plans, representatives in a matrix earn unlimited commissions on limited levels of volume with minimal sales quotas."
It seems most "employees" of this company do not hang around long. Those that do are brainwashed in an "Amway" fashion, but not quite cult..bordering. If the employee never reaches a "first level", they will eventually starve to death and be homeless. The plan is kind of a cross between a matrix and a uni-level..but the difference is they have to solicit door to door, often in places where it is prohibited. They figure if they have many suckers doing this 12 hours a day for next to no pay, and a few hit, the "upper level" will make some money. The lower level "slags" will either quit, or work their way up to first level if they have a way to eat and pay bills during the interim, or can survive without eating properly and living with a bunch of roommates. Oh, and they have to pay for their own gas too.
Jessie Ann
Austin,Texas,
United States of America
NOT an MLM
#3General Comment
Sun, May 30, 2010
I agree that places like these are huge scams, but they are not MLMs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketing
