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Smart Circle International

Smart Circle International review: Scam, Marketing 28

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11:31 am EST
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Job applicants be forewarned(UPDATE: San Antonio Police have been made aware):
A 'marketing' company referring to itself a 'JDR International' located on San Pedro Street is recruiting people for a job which consists of soliciting door-to-door (residential and business) to sell off 'Smart Circle' coupons for discounts on various services and sports tickets (for example, San Antonio Spurs). The company(WHICH GOES BY DIFFERENT NAMES IN DIFFERENT CITIES) does this without a permit/license, which is required in many municipalities, therefore, this is illegal.
They drop their employees off on busy access roads and highways throughout San Antonio to go and solicit various businesses and homes. Employees typically work a 10 hour day(if not more) and are paid ONLY on commission, thus, it is possible to work a full day and not receive pay. They have ads on Craigslist, as well as Careerbuilder.com, and Monster.com. Here is an example of a Craigslist ad--their ads are misleading, as to the nature of the work:

Reply to: [protected]@jdrinternational.com [?]
Date: 2009-01-02, 10:34AM CST

Baseball/Basketball/Football seasons are here. Competition is in the air. Have fun working with ticket promotions for surrounding pro/semi pro teams. Like the San Antonio Spurs, Spurs Silver Stars, and the Rampage. Full paid training is provided with management opportunities. Professionalism is a must.

For questions or to apply please contact Amanda at [protected] or email a question or resume to [protected]@jdrinternational.com

* Location: SAN ANTONIO
* Compensation: doe
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Phone calls about this job are ok.
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: [protected]

Here is another example: WORK FOR ONE OF THE TOP ADVERTISING FIRMS IN THE CITY! JDR INTERNATIONAL IS OFFERING FULL PAID TRAINING FOR THAT DREAM CAREER YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR. LEARN HOW TO REPRESENT SOME OF THE BIGGEST CLIENTS AROUND LIKE THE: SAN ANTONIO SPURS AUSTIN TORROS THE RAMPAGE THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF OUR OUTSTANDING CLIENTS! WE PROVIDE FULL HANDS ON PAID TRAINING! IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUILD A FUTURE IN ADVERTISING OR PUBLIC RELATIONS APPLY NOW. SEND YOUR RESUME OR GIVE US A CALL TO BOOK IMMEDIATELY AT [protected] ASK FOR LISA OR MELISSA.

28 comments
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cb73591
Dallas, US
Feb 12, 2009 2:04 pm EST

Other companies include dallas edge in arlington, texas as well as principle management group in addison, texas. You solicit at local business by setting up "events" covered up with victoria jackson cosmetics and operation smile charity. This is nothing short of a scam and utter waste of your time and energy. These people prey on young, poor and desperate individuals looking for a job. Be forewarned. I wasted a lot of time, gas and mileage on this shallow business that takes advantage of the public during such a critical time in our country.

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Sereniti
Dallas, US
Mar 01, 2009 9:48 pm EST

I was a sucker - now let's talk about it.

I recently wrote to CareerBuilder.com about these companies:

I have fallen victim to working for Dallas Edge (Arlington, TX) and Principle Management Group (Addison, TX); subsidiaries of the Smart Circle (enabling companies like the one mention nationwide). It wasn't until after I conducted more extensive research that I realized this was an elaborate pyramid scheme or multi-level marketing scam that takes advantage of individuals. The pathetic thing is that they've chosen to do so during economic turmoil.

These individuals (Jonathan Clarke and Associates) look for people who as they have put it are "young, broke and hardworking." Employees solicit business to business to sell products for the named companies. Not only are they kicked out of these businesses, but at one "event" police were called to a 7 Eleven. Money was taken that unsuspecting givers thought they were "donating." Those that have been working there for much longer times and are completely brainwashed, will do any and everything to make money. I have heard their customers/victims being told that $15 more will help a kid get a free surgery. They fail to realize that only five percent of that helps children and even that is questionable.
The list of unethical, immoral behavior goes on.

Other employees like my former self were trained to stand in front of retail businesses (rain, sleet, snow, freezing cold) for eight hours a day to sell cosmetics by leaning on a charitable organization called operation smile of which only receives 5% of profit. I trusted that this company I worked for had built legitimate relationships with these corporations. I later found out that this was not the case at all. So they put me in risk of being told to pack up and leave, have the police called on me and much more on numerous occasions. The relationships are based on lies and manipulation. Someone from this company "event coordinator" talks to a Starbucks, Chevron or Petco (to name a few victims) employee and convinces him/her to let them set up outside for this good cause. Little do these companies know, not only are their customers being taken advantage of spending money at these charity tables instead of in their stores, many are irritated and nagged with pathetic marketing/impulse tactics, plus their company brand is tainted. I was trained to say, "I've partnered with Victoria Jackson and (fill in the unsuspecting company)..."

I was required to work six days a week, drive my car hundreds of miles for others and pay for my own gas, I was NOT given the $400 base salary that I signed paperwork for. And when I say hundreds of miles - the straw the broke the camels back was having to purchase two new tires and get front end alignment done on my vehicle. I spent two hours of my mornings listening to the owner blab about how horrible the economy is, how people are commiting suicide because they're losing their jobs - scare tactics. People yell "juice", the same garbage/training, and then spend 8 more hours "in the field". I'm not sure why at the time I didn't just walk away... wait I do: I needed a job, I needed money, to pay my bills and feed my family. They knew this and dug in their nails.

I worked 11-12 hour days six days a week for an average of $280 a week. Myself as well as others were hassled to stay as late as possible to help out. My commute was 45 minutes-you think they cared? Because "the first one in and last one out was always most successful." An old adage wasted on bull****. I later discovered one of the "big money making leaders" was living out of a hotel. Several didn't have cars.

Money was missing from my paychecks. After 41 days I'd only made $1800 after taxes, barely $4.18 an hour. And remember, I worked 11 hours days. These individuals are from other states, North Carolina, W Virginia, Ireland, New York. I make note of this because the name of the company changes so much since once they've saturate one area, they obviously move on to the next. They have conference calls with individuals all over the world - Florida, Boston, California.

The people that are named leaders are actually victims turned long time - desperate and brainwashed perpetrators. They learn the scheme, learn to teach it to others in hope that it sticks, make a little more off that person and hope that they can teach someone else. One guy claimed he left a position making six figures to do this. Absolutely laughable and sad. But definitely not true. I thought about this ... Had I ever been making six figures, I'd never move into such a position, selling cosmetics in front of a building hoping "corporate" doesn't show up. Seriously, six figures is at least a downsize to something making $40k with benefits. There are no benefits by the way - well, except maybe a busted ### and dunce cap - lol. This particular individual also had some horrible characteristics like pocketing money during events, pretending it came of missing and hustling customers using all sorts of lies. It's obvious that their stories were elaborately made up.

The company principle management group is the same as dallas edge which will be changing its name again. After researching online I found that many had had my experiences. I wish I could kick myself for not digging deeper sooner or taking that other job. I wish I could sue. But instead the least that I can do is inform someone and I hope many people read this before being duped as I was. Careerbuilder should not represent this company on their site, not only are you too good, but they are NOT deserving of the opportunity and other people shouldn't waste their time, motivation or life on this crap. These people are vultures, heathens and liars.
Honestly, I felt like I was a part of a cult at times. A lot of it is simply psychological bull**** meant to lure vulnerable, desperate, gullible or at least easily influenced individuals like myself with strong work ethic. That's why everyone around me was young! We tend to be the most naive. I was used to lure in others, the more I believed, the more others believed because I was innocent and therefore even more credible then someone who knew what the hell was really going on. Did I mentioned that I turned down legitimate job offers for this? Now I am back to the drawing board. Smarter and tougher of course and always because I learn from my mistakes. The only difference this time is that I have a bone to pick. I came from a corporate environment and I've made some phone calls to people in high places. At the very least they will be deterred in this area.

Bottom line is this: This business uses deception and manipulation to make money off of others. If you think you're going to make it big - you're not. You have a better chance mixing some lipton tea and selling it in a baseball parking lot on a scorching hot day. They haven't made it big. It's all shallow illusion and deceitful ploy. And I'm sure had I stayed around longer, more would have surfaced - but then I might have hurt someone. While this may not be illegal for some absurd reason, I am here to label it unAmerican, immoral, unethical and wrong.
Oh and by the way I'm telling! Shame on Operation Smile, Victoria Jackson, DirecTV, Home Depot, Best Buy and any other company or sports team for being so desperate for exposure at the expense of others - since that's what it boils down to. These are million dollar individuals, reputable charities, big name companies that have established themselves to a point where they should be able to use legitimate marketing firms to advertise their products. When everyone begins hating your product - don't wonder why. Nobody likes ugly.

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cg123
San Antonio, US
Apr 29, 2009 2:47 am EDT

This is sooo true. I worked for JDR International in San Antonio. Such a brainwashing system. They "be-friend" you and I swear that's how they suck you in. The girl that brought me in, a huge money making "leader" is still there...ha a year later and no office! That's unheard of right. All it is is a scam! You'll never get anywhere with it. I did a roadtrip one time and at the end of the week my total profit was $1200 but expenses were about $1000 not to mention our 500+ mile drive home around midnight because we were out to the very end of the night still selling because some girls on my team hadn't met their quota. This business is ridiculous and thanks to this economoy will soon be going down. The hard working American is not so gullible and ready to spend money therefore will not be buying a spa card or whatever else they're selling. Oh and let's face it they've already gone into every office once or twice and been kicked out at least once.

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a1984
US
Jun 17, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

this is so true. I went to three different interviews ( stupidly) for this awful company which was under different names. I am a recent graduate with a degree in advertising so, naive and new to the work field as I am, I went to a call back interview, which i was pretty excited about. This interview consisted of showing me one of their " events", which in reality was driving out to walgreens, setting up a table, and bothering people to buy overpriced crap as they went in to shop. I felt so bad to even bother these people, most just gave donations to get the money hungery sale reps out of their face. There I was, a degree in advertising, standing outside of a walgreens, while i watched the other young, brainwashed " sales reps" flirt with guys for donations. One even gave out her number to make the sale. I got out of there around noon, but they were on the clock for another 6 hours. I never looked back. This place is awful and they prey on the naive, young graduates and other who dont know any better.

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jvm
US
Aug 28, 2009 9:01 pm EDT

Jdr International is now called San Antonio Marketing. Probably because of the bad reviews about Jdr International. However when people wrote checks when purchasing they were told to write to Jdr International. There's no business name on their suite. The guy interviewed me was Jose Rodriguez. He didn't offer me his business card and said his card doesn't have his current email and phone number.

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DESIREE!
weslaco, US
Sep 19, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

I worked for JDR International and was a "leader" they convinced my boyfriend who was also working there, and myself to move with 5 other people to austin. They told us to split rent with another kid who was moving with us but he was 17 so his name was not going to be in the lease. A couple of girls and myself went on a road trip and it went horrible bacause we were all broke and the company did not pay a dime for it. I quit when we returned to austin and the "reginal manager" told our roomate to move out of our apartment, and the [censored] left uss with $1000 rent. The kid moved in with the manager of our austin office Melissa beacuse they were boneing each other, he was 17 and she was like 30, can someone say stagetory rape! thats disgusting* Well im glad Melissa ended up losing her office, now shes back at JDR! haha pay backs a B**ch =) DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY! they are just looking out for themselves!

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cking70
US
Oct 17, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

I fell for it being naive for about 6 hours, then I told them that I wasn't interested in the job. They asked me why, and I siply said, " This is not right what your doing." Anybody with half a brain and commen sense can figure out pretty quick that it is a scam. You know what they say... if it looks like ###, and smells like ###, well then it's ###. Haha listen to your instinct and don't fall into the trap.

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bananadamnnnn187
Nichols, US
Oct 29, 2009 5:44 pm EDT

I worked for JDR and Capital City Marketing. Desiree, I know exactly who you are talking about, JUSTIN! Because Melissa convinced me and Abby to move in there too! I left after a few weeks. Melissa is gross. She married a random firefighter who she didn't know, and he wont give her a divorce. HA! I'm glad she lost her office too! Those 2 companies are straight up crap.

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SlCThK1
US
Dec 03, 2009 6:01 pm EST

This horrible "company" has flooded St. Louis, Missouri as well. They are still affiliated with and hocking products for Smart Circle. I was duped into an interview with a company calling itself the Titan Group, though I have now learned that the name has been changed to Sports Plus Promotions, located in Fenton, MO. A slick little man named Mark Kernan interview me and told me I would get a call back by 5pm that same day if I 'qualified' for a "field interview". This consisted of going out to poor unsuspecting businesses in a small group with one of the top earners. I witnessed the same despicable tactics mentioned in all the other posts, so I did not return. A friend of mine who stayed for another couple weeks ended up leaving because they kept shorting her out of money. Smart Circle is ultimately to blame and should be shut down!

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HigherHope
Arnold, US
Dec 12, 2009 1:09 pm EST

I've had the opportunity to work with Smart Circle companies and really enjoyed it. Its a commissioned based job so why whine about it.

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bigjay
US
Jan 06, 2010 7:48 am EST

I would like to point out that they are now starting to go by Principal Concepts in Fenton MO. I tried researching them before my interview but when you change your name alot I suppose its easy to fly under the radar. Total scam job, same deal as slchy up there, I interviewed with a slick fella named Joel and he said he would call me back around 5 or 6 if i was qualified. I've worked productions all my life so i really didn't think i was qualified for a suit and tie kinda job but they called me back and the next day i was walking in the freezing cold looking as sharp as i could trying to sell snake oil. I felt like a D-bag. I went along with it for fear I would be left in an unfamiluar area a couple miles from my car. But anyway, just wanted to get it searchable; Principal Concepts is a scam. Don't call them, don't apply, if you already have don't go on the second interview, it is very degrading.

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mnrr6
Elgin, US
Feb 02, 2010 12:50 pm EST

I've worked for smart circle and its not for everyone, im doing good. Its for the ones who want to work a little harder than everybody else. So I'm sorry to hear all the negative comments, the reason why i believe your not happy is because it wasnt for you. That is my opinion just like everybody else. Hopefully you guys have found a great job and are happy, im sure if your not we will continue to hear about your problems.

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Laurent546
US
Nov 17, 2020 3:10 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of mnrr6

And I bet you lost your apartment, car and went into debt before you finally wised up.

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Themis7787
San Antonio, US
Mar 17, 2010 4:36 pm EDT

mnrr6:

"good" is a little vague. I highly doubt any of these people are afraid of some hard work, but would also like to be compensated for it. I'm interested in how effective your research was (if any) prior to taking this job offering and what your accreditations consist of.

Any educated person would realize companies like this do not provide competitive opportunities. It's unfortunate that you drank the cool-aid and I hope that your job security is not comprimized because of it.

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elivis
Indianapolis, US
Mar 25, 2010 9:04 pm EDT

all the losers in the world cry because they cant do what they wish they could you cant be an nfl qb you cant be bill gates you cant be a movie star you cant be awinner because your awhinner only few will make it not because they went to school and got a degree but because they work hard real hard in direct it takes fortitude persistance and follow through of witch only 5% of americans have dont cry you belong to the majorities the 95% it dose not make you bad it just means you dont have what it takes oviously i did not go to college but through real hard work ive got an office and have been in an office for years i make over 200000 ayear my life and my kids is perfect that takes hard work too my company name is not on this site because im awinner and i work hard real hard and all you cry babies just dont have what it takes your just part of the 95% thats all nothing more good luck no hard feelings JUICE GET FIRED UP ! ELVIS

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Shirokaze
Arlington, US
Aug 23, 2010 1:47 am EDT

Well, I guess no one ever said a winner needed to know how to use punctuation (or prove capable of spelling, for that matter), but I'm sure those of us who haven't yet had the good fortune of meeting with an opportunity such as this are quite inspired by your post, Elvis. As for the rest of us who have now lived this experience, the contradiction is all too apparent, and the fabric of its veil too easily pierced to be so easily moved by that rehearsed script that you just embarrassed yourself by repeating here.

I worked at JDR International (as it was formerly called) in 2005 for a little over 6 months. In that time, the girl who initially interviewed me and the boyfriend who had brought her in came to be my family along with everyone else who worked in that office, and I came to regard outside relationships as extraneous. After all, working 6 days a week for 10+ hours a day (with frequent road trips to obliterate the single day off I could hope for) made it impossible to have any life other than the one JDR offered me. It didn't matter that I was told from the onset that working on Saturday would be optional, that road trips were there only if I desired them, that I would be able to somehow juggle this with nighttime classes at a local college, and that I would easily be able to trump anything I'd made before as a cashier- my eyes were focused on building the skill set that would forge a branch manager out of a hard-working and sometimes awkward individual. And just in case I might be tempted to forget that lofty goal, I was regularly reminded of it every morning before heading out into the field in the form of a fiery oration given by my branch manager, and again in the evening when I reported my results for the day. My car came to also be enlisted in this effort, and I looked indifferently on for some while on the toll paying for gas, food, hotels, interviews (when I became a trainer and started paying for someone else's lunch, too), vehicle maintenance and lack of free time was taking on me.

In the end I was promoted into a leadership position even after becoming thoroughly disillusioned with the demands placed on me. I knew I would never be a branch manager, and I found the taste of bringing others into the business with the same lines given to me (while consciously remaining numb to the promises I, myself, had received) to be unsavory. The last straw was when I opted to exercise my freedom as my own boss (as I was regularly told that I was) to take a much needed day off to run errands, following eight days straight of working a grueling schedule. I was informed that, if I wished to retain my position as a trainer, I would continue to endure my misery (which was, at that time, compensated with roughly $30-40 daily) and come in regardless of anything else in my life. How this story ends, I'm sure, isn't too difficult to infer. It is worth mentioning, however, that the people who had surrounded me and showered affection on me changed dramatically in my last two weeks. Everything, right down to the people I'd worked with, had been part of the JDR lie.

So, do you still desire success and fortune? Don't let me convince you that working hard isn't the way to attain it, but take a lesson straight from JDR: work smarter; not harder. If someone tells you that a year is all that's needed to set yourself on the path to a lucrative career, be skeptical and don't allow yourself to be pressured to commit to something that your good sense is already screaming seems improbable. A career with a branch office like JDR may very well be for you, but be advised that, in a company that freely admits it has a 95% turnover rate, your success will be bought at the expense of the many disappointed hopes of others, and the hard labor of those who were duped into believing that they were really embarking on the road to a career opportunity.

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dogeatgod
San Antonio, US
Dec 30, 2010 9:30 pm EST

Shirokaze's post really hits the nail on the head. Probably the most accurate and truthful I've read so far.
The potential to make money is there and the system you learn and teach works to some degree, but not always.

Be aware, ask hard questions during interviews. This is Door to Door, Cold Calling sales. AKA "Soliciting".
This is a division of Smart Circle International, which also oversees Direct TV Sales, Windshield Repair, etc.
You will find some cool folks who are impulsive and who have money to spend, but honestly you need to see around 150-250 people per day to rake in $50 to $150 daily.

Lots of negatives are part and parcel to the position. Be prepared to get tossed out of corporate buildings by security, be told over and over that employees are not allowed to purchase while on the job, be told to come around on payday, etc. Let's not forget hiking along a hot and dusty (or maybe rain soaked and muddy) access road for hours trying to find those sales. If you are a real people person and can deal with the negatives, this might be a job for you. You will learn a lot about personal interaction, direct sales, and what your own strengths and weaknesses are.

The initial interview is vague (just like the job listing on Craigslist or Monster), and the second interview requires you the spend and entire day in the field with a rep to see if you have the right pace and attitude.
Oh, BTW your day starts at 7:30am and you get back to the office around 6:00, so maybe out the door by & 7 pm. You spend the first two hours training new recruits and practicing the pitches (not being paid mind you!), followed by pep rally speech before hitting the field. You will work Business to Business Monday through Friday, and be expected to sell door to door Residential every Saturday (to be fair you do get to come in a bit later on Saturday morning...9:00!)

This is sort of a multi level marketing operation w/ the goal for you to eventually build a team and open an office with sponsorship from your owner/manger. Then you will be expected to do the same, just save up a few grand to sponsor the next person and hopefully make residual income.Essentially you are not an employee, but and independent contractor and all the certificates/coupons you try and market are taken out on consignment. Great if you can average on or two pieces per hour, but what you get per unit depends on the costs. Sell a $40.00 Spurs package you'll net $10.00, but sell a $10.00 Papa John's package, you'll get only $4.00 per unit. To be fair, reps get the biggest percentage of the pie. The rest goes to Smart Circle, the Client, and the office you work with. You can write off expenses like vehicle mileage, meals, travel but that may not help with immediate cash flow. You pay for everything yourself in the field, but you do get to take home cash at the end of the day. Just beware declined credit cards or you will swallow the cost of the product. Likewise if you lose a piece or if it gets stolen.

Now these certificates are legitimate, but include certain terms and conditions which you are obligated to disclose.
The problem is that this company has a very high turnover rate (I must have seen almost 100 people come and go, only 4 long term people stand out ( actually cool folks) and lots of people gloss over these terms just to make a buck which burns customers and makes it all the much harder to sell anything on the next visit. you own a vehicle, beware! You will become a glorified taxi driver expected to shuttle others out to the field and back. If you are lucky those folks will make some money and chip in for vehicle expenses. I worked for several months and continually got screwed gas and the manager kept assigning people I had absolutely no desire to work with into my car daily.

To further make matters more difficult you will be competing against growth in social networking marketing. The Smart Circle coupons can be bought online via their website. Also Smart Circle now has Twitter and Facebook presence (printed on the certificates you sell) which cuts out the sales reps in the long haul, so I guess the company goal is to play catch up with Groupon.com

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The Thinker
new Haven, US
Feb 16, 2011 5:30 pm EST

I just got "hired" yesterday. Sereniti's post said something far too familiar to the line I was fed yesterday by the "trainer" doing my 2nd interview. He previously owned a company (very similar to one on my resume) where he made "6 figures" until he sold it. He chose this company because he doesn't want a 6 figure job. he wants a 7 figure job! I find it funny that Sereniti's post (at top) mentions something almost identical. Now he's located in Texas and I'm way up in Connecticut. This company sells the same products, the same way and now go by the name " Apex Direct Inc.". And the add on Craigslist was for customer service reps ( a phone/office job) which I am, and skilled. half way through the 1st interview she said " i have the perfect position for you, entry level management." Working "events" in front of gas stations selling windshields as a sales rep with the promise of a future in management which is clearly so far out of sight. everything I've been told has been a very twisted version of the reality. I'm sure you can get a paycheck and possibly succeed but I am an intelligent person and all the research I did got me nothing (due to the constant change in the names). I had to search long and hard to find the forum since I was looking for Apex Direct. The door to the office suite in the business park just says "Marketing group". I thought it was strange when I first showed up. i was very suspicious and now thanks to other genuine people sharing their experiences my suspicions have been confirmed. so watch out for Apex Direct and please be very investigative and alert when dealing with these people. I'm not going to show for my first day. Good luck finding real employment.

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AngryJo
US
Mar 28, 2011 9:10 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

There is a company like the ones mentioned called Phoenix in Baton Rouge. In just 4-6 months you can make $100k plus, selling Directv. Only problem is, what they are promising you is market over saturation. There is no way Directv is gonna pay for that many managers to operate. Not only that, but they tell you the job is not sales based, but "training" and they need to fill 7 manager spots. But theres 8 people in the room, and 10 behind them, and you have to meet sales goals to advance. Total crap. Best part is that the company wont be around more than a year. Theyre just gonna pack up and find a new city to rape. Taking 1 manager out of the 100hires for the six months theyre there!. Ps: you go through this program without learning any management skills. Kinda hard to train to be a manager when THEY DONT TEACH YOU HOW TO MANAGE!

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Nogalitos
Selbyville, US
Aug 28, 2011 7:45 am EDT

Here is a fact... 7% of America Owns and employs 93% of America. Look it up. This 7% Im talking about are called Entrepreneurs. These people are the millionaires and billionaires of the world. The are people who understand what it takes to have something in this world. That is what these companies look for in individuals. I have friend who has been promoted through smart circle and this kid is making 6 figures. He did exactly what these scary idiots on this comment page are talking bad about. They talk bad because they were unsuccessful at it. They failed or were too afraid to accept a job on commission... Someone said "ONLY Commission" earlier I find that hilarious because if you work on commission and you work all day and didn't make any money then the simple fact of the matter is you suck at commission sales! Go Wait tables or something. There has to be someone to take my order right? Lets face it people we are brought up thinking that we have to settle for hourly pay. It's ridiculous because of people like my friend and Donald Trump for example the guys that created the airplane, light bulb, ANYTHING! Whatever it is that we use today, was more than likely made by an entrepreneur, and was probably sold to people by someone on a commission based pay . Now you people bashing my profession are probably going to spend the rest of your life making people just like me and the people you used to work with, Rich ... Very very rich... So thanks for not having what it takes to do what we do.

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stlboy
st charles, US
Sep 27, 2011 8:10 pm EDT

I went for my second interview today at Midwest sports and entertainment in st louis mo, basically i rode around all day with someone trying to sell spa coupons and we sold NOT ONE all day! and they do not pay you back for the gas you use getting to where they tell you to go and sell! i was sooo mad, it was wrong and i though i could get arrested. sounds a little to much like the persuit of happiness to me lol ... will not be going back!

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mrsfockker
US
Oct 20, 2011 3:35 am EDT

After spending the day canvasing half of the North Side of San Antonio, TX, I quickly discovered the pyramid scheme that was "pitched" to me over lunch. We'll get to lunch later! I showed up early for my 2nd interview. Which was no more than a way for my "Leader" to "Pitch" his song and dance on how this whole thing worked. Now, I'm an educated person, so after a few text messages and www.google.com I should have told this guy who was desperately trying to sell San Antonio Rampage Tickets to business who have "No Soliciting" signs posted on their doors, to sell to someone who might care. I stuck around till lunch, which I was informed would be on the company. YAAAAA RIGHT! After quizing this gentlemen on his "stories" of his life, which were a total line of BS! We arrived back to the office of San Antonio Marketing Inc. to be told that I was chosen to work with the "Team". After research of this company and its many aliases, I told them I would not return due to the "Questionable Reviews" I have seen on the internet. Please be smart when Job Hunting. If you like going door to door selling something that may not be TRUTHFUL, then go right ahead, but please inform yourself. I at least got a free lunch out of it. Thank you to my Mother for blowing the whistle and giving me a heads up!

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They get ya
San Antonio, US
Dec 19, 2011 5:24 pm EST

Yeah went everything that's been said is pretty on point. I was in the office this morning for my second interview and decided to google the company. BAM found this got up and walked out! I could do this If I had the time to put into it. But I am a 3 Tim's
Disabled vet. I can get way better then this plus I have a family to support. If your young single and have the time go for it. They get by making you feel like its a different job but
In the end it's this!

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xenomorph8472
Aurora, US
Jan 19, 2012 9:15 pm EST

I worked for Jose Rodriguez from Feb - Mar 2010. Pretty shady operation that I totally fell for. The team totally brainwashed me into walking in on people's secured offices, pressuring people to part with their cash, and was escorted out by security several times. It really does become a family, but it's a mind job. I actually made pretty good money, but soon I realized the cards I was selling were barely legal and I had to lie to people to get them to purchase. I hope they get shut down soon. Hope some of the people I worked with have gotten smart and moved on. My advice to job seekers, hit up a temp agency. Better luck there.

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Sarah9K
US
Apr 17, 2012 2:27 am EDT

well i just set up an interview with this scam in san antonio called now san antonio marketing for tomorrow but it looks like i aint gonna go! this sounds horrible! i dont even have a car or the energy to be goin all over town sellin stuff!

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Socplay50
US
May 20, 2012 11:18 am EDT

i live in houston and i have my second interview with San Antonio Marketing Inc. wednesday...not going . especially after reading all this stuff. thanks for all the insight

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KelC1
Danbury, US
Oct 23, 2012 8:05 am EDT

I can so relate to all of you! I was also a victim of this BS!
I got the job for this marketing company in Milford CT which it was called Apex Direct and now it's under Shoreline Event Management. This is a very long story but to make a very long story short this company is just a big scam. The owner has no clue what she's doing. She takes advantage of young people that don't have much experience in life and just totally brain washes them. She lies about other people to make them feel good, lies that she's giving them bonus, she's playing with the IRS as well for all of the things that she's been including on her "bookkeeping/taxes" that she gives her employees $ for gas and she never did, does, she tells her employees that she fired someone when that someone really quit to make herself look good, she holds people's checks when they quit which is ILLEGAL, she cuts peoples checks without them knowing, she takes money from the reps checks in they have a credit card charge that got denied from a client they sold products to like it's the reps fault, she has the person booking events low ball the locations in which the reps are going to be working at (gas stations) paying $25.00-$30.00 per day to have sales reps sit there for 8-9 hours selling FW1 cleaning wax and giving people free demonstrations so she can pull more profit out of the deal. They have people start and be at the office from 8:00am till 9:30am with no pay so they can s/u teams and go through a stupid morning lying meeting, then they go out to the field on their own car, using their own $$ for gas, sometimes even bring someone else because they hire anyone off the street that has no car or a way to get around and they just stand at the gas station for another 8 hours under 100 degree weather, rain, snow, hurricane, it don't matter, after that they have to go back to the office to check in so that's another hour by the end of the day the reps worked for 13-14hours to get paid a little bit less than a $100.00 for the day. That is if they TOP PRODUCED. Top produced means, they sold $300.00 worth of products. She has her receptionist doing everything for her, from running HER errands to cleaning her dogs poop while she's in her office playing with her dogs. Before they hire you they promise you $400.00 per week in which it hardly ever happens unless that rep had a VERY good week. They don't give you the copies of things that you signed when you first get hired, nothing is legit! She gives her reps credit when they are doing good and when they are not she treats them like dirt, blames on they're attitude but then people start realizing what type of selfish person she is and just quits. Jaclyn Zepernick's employees spends so much money in gas, food and other things to get a ### pay check at the end of the week. In this economy no one is able to afford not having a job, if you reading this and get a call from them, you will have to be able to afford this job because you're going to end up spending more money than what you are going to get paid for.
I'm not quite sure as if every office runs like this but I know that this owner is just a ### that likes to use people to make her rich, I know that soon or later the labor dep is going to catch on to all of the illegal BS she pulls.

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Creative84
San Antonio, US
May 20, 2013 10:50 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have been called by a San Antonio Marketing Inc. Not sure if is similar to the company you guys are talking about. They want to schedule an interview, they are located at 10010 San Pedro Ave. I am working but, always looking for something new, if it feels weird I will not bother. This page is very informative. Has anybody here heard of a company named Melaleuca.

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