Complaint Review: SH/Dreamland marketing COBRA

Hi Guys,

Im just taking my finals of my degree and have started compiling a CV, meaning thinking of the jobs i have had. I have only had 3 jobs, one working for my parents, my current part time nightclub barman job (3 years) and working for SH marketing under the thin guise of Dreamland Marketing.

I have been prompeted to write this as a result of a similar report posted by another user with similar experiences. The chap fails to name SH/Dreamland or Gary Sawyer/Dave Blake.

After finishing my A Levels I was hunting for jobs, not easy at the best of times in Newcastle less so when your still waiting for exam results. I came across an advert for Trainee Managers. So i applied. Arriving at the office for interview in the suit my mum and dad bought for me i was me by Dave Black. A shimpton of a man but with a loud personality. He quickly set about informing me of the job, neglecting to mention the fact it was door to door sales, i was self employed (no holiday, minimum wage or working hours restrictions). I attended a second interview a few days later where i was met by a team leader. She took me out into 'the field' (these badits love their grand sounding terms when what is actualy ment is rough council estates where the people are poorest and the pickings are easiest).

I was taken back to the office, told i had the right attitute (d**n my ego!) and had the job, that was me, hook line and sinker!

Sounds reasonable, right? Unfortunatly the old addage that if something seems to be too good to be true it probably is applies here.

The sale pitch is simple, mis-lead the customer (although chump is a more apt and commonly used phrase) with official sounding phrases such as 'Due to Government dergeulation........' and 'National power deregulation has lead to a competive market'

The misleading sales pitch confuses a resonably bright chap such as myself, let alone a elderly person. An integral point of the 'training' (3 hours not being paid) is turning negatives. Essensialy this is not listening to customers doubts and pressuring them into a contrat they have not nessicaraly thought through. Further more a sales person should not leave the doorstep untill the person has said no 10 TIMES! This is just unreasonalbe, disturbing perhaps a vunerable person followed by badgering them remorselessly untill they conceed.

Now in there defence Npower whom was the customer that SH/Dreamland represent have a checklist of direct sales staff to compleat in the customers home which requres there signiture to ensure good practacice have been followed. It expaines that the chump, i mean cutomer has 14 days to cancell and that there supplier will change after this time is contact is not made with the company sataing otherwise, great idea! But, (dun, dun, dun) the team leader in charge of new staff told me explicitly to simply gat a signiture on it, not to explain the document or contract.

So the customer gets a bum deal (energywatch.co.uk states that less than 10% of customers would be better off by switching suppliers) but its as bad if not worse for the sales person. Staring work at 10.30 and not returning to the office untill after 21.00 the hours are atrosious. Please see http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2005/08/just-6-for-eight-days-work-for.html for a typical example.

In conclusion it is in my opinion that SH/Dreamland Marketing Newcastle is a s pyramid scheme which prays on peoples ambitions and insecuratys. Gary Sawyer and co. are sales people, they will say anything to make money. As seen from other reports about cobra group companys making a living wage is impossible. I belive 20% (i may stand corrected) of commisions earned go's into a pot called the bond (sound offical doesnt it). That money becomes yours once you reach the top of the pyramid. It is supposed to be returened three months after leaving the company, i still have yet to meet anyone, myself included, whom has had the 'bond' returned, perhaps brylcreem and nylon suits cost Gary an Dave more than they let on :p.

Anyway thats all, final advice, as a customer never buy or sign ANYTHING on the doorstep. Ask to take some imformation if your interested and discuss it with a freind or relative, dont let these people bully you into something you dont want. And to all you Gary/Dave wannabies outhere bear in mind you will not make much money. After travel and cloths for work (you will need a good pair of shoes!) it will in all probability cost you money to work. My suggestion put all the money you would waste 'working' for these jokers on the lottery, you stand more of a chance of making a living.

Warm regards