Complaint Review: Charlotte Marketing Consultants - Charlotte North Carolina

As a poor job seeker, I was excited to receive a call back so fast from an application I put in on LinkedIn. I was encouraged by the description of being a sales associate and having high commission rates, but they also said they were looking for people to be leaders. I have experience with that as well, so I thought it would be a shoo-in. They invited me to their building the very next day. They are in a small corner section of a large office building. My first interview went well with Patrick, and things seemed to be above-board and normal. He invited me back the next day for a second round interview, which was abnormally fast. I guess that was where I started noticing a pattern of things that were a little odd. I was unable to meet the very next day, so I went the day after! (Why would a stable company have interviews every day of the week?)

When I arrived for the second interview, a gentleman named Dan took me into the same office as last time, and begin explaining more specifically what a daily schedule would look like. Hours were 7:30am to 6 pm with mandatory meetings in the morning and evening along with a ceremony. He said that once I finished shadowing (a whole week) I would be giving my own "territory." He made a big deal about how high the commission rate was 20-28%, and discussed the average sales goals and income potential for them. He talked a lot about how he was being groomed to begin his own business in the same style, and acted like it was something that they wanted all of their sales people to accomplish. That was an issue for me because it sounded like multi-level marketing, and I know from experience how devastating that kind of a scam is. Dan said that it was in no way a multi-level marketing, just that the company wanted everyone to be successful if they had the drive!! When I tried to clarify about details such as insurance, 401k, base pay, etc... Dan told me that everything was commission. There would not be a base pay and I would not be getting paid unless I garnered sales. It was up to the discretion of Patrick, but he "usually" comped half of gas expenses (with receipts) and half of privately purchased insurance. Dan said that not everyone was invited back for a second interview, and that they were really excited by my qualifications and that I seemed to be a good person. Despite the claim that it was not multi-level marketing, something still seemed off.

After shaking hands with Dan, I filled out a questionnaire asking if I understood what the job description required, as well as a time for them to call me back. The interaction exhausted me, so I went home and took a quick nap, then I crowdsourced my concerns and asked for feedback from people in corporate jobs and with more experience than I had. A close acquaintance use the word "cult" and it really made sense all of the sudden. This is a cultish environment, for sure. Despite my years of sales and leadership experience, I felt the urge to run away, fast. Another acquaintance mentioned that they received marketing advertisements from Quill often and knew that there was a website available where anyone could purchase goods if they wanted. This was a big issue for me, because Dan said specifically that Quill did not market, and that firms like Charlotte Marketing Consultants were the vehicles they used to drive small business purchases. I googled for myself, and lo and behold there it was. I went all the way to check out without an issue, even being offered free shipping and coupons on the website.

I then began to research if this "job" was a scam, and used that wording specifically in my searches. I was led to several different websites where people described very similar business structures (also claiming to market for Quill) and describing predatory behaviors. Other names are being used as well, but it seems to be a nationwide scam. I am pretty upset, having been lied to about the lack of marketing, as well as the multi-level structure. While I was there, the secretary was also taking calls from interested people who had applied, and using a very manipulative script. Obviously the turnover must be significant. There are not that many open spaces in this tiny corner of the building to allow for that many applications and candidates. Not to mention, many of the other scam complaints noted that they were forced to pay for their own food and gas during the "training" period, often paying for their trainer/mentor. I don't know about anyone else, but I've never had a job that provided a week of training, only. Charlotte job seekers, please beware of this company and of the fact that they do not provide a salary. Despite the claim of 20% Commission on residual orders, the accounts only last 6 weeks and then they are taken by the corporation.

I will not continue to pursue a job with them, and I think it is important that someone mention how predatory this company is, and how it is hiding it. While I am sure Quill is paying them to market for it, they are using applicants in a scheme that promises $500/week (plus bonuses!!!) and providing inadequate training while not providing any base or guaranteed income.