Does a commission only job sound like a scam?
This is the email I received after sending my resume and scheduling a phone interview:
"Good Morning-
I am emailing you in response to your resume that you submitted to us for employment…I have narrowed my selection and found your resume to be most impressive. The position available is for an outside sales representative that simply attends our pre-set appointments to deliver a short sales presentation, make the sale, and simply move on to the next pre-scheduled appointment. There will be no cold calling, no prospecting, no follow up, no maintenance, and no installation of our equipment required on your behalf.
Our company has been in business for about 12 years now…we process electronic transactions for small to medium size businesses. So anytime you go into a business and use your credit card or check it involves a company like ours. We authorize the transactions and route the funds from your card/check directly into the business owner’s account. The transactions include credit cards, debit cards, gift/loyalty cards, and checks.
All of our appointments are pre-set by our marketing appointment setters that call and speak with the decision makers/owners to first determine if they even have a general interest in our products and services. Once that is confirmed, we set up an appointment and then that’s where you come in….to attend these appointments. All appointments are within a 25-mile radius from your zip code.
We also offer very obtainable bonuses ranging from 0 to 50 monthly….. you are not an independent contractor….you will be an actual employee and will receive a W2. The position is 100% commission….you have the opportunity to make from $ 125 .00 to ,045 .00 depending on what types of products and services you sale. You should easily average ,400.00 to $ 1,600 .00 per week with our close rate of 1 out of 5….AND we make you 4-6 appointments daily, MON - FRI, and between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The next step to get you started if interested is an interview to get you scheduled for your at home training/orientation….from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST…which will be via the web through a web link that will be emailed to you with an access code. You will need to have the Internet and a phone available during this online power point presentation training/orientation. You will be online live with our trainer and other sales managers all over the nation. You will have several breaks and a lunch throughout your training…in which you will learn about our products and services, compensation structure, sales philosophy, Merchant Application Process, and all about your team leader.
The day of your training/orientation, you will receive a FedEx with all of your paperwork, training manuals, presentation binder, name badge, and additional HR paperwork. Open question forum will be from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST. Your team leader will be assigned that same day and will be the individual giving you all of your appointments.
If this sounds like something you might be interested in….please call me ASAP…. so we can get you scheduled immediately before our classes close."
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5 comments
auntb93 on July 18, 2009 at 2:27 am
Not necessarily a scam, but certainly not a good idea. The fact is, commission only is usually set after a person has some experience. And it’s very hard to imagine how it can be considered a real job and not an independent contractor.
If I had to guess on the basis of what you have said here, it could easily be a scam, or they could be looking for experienced salespeople who have several such "jobs" and don’t have to rely on this one for their rent and food.
If you are interested in being a salesperson, start with a counter in a good department store, learn the smooth delivery of a sales pitch, dress well for the part, and learn what it’s all about. You’ll be in a position to assess what aspect of selling, and what sort of products, will be most appropriate for you.
Good luck!
Tom R on July 18, 2009 at 2:27 am
this is to long for me to read the whole thing right now, but if they ask you for money, its a scam, if they dont ask you for money, you might as well follow through with it and see what comes of it.
if you want to try selling candles for commission let me know candleman1998@yahoo.com
jeriuana on July 18, 2009 at 2:27 am
doesn’t sound like a scam….it’s just a sales job. companies that sell products like to have their salesmen paid by commission only, that way they don’t have a salary to pay and only pay for results. If you don’t perform they have lost nothing. I had a job similar to what you described….straight commission sales job. it sucked.
if you dont make a sale, not only do you not get a paycheck, but you’ve also lost money by driving around to all the prospects….sounds like you’ll be staying pretty close to home…but if you start driving further and further, and dont sell anything, your job starts costing you money….
Nicole S on July 18, 2009 at 2:27 am
There are tons and tons Credit card processing companies out there. It seems like more pop up everyday, so I would think that this market would be very competitive. If you are experienced in sales you would probably do well but if you are just starting sales, it is hard to say how you would do. However if you are an experienced rep and have a job especially one that pays a base I would not leave my current job.
It sounds simple, you go to preset appointments sell the account and your done. Well I am sure that you will have Business cards therefore when the customer has their first problem are they going to call the office? No they are going to call you, why because you built a relationship with them by selling their account.
it doesn’t really specify how many appointments you would have each day, so that is a red flag. The other thing is they want you to agree like right now.. it is like they dont want to give you time to digest the information….
I think if you are in a sales job now stay where you are something will come your way.. if you don’t have a job right now and you feel like taking a risk then jump on board!
Good luck, and may the money roll your way!
moops4783 on July 18, 2009 at 2:27 am
This probably isn’t a scam, however commission only jobs rarely live up to all their hype. They make it incredibly difficult to earn the commission. If it involves "outside sales" then you will end up using your vehicle to get to all these appointments, will have to wander around in all sorts of weather to get to appointments, and then probably be told no before you even get a chance to say two words about your product.
They say you can make a lot of money, but in my experience outside sales means, you do all the leg work while someone else benefits for just having made the appointments.
Good luck!