Sunday, April 24, 2011

Kirby Vacuum (Milpitas, CA) and Anywhere in US

Beware of job ads by independent Kirby vacuum distributors. The job ads are deceptive because they state customer service and a starting salary of $2000 per month, but in fact, the distributor is recruiting for door-to-door commission sales to sell very expensive vacuum cleaners.

If the Craiglist job ad does not state a company name and the type of product or service, and you call the advertiser, ask them what is the name of the company, where are they located, what do they sell, does the customer service job require selling. If the job is sales, is the job commission?

Watch out for employment ads which include:
working face to face with customers
BASE SALARY-$2,000/mo. Weekly & Monthly pay.
assembly or putting equipment together


Khc Marketing Inc
386 South Abbott Avenue
Milpitas, CA 95035-5256
(408) 262-6850

http://www.yelp.com/biz/khc-marketing-inc-milpitas

12/15/2010
Wow stay away from these guys. Such a mind f@#k. They listed an add in craigslist for customer service reps. Earn $2k per month. Lied about everything. In the interview you are told you will be paid every Thursday. That there are 2 shifts something like 9-6 and 12-9. You are told you are only to demo the product (Kirby vacuum) and no sales are required. And also that you will not have to solicit for appointments(knockin g door to door) and that their is 3 days training.

Basically they hold back info when you start and say you will learn more in t
raining. Also you don't get to meet any of the regular staff until you are about 3-4 days into trying to work their. By then it's too late. You have waisted your time and are still hoping your have the opportunity to earn some money. When I finally met some regular staff the oldest lasting veterans were there only about 2 weeks.

What they do is get you all pumped up to make money. After training you come in at 9:00AM and I didn't get off until midnight that night. I know I won't get paid because it turns out you are a contract employee who must do 60 demos in a month. There are no early and late shifts. Everyone comes in early and comes back around midnight.

I never met anyone who actually got paid but did meet someguys who said they were supposed to be getting a big check this coming payday.

It turns out you show up early (9am) for a 2 hour meeting where they try to pump you up with positive attitude. You are not allowed to ask any hard questions because it would look like poor attitude. The owner comes in  And acts like he's generous and like he's throwing bonus money around but it's like $5.00 to people who were able to knock on a door and talk a poor unsuspecting customer into a demo. This is $5.00 to someone who was promised a couple of days ago that you didn't have to solicit or go door to door. You are expected to sell the product and pitch it. Again you were promised in the beginning that all you had to do was demo the machine. And if the customer is interested in the product the team leader comes back and tries to hard sell the vacuum cleaner. We are talking anywhere from $2,500.00 as low as $1,200.00. for the same machine.

Finally, I found out that they hold back your 1st paycheck. I believe it is to see who quits so they get your free labor. Like I said I didn't meet anyone who was there for more than 2 weeks.

Some of the people seem nice. Like the hiring boss and the trainer. But after going through the whole thing I see they know exactly what they are going to do and how they are going to exploit you. They should be ashamed of themselves. They should be upfront about pay and expectations but who would say yes to 14 hour work days 6 days a week without being smooth conned into it. Actually they are all so shady that I'm nervous about writing this review. Since they have my address and email. But I feel that they should at least be reported on Yelp. I don't know / think it there's a government agency that watches out so I feel someone has to put the word out. And I can take good care of myself.

Anyway about day 2 I knew it had to be too good to be true and that something was up. But I needed to earn money and wanted to be strong and try the job. When I did get to finally go do some demos I had to load up into a minivan with 5 other people and drive 2 hours away. Then we got out of the van and we had to go door to door in the rain and cold trying to get someone to let us into their house. Also there's no breaks or stopping to use the rest room.....

By then I was sure it was a sham and just tried to have some fun and make it through the day.

Anyway. Look out. If it seems to good to be true it probably is. Also, I still believe those Kirby vacuum cleaners are the best vacuums out there. It's just incredible what people will do to make money. And I feel sorry for the people trying to work there. They just want to earn an honest dollar but are being exploited ( many are immigrants)  And to be fair Steve (trainer)did make it somewhat bearable because he was pretty entertaining and seemed to imply we were in for "an emotional roller coaster".  I understand he and Gina (hiring boss)are just trying to make a living but that doesn't excuse the way this company exploits people though(Especially the owner Amir Shagashi)  He runs the whole circus.

***
SF bay area craigslist > south bay > jobs > customer service jobs
HELP WANTED - Full time work available. Several positions available. (San Jose/Milpitas, Oakland/Hayward)


Date: 2011-02-23, 9:48AM PST
Reply to: see below


Several Positions Open ; RECEPTIONIST and CUSTOMER SERVICE

DISTRIBUTION CENTER LOOKING FOR RELIABLE FAST PACED INDIVIDUALS
TO FILL ALL DEPARTMENTS IMMEDIATELY

We Provide All Job Training, No Experience Necessary
Must be 18 yrs or older

Entry Level
Hourly, bi-weekly, and monthly pay

THESE ARE FULL TIME, PERMANENT POSITIONS WITH FLEXIBLE HOURS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL TO SET UP A PERSONAL INTERVIEW… TODAY

immediate management advancement available
Competitive Salary 28,000 -40,000 ANNUALLY INCOME

HOLDING INTERVIEWS TODAY
START WORK THIS WEEK
CALL (408) 262-6083
  • Location: San Jose/Milpitas, Oakland/Hayward
  • 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: 2230317043

21 comments:

  1. Thanks Cheryl,

    I received a reply from an ad similar to the one have. I called them up and they seemed a little vague with the work description. It all seemed a bit too good to be true with some of the things they offer etc.

    I'm glad I was able to find your article before I left the last minute to an interview from them. I can't find ANY information about their company!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So I am half way through my first week working for a Kirby distributor and the funny thing is I didn't sell any yet but today my boss handed me 100$ and said good job on your demos. After that he asked if I would like him to come in the house for my next demo to see if there was anything I wasn't doing right because I had 9 demos and no sales yet.... The weird thing is he didn't ask me for my credit card or any money at all in fact he made it very clear that he wanted to help me make money. Huh? If this is a scam wouldn't I be scammed out of something I don't know maybe I'm crazy but I thought a job was working and then getting paid. I've worked for Kerby for less then a week and I'm already getting paid

      Delete
  2. I knew something was fishy! Just saw their ad on cragslist, but they only had a number. Googled the number and nothing on their company, but found your article. Thanks you very much for the warning! ^^

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have worked for Kirby for 7 years now it is a great company and a great opportunity. Just like any opportunity you have to put the time in and effort in order to be successful in anything you do, half of you lazy people out there will milk the unemployment checks until they run out and then look for a job. i went through the same training an class that you did and decided that I wasn't going to complain i was going to work so I could make that (too good to be true) true and I did because I worked hard I made more then $3000 my first month and won a trip it was great after that I decided to continue my career and do what i needed to do. I'm not ripping poor people off I'm helping people if they buy they buy if not well next house. nothing in life is easy you just have to work hard. Have you ever wonder why immigrants become wealthy in America because they will take any opportunity and work hard at it.

    Signed,
    wealthy white door to door vacuum salesman

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So you work for Kirby? Or just some distributor with a name like c.c.k. that isn't remotely affiliated with the Kirby company aside from buying some vacuums for a few hundred bucks and selling em for an inflated rate. If this job is so great, why would anyone need to try so hard to convince people about it? You must have it pretty rough. Successful people don't need to convince others of their success.

      Delete
    2. i also work for kirby about a year now, its door to door iv made money and won trips as well. not a scam not here trying to say im richer then every one cuz im not. but is just like any other commission job. you have to work hard and follow the program. no its not for every one its for the go getter people. and he isnt bragging about his success any more then the ones bragging about there failure for a weeks worth of work and how its a scam for them not doing the work.

      Delete
    3. I think You guys above actually work for one of those pathetic jobs,

      Delete
  4. I answered the same ad but in San Diego, ca

    When I showed up for my interview, the place looked pretty ghetto, plastic chairs in an office where the employees make 2 grand a month I would expect that they could afford some decent furniture. This was the first flag.

    After they seated me in a separate room with 10 more plastic chairs and two other very young applicants, I looked around and saw kirby stuff everywhere and the ad said customer service cleaning carpets. I have previously done customer service in construction so I thought that I'd be cleaning upholstery and such, not really the case when I saw a very dirty matt and some broken vacuums on the floor.

    Anyhow when I filled out the employment form it asked for references and there was a white board that had some writing on it with giant fonts said you may list friends and family for references, wouldn't an employer like to know more about past employers that have hired you?

    Do I did what another reasonable person would do, I outing fake names and fake numbers for references.

    When I finished up a lady walked in (interviewing manager) and asked who was ready so I was up for my interview. She led me into a bigger room with two very ghetto cubicles and plastic chairs asked me to have a seat and she did most of the talking. She took a quick glance at my resume and said that they were looking to hire people that could manage others and so on. She said that I could be the perfect candidate for that. Funny thing is she never asked if I had experience, amazing people, how many years I had managed, how many people, why I would be a good manager, any real interview questions when just talked about how there was plenty of growth opportunities in the company. Which is not weird but what was weird is that she only asked maybe 3 yes or no questions and after that said thankyou and that they would contact me at 5pm to inform me of a decision.

    Now, how many serious companies make hiring decisions for manager positions in a few hours specially when the person has fake references?

    So I did get the call, asked more info, got vague responses and simply thanked them for their time and kindly declined.

    I feel really bad for all the hard working people that need a job and get slammed by these people. If they want door to door sales people they should list that in their ad and they would get people that know what they are getting into before hand that will last them a bit longer.

    There are many companies that do soliciting and door to door sales that are successful without deceiving people. Why can't they follow that example

    Anyhow this rant is over so people lookout for these shadycompanies even in San Diego the same thing is happening.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was too be hired by a 20 something y.o. Alyssa Etherly. She runs Etherly Enterpriss, LLC, Her company who sales Kirby vaccums. Basically, she put an ad in craigslist stating the same things you read on this page, 1800 to 2000 monthly, entry level, yaadeedah. I responded to the ad, she asked me to come in for an interview, I do. At the interview I was very clear with her that I was NOT interested in a sales job and she assures me that I would not be selling vaccums but only demonstrating the merchandise to clients who have set up appointments. At the end of the interview she hands me her card and sais to call back between 6pm and 7pm later that night.

    When I call back she tells me that I will start orientation on the following Saturday. I was thrilled and too be proffessional I called back that Saturday before going to confirm the appointment. She sais she has made a mistake and that orientation is the following Wednesday. Innocent enough.

    OK, so I call that wednesday to confirm yet again and got no answer. I still went to the office and waited for 2 hours, called multiple times and checked my e-mail just to make sure I didnt forget anything. NOTHING!!!!! Its now the following day and she still does not answer or return my calls.

    Then I came upon this site and now I understand. I asked too many "hard questions" at the interview and she knew I would be a problem to her lies.

    So to any person who comes across this site and lives in Portland, Oregon beware of Etherly Enterprises, 10211 Sw Barbur Blvd Portland, OR 97219.

    Unless of course you want to be a vaccum sales person. This is what they do. dont fall for the fabricated ads they may post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm working on a story about Kirby sales for a TV news investigation (trying to help a disabled Portland man get his money back) - would you share your story with me?
      Kelly Hatmaker
      KATU Special Projects Producer
      503-231-3538

      Delete
  6. I too was tricked into an interview with a Kirby Company in the bay area California.I did google the company and found theses opinions of people above but, decided to give it a try anyways.I was in the tech industry with a degree in electrical engineering and found myself out of a job after I got layed off from Cisco systems, which is a huge tech industry leader. My unemployment was running out and I needed to find anything, so I decided to give kirby a try. Yes, there is door to door involved. In the office I worked for, a lot of the employees had been there for a while. They ran meetings teaching us what to do to set appointments and how to demonstrate the machine properly which I appreciated. As for pay, they obviously do pay people unlike the person above stated. You actually sign a written agreement that's legally binding. In the office I was in, a lot of people actually made a really decent income. There are long hours which isn't for everyone, but I had nothing better to do anyways. I would always laugh at the new people who said the hours were long! lol. Would you rather have no hours at all and sit at home with no job again?! lol.I have now been with the company for a year and absolutely love it. The pay is good and I won a trip to Vegas for my girlfriend and I. When I first started, I thought this company was beneath me and my engineering degree, but I realize that applying here is the best mistake I ever made. I will continue my career with the kirby company and while it's not for everyone, I suggest you to try it for 30 days and make you're own opinion and not listen to other's who have never stepped a foot in the business. If you're reading this, most likely your current job underpays you, doesn't appreciate you,layed you off, or worst case, fired you. What do have to lose anyways? Whether you try it or not, good luck with the job hunting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I pretty sure that if you work for cisco you ll be making more than 2000 a month heck 10 times more, cisco never runs out of work, and even if it does it easy to get a job in that field, liar.... your supporting those lame ads

      Delete
    2. Johnny Mora is right, in the bay area if you are an engineer you'd be making six figures a year--especially for Cisco...Engineers at Cisco don't get laid off. Even if you were fired, you could get a job at Apple the very next day or take a year vacation in Europe and still come back to the same lifestyle.

      Delete
  7. Wow, I'm pretty bummed man Yeah there telling me about these awesome vactions, and how there so cool and were going to have so much fun & crap this company is called Santa ana kleaners said they been in busy for 19years yet I cant find any info on them I was just starting there today my first day, I had fun to be honest I think I'm going to go again tommorow to find out the real price the people looks shady, its really to good to be true.. its rediculous what people would do to make money I'm upset I thought I finally found a job in the Economy..Even though this is a scam I had fun checking out the greatest vacuum in the word. Kirby is pretty amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am currently going through the training and its my second day of trainging. I despretely needed a job. homeless and need the job to find a place to stay. but it sounds too good to be true. but in the same time its human nature to want to believe and dream and hope and try. so i am gonna stick with it for thirty days. but i dont know what id do if its a scam. i got everything riding on this. one side of me is telling me not to do it but another side is saying what if. The trainer is nice and havent met the owner yet and all the employees look happy and try to pretend and act like young people and ocassionally cuss and stuff. please help me. how do i make sure this is not a fraud

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just dealt with this today, im glad i found this as i went in and talk to the people but i wanted to look more in to this company and found out that its an employment scam.

    ReplyDelete
  10. hello this is my second post. So i have been with the company ten days now and guess what. They didnt pay me the first week. Also, they have us working from 9 am till 1030 pm walking around in the cold and knocking doors and setting our own appointments.when you "canvas" you walk around a neighborhood they give you then when your done they pick you up in a van in another. well ones you finish a neighborhood....you wait and hour and half after every neighborhood in the cold freezing and gettting sick. and they dont pay you anything cause they have the right to deny you pay based on the contract you sign. If a company isnt letting you take your contract home to look over it and gives you only 5 minutes to look over it then its a scam.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Some times you might find a bad dt or fd in the company. I happen to work for the number 23 fd in the world. I love my job I look forward to work everyday. The hours are long but you can't make the kind of pay anywhere else. I believe that the Kirby is the best home care system on the market and worth every penny. I have been with kirby for almost a year and will be opening my own office in June. If a single mom who lives a hour away from the office can do it then I don't see what the big deal is. Oh its cold or rainning so what pain is just a short term thing. I have two degrees and was going to law school when I found Kirby. I am mad I did not find it sooner. So unless you try it for 30 days you never really tried it. We hear no all of our lives you are weakminded if you can't take a few no's to make good money.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am supposed to start orientation Wednesday for Kirby. Do they pay for orientation/training?
    Thanks..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Pay for orientation and training? Are you kidding me? Every Kirby vacuum distributorship is an independently owned operation. Newly recruited sales people are paid commission and they are NOT paid for orientation and training.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow why is it that the people that are saying it's a good company are the ones saying you should stick with it for 30 days. Is 30 days the time it takes you to realize what a ripoff this place is? If it WAS a legit job, why do they post on craigslist and not tell you one single truth about what you are going to be doing? I've almost bought into their bulls#!t twice, cause they decided to try a new location since everyone knew their first location was crap. If you are working for these people I feel sorry for you cause you probably are soulless just like the owners.

    ReplyDelete