Beware of deceptive job ads which offer entry-level training in management, marketing, and sales especially if the ads state "face-to-face" sales and no experience required.
Do you really want to do door-to-door sales for commission pay with no benefits?
pissedconsumer.com, North Company, St Louis
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Search/Franklin-Insights.aspx
http://www.franklinstl.com/
http://www.franklininsights.com/ forwards to franklinstl.com
https://www.facebook.com/franklininsights
Founded January 2011
Franklin Insights Marketing Inc renamed Franklin, Inc
275 Union Blvd, Ste 101
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 361-8630, New phone number (same number as Aspen Concepts, Inc)
Old Address
1430 Washington Av Suite 105
Saint Louis, MO 63103
(314) 241-8803
http://www.manta.com/c/mwkv27z/franklin-insights-marketing
Domain Name: FRANKLINSTL.COM
Created on: 29-Feb-2012
Domain Name: franklininsights.com
Created on: 02/01/2011
Missouri Secretary of State
Business Entity Search: Franklin Insights Marketing, Inc
Entity Creation Date: 01/11/2011
Agent Name: David Weisse
Business Entity Search: Franklin, Inc
No records found.
Registered Agent Search: Weisse, David
Records Found: 1
Franklin Insights Marketing, Inc
Missouri Secretary of State
Business Entity Search: Franklin Insights Marketing, Inc
Entity Creation Date: 01/11/2011
Agent Name: David Weisse
Business Entity Search: Franklin, Inc
No records found.
Registered Agent Search: Weisse, David
Records Found: 1
Franklin Insights Marketing, Inc
IMPORTANT UPDATE : Scamers selling near you!
ReplyDeleteyes, I am a victim of what you speak of.
Today was my first day of "Observation." Yesterday I had my first interview and today I had to work for no pay as an observer for 10 hours. Well they didn't call it work, it was all part of the interview process they said... first observing then training, then you finally get to try to sell these $39.99 packages to people. I probably shouldn't say the names of these companies or what they sell but I can say they are located in and around st. Louis and Kansas City. Just like the blog poster guy said. "these are scams. In fact I think it should be illegal. they are some how getting away with paying people under minimum wage and, in some cases like mine, for nothing at all. they are preventing people from living the American dream. Not only that but they target college grads and young people just intering the work force. They give sales people a bad name. I wish our government would put a little more effort into preventing this kind of thing. they claim to have the lowest turn over rate in the biz. NO that is a lie. Infact this company is all about lies. Its High pressure sales. I had to walk around businesses in faulton MO today in the heat in a tie and black pants.
I would be happy to join the group that is willing to put an end to this. I'll sign the petition, I'll write our congressman, I'll do what ever I legally can to help.
More company names and locations in st. louis westport area. and Kansas City "Overland park area"
I totally agree with Justin, the company and the-north.org both need to be shut down. I will sign whatever it takes to do it. They are preying on young, college graduates like myself, and it's bullshit.
ReplyDeleteI got contacted by North about 6 or 7 months ago via Careerbuilder (guess they found my resume), and they kept hawking the fact that they "represent At&t". "Are you familiar with AT&T?" Uh... who ISN'T in the Western world? Moron...
DeleteAnd how many legit firms actually use .org? I know technically it's legal for them to do it, but the fact that they're ONE IN A MILLION who does it really raises some red flags for me, too. I said fuck it after doing some more research. I just wish Project Smile (the charity they supposedly work with) or whatever it's called COULD ALSO smell the scam and get as far away as possible.
Midwestern Avenger.....you're a cook at PIZZA HUT!!!! how can I get a job like that! maybe I should continue to listen to you so I can grow up and be more like you!
Deletewow! I got a call back for both North and Franklin Insights. I figured they were scams but there are people already working for them so Im sort of confused
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just interviewed today. Thanks for these posts.
ReplyDeleteThis is really scary. I got a phone call from this place yesterday, they immediately set up an interview for me for today - but after reading the things posted here (which prompted an in-depth search on all things Franklin Insights), it really didn't seem right. Has anyone else read about that "Landers Group" scam on the west coast, that apparently stranded a girl who refused to do the "observation"? I cancelled my interview for today. Thank you for looking out.
ReplyDeleteI am willing to bet there is truth to all of this. I run my own direct marketing company. I went to a preliminary interview. I shadowed sales on a second round interview. I earned the opportunity to become independently incorporated and now make great money representing a large telecom company. This business structure is pure…what I mean is that it is completely based on merit. IF you earn your receive…if you dont earn then you dont! NOW UNDERSTAND there are some people who run their business with strong ethics and integrity, and there are some that do not. Ultimately you will earn experience. That is probably why you are on this site anyway, because you have none and thats why you are seeking entry level jobs. Dont prejudge your opportunity based on what someone on the internet wrote. if you went to college then your professors all told you that the internet (by and large) is not reliable. Make your own decisions. WORST CASE SCENARIO you learn to cold call 10-15 customers a day, make some cash, and get some experience, which ANY future employer will find admirable. The reason most people call these businesses a scam is because they failed (that could be the employees fault or the employer didnt provide great training). If I were you I would go on the 2nd interview and ask in depth what the training is like, and make sure that sales are done with integrity. If you are taught how to close quality sales (no matter the product) with integrity, then you are now a more qualified professional. Keep it real.
ReplyDeleteBe that as it may...
Delete1. Why do all the job listings on sites like Careerbuilder for these firms MAKE ALL THESE RIDICULOUS, GRANDIOSE CLAIMS, and they seem to have NO STANDARDS with records to who they'll interview and/or hire (even less chance they actually LOOK the resumes they receive)?? They don't really give you a STRAIGHT ANSWER as to what exactly 'employees' do. They just give you a bunch of bs they were trained to say from a script, it seems. That raises a red flag for me.
2. Some of them even have the NERVE to call themselves "consulting" firms (at least, name-wise). Oh, you mean like McKinsey and Co.? HA! As if...
Forgive me for being a little skeptical, sir. ;) Maybe if your industry wasn't shrouded in such mystery and filled with complaints online about all manner of shady business practices and deceptive crap from so many of their firms' bosses...
3. What does this say about ACTUAL marketing firms that hire EXPERTS, esp. ones with DEGREES and prior experience in the field, not just some random kid off the street who sends in a resume who's halfway intelligent? The fact that they have to 'compete' or deal with these fake 'marketing' firms with such low standards, possibly deceiving new Marketing graduates fresh out of college.
4. Why do just about ALL of these "marketing" firms HAVE SUITES?? They all run out of a single suite in some office building? Not ONE of them has managed to become prestigious or large enough to have its own building, if even a small one? That seems to indicate that there's a major LIMIT on how 'big' these quasi-scams can become, which makes me even more skeptical.
5. The presence of CYDCOR in a lot of these 'firms' doesn't help...
If you'd be so kind as to try to clear up some of these 'misconceptions' and questions, I'd be very grateful
P.S. WTF is a "job shadow", and why do I ONLY hear about it in the context of these specific 'firms'??
regards*, not records
Deleteyep smart guy is right
ReplyDeleteReceived an email AND a call less than 12 hours after posting my resume on CareerBuilder. Nothing on my resume shows ANY prior experience in marketing; I have history in the medical field. Thanks for these posts.....now I know not to go to the interview that I set up. My family doesn't need to be scammed.
ReplyDeleteI got a call from 2 of them in less than a DAY after sending my resume.
DeleteThey REALLY want me to believe they actually READ my resume in its entirety? Yeah, right... They just wanted another sucker to work for them.
According to the FB fan page, TOP Consulting's office suite LOOKS LIKE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM! The walls are painted red and blue for some strange reason, too. It's so goofy.
I agree Franklin Insights Marketing is a waste of time!! They call for an interview by pulling your resume from CareerBuilder.com. They don’t let you know during the second interview that it’s an all commission job, no base pay, no benefits, drive to different counties, and door to door for business. The manager Dave does mention during the first interview that the second interview is from 9:30am-5:15pm. So when I received a phone call for a second interview, they mention to wear comfortable shoes and lunch is provided. However they didn’t mention that you’ll be walking door to door shadowing an employee the entire day. So I didn’t bother to bring my coat because I ashamed I would be inside. They waited until lunch to discuss the pay, training, and etc. Even though they said “lunch would be provided” it wasn’t! It was a waste of time for me!
ReplyDeleteHere, I was all excited and for NOTHING!!!!!!! Scammers make me ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Sooo glad I looked into this before my first interview on Monday! Thanks you guys! I thought this was all way to good to be true. They called me an hour after I posted my resume on careerbuilder. They like to flatter with "You're just the kind of person we're looking for".....what's that? Gullible and stupid?? Thanks again you guys.
ReplyDeleteI worked for a company like this in St. Louis a few years back. Exactly like most everyone said. You shadow an existing employee the first day, who obviously WORKS out of her car- pens, papers and portfolios out the wazoo. You go door to door to businesses and get treated like crap all day because no one wants solicitors in their businesses. I was trying to sell new phone plans at the time. It's hard to remain motivated and positive when you are treated like trash every day. After you slave all day long out on the road wasting gas you can't afford, you regroup back at the office and you get to ring a bell!!! if you've made sales. Some people are better at sales than me obviously- I got to ring the bell once or twice in the month or so I was able to stand doing this. It is a commission only position, they do not reimburse for gas, no benefits whatsoever and I basically ended up crying in my car by the end. I will never get sucked into this again. I do research on every company that offers me an interview from now on. I want experience, not this.
ReplyDeleteI also got a call from Melissa at Frankil Insight Company. (I am sure if they pulled my resume from one of the job posting sites.) I returned the call and I spoke with Shannon and was set up with a interview without any questions or initial phone interviews. I was told that they have contracts with AT&T and Staples by Shannon. I have contacts at both companies that I then called. Neither have ever heard of Franklin Insights and had no idea of who they are. Frankil Insights has moved to 275 union blvd 63108, or are at least, using an office space there to conduct the so called interviews. The city has no record of a business license for Franklin Insights at this address. BEWARE....MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING SCAM!!! Stay clear.
ReplyDeleteOh...I love the internet!! I got a call from Melissa today wanting to set up an interview with me.....for tomorrow! Just yesterday, I posted my updated resume and low and behold, I receive a phone call from Melissa. I have NO marketing experience. All of my experience is in Jewelry and Accessories. So crazy! I came home and immediately looked these people up. Their website is kind of funky, then I found this website. Thank goodness for you guys! Saved me a drive and having to listen to what I now know is bullshit!
ReplyDeleteFunny how the "expert" who claims to be running a similar firm of his own DIDN'T RESPOND to my questions.
ReplyDeleteObvious scammer who got caught and doesn't know how to respond now? I think so
Isn't it hilarious how, whenever you call these people out, they NEVER respond?? One would think that a RESPONSIBLE businessman would try to keep his reputation solid by proving that his business isn't a scam if it actually isn't, not by deleting comments or NOT RESPONDING to concerns like a jackass. That just makes people MORE SKEPTICAL AND SUSPICIOUS.
Idiots... And THEY think they have the right to bitch at me for being so skeptical about their ever-so-mysterious "marketing firms"?
He probably has better things to do than answer your idiotic questions.
Deletehello,
Deletejackass here, just checking in with my favorite blog site.
did you know I responded to all your queries and instead of the moderator erasing YOUR comment for calling me a jackass, they erased MY polite, direct, and logical answers.
Dont worry about us. We are taking care of ourselves, families, and businesses. Sounds like you need to worry about getting your own career started. Dont prejudge opportunities because that is not smart.
I did an internship here and walked out after a couple of weeks! They pull EVERY resume and then call with a script "My manager had a chance to look at your resume and we think you'd be a good fit... etc" It is such a scam!! There's so many spin offs of North Inc that its ridiculous!!! DONT DO IT!
ReplyDeleteAll of these comments are eerily true. I have now been contacted by 3 different co. in different areas of TN and they are all the exact same. Its a fine job for some people. However, these companies has corrupted my online job search efforts.Not cool. Boo.
ReplyDeleteI took the time to answer and address these questions TWICE and the moderator of this page keeps erasing my answers. I think you should interview and formulate your own opinion (i hope that is acceptable to say). Remember what our college professors taught us...dont believe everything on the internet. I would be especially leery of a blog that doesnt allow free speech and opinion. This is very one sided and I do believe the moderator has an agenda/personal vendetta. I personally know the owners of Franklin insights and TOP consulting. They are consummate professionals that conduct themselves with a very high level of integrity.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Cydcor has another affiliate called Aspen Concepts, Inc. Shannon contacted me after pulling my resume from careerbuilder, and scheduled me for an interview. Something seemed fishy so I googled the phone number and address.The address: 275 Union Blvd, Suite 101, St. Louis, MO 63108. The phone number is (314)361-8630; The EXACT SAME information given here. I was going to give it a shot, but I'm going to pass based on the dishonesty I'm seeing.
ReplyDeleteWhats the deal? I would like to get the facts straight. Aspen Concepts Inc., conducted a phone interview with me, and called me back the same night saying I got the job. Seemed fishy to me. Also, during the phone interview I was not given an opportunity to ask any questions I had. I wanted to know if this was cold calling or door to door sales...the position seems too good to be true from what they told me. It is also strange that Aspen and Franklin have the same address and phone #, and that the president of Aspen is listed as a manager on Franklin's website. I want to know the truth!
ReplyDeleteThey are two separate businesses that share the same office space.
DeleteI see several job postings from TOP Consulting on every job board I visit. It's like there are five job titles that they re-post on Monster, Career Builder, Glass Door and Sologig. They're like the spam that fills your inbox, but for job boards.
ReplyDelete