NY Promotional Events - Big Time Scam

Right now there are many many college students and laid-off professionals searching online and throughout the news ads for decent salary positions, not just for career improvement, but to at least keep up with bills and debt they acquired.

As we speak, many sites like Monster.com, Jobster.com, myspace jobs and Employmentguide.com hold listings of any and all positions available around your area. While many of these positions are professional, legit, and secure, others are complete scams.

My goal in creating this blog is to protect as many job-lookers from wasting their time and energy being caught into scams like NY Promotional Events. This is a company which identifies itself as a Marketing Group. They claim to offer positions in marketing, customer service, public relations, and client management. Their ads will follow statements along these lines:

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HELP WANTED:

MARKETING

College students/College Grads/ Internships/Asst. Manager/Manager/GRAND OPENING. Event Promo Co. We specialize in events for children's charities, sporting events, and the cosmetics industry. 10 OPENINGS ! Training in all divisions. Fun, positive, prof'l image, people oriented a MUST! $45k 1st year in sal/comm. NO EXP necessary. Call KIM at (631)-860-0232 for information!

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FIRST THINGS FIRST...

Now you will notice that they give you a salary range, they tell you the amount of openings, and open with a display of the types of positions available. When you call that number you will speak to a rep named Alexandra Giblin, an extremely friendly woman with a very positive and enthusiastic voice. She will welcome your interest with a warm greeting, and tell you that NY Promotional Events has positions in marketing, public relations, customer service, client management, and that you will help her around the office. She asks you if you are familiar with organizations like DARE, Child Safety Inc, and Operation Smile. "Allie" informs you NY Promotional Events runs marketing for these organizations.

The way this auto-presentation is set leads you to believe that she is the marketing rep, and that you will be her "marketing assistant" almost. Now, of course she does not directly claim this, but this is the general impression you get. There's an entire load of information you are NOT TOLD.

MY EXPERIENCE 

She invites you for an interview on the spot. She tells you to bring your resume. That should have been Clue # 1 for me, but I was so excited to get an interview for a Marketing position, that I didn't care at the moment.

I came with my resume and a small cover letter, and drove to 94 East Jefryn Blvd.

Deer Park, NY 11756 for my first interview. I noticed that there was a whole batch of other kids in the long, but narrow hallway of this office. Alexandra was in the front desk, much to my surprise. I imagined she would have her own office, but it's then that you discover she is their one and only secretary, not a marketing agent herself.

She smiles when she sees you, takes your resume, has you fill out an application, and makes a few jokes to lighten you up a bit. Depending on whether your are looking for part time or full time work/internship, you will either speak to Jessica or Rob in your first interview.I spoke to Rob whose quite the friendly gentleman. He explains to you that NY Promotional Events runs fundraising events for non-profit organizations and for major companies like Nascar. He will inform you that they are either a "direct marketing" or "alternative marketing" group. He asks you what your interests are, then tells you his background story. Out of the little amount of respect I have left, I will not tell you his story. You can find out yourself if you have the time to waste. 

Key points:

1) When you ask what you will be doing, he tells you running events and gives you a vague idea of the event. He informs you that if called for a second interview, you will observe in an all day event. 

Truth: The event is not a real event. You will either be soliciting drivers at a gas station by trying to sell them car wax, or you will be harassing random people on the side walk trying to get them to sign up for charities with their debit/credit cards, or you will stand all day in front of a BJ's, Walmart, etc. doing the same harassing and soliciting of potential customers.

2) When you ask what the pay and benefits are, he or Jessica will tell you that this is all explained in your final interview. If you insist on asking why, he or she will tell you that the pay and benefits vary depending on the position. 

Truth: This is the kicker. There are only 2 real types of positions available. Sales and Sales Manager. And it's not even really a sales position, it's SOLICITING. Also, there is NO BASE SALARY. They won't tell you until much later that the pay is 100% Commission based. There are also no benefits. It's not a real job. 

3 Initially, you are told that proceeds from these funds go to charities like DARE and Child Safety Inc., and to support the Troops in Iraq. 

Truth: However, you don't find out until the second interview, or until your "first day" that only 5% of the proceeds of sales goes to the charities, while 95% goes straight to NY Promotional Events. You, the solicitor, I mean "Marketing rep" don't get anywhere that amount for pay.

4) They will ask you how soon can you start. If you say that you plan to give your current job a 2 weeks notice, they will insist that you give sooner availability. They will tell you that positions fill up immediately, and they would you need you immediately after being hired. They have no consideration for your current job, and make you believe that this job is the "real deal" and that you would be crazy to not grab it.

Truth: The positions fill up "immediately" because NY Promotional Events is in a constant state of hiring. They hire every week. They need to in order to keep their circular income generating. They cannot maintain themselves without hiring more and more and more mislead "employees", who end up quitting later after realizing they have been conned. 

OVER ALL SUMMARY OF THE SCAM

Why and how is NY Promotional Events a Scam company ? Because they do not offer real marketing positions, they offer soliciting positions. They do not offer a good salary, all your income is completely commission based, and the most you could possibly make is around $200.00 after two weeks, if you are lucky. 

They falsely advertise themselves as a legit Marketing Group, when in reality they are a Pyramid Scheme. The only people who make any real money are Jessica, Rob, Vito, and Alexandra, because they receive the BULK of the profit made from sales that you and so many others slave away for.

There is no real employment. You are not a true employee of NY Promotional Events since there is NO SALARY and NO BENEFITS available. You are an Independent Distributor who works off commission. 

If they would advertise themselves truthfully, then they could not be called a scam company. However, if they did advertise themselves honestly, no one would EVER apply. That is why they lure you in with false claims of having "numerous positions" available. They will always have spots available, but as for marketing positions..they don't exist here. It's pure solicitation. 

CONCLUSION

Do not waste your time with NY Promotional Events. 

If you want a serious marketing position, there are legit positions available on any company's original home page. If you want sales, apply to a Best Buy or Target. They'll at least provide you a real salary with benefits. 

If you went to school for a serious position, do not waste your time with this scam company. You will gain absolutely nothing from it, save solicitation expertise.

I wondered how this company can even exist so long...well, they technically haven't. They changed their name numerous times. They used to be called "Island Events". They belong to a string of scam-companies under the umbrella of "Quantum Events". 

While it is true that 5% of all proceeds go to respectable charities, and these charities like DARE and Child Safety Inc. recieve pure profit as to enable quality services for good causes, the actual "employee" is scammed and abused. 

If you have no bills, live with your parents, and have time to kill..then sure, apply. You can make some* money, and if you like outdoors, you'll get to spend a lot of time out doors (unless you are stuck soliciting inside BJ's or Walmart). 

But if you need a real job with true security, an actual salary, and benefits...then look elsewhere. 

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Don't just take my word for it, Check out these links for more information:

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/340/RipOff0340037.htm

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?p=473802

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/383/RipOff0383496.htm

Tips for how to avoid Scam Jobs:

1) Watch for ads that offer marketing or administration positions with NO EXP necessary.

2) Beware of job descriptions that display in the salary: "To Be Discussed" or "Unspecified". If a position is legit and secure, they won't be afraid to reveal hourly or yearly salary.

3) If a job description is VAGUE and non-specific, ask questions.

4) If a job or agency EVER asks for a fee, or money upfront, DO NOT PARTICIPATE.

5) Always be suspicious if a company or agency offers you an immediate interview without actually reviewing your resume. 

6) Always check if the company is approved under the Better Business Bureau.

Good luck to everyone trying to make it in their field. Just use your common sense and do not waste your time with scams. Hopefully this helps someone, and eventually forces scam companies like NY Promotional Events to stop scamming on people in need for their own selfish gains. 

Do not let yourself be used in such a way. Remember: Background checks go BOTH WAYS. Always do your research on a company before working for them. 

-Anti Scam Rebel