Unorthodox phone call with job offer

Frank101

I better start by explaining that I sometimes give guitar lessons for €20 with a flyer on shopping noticeboards. I recently decided to start with piano lessons too at €15, and hence the lower price. It's more of a hobby than anything.

Anyway, yesterday I got my first call from a man in relation to the piano lesson ad. He gave his name and then started by saying, "I presume you're looking to make a little extra income?" He then mentioned that he was with a company involved in health and wellness, and also said something about how there'd be various opportunities nationwide with this company. It took me a while actually realise "oh so it doesn't actually involve anything to do with piano". He asked if I could meet with him for a coffee sometime so that he could talk me through what the job would entail. I then basically asked, what's the job. He moreorless said "well I'd love to talk you through it properly if we could sit down sometime..." So now I'm thinking did he just see the '€15/hour' and think to himself "gee, this fella might be desperate to make money".

I said that "it's just an unusual way to recruit... to go looking at notice boards". You'd have to wonder, does this mean that he's called others from this notice board? He replied "look, there's nothing quere about it". He then tried to arrange for us to meet there and then on the phone. I said I'd think about it and then get back to him. But if it's going to be one of these situations where we sit down, and he spends 5 minutes telling me why I should want the job, then what does that make you think? Is it door-to-door sales are what I'm wondering.

In a way you could say that I've got nothing to lose by meeting him. I suppose it wasn't until later that I realised what exactly it was about this that I didn't like. It's namely that it's a ad for lessons, and that you've no business calling it unless you're looking for piano lessons. And do I really even need to know what it is he's to offer in order to decline? If I was to meet up, it'd probably be difficult to say no, or awkward to leave, again saying "I'll have to think about that".

What do you think?

Ruu

Sounds like a Herbalife distributor gig, pass.

Speedwell

Frank101 wrote: »

Do I really even need to know what it is he's to offer in order to decline? If I was to meet up, it'd probably for difficult to say no, or awkward to leave saying "I'll have to think about that".

What do you think?

It's a typical pitch for a multi-level marketing "business", very few of which actually make any representative any money. I've been recruited for a couple of those in the US, mainly Amway and Avon and Mary Kay. I actually did Mary Kay in college and didn't even make back the cost of the starter kit I was required to purchase. My mother did Herbalife for a while and never really made anything. I had a friend sell Young Living essential oils and despite being kind of a fanatic really only benefited from the member discount. My piano teacher sold Avon cosmetics on the side, but she wasn't heavily into recruiting. Be warned that you will need to recruit heavily yourself to have a chance of making any money whatsoever. If you don't know anything about multi-level marketing (often referred to as MLM), please do yourself the favor of a good thorough Google research session so you know the right questions to ask if and when you meet with the guy.

Don't have a minute's guilt about telling him it's not for you if it isn't for you. You'd do the same with any "real" job offer if you didn't like the company for which you were being interviewed. Trust me, it won't be the first time he hears it.

snubbleste

It's a social welfare inspector trap!

ElleEm

It is probably for that aloe vera stuff or Juice Plus. You have nothing to lose but your time if you meet with him, but if the business was as profitable as he tells you it is, then he wouldn't need to phone randomers from notice boards to join his 'team'!

clairewithani

snubbleste wrote: »

It's a social welfare inspector trap!

I thought that too.

kneemos

If he couldn't say over the phone he wants to sell you something,or have you sell for him.

Penny Tration

He wants you as part of a multilevel marketing scam.

Basically you pay him for herbalife, forever living or juice plus products, then you try sell them.

Don't bother.

Frank101

I was letting curiosity get the better of me. As long as I know it's a waste of time, I shouldn't desire to know why.

stoplooklisten

Big pharma hate this guy, he nearly broke them

Fr_Dougal

Frank101 wrote: »

I was letting curiosity get the better of me. As long as I know it's a waste of time, I shouldn't desire to know why.

Charge him the €20 for your hour.

Ficheall

Well, I think the first thing to say would be that this is not pyramid selling..

corner of hells

His name is Ahmed, eventually he'll ask you to collect a van and park it near the American embassy , everything will be fine and your virgins will be waiting in heaven for you.

Paz-CCFC

Ficheall wrote: »

Well, I think the first thing to say would be that this is not pyramid selling..

No sir. Our model is the trapezoid!

colm_mcm

More than likely a pyramid scheme. I had a guy sit down next to me in a restaurant years ago, strike up conversation and tried to sell the benefits of whatever shoite he was involved in, can't remember which one it was.

Strumms

If he isn't willing to discuss the general idea of what he wants to see you about on the phone I wouldn't have anything to do with him, that is just ****in creepy from the get go. If it was an 'on the level kind' of thing he wouldn't be going around head hunting via stray numbers for piano teachers on supermarket notice boards and the likes... I'd have nothing to do with him personally but for the interest in this thread.... yes call him and agree to meet in a secluded spot and if you manage to.. come back and tell us all about it...

DivingDuck

Been approached by these people before, though in person rather than by phone. That they're now bothering people who post ads for legitimate services with their nonsense infuriates me. (Stuff like this is the reason I never post my actual phone number anywhere, and only use disposable numbers for public postings.)

Anyone who approaches me, unsolicited, and in such a cagey manner, who won't flat out tell me what their business is doesn't strike me as someone I want to do business with. They are never upfront about the situation, it's always "Let's meet for a proper chat" i.e., "Let me sucker you in to my long-winded sales pitch somewhere you can't so easily walk away/hang up".

If they were successful in moving their product, they wouldn't need to hang around shopping centres approaching strangers in person and through their ads in order to get them to sign onto the same scheme. I do feel sorry for people who've been duped into joining these schemes and are trying to make their money back, but they're essentially passing the buck (or lack of bucks) and I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot bargepole.

uck51js9zml2yt

If he's buying the coffee, go ahead and meet him so you can let us know.

jca

Sounds like a revenue/social welfare trap to me. I wouldn't bother with him tbh.