Varsity Sponsorship Marketing, after spending a half day in the field selling advertising for high school, university and semi-pro sports team's sports schedule posters; I figured it out, its a scam! I met with Lynn as a recruiting HR employee who said she'd been with them 8 years and that they were a 25 year old company, I spoke with James or Jim Dalton on the phone. It didn't give me a good feeling that they didn't seem too concerned with my resume or extensive sales experience in B2B and pharmaceuticals. No typical interview questions, then I got a call to do a "test day" in the field which was today. I called on about 3 businesses before I just kept thinking it didn't make sense and the ads on the "fake schedule posters" they gave me, didn't look legitimate. Finally called the school I was suppose to be marketing for and they didn't have a clue who Varsity was.
Varsity gets sales people to sell free for a day basically. I've been reading under the other names they have used, this "test period" can go on for days! Potential advertising is either a $299, $499 or $899 ad for a business to be placed on the coming years football schedule posters. The checks they so desperately want you to obtain at the time of sell, are made out to Varsity, not the school! Plus they don't want you to call on the school or do any customer service calls with them and they are the actual customer. I just wanted to add my experience to let others know that they were in Knoxville, Tennessee interviewing and recruiting for people to do this. I tried to do my due diligence and research the company. I was told their website was "undergoing a re-vamp and update" and would be back on-line next week. I'm sure this is just another lie. They are basically preying on people seeking employment by offering a base plus commission to go out and sell bogus ads and then pocket the money for themselves. They had evidently rented out an executive office space for the day at one of the downtown office buildings. In my case, a very reputable high rise with lawyers, accountants and other reputable business office space. From what I've read, they have up'ed their initial investment to look more reputable. I wish someone could catch these two and pursue criminal charges for fraud! I'm just glad I only wasted a couple hours before I figured it out. Others, I have read, invested real money, extensive time and even quit existing jobs to come on board with Varsity. Beware!!!!!!!
I was contacted by this company because I have a resume' on Career Builders. Their recruiter, Len Wilson, contacted me about this lucrative B2B outside sales job that helps schools and universities raise money - but also pays salespeople well.
At the job interview, she said the company (Varsity Promotions) had offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, and all over the country.
The position was selling advertising for high school (and college) sports schedule posters. She showed me several large glossy posters that featured a high school football schedule. There were advertisements placed on the sides and bottom of the poster.
My job would be to get a school to commit to the program (posters were sent FREE to the schools) - then sell ads to the local businesses near the school.
SOUNDS GREAT - but the whole interview was built around a few lies!
LIE #1 We pay Salary plus commission.
Actuality: It they paid 25% commission. But if you matched the sales of an established sales rep (top 10%) they would pay 35%.
I was lucky to bring home $300-400 a week - AFTER driving 600 miles that week!!LIE #2 You'll have an exclusive geographical territory, 50 miles in any direction from where you live.
Actuality: At least 2 other salespeople were working or have already worked that area, so I could only call on the schools and businesses they hadn't been able to sell. More than half of the schools had already been signed by another sales rep, which means that most schools and all the businesses around them were someone else's territory. The sales manager, Jim Davis, only allowed me to call on less than half of the schools in my supposed territory.
LIE #3 We have offices all over the country.
Actuality: The address on the business card they gave me is a UPS mailbox in Matthews, NC. All their printing is done in Waxhaw, NC (Advantage Promotions). There is NO nationwide company called Varsity Promotions. They hide behind several other names to shield their real identity.
If you are recruited by this company - look out for the lies they tell !!
Varsity Reviews
Varsity Sponsorship Marketing, after spending a half day in the field selling advertising for high school, university and semi-pro sports team's sports schedule posters; I figured it out, its a scam! I met with Lynn as a recruiting HR employee who said she'd been with them 8 years and that they were a 25 year old company, I spoke with James or Jim Dalton on the phone. It didn't give me a good feeling that they didn't seem too concerned with my resume or extensive sales experience in B2B and pharmaceuticals. No typical interview questions, then I got a call to do a "test day" in the field which was today. I called on about 3 businesses before I just kept thinking it didn't make sense and the ads on the "fake schedule posters" they gave me, didn't look legitimate. Finally called the school I was suppose to be marketing for and they didn't have a clue who Varsity was.
Varsity gets sales people to sell free for a day basically. I've been reading under the other names they have used, this "test period" can go on for days! Potential advertising is either a $299, $499 or $899 ad for a business to be placed on the coming years football schedule posters. The checks they so desperately want you to obtain at the time of sell, are made out to Varsity, not the school! Plus they don't want you to call on the school or do any customer service calls with them and they are the actual customer. I just wanted to add my experience to let others know that they were in Knoxville, Tennessee interviewing and recruiting for people to do this. I tried to do my due diligence and research the company. I was told their website was "undergoing a re-vamp and update" and would be back on-line next week. I'm sure this is just another lie. They are basically preying on people seeking employment by offering a base plus commission to go out and sell bogus ads and then pocket the money for themselves. They had evidently rented out an executive office space for the day at one of the downtown office buildings. In my case, a very reputable high rise with lawyers, accountants and other reputable business office space. From what I've read, they have up'ed their initial investment to look more reputable. I wish someone could catch these two and pursue criminal charges for fraud! I'm just glad I only wasted a couple hours before I figured it out. Others, I have read, invested real money, extensive time and even quit existing jobs to come on board with Varsity. Beware!!!!!!!
I was contacted by this company because I have a resume' on Career Builders. Their recruiter, Len Wilson, contacted me about this lucrative B2B outside sales job that helps schools and universities raise money - but also pays salespeople well.
At the job interview, she said the company (Varsity Promotions) had offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, and all over the country.
The position was selling advertising for high school (and college) sports schedule posters. She showed me several large glossy posters that featured a high school football schedule. There were advertisements placed on the sides and bottom of the poster.
My job would be to get a school to commit to the program (posters were sent FREE to the schools) - then sell ads to the local businesses near the school.
SOUNDS GREAT - but the whole interview was built around a few lies!
LIE #1 We pay Salary plus commission.
Actuality: It they paid 25% commission. But if you matched the sales of an established sales rep (top 10%) they would pay 35%.
I was lucky to bring home $300-400 a week - AFTER driving 600 miles that week!!LIE #2 You'll have an exclusive geographical territory, 50 miles in any direction from where you live.
Actuality: At least 2 other salespeople were working or have already worked that area, so I could only call on the schools and businesses they hadn't been able to sell. More than half of the schools had already been signed by another sales rep, which means that most schools and all the businesses around them were someone else's territory. The sales manager, Jim Davis, only allowed me to call on less than half of the schools in my supposed territory.
LIE #3 We have offices all over the country.
Actuality: The address on the business card they gave me is a UPS mailbox in Matthews, NC. All their printing is done in Waxhaw, NC (Advantage Promotions). There is NO nationwide company called Varsity Promotions. They hide behind several other names to shield their real identity.
If you are recruited by this company - look out for the lies they tell !!