Posted by Sean Choi on July 27, 19102 at 03:18:51:
In Reply to: Re: Scentura Creations purfume scam. posted by My experiences with Scentura Creations on May 10, 19101 at 15:33:02:
: I was in the program too (back in 1997), and even made it to EO ('Executive Owner'). In fact, I trained from Doug and Amy Su's office in San Diego.
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OK people. After I posted the above message some time ago, I still get emails from time to time from people who interviewed with Amy Su (Zirbel) at the San Diego distribution center or office of Scentura Creations (yes, the one on Top Gun street), asking me if this opportunity was legitimate, what my experience with them was like, etc. I recently received an email from a young girl who interviewed with them, and I thought that posting my reply (minus her name, of course; I will call her "Jane Doe") on this board would help out others as well. Here is my email that I sent her:
>>Start email<<
> Hello, my name is [Jane Doe]. I am have just finished my second interview and
> happened to have found your comments on the Universal Wholesale Distibution
> company in San Diego owned by Doug and Amy Su Zirbel. I have a few concerning
> questions if you don't mind.
No, I don't mind at all.
> How long ago were you employed at this company/building?
It was back in the summer-to-early fall of 1997. I was in the program for about six weeks.
> Exactly what did the company/building offer you that was not given?
As you know, they give you the opportunity to start "your own business." I didn't quite finish or get through the program so that I could start my own business. As far as I can tell, that rarely happens (only two people who were in the program with me started their own business, and one of them failed within weeks. I don't know about the other person's.).
> Did you invest money out from your own pocket to continue the emloyment?
No. There is no investment per se.
> If you don't mind me asking, how was your payment (check, cash, commissions
> only, etc)?
You're strictly paid on commission. There is no hourly pay or salary.
> You may disregard these questions, yet it would help an individual if there is
> something wrong with this company, and for that individual to find out. I am
> fresh out of high school and do not want to make a mistake as a new adult.
> Please, if there is any information that you can rely to me, I would greatly
> appreciate it.
If there are other specific questions that I can help you with, please feel free to ask. I don't want to give the impression (unlike some other people on the web) that Scentura Creations and/or the Zirbels are bad or evil--or illegal, for that matter. It is a genuine opportunity to become wealthy, IF you're lucky enough to have what it takes to make it through the "training program" and to own your own distribution center. But you have a very tough road ahead (and this is NOT being "negative", just realistic) and you should get clear on what you're about the embark on.
> Thank you for your time and comments.
No problem.
BTW, the ultimate reason why I left is that I wanted to pursue graduate education in the hope of becoming a professor--and therefore that I didn't want to own by own business, after all. I didn't leave because I somehow felt that I was being "scammed."
>>End email<<
Final note: To be a little more precise about my last sentence above, although I didn't feel like I've been swindled (i.e. scammed) by Doug and Amy Su, I also was somewhat disappointed that I wasn't getting "promoted" (into my own office, that is) as quickly as I thought I should have. I was in the program for around 6 weeks, and I made EO (Executive Officer) around the fourth week, and yet for two whole weeks no action were being taken by them to get me my own office. Maybe (just maybe) I eventually would have been promoted to one, but I just didn't want to wait around any longer; and the time during which I waited afforded me some mental clarity, I think, to reassess what really matters to me in life. And my decision was that money was not the object; rather, it is doing what I really like, and that is teaching. So, that's my story and experience about this company.