Abstract:
Those who respond may end up like the hard-working coal miner in the song, "Sixteen Tons," who discovered he owed "his soul to the company store." The young people may end up working only "to get another day older and deeper in debt."

Such ads usually solicit teenagers and young adults to become part of traveling sales crews that sell magazine subscriptions or cleaning products door-to-door across the country. In many cases, the employment ad does not give the name of the company or the nature of the work, but lists a local phone number and the name of a recruiter. The job interview usually takes place in a local hotel or motel and, if the young person accepts the job, he or she is asked to leave within a few hours or a day and join a team of employees already in the field.

The living conditions are usually cramped and allow little personal freedom. Meals and personal items must be bought with a nightly dole. In some crews, employees do not receive paychecks. Their earnings remain "on the books." Their sales are credited to an account by the crew manager, who then may deduct hotel expenses, the nightly allowance, canceled orders and fines for "misconduct." Copyright SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER May 27, 1993

Full Text:

Consumer Watch

As summer approaches and the job market remains tight, vacationing students may be lured by employment ads that read: "travel the country, high pay, all transportation and expenses paid."

Those who respond may end up like the hard-working coal miner in the song, "Sixteen Tons," who discovered he owed "his soul to the company store." The young people may end up working only "to get another day older and deeper in debt."

Such ads usually solicit teenagers and young adults to become part of traveling sales crews that sell magazine subscriptions or cleaning products door-to-door across the country. In many cases, the employment ad does not give the name of the company or the nature of the work, but lists a local phone number and the name of a recruiter. The job interview usually takes place in a local hotel or motel and, if the young person accepts the job, he or she is asked to leave within a few hours or a day and join a team of employees already in the field.

Once on the job, the new employee may find that the work involves extremely long hours, with early morning and late-night meetings where sales pitches are endlessly rehearsed.

The living conditions are usually cramped and allow little personal freedom. Meals and personal items must be bought with a nightly dole. In some crews, employees do not receive paychecks. Their earnings remain "on the books." Their sales are credited to an account by the crew manager, who then may deduct hotel expenses, the nightly allowance, canceled orders and fines for "misconduct."

Often the employees end up in debt to the sales organization, or so they are told, and therefore are unable to leave.

The Better Business Bureau says anyone who considers working for a traveling sales crew should obtain the following in writing: the name and address of the company; details about travel, food and housing; commission rates and bonus programs; the salary amount, who keeps track of it and how it is paid out; how friends and family can contact the employees; and who arranges transportation home.

If the company can't satisfactorily supply this information, job seekers should look elsewhere, the BBB says.

And as with any offer, they should thoroughly read and understand the contract and check out the company with the BBB or the Consumer Protection Division of the State Attorney General's Office.