Southwestern Company Difference Blog

In a follow-up to my last blog, New York Times reporter Ian Urbina has brought the dangers of traveling sales crews into the national scope once again in an article on October 15, “Six charged in beatings of salesmen.”

I say “once again,” as Urbina penned one of the most complete features I have read regarding traveling magazine sales crews.  I have his article linked on the “Resources” page of this blog, or you can read it from this link: “For youths, a grim tour on magazine sales crews.”  If you have not read this, it tells the story of the real-life daily grind of life on the road in a sales crew – warts and all.

His most recent piece provides a little more information than the article I had resourced in my previous blog: Brutal beatings with bat, golf clubs – par for the course on road with traveling sales crew.  It also happens to include the subject of another of my previous blogs: Fresh Start Opportunities (Fresh Start Opportunities not so fresh after all, reeks of scam).  This company has a long history of complaints… still. 

What’s wrong with this picture?  Warnings have been issued about Fresh Start, it “claims” to be a charity, many consumers never received ordered magazines, and their phone has been disconnected.  The Washington AG’s office is even considering “civil penalties” according Urbina’s article.  I guess so…  It is shameful these types of operations continue to operate the way they do.

My parting thought - I hope the two young men who were beaten for wanting to leave the sales crew are able to make a full recovery, physically and emotionally.

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