What Work From Home Programs Should I Definitely Stay Away From?
One of my readers suggested that I create a page of companies that I know, from experience (or, in a few cases, from recommendation) are scams, or else just not good. Whereas that's not the focus of this site, and I plan on doing that in my blog more than here (See "About Me" section for blog address on blogspot), it is a good suggestion, so I thought I would share at least a few of those companies that you should run... not walk... away from...
Disciples Cross -
This work at home "opportunity" is presented by a pastor. He runs a church in Louisiana, it's a real church even. And, to be fair, the "disciples cross" jewelry he attempts to teach you how to make is beautiful.
It's a cross pendant made from scratch out of horseshoe nails, colored small gauge wire, dipped in acrylic, and hung on an imitation leather cord.
He tells you that you can make up to $2000.00 per month! Sounds like a pretty good job from home, huh?
Here's the scoop:
You have to pay in order to be employed, you purchase your "starter kit" which supposedly contains enough material to make 25 crosses. Then, you will have to continue buying your materials. He says the price works out to $1 per cross in materials. After shipping and everything else, it's closer to $1.25.
After you've made a few crosses, you can send them in for evaluation. Don't bother, unless they are absolutely and nearly impossibly perfect (i.e. no scuff marks on the tops of the nails from where you had to bend them with pliers), they won't be accepted for payment by the company.
He then says that you are allowed to send in up to 400 crosses per week for which you can receive payment. You'll get around $2.25 per cross you send in that is immaculate. And, you spent, according to him, $1 on materials. Even if you did, therefore, manage to make all your crosses absolutely, and in all ways, perfect, you'll probably be making less than minimum wage. Heaven forbid you mess up on more crosses than you are able to make perfectly!
Beyond that, it will take the company a few months (last I heard, that was how far back they were) to pay you. A few months? Are you kidding me? After I've already invested so much money in materials and so much time in production?
Now, I do recommend that you run for the hills as opposed to getting involved with this company, at least if you want to get paid from them. However, I wouldn't call this a scam. He is dishonest with you, at least somewhat. But hey, he's a salesman! He doesn't run away with your money though, you do get your starter kit and materials (I have a bunch lying around here, anyone want any of it? ;) And, they're even nice quality materials and a good training video. I could have definitely done without the autographed picture of him though. Seriously!
HOWEVER, if you have a market for selling these yourself (i.e. a shop of hand made goods, craft fairs, a swap meet booth, etc.), this is a nice product that really can sell (not quite as much as he claims, but people really do like them and will gladly buy them for $5, especially since the price tag says $9.99). They are good quality, and very pretty. I actually still make them for friends and family on occassion. Hey, I figure I spent the money for the stuff that never ended up helping me make much (a few bucks at the swap meets I used to do), I may as well use up the materials.
If you really want the materials and/or training video though, for your own purposes, you can get them on Ebay for cheaper from people who've realized that this was not the fantastic, legitimate work at home opportunity they thought it would be. There's even a yahoo group devoted to those making the disciples crosses and selling them on their own (since they've figured out that the company/pastor will likely never pay them for the work they sent him), and they can help you find the materials and training for MUCH cheaper than he is charging.
Bottom line:
This really is beautiful jewelry, and people will buy it (in smaller quantities). But, a steady income this will not provide, and a legitimate work at home opportunity it is not (so sayeth almighty Yoda).