Update on The Truth About Appco Cobra Group

Following up the article I written a while back I would like to add that I now work in a call centre in their sales department and have recently seen three guys join our company from the place we all know and hate Appco Cobra Group. These three guys were crew leaders when I had left. They progressed far didn't they?

Appco Group also known as Cobra Group - Is it a scam? I certainly know from experience!

Appco/Cobra Group - The Truth!

Well, well, well. Where do we start? Appco group also known as the Cobra group - the name it was established as, by the Appco celebrity who we all know and love(yeah right) "Chris Niarchos". This company was established in the 90's and they will tell you it has being growing from strength to strength over the last 20 years. This may be true, but at whose expense? The dummy's that jump on board and think they can get promoted to ownership and run a successful business with all of their help. That's right, you go there with no experience in direct sales and no experience in running a business but wow, you get that from the Appco Group. If only that was the case...

My experience at the Appco Group

Now I am going to talk about my own experience I had at an Appco Group company based in Glasgow, Scotland. 

I gave the Appco Group company a call to find out if they had any vacancy's available for jobs after seeing an advert in a local newspaper stating earnings where £250 - £500 per week. This is just what I needed. So I called, and was greeted by someone very friendly over the phone. We had a brief chat and I was amazed at the end of the phone call she invited me in for an interview. Things were starting to look up for me (so I thought). 

So I headed along to the interview and sat patiently waiting in a cue of about 6 of us. Finally got my shot at the interview and was amazed at how good it went. To be quite honest all the guy talked about was himself and his company and how good it was. No chat about earnings, hours or what sort of work we would be doing, even though I asked the questions. His words were "If your successful in this part of the interview you will have it explained to you later on". So as I listened to a little more he had to say, answered a few questions (and I mean a few), he so kindly asked me back for a second stage interview. I am not the only person that was invited back either, everyone that was there that day also got told to come back. Interview? I don't think it was. Just a guy sitting talking a load of rubbish about the company and how bloody amazing it is!

The next part of the interview was the so called observation day, where you go out on the "field" and observe the person knocking on doors trying to sell the product. In this case, it was sky packages we were selling. If you are reading this and you have been on your "Ob" day as they call it, you will have noticed how unbelievably friendly everyone is. They are told to be friendly to new guys, its one of their strict rules.

However, things are totally different once your past that first hurdle and to get to leadership. Which to be honest, most people do within a week or two. I personally done it the first week. When you start the business development programme as Appco call it, you start to see everyone's true colours. All the bickering that goes on, the conflicts people have with one another, the office politics and all the other negative stuff that goes on. They are not as friendly any more and you may as well blend in with the wallpaper.

Now you have reached the so called business development programme, you now are required to take out observations and fill their heads with the load of jargon that you are programmed to say. Not only do you lie to them about how much money you make. Even though you are living below the bread line, you are expected to pay for their lunch and their travel to and from the field. It is not feasible whatsoever.

This is because they are all brainwashed with the systems (I was too). If you believe in them apperently you will eventually go on to own your own business. In all of my time being there (nearly 2 years), I only seen one person get promoted to ownership. Bearing in mind this guy had been there for four years.  His company was set up and in about 4 or 5 months later. What do you know, he had to go on a re-train and is still re-building his crew at the moment. So it took him 4 years to build that crew, how long will it take this time round? Another 4 maybe, who knows.

It is not anyone's fault who works there. It is down to Appco themselves. They are good at selling the positive aspects of the business to you and leave out anything that even has a hint of negativity. And if you dare to say anything about the negative side of it. Well, "you are just being negative" I got told. It is like, it all has to be kept a big secret and no one should know.

What Appco Actually pays
In my time at Appco I made relatively good money. I was earning around £400 - £500 a week. Sounds a lot yeah? Well in fact its not. For the amount of hours you put in, it is definitely not worth it. You are in the office from around 11am until 9pm. Usually later than this though if you are building a crew. Here is some calculations I done...

Let's go with the high figure £500 a week

minus 20% tax = £400 a week

minus NI £3 = £397

Public Liability Insurance £3 = £394

Transport from the office to the field and return. We will go with around an average of £5 a day £30 = £364

OK so these are your business expenses... all required... and in a residential office you'll work from 1100 till 2100 in the evening (modest times I'm sure you'll agree) Saturday 0900 till 1400 = 55 hours a week

364/ 55 = £6.60 an hour after tax!!! The minimum wage is £6.08 an hour. So you are barely a kick in the teeth off it. 

Also your lunch will be around £5 a day (skipping dinner time also), £30 a week = £334.

And do not forget about your ob's... You have their expenses to cover also. Transport and lunch too.

Does £500 still sound a lot to you? You make the decision! I hope you make it wisely...