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rosielopey
Forums Member
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 51
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#21 · Posted: 5 Feb 2008 15:14
I've been working for west for a few weeks and have to agree the upsells are horrible, but then it is up to the individual if they want them or not. I usually just tell them that these are additional items that are available that weren't on the infomercial. They usually listen. If I get 2 no's and feel that they are getting upset I read them the bypass. I hate the accounts that have upteen upsells and then have the two apo's. My gosh some calls take about 20 minutes which is okay I am getting paid. I just start my shift with a positive attitude and do the best that I can. I started working nights but changed to work mostly during the days. I am trying to keep my stats up hoping they will offer me a new skill. I am sure they are really in need of the dr reps because of the horrible upsells no one wants to do it. But then I think where else can I get paid by working at home. The callers don't know me I don't know them so what. These days whenever you order something there will always be upsells. I had to go through that just to get a dedicated phone line. There are even some people that have ordered before another product and let you know when the calls starts that they are only interested in the product that they saw and don't want anything else and don't tell them everything else.
All in all I really like it. My commute to work is walking down stairs, no more brushing off the car with snow on it, and the fear of icy streets. If I decide I want a light day I put my shift in for trade and within minutes those times are taken. The pay will be what you put into it. Here in Colorado it is really hard to find a job and most of them pay minimum wage. Well when a call does not come in I know I am getting something for that time period. For anyone that is looking to work for west or are afraid of taking their first call, just do it. Before you know it it will be like second nature. They pay on time and I have to say the support you get is excellent. There have been times that I have had to call pal during a call to ask a question and I have to say they are so helpful and nice, and I really appreciate that. I have worked other places and they always make you feel like you are taking up there time. Well gotta go have a shift starting in 10 minutes.
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Rosie Lopez
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WorkingAtHomeTX
Forums Member
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 11
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#22 · Posted: 5 Feb 2008 18:02
I would also like to know what APO stands for?
Also, I'd like to know what happens during the Webinar process? Is this just a standard job interview, or is there some sort of online interaction with your PAL/interviewer? Is this a one-on-one situation, or more of a conference call situation? Since some say these can take up to 2 hours, I'd like to know what takes so long!
Thanks!
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rosielopey
Forums Member
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 51
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#23 · Posted: 5 Feb 2008 18:33
APO stands for additional product offerings. When I took my webinar it lasted 10 minutes and it was just that the pal asked me if I had any questions. We got disconnected and when I looked at my status I was ready to go. I guess it depends on the skill on what they would go over with you. I was only offered the dr skill so it did not take long.
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Rosie Lopez
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vkin9772
Forums Member
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 12
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#24 · Posted: 5 Feb 2008 19:37
Apos are additional product offers. They are like magazine subscriptions and stuff like that, and if your phone only rings 3 times for 3 hours you do get min. wage. The number of calls you recieve depends on your ranking. There is a 1,2,3 1-gets most calls, (I'm a 2 and my phone rings pretty fair) 3 you hardly get any calls. I only do 30 min shifts at a time so I really could not give you a fair estimate on the percentage of the upsell calls. I think it just depends on the day.
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vk
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vkin9772
Forums Member
Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Posts: 12
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#25 · Posted: 5 Feb 2008 19:39
If you are in DR it should not take more than 15 min. You simply call a pal and tell them you are ready for the Webinar and they show you how to work the schedule. Then they ask if you have any questions and wala you are done. Not sure what they consist of for the other positions because unfortunately the dr is all that was immediately available when I applied.
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vk
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luksky
Forums Member
Joined: 4 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
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#26 · Posted: 5 Feb 2008 19:51
Hey, newbie here. Looking over the previous post the "Sears Repair" job intriqued me. I couldn't find a website for it......is it just part of another company?? What you recommend that involves no selling. Customer relations of some kind would be okay.
Thanks for any input.
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farmwife
Forums Member
Joined: 6 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
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#27 · Posted: 6 Feb 2008 12:43
Hi everybody,
Great forum here!! I'm just getting into the West at Home thing. I'm hired, but haven't filled out the paperwork yet. My question is: can I use a second phone line thru COMCAST and plug my headset into the modem? I don't want to get a "land line" phone line into the house thru AT&T or any other phone company like that because where we are, the phone lines go dead quite a bit. I've never had issues with my comcast high speed internet, digital TV or phone service.
thanks!!
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skosha
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#28 · Posted: 7 Feb 2008 18:57
farmwife, keep us updated on the hire process after you fill out your paperwork. It's been almost 3 weeks since they told me I was hired and I filled out my paperwork and no word yet or response to any email I send them.
As far as what you are asking with the phone line I'm not sure! Good luck getting a response thru the help section! I know I couldn't
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MsMoeNa
Forums Member
Joined: 8 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
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#29 · Posted: 8 Feb 2008 00:14
Hi I am a new hire for west but there is no skills available to test for so I can get started. Is this a frequent occurrance? Am I just supposed to sit by the computer and wait for a test to pop up? Help please
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ladyathome
Forums Member
Joined: 8 Feb 2008
Posts: 32
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#30 · Posted: 8 Feb 2008 13:56
The application process took a while for me. I submitted my app and forms on 1/9/2008, was processed and hired 2/1/2008...and am now waiting for my Welcome email. I never received a confirmation that the got my forms either, but I have faxed and emailed them multiple times so they should.
For most people it takes a while, some get lucky, just be patient. I emailed them too inquiring about my status but never got any reply..so I read this forum and just waited, sure enough weeks later I was hired.
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candlesms
Forums Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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#31 · Posted: 9 Feb 2008 10:14
Daphnels,
Sorry it took me so long to answer. PA is one of the states that WEST will not hire in. I have many friends there in PA and I am constantly checking for them. They will hire you at a call center, but not from home. LIVEOPS, however, will hire from home in PA. The difference of course being that LIVEOPS are IC versus WEST being an Employer.
Hope that helps.
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skosha
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#32 · Posted: 9 Feb 2008 12:22
ladyathome, thanks for sharing your experience. The thing that really bothers me is I was hired within a week of starting the application process. But it's been 3 weeks almost since I was hired and went out and spent a lot of money getting a home phone installed and a headset, etc. and no word!! It seems like they hire people before they actually have a position so that when one does open they have people ready. It's very unprofessional not to communication with your new employees AT ALL! I was counting on west as a full time job and now 3 weeks with no pay hurts!!
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candlesms
Forums Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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#33 · Posted: 9 Feb 2008 13:50
Quoting: tweb For everyone that is doing DR, it seems that during training if you do all the upsells you will be on the phone with one order for quite some time. Is this an accurate perception or do the calls happen a lot quicker?
Tweb,
No worries! Not every call has an APO attached to it. And keep in mind that the calls last longer with APO's however you must read them all. If someone threatens to cancel or two times says they do not want to hear any more offers, then just do the bypass statement. "Okay thak you, no problem. I'll just process your order for the original offer". Then you are not coached on this as long as you do that. If you have questions, I'll be happy to help. I actually just started another skill but it is within DR. Epiq. We are doing the government issued digital boxes. It is still DR just another division of it. Keep your head up!!
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MissRaine
Forums Member
Joined: 5 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
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#34 · Posted: 10 Feb 2008 03:32
I'm just frustrated because I got that initial e-mail stating that I was hired - then the e-mail came saying that I needed to fill out the forms. They gave me the authorization code and the link. This was almost a week ago. I have tried repeatedly since the day I got the e-mail to access those forms and it won't work. I keep getting this message stating that the page is "no longer available" for each form, not to mention the page that lists all the forms is completely messed up. Type written over type, etc... What a mess. I sent them an e-mail inquiring about the problem and I asked if there was another way to obtain these forms, but.... surprise! No response. Very disappointing.
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stacy6681
Forums Member
Joined: 2 Feb 2008
Posts: 4
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#35 · Posted: 10 Feb 2008 09:45
MissRaine - I had the same problem with the browser. I was using Firefox at first which didn't work, then I tried Internet Explorer & it worked fine. I believe they only recommend IE browser.
I have another question for anyone who already works there, how does one get hired NOT for DR. I know there are other job offerings & wanted to know how would someone get to those. I worked in Tech Support for almost 10 years in a call center, so could I have a better chance on something other than DR?
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ladyathome
Forums Member
Joined: 8 Feb 2008
Posts: 32
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#36 · Posted: 10 Feb 2008 11:00
The initial email doesn't state that you are hired, just that you completed the application process...the next email with the forms, when you go to the link has a whole page on how it is not an employment contract etc. At this point if you check your application status it should say that you have completed all the necessary forms (if you have) and that HR needs to process and update your status. You are not "officially" hired until they process your paperwork and you application status is "in Hired status". At which point they will send you an email saying so, but even this is dependent on your paperwork/forms being in. It is quite a process until you are officially in hired status. Just wanted to clear that up.
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tweb
Forums Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 26
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#37 · Posted: 10 Feb 2008 18:35
Candlesms, I actually started DR on Thursday. I did 2 30 minute shifts with 30 min in between. It really wasn't that bad for my first night. I picked up more hours for early Sat morning and late Sat night. The early morning shift 2:00-4:00 am, I had A LOT of ghost/prank calls. How do they handle that in terms of it counting for or against you? Do all new DR reps start at a ranking of 3? I see that this is what my ranking is now and I wonder if that is why I didn't get many calls this morning (1:30-3:30 am) I only got a total of 6 calls for 2 hours. I was also wondering do you get any extra pay for the upsells/APO's?
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candlesms
Forums Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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#38 · Posted: 11 Feb 2008 03:31
Hi Tweb.
Actually, most start as a 2 for 2 weeks to get you in the swing of things. However to bring that up to a 2. 3's do get the least amount of calls, but keep in mind that at night there are not as many calls. I would suggest working a mid morning shift where you get more productive calls. Meaning calls that will effect your goal rates. I work strange shifts and I am finally a 1 again. But I figure since we are pretty much stuck in the famine mode right now, I'd rather get paid for ghosts with logged time then with no time. But be careful, the freaks come out at night! I work like I said, strange shifts. I work Midnight to 3 am. then 10 am to noon. then 1 pm to 3 30 then 10-midnight. so I get a variety, I get my goal counting calls in the day and the logged time calls at night. Unfortunately they do not pay extra for APO's. But they do pay a commission on some products such as the TOBI. Hope that helps!
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tweb
Forums Member
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Posts: 26
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#39 · Posted: 11 Feb 2008 09:28 · Edited by: tweb
Hi Candlesms thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I would only be able to work the mid morning thing on Saturdays. And really I probably wouldn't work then because the kids would be up. I have already had experience with the freaks. It was when I was on Saturday am. After waisting about 3 minutes on the phone with him I asked him to hold and clicked on 'Call a pal' but he hung up. I was going to ask the pal how long I have to keep him on the phone. I also got a lot of the calls that came in and said 'Probe caller .......' and they were mostly ghost calls or wrong numbers. Also, what's going on with the hours? Is it always like this? There are no hours out there. By the way, I checked my rank and it was a 2 today.
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skosha
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#40 · Posted: 11 Feb 2008 12:01
OK SOOOO HERE'S THE HIRING DOWNLOW....AND YES I USE CAPS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SHOUTING!!
I contacted a REAL person with west.
I read to them exactly what their communications have told me:
We are excited to have you as a West At Home employee and look forward to your contributions. Please reference your email often with further instructions regarding your next step in the process (expect this communication within 3 business days).
Application Date: PositionTitle:
01/19/2008 MI WAH
Our records indicate that you have completed all necessary paperwork. The next action will be for HR to complete the hire process in our systems.
They told me I actually am NOT hired yet as all the positions are currently full. I am at a ready to hire state and will be contacted when positions do open up which could be a couple of months away. They were unaware of the misleading communications I was sent and promised to correct this communications so that in the future people do not have the same experience as I did.
Soooo....3 weeks no pay later, $10 notary fee, over $100 to charter to start internet and phone service, $50 to purchase a headset and phone....I'm a little ticked to find out I don't even have a job yet. Now what am I supposed to do!?
I recommend you don't waste your time unless you have a LOT to waste trying to get hired for this company.
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