What's the company culture at QualxServ?

Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at QualxServ?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at QualxServ?

BEWARE of this company. QualxServ claims this is a Part time job. WRONG! The Techs are Subcontractors so QualX can skate having to pay payroll taxes, insurance, workman's comp etc. You get paid per ticket, NOT by an hourly wage. Their adminstrative overhead is a nightmare. You will spent a alot of time on their internet portal to download the tickets infor, maps, Start/Stop times, setting up appointments, closing the tickets, ect and that is not figured in the per call rate. In Bakersfield, the territory is 150-miles wide. Yeah, you get mileage compensation, but not wear& tear on your vehicle.

Question?

Service hours is 8am-6pm monday thru friday and
that's part time???????

Sheesh

Let me clarify something for you, Robert.

The 8AM to 6PM is only a window. Most of your customers work 8 to 5 or 7 to 3:30. You can schedule appointments over that window if you wish.
You would need to find a second job that is very very flexable where you can leave and cover QualxServ work orders.
But, in Bakersfield you will be assigned 5-tickets per day, enough to make a decent living. The part time title is only a cover to avoid paying you benefits.

Just have 2-good working vehicles, full coverage on you
vehicles, medical, and unlimited cell phone minutes
because you will be calling customers and QualxServ personnel who are spread out all over the country. For example the dispatcher is in the state of Vermont; your supervisor is in Terra Haute, Indiana. The home office is in Tweksbury, Maine. This is a very telecommuting company you will be working for.

Good Luck

Oh please "Been there" you are out of touch with what would be termed, "decent living". You really think running a ticket within a 50 mile range for $16.00 is a good living? You are out of your mind. Add the gas and the mileage it's nothing. The company is a predatory sort with contractors who have no regard for their employees. Employees who have little if no benefits. Please. This company is a scam.

In fact "Been there" I do agree with your statements, Hooty I think you miss read their comment, an employee would have to have a huge allowance for their phone bill for all the calls that is needed. The employee would have to have 2 cars for when 1 car breaks down from all the mileage driven. Totally agree with "Been there" this firm is a rip job.

I was called by someone from the company and they offered me like 30-35 per ticket...? Where did the 16 come from?

Go for it?
Don't sit on it!
It may be for some gov't contract.

$30 tickets are 100 miles away....
and that's only one way!!!!!!!!!!!

The facts on Qualxserv!!!!
I’m presently employed and in the last three days I have driven over 400 miles!!!!! They pay me a standard $32 a call.

So, let’s do the math…

Work:
$32 X 9calls = $288
Gas:
400 - 100 = 300 X .39 = $117
Gas mileage is only reimbursed after 35 miles.

Expenses:
400/ 20mpg = 20gals X 2.50agal = $50

So $288 + $117 = $405 – $50 = $355
I made $355 in three eight hour days (24hrs)… $355 / 24hr = $14.80a/hr

Now here’s the catch!
Gross pay= $14.80a/hr – 20% (Fed,State,Soc Sec) = $11.18a/hr
$11.18a/hr – Vehicle wear (Brakes,Tires,Engine,Trans,Oil,etc…)
400miles / 9calls = 45miles per call
Let’s conservatively assume we spend $5 every 100 miles we drive. (Varies on vehicle)
400 X .5 = $20Wear
This will come straight off the bottom line!
$11.18 X 24hr = $268.32 - $20 (Conservatively) = $248.32 / 24hrs = $10.35a/hr

Summary:
I drove 45 miles per call and made $10.35a/hr or $26.91 a call. I put 400 miles on my vehicle in which I was not reimbursed. I have no insurance and I have no benefits. I also work in a large city so my mileage isn’t as great as other techs with larger districts. This doesn’t incorporate the hour each day spent on paper work, picking up/dropping parts, and materials used to print maps/ service sheets. Also, I spent 105 minutes on my cell phone……………:o)

? "¢Ã‚Â"

ok well I talked to Qualxserv and I'm going to give them a try. But I have a question for you "Qualxserv employee" They told me I will have 4 days to get the Dell certifications...and the e-mail said it takes like 30 hours to complete....How long does it actually take to get the certifications roughly? Can you easily blow threw it?

Gus said: ok well I talked to Qualxserv and I'm going to give them a try. But I have a question for you "Qualxserv employee" They told me I will have 4 days to get the Dell certifications...and the e-mail said it takes like 30 hours to complete....How long does it actually take to get the certifications roughly? Can you easily blow threw it?

Been at the company for some time. I have a sweet territory. Do 25 to 30 calls a week. Dell certification changed a little in the past month. Certifications is easy takes about 4 hours taking your time. Cell phone you pay for out of your pocket but after 9 months and min 15 calls per week you can ask for company cell phone. The good part about the job I really don't have a boss. Talk with him 6 times a year. At the start I had hardly any work 12 to 15 calls per week with a small territory but people quite and now my territory is about 15 miles wide. So it has worked out for me. But if you did 10 calls per week look for a new job its not going to work out.

If Qualxserv and friends are calling you an employee, taking out taxes then they are in violation of several labor codes and you should immediately file charges on them. If they consider you an independant contractor they should not have taken out taxes out of the miserable tiny amount of pay they gave you. To the jerky boy working in the California area. Take off the blinders think bout why your terriority is widening? HIGH TURNOVER due to these freaks soliciting people who need jobs and taking advantage of that need. Running your butt all over to make a few bucks is not only stupid but unproductive. "Easy" Dell certifications? Are you crazy? If you don't have the certification within 2 days you ain't going out in the field. Driving all over the state to make a pitiful amount for it and to have to make all these insane phone calls back East is an unusual hardship to work for a bunch of corporate buck passers. This group should be shut down for FRAUD.

I wouldn’t work there again for a $100 a call!

Sorry Gus, I very rarely check these threads…….GL

thanks guy just got let go from a company now looking for a Service manager with no brain. But thanks to your comments I won't look at Qalax or what ever

STFU all you people bitching about QualxServ dont like to get work or it could be that it takes you 3 hours to fix a computer. The job is easy, you have to replace computer parts. There is no troubleshooting involved most of the time its done by Dell Tech Support. If you dont like it leave.

Was the conversation ever about the difficulty of the job? Obviously, the job is cake! It’s the lack of benefits, horrible travel, and low pay that was in question ASG.

Qualxserv sounds BAD...Another so called
comany that screws its employees so the
supervisors, managers, directors, vice
presidents and owners can pocket the cash. Greed is this country is going to
be the downfall of this society.

These authoritarians have a disgusting "my way or the highway" attitude. Cheap, cheap, cheap labor is all they care about. They have no ethics, no morality, no concern for the personal time of the employee. Their objective is to get all regular employees to leave the company, but not all at once. The "enforcer" always gets his way, and everyone is afraid of him. The attitude of management is like a dog returning to its own vomit. Stay clear of these animals.

To the fool who told all of us with our grievances to..."STFU" you still working for this great company or did you get your ass handed back to you yet?

Has anyone been hired by their contractor located in Colorado? He's a total FLAKE and a FRAUD. I complained got fired for it!

bottom line the company is cheap and anyone there is an idiot for being there. Average cost per hr to work on a pc is like 50hr!

You got that right about the company being a bunch of lames. LIARS too. Anyone seen any of their sub-contractor's ads on Craig's List? One has to wonder how Global Tech, Inc. is still in business with all the lies the 'CEO' perpetrates! Qualx are dumb as rocks to keep the liar. Cheap!!! All of 'em wonder what Dell is making out of all of this?

Great comments all. Qualx pays $32 per call now, regardless of the time it takes; if a call takes longer than an hour, that is figured in to limit your time to 30 hours per week. Presently, the policy is that they get 35 miles before and compensation for mileage kicks in at all, and that means 35 miles between calls, so you can end up driving 70 miles for $64!! And this does not include your parts pickup and drop-off mileage. Before you even qualify to make a call, you must complete several certifications, 2 dell and 2 customer service and plasma screen tests. Not only that, they require A+ certification within 90 days of employment (again on your bill), and a bunch of other (IBM) certifications within a month, which they provide. That being said, there is no way to go through all the Dell material on the CD and thoroughly ingest it. The main focus of the certification seems to be on how to remove and open the case(s), which you'd have to print out the material and reference it to pass the tests. My advice would be to use them as a stepping stone. If you have the time to study and get certified, eat that benefit up because compensation is measly. Additionally, (and I write this with tongue in cheek), use the contacts they provide for follow-up business (a customer who likes you will gladly throw business your way). Qualx will certainly use you, so you should use them. This is my take on the whole business. Good luck!!

Host said: Every business has it's own style. What is the office environment and culture like at QualxServ?

Are people dressed in business casual, jeans and t-shirts, or full-on suits? Do folks get together for Friday happy hours and friendly get-togethers?

What is a typical day in the life of an employee at QualxServ?

I say BEWARE of them too. I am an EX-employee of them. they don't care about the TECHS, like myself. They lied to me about becoming full time. I was with them for 2 years and got terminated TODAY for questionable reasons. If anyone is considering going to work for them. Don't!! They are not all they are not cracked up to be. They rip us off with the salary we get. They get $123 a call from dell alone. With us getting only $32, before taxes, that is a rip-off!!

QualXscammed in Raleigh, North Carolina said: Great comments all. Qualx pays $32 per call now, regardless of the time it takes; if a call takes longer than an hour, that is figured in to limit your time to 30 hours per week. Presently, the policy is that they get 35 miles before and compensation for mileage kicks in at all, and that means 35 miles between calls, so you can end up driving 70 miles for $64!! And this does not include your parts pickup and drop-off mileage. Before you even qualify to make a call, you must complete several certifications, 2 dell and 2 customer service and plasma screen tests. Not only that, they require A+ certification within 90 days of employment (again on your bill), and a bunch of other (IBM) certifications within a month, which they provide. That being said, there is no way to go through all the Dell material on the CD and thoroughly ingest it. The main focus of the certification seems to be on how to remove and open the case(s), which you'd have to print out the material and reference it to pass the tests. My advice would be to use them as a stepping stone. If you have the time to study and get certified, eat that benefit up because compensation is measly. Additionally, (and I write this with tongue in cheek), use the contacts they provide for follow-up business (a customer who likes you will gladly throw business your way). Qualx will certainly use you, so you should use them. This is my take on the whole business. Good luck!!

I say BEWARE of them too. I am an EX-employee of them. they don't care about the TECHS, like myself. They lied to me about becoming full time. I was with them for 2 years and got terminated TODAY for questionable reasons. If anyone is considering going to work for them. Don't!! They are not all they are not cracked up to be. They rip us off with the salary we get. They get $123 a call from dell alone. With us getting only $32, before taxes, that is a rip-off!! They used me more!!

Qualxserv employee in Winston Salem, North Carolina said: The facts on Qualxserv!!!!
I’m presently employed and in the last three days I have driven over 400 miles!!!!! They pay me a standard $32 a call.

So, let’s do the math…

Work:
$32 X 9calls = $288
Gas:
400 - 100 = 300 X .39 = $117
Gas mileage is only reimbursed after 35 miles.

Expenses:
400/ 20mpg = 20gals X 2.50agal = $50

So $288 + $117 = $405 – $50 = $355
I made $355 in three eight hour days (24hrs)… $355 / 24hr = $14.80a/hr

Now here’s the catch!
Gross pay= $14.80a/hr – 20% (Fed,State,Soc Sec) = $11.18a/hr
$11.18a/hr – Vehicle wear (Brakes,Tires,Engine,Trans,Oil,etc…)
400miles / 9calls = 45miles per call
Let’s conservatively assume we spend $5 every 100 miles we drive. (Varies on vehicle)
400 X .5 = $20Wear
This will come straight off the bottom line!
$11.18 X 24hr = $268.32 - $20 (Conservatively) = $248.32 / 24hrs = $10.35a/hr

Summary:
I drove 45 miles per call and made $10.35a/hr or $26.91 a call. I put 400 miles on my vehicle in which I was not reimbursed. I have no insurance and I have no benefits. I also work in a large city so my mileage isn’t as great as other techs with larger districts. This doesn’t incorporate the hour each day spent on paper work, picking up/dropping parts, and materials used to print maps/ service sheets. Also, I spent 105 minutes on my cell phone……………:o)

Do you still work for them?

Hooty and the Blow Fish said: Oh please "Been there" you are out of touch with what would be termed, "decent living". You really think running a ticket within a 50 mile range for $16.00 is a good living? You are out of your mind. Add the gas and the mileage it's nothing. The company is a predatory sort with contractors who have no regard for their employees. Employees who have little if no benefits. Please. This company is a scam.

I should know. i worked for them for 2 years and struggled.

Amen.

Dennis Mowrey in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: I say BEWARE of them too. I am an EX-employee of them. they don't care about the TECHS, like myself. They lied to me about becoming full time. I was with them for 2 years and got terminated TODAY for questionable reasons. If anyone is considering going to work for them. Don't!! They are not all they are not cracked up to be. They rip us off with the salary we get. They get $123 a call from dell alone. With us getting only $32, before taxes, that is a rip-off!!

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT FROM X IBMER

Just a quick update. I am collecting unemployment from them right now. I don't think they even care about that. When I threatened to file unemployent last year, they threatened to fire me then too! I am making a living now off them! Side note: Just got hired by another company this week! Phone screened one day and got the job the very next one!

A person who has been burned in Richmond, California said: You got that right about the company being a bunch of lames. LIARS too. Anyone seen any of their sub-contractor's ads on Craig's List? One has to wonder how Global Tech, Inc. is still in business with all the lies the 'CEO' perpetrates! Qualx are dumb as rocks to keep the liar. Cheap!!! All of 'em wonder what Dell is making out of all of this?

Yes!!

Dennis in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania said: Yes!!

Dennis,

I'm in the predicament of finding work or going destitute. I've read this forum and feel that I will have to move forward with entering into an agreement with this "company". Given this, is there any provision to cover my rear with these guys, or should I just know ahead of time that this will be extremely temporary (either I will end up with the same conclusion as you or they eventually let me go)? Gotta get work right? I do not plan to be a lifelong QxS employee, so I feel that I should indeed use them. If there's any CYA information, I'd appreciate the input.

From,
Yep

Well, if you are in need of the work and that is all you can find, then you might as well go for it. AS for covering your rear, just do your job properly and keep your "bad numbers" down enough so you never hear a word from them. I will give you one piece of advice. They say you cannot claim you mileage. That may be true, but for the last couple months before I was canned, I did do it and I did get reimbursed, TAX FREE. You would do what is called a Mileage Expense Report. Everything you need will be there, just follow the instructions. I am not concerned with them anymore cause I was getting unemployment from them. Now I am a temp for a big company where I am (Heinz). I am loving it so far!

Dennis,

Thanks for the advice. I am not concerned with my performance ability... but as to the job's dispatch nature and fluctuating footprint, well, that's a different story. I made the mistake of relying solely on my degrees. I am slowly certifying and carrying momentum; I believe it will make a big difference in the amount of bites I get from the job hunt.

I think I've heard of Heinz... great company. Good luck, hope it's temp to hire or leads that way. NE PA is industry deprived, ergo... lack of support related employment.

Thanks again,

Yep

Yes, yes, YES! Get your mileage reimbursed. I'm realizing now that it is a make or break proposition as to whether this kind of job will be worth the effort or not. If you're destitute and have no choice...well...but that's what's enabling these companies to prey on part time and independent contractor help. I started working with Endeavor installing Vonage. The rate was $50 per install, but you had to give them 50 miles before you could ask for reimbursement, and had to get any additional travel approved in advance (the hassle factor)! Moreover, they require you buy liability insurance (2 mil worth, which I did not because they didn't make you prove you have coverage), and provide a splitter on your bill. Adding it all up, it was really no better than Qual-X. Henceforth, before I even begin to consider these kinds of "jobs," I will require reimbursement for ALL miles driven, AND a fee of no less than $40 per call. Otherwise, I feel I'm just spinning my wheels and giving away my talent for nothing.

I'll give that a try. I haven't accepted any terms yet, so... The recruiter did mention the mileage terms and it's a fair rate for installation work. But beyond that, I do not feel it would be worth it unless I wasn't looking at three weeks left on UC. I'll see how far they bend or what benefit, if any, there is for employees. If there's no benefit, ... I'm accepting the next thing that comes by as soon as it does. In the meantime, like I said before, it will pay the bills. Their practices won't affect my performance.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS UNSCRUPLOUS GROUP. FIND A JOB ANYTHING SOMETHING TO KEEP YOU GOING! You are wasting your time trying to make some money with these dorks.

Believe it or not, there are areas of the US that are so industry deprived that you mention the word DSLAM and you'd here "Hell Yeah! I love wrestling". They've lowered the CIR for DSL so that they can offer it over the standard 3 miles from the Remote CO. When you lose your job as a Network Engineer 2 that earns in this area approximately 35K, and you've got expenses surrounding that amount, you cannot just accept any job that comes around. You're looking at a $200 a week 40+ hour job where you earn in a month what you previously earned in 1.5 weeks. The college kids in the area always say, "when I'm done, I'm out...". It's so bad that PA has introduced a technology scholarship requiring the graduates to work in the state for each year the scholarship is accepted. Now before anyone says "then move", think about the strings attached to a dual career relationship, and then you should just quietly accept that there are no easy decisions in order to find work in this area. I've lived in California and know that the decision is much easier to make considering that even the Mojave has broadband. They may be unscrupulous as I've heard, we will see.

south ca in Oceanside, California said: Been at the company for some time. I have a sweet territory. Do 25 to 30 calls a week. Dell certification changed a little in the past month. Certifications is easy takes about 4 hours taking your time. Cell phone you pay for out of your pocket but after 9 months and min 15 calls per week you can ask for company cell phone. The good part about the job I really don't have a boss. Talk with him 6 times a year. At the start I had hardly any work 12 to 15 calls per week with a small territory but people quite and now my territory is about 15 miles wide. So it has worked out for me. But if you did 10 calls per week look for a new job its not going to work out.

Six times a year you talked to your boss? Is there anyone else in the company that you can talk to if you need?

mr_right in Illinois said: Six times a year you talked to your boss? Is there anyone else in the company that you can talk to if you need?

Depending on what your job is, there are customer support lines on both sides of a call (Dell, IBM, Sony Help Desk - QualxServ QSP Support Line). So, theoretically, you could go without talking to your boss. I hear the ROS (Regional Supervisor) has a high turnover rate). The week before, I was told who my ROS would be. At the end of the week, the name changed. The morning I started, it was a different ROS. So I rely on what is solid... the tech support.

mr_right in Illinois said: Six times a year you talked to your boss? Is there anyone else in the company that you can talk to if you need?

Depending on what your job is, there are customer support lines on both sides of a call (Dell, IBM, Sony Help Desk - QualxServ QSP Support Line). So, theoretically, you could go without talking to your boss. I hear the ROS (Regional Supervisor) has a high turnover rate). The week before, I was told who my ROS would be. At the end of the week, the name changed. The morning I started, it was a different ROS. So I rely on what is solid... the tech support.

Qualxserv: I have been working for Qualxserv for a number of years and they have variable rates for the part time employees they hire. Certifications are required to be certified on the products you will work on. That is a requirement of the OEM not Qualxserv, so Qualxserv must demand you are certified on the there OEM customers products. If you are expecting high pay for swapping a part you must be kidding. The way the industry is, we should be lucky they are not all "Customer replaceable parts." I have never had an issue with qualxserv and they are fair. Most of the people on here are ex-disgruntiled employees that don't know how to effectively manage there calls.

If you are expecting high pay for swapping a part you must be kidding.

--Wow, they are expecting you to get your A+ and other certifications for "swapping a part" as you say. You provide the transportation for picking up an dropping off the part. And you say you should be grateful to them for giving you the opportunity. Now mind you most of your miles and time driven to and from the site(s) to swap this said part is on YOUR bill, no van provided or any other compensation given below a certain milage. So, unless you can line up several calls close together, you're giving them your time, gas, and wear and tear on your vehicle. Sorry, John, but for $32 per call it just 'taint enough, unless you're ok with fuzzy math. You're better off working somewhere for 8 - 12 hours straight for 11 bucks and hour. If it's close to home at least you won't be wearing out your vehicle. With Qualx, it's doubly bad because you don't even get many of the deductions that you would being an independent contractor. It is not a matter of being "disgruntled," but just common sense. Sounds like most of the calls in your territory are close together; otherwise, you're more than likely just a shill for the Corp.

south ca in Oceanside, California said: Been at the company for some time. I have a sweet territory. Do 25 to 30 calls a week. Dell certification changed a little in the past month. Certifications is easy takes about 4 hours taking your time. Cell phone you pay for out of your pocket but after 9 months and min 15 calls per week you can ask for company cell phone. The good part about the job I really don't have a boss. Talk with him 6 times a year. At the start I had hardly any work 12 to 15 calls per week with a small territory but people quite and now my territory is about 15 miles wide. So it has worked out for me. But if you did 10 calls per week look for a new job its not going to work out.

Just dont get combfortable... Depending where you live and how much your call volume is, they may figure that that is tooo much for one person to do alone and HIRE 3-5 techs to assist you and your call volume has dropped. If you have been with the company you know that things are seasonal.

Towards the end of the year you know that it gets slow because I need to save and get my son the latest computer for christmas who is on his way to college. (Love that warranty Feb. March, April, June July and Aug.; Thats why you are here) just have to learn how to SAVE!!!!!!!!!!!

The new tech's that were hired say THIS IS NOT WHAT I WAS PROMISED! YOU will increase or decrease in your area.. Spun out or stuck around Does help pay some of the bills when you can work on this DELL SH*# in your sleep. If they gave up Milage ,Car Allowance, Phones that work!! and kept their word of 25+ no more than 30hrs!!!!!!!!!!!! I would be very loyal to them. and maybe sell christmas trees in that slow season.

"Most of the people on here are ex-disgruntiled employees that don't know how to effectively manage there calls."

I beg to differ. You know what I did for 2 years with them? I went ABOVE AND BEYOND what was required from me for my customers! I managed whatever calls I had! I had an A** for a supervisor who didn't treat me right. Let me give you 3 situations and see how you answer these.

1. You are out on the road and a coal truck drives over the hood of your car while you were waiting in a construction zone. You are lucky to be alive because you blew your horn to tell the truck driver to stop. You were EXTREMELY late for your next appointment and the customer wonders why you still came after what happened. You have Qualx calling you left and right about customers, which includes siad supervisor. Customer advises them of my misfortunes and applauds me for being able to come to them still.

2. You arrive on site and you are welcome with a customer who called you a "FA****" along with making threats at you for no reason. You leave and call Dell about the situation. They advise you that you did the right thing.

3. You have an angry woman making threats to you about not keeping a time for her when YOU NEVER AGREED TO IT! You fear for your safety because of her husband also being irrate. Days earlier you stayed for the customer after Dell told you to leave. You stayed there an extra hour to ensure that the customer understood everything that is going on. The day you went back, you get the same grateful person scream as said before!

How would you handle these if you were a supervisor? Answer those and we will see how "DISGRUNTLED" you are.

Like I have said in my other posts, I am happy I am gone after being ripped off like I was!

I feel your frustration Dennis. I am assuming that your ROS was either Tom, or Paul? Since I have been with QualxServ I have had 8 different ROS'. That's only a three (3) year period. They can't keep them. The only person that is left there is Tom, because he went to IBM. I went from having a nice area to about 1/10th of what I had. Now we have 4 techs sharing a 25 mile radius and it just isn't working. There were originally two of us, then they hired on a third. The other tech was fired, and they hired another tech to replace him. It wasn't needed as there were about 30 calls between us per week. So about 15 each... In the past couple months a guy from VA moved up to this area and they split the already small area with him, giving him the majority of the calls. He's getting between 20-30 calls per week, while the rest of us are getting about 5-10 at most. I actually get excited when I get 10+ which is pretty sad. It's next to impossible to get ahold of my current ROS. You can call them and they won't call you back, if you email them you have a 50/50 shot at getting a reply back. Last year when I threatened to quit, I was told "Go ahead, we'll find someone else in an hour who will do your job." They really don't care about any techs, or our problems, unless it's who they play favorites with. This goes for ROS/DTS both. I have a little over 45 documented times where there has been a problem with calls 'disapearing' from my box and assigned to another techs after I've accepted it... or where my area has been cut back to 'give the new guys some territory'. I had the best CE for years until they started screwing me over.. Now they get what they pay for. I think that's fair. :)

From what I read here, things must really be bad in PA. Have you ever considered relocating or going back to school to get into a different field? The Qualxserv "job" was never designed to be a long term thing. This is obvious because they'd rather hire more part time techs than give you full time status. Use them as a stepping stone if you must, but don't look to them for steady employment.

No. My ROS was Steven Gilleo. I had him for about 1 year. My other 2 got promoted. I had calls disappear also and when I complained about it, nothing was done. I think the DTS I last worked with didn't know the area that well. she gave some of the calls that wre obviously in my area to other techs, Some of them were people I serviced were regulars for me due to their company size.
As for going back to school, why? I have my Bachelor's degree. I could not get what I wanted around here. I have no ties to anyone. I interviewed way too much only to hear, "you look good on paper, but you're not quite what we are looking for...."
As I said in previous postings, I am currently a temp for a large corporation here and am hoping to become permanent. I am doing something way below what my degree is, but I cannot complain about the pay. I got my foot in the door and I am just gonna run with this.

chessgames56 - It is terribly mismanaged in PA. There's pockets of urban sprawl where there's almost too much work. But, they are separated by vast rural areas where there might be a few customers in a 90 mile stretch. I work in one of these areas and I live just south of in a territory that's not mine that has plenty of work. The rural area I cover is 50 by 60 miles (an eyeball estimation). I had four calls last week. We geeks, industry wide, are not doing too