Superior Lamp Interview Questions.

It's always hard to know what to expect when going in for that interview -- and preparation can make all the difference. What is the interview process like at Superior Lamp?

Any advice on striking the right note?

Do not interview with Superior Lamp. They tell you that you have been selected for a sales position but first you must send them $400 for a "sample kit". Then you are subjected to the most disgusting "training" program you've ever seen. Stay clear of these guys.

Do not interview with Superior Lamp. They tell you that you have been selected for a sales position but first you must send them $400 for a "sample kit". Then you are subjected to the most disgusting "training" program you've ever seen. Stay clear of these guys.

Just curious why Kurt from Wilmington NC. Was not happy with Superior Lamp. Says two months ago but what year was tghis put on here. Thank you,

Kurt in Wilmington, North Carolina said: Do not interview with Superior Lamp. They tell you that you have been selected for a sales position but first you must send them $400 for a "sample kit". Then you are subjected to the most disgusting "training" program you've ever seen. Stay clear of these guys.

Did you go through the training with them. Curious why you are saying the training was so bad. Also wondering hold old you are if you are in your 20's 30's or what. You can answer me at Paths3@aol.com. Thank you & wish you the best.

You pay money to make money for them.....I think that explains it all

Some important questions. Do they provide leads? Do they advice you if another rep from their company moves in your territory? What is the cost of the some of the lights you will be selling? Will I have to sign a non-compete or non-solicitation clause?
I know some times people get desperate and are easily sold on a company and their practices, specially when you can't dig up anything on BBB report, but PLEASE NEVER give another company to work for them, sell their product, etc. etc. Only if you are truly going into business for yourself do you cough up some expenses.
I have had a pleasure of working with some real people companies and they pay you while you train, then after you are stable do they put you on all commission. These people expect you to give them 400, they don't provide you any leads, they train you over the phone?!? And they send some robot to work with you for a day? And they do not offer a minimum hourly pay while you train and become acquainted with their product.
Stay away from any one with practices like this.

If you want a job where they give you everything. You probably should look for a job with a W-2. Being a independent Sales Rep. is just like being self-employed except all you do is the sales part of owning your own buisness.You don't make as much money but you don't have all the headaches.Remember if you own your own buisness you will need to develop your own leads and do your own sales,deliver your product,collect your money,warranty your product,inventory your product the list goe's on and on. After owning my own buisness for many years I look forward to building a buiness by just selling and making a good percentage for that. This position is not for everyone

Mr Fitz in Monterey, Tennessee said: If you want a job where they give you everything. You probably should look for a job with a W-2. Being a independent Sales Rep. is just like being self-employed except all you do is the sales part of owning your own buisness.You don't make as much money but you don't have all the headaches.Remember if you own your own buisness you will need to develop your own leads and do your own sales,deliver your product,collect your money,warranty your product,inventory your product the list goe's on and on. After owning my own buisness for many years I look forward to building a buiness by just selling and making a good percentage for that. This position is not for everyone

I would like to hear possitive feedback from salesmen who work for Superior Lamp.Do You?how long?Are you happy w/the Co?Do you make what they say i should?$54,000 1st year $75,000 2nd and 6 figures 3rd and better?

ddc777 in Bladenboro, North Carolina said: I would like to hear possitive feedback from salesmen who work for Superior Lamp.Do You?how long?Are you happy w/the Co?Do you make what they say i should?$54,000 1st year $75,000 2nd and 6 figures 3rd and better?

I don't work for them yet. But I am going to except a position with them very soon. I will let you know how it goes in a month or two.

Thanks,keep in touch

Mr. Fitz. What I am simply saying is that before you give them your money there are some pretty important questions to ask, that way you can get a better idea as to what you are getting into.
What is the cost of the product?
You say there are protected accounts. Does that mean no protected territories?
Will I be notified if another person in my area pays the money to work for Superior Lamp?
Does Superior Lamp have another sister company that may be throwing in reps in my same area?
If I am going into business for myself, can I offer my customers any kind of lighting needs?
Do I have to sign a non-solication clause? Can I see this clause before I give you my money and a price list of the lights I will be selling?
If they answer questions to your liking and you still want to work for them, well welcome aboard (Please take note of the closest life jacket).
No this position is not for everybody, only for the people that can't see past their crap after a few weeks.
I hope you will be able to see it.

I have been interviewing for a new sales position in my area for the past month. I have been in sales for the past 15 years of my life and the last 4 I did corporate sales for a fortune 500 company. I made the mistake of not researching Superior before applying, after getting a call from them I google searched them and found an endless supply of negative information from sales people, this link being the most effectively written www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/269/RipOff0269803.htm .

I can tell you that the other 5 companies in which I am currently interview offer a base salary + commission, one of the companies which is the most similar selling industrial maintenence equipment, offers in my area a 60-65k/year base + commission. I'm not sure why anyone with experience in sales would take a job at 100% commission and send the employer $400 to get started. If they did their job interviewing and picked employees that they wanted to retain they should at least cover the $400. Having never worked for this company I can only go off of what I read and being in sales for as long as I have I can tell you that most of this stuff I am reading I have seen before in small increments at previous jobs I held, but this company seems to have mass doses of it all in one place and seems more like selling cars. If you need to get into sales and you want to prove yourself, maybe this is an option and something you could put on your resume, but I started selling cars in 1991 and made over $4500 my first month and had a very succesful first year. At 21 with no college degree it was my first step into the sales world, thats all this job seems to be, but it's not a career. Best of luck to you that choose this, but if you have solid experience look for a company that pays you some sort of base. Your time is valuable and worth something.

One more link:
www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/203/RipOff0203688.htm

ddc777 in Bladenboro, North Carolina said: I would like to hear possitive feedback from salesmen who work for Superior Lamp.Do You?how long?Are you happy w/the Co?Do you make what they say i should?$54,000 1st year $75,000 2nd and 6 figures 3rd and better?

Hello I thought I would let you know I just started today with Superior going out getting my contacts. I am going to put my best foot forward & think positive. I am so far a little disapointed. I called my trainer today at 5:15 EST which was only 3:15 my time in MST. He said he has a some type of conference call at 5:30 everyday. I wanted to ask him a few questions & said when is the latest I could call. He said well I am basically done for the day. Is aid well iw ill all you early in the AM. He said you can call me later in then AM or PM afternoon. I had been informed we have someone we can call at anytime while we are out & if we have questions. But I found out that is only in when you are assigned to an acct mgr when youa rte on your own.
I mainly took this job because I like having my freedom & can sell when I go visit my kids were they live also. Not being under anyones control but my own.
My e-mail is Paths3@aol. If you would like to keep in touch that would be great. Wish you the best & good luck.

Thank you,
Joyce7

Hello Joyce,

Did you order this weather today?

My name is Geo and I'm from over at Superior. I came in to get the name of the person in charge of ordering and buying your lighting supplies. Who would that be Be?

Tell me when this sounds familiar.

That would be Bob Smith. Let me get him for you.
Hi Bob, I'm surprised to find you here, I thought you would be playing golf or something. (puke)
Man.............sad.. they couldn't even get seperate training videos for their companies.
Tell me if this sounds familiar.
"We are the only ones doing what we are doing" Right.

Listen everybody,this is a cold call company,and HOKEY would be a good way to put it.$400.00 to cold call and if you are good at it go for it ..Not my game.

Superior Lamp'S business agenda is a very well thought out means of throwing plain old every day people at thier market and seeing what happens. They will have you call them 3 times a day, to report in and then tell you that if you said your script correctly that sales will come to you automaticly! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! PLEASE!

I told my trainer that this company reminded me of door-door, Kirby vaccum cleaner sales. They recruit plain ole every day folks hop them up with pie in the sky Hochim, tell them to go do a presentation on every one they know. Well of course some body or two feels sorry for them and buys one of those over priced tanks. Then after that they are on the street, knocking on doors, having them slammed in their face, dogs siced on them and pistols pulled! Then they quit and they regional sales manager just goes and does it again and again.

Yes Superior Lamp uses dumb people ( Like Me ) to feed their business. They just keep changing with the time to make it sound attractive. STAY AWAY FROM THEM! They will just eat you up, throw you away and say "next".

I see all this belly aching about Superior Lamp being a ripoff and asking why do you have to pay $400 for a job. If any of these complainers had ever run a company before they would understand flying a trainer out for two days, covering all expenses and paying double commission to the trainee for the next three days may get a little expensive. When you ask for a commitment up front you weed out the Lookie Lou's who will "try it" for a day and quit. Now the company is out a lot more than $400. Concerning the 'hokey' presentation, every successful sales organization has a sales pitch, it would be cruel and stupid to send someone out and say 'wing it'. The ones who put in 40 hour work weeks and know the presentation are successful, I am living proof. I started in nowhere Nebraska and worked from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyday, got my ten orders a week and built great repeat business. The company promoted me to field trainer and moved me to California to open that area. So you whiners out there have only yourselves to blame if you fail, the company grows when you succeed not when they get your piddling $400, that is spent before you even see a trainer. Anybody who has been in business knows how true this is. Bring on the winners who want to build a career, all others please apply at Burger King, they will give you a salary.

bulber in marlton, New Jersey said: I see all this belly aching about Superior Lamp being a ripoff and asking why do you have to pay $400 for a job. If any of these complainers had ever run a company before they would understand flying a trainer out for two days, covering all expenses and paying double commission to the trainee for the next three days may get a little expensive. When you ask for a commitment up front you weed out the Lookie Lou's who will "try it" for a day and quit. Now the company is out a lot more than $400. Concerning the 'hokey' presentation, every successful sales organization has a sales pitch, it would be cruel and stupid to send someone out and say 'wing it'. The ones who put in 40 hour work weeks and know the presentation are successful, I am living proof. I started in nowhere Nebraska and worked from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyday, got my ten orders a week and built great repeat business. The company promoted me to field trainer and moved me to California to open that area. So you whiners out there have only yourselves to blame if you fail, the company grows when you succeed not when they get your piddling $400, that is spent before you even see a trainer. Anybody who has been in business knows how true this is. Bring on the winners who want to build a career, all others please apply at Burger King, they will give you a salary.

www.bbb.org/online/consumer/cks.aspx?ID=103110713473737093

Bulber in Marlton is a pretty good example of the mind set that permeates coporate ethics at Superior Lamp Co. Of course there are those that have succeeded and they deserve the praise that they enjoy and it was not easy for them, though in retrospect they see working the script as the golden key. Superior Lamp is full of Sales Champions that went out and beat their heads against the door, cried, fretted and through non stop sales tactics prospered. OKAY, so what's your point?

Oh yeah, the point was how they take people and tell them they will make a ton of money by just following the script. The point is they put blinders on plain ole everyday job seekers and march them into the battle with false hope. the point is, at the end of the day they may have sold some Fresh White Extra Brights but still have daily expense to deal with. One step forward and two steps back....

I asked my trainer how many people he had trained in his career? He looked away and said, I don't know. I urged him on, he would never say.
By the way, my belly stopped aching when I left Superior Lamp. I bet right now there are plenty of poor wanna-be sales people that have aching bellys churning through Superior Lamp's daily diligence. " Before, I forget I have a nice thank you I leave with all my new orders today."
I remember you guys NOW! Damned high price lights, the last guy here got himself in trouble with all those, "Thank You's" We got a whole store room full of those lights. YOU just keep shipping them. Get out! And the trainer says, Golly, gosh that never happened before........PLEASE!!!
Like I said, of course some thick skinned veteren warriors will fend off the slings and arrows, peek around the blinders and some how manage to succeed. What is that percentage??

By the way, I am an Internet/e-commerce sales manager for a Toyota Dealership. I have over 20 years experience in direct sales and financial management with Toyota and Honda. When I applied, They still checked in and spoke with my business and personel referrals. The interview process took a month. Upon hire I began receiving a salary, cell phone, auto allowance, ongoing sales training,product knowledge training, bonus and commissons. I have been trained in various software programs, customer relations manager program, etc. my leads are provided and guess what? No one has ever asked me for a dime!

I have been set up for success! This is the way that works. I work hard and I deal with a fair amount of rejection and disappointments but I am not belly aching. I make a good living and am proud to say whom I sell for. Heck they even pay for my business cards. If any one thinks that Superior Lamps sales program is normal, well look around. Find a place to work that will make and investment in the right person for the job from day one. That is a win-win situation.

Thanks for your comments. I am sorry the position didn't work out for you, I hope you have found something in which you can be successful. Not everyone is cut out to be an engineer, bricklayer, carpenter, or salesperson. Just because it wasn't a good fit for you why disparage others who have succeeded? The beauty of America is you can try different things and fail until you find your niche. Once again, I wish you the best of luck in your present endevours.

I agree! I have! I am! Thank You and enjoy your Holiday Week-end!

Who is the biggest competition to Superior Lamp? I tried to work with them but it didn't work for me. However, they will not sell me lights even though I am willing to meet their minimum. They only sell to businesses. Oh goofy, I am a home business. I like their bright lights and want them for an aviary. Does anyone know who their biggest competitor is in quality so I can purchase from their competition?

Competitive Lights in Griffin, Georgia said: Who is the biggest competition to Superior Lamp? I tried to work with them but it didn't work for me. However, they will not sell me lights even though I am willing to meet their minimum. They only sell to businesses. Oh goofy, I am a home business. I like their bright lights and want them for an aviary. Does anyone know who their biggest competitor is in quality so I can purchase from their competition?

Yes, H&H and ME

Competitive Lights in Griffin, Georgia said: Who is the biggest competition to Superior Lamp? I tried to work with them but it didn't work for me. However, they will not sell me lights even though I am willing to meet their minimum. They only sell to businesses. Oh goofy, I am a home business. I like their bright lights and want them for an aviary. Does anyone know who their biggest competitor is in quality so I can purchase from their competition?

That is unusual since anyone can order with a check or credit card for business or home. There are minimum quantities on 4 and 8 foot lamps so they get their in one piece. Call me at the toll free number (they won't let me list it here)extension two six one nine, I will be happy to help you. JW

Yep, he's right

bulber in marlton, New Jersey said: That is unusual since anyone can order with a check or credit card for business or home. There are minimum quantities on 4 and 8 foot lamps so they get their in one piece. Call me at the toll free number (they won't let me list it here)extension two six one nine, I will be happy to help you. JW

I'll give you a call. I thought it was odd. I told them I would meet their minimum. Seems in this economy they should be happy when someone is asking to buy.

They didn't even bother to call me back. I had to call them about three times at the home office. The field sales agent didn't call me either.

They made it clear to me from the home office they only sold to businesses. I didn't tell them I am a home business.

geo treo in st louis, Missouri said: Yes, H&H and ME

Who is H & H?

They have great products and stand behind them. They also have interesting business practices. Don't forget to record the installation date on the tubes when you do get them. By the way I use some in my workshop & office. I office from my home as well.

H&H is another distributor of commercial lighting supplies. Look them up on the NET.

I will wait for your call, you can catch me on Saturday or Sunday also at that extension. If I am unavailable just leave a message since I may be in church. We have some new items no one is even close on, I am pretty excited about them. Take care.

bulber in marlton, New Jersey said: I see all this belly aching about Superior Lamp being a ripoff and asking why do you have to pay $400 for a job. If any of these complainers had ever run a company before they would understand flying a trainer out for two days, covering all expenses and paying double commission to the trainee for the next three days may get a little expensive. When you ask for a commitment up front you weed out the Lookie Lou's who will "try it" for a day and quit. Now the company is out a lot more than $400. Concerning the 'hokey' presentation, every successful sales organization has a sales pitch, it would be cruel and stupid to send someone out and say 'wing it'. The ones who put in 40 hour work weeks and know the presentation are successful, I am living proof. I started in nowhere Nebraska and worked from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. everyday, got my ten orders a week and built great repeat business. The company promoted me to field trainer and moved me to California to open that area. So you whiners out there have only yourselves to blame if you fail, the company grows when you succeed not when they get your piddling $400, that is spent before you even see a trainer. Anybody who has been in business knows how true this is. Bring on the winners who want to build a career, all others please apply at Burger King, they will give you a salary.

Bulber, obviously your from the Corporate office in New Jersey, after reading all the comments on this report and on rip-off.com, all the information is very accurate. I worked for Superior lamp for over 1 year and I was an idiot to stay that long. I used most of my savings to fund this job. I opened 177 accounts for Superior so I was not the average. All the comments about the trainers, the hiring process, and going to Marlton, NJ. is the truth. You forgot to mention Paul doing his power lunches and opening with prayer to ask God to provide more money in the fat cats pockets.

The best report to read on rip-off.com is the guy from Atlanta, Georgia. The process you go through is exactly what I experienced. In the end the only nice guy that I dealt with was the inside guy from Buffalo and the Owner, he was nice. Paul, who is the National Sales Manager threatened to sue me and take my house. All I wanted to do was leave and get a more stable job with benefits for my family. I wasn't looking to steal any of their customers but the gas, and all the expenses that you provide on your own were just too much. I did well there on occasions but going to the Home Office is where you find out how they tick and they do mislead their customers by having one of the managers pretend to be the warehouse guy trying to confirm the order. They are fast talking and make the customer feel they are getting a free gift sent to their house or place of business and I have had many occasions where the customer is asking "Where's my gift". I couldn't morally work for the Company and lie, so I left.