Dealership charges potential employee for job training

Chicago Tribune (MCT) - Unemployed Lisle, Ill., resident Will Zellner saw the ad in the paper and thought he had struck gold.

"SALARY! COMMISSION! BONUSES! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!"

Health insurance, a 401(k) program, the opportunity for job security in the "highest paid profession without a formal education," the ad continued.

It even claimed to pay a "generous salary" during training.

But amid the exclamation marks and screaming capital letters, the help-wanted ad for Arlington Nissan failed to mention one significant detail: If you show up for an interview, you'd better bring your checkbook.

Zellner said he was hired on the spot Jan. 21 but was told he had to prove his commitment to the job. The price: $629 for training materials, which he says consisted of a thin paperback book.

At first, the 35-year-old hesitated, but he was desperate for a job. Besides, he said, he was told he would get his money back after a 90-day probationary period.

The problem was, Zellner was fired after two weeks.

Last week, he e-mailed the Chicago Tribune hoping to get his money back.

"I've had a number of jobs in the past and I've never had to put any money down for training," he said. "The whole thing from the beginning was just smoke and mirrors."

Zellner said he worked for Arlington Nissan about 10 days and received $836.81, which included a $116.24 commission for selling a 2008 Nissan Versa. After subtracting what he paid for training materials, his net was $207.81.

"I think they're looking for people who are desperate for work in a crappy economy and they're taking advantage of it," Zellner said.

The Tribune's "The Problem Solver" called Bob Rohrman of The Bob Rohrman Auto Group, which owns the Arlington Nissan dealership. Rohrman said the practice of requiring potential employees to pay for training is common in the industry.

He said the dealerships do not profit from the payments. The money goes to an outside training agency, in this case Charlotte-based Worldwide Consulting Services.

Of his 26 dealerships in Illinois and Indiana, all have used a training agency at some point, Rohrman said. In most cases, the training agencies are able to get more potential employees through the door, he said.

"It's worth our time, our management time, to have them train (employees) for a week rather than have us training them," he said.

Even so, Rohrman said he's toyed with the idea of getting rid of training agencies. But his general managers have told him it's often the best way to hire.

Jon Kommel, general manager of Arlington Nissan, likened the practice to paying college tuition.

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"If you go through college, why are you going through college? To get a good job, right?" he said. "You're not guaranteed getting a good job."

Kommel said Zellner was let go because he didn't have what it took to be a salesman. After shadowing another salesman for more than a week, Zellner was put on his own for two days, Kommel said.

"In that time, we observed that he really didn't take any customers," Kommel said. "He sat in the back with the guys."

Kommel said he would have rather it worked out.

"I'm not looking to let people go," he said. "I'm looking to hire people."

Kommel and Rohrman said that if Zellner wants his $629 back, he has to get it from Worldwide Consulting Services.

The Problem Solver called Logan Bentley, Worldwide Consulting's placement director. Bentley said his agency trains potential employees at about 50 U.S. and Canadian dealerships each week.

"We don't charge students for a job," he said. "They pay for materials, which we feel is very necessary to be successful."

Bentley said the $629 Zellner paid provides him with "lifetime placement assistance," and he offered to help Zellner find another auto sales job.

Zellner declined.

"At this point, I think I could get a job on my own," he said. "I'd rather just get my money back."

On Thursday, Zellner called Bentley. He said Bentley said he would consider a refund if he asked for it in writing. Zellner typed up the letter that afternoon.

"He just said to sign the letter and he'll see what he can do," Zellner said. "It doesn't sound real reassuring."

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© 2009, Chicago Tribune.