05-26-2007, 04:37 PM | #1 |
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Anyone in Washington State?
Hey guys, I got a summer job opportunity in Washington State this summer. I'll be there around the 23rd of June. Any of you guys going to be there for summer? I thought it'd be a great chance for me to meet some of my cyberfriends.
So what do you guys think? |
05-26-2007, 11:04 PM | #2 | ||
Co-President of Entmoot
Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 8,397
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I have been there, and the forests are very lovely.
What kind of job do you have?
__________________
"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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05-27-2007, 06:42 AM | #3 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,535
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NURV!!!!! Nice to see you!
__________________
That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
05-27-2007, 07:51 AM | #4 | ||
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Quote:
About my job, I will be distributing educational books and software door-to-door. It's a sort of deal offered by a company called the Southwestern company. I buy their products at retail price and the profit I make is the difference between retail price and wholesale price. The whole thing is about building character: working on your own in an unfamiliar place, facing a lot of rejections, etc... I'm really looking forward to it. Quote:
Last edited by Beren3000 : 05-27-2007 at 01:08 PM. |
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05-27-2007, 08:22 AM | #5 | |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,535
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Quote:
And the answer is YES, IT IS. http://forum.rickross.com/viewtopic....03a66c11ef701f http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_Company http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/davidmetc...ry/never_quit/ I strongly urge you to look into other options. Brainstorm with the people here. Decide what you want...Travel? Team building? Income? College credit? There are all sorts of reputable organizations that can help you get those, without signing into a business that is RIFE with the exploitation of students. Even if this company is marginally better than some others (and I don't know that that is true) it's like, if you will pardon the analogy, finding a whorehouse to work in with fewer health code violations. The job is still the same. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/...01199061804400
__________________
That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May Last edited by sisterandcousinandaunt : 05-27-2007 at 09:10 AM. Reason: to add answer |
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05-27-2007, 09:50 AM | #6 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,535
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I hope everyone reads this.
http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/
This guys sounds like a mooter. http://www.southwesterncompanytruth....Experience.php
__________________
That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
05-27-2007, 03:01 PM | #7 | ||
Co-President of Entmoot
Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 8,397
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Thank you Sis and Beren!
<soapbox> Beren, please don't become one of Southwestern Company's independent contractors. It is not too late. Note that you would not be one of their employees, but rather, you would be selling a product that you buy from them, and the only money you would earn would be the difference in price from what you paid for the book to what you sold. You would have no guaranteed source of income. You are expected to find a room to rent by knocking on people's doors. The company does not even advise you to obtain a copy of the local Classifieds, they think it's a good idea to find a place to live by asking random strangers if they have a room to rent. I think this totally brainless approach should be a warning about how little regard the company has for it's employees, I mean, independent contractors. What you should really be asking yourself is how does this company earn profits? This is important to know about any potential employer. In the case of Southwestern Company, they make money from selling books. There's nothing wrong with selling books, of course. But in this case, you are the customer. Don't kid yourself that this company cares if you make any money selling their books, because they have already make their money, by selling their books to you. Since you, the independent contractor, are the source of the company's income, they have no vested interest in you whatsoever. You are not the company's employees, so you have no rights with them, you're simply a guy who bought a box of books from them. They make money off you and they absolutely do not care what happens to you afterwards. Their sales training and all that jazz is simply their method of getting you to buy their books. Companies such as Southwestern Company, who take advantage of students, really piss me off. College Pro Painting is another. Whenever I see one of their signs, I kick it down. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of by this unscrupulous company. Make someone hire you, and sign a contract guaranteeing you a certain wage, certain working conditions, and certain hours. What Southwestern Company is offering you is unnacceptable, and you deserve much better. </soapbox>
__________________
"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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05-27-2007, 05:36 PM | #8 |
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Thanks for your sentiments Nurv, and sisterandcousinandaunt (good for you! ), I actually benefitted a lot from reading the links you posted.
That said, the one who recommended me this job is a very good friend of mine who has been through it himself last year; so if he says it's profitable (not necessarily financially), I'm willing to take his word for granted. I'm not doing this for the money, and I don't care if Southwestern is the evil corporate spirit incarnate as long as they don't force me to do anything against my principles. Once again, I appreciate your advice very much and I can understand that you'd have strong feelings about this, but I'm still willing to try it for myself. In the worst case, I can quit and come back home at anytime and we'll have fuel for yet another great thread here on the Moot! |
05-27-2007, 11:36 PM | #9 | ||
Co-President of Entmoot
Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 8,397
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I think you have the right attitude Beren. I hope it works out. Erm... sorry if I got carried away.
__________________
"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
Quote:
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05-28-2007, 07:51 AM | #10 | |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,535
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Quote:
__________________
That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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05-28-2007, 11:47 PM | #11 |
The Black Númenórean
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,773
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Well, I'm in Washington state, but I can't say I know you well, even on Entmoot! So is Katt_Knome_Hobbit (Klatukatt), Lady M/Willow Oran, and thats about all that are still here and not off at college.
__________________
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. |
06-02-2007, 02:31 PM | #12 | |
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Quote:
Anyway, what's Washington like? Any tips on living there? |
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06-03-2007, 05:02 AM | #13 |
The Black Númenórean
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,773
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Hmm, well, its an interesting place to be sure. I live in western Washington, and its a very beautifully green area prone to drizzle. The summers are to die for though, never to hot, not too cold, and usually sunny. May not last for that long, but while its here, I wouldnt want to be anywhere else.
Tips for living here? Well, get a good car, cause our public transportation is none existant. Either that or get a nice bike, but Washington as a whole is a very hilly state, so you will gain plenty of muscle. Oh, and if you are coming to the western side of washington, STAY AWAY from king county unless you have money coming out of your ears to burn. Its a very over priced and over taxed area. Though, just one county away in any direction, it'll still be beautiful and even better, affordable. Failing that, look for roomies, and there will be lots of them avaliable. Very easy to find one here.
__________________
Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. |
06-03-2007, 08:48 PM | #14 |
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Not where I want to be ...
Posts: 15,254
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Is Count still there? (wasn't he in that group, too?)
__________________
. I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! |
06-03-2007, 09:20 PM | #15 | |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,535
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Quote:
__________________
That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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04-27-2008, 02:11 PM | #16 | ||
Fëanorophobic
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the pages of a book
Posts: 1,417
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Guess who's back! WOW! It's been a long while since I've mooted. I miss things around here Actually, I came back from Seattle (where I was stationed with the Southwestern company) last September. I've just been too lazy to revive this thread... It's been a wonderful experience. Really taught me a lot. Quote:
It's a very sad story. Southwestern students are professionally trained and very well treated; I've met some amazing people there. Quote:
Anyway, I just wanted to pop in to clarify some things about the SW company; and also, I wanted to refresh my interest in mooting |
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04-27-2008, 09:20 PM | #17 |
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Not where I want to be ...
Posts: 15,254
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Beren! nice to see you, and I'm glad to hear it went well!!
__________________
. I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! |
04-27-2008, 09:39 PM | #18 | |
Kraken King
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Under the sea
Posts: 2,714
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Quote:
Nashville, TN? I'll wave next time I see a plane. I'm not in Nashville, but hey: who know, right. It's good to know it went well for you.
__________________
One of my top ten favorite movies. "You ever try to flick a fly? "No." "It's a waste of time." "Can you see it?" "No." "It's right there!" "Where? "There!" "What is it?" "A crab." "A crab? I dont see any crab." "How?! It's right there!!" "Where?" "There!!!!" "Oh." -Excerpts from A Tale of Two Morons |
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05-03-2008, 01:28 PM | #19 | ||
Co-President of Entmoot
Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 8,397
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Beren!! Welcome back! I'm glad you had a fun with your job and Southwestern Company turned out to be a good company.
Are you still in the Seattle area?
__________________
"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
Quote:
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05-05-2008, 06:42 PM | #20 | |
Entmoot's Drunken Uncle
Join Date: May 2005
Location: ghost
Posts: 1,792
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He's at Harvard or some such thing. Blah. Seattle is Expensive, but if you do come back, my family has a cheap room to rent. |
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