Internal Protection Specialists Inc.

[albacore44]

Hi there,

I am somewhat new to the Loss Prevention field but am really interested in it for career development. I had some experience working at Best Buy, but it seemed more like a glorified door greeter. I recently paid to take a class with the company listed above and received a cetificate in LP , and they are suppose to guarnteed me work in this field. They are located in Orange County ca. Has anyone heard of this company or had any experience with them ?? Link to their website is listed below.

Thanks

http://www.internalprotection.com/

[Curtis Baillie]

I've taken the time to review their website. I fail to see where they advertise clases in LP. It would appear that you were employed, received some training and are waiting for an assignment? Maybe you could post some additional specific information?

[Pat Murphy]

Ipsi

You should ask who some of their current clients are just to get a feel for the level of clients they service. As a recommendation, however, I would tell you to stay with major retailers like Target, Macy's, etc. You'll get excellent experience and good training.

I'd suggest you also ask the IPSI folks about injury time if that happens. You may not be eligible for any short term benefits which means no pay. Ask a lot of questions and know what you are getting into.

Post answers here, we'll try to help.
Pat

[NRM_Oz]

The same thing is happening around the globe - unrecognised training or fancy gold leaf emblems on paper that cost you hundreds. I would ask for clients and try to contact them to lead you into other training courses. My training in the US was considered incompatible however a review of the course content found it was considerably higher than recognised training courses (this was not in LP).

[albacore44]

Ipsi

ell I had responded to an Add they had posted looking for LP agents to work in my area. after contacting them i was told I would be required to take a 1 day class with them and pay $200. They told me this was due to a high turn over of agents who get trained, then leave their company to get higher pay. I can understand that. but I have been waiting 3 weeks for an assignment. My assumption when i signed up for the class was that i would be working for them on their payroll. It seems thats not the case as they told me they will send me to clients that want their service. i would interview with the client and they would decide if they liked me. i was sent to a local Burlington Coat factory, and was told to come back in a week. I cal the office every day and they tell me they are putting together a list of clients for me to go see. whole thing smell fishy to me.

[Curtis Baillie]

Have you checked them out with the BBB?

[albacore44]

Burlington Coat factory

It appears I will be hired by Burlington Coat Factory. Does anyone have experience working for them ?? I was told in the interview that they stopped chasing after suspects about a year ago due to liabilty problems. Hope they are big enough that I can receive good training.

Shane

[LPAjh9558]

Although we have a Burlington here, there's not really all that much that I can tell you about the co. GL with the potential job opening however & let us know how things turn out

[[email protected]]

It appears I will be hired by Burlington Coat Factory. Does anyone have experience working for them ?? I was told in the interview that they stopped chasing after suspects about a year ago due to liabilty problems. Hope they are big enough that I can receive good training.

Shane

If I were you I'd politely turn the position down, and look for employment elsewhere. I worked LP for Burlington for four months before leaving. All you do is stand next to the front door for 8 hours at a time (horrible experience). At my store, I'd be the only LP associate there so I could not take a lunch without selling my soul to another employee so they could watch the door for 30 minutes. Burlington LP's have no power as we cannot pursue past the curb or even find time to watch the security cameras as we cannot leave the front door for anything. I hope this helps you out.

[N. A. Corbier]

This is a standard bait and switch. "We'll give you a job if you take our class." You basically just paid 200 dollars to a staffing service who may or may not find you a job. They gave you a "class" so that it wasn't a staffing "headhunting" fee, but instead "tangible" services, the course you took.

20 bucks says the course is worthless. Burlington Coat Factory probably does not require it, nor do any of their other clients.

No staffing firm pays you for time they're looking for work. And any "school" that says that "if you take our course, we'll find you a job" is a de-facto staffing service...

[albacore44]

follow-up

well after waiting several weeks, I'm still waiting. The Burlington manager is claims to be very busy and can't seem to find time to finish verifing my references but insists he is going to hire me as long as everything clears, as it should.

Not happy about the poster who said the Burlington LP's are door greeters. That is not what i'm looking for. I keep in close contact with the agency that provided the training. They claim to have a new client/contract they just signed, Longs drugs, and i will get 1st crack at it.

I am really interested in persuing this line of work, but so far a lot of disappointment. If anyone has suggestions of other retailers that have better programs , please advise

Shane

[LPAjh9558]

well after waiting several weeks, I'm still waiting. The Burlington manager is claims to be very busy and can't seem to find time to finish verifing my references but insists he is going to hire me as long as everything clears, as it should.

Not happy about the poster who said the Burlington LP's are door greeters. That is not what i'm looking for. I keep in close contact with the agency that provided the training. They claim to have a new client/contract they just signed, Longs drugs, and i will get 1st crack at it.

I am really interested in persuing this line of work, but so far a lot of disappointment. If anyone has suggestions of other retailers that have better programs , please advise

Shane

The more I read this thread, I start to feel like you're getting the runaround. I went through a similar situation with another company, and even though I didn't use some "hiring agency," the results were still the same in the end. IMO, you might be headed in that direction also....

I went through all the interviews, tests etc. And I also had a few face-to-face meetings with the RLPM about which store I was going to. It went so far as to him telling me that I was being "brought on board" just as soon as they got things straightened out. Needless to say, 3 months later I couldn't catch him on the phone, by emails or in person Point is that even though he may be "verifying" your references, something else may be going on that you're not aware of.

I don't think the poster that mentioned Burlington LP's as "door greeters meant anything by it. They were just stating that from their previous experience that that's what happened with them. And I'd have to agree because there are retail companies with LP, AP or whatever that are nothing more than just "door greeters." On the other hand I'm sure that there are some retail companies out there that are great to work for....
You just have to find them

Keep all your options open and let us know what's going on. Best of luck!

[albacore44]

filed a report with the BBB

Well i decided to file a report with the BBB, and this is the response I received. while it is somewhat true, It is not all the facts. I did tell them i would prefer a position non-retail as they only ones they offered were many miles from my home, and it would be a money loser with the cost of gas these days. The ad I responded to, said they had positions close to my home. If anyone in this forum lives in california, and see's an Ad I hope they read this and learn from my experience. I'm going back to truck driving, I need to earn a living.

Response below

Sorry for the delay in responding, I was out of town. Mr. doe was not promised a job pursuant to written contract language that he signed and is on file in our office. Mr. doe was advise at the intial meeting, as we do with the hundreds of other students; that our firm offers work within our own contracts (Grocery Store environment)as well as, we also network with other companies such as Burlington Coat factory etc.. to help those organizations seek and employee prepared and trained cadidates. Training is offered for the purpose of career preparation. After the completion of training, Mr. doe was offered a job with our service firm performing work with our grocery store clients but refused and stated he thought that the retail aspect would be better suited for him. Mr. doe interviewed with Burlington Coat Factory who has stated recently that there was a delay in running his background but they were interested in him and should be getting back to him shortly. Our firm can not control the operation and expediency of other organizations. We have fullfilled our contract obligations and Mr. doe's contract cleary states that taking our course does not gaurantee him a job. Therfeore, we will not offer any form of reimbursement and his continued pursuit of this matter, perhaps in small claims, shall force us to file a countersuit for harrassment and fraudlent claim and seek additional damages. This report will also be used as supportive documentation in future actions. As a gesture of good faith, our firm will make an extra concerted effort to once again, set one or two appointments with retailers in his areaa that may be interested in employing Mr. doe upon his request. Mr. doe should contact myself or Marie if interested.

[SecTrainer]

Hi there,

I am somewhat new to the Loss Prevention field but am really interested in it for career development. I had some experience working at Best Buy, but it seemed more like a glorified door greeter. I recently paid to take a class with the company listed above and received a cetificate in LP , and they are suppose to guarnteed me work in this field. They are located in Orange County ca. Has anyone heard of this company or had any experience with them ?? Link to their website is listed below.

Thanks

http://www.internalprotection.com/

One thing that strikes me is this: Unless the school performs a background check on students before they pay and take the class, and it seems obvious that they don't do this, any reasonable person would or should know that they could not possibly "guarantee" students a job.