Magazine Crew and its Dark Side

Introduction

• Jess: Speaker sharing her experience with magazine crew.
• Background: Long-term recovery and past imprisonment.
• Purpose: To shed light on the dark aspects of traveling sales crews.

Magazine Crew Overview

• Age Involved: Worked with a traveling sales company between 19 to 23 years old.
• Motivation: Used the crew to evade parole and charges.
• Product Sold: Magazine subscriptions (e.g., ESPN, Maxim).

Recruitment Tactics

• Target Demographic: Aged 18-25, financially struggling, often from lower-income neighborhoods.
• Lures:
  • Promises of travel and daily cash.
  • A sense of belonging and family.
  • Glamorous perks like concerts, tattoos, and jewelry.
• Reality: Often traps individuals, with difficulties leaving and potential abandonment.

Hierarchy and Roles

1. Agent: Entry-level, not enough sales to move up.
2. Team C: Promoted after enough sales; more freedom and higher percentages.
3. Queen C/King C: Higher sales rank.
4. Car Handler: Drives and drops off salespeople.
5. Junior Manager: Rare for females to achieve.
6. Manager: Responsible for agents, linked to financial gains.

Business Model

• Magazine Costs: Bought subscriptions for $2-$5, sold for $50-$75.
• Transition: Moved from magazines to products like solar panels.

Crew Dynamics

• Dating Rules: High-rank members (Queen C) could not date lower ranks (Agents).
• Treatment Based on Rank: Lower ranks faced more menial tasks and mockery.
• Incentives and Consequences: High sales often excuse bad behavior; low sales lead to menial tasks and ridicule.

Personal Experiences

• Positive Aspects: Personal good experiences and supportive boss.
• Negatives: Witnessing violence, manipulation, and unethical practices.
• Substance Abuse: Struggled with heroin while maintaining high sales.

Ethical Issues

• Underage Recruitment: Hiring minors sometimes occurred.
• Financial and Legal Consequences:
  • Unpaid taxes and potential legal issues (e.g., warrants).
  • Traumatizing experiences and potential trafficking.

Conclusion

• Personal Reflection: Acknowledgement of not addressing ethical issues adequately in the past.
• Call for Awareness: Encourages sharing experiences for better awareness.

Final Thoughts

• Community Engagement: Invites comments and discussions from others with similar experiences.
• Sign-off: Encourages staying safe and positive engagement with life.