Remember in the beginning (my first post, I think?) I mentioned that I might have two clients? Well, I finally heard from one of them...

One of his email is LONG! Toward the end - the fact that he put in all "CAPS" is that they require lots of trust (I have access to his account to pay for things he wants me to order) and privacy and no one needs to know what they are doing - all will be done right and that they do not break any laws.

I understand privacy - that is not the problem. But the way he talk gets me wondering if I'm getting myself into trouble if I take on this contract? How can I tell the difference between the right contracts that is all fine and dandy (nothing illegal) and one that may be bordering on illegal?

I guess the only way to know is to take it on and I can always cancel if it doesn't turn out?

Or am I just being panaoid?

I'll copy and paste the email and leave out any private details so you know what I mean...

Yes, I am still looking.

The job would be rather simple at times. Seems with new deals I have now, it may be a very busy thing.

Right now its pretty hecktic.

I need a person pretty quick that can work on their own. Find what I need. Do what THEY think is best for me with what I ask to be done. I had to end a relationship with a new guy that we tried out. He was nice and all, but I spent more time on the phone with him then he spent finding what I needed.

I am easy to work with and hold nothing back. I just can not walk a person to each item. I WILL provide what I would do and in my request give directions were to get what I want. I DO NOT KNOW IT ALL. I need folks that can be smarter then I am and get even better deals.

I do not mind getting phone calls. Just keep it to the KISS system. That and instead of making 6 phone calls to me that are not emergancy calls. Make one call and lets hammer out all 6 things. I pass on my duties to others to free up my time.

Do you have a pricing mode set up yet? What are you looking to charge per week?

I pay VIA paypal or a bank transfer into your account.

I really would LOVE to find a person that speaks spanish as well.

If this sound like somthing you would be interested in. Give me a call after noon central time at xxx-xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx.

I am also seeking some one that can do sales. They would work from home. They would need a computer, internet. Two phones and a fax/copy machine.

I would pay for 2 weeks of training. All air fair and hotel costs. With a 1 year comitment to work for my corp as a freight broker.


Another email:

What I need is a can do person.

I do not have one thing I do. I do everything to make a buck. YOUR JOB would be to save me time and make me money.

How do you make me money you ask. My saving my time to make me available to land deals and chase oppurtunity.

You would type letters. Search for goods. BUY products and have them shipped to me. YOU WOULD NOT have to buy with your money. You would use my accounts to pay for the items. There is alot of trust involved.

One day I may need you to copy and fax 20 pages to folks. The next day find me the best deal on 200 gallons of 15w-40 oil.

Then the next day find a person and hire them to clean a house in say some small city in Texas.

If you worked for me. Tomarrow you would be looking for a government lawyer to sue a city that is giving me some problems. Then researching a mayors past from subscription based web sites. I would prob have you get us a great deal on a local PI to follow and film him.
You would have the job of watching and bidding on some freight moves I have been looking at on a web site and making a few phone calls that I would need done.

Then you would be searching for the best deal you can get set up for myself and the wife for health insurance. I just want to have to get a call saying The nurse will be at you home on this day to give you folks a physical and that is that.

I would have you make a list for the weeks work. MOSTthings have time. On a Monday I may give you 20 things I need done. Most will have plenty of time on them. If it is important. I will tell ya. I need this asap. ASAP MEANS NOTHING gets in the way.

To get a idea ASAP means large sums are on the line, a sales pitch depends on it or jail is involved.

Most research can be done at night if you so wanted. Some items require 9-5. Like phone calls.

Just to fill you in about me.

I am young and fit. I am debt free. I run a Nationwide Corp. That is focused on profit. Folks ask me all the time what do I do. I MAKE MONEY. That is my job.

For fun I drive a RV/TRUCK. Its a tricked out truck with a shower, bathroom and We haul explosives for the government. That is what I do for fun. We have 3 of these trucks. 2 semi trucks.

A small grocery store, a church, a farm, a mechanical shop, a mobil repair company.

I only have 7 full time employees. All work to make me money. THAT IS THEIR JOB.

The guy that has 22 years of welding and runs out mobil repair truck for semi repairs. He can and WILL work on the farm. His job is to make me money.

As long as I am making money. WE ALL MAKE MONEY.

You would be an assistant to say. A go to person. Your job is to make me money by saving me time and finding deals.

To get an idea. If I tell you I need the cheapest fuel on a certain road. I will give you the sites to use. I pay a service to get the EXACT price every second.

All I need is a call saying got this its so and so here, and so and so here.

This simple call can save me 75k a year in operating cost. IF YOU CAN FIND A BETTER WAY TO DO IT. I say do it. I am all for that.

This can be a full time job. If I find the right person.

Just to note. I have moved folks into and out of this job. I have two full time folks that did this for me. One is now my wife. She took the bull by the horns and it just clicked. The other is a transexual that is the best sales person I have ever met. He moved here. (I do not agree with his life style, but he brings in the dollars)

Did some work moved to Las Vegas and still works for me. He submits his Cost each month with his bills. He has changed our company, but we all make more money.

You would not get alot of phone calls. You could plan and live your life. I would call you along with my VP (my wife). My personal sec may call you as well at times.

WE WOULD NEVER call you in a flash. Unless it was a emergancy. This dosn't happen much at all. Like never. Yet, it could.

I would like to have a set call time. Like Monday Morning then Monday after noon. Then Wed. at say noon.

E mail would be used most times.

The idea is to give you what we need done for the week in advance.

I have been known to go WEEKS with out a need.

I could provide all needed equipment if needed for the right person. My self I would like to provide a cell phone to not cause conflict with your family or other clients.

Our biggest thing is trust and privacy. NO ONE needs to know what we are up to. ALL WILL BE DONE RIGHT. WE DO NOT BREAK ANY LAWS. Just privacy is needed.

If this sounds like somthing you are up too give me a call.

I'm so confused about this post and my instinct is to let it go!!! This potential client rambles.....and wanting you to commit to his company for a whole year, bearing in mind that he's going to PAY for you to get some training....very fishy!!!

I don't think you are being paranoid!

This doesn't sit well with me either..just my 2 cents.

__________________
Creative & Strategic Web Design Services
www.aivirtualsolutions.com

I would research this person and his companies before committing to work with him. Start w/a basic internet search, check w/the BBB in the area, etc. For the most part it sounds legitimate, but a few lines make me wonder "omarrow you would be looking for a government lawyer to sue a city that is giving me some problems. Then researching a mayors past from subscription based web sites. I would prob have you get us a great deal on a local PI to follow and film him."

This person could very well be legitimate, but I would definitely do some "up front" research and, ALWAYS, follow your gut feeling before performing work for him - if it feels wrong, say no. If he fires you for it, you are better off...

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Agnes, he is referring to fieght broker. Apparently he is looking for two different contracts. One is online secretary which is me and oen is freight broker. He is offering 2 weeks training for a freight broker not a secretary....

The other thing that caught my attention is that he transports explosives! LoL.

Lily - I'll definately do that. But he didn't mention any name for his company...So how do I find out more information on him to ensure that he is legitmate through and through? I guess I could ask him so I will...

Thanks and keep them coming! :0)

I wonder why he hasn't already given you any information about his company.

He mentioned MONEY 9 times in the 2nd email....I hope this person is for real. It reminds of a company that I went for an interview with years ago and all the guy talked about was his Porsche (that was in full view) and money. The people that accepted job offers ended up selling imitation fragrances in front of shopping malls.

If he's legitimate great and if he isn't, you'll find out soon enough.

__________________
Creative & Strategic Web Design Services
www.aivirtualsolutions.com

First, always go with your instincts. If you feel paranoid, do the detective work. Check his information out, call the phone company to see how his telephone number is listed. If it's a business it should be public information and you should be able to get an address. Good luck in your search and again if your instincts say no, go with no.

Carla

I agree with everyone.

I always research everyone I do business with. Does his email address have a name you could search? Ask him questions to things you are concerned about. And speak to him on the phone. He should make himself available to speak to you. Email communication is fine most of the time but speaking to someone on the telephone is the best way to find out about them. As a business owner yourself, you have a responsibility to yourself to know everything you can about your potential client. Talking to him will give you an idea of whether he's legitimate. The way he responds to your questions will speak volumes.
Good luck Yvonne. I hope this turns out the way you want.

__________________
Shari Sultana
Online Business Manager (marketing for retail ecommerce)

Well - I spoke with him last night on the phone. He sure like to talk (I do too but not on the phone as it is not the same - speaking thru an operator - a third person) but he seem like a very nice guy with a full BUSY life!

I won't be getting this contract with him because he needs someone who can speak on the phone on a frequent basis and sometimes FAST! However - he says he does want to take me on for a different project - to have me as his virtual assistant. He has been wanting to have a website built and maintained for a web store front to sell products. He knows nothing about websites and is not interested at all about them. Just want them built & up and running. And ship all orders. But it is not set in stone.

He also wants me to consider opening a LLC to help handicapped people find a decent jobs. And that he will back me up and run it with me. He is all for me being a virtual assistant and want to help out. And that he could use me to find products for him via online or write up letters or do faxing and mailing.

Basically he does not want to turn me away just because I am deaf and am not able to meet up to his standard for an assistant using a phone. And he knows I can do things on the internet such as research, emailing, faxing and all those type of things. He says that if he could find a handicapped person who can speak on the phone well - he will take him/her on and pay him/her well.

And so I'm to think on this for a few days and then get back with him. It seems that the main thing he is hoping that I do is to open a LLC for handicapped people - to help them find decent jobs and all. And that he's willing to back me up. He says that the worst case senerio is that we've only lost time and some money.

Hmm - Any thoughts?

I would trust your gut on this one. Sounds to me like he is a bounty hunter...but that's just me being paranoid! Some of it sounds fishy, but some of it doesn't, like researching health insurance. That sounds normal to me. On the other hand, "No one needs to know what we are up to"...BTW, who is "we". I would definitely recommend as the others have said to get his name, company information and who else you would be working with and schedule a phone conference with him. Good luck!

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

I'm sorry. The clarity here is still ambiguous. Did he say why you couldn't make the call for him? How fast do you need to speak and why? If I picked up the phone and someone was rambling on and I couldn't get an understanding, I would hang up. I don't believe that is a good business practice.

Second, why can't he do the LLC? Why does he want to back/help you instead of doing the job himself?

Again there are so many ifs with this individual and it really isn't clear on what he needs done. I would just stick to the virtual assistantce part until you get a better understanding of what he wants from you.

I hope all work out for you. Again, if you feel uncomfortable with any part of the job, please listen to yourself. You are the best judgment.

Good luck with your decision.

Carla