jimgriggs
join:2003-06-21
Houston, TX
| reply to nyctechnobab
Re: NorVergence Continued
Do you use the service or do you work for Norvergence? What is the answer to my DSL question? Why are the Norvergence telemarketers so evasive about details? Why is there no cost info on the website. Also, the links on the website to Quest and NorTel go to their home pages with no reference to Norvergence. I called Quest Corp. and they had no information about Norvergence. I searched Nortel's site and again nothing about Norvergence. So let's see, $160 per mo. for the service and $xxx.xx per mo. per Matrix Box for the the equipment rental/lease. So how much is x? |
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Marvelous
@uslec.net
| I just had a meeting with a Norvergence salesman. The offer does seem too good to be true. One thing I noticed is that in their literature they reference the Nortel Matrix box. I cannot find any product like that from Nortel. Then I noticed the picture on their website and in their literature,
»www.norvergence.com/PDFs/matrix_···lick.pdf
and it's identical to the Adtran Total Access 750 box I currently have from US Lec. I've had this box for over 2 years, hardly new technology.
»www.dealtime.com/xPF-Rayman_Arena
I noticed it's made in Canada so it could be Nortel, but I just wonder if this Matrix box is really just marketing. |
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roamer1
sticking it out at you
join:2001-03-24
Atlanta, GA
clubs:
| said by Marvelous:
Adtran Total Access 750
I think you're right...
I just noticed in the NorVergence PDF they refer to the term "TSU" -- guess what, that's Adtran's name for their line of CSU/DSU products!
Also, I checked the Total Access 750's spec sheet
»www.adtran.com/adtranpx/Doc/0/2L···1-8E.pdf and the Matrix box and the 750 chassis are the same size.
-SC
--
No-Bull SE US Wireless Info: »www.sewireless.info/
Atlanta Apt/Condo Cable & Broadband Info: »www.atlaptcable.info/ |
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joein610
join:2003-07-03
Media, PA
| Actually They have a product glossy for their Clients...
and YES its Im sure is an ADTRAN... the TOTAL ACCESS 850 Sell for $2500... SO WHY DO they IT FOR $15,000-$25,000???
AND WITH NORVERGENCE there is NO WARRANTY BY THEM!!
YOU PAY EVEN IF ITS BROKE OR STOLEN!
THEY CANT ANSWER THIS !!!
JOE |
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joein610
join:2003-07-03
Media, PA
| IT NOT New Technology JUST A NEW Technology SCAM....
When someboady signs up for Norvergence... The LEASE is made with the CLIENT and the LEASING Company
NOT
The CLIENT and NORVERGENCE ..
So
1. YOU HAVE to PAY FOR it NO Matter if its Broken or Stolen
2. You Cant Brake the Contract
3. Norvergence Gets all the Money up from front from the Leasing Company.. So they dont even Need Outside Funding
As Long as they Keep Selling Deals they will Never Run out of Money...
But for the BIG BUCKS$$$$$$$ and GETTING Suckered in to a DEAL with NORVERGENCE Consider this FIRST...
- VERIZON Service Plan $35.00 plus Dial Tone Charge and
Unlimited Local and Long Distance
- Alligence Was just into my office and for $29.00/Line you get Unlimited Local and 500 Min of Tolls per Line
- T-Mobile -- Cell Phone 1000 Mins for $39.00
- Comcast will have dial tone in the next few Months
- Vonage.com -- $39.99 UNLIMITED local and long distance calling within the US & Canada.
- AND SO ON AND SO ON...
SO Pay $20,000 for the BOX Its your money and its good for the economy !!!!!
Joe V
joein610@aol.com
Email me if you need any other Norvergence Info or Contracts in PDF form |
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mcsquared007
join:2003-08-25
Chicago, IL |  Do you work for Verizon? |
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reg64
join:2003-08-31
Lewisville, TX | No I do not work for Verizon. I actually rep for a few resellers and facilities based providers. |
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reg64
join:2003-08-31
Lewisville, TX | By the way, are there any other similar type companies doing what Norvergence is trying to accomplish? |
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joein610
join:2003-07-03
Media, PA
| I have not heard of any Norvergence Competitors Yet...
But then Again Maybe there wont be.. And maybe they even might not Last.. I’m sure they don’t have the Funding and the Sales to keep it Going.. These Days with the economy people are watching what they are spending, so I don’t think they will get ALOT of takers on the 5 Year Contract unless the saving is Extraordinary.
My client had a $8000 / month phone bill and the Best Norvergence could save was under $200/ month... Doesn’t it sound Lame? 2.5% ... Yikes.. Where the Savings??????
Joe |
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closecall
@chcgil.ameritech
| reply to joein610
Re: NorVergence Scam
These guys are too smooth with their 3 phase approval process etc... The paperwork looks legitimate but very vague and I still can't find anybody who knows anything about Norvergence.
I am glad I did a Google search and found this link. Thanks for the info, I'm bailing on Norvergence before they install the matrix box I ordered.
I guess smooth sounding salespeople and other reps who called really have their act together. I should have been skeptical when the young lady asked if she could "come around to my side of the desk" to show me the proposal during our second meeting. I'm a sales guy and know this technique, but I let it slide because the money looked to good. $1550 for my costs down to their $1050, a $500/month savings but at what cost?
My DSL works fine and so does the cellular. I can only imagine what a nightmare it must be for those relying on Norvergence to support this equipment.
I wonder if they will make headlines antime soon? |
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closecall
@chcgil.ameritech | I Just found some new jobs posted on Monster from Norvergence. Salespeople with annual incomes of $150K and inside salespeople at $135K. Yeah, their taking our money and paying big $$$ to the reps to keep selling!!! |
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bhood
join:2003-09-01
Redlands, CA
| These posts amaze me. First, because sales people are paid well does not equal scam. Up until 3-years ago I was an outside sales person and would not even look at a job unless it paid more than $100K per year (assuming I did my job). Understand that good sales people make good money. That goes for Norvergence, Sprint, MCI, etc.
Second, of all the posts that I found here, few are from actual customers. A couple describe typcal telecom issues - slow installs, over worked staff, etc. Couple customers that are happy (like me).
But the majority of posts are from people who do not have a clue about the telecom industry at the level Norvergence is playing.
Norvergence is providing a fully MANAGED ATM Media Gateway for $00-$500 per month. THIS IS COMPETATIVE.
This two biggest problems I see are that some sales people are doing the cost justification using cellular costs. Take the cellular away and you can not justify the lease of the Media Gateway.
Second problem is that Norvergence is bringing this solution down to a different level of customer that is not accustom to seeing these types of solutions. Go to any large companies telecom department and they will not blink an eye at this.
I am a happy customer (some install issues but welcome to telecom)and looking to install my third location. I am on my second rep (first was an idiot) and would recomend Norvergence to anyone. |
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myadog
join:2003-08-27
New York, NY
| reply to closecall
said by closecall:
I Just found some new jobs posted on Monster from Norvergence. Salespeople with annual incomes of $150K and inside salespeople at $135K. Yeah, their taking our money and paying big $$$ to the reps to keep selling!!!
Norvergence solution is very simple! They are not a provider of any sorts!!! They are a match maker between the client and the service. They consolidate all telco bills. There is no scam there is no anything. The company has grown 250% since inception and has many positive write ups in many publications! It is human nature for people to be afraid of what they do not know! This is a new solution for the public. The company is not splitting atoms here, just saving people money! And as far as the sales people makeing to much money or that they are all scripted. So be it. I am in sales, good sales people make well over 100k. My brother has this solution i attended the initial meeting with the sales agent. He was very professional! I think all you tech heads should really get up from you PC, take the dog for a walk or go sit in the park. The only thing fugazi here is your knowledge!
-Mark CEO The Hunn Group |
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reg64
join:2003-08-31
Lewisville, TX
| reply to bhood
My big question regarding the Norvergence solution is whether or not it is a good fit for the call center industry. The majority of my clients are currently utilizing dedicated LD with a 6/1 billing platform (6 sec minimum with 1 second billing increments). Also to be considered is compatibility with predictive and auto dialers. Would it work and save money? |
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progolfer39
join:2003-09-09
North Attleboro, MA |  reply to Marvelous
Re: NorVergence Continued
Hi there! Can anyone please advise me why I should not work for NorVergence? I see all of the horror show postings here and I'm very very afraid!! HELP!!! |
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rustylugnut
join:2003-09-09
| I have been working for Norvergence for almost a month now. Yes they do have their problems but most new companies do.
Is it a good deal for the customer? I haven’t decided since I'm just a lowly installer. I'm not real excited by their tactics and some of those tactics will get them in big trouble some day. The T-1 deal is good when packaged with cell phones. But why someone would sign a five year contract escapes me. One of the "solutions" is installing router boxes and claiming them to be "extra protection" on their existing DSL connection. When many already have a firewall/router on their network. Many people are getting a cheap router that won't connect (or work) with their existing equipment. And we are to NEVER mention exactly what it is or what it is suppose to do. So they end up with a cheap useless firewall box, which many customers don’t need, that would cost $30.00 new but they end up leasing it for five years. But I blame greedy sales people and a company that is willing to look the other way. And I also blame ignorant customers who don't know what they are getting in to. Every “SOHO” customer I’ve installed doesn’t really care about what I install they just keep asking about their unlimited usage cell phone.
Is it a good place to work?
The pay is decent, I'm way over qualified for the job but the work is easy and I needed the work. I’ll keep working hard but I got my resume handy  |
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progolfer39
join:2003-09-09
North Attleboro, MA
| Hey "rustylugnut" or should I call you by your real name?
"HYPOCRITE"!! Are you for real you pompous ass?
Let me get this straight....1)you are answering people's inquiries on this message board to questions about NorVergence 2)you are appalled at the "greedy salespeople" and managementof the company that YOU work for, but as you said: "I'm way over qualified but I needed the job" 3)you are admitting that the product is basically useless but you'll install it anyway and also keep your resume updated on the side.
Folks, please! I don't work for Norvergence but am supposed to start soon unless I tell them: "Thanks, but no thanks".
Again PLEASE do not use what this hypocritical A-hole is saying as a basis for anything. Personally I won't be working for this company but I have to question the motivation and tactics that the people who work for them are using.
Thank you |
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bhood
join:2003-09-01
Redlands, CA
| Hey "progolfer" - great post. I was a bit amazed at the post myself.
As far as not working for Norvergence based on what you have been reading, that is your call. What I can say based on user expreince is that they are as good if not better than most of the other companies I deal with on a daily basis.
In fact, do a search on just about any telecom company and the amount of unhappy people will easily dwarf Norvergence.
What I think scares people a bit about this company (besides being new) is that they are using a new business model that we are seeing more and more these days as companies have to focus on cash flow. Getting outside financing or per account AR Financing.
This is different - not wrong, not illegal, just different. It does allow them to grow much quicker. My company explored this as well but could not find the companies willing to finaince our model (Managed Data Security). |
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orchid1
join:2003-09-10
Los Angeles, CA
|  reply to reg64
Norvergence Scam
Norvergence is truly a scam and this is how it works. The "Screening Manager" (better known as a "Salesperson") collects telecom bills from the company they are meeting with. The company's current costs are added up; Norvergence then reduces that cost by 30%. Once that number is determined, Norvergence then backs out the cost of the T1 and the Unlimited Cellular to determine that company's "Matrix" box price. All current costs, less 30%, nominal T1, and cellular costs are applied to the price of the box. That is why they can’t put a price on the box. They have to figure out how much a company is currently spending and squeeze every last dime into the cost of the box. The customer is then bound to the 5 year agreement with the bank, regardless of service level provided by Norvergence.
The sad thing is that two companies can have the same telecom needs (i.e. number of lines, calling patterns, data requirements and cellular) yet if company A is currently getting a better deal from their providers then company B is, company B will pay more for the “matrix” box. It is all entirely based on what the company is currently spending.
This magical box is nothing more than an Adtran IAD (Integrated Access Device retailing for about $500). The really sad thing is that if a customer is just getting DSL or Cable High speed internet, the box does absolutely nothing!!!
As far as shopping for competitive pricing goes…sure, a company can shop prices on a T1, unlimited cellular & unlimited 800 services and if they receive 2 quotes that are less than the pricing with Norvergence, Norvergence will reduce the overall monthly cost. The problem is, I can’t believe a company will find a lower price for a T1 or unlimited cellular. As explained above, all of the money goes into the box and that is funded through a bank. The agreement for the box is between the customer and the bank. Norvergence receives all of that money up front. The customer is responsible to pay the five year lease on the equipment.
Can Norvergence save a company money? Sure they can. They are really a glorified reseller not a matchmaker as I’ve read on this board. Why don’t they just say what they are and do what they do? Because then they would have to put a price on the “magical box”. |
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bhood
join:2003-09-01
Redlands, CA
| You make it sound like all you have to do is purchase an Adtran or similar device for $500. What about a way to terminate calls?
Is Norvergence bundling everything into the price of the hardware? Sure. That is different that what others do and not wrong.
At this present time, two companies can have the same telecom bill with Sprint and pay different amounts.
The way I see it, the biggest problem that Norvergence has is a lack of education on their Salespeople on how the system works.
You sound like a sales person that they hired but based on a limited knowledge what it takes to make a system like this work started screaming scam. Or, a techie with a bad case of pay check envy. |
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