11/10/2009 4:35 PM (PST)

I saw an ad on Craigslist yesterday for a Snack Food Route in Los Angeles. What was interesting about it is it specifically state "PLEASE CALL NO RESUMES 1-888-485-7444." I found this to be rather unusual, but called the number anyway. I was called back about an hour later by Al Tatelman who told me to get a route requires a $3,900 initial investment that will be returned after 90 days if I decide not to pursue the business. He also told me during that time period I would be paid $1,200/week (the company keeping all of the money from the sales), and at the end of 90 days if I wanted to move ahead with the business it would cost me $39,000 that could be paid over 6 years at $500 to $600/month. Al said the 40 to 50 accounts would be set up for me with local public schools and other state service institutions, (that's pretty neat), I would be selling healthy snack items, and I should net; after all expenses, $120,000 annually for 9 months of work. This all sounds great, but also too good to be true, and you know what people say about "if something sounds to good to be true." What causes me to question this, seemingly, incredible opportunity is that the company is willing to pay me $15,600 in salary over a 90 day period (13 weeks), do all of the leg work required to set up my 40 to 50 accounts, and give me back my $3,900 deposit if I decide on the 91st day that I don't want to continue. That's extremely generous in these troubled economic times. Interestingly, I just checked on Google Maps and Snack America is not listed as one of the businesses at 2385 Executive Center, NW. As it is now too late to get any info from the east coast, I'll try again in the morning to verify the existence of Snack America at this address. At this point, it appears rather doubtful that it resides in this building of office suites, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist elsewhere. What's also odd is that the company's web site is only 3 pages plus the distributor's application. One would think as successful as this company should be that a more elaborate web site would be in order. Or, is that just me? Stay tuned.