Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

[St. Clown]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

I work for Sam's Club, Wal-Mart's warehouse club. My supervisors have been driven to excessive smoking/vaping. One of my supervisors shows up for work and looks incredibly frazzled. The ones who have been there for 10 years or more will stay there, while my younger coworkers are looking for a way out, and are working like they don't give a f-ck.

I get paid $9.50/hour, but I'm lucky to get 20 hours a week. My resume is out there and I've been looking for a way out myself. I've also been told by the scheduling supervisor that she'd like 130 hours or more per week to schedule, but she's only been given 100-110 by the suits in Arkansas. One week, I only got 10 hours.

If you're management/team lead, you're going to be okay on hours. Otherwise, you have to take what they give you.

I worked for Sam's Club while in college, pushing carts, then selling tires and car batteries and finally in the tire mounting area. Of the three large retail jobs corporations for which I've worked, Sam's treated me the best. Even paid out a small profit sharing check while I worked there part time. It's more than Best Buy or Frank's Nursery and Crafts ever did. People's accounts of what a company is like is going to be framed by what they want to get out of the company. There's no way I'd try to make a living at a company like that unless it was in a management role, but I passed on Menard's making me an offer when I graduated college - a good money offer too.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Walmart. The place is a mess. The employees look like they just woke up and that they don't really want to be there. For most 2015 retailers, these are not options...but Walmart doesn't seem to care. OTOH, the good prices are real.

Oh I don't doubt that, Walmart is pretty bad. Actually, retail in general just sucks.

I do consider myself lucky working at UPS and being a Teamster. That said, I know I'd be going through the same * if it wasn't for the union.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

Oh I don't doubt that, Walmart is pretty bad. Actually, retail in general just sucks.

I do consider myself lucky working at UPS and being a Teamster. That said, I know I'd be going through the same * if it wasn't for the union.

Didn't used to be that way. When in college I worked at Best Buy on commission. I made $40k a year (probably about the equivalent of $60k today)...working 4-9pm 4 days a week and Saturdays! I made more than most full time workers.

Supply and demand killed the profession.

I get paid $9.50/hour, but I'm lucky to get 20 hours a week. My resume is out there and I've been looking for a way out myself. I've also been told by the scheduling supervisor that she'd like 130 hours or more per week to schedule, but she's only been given 100-110 by the suits in Arkansas. One week, I only got 10 hours.

If you're management/team lead, you're going to be okay on hours. Otherwise, you have to take what they give you.

Interesting. There's a good chance that's by design. Create scarcity of work based on hours in backhanded way to get you motivated to prove yourself in the face of mediocre compensation. Never seen a clearer signal that there is a glut of people wanting jobs...and of a company that doesn't care about its workers.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

Didn't used to be that way. When in college I worked at Best Buy on commission. I made $40k a year (probably about the equivalent of $60k today)...working 4-9pm 4 days a week and Saturdays! I made more than most full time workers.

Supply and demand killed the profession.



Interesting. There's a good chance that's by design. Create scarcity of work based on hours in backhanded way to get you motivated to prove yourself in the face of mediocre compensation. Never seen a clearer signal that there is a glut of people wanting jobs...and of a company that doesn't care about its workers.

I wonder if, at some point, commission work will make a return. After all, isn't that the best way to motivate a sales staff when it comes to trying to achieve higher profits? I can understand why they trailed away from it because of favouritism and potential fraud, but with the computer age as it is, it could make a comeback.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

I wonder if, at some point, commission work will make a return. After all, isn't that the best way to motivate a sales staff when it comes to trying to achieve higher profits? I can understand why they trailed away from it because of favouritism and potential fraud, but with the computer age as it is, it could make a comeback.

I am quite knowledgeable about decision making in retail and I would bet my house against it. Standard retail has found that by saving on salaries on the floor and plowing money into training...they save money and perform at about the same level. Its sad, but its the optimum decision for the company (and arguably the customer).

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

I wonder if, at some point, commission work will make a return. After all, isn't that the best way to motivate a sales staff when it comes to trying to achieve higher profits? I can understand why they trailed away from it because of favouritism and potential fraud, but with the computer age as it is, it could make a comeback.

No, it won't. When Best Buy moved away from commission, it noted that customer time in the store grew from around 12-15 minutes to around 35-45 minutes (those numbers aren't likely too exact as it's been 21 years since I worked there, but they're not far off the mark). The take away was this: customers liked the new setup. While the sales force is no longer as knowledgeable, the customers aren't as worried about it because they weren't ever certain that the sales force before was particularly knowledgeable or just knew enough to make the sale and then BS the rest. Now they have the internet to research anything they dang well please to become somewhat knowledgeable themselves, and the only thing they need from the sales force now is to move the product form the top shelf to their cars for them.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

No, it won't. When Best Buy moved away from commission, it noted that customer time in the store grew from around 12-15 minutes to around 35-45 minutes (those numbers aren't likely too exact as it's been 21 years since I worked there, but they're not far off the mark). The take away was this: customers liked the new setup. While the sales force is no longer as knowledgeable, the customers aren't as worried about it because they weren't ever certain that the sales force before was particularly knowledgeable or just knew enough to make the sale and then BS the rest. Now they have the internet to research anything they dang well please to become somewhat knowledgeable themselves, and the only thing they need from the sales force now is to move the product form the top shelf to their cars for them.

Interesting. I prefer the BB staff not to be incentified to sell particular items -- I usually felt I was getting poor info, and in those cases where I knew a lot about the product I was seeking I was sure of it.

 

[unofan]

Interesting. I prefer the BB staff not to be incentified to sell particular items -- I usually felt I was getting poor info, and in those cases where I knew a lot about the product I was seeking I was sure of it.

You really need that Monster(tm) HDMI cable for $40 to plug your new $100 HD Antenna(tm) into your tv! No, don't go to Newegg where you can get an hdmi cord for $4.99 and a plain old rabbit ears antenna that still works for $7.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

You really need that Monster(tm) HDMI cable for $40 to plug your new $100 HD Antenna(tm) into your tv! No, don't go to Newegg where you can get an hdmi cord for $4.99 and a plain old rabbit ears antenna that still works for $7.

$7 for rabbit ears? Grab some old wire out of a junkyard, cut it to the appropriate length, solder a coaxial connector to it; costs practically nothing! http://users.wfu.edu/matthews/misc/dipole.html

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

You really need that Monster(tm) HDMI cable for $40 to plug your new $100 HD Antenna(tm) into your tv! No, don't go to Newegg where you can get an hdmi cord for $4.99 and a plain old rabbit ears antenna that still works for $7.

I wish I could get an antenna for that cheap. I live too far away from where the broadcast antennas are in this market (40-50 miles north of me), and therefore had to get a powered antenna to pick up the signals.

 

[unofan]

I wish I could get an antenna for that cheap. I live too far away from where the broadcast antennas are in this market (40-50 miles north of me), and therefore had to get a powered antenna to pick up the signals.

But that has nothing to do with the signals being HD.

An "HD Antenna" is simply a normal antenna that has been marked up in price because most people don't know better and think that, like cable boxes, you need a special one to get HD channels.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

Interesting. I prefer the BB staff not to be incentified to sell particular items -- I usually felt I was getting poor info, and in those cases where I knew a lot about the product I was seeking I was sure of it.

I was at BBY for quite a while in a variety of roles. This was commonplace. Commission based staff knew what was profitable (that's what they got paid on). Sales staff group think was formed a preference for brands based on 'quality' which mysteriously aligned 100% with profit margins (and subsequently commissions).

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

But that has nothing to do with the signals being HD.

An "HD Antenna" is simply a normal antenna that has been marked up in price because most people don't know better and think that, like cable boxes, you need a special one to get HD channels.

Right, I'm aware of all that point; it didn't even register to me that it would require a response. But yes, to your point, it's easy for people in those stores to make these claims to unsuspecting individuals. In fact, there's a company selling those "HD Antennas" through an informercial on local TV recently. Their sales pitch is phenomenally complex, bringing in "experts" on HD signal broadcasting to explain how you don't need cablt TV to get an HD signal.

Found it.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

But that has nothing to do with the signals being HD.

An "HD Antenna" is simply a normal antenna that has been marked up in price because most people don't know better and think that, like cable boxes, you need a special one to get HD channels.

Pricing on antennas, ect. is based on the fact that its an accessory. Merchandising strategy for the category says that these are not traffic drivers nor are they price sensitive in the same way as the TV itself. And as such, the objective of accessory categories is strictly profit. Price it up until you stop making money.

 

[unofan]

Pricing on antennas, ect. is based on the fact that its an accessory. Merchandising strategy for the category says that these are not traffic drivers nor are they price sensitive in the same way as the TV itself. And as such, the objective of accessory categories is strictly profit. Price it up until you stop making money.

What a perfect corporate-speak phrasing of, "Best Buy makes money by ripping people off on the small goods."

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

What a perfect corporate-speak phrasing of, "Best Buy makes money by ripping people off on the small goods."

Show me an industry that doesn't do that. Ever wonder why restaurant wait staff pushes appetizers, desserts, and drinks?

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

What a perfect corporate-speak phrasing of, "Best Buy makes money by ripping people off on the small goods."

I spose. As a retailer, you need to plan and pick your priorities...which in this case is based on a broader strategy to get footsteps (or clicks) and purchases while making money. As a consumer, it pays to be wise to what your buying and the prices of those items.

As is always the case in life, it pays to be smart in any type of significant dealings of others.

 

[Almington]

Oh I don't doubt that, Walmart is pretty bad. Actually, retail in general just sucks.

I do consider myself lucky working at UPS and being a Teamster. That said, I know I'd be going through the same * if it wasn't for the union.

Retail will just chew you up and spit you out. At work we just churn through people at about a rate of one per two weeks to hold the staff excluding management steady at about 40 (including the 8 full time non-management staff). Only 6 of the part-time people have been at the store longer than one year. That level of turnover isn't uncommon but it leads to near constant training of people who are quickly going to leave. Also, unless a company is opening new stores, moving up is very difficult since not many opening become available.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Retail will just chew you up and spit you out. At work we just churn through people at about a rate of one per two weeks to hold the staff excluding management steady at about 40 (including the 8 full time non-management staff). Only 6 of the part-time people have been at the store longer than one year. That level of turnover isn't uncommon but it leads to near constant training of people who are quickly going to leave. Also, unless a company is opening new stores, moving up is very difficult since not many opening become available.

And that's why I'd like never be in retail, huge personal cost and little reward. Sadly retail is what most jobs seem to be these days.

My job here has a huge turnover rate but it's mostly environmental, kind of hard to find people willing outside in winter. That, and contrary to our management's belief, not just anybody can do our jobs.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Frayed Ends: Business, Economics, and Tax Policy 3.0

And that's why I'd like never be in retail, huge personal cost and little reward. Sadly retail is what most jobs seem to be these days.

My job here has a huge turnover rate but it's mostly environmental, kind of hard to find people willing outside in winter. That, and contrary to our management's belief, not just anybody can do our jobs.

Retail is just fine if you sign up with a decent outfit, have good managers, and are either a student or retired.