Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Another one on the way out

This recently got sent to me. I take it I wasn't the only recipient:

"Sears Portrait Studio,
I wanted to let you know why you are losing another talented manager....
I understand the MPC, I understand controlling labor, I actually enjoy setting goals that we can achieve... I understand customer service... That IS our advertising.....I get the call lists... our customers and a reminder.... I am good at the 8 poses per session... very good in fact. I have been in the top ten for 3 years in a row. I met you in St Louis. I have moved from a low volume to a high. But, you as a company have taken away from me as an employee..I didn't even get a year end review this year let alone a raise.No company recognition, even on a district level. I have been through four District Managers, my lunch was always at the customer's discretion. Now I am damned if I take a lunch break.. ie customer service, damned if I don't..ie I have to e-mail why.
I have to achieve three outreach appointments every day, and you won't advertise in the yellow pages. How can I "we" call the same people over and over.
I have had enough of trying to hire underpaid employees and asking them to be "on call' , I am willing to be responsible for my numbers, for my business and my employees as a studio manager, I am willing to be a salesperson PRS , photography specialist 5 star...I just wish that you as a company would appreciate what we in the field have and continue to accomplish as representatives of your company.We are the people that make your company profitable.... I am why the customers continue to come back... not the 4.99 coupons. It's because I have taken more than 15 min in the camera room, because I care enough to give them the best service in every aspect... but because you as a corporation have chosen not to appreciate your employees as we are expected to value our customers, you are losing the talent that has made you a leader in the industry.. It takes quality people to make a quality experience..and a quality product.
I am and can train quality people, but I have neither the hours or the incentive to do so..only threats and company procedure to follow. I am leaving your company, I have had enough, I have seen the "who you know" get promoted to DM and I have seen good people bypassed. I just wanted you to know that sometimes the corporations bottom dollar policies can be detrimental to your business."

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a studio manager that just quit too. I can't take it anymore.

Anonymous said...

After a screeming match with my DM today about the ridiculous new outreach crap...I'm not far before I'm out too. I wish I never had to go back. How many managers can they honestly afford to loose?

Anonymous said...

amen people! im applying at my nearest grocery store...which begins at $2 more per hour than i make after years of service.

Anonymous said...

Life is SO much better
after cpi.
Enjoy a REAL company!!!

Anonymous said...

Losing this job, and it is only a job, has so many more benefits than actually keeping it! Stop being scared and start LIVING! If you don't make the decision for yourself they will soon make it for you. Another two long-term, loyal managers in my district were let go today for making too much money.

Anonymous said...

Right now, if i dont stay then i wouldnt have a job. Believe me, getting 20hrs a week is better than not getting any because you have no job!

Anonymous said...

That's bull, they weren't making too much money. They weren't putting forth the effort it takes to make their employment worthwhile. The fact that they say that that is why they were fired proves that they didn't understand the expectation that comes with higher pay.

Anonymous said...

ummmm.....which kool aid were you drinking and where do i stay away from it? there were NO RAISES this year. obviously they didnt get higher pay this year. most of these people getting fired were good managers making the money. this company is sneaky underhanded and looking for every way to save a nickel. face it we are expendable apparently EVERYONE can do what we do. EVERYONE can balance so many tasks at one time. EVERYONE can take a portrait and EVERYONE has the patience do deal with screaming kids and nagging parents day in and day out. so we are a dime a dozen. they are justified in letting us go bc any old person can do this. (thats sarcasm by the way) i envy your company patriotism, mine died out long ago.

Anonymous said...

off topic...
Any studio managers getting threatening phone calls or what not from those employees that were "released"????

I am, I am also being accused of letting him go for other reasons. I read that Darn script to him..he has to know it wasn't MY decison...he worked there for years and years..and told me that I am a C*&t...for letting him go..

*sigh* See what we have to put up with? I think the DM should have fired them all.. not us SMs!

Anonymous said...

"That's bull, they weren't making too much money. They weren't putting forth the effort it takes to make their employment worthwhile."

REALLY???!!! I didn't get a raise from 2001-2008 when they DID let me go for making too much money. I have the pleasure of being close friends with the DM that was told to fire me AND the HR person in the H.O. handling it. It was never that I did not deserve one, I got a $5000. bonus in 2004 and every discretionary bonus ever offered. Problem was, I moved 450 miles for CPI and they paid for ALL moving expenses and apartment for 6 months til I found my own, but they never bothered to tell me my salary would be capped when I got here. Why would CPI do all that to get me here if I were not "putting forth the effort"? Fact is, I was told by 2 DM's, a TM, and a VP that they could have hired 2 mngrs for what they paid me, but that I was worth it. Then, after being mngr of the yr and having one of the only increases in the district, the pressure to cut labor was too severe and I was the easy fix. Don't get me wrong, I am really glad they cut me. My life has improved x10 and I now see how honest, loyal ppl are treated in the real world.

Don't drink the kool-aid!

Anonymous said...

This morning I am drinking coffee and my eyes are wide open. I am finished with the kool aid.... My last day is right around the corner, I gave notice and I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Even in this recession I have had two interviews and I am eager to begin a new era. I am taking my talent and skills with me, and the SPS quality will fall another notch. Imagine a Christmas with My family instead of screaming two year olds and pissed off families... sounds fabulous!

Anonymous said...

"This morning I am drinking coffee and my eyes are wide open."

Thats fantastic! You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and will do fine after CPI. Good luck, and as a former VP of CPI told me quite often (before it turned into a communist territory), "Enjoy your family and ALWAYS put them first".

Anonymous said...

good for you! hopefully im close on your heels. im heading to a job fair today. if i quit that leaves one person in my studio to work and that person is job hunting too as far as i know. what happens when there are zero employees in a studio?

Anonymous said...

Well..I have a not so nice way to quit. First.. I am waiting for my asst mgr to go on vacation. Then..I am just going to call the DM (that b*&)h) and say, " I just got a great opportunity that I CAN'T refuse!..I have to quit...no, there will be no two week notice..no..I am quitting today...enjoy your life..hope you have to work in our studio the entire week the Asst mgr is in Hawaii!!!!!!, oh btw..welcome to the Ghetto where no one is going to fall for your 'ooohhh, but how can you put a price on that face???'..you are gonna see just how hard it is to get collections...muahhhhaaaaa"

God I hate that job..just 2 more days..just 2 more days.....

Anonymous said...

let us all know how that works out for you. my story of leaving was less dramatic because i actually loved my DM, but before her i dreamed up ways to quit and screw over the DM.

Burntoutmgr said...

I am currently looking for a new job or career. I love what I do and have been doing it for over 18 years. Lately the DM I used to like has been cracking the whip here at PMPS over meaningless BS information.

My sales are some of the highest in the district and above goal but sometimes the paperwork is not up to her standards so she is threatening me with a demotion to an associate level. I can't quit until I find another job. I will not accept a demotion whatsoever by the witch. I seen they are posting jobs in my area on the hotjobs website, so I am thinking they are going to be cutting some heads soon.

Anonymous said...

I left CPI and went into the optical field...The pay is less, but the commission helps balance things out. Of course, the "bankers hours", no weekends, no overcoming coupons, and laid back atmosphere don't hurt either. I had no experience, but the company was willing to train me. I look like a SUPERSTAR to them after what CPI expected of me! Start with Sears Optical...if they're not hiring, they know who is.

Anonymous said...

I minored in photography and thought being an associate would be a good job until I could afford grad school. I feel forced into poses, and pressured because I can not sell a 130.00 package to a family that can bearly afford the 7.99 deal and just wants some memories. I will be quiting and joining an americorp team, if i am going to be at poverty level I might as well be doing some good.

Anonymous said...

3 months ago I became SM of a failing studio. 930 something out of 950 something studios in MPC, sales, & sits. We are now 540 something in the 3 & our PRS is $124 for the quarter... Anyways, got a final warning on outreach a couple weeks ago. When I 1st took over the studio, the outreach goal was 20 appointments per week (didn't matter how far out the appointments were booked.) Then it changed to 21 appointments booked within the next 7 days. Contract was sent out and we were told that the associates that didn't sign it would be removed from the schedule until they signed it. Blackmail? I got my final warning because 2 associates running a 40 sit/week & $4500/week studio didn't have the time during business hours to make the appointments. Go figure! So my ASM & I stay late when we can to get them made. Chewed out over Overtime. Next week on a conference call we were told that we were not to leave our studios until our 3 appointments per day had been met, & SM weren't allowed to leave the store on Friday until we finished all appointments or until Sears kicked us out. I worked today from 9am until 10pm busting my hump to get outreach done. I went into Overtime by 2 hours... wonder if I'm gonna get termed for "excessive labor?" Oh... & if that weren't enough. Got an email today stating that we were now required to make 5 appointments within the next 7 days PER DAY... That's 35 appointments!! Bull shit!! I'm gonna require my associates make 3 appointments each per day or they can't go home... So when my DM bitches me out or fires me for "poor time management" or some other BS, I'll just tell her we were getting our "REQUIRED" outreach.
As much as I want to, I won't quit. Waiting for them to term me so I can draw unemployment on their asses!!!!

Anonymous said...

ok, so I finally quit too, I know this blog hasn't been active for a while. I miss it ! Now more than ever it should be active with all the shit happening. It sure helped me along the 3 years I was Mgr to understand how this place ticks,,,,,anyway, GL to ev1, I'll check bk later ;-)