First Post - Circuit City Freebies - pretty hot

[jdogg707]

somewhere about what your friend got

 

[zettler]

Here is a news story about today:

http://www.thestreet.com/_tsclsii/stocks/troywolverton/10066890.html


Circuit City is trying to jumpstart its business, but the effort will be costly.

The struggling electronics retailer on Wednesday announced that it will cease paying commissions to its sales associates and lay off 3,900 commissioned employees. The company plans to take a charge of $40 million, or 12 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, which ends next month, to cover the cost of severance and lost sales due to the changes.

(MORE at Link above)

 

[nape]

Originally posted by: MYKnyte
That's because there's rumors that instead of paying out commission, they are converting to Hourly/Salary.
That would suck big time for all the sales people, but good for us consumers!!!

yeah baby!!

I don't know how old you are, but I don't hope something like that happens to your son/daughter/yourself. That commission is nice to live on, it was tempting to look at CC as a prospective employer. I'm glad I didn't make the jump from OM to CC now though, as I'd be out on my ass.

Sales sucks for hourly/salary people who are out to keep customers coming back. I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it. I get customer compliments all the time, but that's only good enough to get me a buck raise every 9 months or so. Everyone else can slid by doing very little and get their quarter a year, it's frustrating. I just got a buck raise, that's a big raise for an associate, but the pay is still pretty crappy. The only other way I can add to my check is to sell Replacement/Service plans. It just pisses me off that every employee is replaceable/throw-away to these companies

You may have to pay someone more to get the job done, but if you keep that employee happy it'll come back in spades. Mindless drones don't do much for sales, but when your store is comp'ing 10-15% every day in most departments, it shows your people are doing their thing [or you're really lucky].

I'd rather have good people behind me then cheap people. My $.02

 

[Xionide]

one time i back when the gift certifacates werent cards they were more of receipt looking things, well anyway i went in and i had it in my wallet for a year and it faded but you could see that it was a gift certificate but some of the numbers and barcode was gone. they said that they couldnt except it(i was 9 at the time) so i told my dad and he went over there looking pretty pissed and almost shat themselves and where trying really hard just to get the sucker scanned but it wouldnt work, so they tried the number but it was faded, then he told them to enter the name of the people who gave us the card and they couldnt get that up either. so there like sorry buddy your sol but by now there just being snively pr!cks so my dad gets the manager and he like b!tched the two sales guys out and gave us our credit. this only took an hour

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: UberVoodooFX9700
one time i back when the gift certifacates werent cards they were more of receipt looking things, well anyway i went in and i had it in my wallet for a year and it faded but you could see that it was a gift certificate but some of the numbers and barcode was gone. they said that they couldnt except it(i was 9 at the time) so i told my dad and he went over there looking pretty pissed and almost shat themselves and where trying really hard just to get the sucker scanned but it wouldnt work, so they tried the number but it was faded, then he told them to enter the name of the people who gave us the card and they couldnt get that up either. so there like sorry buddy your sol but by now there just being snively pr!cks so my dad gets the manager and he like b!tched the two sales guys out and gave us our credit. this only took an hour

what in god's name are you babbling about?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: pspada
for us, please scan that puppy in, we sure to be grateful are!

Like my Yoda impression?

Scan this puppy you must. Grateful, we will be.

My Yoda version.

 

[imported_Mike]

ya, at my store the canned the top 4 employees, i guess cc cant afford to pay them... one guy never made less than $50,000 a year selling tvs on comission, i told him to go sell cars. then they moved the 3 laziest people up to "sales" with an hourly raise.

 

[DennisK]

Yes, yes, yes! I saw this posted yesterday afternoon and rushed down to CC. I've had my eye on a Pioneer vsx 811s for weeks and missed the BB $399-$100 rebate deal prior to Christmas. CC's been selling it for $349 the past few days.

The sign was still on the door but when I went to the front desk they weren't about to give me the coupon. I went back to the receiver section and asked the salesman if there was anything he could do to help. Nope. Waited around a few minutes for another salesman to see me and ask me if I needed help. I tried again and this one was more flexible. I asked if they PM. He asked for more info and I produced a printout from 6ave.com that showed $275 + $16 s/h = $291. He said he could match that + knock off $10 for the gift coupon I missed out on that morning. $281 + tax and I was out the door with a new receiver! No rebates to deal with either. Thanks for the heads up!!

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.

Um isn't that why they hire you?

 

[Shademeister]

Originally posted by: UberVoodooFX9700
one time i back when the gift certifacates werent cards they were more of receipt looking things, well anyway i went in and i had it in my wallet for a year and it faded but you could see that it was a gift certificate but some of the numbers and barcode was gone. they said that they couldnt except it(i was 9 at the time) so i told my dad and he went over there looking pretty pissed and almost shat themselves and where trying really hard just to get the sucker scanned but it wouldnt work, so they tried the number but it was faded, then he told them to enter the name of the people who gave us the card and they couldnt get that up either. so there like sorry buddy your sol but by now there just being snively pr!cks so my dad gets the manager and he like b!tched the two sales guys out and gave us our credit. this only took an hour

So that would make you 10 now? God, go back to third grade, where they teach you how to develop a complete thought.

 

[rdh]

Originally posted by: huesmann

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.

Um isn't that why they hire you?

I was going to reply to all that dreck, but that about says it all. I cant think of one situation where a salesman on a commission *ever* got me a better deal or made my buying experience even one iota better. If I know what I want, the salesdroid adds nothing but expense. If I dont know what I want, it is rare that the salesdroid adds any information of value. It is the salesdroid's #2 purpose in life to extract as high a price from you as possible. At BB/CC/etc, their #1 purpose in life is to sell extended warranties and add-on devices to go with that big ticket purchase. The only real benefit of the sales person is that he is there to help me lift the item into my car.

 

[Cybrid]

rdh: I absolutely disagree. I'm a sales associate at OM. There are a small minority of customers that, frankly, know the product better than I do. They all know what they need better than I do. My job is to take the information I get from them regarding their needs and use my exposure to the product (after all, I work with this stuff all day long) to find a machine that will fit their needs. No one needs a furniture salesman. No one really needs sales in a copy center, which is my store's big thing all of a sudden. Some product purchases like cars, consumer electronics and even clothing can benefit from a knowledgeable sales person.

-Ty

 

[TheDiggler]

Originally posted by: zettler
-------------------------
IMPORTANT NOTICE:

ALL K-MART AND WALMART STORES WILL BE CLOSED IN IRAQ.

THEY WILL BE REPLACED WITH TARGETS.

That is one of the FUNNIEST tag lines I've ever read!

 

[SwEeT19AzN]

someone have a fax so the man can send the flyer along?

 

[gtdealman]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Journeyed down to the Willow Grove, Pa one today to pick up my $9.99 internet order (a closed out Satellite Dish installation kit including a 6 ft S-VHS cable, 75' of RG-6 Coax, a tube of silicon sealant and a compass amongst a ton of other high grade and useful stuff) and saw that they were closed. I was enraged and began banging on the plate glass window really, really long and really, really hard until a CC guy came out and gave me the $5 off dealy, along with his nervous and profuse apologies.

This afternoon, they took $5.30 (w/tax) off my $10 bill.

how rude... figures why salespeople are always so mean, they meet someone like u ..

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: gtdealman

Originally posted by: Perknose
Journeyed down to the Willow Grove, Pa one today to pick up my $9.99 internet order (a closed out Satellite Dish installation kit including a 6 ft S-VHS cable, 75' of RG-6 Coax, a tube of silicon sealant and a compass amongst a ton of other high grade and useful stuff) and saw that they were closed. I was enraged and began banging on the plate glass window really, really long and really, really hard until a CC guy came out and gave me the $5 off dealy, along with his nervous and profuse apologies.

This afternoon, they took $5.30 (w/tax) off my $10 bill.

how rude... figures why salespeople are always so mean, they meet someone like u ..

Yeah, but you have no idea how long of a ride it is to go from where Perknose lives to Willow Grove - on route 611. I'm in pain just thinking about it. And, yes, if I had to drive that far, I'd be banging on the doors like crazy, too!

 

[WingsOverVirginia]

Originally posted by: huesmann

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.

Um isn't that why they hire you?

No, commissioned salespeople are hired to develope a base of loyal/returning customers. A good salesperson will know to offer his regular customers a break in sales price without going below his/her commission level. They will also tell the customer when they don't know the answer to a customer's question and will get back to them when they find out the correct answer (instead of just making it up and not wanting to say "I don't know"). They will call regular customers when an item that will enhance a past sale or a future wish of the customer's goes on sale and maintain a relationship with the customer. In return the customer will send in their friends and family who will ask for the individual salesperson reaping them more commissions and the store more sales.In doing this for the customer they will (hopefully) come back to you for their next big purchase item even when it's not on sale. That is "Sales 101" along with FAB selling (Feature/Advantage/Benefit) and SWAT (Sell What's Available Today). Removing the commission incentive takes away the reason to develope and maintain a customer base and lowers the quality of service you and I will receive from the sales force.

 

[devilboy215]

Originally posted by: jasonja
That sucks, CC was always better for service because their sales staff was commissioned and eager to help.

i don't think that's true.... after all look at fry's... their people get paid on commision... and see how they act....

 

[rdh]

Originally posted by: WingsOverVirginia

Originally posted by: huesmann

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.

Um isn't that why they hire you?

No, commissioned salespeople are hired to develope a base of loyal/returning customers. A good salesperson will know to offer his regular customers a break in sales price without going below his/her commission level. They will also tell the customer when they don't know the answer to a customer's question and will get back to them when they find out the correct answer (instead of just making it up and not wanting to say "I don't know"). They will call regular customers when an item that will enhance a past sale or a future wish of the customer's goes on sale and maintain a relationship with the customer. In return the customer will send in their friends and family who will ask for the individual salesperson reaping them more commissions and the store more sales.In doing this for the customer they will (hopefully) come back to you for their next big purchase item even when it's not on sale. That is "Sales 101" along with FAB selling (Feature/Advantage/Benefit) and SWAT (Sell What's Available Today). Removing the commission incentive takes away the reason to develope and maintain a customer base and lowers the quality of service you and I will receive from the sales force.

You make my point exactly. If I am not a regular customer... or if I am a customer that knows what he wants..., the salesdroids are pretty much just slime... pushing the highest margin item and an extended warranty for his/her own benefit.

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: rdh
You make my point exactly. If I am not a regular customer... or if I am a customer that knows what he wants..., the salesdroids are pretty much just slime... pushing the highest margin item and an extended warranty for his/her own benefit.

Zackly. I'd wager that most of us here don't go shopping without knowing what we're looking for (going out to put the smackdown on a hot deal like as not ).

 

[Shagger]

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Um isn't that why they hire you?

I am reminded of the scene from Clerks where Randall states - "This job would be great if it wasn't for the F***ing customers!

 

[dragonlord2112]

Originally posted by: Shagger

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Um isn't that why they hire you?

I am reminded of the scene from Clerks where Randall states - "This job would be great if it wasn't for the F***ing customers!

"Cute cat. What's it's name?"
"Annoying Customer"

 

[WingsOverVirginia]

Originally posted by: rdh

Originally posted by: WingsOverVirginia

Originally posted by: huesmann

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.

Um isn't that why they hire you?

No, commissioned salespeople are hired to develope a base of loyal/returning customers. A good salesperson will know to offer his regular customers a break in sales price without going below his/her commission level. They will also tell the customer when they don't know the answer to a customer's question and will get back to them when they find out the correct answer (instead of just making it up and not wanting to say "I don't know"). They will call regular customers when an item that will enhance a past sale or a future wish of the customer's goes on sale and maintain a relationship with the customer. In return the customer will send in their friends and family who will ask for the individual salesperson reaping them more commissions and the store more sales.In doing this for the customer they will (hopefully) come back to you for their next big purchase item even when it's not on sale. That is "Sales 101" along with FAB selling (Feature/Advantage/Benefit) and SWAT (Sell What's Available Today). Removing the commission incentive takes away the reason to develope and maintain a customer base and lowers the quality of service you and I will receive from the sales force.

You make my point exactly. If I am not a regular customer... or if I am a customer that knows what he wants..., the salesdroids are pretty much just slime... pushing the highest margin item and an extended warranty for his/her own benefit.

No, I don't make your point. If you get a good salesperson they should do whatever it takes to make you a regular customer. After all, every regular customer was once a first timer.

 

[nape]

Originally posted by: rdh

Originally posted by: WingsOverVirginia

Originally posted by: huesmann

Originally posted by: nape
I bust my ass to help customers and get hardly anything extra for it.

Um isn't that why they hire you?

No, commissioned salespeople are hired to develope a base of loyal/returning customers. A good salesperson will know to offer his regular customers a break in sales price without going below his/her commission level. They will also tell the customer when they don't know the answer to a customer's question and will get back to them when they find out the correct answer (instead of just making it up and not wanting to say "I don't know"). They will call regular customers when an item that will enhance a past sale or a future wish of the customer's goes on sale and maintain a relationship with the customer. In return the customer will send in their friends and family who will ask for the individual salesperson reaping them more commissions and the store more sales.In doing this for the customer they will (hopefully) come back to you for their next big purchase item even when it's not on sale. That is "Sales 101" along with FAB selling (Feature/Advantage/Benefit) and SWAT (Sell What's Available Today). Removing the commission incentive takes away the reason to develope and maintain a customer base and lowers the quality of service you and I will receive from the sales force.

You make my point exactly. If I am not a regular customer... or if I am a customer that knows what he wants..., the salesdroids are pretty much just slime... pushing the highest margin item and an extended warranty for his/her own benefit.

I know I'm draging this thread up but I don't visit Anandtech every day anymore. You are one of the rare people in this country. You actually research what you want to buy before you hit the stores. I'd say 7 out of 10 customers that walk into my store have no clue what model they want, but they know what features they want. I used my knowledge to direct them towards the correct piece of electronics.

And I'm pretty pissed off about being called slime. I could give a crap about pushing the highest margin item. Yes, we sell cables which have an insane markup. I only sell them if they need them, and because they need them. If I didn't sell them, that customer would get home and be pissed off because they'd have to come back again. I don't get crap for a bonus based on sales dollar amounts, and none of my performance ratings are based on it. This past week at OfficeMax the Deskjet 5550 printer was on sale with a $50 instant rebate making it $100, and the Photosmart 7350 had a $50 instant on it making it $150 [almost no margin left]. That fit the bill for a lot of people, and we were sold out by Thursday because of it. I could care less if we sell one Photosmart 7550 [highest markup, I believe]. If that customer leaves satisfied and comes back later, my job has been done.

Big sales every once in a while don't help numbers as much as repeat business does. The only reason I care about comp numbers is because it helps my managers get raises. The management team at my store is a pretty kick ass group of people and I work hard to make sure they get their raise [which is based on sales, employee surveys, and customer surveys]. As long as I make decent money there and they stay flexible with my schedule I hope to keep working there.

 

[RDMustang1]

weird, all the CCs around me went from commission to hourly about 2 years ago.. a friend had to find a new job cause the hourly didn't pay as much as he brought in as commission... wonder why it's taking so long for all the other CCs to follow..