Getting SOS certified

Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Ohio

My new store is about to open. One of the specialist (by choice) is going to attend some meetings away from the store during the opening. Besides thinking this is a huge mistake for him, I'm thinking this would be prime time for me to make some $$$. From what I understand, I need to be SOS certified. Is this just a matter of taking the e-learning SOS course? I'm hoping I might be able to squeeze it in over the next few days. Appears to be about 2 hours? Any advice or helpful hints?

Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

All special order cert. tests can be taken in your department at your desk. go in early or stay late and take them.

Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Ohio

The training at our new store is a joke. Everyone has been setting up the store working massive hours. In fact, we have been told that we now hold the record for the fastest store set up in Lowes history. Of course it has nothing to do with how hard everyone worked but how management implemented the new store set up procedure.

Of course other things suffer because of this. One being the training. The ding dong HR comes out to the morning meeting and tells everyone that many training courses are past due. Of course as new employees we had no idea these existed. Then she opens he mouth and says, "What the heck has everyone been doing?" Well......duh!! Then she states that all courses must be completed within 3 days at all cost. Then the store manager comes up and says that many areas of the store are not complete and they must be completed within 3 days at all cost. Then the operations manager comes up and says everyone has meetings with vendors the entire day over the next 3 days and all meetings must be attended at all cost. GEEZ...its enough to make your head spin!

Anyway, many of us have already asked about training at our stations or during off hours and the answer from everyone was NO and we better not get caught doing so.

Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 70 Location: NY

Yea, don't get caught taking your e-courses or anything while off the clock. Naughty!

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 136

technically you could kinda...sorta...

go to other ends of the store...rtm, receiving, deliveries and sos coordinator and you can probably do things without being seen

But if training is up to the individual then why do they do this stuff?

could bring some of the books home...it's paper and they can order more...there's no secrets there.

Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Ohio

The entire thing sends me so many mixed feelings. I made friends with two specialist during the store set up and asked each one what they thought. Both have 7+ years with Lowes. One is an appliance specialist who told me a story about when he worked in the millwork dept. Guess he had this woman team leader who was pretty much worthless. She spent her entire time talking e-courses at different work stations. She was constantly being dragged out of the training room to provide customer service. To make a long story short, she is now a zone manager.

The other tells the story about how some Lowes workers are team players and others are just out for themself. I nod my head in agreement about being a team player until he gets to the part of the story telling me about how many of these selfess co-workers are now upper level management at his past stores.

Hmmm....so I guess I have two options. Make more money and get promoted by blowing off customer service, my department and any task or become a team player, an asset to my department and provide the best customer service possible. You know, Its a real shame that someone like myself wouldn't mind going in on my day off to train a couple hours so that I can better myself while providing 110% to Lowes, the department and customer service.

Right now I'm thinking about sneaking in Sunday morning (my day off) to finish my SOS certification. Since I'm new, I'm thinking I might be able to use the "Well nobody told me I couldn't do this" excuse. Honestly, how could they fire some newbie for trying to do something positive?

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 262

DO NOT WORK ON YOUR DAY OFF. Every time that you log onto the computer it is traced. You will be providing them with proof that you are breaking a labor law and a Lowe's policy. If you want to do some training about millwork then you go online at home and do some research. That is how you learn more on your time off.

I'd blow off the training since it will not reflect negatively on you but moreso on your HRM and your store management's lack of follow through. You will get pulled off of the floor once the store is opened. The sad thing is that it isn't the wisest thing to blow off training or trying to learn your job but there are many ways to learn. Follow the orders of those above you and let the HRM know that if they want you to train that they need to find someone to do the tasks that your store manager and ops manager have given to you.

You're learning about Lowe's. The online training is pretty much a joke. Try reading the book and then spend some time googling your department. Hell, Lowe's.com even has how to sections. You can print those out and read them at your leisure. Tons of information under myloweslife.com also, just chose millwork and print everything that is under that section. You will be brought more up to date than by sitting in the training room.

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 136

I wouldn't go in during a day off for training...

If you snuck some time in while on the floor or during a lunch that's one thing

technically the date is recorded but not the time...on the same level if you have 2 or more terminals you can take two or so tests at the same time....

Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 7

Actually, LLC will only allow you to be logged on at one terminal. You can log on to a 2nd one, but the first one will lock up. Only 1 test at a time. Trust me, I have tried.

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 136

It's allowed it for me before but it might have changed. There are ways to open up two windows though so you could run two llc's on one terminal.

Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Ohio

Ok, so check this out. We opened Monday with contractors day. First of all, I'm bummed out because I didnt start until the afternoon. I wanted to be in the mix of things and moving some products. Anyway, I get there and they have both specialist working and a millworks team leader from another store. The department is beyond covered. I'm thinking with the department covered and business slow, this would be great timing to get my SOS certification. Five minutes into the e-course, I hear a page that I'm needed in shipping.

The OPS Manager is there and a bunch of trucks lined up outside. I'm told that I have a lot of experience from the mass receiving and that I need to help unload the trucks and supervise the couple of part-timers helping. Flash forward 8 hours and all the appliances and products are unloaded and being pulled to the floor. Its now 11:30 pm and the managers call it a night. One manager jokes, "Look at the bright side, you won't be the poor sucker having to put it all away." I guess the joke was on me because i'm the poor sucker who has to be back at work at 6:30 am.

So back to work I go and start moving on the pallets of products. The doors open to the public and millwork starts to get slammed. Wow....the one specialist doesn't start until noon! The other one is off and the team leader from another store doesn't come in until late afternoon. So, up walks this guy and I make a $12,000 SOS sale! I walk the guy up to the checkout counter and ask him if he owns a business. After that I directed the guy down to commercial sales. They are happy! So then the commericial guys give the customer 10% off and it drops my deal to $10,000 and some. By this time I'm worried about not getting my SOS certification. Will I get a commission or not?
After the specialist and the other team leader arrive, I head to the training room and finish my SOS certification.

All in all, I'm not sure if I should be happy or bummed out. I mean, it was a big sell and it was my first SOS sale. Some say I may get a commission while others say I won't. A few said it wont amount to much because I took the customer to commericial sales and they ruined my margain with the 10% off. Others say I did a really good thing because everyone is pushing commercial sales right now. Like I said, I'm confused on how I should feel.

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 136

that's a pretty huge sos order...depending on margin.and the amount that would show as to how much

Your sales manager should be able to do a refund rebill if you aren't certified.

even if you get 1% that's $100. If the margin is at the max then I think it's 3% so $300.

Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 29

Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Ohio

I was a little in insulted at the morning meeting the other day. The store manager gave a pat on the back to lumber for such high sales. Then he looked up at everyone else and said we need to step up like lumber. Well, the reason lumber was so high was due to my sale. I'm in millworks and the item I sold (composite decking) is displayed directly behind our millworks desk. Geez, now how is that fair! In fact, many products related to lumber or building materials is located at our millworks desk.

On a couple side notes. My sale was for Eon composite decking. The company is just plain rude. First, I was on hold for 20 minutes just standing there with the customer. Second, when the rep answered, he made a loud sigh when I said I needed help with a large order. Third, he treated me like crap because I worked for Lowes. In fact, the customer wanted to purchase $25,000 worth of the product but Eon refused to sell us half the order because we were not Home Depot. Let me say that again. The rep said they only sold some EON products to IMPORTANT retailers such as Home Depot and a few other exclusive stores. Man, If I didn't have a customer standing in front of me! I will never go out of my way to sell another EON product!

The margain for the sale was a lot higher but dropped down when I took the customer and order to commercial sales. When he opened a commercial sales account, they knocked off 10% and the margain dropped down to 12%. This brings up another interesting issue. One specialist gave me some advice and another one hinted the same point. Even though the company is pushing commercial sales and wanting everyone to take anybody who might have a business to the commecial sales counter to open a commercial sales business credit card, NEVER DO THAT! The point being, they will offer some type program or deal to the customer that will kill your margain. I find it interesting that Lowes puts such trust in "Specialist" and gives them "Carte blanche" to sit around at a desk doing crossword puzzles and not realize they hold their own interest over any Lowes agenda.

I will say this, I believe both specialist in my department are jealous of my sale. In fact, one made a crack to another specialist visiting from another store today. He said, " We are doing pretty good as long as all the sales the team leader is doing doesnt come back to bite us in the butt." I took offense to the comment and spouted, " Gee, its funny how we have two specialist in the millworks department and if you added up the combined sales of both, the team leader who knows nothing about millworks products and only been on the job for a few days is outselling them both combined. I'm not sure if I should have made that comment but it kind of came out of my mouth without thinking.

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 262

I don't understand why you were upset that you made a sale for the building materials department? Yes, you are in Millwork but it's a combined effort of all departments not just yours that allows your store to remain open. Some products are cross merchandised and it doesn't make sense who is getting credit for them. Don't worry about that! If you were a specialist in the department and your tl was selling product from a different department I could see why you could be upset. I get the feeling that you were looking for validation from the morning meeting. Don't look at Lowe's to validate your abilities. Just be glad you have a job. Move onto the next sos sale and perhaps it will be something in your product group. You don't get monthly bonuses so just be glad you receive some commission.

Just wondering if you actually received commission or not?

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 136

I wouldn't totally worry about stuff. If the vendor doesn't like who's buying from them just tell them "Well maybe hd might have sold this order if they didn't close down the stores near the customer!"

hd used to be big near me but they aren't anymore. too many stores, firing off employees that had experience...

sos orders at least it makes sense that there's commission. once the commerical sales specialist was on lunch and I made a order...why wait for him to show up...