Joined: 09 Oct 2004
Posts: 132
Location: Deep Space 9
| Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject: | |
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Well, our visit is coming up soon. Had the first walk through, and now every manager has gone anal. No smiles, no talk, nothing. Glad I am on vacation for the next week. I don't even want to go back if it like this. Compliance has turned decent managers (yes I've got some good ones) into Borg drones. Nobody cares about sales, just about whether or not we've got our scoreboards up to date.
The first walk through found a lot of little things wrong, things that can be easily corrected. But with the cut in hours that we have been given, there is no time to do extra things. Throw in an extra truck and everything is in the crapper. Hope they come next week, then maybe things will get back to normal, if there is such a thing. |
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Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 20
| Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:14 am Post subject: | |
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We had our compliance check this week they expect perfection in all processes and procedures.Looks like we scored in the upper 80's and 90% is the minimum to have a passing grade.
Good luck to all this is a bitch to pass. |
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Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 2073
| Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: | |||
So essentially you have to get an "A" grade just to pass? I wonder how many of these inspecting managers got through high school/college with a C average... 
It's more of the SOS. They expect perfection but won't budget the resources to make it even remotely possible. |
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Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Posts: 161
| Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:15 pm Post subject: | |
| I believe the number is 14 wrong out of some 196 time wasters. Congratulations folks, you have been set up to fail. | |
Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 1570
Location: Michigan
| Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject: | |
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Another indication that these processes are making a difference -- don't be so quick to rush to judgment!
2nd Quarter SSS LOSSES: Overall SHC: 8.6% Sears: 12.5% Kmart: 3.9% Wouldn't you think that the customers would be flocking in because of shiny hooks, planned cashwraps, and "processes" in place and visible to them? Seems that would be what those execs think would happen because of all of this blowing of smoke. Or are they over at WalMart and others actually buying merchandise? The execs can't see that because the smoke is too dense. It's your fault, of course, even though they created it. Customers can see the smoke too, I guess, by those numbers. |
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8212
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject: | |
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These numbers are in no way surprising. In fact, when I read a couple of the headlines that shouted "Surprise Losses" I damned near snorted my morning Pepsi out of my nose.
Why is it that the only people stupid enough to be surprised by ANY of this crap are the people who make the big bucks for supposedly having some inkling of what the hell is going on in their own little world? Lord, I'm just waiting to see how Todd Sullivan spins this one. |
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Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Posts: 6045
| Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject: Gomer Pyle | |
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Yeah I noticed that too about the ' surprise '. Then again if they do better than the predictions they have a ' surprise '.
Jb sums up Aylwin's legacy with the 2-Q results. This is year 5 of the ' merger ' and SHLD still isn't shit. This is when all the culture,silos and seed sowing should've kicked in. Aylwin B Lewis -SHLD 2 Q 2009 -THIS IS YOUR LEGACY Being a puppet/frontman sucks... |
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Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Posts: 6045
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:35 am Post subject: YEAR 2 | |
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And it's year 2 of Kevin Holt the Meijer guy . mr scrub a dub .
Year 2 and mr scrub a dub is mucking it up after 5 years of Lacy and 3 years of Lewis . mr scrub a dub has failed to slow or halt the declines . You know hard that it is to do ? |
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Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 2073
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject: | |||
A couple of articles mentioned "improved inventory control" and a slight increase in the gross margins at Sears considered separately from K-Mart (due to PA pressure no doubt). We'll see if Todd can run with these.
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Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8212
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:05 pm Post subject: | |
| He's got to run with something or admit he's been been lugging 5 pounds of crap in that two pound sack of his. If the guy manages to STILL hump SHC after this one, then he's in dire need of some professional help... like from a REAL investment guru. | |
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 2073
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: | |
| I just watched Cramer's spiel. He claims Lampert hasn't been able to "amalgamate" SHC's retail potential without a CEO. He cites the improvement in inventory and the lower number of shares outstanding as proof Eddie is still making progress. We'll see if Todd publishes something similar in the next few days. | |
Joined: 06 Jul 2003
Posts: 8212
Location: Central CA
| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:14 pm Post subject: | |
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Geez!! These people must have found a free source for the bullshit they peddle given the massive quantities they seem to have for sale.
Well, that probably tells us how Toddy's going to spin it. |
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Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Posts: 663
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:50 am Post subject: core and compliance | |
| Had ours...don't know how we did yet. I do know we lost points because an associate in rec. didn't have their shirt tucked in,the shelves on a planno in D9 were 19 inches apart instead of the 23 inches the planno called for(yes...the guy had a tape measure and actually measured them!),we had sign stock on the shelf in the singing room that we don't use anymore,and I got dinged because I had a pocket calendar on my signing cart,and a pair of scissors.What was I thinking??????? The best part was the guy was getting ready to mark us off for not having all on sale signs on small appliances and luggage. Luckily I was with them when they were walking those areas and I said "I'm sorry,but according to my sheets that isn't until the 4th.Did something change?" The DM,and this corporate guy looked at me as if to say "how dare you question us" and the store mgr. looked like he was going to faint.I keep the signing sheets on my cart so I went and got them and showed them to them,and the corporate guy said "hmmmm....you are right.Why is it on my checklist?" Damned if I know but I wasn't about to lose points over THEIR mistake. This was before I got dinged on my contraband calendar and scissors on my cart......no doubt that was pay back for calling them on a mistake? Absolutely nothing they were checking had ANY relevance to customers or sales.I can see them being anal about out of stocks,and the floor being full,but another thing they nailed us on was clearance not being perfectly sized in SL. Give me a freakin break! It was late in the afternoon and the clrx. is an extra 40% off.Anyone that works SL knows what it is like when the clrx. vultures get in the store.If they wanted sized clrx. they should have checked that before the store opened.I sooooo badly wanted to say "you want clrx. sized and maintained? Give us people/hours to do it",but I was already in the "dog house".God bless any of you that haven't had this inspection yet......it is so knit picky it is not funny. | |
Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 1570
Location: Michigan
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: core and compliance | |||||||||
And THERE is the "common sense" of the whole exercise. I know I'm not saying anything new, but the continuing question remains unanswered: "WHY???" Where do these 'experts' that Eddie hires and keeps on the payroll get their priorities from?
More victims of the SCS (Starched Collar Syndrome) that is so prevalent at SHC. Another symptom probably quickly followed: The reddening of the face, the flaring of the nostrils, the quickened breathing. That's actually a good sign--blood is actually flowing above the collar-line to the brain once again. It is short-lived, lest you think something rational be occurring in the gray matter and coming to the lips. It will quickly turn into the Speaking in Tongues: corporate "policy" will be recited as the answer that covers all.
Only brief bewilderment; don't think you are getting anywhere. Notice the complete abandonment of common sense continues -- the following of rote company materials is paramount. Trust only the company, komrade. It is good.
Common sense is punished. How dare you actually not trust the company to tell you how to do things! How dare you question authority! Was it like this? |
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Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Posts: 6045
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject: image is everything | |
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thirdtime's scissors & pocket calanders have caused a decade of SSS DECLINES ?????????? WTF -talk about misplaced priorities
But in the executive wanna be world IMAGE IS EVERYTHING; substance does not count. Especially in retail where many of these alleged so called retail executives consider the floor A SHOW: AN ACT; to impress each other and not the customer or employee the 2 people that matter. Curious were these execs old Sears or SHLD/Kmart/Kevin Holt flunkies. |
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Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 2073
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: core and compliance | |||
It's so true. During prosperous times in a company with a good concept, blind obedience to the company line is functional. But as soon as a company starts falling apart, these people start acting like stress outed zombies. Their methods don't work, but they don't know what else to do. So they just get louder and more agitated.
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Joined: 08 Jul 2003
Posts: 6045
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: | |
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allhands -obedient stressout zombies who wind up getting louder and more agitated
Sums it up rather well. It's usually at this point some call for a pity party for SGM who is under so much pressure(but they volunteered for) from the DM who under pressure from VPs and corporate -yada yada yada. |
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Joined: 13 Jun 2008
Posts: 161
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:28 pm Post subject: | |
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Tomorrow I interview with Home Depot, and I hope I get a position there. I REALLY want to make my guarantee reality. So, with that in mind, I guarantee the following:
1. My first question will be, "Explain to me exactly how this benefits my customer?" 2. The looks on everyone's faces will be priceless as they scramble to answer the question somehow. 3. The response to their lame-assed explanations will be, "Well, since it doesn't in fact benefit my customer, then it's a useless process. One I shall ignore since my customer comes first. 4. Walk away and back to whatever busy work they assign to me since the MCA lead isn't competent enough to do the job. |
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Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Posts: 72
| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:54 pm Post subject: Core Compliance... | |
| and then they go to the SGM's office and call a HA department; the phone is supposed to be answered in 20 seconds or less. Do you think that happened? Or do you think they called the department more than once? Does any Brand Central or Lawn and Garden department in the company answer their phone within 20 seconds. Don't know about your store, but it is a rarity to have someone from those particular departments answer the phone that quickly. I'm not saying they're not busy or understaffed or, perhaps, even busy - but 20 seconds is not a lot of time to answer the phone. Is 20 seconds even three rings??? | |