Talk about shady...
Today I went to one of AT&T's corporate stores in a Northern Virginia mall to purchase a data cable for my Nokia phone.
One of the associates told me they don't have any but he has some at home and is willing to sell one to me for $20 instead of the store price of $30.
I am not trolling or anything. I am just shocked by this.
What the hell kind of practice is this?
One of the associates told me they don't have any but he has some at home and is willing to sell one to me for $20 instead of the store price of $30.
I am not trolling or anything. I am just shocked by this.
What the hell kind of practice is this?
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i do it all the time, it just depends if he is planning on pocketing it or ringing it through the system as used merchandise. If he is just pocketing it, then yes that is grounds for termination at my job and is quite shady. I dont know what corp rules are though if they can even sell used products. I have no problem selling used merchandise, I make more on commision and the customer is usually fine with saving money compared to retail. So its a win win. 😁
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Anyone caught selling their "own" stuff, used or new, will be fired in my company.
Shady is a nice way to put it. Theft is the more accurate terminology.
Shady is a nice way to put it. Theft is the more accurate terminology.
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texaswireless said:
Anyone caught selling their "own" stuff, used or new, will be fired in my company.
Shady is a nice way to put it. Theft is the more accurate terminology.
Wow Glad I don't work for you. The owwer of the Music store I work at not only allows us to seel our own gear. He will let us hang it in the store and doesn't take a dime. With a couple Mil worth of inventory he's not worried about losing a sale.
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Customer walks in, wants to buy a product which he does not have in stock but can order. He allows you to sell your OWN stuff instead of his, thereby making him lose a sale? If he does not get a cut similar to the profit he would have made on the other sale he doesn't have much business sense.
I am not in the business to pay rent, utilities, advertising and wages to have a sales rep offer their used/new merchandise to a customer instead of selling what I have available (in stock or not, we have excellent ordering policies and can get merchandise many in this town won't even sniff).
And I am glad you do not work for me as well.
I am not in the business to pay rent, utilities, advertising and wages to have a sales rep offer their used/new merchandise to a customer instead of selling what I have available (in stock or not, we have excellent ordering policies and can get merchandise many in this town won't even sniff).
And I am glad you do not work for me as well.
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texaswireless said:
Customer walks in, wants to buy a product which he does not have in stock but can order. He allows you to sell your OWN stuff instead of his, thereby making him lose a sale? If he does not get a cut similar to the profit he would have made on the other sale he doesn't have much business sense.
I am not in the business to pay rent, utilities, advertising and wages to have a sales rep offer their used/new merchandise to a customer instead of selling what I have available (in stock or not, we have excellent ordering policies and can get merchandise many in this town won't even sniff).
And I am glad you do not work for me as well.
Well My boss is not afraid of lsing a few sales to h...
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Good for him. I am sure Guitar Center has a good forum for this information. Considering this business is ENTIRELY different this post is not relevant.
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texaswireless said:
Good for him. I am sure Guitar Center has a good forum for this information. Considering this business is ENTIRELY different this post is not relevant.
On the contrary....
People who run ANY business could learn from the guy I work for. Keep your employees happy and rewarded above and beyond the status quo and your business will be 3x the status quo.
Some people still believe employees are expendable "neccesary evils".. And treat them as such. You can tell who they are by the turn over and peerpetual help wanted signs. Sound familiar?
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I Notice he doesn't WANT to work in "this" industry. All respects I walked into a ATT corporate store yesterday and couldn't help but think"what's it like to work everyday in this setting"- so carefull designed and styled with all the displays and big orange n blue panels. Ugh...
But on the plus side - he and his fellow older coworkers aren't out to earn a living at the expense of his boss. He's not walking home with inventory to resell after stealing it. He's not a loss control issue. He's fully bought into making the boss a profit.
I worked for the same situation for a cpl years selling sporting goods and would still be there, but I'm young and hungry, and HATE my new corporate jobs- I have a hard time lasting a year in any of t...
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But on the plus side - he and his fellow older coworkers aren't out to earn a living at the expense of his boss. He's not walking home with inventory to resell after stealing it. He's not a loss control issue. He's fully bought into making the boss a profit.
I worked for the same situation for a cpl years selling sporting goods and would still be there, but I'm young and hungry, and HATE my new corporate jobs- I have a hard time lasting a year in any of t...
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well this post got off topic.......anyways, like I said if I sell a used item and ring it up in the system I get paid more since its all gross profit, I make more commission, the customer gets it for cheaper, and the company still gets the rest off of something they did not have to pay for shipping or had any loss in the item whatsoever. Just my two cents....
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lilBoyBlue said:...
I Notice he doesn't WANT to work in "this" industry. All respects I walked into a ATT corporate store yesterday and couldn't help but think"what's it like to work everyday in this setting"- so carefull designed and styled with all the displays and big orange n blue panels. Ugh...
But on the plus side - he and his fellow older coworkers aren't out to earn a living at the expense of his boss. He's not walking home with inventory to resell after stealing it. He's not a loss control issue. He's fully bought into making the boss a profit.
I worked for the same situation for a cpl years selling sporting goods and would still be there, but I'm young and hungry, and HATE my new corporate jobs- I have a
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And he has direct control over one store...
How can a CEO of ATT offer the choices such as this? They can't. So you make uniform rules that will apply across all stores.
If I were a CEO of a major corporation I definitely wouldn't allow such practices. You would have pissed off customers because they could get one thing at one location and not at another. Also, how would you track this? Not to mention sales tax...
How can a CEO of ATT offer the choices such as this? They can't. So you make uniform rules that will apply across all stores.
If I were a CEO of a major corporation I definitely wouldn't allow such practices. You would have pissed off customers because they could get one thing at one location and not at another. Also, how would you track this? Not to mention sales tax...
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crazyeaglefan236 said:
And he has direct control over one store...
How can a CEO of ATT offer the choices such as this? They can't. So you make uniform rules that will apply across all stores.
If I were a CEO of a major corporation I definitely wouldn't allow such practices. You would have pissed off customers because they could get one thing at one location and not at another. Also, how would you track this? Not to mention sales tax...
I agree from a corporate standpoint. Customers get treated differently at same stores all the time. Thats nothing new. Why is that? because of the employees. Employees are the face of any business not policy.
This was a single event one employee made to hel...
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I completely understand and agree. However, with a large company you can't have the same controls. It is just not possible. So if you allow one thing to happen, you will have employees that will run with it. Also, the whole tax issue. You have to show the sale if it came out of the store. So, who is paying the sales tax?
Also, if you have one employee that does something and takes it to the extreme, you have already set that it is ok by allowing it to happen. The whole "one bad apple spoils the whole basket".
I wish we could micromanage like that. But it is not possible with thousands of doorfronts.
Anyway...the pluses and minuses between working for one owner and a corporation.
Also, if you have one employee that does something and takes it to the extreme, you have already set that it is ok by allowing it to happen. The whole "one bad apple spoils the whole basket".
I wish we could micromanage like that. But it is not possible with thousands of doorfronts.
Anyway...the pluses and minuses between working for one owner and a corporation.
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Yes indeed and thats why I left the corporate culture years ago rather then staying and becoming bitter and depending on a pension that may or may not be there like my coworkers.
However, Guys like Wireless operate a small business like a corporation. They do not realize the huge advantage they have because like corporations they simply do not value employees enough nor trust them to make good decisions. And yes allow them to step outside of the box for their own benefit on occasion to futher a relationship with a customer or help themselves with full support from their employer rather than the typical I would terminate and employee who did not "follow the policy exactly and without exception.
Good employees are hard to come by the...
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However, Guys like Wireless operate a small business like a corporation. They do not realize the huge advantage they have because like corporations they simply do not value employees enough nor trust them to make good decisions. And yes allow them to step outside of the box for their own benefit on occasion to futher a relationship with a customer or help themselves with full support from their employer rather than the typical I would terminate and employee who did not "follow the policy exactly and without exception.
Good employees are hard to come by the...
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i don't think he was selling anything used.
he was willing to meet me at another location to make the deal.
i highly doubt they are used items.
he was willing to meet me at another location to make the deal.
i highly doubt they are used items.
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New_2_T-Mobile said:
thats the way att operates a bunch of thieves!
How does what this one person has done speaks for the whole company? When other people that work for at&t are saying he was wrong.
thats the way att operates a bunch of thieves!
How does what this one person has done speaks for the whole company? When other people that work for at&t are saying he was wrong.
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did you get his name!!!?? cuz a guy i used to work with did that all the time w/ used phones and stuff for ppl w.o insurance.....not corporate though
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It's not shady because it's still a legit sale ... except its his product and yours. I would say it's not a good business practice because of the fact that he's on company time and using company resources to promote his personal item to you.
Otherwise, I don't see a problem with it. Just don't use company resources.
Otherwise, I don't see a problem with it. Just don't use company resources.
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He aquired the contact on company time, hence it is theft of a company sale if what is needed can be provided by said company.
Now if what he needed could not be provided that is a different story. But in this case a data cable is readily available to order.
Now if what he needed could not be provided that is a different story. But in this case a data cable is readily available to order.
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For god's sake... he's just tryin to help the guy out! the guy came to the company yes, but the company didn't have what he was looking for. If they wanna keep the sale they should keep the inventory. I'm sure the salesperson would have sold him the company's inventory first. You really need to lighten up.
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60dollarcarcharger said:
For god's sake... he's just tryin to help the guy out! the guy came to the company yes, but the company didn't have what he was looking for. If they wanna keep the sale they should keep the inventory. I'm sure the salesperson would have sold him the company's inventory first. You really need to lighten up.
Don't bother, Texaswireless lives in an old school paradigm. Employees are not people. They are EMPLOYEES. "Company time" and all that.
He does not understand for the loss of $10 bucks for a data cable he has to ORDER..he could have made huge points with BOTH his associate AND the customer. Instead he has his $10 "profit".
My boss could care less what we do as long a...
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60dollarcarcharger said:
Holy cow!! for once AvgJoe had something good to say! 🙂
LOL having quit a corporate job at Xerox at 39 and for the pas 13 years doing my own thing I realized two things. You won't become financially secure working for the man. The man does not care about you. The man wants you to be DEPENDANT on him so he can control you.
I decided to work for me. When I got tot the point where everything was paid off, money was invested and I did not need to earn a $60K a year salary and could semi-retire and earn far less, I went to work for many small business owners and learned a lot from them and saw proof that made my father's words ring true.
Those who conduct business in the follo...
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I couldn't agree more... the best jobs i've had have been the ones where I can tell my boss appreciates what i do... and obviously the opposite is true as well. Well said AvgJoe... i hope we can look forward to more inciteful posts in the future
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AvgJoe.
I agree with you in that regard. Having high morale for employees is very critical in any type of business. However, as you referenced a couple of times, I don't believe it's good for an enterprise such as AT&T. The reason is if they allowed employees to do just that across the world, allowing all 20,000 store employees to sell their customers a $10 car charger personally instead of selling a $20 charger in store ... imagine how much revenue would be lost?
Another side thing is what happens if that personal item you sold to the customer turns out to be defective? It's not covered under the store because it wasn't purchased by the store. At that point you just open up a whole new can of worms.
I'm an entreprenuer myself ...
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I agree with you in that regard. Having high morale for employees is very critical in any type of business. However, as you referenced a couple of times, I don't believe it's good for an enterprise such as AT&T. The reason is if they allowed employees to do just that across the world, allowing all 20,000 store employees to sell their customers a $10 car charger personally instead of selling a $20 charger in store ... imagine how much revenue would be lost?
Another side thing is what happens if that personal item you sold to the customer turns out to be defective? It's not covered under the store because it wasn't purchased by the store. At that point you just open up a whole new can of worms.
I'm an entreprenuer myself ...
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BRAVO!
Because you have policies in place you are not employee friendly?
AvgJoe is clueless and has no idea what it takes to run stores in THIS industry. He reminds me of the scene in Billy Madison where Billy is commenting on the "Industry". A speach on absolutely nothing!
Because you have policies in place you are not employee friendly?
AvgJoe is clueless and has no idea what it takes to run stores in THIS industry. He reminds me of the scene in Billy Madison where Billy is commenting on the "Industry". A speach on absolutely nothing!
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Texaswireless... with your attitude towards customer service its amazing you strive at anything. You must be truely a joy to work with.
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Customer service, I thought we were talking about employee policies?
It sure is a good thing you voiced your opinion about me. I could not have slept another night wondering whether someone on phonescoop thought I was doing well in my business.
It sure is a good thing you voiced your opinion about me. I could not have slept another night wondering whether someone on phonescoop thought I was doing well in my business.
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texaswireless said:
Customer service, I thought we were talking about employee policies?
It sure is a good thing you voiced your opinion about me. I could not have slept another night wondering whether someone on phonescoop thought I was doing well in my business.
You proved my point.....
EMPLOYEES ARE CUSTOMERS too! They are more important than customers because they determine whether or not you survive in business. They are YOUR face to the customer. That face can be happy or unhappy. You don't.
You are just a coach. Good coaches are not dictators of "policies" They are MOTIVATORS.
I can understand the economy of scale argument for a corporation. Thats why I quit working for a corporation inst...
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I have an incredibly huge ego. I have never denied that. I have to have an ego to be confident in myself and my people to do the things I have done in this industry over the past 16 years.
I just think it is comical all these people who have never set foot in my store and who have never worked for me think they know so much about my company.
So someone like you must be some enormous judgemental A-Hole because that is how you come across on here. Are you really? Do you walk around chastising those you meet on the street the way you do here (probably not as many might just kick your a$$ for being that rude in person)? Or do you keep to yourself as use this as the anonymous place to vent your feelings. Who knows... And who cares.
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I just think it is comical all these people who have never set foot in my store and who have never worked for me think they know so much about my company.
So someone like you must be some enormous judgemental A-Hole because that is how you come across on here. Are you really? Do you walk around chastising those you meet on the street the way you do here (probably not as many might just kick your a$$ for being that rude in person)? Or do you keep to yourself as use this as the anonymous place to vent your feelings. Who knows... And who cares.
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texaswireless said:
I have an incredibly huge ego. I have never denied that. I have to have an ego to be confident in myself and my people to do the things I have done in this industry over the past 16 years.
Indeed you do. But you are wrong to equate ego with confidence in an endearing manner. One is necessary the other is a detriment.
I just think it is comical all these people who have never set foot in my store and who have never worked for me think they know so much about my company.
It's not hard really. You are pretty transparent.
So someone like you must be some enormous judgemental A-Hole because that is how you come across on here. Are you really?...
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I doubt you have the sack to "call it like you see it" in person as rudely as you do here to people. You have trashed people who ask simple honest questions without even a shred of an answer in your post. You are a troll, plain and simple.
Outside of the faceless forum world you would surely be trounced for actions such as those.
No need to quote your post. You are right, I do care for none on here. Most choose to be anonymous bitter fools like yourself, hiding behind the internet to spew your venom. For someone who owes no man you sure want to make yourself heard.
Have a great day.
Outside of the faceless forum world you would surely be trounced for actions such as those.
No need to quote your post. You are right, I do care for none on here. Most choose to be anonymous bitter fools like yourself, hiding behind the internet to spew your venom. For someone who owes no man you sure want to make yourself heard.
Have a great day.
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texaswireless said:
I doubt you have the sack to "call it like you see it" in person as rudely as you do here to people. You have trashed people who ask simple honest questions without even a shred of an answer in your post. You are a troll, plain and simple.
Outside of the faceless forum world you would surely be trounced for actions such as those.
No need to quote your post. You are right, I do care for none on here. Most choose to be anonymous bitter fools like yourself, hiding behind the internet to spew your venom. For someone who owes no man you sure want to make yourself heard.
Have a great day.
Yeah sure man I want to make myself "heard' in an obscure forum on the Internet. Sure the...
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60dollarcarcharger said:
Texaswireless... with your attitude towards customer service its amazing you strive at anything. You must be truely a joy to work with.
I cannot imagine working for this egomaniac. LOL
I would bet his employee entrance/exit door is of the revolving type.
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The original poster thought it was shady and now you want to defend the other guy?
If it was legit why did he have to meet him outside the store?
And I KNOW that AT&T corporate stores typically keep Nokia data cables in stock.
I love how the honesty comes shining through.
If it was legit why did he have to meet him outside the store?
And I KNOW that AT&T corporate stores typically keep Nokia data cables in stock.
I love how the honesty comes shining through.
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well.. i don't even work for at&t so whatever. And the guy was WILLING to meet him outside the store if need be... hell he'd be saving 10 bucks... i don't think the salesperson was trying to undercut his employer in anyway... but im assuming everyone in this world is out to screw over the man!
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seriously.. the store didn't have the product... you gonna do what you can for him or send him to another store? Sending a customer to another store makes it look like you can't provide and that my friend is retarded buisness
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It's actually wrong and against our Code of Business Conduct, anyone doing it will be termed no questions asked under the zero tolerance clause. So while this rep thinks they are helping someone out, they actually just caused them to loose thei job.
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If the product were readily available or easily ordered in, then yah, this would be considered taboo. But a guy looking to help another guy out by throwing him a bone? Please, by any other name you call it Craigslist or Ebay.
Shady is when they guy comes in, brings the cable up to the counter and the salesman says, hey man, I've got a cable I'll sell to you for $20 instead.
Shady is when they guy comes in, brings the cable up to the counter and the salesman says, hey man, I've got a cable I'll sell to you for $20 instead.
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