Sears

[gwilks98]

I need some advice from you people out there that have had nightmare jobs. (The ones you dread going to because you feel like your bosses are greedy, immoral, micromanaging *******s)

I am currently employed by Sears, and have been for 2 years. I am reconsidering continuing my employment any longer. Here's why:

I returned to the store to pay off a bill this weekend and my manager stopped me and asked if he could give me my eval. Listen to this shit.

My extended warranty percentage was at 47% (meaning I sold it almost half the time) Par for my department was 50%. I, a part time'r, had the highest for a department of full time sales associates (which my boss noted), but because I didn't meet the expectation, I got a 2/5.

Credit Application Section: I had 23 credit apps with the credit insurance in 3 weeks, which is phenomenal for my department/store (which my boss also noted). I scored a 3/5 in this section.

Departmental Knowledge: 3/5 (Meets expectations) I know enough about PC's, cameras, and cordless telephones to be a top notch salesmen for a place like Sears. Hell, my manager knows I am certified for computer repairs and maintenance (no other associate is). I spent 2 hours walking my Store manager through installing hardware we didn't carry (which isn't expected for us to know)

For Customer Satisfaction/Going the extra mile: Here's the BIGGEST kick in the ass I've ever had. I've always done more that what was asked of me because decent people are rare in this world. I figure why not make someone's day. One lady, who was spending Xmas in the hospital with brain tumor complications, wanted to buy a digital camera for her son, but couldn't shop due to her unexpected medical complications. Circuit City and Best Buy blew her off, but I spent 45 minutes on the phone with Sears credit to pull some strings to get the sale approved, and I delivered the camera to her PERSONALLY and took full responsibility for the sale. I didn't ask for anything in return, but she wrote a really nice letter about me to the Store manager, without my knowledge. My manager was told to take me out to dinner, and was instructed to give me a copy of the letter. He did NEITHER (and all I wanted was a copy to read). He also FORGOT about it when it came time for the eval. Customer Satisfaction rating for greg: 3/5 (Meets expectations)

I complained about how bad Sears was getting over the summer and mother suggested I ride things out because I was looking at it through a youth's eyes. I told her about the eval, and she told me it was a crock of shit. (My mom rarely backs me when I stand up for myself, thinking it's without probable cause)

What do you think, people? What do you do when all intrinsic/extrinsic motivation disappears? I don't mind going the extra mile to be a decent human being, but I won't stay in a position where I'm abused, underappreciated, and neglected.


[Edited by gwilks98 on 02-20-2001 at 05:44 PM]

[LPMiller]

Yeah...blow 'em off.

One of a couple of things is happening here:

1)Your boss isn't allowed to pay you what your worth, and isn't/can't be honest about that.
2)Your boss doesn't like you, and hopes you leave so he can save on payroll, but doesn't want to go thru the effort of letting you go
3)your boss is a jerk.
4)You in fact, do suck.

time to get another job, regardless.

[Jeffbx]

Before you look for another job, ask to transfer to another department or store. Not all managers are as bas as yours. Talk to people in other departments & see what their experiences are - try to find a department where people are happy with management.

[Jenny]

If there is another Sears within commuting distance or if you are willing to move (don't know age or school situation, etc, so...), look into transferring to a diff. store. I know the right boss can make ALL the difference in a job. Look at me... I am ecstatic with my current employer.

[sbp]

Some bosses are like that. No matter how much you do they don't appreciate it.

[Apex]

And some bosses go as far as to make you complement them in their own forums. Go figure.

[gwilks98]

I think this guy's just a putz. Reason being:

My sales figures show that I don't suck, looking at National Averages for the store.

I'm paid on commission, so I get paid for what I sell. (and he's been pushing me to come back and work for him fulltime)

The lightbulb just came on. Would it be outlandish to think that he's trying to pressure me into working harder by "joining the team?"


If that's the case, he can go chew corn through a fence. I'm gone.

Thanks guys

[Grimm]

Be sure and tell the jerk that you were going to go full time but that now that you see how piss poor a sales person you are there is no point. Be sure to let his boss know how you feel about his motivational practices.
Write down all the reasons you are unhappy about your eval (don't use vulgarity or disparage others) and submit it as a rebuttal to your eval. Put your boss on the deffensive, make him deffend his decisions. See if they hold up under scrutiny. Him not noticing your great skills isn't your fault, it's him not doing his job.

What a moron, using negative re-enforcement to try to get you to work more hours.
Is there a Union that you can turn to? Or an employee grievance procedure?

When I received an eval that I didn't feel was fair, I handed it back and said "No". The resulting discusion significantly improved my eval and increased my raise. Think of receiving an eval as the begining of a negotiation. Discuss each score seperately, start with the lowest get them to bump the low scores up a notch or two. Then compare your stronger skills to your weaker ones. Have them pushed up even higher. A good example is the three 3/5 you got. Two for average and one for phenomenal?
You have numbers and letters to back you, he has "his opinion" which is at best uninformed.
Remember to keep your cool, remember everything that is said. If they raise their voice, yell or gesture threateningly at you end the discussion and ask to speak to their boss. They are supposed to treat you like a human being, if they abuse you contact your Union or Labor Board.

Good luck,

evilcyclops

[revil]

I hate managers like that.

When I worked at the movie theater, my boss quit and got a ******* for a new boss. he didn't last long but the asst. manager he hired took over and was a complete moron. she tried to fire me twice. the first time the regional manager (one of my first bosses) asked her what she was smoking (considering i knew how to run the theater all by myself, and she could barely run the popper). the second time, the main office told her she is not allowed to fire me. Which was cool. after being told she couldn't fire me, she got all scared and quit. she tried to begging for her job back that didn't work (i can imagine the head office laughing so hard).

I found out after she quit that she was telling the new employee's that i was the evil one and to stay away from me. The new employee's said after working 5 mins with me, they knew she was lying.


Oh, and let me tell you about evaluations. the rating system of ours was out of 10. she gave me all below 5's. Which i knew was a bunch of crap. i talked to head ofice and they say "what? hahaha, don't worry about it." so i didn't and the next paycheck i recieved, i had gotten a raise. I made sure my boss knew about that. she got so mad.

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by Reverend Evil

(snip)

I found out after she quit that she was telling the new employee's that i was the evil one and to stay away from me.

But AREN'T you the Evil One?

[revil]

Originally posted by Jeffbx
But AREN'T you the Evil One?

ya, but I'm Evil in a good way

[gwilks98]

I'm going to write a letter to Sears with the header.

What's brown and says screw you???

(with this picture following)
http://www.geocities.com/gwilks1998/pics/


I love that Scooby costume...

[Edited by gwilks98 on 02-21-2001 at 11:28 PM]

[hapoo]

link doesn't work gwilks98

[gwilks98]

Working on that...
damn file manager...

I'm not sure why a direct link won't work, but it should work like this. Try it again

[Edited by gwilks98 on 02-21-2001 at 11:31 PM]

[ken]

My opinion, assuming you're not crazy.

1) Talk to your union rep., if Sears is union.
2) Complain as mentioned above about the evaluation. Use the evidence that you've been asked back by the same manager who's giving you 2's and 3's to suggest something's out of whack with his evaluation.
3) Talk to the manager and ask if he just evaluates everyone that way, and that for him, 3's are like 5's for other managers, and if so, please change the numbers because when someone else looks, you'll look like a bad employee. (Not so sure on this one)
4) If you're planning on leaving, don't get the manager pissed off, you may need him later. And its not worth it. Just leave and don't give much of a reason.


Just an idea, but he may be giving you the low numbers so that you can't leave and transfer to another department (ie trap you with him.)

The only real rule is don't burn any bridges.