Complaint Review: Advantage Sales and Marketing - Irving California

This company filed a DA against me on August 17, 2012.  The incident involved a situation in which I lost a credit card that was used to give clients credit for out of date merchandise.  This situation was discussed with my supervisor and I agreed that I absolutely would be extra careful with the  execution of the card.  I agreed to carry in  the pouch of my hand held computer which was still in the box that it was originally sent in. In the mean time she requested another card.  I continued to make my store calls and explained the situation to my clients and was somewhat embarrassed. I made requests about the card several times over the next few weeks. We also carry free gum in our vehicles to distribute to clients that order our free fill racks.  $150.00 of free gum is given to the client over the year for the agreement that they have this rack in the stores and sell our products.  After visiting the same clients a second time I made a judgment call to exchange some of the credits for gum while I awaited the arrival of the new card.  This was only to satisfy the client and to maintain their loyalty.  This was not of a malicious or fraudulent nature. It was discussed with my supervisor and I agreed that it would not occur again. I thought at a verbal discussion was adequate.  I was not aware it was against co. policy.  What I couldn't understand is why it took them almost 10 weeks to replace the card. I was frustrated and thought It was the best decision as far as keeping the clients satisfied at the time.  In responded to the DA in written format on August 21.  While I was upset I really thought that this was something we could get past as I did enjoy my job and tried to do it to the best of my ability. My supervisor advised me that she would be down the following week to ride with me during my visits as she does at least once a month.  She asked me for my itinerary for Tuesday 8/21, which I e-mailed.  My plan was to go to Trenton. As it was toward the end of the cycle at least 95% of the stores must be visited. She provided me with a list of stores that she said still had to be visited. I wrote back and commented on some of the stores on the list that had already been visited.  I told her that I would be starting in Trenton as a few of the stores on the list were located there. We agreed to meet in Trenton although she said she did not know what time she would arrive. By noon time I called co. voice mail and there was no message. I assumed maybe her plans had changed or something came up and maybe she would make it another day. I continued to make store visits. At 3:00 I again called voice mail only to receive 2 nasty voice mails.  I called her immediately.  I asked her if she was at a stopping point and could we talk as I felt there was some kind of misunderstanding. She began on a tyrant about she was down in Villanova or Conshocken doing my job for me!!  She accused me of not visiting stores and taking pictures of any that were closed or non viable.  I was very upset as this in fact was not true.  I asked her what stores she was talking about and she began to tell me.  These stores were visited and pictures were taken at these stores. There is actually documentation in that hand held showing the dates and time I was there.  As far as the pictures if in fact they did not take at all of these stores, then that was as technical issue. She told me she was not going to  argue with me and she had enough. I told her it was not a argument but a discussion. I asked her if I was fired and she said it was already turned over to Personnel. At that point I clocked out and returned home.  When I returned home there were several e-mails sent early in the morning that I did not see as I myself had left early for an appoint at the county office regarding my medical coverage.  After I read the e-mails I understood why she was so upset.  She didn't know that I had left early and did not see them. Truly there were only 5 or 6 stores that had to be visited by Friday the end of the cycle.  They were in totally opposite directions.  My thought was to begin in Trenton since it was closest to me and to then to Wyncote. The balance on of the stores could be done on Wednesday since they were in a totally different direction.  Obviously her thoughts were not the same, unbeknown to me at the time and the indication was clearly that I was fired.  I clocked out and returned home. They made several requests for a letter of resignation which I refused. I told her I was willing to continue my employment with ASM but not under the same circumstances.  They then tried to imply that I abandoned my position which was only an attempt to cover themselves.