Slingblade
Springfield, MO,#2UPDATE Employee
Mon, November 24, 2008
I am currently an employee of Circuit City. I can vouch for the fact that sales numbers for each employee are looked at each day to get a snapshot of where the business is at for the day. However, I have never once heard a manager encourage or imply that it is okay to be decietful with a customer just for the sake of making an extra dollar. Part of the coachings is to make sure that we are offering a variety of services everytime and based on our explanations the customer can pick what fits best for them. Example, customer is buying a wireless router, probably doesnt know how to set it up, offering in home network setup or online assistance. I can bet that 95% off people that use a service on whatever device they purchase are that much happier with it because it works. In addition, I can understand wanting to fix computers but if youre fixing them but not charging them, its not a business, its a charity. People bring computers in for repair because they do not have the means to fix them themseleves. If your car is broken, you dont call the mechanic and have him tell you how to fix it- you just pay for his knowledge. Sorry to say it, but any business that makes money off of services is going to out a premium on selling those services.
Elenamojo
Rasputtan,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, November 17, 2008
dude any job you work at has something someone doesn't like. people don't believe the reality of things. there are warranties advantage plans protection whatever you want to call it because people were so sick of going through manufacturer. well weather it be manufacturer or store their is still a warranty you have to purchase. it don't matter their are things manufacturers won't do same with the stores, you are a sales person your job is to tell the customer what we have available for them as a service weather it'd be firedog or city advantage or just how the basics of a device works. a good sales person knows to ask the customers the right questions to find out what that customer needs in their home and get it to them that is how and upsale is supposed to work, the problem with alot of sales people now a days they don't care about the customer and always think that the way a company does something is stupid because they don't have full understanding of what something does or what to do with it. you should try to upsale if that customer needs a better laptop, or tv most customers try to go with the most basic but need their equipment to do something that, that basic item doesn't do. hense why there is so much confusion and returns and everything it's not CC fault that there are different sales techniques it's not their fault that there is so many different selections, if those employees would actually give a crap about their job they would take pride and every day they worked they would try to better their knowledge and asks when they don't know but ofcourse who would od that for 8 to ten dollars an hour? not you you want more moeny to do that right, right. Learn how to sell first and do your job, offer what needs to be becuase if is asked of you if you are truthfull and accurate about what everything does with the customer they will make and "informed decision" the only problem I have with ANY COMPANY ANY WHERE is that the low level sales people need to be paid more. they have so much work to do you couldn't finish it even with seven days a week to do it it. there isn't enough people or enough time. When these associates are paid better and they have more tools, better tools and more reliable that's when it will work out better but until that day dude The City isn't the only company with these problems, we all have it weather it be school government clothing stores jewelery stores electronic store d**n duded even, a computer isn't perfect and it will never be. The one thing any of us lowly workers can do is be the best at whatever we do because that is the only way we will make the dream of awesomeness come true. those who have passion and drive succeeed and those who don't hmmm...complain about the company instead of looking inward. Be THE MIRACLE!
Elenamojo
Rasputtan,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, November 17, 2008
dude any job you work at has something someone doesn't like. people don't believe the reality of things. there are warranties advantage plans protection whatever you want to call it because people were so sick of going through manufacturer. well weather it be manufacturer or store their is still a warranty you have to purchase. it don't matter their are things manufacturers won't do same with the stores, you are a sales person your job is to tell the customer what we have available for them as a service weather it'd be firedog or city advantage or just how the basics of a device works. a good sales person knows to ask the customers the right questions to find out what that customer needs in their home and get it to them that is how and upsale is supposed to work, the problem with alot of sales people now a days they don't care about the customer and always think that the way a company does something is stupid because they don't have full understanding of what something does or what to do with it. you should try to upsale if that customer needs a better laptop, or tv most customers try to go with the most basic but need their equipment to do something that, that basic item doesn't do. hense why there is so much confusion and returns and everything it's not CC fault that there are different sales techniques it's not their fault that there is so many different selections, if those employees would actually give a crap about their job they would take pride and every day they worked they would try to better their knowledge and asks when they don't know but ofcourse who would od that for 8 to ten dollars an hour? not you you want more moeny to do that right, right. Learn how to sell first and do your job, offer what needs to be becuase if is asked of you if you are truthfull and accurate about what everything does with the customer they will make and "informed decision" the only problem I have with ANY COMPANY ANY WHERE is that the low level sales people need to be paid more. they have so much work to do you couldn't finish it even with seven days a week to do it it. there isn't enough people or enough time. When these associates are paid better and they have more tools, better tools and more reliable that's when it will work out better but until that day dude The City isn't the only company with these problems, we all have it weather it be school government clothing stores jewelery stores electronic store d**n duded even, a computer isn't perfect and it will never be. The one thing any of us lowly workers can do is be the best at whatever we do because that is the only way we will make the dream of awesomeness come true. those who have passion and drive succeeed and those who don't hmmm...complain about the company instead of looking inward. Be THE MIRACLE!
Elenamojo
Rasputtan,#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, November 17, 2008
dude any job you work at has something someone doesn't like. people don't believe the reality of things. there are warranties advantage plans protection whatever you want to call it because people were so sick of going through manufacturer. well weather it be manufacturer or store their is still a warranty you have to purchase. it don't matter their are things manufacturers won't do same with the stores, you are a sales person your job is to tell the customer what we have available for them as a service weather it'd be firedog or city advantage or just how the basics of a device works. a good sales person knows to ask the customers the right questions to find out what that customer needs in their home and get it to them that is how and upsale is supposed to work, the problem with alot of sales people now a days they don't care about the customer and always think that the way a company does something is stupid because they don't have full understanding of what something does or what to do with it. you should try to upsale if that customer needs a better laptop, or tv most customers try to go with the most basic but need their equipment to do something that, that basic item doesn't do. hense why there is so much confusion and returns and everything it's not CC fault that there are different sales techniques it's not their fault that there is so many different selections, if those employees would actually give a crap about their job they would take pride and every day they worked they would try to better their knowledge and asks when they don't know but ofcourse who would od that for 8 to ten dollars an hour? not you you want more moeny to do that right, right. Learn how to sell first and do your job, offer what needs to be becuase if is asked of you if you are truthfull and accurate about what everything does with the customer they will make and "informed decision" the only problem I have with ANY COMPANY ANY WHERE is that the low level sales people need to be paid more. they have so much work to do you couldn't finish it even with seven days a week to do it it. there isn't enough people or enough time. When these associates are paid better and they have more tools, better tools and more reliable that's when it will work out better but until that day dude The City isn't the only company with these problems, we all have it weather it be school government clothing stores jewelery stores electronic store d**n duded even, a computer isn't perfect and it will never be. The one thing any of us lowly workers can do is be the best at whatever we do because that is the only way we will make the dream of awesomeness come true. those who have passion and drive succeeed and those who don't hmmm...complain about the company instead of looking inward. Be THE MIRACLE!
0191
New York,#6Author of original report
Wed, October 08, 2008
Thank you all for your comments. I thought I was alone in this. I will get a resume ready and search for another job that I will enjoy. -0191
Margaret
Houston,#7Consumer Comment
Tue, October 07, 2008
Go and get another job, retail jobs are a dime a dozen and there are lots of other stores you can work for and get your 30 hours a week.
Margaret
Houston,#8Consumer Comment
Tue, October 07, 2008
You still claming to be from a fake town and making responses on this report?? HA, I thought you would have fessed up by now about the town you are really from since there is no PONY, ALABAMA
Afflicti0n
Montgomery,#9UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, October 06, 2008
I've worked for Circuit City in the Firedog department in the past and i know how you feel. Trust me on this one, it will never change. Protection plans will always be pushed and you will always be stressed to sell them. Nearly 97% of the money made on them is pure profit because people never use them. Count yourself lucky that you don't work at Customer Service. They're the ones that have to tell customers who have bought a protection plan that they can't replace their item. Instead they have to ship it somewhere to be fixed and it could take a few weeks and that they have to do it over the phone. This way of doing business is one of the reasons that Circuit City is doing so badly as a chain over the past few years. I can understand your love of being a PC tech, but Circuit City should be more of a job you take for experience that will lead to a better job in computers. Do yourself a favor and look at the stock price of Circuit City. Last time i checked it was barely above 50 cents a share. You'll be lucky if they even make it to Christmas this year the way their stock is plummeting. Start typing up a resume and find another job in the computer field. You'll most likely find one that pays more and you won't have to sell crummy "plans" anymore. I did it, and i'm much better off now.
0191
New York,#10UPDATE Employee
Fri, October 03, 2008
Yeah, I was talking with other employees from other Circuit Cities..they say that they never have those meetings. It seems that my store director is the one that is causing all of these mayhem. He isn't following regular Circuit City guide lines. I think that my managers and store director are trying to do something out of the norm. They are always in the sales office together..rarely outside of that room.
Peter
Pony,#11Consumer Comment
Thu, October 02, 2008
If your sales numbers are "too low," you don't agree with conventional sales tactics, and you are generally unhappy with every aspect of working in a high-pressure sales environments, perhaps you should consider other career opportunities. Maybe you could work with the Boy Scouts or Salvation Army or some other good honest company.
Joek
Ocala,#12UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 02, 2008
I can't comment on your store in particular because I don't know where you are. What I can say is that it is not your decision to decide what a customer thinks is "not worth it". I have numerous customers that buy our City Advantage Protection Plan on everything. They love it. Some used to buy it back when we had it on CDs and DVDs. For some people, it is just good to have peace of mind. As for your "upselling meetings", I have worked with the company for a few years and have never had one of these meetings. I am always told by managers to give the customers what they need. If you are good at your job, your numbers won't be bad because you will serve numerous customers. I can only imagine how you talk to customers. For all the consumers out there reading this, I say to you, this is not the norm.