Nocommission
Manassas,#2UPDATE Employee
Tue, December 02, 2008
I never bought anything from CC before going to work there, just like anyone else this really had nothing to do with my decision I just needed a job for money. That same beginning process you encountered I went through as well. People didn't have an exact layout or plan for me, I did some e-learnings and then hit the floor the first day. Some managers would comment about wanting me to do some more e-learnings but they never got bent outta shape and I preferred to be hands-on about my learning. The sarcastic and unhelpful employees were definitely there... but there were good ones as well. I made a point of familiarizing myself with employees with good pitches and numbers (the ones that seemed knowledgeable) and knew to ask them questions or at least shadow them to get ideas. If I didn't know an answer, I'd tell the person that I was new (yes, the customers are human beings too and understand being new) and I would go find out the information from another employee or using the wonderful internet provided on the laptops in store. I didn't get totally upset when I had to answer the phone, sure I didn't know all the greetings and responses but I figured it out and would apologize if I messed something up. A lot of the good employees are self-taught. They are not babied and hand fed all the info they know, most of them read up on stuff themselves and I proceeded to follow that example and had no issues climbing to the top 3 in sales within weeks of arriving. They always had trouble getting me to do e-learnings but they never had a heart attack about it because I did everything the correct way for the most part after learning hands on. We were rewarded for reporting theft, plenty of people that work in retail end up stealing like this, they're human beings as well; there were also plenty that I could count on to not steal or be dishonest. As for people lying during pitches, I would usually pull their customers aside and inform them of misinformation as soon as they could break away from the salesperson and there would be no issue. I tried to avoid embarrassing fellow workers in front of customers even if they were a jerk (now stealing the customer while their back was turned was something I would do if they seemed like they were gonna completely cheat someone). There's so many salespeople that lie out there it's not even funny, it's not just a CC thing. Working at CC I had a ton of customers who used to make return trips to my store even if it was further away just to talk to me because they were burnt by lying salespeople elsewhere and appreciated my honesty. So in the end I didn't blame my store for not teaching me everything. It wasn't the end of the world when another employee lied as long as I made sure to correct the mistake before said customer swiped their credit card. The thieves in our store usually got their just-desserts (handcuffs and no job) thanks to other employees and managers wanting their alert rewards. If I didn't know something I would usually find it out and just keep it in mind for the future (yeah, I had other employees asking me all the questions). I made sure that I changed customers experiences by being honest and there for them, or telling them what other honest employees to see on other days that when I wasn't there. All in all I did slowly help bring about change in my own store. I called out dishonesty on the headset w/o saying specific names and would help employees who didn't know as much during their sale and let them keep their sale as long as they didn't mind the help. I had no problem deviating from my assigned area as long as the customers there were still helped when they arrived (I sold in every area of the store). If someone was being too immature, I called them on it as well. I sought out new employees and helped get them on their feet or told them to shadow me so they'd get good examples. It just seems like you weren't trying hard enough, I'd say. Everyone there is human and probably went through the same thing you did. It's up to you to change your experience and persuade them to do the right things. Never needed the name-calling, had a steady flow of customers looking just for me or the other employees I recommended, managed to sell extremely well, my managers often times received compliments about me from customers, yet I started in the same place.
Elenamojo
Rasputtan,#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, November 17, 2008
I believe every company has different ways to train even different management teams, but really the whole team everyone you spoke to was a theif or a liar? you made it seem like everyone on your floor is lying. Who did you tell, on the floor about what you were hearing did you involve your manager? It seems like everyone has something they want to complain about but they don't even look at the bigger picture, it's easy to point fingers and talk about how bad a company is and what they did but as soon as you need something from that place oh...I got the hook up I used to work at circuit city, my boy so and so will get this hooked up for me. Right. stop complaining and do something to fix it like involving those who matter to change those behaviors on the floor. If you were finding shady things being said or happening maybe someone should have been alerted to that Manangement can't be with every associate on the floor in every sale they depend on those honest employees in the store to inform them. If those people aren't honest then they allow things to slide till the get some where they need to be. If you saw a house on fire and peoples lives in danger would you run it call the police yell and get others attention or would you watch it burn with them inside and then write about it after the fact? next company you work for try don't turn your cheek at it!
Andromeda
Near Roswell,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, August 08, 2008
'Before criticizing your co-workers and a multi-million dollar company, may I suggest you take a good look in the mirror?' Totally irrelevant and useless. Probably just to fill up space. 'You stated: 'I constantly had to rely on other employees, supervisors, and managers who were annoyed at me asking for help .' Hmm... sounds like you could not perform your job duties.' That's what you do when learning any job. You weren't there to know what was going on or why. Nice try though. 'The first time answering the phone and its just shoved in my face when I haven't A.) Been told it was my job or B.) been told even how to operate it.' Do you honestly need to be 'told' that answering the phone is part of your job, and do you really need instructions on how to use a phone???!' How would you know he/she wasn't told not to talk to customers while in training. Once again, you weren't there to know why. Another nice try though. 'I had to politely talk over this chowder brain' I'm sure your co-workers loved your calling them names, as well as interfering with their sales.' Are you really that naive, or just trying to look dumb? It always goes both ways in any work environment. Pretty bad try this time! 'You sound like a real winner!' I am glad you finally admitted it! Congratulations, the truth has been spoken!
Peter
Pony,#5Consumer Comment
Fri, August 08, 2008
Before criticizing your co-workers and a multi-million dollar company, may I suggest you take a good look in the mirror? You stated: "I constantly had to rely on other employees, supervisors, and managers who were annoyed at me asking for help ." Hmm... sounds like you could not perform your job duties. "The first time answering the phone and its just shoved in my face when I haven't A.) Been told it was my job or B.) been told even how to operate it." Do you honestly need to be "told" that answering the phone is part of your job, and do you really need instructions on how to use a phone???! "I had to politely talk over this chowder brain" I'm sure your co-workers loved your calling them names, as well as interfering with their sales. You sound like a real winner!
Jonathan
Los Angeles,#6UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, August 08, 2008
I also worked at circuit city and was treated like a pile of dog crap. They put me in home theatre and literally expected my numbers to be $4,000 a day with tons of accessories and city advantage. The way my store was set up I could not even sell T.V.'s, I HAD to stay in home theatre. So they other associates had awesome numbers in our dept. because they could sell a nice new LCD or plasma and walk them over to home theatre and sell them that too. When all the home theatre guys were at the bottom they yelled at us cut our hours and told us to sell more! BS. I lasted 3 months then I quit. The last time the manager yelled at me I told him flat out you are a joke, switch me ONE day with the top guy selling TV's and put him over here lets see what happens. He said NO I can't have my top sales guy over here. WHAT A JOKE CIRCUIT CITY IS!!!!!!!! If you aren't in the mangers INNER CIRCLE just leave, you will get the worse hours, worse shifts, and be treated like CRAP. Luckily I was able to buy everything I wanted direct that was super discounted for employees, then I RAN ASAP!!!