Re: Corporate retail
Originally posted by humantech
Hey all- my 2 cents
Having worked extensively and for an extended period in retail ( in sales, support and management for several different national chains), I can honestly say Apples stores seem to be geared about right in their compensation. folks who complain that they "cant make a living there" need to
a) Find a better job within the Apple company- for example, acquire skills other than sales related and turn them into a promotion-
b) Find a different job with a smaller, non corporate company
c) Open their own business
Folks who think the Apple stores "owe" them anything more are completely setting themselves up for dissapointement. $8-$12 + performance bonus is about right for most national retail chains. Think of it this way. You CHOOSE where you work and under what conditions you accept a job. It svery easy to say "Apple is oppressing me by not respecting me and paying me what I'm worth"- guess what? If you're truly worth it, stop complaining and talk to the boss. If they cant give you what you require, LEAVE. Go find a job that can.
In one of my management roles I had about 25 people I was directly responsible for - I encouraged them to job hunt weekly ( Even paid them two hours a week to do so) so they could go out and research their options- it also gave me a knowledge of what the competition was paying- Guess what? Without some work and skills development by the person looking, most jobs paid ABOUT the same as what they were making with me. There was always some manner of trade off.
After a while, I got tired of corporate mentality , quit my job and started my own business ( Apple specialist reseller, warranty center, consultant, training center) - that was 4 years ago - The hard work is really starting to pay off. I have gone through loads of stress, money problems and LONG hours. But y'know what? Its very worth it to have the piece of mind that I have some control in my life that I used to give away to my employers-
My advice? Stop griping. It could be worse- If you dont have the spirit to go do yoor own thing, count your blessings and work on improving yourself- Long term, when you complain about wages in an unskilled job environment ( lets face it- retail sales is unskilled for those who arent commision professional salespeople), then eventually you will be replaced by someone who doesnt complain so much-
Congrats on your success after 4 years.
But to use a phrase that my parents used, "If everyone was jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?".
Whether it is social/economic/lack of ambition, should people be treated as second class? that is the impression that get from some posts about Retail workers. Just what is wrong with providing an employee with a living wage? Would not a living wage give a boost to the overall economy? Increased building of affordable housing, sales of intro level cars, and the such would be a by product of living wages. Or is it some want to feel superior to those that are less than them?
You mention choice. Is there really a choice? Lets face it not everyone is college material. Not everyone is management material for Retail. Should not these people be able to take part in the American Dream? Keep in mind the current Administration and Congress are looking to limit overtime pay, and has not said word one about increasing the minimum wage (not to turn this discussion political).
Lets face it this country is becoming one of the haves and have nots. There is overcrowding in affordable housing since few can afford to live on their own. this will lead to "new ghettos".
Look at the Pepsi/iTunes promo. What about those that are earning $7 to $12 an hour? Can they afford the internet access? Can they afford an iPod or similar device? Let alone a computer to allow for study on the internet at home?
Of course there are those that will be left behind. But far less then what we currently have with a positive change in the attitudes towards those that serve us everyday. those that we take for granted. otherwise why not just close very "brick&mortar" shop and do our shopping on the internet? Why not? Because consumers want that human interaction.
In the case of Apple they needed to make clear what was needed to obtain the bonus. And to live up to that promise.
In Tysons Corner I am surprised by the level of customer service that I have received despite what appears to below decent wages at the Apple Store.
In the end employees are an asset. Just like inventory or machinery. If you ignore inventory or machinery it will fail on you. The same way for employees. But in many cases employees are looked upon as paper and pens in a company. Something easily replace. Yet we want to complain that we did not get good service in a retail store.
You can't have it both ways.
) and used secret implementation details from MS...he'd deserve whatever came to him.
