- Management: theres a high turnover for management. In my 6 years I’ve worked at several stores and in each store have had at least 2-3 managers. Whilst some managers are very nice, some managers are horrible bullies.
- Targets: Targets are completely unrealistic. When I started 6 years ago the targets were essentially contracts and geek squad. Now there’s so many extra’s added and being incorporated meaning you’re unable to hit your targets and your job description is getting longer and longer without any added pay.
- Colleagues: People who hit their targets are treated like the sun shines out of there bum. It’s clear to see people get treated nicer if you’re doing well. These colleagues that do well are the type of people who live and breathe sales, they are sharks. They will try to steal your customers whilst you are serving them, they will try to pass you PayG customers so they’re free for contracts and you get stuck, they will lie to customers, and essentially do anything for a sale and commission.
- Dinner breaks: whether you’re working 6 hours or 11 hours you get 20 minutes (or 30 depending on your manager) and that’s it. If you work in a store that is outside and not in a shopping centre or SWAS they may let you nip out for a packet of crisp or have a cig.
- Belittling: I have worked here for 6 years, through Best Buy to Dixon’s. Yet, if I am low on my targets management feel the need to hover by me and butt into my conversation as if I don’t know how to do my job or aren’t doing it correctly just because I haven’t sold a lot that day.
- Competitors: we claim to be the cheapest on the market, but often times a customer may find a cheaper deal at three or through Vodafone when they offer 30% off. There’s nothing you can do, but management loves to blame you for ‘losing a sale’
- systems: systems are rubbish. About 20 years old and prevent you from doing your job to the best of your ability. Not to mention protocols always change I.e refunds, and insurance blah blah. Making the smallest job take 5 times as long.
- Job Security: always fearing if you don’t hit your targets you’ll be squeezed out of the company. They’ll try and tell you that you have to work more days for the same amount of hours you’ve been doing knowing that you can’t, so then they’ll lower your contact hours. They may move you to another store. They may put you on a personal improvement plan which essentially is the first step on your way out the door.
At the end of the day, I have this to say:
When I started in this company, in training we were told ‘you are customer consultants. Not sales advisors’ meaning our job was to consult the customers on what we have to offer to FIT THEIR NEEDS. It’s all changed since then. Now our job is to literally harass customers into buying contracts, they’re not allowed to browse you either harass them and embarrass yourself (in my opinion) until they buy something or leave the shop. Our job is to LIE to them, get them to buy whatever phone is Band G not what phone fits their needs. Our job is to convince them to buy as many things, they can’t just buy a contract, they must get insurance, three accessories, broadband, TV and phone line, and get this .. gas and electric :|, and whatever else they add in the future. Our job is to swindle customers, ‘it’s not lying’ we tell the customer an upfront cost is say 20 pounds higher.. if they’re happy with that you then use the 20 pounds to slam and accessory on and tell them it’s ‘free’ OR if they’re not happy with that price you ‘knock 20 quid off just for them’ meaning you sell it at the actual price. If you’re someone who isn’t aggressive, you won’t do well in this shop. No matter what you do, if the customer doesn’t take something you’ve done it wrong and those people who do well in the shop will think they could of got them to buy.
