Borders Books Employees Are Angry!
Borders Books is a company undergoing tremendous changes as it works to turn around its business in a flagging industry. Yet, based on some comments to a previous post, it seems like they’ve pissed off one of their most important assets - people. Here are a few excerpts:
From the front lines, those “strategic alternatives” included getting rid of managers and supervisors, eliminating the employee gift card of $25/mo. for full time employees, eliminating time and a half for all employees working holidays and the thing that is guaranteed to save their rosy butts — charging employees 35 cents for tea and coffee that had been previously free.
We have also been vigorously sending back music and book product to the vendors in order to get quick credit back at the expense of our empty bookshelves and music/DVD units …
… managers have been asked to cut back on supply ordering, and necessary repairs are not being completed.
My brother works for Borders and he said that they have just cut out the employee of the month program (probably because there was a $25 gift card given to the recipient).
Borders fires there dave Carpenter winner for 2005 because he cares about the customers. now they want to go to St Charles Ave. with no one that knows the city of New orleans. Is getting rid of your long standing employees a good idea?
I didn’t expect Borders employees to find my little corner of the Internet. I’m pleased though! They’ve found a place to vent and it’s extremely interesting to get their perspective on the changes taking place.
Some of the gripes above revolve around entitlements, perks that are now being taken away. I know some may say these folks are just whining but, if true, these moves are very short-sighted in my opinion. Books are not unique, they are essentially commodity products. Price is clearly a big part of the equation but the experience can also have a large impact on sales.
I doubt customers are getting the best service if these comments are a true indication of the current climate in Borders stores. And Borders needs every advantage they can get with Barnes and Noble, a host of online venues, and big box retailers like Target and Wal-Mart ratcheting up the competition.
So I again must ask whether Borders is really interested in turning around their business for the long haul or are they just looking to make the short-term financials look appealing enough to Barnes and Noble?
July 8th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I shop at both Borders and Barnes and Noble depending on whether I am near work or near my home. I have always thought from a customer’s point of view that Barnes and Noble was much more organized and customer friendly. Recently I have noticed that Borders has fewer and fewer books on the shelf and they got rid of alot of their cds - don’t blame them about the cds the way that business is going, but they are in the book business so they should have lots of books for sale. I have a friend that works at the Borders near my work, and he told me that they fired their public relations person (she took care of book signings and events for several stores) about two weeks ago, and they are not replacing her. He also told me they have cut his hours drastically, and he is going to start looking for another job.
I work for a company that cares about the employees and so we in turn care about our customers - I dare say that the way Borders is treating their employees is not going to make sales - its going to break them.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
[…] Bad times at Borders books […]
July 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I used to work for Borders (5 years), and to heard that they are getting rid of those perks is kind of sad. Generally, if you are a longtime employee like I was, you are NOT there for the pay, you are there because you like working in the industry, and you like some of the perks.
It isn’t entitlement at all.
I left because they started getting rid of long time employees who knew the company inside out, and replacing them with people who did not know half as much. This was 2.5 years ago. I’m glad I got out when I did. The company’s decline has been a really sad thing to see.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Go to a Borders and ask for Dr Seuss and they say it’s in medical ref. Do you go back to that store. I don’t think so. The stock has not gone up since they got rid of a employee that was known for custumer service. And has work of his in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One Bargin book is worth two or maybe three shares of Borders stock. real soon get five for a five
July 9th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I was one of those employees laid among the 274. I worked for Borders for over 11 years, always had exemplary reviews, and up until the last day I worked there was told that my job was not in danger, that I was in line to have my territory expanded, and that I was in line for a promotion. I was able to read between the lines and prepared myself for what was coming, and was lucky enough to get a decent severance package because of all of my time with the company; but a lot of others haven’t been so lucky.
The powers that be at Borders are treating every single employee like utter crap, but that’s been going on for a long time. It’s just become really obvious over the last couple of years. They’ve done nothing but cut back on benefits and so called “perks” since I started there. Nothing has gotten better, it’s only ever gotten worse under the guise of “pleasing the stockholders” and “growth as a company”.
Once upon a time Borders really did care about its employees and its customers. But the only thing that matters at this point is the almighty dollar. Nothing any of the past CEOs or this one has done has turned around the falling stock prices or appeased the greedy shareholders. At this point they are only trying to make the company look attractive to those who might buy it out.
It’s so disappointing as I LOVED working there when I started. Their people were their best asset and they have slowly chipped away at the smart, educated employees until all they have are part-time monkeys that don’t know their elbow from their ass.
July 10th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I am currently a bookseller at Borders, I stepped down from a supervisor position about 4 months ago and I have been with the company for @ 5 years. I stepped down because they wanted me to be the training supervisor and take over the role the office supervisor had done - she left and went to another store. I would be doing the job of two supervisors, and not getting a pay raise, plus I closed almost every night, mainly because the other supervisors and managers didn’t want to close. So who do they get to take my place - a 20 year old who doesn’t even know the first thing about being a supervisor or how to train others. More and more I am seeing the long time employees leaving because of the cut in hours and the lack of appreciation from the managers. All they care about is whether or not we can get customers to accept the Borders Reward card and our CSI scores (random customer survey given to them at the registers) - even the CSI is not a true reflection of the store as we are told to only give it out to “happy” customers and we are asking them to give us a perfect score.
I once loved working for Borders, I thought I would always work here. Not anymore, I am trying to find another job right now. I want to work for a company that cares about their employees and I also want to work with others who are intelligent, If a customer comes in and asks one of our newly hired part-time rejects where the “Da Vinci Code” is, they’ll probably take them to the art section, DUH. I’m not angry, I’m just realistic. I don’t see this company surviving, because they have eliminated the main ingredient for a successful retail book business - knowledgeable sellers that care about books and customer service.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Yea and if we former knowledgeable sellers do anything we our fired because we said they were stupid. This is the dumbing down of America.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I left Borders Corp about 10 years ago and have been glad I did. I agree with so many comments - you didn’t work there for the money. I was in a store and then went to Corporate, and even then, living in Ann Arbor where it’s pricey, I was paid a low salary and had to get a part time job to make ends meet. Over the years, it’s been clear that Borders doesn’t know what they are doing. How is it that a HUGE bookseller can’t have an online store and has to partner with Amazon (until recently). Seriously. Why doesn’t any of the top management give some of their FAT paycheck back or options back to lower debt and increase morale? Honest, I miss the industry at times, but don’t miss the bullshit that came with working at Borders and management not knowing what they were doing. There’s a better life out there folks, trust me.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I worked for Border’s in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (#0138) from 2001-2004. I came on-board right after a major company-wide manager/supervisor shakeup. By mid 2002, it appeared that Border’s was heading down the long spiral toward hell. The little things, and the coworker morale were being stripped-away, and our work environment turned hostile. Management was hammering-away at employees for more labor, and employees became nasty towards one another. It was difficult watching the mean-spirited behavior. Eventually the book stockers (IPT) had the quantities on their carts counted, areas of the store assigned (often favoritism was the case), and hourly logs (where that person worked, how much product they shelved, and the distractions or breaks that came into play) were recorded by the employee. The supervisors walked the floor, with coffee cup in hand, and kept track of the every move of several stocking employees. The ‘keeping-track’ wasn’t supervision, it was survelience; Employees had to be aware of who and when was watching them. It really got out of hand when other employees ’scouted’ their coworker’s and reported to one of the several supervisor’s (they did it to be mean to a coworker, and for attention). This Border’s location became very sickening to work at. After coming to the defense of a coworker, I was put on the receiving-end for this sort of dispicable treatment. Over time, many employees landed other jobs and quit working for Border’s. Management turned a blind-eye to sexual harassment (customer overtly harassing an employee). Management misappropriated employee funds to instead be used to purchase treats for corporate visitor’s. Employees saw their stock option disappear, its health plan get whittled-down, and even the holiday benefit (double pay or another paid day off) meddled with. I remember when full-timers had a $300 in-store credit account, but that was stripped from the employee benefit plan. Corporate established new policies that curtailed store donations, and killed-off the pay-for-performance of local musicians. Musicians now could perform at Border’s for free; They could try to sell their cd’s and do a self-promotion. Without performer’s, Border’s lost alot of foot traffic and potential sales. Corporate management really broke the company, and it didn’t help that incompetent store management and crass employees presented the EC Border’s with a bad image. I was offered work elsewhere, and I rarely revisit the store where I had worked. There were too many bad memories and associations to make me visit and spend my money in that store. Do I pity the coworker’s that I left behind? Actually, not really. I think that the mean-spirited coworker’s that I left behind deserve to work at Border’s. The few decent coworker’s that worked with me have found happier times working in Walmart, and elsewhere.
Save your money. Shop anywhere except Border’s (and K-Mart, Walden’s, and Sears…companies all owned by the same conglomerate). Support businesses that have respect for their employees, and for the customer’s that keep them afloat. Speak up for the coworker who is being unfairly singled-out. Be a human being in the workplace (I am sure that you will).
July 11th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
The coworkers will not speak up. they our all affraid of losing there job. Fire the old guy and the young will not speak. I just send off my appeal. I would bet all my Borders stock I don’t get reinstated. listen to some onre who has only been there less then six months over someone who has been there 10 years. I wonder if Anderson Cooper will do a report our maybe a Michael Moore doc.
July 13th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I worked for BGI in Ann Arbor since the early 90’s. Saw them through the Kmart debacle and was there when Bobby D. (the last CEO worth a shit) left. I happily worked my ass off in many different jobs from distribution, to IT. Watched how upper management turned over and over yet none of them having a clue. Employee morale got worse and worse and management drove many to the choice of quit or deal with the UNDEALABLE stress and workload. I used to be extremely proud and would brag on and on to any and all what a great company I worked for …now I’m ashamed of the amount of work I did only to have my professional life destroyed not to mention my mental health. I guess all of us disgruntled employees will be somewhat vindicated because it is very apparent that the monster is destroying itself (note friday’s NYSE closing #’s). BGI has no regard for their employees and treats them all like shit. Latest layoffs at Corporate included the likes as Joe Gable who I’m sure most if not all know as the longtime manager of the original flagship store #1. Joe was a makor player in making the compnay sucessful…look what it got him. Is also interesting that most all layoffs have predominately been higher tenure employees. Don’t cry for the execs that got axed. They have gotten paid very well (many had contractual agreements that left them sitting very pretty)while the regular employees have done the work and then been screwed.
Long live Barnes and Noble!!!
Note to B & N execs… if you do acquire BGI be smart and rid yourself of their name and the reputation the follows.
July 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Lets have pool on how long BGI will last. As I see I’m not the only Border employee to be shafted by John Shaft. The media is only waiting for the word. Enron, Borders whats the difference? Bobby D says I ain’t gonna work on Border’s Farm No more.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I checked out the latest stock price $4.12 and it had dropped as low as $3.97 which is the lowest it had dropped in a 52 week period - how can the stockholders be pleased with this? Amazon is in the $60s and Barnes and Noble is in the $20s. In the middle of all this craziness the corp is opening up concept store after concept store, like everything is fine and dandy - while the stores that are already open, barely have any stock on the shelves or employees on the floor. My store is so strapped, we can’t even order supplies without getting special permission. My store is less than 2 years old, and it looks like it is 12 years old - the walls need painting, the carpet needs spot cleaning and there are ceiling tiles that desperately need to be replaced and we can’t do any repairs. People aren’t stupid - they come in and see the conditions of our stores and they know that the company is screwed. They can open up all the concept stores, with their fancy travel & cooking sections that they want to, but it’s the other stores that are suffering and the employees that work at these stores. I feel very sorry for the corp and field employees that lost their jobs, it seems that the execs could have taken some paycuts and bonus cuts themselves to save some of those jobs. As for the new wonderful online service that we have, I have had so many customers tell me that the Amazon site was so much easier to use, it had less bells and whistles, but it was more user friendly. There is no telling how much money corp spent to get this website going. They should take a lesson from B&N - they only spend money when they have it and they spend it wisely. Maybe I’ll go work for them.
July 13th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I’m surprised they’re STILL around. They go belly-up tomorrow and this Irishman will do a jig right in front of 100 Phoenix Drive. I boycotted them years ago even when I still worked for them and got my corporate discount. My entire family and circle of friends haven’t and won’t step foot in one of their stores…Borders, Waldens, Paperchase, or Day by Day Calendars. Spread the word …Boycott Borders.
Of course once they do bomb, all the fat cats are still set for life.
Does everyone out there know that Mr. New CEO (and I’m not talking the country singer) immediately bought one of the largest houses ever built in Washtenaw county? Then he bought his EX wife a house right down the road. Or that he drives his Lamborghini or Mazerati whatever the hell it is around downtown A2 hitting the clubs? I live in the A2 area this is no BS. For a CEO of a financially struggling retailer he seems to be making out pretty good. Of course I should lay off him cause the co. had already gone to hell long before he took over.
Anyone got any gripes about the HR dept? Bet I know the answer to that one.
Hope some news person in New York sees this blog!
July 13th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Anderson Cooper knows and so does Micheal Moore. in fact when Mr Moore did a signing there were pckets about the firing of an employee. He supported the employee. The concept store our great if you have knowlegable employees but most of them have been fired. Most New Orleans can see trought Mr Jones. Something is happening hear and you don’t know what it is do you Mr Jones. Mr Jones do you know Mr Davis? Did you see Professor LongHair? Ever look for Booker’s eyeball. Ever gone to Benny’s And you want to be on St Charles. New orleans is not like anywhere else Call me 504-920-1533 and I can answer those ?. I don’t think he has the time.
July 13th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
The morale is at an all-time LOW. I’ve talked to so many people I know at stores all over the country and not a single one of them is happy. Every one is looking for another job if they can find one. It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that they (the Corporate powers that be) can run a company like this (poorly).
July 14th, 2008 at 12:38 am
My manager said it was my attude that was causing the morale to be low. I was the one that cared. My bets our on the fact that they won’t make it till Febuary. I worked in another corpation for 13 years and they lost sight of the customer and competion took advange of that. Why is it that they say the customer is always right but they treat them like dogs. These Dogs our going to comeback and bite them on there backside. As this ship goes down I hope they know how to swim
July 14th, 2008 at 8:35 am
It all starts with corporate. Corp employees WERE always taught that the stores are our customers and absolute main focus. Attitude at corp now is watch your ass and hope upper management doesn’t fire you. Used to be that you do a good job you don’t need to watch your ass or worry about your job. Now it’s just trying to survive and try to make the execs look good. Oh, and have lots and lots of meetings whether they have any pertinence or not. I had a manager that would have the whole dept in virtually every mtg just to wow them with her awesomeness…sic. I had another manager who would schedule mtg. to go over what other mtgs needed to be scheduled. Meanwhile you’re sitting in all these mtgs (most had nothing to do with your job) and your not able to get your real work done so you worked through lunch took no breaks and stayed late to get your work done and….’COVER YOUR ASS”.
When the first big layoffs happened at corp 2 yrs ago, employees were phoned into their managers office to be fired (they continue to call them layoffs….why? It’s not like you’re coming back), security would start packing up your personal stuff and additional rented security was in the parking lot to make sure no one went postal. Meanwhile your co-workers sitting in cubes close by are yakking away to you assuming you were still there as usual until the silence. Silence would be broken by YOUR phone ringing and your manager on the other end saying they needed to see you. You walk out of your cube …”wait, what are all these boxes doing here”…your very brief mtg with your manager would answer that. Managers and execs all said how hard that was for them and how saddened they were for the employees….what a load of crap! Dan Smith was quoted in local news that it was the only dignified way for the employees that lost their job. Yeah I sure I would feel very dignified being escorted out by security with no opportunity to even gather my own belongings or to say good bye to co-workers. Those of us that were left were called into large mtgs where execs (Vin Altruda himself) told us how sad they were and not to worry, workloads would not increase and major layoffs would NEVER happen again. I wonder if Mr. Altruda avoided his own image in the rear view mirror of his brand new black Mercedes two-seater that afternoon? I made it through that first bunch of layoffs but things got so bad after that everyone was way over stressed. I was talking to my HR person and said “I’ve spent the last few weeks hoping that I wasn’t going to get fired, but now wished I would of”. Know what she said? “I’ve had more employees than I can count say the exact same thing”. BY the way, that was the only honest and sincerely caring HR person I have ever dealt with at BGI. Dan Smith and the rest of his crew make Catbert look like an angel (apologies to you non-Dilbert fans).
No one below manager level gives a rat’s patooey about the stores, they have too many of their own problems to worry about. Mainly, how do I see my computer screen with my head twisted over my shoulder watching my back. Doesn’t matter…all the merchandising systems are all friggin useless anyway. Those of you that remember Border’s and Walden’s coming together know that the main objective was to somehow create a single inventory/merchandiser system to do away with workload redundancy. Ask any one you know still in Merch how many systems they have to work with now and how ineffective they are…it’s ridiculous. Who suffers? The stores. No inventory, wrong stock levels, empty shelves!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:28 am
I just sent off 100 pages for my appeal. I bet it never even gets seen. My HR guy says I can’t drive to Ann Arbor and deliver it personally. It’s all behind closed doors. One day those doors will be open, I care about the customer who was looking for that Shadows Cd. He was happy that i knew who the Shadows were. He came back everyweek to buy something and talk, John lennon knew who the Shadows were and so did Brian epstien. This customer was in the Shadows. Borders seems like they our in the dark. Let the stock go down to three today. Oh yea that customer said when he went in the store the other day and asked for The Beatles they sent them to the bug section. Is this knowlege.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Just got email from Borders I’m now banned from all Borders stores and they have yet to give me a reason. Maybe now I will let the press know, I think the world would like to know why. I guess if you talk about borders you get banned. If this is not descrimenation I don’t know what is.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
You go Dylan. This is a prime example of BGI’s HR ‘open door’ policy. ” you can always speak to your manager or anyone above as long as you don’t piss us off”. Your courage and determination is envious. Wish there were more Borders employees like you that would speak out. All Border’s customers need to know how this company treats it’s employees and ultimately the end effect for it’s customers. Hope it does make the press. A2 local news will rarely speak anything negative about BGI other than what can be found on ANY financial news. The press needs to realize the reason behind BGI’s financial woes…Corp’s employee and customer apathy.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Well now I’m sending out all the paperwork I sent for my appeal. so i’m sure ther big boy lawyers with contact me. I’m very caurios what there gonna say about me. But I lost my house to katrina and my grandmother too. So what our you gonna do to me. This is the land of the free. There is free speech. I know there gonna say I’m crazy. Well I let all my customer speak. Maybe they can have my csi scores. I got most of ther reward members when there program started. check the files.
July 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Dylan, why would you want to go into a bookstore w/empty shelves? What would be the use? I worked for Borders for almost 7 years, and when I finally moved and went to work for Home Depot, with the very heavy labor involved with that job- Borders was alot more difficult. When I would tell my fellow HD employees that, they were amazed. Borders became something out of a Kafka novel, It is all very sad. Now the ultimate irony, a bookless bookstore, very Monty Python.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I worked at Home Depot for 13 years when they started not caring about the customers I left. Lowes picked up on that and made ther own little place in the market. Borders doesn’t care about there stores our there employees. They can’t give me a reason why i’m banded from all ther stores. I wonder what would happen if I started to go to every one of ther stores with a camara crew to see what would happen. Sound like a good documentry to me. I think I have the backing too. Maybe they don’t want the rest of the world to see under there smoke screen. Download your book then they don’t have to have a store at all. funny a bookless book store. maybe i should find out if I’m allowed to talk to the press. If all the employees that cared about the customers would be working again the encomy would grow, Don’t we all leave abetter tip for better service.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I used ti wirk at Borders, I was in charge of Bargain for a year. During my time there Bargain sales increased 67%. That’s over half! I overhauled the whole program for the store and it clearly worked! Up until the day I was let go I had thought I was safe, clearly I was worth something to the company right? all the other sections sales were dropping were bargain was increasing! People could go in the bargain backstock room and actually be successful in finding something! I watched as managment grasped at starws for reasons to let people go. Any little thing would do. Worked her five years but got the flu? Buh Bye. Car accident on the way there so no-call-no-show? Sucks to be you! I watched as in a matter of days I became a the senior employee after only working there a year. Everyone there for a year or more was quicklly weeded out for cheaper work.
I’m a total book lover and dropped at least two hundred bucks a month. Now I refuse to step foot in in a Borders. Barnes and Noble got this lhigh rollin’ customer.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
maybe it about time all the employee that got let go should let the world know how this company cares about it’s people. lets have a million people march on Ann Arbor. they said i said i was gonna do this that why they fired me well now maybe i will. i wonder if any one will join me. let us book lovers prove to them. Like the Who Says Were Not Gonna Take This. that’s why Borders goes down and Barnes and Noble goes up. It looks like Borders just wants to be Borders.com. they never thought the custumers as people anyway
July 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Thank you all for sharing your experiences with Borders. It’s a disturbing pattern and depressing to see so many people who were quite willing to work hard because, in large part, they were happy to be involved with books. Borders is losing a huge asset.
People and books are not widgets that can just be swapped out willy-nilly. This seems to be the approach after reading these experiences - ‘why keep long-time employees with deep book knowledge when we can hire short-term employees who have limited book knowledge.’
The idea that you don’t need knowledgeable employees to increase sales is … laughable. There are very few products (if any) that you’d buy from someone who doesn’t have an idea of the product. Would you buy a new car stereo (I did recently) from someone who shrugged their shoulders when asked the merits of one brand over the other? No.
Books may have a low price point but there is such breadth, variety, history and nuance in books that they demand greater knowledge. If I’m buying Dave Eggers, an employee should be able to tell me which other authors I might be interested in reading.
Brick and mortar stores must be better than ever with the rise of online venues and with more intelligent and precise online recommendation algorithms. Borders, Barnes & Noble and Independent bookstores all must create positive environments that customers wish to visit and receive great customer service.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Dear UBBS: From this ex and disgrunltled Border’s employee…thanks so very much for this venue for us all to vent!
July 16th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
i second that. to all who want to march on ann arbor give me a call 504-920-1533 or we can just vent here. Thank you Ubbs
July 17th, 2008 at 12:44 am
I would also give thanks to UBBS, you can’t imagine how difficult it is for a sensitive person to work for that poor, diseased company.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:59 am
I’m already here in the A2 area so if a march/protest of any kind comes together, let me know via this blog and I gladly join the effort. I really think the press needs to get wind of this first. Forward this blog to MSNBC, ABC, or maybe our friend M.Moore could help??? I would love for BGI to get some very ugly publicity right in the midst of them trying to sell themselves. Anyone got any connections with any news agences? Bet we would get a lot more unhappy ex and present employees interest if word got out to out press. Be nice to see the fat cats at 100 Phoenix Drive sweat a little. They don’t hesitate to put the screws to their employees….let’s turn the table.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I am currently working at Border’s in the cafe. Not only do we have to pay for previously free coffee and tea….but we also have to pay for WATER.
Yes, you read correctly. Water.
I understand that if you do not bring your own water bottle, you are using company supplies, but come on!
We have to charge employees 35 cents for water. The SAME price we charge for employee coffee/tea (because this is the cheapest item on the menu).
When I urged management to create a binc for 10 cents, the cost of a cup…they said no.
I just don’t understand it all.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Be careful how much is air? Every penny counts. With the price of gas how much does the standard employee pay just to get that cup of water?
July 24th, 2008 at 9:08 am
If they can’t afford water for there employees how can they afford 1000 dollars for a dream library for the Borders.com sweepstakes. 200 shares of Borders stock is worth that much So I guess they will sell there stock to give the winner a gift card. They should focus on the stores not there web site where you can get the books and cd cheaper then going in the store. Let face it Borders will never be Amazon.
The next step against me is there will try to sue me for talking about Borders. I’m going to talk to my Bank who by the way is finacing the store on St Charles Ave. They our very very intrested in what I can tell them.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Rumor in A2 is G.J.’s house is on the market. Somethins brewin.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
There’s No lights on at the condo in New Orleans either. And when I tried to fine out how I can use my Borders Rewards Borders Bucks if I’m Banned from Borders the customers service email comes back can’t be delivered. The store that was supose to open the first quarter in Baton Rouge is still not open. Where did all the money from the sale of the down under stores go? From my customer that have gone to the metaire store have told me the books our just put out in boxes. it looks like a flea market. There Something Happening hear and you don’t know what it is. do you Mr. Jones.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Former director of eCommerce systems and director of retail systems for Borders Group is now the new CIO of American Laser Centers, a provider of laser hair removal and other noninvasive aesthetic services. Perfect Books go away, hair go away. Where did we find these people and why do they make all the money?
July 25th, 2008 at 9:34 am
I have been a bookseller for 7 years, and like all the letters I’ve read, I’m ready to enter the fray. Borders has become such a mess. “Special Projects” take the form of hiding the wood on empty shelves, which only emphasizes how empty they are. Customers constantly complain about the paucity of stock. And TLU is such a joke. Come on, Windows 98? Borders is limping 10 years behind the times. Please. The stock situation is similar to people who, having had plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons, when they come back from “vacation.”If they have it, they are perceived as having “needed” it, therefore they must be much older than they look! (Check out Going Gray by Anne Kreamer—Neat book!) Not a knock on reconstruction surgery or accident/deformation repair, of course, but you get me?
Think about it…
By the way, all the gray-haired people are being slowly squeezed out…it’s not that we’re rolling in dough. Ironically, Borders is touting their AARP afiliation and that there are so “senior friendly”. By the way, I’m a happy gray hair, and I’m in a position to enjoy life a bit. I thought working at Borders would be something I would make a kind of second career, sort of. Now, it seems as though Borders has poured so much money into Borders.com they are so scared their huge investment may not pan out. The panic and desperation is clearly evident. The Rewards program is probably the next item on the chopping list. What say we all thoughtfully observe while they start backing off and removing benefits from that. I mean really…people shouldn’t be fooled into believing that they’re getting ANYTHING for free, but they do. The average customer will spend $200.00 or more in a year, and at some point, $5.00 back is just a piece of the cost of doing business. Let me know how that works out for you? Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m no accountant, but the upshot of it is they’re giving $5.00 back,while making 10.00. And have any of you have tried ordering using. Borders.com looks like just the average on-line book shopping experience, while being much less customer friendly. How DO thy do it??? I’ve been to easier to navigate and faster book services. The little animation of the “Magic Shelf” is so no big deal, and I feel bad they entered the online marketplace, 10 years too late, with the lackluster product they threw out there. The effort and product is nothing that will unseat ANYBODY. My thought on that matter is this: why get out there with the site unless you’re in it to win it? Isn’t it kind of too late in establishing an online commerce presence? For example, I ordered a book from B&N which shipped in 24 hours. Good old Borders gave 4-8 weeks as a shipping interval. Pathetic.
The company is staggering toward being an on-line store with an outlet center—the stores. Two stockpeople per store, with a cashier or two. One of the most discouraging things I’ve seen is customers rummaging through the recent”bargain” boxes they’ve instituted. How sad. Books in cardboard cartons. How sad to see Borders following the shift toward the examples of no-overhead outlet stores. It makes me ashamed to see the company slowly sinking to that level. Check it out and see whether that’s where they’re heading. Well, I hope this doesn’t come across as long-winded or preachy, but here’s my say. Thanks for hearing (reading) my comments, and please correct my “accounting” about Rewards.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:14 am
I noticed when ever the stock starts to go down a little they sent out the same press release about opening a concept store. Why don’t they just tell all the people all we our gonna have our the 13 concept stores and Borders.com. The local music section at the New orleans Borders is now a joke. The Rads had a cd release party last friday at House of Blues and Borders still doesn’t have a cd. FYE in amall had twenty copies. The Concept store is suppose to open on St Charles avenue in an old funeral home. How right that is this company is almost dead. New Orleans is having the SatchMo fest next weekend with lots of people coming in from all afore the world and I know for a fact they will have very little Louis Armstrong in the store. They had me but they were scared I knew to much. I was trying to help them out for next to nothing. I guess they want the customers to look at them as stupid. Go into the B&N and they have a display. If you go to the Stephiene Meyers sight there’s alink to B & N.
Not so for Borders. I would lay money on that 75 percent of the staff don’t even know who she is. Maybe the signs should go up Basement Sale because that’s where the company is heading and I haven’t even put out the full page ad in the paper which they said I was gonna do. The people our seeing for them selfs Goodbye SS BORDERS And I bet now they won’t look at my appeal
July 25th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
How interesting that Borders is so proud of their “Concept stores” and yet they are letting their other stores go to heck - how can they justify this as good business practice ?? If you look at the more successful businesses like Apple and Nordstrom - they don’t let any of their locations or ventures take a nosedive, so that they can open “new stores” - why would you rob Peter to pay Paul?
I also find it interesting that in every press release that talks about how great these concept stores are, they talk about the “knowledgeable staff” - what knowledgeable staff? All I see them hiring are young, inexperienced clock watchers. I’m not knocking all the young hires, I’m not that old myself, I’m just saying that the managers are not doing quality hiring, nor do they care, just interested in getting a warm body, it seems. The morale is so low, and so many people have quit due to the hours being cut, they will hire anyone willing to work very few part-time hours. They are hired, and then we’re lucky if they last 2 weeks, because they find out they might actually need to “speak” to a customer or ring a register, and that’s just too much work for them.
We hired a Paperchase Supervisor and they didn’t even show up for their training, I wasn’t surprised because I saw them filling out their paperwork and I was not impressed, again another warm body to fill a slot.
When are they going to get a clue, what’s it gonna take? I guess it’s too late - the employees that did care about the company are either still working there and are disgruntled or they have already left. I’m on my way out - I have interviews lined up next week and I am hoping to get a job working with children. I need to feel good about something again, like I used to at Borders until 2 years ago, when it seemed to go downhill for employees and the stores in general. I stayed around hoping it would get better - it hasn’t, it got worse.
Meridien, I agree with you about the horrible cardboard bargain sale at the front of the store - it’s the worst display I’ve ever seen. I wonder, have they got this outlet cardboard box thing going on at the fabulous “concept stores” or is it reserved for the older stores only? I was embarrassed when we put up those tables and cardboard boxes, it hit a new low.
Good luck to all you former employees, and current - I wish us all the best, we deserve it - I have to believe there are greener pastures.
July 25th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I will never understand what happened to Borders, its as if this Board hired some CEO with no knowledge of bookstores, but with knowledge of “business”. The Devil is always in the Details. To know any type of business takes years in the trenches of that business. These new business methods and theories- you know the ones I am talking about, we sell the books, are useless. “Rules” of leadership, “rules” of investment and growth, all garbage! And this Board has hired and followed this crap to the point of bankruptcy. Does any good organization hire it’s visionaries from the outside? No! They create them from the ground up! Were is guts and imagination that made Borders great? Bought out by these current morons captaining this sinking ship. I will miss Borders.
July 26th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Thank you so much for the replies. I like working with books so much. Maybe I’ll keep working there and use their tuition refund to pay for an MLA. Maybe that’s the route, so I don’t have to go into my pockets for it. Use ‘em.. Reading the press releases, the company is taking on water and listing fast, announcing layoffs and properties/overseas divisons being dumped. In the same breath, they announce NEW STORES BEING OPENED. What the @#$%^&* is with THAT????? B&N will only take Borders when the company is so weak financially it can be gobbled for bargain basement prices–just like the cardboard box displays.They have time on their side.
B&N doesn’t want to be bothered (yet) with a boat anchor like Borders with its bumbling executives’ bad decisions…they’re gonna be history.
My best guess: upper management is about to to be pancaked. Levels of management will disappear. No DM’s and GM’s will take on 3-4 stores. No need for a single GM per store. There will be a management buyout, big time. It’s cheaper to buy them out than continue to pay them. I bet you that’s down the line. I was a manager at a huge national company and I took the buyout. They got rid of a bunch of people that way. And anyone left had to interview for the job they held the day before. I’m no fortune teller! But when they “rightsized” the company, they saved their asses that way. Big execs had their $$$ and retirements (duh!) Anyway, thanks for the ear.OK, I’m all done venting…What a great forum!
July 26th, 2008 at 8:41 am
If you really what a laugh about how Mr Jones thinks check out this at http://community.livejournal.com/iworkatborders He tells you what he is. All he ever worried about was his money not the customers Well hopefully the GM at the store in Metaire will be gone, I know he never care about the store. Well now I’m going to a jazz funeral and I get to here from all the people who will ask me what going on at Borders. The Big Boys never knew what New orleans is about. How can they when they have Allen Tousaint have to play on a Player Piano. And when Levon Helm calls and they asked him what Band. Knowledge I don’t think these clowns have a clue. But they do know how to make money for themselfs. Maybe if I was dumb I would be rich. I think the country singer would have been a better C.E.O.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Yeah, how about Conway Twitty? No wait, I think he’s dead??? Doesn’t matter. He’d still be better.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Lets see if he shows up in New Orleans for SatchMo Fest. I wonder if he will be at any Stephine Meyers Parties. He should he makes a great vampire.
August 12th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Ive worked of Borders for 18 months and very quickly ive learned how truly evil this company is. Aside from all of benefits (scoffs!) we used to get for being full time the store (#50) is shrinking. First the merch left. Next is was the long time and very knowledgeable staff, then it was the customers. However Our CSI score has been great as well as Borders Rewards. Are you kidding me?! Is anyone in Michigan seeing what i’m seeing. Books have survived the test of time but that may go to hell because some fatcats can’t squeeze the blood out of another nickel. I emplore all who read this boycott Borders, you’ll only read about working on this plantation of consumerism. To work for Borders is to know hell!
August 13th, 2008 at 6:24 am
You don’t need the boycott. Most people when they walk inside turn around an walk right out. The GM wasn’t even at the stephenie Meyers party. The lastest hire told a customer “the book might be hear but I don’t know I don’t read” They will fire you for they don’t have to pay unemployment. Get out while you can.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Nat No one in Ann arbor sees what you’re seeing or cares…they couldn’t give a shit. Borders is all about making rich execs richer. They care not for their employees or ultimately the customers. It’s the almighty $ my friend..that’s it! Tom and Louis should be exremely ashamed that their vision has been blinded by Corporate Nomads who only want their piece of the pie and then bail.
August 15th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Twan. As you see B & N doesn’t even want this company any more. dave Carpenter is rolling over in his grave at the customer service. The people I talked to at the music confernce I’m attending seem to think after what the Wall Street journal printed yesterday the ship will started going down pretty quick. quarter earning and inventory numbers our coming soon. They had there chance in New Orleans. But they got rid of the person that knew the city better then anybody. everybody I talk to looks at this as bad business planing. How much water can they bail to save a singing ship?
August 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Not just in Nawlins Dylan…they’re missing the boat all over the country. I still keep in touch with a few people at Corporate and everyone is ready to jump ship. G.J. isn’t the Messiah he thinks he is. I just hope all the big shooters who have run this once thriving company aground get screwed in the end. Especially Dan Smith and his hoard of HR ding dongs. Course that probably won’t happen. Look at G. Josephewicz ( BGI really likes those initials). He mucked up the company real good and came out smelling like a rose and with a very fat wallet.
I really appreciate this blog and the opportunity to chat and vent with other BGI casualties and walking wounded. I’m surprised more haven’t joined in. We need more people on!! Spreading the word on what a Corporate Ogre (I ain’t talking Shrek) BGI has become …..SPREAD THE WORD!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I’m trying my best. I very courious on how the store in metaire will do with the inventory since all the gm new hire (his friends) how have only been in the store for two weeks are less do. They had a score of 39 on there aduit and he having his son put up the inventory tags and he’s under 18. I’m told I can put a lien on the sale if i bring them to court with a suit. Rumors are the lease run out in Sept. George Jones has not been to New Orleans since jazz fest and some musician are still waiting for there checks. Pictures of them puting the local product in the dumpster won’t make the musician to happy put by now they are very leary of the way the operation is operating.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Hey. Has anyone looked at borders.com? It’s pathetic they would put an on-line operation together and launch it as unready as that. I mean, really, come on. Years and years of online commerce later, you don’t even have to be paying attention to see what works, at the very least. You don’t offer a shipping interval of “4 to 8 weeks” for ANYTHING. If you can’t deliver it in 3-5 days DON’T OFFER IT. Repeat: DON’T OFFER IT, STUPID. One day we were trying to coax another few days out of a worn-out print cartridge. The CSM said, “Well, just take it out and shake it up and you might be able to make it work a little longer before it finally dies”, and I said, “Right. That’s Border’s business model.” Met with stony silence. Funny to everybody else on the walkie-talkie! I haven’t seen the WSJ article of 8/15 yet. I think that print cartridge’s got only one or two more shakes left in it.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I wondering how many shakes Borders has. All the people on the Borders Union site are tried of my comments about the store in metaire. They say I should get on with my life. well i have but i will not stop commenting about the situation in New Orleans. We deserve the best. We got shafted by the goverment and now we’re being shafted by Borders. People in this city don’t need BS. I agree all Borders is going to be is concept stores but most of the burn your on Cd’s systems don’t even work. And in the metaire store is any reflection of the people they will hire for St Charles that store will fail if it makes it at all. Most people are mad because of what they did to the building.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hey. Here’s a thought: Iceberg’s dead ahead, but this would have been the time for employees to buy the company. Probably next to impossible, but if the company want to auction themselves off so bad by the end of September, why couldn’t a group of employees buy the company? Think about it: the company would be the one you always wanted to work for, right? If there was a concerted group effort at least the company would know in some way somebody really cared that loving books really made the difference in the way it was run. Make no mistake: I don’t know the least thing about running a corporation. Maybe this sounds like a lot of foolishness. But wouldn’t it make a statement that we who remain for however long we can still want to work for a company who still respected their customers and employees? If there are enough of us, and sadly there might not be, …oh, well. Just a thought.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Great Idea But remember most of the employees never made that much money. We worked because we cared about books and are customers.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Yeah, and don’t forget all of us who are no longer with the Company that we worked our butts off for. I know, we should let it go and get on with our lives but many of us are still very angry for whats happened to us and our friends and colleagues. BGI has screwed so many good people while the execs keep revolving and making more and more $$$$. Besides, the customer service is gone so far down the drain I don’t think the thousands of consumers that have stopped shopping at Borders would ever come back. Again it starts at Corporate…if they don’t care about the employees or the stores (and they don’t) then who’s to blame the shrinking shopper #’s. Remember they did and still are doing the same thing at corp as they have at the stores. Get rid of long term employees in favor of new ones that don’t have a clue. When I still worked there, I saw co-worker after co-worker leave or get fired (scuse me …”laid off”) most of which worked with the ever present mind set of “the stores are our customers and constant focus. We will do whatever is necessary to support them and insure their success”. That no longer exists at 100 Phoenix Drive. Everyone is hunkered down just waiting for the next shoe to drop. If corp’s constant focus is not on the customer (stores) then what kind of support can they provide? I could give you a ton of examples of the new train of though at corp but one in particular really sticks in my mind. Just before I separated with BGI I got a new Boss who had been with the company less than a year and was already climbing the corporate ladder by being a complete arrogant asswipe. This guy made absolutely no effort to learn how our dept functioned even though we worked directly with the store to get them equipment they needed. We prided ourselves in supporting the stores in an expedient manner. New Boss on several occasions told us directly to forget about store orders and work on our projects (most of which was revolving around the Concept stores) that all the execs were watching very closely and we better not screw it up. I.E. “make me look good to the execs and screw the existing stores vs the Concepts. His arrogance and only caring about himself and how he looked to the Fatcats was so blatant most everyone that crossed his path came away with doo-doo on their shoes. Guess what? He’s still there and I’ve heard is still moving up the food chain. This is the new “Corporate Employee Model”. Back stab, harass, and step all over people for your own personal goals. That has been going on at corp for some time now and the stores wonder why their inventory is so mucked up or why the have antiquated equipment and obsolete systems. Can you say WINDOWS ‘98? Do you have POS units so old they’re growing moss? CORPORATE DOESN”T CARE! If you need a little ‘pick me up’ just go to your nearest Concept store and see all the new bright and shiny stuff….too bad most of it doesn’t work and there aren’t any customers anyway. How many people do you know that are going to drive miles to a store to burn a CD cause they don’t want to do it in the comfort of their own home…gas prices are way cheap right?
I’ll stop the rant… for now.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Keep your rants coming Yea you and me seem like the only ones who will not let up. The Concept store in New Orleans will never work if they hire people who don’t even read. How can they operate all this new stuff. Corp still doesn’t realize the people know me in this town. If they want it to work hear they didn’t need to fire me. I was working for them for cheeap. Now it going to cost them. I don’t think they can pay me my price. They need to learn New Orleans and realize it not like any other city in the US. We hate outsiders here
August 20th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Yup, we felt the same way at Corp when they brought in people with other non-book retail experience. Retail is retail they said…my ass! They all thought cause they worked in a grocery store or a movie theatre that they had all the answers. Well we ain’t selling fish sticks for Pete’s sake. The yahoo’s took over at corp and refused to acknowledge the value of experienced book & music sellers and the people at corp who truly knew how to support them. Cast us aside and see what you got ….a floundering business that’s dying a slow painful death.
August 20th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I know, the situations are WAY different…my husband mentioned it because he worked for a large chemical company.The employees bought the smaller division he worked for. He ran the lab for the smaller circle of retail outlets who sold welding gases and equipment. The whole group of employees in the division gave their stock (!) and bonuses (!) and they ended up owning 49% of the stock. So, yeah, for us it’s impossible, not an option by a long, LONG shot. I’d prefer to continue working for a company like that. We’re in no position to oppose a bid of any type…I still just want to sell books and enjoy it anymore. There’s lots of independents, even some larger ones here in town.
Hell, I might go sell computers. I can still be enthusiastic about selling a product I believe in. Bottom line:
A little wine, a computer, late at night, etc.,etc. Who hasn’t made that 3am call…it just felt nice to entertain an idea for a little while. LOL!
August 20th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Oh, yeah…2 am for me here (yuk yuk)
Belly up all right: the replacement for TLU is what looks to be kind of thought out, but when it’s connected to the crappy database, it doesn’t mean much.
Too much but too late. Lots of money spent in spinning wheels…All this new stuff has all the earmarks of being a step in the right direction but the overall framework is so very flawed. What’s with the shooting themselves in the foot anyway??
The situation in New Orleans looks like a volatile one. Keep fighting.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I will keep fighting. I fought Road Home and won. If you lost everything what to i have to lose. right. the C.E.O. knows who i am. I think by now they realize I’m not given up. they may think i’m crazy but there gonna have a hard time wiith this crazy person. It’s i nice dream of owning the company. maybe that what i ask for when i sue them for wrongful termitation. I can keep them in court for years.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Whoa.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:14 am
You go Dylan! Maybe if there were more Borders employees with some semblance of back bone, we could really put the screws to them!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:40 am
Yea All the employees at my store don’t want to fight. they gave up and when on with there life. Not me I will not give up until i see this store become what it once was. i know what this city needs and what it will get if i have anything to say about it. I have not even begun to fight. I’m army of one but I’m strong
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Obviously I am new to your posts, but I’ve worked at Borders for about 7 years. I was laid off during the training/os merger, but my GM saved my job. I’m not a supervisor but meh, whatever. I remember when I first starting working at Borders. I was amazed at all the things they did for employees. The payrate was equal to my pay when I left my old job of 5 years. All the other benefits astounded me. I was very grateful that I had such a great job that involved books! I also know I wasn’t alone. It seems like most of the borders employees, and sadly ex-employees, have a story like this.
But I think that everyone can see that the company “went the wrong direction” to put it midly. Anyway, I have this crazy idea to fix it. I really think it has a chance of working. But I might be missing something. Please let me know what you think of it.
I think Meridien has the right idea. I’ve talked to a number of people that have worked at Ann Arbor like Twan. All of them say that the actual VPs are afraid of real work or even letting their bosses hear how really crappy stores are suffering. I’m sure that the money-grubbing stockholders who don’t even work for Borders are even worse. OK, here’s the idea. What if we got each employee to buy 1 share of Borders stock? I mean, it’s like $5. Borders is going to take that money away in payroll anyway. Then, we could band together as The Borders Employee Investment Group. We could have a proxy attend the meetings and actually get our opinions expressed, or shoved in the faces, of the VPs and other shareholders. Most of them would end up quitting and going to another company just to avoid reality that much more. None of them actually care about the company. Also, we could get ex-employees too. It might even be better if our proxy wasn’t a current employee. That way there could be no repercussions. Also, security couldn’t be called, because the proxy would have as much authority as other shareholders!
I really think this is a good way to use their system against them. Even if the stockholders raise the amount of shares a person needs to have to go to meetings, each employee could buy one more share next month and double the proxy’s influence. We couldn’t buy the company back from Pershing Investment Group but we could be a constant voice and chase out the abusive VPs and CEOs that we’ve all been struggling under.
There really is more of us than them. I’m tired of letting them have the power over us. If Borders really is this crapped out, we might be able to scrape together enough to make a bid for representation. I know money’s tight for everyone, myself included. But I’ll skip eating one day for a share of stock and the right to have an angry informed person in the face of the VPs. I think we can do this. And even if we can’t turn the company back into a place we would all like to work, with extra apologies to all who have been screwed already, is $5 too much to ask for the chance? Our odds are at least better than the lottery, and most of us have already wasted more money on that with no return. Please think it over, and let me know what you think.
Thanks for your time, patience, insight, and caring.
P.S. Bonus points to anyone who can place the reference of my name.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
what is the amount we need. i will lend my voice. according to my termination i was gonna put up a billboard i would rather talk directly to them. how many shares do we need. also according to the termination i was compaining about my stock and how it was going down and they feared for there safety. what if i’m a proxey can i complain
August 24th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Wacko isn’t so wacko after all! I like the idea of taking action rather than watching the ship sink. I didn’t figure it out that well but if the stock is worth that little (last time I looked it was about $5.25). It’s worth a try. If nothing comes of it we will all own a share of a company we work(ed) for and that’s no big deal. How do we get the word out? I’m ready to buy some shares. Call us crazy, but I agree: if we can’t buy the company outright we can at least be a constant irritation. Amazing just how aggravating a mosquito can be. Ideas on who/what to assign as a proxy? And we’ll need a website to commune so people who have bought their shares so find out what’s going on. Ideas on that? The investment group could work. People form investment groups all the time, so that makes perfect sense. A symbolic effort can be just as effective.
Feedback anyone?
August 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Go to this site: http://www.wikio.com/business/retailers/borders_group
August 24th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Also check this one out: www.esopservices.com/company.html
I’m checking out this one to see if it has merit. My husband explained it further, about his company’s ESOP. It was organized by workers who gave up the cost of 1 week of vacation. Rank-and-file could donate more, but the major execs who wanted to own the company gave up actual MONEY and much more worth. So wouldn’t it be similar if we bought stock? The workers actually didn’t GIVE $$, per se. Those who had more, gave more. Anyway, an ESOP can be structured a lot of ways. United Airlines did it when the company was on the ropes and going down fast. They gave up a portion of their benefits, but again, our ESOP could be structured in any of a number of ways. What we’d need to know is, are there managers, etc. who actually wanted to be a part of this and felt the company was worth saving? How to find out?
Ideas? Not as impossible as it might seem…
August 25th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Hello, all,
An ESOP might be a long shot.But wouldn’t you rather go down fighting?
I’m buying my 5 shares today.
August 26th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Ok. I’m going to look into some things and post some answers early next morning. Here is a quick breakdown of some things that I think we need to consider:
1 We need a way to buy stocks that doesn’t involve a broker or other crazy fees. A way that is accessible to everyone.
2 We need a way to provide proof to a proxy that he/she represents so many shares of bought stock.
3 We need a way to spread the word to as many employees and ex-employees as possible. I was thinking using the 700 number v-net and talking directly employees that we know. I advise against using any borders email so that VPs can’t take something written down and twist it.
4 I will check on the sites that Meidien suggested and I will also look into the yearly financial statements for Borders. Being a bit of a nerd, I have all of those saved from the end of each year.
5 I will also look into a way to communicate between us. Meridien suggested a website, but it should be one with a log-in so that we are a little unaccessible to the CEOs and VPs. I am hoping to blindside them as much as possible. Think it over, and I will try to post back suggestions to these by early next morning.
Thanks. Together, we might make it work.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
All be careful. A friend just told me of a big corporation that is suing a blogger for slander or something. They evidently were able to subpoena the blog site and tracked down IP addresses and found who they were looking for. Hope it’s all BS but who knows these days. W’s administration has basically wiped away our freedom of speech.
UBB — can you reassure us that your logs are consistently purged and our IP info is secure?
August 26th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
All– Please excuse the paranoia but I’ve experienced first hand what the Corp honchos at BGI are capable of. I just don’t want any of us to be vulnerable.
August 27th, 2008 at 12:56 am
I can certainly understand your paranoia, but so far we haven’t said anything damaging. But we should definetly look into some log in webiste. I can’t program anything but maybe we should look into something. Also here’s what I’ve come up with.
1 I haven’t found a good way to buy stocks yet. TradeKing is the cheapest online trading site, but it still charges $4.95 per trade. That’s almost the price of BGI stock. $5.29 at the end of yesterday. I’m going to ask a friend of mine that actually does have stocks. Anybody else want to check into options on this?
2 I was thinking that each memeber could just mail a staement of stock options bought, with all private information blacked out to the proxy. Opinions?
3 I know a number of employees at many different stores. I thought once we figure out the best way to do this I could call them using the internal Borders toll free number system of 700 to call them and direct them to a nice explanation we could have online. Thoughts?
4 OK, the ESOP seems to need to have some negotiations with the company executives which I doubt would work. But I did look up the financials and the lowest ranked member of the main staff is Michael Weiss with 15,398 shares. I also found a site that said that Borders employs 29,500 employees. I doubt this is still accurate. But with over 500 BSS stores and about 500 Waldens if each employee bought just one share then we would rank about 20,000 shares. 15th largest investor!
5 We should find a website to communicate with. I haven’t faound one yet that would be easy to use but still semi-private. I’ll need help with this one.
Finally, look at this website: http://sec.edgar-online.com/2007/03/30/0000950124-07-001905/Section38.asp
If these people can’t be sued for putting this information online. We should be safe.
In a crazy world only the truely sane appear crazy.
I’ll keep working on it. Let me know if you have any brainstorms!
August 27th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I agree with the need for security but we haven’t yet said anything that can be used against us. In the meantime here are somethings I found out
1 I haven’t found a very good way to buy stocks yet. I’ve never bought stock shares before so I don’t know of a good company. TradeKing is rated very well and has the best prices of any online trading site. But it still has a $4.95 fee per trade. And that is almost the cost of stock BGI closing at $5.29 yesterday. I’m going to ask a friend of mine that has stocks and get some advise.
2 As far as proof to our proxy I think we should just have everyone mail a print out or receipt with all the private information blacked out.
3 I know quite a few people that work in different stores. I figure that once we get a workable way we could have it all writen down with step instructions on a website. Then we can have people who agree use the Borders internal phone system to talk to each other and mention the website. A way of talking to old friends and spreading the word without anything being written down that BGI could access.
4 I looked into somethings that Meridien mentioned. An ESOP looks unlikely because you seem to need to negotiate with the coporate executives. But I did look at the BGI financials. According to one webiste BGI employs 29,500 employees. I’m sure this number has dropped. BUt there are still over 500 BSS and about 500 Waldenbooks. So if each employee buys just one share of stock we should have about 20,000 shares. The lowest representative on the BGI list is Michael Weiss at 15,398 shares. 20,000 shares would put us at the 15th largest investor!
5 I really think we need to find a website to communicate with. Something semi-private with a log on. I can’t program anything so I’ll really need help with this one.
Finally while looking into this stuff I came across this website:
http://sec.edgar-online.com/2007/03/30/0000950124-07-001905/Section38.asp
If they can post stuff like this on the internet about Borders and it’s officers we should be fine.
I’ll keep working on this and please write with any brainstorms you might have.
Remember “In a crazy world, it’s the sane that are locked away.”
August 27th, 2008 at 5:41 am
What if you were using one percent of your pay to purchase stock. Over ten years I should have a few shares right. I know other employees who were doing the same. At one point I had 500 opions when Borders were giving us opions but they were purchase at 13 dollars a share so they can’t be used. If Borders is after me to sue I don’t think they have a leg to stand on and they are really desprate. I’ve made my phone number known and still noone calls. If they want to talk they can. I’m not sneaky.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
When you look at the ESOP requirements it looks a little daunting. I haven’t got the slightest idea how to go about finding out some of this stuff. Maybe ESOP can be tabled for now. but I don’t see what’s wrong with a group of employees buying stock. Seems to me we’re just expressing confidence in the
financial health of the company, right? Paranoia may be warranted, but I just don’t see we’re doing anything wrong…
Isn’t there a Borders union website or something like that? Has anyone found something like that? I bet there would be some receptive voices there. Has anyone had any contact with that?
August 27th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Website. Be right back.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
How about a blog like this, then everyone who has bought stock is allowed access? Gmail has Blogspot.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
A PC networked with a router with a firewall? That way the IP address is the router, not the individual computers BEHIND it.
Oh, if I only had that setup! But that would take care of security concerns wouldn’t it? Firewall software could prevent incursions, anyway.
Nobody needs to know who you are online.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
The Borders union website is Bordersunion.org. They have been hearing alot from me. If our voice is to be heard I thinkwe have to get to the stockholders meeting. How many shares do we have to have to attend. How strong is are voice. Right now I have to worry about a hurricane coming my way. Borders took care of me last time but now that i’m no longer with them I’m on my own. I was one of the first back to open up the store in the last one. I honestly believe not one of the managers even cares about the store our coming back to give the community a refuge after this storm. Corp. is I bet hoping it hits so they can get some insurance money.
August 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Dylan, my most sincere wishes for you and your family’s safety. Your priority is
to keep safe and sound right now! Borders will stagger on.
I’ll check out the union site, and thanks for the tip. Twan and Wacko (and everybody else with feedback from the recent posts), what’s your ideas about the blog idea?
August 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Here’s a shout out to disaffected ex-or present managers who share the concerns voiced on this blog. Your ideas are needed. Thanks.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I really like the idea of a seperate blog for members. Blogspot looks good. As you say, there is no real reason to worry about retaliation from VPs or CEOs yet. It would really send the wrong message to punish people for investing in the company. I can see the lawyers having months of meetings about that.
Dylan I will keep the best thoughts for you. Stay safe.
Here’s another blog we can post on:
http://community.livejournal.com/slave4borders
or
http://community.livejournal.com/iworkatborders/
Keep good thoughts out.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Twan, Meridien; Wacko The Sane and Dylan James,
I’m very happy to have the UBB be a place where you and others can talk about your Borders issues. I host UBB via Yahoo! and not one of the smaller hosting providers. So the odds that Borders could force them to divulge log or IP information is slim in my opinion.
I view this as free speech and would vigorously defend my (and your) right to talk about bonehead policies and strategies. Would I be persecuted for a bad review? Or my persistent belief that the Amazon Kindle isn’t the next coming of the iPod? Or my posts about the controversial Textbook Torrent website?
Now, I’m not saying it’s impossible in this environment, what with the way we’ve traded our privacy and freedom away based on fear, but it is highly unlikely.
September 1st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
After ten years at Borders, that past couple of years have been no surprise. Obviously, corporate blames the economy, but the losses began long before the credit crunch and high energy prices. Borders’ big problem — as well as the book industry’s — is that in a divided country, it has taken sides. I listen as customers complain about an environment that is not family friendly; I listen to managers ridicule their complaints behind closed doors; then watch as those customers take their children — future customers — by the hand and never return. We see the same customers over and over. Like so much of the culture business, Borders is stuck in the last decade of the past century with its graying ponytails and sagging hipness. When five year olds say something is “cool,” it is time to move on and grow up. The Richard Florida model is a failure. The long term dollar is always where the family is. Culture follows commerce. The current stagnation was predictable by anyone paying attention.
Those of us over 40 smiled to ourselves as the GM promoted AARP. Borders is notorious for discriminating against experienced employees. Education is a bad thing. The company is in permanent decline. Managers are promoted based on their ignorance, youth, and maleability. And those young managers are green lighted to say and do whatever enters their heads, no matter how offensive. When an employee called me “a racist,” hate speech is not too strong a word. Baiting by management is a daily experience for me. Managers simply do not know when they have crossed the line into the personal and private. And, please bloggers, spare me the “political is personal; the personal is political” song and dance. That’s too 20th century as well. A sense of an employee’s individual worth and dignity is non existent at Borders. Das GruppenRights is the rule. A bizarre self-profiling that puts Homeland Security to shame. Independant thought is dead. As well as merit and an appreciation for a strong work ethic.
But, then, the community outside Borders is far more diverse and complicated and interesting than the provincial workplace inside. The community and its wants and needs will still be around at the end of the decade. Borders will not.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 am
Sorry, been preoccupied for a bit…
Dylan— You OK?
I’m sure by now all have seen or heard the 2nd qtr financial report and the positive jump in stock price because BGI “reduced their second qtr losses from 2nd qtr in ‘07. Yipee skipee! Maybe a result of selling off the International stores…ya think? If I owned 100 Fish on a Stick stores that all lost money so I dumped 50 stores wouldn’t that naturally reduce loss? I’m I missing something here or am I just an idiot? Can’t figure out how Wall Street views the report so positively.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I’m fine if i can survive what Borders did to my life what a hurricane gonna do. I’m in Vegas beting that there will be more store closing and soon just the concept stores. Now I can see how soon the metarie store comes back with the mangemant team they have now. I don’t think they will be the oasis like after the last storm. The storm will make it even harder to get people to want to come to New Orleans to work at the St Charles store. And I wonder if Borders helped all the employees who had to evacute like last time. I don’t think so cut cost at all cost. While I’m in Vegas I’m gonna try to go into the Border store here and see if I’m really banded from all Borders like Ted Beaver of HR said I was in his E-mail to me. If not even more documention for my suit. Hopefully I’ll be back in New Orleans soon to fight the battle for St Charles Avenue
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Hey glad everyone is ok.
Well, I talked to a friend of mine and unfortunately even if we buy a comparable amount of stock we won’t have the legal leverage to meet with the corporate executives. All a proxy would be able to do is go to the annual stockholders meeting. And then they would be up against the major shareholders like Pershing Investments who own 6 million shares. Apparently there is no way to get the legal right to regularly meet with the corporate excuatives that are making all these crappy policies.
So that’s looks like it’s busted. Sorry everyone.
Stay safe and be well.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
was able to go into borders express in vegas. used my insurcance card to show i worked at borders and then had my friend who works at borders get her employee discount. they had no idea who i was our even what a dave carpenter award was. this was the manager of the store. she was upset that a customer was bringing something back. new return policy states no return without receipt she said she was tried of people using the store like a libary. real soon it will be you buy it it’s yours. i wonder how mr jones condo in new orleans did.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:22 am
just got letter from the appeal comminutee and just like i thought they did not listen they up held the termination. so know i’ll but everything out. i gave them a chance and i did everything right now i really have nothing to lose i will be talking to the lawyer soon. i will be there worst nightmare.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Give em hell Dylan. Take them for every penny you can get. Get a good Atty and fight like hell!
BTW….where is everyone? we need to keep this blog going and growing!!!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Hello, good to be back. Knee surgery went just fine. I’ve just had a disturbing incident that makes confirm for me this company is not worth saving after all. A customer came into the store with a huge chip on his shoulder which, unfortunately, seemed somehow to settle on me for his outburst and rage. He screamed and raged at me with no provocation, and absolutely terrified and intimidated me when he returned to the store again and raged, “I hope you DIE, you old gray bitch’, and stuff like that. A manager had absolutely no comment and stood by while this happened and made no move in my defense, such as ordering this big huge intimidating man from the store. I am 5′1″ and slim, so you can imagine how frightened I was. The next week, I was called into a “conference” with the GM and the witness manager( or should i say witless) who sisn’t say a word. Anyway this man apparently called Corporate to have me fired. This man, you must understand, was completely off his friggin’ rocker, and while he was in his tirade, screaming and yelling, the whole store went silent twice. Customers came up to me, asking what his problem was and in some cases, even tried to comfort me! So they’re not all nuts…anyway, in the meeting, a vague comment concerning “employee performance” was tossed in the air. Needless to say, my concern is that Borders will invariably side with him, and that means they value him over me, regardless of intimidating and threatening a long-term, hardworking bookseller. As far as I see it, there is NOTHING defensible about giving someone the go-ahead to abuse, frighten and intimidate an employee. At this point, I really can’t focus right now on trying to help this company. There’s not much to save. I have no doubt after I return to work after 2 weeks off, that’s not the last I will hear about this. I suspect I’m going to be written up. . (LIttle bragging here!!) That, in light of my having something of a “following” among customers and am acknowledged as having a top BR signup percentage consistently. I truly loved working and enjoyed my job. My coworkers are some of the best. There are no bad employees, only bad managers. I’m no Pollyanna, been in retail, know customers can be absolutely unreasonable and angry, and have dealt with my share…but this guy really reached a NEW low. i will never feel the same about working.It’s a bookstore, for crying out loud, not a liquor store!! i just don’t have the energy for having to fight management over this, but this is what it will come to, and I’m getting geared up for it. It looks like a fight is shaping up. Wish me luck. I’ve been screwed over by Borders for the last time, believe it. I’ve got some feelers out and am starting to look at some alternatives.
The last fight I took on was employee recognition efforts and I had to push hard for some security in the store. This insane man had some threatening, offhand comments in my direction once, and security wasn’t even given a thought (after I met with both the Districr LP and DM, So they know I won’t hesitate to take this as far as I need to. It hasn’t endeared me but I’m unafraid of asking for what’s right. )They only got a guard after a manager got pushed down later that week by a shoplifter…and if the GM had had a similar incident, the whole CPD would be on call with a presence for all business hours! After that one incident, my feeling just plunged downhill in trust and concern for Borders. And it’s too bad. Oh, well, time to pull back and move on. Screw them.I feel the real loss at losing something I loved.
September 17th, 2008 at 4:35 am
sorry meridien. i’ve had bad customers too but usually good managers can see it not the employee’s fault. but as you well know they don’t care about long standing employees. i know this sounds pernoid but i know some managers are having people come in and make complaints about employees so they can get them fired. oh btw my appeal to borders group failed i will give y’all there answer in a latter communication. the real lose is the loseing of people that really care. it is the duming down of america
September 18th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Meridien — No one should be subject to the abuse you got from this customer. I’m genuinely sorry for you or any bookseller to be harassed in this manner. Shame on your Store Managers for not backing you up! Please continue to beleive that this is what BGI has evolved into and is by no means a result of any wrong doing on your part. There are literally thousands of BGI employees that have now been cast into the proverbial fiery pit. Corporate simply does not give a rats patooey about any of their employees and it’s obvious that it’s trickled down to store management. Take a stand and don’t compromise what you know is right. This company is indeed “not worth it”. As I’ve said numerous times prior…this kind of mentality all begins at the Corporate level. Believe it, respond appropriately to it, or drink the Corporate Kool-aid.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Thanks, everybody and I appreciate all of your support!!
I WILL NOT be intimidated or pushed around by ANYBODY. If Borders wants to toss me to the wolves, you better bet it won’t be done without somebody getting a BIG bellyache. It makes me fighting mad at the unreasonable possibility of taking the hit for this crap. I really don’t think they could be this friggin’ stupid as to make me responsible in any way. But in this atmosphere of frightened, unevolved management that is Borders’ own, I will not be a victim. I can’t believe I’m this paranoid, but something about the climate in the room when we had the meeting made the hair rise on the back of my neck. I really hope this is the last of it.
While I’m off, I’m planning to do a little research on some ideas I have cooking around in my head. Let you know.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I work for the Seattle’s Best Cafe in Borders. When I was hired on they promised cross training. Hell they promise me anything I would have wanted to have me there. Year and half later. I’m still cafe, which is now jokingly called honorary Book seller minus the pay increase. They have me RPLing, stocking, and what ever crap they can shove my way. Yet they don’t train me for it, they hand it to me and expect me to know how to do it.
Haha… won’t it be funny when I have a new job and all they have are new people still learning the basics. : ) Seriously, they should take better care of their employees. Some of us don’t mind fucking them over if the opportunity arises. They only reason have not quit out right are the coworkers. It is enjoyable to work with people I’m on the same level with. I’d never leave my cafe girls to rot. We be thick as thieves no matter how much they try to turn us against each other.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Meridien,
I am so sorry to hear about your incident and shocked that a manager didn’t step in to defuse the situation. It’s sad to hear that the atmosphere in so many stores has turned nearly hostile. It speaks to the little value BGI seems to be placing on those who actually sell their books, movies and music. Kudos for standing up, being confident and not letting them push you around.
September 21st, 2008 at 7:48 am
It’s truely sad that you are all so upset over Borders. I work there now and I love my job. I work over at the first concept store and I don’t have anything bad to say about the team I work with or any of the managers. I think that this negative attitude I see spilling all over this page contributes to the atmosphere at Borders that you are complaining about. It’s unfortunate that you’ve all had bad experiences, but at the same time, there are hard working, smart booksellers out there who would really appreciate some support. I’ll say it again. I LOVE MY JOB.
By not supporting Borders you are condemning those of us who work there and actually do love our jobs. What about those left? If I get laid off or fired I’ll still shop there because the fact is, I don’t want them to go under. I don’t want MORE people to lose their jobs because I did. How is that any way to treat your own former co-workers?
Not to mention, you can’t just assume that every Borders store is a horrible place. I know that when I walk into my local Barnes and Noble (rare now, but I used to go there (only because friends insisted) before I worked at Borders) NO ONE ever askes if I need help. If I find someone they are always too busy doing something else and I have to wait to get any information.
If any of you actually live in Ann Arbor, please stop by the Lohr Rd. Borders, the first Concept store in the company, and see the difference. We’ve had Barnes and Noble customers come in and say they will never go back to B and N and will shop at our store instead.
As for my experiences there….in the rare instances when a customer comes in and is rude or intimidating to an employee, which has happened to me, a manager is always there to back me up and dissolve the situation. I understand they can’t tell the customer they are wrong, because that’s not our policy, but they never leave me on my own either. Afterwards, they always tell me how well I handled the situation and that I did a great job.
So maybe our store is an exception, but it’s stores like us that you should be fighting for, not abandoning. I urge you to please try to see it from a different perspective. Everyone is a difficult position right now. The economy is getting worse and those of us who even have jobs are lucky. I’m even more lucky to have one that I love. Remember, these are people you are talking about. The more you turn your back on them, the harder it gets and the more people end up on blogs like this, and I’m sure no one enjoys being upset and angry.
September 21st, 2008 at 7:53 am
On a side note, I’d like to point out that the new return policy is still very open. Barnes and Noble’s return policy is no return without a receipt or after 14 days. Our is actually 30 days.
It makes me so sad that it’s gotten so bad out there. I know that what I say probably won’t change any of your minds, but I still have to say it. Please, don’t give up on us. Don’t give up on the hard working people who really try to make things better for you, the customer.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:32 am
I’m one of those smart, hardworking booksellers, and have been, for quite some time now. I am not a customer. I have no intention of dropping into any sort of defensive mode. What I feel is what I feel. I didn’t get any support when I needed it, and never have. There have been weeks on end that my BR metric has been 15%, and when our DM came to visit, she asked to talk to the bookseller who produced it. She said, “Well, it looks like you’re carrying the whole store, and have been, for quite some time.” Outside of some visible reddening of management faces, the topic fell into a black hole and was never heard from again. I cannot abide by or feel neutral faced with that kind of treatment. Not once but repeated times over the years. This incident might be the proverbial straw. Maybe the management is more evolved wherever you are. Maybe there’s been some kind of training they go through in Michigan to raise them from the level of troglodytes. If so, it hasn’t trickled down here. You work in a concept store. It’s a showpiece. I work in the “outback” far from where you are. Maybe that would give me a reason to like working again. I’d really like that, believe me. It’s only my love of books and the customers that has held me there. But…not so much anymore…Maybe when I feel better. I’m feeling angry and stung right now!! And I’ve got 2 weeks to think about it and sort out my feelings. I hear what you’re saying, Swan.
September 21st, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hey, the idea of getting enough employees to be a unified voting bloc seems to be not an immediately workable.idea. Soooo…let’s put our heads together and figure out how to push an idea to help our beleagered workforce. I come from a long, long line of hellraisers in support of a good idea. Any ideas we as booksellers could help out? I pushed for employee recognition in our district, to no avail…so far. Maybe there’s still life in that idea yet…
September 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Blowing off steam makes me feel better. Whew.
September 21st, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Here’s a idea when the New Orleans concept store grand opening happens, George Jones is gonna be there. All us employees should show up with signs and our complents. This is what there scared of. That’s why they fired me. In a few days I will let everyone see my termination report and my reputtal and the appeal. So i really think if we show up in New Orleans we will get our point across. It’s also a great city and i can show everyone what this city is all about. I do know that there our some great employees who care and some good managers. I do care about the ones that our working hard it’s the bad idea’s and the bad managers that our the problem not the great employee that care. it’s the ones that don’t that I’m addressing. So come to New Orleans and let’s make our voice known. call me 504-920-1533 and let’s put this together.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Dylan — I would love to come to N.O. Only been there once and it is truly one of the most remarkable and magical cities on Earth. Unfortunately since Borders decided they no longer had any use for me (after 14 years…pay attention here Swan) I don’t have the finances to make the trip. My 2 oldest nephews are getting married soon and I don’t think I’ll even be able to afford travel there.
Swan — Let’s see if I can write with my tongue clenched between my teeth…. Of course I or none of my fellow bloggers wish any ill will on you or any other Borders employees. That’s the whole issue. None of us wants, or should be treated unfairly by our employer. I’ll try to put this as nicely as possible….you work at the Concept store on Lohr Rd (I am an A2 resident btw) so unless you came from another store or from corporate, your experience with Borders is still in the honeymoon phase. I think we all went thru that phase as well. I’m certainly no genius or I’d be buying me a ticket to New Orleans. But please trust what I’m saying. I’m 50+ and have worked in retail for over 30 years, 14 at BGI. When your proverbial honeymoon is over you WILL see the bastard you’ve married for what it really is. I hope I’m not coming on too strong or mean as that is not my intent, but I don’t want to see any more BGI employees get dumped on and trust me, given time you or one of your co-workers will and then you’ll see the ugly monster and how it cares and provides for it’s workers. The Concept stores are currently the cat’s meow and getting all the attention and sunshine blown up their butts, but what happens when they come up with a new concept? BELIEVE IT ! IT”S HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I have to back up Twan in her/his? statements, Swan.
I LOVED my job at Borders, and would have continued to work there, despite the fact that I have been underappreciated, underpaid, and undervalued for the last several years. I LOVED many of the people that I worked with at a number of stores - well over 30 locations in my 11 years with the company. I heard many of the same complaints from so many hard working, long-term employees that had given years of their lives to a company they expected to work at for a very long time. I was continuously chosen as a test subject for pilot projects due to my success within the company.
But Borders decided some time ago to shift from a company that valued long-term, committed employees to one that preferred cheap, easy labor. Those folks who had been with Borders for years, focusing on building their knowledge of the book industry and honing their customer service skills were let go. As MBAs instead of “book people” began running the company, things changed rapidly.
While I am no longer terribly angry at the incompetent manager that was my supervisor and chose to lay me off after he had worked less than a year at Borders (and took over my job once he booted me out), I am frustrated that a company that claims to value their employees treats them so poorly.
I miss working with books everyday, and I miss working at Borders. It was what I thought my life would be, and it has completely derailed, causing my mortgage to fall behind among other bills.
Swan, I don’t want it to be as much a shock to you as it was to me. Borders will always take care of itself first. No matter how much they profess to value their employees, remember you are one of thousands and you are completely expendable. As the company continues to devalue, your job becomes less and less necessary.
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:25 am
NPR in my town is hiring. I love public radio, as much as I love books. In fact, i hope my love of books might be a plus. That would be nice. My anger has cooled, and I can give this issue more space and a lot more clarity. Recuperating has its advantages. Really, am I ready to spin my wheels and energy in fighting management for employee recognition programs? I do like my coworkers, but will any of them actually BE around long enough to be appreciated? Will I? There’s really no more need for that. Thinking that I could work toward changing the climate of mistrust and disregard seems more and more to be a waste of time
Borders is busy remaking itself into an on-line outlet store, and the reality of the thing is, they won’t need most of us to do that. If you love books, yeah, OK. Can you work computers? That’s nice. Can you work cheap? Give customers as little time as possible? Flip’em as fast as possible through the line and get their money quick? You’re hired.
That last incident was the straw. It clicked all the puzzle pieces together.
Reading all the comments within the past few months, since I’ve begun posting, they paint the same picture: of people who truly love what they do for a living, but being shunted aside in favor of a corporation whose main business isn’t selling books or the wonderful bookbuying experience. What made Borders stand out is the ambience, comfort, 3-D feeling of opening the pages of a book, choosing it from the bookcase, talking about it with a knowledgeable bookseller…it’s the reason we all loved it. That and so much more. I’m not romanticizing it. It’s why my job was so satisfying. It’s why I came to work, for just that feeling. Borders no longer needs little gray-haired ladies who correspond with authors regularly online or reads all the free promos voraciously to be able to talk about them with customers. They don’t need the likes of people who are committed to doing what it takes to make selling books a joy and a nice job.
I’m really exposing myself here. The emotions I’m feeling now are raw. Waiting for me when I get back will be trouble over this ass!@#$ customer and his corporate complaint. I just know it. This is what it comes down to, him or me.
The sense of loss is real, because I think it’ll be him, no matter what good I’ve done or tried to do. And if not now, it’ll be someone else to give them an excuse.
I feel like I’ve really opened a vein here! I just really feel bad about it.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Is this blog fizzling out? Has apathy conquered again?
September 26th, 2008 at 12:46 am
I hope not. I’m going to New York this weekend to see the Met’s in shea for the last time. seems like the borders union people on there website think i’m not real or crazy. check it out and give me your opinion. my termination notice and appeal is on there to. If you want I can put it here too. trying to figure out how to word a petion for i can get sign but as many people as possible to give to george jones and also to put in and ad in the newspaper. I will never give up. so maybe i’am crazy or just a really caring person.
September 26th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Btw most company’s have a open door policy were if you have a problem you can have a review by a jury of your peers our an arbitrator. what gives with borders reviewed of appeal behind closed doors
September 26th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Happen to me to. Had an issue with a manager who was famous for harassing employees. HR had a pretty long list of people who had complained so many co-workers urged me on. So i tried the ol’ open door policy…what a joke! Catbert suggested a group hug and basically blew me off. Ironically, vindication was mine …he was fired 2 months after I transferred out of Merch.
September 30th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Well Dylan, it appears our fellow bloggers are sick of listening to our ranting. This is typical as my experience of 14 years with BGI has taught me that the vast majority of BGI employees are chicken sh#*, apathetic and afraid to really speak their mind. I for one am sick of checking this site an a daily basis only to see no new posts. Rest assured that apathy has not changed me. I will continue t