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?
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.
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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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).
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Dear UBBS: From this ex and disgrunltled Border’s employee…thanks so very much for this venue for us all to vent!
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Rumor in A2 is G.J.’s house is on the market. Somethins brewin.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
Yeah, how about Conway Twitty? No wait, I think he’s dead??? Doesn’t matter. He’d still be better.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Great Idea But remember most of the employees never made that much money. We worked because we cared about books and are customers.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
Whoa.
You go Dylan! Maybe if there were more Borders employees with some semblance of back bone, we could really put the screws to them!
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
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.
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
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?
Go to this site: http://www.wikio.com/business/retailers/borders_group
Also check this one out: http://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…
Hello, all,
An ESOP might be a long shot.But wouldn’t you rather go down fighting?
I’m buying my 5 shares today.
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.
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?
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.
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!
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.”
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.
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?
Website. Be right back.
How about a blog like this, then everyone who has bought stock is allowed access? Gmail has Blogspot.
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.
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.
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?
Here’s a shout out to disaffected ex-or present managers who share the concerns voiced on this blog. Your ideas are needed. Thanks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Blowing off steam makes me feel better. Whew.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is this blog fizzling out? Has apathy conquered again?
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.
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
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.
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 to spread the message regarding Borders and how they treat their employees…but obviously need to seek out other venues as this one has evidently petered out. I’m extremely disappointed and will miss blogging with you all that have had the courage and spine to speak out
Best wishes to all who have posted here and please continue to spread the message!
See ya –Twan
Twain lets not give up. I know you won’t. tomorrow is the big day when the warrents come due. Noone will buy borders so mr ackerman will get more shares. Lets see what happens. When you want to contact me you can off the blog at mrdylanjames@gmail.com. I will never give up. I will start sending certifed letters to Mr jones and mr ackerman starting in October If you want to join me I will give you the addy I got from hoover. maybe we should try to start calling wall street. Yea you are right about most employees not want to fight the big bad corpation but I’m not one of them.
If it only me and you let’s be an army of two. this german silian we fight to the end just like i was a spartain.
I will post a comment once I see if this came through
Here is my story, not in brief -
I worked for Borders for 8 years, sorting the store and staying there watching the parade of employees pass through. I worked in the various supervisory positions as many of us who stuck it out are wont to do. I even had a regional position during my tenture.
By 8 years time, I of course was the highest paid hourly and began to see what many of you mention was happening at your stores. I had a near-spotless record, a reputation of top-notch customer service, and quite a large following in our area of customers who came in regularly asking for me by name.
It all began with an incident with a customer who attempted a return, with a receipt, after 30 days. Our GM directed all of us to not give in, but kindly refuse and explain the policy. It was made clear that we were to make no exceptions at the risk of being written up. I did so, and the lady I was dealing with became beliggerant (SP?), left, and then returned to berate me personally for enforcing this policy. I tried to let her know it wasn’t me personally doing this to her, but she wouldn’t listen. Regrettably, during this conversation, I told her that this “was no skin off of my nose.” I was trying to let her know that this was the store’s policy, not mine, and that this was not taking money out of my personal pocket the way she was purporting. She proceeded to write George Jones a letter about this and I was written up about it, with no documentation of my side of the story (which, by the way, occurred with another supervisor as a witness). Strike 1
Our store has a policy of no cell phone use while on the floor. One day I had a family emergency and took a call while on the floor. One of the GM’s cronies saw this, called me on it. I went immediately off of the floor, and she went into the office and wrote me up on it, never telling me about it or speaking to me about it before or since. The GM called me in and wrote me up on this as well. Strike 2
I was in charge of the e-price changes. For many weeks I did the changes and then destroyed the paper work, never having received direction or training to do it any other way. I was called in and written up for not performing this duty “in a timely manner,” in spite of my explanation. Strike 3
This all happened within a little more than a one-month period after 8 nearly flawless years of optimum perfornance (never late, almost never called out sick, etc.) I surely felt as if someone had it out for me.
Finally, came the RPL. As I RPL’ed the DVDs, I scanned a box that was half full. Being the conscientious employee, I went back out onto the floor to find more to scan so I would have a full box to send out and not a partially full box, thus trying to supposedly save the store money. We were undergoing an audit that same day and I was written up for leaving an open box of unkeepered DVDs in the breakroom (that RPLed box of DVDs). In my 8 years there, we had never sealed a half scanned box of DVDs to maintain audit compliance while we went out onto the floor to pull some more.
In fact, the day they “terminated me,” there was an open box of DVDs in the backroom, new product, not RPL. It has happened all of the time for 8 years under everyone’s observation. I called one of my friends today, who still works there, andhe said there were several opened boxes of new, unkepered DVDs in the backroom today.
Yes, they termed me. I was totally shocked. I am quite sure I am one of the smartest if not the smartest person there. I am quite sure that I am one of the best if not the best employee there.
Now to comment on some of your comments –
“gin”, I too closed nearly every night, 13 out of 15 during my last 3 weeks, after 8 years of msotly AM and mid shifts. This even after I asked my GM about it, saying that I was married. His response (as a single man)? – “Marriage is overrated,” and then he walked away.
“Cerulean” speaks of being “quickly weeded out for cheaper work.” That surely was the case in my situation. They can pay for 2 part-time college kids for what they were paying me. 2 bodies instead of 1, that’s much better isn’t it?
CSI scores? Ours are down and we bear the brunt of the threats because of it. Why are they down? “Your store is too cold.” “The bathrooms were dirty when I went in there.” And yet this is why our scores are down and why we there do not get our yearly .20c an hour raise?
“Meridiem” spoke of “customer performace.” That apparently is the ruug they are trying to sweep all of my crap under. I talked to the corporate HR lady and that is what she said. I asked her using those very words and she said yes.
“Twan-” sorry about maybe losing heart. I don’t know about you, but I have to also go out looking for a new job, a new career, and sometimes I do not have the time, the interest, or the heart to look at this page.
“Swan-” you sound like an earlier version of all of the ones who have written on this page, as well as myself.
I loved books, I loved people, I loved Borders. I still love books and people, but do not have high regard for a company treat others, and now myself, in such a way. Go ahead, enjoy your job, love your store. I affirm your experience, just not denigrate mine. I lived it, and in my estimation, as well as the estimation of many of my former peers and the estimation of many of the customers who spent lots of money at that store who no longer want to do so after seeing what happened to me, it was an undeserved experience. I got screwed.
By the way, B & N opens one block away in the spring.
To another one bites the dust. I think it’s time for a class action suit. we need to organize. i know it hard to look for a job after working for something you loved. But we should not let a company do this to employees that truely care about the customers. My Gm’s talked on his cell phone all the time on the sales floor when he was on it even setting up dates. But if anyone said anything we were being insuportant. As the song goes were not gonna take this. I had a regional manger come in my store an ask how long has i been with the company and when i said ten years he said oh i see. I knew he was just trying to figure out a way to get rid of me. I think if we start emailing them everyday we will start making some noise. we can not give up all that it take is a few minutes a day to send out mass emails. we can do this. this is a movement we will do this one employee at a time. I bet James Taylor who is playing in the ann arbor store has no idea how this company treets it’s employee’s so let’s email him too and also all the writer of the books that borders tries to sell I’m sure some would lend ther voice to the cause.
AnotherOneBitesTheDust: Your experience justifies my belief in the rottenness-inside of this company! It looks like the piling-on of “offenses” is an easy way to get rid of someone. Once you get in the crosshairs, look out. I truly hope you’ve found a good landing spot. This company is as heartless as they come. The RPL thing was garbage, like the rest of it. I don’t know who’s appearing in our store but you can bet they will get an email letting them know the scoop. I am so sorry this happened to you. I used to work for Ameritech, when it was, and they rif’ed all management. There were people who had to interview the next day for jobs they held today. At least they were given the right and a chance. I’ve been with the company for 7 years and in all that time I have butted heads with the GM. The only thing she can’t deny is how good a job I’m doing…maybe…that means nothing, apparently. I hate to start over again, and neither do you. I’m glad for the venue to share with employees and former ones the crap they deal. I don’t really know if there is any justice in this world or next, but Borders can’t keep on like this,screwing the people holding this company together. The best and the brightest of us stand out, that’s why, and the company is disinterested in people who could and do contribute and do a quality job. My push for employee recognition efforts was laughable and SO a waste of time. I only hope I showed my fellow screw-ees that I cared in some way and tried. But nobody deserves the treatment that Dylan, Twan, Ensie, and all the rest of you rest easy in knowing that if and when, and it’s only a matter of when, it ignites and goes up in greasy flames, you’ll be right on and vindicated. Small consolation, after losing your jobs, I know. But I truly want you to know I love your spirit and hate what’s happen to you!!
Note: I intend to keep on posting with whoever still remains to read them. I will continue to rant, as is my wont. I’m GOOD at ranting. In fact, I’ve begun my quest of raising it to a fine art. My best work is yet to come.
I wish i could write like you. But when i was coming back from new york i ranted about borders to congressman bill jefferson. he said he would look into it. we will see. it’s hard to trust politians. If it only us we will have more that come on broad
Thank you!
Here’s an item that might have been flying beneath the radar. Borders has been forced to offer Pershing Square Capital Management, which already owns 20.1M in shares (approximately 30% of the company), an additional 5.15M shares on top of that. The offer is in the form of a warrant, which is an agreement for Pershing to buy them at an agreed stock price of $7 per share, until 2017, and they can exercise it at its prerogative anytime before then.
They have been given even more control of the company. Pershing, run by hedge fund investor William Ackman, has “suggested” an approach be made to Amazon as a possible buyer. This credit crunch is dangerous. They can’t even find a buyer, and this warrant offer seems to me to be a “poison pill”, giving Pershing free rein to pimp Borders out to the highest bidder if they own controlling interest and they’re closer than ever. The stock closed at $6.60 yesterday,
So they don’t want to move in on Borders unless they will make money, obviously. Once the stock price goes up to $7, they probably won’t hesitate to make the sale if Amazon offers a whiff of interested. Again, Pershing won’t be bothered with any action until then, but they’re blocking any efforts by Borders to sell themselves out from under Pershing should there be a serious interest from somebody other than Amazon. Looks like that might be the situation Borders is in
and all bets are off what the company will look like under Amazon. They probably are in the market of an outlet store for books. Who needs skilled booksellers when anybody remaining will be filling cardboard boxes on long tables all over the store for a living?
All you finance whizzes, do I have this appraisal of the situation right?
Corrections welcome. I don’t mean to be gloom-and-doom, I welcome a realistic appraisal of what’s to come. Anybody?
Amazon isn’t gonna want to pay $7 a share. Pershing might make back their investment anywhere between $6.75 and $7. I don’t know finance that well! With all the debt Borders is probably carrying, accelerating the loans before being sold isn’t going to be attractive. Depends on how ready Amazon wants brick-and-mortar presence. Since retail sales are in the toilet like the rest of the economy, they have time on their hands…maybe. Amazon is probably hurting, itself, right now…if Pershing can keep Borders afloat long enough to have any attraction for ANYBODY out there. Pershing isn’t going allow themselves to be dragged down by holding this boat anchor. Look at people picking up mortgage bonds. Those are pennies on the dollar, and when the economy comes back, they’re going to make a killing. Same thing with RE.
Are there investors out there prowling for dying businesses? How would that work? Maybe the only thing that is attractive is a moneymaker, regardless.
Hey, I am listening and reading, but have nothing new to add. I have a phone interview with unemployment on Wednesday and will post how that goes. I’ll add anything before then if I have it. Still looking for that good landing spot.
when i spoke to unemployment i was told i would get nothing because i was termimated because of code of conduct. i heard borders pay very little unemployment claims. i know mr ackeman would love for amason to buy borders but i don’t think that will happen. no one wanted it before when we had some good management i don’t think anyone want to right this sinking ship. the only way is if you go back to the old method of caring about the employees so they will give outstanding customer service so we can get some customers. people do not want to be taking advandage of and nether to customers
I haven’t heard from anybody out there in Borders’ Screwee-land lately. Hope everyone is doing OK. In the interim since I’ve been gone, three (three!!) managers and another employee have left. I understand one of them is running his own bookstore of a chain of smaller Christian bookstores. The other was hired by an ex-manager who is running a number of stores by this chain. Whatever is happening looks like this chain is snarfing up disaffected managers like crazy! Another manager went to work for Hilton. We lost another guy because he was screwed repeatedly by our GM. Whoa! I leave and the whole store falls apart. Sure.
Anyway, one of the managers was constantly at the top of the GM’s s–t list. She mistreated her and f–ked her over royally, unceasingly and without remorse. Everybody really lliked her and I an It was so obvious everybody knew it was just a matter of time. And another bookseller is having surgery and will be off 12 weeks herself. And then, from another of the better managers, is that the GM has to go back in for eye surgery herself. She was gone for 12 weeks and nobody passed around so much as a get-well card for her. What a mess our store is in.
So that’s the word from my little corner of Paradise in Chicago.
I hope somebody’s still reading and keeping up with this blog.
Meridien Glad your back on board. so about your chicago baseball teams. i know how you feel i’m a Mets fans and was in shea for the last game. In Border land I gone to The I work at Borders sight and was critized called names like medially ill spoilied brat and crazy because i will not let my termination and me caring about my former customers and my city. At my former store they can’t even handle the calender and a groupe from baton rouge has to do them at a mall. the office manager has given up her postion and they still have no one to be manager of their store on st Charles. I will not ever give up on my quest. I glad their our a few of the people who still believe what this company cared about still out their. I do not know how long Borders will last now that the warrant were called in. I hear that they have to file a chapter 7 instead of a 11. so will they make at past xmas? i will sent all my documention to george L jones addy in New Orleans see if this might help. i dout it tho. and if any one wants it i will give it to yall it is in the pubic records so i dont think i’m wrong to give it out. I funny thing happened at my old store when books fell from the second floor an landed on the head of the fromer manager. Let’s not give up the fight it seems were the only ones left
proof read and spell check dude
I would think that you would know by now that’s not me. i type and then i go. read between the bad grammer and my spelling mistakes. sorry
OK. Nothing personal! Just think a voice as loud as yours (which I sincerely applaud for speaking up against the corporate plague that has ruined our once beloved company) would have a much deeper impact if you took a bit more time with your entries. You have a lot to say and should be proud for taking a strong stand. Don’t diminish that proud voice with laxidasial writing.
Just my opinion but regardless, don’t stop! Grammar and spelling aside, you must continue your quest!
One other thing… As you can see my entries are very new to this thread. I have however monitored this blog for quite some time. I would love to see something back from Swan as I’m truly concerned that she or he has yet to see the true light. Twan too. She or he was also very passionate about sharing the truth from many years of experience…what happened to them?
you are right. I’ll try harder. At least you read between the lines. I went by the Borders store on st Charles ave today. It looks like they are working on the inside. With 6 weeks to go till Black Friday it still an empty shell. They have had the manager postion open for nearly six months. many of my friends are still willing to protest thinking of having Rebirth Brass Band. I would have loved to been at their Job Fair. Wondering who ran it. I bet they just had someone fly In who had no idea what New orleans is like. I talked to someone from Macy’s home office today and they said they couldn’t believe they have know one with local knoledge are from here running the store this late in the game. Very bad busy. macy’s is opening two stores in the area and they have people that have a clue and understand the local cummunity. they also give something back to the cummunity. I guess that is why they have lasted 150 years. i don’t think Borders will last that long. On a stock adviser interview with mr jones he seems like he scared to say what exally is going on. next big news is comming at the end of nov he says be ready for a surprise. I wait with baited breath. Check in Twain Don’t abandon this train which is bound for glory.
i meant no one with local knowlege being manager of the St Charles Borders. Not something to be happy about Mr Jones.
What’s with the November surprise you talked about, Dylan? I haven’t read about anything significant on the horizon. Anybody got any idea what this is regarding?
And, oh yeah: Borders is STILL opening new stores, even as the company is going bust. I still haven’t figured out the business model that says, “Hurry up and build a whole lot of stores and hire scads of people so you can lay them off”. What IS with that? If Borders was in such bad shape where are they getting the money for construction? Maybe it’s me, but I don’t get it.
I guess it’s OK I never pursued an MBA. There was a time in life I actually considered it as a new career direction. But if this is what they’re teaching, it’s no wonder we’re in the financial mess we’re in right now.
mr jones does an interview on seekingalpha.com check it out. he mentions a big surprise. I don’t know what he’s talking about. i guess we all have to wait and see.
maybe he appoints me the new ceo of borders. all laugh
November surprise is last fiscal Qtr. earnings statement to NYSE.
Is it gonna show that Borders is doing a good job? Will the stock be down to two by then? Will Borders on st Charles be open by then. Will someone by Borders for their Xmas present? ? ?and no anwers yet.Other blogs seem to think Mr Jones is alright. Lets see him hire some people that knows books and music. But I know everybody thinks music is on the way ou t in retail. If so let’s get rid of the grammy’s and americian Idol.
Over a month and no new posts. Just goes to show you that Border’s sucks the virtual life out of it’s employees. No one left that has the guts to speak out. You have yet again let the corporate big shots win. Shame on us all!
I don’t know, maybe for me I’ve been dealing with a family matter that has taken
more time and energy that I couldn’t give to adding to this blog. Maybe it’s not that I’m a “corporate sell-out.” Could it possibly be that I’m not a coward and that I’m not “someone who hasn’t the guts to speak out”?
That’s too bad if that’s what it appears. With a break in the action where I even have the time and energy to even answer my emails. Thanks for reducing this blog to name-calling of participants who have actively tried to say something to think about and add my voice against whatever garbage Borders sees fit to dish out to its employees. If you care to read my earlier posts, you’ll see that. I mean, please try to cut some slack!
Please. Whatever.
Fighting still. I’m giving them hell on the i work at borders blog. they all hate me. but like y’all know i will not shut up. St charles has opened but the employees thing Anthony Burgess wrote Running with sissoor. She never even heard of A clockwork orange and said he just wrote a new book. Funny since he has been dead for a number of years. If you want to fight the big guys i will give you george l jones new orleans address and you can contact him. I think the company will be gone right AFTER THEY GET THERE BONUSES. i WILL NEVER GIVE UP. Some people say i closed this blog down. i really don’t think so. we all do have lives. and mine is to fight injustice when i see it. If you have other blog to go to. to speak out just let me know and i will voice what i know about Borders.
Meridien…whoa…chill out. I wasn’t referring to you or Dylan or any of the regulars on this blog. I myself have been preoccupied and haven’t been posting. What makes me angry is that there isn’t any increase in the number of BGI employees who are sick of the shit and ready to join in. YOU are obviously a fighter who I hope maintains the passion to speak out and make others aware of (as Dylan would say) the “injustice” that Borders secretes. My sincere apologies for any and all said that may offend.
Dylan — Please post the G.J. address and let’s spread it around as much as possible. Let’s inundate him with employee feedback that he so strongly (sic) respects.
To accomplish anything we must apply a strong voice and 3 or 4 people ain’t gonna cut it. We need to get other employees involved and aware!
this is from the white pages george l jones
620 decatur
new orleans. la. 70130
504-525-9810
Have you noticed that Borders stock has been below $1 a share for 23 days now? After 30 days, I believe they get taken off of the listing. Circuit City declared bankruptcy after 30 days under $1 a share. Borders closed on Tuesday at .35 a share, that’s thrity-five cents. In spite of what George Jones said on November 25, the end appears to be near. Highly paid CEOs get paid big money to say that the band is playing wonderful music as the ship goes down.
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Ok…Ok. The holidays are here and whatever is happening has me thinking that Borders is really in deep do-do. The word is around that full-timers are going to be cut down to part-time and the only people at full-time will be managers, who will be actually running the store. I worry about the people trying to make a living there. What will they do? Everyone I know that’s full-time is only doing it for the benefits and medical coverage for their families. Once that’s gone, there’s no reason to stay on. And the boxes we swapped out last night after Christmas Eve closing are so sad and pathetic. The boxes are back. Jobs are going, if nor gone already. Goodby, Borders.
Has anybody else heard about the part-time situation? This, from a manager who is confiding in a part-time guy. Didn’t think they were having a little thing, as he’s married and she’s way older than him, but, well, whatever. He seem willing to tell everything he hears, so that’s what’s out there…
Borders has been delisted from the NYSE? What’s coming CAN’T be good news. We’ll know by New Year’s just where we’re gonna be. At least they didn’t ruin the Holidays, which is something in their favor.
Shit. $,35 a share. Thirty-five cents. Here it comes, y’all. Get ready.
I’ve been poking around on stock analysis sites, and AnotherOneBitesTheDust’s data certainly is accurate. Say where you got info about NYSE delisting?
http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/borders-books-delisted-from-nyse/
Thank you Cassie! Yes, delisting occurs when a stock is below $1 for 30 consecutive days. I’ve located the actual NYSE rule which is stated as follows:
802.01C Price Criteria for Capital or Common Stock
A company will be considered to be below compliance standards if the average closing price of a security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.
Once notified, the company must bring its share price and average share price back above $1.00 by six months following receipt of the notification.
The entire text can be found here
I just came across this. I’m from the MI area and owned a used bookstore in MI, so I’m very familiar with Borders from when they allowed Schuler’s in Lansing to use their inventory system to when they opened their second store in Southfield.
I know that around 1991 / 1992 each applicant had to take a test on authors (where would they be filed –or something like that), because I had several employees who applied for jobs there –because there was a lot of opportunity at that time due to the big expansion. One of my former employees became a store manager, then a regional manager and finally ended up at corporate (though, she since passed away).
Back then, when hiring, Borders wanted to know about book knowledge, while B&N wanted to know about sales experience (“you can sell socks, you can sell books”). Later in the 90′s, I found out the author test was dropped. In some ways, I think that was the beginning of the end. As the employee base became less knowledgeable, the stores suffered and they no longer differentiated themselves from B&N.
Of course, their decision to not have their own online presence was just as deadly.
It’s too bad. They used to be synonymous with quality and selection. I remember an employee who shared my enthusiasm for micro-brews commenting on a store that he discovered that had a large selection of beer and knowledgeable help. “It’s like the Borders of beer!” he told me.
What you’re relating really strikes a chord, Jim. I remember when I first hired on at Borders, we were all given a little “Bookselling 101″ series of informal trainings.
Management actually had the time to educate and inform the team so that we were effective in every facet of the store. Years later, I can still remember the xeroxed “course” materials. Nowadays, the training manager is so swamped she’s no longer effective. The unfortunate result is that new hires are told to attach themselves to more experienced booksellers, while everyone is expected to carry his or her load nonetheless. New hires are frustrated and increasingly angry that they are tossed out on the book floor without much support, especially when told to “shadow” overworked booksellers. In turn, experienced workers become resentful, being asked to do the work of managers in being responsible for training. I felt like that a lot, and I certainly tried not to pass that frustration onto a new person. But all of us who were expected to be helpful and understanding knew that we weren’t getting paid more…and responsible incommensurate with the pay. Maybe it seems mean and petty… but I’ve even had managers upbraid ME when a new person makes a mistake. So we’re caught between the proverbial “rock and hard place.” With the work load that has grown by leaps and bounds, staff hours cut time and time again, and flogged with bottom-feeding CSI scores, everybody loses. Over time, I have has to increasingly tell new hires to ask a manager to handle their questions. We had to get the line down and raise CSI measurement of “helpful, friendly cashiers” and “timeliness of service” and goodwill falls to the wayside. You just do what you can. It’s retail, that’s the way it is. And you can’t fix it. I know. Yet another curmudgeon. But I’m sorry Borders has been reduced to that. The more experienced people are being forced out. We love to read and recommend and be helpful, but it only gets you so far. The love of books is no longer valued or even seen as necessary to do a good job anymore, or, shall I say, what Borders requires. The company is inexorably driven to hiring more and more part-time help that aren’t as invested in their jobs.
I don’t recognize Borders anymore. It’s worlds apart from the company that hired me way back when. Hey, somebody has to rant, and it might as well be me.
I am not aware that other company’s employees are doing this kind of “air the dirty linen” but it is terrific. Keep this up. It is vital for the emloyee to get their opinion out and heard by others. It is vital that every business management hear what their employees are saying and thinking and feeling. They used to call it the suggestion box, now it is called the “gripe blog.”
My question is this: what will all the gripes accomplish? how will the comments effect policy and management? The reason why business’s go “union” is to create a second power and pressure point to influence the managers. So, is Borders unionized? If not, then what organizational tool will be invented by the bloggers to start the influence process? Maybe just the airing of complaints will be enough. Let us hope so. But a process must be created to measure the change and evaluate the positive or negative reaction of the policy makers.
Otherwise, verbal expression of dissatisfaction will not be worthy of its content. A lot of very good comments and examples of errors have been stated above. It would be helpful if the site would not require but request each speaker to include a “suggested correction process” or method of change in the way the business is run.
By the way, who is the creator of this website? You “require” my name and “mail” (is that e-mail, by the way!) but I do not find who you are listed anywhere. Did I miss it?
Actually, I was never an employee of Borders and my only interest is as a diffuse competitor (not a direct competitor because used books aren’t always in direct competition with new books), so in my case not griping, but lamenting the demise of a bookstore chain that was the best there was in the early and mid nineties (by the way, this isn’t my blog, I just started commenting here and I get notified of new comments). I think this is a topic here because used book people are interested in the book business trends (and this is a used book blog). In the long run, it’s futile for Borders. Electronic books such as Kindle will take over the most profitable categories of the new book business (bestsellers and genre fiction) and used bookstores will become like antique shops. Borders is basically doomed no matter what they do –but their poor decisions probably subtracted five to ten years from the equation. These trends don’t just affect new booksellers, they affect publishers, newspapers, journalists, authors, used booksellers, advertising firms, paper manufacturers, etc. Nobody, in the country (and probably the world) will be untouched by the current trends. Not to say they’re bad trends –in fact, the market will be even more efficient (with millions of titles downloadable at an instant). But, when markets become more efficient, less-efficient players drop out.
No disrespect intended. Borders leadership didn’t ask ME my opinion when they crowned the new crop of deck-chair-arrangers-on-the-Titanic. Where did my phone calls to Headquarters go? Nowhere. Do you think getting organized at this point is going to miraculously steer Borders to a shining future? The company was heading in the wrong direction long before any ideas we in this blog proposed (i.e., a voting bloc or union of stockholders) The NYSE has dusted off Borders since it can’t seem to raise the stock price above $1.00 within the last 30 consecutive days. Yesterday it was $.45, up from a low (Lordy!) of $.32. Whoa, what an improvement! We’re rolling now! Borders.com is about 10 years too late. It didn’t split off from Amazon fast enough. Entering e-commerce now is pathetically me-too. You think a union could have put the kibosh on that train wreck?
If Borders employees get together to trade comments about what’s happening at the company, what of it? We do need to blow off every now and then, and I agree: it is terrific. More room out than in, I always say.
Who hasn’t been looking for a new job forever, anyway?
If we’re still here it’s because EVERYBODY in this half-dead economy is looking, too. Good luck with that, y’all. Let me know if you get lucky, it’s worth a cheer!
Ah, catharsis…
I worked for a company for a very long time, at a job I truly loved, but, hey, gotta move on. I have a MA in stuff that helped in my career, but isn’t quite in demand just now. Can you say “retool”? I can. It’s cool, though. I’m flexible. You need to be, because having to pay those pesky bills and rent, if I let myself dwell on it, will just harsh my mellow. Keep keeping on, everybody, and let those comments flow! It does a body good. The head cheeses aren’t reading this blog. The chances of that, and winning the lotto, are probably neck and neck…and I’d hazard a guess that the lotto’s the better shot. Step right up.
Hank,
My name is A.J. Kohn and I’m the author of Used Books Blog. Here’s a bit more about the site:
http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/about/
And here’s a bit more about me:
http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/about/author/
I’m very happy to have this comment thread for patrons, employees and anyone else interested enough to share their thoughts, concerns and rants about Borders.
The site is fairly well optimized and gets approximately 500 visits a day, though not all to this thread. I’m happy if this blog and comment thread helps to slowly (if only incrementally) move perceptions and address concerns around a faltering book industry as a whole and a failing Borders specifically.
Thank you for your contribution an I hope you return to share additional thoughts and engage with our readers.
Dear All,
I’m sorry to bother you..but I’m trying to find an employee, Brian from Ohio who worked at the Borders on Clark Street ten years ago. I know it is a long shot, and probably not the best place to post so hope this didn’t offend.
It’s been fun (!) ranting and raving. But everything has its own natural lifespan, and so does my continued need to hash out my experiences and opinions. I’ve enjoyed “talking” with the contributors here, and I appreciate the used books blog and its originator. Good luck, each and every one of you, in your endeavors with (and beyond) Borders. Thanks again.
I’m back. Actually never left. Have continued to monitor blog all along. Just thought I should take a break from replying cause i ruffled too many feathers. I was (and still am) so friggin mad at BGI and what it’s done to me and so many others that sometimes I’m incapable of lucid constructive thought. What really put me over the edge was reading my own posts that were just filled with rage and hatred and nothing constructive. I literally sit and cry, sometimes for hours when I think of what I’ve become due to Border’s. But shame on me for letting them turn me into this useless and immensely depressed blob. I once was a very viable player within the organization but eventually the company evolved into the man eating monster that is typical of corporate America and they gobbled up what they could and then spit me out. I still am filled with so much hatred that I just wait for the ship to sink for my own selfish vindication. I want no one to lose their jobs in this horrific economy but working for this company will eventually harm, in some way or other, the majority of it’s workforce. The only constructive idea I have (pipe dream at best) would be to get rid of all execs, vp’s, directors etc. and rehire the people that once made this company invigorating for employees and customers.
Meridan– I know I’ve pissed you off in the past but please believe it was not intentional. You are a remarkable person. Please, please, please, don’t leave this blog. Your knowledge and insight (not to mention your amazing wit) is desperately needed. It won’t be the same without you. Come back please….we need you!
One more thing and then I’ll go on blog sabbatical again (I’ll still be reading daily though)…..
PROMOTING DAN SMITH (the evil Catbert), WHAT THE HELL??? Ask ANYONE below exec level at 100 Phoenix Drive which department is the biggest joke? They’ll tell you HR undeniably!!! So Mr. Smith the HR Czar gets a promotion….what lunacy. I used to say hi to him in the halls of Corp bldg. and he would just stare at me with his smart ass arrogant grin and nose in the air and NEVER EVER reply back. Oops, I’m doing it again (sorry Brittany!), so bye for now.
Twan
oh yeah. Hank has the right idea….UNIONIZE!
Oh, Twan, you never pissed me off. Please don’t worry about that. I’m reading the blog daily, just as you are.
I was a training supervisor, and the complaints about training are entirely accurate. It was always a push to get people out and running, being “productive” as soon as possible. This, along with the embarrassingly low pay and lack of emphasis on employee knowledge (wtf is that stupid psych test they make applicants take? anyone here who worked with hiring knows the best people typically scored low, in the “yellow” range), led us to hiring people who not only didn’t know anything about our product, but also didn’t know anything about our procedures. the walkies were constantly buzzing with part-timers asking where something was without even bothering to look things up in Atlas- Don’t get me started about the TLU days!
I got fired from Borders 2 days after Christmas after 2.5 years. I had stellar performance reviews. I was let go for taking 1 unauthorized day off, actually less than a whole shift since I came in and opened, because it was the only way I could get a flight to use the time off I HAD been granted. If I had called in sick that day instead of giving the GM prior notice, I’d still have a job. I’ve got a wife and a baby boy, now uninsured. The store is now short two supervisors- they have a GM, a Sales manager, and an inventory supe and that’s it.
I grew up near Ann Arbor in a family of readers and music lovers, and Borders has been a part of my life longer than I can remember- My dad worked there when he was a U of M student and all Borders sold was used textbooks! Part of me hopes they turn it around and get back to what made the company great. After what they did to me, though, I hope the ship sinks, and sinks fast. Fuck that place.
Amen to that! They destroyed my life as well. I too hope they sink fast. I can’t believe their still hanging on.
From a ringside seat on the sidelines:
Since all ordering is now done through Borderssucks.com, more and more customers are just disgustedly leaving the store. The system is s-l-o-w and locks up so often it’s just a battle to get the thing to work. It took me 30 minutes to help one customer through an order. He looked at me and said quietly, “And this is an improvement…?” We both broke out laughing. Oh, no, no, no. Keeping customers by pissing them off…what a business model. Should work fine, if your aim is to drive the stock price into the negative. By the way, is it even POSSIBLE to have a negative price on a stock? Maybe Borders will be the first company in history to achieve that, the last in a long line of notables.
Hi M — I sincerely and absolutely love your attitude! The stores are a joke anymore and it’s good to know that more customers are seeing it too. Have fun with it! What the hell else is there to do…sell books…nah! Don’t know where you’re from but, ever seen a Shoe Circus store? It’s kind of like a shoe store inside a Chucky Cheese. Remind you of anything?
STOCK…They may do a negative split to keep themselves alive. Got 3 shares at .50? Now you have 1 share at $1.50
I began working for Borders 2 1/2 years ago. It was a start-up store and we worked our asses off – 10 hours a day, 6 days a week – unloading trucks and setting up the store. Hard work, lousy pay. After 2 1/2 years…and get ready for this a 12 cent raise, they have now cut the hours, took away the $25 gift card, the free coffee, stopped contributing to our 401(k), no more employee of the month awards, work harder, faster, be more productive. What a joke! If they really want to improve Borders they should start by getting rid of every manager, supervisor, district manager, etc. – just clean house- and start over again. It’s gotten so bad that now we can’t even give the customer a shopping bag! We have to ask them if they would like a bag. Are they that desperate???? Those Borders Rewards cards are a joke. If you don’t have email you can’t get a card. What about senior citizens that don’t have computers, should they be penalized because they don’t have a computer? If you don’t have email you don’t get your Borders Bucks. If you don’t use your Borders Bucks by the end of the month you lose them. Yes, $5 will certainly make Borders much richer. The Paper Chase products they throw away are a disgrace. Why can’t they use the wrapping paper to gift wrap the books, they would save money buying those big ugly rolls of paper they purchase. Or, why can’t they offer them to the employees at a HUGE discount, better yet, why can’t they just give it to the employees, or donate it and use it as a tax write off???? And this is management? They talk about customer service – well you can’t be 5 places at the same time, yet Borders will put you at the register, have you answering the phones, assisting others on the computer looking for books, gift wrapping, stripping magazines, restocking candy, and on, and on, and on, then they complain that our CS scores are low. Well, it’s hard to bring them up when you only have 3 people opening a store (of which 2 are managers and/or supervisors) and we all know how hard they don’t work. If someone quits, or gets fired, they are not replaced. It’s just one more job for you to do. Just keep stretching those employees to the limit. Their loss prevention is the worst I have ever seen. They put those stupid chicklets in the books, which the customers just peel off, and the book is easily slipped into their bags, or better yet, the baby carriage. Customers come in, read all the books, magazines for hours, for free, and walk out. Books are damaged, magazines destroyed and we won’t even discuss the KIDS section – what a disaster. But management doesn’t say a word because we want to be “customer friendly”. The loss from damaged books alone will wipe us out. WE are no longer a bookstore. WE have become a babyy sitting service, teen age hangout, and a public library. People read more books for free then what they buy. And you wonder why we’re losing money.
Hi, Crazy Kay!
I agree with what you’ve said and more.
Has anyone found a new job yet? Too bad EVERYBODY’s looking too. The environment has become more and more otherworldly. Our CSI scores have been in the toilet week after week. Why give the damn things out anymore, since after they’ve waited in a long line for the privilege of giving us their money, customers are in no mood to be nice. We had a 100 score one week, but it was with a single customer who replied with high scores. (Perhaps this customer wandered into our store by mistake or was experiencing undiagnosed hallucinations. Fortunately they are treatable.) How the hell does that reflect anything close to accurate? A sample size of ONE?? Only at Borders, that’s where. Now the announcement is that a whole lot of upper management has been fired and/or reassigned for broader responsibilities. Mmmm, cost-savings in the air! How big are their pensions and health plans? You don’t really want to know. Cutting our hours, bagging fewer purchases, freezing raises, and operating with 3 booksellers on the floor at all times should just about cover it.
I love Border’s brand of mathematics and statistics! Very creative. In their universe, 1+2 equals whatever damn thing it needs to be. Keep those stockholders happy, all 15-20 of them.
PS: I don’t know where you’re from either, Twan, but thank you. What a circus…Shoe Circus? How about Book Circus? We’ve already got clowns for managers!
“It’s gotten so bad that now we can’t even give the customer a shopping bag! We have to ask them if they would like a bag. Are they that desperate???” –Crazy Kays
At this point, I think they are.
“Or, why can’t they offer them to the employees at a HUGE discount, better yet, why can’t they just give it to the employees, or donate it and use it as a tax write off????” –Crazy Kays
You have to be profitable and pay taxes in order for a tax write-off to do you any good. I don’t think that’s the case.
But I do agree that getting rid of the $25 gift cards was REALLY short sighted –they’re expecting more and more of employees and those cards cost them very little –especially, when you consider the cost of low morale and disgruntled employees.
I understand that an Email went out to Supervisors advising them that in June employees will no longer receive 35 cent coffee, we now have to pay full price, that our 33% discount will be reduced to 25%, and we have to start paying more into our medical benefit plan. Witht the small salary that I make and Borders charging more and more for everything, I will owe them money at the end of the week. Enough is enough. Cutting cost at the expense of the “workers” isn’t right. How about the Managers, Directors, and everyone else in the high tower, taking a pay cut. I’m sure none of these people have ever worked in the trenches.
I think I’m in love with Crazy K !!! So refreshing to hear a new voice that is justifiably fed up with BGI. Man the life boats for the ship she is sinking fast. No pity for the all the fat cats that poked holes in the hull!!!
Meridian– I’m in Ann Arbor. I worked for the beast at corp level for 14+ years. Won’t rehash what I’ve already painfully scribed in this blog, but be assured I’ve experienced the beast first hand in it’s A2 lair. Rode the dragon’s tail and got permently burnt for my efforts. Josephiwicz, Jones….what’s the dif. Both got richer while screwing their company and their employees.
BTW… Shoe Circus was an actual retail shoe store chain…no shit. They went belly up but I thing BGI execs bought their business model anyways.
Hi all just for your info Borders will not be doing Jazz Fest. The didn’t have the cash and they made so many blunders they were a joke.But Artha Franklin will be their. I bet they didn’t pay here all they should have. I know Artha we respect you but the check is in the mail , you know how mailmen our. Even alliens from Mars had more of a clue. Anyone know how long Mr Marshall worked in books?
Dylan Get over the N.O. thing. This isn’t just about nawlins or chicago, ny…..this is about the company screwing everybody coast to coast. see the big picture
At my store, a bunch of employees were involuntarily switched over to contingent status. This of course, means they are not getting regular hours, and will be asked to work only when needed.
One of these unfortunate employees was told she was unable to cancel her medical insurance and will still obligated to pay the fee normally deducted from every check. And that she’ll just have to wait for the enrollment period to cancel it.
She then asked how this was going to work, since she’s not earning any money to receive a check to pay for the insurance….
The mgrs. then told her that she’ll be “owing” the company money and will pay if/ when she earns a paycheck from borders.
She then called HR and the “lady” was out of town on emergency leave and they didn’t know when she’d return.
I personally think this is a bunch of BS, how can they do this to a hardworking employee??
Instead of letting her go, they keep her on the payroll on contingent status so they don’t have to pay any unemployment or severence.
Is this company run by the devil himself?
Sometimes I really do wonder….
Do I hae 20/20 hindsight or what? Didn’t I say that if they keep cutting our hours, increasing costs, and all the other B.S. I would wind up owing them money? Well Shay, it came true. Not for me, but unfortunately for other employees. I don’t know what the law is in your state but I don’t think they can force her to keep her benefits. Basically, if she opted out now, she should be covered until the end of the month. It’s probably just another ruse for Border’s to pocket our money.
What variety of fresh hell is this? You can’t discontinue your medical insurance, and you’re forced to pay Borders back for coverage you can no longer afford?
I’m also hearing about plans of forcing full-time employees to go to part-time, too. Supposedly, the only full-time would be management. Benefits? What benefits? Having the whole store run by 3 people makes sense when you no longer care about running anywhere near a legitimate business. And, yes, Shay, Crazy Kay, this company IS run by demonic beings, the whole slimy lot of them. The contingent employees’ misfortunes are allowed to happen before they decide to increase the responsibilities of GM’s, for one. Rather than recoup the cost savings in having a GM run more than one store, Borders will shaft the people holding the company together. They’re cheap and easy to replace. Don’t need that many? Get rid of ‘em. Too bad about your family depending on you for medical care and everything else. This, rather than get rid of one precious manager, whose fully loaded salary, with benefits, is probably way out of proportion to the work they actually do. After having weathered two die-offs, excuse me, “rightsizings” in other companies, I thought I’d seen it in all its many faces of corporate treachery. Borders has invented even newer ways to cripple and humiliate its employees in the name of saving the company. For who ever’s left.
So here’s the latest. Today we were informed that we MUST shelve a cart of books in 1 hour. Wonderful! We were told NOT to alpha the books – just get them on the shelves. And we now have to add more face outs because they don’t want the shelves to look empty. Why don’t they just cut off the arm to stop the hemoraging. I seriously think they will work us to the bone, get the last drop of blood out of us and then tell us they are closing the store, or Border’s has been sold. They really would be doing me a favor. I could get unemployment (so it wouldn’t be as much as the big salary they are paying me now) and sit on my ass, not having to shelve, break down pallets, sort books, work the register, info counter, do events. Unemployment seems really good right now. And, I’ll probably come out ahead of the game – I won’t owe them any money.
I am SO glad to have found this site. Is there anything we can do to solve this problem, or is that my dying naivete talking again?
i work in the cafe area of the store where, after a number of months last year without, we are experiencing the dark sides of three new managers/supervisors. currently there are ten of us bookseller baristas. Last month the gm wrote up eight of us over the course of a week and a half, all for trivial reasons that could have been solved by pulling us aside and pointing the issue out. (rewards card numbers, for instance?). that mess was in mid-january. I was written up for a close that was debilitated by the manager taking my closing assistant to the back for a “few minutes” to write her up and finally sending her back forty minutes later, borders rewards, and for one manager seeing me recline against a counter ONCE. It is mid-february, and the write-ups have begun AGAIN. We were told recently that the cafe will only have one closer, since those final hours only make enough money for one person, and that we will also have nightly meetings. In addition to handicapped closing, we have to maintain an eight and a half by fourteen inch check off list, organized only by hour, and to sign the back. We’ve been told that insurance rates, taken from our checks, may increase in the oncoming months, depending on the cost to the company to maintain the benefits. My hours were nearly halved over the course of a week, and the expectations the managers have of myself and my coworkers have risen. We were told if we didn’t like having a single closer, we should Upsell and earn a second one. There is no communication between managers and employees or managers and supervisors, and we have been explicitly forbidden, in the cafe, to warn people that we have to warm up their cookies. I point this out simply because I told my supervisor I wasn’t comfortable not warning people first because they get angry and yell at me when I do things with their food that they don’t like. She said to “let them. Give them a different one if they want. Do not say anything about warming them up. Just do it anyway.” I feel she basically told me I am not allowed to defend myself or express a common courtesy, and I feel also that this is a severe blow to what little morale remains in my section of the store. I am miserable when I come home from work and I am repulsed and frightened of returning, never knowing what policy will be flung at us next or who else has been written up – or if they’ve begun to fire us out of a lack of further disciplinary steps.
Unemployment looks better by the hour. Our managers neither listen to us nor respect us, except for one or two of the old-school supervisors, and they’ve begun to step down. Meetings morning and night inhibit our work, the supervisor in the cafe keeps rearranging the backroom instead of doing her end of the daily checklist, so not only do I not know where anything is every time I come in, but nothing’s done in the process.
I am sad to see this company screwing over and humiliating and beating down its employees across the nation, but I am also glad to not be alone. I’m also glad – it seems some of you are allowed to still ask customers if they want bags. We’re not! We have to let them ask us if they want it! They tell us it’s an effort to save the environment. I want to tell them to stop lying to my face, but they’d probably write me up for that, too.
Shay, you called it, this company is run by the devil himself. By the time it goes belly-up, it’ll have it’s own circle in hell at his cloven feet, a burning wheel of pain and humiliation and a never-ending list of impossibly numerous tasks enforced by a smirking, two-faced manager.
and Meridien, you’re right – “Got to many of ‘em? Get rid of ‘em!” that’s exactly what they’re doing to us.
Crazy Kay: you have to shelve a whole cart in an hour? Oh, super. No alpha? WOW. Oh, god, wow. Unemployment looks really, really good now….
In a recent A2 news publication… Out with old CEO in with new. New one promises to spend $125,000 worth on stock (in case anyone was wondering why NYSE price has remained stable). New guy also gets $250,000 signing bonus (what the hell…is this the NFL?). Gee, do that math and see the demon grow stronger.
What needs to happen is a concentrated effort to spread the word to Boycott. Yes, people will lose their jobs but they’re going to eventually anyway. At least they can break free from the devil now and go on with their lives.
Hey. Glad to hear from another (of the remaining) employees finding a voice here.
Some of the changes haven’t trickled down here, like the shelving thing, but it’s just a matter of time. But did I miss something here? How does warming up a cookie translate into savings? What cockamamie (sp) idea makes sense this week?
Twan, I don’t know whether a call to boycott will make any real difference by now. Customers are already stalking out of the store highly pissed as it is. Day by day it’s just something new and unpleasant coming down the pike.
As long as stock price stays viable, they will continue. I know .50-.60 is not really viable but they will try negative stock split next. People need to know that they are simply skewing #’s. No way to cover up constant negative sales much longer.
Yesterday I had 3 customers looking for books. TLU and ATLAS said they were in stock. After searching the sections for at least 15 minutes both the customer and I couldn’t find the books. One customer remarked “Every time I come into this store they never have what I want, I’m going back to Barnes & Noble.” Why couldn’t we find the books???? Because they weren’t in alpa order, and 2 of them weren’t even in the right section. It’s frustrating to me and the customer. Why waist my time and the customers? All totaled I spent 45 minutes looking for books when I could have spent 45 minutes putting them in alphabetical order. Doesn’t anyone in management see this? The customer who will go to B&N had at least $60 worth of books and just left them. In today’s economy people aren’t spending their money so freely and yet we can let customers walk out because we can’t alphabetize. This is total craziness. BIG SHOTS are you reading this blog? Are you getting any ideas? Or do you think we have no idea what we are talking about, that we don’t know anything about running a bookstore? That we are just peons there to what we are told and not ask questions? This write up thing is nonsense. It’s just an excuse to fire someone and then deny them unemployment.
hello I am Looking for someone someone so beautiful god himself could not perfect her any batter I was there about three Saturday’s ago and I am still looking for her she is cashier a check out girl if you will she asked me about the new wolverine movie coming out while I was buying the Wolverine Weapon X book if any one could find her for me then I would greatly appreciate
this isn’t a dating site …go away knucklehead
Whaaaa….?
Where did THAT come from? “Perfect her any batter”?
Does that mean he means to deep fry her to crunchy crackly crispness?
Aren’t there LAWS against that?
Well, this ain’t that kind of site, buddy. Bye-bye.
130+ let go at Corp today. Everyone grab your ankles!
Closing quote up .03%, from a low of $.51 to a whopping jump to $.56 per share.
I think the “golden parachute” is more like a tissue paper umbrella, and I think I see rain in the forecast…
136 have been booted, to be exact.
How long do you think we have, Twan?
Job search: nada so far.
PS: Collecting my positive scores on auctions for eBay. Will have enough to start selling off stuff, by the way. I got lots. I’m also planning on making reusable bags for shopping and groceries that will go on Etsy. Any port in a storm. Maybe I have more of an entrepreneurial streak than I thought. Well, success in this economy means making your own. What do you do for a living, Twan, if it’s not too personal
a question? By the way, I’m setting up a blog site for all the creative moneymakers out there who want to relate their experiences. I’m limiting access, though. It is intended as a “No Snark Zone.”
Jumu, Crazy Kay, Shay, Dylan, Jim, Marinateddiver, Hank, Cassie, Anotheronebitesthedust, how you doin’?
Attention: Serious news for all you employees out there.
I work at a California Borders and just found out that a whole mess of upper management bigwigs were laid off either today or yesterday. This included our District Manager. The Loss Prevention representative (or whatever the hell those inhuman monsters are called) for our area also lost her job. A manager told several of us the news today and looked pretty worried, as did the other present manager. Is this the beginning of the end?
I think the morale at our store dropped to near zero today. We began a betting pool as to how long our store will last (it is not doing well, financially, even for a Borders store).
Half of our employees work one day a week. A smattering of them work 2-3 days a week and I am one of three full time employees left (32 hours a week is considered full time, apparently). I close every night and the last few weeks I was the only person on the floor after about 6:00-and half of the time I am scheduled for register! Customers are upset because they can’t find anyone to help them and half the time our books are so disorganized they can’t be found anyway. Doing recovery by myself-even though I am pretty fast-is no easy chore. More of a Herculean Labor, really.
To add to the weirdness at our store, our general manager is currently subbing as a GM at another local Borders that lost its GM for an undetermined length of time! This means we are constantly short on managers and often we have a single manager closing by themselves.
You can imagine the stress this kind of stuff causes in a Borders, even at one like ours where nearly everyone gets along and that practically runs itself. It is considered a flagship store but it is certainly flagging. We’ve been taking out bookcases like crazy to combat the slumping over of the books in our near empty shelves. (Last February’s telephone book-sized RPL is largely responsible for this problem-a problem unaddressed for a full year.)
I am in charge of a section (I will not name) but never get to touch it because there is always so much else to do everywhere else. The store really looks pretty worse for wear and I’ve been hearing a lot of customer complaints. The only benefit that I can see to all this is the Borders Rewards baloney is finally taking a backseat in importance, at least at my store. There’s simply too much other crap to be concerned with.
In case any of you did not understand my comment about the Loss Prevention person being inhuman I will quickly explain it. For a time last year, this person came to our store nearly once a week interrogating employees one at a time in raging, furious, verbal tirades. She threatened, falsely accused, and did everything in her power to get her victim to admit that they or someone they knew stole something or faked their Borders Rewards results by scanning cards and throwing them away without getting an email (primarily in the cafe).
Predictably, this kind of treatment left people weeping, sometimes running out of the store, and in general put everyone on edge. Just knowing that Loss Prevention was in the store caused a tenseness among us I can only compare to hearing a rattlesnake’s warning signal while hiking and not knowing where the bloody reptile is.
Finally, it came out that the Loss Prevention people were trying to meet some kind of quota-firing a certain number of people in a month-to justify their own jobs. To everyone’s great delight, our old General Manager, being in the office during a particularly despicable LP Nazi-style witch hunt, took the Loss Prevention person aside after witnessing a firing and yelled at this monster for a good five minutes! The Loss Prevention person ran out of the store with their tail between their legs and sent their supervisor to talk to our GM. Our GM then preceded to yell at the LP supervisor! Such heroic behavior in the face of absolute evil is wonderful to behold.
(However, it turned out that our GM was leaving in a week for a better job and didn’t care if he got in trouble for balling out the LP monsters.) For once, they got what they deserved! And now our particular thorn has been removed forever from our sides! I don’t know if any of you out their has had a run-in with these nasty people but they are absolutely soulless.
Anyway, it was nice to get all of that off my chest.
2 months in, and i haven’t found a job yet. NOBODY is hiring right now. It sounds like I’m going to have to find something quick, before the rest of my former co-workers are out of work. We’ll be like dogs fighting for table scraps.
The horror stories y’all tell about staffing, shelving, and managerial incompetence are shocking to me. My store had a lot of areas it could improve on when I got sacked, but generally speaking had floor coverage and a solid IPT. Perhaps it’s because the store is in an extremely affluent community, where people still have money to buy little things like books.
The writing is definitely on the wall, in giant letters. BGI is going down and going down SOON. It’ll come without warning. You’ll go to work one day and the store will be locked up and dark inside. You’ll hear about losing your job on the news.
Best of luck to everyone. If you’re not looking for a job right now, you better start.
On 2/19 Merdien asked where some of us were. I wrote my whole story on 9/30, so I won’t repeat that. I filed for and received unemployment. Borders contested. We had a court date last month and Borders lost that one as well, so I am still receiving unemployment. The conditions of my dismissal (termination, firing) were seen to be as spurious as I knew in truth it was. The judge asked, “How many times did you write him up in one day?” For context, read my story from back then. Anyway, that’s been it. I still read each entry on this page. No job, though.
3 months below a dollar a share. How much longer can it continue?
As per the Ron Wesley note, that is something like what happened to me – the district LP guy came in and wrote me up for something we all have been doing for 8 years. In fact, I trained him on certain items 7 years ago when I was the Districy SPT trainer (remember that one?)
That’s enough of that
OMG. That sounds like our Dist. LP. She would show up and harangue people about nothing at all. Once she showed up and accused a coworker who, I swear, wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s very quiet and completely harmless, and she was accused of (get this)
stealing cream and sugar for coffee she brought from home in a Seattle’s Best commuter mug. She was pale, shaking, and in tears when the beast got through tearing into her, and that demon even tried to get her to spy on others, What could she be made of to do that to someone? She even was heard threatening to fire her if she didn’t. When she shows up, nobody speaks to her and she is universally ignored. Rattlesnake? Try Komodo dragon! (They feast on decayed offal and their bite is lethal, as they grind in so much bacteria the wound is septic with no way to adequately clean it. In a large percentage of cases, antibiotics can’t help, due to the massive quantities of filth in the bite. Something along those lines.Yep, that about sums up our District LP.)
I don’t doubt it for a minute. Come to work and guess what?! No work. The company is beyond saving. If they manage to turn it around somehow, you won’t recognize it. It will not be the same company you started working for, that’s for sure. When your stock price is $.50, where do you think the company’s heading?
136+ let go. Yippee!!! Do you think those in the ivory tower are reading some of these messages and following our advice? From our lips, to God’s ears. I thought my store was the only one that had these problems re: shelving sections, but it seems it’s universal. Talk about those LP people. How stupid are they??? They check our bags, but never our coat pockets. Have you any idea how much stuff disappears in the employees pockets??? And those stupid chicklets that we have to put inside the Manga and other books, duh, they peel right off. We find them stuck on the bottom of the shelves. How about they get a different anti-theft sticker, like the ones used in drug stores, where you can’t peel the sucker off for all the money in the world. Oh wait, they probably cost 3 cents, while the chicklets cost a penny. Foolish me, expecting them to spend more money on loss prevention when $20, $30, $40 books are walking out the door. IPT what’s that? It’s where your scheduled to work but never have any time to do your job because your at register, info, or backing up in the cafe. Then they complain because there are 2 pallets of books sitting there that haven’t been broken down, 9 carts of books not shelved, and 1,000 pages of RPL to be done – by tomorrow. All of this while our GM runs around preparing for an “event”. Customers are on line screaming it’s taking so long, phones ringing off the hook, people at info getting really pissed off because no one is there and if they finally do get help they can’t find the book because it’s not in alphabetical order. UGH!!!
Maybe, for just one day, we should trade places. The managers should do our job and we should do theirs. Let them see what it’s like, and let’s see who does a better job, us or them. I know who I would put my money on. Those write ups are a joke. We all know why they do it. So they don’t have to pay unemployment. I would refuse to sign a write up sheet. Let them fire me for refusing and I will state my case in court. They need to stop micro-managing and start MANAGING with a civil tongue. Now that I’ve vented I feel better. Thanks for listening.
Yeah, it’s nice to vent. That, rather than stomp somebody’s eyeballs out. That makes it friggin’ NECESSARY.
I work at a store where, as I have stated, nearly everyone gets along. It is a very strange environment-the two other Borders I worked in were not like this at all. They were normal stores with lots of viciousness and bullshit and hatred lurking around the corner. But not this place! Most of the time, it is quite pleasant. My managers-with one exception, like me and really seem to value me for my hard work. I was recently given the opportunity to go work an extra two days at another local store which is in utter chaos. On Monday and Tuesday I will be helping unload carts and palettes in the newest (2 years old) store in our area at 6:00. This will result in a 7 day work week but I’m so grateful for the extra money I’m going to make.
Unfortunately, I was picked over other people who are in real serious financial trouble and could definitely use the money too. I feel bad for them and even guilty but at the same time am thrilled at the chance to kill myself working for a few lousy extra bucks. Apparently this other store is in such bad shape that they are desperate-even more so than we are becoming.
Today at work we had a total staff of three booksellers, one cashier, and three people in the cafe. Four managers worked as well. Thus, with early, mid, and late shifts there was often 1 to 0 people on the sales floor. Trying to run the register while answering phones and fielding questions from people who can’t get any help at the info counter is just about impossible, yet we now do it everyday.
Clearly the stress is getting to people. One of my supervisors freaked out today in this chaos. I had just completed a tattoo design for this guy that took me 10 hours to do as a favor (he was very pleased with it). But in a moment of ill-judged enthusiasm on my part I had him turn on me like a hyena at a wildebeest carcass.
A woman came up to him and asked where the Harry Potter books were. Huge fan that I am, I interrupted him and said, “they’re right over there!”, and, dropping a pile of recovery at info, I proceeded to take her to the IR section. This manager got really angry and said something I couldn’t quite make out as I helped the lady. It turned out the book she wanted was on a Kids cart I’d just brought downstairs and I happily led her to it.
When I went back info, he jumped down my throat-saying, “Why don’t you take care of some of this recovery instead of interrupting me?!”
I had been doing recovery for the last hour but I said genially, “OK, I’ll get back to it right away-I was just helping that woman”.
“No you weren’t”, he raged, “You were no help at all!” This stung and I thought about going back to find the woman and get her to tell this guy I’d indeed been a help to her. “Why don’t you go into the office and do payroll if you want to interrupt me so bad?” , he continued, nearly shouting at me. (he is the manager in charge of payroll, by the way). Then he stalked off. We were so busy I couldn’t even do anything about this extreme overreaction. I just had to help the next customer.
Finally, after doing some more recovery I came back down to Info and asked this manager why he got so mad. I really didn’t feel much anger towards him and was hoping we could get past this.
But he flipped out again, telling me that all day long people had been extremely rude to him and everyone who works at this store is so rude all the time and everyone always interrupts him and so on and so forth.
I didn’t really feel I’d done anything so wrong that he deserved an apology so I informed him, still unperturbed by his outburst that I didn’t mean to interrupt him-I was just excited because the lady’s question was about Harry Potter. But all this did was set him off into another tirade of what an awful store this was
( it is not) and how rude everyone was to him. Then he concluded his little soliloquy by saying “I hope they do close this store down-and I hope we all lose our jobs!”. Then he stormed off again.
I was nonplussed by his behavior and really felt I didn’t deserve this sort of baloney from a guy I’d just done a gigantic favor for (drawing and painting his tattoo design 4 days ago). But I didn’t really feel much in the way of anger. I’ve been trying to be nicer to people than I was in my youth of late and that morning I determined that no matter what happened I’d be nice to everyone and try to do everything perfectly. Even though I wasn’t perfect I think this attitude of well being toward my fellow man really helped because I was able to shrug this whole thing off and look at it objectively. I didn’t even report him for flying off the handle or discuss it with anyone until now.
Reading between the lines, it is obvious that Borders is floundering-in particular my store. Even the managers are really worried about losing their jobs to the point of near hysteria. We are hopelessly understaffed and for most of the day our managers were acting as booksellers and cashiers exclusively. This in turn would have made their own duties as managers much more difficult to perform. Stress and anger thrive under such conditions.
I have don’t have much hope for our store-it will really be a loss since it is the best group of people I have worked with in my thirty something years. The whole place has the feel of a sinking ship in its last death throws and we’re rats scurrying as high up out of the rising water as we can get. What a shame.
Since it doesn’t seem like it will do any harm now that the end is looming-I feel it is O.K. to tell you I work at a San Francisco store which is far and away the most likely to close in our area.
Ah well, it was nice while it lasted.
Signing off, probably for the last time,
Ron Weasley
Talk about a lack of staff. Yesterday, we opened our store with 2 booksellers and 1 service manager. One bookseller was at the register and the other at info, while the service manager hid in the office. When we opened at 10:00 a.m. there were 15 people waiting outside. How can 1 person ring up 15 people in a sufficient amount of time, while the other tries to help people locate the book or answer questions. Impossible. Later in the day we had an event that brought in about 100 people. All registers were full and we still had enormously long lines. We have a register in the back of the store, in Paperchase, that hasn’t worked since the store opened over 2 years ago. Wouldn’t it make sense to get the register fixed so we can cut down on the lines? We are now told that on the weekends from 1:00 p.m. to closing someone must be at info at all times, yet in the same breath they want us to shelve, recover, and back-up the register. When we get back to the info counter they are screaming at us because no one was covering info. When they call back-up to register they are screaming at us for not going to the register while we are supposed to be at info. I really think these manager need some kind of test which will tell them how to direct their priorities.
The latest is that if we are working in the cafe, we now have to measure the milk in the paper cup first, then pour it into the metal pitcher to steam, then pour it back into the paper cup. Why? Because we are wasting too much milk when we pour it directly into the pitcher. Did you ever hear of such nonsense? Four steps to make a drink instead of three. Henry Ford would be turning over in his grave if he knew about this. We also have to finish with the sale before getting the customer’s order ready. Customers come to the counter, order a drink, don’t have their Borders rewards cards, can’t remember what email they gave us, or telephone number, can’t decide if they want a muffin, bagel, or piece of cake, and we can’t do anything until they’ve made up their minds. Management thinks it’s perfectly O.K. to have long lines at the cafe, because God forbid, we should forget to charge someone for a cup of coffee. I truly suggest that each Manager, District Manager, and anyone else who has some sort of “power” do our jobs for just one day, in the way they want us to perform. I can guarantee they would change their ridiculous rules. They have no idea how impossible it would be to do what they are asking and service the customers in 3 minutes. At any given time in our cafe there is only 1 barrister. And then of course, we have that “Mystery Shopper” who has no idea what goes on.
I’ve just about had it. If the situation doesn’t get better, I’ll be packing it in right after my vacation. I am being physically and mentally strained to the limit and for the meager salary I get paid, my health is more important than Borders Books.
CrazyKay, without exception, this is my store, too. I have been off for a week, might be two, with a pinched sciatic nerve. Oh, Lordy. I hope I still have a store to go back to. I might have years on most of you I’d guess. I LOVE(d) this job but now am unable to retire, given the state of things. My savings can only stretch so far. I had a nice 401(K) before I signed on, and it’s probably 75% gone. I can’t being myself to open the statements anymore. (Insert foaming tirade about fat-cat bankers and huge unwarranted bonuses and benefits here.) My finance person is working furiously to save what’s left for her clients, but there’s only so many places to go buzzing around a rotting-corpse economy. The Borders IRA, let’s not talk about that, either, shall we? Med benefits are the main reason I’m still here. If they go, I have to, too, and believe me, I’m lookin’ So….
Anyway, that’s life. It was a nice place in its heyday, so gotta pick up, dust myself off, and keep on keepin’ on. I like to think I’m pretty tough, as tough as they come, and I’m proud of what I could do for our customers while I was there! And I’m proud of you all, wanting to do the job they won’t let you do, but hanging in nevertheless. And I most sincerely wish all of us much luck. I still have a place to lay my little gray head and that doesn’t seem to be in immediate jeopardy.
I have to believe we’ll come out of this landing on our feet and right side up!
I’m really glad I don’t work in a store like some of you do. I’m a merch supervisor, and we all seem to get along pretty well, there are next to no write-ups at all, mgrs/sups are on the floor when they are service mgr, and often when they are not. I’d probably be smacking my head repeatedly against the wall if I was dealing with some of this other stuff (constant meetings, write-ups, demands/bossy management style, etc.). Most of our sups/mgrs back up reg or info, help customers, grab the phones, etc. as much as anybody. I never ask anybody to do anything I wouldn’t be willing to do myself and we treat each other with respect. Sadly, the mgr types that use the “ranting” technique of management never seem to realize why their employees don’t respond to their so-called leadership.
Still, we are dealing with many of the same problems. IPT hours have been cut, IPT staff are now the sellers for half the day (so there is never time to shelve much of anything). Borders.com orders are a pain (and many customers just want to bail if the computer hangs even for 15 seconds or so (“I can just do this at home…”). There isn’t enough product on the shelves (yet another giant RPL is coming), there isn’t nearly enough time to get any tasks done. Every day I have to pick and choose what to blow off, as there won’t be enough time to really tackle too much. Once you figure in that I’ll be backing up reg or helping customers, there isn’t any time left for anything else. We have good customer service numbers overall, but we can’t hold that up forever the way things are going.
Everybody pretty much expects that it will all end sooner or later. After the round of DMs + layoffs last week, we’re thinking we may lose a mgr and a supervisor with some store restructuring for the company. I’d be surprised if that doesn’t come down the pipes soon. I’ve been looking for alternatives for a while (as have many people), but there really isn’t much out there to be had.
Again, I really appreciate being in a good store. Even with all this crap going on, our staff still tries to do it’s best and be positive and upbeat. It is getting more and more like trying to push some of those skids uphill.
I was hired last summer (summer of 2009) as a p/t Borders employee. Through Christmas I had up to 39 hours a week and that was terrfiic! For the last three weeks I have had ZERO hours and hate to read the posts in one sense but think there’s a fair bit of valuable information here. I am VERY good at customer service but I don’t think the phone ringing 20 times at 10pm bodes well for the future of our company. No one answered when I called and since all the managers and supervisors still have their full-time hours and even the original full-time employees have gone down to three and four days a week it’s no wonder the store was kinda messy last time I went in. How many weeks can they give you zero hours before you can get unemployment? Does anyone know? Good luck everybody!
Managers are salaried, so a reduction of hours won’t affect them. Supervisors are paid hourly, so they might have hours cut. Our supervisors are all down to around 32 hours a week – same as the full timers (the few that are there). A lot of people only have one day a week though. There just isn’t nearly enough staff to get much done. The pressure to upsell from corporate continues to increase though.
I’m not sure what the answer is on no hours and unemployment.
Apparently, our new CEO has done some store visits and already determined that the way we do CSI is lousy and doesn’t accurately measure much of anything. Heh – I’ve been saying that for the last two years now! At least somebody else finally recognized that.
Yes! Calling one CSI score returned one week with 5′s does NOT mean the store should crow about being 100%. It just means one customer decided not to throw the questionnaire on the floor as they leave disgusted. I can’t remember ringing up a sale discounted with the coupon in a while now.
Just read on RSS feed of Borders Group press release:
A major flagship store is closing in 2010. Oh, God.
The last two weeks I have been working an impossible schedule at Borders for which I can only say I am grateful to have been given. I worked 5 days (with our usual skeleton crew working conditions), helped one of my supervisors move on my day off, then was given an opportunity.
I was going to work 7 days straight-two at another floundering local store and 5 at my own. On the 2 days at this other store I had to be there at 6 a.m. which meant getting up at 4:30 a.m. This was followed by 5 closing shifts at my store.
Tomorrow is the last day of this run of work and I’m very glad-I’m absolutely exhausted. I shelved at the other store 8 hours each day-on my second day I got rid of history cart, a genre fiction cart, and 16 boxes of children’s books, much to the delight of the other store’s team. Still, they confided, it would take ten of me to take care of all of their unshelved books and they had inventory the next day. I can’t imagine what that must be like to do inventory on a Mount Everest-sized mountain of boxes in the stockroom.
Anyway, when I got back to my other store, I was put to work immediately moving bookcases and shelves to a degree I have not seen at any other store I’ve worked in. For 4 days straight I have done these monumental tasks-mostly with a testy little GM from another store and our new district manager-as well as our own managers. During this enormous undertaking (it looks totally different in the store), we-the few managers and supervisors and myself, have been helping at the register, answering questions, and of course, answering the phone. I work with great people and we all get along but the strain of working so hard so fast is telling on of us.
The reason for this massive turnaround of the whole front of the store? The CEO is coming for a visit on Tuesday and the district manager wanted the changes made before this visit. We are also expected to spruce up the store-I did a good deal of this the last 2 days-before the visit. Since there is usually only myself (bookseller), a cashier, a LP (loss prevention person-only present at stores in large cities or with real theft problems), and one or 2 managers and supervisors-this added work is nearly killing us all. It would be bad enough just to get the store to look presentable without having to do all of these complicated changes and gigantic shifts of merchandise. By the way, we filled the recently fired DM’s office with a great many of the bookcases we were told to get rid of. This was sad, since he came by for a final visit the day we did this.
While away at the other store, I met an employee who seemed to be a designated helper at all of the local stores (he says he goes from store to store doing all sorts of odd jobs). When I asked him which store in the area was most likely to close he did not think mine was. In fact, he felt the store we were both helping out in was far more likely to close up. He worked closely with our recently sacked DM and seemed pretty confident of his information.
On my second day at this other store, one of the managers told me if any store in the area closed, it would certainly not be this one (his) but mine was absolutely going to close before his ever did. This, of course, is the exact opposite of what the first guy told me. Again, this manager seemed certain of his information and confident he knew what he was talking about, to the point of being disdainful of anyone thinking otherwise.
Today, I asked one of the managers at my store what she thought of the possibility of us closing. She was certain it would never happen. She says the upper management of Borders love our store. The area of San Francisco where it is located is a region of huge building projects including new stores and lots and lots of new apartments. She was completely positive that the store I had so recently helped out at was far more likely to close than ours. I have to admit, I felt she may be correct. It is encouraging that steps are being taken to make our store better. We were rearranging shelves and books-not packing them up and putting up going out of business signs.
But still, I have the nagging feeling that none of them really knows what is going on. The sacking of all of these upper management types-like the similar sacking of assistant managers and public relations representatives in 2001-took everyone by surprise. How much can even a regular Borders manager or supervisor know about the dark workings in the corporate offices of Ann Arbor.
Anyway, as I said, I am grateful to be full time (for as long as it lasts) and to have had the opportunity to make a little extra money-even if I won’t see it for 2 weeks. I have 45 dollars to last me for the whole fortnight. This is terrible and almost unworkable but I’m still better off than some of the people at my store-who have 20 dollars, 12 dollars, and 8 dollars to last them the next two weeks.
Most of the employees who don’t live with family live off of Ramen Noodles. It is terrible to witness this sort of thing happen to such good people. None of them deserve this. We all work so well together-management and subordinates alike-but nobody who isn’t full time can get more than a smattering of days a week.
One final thing. I was told that from now on the lights in the breakroom must be turned off in my store if no one is in there starting yesterday. At the other store I briefly helped out at this practice has been observed for the last few weeks. Borders is trying to save money any way they can.
I’m so glad I still have a job. There may yet be hope for the future. I am willing to believe so. I’d like to close by saying good luck everyone!
Sounds like you are working your tail off, Ron. With the winter weather in the Northeast Monday, we had so few customers…we actually got some shelving done. Though a ton of other things didn’t happen. The whole “shifting of books from tiny subject code sections to broader ones” project is already consuming a lot of time.
I don’t think anybody actually has any info on what is closing and what is not (or “may” be closing, I should say). We’re all just speculating at this point – mgrs and sellers alike. Our sales are fairly crummy these days, and with a Books A Million right across the street, it wouldn’t shock me at all if they one day pull the plug. Most employees at our store are doing the best they can, but don’t actually expect that we’ll be around for the holiday season again. We’ll see.
I know several of our employees are struggling to make ends meet these days, and reduced hours only makes it harder. The only reason I’m not starving working at Borders is because my wife is a big executive type with a big salary. Otherwise, I might be living out of my car or something with this job.
After two blissful days of total relaxation I came back to work today. The changes to the front of store are complete and it looks utterly different. The bigwig visit on Tuesday apparently went well and now our 2 overworked managers (our GM is still subbing at another store) got drunk last night in celebration. Now they tell me that the next few weeks they will be implementing more changes to convince the corporate guys we should remain open.
Our skeleton crew got somehow even smaller today-while I ran around and did recovery a lone manager minded the register and one person was in cafe. That was our entire staff from about 6:30 until we closed at 10:00. Then I traded places with the manager and register so he could count drawers. Talk about stressful! I even did an RPL for about an hour today. It’s amazing to me that we can run the whole store with so few people.
I was told that the we are, unlike some of the other local stores, doing Ok; at least on payroll because of the drastic cuts in staffing. Most of my coworkers are rarely seen these days and every one of them talks about how hard it is to get by with nearly no money coming in. They live off of ramen noodles, spaghetti, and rice. I’m just barely scraping by myself but at least I’m getting 32 hours a week. I can’t imagine what it’s like to work a single 7 hour shift a week.
If you ask me, our scheduling manager is hoping some of the people currently employed will simply quit so their will be more hours available to the rest of the staff.
One of the older stores in the Borders corporation;right in the middle of the busiest part of downtown San Francisco is in serious trouble as well. Their rent is enormously high and they cannot possibly make their budget. It is likely that it will close soon.
The store I worked at 2 days last week is also in serious trouble. Their manager left to take over another local Borders last spring and took his entire managing staff (except one or two) with him. This left the store in utter chaos and explains why they needed help-and will continue to need help until something happens to turn things around (like maybe the store closing). Their mountainous pile of unopened boxes in the middle of their stockroom is apparently famous in our district.
I was told that when this GM (we’ll call him Joe) left this store in shambles and took his handpicked team with him they went to another area store and began terrorizing the employees. Many of them were old time employees from early corporate or even pre-corporate days who loved their jobs and their store. A despicable little 19 year old supervisor on Joe’s new management team went around telling many of these old-time employees “You’re going to lose your job and “You’re not going to be working here much longer.” He nearly lost his job in the process but he helped, along with the draconian management decisions of Joe the new GM to create the largest exodus of Borders employees I have ever heard of without a store closing.
Many people quit outright. A fair few were fired. And a whole passel of them either requested transfers or were forcibly transferred by Joe the GM to other stores in the area-including a manager, a cafe manager, two supervisors, and three cafe employees to our store. I’m so glad this didn’t happen at our store.
And I can’t say this enough-I’m so glad I’m full time-for as long as it lasts.
Another Borders employee here, manager of the music section in two different stores over the past 3+ years. I have seen my hours been cut by almost 75%. A couple months ago, I was getting close to 40 hours a week, then that went down to 30, then 25, next week 15. Yet they still want me to do the exact same amount of work I was busy with at 30 hours, and definitely no pay increase.
When I first started working at Borders going on 4 years ago, I was excited because it was a company that seemed like it cared about their employees, and it had a great, independent vibe about it. I have watched as the company has turned more and more corporate with a resounding change by the upper eschelon for turning a profit instead of caring about employees or customers. I realize times are tough, and difficult decisions have to be made, but the Borders elite have NO idea how to do that. Trying to find another job, but that’s difficult in times like these.
Just heard today that a newly appointed supervisor was let go, and that more changes are coming in the next few weeks. Corporate can cut all they want, but when the customers start complaining about the lack of service, and out of stock books, you can bet Borders will be going by the wayside. Its impossible to do 40 hours of work in 35, then, 32, then 30, and so on. If they would put the info counter at the registers they could eliminate 1 person being at info for an hour. Often times, people come directly to the register to ask questions. When we are not busy we can answer their questions giving the person assigned to info time to finish his shelving, RPL, or whatever task he was assisgned while at info. If we get busy we just get on the walkie and ask for assistance at info. The system works but management insists upon putting a body at the info counter. And, this new system of putting the books on the carts is ridiculous. Yes, you can sort the boxes faster but it now takes twice as long to shelve them because they are just all thrown together. It’s the most horrendous system I have ever seen. Well, it won’t be much longer for me. I’ve decided to pack it in around Spring time. I’m no longer enjoying the job that I once couldn’t wait to get to in the morning. Good luck to all of you. I’ll still keep writing when I need to complain. At least I know I have a sympathetic ear here.
I am a gm for the company and after letting go 2 of my right hands today i feel that the end is just a matter of time. Nothing was based on performance at all. “They” decided who was to be cut ( so we were told). I went to bat for the managers 2 days prior to the layoffs today. Nothing I said mattered to save the employees that acutally mattered to the SUCCESS of the store. Furthermore, 2-3 weeks ago 3-4 DM’s in each region/zone got let go as well. These DM’ WERE indeed TOP PERFORMING and had no reason to go other than they were new to the company or newly promoted. QUESTION FOR YOU ALL- If you were the new CEO- wouldn’t you want to KEEP the TOP performers who are getting results instead of playing it safe and keeping the dead wood??? Just putting it out there people…. Time to fire up the resume..
Two of the DMs let go in my zone weren’t new at all (or newly promoted). They had been in their position for many years, and had excellent numbers. DMs taking over their stores were poor performers that were a lot newer to the company (read: they don’t make as much salary and have less vacation built up). Easy way to save $$, but a terrible way to run things.
Sorry to hear you lost two good people, Steve. We didn’t replace a recently lost Mgr simply because we feared that person could be laid off soon after taking the position. It’s really great that you went to bat for those Mgrs. It was out of your hands, but if I was one of the people involved, I’d have been very appreciative that you at least said something.
Insane staffing in Ron’s store. We’re constantly battling staffing issues and tasks piling up, but we only hit the “1 at reg, 1 at info/floating/shelving/rpl, 1 at cafe – all day long” levels yet. We hit that for an hour or two each day though.
I am appreciative to Steve and he knows that. I don’t know many managers, not any really, that would go to bat as he did. It is unfortunate for the company. They have lost key drivers, the glue that held their store together which it desperately needs right now.
It has been difficult for me to lose my job. I am experiencing an array of emotions. It has yet to fully feel real to me. It’s now the weekend and come the end of it I will not be returning to work.
I strongly believe that there are bigger things to come but I truly enjoyed my position with Borders. It is sad to see what is happening for all involved, including the customers.
I wish the best to everyone. Take care.
This is my fourth week with no hours at Borders. One thing that really bugs me is that there would be days and nights with a ridiculous number of employees on the schedule! Five people were grouped around the Information area one evening, two of us were at the registers, two in the cafe and other employees working other areas. So many people were hired seasonally that it was ridiculous! As more people were hired, the employees who had been there for years had their hours reduced. Who makes the hiring decisions and staffing needs decision? We are (and were) so top heavy with supervisors and management that the payroll must be skewed way up. Just venting my frustrations…
I’ve been with the company five years, one of the few people left at the company with real knowledge of the ancient systems that make a Borders Store work. IMA, Receiving, etc., I knew them all, inside out. None of the other managers or supervisors (including the GM) at my store understand these systems at all, and all were resistant to learning them, because hey kept saying that these systems were going to updated. I was constantly correcting mistakes, and working two positions since a “hiring freeze” went into effect before Christmas. My GM was on final warning. None of that mattered. I was let go. Twenty years of bookselling, product knowledge, systems knowledge and truly excellent reviews (over the years four different managers all gave me top marks.) Never had a complaint against me. Handled events, handled all receiving, trained people, set up new stores, and moved some two. Worked insane hours. Worked for two years without a real GM, effectively running a store.
These sound like gripes but they’re not. People on this site must understand that selling books isn’t something you do because you care about money. It’s something you do because you care about people and books, and bringing them together. There is something inherently noble about getting people the knowledge they want and need, in a marketplace of ideas and information. I’m not a teacher, teachers tell you what you should know. I’m not a librarian, librarians store and share information. I am a bookseller. I connect people to books in a real and substantial way. People leave me taking ownership of their education and entertainment.
That’s enough for now.
Well, after three days off I returned to work to find out we lost our Sales Mgr and our Cafe Sup. As mentioned by the GM above, all corporate-decided and no input from store GMs/Mgrs was wanted or accepted. I’m not sure what other people have seen, but there does seem to be a common link with the people who have been around longest getting pink slipped. Our GM said he doesn’t think we’d be on a store closing list, but who knows at this point?
Heard that next week even more changes (i.e., layoffs) will be made. Yep, the best way to save the company is by nickeling and dimeing it to death. Save the shopping bags, but don’t save the workers. Is there any Union out there willing to take on Borders???? Could you imagine what would happen if every worker, and I do mean worker, went on strike? Surely that would make the CEO and others open their eyes, or at least their wallets. Just counting my days until I can say good-bye. Enjoyed the job when I first started, now I can’t wait to get out — but I my terms.
I would like to commend SteveStoreManager for trying to help out his subordinates. It is awful to be helpless in the face of corporate baloney. I am also terribly sorry for all of you who lost jobs recently. Out of nowhere, this happened at my own store the last two days.
In a past entry I expressed my bewilderment at the behavior of a supervisor toward me-his getting angry over nothing. He was strangely absent quite a bit lately and suddenly, on Thursday I found out he’d been let go. At the same time one of the two managers was also suddenly let go. He’d been excessively gloomy over the last two weeks and his behavior, as well as the uncharacteristic anger of the supervisor, were probably their way of dealing with what they were certain was coming. I’m positive they knew they were about to be sacked.
The manager-whom we’ll call Harry, had just completed the massive renovation at the front of our store-in which he was instrumental. I worked right alongside him and can say that the work was gruelingly physical. He managed to complete this task before our bigwig visit then he and our other manager got drunk that night. The next day he seemed relieved but still unaccountably gloomy. We closed the store and rode home on the subway and he seemed a bit cheerier but then the next day I found out was his last.
I had to go to the hospital for reasons I won’t discuss and was told the news of these two sackings by our frantic GM just before I left. As I’ve said before, she is subbing as a GM at another local store and was called in in the face of this emergency. As I left she told me she’s only had one day off in the last 2 weeks. She then turned back to trying to figure out a way to get adequate supervisor coverage on our schedule for the next few weeks. It looks like one closing manager will become the norm from now on (this is the norm at some stores I’ve worked at). My GM is a very sweet girl and I am afraid that she might be leaving us, whether she wants to or not. She is over at that other store almost all of the time.
Then, today, I came in to work to find out our Paperchase supervisor has only two weeks left then she’s being forced to leave. All of us were really shaken up by the other two guys being let go but this created a real uproar. She is the model employee and keeps the Paperchase area immaculate. Now I understand this is because Borders is dissolving its Paperchase partnership but still it seems a terrible way to treat a truly great employee. In addition to being gorgeous, sexy, bright and extremely cool, this girl is one of the best damn workers we have! Her treatment at Borders hasn’t been the best, though. She is nominally a supervisor but her pay rate is the same as mine-a hair’s breadth above minimum wage.
Grotesquely unfair as this is, she still keeps her spirit up. She’s getting a severance package and the chance to do some sort of corporate thing going from store to store. The manager who lost his job (Harry) is possibly going to work at the downtown store-though I wonder whether he will be at the same pay rate or title. Meanwhile the supervisor who lost his job may be getting some LP hours at our store-but even this is uncertain.
I thought we were at rock bottom for morale but these 3 sackings of decent, good, and great employees have left us all deeply sorrowful and afraid. I believe the 4 San Francisco stores could very well be reduced to one or even none in the next few months. I made a wager with another employee as to the longevity of our store-he believed 3 months while I opted for 6. Because we are both so dirt poor we could only bet a quarter.
I believe our cafe supervisor will be next on the chopping block. We have a cafe manager and way too many cafe employees, most of whom only work a day or two a week. I wonder also if the full time people-myself included-will lose this status soon. We have four as it turns out but one is leaving in April; an IPT or SPIT or whatever they call themselves nowadays. His position will not be replaced when he goes. We have two handicapped women come to do shelving-originally they worked 5 days a week but now they are down to one apiece and may also be let go. The result is of course that we have no one shelving-its up to the booksellers now almost exclusively, while we run the register, reshelve strays, answer phones and questions as we try to close the store by ourselves. Everyone is overworked from our GM on down and it seems like things will, sadly, only get worse.
One final thing-the new ordering system is terrible-it only makes people angry. A customer who wanted a book pretty badly asked me to order it for him. He was all smiles and eagerness as I walked him through the complicated process. But when he found out he couldn’t pay with cash his smile dropped away. He asked if there was any way he could pay at the cash register but of course he could not. He was an older gentleman who was not computer savvy nor did he trust them with his credit card. The only solution was, of course for him to purchase a gift card and pay online with it. He became frustrated with how complicated and stupid this was and walked out of the store thoroughly irked. We lost an obviously eager customer because of this diabolically intricate new ordering system. If the customers are losing faith in Borders and the employees are losing faith in Borders how long can we last?
Part of me almost wants our store to close because I have an awkward situation at work. I have been in love with one of the cafe girls there for over a year but she is obviously not interested. We used to be on the friendliest of terms-now she actively avoids me and looks like a cornered animal if I happen to run in to her or, Heaven forbid, try to talk to her. The situation is so bad that since June I gave my 2 weeks notice or asked for a transfer 7 times and every time was talked out of it by my kindly supervisors. But the 8th time (in January) I made it clear I wouldn’t change my mind. I definitely wanted a transfer. Only now there is nowhere to transfer to. No one will accept a full time or even a part time employee anywhere in the country. So I’m stuck in a miserable situation I just want to escape from. I’ve taken to avoiding this girl as well. Anybody who has experienced this sort of thing knows how awkward and difficult it can make a working environment. And tomorrow I have to work all day with her for the first time in weeks. I am also turning 40. It should be a fun day all around! I think I’ll begin listening to the Harry Potter books again tomorrow to pick up my spirits. I could use some mindless escapism. Good luck to all of you and God Bless.
It looks like the situation all over is deteriorating rapidly. We have a few full time people, me included. One of us has already been reduced to part time. And we all have real reason to be scared. Who’s next? If you’re in the same boat: long-term employees…oh well…And our hours are down to nearly nothing as it is.
There’s also news that 700+ supervisors, in Waldens too, have been let go, and the reassuring statement was issued that GMs are not the focus of “realignment” as yet. ONLY 3% OF OUR TOTAL WORKFORCE (HACKED OFF) should be a source of comfort. Something like that. Just one big healthy family. It is if you count the babies and elders left on the mountain top. Just die off, already, will you? In the meantime, the remainder of us are shot through and through with anxiety, with an eye to the DOA job market. Maybe the remaining 97% should be thrilled knowing the axe is poised to fall any day…just not today maybe.
Still no nibbles jobwise. How’s anybody else faring?
I have been with Borders for 2 years now. I must work at one of the stores because everyone gets along great and 90 percent of our customers are happy with our service and knowledge. I’m not saying my store is perfect. We are dealing with hour cuts,but everyone pitches in and helps. Baristas,Booksellers and Management all help wherever they are needed. I personally work in the cafe, but do whatever it takes to keep customers happy. I have recieved huge tips from customers because I took the time to help them find a book or cd they have been looking for. My store is still doing really well and if my store should close, at least I know it wasn’t because we were lousy at our jobs.
It turns out I probably won’t get unemployment because the average of zero hours, 8 hrs (this is per week in th last months) and my high of 39 hours a week is less than the minimum required. Damn it! Okay, what’s next? Don’t know but food stamps and HUD housing are the next stuff I’m looking into. Meanwhile my credit card balance is increasing, tapped into my IRA for some money, and trying to eat less.
Heather, it’s great your store is doing well, and I hope it continues! It’s a ray of hope that Borders can pull itself out of the malaise it’s in. So many stores are under the gun, even well-run ones, with the current financial situation, however. Border’s stock is hovering at $.50 a share. I also read that there are some private firms looking to buy the company. Maybe that will keep the wolves from the door.
Hang on to your seat.
Claudia, I’m looking into some of the companies that allow you to be an independent call center from home. Anybody have any feedback or experience with this? I need to pay off my credit card fast. Have you tried negotiating with your cc company to lower interest rate? I have no ammunition to play hardball with them in any way, but I somehow (!) got them down to 3.25% Give it a try.
Meridien, how did you get a credit card down to an unheard of rate of 3.25%? Months ago I called Sears and they told me only bank card negotiate. Today I got my Sears bill and the % is up to 21.9% As soon as it’s paid (which will be as soon as possible of course but oh well, I’m broke so it’s going to be a while). I’m very wary of working from home and know that many of the companies require an “investment” which you should read as SCAM! I miss work. I miss the customers. I miss some of my co-workers. I miss the books!
Here is my crazy but absolutely true story:
I have the one credit card and other accounts at the same bank. A few years ago, the bank sent me a cc offer to sign up and they offered me a really low APR rate. (Somehow they didn’t know I already had one from the same bank.) I got on the phone when I got that and insisted that if they could offer me that low by mail, then they ought be able to lower my rate on the cc I already have. I had to go through three supervisors and a couple of managers and didn’t accept anybody telling me “We can’t do that, the offer is only for mail applications.” BULLS—T. They adjusted it down and it’s been low for a few years. Then I had a problem with my card and they didn’t fix it for call after call. They ended up refunding me for a year the interest I paid and then sent me a letter a couple of weeks ago informing me of the new rate. I just about fell off my chair! I pitched a bitch until they heard me and insisted. Like I said, I don’t have any particular pull or inside influence. I have held the card probably 20 years, I was a long term customer, and I just wasn’t taking any crap off them. Being an old stubborn lady sometimes pays off, sometimes not, but more often it does.
Here’s another crazy but absolutely true story:
I got DSL in an area a few years ago when the phone company advertised it “Not available in all areas” and it pissed me off hugely. Why advertise it that way? If somebody else can have it, I’ll be damned if I can’t have it. It took me 2 weeks of working my way up the ladder. I talked to people who said it couldn’t be done. As soon as I talked to someone, I politely told them I appreciated their help and complimented their customer service skills, then asked to talk to their manager.
I would tell the manager that the person I talked to was friendly and professional, then repeated my request. As soon as I got the “no, can’t be done”, I’d do the same routine, not to yell and scream but be inexorable in getting manager after manager. If you can believe it, I ended up talking to an engineering group and talked to their manager. He was about to give me the “impossible to do” junk, and I sweetly told him I am the kind of customer that will call twice a day for a year if that’s what it took to get what they’d advertised. I was friendly but he knew I meant it. I started calling him (he made the mistake of giving me his direct line) and I used it for a couple of days. Two days later after that, I saw a crew in a manhole in the street around my house and a day later I got a call. I had it. When I called back the engineer manager to thank him, he told me, “I don’t know how you managed to get this far,” and I told him, I just don’t take “no” easily.
Maybe that’s my new niche. I do it for my family, and I’m good at writing letters and following up and making a polite pain of myself.
Claudia: 21.9 % interest is way too high. Start working your way up. Don’t believe that nonsense. Don’t you accept it either. You have the right to advocate for yourself in your best interest, which is to not let them take a fifth too much of your hard-earned dollars. You stand your ground. If they tell you you have the right to cancel, you let them know there’s got to be a better option. You LIKE Sears and being a customer. You would rather not. But it’s hard to pay that much in interest. What can I do to make this happen? What APR is being given for people who sign up for a new card? Be happy to work with them. Then you go to work. I’ll bet you get some results. Be patient, but inexorable.
Can you believe I’ve had the account since 1979, holy crap that makes me OLD : ) and I don’t plan to use it once the $490 I owe is paid. I get way more perks from the amazon.com visa and, wink wink nudge nudge, the Borders visa card. By the way, you have to make an average minimum of $208 a week in Ohio to get unemployment, damn. If you are a single person you don’t much if you apply for benefits. No housing assistance, no medical, emergency cash, and food stamps are now us.
Old? OLD?? What’s that? Anyway, hey: go where the perks are. I found about Arise from a mutual friend. His wife has been working it probably 6-8 months.
Yeah, there’s ripoffs out there, no doubt there are horror stories. I understand the company was profiled on “Good Morning America”, so I’m guessing they might be OK. We’ll see.
Gee … just found this … I hear all of you. I work Merch in a Borders Store in Florida. Yesterday I go into work and find that now we have quotas to attain for selling corporate hand picked titles … and the response to what happens if we do not reach the quota from our new DM “there are plenty of people out there wanting a job, I am sure one of them would be able to achieve the quota” … Meanwhile, I am supposed to be the merch person but there is no time for that as as soon as I walk in the door I see that all I have for the day is one hour to merch and my other 7 hours are info. Then I get to go to reg as back up on my merch time … and isn’t reg fun these days …
‘did you find everything ok?’ (be ready to make the usual excuses because there was no one on the floor to help them)
‘do you have your free borders rewards card?’ (oh god please say yes there are 10 people on the line and just two of us on the register and it seems to be the only thing that pleases corporate)
‘do you wish to donate a book to the Children’s hospital?’ (say yes so I can keep up my quota on that one also)
I actually had a customer walk up to the reg last night and say “No, No, No, I don’t want anything else but the book I came for”
I used to love working at Borders … but it seems that they have fired all they could fire and now they are trying to make everyone else quit.
It’s official. I found out 3 days ago that my GM is leaving our store this Saturday and going to another one in to the north of us. This makes 2 managers and 2 supervisors we have lost within the space of just over a week. On Sunday we will have a grand total of 1 manager and 2 supervisors at our store (plus a cafe manager and cafe supervisor) and that is it! My GM swore she wasn’t leaving but said she got a last minute offer and couldn’t resist to move to Marin County.
The one remaining manager is certain we will get a new GM and that we will remain open unless Borders as a company folds. One of the other full timers just told me he was given the keys to our store so he could open it when he comes in for his morning shift. I don’t really understand what is going on. We have piles of bookcases from our huge remodeling endeavor 2 weeks ago in our stock room, crowding our back office, and stuffed into our DM’s old office.
One of our older employees says that no matter what any manager says Borders seems to change its mind on a moment’s notice. He thinks the piles of bookcases give the place the look of a store that is shutting down soon, although the recently redone front of the store seems to indicate the opposite.
We are currently rearranging sections as per our instructions from corporate-getting rid of things like Children’s Media Biographies, Children’s Sports Biographies, and Children’s Sports Biographies and changing them all to Children’s Biographies. This involves crossing out the section listed on a binc sticker and rewriting its new section assignment on it-a laborious process. We are doing this in other parts of the store but especially in the Children’s section. This on top of answering phones, calls to the register, etc. We have way too few people on the floor to get all this done-or so I thought. But it has been so slow lately that I’m having too much trouble completing my tasks.
Our store is also nearly getting rid of the music section. We will be carrying only 50 titles I am told starting very soon. Thanks to the internet CD sales are at an all time low. Hardly anybody orders anything from us anymore, not even the used books which I thought was such a good idea. The new ordering system is ridiculous. People just say they’ll order it online. Some of us believe that stores like ours may really become a thing of the past very soon-replaced by the internet. I hope not. I like browsing if I can.
Anyway, I’m pretty worried and so is every other person at my store. It really is beginning to feel like the end now. We are supposed to be getting a new GM but who knows if we will. Borders may just cut their losses.
Uh-oh. I just found out today I am “on the bubble”, so to speak. I am out for a back problem right now and I am not covered by FMLA any more by 1 week. My GM probably won’t hold my job. I’m sure of it. Not under the company’s financial stress. This makes it easy for her to say buh-bye, see you later, have a nice life, thanks for all the great Rewards capture and new card signups. Legally, she’s within her rights. Let’s see when I get called in, or however she’ll swing the axe.
It is a “gimme”. Reduce the headcount by one full-time long-time employee, check…
I don’t know if I qualify for Disability either, so I have to find out pronto. This will make it so easy to lop me off the payroll. Oh, well. I’ve been casting my net around for work for a while now, no nibbles, the situation as it is. YIKES!!
I’m really sorry about your back Meridien, I wish you well.
It has been five weeks today since I have worked. I doubt I will get unemployment since my average pay wasn’t high enough. (Averaging the weeks with no hours and the weeks with 38 or 39 hours doesn’t meet the 2008 requirements.) I’m not sure what the 2009 requirements are. I’m about at the point where I stop feeling sorry for myself and get off my butt. Did you know you can substitute teach with ANY four year degree? I’m looking into it next week…
I have to say that this blog has been a breath of fresh air for me. I signed on with Borders last October (2008). I took the job as a lifeboat after closing my business (Hometown Books) which was an online media sales business. It is sad to see how Borders is doing all the wrong things, from a management standpoint, to save their business. All the hours being cut. Quality managers being let go. The silly asinine projects and the sense of a general lack of direction from corporate. I really worry that all Ann Arbor is doing is rearranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic. I have been reading this blog for a few weeks now, and sharing what I’ve read with a few select co-workers. I think it is sad how many run-of-the-mill employees at my store are completely in the dark about the true state of Borders Corp. Many who have been employed with Borders for a number of years. My GM is great. She really knows how to keep the store running like a watch. Even in light of the problems Borders is facing, she is really going to bat to keep the hours up for as many dedicated employees as possible. As Ann Arbor is restricting the number of hours each department is allotted for the weeks total, she is actively keeping the numbers up for the departments, directly countering corporates’ wishes. That or she is fluffing all of us and is really F.O.S.
Myself, I work in the cafe’. I am also a Full-Timer. Apparently one of the last hired on at our store. Even such, I have seen my hours drop down to
Myself, I work in the cafe’. I am also a Full-Timer. Apparently one of the last hired on at our store. Even such, I have seen my hours drop down to less than 25 per week, and at the pittance they pay us, I need what I can get. Now I know I am better off than some, so please don’t take this as me complaining. I’ve worked for several companies throughout the years that have gone out of business, and from my experience, the employees in every situation were the first to get the shaft. That was probably one of the reasons my business was forced to close. Up to the very end, I gave everyone ample opportunity to get off the ship and find other jobs. Writing glowing recommendations for whoever asked. When the doors finally closed, every one of my employees went out that door with me. Each and every one of them stayed to the very end.
So it seems that Borders has simply missed the mark and failed to put their greatest resource first. Their employees. A happy employee creates a positive shopping experience, leading the customer to have good impression. A good impression means a recommendation to another potential customer and so on and so on and so on….. You can sell someone a piece of they like you enough.
Look at what is happening here. CEO Ron Marshall is from Pershing Square. Borders owes them 42.5 million dollars. Each month when that money is due they are unable to pay it.. and with that Borders has to pay Pershing $750,000 for the extention. Digging the hole only deeper. There is no way the company is going to come out of this. Ron Marshall wasn’t brought in to save the company he is there to dissolve it. Really look at all that is going on. Borders sells books, music and movies but there is barely anything left in the stores to be sold. Those of you remaining are being used to help him liquidate the stores. He doesn’t care about any of you. He is only out to retrieve moneys. In the process he has let go of much of that glue that was holding the stores together. I recommend that you all begin the process of looking for something else for yourselves. Get them before they get you! Look at your store sales.. continuing to plummit. The ‘other’ bookstore must be profiting from Borders unhappy customers. He’ll use you to the end! One day soon it will be all over and there will be no severance for you at that point either. I care about those remaining and I admire your dedication but the writing is on the wall! It was a nice ride, was a good company, treated employees and customers with the deserved respect but it’s all over! It’s a tough economy but take care of yourself! It is what it is. Best of luck to everyone.
I had two gift certificates for the store and didn’t want to go in so I ordered online! It was a pretty speedy process (Oops, didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to get the 33% book discount only if I worked that week) and I already got my first order. First order? I figured I better use them in their entireties (if that’s a word) before they were worthless. I was VERY surprised to see a 40% DVD set coupon this week. Hm, would have to buy TWO sets to use the coupon. Well, don’t have any money from a paycheck to actually buy anything at the store where I work. Anyway, reading lots, sleeping better, and the blogs here help lots.
Well, there goes a lot of the DVD and CD inventory. Coupons this past weekend, liquidation sale of a chunk of the multimedia inventory next week. Lots more tasks piling up (section relays, RPL, dvd sales…) – where exactly are we supposed to get the hours to do all this stuff and still talk to customers? Ok, not really talking to customers so much as badgering them to buy “Hotel At The Corner…” that they don’t really want.
Like many people, I’m looking for alternatives, but there just isn’t much out there. Even if I find something good, there may be a few thousand people battling for that position. Nearly 1200 people showed up at a Kohl’s last week to apply for 35 positions.
http://community.livejournal.com/iworkatborders/
This past Saturday our store opened with 3 people (that includes the GM). Saturdays are the busiest day of the week for us. While trying to cover the register, people were coming up asking for help because there was no one covering the info counter (they were busy assisting another customer) while the GM was in the back doing paperwork. In between working the register and assisting customers, we are “forced” to ask people to purchase a book to be donated (and it today’s economy people are not happy to be asked to donate), how about a rabbit, or can I recommend these 2 books to you, do you have a Borders reward card? The line is getting longer, people are getting angry – they don’t want to donate, they don’t want to buy a rabbit, they don’t want to read either of the 2 books we are forced to sell, they don’t want a Borders rewards card, and they DO want a shopping bag so they can get the hell out of the store. Everyday people come into the store and ask if we are closing because our CDs, selections of books and movies, are dwindling. We tell them that we are just cleaning out the old and bringing in the new. Seems like the customers know more than we do. Even though we hear that store is doing great, we are making our target, you know the usual BS, we are told that peopl are being fired because they don’t know what the key items are, what the goal is for sale of these key items, etc. Does management have nothing better to do then go around calling stores to see if the employees know this info? Stupidty! Just another excuse for letting employees go. I’ve heard some great excuses for letting people go, but this is the best yet. Good luck to all of you job hunters out there. Looks like our days are numbered. Just ask the cutomers.
My2cents: Yep. Office Depot has begun clearing out its stores just recently. A very popular food co-op in the area “suddenly” went bankrupt, or so it looked to the general public. It makes sense how it would happen and,yes, it is a truly vicious circle. They expanded and bought another big property. The two stores were running great, hiring employees, product lines increasing, shelves well-stocked, announcements of a third store planned to open, sweetness and light. Somehow, the story goes,
Then something little got out of whack: the property owner (it was a lease) raised the rent, probably had cash-flow issues of his own. Mortgage crisis, anyone? The co-op was unable to pay all the rent for whatever reason. Maybe a few other things happened. The upshot of the whole sorry mess was that they ended up unable to service the loans they took out to keep the store running, creditors withdrew support, lease couldn’t be broken, whatever. It stood empty for a year, and they were in the vise of having to pay rent on property that wasn’t making them any money! The parent co-op was unable to service its’ OWN loans and was dragged down under lack of credit needed to keep itself running. Bankruptcy, liquidation, vacancy, and a new store major chain picked up the reins smoothly, sliding in to keep the community happy, without missing a beat.
I pass Home Depot stores and wonder to myself, “What the hell happened to THEM? How could they just close up?” You just don’t believe it when you see it. I guess it’s a human thing.They were going to last forever. They’re a huge company. Now THIS? The same circle, repeated everywhere and with an increasing frequency. And people will pass by Borders stores and ask the same question, “How could they be closing?”
Right on the nickel, my2cents. I hope it doesn’t happen, but it will. And I’m searching for a means, frantically, just like everybody else.
Don’t mean to be the rain on any-one’s parade but….closing the Chicago Michigan Ave store in 2010 …. this is huge! I don’t think any store is safe. There are 4 stores in Ann Arbor (population around 115,000 according to 2000 census), including Flagship Store #1, a regular superstore, the first “Concept” store, and a Borders express….talk about over-saturating yourself! Concept Store is almost always void of customers as is the regular superstore. Store #1 has plenty of foot traffic cause it’s right on U of M campus. Rewards store has some customers cause it’s in the only mall in Ann Arbor. What I always notice about Store #1 and Borders Express is while they have some customers coming and going , very few are going out with purchases. Concept store is a joke. Most customers walk in and have this look of ‘I thought this was a book store…where are the books?’ then leave post haste.
My opinion like it or not….the end is near. The new execs are just making sure they can get what they can before doomsday and the old execs are laughing all the way to the bank. I happened to run into a recently past Borders President at the mall with his young kids and he looked and acted like he had just won the lotto.
I know this opinion is depressing for those of you still working, but take it from this ex corp employee of 14+ years…you will be better off somewhere besides Borders. I still live in the Ann Arbor area and still have some friends at Corp so I often get the inside scoop before it hits the Stores or the press so I am not talking out of my ass here. This once great and thriving company has been poisoned by executive greed and mismanagement and there is no venom just pain and ultimate demise.
Twan, hearing about Michigan Avenue just capped it for me. If the biggest moneymaker, the corporate flagship, has been taken down, who’s next. It IS a BIG deal when they announced it. No store is safe if they can dispense with that humongous money-maker. Who knew they were hemorrhaging money like that?
I can’t find a job so I’m just going into business for myself. It’s my only option right now. Haven’t figured out what yet, but anything’s preferable to counting the days. I’m operating on the assumption I will have no job when I am released to go back to work. I like baking. I’m thinking about marketing my cakes by the slice and later taking orders. Setting up a store on eBay. I have a lot of nice housewares to sell. Looking at a whole lot of stuff. Maybe making some “green” fabric makeup bags, who knows???
Anyway, I just can’t wait for the bitter end. It’s sad to see this once proud company stagger and drag itself along with its face in the dirt. Killed off by corporate mismanagement and greed and waiting to die. Ugh.
BTW…anybody like homemade buttery-rich pound cake? Sliced thick and topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream–strawberry shortcake–the taste will take you right back to favorite summer desserts when you were a kid. Or brownies, generously studded with chunks of walnut, made with deep rich Dutch-process cocoa? Or, a breakfast surprise: warm banana-nut bread, not too sweet, perfect for pairing with tea or just right for nibbling any time? How about carrot cake like you remembered it, cinnamon-spicy and full of pecans and chewy raisins? Wouldn’t you love baked goods, freshly prepared and waiting just for you? AHA! Thought so. (LOL!!)
….or something like that. Being in business for yourself is no laughing matter. It’s hard out there. But if you hustle and work VERY HARD and prepare to take the knocks…who knows. Maybe you can break even! Hey, ex-Borderites! What do you have to lose? You have to try. Nowhere else to turn nowadays. I figure, hey, everybody likes to eat!
…And aren’t you just a little bit hungry now?
Meridien — I think you have some very promising ideas. And I greatly admire your attitude and spirit. Borders was full of people like us who were/are creative, bright and loved to work hard…too bad they let it all go to waste. I think you will be a very successful entrepreneur, you have great ideas.
My wife has been making and selling hand made items made from recycled wool (thrift shop clothes) which she felts and creates into mittens, hats, purses etc. Every year she makes and sells more. She also makes custom order scarves out of hand spun yarn. Her biggest problem right now is maintaining inventory, meaning she sells more than she can replenish. We’re looking into expanding her business someway and it’s very exciting to look at the potential.
She also bakes. Makes the best damn apple pie I’ve ever tasted. We been thinking about slicing (sorry!) into the pie business as well. Local coffee shops, sidewalk markets etc. Thinking of calling it WEDGIES (if anyone steals this name may you rot in hell as I will be doomed to sleeping with at least one eye open for the rest of my life.)
Anyways…you go with your bad self girl and please keep us posted what the evil Catbert says when you’re released to work.
P.S. Have you ever made Guinness Brownies? They are so awesome. You can Google the recipe. Hint: We always up the chocolate content.
Pure, rich decadence!!!
Damn, I got the SCREAMING MUNCHIES all of a sudden!
Twan! How wonderful and inspiring! Congratulations for you and your wife’s continued success. Sometimes it’s kind of hard to believe there IS enough to go around, and there’s room for all of us to make our creations work for us in the world. So many of us look at life as a “zero-sum” game: if you’re a success, I get scared because I think your success detracts from my chances. Rather, it’s that your hard work and good fortune is an assurance of success because it flows where it is invited in. Start. Get started. That’s the hardest part, shoving down fear and just starting wherever you are with whatever you’ve got. I used to exhibit lots of my art-paintings and drawings and portraits, and I can’t tell you how many visitors would come to my kiosk and say,”I really want to, but what if nobody likes it? What if people laugh or tell me I can’t draw?” It is a legitimate concern before you actually dive in. I would say, “Just get out there with whatever you have. Don’t be afraid. Somebody will either like it or not, but that doesn’t mean anything, because the next person could love it and want to give you fistfuls of money or praise or encouragement. And some people will say ‘No’ but the next will say ‘Yes!’ ” That’s why I refused to show my work in juried exhibitions. After I cracked a few (major) national ones, it occurred me it means a lot less than I gave it as a true validation of your talent and vision. I found out in another one my work was accepted because my drawing was used to fill a certain spot in the wall hanging design! AAARRRGGHHH! So how did I forget all my own lessons?? Even though I am no longer making art, I have fallen back. Yes, I am nervous (again) about kicking over the tired old garbage can full of unhappy employee-hood. Feeling “What am I doing? I NEED A JOB!” No. If you can’t find the right job, make your own. I’m shaky but who isn’t. It’s doable, boy, it’s doable. Alright. Hey, you Borders folks! I have to make next month’s rent and bills and that scares the hell out of me because I will be cutting into my savings deeper and deeper. But I have got to do something to make me feel I can make a way, even if it’s a little teeny one. Job hunting for the last months has made me tired and just ready to make it happen. I just can’t go on like this. If this economy goes to hell, maybe the people in the Social Security line would like a piece of cake or some cookies while they wait…I also seem to be incapable of adding a short entry. Oh, well, I’m no editor, but so what.
Do people still have rent parties? I’ve read about them and seen them in old movies and television shows.
OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS MARCH 20 at 4:59pm e.s.t. I happened to call benefits and found out that since the store never changed me from “regular, part-time” to “contingent” I can add “health insurance” (it’s more like a medical discount plan) for 17.50$ every other week. Please note: if you are not working because you are contingent yes you DO still owe the money that is being “withheld” for your dental/vision/medical. I was told that there would be double deductions when I have a paycheck again (rather than take all the money out at once). I wonder what happens if they never call me back? They weren’t sure and suggested I call the zone benefits person. Does anyone have experience with this?
With a nod to David Letterman…
no more Borders Rewards
10 great things about no longer working for Borders:
10) no more walkies
9) no more ‘Bean Fridays’
7) no more CSI coupons
6) no more book drives/ ‘make’ books
5) no more bag checks
4) no more early mornings/late nights/weekends
3) no more sharing restroom with the public
2) no more embarrassment with Borders.com glitches
1) no more cranky customers!
I was in contact with one of the better managers left. He had been on Info, Minfo, and Reg all morning and hadn’t yet taken a lunch that afternoon. He opened. Talking to some other full-timers…what a joke. They’re lucky if they’re working 29 hours a week. Some work less. Pushing the two worthless books has become intense. So, watch for the edict to come down from HQ: if you’re not putting in enough time to qualify as full-time you will be bumped down to part-time and lose your full benefits. What say they keep this up just long enough to disqualify you. I don’t know what the window is but I bet the time before reassessment of hours will kick in and be shortened. They did me like that because they didn’t update their records to show I had been on short-term and they sent my GM and Payroll the notice, and that if I didn’t get my hours up to full time the next quarter, hello, part-time. I had to call and correct them and the woman I talked to acted like it was my fault.
Gotcha. Coming and going. Are we there yet?
Hey, Claudia, try throwing a rent party. Bring back a proud old tradition. Sounds like a support group. Everybody’s in the same mess together.
We’re looking at doing a little family food co-op and eating a rotating schedule of dinners with enough for leftovers for everybody.
I hear ya Chollie.. good riddens! They did me a favor. A week later I went back to school. Now I am achieving what I have wanted to do for a long time. Another one that will soon be in business for myself. Good luck to those left behind and also a shout out to the one(s) layed off that were stupid enough to sign back on as P/T!!! So where do I buy those slices?!? MMmmm…
No employment. Not really surprised but I was hopeful. If you work eight hours sometimes and thirty eight hours sometimes the average is not high enough to qualify you for unemployment after fulfilling the number of weeks required. I wonder if retail and other companies do this on purpose? Although the state of Ohio released its unemployment number a day or two ago I’m wondering if it includes just those that QUALIFIED for unemp or those who APPLIED for it.
the Borders here in Altamonte Springs, FL near Orlando is getting rid of around 95% of all of their DVD movies….(they have red tape on the side off al of the movies that are 30% off, and being thus cleared out….the movie section now is a sea of red tape etc). same for the music, 30% off and going away…..One third of the floor space there was music and movies, and that will be gone soon. I do not work there, but stil wondering what will fill up that space….seems nuts.
Oops, I meant no UNemployment! I’ve learned how to make French bread although the last batch came out like two bricks. It’s still edible. Pumpkin bread tastes better with raisins and Aldi has GREAT prices but I need to remember to take bags with me. The things you learn with lots of time on your hands. If I weren’t moving in 3.25 months I’d go job hunting but all things considering I am enjoying my time off. I’m reading lots, baking lots, and watching many movies. My bank account is non-existent, my IRA has been tapped (a little so far) and I’m learning to cook much better and not eat out and/or eat fast food. How do people with children do it? I’m lucky it’s just me, the cats, and the rabbit. How do people with mortgages do it?
I’m not sure.
No kiddies underfoot, either.
Ahhh. a fellow cat lover. Mine is a big 15 lb. muscle cat, evil as the day is long, named Donut. She’s my girl, but just tolerates anybody else. Found feral, 3 weeks old, and still a smidge wild, this even after being hand-fed and gently, affectionately raised. I don’t know about her, some days. She’s like some people: kind of standoffish, but she is affectionate in her own way. If they have personalities, and she certainly does, I think we all know somebody like her. OK, this isn’t strictly Borders business, but that’s so depressing a diversion is a little welcome by now, on my part!
Clicker training has worked wonders. She has mellowed and become a much better kitty over time.
PS: I haven’t had “the conversation” yet. Still, not looking forward to it. If (if!) I still have a job, I know hours are so drastically cut for the people still there it will be next to impossible to accommodate my return to the schedule. Oh, well.
Claudia — You are an inspiration yourself. Keep the chin up and I’ll bet brighter days are right around the corner.
Mer — Hope all is well with you. Got some health issues that’s limiting my time. Talk soon.
T
ooh hope you are all right Twan! Wish we could bake something for you.
The nice person who lets us blogs Borders stuff here might be offended but I wish there were a way to make pages here instead of scrolling to the bottom. I mean no offense. Perhaps there’s a way I COULD do it and am just not computer literate enough to make the change? Btw, brick bread makes good bread crumbs and pumpkin bread is much better with raisins in it. I may be starting to repeat myself week 7 with no work. Are there any “bad” parts to being listed as a “reg,part-time” still? SHOULD I remind them they were supposed to switch me to contingent?
Why don’t I ever write the most important part first? Brain mush from non-work I supposed. Twan, THANK YOU!
Best wishes to you, Twan…Should I post a descriptive slice of cake?
Are green jobs conferences coming to your city. There’s one here Friday and I missed registering for it…Damn! But that’s a choice. Good luck and I hope we all fare well in this crazy period of time. Every day there’s always news about layoffs and job cuts…
I will be having a conversation with my GM today. Who knows what will happen.
The next post from me will have my news whether I’m an employee or not.
I don’t know which news is going to be good, frankly.
I think I’ll be in serious need for a huge amount of chocolate sometimes this afternoon.
Health problems continue to restrict my PC time. Claudia, Mer, thanks for best wishes…and back at you! You both are the epitome of what BGI once was, FAMILY. Hope to talk more soon. Keep the faith!
Twan
Thank you Twan, i hope you are better fast!
I feel like more a part of a community here than I ever did at the store. Today I woke up with a stomachache and feel really mopey. Back to insomnia and sleeping all weird hours. Too depressed to job hunt and hate thinking about what I’m going to do next. I forget if this is the seventh or eighth week no work.
Hello everyone!
Anyone know what’s going on? We just started handing out 75% off fliers at the reg. The sale starts on 4/05 and seems to coincide with a press conference and shareholders meeting. I have a feeling that the company that is holding the 42 million loan is calling it in. My feeling is that we are going to be liquidated. Sorry, can’t remember the name of the company off the top of my head.
Morale is so low. It is so painful to go to work. Our shelves are empty, and a new, huge RPL just started. The % of customers who are rude has increased tenfold. I am hanging on a bit longer, just so I can qualify for unemployment if we do go out of business. There aren’t any jobs out there.
I’ve been with the company two years. Anyone else finding it completely depressing to go to work?
I’m searching Google and borders.com but all I found so far is this at a general (non-Borders) investment site:
Borders Group, Inc. (BGP) will host a conference call at 8:00 am, to discuss Q4 & FY08 earnings results.
Found fourth quarter/end of year report on borders.com under “Press Release” dated 3/31/09.
For those who don’t feel like scrolling:
Borders Group plans to issue fiscal first quarter 2009 results May 26 after market close with a conference call for investors the following day, May 27, at 8 a.m. Eastern.
Check out this link. See news articles on left of page.
http://search.mlive.com/sp?aff=100&keywords=borders
I worked for Borders for over a year as supervisor and they closed our location…not because we didnt make money, but because it was the ‘smart thing’ to do. BULL!!!!
They told us that we would ALL be receiving a severance package and that our DM had ‘fought hard’ so that even the part time employees could benefit. Two weeks before I find out that I’m ineligible because of some random BS that was totally made up. I quit shortly after but as soon as the store closed everyone who had applied for a transfer? They found out that there were no positions available in the area and that they had never planned on transfering anyone.
Borders sucks, they dont care about thier employees and dont recognize the people who actually give it thier all. You dont work at Borders for the MONEY, you do it for the experience.
CafeGirl, if you were a full-time Supervisor for over a year I would think you should be entitled to a severance package. It might “just” be two weeks salary but I would call benefits in Michigan and double-check the details.
New Info:
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/bookselling/borders_may_close_hundreds_of_waldenbooks_stores_113072.asp
Hello, Claudia, Twan, Ensie, Erin, and CafeGirl, et. al.
Hope everyone is doing well these days.
GM “wants to reassess” my “situation” after the 6fh.
“Let’s just see,” she said. “Call me, and we’ll talk then.”
She has offered the possibility of keeping me on the payroll as “contingent.”
Cue the violins.
My kitchen smells very nice. I have two carrot cakes in the oven.
Hello to all. I’m 1 of the +700 who were let go in the last round of layoffs. I’d been at my store for +10 years. I’d seen the writing on the wall the previous year when 1 of my salaried mgrs was let go. I began saving and paying down my debt. As a result between my severance, unemployment and my savings I’ll be okay. I say that not to gloat but to tell everyone that as scary as the prospect of not having a job may be, it is so much better than going to Borders. I have several friends still there and their stories to me since I left have been chilling. When will retail corporations ever learn that we can’t make the customers buy something if they don’t want it? If the books are not interesting then all my customer service skills still will not get them to buy it. But no, I’ll get the blame from my DM for not making the quota. I’m glad I’m gone and I say to all of you still their good luck. To the DM’s and above who I’m sure are reading this, shame on you.
Carrot Cake is my favorite. Lot’s of decedent icing?
Hell yeah. Cream cheese and cinnamon.
I currently work for Borders and don’t understand how we are still open. Currently we’re getting rid of our CD department and are downsizing our DVD section. On top of that, we have sales and the stupid coupons(I’m so fed up with people and their damn coupons). And anyone who walks into the store can see how low we are on books. With all of that going on, I constantly have customers approaching me and asking if we’re closing. I wonder, is this the same for the rest of the Borders in the US?
Oh and another thing. I’m soooo tired of listening to customers complain about how our return policy sucks. I already know it sucks, but do they have to be such pricks about it towards me? I didn’t make the damned thing up. My favorite line from customers when they leave angry is “Fine! I’ll go shop and Barnes and Noble!” Well GREAT! Go freaking do that! Another infuriating thing about the return policy, is when I tell the customer that I cannot return or exchange it because they dont have the receipt. They then ask for the manager, I call the manager on duty over and the manager hears the story and “makes an exception just this once.”….. What a bunch of BS! Every time a customer comes in with no receipt and wants the manager, they give in and do the exception thing. How can we get our customers trained like good little customers if they dont be stern and tell them no? I understand we have to make the customer happy, but damn, every single one that gets a tiny bit fussy about a return?
I’ve seen managers completely undercut booksellers and two supervisors on the return policy and the turn around and tell us, “You did exactly what you should have done and followed company policy.” i got talked to later when I said, “So does this mean the rule applies to all employees, unless it doesn’t?”
Screw them and their slimy rules forever, and I mean forever.
Re-do: Is Borders going down the crapper or not? It looks like it.
Borders is treating the employees like crap. My wife works there and has for over 7 years… always got great reviews… works real hard…. well they just wrote her up and suggested she quit because she did not lie and say she had heard a CD when a customer asked and some one overheard her and because she did not greet a corporate suite from the main office when he was within 10 feet of her even though she was with another customer and finally because she used the word cancer while telling the customer about one of the “MAKE” books even though the book is about CANCER.
Borders problem was the never the employees at the stores but rather the top heavy incompetent management…. my bet is they go bankrupt after the 2009 holidays.
Yes, Borders seems to be ignoring the employee. Yes, many of our hours have been cut down next to nothing. Yes, we must push these “make” items. Yes, we are forced to greet every customer that comes into the store, in fear that we will be fired that if we do not greet the “secret shopper.” And yes, it does seem like the people at corporate have never actually worked at borders store. But last time I checked, this is a store! Its our job! We are supposed to complain, we are supposed think that we could do a better job. Yes, we do think that people at corporate have their heads up each other asses as they make these decisions. But this is a job. If you don’t like it, you can leave. Its plain and simple, shut up or get out! Ive been reading these blogs for a while now and some of these blogs do make some sense. Yes its ridiculous that we must ask each customer that comes to reg if they have a borders card, if they would like one, if they would like to donate a book, and if they would like to fill out the survey that they get on the receipt. But last time I checked, when i go into many other stores (not borders) THEY DO THE SAME THING!!! Some of your claims have made sense, but as of late, these “complaints” are ridiculous and juvenile. These “make” items, even though depressing (cancer), is what is keeping borders alive. If you actually took the time to read bookmark instead of complaining to other employees and ignoring customers, you will see that these “make” items have actually worked and have made these unknown authors very popular and also put them on the bestsellers list.
Yes, customers are idiots. We all know that. My favorite quote from one customer was, “I’m looking for a red book that was over on a table over there about a couple of months ago, what was it?”…….Huh?! We all know customers are stupid, but that’s what our jobs are. We are there to ASSIST the customer. We are BOOKSELLERS!!!!!! It kinda has it in the name. WE SELL BOOKS!
Also, all of you who claim borders is going under, ummm, well we are doing better than we were. Ron marshall seems to be doing a good job. Just like the economy we are in, we cannot turn our “depression” over night. It takes time. But we are doing it. To get an estimate, again, read bookmark, there is a post in there of our earnings and how we have cut losses. Also, look at the stock market!!!! Our stock has doubled as of late. We are over a dollar (not saying much) but still, its better then what it was. Even though we have loans, it has been renewed for another year! This is showing the people that are giving us the loan that they trust us and see that borders is on the path of recovery, not the path of circuit city or fortunoff.
Yes, we are getting rid of cd’s because its a dying breed!! All you old ladies who are bitching on here still probably use your vinyls, but its a digital age. No more cds, no more tapes, no more vinyl. Its all mp3′s. Check out the record labels’ sales. This is the first year ever that mp3 sales have surpassed cd’s.
Also, the make items in the cafe, its not a bad idea. By having make items, it also pushes sales in that area. When my store had the donuts as make items, we sold an extremely high amount of donuts. Like I said b4, customers are stupid!! If we suggest something, most will turn it down, but the really stupid ones will take it! And the sales are proof!!!
Ive been working at borders for a decent amount of time now and I work hard everyday. Everyday I give my work a 110% and my bosses do notice. I am proud I work there. My bosses also do notice who is lazy and who complains and their schedules are proof of it. (8hrs of work a week)
We do have some gripes about the store, but then again, wherever a person works, we will ALWAYS have a few complaints. The main reason why I am writing this because I am tired of all the BS that many of you people post. There is at least one of you in every store. You are seeing your hours dwindle down to nothing and you all are probably great workers, but your attitudes & “pride” get in the way of it. Like all jobs, you either put up with the way things are being run and shut your mouth, or just do us all a favor and get out.
What’s a make item? I’m looking forward to the others’ comments on your comment. It’s going to get really interesting.
This is in reply to Voldemart. I do agree with you to a point. Yes, if you are unhappy with your job, please, do us a favor and leave but the main reason is, “why are we unhappy?” Because we do give 110% if not more, and Management still is not pleased. Do you really think they are concerned about us? My GM told us that if we don’t say hello to a customer both of us could be fired and they are not about to lose their job because of us. Well that certainly shows employees how much management cares about us. The only thing they are concerned about is saving their job, at any cost. We are not giving the customer the best service by cutting hours. We are not having the best display of books by cutting hours. We are not up-to-date in our inventory by cutting hours. All management is doing is making employees shake in their boots for fear of losing their jobs in an extremely difficult job market. Long time employees who have practically given their lives to Borders are gone with a stroke of the pen. When I first started to work for Borders I had the same attitude did, but now, I can’t feel that way any longer. Borders is not the only company going through this right now, but I’ve been in the work place for 42 years, and I can tell you this is the only company that treats their employees like they are less than human, and I find that offensive.
My issue is not about selling make books. At least “City of Thieves” is sellable. So please at least read the book and see if you would recommend the title. You might be suprised. That doesn’t mean the first two were bad books, they were just hard to handsell and probably not the best choice for a workforce who is just getting used to the new job requirements.
My Issue is with the layoffs and the significant payroll cuts. They have laid off employees at the home office, the warehouse, and in the stores. This has put a stress on ALL departments. I have worked for Borders for over a decade mostly on the inventory side and I have noticed a significant change in quality control. Less people in the warehouse has resulted in an increase in mis-stickers, mis-ships, quantity discrepancies, sugject code changes, calls to action, etc. Less people at the home office has resulted in flow issues due to gaps in ordering products. For example: We didn’t get any significant bargain for weeks, then we received multiple pallets of it on one day. We also received an entire pallet of Ingram which has to be detail received. This has all slowed down the process of simply getting the books out and getting them pulled again for credit.
As for the store layoffs, I can say that this was done in haste and with little regard for the needs of the individual store. I can only assume that they looked at the management tier structure, bumped every store down a notch and told the GMs to eliminate the missing position regardless of experience, hard work, or job performance. This should have been a time for GMs to roll out the changes THEN eliminate positions based on the inability or outright refusal to handsell, collect borders rewards, donations, etc. THEN your stores could laidoff the “lazy” workers instead of just reducing their hours in the hopes that they will quit. That just makes for a hostile environment with a bunch of pissed-off undertrained part-timers.
The payroll now is another matter. Ours has been reduced by 25%, this comes to about 6-7 full time employees over this time last year. Most of our IPT now mostly works at the registers and answeres the phones. Produst flow is as bulky as ever and key positions are leaving and laidoff and no one is being replaced. Two of our supervisors are doing the work of three supervisors and a manager, and with a promise that they won’t be getting a raise this year. Workload has increased to the point where it is crippling us and we are expected to work through it.
Now there are many excuses or reasons from the home office about the necessity of payroll cuts and its ratio to sales, etc. But since we missed the opportunity to get rid of the “lazy” people in the stores, we need to seize the opportunity to get rid of the “lazy” people in upper managment who can’t seem to think things through and are making too many changes at once with an overworked and underprivledged workforce.
Oh, and thank you for the 40% discount this weekend. >:P
These are difficult times, and customers have been extremely cranky. I don’t mind ‘dumb’ questions from customers. I DO mind being treated like crap consistently by people who are just angry at the world. That being said, I can handle that. The economy will get better, and moods will improve. What I can’t handle are corporations taking advantage of the fact that there aren’t any jobs out there…they know we are desperate. It’s a sickening example of how screwed up our world is.
I am a true people person. I love selling books. I love talking to customers in a natural, non-pressured way. I sell a lot books that they wouldn’t normally buy. I am far from “lazy.” Inventory Dude has it all wrong. I don’t have a problem with the Rewards program. I do have a problem going a long sales speech at the register when I have a line of 6 customers. I’m not going to do it. Period. Not when there are only two of us in the store. I don’t make enough money to justify the stress of customers who just want to buy their books and move on.
Voldemart, you mentioned that other stores have the same type policies as Borders at the register. Just because Wal Mart does it, does that mean Borders should too? That’s a lousy argument. We are not ‘other’ retailers, we are a bookstore. People want to browse, talk about books, and get help when needed. They don’t want a hard sell. It’s bad for business. I was under enormous pressure to sell a make title a couple of days ago. I was the only one working on the floor. I actually lied to a customer to sell ‘City of Thieves.’ I won’t do it again. How can I sell books I haven’t read without lying?
I will hang on until Borders goes out of business, or I get a couple of write ups. After two write ups I am planning on putting in my two week notice.
I will sell oranges on the street corner if I have to. But I won’t have to. I am scrappy. I can figure out how to earn a living even in these tough times.
Ron Marshall is a tool.
My comments aren’t logging to the blog. Something is wrong here. More later.
Tried three times. These seem to be logging, though. Who know where it went?
Whoa. Voldemort. It’ll be OK. Don’t bust a blood vessel. Dude. Meditation and deep breathing really DO work. Give it a try, It’s free, and calming. Don’t take it personally.
Threats and more threats!
Ive been working at borders for some time now and really enjoy working there. I mean, come on…its a fun job as far as jobs go…it beats a lot of other possible shit jobs. however, i have noticed a really nasty turn of events lately. Most significant is the use of threats of being written up. First they threatened to write people up for not having good “rewards’ numbers, so i imporoved mine the best i could although they were already satisfactory. then they threaten us for not upseling enough. yesterday we get a message that corporate has threatened to have us all written up if we dont improve our coffee bean sales for bean friday. come on. enough is enough. i dont mind being asked to improve my job performance but i demand respect. why threaten me all of the time? it doesnt seem like it helps morale on this sinking ship! it makes me, one who has put great effort into my work at borders, want to just say “fuck you” and do the least that i can in order to keep my job. i mean, why be passionate about this company if they cant display respect for me.
I’m in contact with other friends still working (so far, I’m on disability) but they relate
some of the same stuff to me. People are being written up for just this kind of goings-on. Even people who have glowing reviews are being subjected to threats
because they don’t meet the weekly or daily numbers for sales of whatever.
I think medical leave is going to be a strong possibility for me at this point, I guess.
Hours for everybody are thinned to the point of invisibility at this point. Full-time is less than 27-28 hours a week as it is.
If the company continues to enforce silly “rules” such as selling a certain number of bags of coffee or other ridiculous quotas there’s one way in particular to pass that information along but it will reduce sales. Tell your friends and family members how employees are being treated. Get someone in the media to write an article about it in a national publication. Document that “write-ups” and show someone who can publicize this information. If I got reprimanded for something that was so stupid I’d tell others, just like you are doing here. You know something? I don’t want to shop at Borders even if I work there. When I see employees treated like crap I refuse to shop at the store. Keep track of threats, post them here, pass the information along WITHTOUT whining, in a factual manner. Do I sound like I’m Norma Rae? Starting to feel like her.
I was thinking about what I wrote before. You know what? I HATE going to a store and being hounded by the cashier to:
get “our” credit card
join any club
buy something because of a promotion
donate something
I feel sympathy for the sales clerk but I don’t want to asked any of the above. I KNOW it’s part of their job but you know what? Make a display on Fridays with coffee, make a sign asking if people want to donate a book for a charity, and leave the customers alone! At Borders we are just driving them away.
My response to Voldemort…blow it out your stink hole. This is a blog genius. It is where us “old ladies & old men” go to vent our frustration. You sound suspiciously like a Corporate Manager or executive blowhard or at least someone who’s bought into the Corp rhetoric. I used to work in a retail store that sold a line of sexually oriented greeting cards for Bachelor parties, birthdays etc. Used to be certain customers would come in and spend a lot of time browsing these cards only to come to cash wrap and complain about how inappropriate they were….THEN STOP LOOKING AT THEM! You don’t like what you read in this blog (“ridiculous & juvenile complaints” our “BS” etc.) then stop reading you pompous ass!
Some advice to you Voldemort….you don’t like hearing us “old” people vent? Then get lost. Most if not all of us have worked very hard at our jobs with BGI only to be screwed while upper management stumbled, fell, and failed to right the ship. I was a Corp Employee that gave 100 % every day since before Kmart ownership. Then what happened? BGI screwed me over royally. Bottom line is BGI couldn’t care less about their employees or their well being. BGI only cares about making Corp Execs rich at the cost of the employees.
How dare you judge the people on this blog. You have no right. Get lost and go blow that Corporate sunshine up some one else’s butt.
Hope you and Ron Marshall make beautiful babies together. Am I being too “JUVINILE” for you Mister Self Righteous? Good, now go sell a red book, rewards, credit cards, Lindor balls whatever. “Every other store does it” so it must be OK right? That’s what got this company in so much trouble. “Lets sell everything other stores do except at higher prices”. Let’s put more and more focus on music, sidelines and other crap than selling books. Mr Marshall has now went public with his ingenious idea….hey, let’s sell books! Wow, rocket science. Experienced employees at all levels have been saying that for years “let’s get back to what we know and sell books”. Now RM says it, stock rises, all is good hey…how about all the hard working people that have been cast aside during this turmoil? Your assumption is that we all were ineffective at our jobs and deserve what we got….that’s the BULLSHIT.
My apologies to my blogging comrades but this person (Voldemort) really REALLY yanked my Irish chain. I may be way out of line but I’m really tired of people who were most likely going to keggers while the friend’s parents were out of town, telling us “old folks” who were already working our asses off at BGI to “shut up or get out”.
Sorry –Twan
You know what. I don’t need to hear ur complaints, you are truly right. The one thing I’m glad about is that all you “old people” will prob be dead soon due to ur stress. So while you’re resting in peace, I’ll be dancing on your grave. Harsh words for harsh people…
I have written on this a few times since last September, and read each comment. I am a male (since that sems to be a relevant issue for some), a 10+year former employee. Just as a reminder, I loved the store, loved the books and worked hard and DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE. If you are interested, read my first entry back in September. I was “written out.” One reason I was able to win a favorable verdict in my unemployment hearing at court here in CA is because I brought a stack of rave review letters from current and past employees and customers. The judge asked, “How many times did you write him up in one day?” This after having one write-up in nearly 10 years.
None of these comments can be dismissed; none of them have to be swallowed whole. There is truth in it all.
way to go twain. we do know what were bloging about. i can’t wait to see how they will keep me out of the stock holders meeting.
I am disgusted to be an employee of this evil corporation. That being said, I feel that with each sale I make, I am only feeding the monster.
Is there some way to organize all of us together and unite against the man?
I have thought of writing to local newspapers and contacting the media about how unjustly this corporation is treating their employees. If we are only still standing because of the money needed to pay off the loan, and if we are all going to lose our jobs anyway….
Well I’d rather go out with a bang, and let the general public know how all of us are being taken advantage of during this harsh recession.
We need to get the message out! This is the reason why Borders is against unions….because we would all unite against them for everything that is fair.
Let’s do something productive with our frustrations!
Yikes. Well, it IS a blog anybody has access to. You’ll have that sort of thing. Sheesh. Pathetic.
Anyway, Claudia, makes perfect sense about putting up a little sign at checkout…
Check out Arise.com. I’m not particularly suited to doing this kind of work, but you can set yourself up as a corporation providing call-center services. A friend of mine seems to be pretty happy doing it. I’ve purchased a couple of domains with the aim of setting up a blog and a website. I feel the creative juices flowing and I’m beginning to look at living a life without Borders. (yuk yuk)
Good riddance, Voldemort!
Ooops. You must have been typing a comment at the same time. No insult to you, Siobhan.
Oh, yeah, Twan. Go get ‘em, guy!
I’m hoping that none of you leave or become silent because of Voldemort’s posts. While he’s free to post (within reason) I’d hope that his views could be communicated in ways that did not level such personal invective at others.
However, whenever this happens I feel that it reflects far more on the person posting than on those the person is targeting.
CDs are a product of the past and trimming back on them may be wise. However, the notion that ‘customers are stupid’ and that employees should just get used to whatever policies and practices are being implemented is, in my opinion, a sign of problems with Borders.
Certainly you’ll find customers who might try your patience, but they’re not stupid. First, they’re looking for books, which puts them above a lot of folks in the smart race as far as I’m concerned. Second, they’re the reason you have a job. Treat them poorly or think they’re dumb and you’re only engineering your own pink slip.
No, you can’t hide that kind of contempt, no matter how hard you try.
It’s also odd to think that we should all just shut up and be happy to work under whatever conditions or policies come down the pike. This type of acquiescence and apathy is another sign of an employee workforce which is NOT vested.
They seemingly don’t care enough to contribute to make it better. Any good executive team knows that some of the best ideas comes from the people who are interacting with the customer on a daily basis. Ensuring employees have a method of communicating up the chain of command is critical.
The bottom line is that Borders would be far better off shuttering more locations, rather than wringing every little bit from employees. Why?
The goal, as stated by Ron Marshall, is cost cutting. So cut costs but look to maintain revenue per store at the same time! Shut a store down and lose the lease and the overhead and the employee costs.
But send those employees off well – severance of some sort, maybe placements in other stores, free job placement service for a month, something that shows they cared about and honor your service and that they wanted to help you despite not being able to continue to provide you with a job.
Then treat the employees you have left as good, or better, than you have to date. You want them to feel good and provide the best service and to ensure you’re getting the most revenue out of each store.
It might be tough on those getting the pink slips but they probably won’t leave thinking the company treated them poorly. They won’t badmouth the company. They won’t create negative word of mouth.
And for those that stay, they see that despite the economic downturn the company is still treating them with respect and investing in people!
Instead Borders has marched forward without investing in their people. Even if they get back on firm financial footing, will the buying experience be so much poorer that the revenue per store can’t be sustainable.
I sincerely hope that you all hang in there, keep being (smartly) vocal and find other work if and when necessary.
Thanks again for sharing your stories and thoughts here at the Used Books Blog.
Thank you, UsedBooks administrator. I appreciate the opportunity to air concerns, and yeah, CDs ARE on their way out. Any I really like I ripped and mixed already, but I’m doing no burning. Long live iTunes and iPod. Get the new iPod shuffle: 4GB for under $100. Case closed.
Hey, here’s an idea we might consider in the interim. We all would rather not see Borders crash and burn. Maybe it won’t. We’ve collected some pretty funny bits along the way, about people in general, since we have a high-contact job in retail. OK, customers. but this isn’t meant to be mean-spirited. Want to share some stories? I’ve got a few. People can be so misguided sometimes, as we all are on occasion. I’m sure I’ve pulled some stunts on store personnel over the years myself. I love the book from EMTs: “What’s the Number for 911?”
Raising hell when we didn’t have a book order when it turned out to be another store, then sheepishly trying to buy us coffee afterwards.
Funny as hell.
Here’s some of my favorite snapshots:
1) People adamantly needing assistance finding Self-Help section.
2) Somebody asked me if Borders sold Christening dresses.
3) A guy asked me to show him where we kept the copper tubing.
4) “Where is my book club meeting?” and when told we don’t have meeting rooms for public gatherings, she insisted her meeting leader told her she’d rented a room at Borders to meet and, so, “Where are they meeting?!?”
It’s conceivable the meeting leader just didn’t want to be bothered with her…
5) The “emergency” call on our Main Info phone that becomes heated and tips over into an argument, and when told he was given only 2 minutes to make the call, slams the phone down and stomps away, not before bringing out the cell phone he swore he didn’t have, with batteries he swore were dead, and continuing the argument.
6) “I was told Borders had (stamp machines, ATMs, income tax forms, lease contracts, display posterboard for science fair displays, and cashed checks up to $200).
7) “Get 3 for 2″ doesn’t mean get 3 books for $2, nowhere in the known universe.
Makes you want to shake your head sometimes.
Oh yeah: the guy who was ejected for panhandling asked the supervisor, “Well, do YOU have any spare change?”
Here’s a funny bit from an in store customer :
Customer: “Do you have a copy machine I can use?” “I need to copy some pages for school and I dont want to buy the whole book…”
Bookseller: “We only have a copy machine in the office and its only used for office purposes…
Customer: “Well can I still use it?”
Bookseller: “No you’ll have to buy the book”
Customer walks away with a scowl and later that evening during recovery I find the same book tucked away in the wrong section with missing pages…
Thank you all. (A former BGI employee). Long time reader first time poster!!
Hello All!
Have u had your G.R.E.A.T. training yet? Fun stuff. I do have good news…we only have to sell The Middle Place for one more week!
Anyone care to email Ron Marshall?
ronmarshall@borders.com
Maybe we should send him a link to this site.
Here are a few examples that make us crazy:
Customers that buy every $1.99 kids bargain book in the store and then want all 30 of them wrapped. This happens frequently.
“I just got a coupon from a cashier last week!”
“Can I return this book tomorrow when I have my coupon?”
Finding porn in the kids dept. EWWW
Finding Mom reading a stack of magazines in the kids department, as her five kids take every book off the spinner racks and proceed to walk on them.
Homeless people who have poopy pants sitting in our chairs. Yes, this happens. We have even had poop on our door handles.
I also love the customer picking up a book they put on hold. We look for it for ten minutes as the customer fumes, and fumes. I called another store one time as the lady was yelling at me. “I didn’t put it on hold at the __ __ store! Where is your manager? I don’t need to be treated like this!” The book was on hold at the other store. No apology, of course.
“Hi, I was wondering if you have (insert expensive item) in stock? You do? Great. No I don’t need to put it on hold.” We find empty packaging for that specific item an hour later. That happened last week.
Item 1 used to happen to us, too, but they rescinded the free wrapping service last year. So that’s one, only one, of the list we booksellers are saved from. But there’s the steady drumbeat of “but you USED to do it for free. Let me talk to your manager,” as though we were asleep on the job…What are you going to do but shake your head and laugh.
Another 2 weeks off from work. Getting around is tough but I’m online shaking the bushes for opportunities to market my creations. No nibbles yet. No riches yet, either, of course. Has anyone seen etsy.com? Neat site.
Good luck, fellow Borderites.
amazing.
Jay,
I work there…and from what I’ve seen and heard, we are not going out of business. Some stores are getting rid of their entire music department. Others are downsizing. The CD business has pretty much died. On a personal note, the only customers I notice buying CD’s are the older crowd. Sure, people who are really into a particular artist would come in and buy the cd, but that’s it.
We have a huge store with nothing in it. I guess corporate is making an attempt to manage our inventory more efficiently. What ever will happen, Borders will not be the same. It will be like any other corporate retailer. Cookie cutter bookstore.
I, too, had many customers who were frustrated and perplexed when we wouldnt let them photocopy magazine articles. Once I let a lady in as I was locking the front doors- she said she knew exactly what she wanted and pratically begged me to let her in. So I did. a few minutes later, when she hadnt checked out yet, I found her sitting in the aisle in cooking, writing down a recipe from a book. when her husband saw me see them, he made her buy the book.
I had a customer call on the phone to ask how much it cost to put her dog up for the week.
the very best, though, was a lady trying to use the computers at the info desk. while she was “of a certain age” she was dressed very fashionably and appeared to be saavy. I have no doubt she owned a cell phone. anyway, first she tried to use the monitor as a touchscreen. no biggie; those button are huge and lots of people make that mistake. however, when that didnt work, she looked over and saw the mouse, which she proceeded to pick up and point at the screen like a remote, clicking vigorously. good times.
ALL retail establishments have “stupid” customers they have to deal with. HOwever, at Borders, stupid customers are the very least of one’s problems, and can actually be a source of great amusement.
Finding porn on the men’s bathroom floor. Nobody would touch it.
BIG MAXIMUM EEEUUUWWW!
Seriously, now…I read that the CEO said he’ll do “whatever it takes” to get Borders back in some kind of financial health. That sounds ominous.
Where do you think the porn on the floor came from Mer?
Well, Twan, it ain’t from the RPL bin in the back!
BTW, how are you? Hope your health is good. Nice to hear from you.
Sorry Mer, My question was somewhat cloudy….’ceo will do any thing’ ?maybe porn on the floor is the new marketing strategy, who knows!
Good to hear from you too. Health is so-so but Voldemort got the ol’ blood flowing!
Baking?
Yeah, some baking…not a whole lot right now. Gotta get around a whole lot better than this, tho. Laying low. Hate having to dip into savings. What’s your contacts saying these days, if it’s not too bold and nosy of me?
Anything you want (or can) share with us? I hope it’s not too presumptuous of me.
Just say if this isn’t something you want to reveal!
Very excited, been sleeping AT NIGHT and up during the day! I don’t go to the store at all because I find it too depressing. Once in a while someone fills me in by email. Can’t bake, oven broke, have to clean before I can call maintenance to fix it. Watching lots of old movies, reading great books including The School of Essential Ingredients, and enjoying this lovely weather we’re having. So what IS happening at work because the bullshit reprimands people seem to get lots of these days?
Hey, Claudia.
That’s what I’m wondering myself. Sketchy details so far from people I know, too.
Non sequitur: Has anybody been hearing about the flu epidemic? Scary. I read “Flu”
(can’t underline book title, for all you sticklers) written by Gina Kolata a few years ago and kind of wish I hadn’t. Freakin’ me out! They’re uncovering more cases in New York, Ohio, Kansas, and Canada, but CDC is “acting to keep the public informed” so far. They made a big deal out of this a few years ago. NPR is reporting about it and said to get used to hearing bad news about it. YECCCHHH!!!!
Maybe being at home has its upside, Claudia…!
I’ve been rereading “The Fabric of the Cosmos” by Brian Greene, “The Stuff of Thought” by Stephen Pinker and “A Short History of Very Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson. I’ve got a lot of books I can be rereading and rediscovering.
Anybody else out there?
Bye, everybody, for now.
No news, My most reliable contact within Corporate was let go. Still no a few but have to go looking for info now as everyone is keeping their head low.
Anyone hearing rumors about the health of Borders, or what their game plan might be? Something is not adding up. We have a huge store. We probably carry 40 to 50% of what we used to. The warehouse is completely full of books that need to be shelved. The store is completely trashed, and everything is out of order. We are so understaffed it is absolutely ridiculous. If we were still doing mum, I don’t know what would happen. We have to turn customer after customer away.
The CEO is running Borders into the ground. I just can’t see how the store will survive. Does anyone have any thoughts?
By the way, we are the strongest store in our district, with a great team. What’s happening in the weaker stores with inexperienced mgmt.?
The stock is increasing, and went from less than a dollar up to $2.58, so something’s headed in the right direction…but I don’t know what it means, really.
Is the stock rising because the company is earning money and lowering its debt, or is this a response to the huge money influx from cutting its expenses suddenly? Waldens employees have been let go, and there is constant cost-cutting across the board. Is this sustainable over the long haul? I don’t know. The Motley Fool site is calling Borders a loser, owing to a number of circumstances. Here’s the site link:
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2009/04/22/avoid-these-losers.aspx
(Sorry, can’t hot link it in Firefox, or I don’t know how.)
I found the info about Amazon was interesting about how it’s going to thrive.
I often wondered about Borders’ entry into e-commerce as its own presence (i.e., without being Amazon’s stepkid) probably 10 years too late. Why did we wait so long? Amazon is thriving without us, and I always thought Borders’ supposed “partnership” looked like Amazon’s afterthought. Also, Borders has always been lagging behind B&N, who closed at $26.08. We are a distant second and always have been. I hope we can hang on and strengthen our position. This economy is taking no prisoners and slaughtering the weak companies like nobody’s business.
Info is sketchy, no opinions from anybody I know lately. Over and out.
OK. The hotlink worked!
Meridien,
Borders actually have an active Borders.com website for a couple of years in the early ’00s. During that time the company also opened up several “fulfillment centers” that functioned as our primary warehouse for all online orders and store special orders. I don’t remember if this was done in response to the rumors about B&N buying out Ingram or if it was done beforehand… Eventually, the decision was made to make Ingram our primary distributor and Baker and Taylor our secondary. The original Borders.com was considered a failure as Amazon and B&N.com were the much preferred ecommerce vendors. Borders.com started routing to Amazon.com and they filled our orders – effectively introducing all of our potential online customers to our direct competitor and losing that side of the business forever.
When the new Borders.com launched last year it sounded great, except that Borders’ prices are consistantly higher than any other online retailer (Amazon, B&N, Best Buy, etc.). Service was supposed to make up for the crummy prices, but as a former Sales Account Manager for Borders I can tell you, service only gets you so far when people want (and need) to save money.
Thanks for clarifying. I read up on what D/E ratio means. I learned something new, not an expert, so the “a little knowledge being dangerous” thing might be obvious here. Anyhoo…
30% is supposed to be desirable. Retailers may have off-books debt lurking in leases and retirement funds, so that cranks it higher. As long as that is taken into account, cool. But is the 128% listed in the analysis WITH or WITHOUT the retailer offset? Can a company make it with that much debt? Also, there’s been a constant infusing of capital from Pershing Square. I don’t know where that money goes, exactly. Is it financing salaries and payroll and day-to-day keeping the lights and heat on with a line of credit subject to an APR? Some writers indicate that as a red light for Borders. If that’s the case, Borders will have a hell of a time paying that back. Seems to me like using a credit card to pay your other credit card bills. Corrections, please.
What say ye, all those who have ideas on this stuff?
I talked to my partner this evening about the blog…incredulous. What was upper management smoking? To funnel the online business to Amazon without reservation…then to make Ingram the primary distributor when there might have been a chance our juggernaut competitor could hoover up what remaining business crumbs there might be left. What if B&N had actually gone ahead? Wouldn’t that be a blip. What were they smoking—no, snorting and shooting?
I have never understood the decision to use Amazon.com (Borders teamed with Amazon!) as our online distributor. While at Borders I had multiple conversations with directors and executives about the folly of this strategy. But Borders was desperate to stay in the online book business in some way. And in the short term it worked – Borders got the benefit of having an online store front while paying none of the costs. But in the long term, it appears to have damaged the Borders brand permanently and lost a lot of customers.
I may be wrong, but I believe after inquiries were made by B&N about purchasing Ingram they were shut down by the government. Independent booksellers raised the alarm that they would be losing their primary book source. The sale died due to the (totally legitimate) protests.
Whew. B&N is the gorilla in the closet.
Erin Says:
April 29th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
By the way, we are the strongest store in our district, with a great team. What’s happening in the weaker stores with inexperienced mgmt.?
Hi Erin,
I work in a district with management from other retail backgrounds & fairly new to the company. What happens is a microcosm of what Ron Marshall & friends have brought to our company: Unrealistic expectations by people who have never worked in this industry and are not really interested in learning or actually doing.
We have lost 3 leadership positions and we have a GM who doesn’t know how to perform the most basic functions of the store- all the while this person is communicating the increasingly demanding goals & expectations- but they cannot/will not help any of us accomplish these tasks.
What happens is complete chaos, terrible customer service despite our best intentions, bare shelves that are actually embarrassing, phones not answered (customers have told me they thought we were out of business) Every project is half completed, customers have to ask for laydowns that are still in boxes in the back……all of this (and more) but with the added bonus of feeling leaderless and store morale level at rock bottom.
With experienced leadership at the very least you have one more “body” helping, and at best have someone to go to bat for you and help you to rally and keep your chin up in this mess. At least that’s what I imagine….
I feel that this is the carcass of a company that I once worked for. I am not unaware that this company needed to make changes to be profitable, but I agree that it seems that this company is just getting run into the ground. I don’t see how we can secure long term customer loyalty with the conditions I described above, plus a website that is full of bugs, a customer service number that leaves customers holding for long periods of time, being forced to make blanket suggestions of titles whether or not it suits the customers interests etc.
I don’t understand this business model.
There was an article on Yahoo Finance today on the “make Books”, but it is in a postive light for Borders Corp. They make it sound wonderful and as if the booksellers are happy to be selling them, as if anyone had a choice.
The public needs to know that this is not the choice of the booksellers. That there is an “execute or be executed” stance at all the stores, as the DMs are pushing the GMs to make their quotas or write up the employees that don’t. The booksellers are not happy pushing particular books on everyone that comes through the door. How can we let the public know about this dictatorship that has taken over in the stores?
recommending the same books to everybody is asinine. It runs counter to the entire purpose of a bookstore, to the passions of people who would work at a bookstore, and to Borders’ own mission statement. I am very glad I got out (was let go) before this bullshit.
I am asking Used Books Blog writers if anything can be done. I have thought about commenting to PW myself, but my fear is I will get in trouble. Borders is now trying to get the employees to sign a non-blogging contract, and several employees have been fired or put on probation for wriitng and producing videos in response to the “make books” controversy. Why doesn’t someone in publishing or blogging investigate this. If you go on the livejournal under I work at Borders you will see numerous accounts of employees that are being written up for not selling these “make books”. Why can’t something be done about this, and why doesn’t the public know about this?
If you can get me a copy of that no-blogging “contract” I’ll make some inquiries and see what I can do.
Gin (or anyone else),
If you have a copy of this ‘non-blogging’ contract I’d very much like to see and post it here on the Used Books Blog.
http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/about/contact/
Any further information you have on this subject and specific cases of being released for speaking out are greatly appreciated. The word does need to get out.
Geez, I’ve been off work for a couple of days. Is this non-blogging contract just for the corporate office? I would loved to be approached with that. Bring it on, I say! I make chicken scratch. We should all get together and write a press release and send it to all of our local, and national media outlets. Seriously, I think they have lost their minds. Please post this contract!
John,
Sorry to hear about your stress level at work. It is so difficult to feel productive when the warehouse is so full and the shelves so empty. I must have spent a 1/4 of my time moving full carts around the warehouse to get to a pallet of bargains. And that is really the least of our worries. Complaints from really nice, good customers depress me the most. I wonder how long we can hang on?
http://community.livejournal.com/iworkatborders/426610.html#comments
I will try to get a copy of it.
It has very ambiguous wording about sharing “proprietary” information. It has other sensible stuff about not releasing customer information, etc., but the “proprietary” piece is the red flag. What’s proprietary? The make book concept? the punitive enforcement? Our descriptions of how many pallets are in the back or how many threatening emails we get? It seems to me that anything can be deemed proprietary.
There was an abusive and frankly insane email that was sent by a district manager to the GMs in his district that was leaked on the live journal site. I am sure that shenanigans like that make them nervous.
(Good)
P.S. Thanks, Erin
someone sent a long email with juicy details to a news channel in the SF Bay Area. Ktvu. Anyone else going send an email to them?
Thanks for the link, Meridien
I was fired yesterday for apparently violating the “non blogging” contract, which I signed last week. The GM alleged that I had posted on Facebook a list of the “Top 5 People I Want To Punch In the Face” and included Ron Marshall and my ops manager. I said I did no such thing, and the GM said she saw it with her own eyes, but wouldn’t tell me where she saw it or who brought this to her attention. The funny thing is, I worked from 8am till 3, when the GM calls me into her office, claims that I posted this thing on Facebook 4 days earlier (when I was visiting a friend in NJ and didn’t even have my laptop with me), and then said I was therefore terminated. No questions. No way to defend myself. She walked me out. I don’t even know where the other managers were. It was crazy. This was the third Borders I’ve worked at in the past 18 months, and it is much crazier than the others. Anyway, obviously this non-blogging contract is a big deal since they were trying to use it against me. I can see how if I’d actually posted that it could almost be construed as a threat…maybe…but what does that have to do with blogging about policies? Nothing! I hope no one here gets fired for anything he or she has said.
Anyone fired for blogging should immediately contact a lawyer and it wouldn’t hurt to let “the media” know as well. Would someone finally answer my weeks/month ago question: “What is a make book?” My store didn’t use that term.
from an email:
MAKE ITEM- the unknown that we want to make known. Customers might not know they want it until we tell them about it. Can be backlist or new. High incrementality.
KEY ITEM – May or may not have a high level of customer awareness already. Easy handsell item. Lots of Customers will want it.
I don’t know what ” incrementality” means, as I do not think it is an actual word. (illustrating yet again who are leaders are) There is nothing wrong with telling customers about an interesting backlist title they may not have heard of, we have always done that in conversation with our customers. What’s wrong is that corporate is choosing these backlist titles for us, usually 1 or 2 titles and all sorts of heavy-handed techniques are being used to force the booksellers to sell these 1 or 2 titles to every customer unilaterally, regardless of their interests. The key items are books that are pretty much going to sell anyway.
Corporate’s attitude is that we need to change from “being book getters to book sellers” (their quote, not mine) and they’ve altered their training program to reflect the salesman approach with new rules like using the customer’s name from their credit card to thank them, approach all the customers more than once, telling them our names…etc. On ground level this make title program includes being asked to carry one of these books at all times, put the book in customer’s hands, write-ups for failing to sell a quota of these titles, random phone calls from corporate employees to test the booksellers on their make book title knowledge Incessant pleas by GMs, daily email updates to DMs…the list goes on.
Booksellers attitude is that we weren’t “book getters” we’ve always been booksellers. I think we are defining “sell” differently. We consider it a job well done to recommend titles to customers based on their interests. They often buy our recommendations and continue to shop loyally at the stores that give them those good recommendations. We consider it a disservice to our customers to respond to each of them with the same two titles, over and over. If we have any regular customers left you can imagine how annoying it must be to have sellers recommending the same 2 books. And the implication in corporates demands is that they need to weed out the people who aren’t good salespeople.Again, we are defining it differently. Also, the repeated threats concerning these make titles are especially demeaning when our hours have been cut to levels that are just crippling our stores, and we have lost our pay raises, 401k matches, CO-WORKERS, etc.
Unfortunately, in the short term this seems to be working. Thousands of threatened employees have succeeded in selling these backlist titles to the point that they have landed on bestseller lists. There is much speculation that Ron Marshall is trying to mend broken publisher relationships by showing them that he can take backlist titles and make bestsellers out of them. There is also speculation that this is all short term strategy to build up stock and then bail.
I don’t know about all that stuff. I just know that it these hard sell techniques will alienate our loyal customers. It might work for people who never read and just come in to kill time before a movie or buy something for a birthday, but I can’t see it being a viable way to keep our true bread and butter customers.
Another constant corporate quote is “Make titles are NOT going away”
This is probably the proprietary info that will get me canned!
Sorry so long, but obviously I feel strongly about this. Hope I answered your question in there somewhere!
I wonder at what point Pershing Square decides to call in its loan? It’s been extended a number of times, the latest extends it until April 2010. How long will they give the new strategy to work after it began this year? Because this kind of scorched-earth plan isn’t sustainable long term. It CAN’T be. At some point the stock price rise will intersect with levelling off or dropping sales brought about by it.
When the customers decide they no longer want to be pummeled by booksellers under the gun to push, push push…Borders has become the used-car lot of book retailing. “What can I do to get you to take this low-mileage beauty home with you? Because you look so good with it in your hands.” Nobody knows what is the plan here, clearly not us, and if there’s a release of sales figures due later this month or June, what that will mean.
Besides, John, they have to catch you to persecute you!
Wow. I worked at Borders from 1996-1999 and loved it. I left mainly because of the pay, but what I’m reading here saddens me. It’s like it’s not even the same company.
There are plenty of places to spread the information about a given place of employment including, but not limited to, Twitter, Facebook, My Space, emails to friends, comments to any media person one should meet, asides to customers (who have asked questions about pushing books and I always answer honestly), etc.
A-MEN!
Working on this story for Publishers Lunch…. Anonymity will be respected; please write to info AT publishersmarketplace.com. Particularly interested in comments and documentary evidence on:
Make Book quotas/penalties
Project Phoenix
Non-blogging contract
I’m reading about Project Phoenix right now. As it is, I am still out with a crummy back, and my “ears to the ground” contacts are strangely silent. That’s ominous.
I hope they still have jobs. Apparently it’s a thing where stores not profitable in 2008 are placed on some kind of probation? If they don’t improve, they’re in real trouble and might be closed if the store files for bankruptcy? Can anybody speak to this?
Shhh…very cloak-and-dagger all around…
Damn! I added Borders to Twitter to keep track of their messages and THEY are now following ME! I’m blocking them!!!
There is some kind of emergency session going on in ann arbor today and tomorrow-zone vps were called in from across the country. Any one know about this?
Michael
I do not work in a position that would allow me access to documentation, but I can tell you what I know about conditions in my store. I am fortunate enough to have a GM who has not written up anyone for not selling enough make books; but it is communicated to us daily and all day long, on the headsets we wear and in person, the importance of selling these titles to customers. The atmosphere of fear and tension is unbelievable. My GM told me first hand that they had been written up by the District Manager for not meeting the “make book quota” one week. That kind of job fear is hard to disguise to the staff. The DM must be emailed twice daily (or is it three?) with the number of each titles sold. A clipboard is kept by our registers to record “who sold what”, so the paperwork is definitely available if the GM decided–or was forced–to use it for “progressive discipline”.
I haven’t been asked to sign any new non-blogging policy in my store, so I’m not sure if they are targeting specific stores, or just rolling it out gradually across the company.
We are a Project Phoenix store, which means that we were identified as an “underperforming” store–so our payroll and inventory were gutted in an attempt to show a profit from the location. Everything is examined: cafes may close sooner than the rest of the store; the hours the bookstore is open may be trimmed; leases may be re-negotiated; cleaning services are cut back; on and on. And yes (to the above post from Meredien), management was told that we would be among the first to go if the company files for bankruptcy.
Many of our book sections are half-empty; DVDs are already gone (returned for credit) except for new releases; and what’s left of the CDs after the 50% off sale ended are sitting in half-empty fixtures awaiting an unknown fate. I’m embarrassed by the state of my store, but there is nothing we can do about it. The store runs on skeleton staff, with management covering lunch breaks for workers.
For me, it’s obvious that this is the end. All of corporate’s recent policies and initiatives have a laser-like focus on the short-term, and are to the detriment of the company’s long-term survival.
I received my non-blogging contract a few days ago. The wording is very broad…it covers just about everything. So unless you would like to lose your job, don’t use your real name. I would leave out any specific details of your location.
I don’t know if it is the end of Borders or not. It should be. If corporate only knew how much we actually cared about our jobs and the people who shop there. It’s tiring to disappoint one customer after another. I think Ron Marshall was called in to just jack up the stock price a little bit, and then everyone moves on. I researched him a bit, and he was investigated by the SEC for insider trading stuff. He resigned quickly and the company he ran is just a shell of its former self.
Honestly, I don’t even worry about make titles anymore. I just answer the phones, ring people up, and try to find a book(that we don’t have in stock, or its sitting in the warehouse)for a customer. That’s just about all we can do.
FYI, I love all the people I work with. I will miss everyone when I find other employment.
No, L.K., I wish I did know something. The VPs left me off their
Christmas card lists last year, unfortunately, so I’m not in that loop. LOL!
Why do I have a sense of impending doom at work? I think it’s just gut instinct. Should I rush to use my $25 gift certificate before it’s worth ZERO? Should I jump ship to Barnes & Noble?
Somebody posted this at the LiveJournal site. Supposedly, because Q1 results stunk up the place, there’s some more retooling taking place.
20% of stores and all but 11 Waldens to close in the next 6 months, all stores getting out of multimedia within a year, even new releases. Some other stuff. Check it out yourself at http://community.livejournal.com/iworkatborders/432724.html?thread=7555924#t7555924
This was from somebody whose spouse worked for Binc. I’m just passing it on, because we all know that inside a rumor is a truth begging to be let out. Get out your salt shakers. Borders’ demise has been predicted for at least a year.
Seismic rumblings are kind of hard to ignore when your meters are registering little quakes every few months or so.
A friend of mine said they received an email from Borders for a $10 gift card with a purchase of $50. Did everyone get this email?
Yes, dated the 14th.
If this gets people in the stores, which would be GREAT.
I think $10 is kind of much, though. $5 sounds more reasonable to me, actually, if you wanted to keep from losing so much money. I think the idea is that the customer will take home more than $50 worth of stuff. Maybe a bunch of non-book stuff, periodicals, toys, whatever. And this weeks featured title!
Anyway, here’s comments about why the stock is a good buy, from market-watchers.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/72855-why-we-doubled-our-position-in-borders
What does it actually mean if Pershing Square exercises a warrant?
Here, also, is an interesting bit of perspective about Ackman.
He’s in it for the long-haul, he says, but the last sentence he was quoted as saying
is kind of, like, whoa there…
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a9wSEaX9F1kI&refer=home
Not out of the woods yet, but I hope the company is heading for a clearing?
I just loved selling books, and for the comments about us moving from book-getters to booksellers burns me. Us not selling books isn’t what went wrong. And everybody knows that. We booksellers do, but who’s listening to us?
The linked Seeking Alpha article is from April *2008*, so the information isn’t really relevant anymore. The international businesses are sold and the proceeds spent to pay down *some* of our debt; and we are no longer officially for sale since no one bought us out, even at .35! Anyone who bought BGP last year based on Seeking Alpha’s opinion has seen their investment evaporate, even after the recent rise in price.
As for Pershing’s warrants: I believe a warrant works similar to an option. Pershing has the right to purchase (or sell) their allotted amount of warrants for Borders’ stock at the predetermined “strike price” during a predetermined time period. The interesting recent development in negotiations is that Borders reset Pershing’s strike price from $7.00 to 63 cents. (Apologies if I am a little off on the exact prices; but if so, it doesn’t change the significance of the move.) Exercising the warrants means more shares are issued into the market (at a lower price, too), so it dilutes the value of the stock for other shareholders. I’m no stock expert, but that’s what I understand of it.
Basically, it means that Pershing can finally sell off the stock at a decent profit now. They can either cash out of their investment entirely; or purchase the stock and take even more control of the company than before. My guess is this is the “deal-sweetener” that made Pershing give us a year-long exension on the $45.5 million loan (at 11%+ interest!) rather than the former month-to-month extensions.
How will returns work with the $10 gift card? I see mucho problemas with this one. “Hi. I’d like to return these books and the repurchase them using this gift card! Why can’t I do that? Do you have corporate’s number?”
Do I sound cynical?
Ron Marshall not only resigned from that company he cost it about $6million in a lawsuit connected to the insider trading he did. And Ackman is a predator-he’s going to destroy Target before he gets his short term profits out of it.
I looked for a Barnes & Noble blog out of curiosity. Guess what? Same crap, different store. They have the same problems, customer issues, etc.
What does it mean if you try to log into the Borders benefits website and it doesn’t recognize you? I tried twice, checked the numbers and it didn’t work.
Cuneiform, et.at. Ooops on the entry i offered. My bad. I’ll certainly be more careful…but anyway, what IS the idea with the $10 gift cards??
I think I’ll try to get into the benefits site myself. Target, yet another household store!
I didn’t know they were in any kind of trouble.
Wow, it’s quiet here! Never a good sign when you call benefits in Ann Arbor and the first message says something to effect that “if you haven’t received your Cobra information it’s coming.” Hm, I still haven’t had my message returned about my own employment and don’t have a good feeling about all this. Any news?
I’d be interested in hearing any myself.
I just had a pretty memorable outpatient thingy yesterday. Modern medicine is unbelievable! I expect to be up and back in the game soon. I’m pretty sure it won’t be anywhere as I remembered it a few months ago.
Borders is coming down hard on their employees but I am not sure if it is their harshness or the general manager at our store. She micro manages everybody and everything. She tries to get us to sell the hand-titles that Borders is pushing while leaving boxes of unopened cargo in the back. She rather we push the hand-titles instead of restocking the shelves. She writes us up no matter if the sale the titles they are pushing or not just to make herself feel better. We have lost two employees that have been with us since we opened 3 years ago already. And i take it day by day.
Just heard from a co-worker. She’s gone. Make books claims another victim.
Hello Everyone,
It’s been a long time since I posted. I’ve given up on improving the company. I thought that by buying in the stocks we could show management that we were willing to commit. I also believed that people in management were good just deluded. I no longer believe that. I’ve seen people choose to sacrifice their own morals, and decency just for the chance of holding onto what little benefits BGI is willing to drop down the gutter.
I used to think that all it took to be rich was to sacrifice all decency, but now I know you also have to work at it. That’s all that separates the Ackmans from the DMs. People like Ackman have already abandon all shred of decency and are now convincing others to give up their freedom just so he can still be rich. DMs are just as immoral just not as proactive.
So, I’m no longer angry. I’m disappointed. I still like working with books. I still like talking to customers about books. Just like many of us. But, I’ve given up. I no longer care about my coworkers who blindly choose to follow corporate policy. Also, I think that no one else cares. Even if the media were informed of the bullying, tyranny, and abuses of management it would be written off. Our economy is so bad because of the abuses and excesses of corrupt people that no one is surprised. And that’s all news focuses on; shock value. There is no desire in the media to inform, educate, or change anything or anyone. The media has been bought and controlled by the same kind of people that are destroying Borders. And still no one cares. All I see are people too afraid to choose what is right.
That’s pretty much why I haven’t posted anything. I’m still read every post and I’m glad you are all still passionate and doing well(as well as any one can do in this environment.) And it is because of my regard for all of you that I am posting again. I feel that it is important that I tell you what I have figured out about “make” books.
This is my opinion. But it is an informed opinion based on real evidence. Much more reliable than “Sales Plans”. Hehe.
Ron Marshall was suspected of insider trading. He quit Nash Finch Food Company before charges were filed. The charges didn’t name him specifically so the company had to pay the fines. Ron walked away with $10.6 million dollars. Basically, he is a thief. But a thief who ruins people’s lives beyond just stealing their money. This is proven and documented.
Next, Ackman. With the excellent article supplied earlier on this site we learn that Ackman activist investor of Pershing Square demonstrated that he was willing to let other people lose billions of dollars if it could make him money personally. Why care if the pay off is one $1 you get for every $100 the other guy loses? You still get money. My favorite bit was about forcing his way on the board, forcing them to sell the land the stores were on to a investment firm, and then charging them rent on their land! That would be like someone breaking into your house, taking your tv, then renting it back to you for whatever price they want! Again documented, not my opinion.
Next, Ron flew to London to meet with a Penguin Group representative. They talked about renegotiating our contract. (Documented) Borders already tried to renegotiate our contract with Simon and Schuster to get a better discount on books. S&S said they would sell us books at a better discount if the books would be non-returnable. (Documented)
My opinion, Ron asked Penguin for a better discount, like B&N gets. Penguin said B&N orders more books so they get a better discount. Ron said, I’ll guarantee we order more books even though we have half as many stores. Penguin said, great but we don’t want those books back when they don’t sell. Ron said, I’ll make sure they sell. I’ll threaten my employees into selling them. Penguin said, ok here are a list of “mid-list” (documented term, it means titles about to go to bargain status because sales are so poor.) titles we have backed up. We will try you out, buy our stock of these titles and sell them. If you don’t return them then you will have proved you can sell any crap we have that won’t sell on it’s own. Then we will give you a better contract.
Ron oked the plan and “make” books was born. Now it’s even more important that making your overall sales goal. Why? Because in one year, Ron will leave Borders and go to another company saying, I’ve renegotiated with our distributors to get a better discount on the same items we’ve been selling. The other company will say, wow that’s impressive, be our CEO for a big signing bonus. And Ron will be out. Borders will be left with a damning contract with Penguin to buy all their crappy books that don’t sell on their own and NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN THEM. So Borders stores will become a dumping ground of tons of copies of crappy Penguin books marked down progressively and then dumpstered. All while taking a big loss. Ackman will wait until the deal goes through, media attention pushes the stock up, cash out, and move on to his next corporate rape victim.
I tell you all this because I truly want you to be informed with my best ideas. I don’t think this can be stopped, changed, or fixed. I don’t think anyone in the media will care. This contract will happen, and Borders will be screwed just like our horrible deal with Seattle’s Best, owned by Starbucks.
So, please, be ready. If that means getting another job now, good luck and best wishes. If that means going to work knowing that the end is coming and just trying to enjoy what you can in the mean time that’s what I do. It doesn’t matter if we make sales plan, or meet “make” initiatives, or Borders online ordering sucks. Our company is being deliberately steered over a cliff just so the captain (CEO) can charge for lifeboats seats. I wish you all the best. Stay safe.
WackotheSane
Like I wrote earlier I worked at Borders from 1996-1999. After reading all these posts I am amazed anyone still works at this company. From the outside looking in I’d say the writing is on the wall for Borders. B & N is a much better store now, and I used to think saying that was heresy. I browse in B & N and shop on Amazon. Borders is just too depressing to go in anymore.
The Sane:
I did some digging around. The National Food Exchange site has a nice summation. It’s at http://www.nationalfoodexchange.com/grocery-execs-get-golden-door.asp.
It makes perfect sense, your take on the situation so far. The likes of Ackman and Marshall will go where they’re best paid. Period. The rapid stock price, the way it just shot up, attracts buyers who are in and at the least whiff of bad news, out again with a tidy profit. Stock that rose that fast that quick ought to be a yellow light. Didn’t that seem kind of bizarre? but for the short-term investors, it’s more like a green light. Vultures swoop in, feed, then take to the air again. And that’s the thing: Marshall will do everything necessary to produce results that look very good, but can’t be sustainable long-term. The present strategy doesn’t even HAVE to be sustainable. And Borders can’t move fast enough to make up ground lost by its reentry online. The whole Penguin deal take is fiendishly clever. Just show them you can move their books. If that’s unfolding, I agree, it doesn’t matter how many books you sell or customers you greet. Wringing out the most profit in the shortest amount of time is the driver. It doesn’t matter what you have to do to get results. If the strategy becomes a standard in big book retailing, and if it turns Borders around and revitalizes it and, heck, why not, the whole darned economy along with it, cool, thank you very much. But I just can’t waste time and get wistful around what was, and will never be again.
It kind of reminds me of the book The Rich and the Superrich. The figures are dated, as are the statistics, but the song is the same: your troubles have nothing to do with me…I’m so far removed from you I can’t even relate my actions to your misery. Your life means nothing to me. I see billions, you live in a world of thousands, and you are invisible. I wouldn’t know you if I passed you on the street, nor would I care to. Your actions count to me only in aggregate.
I’m on a roll here! On PBS Frontline did a thing about Bernie Madoff. In one scene he was being escorted somewhere on the streets of NY, and a hand from the crowd around his guards grabs him and pushes him, and he’s heard to say, “Don’t push me!” or something like that. As if pushing Madoff is going to right all the wrong he did, but it’s all somebody on the wrong side of his machinations had open to do to him. Granted, all his clients were hugely wealthy. but that scene just suggests the frustration of being ground underfoot by somebody as powerfully secure in his propriety as Madoff was.
So, anyway, that seems to be that. See you whenever. Good luck everybody!
Hi, is everyone so quiet because they are afraid of posting now? I’m not, I’m no longer a Borders employee! GUess why I couldn’t access the website? I left a message with H.R. Aren’t they supposed to let an employee know by phone call, email, letter or somesuch? Well, I had a feeling since I couldn’t log into the benefits site but still, this is an awfully rude way of doing business! I’m moving in a few weeks and will try to get a job with “the competition” although from looking at their blogs they aren’t any better off.
Hi, is everyone so quiet because they are afraid of posting now? I’m not, I’m no longer a Borders employee! GUess why I couldn’t access the website? I left a message with H.R. Aren’t they supposed to let an employee know by phone call, email, letter or somesuch? Well, I had a feeling since I couldn’t log into the benefits site but still, this is an awfully rude way of doing business! I’m moving in a few weeks and will try to get a job with “the competition” although from looking at their blogs they aren’t any better off. (Why did some sort of duplicate comment response just pop up?)
Claudia, you’re saying you didn’t know you had been let go? That’s a hell of a way to do business, I agree. And, yes, it is awfully quiet. Maybe that effin’ Voldemort just fouled the water. We had a pretty active little community. I hope not.
Well, I suspected it when I couldn’t log onto the benefits site, was somewhat more certain when I checked the price of a book online at the B website and my employee discount didn’t show automatically (or at all) but I still assumed a company would have the common courtesty to let an employee know if he or she were being laid off!
I don’t post often, but I read every post. I, like the rest of us, am concerned about our jobs. I’m a relative newcommer to Borders, having been hired in the last quarter of 08 after losing my business. However, I do keep my finger on the pulse of this company by watching and reading investor sites and investment specific blogs. Stating the obvious, Borders is not fairing well. Ron Marshall, in a stock holder meeting last week was quoted as saying “Borders will be a very dull company” as he tries to minimize the money hemmoraging (sp?) from this company. (BTW, that guy is a crook!) It is of my opinion that Ron is running a “Hail Mary” play with Borders. IF it is successful, the company could start on the track to profitability in the next two years. However, that is two years of the kind of life we have there now. No pay raises, same pushing Make Titles, S.O.S.,D.D.
One piece of information I found to be a little disturbing was this:
“First quarter capital expenditures were $2.4 million compared to $27.0 million in the year-ago period. Debt at the end of the first quarter totaled $325.9 million compared to debt at the end of the first quarter a year ago of $591.9 million, a decrease of 44.9%.”
http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=960541&Category=Breaking%20News
What this confirms to me is that we, the employees are eating the loss for past corporate waste. That we are going to get reamed to make up for lost money. The S&P dropped our rating this morning from a “Hold” to a “Sell” which means that if you hold stock, dump it.
(http://money.aol.com/news/articles/qp/ap/_a/sandp-downgrades-borders-group-shares-on/rfid217575139)
I pray that this company can survive. We are doing better than General Motors LOL. If anyone is interested and can read between the lines of investment pages here’s a link that can help us all see the real picture of whats happening with Borders Group. It provides a fairly comprehensive view of whats happening at the moment with BGP stock as well as including press releases relative to the group, allbeit from an investors standpoint. And, YES!, I am looking for another job.
http://finance.aol.com/quotes/borders-group-inc/bgp/nys
Here is another one that may be easier to read, and includes info about other book sellers stocks.
http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:BGP
I’m getting more and more angry about the way the company lays off people. To find out three weeks AFTER the fact and only because the employee persistently contacted the company is 100% unprofessional. Not only have they lost a formerly devoted employee, when I started at least, but they’ve lost a good customer as well. How’s this for unfair business practices: a long-term full-time employee is down to ONE day a week and a contingency employee was asked to come in to work. There is no rhyme or reason to the scheduling!
The thing that worries me about the company’s current direction is that it is so short term in its outlook. You can’t run a company for the long run by slashing hours, laying off people left and right, and not hiring full-time people. At my store, the store opens every day with a bookseller, a manager, and someone in the cafe. The store is a mess. People are working 1-2 days a week. Nobody can operate like that without us paying the price. I don’t get it. Neither does anybody else, for that matter.
Thanks for the links! Good info. S&P is saying “Sell” and get your money out, now. Boy, if that isn’t a vote of confidence I don’t know what is. They don’t have any confidence the company is heading in the right direction. Yikes. And that, even when the stock price has risen…but consider the fact that at the last meeting there were 5 stockholders, a total of 30 people, some of them employees. They probably snagged people out in the hall. It wasn’t reported how many employees were there. They probably had to drag them in!
What an embarrassment.
Nobody even bothered to call you, Claudia?
Unbelievable. I thought I’d heard it all.
Hello, me again. I ran across this just now. Maybe this is old news, but it was interesting the direction B&N is taking relative to the rise of the Kindle.
They’re in a position to try for a big piece of the e-books market.
online.wsj.com/article/SB123629155930544733.html
This happened in March, so I missed this.
And what is Borders doing?
Running stores with 3 people.
Selling books out of cardboard boxes.
Hit the quotas or hit the road.
Dylan! DYLAN! Are you out there?? Were you at the stockholder’s meeting?
And Marshall wouldn’t speak you? Holy f–king crap!
No phone call, no email, no letter in the mail. Just a returned phone call by H.R. TEN days after I left a message. I wouldn’t know if I hadn’t called. Doesn’t a company have a legal obligation to let an employee know when she or he has been laid off/terminated/whatever? How are they going to try to collect the insurance money? Will they send me a bill? I’m moving in 3 to 4 weeks and would like to be able to put this job down as a reference but until I can reach them again and find out the official reason I can’t.
I talked to a lawyer friend today because I was curious, too, since I’ve been off work for some time and I don’t have protection under FMLA any more. But 2 things: is it in the employee handbook how they’re obligated to handle dismissals? I don’t remember. I can’t even find mine, if I ever HAD one.
Second, it costs you nothing to check with your state Department of Human Rights or Employment Stuff. (Even if your state is a right-to-work or whatever it’s called when they can legally let you go for no reason. Mine is). Every state has some department, whatever it’s called where you live. Check their FAQ. Seems to me it could qualify as an unlawful termination if they’re not in accordance with correct dismissal procedure. At the least, it’s completely disrespectful, unprofessional, and just plain shitty what they did.
Thank you for the information! Since I don’t post under my real name I don’t think it could be for blogging. Perhaps it had to do with p/t people who carried insurance but had no hours? I cost them money! My friend who worked with me just got called to work some hours after several months with none! It bums me out that I can’t transfer now, even though the Waldenbooks in my new area is probably going to close and wouldn’t have worked out. I liked having the option to at least try.
That’s just jaw-dropping, Claudia. I wouldn’t worry too much about the reference- all Borders will do if called regarding a reference is verify length of employment, rate of pay, and eligibility for rehire. It’s done via an automated phone system, and managers are trained to say NOTHING about employees if a company calls for a reference, just refer them to the phone number. If you weren’t on the PIN process and didn’t receive/SIGN a written or final warning, you’re eligible for rehire.
If you’re on more-or-less friendly terms with any of your managers, even former ones, you’d be better off asking them to provide a personal reference- that way, they can talk you up all they want.
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.
What is this I’m hearing about Borders bringing back DVDs??
How crazy does that make the company look? Any info on that out there?
And most important, who on God’s green earth is making these decisions?
AA is going nuts and they’re intent on taking every last employee with them.
Yes, Meridien you heard correctly. At first it was only supposed to be the top CDs that they were going to keep, now they’re bringing back more. They had us remove almost everything, now we’re putting it back again. Hey, they must get every last drop of blood out of us for the big salary they are paying us. They have to justify “why” they are paying us so much. In my store they are doing overnighters rearranging all the book shelves, and the way they are arranging them makes a perfect hideaway for shop lifters. Who thinks of these things??? Loss prevention certainly is not doing their job. Perhaps they should look at the store from a consumers point of view instead of a corporate point of view.
So now that the customers, having gotten pissed off that we no longer sell many CDs and DVDs, (AND found they’re cheaper and a better selection online), we’re selling them again? Well. Maybe that means more hours putting them all back, alpha-ing, etc. Borders should have played up the online availability of physical media, and driven more business that way. That would have made more sense.
Oh yeah. 5-finger inventory crew should be pleased. Ours make the rounds on new release days and are even waiting when the store opens, to get a fresh hot coffee and make their best choices.
Awfully quiet around here. Is everyone afraid to talk with the blog restrictions?
Hi, Claudia. Maybe it’s just me and you, kiddo.
RE: Blogging Agreement
To whom It may concern:
Can you explain how Borders is supposed to use money they don’t have, to enforce something that ridiculous? Would they try to link an email address to you using your BR card? Everybody has a million email addresses. I have one which I use for inconsequential junk, one I use for business, one for my friends and family, and a spare for whatever. How would they know? Do they track your emails back and forth somehow? I have a firewall with my router, and in addition, my computer runs on “stealth mode” which presents an anonymous IP address to the web. I used my crap email address for BR registration, and I never log in to pull down the emails and other junk. I get coupons from everybody else and pass them on. Are people that paranoid? I guess, yeah. Well, have at it, Borders.
Sincerely,
Your biggest fan
PS: I’ll see you in court, you bankrupt loser excuse of a well managed company.
Not that I’m outraged or anything…
Oh, yeah. I was never asked to sign one and neither did you, Claudia.
I was never asked to sign a no-blogging agreement when I was laid off either. I may have signed something about not slandering the company, but telling it how it is isn’t slander. I don’t think the powers that be at Borders were taking it all that seriously until recently when there has been a lot of activity on the web about what an awful company it has become. They haven’t gotten a shred of good publicity in the last year, and the majority of employees have either been laid off or are being treated terribly. I like to imagine that it’s a blow to someone’s pride at BINC that what was once an overwhelmingly happy and highly educated workforce has become a shadow of its former self. I LOVED the majority of my 11 years at Borders, but can’t imagine working for the company as it is now.
This is making me mad all over again! Are employees threatened with dismissal if they don’t sign it? Didn’t they have a non-disclosure agreement anyway? I don’t see how expressing your opinions anywhere, on line or otherwise, should be subject to penalty. If they wanted a happy little company then they can’t possibly gnash their collective dentures when it stops. About the agreement–of course it’s vague. But if they can interpret it however, why can’t the employee? But again, how do they enforce it? That’s the question nobody is answering. The Spanish Inquisitors had a method of instilling panic: it was called “Showing the Instruments.”All they had to to was to show the torture tools, and it was all over. So is Borders just “showing the instruments”?
Okay, I’m of a “certain age”. But I didn’t get this far in life getting pushed around.
I would just like to see this agreement. Could somebody describe it?
I believe that the non-blogging clause is included in the employee handbook, which we’ve all, unfortunately, had to sign off on.
So then this whole non-blogging thing is just a repeating of the same info rephrased or repackaged to seem New and Different? I thought there always had been a non-disclosure kind of contract something-or-other I read when I first signed on.
No different anywhere else in the corporate world.
Hope all our regular posters stop in every once in a while.
I’ll be away for a while, and wish everybody good luck and all the best.
I’ve enjoyed all the lively discussions and comments, so,
Goodbye for now, everybody!
At store 207 they fired the GM ON HIS DAY OFF but before they decided that they made him wait outside how own very office for thirty minutes while they made their decision. I have never worked for such a harder and well respected GM in my life. Now the store is run by a pimple face 21 one year old and a cafe supervisor..that’s it. This store is huge. It makes me sick this store and I hope they go under and I can’t wait for Amanda and Shannon to lose their jobs. This only happened over a week ago so beware..now the staff is ready to explode because no one knows what’s going on..but i know..they don’t care.
Saint Joan – are you the Joan from the Joan is Burning videos???
I was just look at the Better Business Bureau’s website (for other reasons) and decided to look at Borders’ rating. Care to take a guess? It’s an F! That’s the lowest. It was various reasons and while you would have to assume the larger the company the more problems or complaints to take care of but it’s all in the matter in which they were resolved. How is everyone doing? My local store hired a few people, gave someone a promotion with no raise, and is still have communications problems between managers/supvs.
“Dollar Days” sale with thousands of items under $6…starts today.
wow! It just took me forever to read all of these posts. I want to thank each of you for your info. I am currently doing a research paper/financial analysis on BGI for my senior project. I want to hit on the fact that one of the biggest problems with BGI is their lack of competent employees, and the firing of all the long-time competent ones. Personally, I do not shop there anymore because of the lack of knowledge on the part of the young, part-time employees. Also, because of the lack of inventory and lack of aesthetic appeal. Barnes and Noble has cushy chairs to sit in.
Hello Lisa, my reply isn’t meant to be angry, and I don’t mean to insult you.
With all due respect, your focus shouldn’t be on “employee incompetence”, but rather, the management decisions that led a once proud company to the brink of financial failure. If you’re doing your homework, you should have information of the historically inept management policies and strategies. For a (little) example, I draw your attention to the decision to allow Amazon to take Borders’ online business for the past 10 years. When Borders attempted to reenter online commerce, the business had already migrated, for the most part, to Amazon and probably isn’t coming back.
B&N also has recently bought Fictionwise, an e-book retailer, which could in some way complete with Amazon as a distributor of digital content. Is Borders in any kind of shape to compete in that arena? Or look at the stock position we’re in, and the ratio of how much we’re actually making vs. how much we owe. It’s chipping away at the debt but the company has to make way more money than it’s doing now to keep up with it. Pershing Square just keeps pushing back
their deadline for repayment. Or look at the current leadership and the makeup
of the board of directors. The last investor meeting had a total of 30 people.
Thirty people. Nobody was interested enough to show up. How embarrassing.
Or, I attempted ordering a book I was looking for on borders.com but was repelled by the “ships in 4 to 6 weeks”. How do you run a business like that? I don’t think the employees made the decision and the crappy shipping arrangements that made it impossible for me to get my book in any sensible interval. I did give Borders the first chance. then I went to Amazon and got it in two days with free shipping. The scope of your research could be a little limited. Placing your emphasis on one small piece of the situation, and employees taken as a bloc, is just not engaging the rest of the picture. There sure are are long-term clock-watchers, just as there are new part-timers that are dedicated to selling books and showing excellent customer skills and service. Yes, some of the more experienced employees are being pushed around and out, true. But you need to examine the structure and decisions made by the powers-that-be that fomented the problem. Maybe the company is in trouble enough to HAVE to use inexperienced sellers rather than keep the ones who have been doing it a while. You’re putting the cart before the horse in a major way. I respectfully submit your research project is WAY larger than just the employees, and a hell of a lot more complicated. I hate to have to tell you, but the most incompetent employees just happen to be in big soft chairs, with their feet up on their desks, in Ann Arbor HQ. Empty shelves and dirty stores didn’t start with the employees, but is undeniably the symptom of a larger set of problems. There’s your focus, and there’s my two cents.
Ha, no offense taken. My post was pretty limited in what I said. I do realize that the ultimate problem is with the higher ups and the decisions made over the past several years. I actually went to our local Borders today, located in Orem, Utah, just to get a feel for how it runs, and to compare it to the posts here on this blog. I was actually quite amazed. I expected far worse than what I was met with. The employee at the register was extremely excited to be there and greeted each person as they walked in, and asked if they needed any help finding anything. One customer actually asked her if she was always this friendly, and she admitted she had only worked there for a week and a half.
They had a children’s workshop going, with employees handing out refreshments from the cafe, and several children were in attendance. I did notice wide open spaces, and few DVD’s (all locked up for some reason), which confirmed to me that, yes, they have cut inventory. Other than that, I was mildy surprised at how friendly the atmosphere was.
For my project, I will be doing a complete financial analysis spanning back 5 years+, and comparing all of the stats that I have found. I have quite a bit of info, I just have to sort out what is important, and then get back into the financial frame of mind to analyze it all. The second half of the paper is based on more of the Human Relations aspect, which is what I am more interested in in my career. Thanks for your input. I need all the help I can get.
Now, that’s more like it!!
Worked at one in San Diego for 7 years (to the day) and went out on a trip to Italia, but not before witnessing the deterioration of most of the last traces of quality Borders had. And it’s only gotten worse since (but I won’t flatter myself with Because) I’ve been gone.
But then again, I’ve ALWAYS said how I don’t think Borders knows how to make money. Sure, they WANT money, that’s obvious in their exorbitant prices. They just don’t seem to be even slightly aware of the ways in which most people are willing to part with their money. And when most Borders stores are parked in the same parking lot or shopping center as a BestBuy or Wal*Mart or what-have-you, you’d think they’d notice they’re not geared to be even half-competitive.
Meh.
So much for my plans to get a job at Borders next summer. I have loyally shopped there for the past 5 years, and I can`t believe how much they have changed! I Dont mind them being smaller, although their YA section could use some expansion at my local store. Not only have prices sky rocketed for books (I looked at old books, and the average price has went up $2 for a paper pack in the last 2 years) I know I can`t fully blame Borders for this, but on top of that, most employees I see are rude and exhausted. Recently they have also given me trouble about exchanging books! I exchanged a book 1 day after I bought it and they took away the sales price because it had expired at midnight. It should have transferred, I checked. And I payed double for a book! And finally, I can only use 1 coupon, and some employees even tried to use my book coupon on the cheapest item, rather it was or was not a book.
I am seriously considering switching to B&N, even if they have a shitty ‘rewards program’. Several of my friends feel the same. And considering how often we buy, that would be a serious hit to the store.
Here’s a question I’d like to see if someone out there knows the answer to. I was one of the March layoffs but I still have friends in my former store. One of them was telling me that our DM was going to be out of commission for the next 6 months doing something for the company. My friend was vague about it because our horrifically pathetic GM was doing the “I have a secret that I shouldn’t talk about but I want to show what a pal I am with the staffers” talk. Something more was said about her going may be because of a larger look as to what has gone so completely wrong with the company(as if they don’t know). Has anybody heard anything similar from their districts or know anything more about it. This site seems to be more of a dispencer of information than the company at this point.
How is your research going, Lisa?
BTW, Lisa, Franklin, et. al., check out this site:
http://community.livejournal.com/iworkatborders
A real eye opener. I like this blog, though. Less spitting and foaming and gnashing of teeth. Peace out.
I love this. I swiped it, I admit, but it it fiendishly clever and to the point.
The Plan:
Today’s reading is from the Book of Corporate Life, Chapter 1 Verses 1-15:
1. In the beginning was the Plan.
2. And then came the Assumptions.
3. And the Assumptions were without form.
4. And the plan was without Substance.
5. And darkness was upon the face of the Workers.
6. And they spoke among themselves saying, “it is a crock of shit and it stinks.”
7. And the Workers went unto their Supervisors and said, “it is a pail of dung and we cannot live with the smell.”
8. And the Supervisors went unto their Managers saying, “it is a container of organic waste, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it.”
9. And the Managers went unto their Directors, saying “it is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength.”
10. And the Directors spoke among themselves, saying to one another, “it contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong.”
11. And the Directors went to the Vice Presidents, saying unto them, “it promotes growth, and it is very powerful.”
12. And the Vice Presidents went to the President, saying unto him, “this new plan will actively promote the growth and vigor of the company with very powerful effects.”
13. And the President looked upon the Plan and saw that it was good.
14. And the Plan became Policy.
15. And this is how shit happens.
Meridien, thanks for asking. It’s going well. I am trying to find out why there is such a huge drop between the annual financial reports of 1/28/06 and 2/3/07. The drops in numbers are huge, and this is all before the big crash in 08. I know that there was a change in CEO’s in 2006 from Josefowicz to Jones, and some blame was put on the previous CEO by Jones, but that can’t be all there is to it. Something went very wrong, either with investments or loss of sales for reasons other than the economy. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
Lisa
What are you looking at? Profits? Revenues? Stock price/dividends? Inventories? What? Is there a particular sector you’re addressing that would be relative?
Pershing/Ackman loaned the company constantly and bought a larger and larger share of Borders. Are you seeing evidence of the cash infusions offsetting anything?
Oh, yeah. What was happening with Paperchase that period? And Borders was constantly opening new stores while the red ink ran. I seem to remember the company was announcing a lot of store openings on a regular basis. Maybe that time period started reflecting how much the expansion couldn’t be supported fiscally.
Not sure. What data is correlating? What variables are in synch? You’ve got the numbers.
I don’t give a crap about the no-blogging policy. Borders IT people can’t even properly program a coupon or design an effective website, do you think they’re capable of tracking our IP addresses and identifying who we are? What a joke. BRING IT, Borders.
RANT! RANT! RANT FOLLOWS! BEWARE!
I agree with you in an earlier post, Chris. You’re right, of course. The website is run-of-the-mill and nothing exciting enough to use with any regularity. I mentioned my experience with ordering a book written by a friend of mine. She told me it was available through B&N and Amazon. I went to borders.com and tried to get it there. Here’s the actual language: “Ships in 4 to 6 weeks.” Why on earth would you even TELL a potential customer that? It’s ridiculous. If you can’t get it you can’t. Just say, “Currently unavailable”, because you are trying to make somebody think you’re still in the game. Pathetic. You’ve already lost the game of e-commerce. Borders lost it by funneling their e-commerce potential customers to Amazon a while back. Realizing Borders can’t be all things to all people is facing up to reality—that’s why Borders is in the mess it’s in, albeit writ really little. I checked the order interval through Amazon and B&N, and went through Amazon because I knew it was pretty trouble-free and I paid for standard shipping and got it in 2 days. How can Borders even attempt to intimidate its employees with this non-blogging nonsense when the resources for it to be credibly enforceable it aren’t there? Hey, that’s going to take real money, guys! Just hang a sign of the door, “Currently unavailable”. That’s Borders, nowadays, anyway. I’m so sorry this is happening to a company I loved.
END OF RANT! EOR! END OF RANT!
Ahhhh, that was fun. Now back to my business, nowadays, of working very hard to prove the old saying, “Do what you love, the money will follow….”
As a former employee of Borders, I have watched with, at times, horror, disgust, joy, sadness, and ambivelence at what this company has become. I started back in the late ’80′s, when it was still Borders Books and was supplied by Book Inventory System. Worked my way up to eventually becoming a Community Relations Coordinator, until I was shown the door, along with about 300+ of my fellow CRCs. What is happening today has been happening for over ten years now. I loved what this comany used to be, I loathe what it has become. At the time, being let go was the worst thing that could have happened. Wasn’t making a whole lot of money, but it was better than no money, which is what i was left with. However, after seeing what has happened, I have to say thank you to the idiots who have run Tom & Louis’s company into the ground. Than you for letting me go, I am so glad that I have had no part in this fiasco.
Interesting snail mail today from Chase Bank. Apparently they are ending their relationship with Borders and there won’t be a “Chase Borders Visa” after August 31. That’s one more thing that doesn’t bode well…
Hey everyone. Long time reader… second time poster. Here’s an off topic question. Has anyone found life after Borders Books? I’ve about a decade worth of Borders experience in a major west coast metropolitan area and have yet found a steady job since the Recession started. ( I left the company in good terms shortly before the economy went south). Sure I’ve bounced around and done odd jobs, but have yet found anything that remotely resembles BGI in its heyday. I know Borders is going down the drain… but has anyone dared to reapply or even considered joining B&N? Good luck to all and Thanks.
I was hired as a “Temporary” about a month ago. And i talked with the other workers and they said “oh they always do that to try you out see if they like you.” Now this was my 1st job. So i had no idea what i was doing. I made a few dumb mistakes. And my hours were being cut left and right. I took a sick day, no prob right? Then next week i work one 8 hr shift. This week i was on for 5 am-2 pm today thru thursday. I get there i 5 am to find i had been wiped off the chart. I called to let to be told i was let go.
my points:
1) they don’t notify you when they change the times they had you to work.
2) they treated me like i was stupid and worthless
3) Every time i asked for help they’d look at me like i was asking for the secret to life.
4) When i was hired i was promised experience so that i could find another job after this one. All i did was move books and shelves around.
This is my 1st job so i may be over reacting a bit but come on people!
Life after Borders? I’m baking stuff and selling it. I’m making stuff and I am researching how to put it on line and get some business that way. I’m selling stuff on eBay. All of that is (sort of) making some money, but not a whole lot and it’s certainly not regular like a salary. I’m even working, (and have been working for a long time) on a little book I hope to self-publish and offer on Amazon. Lots of people do that, and I know there’s a glut of stuff, but I have to give it a try. All of that is uncomfortable when you’ve been used to a paycheck. You have to develop a sense of “hustle” which is new to me, too.
I’m not fired, yet, but I’ve been out for a long time and am trying to prepare for the worst if I don’t make the cut.
BTW, thank you, A.J.Kohn, for setting up this blog. It’s a great place to get it out and pass on what we know. It’s welcome and fits a need very well.
Hello, all you current and former Bordies. I was just terminated. The first thing I did was come home and start reading the FORBIDDEN BLOG for comfort. I got a little. I may keep following and may post again, but for now I just wanted to thank the posters here for their candor and courage.
Steven, don’t let Borders get you down. They are known for changing schedules and not informing the employees. Twice I showed up for work according to the schedule that I had received only to find out that the night before they changed it. Instead of a morning shift, they gave me a night. I had to go home and come back later. The second time I refused to go home. If you are late for work they are calling you constantly on the phone to find out where you are, but when they change the schedule they don’t call you.
Stupid and worthless? Don’t ever let them make you feel like that. Here’s the reason why. Today, they will tell you to put all the books face out. Tomorrow when you start to shelve all the books face out, they will come screaming at you that the rules changed all the books are to be shelved spine out. Two days from tomorrow they will change the rules again, and again, and again. Of course, they don’t tell you the rules have been changed until you are half way through your shelving. Then they scream at you for not knowing the rules. Now, here is the question I pose to the “General Manager” and “Supervisors”: If you have your little huddle ups at 8:00 a.m. and I don’t start until 10:00 a.m or 2:00 p.m. and NO ONE tells me about the changes discussed this morning, how the hell am I supposed to know the rules changed? Then, when you get your review (and why we get a review I’ll never know because we don’t get a raise) they say that you “don’t follow directions”.
Well, I had enough of their nonsense. I don’t consider myself a stupid person but I knew what they were doing to us was stupid, so I just decided to quit and I have never been happier.
I still get the news from my fellow coworkers, and the nonsense just seems to be getting worse. Remove the CDs, DVDs, put them all back. Do this today, don’t do this tomorrow. For the $8 an hour that they were paying it wasn’t worth my health being ruined. I’m free, and I’m happy.
At store [redacted] this is what has happened. Two supervisors got the axe-they cut hours and stock by half…then one fine day the DM [redacted] and LP [redacted] came in and requested that our GM come in ON HIS DAY OFF…so this amazing GM (who worked his but off for the past week with NO days off..comes…only to be fired on the spot with no warning. The best part as they decide his fate they make him wait outside the office (His own office) for THIRTY MINUTES. They actually made him go the back way so he couldnt talk to any of the staff..then [redacted], who has the worse shoe black hair, smiles as she leaves our store..this great man busted his butt off for that store-worked 70 hours a week only to be let go-but I say- [redacted] I can’t wait for this company to tank and for you to lose your jobs!! And it will happen-karma is a bitch.
Our Sales Manager took another job two weeks prior (another good one gone) so now this store is being run by a [redacted] wimpy kid. He has cut everyone’s hours and has his girlfriend (who has the most hours) running the show. He threatens everyone daily telling us he will fire us if we dont sell make titles or our Borders Rewards go down…I swear this kid hasn’t evern gone through puberty yet. [redacted] (yes he is a guy) thinks he has won by running the store but coporate is just using him..paying him, Im guessing twelve bucks an hour-[redacted] (Queen Witch) still calls and threatens that we havent sold enough make titles. This store is a joke and is being run by a joke. The morale is low and now [redacted] is trying to get rid of the only other supervisor and replacing him with his girlfriend…I GAVE MY NOTICE and feel for my friends who have to suffer and be threaten by him. On [redacted] he actually posted a note telling the staff he would fire anyone who wasnt performing to his standards. This comes from [redacted] who recently left 700 dollars out on a desk and forgot about it-he left it on the desk for four hours but since we are all honest told him about it-yikes…he cant spell and has made numerous mistakes….this company is sinking fast…I have never worked for such a mess in my life and feel so much better leaving…So for [redacted] the ones who I cherish goodluck and please go find any other job..dont let this jerk bother you anymore.. Also I really hope I gave my identity away…..since I was so good doing [redacted]!!!!!!!!!!
So far out here on the west coast I have not seen the kinds of firings that you all speak of. We have had a few employees quit our store because their hours were cut but that was performance based. They were too young and sketchy as to their showing up for work. Our DM is a real bitch so everyone says. I actually like her but wouldn’t trust her as far as I could kick her. Our store has been running in the red for as long as I’ve worked here. Maybe we are lucky? Maybe our store is managed by competent individuals? I only know that we all stick together. Our GM really goes to bat for us against corporate and keeps the moral in our store really high. We are all underpaid and broke for the most part but we have a job. And in this area where unemployment is near 15% we are all thankful that our GM fights for us. So there is still some good people here at Borders, hoping that this ships keel will not finally break under the weight of incompetence from above.
Going to work at Borders makes me physically sick. It is so stressful and depressing. I had a lead on another job and it didn’t pan out. I keep telling myself to stay positive, this is just a bad phase in my life, etc. This has gone on too long, and I’m finding it more difficult to remain positive. I’m just doing what I have to do to put food on the table.
I will find another job.
Do you think anybody at corporate has started to comprehend the latest mistakes they’ve made regarding the a)March layoffs b)make titles or c)running the business thru threats and intimidations? I’m now 4 months unemployed and while not having a job sucks, I’m still experiencing less stress then my final year at Borders. I remember when my joke of a GM started at our store 9 months before I was laid off. She talked about how impressed she was with our store because of our tenured staff. Then the the debacle that started in March occured. Starting with me-10 yrs experience, then cafe supe-7 yrs, 3 FT-with 10 and 8 yrs, Sales Mgr-3 yrs and at least 4 PT with at least 2 years each. This is what the bad decisions at Borders has cost the company. Meanwhile the GM who is now ending her 1st year with the company remains. This GM whom an employee sent a letter to HR about regarding the GM’s wish that minorities leave her alone about jobs or stating over the headset that a customer was trying to “jew her down” on a bargain book. HR called the sales manager regarding these statements and the sales manager confirmed that these statements were made. HR did nothing. The employee who made the complaint has since left, yet has still tried to pursue this due to her strong offense to what the GM said. HR has not returned any of her calls. When the sales manager sent an email to our DM about the GM and her lack of book experience(her prior job was folding clothes) and a seeming unwillingness to learn her job, the DM instead responded harshly about how our store wasn’t a part of the “corporate team”. Now the DM has mysteriously disappeared for 6 months and her job is posted on Craigslist and no one wants to talk about why. With all this incompetance its no wonder the company is in trouble.
The layoffs were a waste of time. The Borders is a sinking ship and miserable to be at. Our GM fled Borders and no one has heard from him. I vision him on some tropical island sipping a nice cold one….life after Borders seems wonderful. These make titles are NOT saving Borders-
I’ve been working for Borders, as a bookseller, for about a year and half now. Basically, when I was hired I was promised little to no register time and was told that the “Rewards Cards” were not required and would have no effect on my job security. Needless to say, my job requires a lot of register time (my entire shift yesterday was up front) and starting about 9 months ago we have to have at least 65% “Reward Card” use and some new sign-ups. These cards don’t give great rewards outside of the coupons. The “Borders Perks” are nothing more than adds from other stores posted on the Borders site, having nothing at all to do with the card. I hate those damn cards with a fiery passion, as they cause me stress at least once an hour. The damn computer system we use can’t even find the customers card info some times and without the card, the coupons are worthless.
All I can do is cut down the hours I have to be there.
Outside of that, our GM has been gone more weeks this year than hes actually worked. It’s mainly because he had surgery and then a few weeks ago collapsed in the middle of the store. But I mean really, at some point don’t they just need to hire someone else. He didn’t do any work when he was around anyway.
Since I started working there, the fridge in the break room and the copier have been broken. We’re still waiting for the new ones to come in….like that’s really going to happen.
And oh, the make titles… I’m not sure if you all know this or not (and I’ve only heard this in rumors), but the make titles we are required to sell to people, are well known terrible books. That’s actually the point. Borders made a deal with some publisher that they could take a crappy book and make it a best seller. That’s good ‘ole Borders for ya!
Honestly this is the longest I’ve ever stayed with a job (I usually get so stressed with whatever job I’m at, I literally make myself sick). It wasn’t so bad in the beginning. The perks they took away were minor; as apparently all the good perks were already gone when I started. But NOW? Now they require we stay after hours until the entire store is clean. No more staying until we’re scheduled. No, no…we stay until the managers say its clean. Usually about an hour extra. To any customers that read this: DON’T TRASH THE STORE!!! Real live people have to clean it all up! So on Friday and Saturday when I close, I probably won’t get home before 1:30am anymore. I hate this place so damn much. I can’t even quit when I find a new job, because I need the discount for my school books
Hi everyone
Hi Twan, glad to hear from you. What’s new?
I just found this site. I see the same things echoed in the Borders store where I work (but not for much longer!!!) I love books and I used to love the company but that’s not possible anymore. I have a feeling that if I walked into any given Borders location, I would see the same defeated expressions reflected on the faces of workers. It’s really a sad thing.
I have worked at Borders for 4 years with 3 different locations..Three years ago I had a blast-there wasn’t this insane pressure there is now. It was such a fun experience being at work but I transfered to another borders and what a horror story. I LOVED coming to work three years ago. The staff was so much fun and the perks were amazing. The insurance was amazing-I got my wisdom teeth out and all my blood work down…the 25 dollar gift card was great to have every month…then they took away the free coffee and then the gift card-Soon they let go of one supervisor….and the Event Planner….okay we thought………
Then the Borders Reward card took over our life….I mean who doesn’t cheat on that card? 65% score is a joke…I fell down to 52% and was told if I didn’t raise my score I was to be fired. Give me a break……
Then it was told around the holidays that there would be some layoffs….all of us were scared…….we watched our friends clean out there desk and soon the stock of the store fell….our GM came in one day and announced he was leaving…but soon we found out that corporate made him that decision…..our shelves became bare as we loaded our carts full of RPL….employees that were great left the store but like a jerk I stayed behind. IT’s true what a great friend told me-he said: It’s always the ones you want to stay in your lives that seem to leave alittle to early and the ones you dont need always seem to stick around…….our store soon turned to bad times and everyone hated everyone….coupons everyday some as high as 50% off…..It gets to the point you need to step back and look at the picture..this company is losing it’s battle. These people will want that loan back and with no major new books coming out…this company can’t pay it back. Most stores are in the red-making enough to cover rent, labor and salaries. Maybe they might last-but I heard they are going to file that way they can start closing stores with these 10+ leases…..I just quit and now I will put all my energy into finding any new job..I can not come home anymore feeling angry and hate…I will never walk into a Borders again..but that is my own personal choice…I need to feel positive and happy again so I can use that energy into finding a better plath..I am so tired of hearing “Oh there are no jobs.” Bull three of my friends just started new jobs..so to the post that ask if there is life after Borders..I can tell you YES.
From GalleyCat:
Management Buyout at Borders UK
Today Borders (UK) Limited finalized the company’s management buyout, a move financed by Valco Capital Partners. Bookseller reports that no buyout figures were revealed.
According to a press release at BookTrade, the company’s CEO Philip Downer and Finance Director Mark Little guided the buyout. In 2007, the company was acquired by Risk Capital Partners who recently decided to seek new investors for the bookseller.
CEO Philip Downer had this statement: “We are delighted that we have been able to secure the future for Borders in what are exceptional times for UK retailing and the global economy. The Borders management team looks forward to continuing to develop our innovative approach to bookselling, driving sustained growth and success in the future, and strengthening our unique position in the UK book market.” (Via Sarah Weinman)
What a joke this place is….threats and make titles go hand-in-hand….this is not the way the brothers who started Borders wanted for this company…it makes me sick going to work. I beg all my friends to hire me..or give me leads…I need out of this sinking ship. Our GM is a joke and we all laugh about him when he leaves the room.
I think everyone who has told there story deserves cheers…I left Borders one day and never came back..my boss called me all day and I hung up….never again will I go inside Borders again..
I read about Borders on a UK blog the other day. It’s the same all over. Nobody knows what the hell is happening anywhere. Check it out:
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/91043-borders-uk-withdraws-from-five-stores-including-oxford-st.html
What IS it with this outfit? Everything is so drastically reduced it’s scary. They’re offering $5 for every $50 you spend with BR just until the end of the month, but still… Practically giving away DVDs and BluRay discs. This is backwards. How are they making money? Maybe they’re just dumping merchandise. Any rationale??
The 30-plus million names and email addresses in the Borders Rewards database is the company’s one real asset. It’s worth a lot and building it up is an obvious strategy to increase the value of an asset.
If you are near a large mall walk it from one end to the other. Every retailer is pushing sales with discounts of 30% to 50% or more. It’s not just Borders and it’s not just books. Even the retailers in relatively good shape have to virtually give stuff away to generate sales in this lousy economy.
You’re right. I guess i was responding with a little dismay at the coupon email.
The huge database is of value to a potential buyer, am I reading that right?
I don’t think my prior response posted, so here goes. i was saying what you said made sense. I guess I was reacting to the email coupons with more than a little dismay. The asset being a huge database attractive to a potential buyer, am I reading that right?
Borders is doing what all businesses do when they are about to go under: Get rid of as many as they can then close. Less severances to pay. Right now they are setting goals that must be hit: 63% Borders Rewards Transactions and Sell a certain number of Key or Make Items and scoring certain percentages (100%) on Customer Service Surveys. If you don’t hit these goals you will get a 30 day notice to improve. If you don’t improve then you get fired. Other companys have done this and they closed soon after implementing programs to increase sales. If you work here you may want to start looking for a new job since this huge pressure on General Managers and District Managers is only going to get transfered down to the people who really love books: the booksellers. p.s. they are already firing Managers for Blogging so you may not see anything from them.
Noah, you hit it on the money. I left Borders but just before I left they were starting to write people up for not getting a high Borders Reward numbers….but do you think they are just going to close the stores that don’t make money or all Border stores..in that case would they still get severance?
The new Borders Ink is launched:
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/07/borders-hopes-graphic-novels-ya-titles-will-reel-in-teens/
My overwhelming reaction to this is that there is an inordinate amount of crap pasted everywhere on these shelves. I loved the YA section when I worked at Borders, it was the section I always took time out to shelve. But this is a little nightmarish.
The July 14th posts from “Twan” were not me….I don’t think. Some of the meds I’m on make me a little loopie sometimes but I don’t honestly recall the posts.
Someone using my name?
Used Book Blog admin: Is this possible?
My health issues/meds are effecting my short term memory so maybe I’m just losing it a bit..
Anyway, good to see that all you brave warriors are still fighting the battle. I feel bad that I’m not participating much anymore. My Health is still an issue. Parents and in-laws health ( all in their 80′s) is deteriorating as well
So most days I just don’t have the time or ambition to get on my PC.
OK, no more whining. Don’t feel sorry for me please. This Irishman will make it through the current storm no matter what it takes. Guinness and Shepherd’s Pie make a man strong and determined.
Had a dream the other night in one of my much medicated sleeps…. All BGI employees (stores and corp) united and said “we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore” and then walked off the job. Would that be cool or what? Would open up more market for B&N, Amazon etc. and possibly create job opportunities.
Just picture Marshall, Bierly, and the evil Catbert Dan Smith sitting alone in an otherwise vacant building going “what the fu*@?”
So we were informed that LP was going to start looking into our Border Reward numbers and see if we have been cheating…our Manager was fired three weeks ago and everyone is miserable…how can they pay a wage that is a joke and threaten us daily. I think they are trying to get rid of the full timers so when they close stores they don’t have to pay them out. I just gave my notice…Somewhere in Texas they are hiring and I will find them
First I have never seen such a mess with a company before. A sad mess. I worked for Borders when that company gave a damn and didn’t follow every move B&N did. When we were busting our ass for the holiday- home office sent a memo telling the GM’s that there were going to be cuts at every store. So we knew jobs were going to be eliminated. So not only were we running around with hardly any hours but now we were scared for our jobs.
We have no IPT team. It’s a joke. We get some days 5 pallets in and no one to shelve. We have one person on the floor, cafe and register and soon the manager complaining how we are not shelving the carts fast enough..hello aren’t we suppose to greet each customer. Nothing works in the our office..printers, copy machine and computers. Home office sent a memo telling us to save money.
Then they cut our payroll hours to NOTHING. Employees come in angry because they can’t pay their bills. We currenlty have no full time employees and the part-time employees can go from 13 hours a week to 28…a complete joke.
Bargin now is being shelved with the regular books-so I’m guessing we are going to go in that direction.
I just believe with no major new book coming out this year..borders is doomed. Bad decisions and now we are paying. I enjoyed working for this company. I hate seeing my friends struggling so bad with money and realizing there is only one solution: get a new job.
Sorry for complaining but lately that’s all I do.
I quit that hellhole after stepping down from Sales Manager to Bookseller. The store has a shitty GM who is kept on, though she plays favorites and encourages the supervisors/managers to “encourage” (make miserable) the people she doesn’t like so they will leave. I don’t know how not a single one of the four DM’s we have gone through haven’t seen through her suck up ass kissing personality. My last day, I broke every rule–wore jeans, ignored customers, gave EVERY customer I rang up at the register the 40% off coupon…it was glorious.
Still beating the bushes for opportunities to make money selling my handmade stuff.
Keeping a revenue stream going…in the face of so few jobs, it’s the option so far.
Twan,
I’ve checked into your July 14 posting situation. It does seem to be originating from the same IP address. So perhaps it was just a mistaken post? I’ve deleted one of the entries to keep the chronology of the thread in tact.
I’ll continue to monitor to ensure that there’s no funny business going on.
So I went searching for info about whether Borders was going out of business and found this blog – very interesting to say the least. I’ve been a loyal Borders/Waldenbooks customer for over 8 years – even used to pay for the Waldenbooks preferred reader card. I’ve had the Borders VISA for over 6 years. I should have known something was wrong when I got that letter saying they were discontinuing that program. I don’t care for B&N – they make you pay for their “reward” card and I refuse to do that. Their coupons aren’t as good either – I’m a proud penny-pinching accountant and watch how my money is spent.
The reason I started searching about bankruptcy is due to my in-store experience yesterday. I received an email from Borders last Thursday about their buy 4, get the 5th free sale. The email also had a special offer – spend $50, get a free backpack valued at at least $19.99. It’s been months since I spent that much in a single transaction at Borders, but it sounded like a good deal so I went to the store and spent about an hour browsing and picked out 5 books. Mind you – the bean counter in me made sure that all 5 books were the same price and the total amount I was due to pay was $56. I went to the register to ask where the backpacks were because I hadn’t seen them and was told they had run out on FRIDAY! I spoke with the manager on duty and she confirmed that they had run out on Friday and that had ONLY RECEIVED a total of 10 backpacks! I told her that was ridiculous that they sent out a mass email and then only sent 10 backpacks. She just gave me a blank stare like there wasn’t anything she could do so I proceeded to hand her my stack of books and walk out of the store without buying anything.
Last night I emailed corporate about how upset I was and received an obvious form letter email that basically said “thank you for your feedback, we’ll keep your input in mind”. They didn’t address my complaint at all nor the fact that I threatened to take my business to B&N.
From everything I’ve read – this company is going down which is too bad because I loved their book selection and rewards program – especially combined with the VISA deal. I much prefer to look through books before I decide to buy and just don’t care for ordering stuff online. Guess I might have to start browsing at B&N and then coming home to order from Amazon.
Quick update and I forgot to mention that this promotion was to have gone through today – Monday. Tonight my family & I went to the mall to Waldenbooks to see if they had any backpacks left. I asked the girl at the counter about them and she said the promotion had ended yesterday. I pulled out my copy of the email that I had printed that showed it was to go through today and she proceeded to argue with me that the promotion had ended yesterday. After a while, she finally said that she had received an email this morning from corporate that if they had any backpacks left that they had extended the promotion through today. She said that they had also received very few backpacks and they had run out early too. She was borderline rude so I gathered my family up and again left the store without making a purchase even though I had seen some items I might have considered purchasing. I’ve done a lot more shopping at our HalfPrice Books in the last year and these experiences just convinces me that I will continue to do so.
Why does Borders persist in running away customers when they need all the customers they can get?!? There was a big coupon offering that was incorrect, and they offered a “Jist kiddin’, folks!” email right behind. OOOOPS, indeed. I don’t know if the stores had to honor it or not.
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I’m pretty late to this comment party, but I wanted to add my voice to those who miss the “old” Borders. You know the one where employees were knowledgeable about books, cared about their jobs and were respected by management. The one where new authors and diverse shelf stock were promoted and valued. Where managers were often creative and supportive of the local community and the employees they managed. Can anyone else remember back that far? I can, but clearly TPTB can’t. This is too bad, because I would bet you that if Border’s had truly held onto what made it special instead of jettisoning everything in sacrifice to the short-term bottom line and the “shareholders†they might have been able to adapt and survive the changes in bookselling. But now the writing is on the wall. They are doomed. Even if employees don’t blog about it.
I worked at Borders a long time ago – when they were first making the transition from cool indy chain to corporate tool chain. When I started they had one philosophy (book/music/movies/coffee lovers selling books/music/movies/coffee to other book/music/movie/coffee lovers) and by the time I left just over two years later they had a totally different one (interchangeable employees making the most money per customer possible). It was frustrating to go from valued team member to faceless cog. I truly believe it was this disregard for the invaluable skills knowledgeable and invested employees brought to the book buying experience that really began their downfall. Once you start firing the longtime employees to save a few bucks an hour and replace them with morons who can barely use BINC, seldom read a book, and don’t give a crap about anything, it’s over.
Whenever I go into Borders now (which is rare), 9 out of 10 times I leave frustrated by either the customer service or the selection. It’s a shame Borders did this to itself – because once it was a really cool bookstore and a fun place to work. I feel really bad for the folks who have worked there a long time and really tried to keep it that way when it was just a losing battle.
Thanks UBB ! Like I said…must be the meds.
We need to put a concentrated effort to spread the word to BOYCOT ALL BORDERS stores.
Hey, Twan!
Seems to me the boycott is already in place. People went from, “Borders? That must be a nice job. And I LOVE that store” to “What is happening? Are you closing? Is Borders going out of business??” My sister went by the other day and told me, “That store is always junky with stuff all over and nothing is where you can find it.
It’s out of anything I’m looking for, usually. After this last visit, I probably won’t go back for a while.”
Then she added, “It’s kind of sad how bad the store looks nowadays.”
What’s with the boycott? Did I miss something? I wanna join the fun. I hate borders, and I work there.
BeansandBuds,
I’m sure you were rude to my fellow employee. Come on, admit it. You had to take out on her…when she had absolutely nothing to do with the backpack shortage.
That’s alright. Most of our customers are angry and take it out on us…who make minimum wage, have zero say on anything, no health insurance, etc.
We are trying to put food on our tables, barely, and you come here and bitch about a backpack? Your selfishness is unbelievable. God help your spouse. F*cking tightwad.
oh, that’s brilliant. a customer comes here to complain about service and gets accused by another employee of borders who wasn’t even in the room of being dishonest?
i used to have a friend that worked at borders, but she wasn’t nuts enough to call herself your “fellow employee.” what’s selfish and cheap about complaining that an employee actually lied to him? you call him cheap, did it occur to you that his job might not be any more glamorous than yours? it’s not just cheap people that dislike being ripped off and lied to by borders employees.
That’s funny, where does it state that the employee lied to him? Maybe you should read the post. I’m tired of customers blaming the employees for corporate screw ups. Now that Borders is in the crapper, we take the heat all day long.
Both of my parents are accountants, it’s a hell of a lot more glamorous than my job. BTW, not all accountants are cheap bastards.
Congrats on having a friend that used to work at Borders. No go away.
Erin – if i ran into more of your kind of employee at Borders I really would be boycotting them – you’re rude, vulgar, uneducated, and lacking in simple common courtesy. Thankfully, many of the employees there still know how to give good customer service. My beef with Borders is at the CORPORATE level. But to address the points you made:
#1 – How ignorant you are to judge me without having been anywhere near me when MY conversations with Borders and Waldenbooks employees were taking place. Not that I have to justify anything to you, but let me clarify that at no time did I go off on the Borders employee – I asked a question and when she gave me the answer I recall tellling her that it was absolutely ridiculous that CORPORATE would put her in the postion of having to justify to customers why THEY sent out a mass email with an offer that none of the stores would be able to honor and then gave them no power to make it right. I approached the Waldenbooks employee and politely asked if they had any backpacks left – she said no, the promotion had ended the day before. She didn’t say that they were out of the backpacks, she just said the promotion was already over. When I pulled out my printed copy of the email and showed her that it said that it was to go through that day – she got rude and arguementative – THEN she decided to tell me that they were out and about the corporate email that said the program had, indeed, been extended another day. So she did lie, by trying to tell me the program was over when, if they had had any backpacks left, it was good through that day.
#2 – How am I being selfish, in this lousy economy, by going into a store and expecting them to honor a great deal that CORPORATE emailed me about? When the store didn’t have the deal and it was obviously CORPORATE’S fault, I emailed corporate to complain and they give me some pre-written email in reply that doesn’t even address my complaint so I come here to add my two cents as to why CORPORATE is running their company into the ground and that’s being selfish????
#3 – I am a female former CPA that let my license lapse to stay-at-home with my two daughters. I work part-time at a retail store (so I know a little bit about how to treat customers) and I teach income tax classes in the fall. We live on my husband’s salary – he is constantly telling people how proud he is of the way I handle the bills because that’s the only way we CAN live on just one salary. I pinch pennies so that I CAN stay at home and raise my children instead of letting strangers do it.
#4 – If I was a “cheap bastard” I would NEVER shop at Borders and would only purchase items online or at my local HalfPrice Books – where things are almost always cheaper. Surely, even you realize that when Borders carried them – their CD’s and DVD’s were twice as expensive as Best Buy.
#5 – You and many of your kind at other reatail stores are the reason that one of my favorite phrases is “Customer service is dead”. If both of your parents are accountants, I believe that they would be deeply ashamed at your judgemental and rude behavior. Accountants know that the way they treat their clients directly reflects on whether they stay in business.
By-the-way – thanks TubeJay for trying to reason with the unreasonable.
Erin – I forgot one thing. If both of your parents are accountants, why don’t you have a college degree and a better paying job?? I’m the middle of 7 children and I worked my tail off to get my college degree because I knew I couldn’t get a decent job without one. Anyone with an once of common sense knows that an individual has NEVER been able to adequately support themselves, let alone a family, on the pay from an entry-level or even mid- level retail job. Either your parents are as cheap as you’re accusing me of being because they chose to not pay for your education, or they gave you the opportunity and you sqandered it away.
Hey Beanbutt..this is for Border employee’s-not for our ever-annoying fat customers..dp you really think you can come here and attack us. Please…I am tired of seeing your boring post. This is for more important issues..so stop writing insults because we are all tired of reading them. Take all the bags-all of them and leave us alone.
Bean,
I actually have a degree and worked in my field. It was a very demanding, exciting profession. Due to a chronic illness, I could no longer keep up with it. I could easily file for permanent disability, but I don’t have any desire to do that.
My illness has taught me valuable lessons about the true meaning of life. To say that I am frustrated by people who go ballistic over trivial things, is an understatement.
I love my parents. They have been smart with their money, and they headed towards retirement. I never tell them about my financial situation. This is what life has dealt me….for now.
I honestly see penny pinching, the way you described it, as almost a compulsive disorder. It’s not a pleasant thing to be around.
The cashier gave you a blank stare, oh I know it well, because there was absolutely nothing that she could have said to make you happy. We were given explicit directives concerning the backpacks. Absolutely no rainchecks….it was first come, first serve. There is nothing to be done at the store level. After about five angry customers, the blank stare rears its ugly head. We can’t do anything, say anything that will make you happy.
I don’t care about your backpack. I would have if you were nice about it. I know you were rude to the employees. Then you made a second trip to Waldens and were rude to them.
Now go away. You are not welcome here. And, honestly, you are the type of customer that is not welcome at Borders, either. Goodbye.
Let me weigh in here. Employees are dealing with few hours, overwhelming work load, fatigue, not enough people to do what they do best, i.e., knowledgeably sell books. If we display any emotion because of those things we’re wrong?
Customer service is alive and well. You just didn’t deserve it, sugarbuns, that day.
Rudeness and abuse from customers is inexcusable at any time.
We are in the vise of having to work with increasingly unreasonable decisions by corporate slobs who could care less about the people that made them rich.
The stores are declining and stock isn’t available half the time because there aren’t enough people (hours cut, again) to alpha, sort, shelve. This company is barely functioning as it is. And you’re here to gripe? Erin said it best: there are times when nothing you say can make a customer happy, no matter. I have been told I need to be fired more times than I can count because I didn’t have something somebody was demanding. Either we were out of it or a promotion AA dreamed up wasn’t fully stocked. Whatever. What are we supposed to do? Pull backpacks out of thin air? Remember those stinking Snowball or Snowflake or Snow-ass Whatever? On the store level, there isn’t much that can be done half the time. We don’t deserve your kind of dumping-on that you decided to do in a blog ENTITLED BORDERS EMPLOYEES ARE ANGRY. Read between the lines, BeanButt: we cannot make your kind happy and think twice before deciding to shit on people who aren’t listening to your shrill whining. Go find something else to do. Or better yet, start your own blog. Maybe yours can be called, “Wah-wah-wah chronicles” or “Accountants are angry about getting paper cuts”
What gives you the right to toss off comments about anybody’s parents? You’re just another anonymous blog torcher who should be ignored and forgotten, folks.
Go away, troll, go back under your little bridge.
On a brighter note (I think!) read about our newly appointed VP of something or another: phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=65380&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1313754&highlight=
News guaranteed to please!
Now we return you to our regularly scheduled programming. Sorry, we were having technical difficulties. We’re back to sharing info and stuff germane to Borders employees.
That last URL was indecipherable. Here’s a better one:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/PartnerSiteInvestorsView
One last note and then I will leave you all to your moaning, groaning, and complaining about yet another company that treats it’s employees like crap – our country is filled with them and always has been. The biggest difference right now is that as long as the economy is in the state it is in, they will only continue to get worse because they all know that we need the jobs and will put up with it. Believe it or not, my husband and I have worked in those kinds of places too.
Let me note that you all have ASSUMED (and you know what that does to both you and me) that I was rude to the employees I mentioned. I can assure you that I wasn’t – I believe that I noted that I said to the manager that I understood it wasn’t her fault when corporate sends out a promise that they can’t deliver on. I have worked retail jobs and I know what it’s like to take crap from customers for things that are beyond your control. I try REALLY hard to go out of my way to be understanding in these matters. That is why I came home and WROTE AN EMAIL TO CORPORATE. I came here to share my experience after reading the numerous posts to let you all know what I guess you already know – your corporate big-whigs don’t give a rat’s rear end how bad they make you look or if they keep customers coming into their stores. It seems to me that their response to my complaint spoke volumes – they know their company is going to close soon so they don’t care if they keep loyal customers happy.
In regards to me posting here – this is a public forum, nowhere does it say only Borders employees may post. I read NUMEROUS messages from people that don’t work for this company so I ASSUMED that to put my two cents in was ok. To the CREATOR OF THIS BLOG – please feel free to delete all of my posts since I evidently sullied your precious blog space with my presence.
This is in reply to Beans and Buds. Perhaps Customer Service is dead because the customers killed it. I would love to see you work at a Borders store for just a day. I can guarantee you that at the end of that day you would have either quit or been at this site complaining yourself about the stupid things corporate does and makes us pass on to their customers. You’ve heard the expression “Walk a mile in my shoes”, well until you do, DO NOT “criticize and abuse.”
I think everyone who works in retail will recognize a certain customer “type”:
Verbose explanations that go on and on because of the waste of gas and inconvenience because you were promised something FREE that is not what you expected or no longer available. (Here’s one–A free book AND a free backpack worth $19.99. Yeah, right–it is almost always a piece of crapola, and definitely the hill you want to die on.)
Repeating the situation again and again to the manager who is unable to do the magic required to make them happy. Keep trying to approach it from a different angle–the LOGICAL angle, and maybe you can break their survivalist “blank stare.”
Hand the books over and STOMP out of the store. (Don’t worry, we’ll put them away as our punishment. That always makes us so ashamed!)
Write to Corporate. Again, verbosely. Don’t forget to threaten to take your business to B&N. Mention how the cashier/service manager didn’t care how upset you were. (We did care. It was a big old pain in the A$$)
Oh, and please don’t forget to mention that you are a Very Good Customer and spend a Lot of Money in the store. Because we apply different standards to you Big Spenders, and once you identify yourself–you will receive Good Customer Service.
Anyone recognize this customer?
Is she gone? Great.
She’s the one holding up the checkout line and customer service booth at Target, Lowe’s, Jewel, and everywhere else, bleating and stinking up the air.
They have cut hours to the point the entire store is angry. One of the few remaining “cool” employees just up and left..it’s depressing. There is no laughter in our store anymore only a ghost ship. I am one of the last old time employee’s here and I feel I have an X on my back. I know they (corporate) want us gone. I am applying anywhere I can. My spirits are so low at work and i am barely paying my bills. I wish there was a way to turn back time and make Borders go back to the way it was. Horrible what those corporate jerks did to this company.
How long have you worked for Borders? Can you say?
Hi everybody! I’ve been so quiet because I moved. Hello Twan, Meridien, everybody! I can’t believe the beanbutt person’s blogs and it was sure interesting reading the back and forth. I went into my local Waldenbooks because I had a last $25 gift certificate from my Borders Chase Visa (will not use card again). The salesman was very nice, knew all about booklights (my only purchase), and I told him I had been laid off from another B store. He expected their store to stay open. I did not tell him I had read that lots of Waldenbooks were closing. Since it was an inside mall store it was pretty small, VERY tidy and the shelves were full. I didn’t see any bargain bins but I also didn’t see many customers. Interesting (at least to me). I don’t miss work, I will miss my food stamps that end next month, and I’m still up in the air about graduate school. Keep well everybody. I know you are working VERY VERY hard and I hope you can find good jobs soon.
It’s great hearing from you, Claudia. I’m contemplating a move, myself. I am ready for a change of view and thinking about moving out of the city somewhere. Real estate is in a bad spot right now, but this is something I’ve got to do. It’s kind of scary around here these days.
Well, I see the employees in the stores aren’t much happier than the employees at customer care. I worked for the customer care department for almost 5 years and actually trained our customer service reps. Let me tell you, the people were amazing and I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything. I actually stay in touch with several…I have to put alot of this blame game on corporate. When I started there as a rep, we had so much fun and the customer service was improving everyday. The supervisors and management were full of life and I have always held to the addage that happy employees make for a good work environment and keeps your spirits up. By the time I left, I felt as if I were drowning b/c of all the “corporate” suggestions. My complaint was this: How are you going to set up in corporate and make major decisions if they bring you over from running the stores to running the call center when you have no idea what makes that work????? I am not trying to be ugly, just truthful so until they remember their employees are just as important as their customers in all aspects, they are going to continue to drown.
Amen, Crazyredhead
My interactions with Customer Care have always been handled with professionalism and courtesy. Thanks for doing such a good job.
I have mixed emotions about Borders. I was Community Relations Coordinator at Tom & Louis Borders’ (yes, they still owned it) most successful event store for 8 years. Lived through the KMart years and into the present management. It was a wonderful store in the heart of Uptown, Minneapolis–a community with highly educated, affluent families like the Mondales and the Dayton’s, several authors living nearby, and the second largest college student population in the metro area. You think it would be impossible to kill a store in an area like this, yes? Most of its staff had been booksellers most of their lives, almost all coming from indies and therefore, honest and knowlegable and dedicated to their craft. It was the management’s insistence to mimic everything B&N was doing, inventoring books as if they were groceries or pharmaceuticals, and their lack of loyalty to both the original Borders concept and to their booksellers that dismantled that store (and the company), changed it into a characterless retailer and within a very short time led an amazing staff to flee, myself being one of them. And inevitably, with them the customers fled. One of the best, most vibrant, most profitable bookstores in Minneapolis is now gone–and it wasn’t an indie, it was a Borders. Many of us still feel that if they would have truly appreciated the input coming from the stores, they would have nurtured their uniqueness, maintained their share in the marketplace and above all loyalty from booklovers, and avoided the financial situation they are now in. It’s true irony that the Uptown store did indeed communicate their concern over 8 years ago that Borders would see a moment like today if they continue with such poor business models. It’s disappoing and sad. Yet I still feel that it is never too late to rethink our mistakes, and I see some hope in relation to Borders growing commitment to teen readers and YA fiction. Their initiatives in this arena might be their saving grace; we’ll see. Be well, all you booksellers out there! S, once bookseller now publicity director in publishing
I went on the stock market page and read about Borders stock; out of 10 (of course ten being the best) it gave Borders a 3. It also stated:
Borders Group Inc (MI), a small-cap value company in the consumer services sector, is expected to significantly underperform the market over the next six months with very high risk
(This is just on the site right now)
Borders still isn’t doing well. My only guess is they file chapter 11 and close these stores that are drowned in these leases.
I worked for Borders in the glory days and was shocked to see these mass layoffs. Disgusting. My friend was one and was so angry for a long time. I felt their pain but this company is drowning. It does make me sad to see this but to save themselves they need to stop making these horrible choices. Stop firing people. You get what you pay for and if you get these “kids” in there with no knowledge of the book world then what do you expect.
I fear the downward slide is gaining momentum. It’s like being in bad health: You might have been able to fight off some incidental problem, but when you’re already sick, it becomes much more of a concern. B&N’s steps ahead of Borders re: Fictionwise purchase and the Kindle leviathan for two. The problematic stock value and late entry with borders.com while ceding business to Amazon in the past, might have been something the company could weather.
Those concerns might be the tipping point. I sincerely hope that’s not the case, but the direction the company’s leadership had taken did it it and the results are now being felt.
Like turning around an ocean liner, it takes time. I hope Borders has it.
i still want a job with Borders in the future!
I just notice that ALL of Borders kids books are 20% off. And many think they are not trying to get rid of their stock. I worked their for six years and never seen that kind of sale. I don’t miss that place. I miss the old crew, that’s for sure. I wish my store the best of luck but I will never walk in there again.
Steve,
Thank you for your wonderful post. I don’t know what to say. All I know is that I am not a bookseller anymore. I am a book pusher, phone answerer, and the taker of complaints.
Borders, in my opinion, closed its doors two years ago.
So I just learned that when one of the VP’s was in our store today wondering why things were not up to the new Borders standards, my excuse making GM informed him(rightly this time) that we had lost about 80 years of bookstore experience in the past 5 months. His response to that was “What took you so long”? Yes ladies and gentlemen this is a company that cares about their staff and the knowledge that they bring!
@Ron Weasley
“The Loss Prevention representative (or whatever the hell those inhuman monsters are called) for our area also lost her job.”
If her initials are CJ, then f***in’ HALLELUJAH!!!!
Time to reapply for food stamps. It’s SO embarassing to do so but having moved, still having terrible insomnia, and now having really bad neck and upper back pains (tension anyone?) I am not working. Could someone please list the employee website here? I can’t find it through the “store” website and all my stuff is packed. I need to get an official document that says I was terminated as part of the embarassing stuff I have to provide to prove that I am not working. Did anyone ever do the math regarding my theory of “working fewer hours from time to time to keep your average # of hrs worked/wk so you don’t collect unemployment?” That’s what happened to me! I didn’t have that many hours when I started but by Christmas I was working 39.5! Then when I submitted all my information to unemployment and they did the math my average weekly salary was not high enough for me to collect unemployment. P.S. Haven’t shopped in a Borders since and will not. Amazon rules!
Claudia, unemploment is beyong hard to figure out. I think I heard that basically one had to work over ten years to start collecting..and how they figure it out is beyond me..depends what state you’re in. It’s a mess…Borders pay usually equals nothing..meaning good luck collecting money you will survive on with unemployment.
Sorry…
Oh anhooray for the LP that was let go…
The VP’s comment is absolutely inhuman. Unbelievable. Nothing surprises me any more when it comes to Border’s disrespect for its employees. Incredible.
In Ohio and New York an employee needs to work for six MONTHS to be eligible for unemployment but also needs to have a minimum salary of $210 per week. Did anyone ever get laid off by phone or mail from HQ? I still have not received ANY official notification, just the voicemail message telling me I was “terminated as of…” and the date.
Correction: a minium AVERAGE salary of $210 and therein lies the problem when you work in retail and have 8 hrs one week and 28 hours the next.
I left Borders eight months ago, so I can blog away…my bestfriend got laid off in March but he wrote his story in an independent newspaper..awesome man. I will never understand Borders policies nor do I intend to waste time on that crazy company
My fellow employee’s all whine whine whine but never take action to DO anything. If someone did stand up for themselves, and the manager complained about that certain someone..the “herd” would say bad things againist that person…they want change but to scared. I remember one time this guy was getting only closig shifts but the day shift crew would leave and not recover the messy store…the night crew complained and whined…so my friend getting tired of the day crew’s lazy ways went in and sat with the GM- tried to figure out a way that everyone would be happy. Basically, the GM told everyone my friend was the real lazy one and cut his hours..the “herd” agreed to the GM’s face..like all robots…never standing up for my friend. I listened as the herd badmouth my friend to the GM’s face but only to save face. Disgusting. These people (or herd in my eyes) still complain and whine about things and yet shake when someone tries to do something. I wonder if they realize how pathetic they are.
The best part was when he got laid off that afternoon (after working a crazy shift with no workers on the floor) He is being led to the door by the GM and he turns to the night crew and tells them “This is what happens when you try to do the right thing.” I guess I should have joined the herd.” They stare at him with big empty eyes and my friend bows and exits t he doors…awesome.
Oh Danny boy, I think you’re awesome. This is a shout-out for you. Dude, you are the man. After he wrote his article the newspaper hired him. So while the nightcrew still whines and stab’s eachother in the back (afraid of change) Danny-boy has his own office.
So for all the people who got laid-off (slaughtered) in March..there is hope Danny-boy is proof. I know when things get bad and the staff gets infected with the disease the company gives them. Don’t dwell in the land of hell and whine. I say move forward.
Oh Danny-boy is my hero. The only one who stood up to them and left for greater things.
Hope awaits!!!
Never join the herd. Change starts with you.
Yeah unemployment is terrible. Better to go find coins on the street
How many more coupons till Borders realize they have nothing else to give away??
I was one of the managers laid-off in March. Terrible. Now I hear they just hired a new supervisor in my old store. It really seems like these lay-off’s were just a waste of time. But at the end, I couldn’t stand most of the people I worked with anyways. I guess when you work for a company that gives nothing anger is going to take place. I only heard of the hiring through an old friend I ran into. I will never walk through those doors again.
I imagine that people who have no knowledge of being an employee at Borders think that these blogs are “sour grapes”. If only that were the case. What was once an excellent company has gone to hell from greed and all the bad decisions those genuises at corporate made. You can’t treat the people that are the backbone of a company {employees in the trenches every day} like crap and have a business succeed. You can’t threaten employees everyday with termination if they can’t force customers to join Rewards program or sell a make title and have happy customers. I was there 10 years but left in March. My blood pressure was sky high and I was stressed each and everyday. Morale was horrible among nearly everyone working there. The best thing about being there were the fabulous people that you worked with. They were troopers. Obviously, I am not talking about manager/supervisor types. I don’t know whatever happened to respect for others. It is all very very sad. Like other blog writers, I will never walk into Borders again…ever.
@finallyoutofthere
I almost cried reading your last post. It’s so hard to see how many of us lived identical experiences during our days there. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. The days before the company went public were the halcyon ideal that many of us would have been happy to settle for.
As for the backlash against the customer who posted upthread-
I must say, it was distressing to read some of these comments by employees with self-professed great customer service skills jumping down the throat of a customer posting on here. It does nothing for your argument. I can understand both sides’ frustration with the company’s decisions, but I don’t understand the need for spewing invective.
As for this comment:
“Oh, and please don’t forget to mention that you are a Very Good Customer and spend a Lot of Money in the store. Because we apply different standards to you Big Spenders, and once you identify yourself–you will receive Good Customer Service.”
Totally uncalled for and totally ignorant, just like the comment by someone else that said customers killed good customer service. When I worked there, I would have been ashamed to hear my fellow employees speak that way. If you really think this way, you deserve to lose your job because you’re failing at it. When customers act in the manner described, it is usually because they have been treated badly, whether by an employee or a stupid policy, and can’t believe that a store would treat their customers in such a way. And they are right. They are not always jerks, and just because you’re behind the counter doesn’t give you the right to talk down to them and disregard the importance of their business or the validity of their point. With all the talk of how the company has made it difficult to create happy/repeat customers, this attitude, on the part of any employee asking for more respect from the company for their efforts, is disgusting to me. I worked for this company long enough to know that anyone who says things like this is just as guilty of treating people with baskets or bags full of books, CDs and DVDs better than those looking for one CD, regardless of how rude that Big Spender was (because the company made you believe that “making plan” would save us all).
Part of your job is to treat customers well, so they come back and spend more money. There will always be horrible people who just have no respect for others that you will have to deal with in retail. Of course every single person is not always deserving of your best effort not to punch them in the face. But it is your job, and it is POOR customer service to fling unprovoked attitude in the direction of customers just because they expect to be respected and appreciated. In most cases they worked for the money they’re spending too, and deserve that respect as much as the employee does. Without customers you have no jobs. And with people losing money and their jobs right and left it is not a crime against humanity to look for a bargain and be upset that the company made it impossible to avail oneself of that bargain in an attempt to play on the idea that once in the store, a person will buy something, whether or not they have been taken advantage of and have now been informed of that sad fact. The company is already doing all they can to drive customers out in droves, so it’s a real shame that the employees- including those who worked for Borders long enough to remember how the vicious cycle the company is stuck in now was once a cycle of joy and prosperity- are now adding to the din of negativity that furthers this goal, whether the people turning their backs on you are supporters or detractors.
I was just as abused and exploited by the evil cretins of Borders Corporate in my days as a seller. I worked 5 jobs for the low price of one just like many of you, was rejected for promotions in favor of people from outside the company who had no experience that I was then asked to train, witnessed the stripping away of perks big and small, one-by-one, that made the company great once upon a time. My end with the company was just as horrific and inhumane as those that many of you on here have sadly suffered. I know intimately where your anger comes from. But I never stooped to this level of purposeless condescension. Please do not do disservice to your pain and suffering by directing it at people who have done nothing to harm you and sought only to add ballast to your position in this situation.
Being still employed by Borders, and having missed the life of Riley so many of you mention, I see the downfall of this company coming quicker, like a train headed full speed towards the end of the line. On my way to work this morning, I heard on NPR how Barnes and Noble has bought back a chain of campus bookstores, and is offering many textbooks as e-books. How difficult a concept was that to come up with? I am disgusted with the short sightedness of the corporate office. Has anyone heard about the “new” cell phone policy? I don’t know if this is nationwide, or simply local to my district, but apparantly it is a terminable offense to be using your cell when you are on the floor. Simple possession of one on your person will get you sent home immediately as well as a write-up, and having one at your work station instead of locked away in your locker will get you written up on the spot. After hearing this, and having my phone removed from my desk yesterday by my GM, I just about walked. The last time I had anything taken from me, was when I was in Elementary School. Has Borders finally stooped to treating us like the mindless children they believe us to be?
I can understand that any employee using their mobile for personal use while on company time should be reprimanded. However, as a parent if anyone needs to contact me about my child, the number they have is my cellular. When I brought this point up at the meeting we had informing us of this new policy, the response I was given was that “Borders has a phone line, that anyone can call if they need to get in touch with you”. Now doesn’t this conflict with the “no personal calls” policy? I am outraged by this! I know it was passed down from my DM because some customer contacted them complaining about a Borders employee using their mobile phone. Has anyone else heard of such a policy, or is this localized to my district only?
@ Sad & Confused
I think you made some great points on your post. When I read all of that I actually got the same feeling…. that we are so angry (just like the blog says!) and have been mistreated by our company for so long- that we will just tear someone apart who wanders into this blog with a customer complaint.
Before everyone tears me apart- I really don’t think that the people that post here would have responded so vehemently if they were happy, valued employees.
Our company puts us in these terrible situations DAILY. With every ill-prepared last minute promotion we are left scrambling to defend ourselves against customers who are actually understandably irate. I’ve found myself getting bitchy about someone’s complaint, but then I go home & reflect & realize that their whole experience probably sucked. They probably came into a store, found no one to help them, heard the phone ring incessantly, finally found someone who ran past them saying, ” I’ll be right with you I’m with another customer” , waited forever for that employee never to return, went to the registers, waited forever in a line with not that many people because the cashier seems to be blathering on about a million promotions to each and every customer, hears calls for backup but doesn’t see anyone ever materialize, finally has a turn and then – “Oh sorry- your coupon is for a fiction title, this is a romance title, or we’ve sold out of that(it’s the first day) or any number of other absurd things we have to say to customers.
I admit we have created a super-race of coupon-wielding customers who will not pay full price, and retail in general is sometimes such a royal pain in the ass, but we do have to realize that right now we can sometimes lose sight of the customers’ perspective.
Hate my job now….*sigh*
Sounds like Sad & Confused is from corporate….anyway to make customers happy, your employee’s need to be happy. Meaning stop treating them like criminal’s. I remember the dream of Borders b/c the brothers are the ones who started this bookstore. It amazes me how dumb corporate guys, with degrees, have ruined this company. So I am actually seeing that having a degree ruins any common sense. You cannot threaten employee’s daily with write-up’s and make titles. I agree that certain employee’s, like the ones who call out all the time or don’t work, need to be let go..but when threats againist all employee’s for no reason happen then you are NOT going to have happy employees. If they want good service, it starts at the top, which we know is just awful.
Just a heads up for any employee’s looking for a better place to work: I heard The Container Store and Whole Foods treat their employees very good. In fact both companies made it in the top 15 as the best places to work…just alittle help.
Does anyone know about the loan?? I think I heard for every month they don’t pay, they owe about 700,000 dollars. Is that true? Great. Can anyone see that Borders will file chapter 11?
Nope, debbie I’m definitely not from Corporate. Perhaps you didn’t read carefully enough. Those jerks took my job away and made it a living hell the last years I was there. Employees are one facet of keeping a customer happy, the others are things out of the employees hands, which was my main point. Customers get upset because the company is running the stores into the ground with stupid promotions and offers for things they can’t afford to provide to more than a few people, and Corporate expects ground-level employees to assuage the jangled nerves of angry customers. This is hard, I know, but my point is that customers can be our allies in this discussion so pouncing on one of them who understands and is in our corner is not the best way to win the war. Feasting on anger is only going to make all of us more angry and less productive. I’m not saying that our anger isn’t justified or necessary, but it should be constructive and not a weapon wielded at supporters.
I am sorry I didn’t start blogging months ago. What greaaaat therapy, both reading and writing. You guys are so cool. I cracked up laughing {tho there is NOTHING funny for the current worker bees} reading the senario regarding some poor smuck customer not finding anyone to help, having someone fly by saying they would be back when finished with their customer and of course never seeing that person again because twenty other customers grabbed them or they were summoned to the sparsely covered reg. With hardly any employees to cover anything, one might think or ‘wish’ that management/sups could get their butts out of the back office to help if they are so worried about “customer service”. But alas, guess they weren’t that concerned. I totally understand the frustrated customers, well, most of them. We had some really wonderful customers and some not so…but even the nastiest customers were not the problem at Borders. They had no idea that when they refused the Rewards or a make title or a cookie to go with that coffee, our jobs were on the line. What sane person would think that?
I tend to be a very logical, and realistic person and that just didn’t fit in with Borders culture. So many decisions made by the upper levels were so stupid {or Borders wouldn’t be in this fix} but if you dared point out that something wasn’t going to fly with customers or employees, then you were just bitching. Black was white, day was night, lipstick on a pig.
Someday this will all be a distant memory for all of us but for now, I feel really bad for all the good hardworking people that have to still be there and endure the pathetic pay and the insulting attitudes. They deserve so much better.
Sad & Confused: I understand your distress about my description of a customer “type”. Please understand that I was known for excellent customer service and an excellent attitude right up until I was laid off in March. I WAS sympathetic to customer issues and did whatever was in my power to correct the situation. However, many times I was powerless to satisfy certain customers due to poor company policy. With SOME customers, an apology or whatever restitution I could offer was not enough and they would pursue the issue until I had to make a graceful entrance (when at all possible) or put an end to the conversation in a way that was considered rude by the customer.
Also, I was being sarcastic when I recommended that the customer mention they spend a lot of money in the store. I treated every customer as if they were a Big Spender. It was just typical for complainers who were not satisfied to inform me that they were good customers and deserved better service than the masses.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, the overwhelming majority of customers were great. A very few were, shall we say, very difficult. I saw evidence that perhaps that was the case with the former customer who posted here.
She’s frustrated and keeps trying to get satisfaction. Her argument at this point is with Corporate, not the store staff.
I’m not bitter because I consider the 13 years I worked for Borders to be wonderful. I AM angry because of how things are unfolding. It’s the ugly death of something I loved with all my heart.
I agree with you on many customers did knot know that if they didn’t get that rewards card or make title that means our hours would be cut. Months ago I actually bought one of those books along with another employee. That is crazy because I could barely pay my rent.
We’re talking about customer service? What? How about employee satisfaction. how about how the corporate monsters have ruined this company. You cannot rule with an iron fist and pay with the little seeds that you let fall to the ground and expect happy co-workers. I can say we all hated eachother at the end. It was the energy of the store and living so terribly without money. It ruined our spirits.
I just don’t understand why employee’s choose to stay. If a company does not give anyone raises or full-time status is on a freeze..or how you don’t know is you will get enough hours to pay your bills..then it’s time to leave. Never staty at a job where there’s no hope.
I stayed way to long and now I have a desk job and employee’s who respect eachother. I miss not being able to wear jeans and my rock shirts. I miss the casual environment and the way cool people that entered my world but getting no raise and then written up for not selling make titles. Right.
There is life outside those book walls. The pay is beyond terrible. If your going to school then it’s perfect. But to live. No way.
I miss the old way. I miss the Borders that I LOVED coming to work. I left and lost contact with most, but it was a great time in my life. Then the something shifted and everyone could feel it. I agree with above writing: if people are unhappy you move on. Don’t suffer. I once went in to Starbucks after a terrible day working in the cafe..now I am manager. Love it. but I look back with great memories before it got bad.
Here’s a an article that might be of interest.
On the website “Seeking Alpha” the author tells why Borders might survive, although it will be a very different store that it has been in the past.
http://seekingalpha.com/article/129061-borders-turnaround-is-happening-despite-downturn
The author discloses he has a stock position, whatever “Long” means. I don’t know.
Will Borders be somewhere you even WANT to work for anymore?
Here is that guy’s most recent entry:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/152503-borders-why-i-have-one-foot-out-the-door
I realize I am out of place here since I do not work at Borders, but I am hoping I can get some info about how to complain about something I saw at Borders (ducks head).
There is a special display that seems to be geared to the YA urban fantasy genre. It has a sign that says “If you like Sookie, Zoey and Bella . . . ” or something to that effect. I thought it was odd that the Stookie Stackhouse series was grouped in with Bella, etc. and and stopped to check out the books on the display table. Most of them were Twilight, but there were also other YA books. However, was shocked to see Laurell Hamilton’s Skin Trade right next to a YA by Kelley Armstrong and a Black Dagger Brotherhood book by JR Ward. Both Hamilton and Ward write sexually explicit scenes in their books, especially Hamilton and she has said many times her books are not for minors. The Sookie Stackhouse series is not nearly as graphic, but still not YA material, especially the earlier books.
I was really surprised to see this and it made me gag to think that a 12 or 13 yr old would be drawn to that table by it’s signage and pick up Skin Trade and thumb through it. I am assuming this is a marketing decision thought up in corporate lala land. I have read some the posts here and it seems complaining will do no good but I just thought I would ask if anyone had any suggestions about who I could email and have it taken seriously. Or am I asking the impossible?
Things have been soooooo unbearable at Borders for so long that I had to really reach back to remember any good about the place. I was there 2 years and then the one night they called a “mandatory meeting”. We were all gathered upstairs at midnight in a circle listening intently to the highter ups. That was the first time the word “restructuring” reared it’s ugly head. That was the beginning of the end.
We used to have poetry readings, live performances in the cafe on the weekends by musicicans. Shortly after that god awful day on 9/11, I remember Lady Jane Grey was performing and in respect for all those who were lost that day sang “Amazing Grace” and I got goosebumps. I am not religious but it was a goose bumpy moment. I remember when Bush decided to go to war we had a TV at the information desk for our customers and one of them, a young woman, started crying at the news. There used to be real moments, meaningful moments even in the cold world of retail. I believe true book people are especially special and because we love books and working with them we work for precious little money just for the love of the industry. This is why all of us are so SAD AND SO MAD. It all went so terribly wrong.
Employees and customers were respected. I am sure that the happiness of the employees was obvious and carried over to the customers. What a waste, what a shame. The caring and the hope got sucked out of us and we had nothing left to give.
Jane,
You could call a Borders and get the customer “care” number but they don’t care. That is just my opinion though.
Sorry
Okay I have a question: I work at Borders but am looking for a new job (one where I am not bullied into selling make-titles) I remember that you don’t give them your store number but a 1-800 number..I’m guessing a HR number..is it the customer care number?..if anyone knows it would really help me. I’m afraid if my manager finds out he will cut my hours. So I can’t ask anyone I work with.
Thank you
Thanks, youngOldTimer. I missed this. and a final comment: One foot out the door? ONE foot? Just one?
@finallyoutofthere
I remember that horrible day as well, when I got my first taste of what corporate jargon sounded like, and learned the difference between what words can say and what those words really mean in application. Our favorite supervisor was not chosen for one of those 3 precious assistant to the manager type positions. He was the only one who would always speak up on our behalf whether it was to corporate or to the clueless, gutless, brainless sack of flesh that was our GM, the man who listened to my ideas for the store, then pitched them to his higher ups as his own, (and who miraculously is still there even though he couldn’t even read the reports he got every week, showed up late, left early and took numerous days off every month). Instead, the obsequious managers who never asked questions got the promotions. I remember it all too well. Especially how much I loved helping people find books and movies and albums, and how hard the company made it for us to do even that.
@ trish
when you apply for a new job, most applications should ask you whether it is alright to contact your current employer, and most employers will totally understand if you answer “NO” since you are still working there.
@Jane:
I apologize for the inappropriate display. I think this is a symptom of exactly what we have been “angry” about on this blog. Anyone who recalls the Borders of 10 years ago will recall that we had enough hours to assign sections to people, so, we had a team of experts in every genre. We had people that were voracious young adult readers or voracious romance readers…etc. One of our responsibilities was to merchandise our sections. In other words, if someone had put together that display, there would be some quality control. Someone would have stepped up to say,”that is NOT a young adult novel”Little by little they have taken this from us. First the displays became “co-oped” meaning that a publisher had paid to have their books on that display. And now corporate tells us what to put where. And since there is no “ownership” over a particular section anymore & hardly any hours allotted to our stores, no one will know that that particular display is effed up, we feel lucky if we’ve been able to complete a display!
It always makes me sad when I read other post of people remembering how Borders use to be. I use to love working at Borders. The people, or some of them, were the best around. Co-workers with their BA’s or others who had this artist way of life..one Christmas season the company bought us a ton of food from a restaurant across the street..and then secret santa’s..I enjoyed my job but slowlsy it started with the first round of layoff’s about…two years ago? and then cutting little perks such as free coffee for employee. Remember the 25 dollar gift card?? Those helped out so much.
Right before I left (or fled) the staff was younger and most came in hungover. This staff didn’t read much. But what can one expect when the company doesn’t pay anything. Its been awhile since I left but I do sometimes come on this site to read the latest. Such a shame. But I am NOT surprise. They fired a few people from my store and then the layoff’s were a nightmare. I left soon after. That was not a company I wanted to be a part of. I don’t keep in contact with anyone b/c the great ones left long ago..but I try now just to focus my memories on the great times. The great employee’s who made me laugh. My great GM who had such heart.
Great times..
I was just hired at Borders on Tuesday. Had 1st interview Monday late afternoon, was called Monday night to start Tuesday morning. Now, I’ve worked at Barnes and Noble, and loved it. I figured, hey, I love working in a bookstore, perhaps this won’t be so bad.(I’ve also been unemployed for a year, so I needed the job.) Reading through these posts I come to realize that when I was filling out the paperwork I did end up signing something stating that I cannot give information out about the company and what it’s standards are, etc. I actually found this a little odd, but whatever, I needed the job. I then find out that I’m only making 7.75 an hour, and I’m a bookseller. This is not what I was told I’d be doing, so YAY, another fucked up retail place. I actually ended up getting 8.50 out of them, but still it’s nothing. My first day on the job I worked like a dog, did pages and pages of RPLs or RPOs whatever they call them. 2nd day, did the same thing, 3rd did the same thing. The shelves are empty. I’m starting to wonder if they’re just hiring people to send back the books because the store is closing. My first week they hired 3 people, not including myself.
What should I do? Is there a way to find out which stores are closing, or atleast notify a news program of Borders’ policies? This is absurd, how is anyone supposed to live like this? They pay you dogshit and make you work until you go crazy and just leave.
To Jess,
Transfer into the cafe if you can, and sit back and enjoy the $8.50. Its lax work, and you get tips which can increase your pay. Some nights I can make an extra $10 or $15 for an 8 hr shift. At least that puts your salary up near $10 per hour. Not to mention at least customers at the cafe are appreciative that you are making them a drink and treat you with a little more respect. If you are good as a barista, you can move over to a different company with a set of unique skills that will warrant you a higher salary. Just a thought. Being a barista is all that keeps me at Borders. Enemployment in my area is higher than the national average. Jobs don’t exist. We have an experienced Biochemist working here, as a Bookseller for $8.50. Thats sad…
Jess, dude or dudette,
Borders is very secretive and there is no way to know anything regarding true goings on until they happen. At least that is how it was the whole 10 years I was there. They “suits” all huddle in the back room discussing our fate and then they blindside you, usually after you have worked your brutal shift and are ready to leave. So you were hired Tuesday and this is Friday….this may be a record for wising up. No, we have had many people leave for lunch and never return on their first day. FYI, after 10 years I didn’t make $8.50.
I am simply gleeful to have found these blogs and I hope Borders sinks like a stone because they deserve nothing less. I feel bad for all the people that desperately need the pathetic paycheck and and benefits so they put up with all the shit. One big reason I take such joy in these blogs is that Borders ALWAYS makes you feel like crap on the bottom of their shoes. They twist things and make you feel like you are in the wrong. Not them. Someone mentioned earlier that the GM said morale was low because the employee complained. Low morale was never their fault. They did that to me also. That is why these blogs are so validating. Borders messes with your head and you start to think maybe they are right. When they call you in to “talk” with them, no matter what you say or try to explain, it gets turned around and you are a screwup. They always say EVERYBODY in the store feels this way about you. Everybody can’t be wrong, right? When you ask who ‘everybody’is ,it is always a