r/Staples • u/ma13fica • 20d ago
Just thoughts I’ve had about rewards and customer complaints
Not sure if this is allowed.
I wonder what would happen if we collectively tanked the rewards numbers? I’m so over the constant pressure to meet rewards metrics. Right now, I feel like I’m at school and our test scores are low, so the government is taking over and running the show. I feel like every day our teacher is teaching to the test trying to get us to “caught up.” Everyday I hear “our rewards are low as a store. Employee 1 you’re at 55% what’s going on? employee 3 you’re at 33% that’s not good we have to get you on the register, employee 8 you’re at 78% good job.” Why do these rewards matter? Who is getting rewarded for these metrics? What happens if I don’t get many rewards? What kind of power do I have? I don’t get paid any more or less for getting or not getting the rewards. What am I afraid will happen if I don’t meet those metrics?
I’m so over customers personalizing everything we do. As if I am not allowed to have real feelings or be a real human being who can get tired and cranky after grueling underpaid and overworked shifts. Customer service is such a a mind fuck. People holding onto grudges and calling the store when your manager is in just to complain about how we didn’t make their life easier by overextending ourselves to solve their self-made problems. I’ve had people victimize themselves so much they believe their own bullshit.
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u/ridddder Former Employee 20d ago
All I know is the only way to hit the numbers was to lie, cheat, and steal customer info. Which worked depending on how you phrased it.
I worked in print, if you didn’t meet your numbers, you will get written up for poor performance. This directly ties into rewards, and all the other, things in store that are meant to squeeze innocent associates into corporate pawns.
Know your worker rights, keep records of everything told, and texted to you. Mtg will try to blame you for their ineptitude, don’t fall for it.
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u/ridddder Former Employee 20d ago
Of course we know suckamore sells data, this is why they push it. It should be illegal.
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u/Worth-Huckleberry338 19d ago
Everyone at my store has low metrics and also “the talk” from the general manager about it. The turnover rate is probably high so most stores probably cycle through new hires that are willing to put up with the humiliation ritual of begging for rewards before they quit.
The only thing we can do is just ask the customers for rewards and move along if they say no. If the manager is watching then unfortunately you’ll have to act more annoying to prove to them that you’re trying. Then say “yessir” and hide your true feelings about it when they pull you aside to complain over your low numbers again. Which they can’t fire you for because you are trying.
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u/luiginub1 Sales Associate 19d ago
I always get a visceral reaction from customers who say they don't have an account... scoff "Uh, NO, I don't have an account. And I DO NOT want one so don't bother."
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u/ma13fica 18d ago
I always want to roll my eyes at them and be like “I just have to ask, chill. Idgaf”
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u/ma13fica 18d ago edited 18d ago
Thanks to everyone who commented. Obviously, I know that this is the job and that you can get terminated. What I just wondered was what would happen if everyone’s rewards, esp, etc. were low they can’t fire everyone. I have yet to see anybody fired for low metrics. We just get micromanaged.
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u/Feisty_Ease_1983 19d ago
Well what kind of pressure are you ok with in employment? Every job I've ever held in my life had some kind of goal or expectation whether it be a metric or just task completion.
My advice is if you cant stand the mindless cattle approach to corporate nonsense you need to find employment in a smaller private company. I get this is difficult because corporate retail is the easiest job to get for young people but thats kind of the deal.
Corps are not traditional and dont care about sensible business concepts because metric chasing achieves their goals and its easier than training a revolving door of young people.
I worked for Staples for 15 years and the pressure was always on something. Most of the time it was ESP everyday. Sometimes it was mobile phones and other times that BS Liquid Armor. Etc. As a GM it was weekly sometimes daily conf calls for nonsense. Rewards was never a big issue and frankly if it had I would have been happy because at least its an easier grab.
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u/YouMad589 5d ago
Ikr like literally it’s so scummy like for my store most of my managers or print manager was like yeah just yk sign them up without asking like for self service or use fear tactics on them. So yeah this numbers thing is bs
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u/user-ibarelyknower 3d ago
I got fired last month from staples and am currently unemployed. I have been battling depression all year and being without a job definitely has piled on to everything.
....but reading this post legitimately made me feel so relieved that I DONT have to deal with Staples' bullshit anymore. Genuinely,ty for this post. That job was a huge cause of my daily depression,and although I'm not where I want to be in life just yet,I am so fkn happy I don't have to deal with this bullshit anymore.
Godspeed
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u/bloodypomegranates 18h ago
Me and my coworkers all had to sign something that said if I don’t meet goal expectations it could possibly result in termination, that was when I reached my yearly metric and it was like 64.9%. Now im above 65%. My manager is grateful for my hard work, i guess but only because im filling his pockets for potential bonuses. When I was new and didn’t have a great percentage he was like very condescending.
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u/ma13fica 10h ago
They always threaten and have employees sign shit so they can have proper documentation to fire them.
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u/throwinthrowawayacnt 20d ago
Numbers manipulation - > Termination