I dunno, but maybe this is just some new kind of generation gap issue... employees are expected to add value to the company they work for, not be coddled and treated like members of some kind of extended family. Employees and management should always be professional when they address each other, of course, but maybe the recognition of why they are there in the first place (to make money for Apple and provide customers with a positive perception of the company) needs to be spelled out.
It is spelled out. But if you want to make good sales it helps to retain good sales staff. This is true for pretty much all staffing.
Besides, I don't want a hard sell to be upsold to some dumbassed service I don't want. Ask once, if I say no, STFU about it. Something a harried Apple sales droid being pressured by their management to make quota is less likely to do and more likely to annoy me.
I can personally attest to the firing of higher paid employees at Apple retail stores. I worked in one of the flagship stores and saw many of our experienced genii fired for flimsy reasons or simply quit because there is no path out of the genius bar. While none of you know me or can take what I say at face value I can tell you that my own firing was unjustified. I also was one of the genii with the most seniority and had an otherwise clean work record, good attitude and good range of skills. Apple is instituting speed trap policies that make it easy for them to fire someone at will. The culture of the company is definitely changing and while they still talk a good game about their people being their most valuable asset sadly they are simply not living up to their own credo. I enjoyed my time with company but they really have decided to allow lower quality genii (and now 'Family Room Specialists, AKA recession genii) fill the roles former occupied by skilled staff. I don't know that I would blame the recession as the company has over 25,000,000,000 in cash sitting around. They are doing OK.
I agree. Former Genius here (left on good terms recently...) The concept of the FRS bugs me in that it is simply a method to get Geniuses on the cheap, plain and simple, much like "Trainers" are now budget Creatives. At the store I came from, they are not replacing Genius positions with true Genii - only part-time FRS.
The store I was at, it was despicable to see a concierge basically giving a one-to-one and then have a manager bust into the GR to see if someone could help sell an iPhone. WTF? I know Apple can spare a few bucks to hire someone...seriously.
It is spelled out. But if you want to make good sales it helps to retain good sales staff. This is true for pretty much all staffing.
Besides, I don't want a hard sell to be upsold to some dumbassed service I don't want. Ask once, if I say no, STFU about it. Something a harried Apple sales droid being pressured by their management to make quota is less likely to do and more likely to annoy me.
I agree. Personally I think for them most part people want to be left alone in these places. The staff should be there to look for the cues that "I'm needed now". Or even if they say it once: "just give me a sign and I'll be over if you need my help, besides that you'll be left to view at your own pace."
It's not an easy thing to do, but once they stick to a method that works the atmosphere should be nice.
Comments
I dunno, but maybe this is just some new kind of generation gap issue... employees are expected to add value to the company they work for, not be coddled and treated like members of some kind of extended family. Employees and management should always be professional when they address each other, of course, but maybe the recognition of why they are there in the first place (to make money for Apple and provide customers with a positive perception of the company) needs to be spelled out.
It is spelled out. But if you want to make good sales it helps to retain good sales staff. This is true for pretty much all staffing.
Besides, I don't want a hard sell to be upsold to some dumbassed service I don't want. Ask once, if I say no, STFU about it. Something a harried Apple sales droid being pressured by their management to make quota is less likely to do and more likely to annoy me.
I can personally attest to the firing of higher paid employees at Apple retail stores. I worked in one of the flagship stores and saw many of our experienced genii fired for flimsy reasons or simply quit because there is no path out of the genius bar. While none of you know me or can take what I say at face value I can tell you that my own firing was unjustified. I also was one of the genii with the most seniority and had an otherwise clean work record, good attitude and good range of skills. Apple is instituting speed trap policies that make it easy for them to fire someone at will. The culture of the company is definitely changing and while they still talk a good game about their people being their most valuable asset sadly they are simply not living up to their own credo. I enjoyed my time with company but they really have decided to allow lower quality genii (and now 'Family Room Specialists, AKA recession genii) fill the roles former occupied by skilled staff. I don't know that I would blame the recession as the company has over 25,000,000,000 in cash sitting around. They are doing OK.
I agree. Former Genius here (left on good terms recently...) The concept of the FRS bugs me in that it is simply a method to get Geniuses on the cheap, plain and simple, much like "Trainers" are now budget Creatives. At the store I came from, they are not replacing Genius positions with true Genii - only part-time FRS.
The store I was at, it was despicable to see a concierge basically giving a one-to-one and then have a manager bust into the GR to see if someone could help sell an iPhone. WTF? I know Apple can spare a few bucks to hire someone...seriously.
It is spelled out. But if you want to make good sales it helps to retain good sales staff. This is true for pretty much all staffing.
Besides, I don't want a hard sell to be upsold to some dumbassed service I don't want. Ask once, if I say no, STFU about it. Something a harried Apple sales droid being pressured by their management to make quota is less likely to do and more likely to annoy me.
I agree. Personally I think for them most part people want to be left alone in these places. The staff should be there to look for the cues that "I'm needed now". Or even if they say it once: "just give me a sign and I'll be over if you need my help, besides that you'll be left to view at your own pace."
It's not an easy thing to do, but once they stick to a method that works the atmosphere should be nice.
Political-economic talk is off topic. Please stop now.
Sure. Boy, things have sure changed around here.