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Breaking news: more meetings at PC World

30 January 2009
By Paul Smith

Yesterday we reported on emergency meetings arranged by DSGi, to restructure the management of its PC World stores. We mentioned that regional and store managers faced heavy redundancies, and that the prospect of PC World and Currys being merged into one store looked ever more likely.

We've now heard from sources that a second meeting for general managers of PC World is occurring today. It's thought the outcome of that meeting could see assistant managers reapplying for their own jobs and significant reductions in business centre staff and management. It's also rumoured that the number of staff working at PC World could be reduced by up to a third.

Staff spending is also thought to have been frozen for the moment, with no additional expenses allowed for stationary, personal phone calls or stock collection. As always, if you can add provide any further detail, get in touch with us at [email protected]

TOPICS:   High Street News   Games

PC WORLD DISCOUNT CODE:  £50 off Macbooks @ PC World

477 comments

  • PC W.
    Funny, could have told you a month ago this meeting was happening today! No news from hubby as yet... No news is good news?!?! I wish.
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  • Terry
    My local PC World only has about 3 staff in as it is! I never go there though, always seems like a bit of a rip off.
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  • Jim
    I went there 9 months ago for a pair of headphones, making use of their 'price promise'. Got into an argument in store as the manager was telling me play is an American website as it's .com they would only price match UK websites listed. Managed to get him to see my point in the end, but haven't been back since, can't be bothered with the aggro!
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  • Dan
    Perhaps they should try reducing their prices, becoming more competitive with its... competitiors... before sacking everyone?
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  • Peter
    I love people who come up with glib answers like, "They should just reduce their prices." It's wonderful to know that such innovative thinking can come to the fore in times of trouble. I'm certain that reducing prices is just the thing to ensure that PC World stops making a loss. They're only expensive because they want to make loads of money and rip people off. Probably has nothing to do with the high fixed costs of renting large buildings and employing staff. [/sarcasm] I guess this episode will be the test as to whether computer stores with a physical presence can still compete. Internet stores are always going to be cheaper and it looks like people are willing to accept inconvenience and postage delay in return for lower prices. PJW
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  • Dave
    To enforce a policy that ensures that no additional expenses are allowed for stationary is only right and proper. Why should anybody be able to claim expenses for remaining motionless? ;-)
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  • dsgi'ite
    The news shall remain confidential until monday when it is announced to colleagues in stores. Anyone who knows the truth should not be considering posting it on gossipy websuites such as this. People in the stores have a right to know first, don't be prepared to compromise yourself or our company....
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  • dsgi'ite
    websuites = websites before anyone picks up on my grammatical error.... But in hindsight for this place = webshite....
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  • James
    Close it down and get rid of it, Unless they can beat internet prices they are doomed. They cant so they will go.
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  • Random U.
    @ Dan Well there was a rumour that John Browett planned to do that, I think the economy going to the dogs has put a stop to that for now, although for certain stuff you can get good deals on.
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  • ungulator
    ^^^ agree, price stuff inline w ebuyer etc or die a sad death
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  • Eric B.
    I was in the new store on the outskirts of York just before chirstmas, when I looked round. It was currys without the white goods.
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  • Squeeam
    PC World are in trouble because of poor customer service. Everytime I go there are no end of people on the shop floor and only one person manning the many tills they have. There have been a number of times I have seen people walking out because of the seemingly never ending wait to pay for the goods that 3 or 4 sales staff have tried to sell you. And then once you get to the till, depending on what you buy, they want your address details which adds to the delay. I ended up going to Comet next door and as soon as one of their sales assistants saw that I was waiting to pay (only one person in front of me) she was straight on to the till.
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  • Simon
    Agree with Squeeam. People are quite happy to go into John Lewis/ Comet and buy computer equipment/ white goods etc. So I disagree that high street computer stores are doomed. What companies need to do is either be the cheapest OR provide a quality service. Sadly DSG haven't done either for many years.
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  • FoodieFred
    PCworld need to shut down or become a concession in currys I have gone there many a time when i have no time or paitence for anti virus softwre, usd cables etc. What is very annoying is that you get groups of assistants calmouring to sell you an item but when you ask a techincal questrion they are stumped or look as if you have asked them to swallow a live frog. PCworld failings are to think customers are mugs, we CAN get it cheaper on the web and even from places like Tesco Staples. Etc In fact i would go far as saying how dare PC world take us for mugs, the sooner they disapper the better really.
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  • Peter
    While I'll agree that a lot of PC Worlds have... dubious quality of customer service, don't tar us all with the same brush. There are a large percentage of employees who know their stuff and are good at their job and at helping customers. Just because you've experienced one PCW person being crap, doesn't mean that every PCW person is crap. You could draw some fascinating conclusions if you follow that logic.
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  • Annoymous c.
    I love the fact this site tends to have more DSGi staff on it than anyone else, trying to figure out what the heck is happening. Our GM (General manager) is at the meeting. We are still waiting to find out bit concerned!
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  • jinky
    To dsgi'ite, don't let the door hit you on the ar5e on your way out.
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  • dsgi'ite
    re:- jinky it won't.... Pc World will not shut down, it is profitable .... go the website and read the trading statement.... Our new style stores are driving out positive lfl's in the most challenging of circumstances through xmas and now, we have 50 more on the way this year. we have cash, not credit ..... I am a general manager and I now know of mondays announcement. It is postive and aligns us to face another tough trading year (not dsgi's fault, blame fanny or freddie....). If you don't like our stores then thats your choice but we have millions of satisfied customers each week. We will not appeal to everyone and that we understand, but toyota or vauxhall doesn't appeal to me so why would i shop there when i want a new car ?? Lots of you who damn us have not shopped with us for years. We price promise 110% against leading reatailers and some web based companys. We were unbeatable this xmas with a £349 32" 1080p 100hz LG lcd tv and a £549 42" 1080p 100hz lcd tv. We bought Dell to the masses at better prices than Dell direct. just because you know our usb cables are £14.99 doesn't mean every product is in your words....over priced. (we sell 3 usb cables in a packet for a tenner from belkin as well) Alot of you talk about our crap service but i would bear in mind that is an individual person serving you, if you approached a manager to make them aware of a colleagues behaviour i have no doubt that they would be disciplined... they certainly would in my store. I cannot forsee any reason why a member of staff would not help you though, you are the bread and butter and keep the wages coming in. Clearly if you ask a techie question someone may not know the answer, but again i am positive they would endeavour to find the right answer for you. Stop negatively bangin on about DSGI, it is a great company to work for and a massive employer in the UK, we are more than competitive and our the uk's bigget supplier of FREE laptops. Every business will make changes and we are adaptable to market conditions, you only have to look at our share price after xmas to see the city is fully behind our transformation plans.
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  • I P.
    Hmmmmm, I just love all the comments from all those people that must be truely exceptional at their jobs. So good in fact, so perfect, you feel invulnerable throwing your stones from your bullet proof glass houses. I do not know of a single colleague that goes out of there way to irritate or upset customers. I do not know of a single colleague (most of whom are paid around minimum wage, and contrary to popular belief do NOT receive commission) who have as much heaped on to their shoulders compared to friends and families in other areas of work. The margins are tight and the quality of some of what you see on some sites, such as ebuyer are complete tosh) yet you go and buy on price...not quality....well heres a bit of advice why would you want a 37" Viston (who the hell are vistron) lcd tele with 1500:1 contrast ratio. Why are ebuyer actively hawking this shite....who from ebuyer can you ask for advice? Its the blind leading the blind. I am (as an employee) truly truly sorry if any of my colleagues has ever given a single customer a poor experience for one reason or another (not that I should have to apologise for them) but you get bad apples in EVERY company, and we need to filter ours out....it may be slow and painful but we WILL get there. We really really do care about our customers and I am sorry this is not always evident...but know this...we will fight tooth and nail to make sure we make a profit (by the way thats ok, we are a business with shareholders), keep trading and achieve this by delivering a better quality service.....watch this space.
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  • anon100
    Well, bye bye Assistant Managers and Business centres, all being made redundent with a 45 consultation period, most stores will lose at least 2 managers, all AMs will have to re-apply for their jobs and could be moved to any store within their area if they pass the interview, if they dont pass then its redundancy time, business centre collegues are being cut with the sane 45 day consultation period.
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  • BSM
    I have to admit we are not all perfect but to scorn and ridicule us poor managers that face another week of not knowing if we have a job tomorrow is a bit harsh. Yes announcement on Monday so thats a weekend to look forward too. Would everyone slagging off Pc world take a moment and think of the managers mainly who wont be able to pay their mortgage feed their kids and put food on the table...is the bad customer service their fault...after ten years I know it isnt. If you dont like it dont go there cause you will no doubt start a conversation with a bad attitude and expect the poor advisor to smile and be nice back......REAL WORLD......its arse customers that bring us down.
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  • ex p.
    no its not cusotmers that are bringing pcw or dsgi down, its the people who work there, i worked with pcw for 10 years left last year as it was going downhill then, there are better things out there for pcw workers, much better jobs and prospects out in the real world than with pcw, i escaped and am doing much better than i could ever have done with pcw i do feel sorry for the dedicated and hard working people that have been with them for over 5years they are the true loyal workers, the young ones they have working nowadays have no care and no pride in working for the company they just want the money and run and dont care about the customers thats whats let the customers services down, young people who dont care about customers the business centre was going downhill 3 years ago, people can just sit in offices browse the web and hit the buy button, they dont need to go to pcw unless they really had to and waste valuable office hours. there is no longer a need for a business centre, it can all be done centrally, give all account holders a visa card and work it that way, sure it saves money and time, but thats what its all about these days, it takes 10mins to process a purchase order, call sanctions get it sanctioned and put it thro the till at the bottom of the store, run back to customer, photocopy and get purchase orders so old fashioned! credit cards much better idea rip PCW Business centres they had their time
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  • BSA
    Does this apply for us BSA's in south of England?
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  • PC S.
    I work for PCW and there are a mixture of good staff who work hard and bad staff with very bad attitudes. We are fortunate in our store to really raise the bar compared to other branches. But what is going on is partially as a cost cutting excersise; BUT also a major factor is cutting out the ROT - all those staff that backchat our managers and dont give a rats *** about our business and customer needs will have to re-apply for their jobs, and needless to say the only people to stay will be the staff who are considered an asset rather than a liability. Its a new brush (Browett) sweeping clean. And I think it will revolutionise our PC World into what many of us fight hard every day to make it - a great customer experience. Please for those that really want to see PCW dissapear, give us a chance to put things right now that we have the leadership doing the right thing. We want to keep our jobs, and more than that, some of us actually think we desrve to keep our jobs, and move into the new PC World which will be bigger better and ready to challenge Best Buy on service as well as price.
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  • WORRIED
    DO WE KNOW FOR DEFINATE WHAT MONDAYS ANNOUNCEMENT IS???
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  • disapointed
    i do think it takes piss we have to worry till monday about if our jobs are safe or not, when we all have debts and family to take care of. with all the GM;s knowing, and not letting any one know how or what is happening. will be a very frustrating weekend not knowing.
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  • pcw s.
    true all the guys in the know have a good nights sleep and a great weekend while we sit awake wondering if we have a job and can we pay out mortgage
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  • Annoymous c.
    Score one more for PCW, all the employees are on this website trying to figure out what is going on! Our GM is in tomorrow, he was at the meeting today, wonder if he will say anything!
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  • Blah 2.
    yep I'm on over the weekend while my GM is laughing knowing his job is safe and me and my other AM have to worry and wait to Monday. Sucks!
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  • angry
    the way dsgi have handled this with letting GM's konw but the the people that it effects, basicly saying, there is an anouncement friday, then go o by the way we will tell you monday. i love working for pc world, but this makes me think twice about the integrity and honesty
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  • dave
    not the first time staff have been made redundant then found out from the press. 3-4 years ago same happened at currys. look after yourself, you can bet your manager is only thinging of their own job and could not give a toss about you !!!
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  • jinky
    Try opening more tills. When a customer asks a sales assistant to scan an item to check its price (because SURPRISE SURPRISE there is no price displayed - not legal btw), do not tell them to queue up at the one till that is in operation behind the twelve other people who are buying cdr's, cdr pens, usb cables etc. This loses you a sale immediately because we as customers will NOT wait for twenty minutes to find out how out of touch you are with retail sales pricing. Reap what you sow DSGi.
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  • Negative Z.
    More and more people know about computers these days, the people will buy from the web, not much need for computer shops these days, far too costly. The people of the world MUST understand the importance of backing up their data. The end is near.
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  • jinky
    Oh and I am truly sorry for the folk who deserve their job and yet will lose it whilst the fat cats will smile all the way to the bank. You do have my sympathies. However to the bad apples, traaaa.
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  • BSM
    Keep the comments flowing..we can copy and paste to John Browett as a thank you note..should we add flowers anyone want to chip in Happy new year John all the best.........................
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  • AM
    I know that the company needs to save money and there a loads of free loaders that just come to work to take home a wage (a good one at that!) but the way it is being managed is underhand, Is it GMs? AMs? BSMs? and why do we have to wait over 48 hours to see if we still got jobs? any GMs on here that are willing to break secrecy and spill the beans, put us all out of our mysery
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  • Anon
    Yeah - this site is anonymous so if any GM would like to fill in details, they can just put a fake email and name into the details boxes - lets see if anyone of them would like to share!!
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  • I W.
    For the person who asked can anyone put us of of our misery all I can say is someone already has in these posts. The only reason why people are having to wIt till Monday is because all managers will be in most stores and therefore will be announced pretty much to all concerned at the same time. Shame that one of the posters on here who must have been at one of today meetings ( therefore not losing his/her job) or someone at head office couldn't respect their colleagues enough not blurt out online what no one should have to find out online and only from their line manager with the rest of their colleagues.
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  • AM
    So, 45 days to go. are they closing a certain amount of stores? if so what is the criteria? MAT, P&L, Norton strike rate, FTE, Talent scores, Pick a measure I dare you!
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  • collegue
    I think from what ive heard that its just business centres and there staff to disappear at the moment. Plus assistant managers to be redundant with the option to re apply for there job and if accepted could be placed anywhere on there cluster. No actual store closures yet
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  • AM
    If they are going to reduce the number of assistant managers how will the business run, please name one GM who does anything other that sitting in the office drinking coffee and looking at his emails all day, its the assistant managers who run the stores no the other way around. 1 GM per 2 stores and that would save the same amount as sacking 2 AMs
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  • AM
    heh GMs who dont even put themsleves on the rotas so they dont have to SFM.. good plan
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  • Numero 5.
    You like me like you are probably worried about all this, we should be told now! And as for people bashing the Customer advisors at PC world go easy on us because, if you were in our shoes youd probably feel the same way, if I told you that the Ca's are targeted daily for their performance, have strict and challenging targets to meet on top of merchandising the store dealing with some down right RUDE customers, would that be of value to you! How would you feel in your job if you had to review your performance on a weekly baisis? We are always compared to the likes of Tesco etc but when was the last time you asked one of their staff how to cook a nice 3 course meal for your girlfriend. When was the last time you asked tesco to open that baked bean tin to check the contents! tried asking for a discount at the till just becuase your spending over £50, do they price match us? Pc World isn't perfect...What company is? No one in pc world will ever know every little detail about every product or service. We will do our best to guide our customers and to ensue they go away with the right products for what they want to do. If i am allowed to be a bit unprofessional now I would say that customers have some responisbility too just because you can't get a printer working doesn't mean its faulty , 9 times out of ten they're not, it's user error mostly. If you buy a car you take driving lessons, you pass your test, then your allowed to drive on the road. Yet anyone buys a computer and isn't prepared to learn how to use it. Then they blame pc world for the poor service they're getting... they wouldn't expect a car garage to teach them how to drive, or fix the car for free, would they? Happy? Fantastic! /sarcasm
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  • Darren
    Some of the comments on here about PC World from PC World staff are utter tosh!! PC World being competitive against websites, I firstly admit that I am a Mac User due to the nature of my job being a photographer, I remember getting some of first big clients some 8 years ago and investing over 10k in camera equipment and then making the BIG BIG decision of sticking to PC or MAC and buying a very top spec machine. I just want to give the retail experience of both stores.. PC WORLD - the staff are ok, not much real Customer service experience but perhaps they have a PC at home that they know how to run, maybe really proud that its not got any virus or spyware on it through clever maintenance... or the ultimate IT GEEK who didn't quite finish his MCSE thingy course but thats OK because he got a job at PC World! but when you go in, you cant demo any of the applications, you cant surf the web on the machines.. they can't show you any nifty tricks or how it interacts with a phone, camera etc... you are just told about what it does and shown and then sold anti virus software as if its more essential than keyboard and mouse! then offered warranty on the machine that you have just been told will last a long long time. APPLE - The staff here have to have an apple related qualification or be of degree standard, they actually recruit industry professionals such as photographers, designers etc... they offer salaries of £25K +and free products and heavy discount making the staff feel happy, secure, motivated and more likely to help. When you enter the stores they have 3 levels of staff that are all customer facing. Concierge who meet and greet, help with general product sales, then they have the skilled staff ensuring all staff have different skill sets... I spoke to a designer regards to the power of apples Iweb app to design my website, I then speak to a photographer who showed me Aperture and gave me a running demo as well as photoshop and at the time I had some images on my camera and he plugged it in and showed me some nifty tricks with my own images. at the end I bought my Imac, macbook pro and apple TV, I paid an extra £80 and im now a Pro member, I book online and I can have an hour lesson on any subject matter I like, whether its microsoft office, photoshop or just general help with my machine. and its this that makes all the world of difference. I dont think PC world offer that service Although Apple is costly product they are highly successful through retail and the online experience, I know PC World have apple Concessions but I dont get the same experience there. I actually went and tested on PC World at old trafford in Manchester, I had to wait 10-15 minutes while they find the young lad who looked after the apple section... at which point I was bored PC WORLD is the IT equivalent of woolworths... in this world where consumers are changing the way they shop, purchase and wants have changed then PC WORLD just haven't adapted to it and it will be there fall down. Consumers are more aware of products, they know what they want and they know what they need, they are just looking for the great experience to come with it, Hence why people will try these big names. I do feel sorry for the staff and the management team, and as much as you boast your motto about price matching both retail and online, then that will be PC WORLD'S downfall, why oh why would I want to drive, go through the whole process of trying to get the price match when at a click of a button I can get the item in 24 hours via whatever website is selling it. what did make me laugh was the guy from PC world on here who was slating someone buying an unkown name of LCD for dirt cheap.... I just want to say that if you pay £300 for a laptop, then your going to get £300 worths of product... these laptop remind me of these printers at £49 but the replacement ink is £40!! Consumers want a greater experience and like woolworths, Adams etc... PC world hasn't kept up with consumer demands and if they dont do something quick then its a fond farewell to PC World. they seem to be stuck on the fact that the name will help them survive.
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  • Annoymous c.
    If they are going to reduce the number of assistant managers how will the business run, please name one GM who does anything other that sitting in the office drinking coffee and looking at his emails all day. ^^ LOL! Agreed!
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  • World
    This is similar to what Dixons did 5 years ago, I know because I was one of the hundreds of DM's who were replaced by Sales Team Leaders ( the same as a DM but paid a few grand less per year).
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  • I W.
    To Darren, You make some great points, and if had had some of the experiences you have had, in PC World and Apple, I might feel the same way. If i could share my experiences and how these differ from person to person would that be of value? Yes? OK, lets start...it doesn't suprise me in the slightest that you got such a personalised service in the Apple shop, and its fantastic that you did. I am sure if I was one of the 3% of total worldwide computer users I'd want a shop that tailors to my specific needs. However, I am one of the 97% of users who use a PC and am realistic enough to appreciate that from a purely practical level that would be difficult to achieve....in the same way it would be difficult to find someone to tailor a suit for me in George, Asda.....I might just need to go to Savile Row and get measured up. PC World sells over 5000 product lines in-store, 100,000 via its Business Centres do you expect expert knowledge on each and every product....I do not reasonably believe you could. What you can expect though is general guidance through the many product catagories on offer, tailoring your solution so far is practically possible to your individual needs. It's amazing how only 13% (I wont bother citing the source, you'll have to take my word for it) consider themselves to be expert or advanced users of their computers. Yet it amazes me how many people make up their mind what they want without hearing all the opions, many of which are not advertised therefore rely on the likes of me to explain....but you dont want to hear it. Computers are not toys (and I really dont want to sound patronising) and they certainly arent simple pieces of home technology that turn on/off and do their job. You plug them into the internet, a network of millions, you add programs, change the operating system, connect other devices, expose them to software which could render it inoperable, all of which are not the fault of the Manufactuer or retailer yet you expect it to be at our cost to resolve your mistakes later and question our audacity at putting a charge on for that service. I have loved every miniute of my ten years (well thats a lie, but on the whole I have) in this company, I have lost count of the number of job offers my colleagues and I have received from satisfied customers and tips given to us on by kind people for a job well done (which are always refused, in the name of 'im just doing my job'). Can we start posting up some of the companies we all work for, for the sake of balance, so us PC World employees may have a pop at the service we have received at the hands of your compies......YES, we are actually customers ourselves sometimes. I dont have a gripe with anyone of our genuine customers, why would I, I rely on you. But it seems to me that there are many people here, who have not shopped with us for many years, accuse us of not moving on (you have no idea what is going on in the background to improve our customer relations). Why dont you come back and be one of the 1,000,000 or so customers coming through our doors each week. We will turn a profit this year, where others have gone under, and where others who havent are making a loss. We have a new Cheif exec (from tescos!) and brand new chairman later this year and we WILL DELIVER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, WE WILL FIGHT TO BE BETTER, OR GET BETTER THAN OUR COMPETITION and I cannot guarantee this will always be on price after all we have 163 shops, and as long as people are coming in saying "how do i....." there is a need for us and we will be here for our customers. to 'World': By the way this is in no way similar to what Dixons did 5 years ago
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  • piggeh
    I don't think you will make a profit, your profit for last year was down substantially. This year in the DSGi interim report: Underlying pre-tax loss(2) £29.8 million (2007/08: underlying pre-tax profit £52.4 million). PC World as a division may make a profit up to Oct 08 (of £11m, which seems pretty small given their size), but it's the results of the group that will ultimately decide things PC world also offer some pretty feeble lines in comparison to what's on offer online. Where are the quality components? If I need a new PSU the only half decent brand that PC World have offered in recent years as an option was Jeantech and even then it's priced at the same as buying a quality brand online. Why not sell some quality gear at a slightly higher price, I'd imagine a lot of footfall is lost because there isn't the quality being offered in some lines. I agree with the comments about the tills as well - it's almost as bad as Toys R Us in that there always seems to be only one till open. I would expect it if I was shopping at Netto, but given PC World's apparent position in the market place service should really be better. However I would say you should not rely on salespeople to give you technical advice regardless of what store or product it involves. Their ultimate motive is to reassure you and make you feel confident in buying a product and as such it will never be totally impartial advice.
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  • Annoymous c.
    Why are there PCW staff on here using the language of FIVES!? Get a grip! Jesus!
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  • Annoymous c.
    To 'I love PC World' You make some great points, and if I was you and had no life, I might feel excatly the same way. If i could share my comment with you would that be of value to you?! Good, Fantastic! My experiences are flying off all over the internet. Personally I have found getting a life outside of PCW to be of great value to me. It has allowed me to use my own grasp of the human language instead of talking in robot speak. This comment would be perfect for you. Happy!? *nods head* Fantastic!
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  • Doh
    lol @ last 2 comments Does no one understand sarcasm these days?
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  • Annoyed
    As Piggeh suggested, it is indeed the group results that will decide things. PCW probably be able to post a small loss for the 2008/9 trading year. The group will then be hit by continued large write downs of "goodwill" from European operations, notably Italy, Spain & Central E of over £100M partially offset by the Nordics gains in trading and currency. Assuming the UK economy doesn't completely implode, in which case the whole country is $%^ed, PCW will continue to trade at 15-20% down (read 30-35% on LFL figs on Cool) and survive through to next Xmas then I don't know. Longer term, the £350M Bond the company raised and spent on buying overpriced European assets and its own shares back during the "Golden Age" of Banking is due 2011/2 and there is no way anyone's going to renew that. On the "Restructuring", even though I'm one of one's to go it makes sense. The biggest cull is in the B2B side of the of stores, LY this contributed 12% of stores T/O, half of that by BSM's deciding to put domestic customers through the B2B route which continue to come into the stores. The 6% T/O left which is B2B, some will continue to come into store, some absorbed by PCWB direct. The failure of the BSM's in general to actually bring some business is our downfall. Some exceptions in there but we are all tarred with the same brush. In our defence, we were hampered with system of KPI's that encouraged us to do the precise opposite of what would have kept our jobs.
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  • allsofunny
    what goes around comes around. to all of you are happy that people who work for pc world will be made redundant just think on if they do lose their jobs they will not have the money to spend on the goods and services that you may supply, produce, carry.etc etc. This will in turn make the company you own/work for make redundancies. This could mean you lose your job,business house family etc etc you will be laughing on the other side of your face then and as they will have been in the job market longer than you the chances are they will have a job but you won't. Funny how life goes
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  • 123
    its all poooo, some gms cant keep their mouth shut, already know when my interview is
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  • Doh
    What is all poo? Everything that people have said here, or the situation is poo? I wish people would say things properly., instead of half saying things!
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  • HRdog
    Hi all, This website is pretty lighthearted and humourous but this could be some peoples only income for them and their families. As a HR Director (or HRdog as my team call me) i would suggest the following ( i will keep it serious but light touch): 1- Only take the notification of changes from an official letter or document that DSGI will need to provide. Do not speculate. Its panic otherwise. 2- Arrange a meeting with your line manager to discuss the contents. Have a really good chat, go over the options, talk about yourself. Sell yourself and explain the hardship any change will cause. 3- Do not get in a panic or upset about receiving any news. Stay calm and focused. Your employer will expect you to remain professional. God help us poor customers when the news comes out. Do not have bad days. Nothing changes unless you make it. 4- There may be new roles that you can apply for. Please do so. It is always important to indicate your intentions. Do not decline any internal oportunities; this is very important as good loyal employees are always thought highly about. Its is very difficult and believe me I always have done so too, its difficult to dismiss very good and loyal workers. Its the hardest thing possible and we HRdogs always avoid this event as it causes the company grief through others making the decisions. Not to mention the grievances that it causes. 5- Discuss your options openly and calmly with your line manager. Remember you are still an employee until you and the DSGI company decide otherwise. There are correct processes to adhere to on all sides. 6- The company will clearly have thought the options through globally but it is down to you to stand out from the crowd. 7- If you want to take on one of the new roles then clearly state your intention to do so from the beginning. HR Managers will look for keen workers to be continually employed. Do not make it easy for someone to decide you do not care what happens to you. On the other hand if you do NOT wish to take up any other roles and your current role is ceasing then state clearly from the beginning that you would like to be deselected from all roles and request your redundancy offer. Ensure you receive this before any closure dates on the new roles. 8- In all meetings clearly describe the hardship that not working for DSGI will cause you. Back this up with evidence and proof. Ensure that your line manager and HR manager meeting with you write these things down. In my experience these make a big difference at all stages for both types i) applying for new roles or ii) requesting formal redundancy. 9-You will have 90 days from the start of your new role to request formal a redundancy again. 10-If you want to keep working for DSGI then make it clear that not working for them will cause immense hardship and that your lost without the job. The decisions to reapply for the new roles can have no set numbers or the HR managers could increase the number available if all candidates are good, loyal, show severe financial hardship. Remember that because it is probably a really big company then HR will have to recruit more people for the same role in the very near future to replace leavers. So ask to be considered to be allocated one of the jobs in the near future. 11- Companies that go through workforce realignment (sorry its the HRdog in me), tend to show greater leavers for the new role very early on for a number of reasons; not suitable, people decide they are at risk again, becoming stronger to open into to new jobs and companies. 12- Remember that your skills are transferrable to lots of other industries and companies. Hold your head up and keep focused. Best wishes and let me know how you all get on. Love Janet D HRdog
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  • EH
    Hey 123, are you saying that we have pre-arranged interviews? What else do you know?? HR Dog - thanks for the info, a great help. I will tell all about this site and get them to read this.
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  • So U.
    To all concerned, has anybody had a thought for the rest of the staff at PC World, this dosen't just effect the managers but what about everybody else, do they really think that bringing in new managers to the stores is going to work! Get a grip there a long term staff that have worked and respect the management team they work for, swapping managers round is going to cause so much heartache, have a thought for all!
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  • PC B.
    @ Darren ' Totally hit the nail on the head there. This is why PC World will eventually go tits up. People come to PC World for one reason, advice (they certainly don't go there for the price). Now, considering that staff get 'naff all training on what they are selling (just some sales techniques on how to sell them) it's not surprising that many customers find that advice to be shite. Now i'm not saying that every advisor doesn't know what they are talking about, some have excellent knowledge of technology/consumer electronics, but the lack of training means the majority either give incorrect or misleading answers to customers queries. Apple are leading the way in what I can see as a trend in PC retailing from the superstore concept to individual stores where manufacturers can control the experience of the customer. I wouldn't be surprised if we end up seeing Dell, HP, Samsung etc opening up stores of their own in the next few years, as Apple have show, if you can get it right, retailing on the high street is still a profitable game. Savvy customers in todays environment know that they can buy things online cheaper than on the high street, but most won't mind paying more at retail if they know that they will be looked after and be given a awesome service before, during and after their purchase. Apple Stores are the perfect example of this. Did you know that it's actually more difficult to get into Harvard than to get a job at a Apple Store?
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  • xinebessa
    A good source tells me theres to be a 1:2 structure for stores over 10mil mat and 1:1 for those under. Can anyone confirm this?
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  • Pinko
    @Annoymous coward Ha. I just noticed that. Yeah I reckon that's a big mistake that the bosses at PC world and Curry's made I'm an instore tech guy and I've seen customers walk out because they have fives shoved down their throats. e.g. "What did you LOVE about your last machine?" Reply, "I didn't love it, it let me go on the internet then it blew up. What the hell kind of a question is that" I usually joke about it with customers. What do I LOOVE about my badge? The way I can get a nipple piercing for free?
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  • Anom
    You want advice, buy a Techfriend! What do you think it is, free handouts! are we really paid enough to spend hours of our time problem solving because its an easy option!
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  • Anom
    @ Anomounous Coward Its funny you should say that about GM'S just drinking coffee all day and reading emails, I assume you dont get on with your GM, if you did you would know that they have hell of a lot of shite to deal with, eg: people like you slagging them off, get a life!
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  • getalife
    Look we are in an economy where due to Mr Bush's complete incompetency the country and the world is in poor shape. Read the news - unfortunately people around the UK are facing redundancy, reduced hours, closed factories (Look at Toyota where staff are not working for 4 months and only getting 65% of their wage for the second 2 months), but are they posted on here? Do you low lifes criticise these decisions? This is just an opportunity to have a go at a business that is trying to survive the difficult times. I am sick and tired of the speculation. If there is an announcement on Monday then I am sure everyone involved will be treated with the right sensitivity they deserve. And please spare a thought for all the employees involved. I think the post from HRdog is the only thing worth reading here. Iftseems this site is determined to condone the quite frankly appalling practice of worrying people, and those who are talking of sleepness nights - I feel really sorry for you but at this stage the only blame has to be laid at the web site you are currently viewing
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  • PC B.
    @ Pinko Try all new FIVES! All the original MILESTONES you're used to but with a 50% reduction in steps to a horrible customer experience!
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  • Anom
    @getalife Totally agree with you mate, spent today at work with 2 AM'S worried sick about their jobs, turns your stomach, good advice from HRdog will be showing this advice. Not a good weekend for anybody!
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  • Anon
    I cant believe this bittersweet website disclosing all the confidential information PRIOR to the consultation meeting on friday this meant it could only have been an SGM who posted this as the GMS didnt know at that point? sour grapes? maybe? what about the feelings for the colleagues about to be placed on the firing range, kinda heartless and stupid!
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  • Doh
    @ Xinebisa.. could you elaborate on what you mean by 1:2 and 1:1 please?
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  • the v.
    Saying that, we had a memo of what a group of GM's sat down and discussed regarding how to save money. I will only list one because i really think its worth the 35k they earn. Only give a plastic bag to customers who ask for one. Oh by the way, before you think of passing that one around, any ideas or inventions created whilst under employment of dsgi are now property of dsgi. The downfall of dsgi shares started wayback and has nothing to do with the credit crunch, see here ( http://ichart.europe.yahoo.com/c/1y/d/dsgi.l ) . shareholders and the like invest in dsgi on the basis of the promises they make but fail to deliver. share prices are going up only because people are in it to make a quick buck. soon as it levels out or any new news hits the headlines and -boom- back to 8p ( if your lucky ). I am a techguy and have had 8 years at pcw. i have had a shitty deal from the company but still turn up everyday to do my best. I dont want to see the company fall but its not doing itself any favours at the moment. But saying that this is only the first wave of the credit crunch and the worst is yet to come, it will only take another bank to tighten its purse strings and lots of companies will call in the credit. dsgi has already had atreadius cut its credit limit......
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  • Numero 5.
    The problem with PC World I feel, is that the range is too big!. I mean who needs a choice of 30 odd printers all approx the same price, it's the same with laptops, if the range was carefully reduced it would make it much easier for staff to become much more familiar with the products. I'm sure Apple stores are great but as someone said they are paid about 25k compare that to about 13k for Pc World staff who have to know about more than one Brand. Sure if we sold just hp's or toshiba's service would be greatly improved. A typical customer advisor in pc world is targeted on numerous kpi's such as pc performance, office, norton, various services pound notes eg installations, service attach, margin, mobile connections, sky, printer attachments, tv attachments, discount, total sales, mystery shops, finance smartplan to name a few. These are targeted and reviewed weekly with underperformers challenged and questioned on their ability. Essentially instead of giving the customer the best service/advice everyone has all these kpi's in their minds each and every sale. Sure every company has to make money, but its a lot of stress on an individual. Oh! and dont forget thats on top of restocking shelves, ticketing, and other day to day tasks. I think I speak for all pc world staff when I say deep down we all want to give the best advice and service to our customers, even the awkward ones ;o) but somethimes pc world makes it more difficult than it has to be for example over xmas we advertised Norton antivirus internet security i think) at £24.99 then when a customer was in purchasing a pc it would be our job to show them the benefits of norton 360 at £29.99 a more expensive product ...immediatly loosing the trust of the customer that had seen the ad.
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  • xinebessa
    1:2 as in 1gm and 2 ams
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  • Kevin
    Ignoring the advice side, the lack of staff on the floor with the products the simple fact that there is often only one till open (even if there are physically 2 or 3) and a long queue of customers buying basic things (that they didn't need to ask for help for, esp consumable) is a major factor that screws up peoples images of PC World and Currys. This is especially in the case, (very often these days) when you have an alternative very close by. Theres going to be a Comet or Tescos nearby (in Cambridge they are just the other side of the road, as well as a Staples) that you can immediately buy from, let alone buying things online.
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  • Doh
    Ahhh right... So, for stores that have 1 GM, there would be 1 AM... How on earth will they keep the store open? Keyholders etc? That would mean there couldn't possibly be a GM/AM on the premises at all times... I can't understand how that would work...
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  • James
    This si the way the times are going the only sympathy i have is for the shop workers. for if they are all as brainless as the ones in my local pcw they dont stand a hope in hell of finding a new job unless its moving goods in a warehouse for the internet retailers that have caused their redundancey in the first place. I know if i want to go for computer advice in reading I will go to The Novatech Store as i stand half a chance of the man behind the desk understanding my needs.
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  • Fiver
    Greetings! (plus1), Always remember that what brings you into PC World today is a hope that you might earn enough to pay the mortgage. Also remember that FIVES is the answer to every problem and the solution to all our troubles. Which is more important to you reciting crap like a parrot or losing your job for non compliance with FIVES? Someone got £5m for FIVES, sound like something of value to me! Happy?
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  • DF
    Numero 5 - exactly. It's all about the KPIs, especially in the last two years. Even if you have to badger a customer into taking all the KPI items, and that customer leaves with the KPIs, but feeling a little disgruntled, it doesn't reflect on you. Alternately, if you deliver fantastic customer service, but don't tick all the boxes, you get your backside kicked.
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  • Pinko
    @Fiver: You do know that most CA's can't stand fives and avoid using them wherever possible right? My store, the currys across the road, the pcw and currys a few miles away. We all hate it. Happy, happy, happy! No I'm not bloody happy my laptop's just been torn to shreds by the dog. If I tell someone they have to go home to get the reciept or a bank statement so I can return their product and say, "Happy?" They're going to rip me a new one.
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  • allsofunny
    for heavens sake why do you all keep going on about kpi's. every business has kpi's even the national health service, govenment has kpi's. all businessess have to make money thats how they pay you.all performances have to be challenged . even if you are on the dole, income support whatever you sad gits will be claiming you will still have to reach kpi's. my challenge to anyone out there is What job do you think hasn't any kpi's? All in all everyone has a choice if you don't like where you work then just go, leave find somewhere where you do like working. It is people like you who give bad customer service in shops like pc world and currys because you don't like working there and because of HR laws your company will find it very difficult to get rid of you. I feel sorry for the people who will lose their jobs over you
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  • Annoymous c.
    As a note, we got an email yesterday referring to our cluster by a different name that i have never heard used before, don't know if this is a coincidence or has there been some changes on how regions and clusters work!?
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  • Same C.
    Does anyone know if these redundancies are going to apply to Currys as well?
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  • Annoyed
    @allsofunny Staff go on about KPI's because we live and die by them. A KPI (key performance indicator, for those that don't know) should indicate a level performance. PCW has taken them to extreme, much of our "poor" service often stems from this obsession. At a store advisor level, (s)he doesn't know what profit a product makes just a set of things that must be sold with it. Any customer who buys a PC will be hassled to buy a copy of Norton 360, Microsoft Office H&S, some sort of service, an installation or a techfriend etc; a sign-up to broandband and PC Performance (extended warranty). If the customer buys all this your passage through PCW will be very good. If you don't, helpfulness will often evaporate as the advisor will have his bits chewed off by a management that is obsessed with this and only this. The poor advisor that has to report a sale which has none of this because, say, the customer wanted Macfee, a full copy of office (on which we make more money), didn't want the services but did want a better machine for video editing and brought the HD camcorder and £300 of editing software with it will be told that he's letting the side down and not contributing to the KPI's. That's why we obsessed with KPI's.
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  • allsofunny
    Oh dear annoyed you do sound rather bitter. maybe you should find a job that you would be happy doing rather than inflict your negativity on all those around you either customers or work mates, i certainly hope that you are not the person i meet when i next visit a currys/pcworld. Maybe you have difficulty in acheiving targets or have tried interviewing for other jobs and they don't want a negative person like you. Again i say i feel sorry for the people who may lose their jobs over you.
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  • Doh
    Tesco have 4 kpi's (which may I add, the people on the tills or stacking the shelves do not get their hineys kicked if they don't meet them), Lidl have 4 kpi's... The government - is every MP responsible for EVERY kpi? Is every nurse responsible for every NHS kpi? But PC World have 100+ kpi's. Most of which, fall on the back of the performance of the CA's. In this economic climate, "go find another job" LMAO Like that's possible... Last in first out, EVERY business is struggling, and unemployment is rising sharply...
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  • Negative Z.
    ******BREAKING NEWS ******Best Buy payed John Browett 1 MILLION USD to destroy pcworld. I always said fives was ridiculous and it's intoduction marked the begining of the end. HAPPY?
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  • annoyed
    allsofunny - LOL - Only half true, course I'm annoyed, not quite bitter. Who wouldn't be, facing redunancy on Monday.
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  • Numero 5.
    @ allsofunny Ofcourse all companies have KPI's but are you responsible for all of them on a weekly basis. I mean you personally not the store. I've spoken with friends who work in similar environments and they laugh at how many kpi I track. Sure it's important but what I was trying to say is why have a kpi on a product the customer may not need, and the time "persuading" them to buy it would have been better used to advise on something relevent to their needs ie good customer service. could it not it be much simpler and just track the individual on how much extra they sold with hardware not WHAT they sold. It used to be better when we had a a £90 attach sell a pc try and attach £90 of extra products. All I'm saying is it's very difficult for minimum wage to track ALL thoses Kpi's yourself and give good customer service when your forced to Sell something in the back of your mind you know the customer doesnt need. @annoyed your right you could sell every item in the store except a service norton and office mobile connect or smartplan, to one customer and still technically even if you did this every day you wouldnt be hitting you targets so you'd be managed out of the business. ok thats a bit extreem but thats what it feels like. The money spent on FIVES basically slight of hand for the brain (the techniques used by derren brown) . simply just don't work in the real world for Everyone but higher managment who have probably read some namby pamby brainwash books on it think ohhhh thats how you sell ....I bet they have never sold on the shop floor themselves. Im sure derren browns techniques do work if you devote your life to learning them like he has, but a two day course on it isn't going to turn us into him or we'd all be on stage earning more money. I think someone with more experience sold this idea to the powers that be using these tricks.They are the ones who made money from this. Actually quite funny really.
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  • annoyed
    My view on FIVES: Its OK, not the solution to everything but it helps if used in the right way. I'm sure the people who designed it (first for vodafone, adapting it us) would be horrified by the absolute way in which its been bastardised to by us. Anyone using it with the "question 24 = answer 43 : happy yet ?" approach is missing the point.
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  • Exploitation
    Pc World is just like most big businesses that take profits from the hard workers on near minimum wage, and then feed 98% of it to management (who do nothing but tell their subordinates to work harder). The fact that sales staff are not rewarded for their efforts (no commission) gives them no incentive to give excellent customer service, or to go beyond their job description. The commission is given to management, who reap the benefits of any outstanding performance of their sales team. Is that a fair system? One recent example was a KPI on selling TV's. The sales team were put under pressure to sell a certain number of units each week... And guess who benefited? Yes, that's right, the General Manager got a 42" Plasma! What is there to justify managers getting 3 to 6 times the wage of a sale adviser, plus bonuses? When the sales staff have had no wage increase for several years. = Exploitation. Perhaps if the company gave "motivating" rewards to sales advisers for their performance, instead of feeding rewards to management, then the company might be doing much better. If higher management wages were not so ridiculous, then may be the company would be okay.
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  • notagain
    Why are we talking about "fives" when there are more important things that need to be said. ei will PCW staff have jobs on monday?
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  • Doh
    Simple questions, simple answers please: 1: Will ALL AM's from ALL stores have to have an interview to re-apply and face redundancy 2: Does the same apply to those on the SIM course?
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  • annoyed
    @notagain - As I understand, but I don't have all the details. The only worried people will be AM's, BSM's and BSA's. All the CA's will be unaffected.
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  • DAVE
    I THINK PEOPLE ON THIS WEBPAGE SLATING PC WORLD DSGI AND THERE PRICES JUST NEED TO LOOK AT EVERYWHERE ON THE HIGH STREET. WAKE UP ITS THE SAME EVERYWHERE. You can get everything you buy on the high street cheaper online. Specsavers £125 for decent designer glasses - glasses direct £29. CD's are about 30% cheaper from amazon then they are at HMV Trainers you can easily get 30-40% off online. Starbucks £2 for coffee says it all. You will always pay extra to shop on the high street but you have a convenience of getting GOOD advise, take it back if its wrong, andwhat if your product brakes down and the online company have disappeared. PC World, Currys offer excellent customer service, thats why we have many satisfied customers. Customers need to treat retail staff with respect, i've worked in many retail stores and so have my friends, its not nice when customers talk down to you. remember 10% of England work force is employed in retail. I dont go round bad mouthing your company and wishing they would close down. DSGI employes more then 40'000 staff, so poeple on this webpage want another 40'000 people jobless.
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  • notagain
    BSA's are usually the best sales staff PCW has to offer CMR's if the get rid of them that will be stupid
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  • annoyed
    agreed notagain - But if you don't have business centres, you can't have BSA's. My guess would be to absorb them back into store as CA's. Some will remain, half maybe, with a probable change of title and depending on store MAT to process Business orders that need credit etc. Anything that can go through Eclipse will. The defunct BSM role will be handled as part of the duties of the new deputy managers. ie AM/BSM's that have successfully re-applied. Rather than actually getting rid of any BSA's the eventual LTO of the store will handle it as the recruitment ban will stay in place at least until year end.
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  • notagain
    But will the BSA's go back on to the shop floor, and if so on what wage. I don't think there best staff will be willing to take a pay cut! eg. CA1
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  • Annoymous c.
    Most BSA's will have trouble passing Encore =P ;) So you can't put most of them higher than CA 1 :P
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  • Annoymous c.
    I do hope that no BSA's are made redundant though, hopefully they won't find it to difficult to switch from sitting down all day, messing around on the internet and drinking coffee to having to sell and use fives! Always had a good bunch of people in the BC, just never saw the point of having one!
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  • Annoymous c.
    Heh and this has turned into an unofficial staff discussion area!
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  • allsofunny
    my point is its seems that all of you who are complaining about the kpi's you have to meet , the way you or you staff are treated for not acheiving them, the apparant selling model of 5s have been unhappy working where you are for a long time not just because of the fear of redundancy. You would have had plenty of opportunity to leave a long time ago but you stayed. Did you stay for the money? apparantly not. Did you stay because you liked working there ? apparantly not. so why did you stay and why stay on now when the company you work for is sos so dreadful. It seems that there are people on this site that still want to work for the company, you go and find something more enjoyable and let them stay simple really. Ah but if you really had anywhere to go you would have left a long time ago and not now when the whole world is in economic crisis. whoops your mistake
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  • annoyed
    @annoymous coward "BC - just never saw the point of having one" seems to be the companies view as well.
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  • gushi
    The Think by getting rid of managers and Business centres that all will be well.They should look more closely at headoffice spend thousands on shitty product lines over stocking shelves with multiple lines and addressing the wsage and training as this has been shite and pushed down everyones throught forever changing and confusing people.We are all worrying about our jobs and how we are going to break the news to our families and loved ones that we are going to have to sell up and live in a caravan.Pcworld has failed both its staff and customers for many years.As someone pointed out GM;s sit in their offices on there arses and stuff the shopfloor.they rely on their managers and staff to pull in the sales and deal with all the crap.it should be the GM's who go 1st. Ive worked for the company now for more than 10 years and stood by whilst watching the demise of itself.We all do a great job in helping customers even the bad ones and have lots of customers who we call freinds.We are a family and most of my collegues are my freinds.If iam to loose my job for the company not looking after the interests of its staff or customers than all i can say is Go F**k yourself and bring on Best Buy.Oh and when they do come later on in the year watch this space for more redundancies becuase as british people we let the system win and let the americans walk all over us just like best buy will do with there branding and cheap imports and better staff morale and training.Im affraid like most mangers and staff and i simpathise with the customers whos expense this will be at with poorer customer service and less staff to serve them.I would like to wish everyone Good luck tommorrow and hopefully there are no casualties.the people who deserve a job will always be the ones in the firing line due to their own outspoken thoughts the people who wish to better themselves and Pcworld.but the ones who stay quiet are the ones who do the most damage.
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  • Alive (.
    They Think by getting rid of managers and Business centres that all will be well.They should look more closely at headoffice ,spending thousands on shitty product lines over stocking shelves with multiple lines and addressing the wage and training issues as this has been shite and pushed down everyones throught forever changing and confusing people.We are all worrying about our jobs and how we are going to break the news to our families and loved ones,that we are going to have to sell up and live in a caravan.Pcworld has failed both its staff and customers for many years.As someone pointed out GM;s sit in their offices on there arses and stuff the shopfloor.they rely on their managers and staff to pull in the sales and deal with all the crap.it should be the GM’s who go 1st. Ive worked for the company now for more than 10 years and stood by whilst watching the demise of itself.We all do a great job in helping customers even the bad ones and have lots of customers who we call freinds.We are a family and most of my collegues are my freinds.If iam to loose my job for the company for not looking after the interests of its staff or customers, than all i can say is Go F**k yourself and bring on Best Buy.Oh and when they do come later on in the year watch this space for more redundancies becuase as british people we let the system win and let the americans walk all over us just like best buy will do with their branding and cheap imports and better staff morale and training.Im affraid like most mangers and staff and i simpathise with the customers whos expense this will be at with poorer customer service and less staff to serve them.I would like to wish everyone Good luck tommorrow and hopefully there are no casualties.the people who deserve a job will always be the ones in the firing line due to their own outspoken thoughts the people who wish to better themselves and Pcworld.but the ones who stay quiet are the ones who do the most damage as they sit by and watch it tumble into ruin.My mistake is staying with pcworld and being a loyal memeber of staff then a manager.we all disagree about dsgi's policies sometimes and mostly are right but the middle management dont help by protecting their own sorry arses and stuffing the minimun wage collegue.were just bums on seat to them a number someone hwo they can wipe their arse with.I love working for pcworld and im about to loose my job not for being a decent employee but for the mistakes of middle and upper management.to loose my 10 years knowledge and many others like me is to loose the fabric of pcworld.Retail is a hard and harshe enviroment especilly in the current climate.but we dont go chopping into the fabric we trim in but pcworld dosent want to do that they want to ruin whats left of it and get rid of staff and managers who have supported them though out the bad times and good times made them money and been nice to the horrible customers as well as being freinds to the nice ones.all we have done, has been for the company all we are is pcworld.but now like many others we are to be thrown onto the scap heap and left to rot and face a difficut financial ruin.this isnt just going to effect customers, pcworld, my collegues, but our familes partners and freinds.getting another job under this current climate is going to be impossible for some.Im sorry for the customers who will no longer be able to say hello to their freinds and hope that they look more closely at dsgi with open eyes and see that they dont care for their staff just themselves.If you dont have more that £300 to spend and a further £150 on accessories ie N.I.S 360,office, techfreind then your unwelcome and classed as poor.we shouldnt sell you something but send you to a competitor who will galdly take your measly £300.GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE TOMMORROW.
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  • Sacrificial L.
    I agree with Alive & Kicking. Its not fare that we have to loose our jobs for the mistakes of those who are paid 10 times our salary.but always the little man looses always the good ones who get hung out to die. all i can say is things are going to get worse when the job cuts come in and are we entitled to a redundancy package.? if no job is available.??? Please HELP
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  • Enlightened
    A lot of these posts seem to be about customer service, but i dont think many people know that all phone calls to any of the dsgi group are not handled by dsgi employees any longer. For the past 6 years they have been handled by Capita (or CRAPita as most of the staff will tell u) which is run mainly from the call centre on the parkway in Sheffield. This call centre used to be wholly owned, staffed and managed by Dsgi group, recruiting mainly from within their own stores thus ensurin telephony advisors were fully up-to-speed with respect to product knowledge, customer service issues and procedures etc. and this system worked very well. Unfortunatley, the nail was driven into the coffin when Capita took over. Staff moral dropped to an all time low, the experienced staff soon started leaving, and the main issue CUSTOMER SERVICE went right out of the window. Do u know that every single call to a dsgi line, makes money for capita ? as a result they dont care one bit about the contents of the call, no matter how poor the service has been etc, just so long as the call is a short one so that it makes availability for the next call !! Staff are actually penalised for taking time on the phone to resolve any issues, thats the reason you get pushed from pillar to post. In essence the big reason for the dramatic downturn of customer service in dsgi is down to one thing - CAPITA
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  • Numero 5.
    It's not as simple as find another job, if you don't like it becuase I think you will find that most people at PC World actually like the job they do as a whole , yeah sure we moan, but we moan because we can see what is wrong with the company. Noone has asked us for our feedback or asked us to speak the truth, after all we speak and see the customers daily, yet someone up top thinks they know our customers better. im sure if you went to a store in london and a store in scotland the customers spending habits and attitudes would be different. I know in our store that all but one or two have more than just a passing interest in computing. It's like I was saying earlier rather than having a very large range of one product the should streamline it, maybe staff product knowledge would improve, and customers wouldn't feel overwhelmed at the choice, or better still why can't we as a company simply order stock thats on our web site and get it delivered direct to the customer. I hope too that job losses are at a minimum or not at all but the whole company needs to change the way it operates. It is stuck in the past the old way of doing things.....not a good advert for the company that wants to be at the forefront of technology.
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  • darren
    Why do people seem to think its something to do with the staff, or the management!?!? It is sad news, really is, but its the products and the overpriced service that people dont want. it is sad that people lose jobs, but its nothing to do with you.. its do with who you work for, and there will be plenty of other retail jobs on offer. its not us the british nation that should be supporting PC World, its us the british nation that should getting what we want. And I personally believe as mentioned before that people want great face to face service, great atmosphere and a great retail experience, thats what we want, and PC world doesnt deliver. someone above mentioned letting the system win and letting the americans come in?? so what... its a global market!, if they create what the british want then so be it.
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  • Doh
    Overpriced compared to where? Other stores? I think not. Compared to the net yes, but that is the same with EVERYTHING you can buy from the net. Not just computers. It's funny, people complaining want staff to be highly trained in all the products and know about them. Yet you're also complaining about price. You can't have it both ways... do you think staff training is free? Do you think you're going to get highly skilled people who work 40 hours a week for slightly over the minimum wage? "Other jobs in retail" pull the other one.... everyone in retail is struggling (bar the food giants, but have you any idea how hard it is to get a job at a store like Tesco?!) Obviously not. Careful you don't hurt yourself when you fall of that high perch of yours.
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  • in s.
    PC retail magazine report stock shortages at DSGi group will now pave way for turmoil and fuel the collapse rumors. Credit insurers have dramatically reduced credit. http://www.pcretailmag.com/news/31079/Credit-noose-tightens-on-PC-World-Currys-and-Comet THIS IS NOT RUMOUR, SPECULATION OR SOME SAD GIT WANTING TO BRING THE COMPANY DOWN ITS APPEARING IN OFFICIAL RETAIL PUBLICATIONS. DSGi is in serious S**t
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  • bsm
    total disgrace
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  • worried
    I too work for PCW (hi everyone!!)as a BSA so am extremely worried about all this speculation and dreading going into work tommorow to find out my fate. I have said for over a year now that something like this is going to happen and its bloody annoying, don't get me wrong I totally understand why DSGI have to do this, but it angers me that as a company we have wasted so much money over the last couple of years, ploughing millions into milestones which was pants to then change it 18 months later into fives, yet again ploughing many more millions into another selling strategy which 80 % of staff in my store think is utterly ridiculous. Some moron who decided to buy way too many laptops a couple of years back resulting in overstock and subsequentially having to sell them at knockdown price -and don't even get me started on whoever decides what stock we sell, I mean jesus come on why the hell do we sell diarys and Christmas decorations, USB rocket launchers and other such rubbish that ends up gathering dust on the shelves until we sell it at a loss. If as a company we had used a bit more common sense maybe we wouldn't be in so much of a bad position. I'm off now to dust off my tent, cos thats where my 2 children and I will be sleeping if I lose my job, I would camp out in PC world car park but it floods...oh well. Good luck to all those affected tomorrow x
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  • Doh
    Yeah, which I knew about 3 months ago. I presumed everyone else did. This is not only DSGi. It is Comet, and many other companies too... oh look, Zavvi's gone... wonder why?
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  • Numero 5.
    Maybe pc world should bin the busines centre and build a cafe there maybe we could take on tesco then!
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  • Arnold
    BREAKING NEWS DSGi blamed for recent bad weather ... " That John Browett caused it to snow" said one disgruntled customer! whilst another asked for discount on a laptop, because some bald bloke on BBC1 said he should! during this time, the gritters didn't come out and the Tech Guys were called useless because they hadn't advised people to get up earlier to scrape the ice of thier cars and clear thier drives!!!!!!!! Worlds gone mad. Don't want to see anyone out of work, good luck guys, but come on ... if those of you on here complaining feel that way, shouldn't you be changing career anyway?
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  • Ben
    I think everyone is missing the point. The more companies that lay off staff the harder it get for everyone else. as those employee's have no money to spend @ or support your business. so its you next. I think we should realise its getting scary out there and to keep the spending in the UK.
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  • Sam
    I could rabbit on all day about this. But I think DSG has made mistake after mistake recently, especially with the 5mil on fives. PC World Business always and still has great potential, it has a very small market share in comparison to the rest of the companies in the group. It though has being plagued with trying to adapt a model which is flawed, from the system to the incorporation with the rest of PC World. PCWB doesn't make much all catalog stock coming from suppliers means margins are stupidly low. And now in the past two weeks suppliers have being changing their conditions with dsgi, one even cut dsgi's credit limit by two-thirds. They cannot sustain PC World Business, so it doesn't surprise me if they ditched it. It's a shame because if they put some real effort into it, business centers could be responsible for 30% of a stores profits.
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  • Darren
    After all the bickering in here and all the postive and negative comments I just want to wish all the staff the very best of luck with whatever happens today. Fingers crossed for you boys & girls. But on a serious note, It wont be long before we see some big protests happening at 10 downing street from all industries.
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  • In-Store T.
    Well, I start today after 11am and so far my colleagues haven't been told anything except that the GM's are speaking with AM's on a personal basis (currently) followed by BA's, CA's and TechGuys. There does appear to be a great sense of confidentiality with threat of disciplinary action if anything is mentioned. I find this appalling to be honest. Last thing we need is to be made to work all day with no news as to whether or not we're being made redundant, putting up with all the problems mentioned in previous posts. I'm already looking at Tesco's new technical center, self employment and will be certainly looking at BestBuy once they arrive. Reasons: Bonus after bonus has been cut down, workloads have tripled with promise of improvement to pay packets by managers. Wage increases were stopped (2 days before I was due mine...) you have to maintain key percentages to be given the new Q4 CABS which don't make up even a quarter of what the Customer Service Bonus was (which we no longer get...) To be honest it's really quite a miracle that staff have put up with these changes, but then again, we only stay because things were supposed to get better! I hope it goes well today, fingers crossed and good luck all.
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  • The B.
    [...] morning we await news of the fate of PC World employees across the country. Judging by the hundreds of comments Bitterwallet has received in the past few [...]
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  • Doh
    Of 1 GM and 4 AM's, 2 AM's will be going with an additional keyholder role (paid several thousand less than AM base salary). They can't possibly have a manager in store at all times with only 3 managerial roles. And only 4 keyholders? How do they think they will keep the store open? The prospect of going back down to 13k as a CA? I'd be better off on the dole! This is all bull***.... Anyone know when best buy are going to start opening stores?
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  • anonymous c.
    Doh, confirmed? Can people that work at PCW that have confirmed news, please write it as confirmed and how you know, so we can separate rumor from actual facts!
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  • Arnold
    I know for a FACT that Best buy will start Managers on a £15k salary with store managers paid no more than £30k FACT I also know that they will be more caucious on base pay and will pay no more than DSGi for colleagues - after all, why should they? Every other US retailer who crossed the pond has paid at the lower end of the scale so don't expect them to be the knights in shinning armour (the only exception to this that I know of is Apple store)
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  • anonymous c.
    At our store the Out of hours guy is there till 11, he is not a manager and he is a keyholder, so this is not much different from what we already do. On Monday - Friday, he locks up. Sat/Sun it is one of the managers. If these changes are made to the store I work in, keyholders will not be a problem,
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  • Doh
    This is confirmed: Less than 10 million MAT: 1 GM, 2 AM's and keyholder (SIM/CA6) 10m - 15m MAT: 1 GM, 3 AM's 15m+ - 1 GM, 4 AM's Consultation period ends 18th March Interviews will go by points, total 100. 40 points (then doubled) form interview 20 points from test -3 active disciplinary action -3 abscense leve above cluster average People who "pass" with high %, say 95%... can then say "I want to go to that store" and if they have scored higher % than people in the store they want to move to, they will be given the job. AM's role will now be much more like a GM's role. On the same pay. Consultation start date: week 40 Operations test to be completed weeks 40-41 Interview process for AM to run weeks 41 to 43 Full consultation period week 40-46
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  • anonymous c.
    Thanks Doh :) So what about Business centres? Are they not closing? and GM's to be reduced to 1 for 2 stores not true either?
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  • Doh
    Sorry, business centres: Will type up what I have: All BSA at risk 45 day consult (the same) Deliver a more co-ordinated, productive and aligned BRB trading infrastructure Create local management engagement and accountability to max B2B potential Re-define and simplify B2B operating model Creation of new Business Account Developer role in store BSA can apply for any non-management vacancies Closed pool to store and chain Starting wage 15k So basically there will be ONE person working for business in each store. GM's... they're starting with AM's... someone has to do the hiring and firing. Once that is done....
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  • Bluett
    Thanks Doh.......but i have another question! Do you know if the interviews are being held with the GM or area manager?
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  • anonymous c.
    So it's a restructuring of the BC? There will be no BA's in store, just this new ' Business Account Developer' role. Does this mean that more business sales will be lead by CA's with the Business account developer over seeing this? Any other roles/staff in the stores affected?
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  • Bluett
    Is this what the test will involve? or something different? -3 active disciplinary action -3 abscense leve above cluster average ......
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  • Doh
    BSA: GM to conduct all interviews and conduct consultation process, SGM to validate offers AM: Interviews will be conducted by SGM and GM in store where candidate is based The test is about "operations" a bit like the online talent test, from what I gather. Your "score" will have -3 deducted for both disciplinary and abscence if these apply to you.
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  • Bluett
    Thanks Doh Heres to keeping our fingers crossed for the next 6 weeks!
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  • notagain
    Does anyone think the new BAD (Business Account Developer) Role sound good But do BSA's want to take on more work for the same pay! It's not all about management! Other staff have homes and families too!
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  • Fiver
    A comment from our GM at brief the other day "at least we've had our mystery shop this month so we don't have to bother about fives." Out of interest what happens to our two £25k/annum "Sales Coaches"?
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  • bob
    Anyone know when they will annonce which mangers were successful?
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  • Doh
    £25k sales coaches? So how much are the AM's on in your store?
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  • Carl
    What about the business centres who what large accounts ? Surely 1 business advisor is not enough to give good service ! Or will they all be transferred over to business direct ?
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  • Sacrificial L.
    Were all doomed.What thy dont tell you if you want your redundancy payout 1st you have to sit the online test then go for a shitty interview which has already been done b4 you apply for the job being if your face fits and your a lamb then you might be fine oh and dont forget you will have your salary cut and no further expenses work more hours travel more then in 6-12 months you may just be out of a job for real again when Best buy turn up and take over all our premises which are left idle to rent. oh and if you do none of the above you want get your redundancy. so if you do want it you have to fail the test rubbish your interview becuase you have to go and be a good boy even thou they dont wont you there just because the law dictates they do it. Go fck yourself pcworld. and i really do hope that everyone whos left after you cull the loyal team of managers and bsa's that you do fail.So SORRY if i sound negative but being told that we no longer want your service and u have to jump through hoops beg for a job and take a pay cut and move stores etc.. you think maybe i will be angry.10+ years service meens fckall to them those number crunchers.we they dont realise is the fabric of there workforce is going to fall apart.Customers need to know that when they spend x amount on I.T that they will have someone to support them and someone to talk to but if you dont live in mumbi of cheq replublic than so sorry mr customer we cant help you becuase i cant speak english.Oh and how stupid and up there own arses are they to say say be proffesional whilst you wait to be made redundant.go frig your self im gouing to take the system down just like most other AM's BSM's & BSA's. I think they should have given us all garden leave. Drrrr no there so stupid and up there own arses that they want you to carryon as thou nothings wrong.MMm but whats gonna happen in 1 wk or 2 wks or when 45 days are closing in,dont they think that customers will know sales go down quality goes down and so the rest of the shit all comes out about this really nice company we all used to like working for.We all know where the skeletons are and what our customers dont know or the authorities. im sure trading standards ir the health board or even our shopliffters will know that we all know enough to topple this company and more. so much shite we have taken on our shoulders so much shite we have hidden from the general public.ITS about time our voices where heard for and wide boys & girls..!!!!
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  • ME
    What about all the big people, ie MD etc, have they had a cut in wages, the stores take the money!!!!!! £25k for a Sales Coach, whats one of them, what do they do!!!!!!
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  • Sacrificial L.
    silly little PRISSYS thats what they are. a glorified do nothing heres a payrise becuase im to scared to loose a c.a who screws over customers and walks away laughing...
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  • ME
    What about the CEO,MD etc, what aare they losing on. Why dont they offer to have thire wages cut etc. They dont take the money!!!!!
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  • SKELETONS
    There will come a day very soon when everyone will be re applying for their job and that day is very close.. Watc this space. DSGI are fucked greedy dont give a damn aresoles
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  • bob
    Have they confirmed those who keep their jobs will have wage cuts??
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  • Doh
    From what I gather, no wage cuts, just bigger workloads, on par with the GM.
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  • SKELETONS
    The bigwigs at H/O will be rubbing their hands over a nice cognac saying MMMmm more bonuses,,, less staff more work. for the ones left if they dont like it get rid put a partime slae worker from bangalore in the shop nd pay them pittance oh and dont forget the carrot if you train up you can have 5p more an hr..Train up pcworld dont know the meaning of training they talk the talk but dont wak the walk. no wonder where all in so much shit becuase some dumb twat up there hasntgot a fckin clue which day it is or how to wipe there own arses,Sorry they just use the staff then dispose of them once they have wiped their arse with them and flush them away thinking thats gonna help. what they really need to do is sack themsleves and try reaplying for a job in the real world. Wonder if they will have any luck maybe they can go work for daddy or mummy play counting their money in their big daft houses.
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  • SKELETONS
    Take your redundancy Boys & Girls then lets see how they cope with nobody left.lol
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  • Doh
    Probably not the best place to ask, but what if they offer AM's the chance to be CA's but the AM's refuse (because of a huge pay cut)... would that affect any redundancy pay??? Because they've not taken the alternative offered to them?
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  • Hmmm
    Sacrificial Lamb, can i just say WTF?!?!?! YOU ARE EXACTLY WHATS WRONG WITH PC WORLD. FOAD. Anyway moving on, the bigwigs at hemel will not be rubbing there hands, and as for Mr jones the M.D well he got no extra money for running PC World AND Currys so even the people at the top have it bad. What u all need to realise is that PCW HAS to mkae theese chnages OR eventually it will stop making money! They have to try whatever they can to keep making the profit or theres no point being here. EVERYONE on this board has no idea what it means to have to reapply for your job so quite frankly go die in a fire u mornons.
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  • ME
    http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10029836
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  • Sacrificial S.
    WTF you prat. This is a board for people to voice their opinions, not be an obnoxious bastard with ill intent. Dude you're crying into milk that's years old and you really need to move on, you obviously don't belong with the company if you are still with it. Staff need a little more respect than what has been handed out but frankly, it's move with the times or get another job. I'm a staff member and my job is on the line, but for reasons which everyone was already very aware of. Shouting your mouth off on here just makes you look a fool and people have no reason here to listen to you or give you an iota of attention. Good luck all.
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  • Doh
    Yeah I had seen that ME... what I'm worrying about is what if they try to get out of paying redundancy pay to AM's by offering them a £13k a year CA job... **You are not entitled to a redundancy payment if your employer offers to keep you on, or offers you suitable alternative work which you refuse ** At which point does it become an un-suitable offer?
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  • Worried w.
    Ref your point Doh This question was asked in the 'meeting' my hubby was in and apparently they would have to match you to a job of 'similar' pay etc to what you were on, so if you were a well paid AM, I don't think they can feasibly offer you a CA's salary.......doesn't stop me thinking they will find some kind of loop-hole and get away with it though.
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  • Ah !.
    That is ridiculous . Cant believe they are offering managers customer advisor jobs . What a career killing move taking that would be ! 45 days to find a job guys . My advice would be to take a few weeks off and devote 40 hours a week to finding another job instead of working in that place !
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  • ME
    No, It was a statement that Doh made. It hasn't happened.........YET!!!!!
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  • acemckoy
    Anyone know whats happens next Ireland? Our MD (Declan Roynane) has been removed from the senior management list on the Corporate Website!! Whats goin on???
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  • Blah 2.
    From the questions that I raised, Managers can not go to CA level only the BSA's. My fellow BSM asked if they could go to the BAD role or key holder and was told no, only to AM level. Just been told that the test is online from the 4th Feb till the 25th Feb on 'The Edge'. Worry is that if it is written by someone at head office (several rumors I have heard include Jon Naylor), then you can bet your bottom that 18 of them will be around fives, one about Milestones and the last one about customer service. But the last question all the answers will be wrong so you can not get 100% - lol! Well someone has. Sorry, going to add another thing, they could of changed the picture of Keith Jones's memo. Nice picture of him in the corner, arms crossed laughing - sums it all up! Anyway, I do hope that all the BSA's, BSM's and Managers are all ok - just wait for it to be on COOL now, or is BitterWallet the new COOL?????
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  • Anon
    So if the new assistant manager role profile s are like general manager ones whats gonna happen to the gm s after they have done the consultations ?
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  • Sam
    The two things which have pissed me off is. 1. They won't give me a redundancy pay estimate. 2. I cannot take voluntary redundancy. I'm a BSA, and there are no CA jobs in my store, there are two jobs between three of us, the other two BSA's have children, so I'm happy to leave to ensure their jobs, but no my SGM says I have to go through the process. I reckon my GM has made his mind up anyway, I'm going to f**k up my interview on purpose.
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  • AH I.
    I have been busy monstering around this evening as there seems to be no positions on COOL.......
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  • ME
    1 weeks pay for each year!!!! See the post further up!!!!
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  • SKELETONS
    Well said Sam thats the only way you will be labelled shit for work and only way you will get redundancy.follow the process through to the end but be laid back keep head low say little and only that way anyone will get it.They should offer voluntary redundancies instead of putting us through all this crap just so they can further humiliate us. AND THE PICTURE OF k JONES TOTALLY AGREE WHAT A BUNCH OF COCKS.
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  • PC m.
    OMG... shut down pc world??? yes the websites r cheaper but as I work on the service desk I get all the pople who have bought off a website bringing their computers to me asking what is wrong with it and why wont this work?? Shutting it down wont solve anything than to have millions more people on the dole looking for work that they cant get due to the recession. If you have a problem with PC World dont go in there!! Stay away! Its people like you that come in complaining about prices and god knows what else when you dont actually know what to do with your computer and we offer to fix it for you. In our store we frequently fix things free of charge so maybe we should start charging you all so we arent losing money...You never get your car fixed for free do you??? I work in a WNR store (which is a new brand store for those who dont know) and we have had plenty of people telling us how knowledgable we are and how nice we treat people and dont sell them things they dont need as some stores do so before ou tar us all with the same brush (and send millions of people to the dole office!) please think again!
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  • Ah m.
    I too have been monstering about tonight looking for a new job :)
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  • SKELETONS
    PCWORLD MEMBER. doing jobs for free thats why people like yo should be in sales and not playing video games in theback anddoing jobs for free.. your not profitable so fck you
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  • I a.
    People who cant afford pc's come to us peole who can dont use us becuase dsgi would rather rip the small I.T user off then upest the middle class
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  • PCW G.
    Your all to blame for the demise of pcworld you all deserve to loose your jobs your all a waste of space and think small.Thankly im keeping my job and getting rid of you lazy gob shites and keeping my sheep who do what i say when i say and make me look good. Good Luck findinga job in todays society...
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  • Confused T.
    Some of you may disagree, however....MY OPINION, (as is the point of an open forum!), and I've kept it clean! WNR...waste of money, unnecessary and punching above our weight, will follow in the footsteps of the Connected Home Fives..patronising, script read, waste of time and wages No bonus scheme..demoralising, uninspiring, cripples the incentive of the work force Were slowly moving back to comission based, which encourges the wrong type of salesperson, (the OLD PC World image) No respect for staff, as we are the ones who MAKE the money! Product range too big, not enough of the popular makes/models...leads to clearance items Too many targets on the heads of CA's, for the money they are paid The only good I can see from these readjustments id that it will get rid of the deadwood staff, (which does include a lot of AM's and BSA's). Granted this is the reason for doing it (other than to cut back on spending), but it will only lead to the wrong replacement staff in the future, as anyone who gets employed by us will then be in fear of the same thing hapenning, and so will not fully commit. I think PC world should have stuck to their current strategy, not WNR. I know we're not making a lot of money but profit IS profit, and if we can hold out longer than our competitors, we'll be OK. We have too many people recently employed by DSGi, at the top level, who have big ideas that are not researched properly. I was told John Browett got the OK to do WNR within 6 months. (but I may have been told wrong!) Just my Two Cents, even though I work in the service dept, so it doesnt really concern me....until they do the same to US!! Better get my C.V on jobsite.co.uk!! Good luck guys!!
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  • Northwest G.
    totally agree my freind GM from where ever thankfully our jobsare safe and also we know whos going so why waist our time on here listening to people cry when we can sit back and reap the rewards and extra bonuses.
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  • allsofunny
    its seems that this goes back to a previous point made. why did some of you stay at pc world if you were so unhappy. maybe you just like the sound of your own voice and as you have nothing constructive to say you couldn't get another job and now its too late. many companies are downsizing and i feel sorry for the people who are going to be made redundant at the expense of some of you whingers. i do hope that pc world survives this recession one way or another. i for one rely on the local store to help me with problems i have, some i have had to pay for and some advice given free. from an earlier point i have never taken my car to a garage and been given free time from the mechanics there. or to the dentist and been given a free check up.
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  • Confused T.
    in response to the post before by previous one, (by PCW GM), it WILL get to GM level, and with that type of attitude I wouldn't be suprised if you're looking down the barrell end of the firing squad!
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  • allsofunny
    @northwest Gm i do think that was a bit harsh. i agree with pcw gm though
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  • PC m.
    SKELETON stop beng so bitter I see you havent identified yourself...maybe because you are a disgruntled sustomer?? anyway I do not play games in the back as we dont have an "in the back" anymor in a WNR store besides I stand on the desk frequently de fragging laptops because people think that it is on the blink. I do jobs for free as I dont believe in taking money for things that can be done in 5 mins I would think that is being thoughtful nothin else...
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  • Northwest G.
    The next staff to go are tech guys....lol then security then more staff especially when we only need 6 to go accross to curys when we merge the stores..all jobs outsourced to outside tech. so good luck boys and girl. means lighter work for me and dole que for the rest
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  • PC m.
    ALL SO FUNNY thanks or backing up my point I agree it is a shame that people are losing their jobs but I would think this is for constructive ideas on here not moaning and bitching as that isnt going to get you keeping your job unfortunatley
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  • Northwest G.
    pcworld member.please come and work in my store so i have the pleasure of sacking you after ipi for doing jobs and not charging.as yourself this we have prices for services and your not charging that means your stealing time and work from pcworld so you will be dealt with accordingly
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  • steve t.
    i think we have a troll in our midst...................... the two gm's comments make me laugh, no doubt the same person.... lol
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  • other G.
    pcworld member.please come and work in my store so i have the pleasure of sacking you after ipi for doing jobs and not charging.as yourself this we have prices for services and your not charging that means your stealing time and work from pcworld so you will be dealt with accordingly
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  • steve t.
    isn't it amazing how northwest gm and other gm make exactly the same comment managment cloning perhaps???? PMSL
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  • PC m.
    NORTHWEST GM so you think we should b doing de frags for free???? the other stuff is chargable as you well know and that is what happens but de frags and advice will always be free as far as im concerned. and as for security going arent you lucky to have security as most of the PC Worlds dont so maybe you aint a GM after all as you seem to know little hmmm you are threatening other peoples jobs as you know yours is safe??? what a nice manager you would be
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  • PC m.
    *shouldnt do de frags for free
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  • PC m.
    Well STEVE cloning may be the way to go.......
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  • other G.
    get a life sill boy.go work for comet thats all your good for. my store im happy to say they all do as there told and complies to the better work ethic of charging and serving customers when they have to and yes taking money off the poor ones so to pay my wages and my staff. tech guysand the rest who needs them all a waste of energy and wage.
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  • Cookie
    That GM needs to be sacked and kicked up the bum, with my big boot.
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  • Negative Z.
    Lol I can't stop laughing at Northwest GM.
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  • Confused T.
    CLONE STEVE CLONE STEVE!!!
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  • steve t.
    Seriously thou, It is a real shame with regards to the Buisiness center side of things, i just hope who ever does the interviews is able to keep on the decent and only get ride of the riffraff The same with tha management, there are too many managers in PCW and it does seem to be that all they way through the management structure changes are being made. And it needs to happen, there is a lot of dead wood in PCW, i hope they get this right or it will be disasterous. I am resonable hopefull about this
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  • Northwest G.
    Im glad my store is in a city with a great northend team,, as pcworld say your all crap get rid of the dead wood then the rest of them will fall into line..just like sheep. Baaa
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  • PC m.
    GM you need to go far far away to never never land where your dreams of being a tyrant may come true! maybe you should wear a mask while you are robbing your customers.... its people like you that are giving PC World the bad rep that its got
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  • Confused T.
    why can none of the "GM's" on this forum spell??
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  • steve t.
    the one thing this person is NOT is a GM, he's just some sad loner posting silly comments..................
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  • PC m.
    CONFUSED if you cloned STEVE a lot more work would get done lol
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  • Confused T.
    Do we have a PC World in Preston?
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  • Northwest G.
    Steve you want to see my GM foot up your rotten arse,
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  • steve t.
    why can none of the “GM’s” on this forum spell?? AH, Have you ever heard of the "Dilbert Principle" of management promotion. ??? go look it up, its funny ............ but unervingly true at the same time...................
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  • Confused T.
    Are we all talking about the same Steve here?
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  • Innocent
    Gm's know who there killing and why they dont giv a damn as long as there paid silly wages we could afford to employee more staff
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  • Confused T.
    Hahahaha the Dilbert Principle...awesome. So true it's unbelievable!! (in some cases of course!)
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  • PC m.
    many hands make light work CONFUSED lol
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  • Lee
    Biggest problem with PC world is that it suffocates otherwise exccellent sales advisors by making them follow robotic sales methods and crucifying them with performance targets on a constant basis. Staff need product training, not fives training and to be able to inject a little personality into their sales. "What brings you *click, robotic buzz* to the store today?" - Sound familiar?
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  • PC m.
    Def LEE i agree it is very robotic and not always easy to slip into the process of normal conversation. I am forever being asked to use FIVES on the desk but there are only so many times you can use "what brings you into store today?" on a desk that has 'refunds, exchanges and techguys' emblazoned in 2 foot letters above it :S
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  • Confused T.
    When you ask.."What brings you into store today?" how many people have u had say.."My Car"!?!?! LOL
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  • REDUNDANT B.
    WELL NORTH WEST GM AND OTHER GM I HOPE YOUR BOTH VERY PROUD OF YOUR DISPLAYS ON HERE. AS THEY SAY WHAT GOES ROUND COMES ROUND AND IM SURE YOU WILL GET YOURS IN DUE COURSE. I HOPE YOUR CAT DIES YOUR WIVES GET AIDS AND AND YOU BOTH DIE A SLOW DEATH.
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  • steve t.
    BTW, Best Buy are having problems of their own, who knows when they will eventually get round to taking on DSG..... http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2009/01/09/best_buy_december_sales/
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  • BSM, t.
    Well here goes people. I am in two minds after todays notice. It was everything I had dreaded and in some ways what I have been saying needed to happen for 18 months in regards of Business to Business. It doesnt need BSMs in every store but I do want to know what is going to happen for more coaching for the team to work Maginus? Who is going to sort the numerous problems that rise up every week within B2B? I know 3 GMs that can actually use Maginus but I'l be damned if I am going to clean the mess up and be asked to be equally responsible for B2B and all the other opp and sales stuff too! Our pay isnt going down which is nice but also all the work that I have put into making B2B better in my store has gone to nothing now since when/if I get to ask for a pay rise I will be rated against totaly new KPIs. Thats nice isnt it? I get done over for three years with excuses about this and that and when I finally get a chance to get a bit (I stress a bit, still way below the normal rate) more money they change my whole contract. Dont get me wrong, it might not sound like it, but I love the company. I have been with it for years but when the thing I am damn good at and care for it taken away from me I see no reason to start putting effort into something else. When might they take that away from me? I'm sorry to everyone that is worried about their jobs. If you care about them then its very likely youre the sort the company wants. To those of you that just spend ages ranting, f'ing and complaining then youre the sort that has done untold damage to our stores. Everyone keep the faith we'll see it through! Good luck!
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  • Anom
    @Northwest GM You seem to have a major problem, Who do you think you are slagging everyone off, yeh its alright for you you keep your job, your Am's will be glad to relocate show some compassion for petes sake!
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  • Genuine S.
    Why oh why is anybody entertaining the comments placed on here by Northwest GM or GM. Any Manager with that sort of attitude about his/her colleagues would undoubtedly be first in the redundancy pile when it comes to the GM consultation period. Which, yes, is happening very soon after the AM consultation. So if, which I very much doubt from your poor attitude and even worse spelling, you are even genuine GM's, I would start worrying about your positions within DSGi.
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  • anonymous c.
    Eh **** asking 'What brings you into PC world today?" on the desk, the response is always going to be, to shout about the missold crap the last person that said that to me, sold!
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  • Concerned m.
    @Genuine PC World SGM I had heard this rumour, is this going to happen after the 45 day consultation with the AM'S, Will the GM'S have to reapply for their stores. What about everybody else, are there more redundancies or pay cuts for colleagues?
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  • steve t.
    Given that there is blood letting at AM level and at SGM level and above i would be surprised if GM's don't get it as well....
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  • Genuine S.
    It would not be fair for me to elaborate on the GM position (as I did not with the AM position when I knew about it) as they deserve the same treatment that the AM's had through the official channels! Yes there will be a GM consultation period soon. There are no planned redundancies for CA's currently and if you are one of the concientious members of the PCW staff who have put genuine posts on here my advice would be to you, carry on conducting yourself in the manner you presently do and you have nothing to fear.
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  • long C.
    This is so depressing to read, if these comments are true we are all in for the chop! 8 years down the drain for what, to be slaughtered by customers for our prices, what the fuck we dont make them! and if we are that bad at our job surely we would have being sacked by now.
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  • Northeast
    People should stop presuming whats happening and wait for an official announcement. I today was told exactly what was happening and unfortunately it does mean some cuts for the AM's however i dont see why it is fair for anyone to slate the company. Pc world has gotten a name for itself over the years, however they are "trying" to currently change this around. I have been standing in for a manager recently and some of the complaints from customers claiming we give bad service is ridiculous. EG. 2 days ago customer returning tom tom over 2 years old requiring new one as it wasnt fit for purpose. I do my best to put the customer first, and ensure they get what they wish, however sometimes there are silly requirements. Most companies at the moment are trying to work out exactly how they are going to stay open through this recession and pcworld is doing what it feels will keep it going, even though i fully sympathise for anyone who is geting made redundant. Whoever the AM's are, posting on this website really shows the reason for this cut, and hopefully they wont be the ones who get their jobs back as we want AM's who care about the business, and are mature enough to understand why this is happening. PS: my job also isnt 100% safe and i have children a home and other things which are going out of my bank regularly however i am trying to put this aside and go forward as should the rest of the managers, not whinge on a website that will get YOU nowhere but will make the company look even worse in the public eye. Time to grow up, and act as a manager instore and maybe out of work aswell. Goodluck to everyone - more people out of work in this country is deffinately not what anyone wants im sure in this time of recession :s
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  • long C.
    @Genuine PC World SGM Thats good to know, not on the GM front though, Are there any plans for Tech Guys, Sales Coach and the OOH team?
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  • Genuine S.
    @long term CA No plans currently in the pipeline.
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  • long C.
    @Genuine PC World SGM Many thanks, fingers crossed then!
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  • Bsm
    DSGI will not survive with its current staffing levels and totally random pay structure, every tier from top to bottom will be affected. The fact that some people on here feel infallable need to step down from there throne of self importance and realise they are next.
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  • Doh
    @ Genuine PC Wolrd SGM... For stores that will only have 1 GM and 2 AM's... am I right in assuming that there won't always be a manager on the premises (based on the fact that 13-14 weeks of the year there will only be 2 managers due to the others taking their paid holidays), or will this mean over time for the managers to cover such times? Also, will (or should) all stores have a Sales Coach position?
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  • Genuine S.
    @Doh As I am sure you are aware there are curently CA6 colleagues who are key holders and run OOH teams, therefore no GM or AM on the premises at these times; this practice will continue. No PCW managers are entitled to or made to do 'overtime' as your contract states that you will do the hours required to fulfill your job role. As for sales coaches they are a legacy position and no longer recruited, however if stores currently have them they will carry on being utilised.
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  • AM D.
    I think the sales coach role is actualy redundant. The AM role will be squeesed and the remaining managers will be tight on security and compliance. The Sales coach IS redundant. he/she serves no purpose!!!
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  • Bsm
    Sales coach still be utilised??? Pets @ home GMs earn less than our sales coaches!!
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  • Doh
    So in conclusion, there will be times the store is open to the public and only a keyholder will be on the premises, and not a manager?
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  • Doh
    @ BSM... I actually hadn't heard of a Sales Coach being paid £25k... I thought it was more in the region of £16-17k.
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  • Ben
    Guys + Girls. CHANGE curve. all those who remember back to their SIM course. The economy has and will continue to change, if we as a company don't change, then there will be no company. I have been an AM for 2months. I am confident that I work hard and achieve a good set of KPI's, So although its not fun I welcome getting rid of 'dead wood' . All levels will be effected. Directors have changed and CA's will go. Anyone seen Rupert Cambell recently? he has had to change,so does everyone. FIVES, when understood and used correctly delivers better customer service then we had before. Milestones (WTF) And the sooner this is all done the better for me as I enjoy my job and can't wait till these hostilities are over. (cluster 13)
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  • AM D.
    Lets be honest. DSGi wages are pretty fair. We have a sales coach who is worth his weight in lard. They don't fit into a role profile. Since the company is purging, why not go for the £20k+ wastes of space
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  • a k.
    security and sales coach's are next (confirmed) unless they can PROVE the add value to the business ie: reduced loss. Or FIVES imbedded 100%
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  • PCWurld
    shouldn't they have got rid of sales coaches first then? if they are paid this amount
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  • PCWurld
    while they are at it why not get rid of ooh teams all their work used to be done by ca's before one team!?
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  • Bsm
    Ours was on 19k, managers at pets at home are on 15k-16k. I have a family member who runs a foot locker on 14k. Retail management is low paid so sales coaches are expensive when you look externally. Another famiy member runs a Maccy dees and hes on 18k and they do mental hours.
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  • Northeast
    thought it was 1GM 2AM's 1 CA6 1 OOH Supervisor
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  • Doh
    Yes, which still only leaves *3 MANAGERS*. When one manager takes paid holiday (which they obviously will) for a week, it will leave 2 managers to cover the store opening times (I'm not talking about keyholders now, but managers on the premises to deal with customers). So 2 managers are expected to cover 8-8 mon-fri plus sat and sun... so working hours will change too? Or will there be times that only a keyholder and not a manager will be on the premises when the store is open?
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  • long C.
    To anyone that can answer I am a sales coach, does that mean I am going to lose my job?
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  • Doh
    .... reading between the lines of what SGM said.... Managers will not be paid overtime, but will be expected to work any hours necessary i.e. when needed work over 40 hours a week, without extra pay.
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  • that k.
    do you do your job? if U can justify your position and pay over the other strong sales guys then you shouldn't have you had a mystery shop? how is FIVES in the store? however the company has been looking to remove sales coachs for couple of years now. and we can not recruit any new ones.
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  • whoamI
    Sales coaches were given a wage equivalent to what their pay was for the 12 months before commission was taken away. I was on £20k as thats what I earned with commission in the 12 months leading up to my appointment as Sales Coach. I am now a "sales expert" as they call it and may pay remains the same but I earn cabs and bonuses on top - its quite a good rap to be honest, and I never rip customers off, always offer persuasive arguments for customers to spend on things like norton, office etc - and to be honest all this excercise is doing is trimming the fat where its not needed - the shop floor remains unnaffected by the current happenings.
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  • Ben l.
    PLEASE Guys + Girls. CHANGE curve. all those who remember back to their SIM course. The economy has and will continue to change, if we as a company don’t change, then there will be no company. I have been an AM for 2months. I am confident that I work hard and achieve a good set of KPI’s, So although its not fun I welcome getting rid of ‘dead wood’ . All levels will be effected. Directors have changed and CA’s will go. Anyone seen Rupert Cambell recently? he has had to change,so does everyone. FIVES, when understood and used correctly delivers better customer service then we had before. Milestones (was awfull) And the sooner this is all done the better for me as I enjoy my job and can’t wait till these hostilities are over. (cluster 13) PS;- HAS THIS BEEN POSTED 3 TIMES or is some1 deleating it?
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  • Doh
    What about the current SIMs then? Where do they fall into all of this? If they have not passed does that leave them in an extremely vulnerable position... not qualified enough for the new AM roles but paid more than the expected pay the new "keyholder" will get?
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  • Lambtech
    Im sure that PC World is doing all that is necessary for itself to still be operating over the next few years. Sure there will be calualties, hopefully not of the better staff, but when we come out the other side I'm sure it will be an even better place to work and to shop. If there were not these cutbacks, then the company may not be here in the future, and that will lead to much more job loss. For those of you on the forum complaining about how PC World is a poor place to work, do the good staff a favour and leave!
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  • long C.
    @man who knows Yes, certainly do my job, Fives is'nt 100% but since WNR our mystery shop has improved, getting better all the time!
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  • Doh
    Oh, and can anyone confirm how much they have been told the Keyholder (CA6/SIM) will be paid in your store?
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  • Ben l.
    passing was in november, few in my course did. I was under the impression the rest had been failed now, so i suggest getting all modules signed off quick.
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  • man k.
    good, nothing to worry about then, worst case is they put you in ca 6 level. which i believe can be 19k but don't hold me to that. & I heard all non passed SIM's were failed ones now .the new course is being written including currys
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  • Doh
    Right. So even with all the restructuring, stores will still be running the SIMs course?
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  • Benji
    The economy has and will continue to change, if we as a company don’t change, then there will be no company. I have been an AM for 2months. I am confident that I work hard and achieve a good set of KPI’s, So although its not fun I welcome getting rid of ‘dead wood’ . All levels will be effected. Directors have changed and CA’s will go. Anyone seen Rupert Cambell recently? he has had to change,so does everyone. FIVES, when understood and used correctly delivers better customer service then we had before. Milestones (was awfull) And the sooner this is all done the better for me as I enjoy my job and can’t wait till these hostilities are over.
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  • Ben l.
    in the end, they have to push the company forward. anyone else having their posts removed?
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  • Ben l.
    PLEASE Guys + Girls. CHANGE curve. all those who remember back to their SIM course. The economy has and will continue to change, if we as a company don’t change, then there will be no company.
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  • Ben l.
    I have been an AM for 2months. I am confident that I work hard and achieve a good set of KPI’s, So although its not fun I welcome getting rid of ‘dead wood’ . All levels will be effected. Directors have changed and CA’s will go. Anyone seen Rupert Cambell recently? he has had to change,so does everyone.
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  • Ben l.
    FIVES, when understood and used correctly delivers better customer service then we had before. Milestones (was awfull) And the sooner this is all done the better for me as I enjoy my job and can’t wait till these hostilities are over. (cluster 13)
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  • Tech2000
    Hi @Confused Techy: YES There is a WNR store in Preston.
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  • Tech2000
    Hi The above comments by my colleagues (both non-fictional and fictional) and other contributors make depressing reading. The WNR PC World in Preston where I work is a great store to work in, we have an excellent Academy, a good stong management team (you know who you are!! SB, IW,KJ,ZA and CB), loyal hardworking staff who have worked hard throughout the years to make us a Store of Excellence! "Posted by Northwest GM | February 2nd, 2009 at 9:29 pm Im glad my store is in a city with a great northend team,, as pcworld say your all crap get rid of the dead wood then the rest of them will fall into line..just like sheep. Baaa" This post is insinuating my store, however I strongly believe that my GM would never post anything to inflame the already tense situation that he knows his colleagues are going through, all day yesterday the management and staff were upset and one could tell he was genuinely distressed. I agree with other posts that this person is not genuine!! To all my colleagues affected by the events of yesterday, please know that I am thinking about you and one hopes that whatever the outcome is in 44 days, I hope to see you back in store soon!!
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  • Fiver
    @Confused Techy - The fact that the "GM'S" can't spell or use grammar confirmed my belief that they are GM's. I've never met one yet with a decent education. Low cunning-yes.
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  • Doh
    I think the problem is, and always has been, the lack of communication from the top through to the stores. I understand there are procedures but you can obviously tell just by looking at the replies here, people are really scared and are at risk of losing everything should their job go so just want to know... Not knowing and being left hanging is, IMO, worse than if all staff had a yes/no answer yesterday.
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  • Doh
    Can anyone clarify... does the 45 days include the notice period, or is it 45 days... trying to figure out, if it comes to it, how many pay-days there are left until d-day!
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  • AM
    Anyone done the test yet?
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  • PC m.
    you may be lucky and get 2 pay days and it is just 45 days as i am aware this thurs is one pay day then 4 weeks so yes it will be 2
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  • General P.
    To Other GM and Northwest GM. I am the General Manager of PC World Preston. I do not wish to comment on the issues posted by everyone, I am 100% supportive of all my staff and the colleagues all over the country going through this difficult time. All I will say is that I would never post the comments that have been put on this website by other GM and Northwest GM. I do not know why you would pretend to be a General Manager or what satisfaction you get out of the comments you have made in my name. Anyone who knows me, will know that I am supportive and empathetic to everyone involved in the changes that are taking place. I will not post again, but wanted to let everyone know that as the GM of PC World Preston, any previous comments or future comments are not from PC World Preston.
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  • bob
    any news on the test??
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  • hardatwork
    Shouldnt you lot be at work!!! Or are you abusing the internet on an eclipse terminal, lol
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  • hard w.
    Some people do have 2 days off per week, some have half days, some start later/finish earlier. Just because people are posting during 9-5 hours does not mean they are abusing work systems.
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  • Arnold
    @ Genuine PC World SGM I don't believe that a Genuine PC World SGM would leave comments on a site like this! so I would advise anyone reading the posts to take them as they were probably meant "with a pinch of salt" Of course you could be one of the SGM's who are leaving .... now there's a thought !!! But the guys I know who are SGM's are far too proffessional to leave themselves exposed Stop wasting peoples time, the announcement was made, let's support those who need us, forget about running stores without a GM (for all that is said, it will probably never happen - stores need someone to stear the ship) Tech Guys are already being poached by regional Tech Guys, Sales Coaches arn't being replaced when they leave or move up and Security is doing a cracking job of loosing us millions but I can't remember seeing that many guards in stores recently anyway, can you?
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  • Tech 2.
    Hi @Posted by General Manager PC World Preston As a Colleague in WNR Preston, I can confirm that the above post is genuine. There will be no more posts from myself in this forum regarding this distressing situation. Adios
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  • Me
    Does anyone know if we get given our notice AFTER the 45 day period, or is this our notice?
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  • north G.
    SAD people were going to sack you all and re-hire sheep... they will do more work then all of you
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  • Genuine S.
    @ Arnold 1. I think you will find by not disclosing my name I have in no way left myself exposed! From the dialect you use I assume you also work for DSGi, and if it is so 'unprofessional' as you state to make posts on here, what indeed are you doing contributing yourself? 2. If you read any of the posts I have put on here I would defy you to prove that they are in anyway 'unsupportive' of any of the staff at PCW. I wish everyone who faces these difficult times the very best of luck in their futures; whatever that may be. 3. It is no secret that GM's will be facing a consultation period and they have all been told this so in no way is this publicising something that the affected parties are unaware of. Further to that, yes the SGM's have already been through their consultation periods and there is every possibility as you say that I could be one of those leaving; something I will deal with should that be the case. 4. Finally, please, if you are going to make a prognosis on whether a store could run with or without a GM in each one please do try and get your spelling correct. Slips like this could lead you to 'stear' your ship in the wrong direction - we are supposed to be educated people! @AM The test is not available online until 04/02.
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  • John B.
    I've got my job. I am a snob. The wages of the AMs, I shall rob!!!!
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  • Cluster 1.
    And its bye bye cluster 13.... every where we go i'm seeing.... somewhere the sun is shining........
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  • Arnold
    @ Genuine PC World SGM Two points you made prove you are a fake 1) GM's have been told that there are no plans in place after these consultations 2) I know who the SGM's are who are leaving, if you don't that PROVES that you arn't an SGM BTW Spelling may be poor but at least I can sleep at night knowing that I am not a liar Shame on you Chump ;o)
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  • TechGuy
    I don't blame the use of Fives at all. As a technician in store, I've been using Fives since before we called it Fives. It's just how I myself bantered with customers and to a high degree, it does work. What doesn't work is when it's 'forced'. It absolutely has to be natural otherwise a 'guest' will avoid and block everything you say. As for the loss of a chunk of the Business section, I saw this coming a mile away. PCWB has been dwindling for a while now with drooping sales and 'targets' being mentioned more often in briefs. I can also see in the long term future for stores that TechGuys will end up performing some kind of product support for the CA's and even training them to some level as TechGuys seem to have way more knowledge about the 'every day' items that our 'guests' are looking to purchase. Eventually even TechGuys may be renamed to Technical Advisors with a little more integration into the CA pool so their is a little more presence on the shop floor. I look forward to seeing our worthy CA's being more confident and less embarrassed when faced with a 'guest' who wants to know everything about the item in his hands. I have no regrets seeing some BA's that many of which had an 'elitist' attitude towards retail 'guests' and repairs, leave or learn the shop floor role once again. I know this is a little selfish but I'm certainly not regretting the loss of their ridiculous bonus's when it was the CA's and the Technicians that were passing them their customers in the first place and us mere mortals getting nothing for it. I also have no regrets seeing ridiculously high paid CA's or BA's getting the chop when it turns out that they're not actually trained to the level they're getting paid for. CA6 that couldn't even cash up? BA6 that didn't know how to use Maginus? Please. If you have money to spare on paying sales staff when they're not qualified, pay the ones that do a good job and ARE qualified. Hope this all blows over in a light breeze and reveals a more polished and defined DSGi with the sparkle that always shone but from under a dark cloud.
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  • Genuine S.
    @Arnold I said if I leave in the context of I am not willing to disclose not I don't know! Many Thanks!
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  • Arnold
    So PC World's loss is Curry's gain? LOL
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  • Manager W.
    Good Grief. Have we lost our minds. I'm in a conundary now, prob spelt wrong so i must be genuine lol , I really dont want to lose my job but as an AM its probably going to happen as I've been in the business too long, over 12 years now, and dont subscribe to the Fives philosophy since its a demeaning way to sell profitable attachments. But the business finds itself needing to satisfy the market demands of cuts. The AM population has become over saturated as there are few development options going forward. I love going to work and interating with my relationships with my low paid 'colleagues' who try their best to serve customers, yes some customers are awkward but sales is a career that is highly rewarding when done well and enjoyable. However I must stress that recently things have changed, the company wants AM's that act like GM's on low pay, threaten poor performance straight away with IPI, yet no-one has been dismissed via IPI. So they call poor performers 'terrorists' most whom are just having a bad time trying to do the job to their best and pay off mortgages, look after their families etc etc. Now they want everyone to follow 'FIVES' to the rule. I believe that 5's has just not been properly inducted as everyone from the old school advocates the 5 major generals but thats because it was easy to understand. Times have changed and Fives would work but when an idea becomes compulsory it loses the message. So where do we go from HERE..... a number of good managers respected by their staff will lose their jobs and robots who advocate FIVES will win, in a number of months those managers will lose respect and chaos will ensue, as 5's is integrated with IPI. As a people manager I have tried really hard to protect the staff that we have interviewed and employed. I know from earlier posts a lot of staff are on this site and support their AM's so I ask that we stop messing about on this websire and someone who has techy knowledge, I know your out there as I respect most of the techguys, could set up an employee gripe forum website where we could all properly discuss the issues we face as employees who care that the business succeeds. I would love to put my name and number to this but would get dismissed straight away without any redundancy pay. However If you all ask for me to disclose who I am, I wil. Its about time we stood as one. Anyway good luck to all employees who care.
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  • loyal c.
    i have been a loyal shopper for ages. this fives thing is just a laugh. the staff HAVE to say it to each customer that cmoes in "what brings you to pcworld today" the staff their know who i am and treat me with respect i just hate the repeatition they now go through. my replies started as, to see your wonderful faces and spend my cash... to things like "a car" "my feet" and now "superman" i running out of new things to say and the staff seem pissed off asking it to. wouldnt it be better that they actually ask questions that get to the point, like hi how are you today.. its a oldie but a goody. or get rid of the are you a pcperformance member.. i mean come on a member, its a service agreement/insurance certificate.. not a membership, you never see pcperformance give you loyalty points or loyalty discount. i dont see the company going bust at all, i speak to the staff and i get a few inside scoops. like the fact they not even eat into the 400mill loan the banks offered. they had £50mill set aside late 2008 for winning new revenues which if they included in the financial report would mean they would not have been minus £20mill. instead they froze the re-making stores over christmas and used the £50 to buy stock without credit, that has sold well coz the staff have said their warehouses are NOT chock-a-block so the profit from that just made the £50mill turn into much more. so with these no expenses for coffee and cuts of jobs from area's that aint grabbing cash from customers means they now how more cash in the bank. i own a little shop and if i knew a store had 6 managers at 25k to 60k not even helping to take customers money, just sat in the office id certainly cut down manager. plus the business centre from store's say so only accounted for like 1.5k of sales each day compared to domestic daily sales of 12k+ and the profit margins of th 1.5k was like 2%.. yes that means the store is down like 10% lfl sales compared to if they kept on the instore business centres.. but from a profit point of view it just a loss of £30 and with 2 maybe 3 business guys with a daily wage of £50 after tax i see that getting rid of business guys or shifting them back to sales to take proper money actually makes more profit. i see the next financial report being a plus figure
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  • dug
    I think I know who you are Mr SGM :)
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  • SGM 6.
    I am Micky Mouse
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  • SGM 6.
    Micky Mouse rules the world
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  • A W.
    PC World is a great place to work for those who are hard working and produce results. The people who are worried are the people who have sat on their laurels for too long thinking that they can take home a wage month after month without adding real value to the business. These people have been at the rotten core of the company and these are the people who make the customer experience anything but positive. The rotten core is about to be removed and the company will move into new territory. A painful and difficult process but a necessary one, and those that find themselves unemployed after the transition are the people who have not deserved to stay, based on their past and recent performance and attitude.
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  • Justice
    Forum will be setup over the weekend, all pcworld stores will receive an email from Justiceatpcworldstores.co.uk (via China or Russia - no trace :) to duty manager with a link to the the forum. This email will be deleted by some staff and reported. Repeat emails will follow with the link so everyone has the chance to view. The repeat emails will be easily identifiable due to the bizarre names at the beginning of the address. Examples: EliteHackeratpcworldstores.co.uk, Alienatpcworldstores.co.uk, BritneySpearsatpcworldstores.co.uk, Godatheaven.com. I encourage you all to speak your mind, help each other and try to be happy.
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  • Manager W.
    I dont think my previous post came across correctly. Yes I have my gripes but I genuinely believe that employees of pc world on this site do care and we need to consolidate ourselves, Will Someone technically competent setup a web blog, like the forum but off the record, so we could discuss our concerns in a better way and we could force JB etc, to do something about it. Good Luck to us.
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  • steve t.
    Justice Hope you've got plenty of random IP addresses, because the'll just ban your ip address at mail server
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  • Me
    But if just one person from each store sees it, or reads here, then the message will get out about it... The thing is, people still won't be able to identify themselves on a forum for fear of losing their jobs (again).
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  • hi
    Any one done the test yet??
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  • Worried w.
    In my opinion all I see happening is the fact that this whole charade of an 'interview' process and online test is merely a formality. Most of the AM's and BSM's fates will have been decided before they even enter the interview room. It will be a case of whether the 'face fits', how well 'in' you are with your SGM and a little about your ability. Out of interest, will all applicants be permitted to record the interview process for their own peace of mind? Doubt it! They will deem all long-standing AM's (on higher salaries) unsuccessful..... ease them out of the company and ensure all the newly qualified, lower salaried AM's remain. If they decide to keep some of the higher paid staff....they will ensure they are re-located miles away from home, with no fare allowance, and hope that they ultimately become so hacked off with their situation, that they walk of their own accord. Hey presto, no involuntary redundancy pay-outs required. Yet, chances are, it will be the newer qualified, lesser paid, younger, 'still live at home with mummy' AM's that a redundancy would have the least effect upon. It's a ll a cost cutting strategy. They don't care who they hurt in the process or how they do it. They have no regard for staff with a family to provide for in the current economical climate, nor do they acknowledge company loyalty, and the numerous hours that are added to the normal working day (un-paid may I add) during a long-term career with the company. Even factors such as having 2 days sick in a 10 year career don't give you a deal of difference in point-scoring terms in comparison to the next-man that has maybe has 10 days off in 2 year career......all you get is an extra 3 points......laughable. All I can say is, good luck everyone
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  • Anon
    i think its absolutley hilarious that 2 days before business peak they announce there reducing the staff in the B centres. Although there may be more domestic sales, the £value of the business centre sales beats it everytime. i agree with someone who wrote above, that they should get rid of the sales trainers...to be honest the training is crap anyway and to be paid 20k a year to show a couple handbooks to a few new starters... What a joke... As for cutting the managers at the store, i think this is a briallint idea, as there are a couple at our local store which i would love to see jobless.. franically i cant wait to see what happens during business peak...
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  • Me
    Maybe business centres are different in different parts of the country, but having targets for 5-6-7k a week seems really pointless having them there.... imo that is. Maybe other business centres do better.
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  • Worried w.
    In reference to anon above.....there are a fair few managers that I know staff would love to see the back of, However.....how much are we betting that it won't be those particular ones that get the boot. It will be the well liked and respected managers that go.....brutal
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  • Another w.
    PCWorld would be nuts to lay off the excellent AM's that work for them. In this current tough climate they need these guys (or girls). These are usually the higher paid managers who are worth their salt. Unfortunately, some of the excellent AM's may disappear to other companies through the 'threat' of redundancy alone.
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  • Manager W.
    To Justice, Steve the techy. Im sure its possible to do this, so do it. Instore email is easy to access to communicate to all stores this idea. I dont think that most people would dismiss it. Lets do it anyway. What have we got lose, the damn company doesnt acknowledge union's so maybe we could become ONE.
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  • ex p.
    what is happening to the RBSM's regional business centre managers? are they staying or going? what use did they have anyways.
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  • Andy c.
    Rbsm s , They have gone as well
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  • Anonymouse
    Are you sure RBSMs have gone, no one has said anything about that?
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  • ex p.
    wow that sure was kept quiet, after all what did benefits did the rbsms have on the business other than go around stores checking up on business centres and do their "visits"
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  • Myself
    Nice to have something on cool for the team to read! Only been 3 days and they still can't get it sorted. Anyhow anyone done the test yet?
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  • soon-to-be-ex-pcw-staff
    I have worked for DSG for almost 10 years. For the most part i have enjoyed myself but now since a lot of the managment are about to be culled it leaves me no real route for progression any time soon. I have always been a defender of DSG from attacks by freinds, colleagues, other retailers, and even in recent times when for personal reasons i have become very dis-pleased with the company i still cannot help myself in defending them. Yes, it is a shock that we are about to potentially loose about 1/3 of our managment team. But some losses are probably required. I can honestly say that over the years i have worked with some people i wouldnt leave in charge of a chocolate covered dohnut, never mind a shop, and if this cull gets rid of them then all the better. Where it dose fall down is that i live in scotland, we have a small number of stores and staff spread over a large area. Almost all of the AM's, BSM's and a good few of the BSA's i know are good decent people and deserve to keep their jobs, and are not the incompitent muppets i refered to earlier. I fear that although the company is in a bit of a crisis and needs to cut costs, slashing the managment and business centre staff is not the best option. I think that there are a few mistakes that have been made and could have been handled differently. I have previously worked as a B2B account manager for 3 years. I know what a Business centre can acheive when allowed to work correctly, and properly staffed. The Business Centres can if ran correctly provide a huge source of income and more importantly margin for the company. You should be keeping The business centre and providing indepth training for the BSA's. I have colleagues that have been in the business centre for several months and still know less than 10% of what i know about processes, operations, ways of getting margin from customer without fleecing them, ways to help your customer, look out for them, provide a world class service and get genuine loyalty and return business, general really basic info that hasnt been imparted to them. That i belive is mistake 1. Mistake 2 is on the over pricing of certain items. I have long defended that any of the DSG outlets are a rip off. For years that is all my freinds and B2B clients would say. recently things had began to change. Howver in the last few weeks, prices on items such as Ink have rocketed through the roof. Presumably trying to get more margin on each one. If you drop the prices you should get more sales = more margin eventually. THe manufacturer reps, the nerchandising rep's they all say we are the most expensive by a long long way. Why ? It's almost like they dont want people to buy... As for making fun of putting stationary orders on hold... each store wastes a lot of money on these things. Although you think its a laugh, by pooling all of the excess and redistributing we can save a lot of cash. Some of you might see it as being anal or pedantic, or even petty. I see it as looking in great detail at where we can save a few pence. If you save £300 per store, per qtr, thats almost £200000! achieve that for 2 or 3 areas accross all teh chains not jsut PCW and before you know it you have saved a over a million, keep doing it and it suddenly all makes sense... I sound like i am ranting and i appologise, but i think some things need to be said. One thing that has always ALWAYS annoyed me is the people who come into the stores, make snap jugments and leave with a bad impression and a sometimes worse attitude. Refering to a stattments made at the top of the page, and in every other DSG-related-forum i have ever read: If many members of staff approach you, they are not hounding you, or hasseling you, listen to them, they are probably saying "hello" (or something similar), this is to make you feel welcomed (and to deter shoplifters). If there are people in different areas just standing around, its because that is where they ahve been deployed to. To ensure that every key area has a member of staff to answer questions from customers and help if required. When the tills are busy and there is a huge que and only 1 cashier, or when there are a lot of staff standing doing nothing, this (and only this) is probbably due to bad sales floor managment, or a lack of staff through sickness etc. But even with the best sales floor managment you cannot keep tabs on every one all of the time. In some circumstances as soon as you turn your back the staff start to wander, dissapear, skive etc. What i would ask the customers out there to realsie is that when you are in the store you are there for 10min, 30 min maybee an hour? If you see us at anything other than our best, try us again. Dont make an assumtion about the entire company & chain based on 1 experiance. I have spent somewhere in the region of 12000-14000 hrs inside a DSG store over the last 10 years. Beleive me there are plenty of occaisions when we are well staffed, well managed and everyone walks out the door smiling :) Before anyone accuses of being a Die-hard DSGI lover i personally cannot wait to find a new job as this one is driving me slowly insane, but what i can say is we are not as bad as you might think, and in all reality as someone else has said if we were to go bust it would have a catastophic effect on the UK (and european) economy so show some support to your DSG colleagues who need it and go to your local store and spend some money instead of wishing we go bust because if it happenes, a lot of others will go too .
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  • ex p.
    well said soon to be xpcw staff, could have put it better myself,i left last year after 10years with them, i get all my hard drives and ink from amazon these days, ink at pcw is 15.99 the same ink on amazon is 3.49 and its the exact same!! hard drives, the same one is £80 cheaper on amazon! and you are not ranting you are speaking the truth good on you and good luck in finding a better job, i did and im so much happier now and i can progress thro my new company unlike pcw who were forever dangling rotten carrots infront of my face promising me sim, promising me bsm, and they never materialised
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  • salescoach
    On reading some rubbish about the sales coach role, i would like to add my piece on it. It was and is MY role to train and coach the CAs how to sell, and one I am proud off, as the store produces superb KPIs week in, week out. I do however spend most of my time now SFMing, which I enjoy very much and to be honest am bloody good at it as our GM, visiting GMs and SGM will testify. The stores figures are my responsibility, and the GM and SGM know this , I have taken over the sales manager role, freeing the other AMs to do other stuff. I wish we can support each other and not get into fighting and slagging each other/position off. Best wishes to everyone.
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  • Hacked B.
    I appreciate the comments of a lot of people on this, which has ended up as an unofficial PCW debate forum. Firstly can i say to all those hard working, underpaid staff that genuinely enjoy their job - my thought are with you and your families. I didn't sleep well on monday and i'm sure i wasn't alone. There are many problems with PCW, most of which are the fault of idiots in their ivory towers who have lost all touch with the needs/wants of customers and colleagues. We can all reel of idiotic mistakes made by buyers as well as big wigs. My biggest bugbear isn't KPI's its the way in which these are handled. IF training needs, discount levels, gross margin etc were left to the GM and not others then we may well have a profitable business. KPI's should be indicators of a business that is not performing well, instead it becomes the be all and end all. Can anyone remeber the last time they sold a mouse mat or a surge protector. These were staple diet 12-18 months ago back when pc/laptop attach was £notes rather than particular products. Less than a week ago i put through a large(ish) business deal which i know full well was well into the 20's in terms of margin %. the SFM gave me a 'look' as there was no office and norton on it. my problem - IT WAS AN APPLE MAC SALE! With the bringing back in of CABS we are showing that we couldn't care less about customer happiness only purely about profit (As harsh as this may sound, and it pains me to say it) It seems to me as if we are treating our customers with utter contempt. Forcing products upon our customers is actually against fives - instaed by using this 'framework' in the wrong way we are not taking our 'guests' on a tour through disneyland instead we (CA population) couldn't care less about which laptop a customer wants simply which ticks on the slogger they can suffice with this customer. Customers pretty much need antivirus. Norton 360 is one AV product. Symantec pay us plenty of money to sell it however less than 2% of colleagues will use it. Does John Browett/Jorge... use N360? One further example; i work in a store which is opposite a currys store, instead of having a level playing field they get priority of stock - volume as well as frequency, less KPI's to 'tick off'and the best one they are measured on 4% discount. Needless to say those purple shirted colleagues will know things are different at PCW. The question i therefore need to ask is, are we geared up to fail? (* Rant over) We all know there is potential and given the right product mix and the ability to manage stores with a bit of individuality - rather than robotising us (not neccessarily against fives) and not wasting buckets of cash at head office level i think we could turn it round. I'm not convinced we will though. Best of luck to you all.
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  • Hacked B.
    Can anyone confirm whether RBSM's have actually gone? i can't get through to mine and had the greatest respect for this one and the one prior to him. They were allways a good escalation point for the occasional numpties at Waterfold and now Brno. Well said soon-to-be-ex-pcw-staff However i've almost stopped defending us now. I can recall the price of one set of ink cartridges has doubled in 12 months.
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  • now s.
    i agree with all things said above, but the problems run deep. like soon-to-be-ex-pcw-staff and expcw i too have served for many years in dixons and pcw. certain things remain the same. no matter how hard you burst your balls trying to do a good job the praise is seldom there, you never get the pat on the back you deserve, and even if you do get a small thanks its usually follwed by a "But you never done x, y, z,....." And lets not even mention what happens if you slip up even in the slightest way...... dont get me wrong they are not all bad, but dsg managment are in general all to quick to crucify you and all to seldom in saying thanks, and if you have a trigger happy GM who loves IPI, and Disciplinarys then pray to whatever gods you worship as youre gona need them....
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  • just s.
    here's an idea.... you may remember that from time to time the bossmen and women of hemel come to work in a store for a day or 2 to see what life is really like at the pointy end. you may remeber keith jones used to do breakfast meetings to talk to colleagues to get a front line picture of what happens in the real world. I used to serve on the PCW forum, so i know about ffeeding issues back. dont you think these things need to happen more often ? if Jown Browett, and Keith, and Jorge could spend not a day, but a week in stores (a store for the whole week) learnign about the challanges, the distribution managers, the POS controlers who never dispatch teh correct pos or stock for action live / promo plan..... wear a purple shirt, get stuck in, deal with angry customers at the clinic, get your nuts kicked by the SFM for not getting the PCP, Office, NIS, Connect, and EasiPay, oh and services on every sale. The only condition would be that they dont go back and crucify a GM / AM for not doing it as it;s written in the rule book. Find out what really works, and what we NEED to do on a daily basis to get around the many many pot-hols on the road of life in PCW ??
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  • fuckfives
    match + 1, lol, what a joke, pc performance club member, poorly paid, poorly treated staff = undesirable results. the cunts at head office will still get paid a wedge and bonus i bet, why dont they take a pay cut? pcp, norton, office, connections, service attachment, sky/virgin/tiscalli, techfriend, online data backup, cmon john browett, jorge benloch, kieth jones, YOU get instore and sell all that fitting it into fives, film it put it on cool and that would be of value to us all. fives is a load of shit and we all know it from sales right to the boardroom, it wreaks of embarrassing cheese, makes us sound like automatic sales machines, and YOU FUCKING IDIOTS that activeley promote it, get your heads out of the sand, stop licking arse or sucking your sgm's cock and get real. good luck to all the hard working ams and good riddance to the ass lickin tossers.
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  • fuckfives
    and all you so called customers that slag of pcw, you lot can go and fook ducks too, there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into running a store and keeping it running, and at least we are interactive with customers rather than just a faceless website. sad gits
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  • company m.
    I cannot believe what I am reading on this website, This web site is open for all to see, the information that has been posted by what seems to be a minority of so called what,well informed members of management, is truly disgraceful, you should all be ashamed of yourselves for feeding this to the general public, “our people, our operations, our business and beliefs are potentially being exposed”. This country is in a recession, many companies apart from holiday camps and fast-food restaurants are going through difficult times, cost reducing, transformation processes are strengths of a good business. “by the way a doughnut is a KPI in the golden arches...” And blue coats are not allowed to ignore customers. Almost every sector is being cut. DSGI have got to make cuts, I have a business, I also have to make cuts. I was asked to take a look on this web site to see what most people on here think of the company they work for, The company that has provided them, with, probably a roof over their heads, a vehicle, holidays, all the technology they ever wanted plus much more. My thoughts are with those genuine people who have worked hard and believed in what we do... “Your time will come” For the people who have let us down. This is your moment. YOU NEED TO MOVE ON AND GO! If you cannot speak to a customer (who assists in paying your wage) YOU NEED TO GO! If you are not HAPPY in the place you work. THEN YOU MUST GO! One wish for the company “ONE STORE, ONE GROUP, GREAT PEOPLE”. The sooner we merge the better, it can happen, it will happen. A fresh start !!!!! Dsgi will see this through.
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  • Lol
    Holidays???? Hahahahahahahahaha! You think staff can afford holidays on the wages they're paid?????? LOL
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  • Joe
    "The company that has provided them, with, probably a roof over their heads, a vehicle, holidays, all the technology they ever wanted plus much more." That is probably the funniest statement I have ever seen associated with DSGi. I'm sure one of the great DSGi staffers can confirm what a load of rubbish that is :)
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  • pcwman
    Can anyone confirm if you become a key holder, do you get money for doing so?
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  • ripped o.
    Hi PLEASE ASK yourself this question. Howmany PCWorld stores do we have times that by BSA's & Am's & BSM's. That comes up over 100. Now this is what the law says. The minimum consultation period required is 20 - 99 employees - at least 30 days 100+ employees - at least 90 days WHERE NOT BEING GIVEN 90 DAYS NOTICE WHERE ONLY BEING GIVEN 45 DAYS,.,!!!!!!!
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  • ripped o.
    Archive for the ‘Redundancy Payment’ Category Changes for 1st February 2008 By Sarah - Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 On the 1st February the amount for a week’s pay will increase from £310 to £330 for the cap for statutory redundancy and basic award. This also means that the cap for Unfair Dismissal claims will rise to £63,000 after the 1st February 2008. Not many get to that level in any event unless the employee has long service and high earnings. Posted in Redundancy Payment, Uncategorized, Unfair Dismissal | No comments » Similar Posts: Basic Award New Compensation Limits from 1 February 2009 Increase in Limits Order - Compensatory Award and Redundancy Pay to Increase from 1 February 2008 Loss of Statutory Rights Redundancy Payment Punitive not protective! By Philip - Monday, January 7th, 2008 A protective award is now something of a misnomer following the Susie Radin case. Where an employer fails to consult where the employer is proposing to make 20+ or 100+ employees redundant, then a Trade Union, an employee representative, or an employee can apply to a Tribunal for a protective award. Under section 188 where there are more than twenty redundancies but fewer than 99 redundancies then the obligation to consult arises 30 days before the first proposed dismissal by redundancy. Under section 188 where there are more than 99 redundancies then the obligation to consult arises no later than 90 days before the first proposed dismissal by redundancy. If you are logical, an employee who is dismissed without collective consultation (where there are fewer than 99 redundancies in total) has missed out on at most a further 30 days pay as proper consultation collectively would have lasted a maximum of 30 days. Being EU law, a more nuanced approach is taken where the failure by the employer to consult is looked at rather than the loss to the employee caused by that failure. If the failure to consult is total (ie there was no real attempt to consult collectively) then the starting point is a punitive penalty of 90 days protective award. In the case reported here the Employment Appeal Tribunal awarded 90 days protective award in a case involving fewer than 99 redundancies, thus, arguably making the affected employees better off financially through their employer’s default. Had proper consultation taken place they would have gained a maximum of a further 30 days pay.
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  • ripped o.
    Posted on wikidpedia In December 2008 DSGi made 600 TechGuy field engineers redundant [17][18] [19]250 found alternative positions within the company and 350 were released. As a result the PC World stores report to holding huge amounts of un-repaired LCD and plasma screens which are preventing store profitability with their 28 day fix guarantee.[20] Staff claim tech-guy redundancies to be much higher than the official DSGi press releases report. [21] DSGi also hit back at claims they were playing scrooge for classing Christmas Day as a normal working day. [22] PC World Store Managers in January 2009 posted private internal memos on the message boards of pocket-lint revealing "...backlogs, shortages, management gaps ..." , the pressures to reduce full time staff and B2B service closures following a huge overspend on store refurbishments [23][24] and refer customers to outside companies. [25] Monday 12th January 2009, all shopping websites (Currys dixons and PC World) are all closed for around 24 hours causing concerns of the current DSGi management.[26][27] Following the mountain of problems that have been circulating the websites and highlighted in wikipedia, the managing director of Currys, Peter Keenan, and the MD of the tech guys, Tom Barry, both leave the company ahead of poor trading announcements[28][29] Financial pressures hit DSGi and Computer Weekly now rate the business as risky. [30] Trading updates on 15th January 2009 show sales were overall down 10%. [31] DSGi trial a Currys and PC World store merger. The two retailers owned by DSGi never merged stores to prevent opposition from Best Buy snapping up spare units. However since the credit crunch has opened up a wave of spare out of town units left by MFi, Woolworths and others, it now seems impractical to hold onto units residing next door to each other. [32]Branch Managers complain of very little staff left in the stores following the targeted 95 million pounds of savings ordered by John Browett.[33] The recent axe thrown at the service side of the company is reflected in a recent customer survey when the DSGi group took the bottom 3 positions for customer service, [34] despite spending thousands of pounds on the "FIVES" training program. PC retail magazine report "stock shortages at DSGi group will now pave the way for turmoil and fuel the collapse rumors". [35]Credit insurers have dramatically reduced credit. February 2009 - PC World to make cuts to prevent the company making further loses. These include business center and manager redundancies.[36] Concerned staff comments include " DSGI will not survive with its current staffing levels and totally random pay structure, every tier from top to bottom will be affected. The fact that some people feel infallable need to step down from there throne of self importance and realise they are next." Huge amounts of staff across the country have decided to contribute to concerning discussions on the bitter wallet website. [Retail death Watch website analysts make PC World and Currys as the top two retailers not to survive the recession
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  • ripped o.
    On DeathWatch(most often in the lists) Currys (53 lists) PC World (50 lists) Jessops (42 lists) WHSmith (34 lists) BHS (30 lists) JJB Sports (20 lists) Homebase (17 lists) Dixons (16 lists) Focus Do It All (14 lists) HMV (11 lists)
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  • Death r.
    HMV Woolworths EmpireDirect Wilkinson Plus PC World
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  • PCW
    Actually, if you look at the info you were given if you are "at risk" then you will see that the 35 day consultation period is NOT your notice. If you are unsuccessful in getting another job within the company THEN you will be given your letter of formal notice. Also, in the booklet you would have been given it stated what the notice periods were for employees based on their grade. The minimum notice period is 4 weeks and it rises... but this is in addition to your statutory notice period - after you have worked for the company for at least 2 years you are AT THE VERY LEAST entitled to 1 weeks notice for every year worked. So, depending on your situation, you still have at the very least 4 weeks of work on top of whatever time you have left until you get your official notice of redundancy. Read the information you've been given people!
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  • PCW
    Typo - *45 day consultation period
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  • i h.
    to pcwman. I was a keyholder, adn can confirm there is a Keyholder suplement of £100 per period that can be paid. It is i believe at your GM's discrecion as most keyholders are managment and wouldnt normally get it, i think it is for non-managment only. hope this helps
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  • readtheletter
    @ripped off because theredundancies are based on a cluster level ther are less than 99 people being made redundant so therefore the notice period is 30 days and not 90 days although the company is giving 45 days @PCW managers and bsas are now working in their notice period. The current roles will end on 21st march and the new roles start on the 22nd. all redundancy payments, ususlly a week of pay per year of service, although this has not been confirmed, will be made after this date.
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  • LEFTOPEN
    Hi PLEASE ASK yourself this question. Howmany PCWorld stores do we have times that by BSA’s & Am’s & BSM’s. That comes up over 100. Now this is what the law says. The minimum consultation period required is 20 - 99 employees - at least 30 days 100+ employees - at least 90 days WHERE NOT BEING GIVEN 90 DAYS CONSULTATION WHERE ONLY BEING GIVEN 45 DAYS,.,!!!!!!!
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  • LEFTOPEN
    A.C.C.A.S SAYS this is wrong
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  • PCW
    @ read the letter READ THE LETTER! Read the pack... it CLEARLY says in it "you are in a 45 day consultation period and this is NOT your notice" If what you say is true, then they are going against #1 Your statutory rights (ie LAW) #2 What they themselves say the notice period is, in the pack they gave everyone at risk!
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  • PCW
    CONSULTATION is NOT notice of redundancy http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10029835 http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/DG_10029832 Notice period (by law) is: *** at least one week’s notice if you have been employed between one month and two years one week’s notice for each year if employed between two and 12 years 12 weeks’ notice if employed for 12 years or more However, you should also check your contract of employment because your employer could have set out longer notice periods. ***
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  • readtheletter
    your notice period in this case will more than likely be paid but not worked ie gardening leave. whatever happens new roles are set to start on the 22nd march notice period and redundancy are 2 seperate issues and as such i beleive that people who do not get offered another role will be paid on both counts
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  • Lola
    Does anyone know if unsuccessful AMs could apply for keyholder posts? And has anyone done that test yet?
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  • readtheletter
    @leftopen the number of redundancies are based on the cluster and not the company as a whole. this is why you will not be moved accross cluster even if another cluster has a very poor set of managers. this does seem a little unfair especially as the clusters no longer exist after saturday. it is a little confusing
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  • readtheletter
    @ lola from what i have been told ams/bsas can only go for the new management positions and therefore would not be eligible for the keyholder which needs to be a ca6
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  • Lola
    That does seem a little unfair, if AM was happy to be downgraded, and take a paycut, surely the store in question could only benefit from an experienced manager being a keyholder, rather than a CA6. I would rather do that than be jobless in the current climate. How do others feel?
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  • PCW
    Actually, the company (according to its own rules - again READ WHAT YOU WERE GIVEN!!!) has to allow you to apply for any position within the company, if they are vacant, and everyone facing redundancy ONLY will be allowed to apply for those jobs within the first 2 weeks of them being open. People, READ what your rights are... and actually, the company have very fair policies when it comes to this, that they HAVE to follow! @ readtheletter - the company may well be "paying people off" with the garden leave BUT what I'm getting at is that those at risk have not yet been given their official notice of redundancy, and on the day they are given their official notice they will be paid for (whether they are asked to work it or not) however long their notice period is (which will be a minimum of 4 weeks, working up to 12 weeks, dependant on either pay grade or how long they have been with the company.)
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  • PCWurld
    @Company MAN “Your time will come” For the people who have let us down. This is your moment. YOU NEED TO MOVE ON AND GO! If you cannot speak to a customer (who assists in paying your wage) YOU NEED TO GO! If you are not HAPPY in the place you work. THEN YOU MUST GO! One wish for the company “ONE STORE, ONE GROUP, GREAT PEOPLE”. The sooner we merge the better, it can happen, it will happen. A fresh start !!!!! Dsgi will see this through. THESE ARE THE COMMENTS EVERYONE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT ! If people didn't enjoy working for the company they wouldn't be arsed writing here ! THe people here care about the comapany its customers and yes our jobs. Rather than say if you don't like it leave shouldn't john browett , keith jones, jorge and yourself, treat your staff the way it wants us to treat it's customers? When was the last time anyone from the ivory tower asked what we thought about the business, did they consult us about fives? Funny how the company was more profitable before milestones one team and fives? And as for training etc, why can't we have training days held in store over a few days rather than each member of staff having to travel many miles and be put up in hotels etc fuel costs, which no doubt costs more than sending one person to train over a few days in each store?
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  • Am
    If the redundancies are cluster based then the people who stay will be the best am s in their cluster . Not the company . This will mean it will not be a accurate representation of the am population . E.g cluster a has 30 great am s but some will still loose jobs. Cluster c has lots of poor am s and few great ones . Therefore some poor ones will keep their job in cluster c and some great ones will loose out in cluster a .
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  • Fred
    Have done the test, it is really hard. Harder than I thought it would be, I thought cos it is multiple choice it would be ok, but its tough!!
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  • Al
    So what sort of quetions are they - is it operational or 5's based or what ???
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  • AM
    what sorta scores are out there? 65% above or below? can't handle this waiting!
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  • Ex B.
    Have done the test and got 80%. Have to admit i feel very bitter towards the company because no were on it is any ref to my old job as a BSM. So crap AM's who dont want to work for the company who got us in this mess as they "run the business" keep there job because people like me who are totally commited to B2B and doing a job dont know the standard operations stuff which formed no basis of my job role. Thank you John Naylor. Question how are new AM's going to deal with business customers like in my store who spend upto 150k a year? Customer comes in on a Saturday or Sunday and has a CRN issue? What does a RITM look like. Well my view is just as Best Buy will take retail sales from us Misco and Insight will rub there hands at getting B2B customers who see though the repeated use of FIVES and despair at being treated as a retail customer when clearly there not.
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  • Al
    Ex BSM - OR ANYONE - What sort of stuff is the quiz on - is it 5's based or is it general ops stuff (what is a ga etc).Not expecting real examples (i expect everyone gets different questions anyway) but just an idea - as a bsm I kinda get stuck on warehouse procedure so am dreading it . ny general info would be welcome.
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  • East G.
    You have to answer 20 questions out of a pot of 100 questions so you might get any,
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  • Al
    Dreading it - what sort of questions ??? Maginus would be useful !
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  • Aimed M.
    You turnip. It's GMs like you that are the reason that so many staff are pissed off. Being kept out of the loop until the last possible moment and then dropping the bomb on all the staff. It's because of websites like this that staff actually know what is happening and whilst it may not be the best option, it's the only bloody one cos morning briefs are full of shit. Anyone that can calculate in their head know that the figures in the morning briefs are pretty much made up on the spot yet everyone is placed under increasing pressure and workloads because of greedy management.
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  • Ex B.
    Ok, question number 5 / How many stores does PCW have? Questions number 7 / in FIVES what is a 100 E of Value? What does this have to do with being driven, and a totally customer focused employee? Shit all just John Naylor proving that any BSM that sees through the 5 fives bullshit is not part of the new plans. Ask yourself sell a £500 laptop with a £300 HD camera bag and all the extras that are 40% over the internet price. Then get a AM tell you that you have made the company say £300 profit but because of no norton , office or pcp your going on IPI? Again why are BSM's paying with there jobs because AMs who "run the business" cant tell Hemel the truth. Happy customers are not KPIS they are people!
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  • hi
    Any info on the test?
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  • fuckdsgi
    Pcworld are dying a slow death
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  • fuckdsgi
    Yep the test is all going to be around account managment and how u manage the account and what u do to keep the customer u might aswell start to get your customers to write in to tell the gm how great u are
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  • F0ul
    I worked for PCWB on the GCAT team in 2000-1 and I left because of many of the issues being raised on this site. The KPI have always been too high in the mind of management, and net margin much too low. DSG was always based on having too many stupid managers who did whatever they were told and not enough manager who actually understood the business process, Turnover being vanity while profit is sanity. The main problem for PCW is that its time has been - the market it was serving is no longer there - and any sensible board would kill it - or sell it.. Anyone with any sense of job security should have left the company at least 2 years ago. The rest of you should start looking at new industries to move to. The training of FIVES does sound interesting, but it really is just basic old fashioned salesmenship - If any of you are moaning that is is immoral or whatever - you are not suited to a sales role. Do the right thing and get out of sales. Knowing that the majority of DSGi staff are too young to know what a recession feels like, you are not going to understand how hard the next 4 yrs are going to be - regardless of which company you work for - make the move before you are pushed - its the sensible thing to do. It will hopefully make you appreciate how good having a job is compared to not having one! This is your wake up call - make it count!
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  • Kayjay
    Keith Jones should go back to driving vans, and John Browett should go put his zooligy degree to good use. We need some blue sky thinking, someone with retail pedigree someone who's had a track record of turning businesses around in times of crisis. Our own louis grestner or Devon iococca someone who is so confident in his ability, he will work for a dollar a day. All Keith does is chat up ugly am's and till girls resign Keith Jones!
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  • Jeanclaudebrowett
    Wages are shit, managers treat people like shit there's no hope or prospects unless your an asslicker I bet it's a HR problem other retailers look after their people really well look after your people they'll look after your profits and customers. Duh duh duh Keith why don't you sack the HR director cos their might as well not be one what direction is he taking the people? Huh ooh I don't know cos he's a waste of space, fives was a waste of money and the trainers cost too much. Do changes that customers want like product knowledge not based around kpi's go back to basics if in doubt like driving your van! You remind of the MD of little chef a paint over the cracks with a gimmick kinda guy! Back to basics!please go back to the foundAtions of what made us grow in the old days. During the boom period what made Pc world great? Go back to that or go back to Driving vans! Oh yeah adopt some jack welsh cadour PPL tell it like it is! Forget candy coating the truth tell him like it is stop asslicking because the lack of clarity affects his descisions too asslicking gms and ams. Tell him whats shit so he can solve it.
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  • Worried w.
    Has anyone had their interview yet?
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  • Al
    Anyone done the test ? What are the questions like ?
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  • hmmm
    hmmm you guys may wanna ask your gms about the £6000 per cluster of bonuses put up for the gms over business peak, top gms get £2500, 2nd £1500 and 3rd £1000. Doesnt sound like cost saving to me! Screw the little guys and feed the gms... Good plan
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  • Exploitation
    As I said already, PC World are like most big businesses that take the profits from the hard work of those on near minimum wage, and give 98% of the profit to management (who do nothing but tell their staff to work harder and meet the unreachable targets). The fact that sales staff are not rewarded for their efforts (except for pitiful "crumb-like" bonuses), gives them no incentive to give good customer service, to go beyond their job description, or to gain good product knowledge. The "real" commission is given to management instead, who reap the benefits of any good performance of their sales staff. Is that a fair system? More like exploitation. If the company gave “motivating” rewards to sales advisers for their performance, instead of feeding rewards to management, then the company might be doing much better. If higher management wages were not so ridiculous, then may be the company would be okay.
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  • Account i.
    Evening. As a promising BSA in the business I am quietly confident that I will get the new AD role. However at what cost if I'm made redundant anyway in the not so distant future? Think about it. BSM and 2-3 BSA's jobs all squeezed into one person for not much more money at all? When the role cuts them out of £5 connections and as far as I can see, shopfloor selling which brings in other CABS as well. It will be very hard for AD's to hit targets that I'm sure wont change at all, if not go up. All the proactive needs to be done, operation gear change, all issues, backorders, CRN's, then 15k sales a week. Jesus... CA's are suppose to help with the reactive you say? Pfft, like they will be arsed to remember Maginus even if you try teach them it. They're quite content making a quick cab through eclipse and not having to worry about Maginus. It's hard enough getting them to quote Smartplan!! Point is, with all this pressure on AD's and the ridiculous targets (reactive and proactive) they'll have. PCW will soon start closing the corner business shops and just use Waterfold imo. What do you think?
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  • LEFTOPEN
    Ive had my test it was all around store operations.easy if you know your job and dutymanagement.If not im sorry to say but you will be up for the chop. I am a BSM and i know myself im going and also ready to go.
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  • reply e.
    See comments by this guy "exploitation", please feel free to remove your head from youre ass and look around. Tell me a store where any manager has earned bonus in quite some time???? Do you really know how many of those hard working staff have gone onto SIM AM's SIGMA and then GM's, let me give you some help. 22% of the current management population. How do those crumb like bonuses compare to other industries, last voted as 4th best bonus payer by CBI of all retailers. We dont ask that they go beyond their job description, JUST DO YOUR BLOODY JOB. But you are right though, those managers who do not deserve or earn their big wages, will now be weeded out. Long overdue bring it on.
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  • Exploitation
    Reply to "reply to exploitation" In addition to the comment above by "hmmm", which it seems you did not read, yes I can give you one very good "recent" example where managers earn the best bonuses, which again, if you had read my earlier post you would have seen... Not long ago a KPI was set on selling TV’s. The sales staff were put under pressure to sell a certain number of units each week… And guess who benefited? Yes, that’s right, the General Manager got a 42″ Plasma! Other examples are when the sales staff meet targets on PCP, norton and office, then GMs receive £250 each month. Even cruises have been won in the past by GMs because of the hard work of their sales staff. What is there to justify managers getting 3 to 6 times a sale adviser, plus these bonuses? When the sales staff have had no wage increase for several years. Regarding CAs going onto become AMs, that opportunity may have existed 3-5 years ago, but you only need to look around and see that career progression for CAs certainly doesn't seem to be the companies interest anymore.
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  • Exploitation
    Reply to “reply to exploitation” By the way, why do you assume I am a "guy"? Also, your familiar manager-like words: "We don't ask that they go beyond their job description, JUST DO YOUR BLOODY JOB", reveals you really don't understand the constant pressure that is put on CAs to sell things that most customers don't even want or need.
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  • Fiver
    I served a customer (sorry Guest!) on Sunday who knew exactly what he wanted (Advent 5611) and nothing else. I tried for NIS/Office but he repeated he wanted the laptop and nothing else so I processed the deal and during conversation found that he had walked out of another store (Chesterfield) when the CA refused to deal with him without goes through Fives. This guy was knowledgable enough to know what he wanted and we drove him away. Talk about Fives giving the customer what he wants is a load of bollocks, it is purely about ramming everything we can down their throats wether they need it or not with the added advantage to the company that any CA caught not using full Fives can be thrown out on their arses. Such is life!
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  • hatesdsg
    Im glad managers are going. Reading this has made me realize what cu**s they really are.
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  • reply e.
    So is your contention that no GM should get any bonus whatsoever?????? now if that were a colleague I am sure you would kick off. Do you really believe that there is no pressure on managers? If the answer is of course there is, then it is natural it is passed on? The £250 bonus you state has finished, If you listen to your briefs managers now earn the same bonuses as colleagues, or do you resent this as well? I can immediately pin point 9 SIMS 8 SIGMAS who have progressed in the last 2 years from colleagues, so yes development for the right people does happen. Colleagues, no sales staff, all get a performance review each year. In my store I have certainly approved 14 pay rises based on performance improvements in the last year alone. So yes pay rises for performers do exist. Or do you believe we should give blanket rises to ALL colleagues, even underperformers, in a market which is getting quieter.
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  • reply h.
    Nowt like using the same brush to Tar everyone eh!! If Hitler had you the Russians would have shit themselves
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  • bob
    does anyone know if its possible to take volentary redundancy ?
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  • jim
    "Posted by hmmm | February 9th, 2009 at 10:13 am hmmm you guys may wanna ask your gms about the £6000 per cluster of bonuses put up for the gms over business peak, top gms get £2500, 2nd £1500 and 3rd £1000. Doesnt sound like cost saving to me! Screw the little guys and feed the gms… Good plan" I'm suprised how quiet this has been kept! Its true, BSM's and BSA's in 45 days consultation. GMs to get a bonus based on EA spend and Business Plus sign ups! How fair is that?
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  • Billy
    You can not take voluntary redundency, all AMs BSMs will have to go through the interview process, if you are unsuccessful and there is no job for you, you will be offererd redundency, but it is not really your choice. Its all in the info you were given.
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  • bob
    so basically i just need to fail the online test totally and bodge my interview ? :) guarantueed offering of redundancy
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  • Billy
    Yes Bob, that would do it!
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  • New G.
    Well i have been reading these posts for a while now, and it only seems to be a bitch and moan site. Nothing really constructive. Coming in to PC World this year has been really challenging. Not for the reasons you might think, but because the company is populated with AMs that have been promoted way beyond their skill levels and fail miserably with the basic tasks given, or basic retailing skills. Never mind the travesty that they call customer service, or how to help your frustrated customer. BSMs have been running their business centres just shy of a criminal operation over the past few years, just to defraud the company out of bonus money. In my view every one of them should be suspended pending a full investigation by the police. 2 to 4 years in jail for fraud. Best thing that ever happened was this consultaion and i am only sorry it doesnt go further. What they should have done is can the whole lot of them. Change the job title and job specs, and 'asked' them to re-apply for the new role. With the hope being that none of them got the job back. Took me six months of running my store to get rid of all the crap that was there, and it is looking like i will lose none of the managers i hired to run the business....why you might ask? Because they are quality. Nothing like the crap that exists generally through PC World. So, stop moaning and bitching. You brought this upon yourselves. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror and dont let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. If you are honest you, might even stand a chance of getting a job after march the 22nd. All those guys in Currys gloating...look out. Andy Hall has been moved over from PC World, amongst others, to do one thing..get rid of the top heavy management they have there...start packing your bags if you are a crap manager in a Currys store :) Anyway, i look forward to running my store with a quality mangement team and we will see through this recession well, and will continue to earn bonus payments for the whole team, including the management team.
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  • Specsaver
    Ref new GM Yep and your the type of GM that makes all us AM's hate to work for!
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  • Billy
    I disagree Specsaver, I am a relatively new AM in PC World and my concern for my interview is my lack of experience, I feel that I may not be able to relate the qustions I may be asked to actual examples purely because of my short time in the role. However it does frustrate me that some of the AMs I work with seem unable to follow basic procedures and processes put in place to protect the Business and the people working within it. and as New GM says, the customer service levels they offer are on occasion appalling. I firmly believe the only way to protect and grow our business is to ensure our customers are given first class service, anyone can shift a box, but actually looking after our customers is a skill everyone in our business should be using. FIVES may not be a popular option, if these bloggs are to be believed, but used properly it is a fantastic tool to enable us to not only exceed our customers expections, but also to manage our colleagues and their performance. PC World needs people who will manage and take ownership of the business, people who are conscientious and care about our customers and our colleagues to monitor performance and reward excellence, while making clear there is a consequence for poor performance and inadequate customer service. We need to protect the core of our business in these difficult times, and that means Managers within the business should lead by example, if we can't get the basics right, why should our colleagues and customers take us seriously. With some of the AMs in our business running a mile everytime a customer requests to speak to a manager, its no wonder we are gaining a reputation as a bit of a joke! If colleagues are allowed to get away with poor performance, they too will regard their management team as a bunch of clowns, and the colleagues that do an excellent job, but never get any recognition for it, will become frustrated, discontented and angry, feeling that they are the ones doing all the work. I hope moving forward, that the AMs who are successful can bring about and manage change to ensure that PC W
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  • Billy
    I've started so i'll finish... PC World can become the one retailer with a real "feel" for its customers, and a place where people want to work and consistently give 100%. I wish all the AMs in the business the very best of luck, and to those who are successful, don't underestimate the huge challanges ahead, we need to turn this business around and gain a reputation for excellence for aur customers and our staff.
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  • reply s.
    and I pressume by youre reply to new gm you mean ALL THOSE AM'S WHO LIKE TO DO FUCK ALL BUT DRAW A PAYCHECK EVERY MONTH If you need a reference for employment by Comet I will personally write you one to rival Keith Jonses and the Popes
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  • reply b.
    Thats it and close the door on you'r way out
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  • BSM
    New GM, what are you talking about, the reason why the company is in trouble is because it uses Agencies to recruit so called managers from supermarkets and discount shoe shops, winner, Im so glad you are in a store, for the record, Im not a nasty person but if you post your store number and real name, we could perhaps meet up and have a 1-2-1.... no bolocks as well as full of ****. BSM that is not a criminal, a family man who works hard and loved his job.
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  • Ex B.
    New GM That has to be the biggest pile of s*** i have ever read. Anytime you want to challenge me i can reveal the all shit you GM's get up to. The amount of GMs that have turned a blind eye to make them selves look good over the years is huge. Ask why the BSM's have not been sacked? Because the GM knows once the LPM gets involved they are the ones in the s*** not the BSM. So it nevers gets that far! Anyway once Andy Hall proves that you only need one GM for a Currys and PC World store in the same town you can kiss your job goodbye.
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  • reply b.
    Thank you for supplying proof that the process we are going through is worth while, to rid the company of knobs like you
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  • ssshhhh
    Does anyone know how they are planning to tell all the BSM's and AM's. Is there a set date for everyone to find out? Also, not sure if anyone knows, but you can pull a report off on the Edge to see everyone's test scores!
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  • EX R.
    Ha Ha, this discussion is a joke!! The amount of AMs and GMs who post on this site that cant spell is so funny. Nothing Changes! Good luck finding new jobs you total set of jokes!!!!!!!!! HaHaHa
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  • reply R.
    There were only 2 RGM's who have moved on and neither would post such a comment, let along spell carn't as carnt, then pass comment on incorrect spelling. The correct definition for the word you used is below. Urban Dictionary: carnt - 4 definitions - Another word for cunt, used often in whatnet channels by drug users <3. Now you are either a CUNT as its says, or a DRUG USER, as it says, which is it? Please google the spelling if you dont believe me.
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  • John
    In reply to ex-bsm. New GM makes a valid point. Had nearly half the BSM's not taken the route of fraudulently "achieving" their figures we may not facing the situation we are in. Your "Ask why the BSM’s have not been sacked?" is answered by simple fact that we effectively have been. Our job no longer exists. That some GM's were aware of it will now doubt be answered in time.
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  • Elsie
    divide and conquer.....well DSGI have certainly achieved that. There seems to be so much back stabbing going on, it appears that those who have left or are leaving are the lucky ones. I will hope that all ex & soon to be EX-dsgi employees get new and better jobs soon. For those that stay, maybe body armour would be advisable.
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  • reply E.
    Open your eyes love, better jobs? 2million unemployed and growing at the rate of 4000 per week, have you been watching too much jackanory
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  • pinko
    @ex rgm: Well if all else fails I'm sure that you will be able to get a job at Windsor castle, as a royal prick.
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  • Soon E.
    In reply to John and new GM Any chance that you could elaborate on the fraudulant practises of BSM's???
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  • fuckfives
    Heard the latest.... the only incentive for business peak is for the GMs to win a £2500 holiday, what a joke, not the incentive, but the shamless waste of money when the company is telling us to save money and cut costs with desperation lke only 2nd class postage etc.. keith jones says that if you dont believe in fives then you dont have a place within the company, what is he gonna do? fire over half the workforce? foolish. selfish, ungrateful.
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  • reply f.
    sorry old bean you are once again mis informed. This was the original incentive, but after concerns by GM's (of which i am one) it was reworked to include the team as well. This bonus is actually funded by the suppliers also not the company you seem to hate. But hey i have a great idea, if you hate fives and hate the company the FUCK OFF
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  • John
    Reply to Soon to be EXBSM If you don't know, your in the honest/unaware half and this is not the place to discuss it. I would suggest you you remain unaware of knowing how to cheat you will remain untempted,
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  • Fred
    I have done my online test today got 60% feel really bad. the interview did not go well, how is anyone else out there feeling?
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  • Al
    Test results from people I've spoken to are 40,50,60,60,65,80 so theres a bit of a spread out there.Alot of the questions could have 2 corresct answers and that's thrown everyone - not agreatway of testing peoples ability really.
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  • Fred
    That makes me feel a better, not much though. Thanks Al.
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  • micky m.
    opifdsjgoisdj
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  • Tom
    I know what you mean fred, those questions are hard, and unexpected. some of them seem to have more then one right answer, but some of the ones I got don't seem to be related to managing a store!! I have heard of 1 AM who scored 5% so take heart it might not be too bad
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  • AM
    How bizarre were the questions?! 3 could have been the correct answer! I've heard some people get scores of 5pct and some of 80pct so quite a big range around there.... How's everyone found the interview? Sorry "Assessment" Synergy hey.....
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  • qwerty
    God!!!! How hard was that interview!!!!!!!
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  • reply q.
    its only hard for those who cannot come up with a truthful example of how they have made a valuable contribution to the business. Those who have will be able to recite them off by heart. Those who cannot will find that they are drawing a paycheck every month for opening and closing the building
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  • A A.
    I think thats a little harsh, nerves can get the better of anyone, especially in an interview designed to be very clinical and cold. I have lots of experiences, and I struggled to equate them to the questions as I was so nervous, I certainly do not draw a paycheck each month for holding keys. You are very lucky, and I might add, in the minority, if you found the interview process easy!!
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  • fuckfives
    to the gm that replied to me. 1. i dont hate the company, but its hard to watch it ruined by a cheesy selling model 2. i its true that i dont like fives, its pathetic 3. you (gms) are gonna do the dirty work for the top brass then theyre comin for you. 4. you might be ok though, cos ass lickers are gonna make it through and you prob have a brown tongue defending fives like that.
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  • reply f.
    insightful as ever
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  • answering f.
    Is that what you think this site is for? some of us are going through a really tough time and this page does have some great advice. Then there are comments left by people like you. The only advice I can give you is to go and open your own company and try to run it better than PC WORLD as you seem to have identified all that is wrong, but o no you cannot as you have not said how you would make it better have you. Just another faceless moron moaning about life.
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  • EXBSM
    ANYONE KNOW WHEN WE WILL GET TOLD WE ARE ON NOTICE?????????????????????????
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  • gutted a.
    We are all on notice now! its our 45 day consultation period, which i believe ends on the 18th march, so i guess it will be that day that we find out our fate......stay or go!
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  • Elsie
    Good luck to you all. Hope thing work out as you want them to. ;)
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  • readtheletter
    Its true we are on notice now. the 18th of march is the very last day we will find out and the 22nd that the new jobs start. at present they are writing the job role profile. However i have been tols by my sgm that most people will be told end of next week beginning of the following week. If you are to stay in the store you are at thats fine and get on as usual, if you are to be moved depending on the store you are going too you may find yourself moved in a couple of days and if you are one of the unlucky ones who have lost their job you leave the store there and then on gardening leave. You will of course be officially on gardening leave. What i haven't been able to establish is if the pay we receive this month forms part of our notice period pay. The interviews are mostly over now so i would think that the decisions are being made now. Good luck to everyone
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  • Al
    I thought the job profile was given to us in the redundancy packs. Presume there won't be wholesale moves but only where a store has no or not enuff succesful am's and needs some to transfer in - not a lot of point in creating more upheaval surely ?
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  • another A.
    We are not on notice, we are in the middle of our consultation period, ater that ends on 18/03/09 then if we are unsuccessful we will be given notice, which we wil probably spend on garden leave, so we are not able to work for another employer until the middle of april, or to put it another way, the new tax year or Q1. Our notice pay day would be for the 4 weeks (or whatever notice you are on) notice and would be april. so that everything is done and dusted for Q1.
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  • replt r.
    We are having meetings next week at Hemel to pull together all the data, and this will be rolled out to the GMs a week today. You should all find out what is happening over next weekend or on a monday announcement. All the SGM interviewing should be finished today, with only a few mop-ups at the begining of next week. Good luck all.
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  • readtheletter
    well i'm only going on what the sgm said about the role profile. i did think it was strange. on the notice period is that not 1 week for every year worked?
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  • reply r.
    The redundancy / notice calculator is the minimum allowed by the DTI look at their website to confirm. Redundancy will be calculated at 1 weeks pay for every year worked plus your 4 weeks notice
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  • Al
    I thought the notice period was one week for every full year worked.Can anyone confirm.If an a.m. resigns they always seem to give 4 weeks notice and not any longer.Does anyone know which is true ?
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  • askthequestion
    How are they getting away with offering the am's and ba's the minimum redundancy allowed by law, when the techguys and hemel redundancys were at a much higher rate?
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  • OMG
    Does anyone else think this is the longest 45days in the history of the world?
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  • reply o.
    No thats not the case, but thats what they could offer if they wanted. No figures have yet been calculated.But it is true all positions should be finalised by the end of this week. Good luck all
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  • readtheletter
    i agree i'm so glad they didn't go for a 90 day period. its hellish enough it would be great if we all knew by the end of this week. Life seems to be on hold have i got a job if so where is it if not how much money have i to live on before i find another questions questions.................
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  • OMG
    GM confirmed today that we will probably not know until the 18th, so two more weeks of hellish waiting!!!
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  • readtheletter
    think it might be next week
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  • Fiver
    does anyone know what sundays get together is in aid of?
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  • intheknow
    guys, all GM's have been told today that they can let all am's bsm's and ba's know next wednesday
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  • OMG
    OMG Now its coming down to it I'm not sure I want to know!!!!!!!!!
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  • I t.
    I have just found out that some GM's are telling their AM teams on Monday!
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  • ssshhhh
    Yep, ive just heard that my GM will be telling us on Monday.
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  • The c.
    I have heard that aswell and that we will be moving to our new stores very very quickly
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  • Ex-PCW G.
    I recently left PCW, and just thought I’d let everyone know of a conversation that I had with someone who is extremely reliable, and quite senior within the HR side of the business - when I was trying to decide whether I should actually go: I was informed that a GM restructure is DEFINITELY going to happen prior to Peak ‘09. What this looks like, in terms of running multiple stores / Currys/PCW overview, etc, I wasn’t told. However, I have known this person a long time, and implicitly trust them. I wonder what’s next?!!
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  • reply G.
    ... and rather than trust your ability you fucked off quick as you like, good job done by the HR contact nice one
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  • Ex B.
    Just been told that i have been successful in the new role. All of the old clusters 1&2 are being told from 9am this morning. Good Luck. BTW The GM's have had the news since the 4th March
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  • Elsie
    CONGRATULATIONS Ex BSM, I hope things work out well for you.
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  • OMG
    Well Done Ex BSM. Good Luck in your new role.
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  • The c.
    With one person getting the information today (well done and congratulations) does anyone know of what the payout is yet?
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  • aGM
    I am a GM and can confirm that GM's were told on the 4th that their RGM's will call them on Monday week 45 with the news of who they will be getting and how has passed and failed. We will then be able to give the news out on Wednesday and not before.
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  • John
    The day you get to find out depends on the old cluster you were in. Clusters 1 & 2 found out today (Sunday). NI found out yesterday. I've still got a job. . . in the wrong store!
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  • This t.
    Yep, as far as I understand it depends on what cluster (old) you are on.
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  • other h.
    My other half will find out today not sure if I want him to get the job or not. the new role is alot harder for the same money if he doesn't get the job i will have something to say to his GM who could at the very least have supported his managers through this. Karma is a beautiful thing and all of the people who have stabbed their managers in the back will get theirs its just the way things go around. Good luck to all XO XO
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  • Top T.
    Ok, i have just been 'one of those managers' that's lost their jobs. So here are my top ten 'revenge' tactics 1 - Run an audit on Eclipse and zero out all the stock. 2 - Place a huge stationary order for soap, toilet roll and coffee. 3 - Book out Diary Management for the next year. 4 - Change everyones security levels on Eclipse so they can do nothing, not even change it back. 5 - Book 5 (got to get fives in there) empty boxes to go via DHL (on the company account of course) to America, Australia, Kuala Lumpa, Shetland Islands and one to Keith Jones for good prosperity. 6 - Setup an email forwarder so every email that comes into the duty account goes to your GM's home email account. 7 - Book STARS out with holiday for every CA 8- If you have access to peoplesoft give every CA a pay rise to at least £10 or more - they deserve it. 9 - Change all the PC and Laptop desktop screen savers to have porn on them. 10 - Appeal against my decision. Well, this is just for a bit of fun, but I do wish everyone who was successful with their new role, as I am sure you will need it,
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  • who c.
    to top ten, very funny. laughing my arse off if anyone does it.
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  • reply w.
    I'm really sorry to hear you've been unsuccessful. Just wondering if once they told you they said goodbye there and then and then put you on garden leave? Or do they expect you to keep working until the 18th.... or your full notice period? Thanks
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  • This t.
    My GM didn't know at all. All he knew was that I was unsuccessful and that was it. Sums up the whole thing really.
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  • doubtit
    well top ten you could do all of that but as far as i am aware you could still be disciplined whilst on notice and therefore lose your notice and redundancy money.......however it would be funny
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  • Wouldustay
    Sorry to hear so many have lost their positions, and I wish the very best of luck to each and every one of you. My cluster has not been told yet, we are going to be told on Thursday. I am just curious to know if any of you guys would apply for the new keyholder post, or would you prefer not to work for company at all now?
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  • Still J.
    Just heard from some people that they are taking the company to court! A member of management seen a lawyer today and they said the process has more holes in it than a teabag. So expect this one to truly kick off. So many issues seem be be coming out. For the record the whole process came down to a 1 hour interview, on line test and points for absence and conduct, No account was take of conduct and performance so you lie through you teeth for 1 hour score the points but in practice not do the job. You could not make this up. 1 Manager in Ireland has had 5 months out on sick with " work related stress" and in his second month of IPI next month he goes on disciplinary as the store hasn't hit a single KPI in 12 months. But the newly appointed AM with 12 years service who finished SIMS 3 months ago in the same store is gone. Any thoughts?
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  • Reply r.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7913347.stm mmm sounds like maybe we might have a fight on our hands. I for one have not had my third consultation and I have found out that I have been 'unsuccessful'. The other thing I find interesting is that all the people that have kept their jobs are people who are quiet, meek and are happy being told what to do. Where the BBC part says that companies have to be careful in 'making the selection process.'' Surely someone out there can make a separate forum up, so that we can keep this going, and if we have a case collectively then lets do it - some law firm would love to take this on.
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  • clutching s.
    ...reply to reply, Yes and maybe you could believe in the tooth fairy also. WAKE UP, the meek and mild are not the ones to survice, its the ones who have prooved their worth.
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  • Reply r.
    Reply to Clutching at straws. Really, OK then lets work this one out. These are true... 1) BSM been with the company 8 years, and was next to go onto SIGMA. Well respected as a BSM (even by the SGM) in beating targets, living the company and didn't get the job. But, was not afraid to speak their mind. 2) AM been with the company for about 2 years, runs the store basically as the GM is always seconded by the SGM. Again, SIGMA ready and guess what didn't get the role, but wasn't afraid to kick back. 3) AM just come out of SIM, has trouble cashing up, lets the staff rule over him and just sits their in management meetings and takes all the shite - gets the job 4) Fellow manager of mine, the past GM wanted to put them on an IPI, the SGM wanted to put them on an IPI, doesn't even know how to cash up or do the daily paperwork. Was running the business centre for 6 months and didn't even know how to process a transaction on Maginus - gets the job. But he lets everyone walk over them. mmmmm
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  • Oh b.
    Whilst it is extremely sad for those people who have lost their jobs in the current climate it doeas appear that you are coming extremely bitter!! Perhaps its just time you faced up to the fact, you didn't cut the mustard and obviously didn't come up to the standard required. Why would a company facing such a difficult time employ managers that are going to be walked all over by the staff?! So.. dry your eyes and move on.
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  • Reply b.
    How wrong you are. I am not bitter at all, just laughing as I am one manager who has been 'made redundant.'. Yes I am truly sorry to see the great people I work with go, got to find another job and really have enjoyed every minute of working for PC World for the past 4 years. But what I do hate to see is that I failed my test and interview due to personal reasons and being told the wrong information. Who I feel really sorry for, someone has to pick up all the customer complaints I was dealing with, all the staff issues, stock issues, STARS, compliance etc etc etc and I am just waiting for a phone call. So sorry to say, that everyone I have spoken to can't believe that I didn't get the role due to some poxy test and interview.
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  • OMG
    Just curious, are any of you guys going to apply for other positions within the company?
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  • reply r.
    So youre contention is that because you have knowledge of TASKS that you can train any monkey to do you should have got a job. Because you have a BIG MOUTH you have not got a job. Ask yourself why someone who was a potential SIGMA failed? If you really think its because of youre big mouth you are wrong and insane.
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  • reply b.
    you mention ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND ALL THE ISSUES IN YOUR STORE? hmmmmm any wonder you are out of a job with those issues
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  • Region 7.
    Id just like to say im glad ive gone as TIM HEMSTOCK is a cock
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  • Reply 7.
    I am horrified at your remark, to post such a personal opinion on anyone within the business, and to name them in such a way,is quite frankly despicable. Whatever your personal situation, (and I also have lost my job) ultimately you are responsible for it, we all had the same interview, and went through the same assesment. I notice you do not give your own name, you prefer to remain annonymous, but do not have the discretion to allow the object of your critisism the same right.
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  • reply a.
    Whatever, its well known the process was not fair, with managers in region 7 having their original marks regraded after the initial scoring. So you see PERSONAL opinion does come into it. So you see NO we did not it appear, all have the same interview. As for nor revealing my name, well that would lead my GM to victimisation
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  • Myself
    Hello all. I was told on Monday that I will be made redundant. I still do not know how much redundancy pay or notice period I have. Is anyine else in the same boat? My understanding was that you would find out everything at once. Not the case as this is totally unfair of waiting to see how much money I have left etc
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  • Fiver
    So now we know - cynical GM's have taken the opportunity to settle old scores and get rid of anyone they don't like. So what are we left with? A collection of half-wits, yes-men and arse lickers. NICE ONE JOHN!
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  • reply f.
    Misguided individual, do you really think GM's had a say in who went and who stayed? open your eyes. Tell you what, why dont you open your own company and see if you can do any better
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  • Reply F.
    Yes! I am a GM and we all in a meeting put all the BSM's and AM's names up and it was like a picking pot. It was terrible and totally disgusting. So yes, this did happen. As for opening my own company - might do that so I can treat my Team right not like they are / have been treated.
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  • Fiver
    Reply to "reply to fiver" What world are you in? GM'S are ruthless and devious (and regularly stupid as well). Never trust any of them.
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  • am's u.
    In my region, its v.similar to earlier posts where a high number of long term am's have been made redundant & more recent am's have kept their jobs. On the face of it it does seem that the selection criteria isnt about those who have the experience & knowledge & worked hard to get to where they are over the years but more about those who excel at interviews. Most interview questions can be answered with preparation & lies. I dont believe any of the answers given would have been checked by the SGM or GM for authenticity. The dsgi interviews & test took not one iota of length of service & commitment into account, not one bit of notice to the extra work most people have put in during their employment. Most of the AM population have worked hard to get where they are and contributed to the success of the stores & GM bonuses etc. I believe thats whats annoying to people, or coming across as bitter. The mere fact that company is offering statutory redudancy is also contributing to this annoyance & bitterness. Yet think, most long term Am's who have contributed to the company's growth, worked hard, are now seeing the very work environment they enjoyed & committed to destroyed in a few months. Its heartbreaking as its not just a job to most of us. We have all made many friends within the business even cross chain, now all this has been taken away. Over the last year head office has been culled, tech guys cut, call centres to be changed, new implementations instore without clear clarity & training, to the extent that its not the same and most AM's do not enjoy working their anymore. Most decent GM's have left, those that are are afraid of losing their jobs which they will soon are holding on by their fingernails & so their support has diminished to the AM population. The long standing AM's who have kept their jobs, I beleive, have had a strong GM beside them, most of us haven't. So why would these people want to stay in such an environment of ipi, managing people out, written & final warnings, not following fives to the letter, etc,etc,etc. HR is no help as they do not support the employee, only the management directives. This is not the environment it used to be...............YES i damn well know we are in a recession and things need to change for the company to succeed, but it is now all about the company not those that contribute to its success. The fact is its about Profit, John Browett & Keith jones are about profit. They do not want people who cannot follow their ideas to make extra revenue to stay in the business and that has been made quite clear from their briefings. Also I've heard that a number of Am's who passed, have been offered large sums of money to be downgraded, or have had their choice of stores changed so as to make them redundant, if they do not want to keep working within PC World. Its not unknown throughout DSGi to pay people off to leave, especially GM's. Now it's AM's, but this is not fair. I also know that if you ring the SUN newspaper to bring all this injustice to light they have had an overwhelming number of calls and are investigating this. All I can say is if the company pays off people proper then we would all accept it as default. But I can't see that happening. If JB & KJ do not pay off their AM's fairly (as they would be no doubt) then there is going to be such an upset that it will cost the business a lot of money, as most AM's I know are writing to HR/ HO/KJ/JB/HL & newspapers/unions & everyone else... how they have ran the stores as acting GM's in the past, never had knowledge that they were incapable of doing the job via one2ones & pdr's - & then suddenly told they are not good enough when some people who have passed have never had that experience, yes no wonder most am's on blog this see it as unfair. How can the company justify it, they cannot. AM's unite. gather as much evidence that u can. Training courses you've been on (catalyst etc), successes, each time you've ran a store, etc. All this prove that the test & interview are invalid. Write your letters to all & also appeal against the decision. Do all this, as know a lot are until the company pays you off fairly for the amount of time youve spent supporting this business.
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  • am's u.
    Sorry, the last bit was a tad confusing. I meant to say that I know a number of redundant AM's are getting together to write their reasons for failing, wanting to fail, having failed due to the lack of support & training & guidance from the heirarchy. If we do this together, concerted, then we may get a fair hearing. Demand a fair redundancy package, not the bare minimum. This will not affect current employees, so dont knock them as I know if redundancy calls you would want the same fair price to go. Yes I know the chances are a few dodgy managers may not deserve more then the basic, but if they were dodgy they wont have been in the business long so wouldnt get that much extra. My concern is for those that have worked long and hard over the years, may have falling off the wayside (per the company) but are not getting the reward they deserve from their past efforts. DO NOT FORGET, these people & myself, will have no security, no decent pension, no health benefits (although thats now scrapped) so do not be so sceptible as you may end up like us soon and wouldnt like it either. Open to any criticism.
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  • Reply u.
    Your sooooo right.
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  • reply A.
    Yes do all that and yes get everone to do the same, the facts are 1) what the company did is what it is legally allowed to do 2) what the redundancy totals are will be in line with government guidelines, they cannot afford anything else. 3) The current management model was designed with 50% more business 5 years ago and is now aged and unbalanced. 4) The company has the right to restructure in whatever ways it wants. 5) Yes many managers have achieved many things, but that does not guarantee them a job for life. 6) Change can be hurtful and upsetting, but it is necessary. Fella move on the battle is lost, if you think appealing the decision will get you a job back or a bigger pay off, please wake up and smell the roses.
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  • doubtit
    Just to set the record straight on a couple of comments in previous comments I have been with the company a very long time so the person who said long serving managers were out is incorrect. I am known throughout the 3 regions i have worked in as someone who openly challenges gm's sgm's regional bods so the person who said big mouths are out is incorrect and as for arse licking then you can forget from me I feel very sorry for those who have lost their jobs because it could have been me in fact i was expecting it as i felt terrible going into the interview for personal reasons as my dad had just been taken into hospital and my son had crashed is motorbike the week before but i managed to keep my personal side out of the interviews and just concentrated on my job and experience as a manager to answer the questions. It seems that some people on here had a problem with the way the company works and it was probably their negativity that gave it away in the interview that they really were not interested in working for the company but just picking up their wages. Don't you dare try to put all us successful managers down saying it wasn't fair the sgm/gm didn't like you boo bloody hoo they obviously had a good reason. I say again i am truly sorry for those who lost their jobs, some of them are really good friends of mine but the fact remains we who are left were better than you on relaying information on the job spec and what we have acheived
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  • to u.
    well written, someone has listened I got an estimate of 25K today hoorah. The company isnt that bad after all as i expected minimum of £7K. PS to reply to AM......you were wrong, loser.
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  • Hiya
    I got an £5000 redundancy after 2 1/2 years. fantastic. not that bad after all. as that pays for 7 months bills. Thankyou to all.
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  • Posted A.
    The company can afford more than whats in line with statutory redunancy as I've been given £18000, thats 3 times the minimum redundancy stated by online calculators. Wayha, as im sure later on the company wont pay this much again if things get worse. Glad to get out now. Love to all, hope your all satisfied. xxx
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  • Redundant A.
    just got home after given letter of estimate, how glad am I. Best result I could of imagined given fri 13th. Well done to everyone. While I was sceptical I admit that headoffice JB & KJ may not be so tight after all. To them, good decision. Thankyou for the money as its a years salary.......cheers.
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  • ex B.
    Yeh, Ive been given £10,500 thats more than I dreamed of. To my friends in Region 4 I'M HAPPY.
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  • im e.
    just read previous posts, i too am happy with the company's payout. i really thought the company could not afford anything but the bare minimum, but thats not so. i worked really hard over the years & failed on purpose due to the new climate changes. If they just said the amounts we would get beforehand then i guess even more would have taken redundancy rather than work in this new demanding environment. I just now hope that those who stayed do not regret their decisions, as I know that if you do not deliver or your teams dont deliver you will be managed out with no payments. to those that have complained & kicked up a fuss thankyou as I'm sure you helped with the decent payments we have got.
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  • reply w.
    My partner still doesn't know what his estimate is? Should he have received a letter in the post or have you all been in and collected/requested estimates? Thanks in advance
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  • redundant
    All gm's were given the estimate redundancy for colleagues last fri, they were allowed to give them out yesterday. Its calculated in 2 parts, first part is payment in leiu of notice, you get a weeks notice & pay for each year you have worked which is part 1 & tax deductible. Part 2 is years of service x weekly salary. if over 42 you get years of service x 1.5 weekly salary, this is not tax deductable. Then add the 2 together. This isnt final as it does not include holidays & bonuses etc. Everyone will find out on wed 18th the true amount> But I cannot tell u if its all paid up front, or at the end of the notice period, or split over the notice period which could be a long time for those that have worked 20 years or more. Most of the comments above are probably happy as statutory redundancy is £350 for each year worked and the orginal paperwork suggested a 4 week notice period (paid) only. At least most people will be happpy, unless your 40/1 which is bit tight but at least their younger. Hope you all have decent leaving do with your colleagues. xxx
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  • Gm
    To PCWorld Die a slow death becuase whats left is the rot and no more core...die dsgi die....... Good Luck to all the staff who are left and all the ones who have gone.... The GM's should all be put back on the scrap heap as so should the H/O managers who do nothing but cause downward trouble and cant even stock laptops which argos sell becuse there retail only ones.. what thought dsgi where retailers nope there FIVES.... Ha ha what fcker thought this up,this is the new threat to dsgi not the staff not the competition..but the dickheads at H/O with their huge salaries and pensions... not the collegue in store who shits himself when a customers comes in because their afraid of loosing their sad low paid salaries becuase of the incompetance of dsgi....and agressive selling tachtics used to rip of customers....
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  • reply g.
    To The insane idiot who put the message above, have you considered counselling, given your comments suicide would be a credible alternative, do you need to borrow some rope and a ladder?
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  • Spooky
    Is anyone appealing on their decision?
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  • reply S.
    No point, its was all fair and checked by ACAS.
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  • reply g.
    I wonder what happened to all those people who said they were going to take the company to the cleaners, all those who said whatever the outcome or redundancy payment that they would fight on against this unfair unjust process. All those who said John Browett was a crook and were going to fight him tooth and nail. All those who expected and bemoaned the company for giving them the statutory redundancy payments? I suspect that you got your redundancy, which was above the statutory rights, thought "o i'll take that" then buggered off never to be spoken of again
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  • MiffedCustomer
    Just thought Id bump this post to say that I totally agree that PC world has done its own damage will ill trained staff and poor customer service. I have been trying to sort out issues with the PRESTON store for some months now and its not over yet.. Im just about to file a claim through the small claims court as the situation has hit loggerheads and there does not appear to be one person in heierarchy that can mediate to come to a suitable resoloution (or at least not one that can be bothered). They need to concentrate less on quantity and more on quality of both service and product and maybe they will reap the benefits?!
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  • reply c.
    Yes of course thats all we do, is try and piss people like you off, yes of course thats all that counts. Yes lets tar the WHOLE company with the same brush. Christ almighty if Hitler had you the Russians would have shit themselves. From speaking from inside the company, we try every avenue to avoid pissing people off and will always find a resolution that means the customer wins, as this is what makes our thousands of happy customers come back. Otherwise our competitors would be doing it better than us and customers would have ALL left a long time ago. I suggest that if your case has now reached the stage were its going to the small claims court, then you really are being unreasonable.
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  • MiffedCustomer
    Of course Im not tarring the individual staff with the same brush Im sure 99% of them do their best with what resources they are given. Im looking to the "none customer facing" management who I have seen many many comments about both from irked staff and consumers. How can a customer service manager be none customer facing, how hypocritical! If the staff were offered the training to do the job properly Im sure that each and every one would be happy to take it but obviously it isnt. I look back to a comment from one member of staff that says of 15 of us only 3 actually know what we are doing with my mouth hanging open in surprise. I am not being unreasonable in my request I want what I went in the store for and was sold something not suitable bue to being ill advised and the point of sale being misleading on the verge of lying. I want a refund but all I can get is a gift card and quite honestly I want to take my money elsewhereand under the sale of goods act Im quite within my rights to ask for that.
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  • reply c.
    There is no such role as "customer Service Manager" as you point out. The company training schemes have won many many awards and at every stage in everyones career their training advancement is recognised by a payrise, which is not given without completing the training, interesting to draw a parallel between those moaning on this site and those who have actually been rewarded for advancement on training, bet those who moaned have wanted the rewards before they did the training!!.
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  • To M.
    POS is no way on the verge of lying. Without knowing the full facts, as you have not given them, im sure your goods are fine and you have installed some software thats has caused an issue but now as its not working as you thought it would you deem it faulty, which rubbish and the staff in the Preston store have told you this but all you see is ££££££. Or is it a case of not backing up your data, I suppose PCW should of held your hand and sorted this for you, oh and for free!!!!! Your type of customer really make my job and the Staffs jobs awful, you berate us with angry comments, which we of course cannot say anything back etc etc. The store has VERY KINDLY offered you gift cards so this is not about the product, have you seen one cheaper somewhere else??? More this than other issues. You will also find that the sales of goods act the company does not have to bow down to everything you demand and you will lose i'm sure. On a side note, to the staff of DSGI this is what we should be doing, telling customers how it is not shouting at each other!!!!
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  • reply a.
    Excellent advice in the last statement, and then when there are no customers left perhaps you would like to shout at an empty building _Cretin
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  • To M.
    I don't remember shouting or getting personal. Shame u r fulll of shit, there you personal you fuckin idiot.
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  • reply a.
    Using the word SHIT or FUCKIN IDIOT, now there are some really personally terms, usually stated by someone with the absence of interlect to express themselves otherwise. Such vulgarity only emphasises that the company is correct in weeding people like you out, you are not fit to serve customers. Tell me have you ever been on a course and expressed such insightful views on customer service? Go on reply without the use of vulgarity, just to prove you can......
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  • wispy
    Reply to Miffed Customer, I think your problem has been that you wanted a argument to be able to make us look like imbeciles and because the store was more than helpful to you ( by offering the giftcard) this threw you completely and you have no answer to the fact that we at PCW do know how to treat our customers to the highest standards I pity the company you do purchase your goods from in the future because some ppl are born whingers!!!
    Reply ·
  • Ex M.
    I worked there for three years. I think the major problem they have always faced, as already mentioned, are the store overheads. This, coupled with the fact that computers have become commodity items, has meant the margins have been squeezed out of their main market. People building and selling PCs in the '90s meant their prices had to come down, so that now they are in actual fact very cheap for computer equipment. The problem many people have is with PC World selling "rip-off extras": PC Performance (basically a monthly extended warranty - sorry, service agreement), finance plans like EasiPay or SmartPlan (rental), extra software - Norton is high margin for them despite being cheaper than all the websites as they have a special deal with Symantec. More recently the mobile broadband contracts are giving them more margin to play with - on average £70 extra margin on a sale. Laptop or desktop - £30 margin if they are lucky. So you can see why they were keen to sell USB cables at £14.99! My point is, other stores can sell these things cheap because they aren't in their main market - Tesco isn't going to die if laptops are making them £1 margin, as long as people buy their food there!
    Reply ·
  • your W.
    The problem with PC World over the years is that when you enter a store you cannot get a hold of anyone to talk to. Often when you do you find they have no idea of what you are talking about and then run off to find someone else who they cant find. In addition to this their advertising bamboozles people with megabyte this and megapixel that when in reality joe customer has no clue what it all means and thus they enter the store like lambs to the slaughter. They are sold under powered machines with over bloated software on board and mis-sold useless and rip off support contracts. The micro-directs, dabs and scans of this world wipe the floor with PC World. You are dead in the water folks and all your training and pointless acronyms will not save you!
    Reply ·
  • Fu M.
    I went to my local Pissy World on the sat before xmas to look at some big tellies (they've got more floorspace than curries, and the other place sells mainly lowe). it was devoid of customers. difficult to tell why, though that pc world is in a bad position kind of cut off from the main shopping estate, in a section that contains the old MFI (defunct) and a closed down Allied Carpets store. Most people can pick up what they want in tesco direct on the estate anyway without having to go over there. furthermore, all the bloody tellies in there only had an SD signal so it was impossible to compare hd performance, so I fucked off somewhere else. level of service? well i was approached by a dickhead who said "allwight mate?" rather than the usual when you are trying to sell something of "can i help you sir"
    Reply ·
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