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What? How can this happen in Apple land? Its nice to see that the Mac bots are coming out of the wood work to tell us how Steve Jobs craps rainbows and candy. If this is a serious issue I hope Apple takes care of the problem. Sadly this type of stuff can happen at any company.
 
What abuse? I see this written a lot and explained none.

Did the management ask someone to bathe or show up on time?
Or was it more serious, like telling an employee to never use MS products again?

Which you fail at here. If you've ever had a job, ever, where you've been treated unfairly then you would understand.

I just cried the world's tiniest tear.

Just for you.
 
Walk, if you want!

I too experienced horrible management conditions when I worked at the Oak Brook, Illinois Apple Store. I quit after 2.5 years, just stopped coming in. I hear management keeps getting worse. The quality of employees also went downhill. I don't think Apple cares for the quality of the product and customer experience now that they are growing in popularity. They are just about the money, just like competitors. Apple has to get back on track, or they will lose long-time customers and supporters. I drastically cut down my Apple product purchases since quitting Apple, I don't want to support them as highly as I used to. They need a change. If you think it would be great to work at Apple, you are sorely wrong. It's all about numbers. Not about the customer.
 
You Have to Be Kidding!

With the national unemployment rate at almost 10% and rising these guys plan to walk-out over some petty problems! You have to be kidding!

I have some news for all of you, there are thousands of others out here that can do your job as well (or better) than you can and would love to have it.

I would think twice before I started any "union" type actions because you could all be replaced within a week.
 
Which you fail at here. If you've ever had a job, ever, where you've been treated unfairly then you would understand.

I agree completely; topical humor has no place on these forums. I'm glad you were able to set him straight on that. Humor is no laughing matter -- not when it comes to something serious, anyway. You are so right. Thank you.

;) (just kidding, just kidding)
 
So What

There's bound to be a few stores that are not a good place to work, even if Apple stores are mostly an excellent place to work. Nobody can bat 100%, not even Apple. This is not newsworthy. Next...
 
I don't think this situation called for said humor.


Then don't post anything humorous.

The fact is you know very little about this situation.

Humor can help in almost any situation.

I thought it was funny.

Are the demdigods gonna start silly bickering now? sad.
 
Uh oh, the Demi-gods are fighting again.

And as far as the article, they don't really explain very well what kind of "abuses" they're receiving. I would really like to know.

Also, I've noticed that Apple is more about the numbers than about quality even three years ago when I bought my Macbook Pro compared to 7 years ago when I bought my iBook G3. The iBook purchase was smooth, bought the airport card and extra ram and took off - did the installation myself with no extra questions. The Macbook Pro purchase was "would you like this? How about a bigger screen? How about--" I wanted to tell him "How about you shut the f*ck up and get what I told you?" Goddamn salesmen.
 
It's great to see the employees stand up against the abuse they were receiving. In this economy, people are willing to tolerate more because they know it'll be hard to find another job. That's why I admire these employees.
Now, let's hope Apple sees reason and tries to solve the underlying problem. But I wouldn't be surprised if that didn't happen.

What abuse are they receiving?

It's like you have no facts but you've already decided.
 
With the national unemployment rate at almost 10% and rising these guys plan to walk-out over some petty problems! You have to be kidding!

I have some news for all of you, there are thousands of others out here that can do your job as well (or better) than you can and would love to have it.

I would think twice before I started any "union" type actions because you could all be replaced within a week.

Petty problems? Please tell us the details.
 
What Abuses You Say?

And as far as the article, they don't really explain very well what kind of "abuses" they're receiving. I would really like to know.

My guess, having worked in a bunch of Apple Retail stores over 6.5 years, is that they aren't getting breaks, management is aloof and out of touch, they are being asked to accomplish more than any one person can reasonably accomplish, rampant nepotism and favoritism, being lied to and strung along by management, there is no career path other than retail management - which most Genii and Creatives aren't interested in, they curtailed the only program available to get from retail to corporate, and many many many other ways of dehumanizing, using, and otherwise abusing people for the sake of profit. And it wouldn't be so bad if Apple weren't making money hand over fist as they steadily drop the average wage of their most skilled workers.
 
Interesting timing

Of 200 or so Apple stores, the one where labor disputes is around 10 miles from Microsoft HQ. Just before they launch their retail initiative?

Perhaps a few "key" workers have been receiving an envelope or two to create a particular kind of environment.

Conspiracy theory? Yes.

Impossible? Not hardly.

Anyone who has ever dealt with Microsoft at the sales level knows the ethical standards at the company, and frankly Apple has hardly ever received the worst of what MS is capable of.
 
Numbers

I too experienced horrible management conditions when I worked at the Oak Brook, Illinois Apple Store. I quit after 2.5 years, just stopped coming in. I hear management keeps getting worse. The quality of employees also went downhill. I don't think Apple cares for the quality of the product and customer experience now that they are growing in popularity. They are just about the money, just like competitors. Apple has to get back on track, or they will lose long-time customers and supporters. I drastically cut down my Apple product purchases since quitting Apple, I don't want to support them as highly as I used to. They need a change. If you think it would be great to work at Apple, you are sorely wrong. It's all about numbers. Not about the customer.

I have worked retail for 10 years and it doesn't matter where you work in retail. Most big retail chains it always about numbers, I'm not saying this is right. It's one of the reasons I quit retail, my self.

I wonder what the problems the workers are having since it doesn't say. :/

Hugh
 
Petty problems? Please tell us the details.

They are just a bunch of whiners that don't like management having authority over them.

Here is one comment by a disgruntled employee posted here: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2009/09/22/store-discord-may-result-in-employee-walk-out/ :

"As a current employee for nearly two years, I can see how this could happen and wouldn’t be surprised if more stores did the same. First off, the pay is horrible. Most employees are part-time and in order to be considered full-time (which is considered a promotion) you have to be great at not only selling Apple products but also selling “solutions”. Services such as MobileMe, Applecare, One to One and Procare which on average are an extra $129 each. Second, there is no sort of commission for doing so whatsoever. Then if you are not doing well on those you get picked on by management and reminded that in order to be consider for “full-time” you must get your percentages of “solutions” up."

Every thing that management "did" to this person was perfectly OK. What is wrong with rewarding only high achievers with full-time jobs and promotions. Apple is not a welfare state government department; its a for-profit company. Welcome to the real-world kiddies, this is how the big boys play. Quite whining and start learning how to do your job!

Don't even get me started on the break/lunch situations complaints. Too bad if you have to work through your lunch or break from time-to-time when there are a lot of customers in the store...what is Apple supposed to do? Have sufficient staff present at all times to handle the high traffic periods and then have staff standing around with their thumb up their a-- the rest of the time?

So typical of "union" mentality.

If you don't like where you work, then go find some place that you like better (if you can) or just shut up and do your job.

As I said earlier, Apple could replace them all within a week with no problem (and they should).
 
There just a bunch of whiners that don't like management having authority over them:

Here is one comment by a disgruntled employee posted here: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/db/2009/09/22/store-discord-may-result-in-employee-walk-out/ :

"As a current employee for nearly two years, I can see how this could happen and wouldn’t be surprised if more stores did the same. First off, the pay is horrible. Most employees are part-time and in order to be considered full-time (which is considered a promotion) you have to be great at not only selling Apple products but also selling “solutions”. Services such as MobileMe, Applecare, One to One and Procare which on average are an extra $129 each. Second, there is no sort of commission for doing so whatsoever. Then if you are not doing well on those you get picked on by management and reminded that in order to be consider for “full-time” you must get your percentages of “solutions” up."

Every thing that management "did" to this person was perfectly OK. What is wrong with rewarding only high achievers with full-time jobs and promotions. Apple is not a welfare state government department; its a for-profit company. Welcome to the real-world kiddies, this is how the big boys play. Quite whining and start learning how to do your job!

Don't even get me started on the break/lunch situations complaints. Too bad if you have to work through your lunch or break from time-to-time when there are a lot of customers in the store...what is Apple supposed to do? Have sufficient staff present at all times to handle the high traffic periods and then have staff standing around with their thumb up their a-- the rest of the time?

So typical of "union" mentality.

If you don't like where you work, then go find some place that you like better (if you can) or just shut up and do your job.

As I said earlier, Apple could replace them all within a week with no problem (and they should).

Looks like they are going someplace different. :p
 
Looks like they are going someplace different. :p

If they walk off the job I hope that Apple locks that doors, opens their files, interviews candidates, hires new staff and reopens within a week so that those in other stores get the picture.

I can tell you that the store in my area, Jacksonville, FL, has great staff members that know what their doing and are always willing to do what ever it takes to help a potential or repeat customer. I guess that is what happens when you have a store in a "right to work" state where "union" type actions are not tolerated; you get and keep great staff persons and not whiners.
 
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