Regional retail management conference calls are comedy

[The Fake Shemp]

I love hearing people say something stupid and listening to the crash and burn over the phone.

[Human Snorenado]

There's always, ALWAYS at least one person on a retail conference call who thinks that they have to try and prove how smart and with it they are by talking about dumb shit.  They cause conference calls to go on for at least ten minutes longer than necessary, and I'm not sure they're necessary at all to begin with.

[The Fake Shemp]

I'd say conference calls are necessary, but I've had two regional ones, in addition to my weekly district call within the past two weeks.

Best comedy error was a store manager from our district apparently did not attend the mandatory (mandatory for managers only) call, so when our regional asked a district manager that shared the same first name with that particular SM to make some remarks, the part-time newb fillin in for the store manager unmuted the phone and said the store manager isn't here because she's not feeling well.

[Human Snorenado]

I hate, hate, HATED conference calls.  They were necessary for the dumber end of the spectrum, I suppose.  Everyone else could read emails and survive.  The absolute WORST was when I was working at the shop at the airport- fully HALF of the stores in the dm's district (five) were in the Atlanta airport, the dm was from Atlanta and he was in town most of the time which meant he was in our stores all the time, and we had a regional manager who was ostensibly in charge of the Atlanta stores as well.  So I had TWO BOSSES that I saw all the freaking time (and liked to give orders that would countermand each other), was in constant email contact with them AND had their cell phone numbers yet we had to have at least 2 conference calls a week. 

Shit like this is why I can't work retail anymore.  I'm getting insane just THINKING about it.

[ToxicAdam]

The only ones I have been apart of were with a tyrant of a district boss. He would basically use it to find a whipping boy then dress him down for 7-10 straight minutes (profanity, humiliation, banging on tables etc). The goal (and it worked) was to avoid being the asshole in those meetings. So, you would do whatever it took to being off the radar.

Sometimes that involved being a little creative with shrink counts or weekly sales.

[Bloodwake]

I hate, hate, HATED conference calls.  They were necessary for the dumber end of the spectrum, I suppose.  Everyone else could read emails and survive.  The absolute WORST was when I was working at the shop at the airport- fully HALF of the stores in the dm's district (five) were in the Atlanta airport, the dm was from Atlanta and he was in town most of the time which meant he was in our stores all the time, and we had a regional manager who was ostensibly in charge of the Atlanta stores as well.  So I had TWO BOSSES that I saw all the freaking time (and liked to give orders that would countermand each other), was in constant email contact with them AND had their cell phone numbers yet we had to have at least 2 conference calls a week. 

Shit like this is why I can't work retail anymore.  I'm getting insane just THINKING about it.

Lmfao. Sadly, I will probably be working at GameStop again. Easy jobs in 2G2D are easy to find.

[Mr. Gundam]

This is Gamestop-related, so I figured I'd post it in here.

I was playing around with the store inventory search program on the GS website, and found out that a store on a local Army base has a used copy of pretty much everything ever released, and if you're not a soldier or a family member, you're SOL on getting at that sweet loot. I didn't know that EB/GS had stores on military bases, anyone ever worked at one? It must be even more interesting than a regular store.

[The Fake Shemp]

They just recently opened stores on military bases - it was a big deal that involved a lot of negotiations and shenanigans that is part of their long-term financial success.

From what I've heard, they have some different operations and standards, but I gather working one of those stores is EASIER than working a general public store.

[Eric P]

i'd feel guilty about harassing people for pre-ordering knowing they could be killed in iraq before the game came out

[Bloodwake]

They just recently opened stores on military bases - it was a big deal that involved a lot of negotiations and shenanigans that is part of their long-term financial success.

From what I've heard, they have some different operations and standards, but I gather working one of those stores is EASIER than working a general public store.

Man, it would be awesome to work there. So laid back. The best customers at GameStop London are usually involved with the military in some way.

[AdmiralViscen]

i'd feel guilty about harassing people for pre-ordering knowing they could be killed in iraq before the game came out

i lol'd

[The Fake Shemp]

GameStop is counting on military folks not picking up the deposits - free money!

[Eric P]

GameStop is counting on military folks not picking up the deposits - free money!

i'd also feel awkward selling them Blood In the Sand.

[Mr. Gundam]

This one Gamestop on base is a gaming goldmine. My brother-in-law is in the Air Force, I should have him take me some time and see what I can find.

[Kara]

i'd feel guilty about harassing people for pre-ordering knowing they could be killed in iraq before the game came out

Especially at what they'll be paying you to do it.

[Bloodwake]

I wonder if there is one at Fort Knox or even Fort Campbell...