Do the customers still have to be pummeled with the credit card sign up and the SYW membership now? Or has that stopped?
Don't see how these metrics matter anymore as far as keeping your job. In my area unemployment is very low so keeping a cashier in a job is difficult enough w/o this type of pressure.
It would speed up check out if this stopped and the customers would appreciate it.
My lead still pressures us to open cards so we meet our goal (usually 20, around 30 on fridays and Saturday’s). We usually make goal. I’m not complaining, I usually get like 3-10 a day which amounts to 1-2 hours worth of extra pay but it does get awkward having 3 people waiting in line as I pressure a poor old Hispanic lady to open a credit card with 27% interest that she doesn’t need, all so she can save a measly 40 off her purchase (15 for the blue card). Keep in mind that we only have like 2 cashiers in the whole store. Oh well. I know a lady that consistently gets 12 a day on a 10-2 shift. I’ve heard she does shady stuff like telling customers they can only get the “spend 50 get 50 points” promotions if they open a card. I’ve also heard she opens cards without a photo ID (you can input a customers social in the ID field and it still works) which we’re obviously not supposed to do
You nailed it.
But don't the advantages that the cashiers use to promote the SYW credit card, the Sears card & SYW open up even more discussion about the store closing? Namely the points that can only be used at a store that has declared bankruptcy.
I was a cashier at Sears and it was frustrating to be under such pressure to sell the cards and the keep your SYW % high while customers fumed while waiting endlessly in line. We were asked about closings back then and when I left only a few stores had closed. I feel for the associates having to continue with this now.
Other stores offer credit or rewards but they leave it up to the customer to decide if they want it or not. They don't even ask. Or, a store may ask but they only ask once and happily take "no" for an answer because the employees are only required to ask once. They are not required to meet quotas.
Sears, on the other hand, takes things to a whole different level. It's borderline harassment. Nobody wants to patronize a store where they are harassed by the staff (because the jobs of the staff are on the line). The customer experience in a Sears is already off to bad start with the dated, unkempt stores, lack of selection and availability and lack of available help. The harassment at the checkouts seals the deal for a lot of people to never shop at Sears again and so, there you have it, Sears is where they are now because of these factors.
I would thing the big payment from Citibank requires associates attempt to sign up new cardholders
Same in our store. Of course customers get tired of the long wait, put their merchandise down, and just walk out. More sales lost to mismanagement.
They are still requiring cashiers to ask for credit cards and SYW in our Sears store. Apparently store management thinks it will impress the DM and the company. What a waste of time.
The SYW debacle was part of the demise. I still remember being in checkout. The line was long and Taking forever. The culprit... SYW signups. Customers like convenience. They dont have to shop with you.