Neo1
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2015
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Thanks for the kind words! You guys have always been so kind to me and my team. I do feel responsible for touching on this briefly and explaining myself. I've been popping into the store at odd hours or answering emails/dms here when I have the time and extra energy just to help wrap everything up, but there is part of me that feels like I should definitely point out that this is abnormal and that no one from AE should be held to that standard in any way. I just happened to be up and around, lol. I don't want to set unhealthy/unreasonable expectations for others in the company at all.
I wanted to add to this. A couple hours ago I got off the phone with Jason for what will probably be the last time. Unlike a lot of other guys around these days, I purchased the majority of AEs from Freeport, a lot from Paramus but more than a few from Charleston.
I have worked with and interacted with many associates from the various retail stores - in Massachusetts, New York, Florida, California, North Carolina, Wisconsin just to name a few. I'm not going to lie, I'm no longer going to sugar coat this to death. Even though the large majority of my collection is made up of AE, it has definitely been an "uphill" process. I have met some real monsters in my time - my closest local retail store cycled through many sales associates over a period of time. I won't mention any names (not going to be that cruel) but I will point out some of the behaviors -
- I walked in to pick up two paid in full orders and was told to wait while the associate allowed a young, about to start college guy basically trash the store trying on everything in the inventory. At the end after she thrust her business card into his face he left with nothing. After waiting a full 45 minutes she was brusque, rude and impolite with me, being crystal clear in letting me know it didn't make sense for her to spend time with me vs. the other guy because my purchases were made through the manager and wouldn't go towards her commission. This same associate I recall made fun of me for up to 5 minutes when I mentioned the Overlord, saying AE would never release anything with a name out of a sci-fi movie.
- I had another associate tell me she couldn't ring in purchases because she didn't know how to use the cash register. She was, however, very quick to ask me if she could walk around barefoot trying on the Verona in various colors asking me if they looked feminine enough.
- I had an employee who was so rude, so impatient and so obnoxious, talking through me and trying to finish my sentences (and getting them wildly wrong). When I saw her through the window I would usually turn and walk in the other direction. One time believe it or not she was there with Jay Clay and I could see he was thrown by her behavior but couldn't say anything while I was around.
- A "transplant" from a J&M store who walked around the store with a huge tatoo of a dagger juxtaposed against a cursive "I hate men" once rushed me when I was trying something on and when I hesitated even for a couple minutes grabbed the box away saying it "had to be shipped back immediately" as they had absolutely no room whatsoever for extra pairs. [When Ben Sweeney, my old associate from Freeport spent a bit of time filling in, he told me they had literally TONS of room / empty spaces and had no idea what the complaints were about]
- The first assistant manager I ever worked with was an interesting character. Unlike many of the others who clearly knew nothing about the company, this one definitely had some level of working knowledge. Unfortunately, she was quite rude, quite obnoxious and quite arrogant, and things she didn't know she would fill in with BS and with absolute certainty / confidence.
During this year's RDA sale, because of my situation at work I had very limited opportunities to make phone calls right at the start date. I had a very hard time getting through to Charleston. I wound up calling (at various times) the stores at Port (retail & outlet), Brookfield & Mebane. I can't remember who said what at this point, but I was literally told:
1. Prices would be as marked on shoebank with no discounts other than what was shown. Anything without a cross-out was excluded. The RDA discounts were "across the board" on 1sts but only on a very select few for 2nds.
2. The discounts were on 1st quality only, factory 2nds were excluded altogether.
3. The pre-sale / early day collector's discount only applied to 1st quality
4. The pre-sale discount only applied online.
5. The RDA sale didn't start the day early like everything else, the websites were wrong and you had to wait until the day-of to actually ring in a purchase.
All of these comments, again, were made with absolute certainty. No "checking with a manger" about anything. This was absolutely how it was without question.
In summary, I've learned to avoid non SMs at all costs, and basically to second guess anything and everything unless it specifically came out Kristen's mouth.
But in the process I worked with Jason a few times. Jason is super knowledgeable, super friendly, and has always been really really patient with me and my obsessiveness over sizing / fit questions. He knows the products inside & out and can navigate the inventory/pricing side without a hitch. As someone who is not a store manager, he was shockingly awesome compared to anyone I've ever worked with, and I would say he's definitely among the top associates of anyone I've worked with from AE in general. I think he could have easily had his own concept store.
I definitely feel like this will be a loss when the store closes at the end of the month. I wanted to wish Jason the best of luck in any future endeavors.
[And I apologize for the above rant - this really got me worked up]