CPI Corp. (fka CPICQ)

[JustDucky]

Oh rotflmao. Not a chance. This 'Canadian' company is just another front for their personal piggy banks. Still run by Americans, the Head MF David Ward screaming at everybody and cracking the whip, cheating people out of vacation pay, and same old equipment from 2003. Pricing all over the place, who the heck is making this shit up?
I swear it's like all the idiots and privileged useless people from high school got together, went to Trump University, and bought the company.
*mike drop*

[Renee]

CPICQ CUSIP suspended. FINRA deleted symbol:

http://otce.finra.org/DLDeletions

[thampton]

What a joke. Of course, there was insider trading at the executive management level, threats to employees, etc. Dale Heins was one of the worst of the worst.

[oaps222]

I do not remember YOU. But, wish you the best luck if you are with Photos Unlimited. Don't forget to work hard for a Photos Unlimited's success.

[JustDucky]

Well, Ooaps, you old vulture, still circling the dying looking for penny stocks? Nope, this is still the bitch-board for employees of the former CPI who ae now Photos Unlimited. Remember me? I certainly remember YOU...at least this time you have manners.

[oaps222]

Here is a website. It looks a same company at the same location with a different name.

http://photosunlimited.com/company-highlight

Hope good things happen!

[secret santa]

Way to go!????

[oaps222]

Correction:

Thanks for the information. I knew CPI went to Canadian Images, but I didn't know it was bought out later to Photos Unlimited. But, I still don't understand why the stock (CPICQ) is trading in the market. Do you think Photos Unlimited owns the stock, CPICQ???

[oaps222]

Thanks for the information. I knew CPI went to Canadian Images, but I didn't know it was bought out to Photos Unlimited. But, I still understand why the stock (CPICQ) is trading in the market. I wonder whether Photos Unlimited owns CPICQ???

[SoDone]

Cpi is no longer a company. It went from CPI to Canadian Images and was "bought out" by Photos unlimited which is really just ran by the same head guys as all the others was! Hope that helps!

[oaps222]

Is Canadian CPI still under bankruptcy? If it came out, when did it get out of the bankruptcy?

[SoDone]

Well, I have officially handed in my resignation. I found a new job and am done with this company! What a relief!!

[SoDone]

Anyone heard anything new? Anymore jobs cut, rigours cut?

[secret santa]

Got my t4 today in the mail

[secret santa]

They always wait until the deadline to send them out, I expect this year will be no different.

[SoAnnoyed]

I would assume that they would mail it to you. I am in the same boat and I can't see us getting it from online when we no longer work at a studio. I am sure they will take their bloody time though.

[cpiontario]

Hello All, just wondering if anyone of you have received your t4s.
I left cpi in June and am not sure if I will get mine mailed or if it's online, does anyone know? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[SoAnnoyed]

yup. i had great numbers, was green, my average ticket was pretty freaking awesome and i get cut...doesn't make sense, but that's ok! couldn't have been better timing in my opinion. now i can concentrate on my family and things that make me happy for a change.

[secret santa]

So they laid you off because you don't fit the vision? I guess it will help you with unemployment & re-training so you can find the job that you love working for a great company who treats their employees like gold!

[muchwow]

I've been hearing similar comments about fitting the vision. It's the same vision CPI had except do more work for in less time for less money because your hours have been cut.
Very aggressive going forward.

[SoAnnoyed]

the 90 days is almost up and it was a lay off. They actually said that I don't fit the mold that photosunlimited is going in. thank goodness for that. because unlike them, i wanted to make money, not lose it.

there were a lot of upset people when i left about the evening appointments gone but still the same amount of no shows on a saturday/sunday.

[secret santa]

Timing seems to fit with the 3 month probation! Was it a lay off or firing? Anyone else out there confused by our new hours? No evening appts for customers??

[SoAnnoyed]

not really sure. but something is fishy about it. why get rid of your best employee at that studio and cut them. being laid off because i don't fit their mold anymore seems like somethings up to me. doesn't make sense. however, silver linings everywhere right? i get to spend more time with my family for now and find something that better suits our needs. if they want their bottom line to suffer, then they are on the right track. word is there is more to come and people aren't happy.

[muchwow]

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you're able to find something better.

I thought we were past the firings, another round of operational cost cutting it seems?

[SoAnnoyed]

no idea, but i was let go and it makes zero sense.

[muchwow]

Oh no, closing some studios or reducing staff?

[SoAnnoyed]

the firing has begun. anyone else get canned?

[CSPM]

Business hours are set again without designated break time after New Year. If you want full shift you have to run the studio all day by yourself and take break when you can as if you have to sneak out of the studio when there is no customers and the host store will page you back while you are on "break" How do you take break when you are booked on the 15 minute slot? Do you think this company knows what labor law is??? Someone ought to address this issue. They are crossing the line when they do this. They'd better watch out!

[secret santa]

Yup! I'm a full time employee with part time hours come January.

[SoAnnoyed]

Has anyone else had their hours cut again? I have had a bunch of hours dropped and I will likely have to let go one of my associates. I only have two so this should be interesting.

[ONcaSM]

Some one out their should make a facebook group

[CSPM]

The same company under different name has always been run by dumb big asses. 15 minute booking slots are wide open to accomodate those FREEBIES but the hours are not given sufficiently for having enough staff coverage to shoot and sell. It is not like the FREEBIES are good enough, expectation of some magic to get upselling other stuff. At this point I would encourage Photosunlimited to GIVEAWAY a FULL SESSION on CD AND hire some dancers to drum up the FREE spirit in front of studio as well. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO CANADA HIGH AND WIDE, COME GET SOME CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WE ARE THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS AND WE WILL BE YOUR SANTA CLAUS! WHOOHOOO..COME GET FREE GIFTS!!!!!!!!! Woots...Woots!!!!!!!!!!!

P. S I am so content with this kind of business as long as I am getting paid hourly and give me 8 hour shift per day, 5 days week for all staff members to run this kind of Honest Ed's turkey giveaway. And this is a perfect time for them to pay visit to the studios especially on the weekends and spend 30 minutes to 1 hour to help out the staff. Why would they ever do that??

[muchwow]

I'm seeing people take big time advantage of this freebie, some are just walking in asking for "the free thing" not even knowing what they're asking for without any kind of copy of the coupon.
You thought people trying to get multiple AOs was bad......
Nice to see advertising online works but only when you dangle FREE FREE FREE
"I didn't bring any money so I wouldn't be tempted to buy extra" says the lady who just got a full session of nice photos including breakouts in neutral backgrounds of her hyper hard to control tornado childeren and baby.
Don't forget guys, "Direct reflection" of your skills as a photographer and salesperson.

[SoDone]

Ya but I feel bad for paying customers that we can't fit in because we have a bunch of people booking for their FREE stuff!!! Why wouldn't they wait until after cut-off day??? Yes, the volume is down, but just having people coming in for their free crap isn't helping us money wise!! If they were smart they would have said "Book now till New Years Eve and get a full CD for $50!" At least then it would have been money in our pockets!! But no...."come and get your FREE stuff!!! (in hopes you will buy the big bundle)" UGH!!! We have one girl that has now said "when they say they are here for their free stuff, I am short shooting" So, now we are losing any upsell possibilities there!!! "Brand New Company" isn't starting out well, they are going to end up in the toilet just like CPI did!!!

[secret santa]

Well it's bringing the volume but not the money!

[SoDone]

I know right? They honestly think that those people are going to come in and spend $124.99 but we know they are going to come in for their FREE crap and then wait till they get another email for something else free!! They think that increasing the volume is going to bring in more money and they are WRONG!! I said why not offer the CD for $50 instead of sending everyone over $100 worth of free stuff? Who needs to buy anything?? They infuriate me!!!

[secret santa]

So now we're offering a A/O pkg for free good until the end of January, how is this helping our bottom line???

[muchwow]

Letters were sent through web apps, just like last time. If you can't get yours that way it's probably a technical issue.
Way to many tech problems recently. The big printing delay was a huge fumble that will certainly start some bad word of mouth just before the "holiday rush"
But back to the letters. I'm not totaly sold on the idea we will all be shut down after Christmas. I'm far from a legal expert but the recent paperwork from the restructuring company's website made it look like there's a lot of debt and lawyer bills to pay. If your studio is turning a profit you'll probably stay open. Cost cutting, aquisitioning and quantity over quality is our future. Getting a very aggressive feeling lately.

[secret santa]

I've yet to receive my letter, I would think they'd have sent them out to everyone at the same time?

[SoDone]

Well I always feel that way with this company!! Because even though they have a new name, it is technically ran by the same people!! There is a reason they are making us resign these letters...and I just can't put my finger on it!

[SoAnnoyed]

I know right?! What the hell is going on? I feel left in the dark right now. Yes we're photosunlimited, nothing freaking works correctly, and i feel like we're not being told something. Anyone else have that feeling?

[MississaugaWMStudio]

Just had to sign another letter for a 90 day probation yet again. It was identical to the last one that said they were now Photos Unlimited. I guess they want to keep the option of letting employees go.

[protagonist12]

CPICQ starting to wake up. Watching for continued upside if volume picks up.

[snapshot23]

Company is becoming Photos Unlimited on October 15 (ish)

Tons of new products and new holiday collection at better price. Christmas ad offer is $19.99 for wps and $24.99 for sps. You get 50 prints.

[CSPM]

Looks like they have flashed us a futuristic studio of the so called " Photos Limited "
When? Where? How is that going to happen?
I don't really understand what is going on at this point with the company. Anybody has anything to share?

[SoDone]

I think it would help if they said 1 Groupon or wagjag per family, then we could actually upsell! The way it is, they can buy 2, come in twice and what need do they have for anything I have to offer? I think the outreach $50 CD is a great way to upsell but many people know they can get something free again tomorrow by finding the bear or whatever...so they just take advantage of it! It does make it hard when associates aren't on the same page. And you are right, 20 hours of training isn't going to have these new associates ready!! We know we weren't ready after 40, so how are they going to feel with 20? I feel bad for them, and for the customers they are going to shoot!! We all have to learn somehow, but usually after more training!

[SoDone]

I think it would help if they said 1 Groupon or wagjag per family, then we could actually upsell! The way it is, they can buy 2, come in twice and what need do they have for anything I have to offer? I think the outreach $50 CD is a great way to upsell but many people know they can get something free again tomorrow by finding the bear or whatever...so they just take advantage of it! It does make it hard when associates aren't on the same page. And you are right, 20 hours of training isn't going to have these new associates ready!! We know we weren't ready after 40, so how are they going to feel with 20? I feel bad for them, and for the customers they are going to shoot!! We all have to learn somehow, but usually after more training!

[secret santa]

I'm ok with the groupons/wag jag but perhaps less content or less poses or no free image CD. There's no consistency in pricing as a see other employees offering the smile search CD @ $50 to john smith who booked an appt and is not a VIP. Makes it hard for those who follow the pricing guide. And 20 hours of training new associates is not nearly enough!

[SoDone]

The Higher ups did tour some of the studios near me. But I think the #1 idea for making money is stop allowing people to buy 2 groupons cause why should they buy anything extra?? And stop giving everything away for free! I was waiting to tell one of the big wigs what I thought, but they didn't show up the day they were supposed to! LOL

[secret santa]

I too heard of this mtg but can't imagine the company has enough money to fly DMs to St. Louis. I've also been told there are VIPs touring studios, haven't seen one yet but really wish they'd come visit and talk to employees. I'd hedge a bet that we have ideas on how this company could be more profitable and have employee and customer retention.