Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Are you in the states? The regular price for the CD is $124.99 making it $75 at 40% off
I've been selling the CD for 40% off.... you could always do it 20% off bringing it down to $100. Everyone has a 20% off coupon in their pictures and it's a managers incentive to use it to make a sale. I feel good about selling it for $75 because that way I know the customer has their pics(just in case we never get them) and I am still above my $70 per sit. I have sold some of the featured collection too
At this point, I believe the janitor could do a better job!
I don't know how anyone can ask another person to pad numbers and think they are going to get away with it. I guess, however, whoever this TA is has gotten away with it if SM's working under her did it. I would never put myself in that position as an employee and no one above you should ever ask that of you!
Like I said before... stare blankly at the camera when you are not busy. Kind of in a creepy, paranormal activity way... LOL
dcdf22... I have only had the pleasure to be inside a Sears studio briefly to notice that it had 3 camera rooms. Some of us at PM do have awesome computer systems, when they work properly, and yes, I am certain we get a ton more foot traffic. I can bet though that not too many people come to the malls in their pajamas or without their hair combed, or food still on their faces. Welcome to Walmart! That is the majority of our customers. People just assume that Sears is classier because they are located in a Mall and not inside a discount store.
It still amazes me how some people dress to come get their pictures done... REALLY? I recall my first pregnancy photo shoot about 6 months ago... the girl was young and pretty with a bright turquoise top on...with stains all over it. I took gorgeous pictures and yes... the stains all showed. I tried to hide them as much as I could, but the whole front of her shirt was that way. LOL
Here in US, if someone buys a photo, they can purchase a copy right release for $24.99 for a single photo. Each photo has to have a separate copy right release.
I had two people get very angry with me when they couldn't copy their pictures at Christmas time. I told them it is common knowledge that you can't copy professional photography and if they would like to buy a CD, they were more than welcome or a copy right release per picture. They were angry at me for not telling them that when they purchased their photos. I told them had they told me they intended on copying them I would have told them.
We wouldn't have that issue if they would just quit giving free stuff away! Enough of have said it... I was amazed to see today that the Valentines Deals offer nothing for free, finally!
smnorth: you are not supposed to sell them a $9.99 package with something free... but then of course, they wouldn't have spent any money.
Regional directors and District Managers both needed to realize that "it's easier to attract flies with honey than with vinegar" This means, be nicer and work WITH your Studio Managers, not to dictate them and be cruel about it. I had a great DM who got her point across without being condescending... I can not say the same for the RD I had at the time.
NO! don't put anything into SAS unless it is a transaction you did and took money for! That is illegal and you will be the one to take the fall, not her! JUST DON'T DO IT! And tell her, you won't do it
Our DM told us on Friday when asked directly if there was a buyer and her response was "No, there is no buyer." This is why none of us know what to believe.
No buyer.. that is what we were told on Friday
Don't do it. Contact another DM or RD... that is not right. How can you do that if there is no money to show for it?
I have one particular customer.. I have taken this baby's picture since he was 4 days old.. straight from the hospital He will be ONE at the end of February and I am hanging on to hopefully be there to take his ONE year pictures! He is my little buddy, he comes to me when he gets there and the grin on his face every time is priceless.
Not knowing anything is so difficult because I feel like I am letting his mother down for being here for them every month (or more) and at least if I had a clue what was going on, I would know what the future really is.
I will take his ONE year pictures no matter what, whether I work at PM or not, I will figure something out! That is how much my customers mean to me!!!!
I am not negative, I am angry!!!! We should be told something! I can not pretend with my customers that everything is perfectly fine and then in a week or so they go to make and appointment and I am gone... out of business! That makes me look so fake and I am well known in my community from before I worked at PM. I won't do it. I have been selling the CD at 40% off because I feel guilty that people have to wait so long for their pictures. (suggested by another SM)
CPI should just be honest with us, PLAIN AND SIMPLE!
And we were told there was NO BUYER! This is where the frustration comes in because we don't know what to believe and the company we work for isn't telling us anything! CLASSY!
Is it good news or bad news? Or are you just speculating?
This entire situation should have been brought to the attention of employees a long time ago. If the company was hurting and in fear of having to close studios, it could have been expressed to SMs and associates and maybe a profitable solution could have been reached, but I know when I checked a transaction in my FD200 back in December, it told me how much had been deposited on a particular day... it was something like $523,000 just for one day. I realize when that is broken down by the number of studios that isn't a lot, but if they just came up with more creative promotions and less FREE stuff....
That is the problem... they are all telling different things, some of them contradictory! One says there is a buyer, one says there is NO buyer. One says they will be bringing back furloughed DMs and then those DMs get fired that very day. It is just to frustrating not to know what is really going on and I'm quite sick of it!
There are 3 RD's to cover all the studios and 29 RDs. We don't have a call on Monday but had one yesterday... just to tell us that shipping is 3-4 weeks delivery time.
Headed back to work to freeze to death, take great pictures, but probably still manage to upset customers due to our delivery dates. Enjoy your day all!
On top of all this... the air conditioning is on in my studio! It is so cold in there! I can't stand to stay in there when I don't have a session. And it has to be controlled from another location on the other side of the country so I'll be freezing a few more days, hopefully not longer. Funny thing is... I don't have AC during the summer! LOL Thank goodness for the hand warmers I keep in my pockets!
I meant DMs and RDs
We should DEMAND answers from our SMs or RDs. everyone should email their RDs or SMs and demand answers... after all, we are all adults. it is their job as our connection to corporate to find answers. I believe at least the 3 RDs we have know something but have been instructed to keep their mouth shut! This whole situation should have been handled differently! We deserve respect as their employees to be up front with us about everything that is going on. Maybe if they explained this situation some time ago and encouraged employees to increase sales, we could have done more to help. Instead we were yelled at for not getting enough sits regardless what our sales were or yelled at for getting a low PRS because we got VIPs who bought nothing.
We all have low team moral because we don't know what is going on. It's hard to be dishonest to customers and I for one am not going to do it. I am still uncertain if any pictures will be coming in 3-4 weeks, but it will be ME the customer is unhappy with, not the cowardly hiding behind the scenes keeping us in the dark!
because your studio is closing or you found a new job?
It is unfortunate, but I believe furloughed employees are probably just OUT and the rest of us will be too very soon!
I'm just tired of the BS! Tell us something, you owe us that much! and with all the DM's telling different stories, makes me believe they know but have been instructed not to say anything. I have integrity and I deserve better as an employee.
I was telling another SM today... we should all just stand and blankly stare at the cameras when we are not taking care of customers. LOL
We were told nothing of filing for bankruptcy but were told there is NO BUYER! Right now we have 3 RD's and 29 DM's. The lab is NOT on full staff according to our DM, but has added extra people. Our pics will still take 3-4 weeks, large format taking 5-6 weeks. Today a customer told a Walmart clerk that my studio is closing Jan 31. Not sure how she knew unless she knows Walmart management and they know something I don't. Either way, my days are numbered working for CPI. I won't stay either way.
Most Sears are in Malls now and people associate malls with quality and Walmart with cheap
And the props we do have are in bad shape. My (Styrofoam) tub was in bad shape, pieces missing all around the top edge. I duct taped it and painted it and it's not perfect but 200% better.
Yes. here too! I have overheard ppl say, we'll just go to Sears (closest one to me is an hour away) and get better quality. ha ha ha
I have the same problem here in NY. Even for birthdays, they get the free collage and maybe an extra picture or two. I don't tell them about the $9.99 pkg. If they see it and inquire about it, then I'll sell it to them. I've had good luck with the #3.99 sheets
I believe the cards in the $129.99 package are dumb too.. who wants them? Sell that package for $99.99, I believe a lot of people would buy it, raising our PRS. I do sell it, but throw in a discount and sell more... Do away with the AO. Keep the sheets at $9.99 or $14.99 for enhancements, twice the price for a vignette? really? those prices show the value of the collections. But get some smaller collections.. better to have $50 per sale then $10
Just don't give them any reason to fire you.... NO UNEMPLOYMENT!
https://webmail.cpicorp.com/horde/imp
works for me...
CPIsm: I feel the same way.... I don't like being taken advantage of and after putting in 60 hours a week for nearly the last 2 months... not because I wanted to but because I had no choice, then cutting me to 21 hours, CPI certainly doesn't care about me!
to access email from home
https://webmail.cpicorp.com/horde/imp
I don't know what globally means exactly.... In in western NY... could just be our district of 77 studios, I don't know.
What is a global call? We are having one tomorrow at 11am? Does this mean everyone, globally????