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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!
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??
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?
I think the sale transaction has never gone through as they were supposedly to rename the company and asked us to sign the letter. But as of now, no words about the LTC Photo limited and everything is still under the CPI corp. Those people like to toy around with legal issues.
Like you just hand out the bonus for everyone to take? How many years already have you not increased a penny to the wages? We have worked our asses off for years to bring in $$$ to feed you and your family. This is a 21st century, the slavery has been done with. Insolent attitude. Go ahead and reveal yourself !
Well, maybe they are scared that we could ask some questions about the legal issues and they just want to muffle everyone now by hiding the HR manager from us.
Wow.the company without Human Resource manager ? What the heck is going on? How come your DM is now acting like HR ?
According to my DM, this week they, the executives are making visit to studios. So it is uncertain of what they are up to. Also we got new marketing kit for passport ( just the new lease line signs with different color but the sign is worded the same as before) Way to spend money on marketing but no effectiveness from it or whatsoever !
What else is next ?? No idea. The company still is Canadian Images, no name change made. Well, they made us sign the letter but it is for the new company called LLC Photo Unlimited and if there is non existence of the company then the letter is invalid??
We are doing events of Fairy, Rebel Rider, Antique,..for more sits drive and $$$. Still we have not got the shipment schedule after April 9? New deposit slip in the studio but not to use it yet as being told.
They really want to keep us in the dark.
We are doing events of Fairy, Rebel Rider, Antique,..for more sits drive and $$$. Still we have not got the shipment schedule after April 9? New deposit slip in the studio but not to use it yet as being told.
They really want to keep us in the dark.
The stupidity never ends from them ! Most customers already complain the passport pricing is two expensive. Those wallets and tags only cost probably 50 cents each but now we are forced to charge customers $5 for 1 wallet or 2 tags.
On SAS we have to enter at least 5 different codes to get to subtotal amount before charging customers.
( 521, 521W, 40072, 40073, 40074, Tag-Maple ..)
It shows they have just become stupid and greedy at the same time.
I feel like smacking whoever work in the marketing dept and create those silly codes.
We were told the buyers are those from the executive board members, not any outsiders nor investors.
Notice that the last portrait delivery schedule is April 9th, 2014. Last year it was the date when they shut down the US business. Coincidence??
I suppose it is going to be the end of March and boom.." Sorry, the deal fell through" and since we have all signed the letter they can let us go whenever they want in that " 90 " days probation period.
The DM said 99.99 % the purchase transaction is going through but they have not made any announcement about the date of when exactly the deal is sealed.
If they have already bought the assets of the company to keep all studios running why would they ask us to sign such letter in advance? They definitely are going to shut down the business at some point if not entirely it is partially so that they won't have to pay all long term employees severance.
I think we all better look for something else to start fresh although it is hurt.
What they did to all the employees in the US they would not treat us any differently.
Those individuals have no morale nor humane principles.
Is it something that the Labor law can step in and fix it?
They will dump some of the stores but they would not do it in a legit way to avoid paying long time employees severances. So they force us to sign this letter that way with timeline in 3 days before they make announcement of the closure.
It is every unethical because basically the same kind of people that jab us in the back and never give any appreciation of the hard work that we have done.
Please let us know what you will find out with the Labor Board tomorrow. As far as I was told that we are basically new hires. So what happens to the benefits and all the vacation hours that we have accumulated over years of employment with CPI?? I have been with the company for years, does that mean I am qualified for 3 weeks of vacation any more??
This so called " Photo Unlimited" company sounds like the same CPI with a makeover name. Some insider dudes from St. Louis who ran away with the money of the old CPI, must have bought this out of the receivership and rename the company.
This is so shady to me.
How many studios are left including Walmart studios?
53 studios across Canada?
You know which head trainer has gone ?
7 Sears studios were closed few months ago, had nothing to do with Sears host store.
This time the Sears host stores are closing down and so Sears studios are going away with it as well.
New marketing promo expires in March : 20x20 unframed for $ 20
Rumor that there are buyers visiting studios.
Some Sears studios are being closed down along with the Sears host stores.
No idea what to expect.
I have been called literally every two days by the boss to save hours! They do not care if we the studio is green or not it is all about cutting hours to bare bones. Every single day we struggle to get things done.
Spin and Win did not work ( how much money did they spend on the signs for that stupid Spin and Win just to use it for one week ?) and now free holiday packages to further kill it all.
Even a petition would not make them change anything. What they did in the US is what they are doing now to us. We can not trust them to continue controlling the business this way.
Yeah, I got sh..t about over usage of hours! I can not run the studio in this psychotic mode. I am shooting, selling, answering the phone, doing delivery ..alone at this time of the year ! If all managers can take leave now to see if they can run the studio by themselves.
They want to strive for more sittings but the holiday package offer is killing the sale. The CD image with all those sheets for free is totally destroying everything.
We do not understand the purpose of this idiotic marketing strategy.
They do not take into account that there are other tasks to be done as well. Session planning take time, portrait boxes and wall portraits need to be filed and we have to call the customers for pick up.
They always have unrealistic expectations : high PRS, outreach: spin to win, tickets, call lists, training, coaching staff..etc The entire corporation is run my men who have never been behind a camera in the studio, never sold any products. Go figure !
Hours use has been on the watch starting this week. They ask us to do spin and win to get appointments but want to trim the hours to bare bone so it is a conflict.
There will be more customers coming in with the new freebies they receive from emails. Free CD image with sheets for one pose package.
They would not tell us what is going on.
As if the customer survey is that important to them. No new xmas backgrounds would not help the holiday business. No new props at all to shoot anything. They spent money on creating a online viewing picture just to kill the studio business.
It is the same scheme to completely destroy everything from the roots to branches. I begin to think there are certain individuals took the money and ran off with it every time any corporation is bankrupted. Some individuals would do that.
Very upsetting for all of us after many years of tireless work and effort but probably walking away is better than hanging on some false hopes.
You know who they are trying to sell the company to? Did the view picture online feature work for you guys over there? They just introduce the new thing for customer to view their pictures online and order other products for cheap price.
It is like a giveaway thing but they promote it like it is a new invention that can generate business.
Which ones have been closed in Ontario?
They have launched aggressive marketing promotions such as groupon, free 10x30 with 9.99 purchase and events like Fairyland, biker bike and something else is coming up as well.
Yeah another groupon is coming soon as well. Cheap and drastic discount to attract customers but most don't buy anything else from upselling and
We have been shooting our asses off for groupons.
Wallmart division is in favorable position because they green everyday regardless.
I suppose they want to get rid of the Sears side and keep Wallmart side.
Does that mean they run out of money for supplies?
Does anyone know anything about the Canadian CPI, which is now in the receivership ? Any buyers and how it is played out now?
Yes, we do have unemployment system here. But you can't quit the job and apply for unemployment unless you are let go or out of work for some other reasons.
I do wish that they can find buyers after bankruptcy file but like you said we have to be prepared.
Yes, we do have unemployment system here. But you can't quit the job and apply for unemployment unless you are let go or out of work for some other reasons.
I do wish that they can find buyers after bankruptcy file but like you said we have to be prepared.
The company has no board of directors so who is overseeing the Canadian side of business?
Can you please post the link of the bankruptcy filing here. I can't see to find it.
Thanks
Hopefully, they can sell it or else we are going to sink. So it is just a matter of time. How long will that take?
Well, that sounds like we are going to be hanged by a thread if the sale does not go through.
Did he send it to Wallmart side or Sears side?
Well, that sounds like we are going to be hanged by a thread if the sale does not go through.
Did he send it to Wallmart side or Sears side?
Hahaha.
The Canadian office has been sold 5 years ago. They don't have a place to store all those machinery.