Winnipeg Retail

[esquire]

^ Why do the retail staff stress over it so much? It's not like the losses come out of their pocket. At the end of the day these are big companies dealing with numbers on a balance sheet.

One of my cousins used to work the graveyard shift at the Sev on North Main (the Burton Cummings bottle location). He said that some nights, someone would come in, grab a coke, flash a knife and walk out. He just shrugged his shoulders and carried on...what else could he do?

[buzzg]

Well, when you're in charge of a store, and it is losing money, it comes down on you. You also may not make your bonus due to theft. Also how can you honestly just expect a manager of a store to not care about theft and loss – my god I would not want you as one of my employees if you don't care about the business at all.

[esquire]

^ Fair enough for management, I was thinking more of the cashiers and other hourly workers.

I don't often go to the outlet mall, but I did pop in on the weekend and Saks Off 5th looks like it has upped its game as far as menswear goes. So it must be doing at least somewhat well?

[Jammon]

Originally Posted by esquire

^ Fair enough for management, I was thinking more of the cashiers and other hourly workers.

I don't often go to the outlet mall, but I did pop in on the weekend and Saks Off 5th looks like it has upped its game as far as menswear goes. So it must be doing at least somewhat well?

The outlet mall is doing ok, but theft has become a real problem. My sister was telling me some of the stories that came out during a GM meeting- in one instance, a younger lady stole some stuff from CK and when the staff member tried to stop her, the young lady grabbed the pole (to hang clothes in high spaces) and stabbed her with it.

She also was telling me that some of the GMs started following some of the repeat offenders on social media and that they would literally splash on social media things like: "going to the outlet mall to pick up some stuff, anyone want anything?" And they would literally have a list of items that they would steal.

The province really needs to crack down on anti-theft laws. It's ridiculous.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Jammon

The outlet mall is doing ok, but theft has become a real problem. My sister was telling me some of the stories that came out during a GM meeting- in one instance, a younger lady stole some stuff from CK and when the staff member tried to stop her, the young lady grabbed the pole (to hang clothes in high spaces) and stabbed her with it.

She also was telling me that some of the GMs started following some of the repeat offenders on social media and that they would literally splash on social media things like: "going to the outlet mall to pick up some stuff, anyone want anything?" And they would literally have a list of items that they would steal.

The province really needs to crack down on anti-theft laws. It's ridiculous.

Wow that is insane I can’t believe how much theft is a problem at all these stores, what a sad state for our society. It’s scary when these thieves are becoming ever more violent, I wonder if there is a relationship to the meth epidemic.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by trebor204

The Winnipeg North (Garden City) store will be one of 31 stores across Canada (along with the Thompson Store) that will be refurbished over the next year.

The Polo Park Walmart was actually in the first wave of these renovations and was completed in fall 2018.

Not sure if the same format is rolling out over the USA or if the "orange tower" is coming here.

The Unicity Walmart recently converted their photo centre to their online order pickup location. Seems to be a little smoother than their previous attempts. That said they really need a reno to make it work better.

[esquire]

You can't expect too much from Walmart given that their stores are intentionally yucky. I mean, don't get me wrong, I do my fair share of shopping there so I can put up with it, but their stores are next level bad in terms of appearance. But for whatever reason, it's part of their winning corporate formula.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by esquire

You can't expect too much from Walmart given that their stores are intentionally yucky. I mean, don't get me wrong, I do my fair share of shopping there so I can put up with it, but their stores are next level bad in terms of appearance. But for whatever reason, it's part of their winning corporate formula.

It isn't so much Walmart store design is "bad" put it is definitely utilitarian to the extreme. That said for a lot of things placing value on things like retail efficiency over store style doesn't really matter. Stores as a whole tend to mostly be highly transnational in nature, you go there for a short time, make your purchase then you leave. Nothing wrong with emphasizing things that make the store more efficient.

[blueandgoldguy]

Originally Posted by buzzg

Well, when you're in charge of a store, and it is losing money, it comes down on you. You also may not make your bonus due to theft. Also how can you honestly just expect a manager of a store to not care about theft and loss – my god I would not want you as one of my employees if you don't care about the business at all.

I was an assistant manager at Safeway back in the late 90s/early 2000s. The policy was to not chase shoplifters once they had left the store for your own safety. I imagine that would be the case for all retail businesses...at least I would hope so. We also had security at one of the Safeways I worked at in the North End. I think most did actually.

I believe in 1997 there was that poor kid who basically had his face blown off and died shortly thereafter when he pursued armed robbers who had left a Food Fare in the North End after committing theft. Approximately at that point, I believe retail outlets clamped down on what employees could do with regards to shoplifters...even though in the case above it was an armed robbery.

[armorand93]

Originally Posted by Jammon

The outlet mall is doing ok, but theft has become a real problem. My sister was telling me some of the stories that came out during a GM meeting- in one instance, a younger lady stole some stuff from CK and when the staff member tried to stop her, the young lady grabbed the pole (to hang clothes in high spaces) and stabbed her with it.

She also was telling me that some of the GMs started following some of the repeat offenders on social media and that they would literally splash on social media things like: "going to the outlet mall to pick up some stuff, anyone want anything?" And they would literally have a list of items that they would steal.

The province really needs to crack down on anti-theft laws. It's ridiculous.

They don't even have to try hard to find it, either. Literally, the lifters are always selling the stupidest items too (example: gangbanger randomly selling off Oral-B toothbrushes, shoe polish, etc etc, all at discounts on buy and sell). I'm amazed though, so if theft is such a problem, why not blacklist them and ban them from the mall...? Cadillac Fairview does at their malls, why not Seasons?!

[Pinus]

Originally Posted by armorand93

They don't even have to try hard to find it, either. Literally, the lifters are always selling the stupidest items too (example: gangbanger randomly selling off Oral-B toothbrushes, shoe polish, etc etc, all at discounts on buy and sell). I'm amazed though, so if theft is such a problem, why not blacklist them and ban them from the mall...? Cadillac Fairview does at their malls, why not Seasons?!

What are the measures used to prevent theft in the magical metropolis of Calgary, former Winnipegger?

[bomberjet]

I've been to the Fresh Co twice now on Reenders. Speaking of utilitarian. The store is pretty basic, which I guess is the intent to lower prices. Not much flash beyond the bright green paint. You would not know it was a Safeway before.

Speaking of low prices, they're great. Prices were definitely lower in general than other places. Lot's of dollar items. We'll see if those prices hold up, or are opening specials. They'll match prices too.

I did find it odd that Cantor's is doing the deli, but they still have the typical Sobey's selection of meats. So they're competing against each other. You can buy the same steak at the deli counter or from the Fresh Co cooler. Found that odd. Also don't ask the Cantor's deli people about anything from the store, as they are not employed by Fresh Co. I'm sure they'll help, but are quick to point out they work for Cantor's.

[michelleb]

The low prices primarily come from the low labour costs. I think someone was discussing on here how employee salaries plummeted to barely above minimum wage when the stores were converted.

[Riverman]

Safeway paid minimum wage at least 15 years ago, so that's nothing new. Actually it is minimum minus union dues, so less than minimum.

[bomberjet]

Hence why the hell would you want to be unionized in that environment.

[OTA in Winnipeg]

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA...ed/Hourly_Rate

[bomberjet]

So a lot of positions at minimum wage or slightly above. Mid-level managers making average $20/hour. Pharmacy obviously makes more.

[cheswick]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Hence why the hell would you want to be unionized in that environment.

I worked at a Sobeys owned, unionized IGA while going through university and was earning over minimum. There were prescribed raises 500 hours worked IIRC. Ofcourse that store was shut down by Sobeys.


Minimum wage fun fact. In the 40's and 50's there were separate minimum wages for males and females.

[CoryB]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

Hence why the hell would you want to be unionized in that environment.

Unionization is about more than salary. For example what shifts you get scheduled for, how many shifts you get a week, how vacancies of higher paying positions are filled, etc are often all covered in union agreements.

If you are trying to support yourself on a low paying job having some protection ensuring you get a set number of shifts a week is important as is protection from the latest hire being given all the choices shifts. In retail that doesn't matter as much but in a business that involves tipping or commission which shift you get is a huge deal.

[bomberjet]

Fair points.

I guess I come from the other side of the coin. If I'm at a job and being treated badly, I'll leave and go somewhere else. Did that with my last employer.

I'm not all out against unions. As I've said before, they is a place for them. Things like grocers or waitressing, IMO, should not be unionized. That's just my opinion though.