Walter Robb said that they are firing people so that they can charge lower prices. They lowered prices before and it failed miserably, so they raised them back up. It's not as much about prices as it is customers, our reputation has been destroyed by stupid decisions and arrogance. The company has no identity, it's schizophrenic, it's a house of cards. They put shady people in powerful postions, their are no checks and balances. They have alienated the few loyal customers that we had. They never cared about making a profit until it was too late. This won't work, just like all the other failed, idiot decisions they have made. The only hope for them is a buyout.
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I think what is quite interesting is the fact that in our orientation, they showed us a chart displaying a couple prices vs what they paid employees, stating that if they lowered the product prices even by a little (it was pennies, I dont remember the exact number.) that they would go bankrupt.
My daughter worked for WF for six years, until yesterday. She is happy to be done. Agree with the fear factor; they do not create engaged employees; the create scared employees. How can anyone function optimally in such condotions?
"...they will never recover their reputation." Yup, I think the Asparagus Water was the final turning point. Or rather the company's official response to it, which came off as very dishonest and made it sound like we really thought we could get away with something similar. Once again we got caught running scared with our pants down, and I fear it was one time too many. Whereas once we could've played positively off our expensive image, now we are damned if we do damned if we don't. People now KNOW we're trying to rip them off, and when we try to say we're lowering prices or opening the new 365 stores people just laugh at our idiocy. THEY can see we don't know what we're doing, but our leadership is trapped by their hubris and can't see it.
It's all about fear and intimidation, I really think that's what they teach the people they put in leadership positions. It truly is sad, but they will never recover their reputation.
Sad but true. We had the best identity in the business once upon a time. The company used to be fueled on natural passion. Now it runs on fear, at all levels.