Thread regarding Sears layoffs

Save your breath. No one on this board cares one way or he other.

John Moore is a he–l of a guy to work for. I noticed that the positive comments that counteracted the negative comments posted in recent days about him were deleted? This must be a tear down JM thread because he fired someone? Let me say this again, I’ve worked for John in three different companies (Banfield, Petco, and Sears). Please go to this mans Linkedin page and you will find tons of individuals who have worked for him and posted positive testimonies about him. He also literally has THOUSANDS of people who has validated his skill set on there as well. He literally has ten of thousands of comments from people in his thread and articles that says they have worked for him. People are on this page to say this man is fake and lying about stuff but provide no PROOF! In Corporate America we go thru extensive background checks. There is literally NO WAY TO LIE ABOUT ANYTHING! They validate your work history, education, jobs, and criminal background. People, stop lying on this man. If he fired you and you are mad then just say that! If you are jealous and mad then just say that. I can give you at least 7 people names who has worked for this man multiple times and would do it again. Please reply to me and I will let you know. I don’t have to lie about working for him. John has done so much good and people want to hide behind a keyboard and trash him with no proof.

He's an inspiational guy and was a cheer leader for the company, but how do you know he stole cars, etc?

He has been a liar and a thief for as long as I can remember. He has stolen cars, lied about his military duties, lied about his degrees, lied about his fraternity affiliations, and the list goes on and on.

John Moore, PHD is nothing more than a charlatan.

I was wondering if there was any activity on here about when John Moore left. 8.5k views wow. Now any major piece of news about Sears struggles to get 1,000 views on this site. Almost everyone invested in Sears is no longer with the company, and for a company with over a century of history, that's sad. Eddie k--led it. Now the only people joining Sears who only know about the complete sc-apheap it has become under Eddie, and that's just sad. The opposite of love isn't hate. It's apathy.

I pity the person whose life is so sad that they have to try to make themselves feel better about it by trying to tear down people who are trying to build people up. What a pitiful life.

John Moore is a multi-millionaire in his mid-30's. He is also a man of upstanding character, who was well-loved and well-respected by his leaders.

You don't have to worry about John Moore. Whenever a VP leaves a company, a golden parachure is involved, and Mr. Moore is sure to quickly land on his feet.

Sears is going bankrupt, as are DOZENS of major retail establishments with antique business models, and this has nothing to do with John Moore.

Online shopping is the new wave, and Sears has failed to make the necessary adjustments to compete with the Amazons and Walmarts of the world.

Store traffic is soft because of how you treat the customer. Plain and simple.

Update on Strategic Restructuring Program

Today we provided an update on our strategic restructuring program. We have made significant headway since our announcement earlier this year, with $700 million in annualized cost savings already actioned to date. However, we continue to face a very challenging retail environment with softness in store traffic and elevated price competition.

To build on our progress and better face enduring headwinds, we will need to take further action. Accordingly, we have increased our structural cost savings target by $250 million. The initiatives being taken to realize $1.25 billion in annualized cost savings in 2017 include:

The previously-announced closure of 150 non-profitable stores, comprising 108 Kmart and 42 Sears locations, which has been completed;

The closure of 92 underperforming Pharmacy operations in certain Kmart stores and 50 Sears Auto Center locations;

Simplification of the organizational structure of Sears Holdings through consolidation of the leadership of retail operations for Sears and Kmart and elimination of certain senior management roles; and

Comprehensive review of the Company’s value chain to identify broader opportunities for competitively-priced products and drive operational efficiencies.

In addition to our efforts to improve our operating performance, we continue to pursue a number of new partnerships and other membership offerings to support the evolution of our Shop Your Way ecosystem. All of these activities are consistent with our ongoing strategy of focusing on our Best Stores, Best Categories and Best Members.

We are also working on different opportunities to increase our financial flexibility through our real estate portfolio. This includes an ongoing evaluation of different offers for more than 60 separate properties that could generate over $700 million for Sears Holdings which would be used to reduce debt and strengthen the Company’s balance sheet. Our stores remain extremely important to our future, but we will take difficult yet necessary actions at underperforming locations where losses cannot be turned around.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES

We also have exciting news to share about our leadership team.

Today, we announced Rob Riecker has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Sears Holdings. Rob joined us in 2005 and is a strong leader who has built great working relationships through his tenure at Sears Holdings. Jason Hollar is leaving to join another company. Other changes to the Finance team include:

Joe Jordan will serve as our Financial Controller on an interim basis; and

Robert Phelan has been appointed Treasurer.

We are also making senior leadership changes as we move to a streamlined organizational structure that will reduce duplication of effort and ensure better coordination of activities across our company:

in addition to his current role as President of Tools and Lawn and

Jon Otterberg will assume the role President of Sears Auto Centers on an interim basis.

Please join me in congratulating and supporting these individuals in their new roles.

As part of these changes, Girish Lakshman, James Politeski and Brian Kaner will be departing the company after a brief transition.

I thank those individuals leaving Sears Holdings for their contributions and wish them well in their next venture.

I also want to thank all of you for your continued commitment to improving the performance of our company. I am sure we all can agree on the importance of becoming a stronger, more competitive Sears Holdings. The actions we are taking are important steps to get us there and I will provide further updates on our restructuring initiatives as we continue to make progress.

When does the retailer's obligation to the product end. Really, you bought the product no one forced you to buy it now live with your choice. So if we should bend the policy at 1 week what about 1 month or 1 year. Where does it end? Return the product within the posted policy or live with your choices it really is as simple as that. We live in a society of whiners who want everything handed to them. Do your research, buy the product that works for what ever you need it for and if it is not quite what you thought it would be, take it back within the allotted time frame. Why should the store be on the hook because you couldn't be bothered to return it within the policy.

The problem is that there is the fraud has gotten out of hand. On a GOOD day LP would see half a dozen people taking something off the shelf to return it. Or the lady who would exchange her beat up stroller every 90 days. It got so out of hand. Yes it would be nice to take care of the customers who are one day outside the policy, but it doesn't work that way, what you give to one person you need to give to everyone:l. How would you feel if the manger gave an exception to someone ahead of you in line but choose not to give you an exception because it was an extra month outside the policy or whatever the case. Years ago I helped an elderly lady by approving a no receipt refund on some clothing. The next customer in line wanted to return a used swiming pool with no receipt. I told him no and he asked why the lady in front of him got to do it on her items and he couldn't. I did it for him and learned a good lesson, you can't pick and choose who you want to apply policy too. You apply it to one person you must apply it to everyone, otherwise it really is discriminatory. So i have NO problem with the hard line we are taking on returns. If you can't return it within 30 days then too bad. By the way, we are not the only retailer to tighten up on our return policy. Across the board stores are loosing millions of dollars on abuse. You can say thank you to all those who don't want to work for a living and would rather steal from others for those lose of a lot of things including satisfaction guaranteed

I don't think we need to go as far as the way it once was. We don't need to go so far as returning everything all the time no mayter what. I think we need some discretion back. Like when someone comes in with a set of wrenches we've been carrying for 10 years and will continue to carry indefinitely, and they are 3 months beyond their 30 days, as a manager I'd like to be able to offer them an even exchange. Or a pair of jeans still ringing at regular price...an even exchange. Most customers would be satisfied that way. We lose nothing.

It's a tough call. That was one of our strengths years ago. And trust me I saw abuse of the system....loved the intimate apparel returns. That was always fun to try to deal with. Or at my store I would literally have ladies try on boxed bras and then take the new one and put their old one in the box. That was always a joy to find too. Remember those days of boxed bras. There is always abuse, but if given the choice I would go back to "Satisfaction Guaranteed." But maybe the world is just different today which we know it is. Who ever thought there would be a day when we had to go through a security line to board a plane? The world has changed unfortunately.

Well, 3vcz, let me tell you how I feel about that as a self entitled customer. And I worked at Sears in the days where the magic words were "bulletin 0277": Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back

I have a pair of pants sitting at home waiting to be returned to Costco. I've had them for a couple of months, just keep forgetting to throw them in the car when I go. I know Costco will take them back without fuss despite the fact I've had them for so long. I spend a crapton of money at Costco. I spend almost nothing at Sears and less at Kmart since they are almost all gone in my area.

Yes, people game the system. I know that, I could tell you some tales of abuse from back in the day. But to save pennies you are throwing away pounds.

I don't understand why so many employees are complaining about the return policy. It's about time the company stopped giving the store away! My Kmart had so return fraud it was totally out of hand with all the store credit we gave out. I'm so tired of self entitled customers thinking the store needs to take something back, you bought it now deal with your purchase. If you want to return the keep your receipt and come back within 30 days, really not asking that much! Oh and before anyone starts talking about "gifts" just be happy someone thought enough about you to give you a gift. If they want you to return or exchange it they would have given you a receipt!

Yes to @2ihn. Our Sears hours are decimated. People putting in for sick time & vacation left & right to attempt to make up for the lost pay.

I could have written the post below this one. I wonder if you work at my store.

Yes my store hours have been slashed. One cashier who gets cussed out by old ladies because the line is so long.....not enough help to put stuff out or away.....no air conditioning......I wish Eddie had to work under these conditions.....

Yes, it's company-wide.

Question for current employees. Are your hours slashed this week and next? My GM said it was nation wide. We have 2 cashiers to open, full time people get 30 and part time get 5-10 at most. Seeing what other stores are doing.

Eddie Lampert is a myth. Fake news. Oz.

Did he leave or get fired? Did he get a golden parachute? Why doesn't uncle Eddie ever talk?

@fik- Those days are gone. 15 years ago, we had an amazing store manager. We had a district manager who truly understood what it was like to be at the store level. These people have largely been pushed out. Our Market Leader now isn't so bad. He doesn't deride us when he comes to the store and sees how far behind we are, because he knows we're doing the best we can with what we have left. But he has no control over much of anything. He can't give us back the hours we need to get things done. Can't fix the return policy or the service department or the delivery teams. Only the highest levels of corporate could fix any of that. Except maybe they can't, because there's no money left.

@izel Well that isn't very good is it? I truly hope that changes in the near future. I am not sure what I can do, but I will do whatever I can. When I worked in the stores, I remember a District Business Manager coming in and telling me to put together some store fixtures. At that time we wore skirted suits, so you can tell I am old, but I said not a problem but show me how and got down on the ground on my knees to try to piece together the fixture. He looked at me, and I said again "Hey I don't mind doing anything but this is something I have no idea how to do." I believe he is still here today although works for SHO. I will never forget how he looked at me at first, but I stood my ground. You have to be vocal about things, but always in a productive way.

When you do not see the higher ups no longer posting on Pebble, they are probably gone. We had a Fine Jewelry Corporate Big Wig on Pebble, she was very helpful for the associates, and all of a sudden she's gone.

@oys- we were told, very specifically, that we are not to question leaders on Pebble. And that if we don't have anything positive to add, we are not to post. Several employees in my store have "read only" access to Pebble; as in, they've been blocked from commenting permanently. I've noticed store employees on Pebble asking our leaders very well-thought-out questions about business practices they don't understand, and they're generally ignored. I think what our leaders don't seem to grasp is that we actually aren't whining. We're not upset because some rules make things harder for us. We just genuinely don't understand how some of these policies are good for our customers.

There is a consulting company at Hoffman that is working on coming up with the $1 billion in cuts Eddie promised. John Moore was likely booted as they are working on combining the formats, it seems, at least at Hoffman.

@1oht I work in Hoffman Estates now. I worked in the stores years ago. I understand the hesitation to bring some of this up on Pebble, but you really should. I don't know that everyone really realizes everything and how it plays out in the stores. Sometimes what seems to be a great idea may need to be revised to work better.

@rpl...not sure what kind of role you're in. We see our Market Leader in person twice a year at best, and other Market Managers even less.

@rpl- no. We have absolutely no wiggle room with the return policy. Even exchanges aren't even allowed.

@irsz. I hear what you are saying and didnt know about the calls with Market Leaders. I also understand the day to day experiences you are detailing. Despite what some may think out in the stores there are those of us who do care and dont know how to help as our jobs dont directly interact with the stores. As I keep saying I am in Dundee every week and voice concerns I have to those who will listen. I have even volunteered to help in any way possible. Why cant you exchange the pants? Are you not allowed to make a judgment call anymore on something like that.,..two days after the exchange period? Strange too as I have had all new appliances delivered in the last 2 years and no problems, but I too remember the joys of dealing wuth those as a sales manager when I worked at Fox Valley and Vernon Hills.

Leena Munjal wrote on pebble today congratulating Garreth Glyne for now heading both parts of Sears and Kmart retail. His position has been filled. He's no longer with the company.

That's what I wanna know. Possibly the same way I found out bill savage left. All signs of him on pebble were gone.

How did you find out about him leaving the company?

I swear we had a bet going in our store for how long he'd last. He was WAY too happy and upbeat to be working for this company. My store manager comes out to the floor today and tells us, "John Moore is no longer with the company." And I'm all like how long was that?! We called it.

@aqr- I call them cheerleaders because that's what they are. This was glaringly obvious during the whole Pebble conversation about the associate discount being converted to points. Anyone who said they didn't like it (or even asked a simple question about how it was good for store-level associates), had to have a personal phone call with a Market Leader, for a one-on-one cheerleading session. None of them walked away feeling their concerns had been addressed in any real way. The other reason I call them cheerleaders is because they are basically completely out-of-touch with the reality of the over-all situation in most stores. What good does it do to keep chanting about our "transformation" while the stores are left to run on so few associates that it's become literally impossible to provide good customer service to everyone who comes through our doors. With the reputation we have right now, we should be kissing the feet of the customers we still have. Keep talking about transformation while our delivery teams screw up more deliveries than they get right. While our service teams can't het to a customer's house for a week when they're without a working refrigerator. I literally spend 80% of most of my days trying to be a liaison between upset customers who can't get things delivered or fixed like we promised, or getting reprimanded by customers who can't exchange a pair of pants they bought 32 days ago. In the stores, we feel abandoned and left trying to defend corporate policies that are so customer-UNfriendly that it seems they're designed to chase customers away rather than keep them. I could go on but if you all can't see it already, it's pretty pointless...

Mr. Bullet, yes.

Is he the guy (for the people that saw the video at work) that said Sears wasnt going anywhere and about protection agreements would still be covered (happened in the begining of April).

Wow...He was the guy that was trying to sell us the idea that Sears will be OK through the video we watched during a morning rally.

I wonder if he felt guilty by saying all is well when it really isn't. He was probably forced by Eddie to be the messenger, since Eddie refuses to communicate with anyone that's not president, vice president, or an executive in this company. In fact, word has it that even they don't "see" him physically, but only through a projector screen in a boardroom.

If the company was A-OK, why don't these words come from Eddie? Why did he have to make someone else do this? He knows (or should know) the most intimate details of the financial standing in this company. After all, not only is he the chairman and CEO, he is the biggest shareholder through his hedge fund.

I'm just a lowly MCA, Never heard of John Moore.