Okay, I saw the webinar today, and everyone in my store is freaked. Including management. They tried to spin it as great for us, we’ll be selling and making more, etc. it’s extremely obvious they are just going to make us totally obsolete.
So what’s their real plan, timeline wise? They are moving this out so aggressively, I’m expecting cutbacks starting as soon as Q1, probably half the staff of my store in a year. Anyone have any clue?
Still. I asked Stote Manager(FLOL) is this smart store (lol) going to become a "Next Gen Store" in the near future? After he woke up he said "Nah they put too much money in this store 3 years ago to make it a smart store so they won't change it ". A brown nosed rep standing near us said "I agree they put too much money to transform this store" So these two geniuses will be saying" Everything fine" when the Indirect reseller takes over the location.
There’s still going to be an option in the flow to activate in store and we are allowed to “make exceptions” if the customer is crying about it. So...nothing is going to change until they take the activate now option out of the sales flow.
I have had customers literally walk out and threaten to switch because we don’t transfer content. We are the only carrier who does this as a courtesy for people and it has built a sense of entitlement. I am ready for us to wean people off of this expectation of us doing everything for them. I am tired of going through the password song and dance. The best ones are the people whose old phone is lost or doesn’t turn on and they get in my face about not being able to do it. I am not a specialist in black magic. Some customers are nice enough where I don’t mind helping with that but with these quotas I am more than happy to tell the entitled customers to do it themselves
Helped a nut job today he bought a google pixel 2 (he had a turbo 2) sold out the the phone after it activated I gave him device and asked him to put in his gmail account and password,. Of course didn't know it, I asked him were he had his storage saved, " he said Google, he couldn't verify his account with Google, he blamed me for not able to verify his account? he became enraged like I called he family mor--ns . I said I will use google transfer built in the phone and I would connect the devices so everything will come over " he screamed " this is the worst experience I ever had, I explained I wouldn't know his Google password and do this option, He screamed my last phone everything came over and you people did it! I said well download Verizon Cloud ,he screamed no no what's happening! I want a refund, and he was shaking Did refund! probably a bad NPS ( anti employee survey) thus you really think this is going to happen with this type of customer.Let the riots begin.
Indirect distribution is taking over! My wife works for a indirect retailer and they are preparing by doing mass hiring to prepare to take over 4 retail locations in the Texas area. I myself am not waiting to be a victim I am proactively seeking other career opportunities elsewhere
What makes you presume you speak for everyone?
BTW, let you store be "freaked" elsewhere:
https://www.thelayoff.com/verizon-wireless
The newsflash is that it's most definitely true,however like a true VZW employee you show no empathy and care only about yourself. Just by you saying "the newsflash " and obsolete.Hopefully, they'll walk you out the door before us.
The newsflash is that you are obsolete
Sounds logical, I'm in a Smart (LOL) store in Northern NJ,the store is underperforming and is near a Shopping Mall and most probably costs a ton of money every month to operate.I have not heard of our location becoming a next gen store, I know it takes time for the changes to take place, I will keep my ears open because I have a "feeling"about this location.
So true. The only people getting upset about this are the millennials that want to make a difference and spend an hour setting up grandma Jessica’s Macy’s account. It’s all about costs. Why layoff a sales rep and pay a severance when you can reduce traffic raise quotas and therefore lower costs. There are stores right now who lost a rep and it’s not getting back filled. Why. Because they are not needed. As an employee you are there for one purpose. Sell. Bring in revenue. Not hand hold and setup people’s (or guests as smart stores call them LOL). Devices. Verizon does not want or need those needy customers. Either they convert to the new process or leave. Who cares.
And let me throw this disclaimer out here as well since I am spilling my guts on here.
Verizon is a huge company and in being so big, timelines often shift. Everything I mentioned below is the plan today. Could it be delayed? Yes. Could it change? Absolutely. But the big picture is all about cutting cost and that goal will not go away.
I understand your perspective but Verizon can no longer afford to spoon feed customers at expensive corporate stores. Transaction time MUST be reduced and by reducing transaction time, they will be able to reduce head count. And by reducing headcount, they will be able to reduce cost.
The motive behind retail transformation is to reduce cost and synergize with indirect and national retail. The motive behind next gen stores is the same.
For anyone reading this, trust me when I say RETAIL TRANSFORMATION = COST REDUCTION
They don't want store employees to panic. They don't want a mass exodus. They will tell you what they think you want to hear so you stay positive. This is the new reality.
Love the last reply. Someone who has some common sense. If you have not heard anything yet about next gen then you are done. Get out now under your own power rather than wait till Verizon wants you gone. The stores that are getting converted for next gen already know the plan. They know they are on the list. If your manager or district manager has not told you or you have not overheard something. Your done. Your either closing or moving to indirect. Either way your job is over.
if the commentor about smart stores s faking it he is doing it well, very insightful and makes logical sense, i again believe they will have a failureon their hand with the set up later concept as educated customers are rarely in store and the customers in store dont want to learn they want a "you do it" experience , thats why they are willing to wait ,willing to buy accessories that arent the cheapest, because learning and doing themselves isnt simple , and they want simple
Sorry I almost forgot to mention with these next gen stores. This is going to sound harsh, but by this time in 2020 over a third of retail employees will be gone. So if you have a team of 12 count on at least 4 losing their jobs between now and then.
Sorry for the bad news. Retail will always be around, it's just the corporate stores will be far fewer. They are just too expensive and no longer providing ROI. Sorry, good luck.
Stating the obvious would be: Nobody posting here is privy to or wiling to share the 'real plan'
The Precious Princess Original Poster's clue is not in this castle.
Thanks for the smart remark and stating the obvious.
"IT" "THEY"
You sell cell phones, and cellular accessories to the retail customer. Others do the same for B2B. What made you obsolete is market forces, not some webinar. The world is changing, find a safe space to curl up in, make alternate plans or stick out your chest and get your Al Bundy on.