There is Incompetent staff in every area throughout Macy's. This is also true with any job that you will have in or outside of retail. Just look at our politicians! With that being said......
Common complaints from colleagues about maintenance,
"This _ _ _ _ _ _ _ has been broken for months. Why isn't this fixed"
Well, Who did YOU tell and did YOU follow up on the person who is responsible for placing the work order in? We work on a workorder system and most likely it was never inputted into the system. The clock start ticking when the work order is placed and we get evaluated on the time it takes to repair and close the work order. 9 out of 10 times it's something very small that is broken like a drawer door or a light is out. I don't have a personal vendetta against you and I have no problem fixing it for you right now.
"You're never here"
Having multiply stores to maintain with old equipment can be a struggle. All work is prioritized from Urgent(power lost, flood, extreme high/low temps, complete sewage backup, something that has high risk of injuring staff/customer), High(Moderate high/low temps, multiple lights out, 1 or 2 bathroom stalls closed, outlet without power, broken entrance door), and medium/low(one light fixture out, broken drawer, paint, nothing that will effect sales). That's just the repair side of the workorder system. We also have a full list for preventive maintenance that is also timed. So we might be at your store working on the roof hvac, machine rooms, electrical rooms, and water rooms which you don't have access to. We're not hiding but most likely doing PM's.
"It's soooo hot/cold in here"
Please understand that we do not control the temps of the zones in the store. All stores have a EMS system that controls temps and lighting by corporate standards. The only thing I can control is if the unit is working and if the temp sensors are correct. Sure I can override or jump out the unit to cool you down but Macy's EMS can see if I do so. It's like me asking you to place merchandise into a bag without ringing it up. We would lose our jobs. if it's warm/cold for consecutive days we're most likely aware of it. Most of these units are old and obsolete and take time to get replacement parts for. We would love to have these parts on the shelf in an event of a breakdown but it cost money. Compressors $5,000 up Motors $2,500 up Pumps $3,000 up. Total break down on units like Chillers, roof top units, boilers and cooling towers range from $250,000 and up. We will do everything that we can to get a broken unit back on working for you and the customers.
I get along with all the colleagues/management at all the stores I visit other than I few people(There is always that one person). I communicate with the stores teams if there is a on going problem that we're waiting for parts. I give them my number and they have my email if the need something addressed quickly. Can we be outsourced, absolutely. BUT this is what you will miss,
Waiting hours for a contractor to arrive for urgent matters.
Small repairs will never be addressed
Hvac units will not be maintain and contractor will not repair seeing they'll make more money replacing equipment. Longer periods of unit shutdown waiting for replacement if Macy's even pays to do so. We know where all the equipment is and are familiar with it. We can most likely get it running temporary while waiting to get the parts in.
What will Macy's will regret,
PM's will never be done and all their old equipment will all start failing to the point that they will need to replace it all. $$$$
You National Account with the low bidding contractor will look good on paper money wise but when they want to replace everything with new(not included), weekend calls, and overtime work rate(not included) how will that look money wise? Visual needs a project done, well that's not included. $$$$ (Just look at you current and past National Contracts with vertical and fire protection, losing money is your thing)
Longer ETA's for urgent matters like loss of power, high temps, and sewage back ups will lose you customers. $$$$