Thread regarding Sears layoffs

"arguing with me that a $5 coupon off is a better deal than $30off a $40 , there is a problem."

Yeah, that is definitely ridiculous. But, sad to say, like most jobs, retail has its share of idiots. Certainly one of my fellow MCAs (who'd rather hang out at the cash wrap than be an MCA and help her team) was no longer allowed to help cashier after a while for reasons that are pretty idiotic on her part. (Can't count and accepted obviously fake bills... >.>)

Just don't assume people like her or that cashier are fare representatives of retail workers as a whole. They aren't. (Though, sure, some places have better employees than others.)

Yeah, I knew that the coupons and free cash deals can't be combined. No big deal but when the cashier is arguing with me that a $5 coupon off is a better deal than $30off a $40 , there is a problem. Now, I learned after from another employee that if you have coupons clipped, those are applied first and prevent you from using free cash offers. Unclipped the coupons and magic, I could use my free cash and pay pennies on the dollar. :)

Believe me, it is two main things are to why the Freecash doesn't work as well as it should:

1. As others have stated, there are so many exclusions and rules to it that the cashiers are not fully knowledgeable about due to piss poor or NO training at all.

2. SHC really doesn't want to make using the Freecash or points or whatever the f--- they want to call it easy for members. Why is that, you may ask? Easy, they don't want you to use up all those freebies if they can help it. They want you to spend as much money as possible because they are desperate for high sales revenue.

To a customer not ringing up a sale correctly is first viewed as the cashier's fault. They are inputting the information to complete a transaction. in the end, if it is the cashier's fault or the programming is bad the customer leaves unhappy, which contributes to continuing same-store sales declines.

OP, see my reply to the other related thread @SrnFTDJ-1nou explaining how you can help prevent frustrating surprises at the register like this in the future.

I really do try my best to be friendly and kind to my customers, but many times the hostility and cultural at SHC can be extremely discouraging. It’s becoming more and more difficult to be nice anymore.

Honestly the training and the communication is awful. So many different programs and offers that no one can possibly keep up with. Its all about treating people with kindness on both sides of the counter (cashier towards customers and customers towards cashiers). I’ve seen some horrible customers and NO one deserves to be treated like they are trash. On the flip side I’ve gone to other Kmart store where they didn’t know I was an employee and received absolutely horrendous service. It goes both ways. If everyone treated each other nicely the world would certainly be a better place.

Nothing is worse than spending money to draw customers into your store only to alienate them with a poor experience. Money down the drain. Marketing plans should be well tested and coached before being rolled out... dumping numerous different offers from online and in store on an employee's plate in a shotgun fashion is a recipe for disaster.

"I stated that the computer system needs to allow that and work better."

As stated by some already, the computers tend to be outdated and don't work well, causing part of the issue.

"it is the cashiers fault if they act like they don't even know what free cash is"

Maybe the person hasn't worked there long or hasn't helped with the cashiering much before and are still learning... People aren't always told everything, and it very well could be that the one single morning that was explained at the morning rally that person wasn't there.

"Good employees at good companies value their customers"

Good customers are also respectful and considerate to employees, playing their own part in encouraging great customer service. Sadly, truth be told, in the 21st century many customers are rather thankless jerks. I love the great ones, those who kind of made my day be interacting with them. They are in the minority however. Retail would be a better area of employment of society didn't act the way it does.

I'm original poster and what a bunch of irrational replies. First I don't scream at the cashiers, that would be rude, where did I ever state that? I also didn't say it was the cashiers fault that the coupon would be taken over the free cash or that offers didn't work, I stated that the computer system needs to allow that and work better. Finally, it is the cashiers fault if they act like they don't even know what free cash is when it is mentioned. Seems like all of you really hate your customers if my comment generated such hostility simply for being a customer! Good employees at good companies value their customers and welcome feedback that could help their company. Nobody forces you to work for Sears Holdings, if you don't like their customers or their feedback then you're the loser for continuing to work for a company that you don't want to succeed. I have enough self respect that I wouldn't waste my life working for a company that I'm rooting against. Some things are corporate's fault, some things are employee's fault, and sometimes yes it is the customer's fault, but as employees with self respect you should want your company to do well and not abuse the customers who offer polite feedback.

For the idiot under me. No! Cashiers cannot select wich freecash offer you want to use. It comes up automatically.

Some of us are former SH employees who were laid off and continue to use SYW. No rules on this board stating you must be a current employee to post. Cashiers are not trained on SYW. At the one remaining local store cashiers have to select the coupons or free cash to apply to the order. If the cashier does not select the one with the most value for the customer it is the cashier’s fault. The cash registers are very outdated and do not apply the coupons or free cash automatically. Do not understand how this store remains open.

Shopping online is a horrible experience. Stopped shopping online after receiving incorrect or damaged merchandise for the 3rd time in 3 weeks last Dec.

Again this has NOTHING to do with the cashier going out of their way to piss you off! We input into the register that you want to use your points, if you have a free cash offer it either takes it or it doesn’t. Sometimes it’s the customer who hasn’t read the fine print or a coupon was used in the transaction which MOST of the time will not allow the free cash offer to trigger. Other times the offer isn’t programmed correctly and it doesn’t work. Not the cashier’s fault.

Have you looked at those antique computers? Of course there are problems.

Not associates fault. All the SYW, freecash, coupons are loaded on the corporate level. Many of the freecash and coupons have so many exclusions that are not listed it is a pain for the cashier to have to try and figure it out. They also change the rules and exclusions on a daily basis, so it is nearly impossible for anyone at store level to know what is going on. Even different corporate departments will give conflicting answers to questions asked, so even they dont know the rules or exclusions

Yes but common sense has nothing to do with SYW. Quit screaming at the cashiers for not being able to get you your free cash, they can't control that. If YOU loaded a coupon to your card it doesn't work with free cash,store level can't control that, call SYW. Also if your a customer why are you on this board? This is for Sears associates not customers. If you have a complaint take it to SYW. We listen to you all day at work, this board is for us!