Consumerist
Reader L is an employee of Wilson's Leather and has the following to report from inside the liquidation. Everything and everyone must go.
Here's the most important take away. Now that L's store has been taken over by a liquidator the prices are actually higher than before. Don't fall for this so-called "sale." Apparently, it's just CompUSA, but with coats.
I've been at a Wilson's Leather store for over a year when we were told about the closings. Since nobody has reported it yet, here's how it all actually went down and certain points that makes all this even worse.Our condolences to the folks at Wilson's Leather. A big hug from the Consumerist to all of you.1. On 2/13, there was no indication whatsoever about what would happen the next day. We were sent the usual e-mails and price changes, as well as shipments.
2. Some new sign kits showed up on 2/14 (Valentines Day) and my manager knew immediately what they were. (They had the signs with the "Everything Must Go" wording on them.) She called out District Manager and asked him about it. He knew nothing and made some calls. They told him everyone would be told in a conference call at 3:00PM. Otherwise, they told him nothing. It's always fun when signs stating you're going out of business arrive before you're told you're going out of business.
3. The conference call consisted of them basically firing almost all their Regional and District managers (including ours) and telling stores they were being liquidated effective immediately. The best part was them thanking everyone who was now pretty much fired for being loyal employee's. Nothing was said about severance or unused vacation time, etc. And that was it. We—or any other cut store—had no real ties with Wilson's anymore. We were sold to a liquidator and they were taking over day-to-day operations from here on out. We received an e-mail listing all the stores that had been closed and a really vague FAQ about what was happening and why. That was the last communication to or from the Wilson's corp. to our store.
4. The signs are up, the tags were put on everything and we get to deal with customers who are angry that we can no longer accept returns or exchanges on anything regardless of when they made the purchase. Not to mention that the prices now (since the liquidator took over—who we haven't even seen yet, by the way) are higher than they were before the closing. So consider that a heads up to anybody planning to buy anything.
The only parts of this that anger me more than anything else are these facts:
-We have NO idea when we're being closed. The guy could show up at any time, say thanks for working, and shut the store down. We're just standing there waiting for the other shoe to stomp us flat.
-Despite e-mails to Human Resources, we've heard nothing about severance. If it actually happens and is not worth even getting, you'll be hearing security gates shut all across the country.
-My boss, who is the sweetest, most honest woman I've ever met in my life, has been a manager for about 14 years and trained the majority of the managers in other stores in our area, was let go without warning. There are people out there who were with them even longer who were dropped as well.
Everyone in the store considered each other family since we were always together and hanging out. My manager gave me a job when nobody else would and became probably the best friend I've ever had. Though I'm angered that all my coworkers are now left in the lurch, I'm especially pissed about the way she was told. I couldn't even speak when she was left in tears over this.
So thats the real story behind the closings. Nobody had any warning, no indication, not even a rumor of anybody being shut down. I'm sure other ex-employee's of companies have similar or worse stories about their closings, but I didn't work for them. This is a job I actually enjoyed doing taken from me without so much as a kiss.
Thats it.
Comments
"We're just standing there waiting for the other shoe to stomp us flat."
Very poetically put. My sympathies to all the employees affected by this closing and the extremely insensitive approach that's been taken.
please tell us that you and the other employees walked out of the store in protest!
Maybe the leather they were using was from the cows that just got recalled?
If that's your first job, then be aware that pretty much all jobs from here on will end just like this. Without even a kiss.
well that blows...sorry to hear that
I thought they had to give you 60 days notice *OR* pay you for 60 days (or a combination of the 2, such as 30 days notice + 30 days pay) when this sort of thing happens.
@forever_knight: That would be a nice statement, but most of them probably needed every hour they could get.
I wish they would have walked out, every single one of them and left the store there, open with no one inside.
@shan6: wishful thinking i guess.
@forever_knight: Won't happen because everyone is hanging in there hoping to get a severance package of some kind...which is probably why they have heard nothing. By the time they announce that nobody will be getting anything all the stores will have shut down.
@ptkdude: I've never heard anything even remotely like this. Of course that could be because Florida is an "At-Will" employment state.
take it out in merchandise.....
@ptkdude: Says who? Any job I ever had stated on the offer that "This position is "at will," meaning the employer or employee may terminate employment at any time, for any reason, without any notice."
Unless the employee had a specific contract with the employer (which is never the case in a retail position such as this), then they employer has the right to simply let them go.
as a former Wilson's Leather employee - I am very happy this chain is shutting down.
Your experience with your manager is in NO WAY similar to my experience.
You are waiting to find out you are getting fired. I had to come to work (assuming a normal work day) to be told "Go home, we don't need your services anymore" My manager AHN-dre-AH (it actually read Andrea) was a complete and total seed of Satan.
I hope you, Reader L, can find as nice a job as you seemed to have there. Good Luck.
@ptkdude:
Depends upon where you live. Some states are "at will" employment states and don't regulate employment that much.
Why did this have to happen when I'm broke?! I love leather, although I'm guessing their merch still would be overpriced in this fire sale.
@forever_knight: with armfuls of *free* leather goods
PTKDUDE, you are mistaking America with a more enlightened country. Unless you are a member of a Union (few of us are) you have almost no rights when it comes to termination. Some states are better than others, but generally they can fire you for no reason and give no severance. Sure you might get unemployement (the employer had to pay into that fund), but it is really next to nothing in most states (and they tax your unemployment). Welcome to the new economy where people do not matter...
There is no news on their website whatsoever about the closing of 160 mall stores and cutting up to 1000 jobs, both part-time and full.
[www.bizjournals.com]
That's a cold piece of work they did. It's almost on par with those 700 pink slip emails that RadioShack sent to their employees a couple of years back.
@HOP: Agree with HOP. Then sell it on eBay!
I used to love them... That really sucks for the employees. As an HR professional, all I can advise is to stay on the company's HR department and try to get information out of them. Call every day! Good luck!!!
I was just looking for a handbag at their website today (I have got many terrific bags there) and noticed that despite a BIG HUGE CLEARANCE SALE going on, the prices are higher there as well. So much so that I noticed it even though I didn't remember about the GOOB thing.
Too bad....I bought a cute lambskin jacket from wilson's back in 2002 or so and it is still in pretty good shape.
@Sukie in the Graveyard: Off topic, I realize, but I had a manager named Andrea (normal pronunciation) once, and she was a bitch.
Wonder if it's something in the name?
Back on topic, best of luck to all of the future former Wilson's employees.
@Sabrinaanna: They always had such good buys on leather. Perhaps that's why they're going out of business. It's a shame -- they were about the only affordable leather I could find.
If the writer is checking this thread, the best person to ask about your store's closing would be the property manager of your particular shopping center/mall. Since they likely won't willingly disclose it, call to "confirm the closing date" or something like that.
That has to be one of the most fucked up layoff stories I have ever read. I wish the employees good luck.
Too bad they're closing, I would have considered giving them more business as I bought a really nice leather jacket from them last summer.
If I was one of these employees I would be worried about someone coming through with a paycheck while they are closing down. If your now sort of employees of the liquidator and Wilson's isn't taking your calls that doesn't bode well. Someone might want to make an inquiry call to the state labor board about this to get them in on things.
The only thing worse that getting let go with no notice is being screwed out of your last paycheck.
It seems like employers giving notice to employees has gone the way of pensions and leaded gasoline. Yet employees are still expected to give two weeks notice?
@BayStateDarren: omg, I love your avatar! Why didn't I think of that >_
Wow, that was a sad story. That's the way it goes in corporate America though. Hope you left with an armful of leather goods. My response to situations like this is to steal everything I can.
@Jaysyn: @aaron8301: @rphoenix:
According to the WARN Act [www.doleta.gov] I'm not sure if this situation qualifies. Technically they haven't been layed off.... yet.
I knew a lot of stores were closing, but the title of this post still freaked me out because I thought there was yet another mall shooting.
Way back in the day, before I had valuable job skills, and I was the manager of Egghead store #103, we found out from our customers that we were closing. Our customers (some Wall Street types) would come in and ask how sales were, because they'd heard through the grapevine that they were closing some stores and they'd be sad to see us go. Two days later, company announced it was closing half of it's retail outlets. Fast forward a year, customers come in, said their encomiums and asked when the sales started. We had no idea. And we were even profitable.
It is better to be cool about this stuff (not steal stuff, not walk out). I sent a very nasty email to corporate about forcing us to recount inventory, and was called into work on my day off to be yelled at (actually, I had to drive about half an hour to another store to be yelled at). The next day, I arrived at work, was sent home. At home, on a Saturday, was a DHL with my severance pay. I cost myself a couple of grand by getting fired at the start of the close, and caused my staff a good deal of grief in expanded responsibility.
I was 25. I was stupid. I'm smarter now.
Chain Retail is about the worst place to work (I did it as a manager for years, before smartening up). Crappy hours, crappy pay, and you are treated like garbage when the end comes. If you are doing it part-time you might have a chance to keep your sanity but otherwise I would strongly advise anyone working retail to start designing your exit strategy so that you can leave on your terms, not the companies.
@luckybob343: That is a beautiful bit of social engineering! Love it!
Gordon Brothers strikes again!
You probably won't be getting any severance. I recommend looking for a new job right away. The truth is that the employer owes you as much loyalty as you owe the employer (which is far less than the employer wants you to think you owe them).
@ptkdude: What you're probably thinking about is the WARN Act. This does not apply to distressed companies though.
@Sudonum, et all: Employment Training Administation (doleta) is not the right agency for "I got jacked out of pay."
Employment Standards Administration is. Specifically, the Wage and Hour Division.
[www.dol.gov] for general information about WHD.
[www.dol.gov] to find your closest ESA/WHD area office.
/Employed by DOL, having spent 5 months in ETA and 4 in ESA on rotations, but not WHD.
Are ALL Wilson's closing? Or just certain stores?
@luckybob343: excellent idea. You probably wouldn't even have to mention Wilson Leather when you call the prop mgr. In fact, don't. Identify yourself as a potential retailer and ask what they have coming open in the next 3-6 months.
I wouldn't quit yet. Corporate is praying you do so they don't have to worry about unemployment. Look for something else, surely, but don't close the door on your unemployment benefits. In Florida you can't collect if you quit regardless of circumstances.
@ptkdude: That is the case when the employeer employs over a certain number of people.
I will have to make sure myself and my family do not buy anything from these closing stores! I do not want to support liquidators nor do I want to support a company that did this to their employees.
@PotKettleBlack:
So hypothetically speaking, if these employees (say 500+) had been let go from Wilson's due to the whole chain closing, and they did not get 60 days notice, would they fall under the WARN Act?
Reminds me of my first job out of college - at Enron in fall of 2001. <shudder>
Most chain stores do not care about their employees except as a liability. They are considered a cost of doing business, not an asset.
another reason i'm glad to have my secure, public sector job. this is really abominable. i'll tell my leather daddy friends not to shop there.
@MPHinPgh: my manager was dead set on having her name pronounced like a french bitch with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. But she was very much not french... more like trash of the trailer type. (I didn't work there for very long...)