Pros
Employee Discount , Joe Muggs (having access to a cup of coffee whenever you need it!!) First access to new releases.
Cons
The demands of Books-A-Million employees are as I said unrealistic. Firstly, just since I have been associated with the company percentage for "discount card" sales has gone up from 3.8% then to 4.6% and currently 5%. Not only has employee % goal gone up but so has the price of the actual discount card, $10 to $15 to $20. Keep in mind this is all occuring during an economic recession. Secondly, there is a huge problem with the Magazines-for-Millionaires program. Each store is given a weekly goal to subsribe X number of people to receive "8 risk free weekly issues" of up two different magazines that are associated with the program. Sure, there is a 1-(800) number on the receipt you can call at anytime to cancel the subscription..........unless they haven't gotten you in the system yet.........or if your not calling within their business hours............or if you happen to lose your receipt. Let's just hope hope you don't forget because what we didn't tell you is after your "8 risk free weeks" they are going to start charging your credit card around $50 a month. In order to make these goals you have to be very deceitful to your customers, thats bad customer service right? Yet customer service is Books-A-Millions #1 goal!?! Yeah right! Ok on to my third point, store budget hours have been cut so tremendously it is absolutley not possible to run a business proplerly. Shipment is required to be out within 24 hours of receiving, yet there is a skeleton crew of 3 people in the store, Manager-on-duty, cashier, and barista. So in addition to working customer service and checking people out the Manager-on-duty and cashier are trying to get shipment out properly. during this time the manager on duty has to give their crew their breaks and eventually take one themselves (hopefully). Oh, wait I forgot Managers are required to clock out 30 min for lunch but not allowed to leave the store and must still work if there are issues such as cashier or barista need a void, or a return, or backup. What?! Isn't that illegal!!!!! Meanwhile we have to maintain metrics and complete store projects.
