Archived Everytime my store gets a visitor/DTL the ETLs go into meltdown

[Kompa]

Especially in the backroom. Like, the hardlines ETL was pretty much standing there with the DTL watching me backstock pets. Trying to come up with a "tactical" plan that will help flow finish their work load.

I was temped to say just let me work and you work on hiring more people. Really, that would solve every problem my store has.

 

[Talvos]

We are now having 'surprise' visits with >5 minutes notice. Which honestly is a great thing. It gives more of a accurate depiction of how the store is running, instead of a 48 hour freak out and rush to get the store in pristine condition.

 

[tellmeaboutatime]

I HATE that! You should be visit ready at all times. Visit ready does not mean perfect either. It means having a plan to take care of what needs to be done.If your ETLS are screaming to get this done and that done because Johnny Bigbucks is on his way, then they are not in control of the store. Things are not going to look as good as they did 10 years ago. Even so a good ETL will know what needs to be done before the store opens each day. Its a matter of priorites. The DTLs can see right through that sickening sweet walkie voice that ETLs and some TLs use when they are in the store too.

 

[Bosch]

I love the undercover visits, I have had some good talks with my DTL before the ETL's figured out he was in the store.. DTL tries to act and dress like a native would but that east coast vibe just sticks out, if you are a bit observant..

Our store mostly freaks out over the pulls in the back, and the fitting room, making sure those are empty when they hear its a visit.. They forget that you can't push the clearance while price change is marking the clearance.

 

[Kompa]

Like yesterday, I overherd my ETL tell the DTL that I was currently backstocking and would finish all the BS before my day was over. Yet, the reason I was walking past was because I on my way to clock out for the day. I kinda felt bad because I was the only one back there but once I hit the timeclock I got the hell over it.

 

[oath2order]

Ugh I remember when one of the major people that I think was either regional or higher than regional came to visit some stores in the district. Every leadership person in my store lost their minds even though my store wasn't one of the people to get the visit

 

[lurker]

A couple of months I was back in electronics and this a DTL was walking by I said good morning "DTL" walk about 5 feet and realized he wasn't with anyone and said "DTL can I help you find someone? He said yes, and I called the STL. While he was going off on me I was able to speak to every concern he had. I left thinking so much for fast fun and friendly! Heard he made an ETL cry that day!

 

[backroomdude]

We had this a few weeks ago, DTL walked in went to guest service asked for the LOD. They called the LOD 5 times over about a 10 minute period and no answer. DTL walked the store and boy she was ticked off. We have always had green visits but not that day walked into recieving and heard the DTL yelling at the 4 ETL's that were in the building for not responding.

 

[redeye58]

....and sometimes Karma is a pissed off DTL.....

 

[doxie71]

Getting a visit tomorrow. Store looks like crap. Glad I have off. Hope the DTL gives it to them like no tomorrow

 

[CaptainRevision]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

 

[mrknownothing]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

They should include a safety check of the fixture room in their walk.

 

[Cel]

That's one thing I'll say for our Plano TL (whom I have some occasional conflicts with as far as when he's LOD and treating the front end like shit) - our fixture room used to be an unholy nightmare of a mess, and since he took over it's now neat and well-organized.

 

[commiecorvus]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

Most DTL's know that's where the ETL's shoved everything to make the store look brand.
That's why they don't look.

 

[NeoDarikona]

My schadenfreude meter goes through the roof whenever a DTL would make a surprise visit. So much buttery goodness when I see my favorite ETLs start to freak out.

 

[neversaynever]

The store was trashed last night in my eyes... Then at close the STL noticed someone had carts running into one spot. He commented on it as he started moving them, "this would be the morning DTL decided to pop in". That was the extent of his freak out!

I have to say, overall he tends to dive in and help. Even last night with a fever and being sicker than he was letting on.

The only ETL I've heard freak over the DTL was one of our pharmacists (warranted, she should be stressed), and it was a post visit grilling. Overall I think we have a decent handle on things that I can see.

But the freak outs can be amusing!! I also like our DTL, I'd like to have a sit down with him 😉

 

[defang]

We had one on a Sunday afternoon, completely unannounced. Only thing she was pissed off about was us not having enough bananas, but I was standing right by her and LOD and boy did LOD get a load of it!

 

[antivibe]

We had a Tina Schiel visit and no one in the store was freaking out, with the exception of the STL. The closing LOD (night before visit) didn't even know who Tina Schiel was. I laughed for a good while after she said that.

Our DTL used to only call us out on petty things like dirty label holders, dusty display cameras, messy clearance endcaps.
Our metrics back then were green all around. Now we're practically yellow and red and he freaks out over everything.

 

[Retail Girl]

Yeah, when we had Tina visit, we had a lot of people cleaning and getting ready and such, but I wouldn't say anyone was freaking out.

 

[redeye58]

Anticipated DTL visits are the only time we get in a thorough cleaning.

 

[oath2order]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

I'm honestly debating with another coworker friend of mine to call the hotline. Our fixture room is a mess. You have to climb on things to get to what you need and I've had things fall on me. Nothing damaging, just peghooks and those metal divider things that I don't know the name of. Fences? I dunno. They're used on bottom shelves to keep things from rolling out.

 

[kingpin003]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

I'm honestly debating with another coworker friend of mine to call the hotline. Our fixture room is a mess. You have to climb on things to get to what you need and I've had things fall on me. Nothing damaging, just peghooks and those metal divider things that I don't know the name of. Fences? I dunno. They're used on bottom shelves to keep things from rolling out.

Sounds like OSHA might be a little more effective.

 

[commiecorvus]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

I'm honestly debating with another coworker friend of mine to call the hotline. Our fixture room is a mess. You have to climb on things to get to what you need and I've had things fall on me. Nothing damaging, just peghooks and those metal divider things that I don't know the name of. Fences? I dunno. They're used on bottom shelves to keep things from rolling out.

Keep in mind that when you complain there's a good chance that the person who is going to be crapped on is the signing specialist since the fixture room is usually supposed to be their responsibility even though they are never given the time or where with all to keep it maintained.

 

[oath2order]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

I'm honestly debating with another coworker friend of mine to call the hotline. Our fixture room is a mess. You have to climb on things to get to what you need and I've had things fall on me. Nothing damaging, just peghooks and those metal divider things that I don't know the name of. Fences? I dunno. They're used on bottom shelves to keep things from rolling out.

Keep in mind that when you complain there's a good chance that the person who is going to be crapped on is the signing specialist since the fixture room is usually supposed to be their responsibility even though they are never given the time or where with all to keep it maintained.

Really? I thought all they had to keep clean was their own little signing specialist area and not the fixture room.

Sounds like OSHA might be a little more effective.

My friend and I debated this and we thought the store would get shut down while OSHA did their thing

 

[usojelly]

Do DTLs look in fixture rooms? That's where ours is completely ****ed up!

I'm honestly debating with another coworker friend of mine to call the hotline. Our fixture room is a mess. You have to climb on things to get to what you need and I've had things fall on me. Nothing damaging, just peghooks and those metal divider things that I don't know the name of. Fences? I dunno. They're used on bottom shelves to keep things from rolling out.

That's one option, another option is to fix the problem instead of being part of it. You know, clean the fixture room.