Corporate Brainwashing - Target Style

Can Hamilton explain how he would write this document? Or what he would have Target do instead? Or if Target employees want to mope and ignore customers, is he saying they should have that right?

Nah... not a choice between "ignoring" customers and this corporate bullshit. There's a middle ground, where you treat people as intelligent beings. There is nothing... I repeat... NOTHING about Target that is "Amazing" and when I come across employees that act like this, it just drives me away.

Apple has some killer products that make a huge difference in my life... I still do not want some over hyped sales staff guy trying to sell me Apple shit. It's annoying, and it insults my intelligence. At least with the Apple guy though, it wouldn't be all bullshit -- they at least have a genuine neat factor going for the time being.

The reason why shit like this stands out to people like me is it shows off the arrogance that Wall Street creations like Target spew at the top levels -- and their disdain for customers, if they think this bullshit will work. For the sake of humanity's soul, I hope they're wrong. ;)

BUT... it would be fun to go into Target and use the word "Amazing" in every sentence of conversation with its staff. ;)

Soon there will be no commerce stores left because of the Internet, they will all be hubs for online distributors like Amazon. You can see it now, just look around even at your local mall. What happened to Borders, Circuit City and that shady porn store that used to sell "tobacco" pipes?

THEY ARE ALL GONE!!!

Why? Because of the devil know as "the Internet!" Everyone is suffering because of this Intenet thing, look around! Gas prices have doubled because people aren't driving, they're working from home, shopping at home and even ordering hookers... at home!

Rumor has it that electric and ISP companies, as well as popular sites like facebook and 8thStLatinas.com are teaming up to find a way to charge people for this virtual crack they call the web. In 2013 electric rates will triple and you will be charged $.25 for every like on Facebook! Better think twice before you comment on the picture of that cute kitten, it could cost you up to $5!

No more "gold" in the Middle East because no one cares or uses oil anymore, it's all about copper conductors. Soon electricity and bandwidth will go on the black market, I've already been hoarding bandwidth for months now, saving it in zip lock bags and old shoes... this will be the new currency!

There is a cycle to every aspect of life, but the Internet tuned this once perfect circle into a straight line that points profits to one direction! Soon there will be no use for industry workers, steel and other precious medials like candy corn will all be made online and shipped world wide, two day express for $3.95 with a prime account!

We are all fucked, just you watch. This time next year you will be sucking the webs out of your neighbors Ethernet cable while they are taking a shower just so you can read the reviews about last nights American Ideal!

Be warned...

I like turtles.

What about pie?

WAIT! Here is a video I took last week of my 1 year old son, Akiva, at target.


(It's AMAZING!)








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HAHAHA! Now that IS in fact... Amazing. :D

very cute.

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So, it is your suggestion that customer service is not important? Target serves a purpose and because of bulk is able to sell products at a lower cost than mom and pop can. Not everyone can afford to shop at Nordstrom. As far it sucking ass working for them, at least they have a job which is more than 50 million others can say.

Amazon and Target are linked pretty closely together already. If not mistaken I think you can even spend Amazon cash or use your Amazon account with Target.

I'm not quite sure what that article is aimed at far as comparing Target to Amazon for online sales. Amazon is already number 1. Staples office supply store is number two and I think Walmart & Best buy are in the top 10.

Target isn't anywhere to be found in the top 10 last I saw. Hell I think Sears was way above target as well. With that said out of any of those retail department stores I'd prefer shopping at Target well before Walmart, Sears or Best buy.. (ok Best Buy is electronics, but they are always over crowded and under staffed much like Walmart)

Target is usually always clean (with-in reason) and their stores seem well up kept. Added to this their aisles are wider than Walmart which makes getting around those fat women in spandex much easier.

As far as kinder-garden training material.. Well seems like who ever wrote that article just had a axe to grind. I see nothing wrong with a dept store trying to improve their customers shopping experience.. Personally I prefer to pick up things locally at a store vs buying online, so I much rather shop at a store that is trying to welcome customers.

Also I think brick & mortar stores will come out ahead in the end anyway. When people go into a store they usually buy a lot more than when they shop online. Added to this shipping costs will eventually get too high if fuel prices keep going up.

About two years ago here in my home town the "Rainbow Market" closed down. It had been run by the same family for the past forty years, was the anchor of a little strip mall in the center of town, and was a combination grocery store and five and dime. I had only been in there once or twice, it seemed old, "dingy", and the employees not too friendly.

When the store closed it took out the Taco Bell and pizza place in the same building.

When Wal Mart announced plans to create a "neighborhood grocery" store at that location, we all bitched and moaned. Great, another big box store and this right right smack in the middle of our historic downtown.

They just opened up two weeks ago. They hired all local people, have a clean store, and the prices are better. It's like they took the old mom and pop store and made it better. On top of that, they donated to all of the local sport leagues.

Seems like win win to me.

maybe if they gave the employees a living wage "The Service Vibe" would come naturally

They know how to play all the angles and they have exec brains dealing smoothly with all the town folks. It's just how some of the big companies massage the opinions of hardened affiliates and small program owners here, it's not very hard.

I was just reading from on of my FB groups that Walmart, target, and some other "big box" stores were going to be opening up in Panama. Some people, namely Panamanians, were happy about this. Other, expatriats living in Panama were boohooing about it. They were talking about how terrible this globalization thing was, and that they hated the diluting of panamanian business and products from the global market, etc....

I pointed out that perhaps it would be better to go back to a time when you could only find local products in the local shops all over the world, when there was no access to goods from other countries.....However, that was only great if you were wealthy enough to travel from place to place, and enjoy the charm and interest of exploring the local shops and products in each place you visited.

However, it sucked if you were a poor local and could not afford to travel to different countries and browse their local bazaars. If you couldnt afford to travel you were therefore locked out of access to any goods but the local ones.

People seem quite quick to deny others the access to global markets that they themselves already enjoy, simply because it offends their esthetic sensibilities.





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Also,

I've opened and run call centers where we paid a very good wage....and I still had to train, and retrain, and remind, and remind again, our employees about good customer service.




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Most people have no real awareness of how/why big stores took over and crushed small stores. How many of you here remember all the bullshit fax meme crap all over any small business? Any garage, parts store, hardware store or whatever... most of those same businesses which were crushed by large chains...

The basic general attitude in a small town was "fuck you" to the customers. Obviously not in every case, but that was the general attitude. Improving customer service, listening to customers, giving people what they want etc etc etc for the most part, is a newer thing.

This sounds absurd... but think back. Remember these kinds of signs all over? Behind counters? Taped to cash registers? You could walk into any small business practically and there was a general feeling of "you need us", not "we need you".

I guess I don't get it.

I use stores and services where I appreciate the service. If a store doesn't have good service, I just buy online.

I shop at Target and typically their service is pretty decent.

So they replaced on old store that was dirty with high prices and grumpy employees with a brand new store that is clean with low prices and happy employees and not only employe more people, but also have increased our the tax revenue for our little city while supporting our local community in a way that the old store never could.

I can't seem to see a downside here. I'm looking for one, I wasn't happy when Wal Mart was going to be parking itself directly in the center of our little town, but I can't find the downside yet.