I had a bad day at work today. We had a special emergency meeting with the three people that weren't ill. Our boss, the owner of the club, informed us that she was getting concerned about the financial part of the business because we have been "losing" inventory. We all knew that items in our inventory kept mysteriously disappearing.
Our boss then informed us that as she was working last evening, she was busy with a client and another client walked by and casually helped herself to one of our products. (Right in front of her!) :cussing: When my boss questioned her about it she informed her that she had been taking one each time she works out because she "thought they were free samples!" My boss said, "Oh, I see that's an honest mistake I guess but is there any way you could figure out how many you have taken and pay me for them." The client's response was, "Well, its not really my fault, your price sign above the product should have been bigger. Besides, its only $20." :BangHead:
Also we give prizes to our clients for various activities and stuff we do throughout the month. We display all these great prizes on a table so the clients work harder to earn them. Well, we have noticed the prizes disappearing as well. Apparently people are just walking off with them when the trainers are too busy to notice. :rolleyes: Yes, we were giving them away anyway, but why steal something like that? If they really wanted it that bad, all they had to do was ask for it.
What really did me in was we have been missing one of our more expensive decorations for a few weeks now. Well, as I drove past one of the client's houses, on my way home, I noticed a decoration displayed proudly on their front lawn! :thinik: My boss questioned her about it, thinking maybe she had ordered one for herself as well. Her response, "Oh...Er...Um...Gee...Um, I just got it from a friend." So...we are pretty sure she took it from our club. The kicker here is that this was one of my favorite clients. This person constantly professed her Christianity and seemed like a great person. I even gave her a DVD player when my husband and I moved because I felt sorry for her that she didn't have one and we weren't using ours anymore. My boss said she called the police to go question her about the flag and found many of our products in her living room. Apparently she had been stealing from us for quite some time! :cussing: A few of the things were given to her as prizes.
We now have a new policy, no prizes will be displayed, we are putting up cameras (that we can't really afford), and No merchandise will be sold in our club until further notice. Really these people are hurting themselves. They are stealing so much their beloved health club will have to close its doors if it keeps up.
Sorry this is so long, I just needed to vent! If I lose the best job I've ever had because of this I will be so mad!! Our boss informed us that she may have to let one of the trainers go because of financial reasons. And, I'm the newest, so I'm first in line. :doah:
I hope it doesn't come to you loosing your job!! Hopefully now that it is all out in the open it will help stop the stealing!! I can't believe some people have the nerve to just help themselve!! I would be hopping mad as well. I will be keeping my fingures crossed that you get to keep your job. OH and I hope your feeling much better now!!
Mel
I'm so sorry to hear this bad news. I really hope that it doesn't come to you being let go. It is too bad that your boss had to resort to pulling the prizes and sales items because you have some clients with sticky fingers. If suveillance cameras aren't in the budget, would it work if you had all your merchandise in a locked display case? Not sure how large these prizes and items are, but if you had them under lock and key where customers can still see them, that might help. Not sure how much a display case(s) would cost, but it may be a less expensive alternative.
Thanks Mel and Beth! I am feeling better today, still have the cough,but slowly but surely I'm getting better. I really don't think any of us will lose our jobs. Our boss was just so shocked and hurt that day. The display case is a good idea.