I work in a retail establishment in north carolina. I am a sales person, my question is can I be fired for not selling. Say I sell an item and it has an extended warranty on it, i've been told I can be fired if I don't get the extended warranty sold, and the only reason I don't get the extended warranty sold is because its optional to the customer and the customer doesn't want it. Is it legal to fire me because I can't make the customer buy this extra stuff? Thats like saying you're fired for only selling 2 dollars today, when the only customer in the store the whole day bought the 2 dollar item. So, Is it illegal to fire me for somethign I can't control?
2007-07-26 15:15:53 · 15 answers · asked by Shane S 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
welcome to the world of retail, It used to be called slavery.
If they do chose to fire you, you can bet that they will word the termination to be something legal and above board for their purpose.
2007-07-26 15:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by bgee2001ca 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can be, except for Federally protected reasons like Race, age, etc. A business can engage in those "unsavory" business practices to force you to try to sell extended warranties . If you don't like doing business that way, then find another job. Oh, yeah, and when or if they DO fire you, tell the manager this - Remember, a good deal won't get mentioned much, but a bad one will be repeated at least 10 times to other people, who in turn will repeat it too...and you will make SURE to tell at least 10 people WHY you got fired, and that the business is trying to force you to sell the extended warranty to customers who don't want it. THey may not care, but you can be sure to get the word out on the local Internet that it's a high-pressure business treating it's customers badly. And just laugh maniacly on the way out the door with your last check... :D
- The Gremlin Guy -
2007-07-26 23:13:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You said you're a sales person. Your job is selling. So, if you aren't selling to your employers satisfaction, they have every right to fire you for non-performance.
Many sales people feel like they need to push people to buy whether the customer needs the item they are selling or not. A sales person with a concience isn't going to sell as much as a somebody who isn't considering the customer's best interests. So, I have a question for you:
Do YOU believe that the extended warranties are a good deal?
If you can't answer yes to that question, you're going to have a very hard time selling them. YOU have to believe in what you're selling if the customer is going to believe what you tell them.
Stick with your concience. If this doesn't feel right to you, find another field to work in. If you decide sales is right for you, you can probably do better than working in Best Buy or Circuit City. Good luck!
2007-07-26 22:32:57 · answer #3 · answered by Tunsa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can be. If you are a sales person, your job is to make sales. If you do not make the minimum number of sales required, then you are not performing your job and can be fired for non performance. It would be like if you worked in a tire factory and had to make 100 tires a day, but you only made 50 everyday. You would be fired.
I have worked as a commissioned sales person for a long time and have been very successful at it. I have to tell you the dirty little secret...it is not out of your control. Your biggest problem I have noticed from your posting is you have a negative attitude about your job. It will be darn near impossible to succeed at selling unless you adjust your attitude upwards quickly. You also need to know the product and believe in the product. If you know what you are talking about to the customer and you believe in the product, your enthusiasm will show through and it will be contagious. It is that simple.
Don't whine on Yahoo about what you can't do...look at your problem and figure out a way in which you can do it. I'll be willing to bet there are other salespeople at your store who are selling the daylights out of the extended warranties...do whatever they do (as long as it is ethical).
2007-07-26 22:28:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well pretty much unless you have a contract or union supporting you then you can be fired for just about anything.
And as far as those stupid extended warranties go, tell your boss that us customers think they are a big scam and we arent buying.
I had someone at a store trying to sell me a 20 dollar extended warranty on a 10 dollar video game controller.
WTF?
2007-07-26 22:21:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It certainly SOUNDS unreasonable, I must say. Unfortunately- it's up to the Employer to decide who shall work & who shall go- and they usually don't need much of an "excuse" to give one the "boot" if they're not getting it THEIR way. Can't you talk one of your Relatives to come in & buy the extra "stuff" along with whatever it is you're selling? It might "buy you alittle Time", until the next victem (-I mean- "customer") comes along. Otherwise- you might consider beginning to look for a new job.
2007-07-26 22:32:28 · answer #6 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming you were "told" you could be fired if you didn't sell the extended warranty to a customer, and you didn't, then I would assume that you could be fired.
As far as "legality", you need to consult an attorney.
2007-07-26 22:26:59 · answer #7 · answered by Baby Poots 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An employer has a right to fire you for any reason except based on sex, race, religion, etc.
So yes, they can fire you. They can fire you because you look at them funny.... it's their business, and their right.
You have to sell enough to warrant your salary.... they dont want to lose money on you. Extended warranty's are VERY profitable... they only pay something on about 8% of them, so yes, they want you to sell them.
A lot of people are stupid enough to buy them... but more and more are saying "NO"!
2007-07-26 22:20:46 · answer #8 · answered by Mike 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In most situations, you can be fired for any reason or no reason.
There are very few exceptions -- such as when you have a specific employment contract that limits what the company can fire you for... or if you can prove the firing is based on discrimination that is prohibited by applicable laws.
2007-07-26 22:21:59 · answer #9 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you are in a union you have no options other than than the National Labor Relations Board. But, don't waste your time because Bush and his cronies has tied their hands and they won't help you. So your SOL
2007-07-26 22:23:12 · answer #10 · answered by V-Man the Tinknocker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can be fired for looking at the boss cross eyed. Work is not a democracy; it's a business.
2007-07-26 22:25:13 · answer #11 · answered by Homeless in Phoenix 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋