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WTF mate, pro-forms are stealing?

9.4K views 29 replies 7 participants last post by  stunterguy  
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#1 ·
**rant** ill try and make this as short as possible.


anyways, so im at work tonight and im buying a new stomp pad because the alibi i pro-formed just came in, and i told my store manager that and he FLIPPED out and said "you cant pro-form boards, you havent worked here long enough and its stealing" for some reason at first i guess he thought i got it for free, now here is what I dont understand. I was given the pro-forms directly from the atomic rep at a clinic, so how is that stealing from the company?! I really got into it with him, and explained that maybe if they even had a orientation AT ALL, instead of just throwing people into shops and expecting them to know everything then maybe some people would understand things a little better. I spoke with everyone else that works in snowboards and nobody had a CLUE to what he was talking about and ALL of them have pro-formed the boards they got this year, so i really dont understand what i did wrong....at all. Now keep in mind this guy running the store is probablly the dumbest person i have ever worked for, and i spent six years in the marines so i've worked with some pretty stupid people before. He was telling me that i needed to bring in a copy of the pro-form because ALL pro-forms are supposed to go through HIM and they have spot for the store manager to sign(which it doesnt, i just double checked) and that I could get fired for this. It just amazes me how someone SO stupid can get a position of authority, everyone in the store thinks hes a complete moron, even his assistant managers talk shit about him, its sad. Anyways, i just thought I'd rant for a minute because he got me pretty heated, and just thought id see if anyone else has has a similar experience.
cheers!
 
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#3 ·
boarderaholic said:
Ok. I'm going to be blunt with this. Your boss is stupid. You're supposed to use pro-forms to buy directly from the company, especially if you got it straight from the company.
thats EXACTLY what im saying. He said i was stealing from OUR company and i kept asking him "if im getting it straight from atomic how does it have ANYTHING to do with our company" and he couldnt answer me and just kept getting pissed. Then he started asking me who the rep was and when i was like "well, if something was done wrong im not getting anyone in trouble by throwing the name of the person out" he got even more pissed, and finally i just had to walk away because the last thing i need is to just lose it because some idiot is yelling at me for NO reason.
 
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#7 · (Edited)
crustyjuggler said:
Would it be a stupid question to ask what a "pro-form" is?
It's how us board shop employees get sweet deals. Each company usually has one and you can get stuff at really good prices.

I will throw my input in as I work at a shop with a similar policy. Your boss definetley sounds irrational (as you will find a lot with managers at sports shops) and the reason he is getting pissed is that shops don't want you getting hired, ordering a board, and then not showing up for work. Like I said we have a similar policy but it is very loosely enforced when it comes to pro-deals. The exact opposite thing from what your manager is arguing is avoided because you BOUGHT the board and the company was happy to sell it to you. You will ride it and give your customers feedback about the board. This is usually something companies love and the reason pro-deals exist but I guess your manager just doesn't want sales or knowledgeable employees. :dunno:

edit: You may want to watch posting prices on here. Just a suggestion.
 
#9 ·
Nice to know they have at least a 150% mark-up.
 
#19 ·
Yes I'm sure Jake Carpenter is just barely making ends meet.
 
#21 ·
I've seen 2 different schools of thought on the pro-form deal. I've had shop owners and friends that work at shops even let me order from them because we're tight and I've seen others get in a lot of trouble for not clearing with the manager. It's stupid if the manager is being an a-hole but sometimes that's just how it is. I don't know why anyone is surprised by the mark up, I didn't even see the listing but having bought from one I know. When I used to sell car stereos and accessories you should have seen the markups on that. I used to be able to get and this is like 8yrs ago, an in dash Alpine TV/DVD for like $400 and they sell for like $1,600. That's how companies make $.
 
#22 ·
Let's not forget, Pro forms are almost always below cost. So the shop employee actually gets the product for less than what the shop pays. Almost any retail shop in the world runs on a 40 margin. Most $500 boards cost your retailer about $350. Then they have to pay for the retail space, lights, water, employees, insurance, and tons of other bs. It's actually a slim margin, in the US. Go to other countries and you've got import fees, and that sort of crap to deal with.
So for one, don't think you are getting ripped off. Without the mark up you'd have to deal with the factory direct. Sounds great until you have a problem and no where to take it too. Think about it.

stunterguy, your shop manager is fucked in the head. You were given that pro form by the rep. None of his fucking business. The only thing I can say is you should have had it shipped to your home addy. I've worked at shops where they keep a file of proforms and you had to be an employee for something like 30 or 60 days. If the rep gave you one, you were fine. You are facing another problem in the retail industry, a complete lack of communication as to what and when the benefits are. So many run it half assed and then say it's your fault when you don't follow a policy that has never been explained to you? Lame. I would seriously look for other employment. Retailers are going to be hiring big time for the Holidays. You could give them two weeks notice right when they are in crunch time and stick it to them. I would let them know it's because that manager was a douchebag and you feel uncomfortable working with him.
 
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#25 ·
:thumbsup: well tempers flared the other night and I ended up getting into a fight with my boss, but on the good side i DID get it shipped to my house so i took my new board up to a 3 day mini vaca to keystone to ride my new deck:thumbsup:
 
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#26 ·
stunterguy said:
:thumbsup: well tempers flared the other night and I ended up getting into a fight with my boss, but on the good side i DID get it shipped to my house so i took my new board up to a 3 day mini vaca to keystone to ride my new deck:thumbsup:

Just tell your ass hat manager to get at parade rest.