CPI Corp I am an ex-employee St Louis Missouri

I am an ex-employee of CPI Corp... Having worked for CPI for over 2 years and then discarded like a piece of meat because my 4 week trend average was below acceptable and then I was requested to sign a Letter of Resignation which I did not! I told my supervisor that I was going to try to get unemployment and I was told that corporate DOES NOT do unemployment.

The week of Dec 6, 2008 I was told by my District Manager that I was OLD (yes, i am 59 yrs old BUT a VERY YOUNG 59!!! nor do I look it or act it either!!!) in front of a customer!!! to me, this is unacceptable!!! Plus, a week and a half before Christmas I became sick with the flu and it hung on for weeks. I HAD to work( I am a loya and devoted employee...

I am a worker) with a fever the day before and the day after Christmas because the girl who was scheduled on Christmas Eve called and said she was stranded in Phoenix, so you know who had to work alone. I told Mothers of the babies that I had the flu and did they wish to reschedule, OH NOOOO>>>> they HAD to get the $3.99 special which was (1) 8x10, (4) 3 1/2x5, (16) minis nd (4) other small pictures I do not remember any longer.

Of course the greedy mothers HAD to have this package ONLY which was initially designed to enhance a larger package but somehow they did not take it like that and most were not happy with me coughing and snotting around their children...END RESULT... corporate complaints about me in my 4 week trend. Christmas Eve was a total nitemare, shooting pictures, selling them only the $3.99 package and delivering out pictures because we had promised delivery for Christmas and all alone.

***We are SUPPOSED to take lunch from 2 to 3 but I did not get a lunch then because I was SOOO BIZZI because corporate had blocked out 15 minutes per customer and this simply cannot be done, shoot 7 poses (mandatory) enhance portraits, sell portraits and ring customer out all in 15 minutes...I think NOT!!!!

End result... my average (we were supposed to maintain an 80% average) How is this possible when they only want the $3.99 package which was initially designed to enhance a larger package???? IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

CPI Corp bought out PCA Corp which is the name of the place I initially became employed and then in July 2008 we went digital and the software techs made the computer checkout more difficult. When one is thrust into a new situation and cannot call anyone and it was almost impossible to get thru to corp if a problem arose, one must make a snap decision and sometimes it is not correct. This has always been a burr under my blanket for a long time.

And so, I am writitng this missive for others to hear the other side of the story and believe me, I am NOT taking up for corporate in the very least. I have had to deal with cheapskate Mothers who seem to want exclusiveness
and then only want the $3.99 package, rude Mothers, Mothers who are determined to get a huge package for free and if they make a big enough fuss...they DO!,

Mothers who were obviously drunk and also Mothers who were also on drugs (speed), Mothers who allowed their children to color upon the studio walls, Mothers who allow their children to run rampant, Mothers who do not want to sit beside the posing table,( I have saved several babies from falling from the table because mother wanted this sjhot or that shot and was not paying attention to their child)

Mothers who will change a baby and leave the dirty diaper under a studio chair, and ,Mothers who are determined to get 3 or 4 introductory offers at the same time and same day...NOTT, But, if they fuss, my manager would give it to them, and also Mothers who bring a child in who has not been fed and is hungry! Customers are told in advance that we run on baby time and this is so.

I mostly liked my job except for the stress and pressure of corporate and the cheap Mothers who thought they wanted a bargain!!!

I personally FEEL I have gone above and beyond for this corporation, once working 7 weeks straight with only 2 days off in that 7 weeks because my manager said Icould use a day off, imagine that!!! Being also called at the 11th hour on my days off to either drive to Happy Valley or Cottowood to cover their studios which I gladly did.

When a new employee is hired, they are given 40 hours of training and then turned loose in the studio to work by themselves and shu;ld a major problem arise, they are completely on their own and if they make the wrong choice, then they are in deep trouble with the district manager and corporate.

My end result in applying for my unemployment is thatI am getting my unemployment and nw can live, at least a semblance of it. Please be aware if ypu are ever terminated and requested to sign a Letter of resignation...DO NOT DO IT! i have a paper here from Unemployment and it states that Corporate said i qut but were unable to furnish proof and thusly, I am getting my unemployment!

Thank you!!!

Sheri
Humboldt, Arizona
U.S.A.

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