Did you know Choices Uk head office staff spent the afternoon after hearing the news celebrating with Champayne not giving a stuff about us. Come on Choices staff, let's take what we want and start anarchy in our stores, time to take what we deserve. Let's go down in style

No-one was celebrating at head office - there are retail staff who work there too, and they don't know what's going to happen to them.

The Local and Direct staff still don't know what's going on, because no-one from the Webb Group has told them that their jobs are safe.

If Webb Group have their own people and property, then they may not going to need everyone who works at Choices.

That was just a completely retarded comment, which I hope doesn't represent the majority of staff who work in the stores.

I love working for choices, i enjoy chatting to the customers doing the add on sales and the plats, shame I feel I'm gonna loose my job but hey blockbusters want me. Or is that another sinking ship? Advice anyone? x

come on then tell me who!!!. we can all recall the letter 24 August to all employees , since the appointment of the administrators two dats ago the level of intrest in the sale of the business as a going concern has been high. But two days latter i was told by PWC that my store would colsed.
Its just not right after 8 years

Firstly I acknowledged that the blame was not entirely his, however as someone who has many times told us that he ran the stores, it was his choice where to spend the money constant promo/layout changes that alienate and confuse the customers or local/national adverising. Lets not forget the fantastic idea of changing the Rental layout and pricing structure god knows how many times in the space of a couple of months. As the HEAD of retail ops if he wanted money spent on advertising I bet it would have been.

Firstly I acknowledged that the blame was not entirely his, however as someone who has many times told us that he ran the stores, it was his choice where to spend the money constant promo/layout changes that alienate and confuse the customers or local/national adverising. Lets not forget the fantastic idea of changing the Rental layout and pricing structure god knows how many times in the space of a couple of months. As the HEAD of retail ops if he wanted money spent on advertising I bet it would have been.

ok so choices is sinking, i knew that in april sadly, was one of the first wave of redundancies, incedentally it was handled badly, i hear whisper of tribunals lol.
money was wasted in the last year, economies of scale were forgotton, as was honesty to staff on shop floor whom felt cut adrift from h/o.
its a shame, i lived the job, loved meeting people, and now through a couple of egos,( i strongly feel the company has been ruined by just a few....) you know who you are, shame on you, its another carpet bagged company.

just out of curiousity, I was made redundant in one store last Wednesday but the same day was approved by an ABM that i could transfer to a store with my assistant manager as tha
t store had No management and 2 part timers so the store was closed a lot. We worked there a few days only to be told by PwC that it wasn't allowed... so the store is without staff not taking money. Legal?

ok so choices is sinking, i knew that in april sadly, was one of the first wave of redundancies, incedentally it was handled badly, i hear whisper of tribunals lol.
money was wasted in the last year, economies of scale were forgotton, as was honesty to staff on shop floor whom felt cut adrift from h/o.
its a shame, i lived the job, loved meeting people, and now through a couple of egos,( i strongly feel the company has been ruined by just a few....) you know who you are, shame on you, its another carpet bagged company.

sophie, i hope you sort the problem out, but i do know that a store transfer does not affect your redundancy if you are able to get it, incase the argument is that you have a new contract is bandied about, the redundancy entitilement is on your service from the day you first worked for the company as long as there was no break in employment, i.e you signed on for say a week inbetween.
also i hear whisper of the fact that there is some debate largely due to the statement on choices uk plc website that the renaming of company to choices uk plc brought together all branches of choices under one umberella, i.e a single company, therefore more than 99 people made redundant in one 3 mth rolling period drastically affects redundancy payments. i have heard whisper of at least one person with a tribunal date set to contest the redundancy paid already, as in not enough was paid. the fact there is a tribunal date set suggests there is a valid case here, and the ruling will afffect all redundancies so far......
of course that is if there is any money left.
oh and the bill ref, betrayed, i agree and wonder who will have personalised "myprsche" plates when this is all over with.
also i have to agree with repeated pos changes, too many promotions in stores that confused customers, the 3.95 for one night thing, another big loss maker was the sign up new customer and they get free rental thing, i know of at least 2 stores that were re signing up customers of other existing stores just so they could say they had signed up when the 5 pm phone call came, signing up existing customers that would have rented on their card (that can be used in any store...lol) therfore a loss of revenue each time. clever huh not.
i can also say having worked for choices some time, that the year and the crucial year for the company was in my opinion in i think 2003, many stores were opened, often staff moving from one opening to another, i know i helped open 2 in 2 weeks in the summer, they expanded too fast without really thinking about the future and the ramifications of the internet. there we quite a few opened that year, and i think that was also the year the company over stretched itself and the cracks began to show. new staff came in at h/o at about the same time, and the feel of family firm was lost along with the sense of an ever widening gap between shop floor and h/o. at times it felt h/o forgot people on the shop floor were choices to our customer, we were the face of the company, there was a loss of trust that what people were saying affected customers on the shop floor was being acted on at h/o, it seemed like you go in do the job and shut up. not a great position to be in for some i am sure. i know more outspoken people left because of this.
follow that with large start up fees for tv channel thing, and then close down fees for same channel in the same financial year, confusing price packages, plat cards and 6mth plat cards, finance etc the list goes on lol, but you all know that anyway!!
i know i havnt replied directly to you comment sophie, but i hope my advice on the redundancy thing is helpfull to all past and present whom work/ed for the compnay, and to say that the people i worked with on the shop floor have been great and still are, thanks to the people who know me for many laughs and good times.

DO YOU KNOW I LOVED WORKING FOR CHOICES UK, BUT WHEN THE MADE ME REDUNDANT LAST WEEK AND I HAD TO WORK FOR TWO DAYS SENDING ALL MY STOCK OUT AND ALL COMPANY ASSETS TO MY DESIGNATED STORE WAS LIKE A GUN TO MY HEAD .

Should i stay or should i go now......
ps i could start an 'i love stuart wickland fan club'. best area manager i've ever known

To all retail staff who lost their jobs last week - did you know they were employing in stores days before we got told. Also there were jobs available and yet we were not offered them. Look at the TUC site and speak to ACAS as they have broken the law and exploited our 4 legal rights. 1. As employees we should have been consulted via our representative (whoever that was???) 2. We should have been told why our stores were chosen (mine was in profit!!!) 3. They should have adopted a fair selection process taken into account things such as skills/ experience etc... and 4. If there WAS alternative employment we should have been offered it (WHICH WE WERE NOT). We know how good and committed we all were to the company and what we gave but where did it get us. I have asked a number of times why my was selected and all I am told is there was a selection criteria but we cannot tell you what it is - THAT IS ILLEGAL. As a plc we are all one company so just because the store goes does not mean we have to if we are better skilled, hold more experience, have good employment records etc... IF ANY EMPLOYEMENT LAW SPECIALISTS READING THIS PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AS WILL NOT BE DROPPING THIS ONE!!!!

is that C from Hunts X?

RE post 19.......Is the C from Hunts X??

Might be why???? Is that Sophie???

Wheres my Champane? They missed me!

to MrM..
As you know.. the CERIF system has a good record of what stock is at each store, any removal of stock will be dealt with as Theft, I don't think that the theft of a few games or DVD's is really worth the criminal record that you will get, you will not be trusted to work in any retail environment again etc etc.

Management buyout? Sounds interesting that mean I can keep my really fun job?

what have the people made redundant done wrong?
my beloved Stoph worked her sexy **** off, clocking up the miles covering other stores at the whim of area management.
what thanks does she get? an administrator calling telling her not to bother coming to work tomorrow...
the store the two of us had been 'transfered' to is currently 'operating' with 2 part-time members of staff, one of whom is on holiday next week.

that **** was in reference to her backside

how about as a themetune for the reaper...
"i like to move it, move it!!"
?
x

Hello Mr Tibbs, Which Store did you used to frequent?? Would it have been Winsford?

Some advice for some people out there who found themselves offered no alternative employment at the time of redundancy with there being jobs advertised at the time.On the intranet and on choicesgroup website.

-What if my employer offers me another job?
In order to overcome a redundancy situation an employer would have to offer an employee "suitable alternative employment". If this is offered and is "unreasonably refused" by the employee then the employee cannot make a claim for a redundancy payment. The question of suitability will depend entirely on the job the employee did before and what is now on offer. Important questions relate to pay, prospects and location, as well as the type of job itself.

Even if the alternative job is deemed to be suitable the employee may still refuse to accept it and claim their redundancy payment, if they can establish that their refusal was reasonable. This relates much more to their own personal circumstances eg health, family commitments, status of the new job.

To help an unsure employee decide whether to accept the new job on offer there is a trial period of 4 weeks in the new job allowed, during which time they can leave and still claim redundancy.

Another point is:

Employers are also supposed to consult with employees on an individual basis before making them redundant to consider whether there are any other options available such as redeploying them elsewhere in the organisation.

The emphasis on individual basis not a group sacking whilst reading from a sheet. If you were to come across date stamped photos of the intranet or choicesgroup website advertising jobs that would help your cause. Good place to look would be websites that archive snaps of websites daily.

Were any of you given a list of available jobs at the time of your redundancy?

Were you individually consulted?

These are some faults that you could claim if any of the following were unsatisfied.

When is redundancy an unfair dismissal?

Redundancy is a potentially fair reason for dismissal. However the dismissal itself (and the procedure leading up to it) must still be fair and reasonable in all the circumstances. This means an employer must show that:

the employees concerned have been given as much advance warning as is practicable
the employees concerned have been consulted individually
selection for redundancy has been made against a set of fair and (wherever possible) objective criteria
alternative employment has been offered if possible
volunteers have been released wherever possible

A dismissal for redundancy may be unfair because:

there was no genuine redundancy situation
the employer failed to consult (ie meaningfully, properly and genuinely)
the employee was unfairly selected
the employer failed to look and/or offer alternative employment.

A tribunal looms....help is offered if anyone needs any advice.

There may be a tribuneral looming, but if the company ie ChoicesUK is bankrupt (13 Million in the red) If you win all you will get is vindication, you will have to join a long list of creditors for any cash.

Before people start panicing to much, I believe MrM's comment at the top was to be taken with a huge pinch of salt. And I'm sure he didn't think people would take it seriously. Some people eh.

Obviously.

Has anyone actually stopped to think that at the time of the store closures the company was in administration, so who exactly are you planning on taking this action against? It was the administrators that decided which stores went and i dare say there will be a few more unless a buyer appears soon.
On the same note, who decided who was retail? Because i heard Findel (Webbs) purchased Local, Direct and Southgate House including contents.....so they own the stores stock of uniforms, stickers, computers even the desk and pc's that retail are using at the moment yet they didn't take certain people?? Surely it should have been as simple as if you're pay is paid by retail then you should be sat in that office awaiting your fate aswell?
Bloody office politics all ********!

with ref to post 40, the store i worked in was closed as part of cost cutting exercise at the beginning of june, not just one store was closed then, and people from h/o made redundant too at the same time, this was before the announcement in august about the administrators, it was after the interim report, but before the year end report.
acas contacted the company before administration, they had till aug 30th to submit documents to be used in tribunal to counteract the claim, they have not done so and now effectivly cannot bring any documents with them....
there was a settlement offered by choices plc through acas,however it was inadequate and it was turned down, the tibunal date is october 19th, and we have been told if there is a payout we will get it from the company before the shareholders.... i am not laughing too much!

and nearer the date i will also post time and location incase any other interested parties want to turn up too.
i have permission to do so from person taking action against the company, they have not signed a confidentialty agreement, and their action could affect all employees made redundant to date so far in the cost cutting measures implemented by choices uk plc.

choices uk ay been here 13 years what away to leave good luck everyone i know it will be us next x

to the person who said CERIF has a good record of stock and theft results in a criminal record- what ****. Our old assistand manager took a weekends takings 3 years ago & there was LOADS of evidence but HO couldnt be bothered to press charges. How stupid. Also Cerif is rubbish, we also sent stock to other stores who wouldnt accept the order or claimed that they did, making our stock wrong and we were unable to rectify it. I class myself as an honest person and am certainly not advocating stealing, but as an honest person lets not pretend that cerif is accurate or that HO can be arsed to follow things up

To mmm I wonder

Would be interested to have a chat with you as I put in a formal appeal last week against redundancy decision citing the four legal rights as an employee and have just received my reply from PWC - complete rubbish. Basically says cos of adminsitration we have no rights cos they had to make a quick decision also selection criteria they are stating is also a load of nonsense. Also says that of the 29 stores closed last week there were less than 99 employees they could disapply the normal statutory dismissal procedures??? Then had the cheek to add that if the retail side is successfully sold they did not believe my redundancy payment would suffer if I gained a job with the purchasing organisation. Any advise what to do next ???

i only frequented Winsford once but their store team was bloody LEGEND

love,
Mr Tibbs

This was all on the cards for months! Its no big shock really lets face it - thats why I left!

Discussions are positive and ongoing with regards to the Retail division and it is anticipated that the picture will become much clearer within the next few days.

In the interim period thank you for your continued support and professionalism

Apologies for the lack of info yesterday but the retail team had to move office and as such had no access to the system or email for much of the day


Retail Ops Team
11 Sept 2007

lets be honest, the pay is terrible for the amount of work we actually do. Then to have the shame of telling friends of old that you now work in a video shop is a kick in the balls. Administration has allowed us to consider getting up and seeking a job that is fulfilling and allows you to buy steak for dinner every night of the week. Most of the people i have worked with can achieve so much mor, but as previously stated it can be a fun job and will be missed.. i can no longer see what I am typing so appologies for mistakes. bring on the closure everyone could do with a new job.

Barry i know what you mean i was with choices for 7 years. I hav e been so let down, i loved working for choices.The money was not great but i miss all my staff ,also the HO team they are not all to blame. I have been out of work for ten days, and each day i hard but i know i will bounce back .

I'm really sad choices is closin but why are we being taken down slowly and painfully .... our store is still open (touch wood) we have had no stock or new releases for 3 weeks now WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSE TO SELL it just makes me think that i wont have a job tomorrow ..... but i want to stay to the end we have a good team and none of us have left yet as we all love it in our store and are in denial !!!!

im also really annoyed that less than a month ago i bought two new work shirts !!!! for a job i wont have soon! shouldn't we get our money back !!

after being in the top few stores week in week out how the **** can anyone tell me that my store was one of the 29 "unprofitable" stores. To all the other stores that closed I bet many of you feel the same. I feel that choices has given us all a right ****in. the only time i was contacted by H/O was to make sure i would be in store for the arrival of boxes to send the stock away. even my area manager didnt even pick the phone thanks. This company has alot to answer for. No notice period has really ****ed up alot of good staff who deserved better. lets fight the ****ers that done this to us and all seek legal advise.

Please accept our apologies for what may seem like a lack of information from the centre.

Be assured that progress is being made and we are doing everything possible to secure the retail estate although it is not possible at this time to make any announcements.

As soon as we are in a position to give you any firm details we will do so immediately



Retail Ops Team
12 Sept 2007

For all 'Go Mental With Rental' winners. I think i speak on behalf of all the winners of this competition in asking the question on everyone's lips. Are we still going to Alton Towers? We all worked our butts off for the company to achieve the targets set for us and to be able to have the chance for a day out on the company. So please, can someone tell us what the hell is happening?!?!?

You are about to possibly lose your job, and the only thing you can think about is a trip to Alton Towers. You must have a screw loose mate

i love working 4 choices and am just hanging on in there. i don't think that the finger of blame lays anywhere. we are all in the same situation. have families to support and bills to pay. but you just have to get on with it. i will be here till the bitter end. just hoping that the outcome is good. but if not i will be happy that i have seen it through with some good mates that i will never forget!!!! love to you all xxxxxx

In reply to message 56 i think a trip to Alton Towers would be splendid fun. what an excellent way to say good bye to your store team, so fight those dirty bas@%*ds all the way for your day. message 56 is just pissed because he wasn't as mental about MF rental as you. ps Anybody got any popcorn i can have please, we seem to have run out.

I'll swop you 2 bags of toffee popcorn for a copy of wild hogs.

Oh wait, I forgot, Wild hogs is a new release. Doh!!

barry, your a ******, its official

I'm a charmer? thank you, very kind of you to say so dear chap. Lost your job by any chance? get a new one!

Graham Jackson & Dave Leverton lacked the experience to lead the retail team. There was one descent bloke that was good guys and that was Paul Wright. retail alone is not to blame. Ultimately this mess falls squarely on Ian Muspratt. he should have stopped intefering in the bussiness years ago?
Rendundancy will not be much. Its paid by the goverment. it takes a few months. plan for this if you can. Any bonuses you have owing will be paid by the administrators, this will take ages. To you all good luck with your job hunting? The whole stinks!

Boys & Girls

Youre all missing the point here. The demise of Choice is down to the 'fat slob' Ian Muspratt, followed by the incompetence of the retail team. Yes, including your brainless Area managers who kept you in the dark? It's over.

all the remaining stores are to be closed by friday

hey guys, i this used to work for choices uk, and to be honest this has been inthe pipeline a long time, thats why the asome of the area managers left about last august, because they thought that it was going to happen before christmas last year.. i suspected it was going to happen, and thats why i got out of there.. whats going on with the store closures now.. any updates?

Bring back Choices TV. That'll solve the financial problems. ;-)

It took all these years but the management finally got what they deserved - shame they took the staff with them. It was always a bl++dy awful company to work for, the management were useless - any one who spends a fortune on design consultants and ending up painting their entertainment shops battleship grey need a mental examination. For years it was badly run - the B+++++y years were mad, playing one manager o***ainst the other and who could forget the regional management from a certain midlands town who ruled with such divide and venom. They were always so proud of the fact they had a yellow shed for a head office. The staff there surrounded by breeze block walls. It was a sick company and its finally died. At least now the staff can emerge and work for some proper businesses which treat there staff better.

My local one has closed. I owed them money too hahaha!!
And one of the guys I'm sure swindled me for a fine. Good luck down the job centre.