PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
141490
2825
37
Basically, I work at a winery and we had the best year of all time last year. Everyone made a ton of money on all sides and then we get new big bosses and they changed everything. Tips went down and then they changed the membership structure and commission structure. We’ve had so many cancellations of memberships. Like, over a couple of thousand. If you don’t know what a membership is for a winery, it’s basically that you agree to buy wine from the winery every couple of months and you get a lot of perks for doing that. Like, free tastings and a discount on wine. Anyways, my company changed it all. People are super pissed and cancelling everyday. We should be over 500 new sign ups and we are at around 100. Plus, all the cancellations. The bosses never to went to the employees to let us know about the changes or what we thought. We are the ones who sell the membership. We know we are not the bosses but it would have been nice to ask our opinions before all the reckless changes. The bosses are undoubtedly scrambling because they got to report to their big bosses why they had a golden path already carved out for them and then they decided to screw it all up. I should bring popcorn. ;)
AlexOfThePines
I'm a Borders Books alumni. I left when the writing was on the wall. I wish you the best @op
the3truth4
A "surprise" quarterly meeting sounds a lot like a layoff. Had a surprise work from home conference call once, 500 ppl got canned
c2zvgsVillain
It’s the typical business model start up goes great business is doing well then people get greedy start cutting corners and business dies
Comet260
Or new management comes from the outside and fucks shit up.
Squeak74b
@OP Update
SandwichRGood
/gallery/d2OmoqG/comment/2315163537
Squeak74b
@SandwichRGood Saw it already, but good looking out, homie.
BuyMeBonestormOrGoToHell
Good luck, @op ...last time I went to a surprise meeting, I was laid off and escorted out of the building.
azazyel
Please tell me it's Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (PM me if I'm right, I had a friend get fired from there a few months ago)
ibrokemyselflmao
I swear to &$#@ it better not be. I'm already pissed enough about what they're doing in Woodinville
cbrfast980
Oh they will blame you guys on not working hard enough
Targe0
Be careful @OP they might try to throw the sales people under the bus for it.
newnhb
elbowdeepinawhateverthatis
With numbers like that, I’m guessing either Constellation or Trinchero. I work at one of them, and they just announced our Q1 for April.
yourbassist
We had an acquisition ~8 years ago that led to a 700MM asset write-down and eventually selling that business. Leadership took no blame.
PetriHardChor
Any chance of letting us know which winery, or at least the ava?
Atlasraven
"it’s basically that you agree to buy wine from the winery every couple of months and you get a lot of perks" well damn, I buy wine anyway
StepRightUp
Yes, but like timeshares, you’re locked in... HAVE TO buy — not worth it imo ... well, unless you really do drink alotta wine I guess?
userfriendly19777
Don't get your hopes up to high. It might go like this scene from Silicon Valley
aThingWithTheStufAndTheJunk
Weird how I've never seen that show but this is exactly how I imagined @OP's meeting would go.
ScrippyChan
¹I work in a non corporate food service operation on a military installation. We have frequent changes of upper management, both in and out
ScrippyChan
²of the building. Every SINGLE time someone new comes in, they want to change shit. Do they ever come in and observe actual day-to-day
ScrippyChan
³operations? Nope. Do they ever come in and speak to the cooks and cashiers and ask our thoughts about how their changes might work? You
ScrippyChan
⁴know, the people who do the REAL work and who deal with and know the customers whom these changes will impact? Nope. They just throw shit
ScrippyChan
⁵against the wall to see what sticks, and then act surprised when the operation continues to go to hell. Numbers only tell you so much. You
ScrippyChan
⁶HAVE to put boots to the fucking ground and fucking observe how your operation actually functions, or you don't know jack shit. I feel you
Comet260
Jesus fucking Christ. Why are so many "bosses" completely braindead?
bekkayya
because their are beholden to a system of shareholders that can only care about quarterly profit. Then word goes down to managers that
bekkayya
the acquisition is expected to monetize the operation and increase profits 20%, and its up to them to figure out how. But the company was
bekkayya
already running at maximum efficiency because of course it is everything does nowadays, so the only thing to cut is everything making
bekkayya
long term profits so that short term expenditures go down temporarily and thus profits up. Then it all crashes down and they move on.
bekkayya
Capitalism destroys any solutions that exist outside of it (or not inside it enough) and sell you back the pieces.
ImNotStalkingYouBTWYoureOutOfMilk
Cause they have a tendency to be friends, kids, or friends' kids to someone slightly higher up the chain, and HR doesn't have proper vetting
halo00to14
That and people feel like they need to make an impact right away to justify their position/hiring.
PhailRaptor
Turds float with shocking regularity
Donfolstar
The hubris of people who want to "fix" success. Fucker, make something broken work before you "improve" on someone else's good work.
Account3577
Gotta chase that infinite growth! Its never enough to succeed, there must always be plans for bigger and bigger numbers no matter how stupid
StepRightUp
AND did THEY take credit for the covid-created demand from all those house-bound people not eating out (who are no longer thus?!)
StepRightUp
And just blindly assuming there’d be no “market correction” (or whatev idk I’m not a cpa!) after covid lock-down was over?! yeah, thot not
TK421isAFK
Kinda wonder if @OP is talking about Concannon. I cancelled my membership after it went from $60/month to $109/month not too long ago.
happyrabbitzz
Probably will lay off some, or a bunch of people as their way of "fixing" things. And by "fixing" I mean avoiding any blame whatsoever.
BrdCdn
Harder to do in niche industries. Unlike in tech/office work there not really a pool of people lying around.
newnhb
I can see that you too are a man familiar with how corporate America works
ErudiousRex
They usually say it was all part of the plan and that it's going to take some time but it will even out. Restructuring/buzz word salad.
thisIsSpartaaaaa
Nah they will first fire and then put blame on the people who got fired.
BatmanOfTwitchPorn
Yeah that's usually how it goes, it's not their mistake, it's everyone else's. Rinse and repeat.
PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
Nope, all the shitty people got promoted. That’s their way of solving the problem.
FussyZeus
Those who can, do. Those who can't, supervise.
outtaleftfield
Failing upwards
WaterUnderTheRocketAppliances
They'll probably get rid of the non-idiots then, so better polish up that resume.
DankestofKang
Crandillo
Sounds a lot like a winery I worked for. I couldn't handle the shittiness and I ended up leaving to work at a different competitive winery
Crandillo
Best choice I ever made. Competitive winery turned out to open great doors and I can still occasionally work there while being a SAHM
imakesoap
I’d still get my resume updated for the inevitable
Apollymkatistrafia
Shit rolls downhill. Be prepared to see some in your direction, hand have the backup plan to cover your ass.
xenjamin
Here's my fantasy: If y'all gettin fired anyway..... maybe... show up with some bitch-face-slappin truths of your own. Aggressive feedback.>
xenjamin
> "What would Jesus do?"
thatsmeinanutshell
Please update us. New folks will undoubtedly try to spin things. Curious if anyone buys into their excuses or not.
Longbowgun
@op
grayone64
Good luck, let us know how it goes.
SleeperXib
This right here. I want an update
GravyEducation
Always funny to see someone in food or drink mismanage the fuck out of stuff when the boots on the ground folk could run the whole 1/
GravyEducation
Shebang without em. Well not funny cuz the grunts are the 1st on the chopping block. But still...
Comet260
Once again another case of "bosses" being destructive parasites.
thecatmayormayhavenotdoneit
They will absolutely throw you under the bus and blame you on memberships.
fbutt09
Sit back and listen to their excuses.
DidItForScience
It sounds like it's already time to apply with a competitor.
Whiskeyramen
Nothing loses a business money like bad management.
VaultGirl69
I mean, incompetence from owners and managers is pretty damming. This situation could have been caused by selling changes that didn't return
Comet260
There's a very easy way to fix that. Put people in managerial roles that have COMMON FUCKING SENSE!
PhailRaptor
Except people with common sense generally don't lick boots. Decisions, decisions...
Relykwastaken
Had a scaled down version of this happen to me before. New dept head came in, not knowing what we did or how we did it. Started making a (1)
happyrabbitzz
Had a new Pres. (former Coast Guard brass) come in to "restructure" our Uni; in large part he was there to try and deal with our unions. 1/?
happyrabbitzz
We had (I'm retired so all past tense) 1 for support and maintenance staff; 1 for administrators; and 1 for faculty. As faculty we 2/?
happyrabbitzz
routinely challenged admins who failed to follow the contract, so were a difficult to govern bunch. One of his first acts was to cancel 3/?
happyrabbitzz
homecoming permanently. Now a middle of the road, upper mid-west uni has little to recommend it if not homecoming activities. So he 4/?
happyrabbitzz
alienated alumni, faculty, current students, and surrounding business in his first months. The uni went into a financial tailspin from 5/?
Relykwastaken
bunch of changes that fucked everything up. His reply was that he "had to 'pull levers' to find out what they do" and that (2)
Relykwastaken
we "needed to be ok with red" (as in our metrics). Of course, everyone knew what was going to happen when he made those changes except (3)
Relykwastaken
him. And of course when it came time for raises, no one got the full amount because they were based off our metrics (4)
thecaptain115
Did anyone bring this up during their performance reviews? I've called managers out on this type of BS and ultimately quit because of it
Comet260
Your manager has a potato in a microwave as his brain.
yellowtoolboxblackbag
You are being generous.
tskman
We just had 45k bad parts come back from a customer because they were wrong. Quality control person caught it and they told her it's fine.
ricpaul
She ded.
Longbowgun
I hope she documented the 'its okay' from management.
Ughidontknow
Which winery, because I’m about to cancel one of my memberships because things have changed and it blows.
PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
No comment. ;)
samroUpvoteHero
Texas?
TwinWaterTowers
Virginia?
HairyBrit
Very wise.
Ughidontknow
Is it one of the Foley Family Vinyards?
TacoPoweredHelicopter
Would love an update about how they blamed everyone else for the failures.
StepRightUp
.
BoominGranny
A friend who belongs to one in Napa just had the number of cases required go from one to three per year so she’s dropping them. Good luck!🍀
TalkingSnake
“… YOU ARE FIRED” - the noodle guy in Fifth Element
Fatneilandtheswordofdukane
It can’t rain every day
poopfromabove
Grandfather say it never rain every day!
L4dead2
Kukabuksilaks
maincarrot
*meow*
Idontneedrealfacts
At least I won lunch
ChloeRed
Atleast he won lunch
mirrorz
Oh that. That will become your fuck up in the meeting. That's how it will spin.
[deleted]
[deleted]
yellowtoolboxblackbag
This. They won’t be explaining shit. They will be cutting shit. With a chainsaw from the sounds of it.
TheWombatStrikesAgain
"We just got here, and will soon leave with a golden parachute, but it's clearly the employees who are not loyal and devoted enough."
vicvalour
Should bring up the changes and the cancel rate, worst they could do is fire you, give you severance for a job that might not be there soon
HelloKittyIsANinja
Can confirm upper management will lie, blame everyone else, have everyone fired, if it means they have a chance at keeping their job.
HelloKittyIsANinja
It's happened in every job, every industry I've worked in. Hopefully they don't try to pin their bad decisions as an "all staff" decision
HelloKittyIsANinja
Though it def sounds like something they'd have a hard time BSing. And I'm keen for part 2 . I wanna hear what happens xD
Dracology
"You all have been slacking since we took over! This isn't OUR fault!"
duhitspollo
Lol. This.
CutMeLooseDammit
.
newnhb
I can see that you too are a man familiar with how corporate America works
jjohn1
Always rolls downhill
xj4low
Push it up hill and it hits the fan.
DaveSamsonite
They’ve decided to sell their entire output to Sam’s Club as an exclusive Kirkwood brand wine, so they no longer need any sales staff.
nasukkin
Precisely. "Shit doesn't roll up hill," as my coworkers used to say.
HumanitysLastHope
This. Company took some risks the last few years expecting a big payout. Didn't happen. Cut annual raises. And we have to find ways to save.
Praethius
Yeah came to say this - it will never be their fault, and they probably believe that they did their best, completely and utterly
Fuckweasel
"Shit rolls downhill."
INeverWaitForIt
Yeah, the bosses will never admit their screw-ups. They'll blame you and start telling you to pound the streets, desperately try to sell
INeverWaitForIt
those memberships, work overtime, etc. Whatever you need to do so they can stay rich. Remember, we're all family here and in this together.
schismatosis
"You're not engaging with new potential customers or selling enough new memberships"
UserScum
.
kimchipizza
I really hope that's not the case, but personal experience says you might want to look for new opportunities before you have to.
INeedMoreGifMeMoreJustOneMore
No no no, it's been a "challenging year" with "market downturns", "financial instabilities", "the war in Ukraine", "the rain in the plain"..
RedWingedBlackbirds
the rain in the plain
TacoPoweredHelicopter
%100
LasciviousHedgehog
Remember to not accept the premise of any accusation. "Why are your sales low?" They're not, they're in line with the level of cancellations
ibrokemyselflmao
This. So much this. Remember it, and lean into it HARD
PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
Hahha!!! Probably!!!!
[deleted]
[deleted]
ThePunishersVengefulBrother
Note that if they apologize but still dump the work on you, I'm not getting the membership.
Lampmonster
Be ready for that shit and be ready to stand up for yourself. Don't be too shocked to respond. "With all due respect, that's nonsense!"
ventikona
Agreed. Be ready to defend yourself! You are about to be thrown under a bus.
reineseele
"you did not sell it well enough. we must downsize ppl and enhance the CEOs pay so new fresh incentives come out from him...."-CEO prob.
GabbyJayYay
We require future updates OP!
xj4low
Guessing there will be cutbacks and new higher goals bc it can't be the bosses fault for the new plan
OldnFatBobba
I really hope y'all aren't going to lose your jobs over their incompetence.
FreudIndianNipSlip
You laugh now, and so, good luck.
mrpotatoes
Please keep us updated.
zaandari11
I need a follow up
Cragnock
. for follow up
MechaGandalf
Arrange a walk-out with some coworkers if it happens.
dudds6699
Also update your resume. I had these vague Friday meetings. Got laid off.
Luficer
That's the trickle down economy you heard about. Though, it isn't money ...... it's shit
myheartisstarkmyspiritistargaryen
Dot
Taltos111
Yeah man record the meeting surreptitiously so no one can later say "that's not what I said". When shit hits the fan, it goes everywhere.
OprahsPinkSock
We've concluded that numbers are down because you require further training. Study this 500 page guide before resuming your duties tomorrow.
Psionickitten
That's a huge sign for moving on. I, personally, would call them out on it at the meetin, see if they own up and if not, leave the...
Psionickitten
... company before they sink their own ship and they take me with them. This from having done this before, too.
FreudIndianNipSlip
This is the way. Great job, good person.
Taltos111
Most people can't do that. I really wanted to at my last job but all it would have done is gotten me blacklisted from the industry.
FreudIndianNipSlip
Yes, commenter above is privileged. But what use is privilege if you can't wield it for good.
Arbitrarynamehere
Update your resume
FatBastardVegetarian
sevenfingerman
Please update us tomorrow after the meeting! I’m in a similar position (though different field) and I am curious how your boss spins it.
TheMaXX37
.
skilletrock
.
Hufflepufflerine
.
spookymormonhelldream
Dot
nater80
Yes, please update.
michoacaneno
Doot
akodorokku
Yeah, I hope you still have your job tomorrow, cause pinning blame and firing people is how these things usually go.
matijams3000
.
PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
Will do.
breakingbadlover
.
TinyDeadpool
.
Bungalow1337
Dotterino
cerealnighttimeeater
.
OtherErinFromTheOffice
.
SigneowTheCat
leadinurface
PockyBonneville
.
markypeach
.
OldTownPhantom
.
DiddleFartingAround
.
HaPB
.
DrunkeronTurkeyer0
.
IOnlyUpvoteBees
Tag me as well. I love bees, but I also love wine.
Selekta
My friend has a winery that makes wine from honey, damn tasty too!
dorkatron
.
lenonova
dot
BigFatJuicyMonkies
Tag me dagummit.
PoptartSpankySpoogeMonkey
It was honestly a normal boring meeting and no one was thrown under the bus. I wish I had more to say but it was a very basic meeting. :(
We11thatwasC00L
You should still do a separate post, get that OP delivers badge
MoreButterForMyHam
Dot dot dot
DoctorWhoandDallasCowboys
.
NoTalentForNames
.
cptspauldeen
MadLucy
Tag me if possible. I've got popcorn.
Ihmislehma
.
MeshHatMafia
Tag me!
ph2ox
.!
AamuVircku
So many tags.... me too, tho
SeeMyVest
.
revoltingdeceased
.
sevenfingerman
Tag me please
Wfix
.
DW05
I want to know!
BoomyGordo
P0werSurg3
.
Shazoozle
Big ol’ .
figuringeights
Doot
davefleming19903
.
iamonlyhereforsensiblechuckles
.
MasterDark001
likeabowser
TanithRosenbaum
Tag me please when you do. And good luck for the meeting
ImgurisluvImgurislife
.
brotherThree
. They will spin it in the most corporate way possible.
therqeb
Dot
MrStealUrMeme
.
SwissMissMaybe
Doot
saalor
Autodots roll out!
Bloodletting
.
Violoso
Dot
That0neguy727
Dot
potential816
.
Alycat27
.
chackingnoob
.
thelivingdead
.
anotherforkinuser
!remindme 2days
stoplime
.
Xiafu
.
StormBurnX
.
nevermorePlz
.
NothingPrince
😀
1frenky
.
Lun4ticH1gh
.
Mavgurian
.
gooftroop
This is a dot
Antisha
.
Gharma
.
WhyIsMickNotAvailable
.
likeumreal
Doot
unspeak
.
ImgurisluvImgurislife
Where's our follow up?
PhailRaptor
.
Gregreth
.
Hom0Erect
.
ChrisWsrn
.
BasicAuth
.
TheRiattAct
.
Tungstenspheresagainstsnails
.
kogdati
.
Crossphx
.
Dookhammer
.
idontreallydomucharoundhere
Dot
MaryAlicexoxo
.
Theemeraldknight
.