Some actual quotes from my management team designed to pressure us into being disingenuous pitch artists for 8 hours a day:
“Even if you heard them say no five seconds ago in another department, you have to find a way to inform them about the opportunities that Club provides at some point during your customer engagement”
“Don't mention that it's a credit card up front because you'll get shut down. Instead mention the points they will receive for paying with a club card, and the card's current interest rate, because if they're smart they'll know what that means.”
“The words 'credit card' should be avoided as much as possible. I find it's best to mention it being a mastercard when they're already at the terminal applying, because the pressure of already being in process tends to make them go through with it”
“Be sure to remind customers who already have a club card that they can apply for a second one in their name”
“No matter where you work in the store, your primary job is to be talking to customers about signing up for Club”
“If the customer declines Club claiming they won't be approved or that it will hurt their credit, remind them of the free hat they get for applying and encourage them to apply anyway”
“The FDIC will take our credit card printing capability if a customer complains we didn't advertise its benefits to them, and you don't want to be the reason that happens if it ever does”
“You pitch to every customer, every time, no matter what. It's the only way the FDIC will let us offer our own credit cards. All it takes is one complaint that we didn't inform a customer about the card and the credit lines go away.”
“If 97 people say no and 3 people say yes, you did your job. Those 3 people are who matter, but you'll never meet them if you don't promote Club to the other 97.”
“You can ask your friends and family to sign up in a pinch to meet your quota. You can even sign yourself up for one. That's what a lot of outfitters end up doing at the beginning”
“You get a 50% discount as an employee, and that discount works with the Club card!”
I could keep going with quotes but I won't.
Cabela's is managed from the top down by disgusting shysters straight from a used car lot in 1975. They treat entry level labor like tissue papers covered in snot if they don't make sales quotas, and they mentioned these sales quotas at NO point during my interview or onboarding. I found out only when my trainer on the sales floor began criticizing me for not pitching the card when I spoke to customers, much to my confusion AS A MERCHANDISER.
Also Johnny Morris, the company's now owner is a Trump supporting POS, and the biggest shyster of them all for letting Cabela's continue to operate like a cult that needs you to drink the kool-aid. He also got rid of the bargain cave. Fuck everything about how this company operates.
Do/did you work for Cabela's and know exactly what I'm talking about?
Do you shop at Cabela's and receive nothing but harassment about Club benefits from the staff?
Please tell me about it.
Also I flatout think the quotes regarding the FDIC are 100% bullshit fear tactics intended to keep employees from questioning why we pitch so aggressively. If anyone in the know wants to address this part especially I'd be grateful.