I used to work for a national chain of automotive paint stores (Company S) that had been recently bought out by larger national chain (Company N). I had recently moved to a new state with my new wife, and my previous job had no locations close to our new place, so I applied and joined Company S as a store manager. I had many years of management retail experience of 20+ employees, so Company S job was a breeze (4 FT employees, 2 other salespeople that didn’t report to me, but I was still responsible for their fuck ups). It started out fine. One day we’re riding in my direct manager’s Jeep on a sales call. He was a dick. His reply to my compliment on his COMPANY Jeep was, “you’ll never be able to afford this. Just focus on what you’re got.” He visited my store a lot and would just come in to complain or make jokes about how I’m shorter than my wife (real dick move, shout out to the short fellas). Fast forward a few months, his manager comes into my store, and completely rips me a new one for things not related to me (salespeople) in front of the whole store staff. A real gut punch. So I put my resume out there. A few weeks later, I put in my two weeks. They beg me to stay, and offer more compensation, but people leave bad management, and I was done. Turns out, it was all a ruse. I left 2 months before Company N finished closing all Company S’s stores. The guy who replaced me was there at less pay than me for 2 months and left with 2 weeks pay. Entire store staff laid off on their asses, although many of them would land okay. My manager was laid off as well. I heard they confiscated his Jeep and he was back to driving his 00’s minivan again. Good times.
I still can’t afford that Jeep. Maybe one day. Never working a 9-5 ever again unless I am in desperate times to feed my family.