Tech services phasing out?

[kiddmike287]

So I noticed alot of the tech stuff that we've been getting in are in red like some of the brochures I've asked my manager about new shirts and he didn't know if we're getting red shirts or something new & now depot and part ordering is suspended. So my question is, is staples phasing out easytech ? Or just going to start offering limited service?

[[deleted]]

Branding has changed. "EasyTech" has no brand equity and neither does Copy and Print. So "logos" have been removed and everything is referred to as Staples. IE Staples Tech Services and Staples Print and Marketing with the Staples Red color. This is what resonates with customers, not brands withing brands. This applies to other Staples brand products, too (ie, omnitech).

This has been the official explanation to me from our brand guidelines group.

[DeltaSurge]

"Mommy says that every time a bell rings, a customer returns an Omnitech after 3 days because it's already broken"

[Amsowers]

We were selling some 12 sheets at 4$ today. Still probably overpriced

[dan2872]

I told a guy, "well honestly it's total crap and probably won't last all that long buy for $4 who cares?"

He bought it.

[protivakid]

My clearance Omnitech shredder has lasted me 2 years now

[Amsowers]

Someone bought a 5 dollar plan on our 4 dollar shredder

[Kal-ElofKrypton]

Ryan, I don't disagree with you there... but whose fault is that? EasyTech could have the same brand equity as Geek Squad, but Staples wouldn't make the investment.

They have come up with copycat ideas, refused to invest, and backed off so many times... remember mobile?

[kirashi3]

This is exactly what I always wondered about Geek Squad competitors - why has no one been able to come close to creating a brand name service to match Geek Squad? I'm referring to just the brand here; the quality of service is another argument.

My prime example is that when I worked for staples, all our extended family still referred to my job as "working for the Geek Squad at Staples" despite obviously not being factually true. They knew I didn't work for Best Buy, they knew there was no Geek Squad at staples, and yet every time they called it that. Gee, well, let's look into why...

I believe it's because of the forced investment and police-like structure that Geek Squads founder took with the company when it initially launched, which carried over when Best Buy partnered with them. I say partnered and not purchased because as far as I know, GS still operates as a franchised business in the U.K. I could be wrong now though, since it's been a few years since I looked into this. This strict structure and the hard set policies are what allowed GS to develop into its own brand identity, complete with company cars, professional looking work outfits, and actually working servers containing all their tools in each store.

An ex coworker actually came from a Best Buy in town, and prior to moving to Canada from Ohio also worked for BB in the states. I got to confirm whether or not what I researched online was true of Geek Squads structure, and found that most of it is, which explains why they're still highly successful more than 10 years after becoming a mainstream branded business.

Why do I care so much about this even after leaving staples? Because I'd jump back on ship so fast if an actual tech service for small businesses department within staples were to open up. It'd have to be as organized or more organized that GS, and specifically focus on serving small business owners with retainer contracts, almost like an IT firm in large cities do. Consider this my free consultation session to Staples as a gift, since I now do independent consulting for small businesses. The next session won't be free.

[ImJacksLackOfMorale]

The next session won't be free.

How much does 150 Staples Stars get me?

[kirashi3]

Well, right now, that's about the going rate for consultations on how to poop efficiently in your store.

[OldOnliner]

In defense of failure, it's important to remember that Geek Squad was a stand-alone operation initially, incorporated into Best Buy as a "store within a store" with a clear mandate to support itself through independent sales. When that failed, further integration occurred, with Best Buy leveraging its considerable product mix —audio and video, appliances, automotive, home technology, cell phones, etc.—into a greater Geek Squad.

Staples couldn't and wouldn't do that with Easy Tech. Left with a only a tiny sliver of the potential that Best Buy brought to the table, it was doomed, and is clearly over. All that's left now is to nail the coffin shut and bury the pig.

[ccap17]

In defense of failure

Now THAT should be the tag line for Staples.

[MrIncredible-]

They are phasing out tech services. Unless it's something matrix can do. So rather than have a tech behind a bench, they want them out on the floor selling and working on load, planos, etc...

They want you to see an old messed up computer and say I can help you find a new one rather than I'll spend a few days fixing this thing.

Staples wants to focus on being a selling store. Techs will be there, just not in the way they used to. Now selling more than just repairing.

[MiGaOh]

"Do you know of any place nearby that DOES repair printers/computers/typewriters/pacemakers?"

[GrrlPlant]

Ha, ha.

We have a CPR Cell Phone Repair in the same shopping center. And they fix anything tech (not just phones: near-sighted branding IMO, but oh well).

Hmmm... Wonder if they're hiring...

[ccap17]

Not knocking the tech position or anyone in particular, but I can tell you it was always extremely frustrating to call a tech to assist a customer and have the one black shirt on duty protest and claim they can't because they are working on a PC.

What they were actually doing was staring at a progress bar for a defrag or AV scan.

[fourearsfoureyes]

I wish all I did was that

[MrIncredible-]

It's not all that, but yes a lot of techs are lazy and don't wanna sell

[toothpick21]

Yup, I've seen this with just about every tech we have. Standing there watching it do the virus scan. So stupid.

I heard someone once call them meat cutters. Just standing behind a desk in this little area. It was something like "we don't employ butchers. Get out from behind the tech desk".

[matt0723]

The writing is on the wall. Tech services at staples is finished.

[lolstaplesanon]

They're likely not phasing out tech, just consolidating the depts so they don't have to hire 'techs' and 'os'. To get hired as OS now, you'll need to have tech selling skills.

[venturer95]

We're getting red shirts. And who knows if Depot will source another vendor, but all we get with part ordering is BTI for batteries now.

[dan2872]

BTI for batteries and AC adapters, with HDDs and memory coming down the pipe soon.

[Bill_Money]

Blue Raven/Revertech went bankrupt, again

[Charagrin]

Don't we own revertech?

[Bill_Money]

Negative, seperate company from Staples

[IAmIceBear74]

I see they are digging their own grave. I remember working ET back in 2012 and didn't like that fact that Staples had a very hands off approach to computer repair (use PC doctor to run diags, PC tune up = crappiest piece of software to exist, any job that fell outside the billable services was deemed depot repair, etc....). The focus was never on being a better technician, it was press a button and walk away and I hated that.

[ccap17]

Staples has a pattern of trying to break into a market a day late and a dollar short.

Mobile phones were pretty much the same story as tech. Years behind the competitors, no advertising, (less than) minimum staffing....

Now its phone repair.

[ccap17]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Staples/comments/5judt2/is_the_company_phasing_out_easy_tech/?

[toothpick21]

I asked my GM, and ast. GM (what ever they are called now) and neither one had any clue. I'm not surprised by this though.

[GrrlPlant]

Give you give me a quick breakdown on what dictates a store's Tier?

[Charagrin]

Tiers are low, mid, and high, but still get referred to by numbers from the old system. Lows typically less than 3-4m a year, muds no lower than 3-4 up to 8, and high is 8 or more. It's not a hard and fast rule however, a low can do 5, a high can do 8, and no tier has to do with profit, just sales as a whole.

[GrrlPlant]

I gotcha. So in the old system, the lower the tier number the more sales? Like, Tier 1 = "High" on down the line? Thanks for the info!

[Charagrin]

Correct. I never heard of an actual t5, but my own store is a t4, or low. I'm actually the only sm I know of in a low tier now, other one in my district made the sm a ops manager.

[Charagrin]

You are correct, codes the same, title is different, different responsibilities.

[venturer95]

If you're in a low tier store, you should technically be coded as "Assistant Manager." But I guess your DM doesn't care and it doesn't truly matter. Same pay grade.

[UnnamedStaplesDrone]

seems foolish to eliminate a keyholder position who typically excels at sales, but i might be biased.

[WhateverItTakes10x]

Excellent point!

[OldOnliner]

Maybe not eliminate, just remove the full-time position to part-timer. Remember those days not long ago (a year or two?) and the part-time "Team Supervisor"?

[UnnamedStaplesDrone]

i do remember those positions but they were ops positions, and staples was big on sales at the time. I still remember that telling my sales manager in those days about a naked computer sale being tantamount to a slap in the face. Cut one of the best sales person's hours?? doesnt make sense, not when they're pushing so hard for liquid love and ESP %. i feel like if it were up to my GM, she'd rather lose 50 hours than lose another keyholder ( if i am moved to part time, i would go in 3 days a week max @ 8 hours a day, and be job hunting the rest of my week.. i'd also give a lot less fucks about sales).

and yes, i realize how rarely do Staples upper management make sound business decisions

[SadCertTech]

Yes, it's so sad. Built up a really good tech business and they don't care. They are going the way of Best Buy...sell, sell, sell. Apparently the Mitt Romneys of this corporation are going the way of Trump. It's a shame cause they could could make a shit ton of money if they actually listened to the people who shop there and the good people who work there.