If you've been reading through all the reviews of PFE on here you probably noticed that the company had stellar employee morale up until a year ago. That is about when the so far bottomless descent began .
For years the company prided itself on providing knowledge and autonomy to its employees. You were encouraged to forge real relationships with customers and tailor your services to their particular needs.
There was no chance of competing with online pricing so the company gave customers everything that online shopping couldn't: friendly staff, expert knowledge, and a laid back place to shop with your pet.
Fast forward and the laid back corner pet supply store that was brimming with genuinely friendly and helpful staff has morphed into something more like a car dealership. Walk in and prepare to be set upon by a “Sales Consultant” immediately. If you brush them off because you'd like a moment to browse the “Floor Captain” will use electronic surveillance to make sure a second sales person latches onto you in record time. You can keep swatting them away but there will always be another. You will never be left alone.
If you eventually surrender to dealing with the staff you will find that regardless of your needs or budget that PFE will only try and sell you two brands that are difficult to get elsewhere and are extraordinarily expensive. All of the knowledge and goodwill that the long term employees have is off limits to you the customer since upper management has decided that selling anything other than the two chosen brands equals poor job performance.
Which version of the company sounds more appealing to work for or shop with?
The PFE of old where you were encouraged to use your knowledge and enthusiasm to provide honest recommendations to customers that fit their needs. Basically sales with a big serving of ethics to go with it!
Or the new PFE where you are required to push specific items, hound customers incessantly, and to endure the constant threat of mystery shoppers who will swoop in to make sure you are sticking to the script and performing like a robot rather than a human being.
Staff morale is low to the point of causing depression and the long held belief that upper management cares about their employees has vanished.
