Even a successful manager of a T-Mobile TPR store has no job security
Besides the corporate T-Mobile stores owned by the company itself, there are retail locations known as TPR ( T-Mobile Premium Retailer) which are owned and operated by independent firms that have the permission to use T-Mobile branding and sell the same products you'd find in a corporate store. According to a social media post written by an employee who works for one of the independent operators of T-Mobilr TPR stores, it sounds as though job security at these stores is pretty low even if you're a successful store manager.
For example, Redditor prodbyfear wrote a long post explaining what happened after he started working at an unnamed T-Mobile TPR in February 2022. Two years later he became assistant manager as his sales numbers put him among the leaders in his district finishing in the first quintile every month. He was promoted to store manager last August and, as he put it, "me and my reps were making wonderful commission checks way into the new year."
Outside of a T-Mobile store in Butler, New Jersey. | Image credit-T-Mobile The first problem occurred this past January when two of his reps (one with the "override" code) applied an unauthorized discount to iPhone 16 purchases in their employee accounts. The store manager was out at the time, and didn't even know about the discounts until loss prevention put the hammer down and canned the two salesmen. This left the store manager without two of his best reps forcing him and two other employees to put in outrageous hours. In February the store fell into the fifth and bottom quintile.
Making matters worse, the company that owns these stores raised the metrics that its reps have to meet or face losing their jobs. The monthly goal of activating 90 voice lines (125% of the target) rose to 120-130 voice line activations (again, this was 125% of the monthly goal). For a store that is struggling, making the metrics goal harder to top might not have been such a smart thing to do.
The store manager made a critical mistake in retrospect when he told the company he works for that he needed help. The firm told him that he shouldn't need to ask for additional help and that there is no reason for the store not to remain profitable and remain a top 50 store in the company.
The store manager got involved in a personal issue that had nothing to do with the store (he was arrested for a misdemeanor outside of work and the charge has been cleared). Still, when he returned, the District Manager came by the store, and out of camera view he told the store manager that he was going to be demoted and if he didn't agree to the demotion the company would "kick rocks" at him and get him fired.
The only thing I can think of reading this is that when it comes to some of T-Mobile 's TPRs, shady does as shady is. I know many of you younger phone enthusiasts out there might consider a career selling the devices you love so much. One thing I learned as a younger smartphone fan before I got the PhoneArena gig is that reps really don't care about smartphones. Nor do they keep up with the news in the industry. I used to visit a Verizon store near me and chew the fat with some of the reps about upcoming phones and not one rep I spoke with knew what new phones were on the horizon. That seemed surprising at first until I realized that it is a sales job and their job is selling the inventory they have, not telling a customer to wait for the next model because it will have a better ultra-wide camera sensor.
If you do decide to check out mobile device sales as a possible career, my advice would be to stick with corporate-owned stores and stay away from the seamy, slimy side of smartphone sales that you could experience by working for the wrong third-party authorized dealer.
We have reached out to T-Mobile asking for a comment on this article. Any response will be added in an update to this story.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Phone Arena
6 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Verizon agrees to change ads after T-Mobile complains to the NAD
The wireless business in the U.S. is so competitive that if you try to sneak something into an advertisement that might not be 100% verifiable, one of your rivals will swiftly take matters up with the National Advertising Division (NAD) industry watchdog. The NAD's job is to ensure that national ads are truthful and accurate. Recently T-Mobile spilled the beans on Verizon over the latter's ads mentioning its satellite texting service and the size of its network. The NAD decided that some of Verizon 's claims were supported but also recommended that the rest of the ads be made clearer so consumers can understand what Verizon is trying to say. For example, the NAD says that Verizon 's "conquering dead zones with satellite" commercials aren't misleading but the carrier should have pointed out that the feature works only on select new phone models and under certain conditions. T-Mobile also took umbrage with Verizon calling itself "America's largest network." That claim is legit if Verizon is talking about the number of postpaid subscribers. However, T-Mobile fears that some viewing the ad might think that it refers to the geographic reach of Verizon 's network or its coverage area. The NAD recommended that Verizon clarify what it means by "largest." In a press release, the NAD wrote that Verizon 's use of the phrase "largest network" was ambiguous as it portrayed different things to different consumers. The NAD also said that it might not be clear to viewers of the ad that the term "postpaid phone connections" refers to Verizon subscribers. Last year T-Mobile ignored the infamous "snitches get stitches" saying and complained to the NAD about claims made by Verizon in other commercials. The NAD last year asked Verizon to discontinue or modify its ads related to its satellite texting service due to the complaint filed by T-Mobile . Verizon says that it will comply with the new recommendations made by the NAD which is a typical response from a company accused of misleading the public with its television spots. While the NAD does not have the legal heft to impose fines or get companies to change their ads, most firms will listen to its recommendations due to the fear that the case could be referred to the FCC. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Phone Arena
6 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Verizon agrees to change ad after T-Mobile complains to the NAD
The wireless business in the U.S. is so competitive that if you try to sneak something into an advertisement that might not be 100% verifiable, one of your rivals will swiftly take matters up with the National Advertising Division (NAD) industry watchdog. The NAD's job is to ensure that national ads are truthful and accurate. Recently T-Mobile spilled the beans on Verizon over the latter's ads mentioning its satellite texting service and the size of its network. The NAD decided that some of Verizon 's claims were supported but also recommended that the rest of the ad be made clearer so consumers can understand what Verizon is trying to say. For example, the NAD says that Verizon 's "conquering dead zones with satellite" isn't misleading but the carrier should have pointed out that the feature works only on select new phone models and under certain conditions. T-Mobile also took umbrage with Verizon calling itself "America's largest network." That claim is legit if Verizon is talking about the number of postpaid subscribers. However, T-Mobile fears that some viewing the ad might think that it refers to the geographic reach of Verizon 's network or its coverage area. The NAD recommended that Verizon clarify what it means by "largest." In a press release, the NAD wrote that Verizon 's use of the phrase "largest network" was ambiguous as it portrayed different things to different consumers. The NAD also said that it might not be clear to viewers of the ad that the term "postpaid phone connections" refers to Verizon subscribers. Last year T-Mobile ignored the infamous "snitches get stitches" saying and complained to the NAD about claims made by Verizon in commercials promoting the latter's satellite texting service. The NAD last year asked Verizon to discontinue or modify its ads related to its satellite texting service due to the complaint filed by T-Mobile . Verizon says that it will comply with the new recommendations made by the NAD which is a typical response from a company accused of misleading the public with its television spots. While the NAD does not have the legal heft to impose fines or get companies to change their ads, most firms will listen to its recommendations due to the fear that the case could be referred to the FCC. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
GSM Arena
7 hours ago
- GSM Arena
Deals: new Motorola Razr prices fall, plus iPad and Galaxy tablet deals Comments
Deals: Pixel 9 is $250 off, 9 Pro XL is $300 off, Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones get first promo
