I worked at Macy’s from Dec. 18 to March 2020 due to the pandemic. I worked at the back room and very rarely interacted with customers. There was one guy in the back room who was for the time, the unofficial leader. To me at least and to some extent, everyone else, he was kind of a bully I guess. My old manager and operations manager weren’t like him but not the complete opposite.

During my first week there, when I was tagging the clothes, the unofficial leader showed me how picky uny (sp?) he was. If something was a little wrong, he would make a case about it. Also, before we emptied a truck, my manager said the unofficial leader was not my boss. My schedule had my shift end at 7p. After the truck was done, I did tagging until it was 7p. I’m in the way to the gym in my car when the unofficial leader calls me and wonders where I am since they are putting the carts and racks full of merchandise from the truck on the floor. I said my schedule ended at 7. He said that everyone’s schedule had them leaving at 7 but at 7, we are supposed to push merchandise onto the floor. Well, gee no one told me.

Also, he would often accuse me of doing things the hard way and not the smart way even if the smart way took up more time. Like he showed me how to cut boxes with my box cutter after he saw me cut the top and rip the box with my hands. I found my way to be quicker.

Also, he would give me instructions but sometimes leave out details and blame me.

One time on behalf of the operations manager, he called my cell and left a message asking if I can come in early. I responded by coming in early without calling and he criticized me for that. No thank you. Nothing. The operations manager however did say I didn’t have to call.

Also, after almost a year of working there, he said that I have a half brain. I complained to management. The back room manager heard my complaints and he said at times, he disagreed with the unofficial back room leader. Nothing was done about him.

He was like the Lucy Van Pelt of the group in that he would criticize me and tell me outrageous things. Even the real back room manager yelled at him to leave me alone.


There were at times when he was nice to me though. I will say that.

There are always going to be people who insist upon seeing "their ways" as the right way. I think it's based upon insecurity....to wit: if there are alternatives, their way must be the "best way" otherwise they take an ego hit.

And, I think there is also an "if I'm the one giving orders, then I'm not the one taking orders" aspect too.

Macy's themselves, are monsters, they've gobbled up so many beloved department store chains all across the country, and turned them into cookie-cutter clones.

I worked in commercial real estate for years, and major shopping malls were among our properties, So I'm very familiar with Macy's idiosyncrasies.

One of our malls had two revered department store chains that were gobbled up by Macy's. Bullocks, and The Broadway. Previously I used to enjoy shopping both, as each had it's specialties worth going for. But after the acquisitions, they turned one entire building into a Macy's "Ladies" store, and the other into a Macy's "Men's and Home Furnishings" store,.....and the offerings were much more mainstream.

Macy's is like a giant septic tank, the really "big ones" just naturally float to the top. Tell your self-appointed team leader that I said so.

Here is an interesting listing of department store chains to have been assimilated by the borg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_department_stores_of_the_United_States#Department_stores_merged_with_Federated_and_May

Clicking on individual names will link you to brief histories of the respective stores, and their paths to demise.

There is one additional aspect worth mentioning. For many years, in many parts of the country, Department store's forte was in selling sophistication to the masses.

So, it's little surprise that ego maniacs are naturally drawn to work where their unique natural talents are truly a strength.

Did they let you go in March Frank or did you not wanna be there anymore??

I think over the years I have been to Sears more than Macys.....

Did they let you go in March Frank or did you not wanna be there anymore??

I think over the years I have been to Sears more than Macys.....

Due to the pandemic, they said they were going to close until April 1st (it ended up being until the middle of May.) When they opened up, they didn’t ask me to come back. Finally, in July with my unemployment money being used up, I finally decided to get another job that has better pay and nicer people to work with. So far, nobody has been like that guy that I mentioned earlier.

Im sorry they didnt ask you back,ya seem really nice.... (Im glad ya found something better)

Thank you very much.