Expert: Denise Anne Taylor - 12/6/2011

Question
QUESTION: Today I went to a 99 cent store in my neighborhood. I needed a wire for my phone. I saw the stock boy that I know he has been working there even when the previous owners owned it.  I said to him "It isnt busy today" he said "Yesterday it was" I then said to him "Do you think one day they will close this 99 cent store" he said "Nope they have a 15 year lease" I asked "when did they renew it" He said: "they just renewed it".

HOW DOES A STOCK BOY KNOW HOW LONG THE OWNERS HAVE ON THEIR LEASE. I THINK HE IS A LIAR WHAT DO YOU THINK? He would also tell me when I was buying clothes at the this 99 cent store that the clothes will be arriving later on that day, or he would say tomorrow and they never were there when he said they would be.  BTW all the clothes they sell now are crap. They used to sell really beautiful clothes but now they are total crap.  I have purchased tons of clothes there but stopped nine months ago - dont need or want any more and it is good I dont want or need any more because now they carry only garbage.

Dont you agree with me that Owners will not talk about lease renewal to employees it is not good business sense. And the owners will not brag about it to their employees. Owners think of employees as just employees and not people they share business deals with. Unless the employee is part of the lease negotiation owners do not share that info. And a stock boy is not part of lease negotiation or any other type of business deals that owners deal in.

ANSWER: Debbie,

Every company operates differently.  Some privately owned businesses are more open with employee's and some are more confidential.

Most businesses do enter into long term leases, so the signing of a 15 year lease is common, and even if the store does close its doors, it is still obligated to the lease unless they find another tenant.

This is a unique situation, however, I don't believe that the stock person would be considered a liar, he is just communicating what he has either been told or overheard.

Have a good day.

Denise Anne Taylor

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I totally DISAGREE with you.  He would also tell me when I was buying clothes at this 99 cent store that the clothes will be arriving later on that day, or he would say tomorrow and they never were there when he said they would be.

And he would lie to other customers as well.  He is a stockboy not a higher up so NO I dont think they would share that info with him

Answer
Debbie,
Thank you for your feedback.  The stockboy may have provided misinformation, or mentioned what he had been told, I question whether he deliberately lies or if he just wants to satisfy the customer and communicates what he knows to be true at that time.  

Although he has a role as a stockperson, and not the store manager, if you believe he is providing inaccurate information then you should discuss this with his supervisor so he no longer attempts to communicate information that may be misleading.

Good luck!

Denise Anne Taylor