BOB Shrinkage!

[UPNAWAY]

Did anyone see the About US on the BOB program?

50% of all BOB is not accounted for LSG is losing almost 400k a month and they will not increase supllies until this is fixed. That is why they always run out about halfway through coach.

 

[elcantante]

it also sais that we need to stop giving things away to employees and basically start charging them. i am sorry but there is no way i will charge a company employee for a drink or anything esle for that matter. they can get rid of BOB for all i care. don't go blaming the employees for this BS.

 

[CGAft]

Did see it and have been on flights where this happens. It seems too many hands in the cookie jar. I dont think that the meals are being given away by F/A's but more are taken from outside sources or not handled properly for disposal/return.

 

[US Oringinal]

Are you surprised??? It's a matter of simple accountability--of which there is none. In the 2 page article you cite, the company states that they are not singling out ANY particular group responsible for the loss, but then go on to mention flight crews several times as "giving BOB away to fellow employees" or "eating BOB themselves" or "throwing BOB away". (that's it-- blame ANYONE but yourselves)

The simple fact is, the company will not implement any type of accountability, especially at downline stations for BOB. Leftover, unsold items are left in carts that are handled by and available to anyone catering, cleaning or servicing the aircraft. That is where the loss occurs. Plastic seals don't work if you're not tracking them and their numbers.

In order to assure that there is accountability, the company has to spend some $$ and hire people who will check on BOB at downline stations--but they don't want to spend a dime to do it.

MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT ALONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF REVENUE FROM BOB.

But in their normal style, they blame everyone but themselves.......

Also, in that same article they address the ala carte program by saying that if one can of coke is given away for free--even once--it effects the amount of our profit sharing ........I'm sure they'll soon be setting up a 1-800 toll free number where flight crews can anonymously call and "report" other crew members for "comping" any ala carte items!!
1-800-NOTFREE

 

[US Oringinal]

WAIT!!! I got it!!!!



1-800-SHE-8BOB

 

[FWAAA]

Did anyone really think (other than Dougweiser and other delusional Tempe occupants) that US would really end up with hundreds of millions in the cash drawer from selling Cokes and waters? Seriously? Again, if you did, a drug test might be in order. It was another moronic decision, not unlike the gutting of the elite bonus miles and the 500 mile min. When managers have no idea what they're doing, sometimes it's all out there for everyone to see, like $2 cans of Coke and bottles of water.

 

[etops1]

Did anyone really think (other than Dougweiser and other delusional Tempe occupants) that US would really end up with hundreds of millions in the cash drawer from selling Cokes and waters? Seriously? Again, if you did, a drug test might be in order. It was another moronic decision, not unlike the gutting of the elite bonus miles and the 500 mile min. When managers have no idea what they're doing, sometimes it's all out there for everyone to see, like $2 cans of Coke and bottles of water.

the concept of selling drinks onboard is not a bad one. whats bad about it is that there is no accountability for all the cash being handled. i am sure we are making tons of money with this program. but until we go cashless , its a waist of time .

 

[USFlyer]

US should switch to a cashless cabin. That would immediately solve some of the problems. This should have been a pre-requisite to starting BOB. I flew AS a few weeks ago and the whole process seemed so much easier for the crew. No more asking for change. No more carrying $100+ in their pockets for the duration of the flight. Passengers got a receipt. Etc.

What is the official policy on crew having a drink (soda, water, coffee, etc.)? Let's be honest, I've seen pilots and F/As drinking sodas and coffee all the time. Is this an honor system to pay or are crew entitled to free drinks?

 

[BoeingBoy]

are crew entitled to free drinks?

Yes

Jim

 

[FWAAA]

the concept of selling drinks onboard is not a bad one. whats bad about it is that there is no accountability for all the cash being handled. i am sure we are making tons of money with this program. but until we go cashless , its a waist of time .

That would make it more difficult for some FAs to install "serving cart-shaped" swimming pools in their backyards, but that wouldn't solve the inventory shrinkage due to theft, improperly comped items, etc. That would just make it harder to steal the cash. You've first got to change mindsets.

We're talking about cheap sodas and bottles of water. On sale, I routinely pay less than $0.25/can and less than $0.17/bottle, respectively. Since longer than most of us have been alive (or at least flying), airlines have handed those items out for free to even coach passengers. Wasn't all that long ago (for me at least) that coach even got free booze. And all of a sudden the Desert Wunderkind thought that overnight, he'd bring in several hundred million dollars annually from selling these items for $2 each? Items that are nearly free when I buy them in groups of 12 or 24 at a grocery store? I know we've all heard the stories of how expensive drinks are when bought from Gate Gourmet or Sky Chef, but much of that is myth.

Free soft drinks in coach is simply an ingrained tradition, and changing that is bringing out some pushback. No surprise here.

I've been in office settings where the employee kitchen/breakroom is full of sodas and water. Ostensibly for visiting clients and meetings, etc. Yet the employees are permitted to drink them for free. Why not prohibit it or charge them a quarter each? Because that would not help keep morale where everyone wants it to be. Sodas and water are nearly free when you buy them in bulk. Charging $2 each for them (when you haven't been charging for them for decades), is gouging. Movie theatres, theme parks, sports arenas, etc. have NEVER come with free soft drinks. Coach cabins always have, and on nearly every other airline, THEY still are FREE.

Time for the castle to admit another blunder. They've gotten used to that lately, so admitting error shouldn't be all that difficult.

 

[The Bagfather]

It would be interesting to see the numbers for other airlines.
Cashless would seem to be the answer, and I would be willing
to bet that 99% has been thrown away or eaten by the cleaners not 93%
but 99+%.

Any FA's out there want to say what responsability the company has
given you as to the accounting. Specifically what are you supposed
to do with the unused meals.

Another question I would have is what is the loss from soft drinks vs
meals.

I hope nobody is worried that the company is not making any money from
this because as it stands right now the company will recoupe about
8 million a year by robbing FS and CSA's sick benifits.

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> the concept of selling drinks onboard is not a bad one.

Yeah, just look at all the OAs that followed Tempe’s lead.

 

[crewgirl]

here is a simple solution....sell coupon books...passengers can purchase booklets on line or at a machine at the airport...sell the coupon booklets for $20.00, $50.00 whatever the price may be....the coupons can be worth....$1.00, $2.00. $5.00. $7.00...which covers the price of sodas, water, juice, coffee, tea, snack boxes. and mixed drinks......and coming soon..pillows and blankets.....have expiration dates on the coupons...let's say 2 years from date of purchase.....this way no one is touching money....no change....no hand held devices....no brinks machine....this would save the company tons of money...people will buy the booklets...not use all of the coupons by the expiration date and the company all ready has their money......

 

[OldGuyinPA]

Novel concept..

I'll run that by DoUgIe at happy hour...

Don't hold your breath.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Perhaps an even better idea would be to take care of the employees and focus on actually running the airline.

Bob:
That's what US should do. But the sand fleas will never get it.