We really need to be careful about our store policies. For all we know, instead of giving an all-out customer experience, we’re limiting it.

A case in point is Ann Taylor’s new ‘Buy Me’ shopping experience. According to an article on CustomerThink, Ann Taylor has launched ATLAS or Ann Taylor Labor Allocation System. The system “awards more-productive salespeople with favorable hours, it gives employees an incentive to persuade shoppers to buy things.”

Not a very good wayt to start. Here’s the punch:

Scott Knaul, Ann Taylor’s Director of Store Operations, says, “Giving the system a nickname, Atlas, was important because it gave personality to the system, so (employees) hate the system and not us. If we know that it takes five minutes to work with a client when they walk in the store, we won’t go over five minutes.”

Read more…

I’m saddened by this new development. Ann Taylor is one of my favorite brands. The very few Ann Taylor items that I have fit me well. I hope when Mr. Knaul says that they don’t give more than five minutes to a customer if that’s all he needs, he still makes sure that within five minutes, they have satisfied and pleased the customer.