"Not My Train"

A friend's blog motivated me to add a new post today...it's hotter than blazes outside, the Indy 500 is over, it's not time for supper yet, so why not.
I told someone today that getting fired may have been the best thing to happen to me recently, actually back on January 13...the very next day I was an independant contractor at the same location, owned the equipment and could bill the company at will for anything and everything...I warned them years ago this day was coming.
The sales people always under charged for jewelry repairs or did not charge at all. I would tell them (and this was 15 years ago) if you want to make a profit, #1. go by the company repair charge sheet. #2. don't be afraid to charge for repairs and even show the customer the charge sheet and tell them your hands are tied, the company requires you to charge this much, you have to make a profit. #3. charge for repairs as if your jeweler (me) was an independant contractor.
Well that day did come and old habits haven't changed but it is no longer my concern, "it's not my train" as we like to say, as we submit another invoice! I held their hands for 16 years.
Anyway it's working out quite well, the bills are getting paid, a profit is being made (by me), I'm not sure if the store is making a profit or not...that's the manager's responsibility to monitor that.
Time to grill. Later.

A New Direction...perhaps.

With all the changes in the industry and in my job situation as well, I have considered taking this neglected blog in a somewhat different direction. Not necessarily away from jewelry but pertaining more to my daily situation and how the jewelry companies are treating the jewelers in general.
I don't want it to be 'gossipy' but with all that has traspired lately it might be interesting to discuss.
My company for example has permanately laid off most of its jewelers. For some reason companies now feel it's in their best interest to use centralized shops instead of jewelers in the individual stores thus impacting customer service in a negative way.
In some stores with the company I work for the jewelers were given the option of 'taking a hike' or staying in the shop and becoming an independent contractor, which I have done. My associate and I were given the option of buying our work benches and all the tools as well as all the shop equipment...which we did, it was a good deal.
We now do the work for three company stores and bill them directly using our new vendor numbers given to us by the coporate office. So far it has worked out quite well.
More later on the paranoia that is creeping in as we consider what their motives might be in doing all of this shuffling around.