Dell to cut nearly 900 jobs, close Canada center

[onehandle]

Source: Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Dell Inc said on Thursday it will close its call center in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, and eliminate most of the facility's 900 jobs in the second quarter as it consolidates customer-service operations.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080131/wl_canada_nm/canada_dell_canada_col_1

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Also...

Dell Shuts Retail Kiosks in U.S.

Dell on Wednesday announced the shutdown of retail kiosks in malls throughout the U.S. as it adjusts its evolving product distribution strategy.

The closings comes at a time when Dell is repositioning its retail strategy to attract more customers by selling products through its Web site, retail outlets and over the phone.

Dell had over 140 kiosks, called Dell Direct stores, for customers to buy products, including PCs, TVs and printers. Dell representatives staffed the kiosks and assisted buyers in choosing products and placing orders. The kiosks didn't actually carry inventory so products were shipped to buyers.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20080131/tc_pcworld/142024

[TexasBushwhacker]

1. Well, at least it's 900 jobs in Canada

The entire computer industry is one of the worst outsourcers out there, and NAFTA just made it worse.

[CHIMO]

2. You Can Say That Again

I am sure that all those Americans laid off will agree with you. Maybe.

Every hydrocarbon molecule should have an ID.

[onehandle]

3. See the second story.

Hundreds of Americans worked at and supplied those kiosks.

And where do you think those 900 jobs are going? Not back to the states.

[JeanGrey]

5. NAFTA has drug this country into hell and it is not finished yet.

We have ALL the Bushies and Clinton's to thank for that shit. And it will only get worse. Soon McCain will be President McCain, and he'll naturalize every illegal and there will be more pouring over the border, and there won't be a job left with a decent wage.

[JeanGrey]

4. The chickens are coming home to roost. Dell finally

pissed people off enough. I know they did me - I got tired of talking to a service representative that I could hardly understand. Therefore I bought from an American Company with American service reps.

[Doctor Cynic]

6. This isn't surprising why they close that place.

Due to the oil boom in Alberta, rents in Edmonton have gone through the roof, and high school students are dropping out because any McJob pays $15 per hour. So it's obvious Dell would close this facility now.

[u4ic]

7. Dell's presence here was heavily subsidized

Dell was lured to Edmonton by a 20-year sweetheart lease deal at Edmonton Research Park, and has consistently touted the call centre as a top-performing global facility.

The deal with Edmonton Economic Development Corp. included a $1-a-year lease on 15 acres of land, and a property tax rebate worth $1.1 million. It becomes void if the number of employees drops below 500.

Building a stand-alone facility was part of the deal with the city, and the building displaced the Norwesters rugby club and other sports groups using the clubhouse, fields and volleyball courts.

At the time, EEDC said the concessions - a first for the organization - were worth the extra $30 million a year in economic activity generated by luring the Round Rock, Texas-based company here.


http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=a4931ec2-4ca4-4380-9ad5-521291fb4f9e&k=46904

The high turnover rate was apparently a factor in its closing. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2008/01/31/delledmonton.html



I'm sick and tired of government subsidizing business.