Comet salesman’s ‘bullying’ claim
Comet said Gareth Sweeney’s sales of extras were ‘very poor’
A salesman at a leading electrical chain has told an employment tribunal staff were “bullied and pressurised” to meet targets selling “extras”.
Gareth Sweeney, of Llanelli, claims constructive dismissal from the Comet store in Llansamlet, near Swansea.
But Comet accused him of putting up a “huge red herring” because of his “substandard performance”.
The hearing in Cardiff was adjourned to next month, when Comet will present its evidence.
Mr Sweeney, aged 45, who earned £20,000 a year, told the tribunal that he had been facing a disciplinary hearing for failing to meet his targets on extras.
“I was bullied and pressurised into selling extras until in the end I could take no more and I walked out,” he said.
“It was the final straw when I received a letter from a sales manager telling me to attend a disciplinary hearing because I had fallen down on my targets.
“I was overwhelmed because I was trying to be honest with customers and I was being punished for it.
Mr Sweeney said mis-selling of DVD connection leads “amounted to deception on our part.”
He alleged that a number of practices were used by staff to sell extras.
He said these included altering settings on DVDs to make it seem that £60 gold-plated connection leads produced a better picture than ones costing £29.90.
Mr Sweeney also claimed customers prepared to pay for full warranties were given 40% discounts, while those who refused were given 10%.
He told the tribunal that managers rated sales assistants who sold more extras than others who sold more goods.
Under cross-examination by Anthony Brown, representing Comet, Mr Sweeney said his sale of extras was “very poor.”
For five months in a row, he had the lowest rating of sales in his store, and Mr Brown described it as a “substandard performance”.
He accused Mr Sweeney of putting up a “huge red herring” in his claims against Comet to cover up his own failings.
Mr Brown said: “You didn’t want to be called to account for your financial performance at a disciplinary hearing.”
The case was adjourned to 16 July.