I work for a legal aid clinic.

In the last 2-3 months I've helped several people who worked there.

It seems they have erratic hiring practices. It also turns out they contest, as a matter of policy, ALL unemployment claims.

They kind of got caught yesterday.

Someone claimed unemployment. During the hearing, the Apogee rep said they sent VEC forms showing the person was fired for cause. VEC said the form you sent over does not say that.

Then Apogee appealed. Yesterday, a different Apogee rep said forms had been sent. VEC confirmed this, but said they were different. They asked Apogee to explain the discrepency.

Apogee said one set of papers comes from the store one comes from the home office. VEC did not buy this.

There may be a class action lawsuit over this.

I think Unique's days are numbered.

be careful if you shop there as the stores don't appear to be safe…
Attachments:

Feel better?

I saw an ad on Craigslist:

Manager Trainee (Falls Church/Baltimore)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2010-09-10, 1:21PM EDT
Reply to: see below

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Rapidly growing national company specializing in the retailing of pre-owned merchandise is seeking career-oriented,
responsible, motivated individuals for our manager trainee program.
We offer steady, long-term employment with excellent starting salary, benefits, and advancement opportunities.

Please send your resume to: resume@apogeeretail.com
___________


I looked into it because I'd never heard of the store. Looks like they'll never hear of me. No way am I applying an others need to avoid them too.

What's their business model for the Unique stores? While they take donations directly, I just don't see them getting the kind of donation volume they need to fill their shelves.

I'm guessing they buy truckloads of donated items from the big boys -- Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. for next to nothing, then just sort, price, and toss to keep the racks fresh. I'd guess that an item they list at $1.49 cost them a penny as part of a container load.

Combined with dirt cheap labor as previously mentioned, this seems like a pure profit business.

Anyone know?

Honestly, I've been to the one off of rt. 50 and it sucks.

I thought... oh a thrift store, neat. But it's really just a bunch of straight up crap on shelves. There's a reason people got rid of it. Other thrift stores I've been to are a lot better. They actually care about what they're trying to sell, unlike Unique.

The name is Ironic.

accident can happen any where
i shop there all the time
the store is clean and very well organized
i think it was a mgnt change and nothing is hanging
from the ceiling .
the isles are wider and plenty of good bargain.
this store is not unique thrift

I happened to walk thru Lake Anne plaza today and the Unique Bazaar shop had beem vacated. When it was still operating, it looked like a 3rd world type thrift and curio shop from the outside.

I worked for that Company, it is a great employer. Stores are clen, well organized, and a nice place to shop if you are looking to save some money.
Accidents can happen, it does not mean it is a bad employer.

Apogee is a terrible place to work for i filed a complaint for sexual harrasment and they just threw my ass under the bus and fired me. Also refused to pay me for my bi-lingual skills!!

NEVER WORK THERE THEY WILL SUCK YOU DRY

While I know nothing of Unique's business ethics practices, I certainly enjoy going to the location on Gallows/Rt.50 to see what I can find. Contrary to what previous posters have said, I've found some serious quality jackets at stupidly cheap prices. And if you're a musician, although they rarely have any gear, it's always worth a look-see. They seem to have absolutely NO idea what any amp, guitar, or other instrument is worth. I found a near-mint condition Line 6 Spider III for $10 (it retails for $90-100 USED). I've also spoken to a few other musicians who've found vintage gems for outrageously cheap prices.

Check it out:

http://apogeeretailwatch.blogspot.com/2010/12/apogee-retail-unique-thrift-store-no_18.html

They whined and whined, and VEC re-opened the case. Apogee could not be bothered to make their own hearing. Fail, epic fail.

There's a rumor the guy who was supposed to take the call got canned too.

@caught them / @laughing at Apogee:

I have worked for a number of retailers in the past, and I think it's pretty standard policy for them to appeal all unemployment claims. The same thing happens at Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, etc... If you have a valid claim you win, if you don't you lose.

Also, customers get injured in stores sometimes, especially large ones. Accidents happen. The fact that there is one injury lawsuit doesn't mean much. If you were sharing five I might be worried. One incident looks to me like an accident, not a pattern of negligence.

Sounds to me like this is a personal vendetta. I normally would ignore a forum topic like this, but your posts and your blog seem particularly venomous, and lacking in evidence / substance. If you really think you have a case against them, get a lawyer and sue. Being obnoxious on the internet isn't helping you.

I shop at the one on Gallows Rd. regularly. I get a lot of nice work shirts there, and buy a lot of books. People there have always been friendly to me.

There is a great thrift shop in Fairfax called Yesterday's Rose.

I think it's moving locations sometime this spring, but still on Main Street.

I love this little store! I've been donating there for years and ending up finding a lot of great books and other odds and ends to buy, as well.

Yesterday's Rose is AWESOME!!

Yesterday's Rose kicks ass.

Compare to America wrote:
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>
I work for Apogee Retail. They employ many handicapped people including some blind people. Wages are decent and work hours are flexible. Training is continual with Quality Assurance teams assessing performances regularly and offering advice on improvement. They provide a valuable service by picking up items right at people's houses. Many people love the service, especially senior citizens. I have worked jobs that have taken me to thousands of homes and almost everyone has a porch,bedroom, basement,garage, or shed that is packed full with collected items. Americans regularly clean out old stuff from their homes, some more often than others. Some of the charities that Apogee supports said they would not exist without their help. Many unemployed and underemployed shop at thrift stores especially during economic downturns like the one we are in now. They are a quiet benefit to our country, unlike the glamour and media mania in Hollyweed or the poll watching politicians in Washington. I suppose greedy Wall Street(how's your 401k doing?) and Big Oil($5.00 gasolione)care about the under priveleged. NOT!!! Gangsters are busy in the drug trade,casinos and human trafficking. The UN is resisting God himself(nice try with that) while babies are being killed in the womb and gays are perverting the children that survive. If a knock in the head is all that befalls you, then you probably aren't so bad off.

i know it's md, but same chain? http://wtop.com/?nid=52&sid=2504616
Md. man accused of inappropriate touching of child

Friday - 8/19/2011, 4:44pm ET

ROCKVILLE, Md. - A Maryland man has been charged with inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl who was shopping with her family.

Montgomery County police say they've arrested 45-year-old Mario Amaro. The Rockville man is charged with two counts each of third- and fourth-degree sex offense.

Police say the girl became separated from her family while shopping Aug. 1 at the Unique Thrift Store in Silver Spring. Police say Amaro approached the child and touched the outside of her clothing in the genital area. The girl ultimately hid in a rack of clothing and later located her mother.

Police say Amaro changed shirts afterward to try to avoid getting caught. Police say he was captured on the store's surveillance system.

A phone number for Amaro could not immediately be found.

this place has issues Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> i know it's md, but same chain?
> http://wtop.com/?nid=52&sid=2504616
> Md. man accused of inappropriate touching of
> child
>
> Friday - 8/19/2011, 4:44pm ET
>
> ROCKVILLE, Md.
>
>
> Police say the girl became separated from her
> family while shopping Aug. 1 at the Unique Thrift
> Store in Silver Spring. Police say Amaro
> approached the child and touched the outside of
> her clothing in the genital area. The girl
> ultimately hid in a rack of clothing and later
> located her mother.
>
> SEPARATED FROM HER FAMILY? You don't go into a thrift store (or any public place) with a seven-year-old child in tow and LOSE sight of her for one second.

I shop at Unique in Merrifield all the time (and I am a mom of three young 'uns) and there are kids running all over that store and playing alone in the toy aisle without any supervision. I swear the (Hispanic) moms think this is their time away from the kids and they never, ever watch them. I regularly see little toddlers crying and calling out for Mama. I take them to the front to a manager and wait until Mama is found. The moms are unconcerned, retrieve the kid and walk away from them, again.

wait, a thrift store is a bad employer. Impossible

The popularity of the Unique in merrifield seems to be waning. Go on discount thursdays and crowds are considerably smaller than in the past.

Sounds like the guys who run veterans of america(north shore thrift) here on long island. He picks up the "donations" sorts them whatever can be resold he does and whatever he cant he donates somewhere else. Pays employee's on sliding scale so they cant get over time.

Apogee Retail, d/b/a Unique Thrift Store.

They sell junk and have horrible management. From the above, it would also seem that they abuse their employees.

Their practice of exploiting charities is deplorable, right up there with the bailouts.

http://apogeeretailwatch.blogspot.com/2011/10/apogee-retail-unique-thrift-store.html

I heard of one of the warehouse employees who unloads the shipment trucks, picking out the good items and reselling or keeping for himself. That is why I think that there has been less and less good stuff for sale at the Unique store (at the intersection of Rt 50 & Gallows. Hopefully they investigate and take action.

ive worked for apogee and they are the worst people to work for the head lady karrie baker ya she is a number one bitch she always went around acting like her shit dont stink when honestly u can smell her 3 miles away i left that place as fast as i could they have said for 3 years ur gunna get a raise shit they never do that they such cheap asses they never can keep help i say fuck off karrie baker!!!!!

the mexican Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ive worked for apogee and they are the worst
> people to work for the head lady karrie baker ya
> she is a number one bitch she always went around
> acting like her shit dont stink when honestly u
> can smell her 3 miles away i left that place as
> fast as i could they have said for 3 years ur
> gunna get a raise shit they never do that they
> such cheap asses they never can keep help i say
> fuck off karrie baker!!!!!

Who in the hell can be PROUD of their "status" working at a thrift shop? I don't get it.

Unique thrift store the worst employer ever they shorted me ever check and openly allowed drugs on the work site

"head lady karrie baker ya she is a number one bitch she always went around acting like her shit dont stink"

is that the black lady who speaks in a loud roar all the time
does strike me as a jerk
use to be tall spanish guy wore glasses seemed like decent fellow was manager there for several years gone now

business she no as good as say 2 years ago. too much competition in thrift stores methinks

Bedbugs are here. Vermin too. No doubt this is the nastiest place in Fairfax

the mexican Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ive worked for apogee and they are the worst
> people to work for the head lady karrie baker ya
> she is a number one bitch she always went around
> acting like her shit dont stink when honestly u
> can smell her 3 miles away i left that place as
> fast as i could they have said for 3 years ur
> gunna get a raise shit they never do that they
> such cheap asses they never can keep help i say
> fuck off karrie baker!!!!!


I worked at the MN call center for a year like 2 years ago.. At the time Karrie was there 90% of the time. She was really scary, but then could be nice as well. You just didn't want to piss her off or get on her bad side. But overall, The pay at Apogee was shit for the amount of work everyone did. Glad I got out of there.

Look at what I found. Pure evidence of the incompetence of the management of Apogee Retail,operators of the Unique Thrift Store.

They went and tried to deny a worker unemployment. They didn't bother to appear for the hearing. So, they asked for a second chance. That's just plain old nasty of them.

But, look! They failed the second time and got their head handed to them.

These people just plain old suck.
Attachments:

Wasn't Apogee the company that created Duke Nukem?

Anybody remember shareware?

another Apogee classic ;)

http://www.hypegames.com/shooting/4575/wolfenstein-3d.html

We work for the same company. Your open hatred of any group is completely against the values of the this enterprise. We offer jobs to all kinds of people: the handicapped, the uneducated, vets, gays, republicans and it should not matter. We are all the same trying to have a simple, happy life and help our planet. Your hatred only helps to polarize instead of bringing compassion to those who may need it most. Your God is compassionate- your religion doesn't appear to be. Time to switch or stop using His name to insinuate that you are somehow better than others because you have a 'moral code'. May you find peace soon.Speaking out against others is not peace and it is agaist any moral code.

Know why Apogee/Savers hires such a diversity of workers? Because they get benefits for each one of them hired. And don't speak of God or religion, because Apogee is the absolute antithesis of a Godly environment hahaha. All in all, Apogee is a pretty sketchy place to work for. It's like Wal-Mart after midnight... minus the semi-sanitary environment.

And you speak of the "values" of the enterprise? The enterprise serves as a middle man that bugs unsuspecting US citizens under the cloak of a "non profit agency" not affected by the US Do Not Call List. All morals were ditched for adhering to the bare minimum legal requirements to earn money as they do. It's like an entire company operating off of unfortunate legal loopholes.

Get off of your moral high horse, Fellow co-worker.

Signed,
Another fellow co-worker


Fellow co-worker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We work for the same company. Your open hatred of any group is completely against the values of the this enterprise. We offer jobs to all kinds of people: the handicapped, the uneducated, vets, gays, republicans and it should not matter. We are all the same trying to have a simple, happy life and help our planet. Your hatred only helps to polarize instead of bringing compassion to those who may need it most. Your God is compassionate- your religion doesn't appear to be. Time to switch or stop using His name to insinuate that you are somehow better than others because you have a 'moral code'. May you find peace soon.Speaking out against others is not peace and it is agaist any moral code.

Apparently they don't check ANYTHING from the time it is donated to the time they put it on the shelf. I have found numerous items, i.e., a board game, that when opened had checkers in it (no, it was not a checker game box). I brought this to their attention and the next time I went there it was right back on the shelf. The worst example was recently they had about a dozen Lego sets behind the counter that I asked them to open. One of them was priced $24.xx and when opened had 4 Lego pieces in it! Unreal! So ANYTHING in a box OPEN it before buying!

I HAVE found many nice items there priced very cheaply but it's hit or miss. I've found identical items, in the same day, with greatly varied prices.

Get over yourself.

I have a friend with a mild disability. She got a job at Unique. They told her to staple things together. They fired her for not stapling them with the staples parallel to the pages-sometimes she stapled diagonally across the corner.

Unique's manager told her she was "too illiterate to work" at the exit interview.

She applied for unemployment. Unique's parent company, Apogee Retail, contested the unemployment.

The letter Apogee wrote to the unemployment office was full of mistakes and typos.

She got her unemployment.

Screw Unique and Apogee. They get merchandise from charities and sell it. Unique and Apogee are FOR PROFIT entities. They make their money off charities. They abuse and exploit their employees, including the disabled, a population served by some of the charities they "partner" with.

Boycott Unique and Apogee. Shop at Goodwill or someplace else. Unique and Apogee should be investigated and closed down.

I understand that you all may be like 'ewww thrift shops' and I do not know how the Unique/Savers/or Value Village thrift shops are, but in case you all are wondering, this is how the whole thing works.

The reason why I am writing this? Perhaps people do not understand what is really going on and why these items are in the thrift shop, and hopefully, it helps you better understand how Apogee Retail and their thrift stores work.

Apogee Retail has inbound/outbound call centers that are used to schedule pick-ups for people who have items to donate. At the beginning of the year, the company and the charity get together and come up with a set amount. For each full truck, Apogee Retail will give the charity that set amount, and then will sell the items in their thrift stores (Savers, Value Village and Unique Thrift Stores)

Example: Apogee Retail and Vietnam Veterans of America (As an example) agree upon seven hundred dollars (or other amount) after haggling prices until they come to a price that they both agree upon. This price is set for the whole year.


I work at the outbound calling center calling people for donations for these charities. Each charity has their own trucks, so one charity's donations will not get mixed in with another's. When the truck is full, that is when Apogee steps in and buys the truck from the charity, giving the funds to the charity that is needed for different supported programs, and then Apogee now owns the items in the trucks and are put in the stores to sell. The money that is made from the sale of these items are used for gas so they can continue going from town to town picking up donations that people have agreed to donate. The money that is made is also used to pay the people who work in the thrift stores and the people who call for donations, or who schedule incoming calls from people who would like to donate, as well. And then they need to make money to pay for the trucks that they receive as well, so it's one big cycle.

The items you buy from these thrift stores helps different charities... Not just to make Apogee money.


Why donate your items to a not-for-profit charity? These charities help support programs for the individuals, like... Lupus Foundation of America...help funding for finding a cure for Lupus. The actual charity receives nothing, but they help these different programs so they can help others that do require money without every single person in the area of the charity being called asking for money. Instead, we ask for unused clothing and items that you no longer use. I know this is a hard time for all of us and money is tight, that is why I would much rather call for donations of items rather than money.

That is how it all works. As for the legal stuff that you guys are talking about, I know nothing about that because I am not in the legal department. Sorry if I couldn't be more help!

XOXO <3 Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!

fx gov workers have been helping their friends, who's business names change frequently , to obstruct and avoid employment laws for a long time

fx co gov laughs at it. however they employed themselves at TRIPLE PAY to write books for themself on gov employment fairness that put them high above the workers paying taxes they are screwing

end of story they refused to come to court if you catch them and proper stance to press ?

fx co skips court

what do you bet the owner has political ties (foreign or to fx. co. gov worker family) and the "owner" ?

what do you bet they get away with it because they are politically tied ?

that's called: feudalism

More Complete Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Feel better?

Why all this fuss about this thrift stores
First apogee sold the stores to savers 3 yrs ago
Second no one work for free at the stores they get paid so the donated items support the staff and the rent and utility plus the thrift stores generate revenue in taxes .
No one is perfect they cannot please every one .
Please remember all the dishonest customers that they do come to switch the shoes and other items and yes you will not believe that people steal from the thrift stores but they do and I can tell you every day and all nationality.
So those stores are not horrible and you need to change the headline .
And please remember the trash that people donate and ask waste mgmt how much money they make from this trash .
So please cut your crap and look at the fact .

Cjwub Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> More Complete Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Feel better?
>
> Why all this fuss about this thrift stores
> First apogee sold the stores to savers 3 yrs ago
> Second no one work for free at the stores they get
> paid so the donated items support the staff and
> the rent and utility plus the thrift stores
> generate revenue in taxes .
> No one is perfect they cannot please every one .
> Please remember all the dishonest customers that
> they do come to switch the shoes and other items
> and yes you will not believe that people steal
> from the thrift stores but they do and I can tell
> you every day and all nationality.
> So those stores are not horrible and you need to
> change the headline .
> And please remember the trash that people donate
> and ask waste mgmt how much money they make from
> this trash .
> So please cut your crap and look at the fact .


I am speaking of the call center which is STILL owned partly by Apogee - you should get YOUR facts straight. But, whoever owns it, it is a terrible place to work that is nothing more than an advantageous bottom-feeding organization. They treat their employees terribly and upper/lower management has an obvious disdain for CSRs.

It's extremely terrible work and an extremely terrible organization. I sincerely hope laws are passed to close the loop holes Apogee/Savers thrives in.

These for profit thrift stores give very little to charity. They all just say that to look good. Its called capitalism. Make money by whatever way you can. If your going for a good deal, then fine. If you think your helping out by doing so, then your very mistaken

The police are always at the Unique at 2950 Gallows rd. The place is a shit hole with a bunch of gooks selling crap like a third world country. You also must be very careful as they can't drive worth a dam and refuse to yield the right of way. Worse yet, the ones walking will just gook around you when you are backing out. I used to hit the Five Guys for lunch but the gooks have destroyed the shopping center like they are destroying America.


P.S. To the OP, what they heck do you know. You work for legal AID, that makes you a lousy piece of shit Marxist that no one else will hire. Go join the Peace of SHIT CORP, get Ebola and die.

Ps GOOKS suck

What kind of place fires people for the way they staple?

That goes beyond capitalism.

If they get into stuff like that with VEC, they probably give bad references as well.

redhead commie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These for profit thrift stores give very little to
> charity. They all just say that to look good. Its
> called capitalism. Make money by whatever way you
> can. If your going for a good deal, then fine. If
> you think your helping out by doing so, then your
> very mistaken


All you have to do is donate one dollar to charity. Then you can truthfully say part of your earnings go to charity.
Kind of like the restaurants that have the things you sign your name on when you donate a dollar. They get a tax write off for your donation. But you don't.
Corporate charity is very shady. Best to go help a neighbor or someone you run across that is trying hard but can't quite get there. And I don't mean beggars. They have nicer homes than you

Despite the fact that the employers are disdainful, abrupt and rude they do pay on time. If you do your job as they see it should be done and on a timely basis it is not too bad. I worked for them on and off for many years, it was a strain but so are many low level menial jobs. Working for MCPL, in the Page position, under some supervisors can be more self depreciating. The Thrift Store however is extremely valuable in the community. It's value is undeniable although prices have gone up. Many if not most people speak of it in high regard. Although I would suggest some improvement on employer/employee level for the Solicitor position, I can not complain about the store. I do most of my shopping there.

> Someone claimed unemployment. During the hearing, the Apogee rep said they sent VEC forms showing the person was fired

total lies - the facist parliament party line spoken

#1 VA fx co office doesnt' pay unemployment even when due (even if employer does NOT fire and employer did not contest)

#2 it's well known that area employers have a habbit of AND are getting away with firing staff before the 2 year "time limit"

they also fire employees frequently because it ends their legal exposure - the longer an employee is around and has "rights to be there and even move up" the more legal exposure a company has to being sued

what IS NOT DONE in fairfax county? suits against the court for allowing shinnanegans. the courts simply block the cases from ever coming to terms, protecting the rich political insiders who own many of the local businesses doing these things.

there should be no profit in a game of cheating - just penalty even if slight

finally, if you think its hard for a rich insider to stay rich by instead of having unemployable kids at home (or to buy them condos) to instead have them installed in county jobs - your wrong. that's exactly one way they stay ahead.

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/retail/minnesota-ag-sues-firm-behind-value-village-thrift-stores/

http://www.cknw.com/2015/10/29/rising-prices-at-value-village-have-canadian-customers-crying-foul/

http://mynorthwest.com/26314/bothell-couple-claims-thrift-store-to-blame-for-bedbug-nightmare/
http://invw.org/2015/10/28/photos-pennies-on-the-dollar-to-charity-at-value-village/
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=16246

It is a thrift store masquerading as a charity, but little money gets to the charities.

I got a call from Value Village looking for a donation. I let the bitch have it about this "fired for not stapling properly" incident. I told her she should work for ISIS, they are just as evil as Unique but at least they are honest about it.

What the HELL kind of company fires someone for improper stapling and then contests their unemployment?

Sounds like they'll get theirs eventually. But, what will move in over on Gallows Road?

http://queenspress.com/unique-thrift-faces-pregnancy-discrimination-lawsuit/

This place sucks ass and ought to be put out of business, and the people profiting from it need to be imprisoned at hard labor.

Wish I had seen this thread earlier. Last month we donated two houses worth of item to them after the estate sale finished.

Must have been around 60 to 100k in value to them.

They were grateful about the donations, however.