Abercrombie Exposed

I kind of gotta take A&F's side on this one guys and gals. First it is a private company allowed to hire whomever they like, or at least they should be allowed too. It is not like Hooters should be forced to hire very unappealing people to put in those outfits or should they? Should Chris Farley really be hired as a Chippendale dancer? I think it is stupid that people think because we live in a "free" society with many rights, that people take that to mean that they should have all the rights they want, whenever they want them and if they don't get them then they will sue. The way it should work and is meant to work is that these companies are free to hire whomever they want and if you don't like their practices then don't shop there and help to get others to not shop there. That is how it is supposed to work in a capitalistic democracy. At least that is my opinion.

For the record I don't fit the A&F "look" and don't care. I also don't fit the "Hollywood" "Male Model" "Rockstar" or any other of the typical looks that certain jobs prefer.

I get a little queesy when it comes to race. I see you on the whole private company thing. But then why not let everyone discriminate, why can't we then have white's only this and blacks only that everywhere there is private company involved. To allow that would be a slippery slope. Imagine how many minorities just might be out of work if all private companies were allowed discrimination based on race. Yeah you want a certain look, but Abercrombie look is not just white, their customers come in all shapes and sizes. It would follow then that discrimination based on race is not necessary for them to make a profit or for business purposes. Body type or prettiness ... there might be an argument there, a lot of companies are allowed to discriminate based on those things. Race, not so much.

moral of story: Tom Mitchelson is good looking

When it comes to hiring for a retail salesperson I doubt "the look" is necessary to performing the essential functions and duties of the position. Hence, this in my book warrants discrimination since it seems that AF is hiring on the basis of looks and not qualifications. Private companies are not excluded from discrimination regulations under Title XII. Not too many minorities working at AF.....slippery slope indeed Swiyyah.

To back up my last comment. I doubt being a good looking person is a BFOQ for a salesperson. "A BFOQ is a legal exception to an otherwise discriminatory hiring practice that is "reasonably necessary to the normal operation of a particular business." The BFOQ may be requested if "the essence of the business operation would be undermined if the business eliminated its discriminatory policy." Note that allowing a company to hire employees based on their religion, gender, or national origin where those factors are reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise does not permit religion-based, gender-based or national origin-based differences in pay to those holding the same job. With a BFOQ the burden of proof always lies with the employer."

ref: http://www.deed.state.mn.us/wia/policy/TitleIII/3000-32...

Well I hate to bring this up, but does the BFOQ apply to Hollywood and on air personalities? Do I need to continue this argument and apply it hmmm, I don't know, maybe Current TV? See where I'm going?

@Swiyyah I completely agree that racism should not be a factor in this. If people are not being hired based on their race then yes that is a big problem. That was not suggested in this pod. If that were the case then I'd be jumping on the down with A&F bandwagon. The point made was that they prefer a certain body type and look - ie...good looking young people.

Discrimination is a part of every job. You are discriminated against based on how well you do your job. Well in the world of SALES that does often have a lot to do with how good looking the salesperson is. Hooters was an example earlier. Their food sucks, but they know how to sell to their target audience - men. A&F is in the market to sell to young men and women and in doing so they know that having young attractive trendy men and women selling to their customers is better.

How many of you have been in a store and you have a hot salesperson helping you? Have you found yourself staying in that store longer? Possibly making a few extra purchases? How many of you can reflect back and think of times when you've had an average salesperson walk up and ask if you needed help and you say "No thanks, I'm just looking." or something of the sort. Have you been in the same store or one similar and an attractive salesperson came over and asked the same question and then you were happy to have them help you?

I'm sure all of you are perfect, non-discriminatory people so the answers are no, but 90% of the world isn't that perfect. A&F knows this too and they know that having sales people that customers want to interact with does increase sales.

I don't even shop at A&F, but I'm not going to harp on them about their hiring practices of only wanting attractive people when I work in freaking HOLLYWOOD!!!! Talk about hypocritical.

Sorry about the rant. If you don't like it feel free to not read it. It's America and you are free to not read this or shop at A&F.

Ahhh I thought you were responding to my comments before your comment about the lawsuit. Race is one thing. Looks is different. I am sure there are studies out there that say people respond to people who they find attractive. Shoot, I do. Most companies do hire that way, and its harder to prove that that is the reason people were or were not hired.

i think the video is great. Tom Mitchelson portrays many things that are horrible and disgusting about abercrombie by making fun workers and the way they look. The workers get low pay along with how workers have a certain look that is how they're hired. While A&F might hire non typical looking - skinny and beautiful- workers, those non typical people work behind the scenes or night shifts. I hate how Abercrombie thinks it is "the shit" - better than everyone else. Don't the people that work there realize that they are only hired based on looks? thats just a little degrading dont you think.

The funny thing is that A&F is worn mostly by kids (middle school - college aged at the oldest) in the U.S. If the company were marketing to an older (read: more worldly and aware overall) demographic, they would never have been able to go this long without having their advertising tactics scrutinized. Wealthy kids, the only ones whose parents would pay $130 for a fur-lined hoodie, are so desperately concerned with fitting into the cool, outdoorsy, and perfect cookie-cutter model that all they need is A&F's not-so-subtle hint that their clothes will transform them and POOF! Before you know it, all the kiddies are running to the stores for the very special and unique "Blondes Have More Fun" tshirt...as long as it has the little A&F and that cute little moose at the bottom, of course. I think we have a bigger problem than A&F just liking pretty people...

I thought this pod did an excellent job with bringing the behind the scenes to the foreground. He did it in an interesting manner that drew the audience in right off the back, with great images and a great voice-over (i.e.- the dream). He also made his issue clear right away; with that he took us on a journey, in a Sherlock Holmes fashion, to get to the bottom of what appeared to be a form of discrimination at A&F, no matter how you try to paint the picture!

About 6 years ago, I was approached at work (my bar, not the reporting - very different "work attire" between the two - hahah!) by a girl who asked if I wanted to work at Abercrombie. I went in for an interview for their management training program. I was offered the job without any references being called, and despite the fact that I told them I couldn't deal with the no vacation for six months, working weekends etc.

I was a really good bartender, so maybe it was based on my perceived skills - the A&F crowd were at the bar a lot. But without calling references, essentially giving me a job on the spot...I definitely felt like it was based on something superficial.

i was recurted as well a few months ago. it was the most uncomfortable inconter i had ever faced, the hiring manger abrutly stoped me from leaving the store after making a purchase for my girlfriend. she tryed pulling me to the back room for an interview. i literally had to do break left, spin right and hurdle over her to get out!

Similarly to Tom, I only lasted at Abercrombie for two days. Like Tori, I interviewed for the management training program, where they promise you the chance at opening stores in European countries. They convinced me that moving to SF, one of their top producing stores, was an honor and meant that I would quickly be promoted to bigger and better things. My two days there were the days that the CEO, Jeffries, came to tour the the new stores opening in downtown SF. It was the most ridiculous experience of my life. After working my ass off in college, I found myself being scolded by obnoxious kids on the "opening team" to fold and refold and refold again and again piles of clothes. These "kids" were part of the illusive group that goes around opening new abercrombie stores, but they clearly no longer thought that their jobs were cool, in fact, most of them were sick from traveling so much and sleeping so little. There was widespread panic about making everything match the corporate directions for Jeffries' tours of the new stores. We were all dressed in matching clothes, which in my case meant a skirt and tights that one upper management visitor commented to me as the shortest skirt he had ever seen... which is pretty bad when talking about Abercrombie! I was also advised to unbutton my top buttons on my shirt, adding to the "appeal." When it was time for Jeffries to make his rounds, they lined us up in front, letting us pick the prettiest "models" to showcase, (models is the job title they now give to people that work on the floor in order to justify the stringent look requirement). We were also warned that Jeffries has been known to massage male workers. Jeffries came by each of us and visually inspected us. Even after all of the hype about law suits, they still implied the necessity to follow the original look guidelines and insisted that employees wear up-to-date Abercrombie styles that were still available on the floor. What made me the most uncomfortable, however, were the kids that worked in the back of the stores. They were super friendly and excited about Abercrombie but were kept ironing in the back or moving clothes to the floor all day because they didn't fit the look. There was an obvious hierarchy in the way they were treated by other employees, they even had a separate title from "models", and were called "impact team..." I quickly realized that my chance to be overworked opening new stores in foreign countries was not worth the initial $13.60/hr(!), forced judgment of other people, and hours of brainless work "managing" by following stringent instructions out of manuals and refolding clothes over and over again... I could seriously spend just as much space as I already have going on about my disappointment over Abercrombie's practices. Instead I'm going to end by saying that while I agree that a company has the right to pick people they think will best sell their clothes, what bothers me is how they misrepresent themselves in the recruiting process, exploit the desire of high school kids to be cool, and overlook minorities in the hiring process. And, those f'ing brown leather flip flops they impose hurt like hell! ;)

it's interesting because i used to work at abercrombie for about a month one summer. i have never been more image conscious in my entire life.it's like you have to fit into a mold that only a select few can entirely fill and the remainder of the people associated with abercrombie must suffer. i loved how this pod was comprised. that narration was key and the main character, tom, filled the screen with a personality and a drive to find out more about a&f. it was interesting hearing the perspective of the tailor and moving between the reality that surrounds abercrombie and the mentality that tom has come to have because of the 3 day stint with the company. i think this is a very valid concern and it is interesting to see how it has been transcribed abroad. this is such a commonplace thing in america but it would seem strange in a place like england...i guess we'll see. the pod was wonderfully edited and the soundtrack was great. the shot integration was also very well done. i thoroughly enjoyed it.

I think this pod is a great example of how to get around some of the major obstacles we all face when trying to put together a pod. 1. How do I avoid making a talking head pod? I think the way the video created interesting imagery (the ficitionalized segments) to help move the story along really kept the momentum of the piece going forward. Also, by talking to the older tailor and getting his opinion, he was able to disseminate information about the situation without having to "report" about it 2. How do I shoot a piece where I don't have permission to go inside? Again, by shooting the Abercrombie store from the outside and by showcasing the inability to shoot inside the store, it helped maintain the tone of the piece as well as provide additional subtle conflict to the overall conflict of discriminatory hiring processes at Abercrombie.

Ah, Abercrombie. They had a booth at the career fair at my school every year, and it was very clear that they were only interested in talking to certain people.

I made a hobby out of loitering near their table and seeing what lengths they'd go to in order to avoid having to speak to me.

I didn't know this and I'm disgusted by their policies.
I've never owned one of their items and probably
never will in the future after seeing this pod.

Thanks for this informative and witty contribution.

Lol, this pod does not even give you .5% of what it is actually like to work for/at AnF. I started working there as a Brand Rep when recruited in 2k5, which is what models were before changing the name to "model" so that the look policy could be more grounded, and then became a manager in 2k6. Working at AnF was the best decision and worst decision ever.

Being a manager came with 10 hr days, if not more, crap pay, lies, decent benefits, a good 40% discount, great friends and the ability to go recruiting and do whatever the heck you wanted. A lot of days I hated the job, but now that I do not work there and in law school, I kinda miss the loud music, smell of Fierce in the air, silly customers, my co-workers and knowing that you work there out on the floor because you look good.

In AnF's defence, the look policy is necessary because they do not advertise the way that other companies do. Their employees, as I told my new hires every Sunday, are walking advertisements and therefore they need to look their best. Query, how many of you people "disgusted" with AnF's policies are jumping down the throats of Banana Republic/Gap, Ralph Lauren, Express for Men/Women, or Victoria Secret for not having "ugly people" on/in their advertisements. I doubt any of you so why are you so turned on your side at the way AnF hires models.

I had a blast working there, sometimes, and do not regret refusing to hire people whos "personal style/look" did not fit the image of the company... regardless of colour. When you work for the moose you take the job as it is, a great way to gather yourself as you try to figure out your next step in life, gain experience and then move on to bigger and better [paying] things. If you are a part-timer, be it model or impact, you get a 30-50% discount, the ability to set your avalibility to whatever you want when ever you want, request/take as much time off as you would like i.e. a summer/winter break.

Here is to the moose down Fitch Path and playing touch rugby in a wheat field.

Tom is the new Louis Theroux!

I loved your angle on this story. I've always had an intense hatred for A&F (thongs for little girls---really?!), so to hear about their hiring practices only justifies my hatred that much more. Sorry the UK is now burdened with such a crappy store now...