Copp's Closing Reflects Shattered Economy

EDITORIAL - Saturday, November 29, 2008 - Back on November 18th I heard a rumor that Copps would be closing its doors after the first of the year. On that day, I called Copps Corporate Headquarters (Roundy's) and asked if someone could verify or deny the rumor. I was asked to leave a message, and I was assured that someone would return my call with the information.

On November 25th I called Copps again because I hadn't heard anything. Once again they asked me to leave a message. I told them that I had previously called and I left a message, but nobody had the decency to return a call. The operator took down my name and telephone number and then she put to over to Vivian King's voicemail. I left a message explaining about the rumor, and I asked that she please return a call to either deny or confirm what I had heard.

I left the building for about an hour, and while I was gone, Ms. King left the following message on my answering machine:

"Hi Mr. Albert, this is Vivian King with Roundy's Supermarkets returning your call. I got a message that you were calling regarding a rumor that the Hurley Copp's Store was closing. Our company policy is to not respond to rumors. There are always rumors going on about what our company is going to do and it would be futile if we tried to respond to everyone of them. So that is why we have this policy. Thank-you for your call! I will keep your contact information for any future announcements. Thank-you! Bye!"

Why Wouldn't Copp's Corporate Be Truthful With Me?

When I returned, I listened to the above message and felt that it was a little cold and impersonal. I called back Ms. King to give her an opportunity to better phrase her comments. The woman was rather rude to me. She told me that there was no need for me to be returning her telephone message. I explained that I planned on writing an article for our Internet news service and she kept referring to it as a "blog." She couldn't understand why I would be trying to answer the questions people have had about the store closing. It was quite apparent to me, at that time, that the "rumor" was more than just a "rumor."

She told me that she would give me a complete statement regarding on Monday, December 1, 2008, and she asked me not to post anything on our "blog" until she releases the statement.

In today's Ironwood Daily Globe it was reported the Copp's will be closing according to a statement from Ms. Vivian King. First of all, what a disgraceful way to close a business! It's a slap in the face of every employee of the Hurley store. Many people have given many good years of service to that organization and it is wrong to shut down the facility with such little notice, especially just before Christmas.

Secondly, Ms. King needs to learn a little about public relations. Why would she refuse to give me the information only to release it to the Daily Globe three days later? As I stated, she was rude and not at all willing to talk to me. She deliberately lied to me, telling me she would have an announcement on Monday, then hands the information over to the Globe on Friday. So much for the free enterprise system. All of this petty "favoritism" disgusts me.

My heart goes out to each and every Copps employee. I hope everything will work out for them and they will be able to find work somewhere.

Jim Albert