I gather from Lee Manning (Deloitte) that no deal has yet been done with Simon Baile – hopefully Monday or Tuesday of next week. Apparently it is six or seven shops, which presumably will trade as Ex Cellar. I'm surprised this deal hasn't yet been sorted out – could it be a question of getting the necessary finance in place?
The third party that has bought the Oddbins' name remains unknown. I suppose Baile could always trade as 'Ex-Oddbins Ltd' as this company name appears to be available.
25 comments:
A spokesman for Simon Baile's backers is proving to be as charming as Henry Young was: "What’s proving to be hugely frustrating is dealing with the administrators. We started negotiations in the first week of April and it’s now the beginning of May and they’re still faffing around."
from here:
http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/news-headlines/10503-baile-to-secure-oddbins-sites-by-next-week.html
11.28. Thanks I saw that and also that this wasn't quite Lee Manning's take on the situation.
Yes quite... how unusual it would be for the words attached to a Baile operation to fail to chime with reality. How surprising it would be to discover some financial conjuring trick rather than a solid pile of cash behind it all.
11.28
If I Were Deloitte I'd faff around a great deal more. Ideally until the cash is in the bank.
Some ex staff are reporting that they will not be receiving the full amount owed to them for working up to the closure of their shops....
I can confirm this; I've been paid up to end of trading and not for the boxing up etc. Hey-ho, something else to ask the National Insurance Fund for.
the wonderful "Oddnet" says "Ayo has confirmed that all May pay pay will be paid by Deloitte."
Not sure if I believe anything he says but...
Amended comment from anon:
Heard Simon Baile has been calling ex staff offering jobs but all a bit vague, one said it felt like speaking to (deleted section) but might have to take job as currently unemployed. The word is ex staff are advising those contacted that out of principle they should tell him to f*** off.
My advice is don’t do it, once bitten twice shy. However principle doesn’t pay the bills, so if you have to take a job with him ask to see his business plan and make sure you get paid in advance
From a 2010 interview in the Telegraph - oh how the mighty have fallen!
"In fact, such is Baile's confidence that he is already thinking of expanding the chain. He has picked over the former Threshers sites after the wine retailer's collapse but found nothing of note – "The last thing you want to do is dilute Oddbins' quality." – but is looking out for other shops.
"Now is the time to start thinking about pushing on – there are plenty of opportunities for us around the country," he says. "We could get to 200 sites, perhaps 250, who knows?" "
disgusting...
If anyone sees Simon Baile in the street, ask him if he's got any prosecco.
Yep, letter today confirms that Deloitte will not be paying us for any work after 28th April. At last we've been given a letter and some official notice of sorts; at least we didn't just hear this off the internet for once.
I'd urge everyone involved to spread the bad names of both Baile 9and his future plans) and Deloittes for their inadequacies and unscrupulous behaviour. As for these thugs having the cheek to tell Oddbins' staff to be more professional and disloyal makes me want to spit (or worse).
loyal even
Oddbins
RIP
1963 - 2011
It was my understanding that Deloitte issued a statement that all staff pay during the administration period was guaranteed, if you were asked to work and did so, then if they do not pay you for all work then they were lying. I would ask for an explanation, it may be an oversite as a reputation for dishonesty would be immensely damaging to Deloitte especially if people endeavour to make sure that it is widely dispersed.
It was my understanding that Deloitte issued a statement that all staff pay during the administration period was guaranteed, if you were asked to work and did so, then if they do not pay you for all work then they were lying. I would ask for an explanation, it may be an oversite as a reputation for dishonesty would be immensely damaging to Deloitte especially if people endeavour to make sure that it is widely dispersed.
The letter states
"Unfortunately, we are unable to make any funds available to the Company to pay your wages after the 28/04/2011 (sic) and you are accordingly redundant on this date."
A handy form to claim any "wages, holiday pay or redundancy pay that may be owed to you" was attached so that we can claim the money from the state.
Why I didn't fill my bag with fine wine is beyond me.
Does anyone know what's happening in Ireland? I heard the shops are still trading but the guys are not paid in full!
Have to agree with 11.28, that spokesperson for Baile could be Young himself. What a nice 'chap'.
Jim, next time you speak to Deloittes, you could ask why it is seemingly impossible to contact anyone regarding issues with the RP1 form we are all using to get our redundancy pay.
No answers to email or telephone messages
It's almost as though they don't care about us now we are redundant!
One, Fabrice Monod - who's family own the Chateau Fontvert winery in France - wrote to Baile saying: 'We hold you personally responsible for our debt regarding our wines. What we cannot accept is the fact that you... lied to us, bluntly, straight in our face.'
Baile refuted the allegation.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1373388/Off-licence-chain-Oddbins-rise-collapse.html#ixzz1LyIxXNL5
I think this said everything about Mr??? baile!!!!
Anyway good luck to everyone who wants to work for him again
Ex Oddbins Ass.Mgr from Italy
Many thanks for all the comments. Have noted the questions to ask and have tried to contact Lee Manning late yesterday afternoon and this morning. Will try again later.
The news that, despite assurances, Deloitte will not be paying all wages owed is disgusting. To think that only a couple of weeks ago staff were being ridiculed for being sceptical about the pay arrangements.
Even for the lowliest of its minions, Deloitte is billing *far* more per hour than most Oddbins employees earned in a 12-hour day. (The shop assistants were on £6.10 an hour)
By making this decision Lee Manning has put himself into the same category as Simon Baile and Henry Young, the kind of people who misinform and take advantage. The kind of people who make you wonder: how do they sleep at night?
"11.28"
I worked in one of the Irish shop,
we were told to close last Thursday(that was the 12th of May 2011).
all the Irish shops are now closed except The Baggot St. Branch in Dublin wich make it the last ever Oddbins to be open.
I worked five years for Oddbins and I'm very sad to see it gone it didn't deserve to go the way it did. The Castel group as a lot to do with it, this was pure French Arrogance and I know what I'm talking about,I'm French Myself! The French wine taste is different from the UK no doubt about that I see both sides.
The Oddbins staff deserved better I'm sure lots of them will find workplaces where their collegues are all exOdds; that's true in the UK and Ireland. The Oddbins people are sad and upset.
I miss you my Oddbinites collegues
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