Comments on: Pity You Lost Your Job, But Aren’t My New Shoes Fabulous?

By: Nathan Branch

Nathan Branch — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:16:41 +0000

Accountants the world over are reading this story and thinking, “Are we really the only ones who have any idea how much it costs to run a business . . . or buy a pair of shoes?”
Say hello to Milan for me!

By: Bettina

Bettina — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:09:27 +0000

Accounting sure pays well? In her case yes. In my case, no! And I am happy it does not pay off. WTF was she thinking screwing the company and being responsible for all the lay offs? One sure lives well in wealth, even though it aint her moolah, while the rest of the posse can get laid off. In this case, the shirt is closer than the pair of pants. Speaking of SO’s or DH’s: my hubby knows right away what the cost of designer clothes is and the additional designer gadgets. So if I would pile up only 10 pair of shoes he would be suspicious. Guess that means I should not shop for designer clothes tomorrow in Milan.

By: Tara

Tara — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:37:16 +0000

Well, my BF who is an experienced designer purse buyer would have noticed immediately – he can spot a Bottega from 50 paces.
I agree the granite countertop should have been a dead giveaway.

By: Nathan Branch

Nathan Branch — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:51:28 +0000

LOL! I have to admit that one of my first thoughts upon reading the article was, “What? They won’t be putting everything up for auction on eBay?!”

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:05:08 +0000

Darn! Looks like I missed out on the yard sale!
I agree with Tara in her defense of the hubby and also that the powers that be of the company did not realize how much $$$ was being lost – so to speak.
~Dawn

By: Nathan Branch

Nathan Branch — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:32:31 +0000

That’s a very good point — he was probably thinking, “Okay, those are nice, but she doesn’t seem to be breaking the bank account with all her purchases, so all is well.”
But surely it should have raised an eyebrow (or two) when she remodeled one of their extra bedrooms and turned it into a shoe and bag shrine . . . ? I mean, there’s not knowing the cost of an item, and then there’s just ignoring that there’s 400 of these said items sitting in a newly remodeled upstairs room, replete with granite topped center counter and crystal chandelier, surrounded by hundreds of handbags and racks of obviously very nice clothes.
That seems to require an almost superhuman suspension of disbelief.

By: Tara

Tara — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:24:28 +0000

In defense of the husband, many men have no idea how much designer shoes/purses/clothing really cost, so he might not have understood the scope of the situation. But surely the owner/manager of the company should have been paying closer attention!

By: Nathan Branch

Nathan Branch — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:46:34 +0000

Shelley: I thought the link to the photo was highly deserving. God knows how many of her co-workers’ lives she harmed and/or ruined.
Wait, was that a Leonard Cohen reference you just made . . . ?
And Thomas: I feel the same way. I mean, c’mon! $10,000,000.00? That’s a lot of zeros to not miss. I’m all for trusting people, but there comes a point where it turns from trust into sheer and brazen stupidity on the part of the owners of the company. I don’t blame them for what she did, but when you’re having to fire people and restructure your entire company, wouldn’t you be going over the books a little more thoroughly by that point?
And I also find it difficult to believe that her husband didn’t know what was going on. The woman was sporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in clothing and accessories, remodeling the house and purchasing new cars while gambling away millions at local Casinos. And no one in her life put two and two together? Is it possible that she was surrounded by so many clueless people?

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:03:50 +0000

Boy, accounting sure pays well…
That is…seriously amazing. Didn’t anyone check the accounting at all over the last six years? I’ve heard a few good fraud stories through the years, but that’s easily the most brazen that I’ve heard.
Besides – bookkeepers are supposed to be frumpy. Shouldn’t her glam threads been a tip-off???
Management should take some of the blame as well IMHO.

By: ScentScelf

ScentScelf — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:11:54 +0000

I am petty…but I appreciate the picture link for little Bernadette. Looks like she’ll be singing, with no song for her.
I emerge back into the world to find it is snafu. Hmmph. Off to find some of the wonder…