sports direct - appalling working practices

watched an expose' of sports directs working practices on channel 4 on 27/4/2015 titled " the secrets of sports direct. "
recommended viewing.
they buy up older brands like Dunlop,slazenger, Lonsdale etc and then source the goods from the far east affixing the appropriate labels to them.
I used to be user of Lonsdale clothing years ago and it was excellent quality.
I bought some from sports direct and thought the quality was inferior. I tried to buy direct from Lonsdale and then realised that they were now part of sports direct.
every single item in the stores are discounted. the labels add to confusion. even trainers on display for the first time have price labels showing an inflated figure crossed out and a lower figure sale price.
closing down sales seem to last for months before the store often closes for refurbishment. the prices stayed the same pre closing down sale, during the closing down sale and indeed after re-opening.
the programme went under cover in their headquarters where they have a massive distribution centre.
the majority of staff are employed on zero hours contracts via two employment agencies who have offices within the premises.
they have a 6 strikes within 6 months policy and you are out of the job. qualifying conditions for a strike include excessive chatting, spending too much time on the toilet or going to the toilet too often, failing to fulfil an acceptable pick rate fulfilling online orders but worse of all being absent through sickness!
yes, that's right. provide a sick note and you receive a strike! sickness is unacceptable!
agency staff on zero hours contracts have no recourse to employment tribunals.
whenever a contracted member of staff took sports direct to a tribunal the company would settle immediately before entering the tribunal ensuring this included a confidentiality order. gagging order. this info was given by a union representative who pointed out that they could not expose the practices to the media as the claimant accepted damages on condition that they could not speak out about it.
workers on the shop floor were named and shamed in both polish and English via the tannoy system if their pick rate was not up to scratch.
sports directs owner owns Newcastle united football club in the premier league. the stadium has been renamed the sports direct arena. massive advertising for sports direct abound throughout the ground. it is alleged Newcastle united receive no fees from sports direct for the advertising. the commercial arm ie club shop etc are also alleged to be run by sports direct with no financial gain by the club.
the chairman of sports direct is former police chief constable.
reading a few of the other reviews i note the mention of the large mugs. I indeed had more than several of these. I thought they were given free!
it was only after watching "watchdog" that I realised that I had paid £1 each for them even though I had never ordered them. when submitting your online order you have to tick that you don't want it.
as for returns I took a childs zip up rucksack back to the store after a few months as the zip had broke. it had hardly been used. I didn't keep the receipt so to say they were not in the least bit interested in offering to resolve the problem should surprise no one.
you get what you pay for. I have bought stuff expecting it to be cheap quality to match their cheap prices and I must say that I have not been disappointed!
going back to the tv programme, apparently he now has a financial stake in Glasgow rangers a Scottish football club.
I for one will now be avoiding sports direct. they suited my purpose pricewise but on considering all the facts I will in future pay a little extra for better quality to someone I hope would have acceptable, to me, working practices regarding their workforce.
looking back, I could never find a phone number on the web page giving a contact number for customer services. I have just checked their web site and you can either write to them or email them.
no telephone number!
that just about says it all.