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Tysons gave Santa the boot!
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Anonymous
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Did anyone else read the article in today's Post? Tysons Corner Center hired a new photo company to run its Santa pictures, so the longtime Santa there is out of work.
I loved that Santa! I drove a long way to see him, not only because he was great with my children, but because the photo company did a good job compared with the other mall operations. |
Anonymous
| a mexican santa maybe? |
mrbobby
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Member Offline
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Wow I just read the article.
I think everyone should call Tysons today to complain. Tysons Corner Guest Services: 1-888-2TYSONS (703) 847-7300 fax (703) 448-3043. |
Anonymous
| Too bad....I was looking forward to our santa pics there this year. I agree that the Santa and company were good. |
Anonymous
The story is also front news on the yahoo.com website. Customer service can't do much because Tysons Corners is run by a managing company (forgot the name) and they hired a new photographer, who in turn, wanted a different santa. So call the photography company instead. |
Anonymous
The contact information for the management company was posted in the washingtonpost.com comments section. I haven't yet verified, but here it is: Macerich Co. Corporate Headquarters 401 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 700 Santa Monica, CA 90401 Phone: (310) 394-6000 Fax: (310) 395-2791 Public Relations 11411 N. Tatum Boulevard Phoenix, AZ 85028-2399 Phone: (602) 953-6550 |
Anonymous
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102621.html?sub=AR
is the story. I feel so bad for this guy. He's such a sweetheart. |
Anonymous
| Fell terrible about it! What a bunch of grinchs. |
Anonymous
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Just called the PR company and was transfered to "Alicia" -- her assistant told me they are addressing the problem and trying to come up with a solution. Hopefully rehiring Santa. Glad the Post ran that story, I'm sure they've gotten plenty of complaints. Who fires such a wonderful Santa???!!!
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Anonymous
To the defense of the newly hired photography company, I doubt they knew or recognized how wonderful Santa was/is. IN fact, it was Tyson's Corner mgmt company that fired Santa because the new photo. company probably had one lined up. For all we know, they might have already had a contract set with another santa...unbeknowst to them that the "original" Tyson's Corner Santa can't be topped. There are two sides to every story. |
Anonymous
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Looks like he got his job back...at least for this winter.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102301212.html?hpid=moreheadlines |
Anonymous
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But it looks like we won't get to see him:
She said officials had erred in handling the timing of the notification to Graham and were working to correct the situation by a financial arrangement and an offer of employment somewhere. The new company that will handle photos with the new Santa at the mall also said it made a mistake. "I'll take the hit," said Steve Hardin, senior vice president of World Wide Photography, which provides same-day professional photography for special events, including Santalands in malls. Hardin said he was not aware of Graham's stature when his company took over the contract to provide a Santa this year. "I'm trying to rectify it," Hardin said, adding that he is trying to find another post for Graham, perhaps closer to his home in Tennessee. |
Anonymous
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Another example of how powerful DCUM is. Apparently Santa is back afterall. This was just on Yahoo:
McLEAN, Va. – A dispute between a veteran Santa and one of the Washington area's biggest malls appeared to be headed for a happy ending after his abrupt firing prompted a public outcry. Tysons Corner Center and Michael Graham, the man who has played Santa Claus at the mall for 18 years, said Thursday that they reached an "agreement in principle" for the 51-year-old carpenter from Sevierville, Tenn., to return to the job this holiday season. In a joint statement, the parties said they hoped to have a final agreement to announce in the coming days, and Graham canceled a planned news conference. The mall recently informed Graham that he wouldn't be coming back, but it was too late for him to find another gig. Graham hired a lawyer to demand his job back and a down payment that was due Oct. 1. The mall said it canceled its contract with Graham because it decided to work with a new photography company that wanted a different Santa. Graham's contract paid him about $175 an hour, about 10 times the going rate. However, Steve Hardin, senior vice president of World Wide Photography, said the issue was not money. News of the dispute sparked hundreds of calls, an online petition and threats to boycott the mall. "I'm both honored and humbled by all the calls and e-mails I've received over the last 24 hours. It's a wonderful feeling to know that in some small way, I've touched the lives of so many people, especially the children," Graham said in the statement. Mall spokeswoman Allison Fischer said Tysons Corner Center is focused on bringing the holiday spirit to families. "We are both committed to providing our very special community a most memorable holiday season," she said. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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I hate to be the Grinch, but this story is very one-sided. Apparently, the Tyson's Santa made $6,000 per week (that's like $312,000 annualized), when the typical Santa gets paid $17 per hour. This guy is paid more than some stars on Broadway. No wonder the new vendor didn't want to retain him anymore and is now shamed to hire him back.
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