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The tweets posted by a newly-redundant user were deleted shortly afterwards. Screen grab from Twitter

Staff use HMV's official Twitter account to reveal live sacking

Staff took over the @HMVtweets account – which had been dormant for weeks – to reveal significant layoffs.

STAFF AT the stricken high street CD and DVD retailer HMV took over the company’s official Twitter account earlier to vent their grievances at a round of staff sackings.

The @HMVtweets account, which had been dormant since the British-owned chain entered administration two weeks ago, was revived by staff who complained that over 60 “loyal employees who love the brand” were being fired at once.

“Sorry we’ve been quiet for so long,” the users added, explaining: “Under contract, we’ve been unable to say a word, or – more importantly – tell the truth”.

The tweets – which were posted with the tongue-in-cheek hashtag #hmvXFactorFiring – were later followed with:

Just overheard our Marketing Director (he’s staying, folks) ask “How do I shut down Twitter?”

The users behind the account explained that they would never ordinarily use the Twitter account in such ways, but that they felt they had no other choice when “the company you dearly love is being ruined and those hard working individuals, who wanted to make HMV great again, have mostly been fired”.

They also added that HMV’s Facebook and Twitter accounts – the latter having about 63,000 followers at the time the tweets were posted – had been set up by unpaid interns two years ago.

The tweets were removed shortly after being posted.

In a statement, HMV’s administrators Deloitte confirmed that they had made 190 redundancies in the companies’ head office and distribution network.

There were no job losses at any of the HMV retail outlets, some of which have reopened in the UK. The chain’s 16 Irish stores – which have a total workforce of about 300 – remain closed, however.

HMV: What does its receivership mean for Irish music and businesses?

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20 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Hannigan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:41 AM

    Hailo raised it percentage take and lost taxi drivers.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Smith
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:54 PM

    When was that?just curious

    1
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:42 PM

    Hailo charge 12% commisssion, that’s it. No €79.00 or €99.00 a week with Citycabs/Global/Lynk.

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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:46 PM

    Still has over half the Dublin fleet at 7,000+

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:19 AM

    Hailo will lose more drivers if they keep uping the aunty with price and rules silly rules !

    20
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:48 PM

    You can’t up an “Aunty”, well maybe you can. Upping the ante is another thing. lol

    3
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:04 PM

    They do take credit card but yes you do have to sign up first

    8
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    Mute Liam Morgan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:42 AM

    They lost me when they stooped the use of their credit card facilities for non bailout jobs/customers it was extremely handy

    6
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:05 PM

    What is a non bailout job or customer

    19
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:07 PM

    I think he misspelled it ……..its meant to read non hailo jobs as in you used to be able to take credit card jobs of the street now the customer has to download the app if they want to pay by card…….stupid idea from hailo…

    11
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Hailo have added the option to pre book now so that’s not a unique feature for lynk

    6
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:37 PM

    Hailo had to add that feature because it was the next step …….and to keep up with other apps that have that feature before them ….e.g…cab:app

    2
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:59 PM

    My husband left a cab company recently. The company sold the controlling share to the guy named above. They thought that they could sell the drivers rent as part of the business package, (Approx’ €5K per year),forgetting that the drivers hire the cab company to supply them with work, and they work for the driver. Not wanting any association withthe new owners, he fired them.

    He wondered why, as he calls it “the Weakest Lynk”, chose the exact same colour branding as Hailo? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose.

    5
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Lynk taxis. €25 free sign up. €5 per journey if you pay by card but wait there’s a €3 booking fee before you sit in the taxi. It is removed after you use your “free” €25. So, free €10 sign up.

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:02 PM

    They can’t charge €3 for booking ! €2 is max Hailo don’t charge for booking

    6
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 8th 2015, 8:57 AM

    They do. I got a taxi that usually costs less than €5 and cost me over €8. Minus the “five” free. When you contact them they say that is taken off when your €25 is up.

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    Mute James Cleary
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:09 PM

    I always use the lynk app ( Irish owned company)

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:44 PM

    To be fair Hailo was set up by 3 guys one Irish

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    Mute James Cullen
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    Apr 7th 2015, 6:39 PM

    it was set up back 3 London black cab drivers

    4
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