Store Coupons and Manufacturer Coupons

Ok, so in the Sunday paper there were coupons for products in my store. These coupons are only valid at my retail chain. I thought we could treat them like regular manufacturer coupons and stack them with our in-store book coupons. Apparently that is not the case. They have our circular coupon coding so they are like the weekly coupons in our ad paper. So I can use them in conjunction with actual manufacturer coupons. But when I went to scan our coupon from the Sunday paper in conjunction with the coupon from our in-store booklet, the register told me the coupon had been already scanned. So apparently they have elements of a manufacturers coupon, (being found in a Sunday paper), our circular coupon (they have the same codes), and our in-store booklet coupons (the register knows them as the same). The lesson here is that coupons are confusing but important and that I should not tell people they can stack their coupons until I try to scan them.

Also, there is a new kid on board whom I have seen walking in the store while I was walking out. There might be another new person too, but this has not been verified. That is all I know.

Coupons!

Obviously yesterday was Sunday, wherein we get the Sunday paper with all the coupons! I myself bought one today even though my mother is saving hers for me. I was very surprised our paper vendor didn't come by and that no one asked me to give them the innards to the Trib.

Apparently, not only do I have to ring people up, I have to clean up the spilled milk no one else can see, wipe up the dirt, run stuff out to the baler and fill the cigarettes. I feel that these activities provide some practice for motherhood. Perhaps.  Sadly, I did not fill all the cigarettes because we were pretty busy (nothin' I can't handle!). But I just had a long convo with my boss about how I am not lazy, I usually pay attention, and I didn't need another co-worker helping me back there with his incessant chattering. So now tomorrow I will have to finish those and clean up back there. Dang.

Snickers

Many people were rude and difficult, as was I. I plan on apologizing to one woman in particular. Many people were funny and cute...also as was I. It was a usual day.

I have to ask everyone if they want Snickers, 3/$2 and I asked an elderly gentleman in suspenders. He said "I'm too old to snick. I gave up snicking when I stopped riding a tricycle." He said it with a totally straight face, which was difficult to see because he was so hunched over. His comment made me happy. It was much wittier and more funny than what most people say.

Did You Need A Raincheck?

I am feeling really bad about being kind of rude to this woman. But she was very aggravating. Our new policy is that you have to take the take the amount listed on your raincheck. If you choose to go under that amount, you still have to surrender the raincheck. I told her as much, and she started to get fussy so I called a manager. The manager said that she could take her one milk (instead of the three she was supposed to). So I crossed off the three on her raincheck, wrote in two and initialed it. She said she wanted a new raincheck. I said no, thats' how we do it. So she is standing around, fussing, and finally I rewrite her raincheck exactly as it was written, which wasn't the proper way anyway. During her transaction she knew there was a coupon in our circular and she kept saying the after-coupon price until I found the damn coupon. Which took a minute because I was moving very slowly. While she fussing and waiting for me to rewrite her raincheck, another woman came up and wanted change for a hundred. I had to call the manager for that too. Then the second lady mentions she hardly ever carries cash with her because she got mugged at the Jewel up the street. The fussy raincheck lady started trying to get the details from her while I am trying to get her to "sign here an then press ok". It took a while to complete these transactions. Also, I was enjoying an Amp Energy drink at the time, which made everything that much more intense.

Hey Sexy

Before my first break I had two gentlemen ask me what I was doing after work. And my phone stalker called me three times total today.

The first guy was from At&t and I only know that because he had his workshirt on. He wanted to know what time I got off work and what I was doing tonight. I told him I had to do laundry and he asked if he could help me. Uh, no.
The second guy was one of my regulars and he asked what time I got off work. Without thinking, I said 4:30. He asked if I wanted to go out for coffee. "But don't worry, my wife knows." What the hell is this?! I think he might want to minister to me.

A girl from my high school came in. She recently moved back in with her parents. I remembered her from band. I said that, then: "Well, this is sufficiently awkward." She laughed, then gave me a handout about the prodigal son finding Christ.

It Was Busy

We are getting new register wires. The guys installing those left the lights on in their truck and needed a jump, which I happily provided. Although I looked a tad stupid as I popped my trunk instead of my hood. There were two other guys doing God knows what involving a lot of extension cords.

The Pall Mall/Camel guy came in a said we didn't follow our planogram for the cigarettes. I told him we did the reset, then we tweaked it, then the Marlboro girl came in and shifted everything around without changing mylars and such. I also told him we seem to have poor communication skills.

When I Die

One of my first customers comes in and says there is a kid outside who told him how to buy his blunts. He leans on my counter and thinks for a minute, then asks "Which ones do you like?" I said the White Owl white grape is our best seller, but the strawberry and grape are nice too. He wants to try the Phillies 3 pack. When I ring him up, he asks if I want one. I told him I was good, but thanks. He laughs, and says "Ok baby, just let me know." He stands in our lobby and talks to someone on the phone, then yells over to me "Hey mama! Is it ok if I stand in here and wait for my ride?" I say "Sure, man. You scared of that kid out there?" He comes back over to my register and says "I ain't scared of him, but I'm scared of my wife! I ain't been home yet, and she drives right past here to get to work. I'm scared of the violence!" I say "Shit, if my man didn't come home all night, I'd be violent too! But yeah, you can stand there."

A regular of mine wheels her cart up and says "There is my favorite employee! I tell you that every time, don't I?"
"Yes ma'am, but I don't get tired of hearing it"
"You're always SO nice to me. You are so nice to old ladies."
"Well ma'am, you are my favorite demographic. And I love my grandma; I hate to think about her getting yelled at by some psycho-clerk, so I try not to do that to people."
"You are just so sweet. My, did I reach $30 already? I guess so."
I complimented her on her purse, and she said when she dies, I can have it. Kind of a freaky thing to say, but I appreciated it.

During an employee transaction, my co-worker pulls her change out of her shoe. I step back and start hollering about how when I did that she yelled at me, how gross it is, etc. etc. She knew I wasn't serious, so she was laughing A LOT. Then she told me not to be so damn loud.

A super-elderly and small couple handed me a coupon that they had accidentally cut the expiration date of off. Being an avid couponer myself, I recognized it from this Sunday's paper. I still had to call for a manager to make sure I could take it. This woman behind them said "Just take it! You guys always act like you're giving away a million bucks! (insert local grocery store here) takes them!" Someone behind her says "Is anyone else going to open up?" I say "Its our store policy to not take coupons without expiration dates on them, so I have to check with my manager. I'm just looking out for me here." I would have elaborated but I really wanted to snap on her, so I did not. And to the people behind her I said "Yes, of course I called for someone else, but they are not here yet." I hate when people are so rude and difficult. It makes my temper flare, and I have a hard time controlling that. I do the best I can. And yes, we did take that coupon.

Speaking of coupons, I got a great deal on pads! We have them on sale buy one get one free, and I had the same type of coupon. All I had to do was pay the tax! I got two hand soaps (Dial), a face wash (Neutrogena Naturals), and two packages of pads (Stayfree), all for under $7. Yes I am proud of myself.

In The Ghetto

It has been a while since I updated the world (i.e. my two members) on the goings-on at work...and for that, I apologize.
While I was gossiping with my manager about a co-worker, I said "shut the fuck up". It was part of the story, and I speak like that often, so my manager didn't mind. While I was talking, three dudes walked in and mean-mugged me, then walked out, still mean-muggin'. After I said "shut the fuck up" as part of my story, one guy looked a me all sorts of crazy. A few seconds later his friend comes in and said
"What did you just say to me?"
"What?"
"Did you just tell me to shut the fuck up? Were you talking to me?"
"Heelllll no, man! If I was talkin' to you, you would know because I would look right at you! ok?"
"Yeah. Ok."
He walks out. I go on my break and sit in my car and smoke. I see the three out my review mirror. They look like they are part of a pick-up or drop-off coalition. They run up to several different vehicles. I have a faint fear they are waiting for me. Before I went back in, I see an officer speaking with them. I go back inside and ask my boss if he called the cops. If so, why? He says
"No, not this time. Why? They're out there? Thats cool, huh?"
Incidentally, I don't think its cool. An officer approaches my register so I ask him if that was him talking to those guys out there. It was, and then he asks me if I thought it was dumb that he was. Like he was second-guessing himself and needed my advice and/or reassurance. Very weird. I gave him a replay of their activities at my store, and mentioned it looked like they were picking up or dropping off. He said a customer of ours called the cops. According to many of the folks who shop and work at my store, the neighborhood is getting ghetto. I tell them they ain't seen nothin' yet.