We got out late because the new manager wasn't paying attention to the time. And he interfered with my closing schedule by asking me the same questions about making signs and mylars over and over. Finally I told him I wasn't going to help him anymore because I was on schedule and because his duties were not my concern. Because I don't get paid the same as he does. He also asked me why I wasn't a manager, didn't I want to be one, wasn't I trained like a manager..etc. etc. And I had a little freak-out and told him I tried to take the skills assessment test, couldn't get into it, went on vacation, and when I came back, he was there. Oops.
On the upside, my sister came to visit. And my son and husband came in to say hey and possibly get pizzas. The lady I was helping in photo, and the girl at the register both said he (my son) was crazy-cute. And I helped the same woman I helped a few days ago. We printed a lot of pictures. I like her, although I think she might be a tad crazy.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Photo Regular
I turned off one of the photo kiosks and couldn't figure out how to turn it back on.
A regular since before I started working came in and needed help with her photos. I went on lunch a few minutes after she came in, and when I got back, she was still there. So I felt obligated. We spent about two hours together, scanning in photos and choosing some from a CD and some from a memory card. Her first order was just over $50. We scanned in some old photos from her past, and she told me a little about the time frame. Then we had a CD from a studio (I made her sign the release form, even though she told me to sign it). She has some great portraits of her whole family (kids, grandkids, husband...) on it. We had to go through her memory card, which had over 1000 photos, and I chose the best ones from certain dates. Turns out she goes to a peculiar church I had been wondering about. Finally I had to tell her that we had to start closing the store, so she needs to come back at a later time. Incidentally, English is not her first language which was almost as much of a barrier as the fact that she is a repeater. Most people at the store, past, present, and probably future, get really aggravated with her. But I kind of liked hanging out with her. Whenever someone came to the counter, she told me to help them. And while I normally encourage customers to get their shit together and do their own photo order, I advised her not to touch anything. I got her the coupons and I gave her such great customer service that she called when she got home to let me know she got home safe.
My co-worker and I were talking about the new manager and we decided that while we understand that he is new to the store (and to the freaking company...what happened to hiring from the inside?) there is a point in which a person must be left to sink or swim. We are no longer his lifeguards. Go team.
A regular since before I started working came in and needed help with her photos. I went on lunch a few minutes after she came in, and when I got back, she was still there. So I felt obligated. We spent about two hours together, scanning in photos and choosing some from a CD and some from a memory card. Her first order was just over $50. We scanned in some old photos from her past, and she told me a little about the time frame. Then we had a CD from a studio (I made her sign the release form, even though she told me to sign it). She has some great portraits of her whole family (kids, grandkids, husband...) on it. We had to go through her memory card, which had over 1000 photos, and I chose the best ones from certain dates. Turns out she goes to a peculiar church I had been wondering about. Finally I had to tell her that we had to start closing the store, so she needs to come back at a later time. Incidentally, English is not her first language which was almost as much of a barrier as the fact that she is a repeater. Most people at the store, past, present, and probably future, get really aggravated with her. But I kind of liked hanging out with her. Whenever someone came to the counter, she told me to help them. And while I normally encourage customers to get their shit together and do their own photo order, I advised her not to touch anything. I got her the coupons and I gave her such great customer service that she called when she got home to let me know she got home safe.
My co-worker and I were talking about the new manager and we decided that while we understand that he is new to the store (and to the freaking company...what happened to hiring from the inside?) there is a point in which a person must be left to sink or swim. We are no longer his lifeguards. Go team.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Bitterness
I am trying to get over my bitterness about being at a job that is seemingly going nowhere. I feel that I am under-paid and under-appreciated. I mostly like the benefits I get, but I am highly annoyed about the manager situation. Obviously I need to apply to something else. Yes, I am happy I have a job. But I feel that people look down on me for having the job I do. I wish I could be a SAHM (stay at home mom), but that is just not reality for us. It is what it is.
A woman I was ringing up was on the phone. I think that is totally rude and obnoxious and often leads to a minor mishap. The gentleman behind her was one of our pharmacy techs, and I asked him if he gets annoyed when people do that to him. He said he won't ring people up when they are on the phone. I told him I wish I had that kind of power.
An ex-co-worker of mine came in and said my facing sucks. Which was totally annoying and obviously not true. Shortly after that my manger said my aisles looked really good. So there.
A woman I was ringing up was on the phone. I think that is totally rude and obnoxious and often leads to a minor mishap. The gentleman behind her was one of our pharmacy techs, and I asked him if he gets annoyed when people do that to him. He said he won't ring people up when they are on the phone. I told him I wish I had that kind of power.
An ex-co-worker of mine came in and said my facing sucks. Which was totally annoying and obviously not true. Shortly after that my manger said my aisles looked really good. So there.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
The Reader Board
I am exhausted.
About five minutes after I clocked in, this guy came in with a huge bag of 8mm film. I think there was twenty-two rolls. Some of them were still in the boxes they came, and they came from our store! The address on the box didn't even have a zip code! We talked about the coming of zip codes and area codes arriving in our lifetime. He was really nice, even though I admitted I wasn't sure what exactly I was doing. I hope his coupon code goes through. I tried to get him to fill out the survey to give me a good review, but I couldn't even find the web address for the damn survey. The reels are from the 60's, and he told me his estranged brother is probably in a few of them. But he is willing to deal with that, because his parents are in their 80's, and there is a film-watching party coming up. When he told me that, I thanked him for not coming in a few hours before the party and then freaking out when realizing that it takes approximately three weeks to process. It was a nostalgic and interesting conversation.
In the stationary aisle, I found some ripped up flowers. And lots of paper from the Sharpie display that said stuff like,
"Alana wuz here."
"Turn up"
"Turn down".
I had to do the reader board. It was a freakin' disaster. I had to go up and down the stairs a bazillion times because I kept forgetting letters. Most of the letters were mixed up, and it took me a long time to find all the ones I needed. I hope I don't have to do that again. And I hope I didn't misspell something! I know I forgot the decimal in "$2.49". But who would think a case of water was $249?
About five minutes after I clocked in, this guy came in with a huge bag of 8mm film. I think there was twenty-two rolls. Some of them were still in the boxes they came, and they came from our store! The address on the box didn't even have a zip code! We talked about the coming of zip codes and area codes arriving in our lifetime. He was really nice, even though I admitted I wasn't sure what exactly I was doing. I hope his coupon code goes through. I tried to get him to fill out the survey to give me a good review, but I couldn't even find the web address for the damn survey. The reels are from the 60's, and he told me his estranged brother is probably in a few of them. But he is willing to deal with that, because his parents are in their 80's, and there is a film-watching party coming up. When he told me that, I thanked him for not coming in a few hours before the party and then freaking out when realizing that it takes approximately three weeks to process. It was a nostalgic and interesting conversation.
In the stationary aisle, I found some ripped up flowers. And lots of paper from the Sharpie display that said stuff like,
"Alana wuz here."
"Turn up"
"Turn down".
I had to do the reader board. It was a freakin' disaster. I had to go up and down the stairs a bazillion times because I kept forgetting letters. Most of the letters were mixed up, and it took me a long time to find all the ones I needed. I hope I don't have to do that again. And I hope I didn't misspell something! I know I forgot the decimal in "$2.49". But who would think a case of water was $249?
Friday, August 2, 2013
Photo, Again
I don't know if it's because we have new people, or if it's because we have been busy, but I find myself answering IC3s and spending too much time at the register.
Today I managed my time well. I was able to get all my chores done, and I didn't really have to rush or skip steps. I was pretty proud of myself. Wish someone else was.
When I pulled into the only parking spot left along the back of the lot, I suddenly heard a loud pop. I scared the hell out of the kid who was waiting for the bus, and I thought I popped my tire. Turns out I just ran over an fucking aerosol can. Of disinfectant spray. From another store. I was super-salty, and I was totally frazzled. Before I went inside, I made sure the girl at the bus stop was ok. It took me about an hour to fully recover. (My tire is fine, thanks for asking.)
I rung up this woman who told her kid that he spent so much time at 'that house' that he smells like cat piss. And she asked him to step away from her. I recognized the kid from a while ago; he would come in unsupervised, wearing a bathrobe, and being intimidated by the other kids. It made me really sad. And now him and his mom were here, and she was a lot less white trash than I was expecting. And she gave me a recipe for removing the cat piss smell on (your kid's) clothes. She got the recipe from her daughter who got a chemistry degree. (The mom said she paid for the degree, and her daughter is probably using it for evil (a.k.a a drug problem), so she felt she could get a piss-removing recipe out of the experience.)
Load clothes in washer with soap, as usual. Wait until washer fills, then add a cup of lemon juice and...a 1/2 (?) cup of baking soda. I told her I like Nature's Miracle, but her plan was cheaper.
We did talk briefly about the importance of cleaning one's house, at least enough so that one's guests don't go home smelling like disgusting.
There was a guy who told me he pre-paid for his photos, but we had no record of that. And he tried to name-drop, but he kept getting mixed up. If he was trying to scam me, he didn't do a good job. Although I did punch in a belated coupon code for him.
Today I managed my time well. I was able to get all my chores done, and I didn't really have to rush or skip steps. I was pretty proud of myself. Wish someone else was.
When I pulled into the only parking spot left along the back of the lot, I suddenly heard a loud pop. I scared the hell out of the kid who was waiting for the bus, and I thought I popped my tire. Turns out I just ran over an fucking aerosol can. Of disinfectant spray. From another store. I was super-salty, and I was totally frazzled. Before I went inside, I made sure the girl at the bus stop was ok. It took me about an hour to fully recover. (My tire is fine, thanks for asking.)
I rung up this woman who told her kid that he spent so much time at 'that house' that he smells like cat piss. And she asked him to step away from her. I recognized the kid from a while ago; he would come in unsupervised, wearing a bathrobe, and being intimidated by the other kids. It made me really sad. And now him and his mom were here, and she was a lot less white trash than I was expecting. And she gave me a recipe for removing the cat piss smell on (your kid's) clothes. She got the recipe from her daughter who got a chemistry degree. (The mom said she paid for the degree, and her daughter is probably using it for evil (a.k.a a drug problem), so she felt she could get a piss-removing recipe out of the experience.)
Load clothes in washer with soap, as usual. Wait until washer fills, then add a cup of lemon juice and...a 1/2 (?) cup of baking soda. I told her I like Nature's Miracle, but her plan was cheaper.
We did talk briefly about the importance of cleaning one's house, at least enough so that one's guests don't go home smelling like disgusting.
There was a guy who told me he pre-paid for his photos, but we had no record of that. And he tried to name-drop, but he kept getting mixed up. If he was trying to scam me, he didn't do a good job. Although I did punch in a belated coupon code for him.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Newspapers and New Guys
There is a normal-looking white guy that comes in and buys a whole bunch of newspapers. A while ago I asked him why he needed so many papers, and he replied,
"Well, they aren't all for me."
That's it. I didn't question further even though I wanted to. He came in again today, and bought a bunch of papers. Then I overheard him asking my co-worker if we had any glitter, and possibly glitter paint.
We closed with the new manager tonight. He's ok. He came from our competition, but he was a manager there, so perhaps he knows what he's doing.
"Well, they aren't all for me."
That's it. I didn't question further even though I wanted to. He came in again today, and bought a bunch of papers. Then I overheard him asking my co-worker if we had any glitter, and possibly glitter paint.
We closed with the new manager tonight. He's ok. He came from our competition, but he was a manager there, so perhaps he knows what he's doing.
The New Kid and The Late Night
My co-worker and I agreed that if our manager wants to get out early, he should help us close. And he should be aware that the new guy doesn't know how to face or manage his time or anything. If my manger wants to get out early, he shouldn't give me a couple of extra chores, or tell me to help the new guy. Incidentally, the other managers help us close.
This woman that I'm "friends" with (her baby is three months younger than mine), came to my register. We were having a good conversation, until I told her she couldn't get the Dole pineapple juice on her WIC check. She started saying that she could get any kind of juice she wanted and the there was a sign in front of it that said we accept SNAP, and she just kept talking. It was really irritating. Then I noticed the damn check was expired. So even when I told her she couldn't use that one, she was still talking about the f'ing juice. Her new check didn't have any juice...but it did have beans. Which she didn't want. Why bother with WIC checks if you're going to let them expire and you're not going to get everything on the list?
During my lunch break I listened to the rain on the roof, and the thunder rumbling. The room I was in doesn't allow me to hear the pages that well. So that was nice.
This woman that I'm "friends" with (her baby is three months younger than mine), came to my register. We were having a good conversation, until I told her she couldn't get the Dole pineapple juice on her WIC check. She started saying that she could get any kind of juice she wanted and the there was a sign in front of it that said we accept SNAP, and she just kept talking. It was really irritating. Then I noticed the damn check was expired. So even when I told her she couldn't use that one, she was still talking about the f'ing juice. Her new check didn't have any juice...but it did have beans. Which she didn't want. Why bother with WIC checks if you're going to let them expire and you're not going to get everything on the list?
During my lunch break I listened to the rain on the roof, and the thunder rumbling. The room I was in doesn't allow me to hear the pages that well. So that was nice.
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