Fridays are truck days at Big 5. This means that a truck full of new merchandise comes to the store and a group of employees has to be there at 4 in the morning to unload it. Amazingly, I hadn't had to unload the truck ever...that is...until today.
The actual work day was fine. I didn't mind wearing my street clothes, I didn't mind being there at 4 and I didn't mind taking my lunch at 10. It would have been nicer if I would have slept some last night instead of looking at my clock every 15 minutes to make sure I didn't miss my alarm. I didn't really start to feel the fatigue until after I got off work and finally got to sit down (this was at 1 o'clock). I was actually bummed that my shift was over because I was getting into a groove with moving out new merchandise, but I had to leave. Conveniently, I was driving when the exhaustion hit me. Now, I'm trying to hold on for a few more minutes while I write another post or two.
Showing posts with label Big 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big 5. Show all posts
Friday, August 10, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Tail Between My Legs
I learned a big lesson yesterday at Big 5 (I expect the next four to follow soon). I learned you should never talk about a customer on the sales floor...ever.
This lady had come in to the store with her 5ish kids and was yelling at them so I decided not to ask her if she needed help, because I could see that she was a little busy. She flagged me down though and told me to help her with the skim boards. She yelled at her kids some more then told me that she wanted two of the ones that were on sales but she wanted them to be different colors. She was upset because we didn't have two different colors and that's what she wanted. I apologized and told her that sale items usually sell quickly. I also told her that we had gotten a truck in that morning but all of our new skim boards had been put out on the floor already. She was upset at the news and started complaining about how she had driven all the way from Shelton and they had just left McDonald's and that was a nightmare (well duh) and that driving all the way from Shelton was a big deal for them and she couldn't believe we didn't have the product she wanted. The reality of it was that we, in fact, did have the product she wanted, but she needed two different colors. I apologized and told her that we could either do a rain check or call the Lacey store. She decided to do a rain check. Then barked at her kids to go sit in the car. I told her to have a nice day and walked off to help some more customers.
A few minutes later I walked up to my manager and another sales associate who were in the middle of talking about an irritating customer. I asked them who they were talking about and they described the same lady I had been talking to earlier. I told them that she had been ornery to me too. I told them how she was complaining about driving all the way from Shelton and that I drive from McCleary every day and it's the same distance, but I don't' take it out on other people. The three of us "discussed" it a bit then the other sales guy proceeded to mock her, when suddenly she stepped out from behind him and said "I've decided to call the Lacey store."
My stomach felt like it was going to explode, my heart stopped beating for 2 whole seconds, my jaw dropped to the floor and I stood there frozen like a deer in headlights. My manager said she would call the Lacey store and started leading her back to the front of the store. As the lady passed me she said "same distance as McCleary, whatever" or something to that extent because apparent my brain was in shut down mode too and decided to turn off my ears.
After she left my lungs started working again and I ran to the back room with my co-worker. My manager came to the back after a few minutes and told me that the lady was pissed and acting dramatic (I think, my ears were still shut off). I told her I was going to stay in the back until she left and my manager gave me permission. Then a different sales guy came to the back and told me that Jordan, who was the one complaining with us on the floor, had done it again! He was telling the cashier the story and the lady was right behind him!
Unlike my co-worker I have learned my lesson. I was right though. McCleary and Shelton are the same distance from Olympia.
This lady had come in to the store with her 5ish kids and was yelling at them so I decided not to ask her if she needed help, because I could see that she was a little busy. She flagged me down though and told me to help her with the skim boards. She yelled at her kids some more then told me that she wanted two of the ones that were on sales but she wanted them to be different colors. She was upset because we didn't have two different colors and that's what she wanted. I apologized and told her that sale items usually sell quickly. I also told her that we had gotten a truck in that morning but all of our new skim boards had been put out on the floor already. She was upset at the news and started complaining about how she had driven all the way from Shelton and they had just left McDonald's and that was a nightmare (well duh) and that driving all the way from Shelton was a big deal for them and she couldn't believe we didn't have the product she wanted. The reality of it was that we, in fact, did have the product she wanted, but she needed two different colors. I apologized and told her that we could either do a rain check or call the Lacey store. She decided to do a rain check. Then barked at her kids to go sit in the car. I told her to have a nice day and walked off to help some more customers.
A few minutes later I walked up to my manager and another sales associate who were in the middle of talking about an irritating customer. I asked them who they were talking about and they described the same lady I had been talking to earlier. I told them that she had been ornery to me too. I told them how she was complaining about driving all the way from Shelton and that I drive from McCleary every day and it's the same distance, but I don't' take it out on other people. The three of us "discussed" it a bit then the other sales guy proceeded to mock her, when suddenly she stepped out from behind him and said "I've decided to call the Lacey store."
My stomach felt like it was going to explode, my heart stopped beating for 2 whole seconds, my jaw dropped to the floor and I stood there frozen like a deer in headlights. My manager said she would call the Lacey store and started leading her back to the front of the store. As the lady passed me she said "same distance as McCleary, whatever" or something to that extent because apparent my brain was in shut down mode too and decided to turn off my ears.
After she left my lungs started working again and I ran to the back room with my co-worker. My manager came to the back after a few minutes and told me that the lady was pissed and acting dramatic (I think, my ears were still shut off). I told her I was going to stay in the back until she left and my manager gave me permission. Then a different sales guy came to the back and told me that Jordan, who was the one complaining with us on the floor, had done it again! He was telling the cashier the story and the lady was right behind him!
Unlike my co-worker I have learned my lesson. I was right though. McCleary and Shelton are the same distance from Olympia.
Monday, June 25, 2007
RIP Nikon Coolpix L3
If you're thinking about buying a digital camera don't buy a Nikon. I've gone through two already and they are no good. They are nice for about 10 months, then they die. Mine recently passed away from a "lens error." This is apparently a common COD for the L3s. I wish I would have known this before. What a waste of money. It happened yesterday at Ali's grad party. Everything was going fine. I was getting some great shots, when suddenly it just stopped working. I was obviously frustrated, but I didn't mess with it because I was sure I would just break it more.
After the party Mom, Christina, and I went to Target to see if there was anything I could do to save it. I showed the guy and he said:
"Hmm. Did you drop it?"
"No," I replied flatly and honestly.
"Are we lyyying?"
"NO," Christina and I said together, disgusted at his accusation and belittling tone.
"Hmm. Well this is a common problem with the L3s. You can buy a new one or we can send it in, but that will cost money too."
"Great. Thank you."
We walked away.
Today I decided to troubleshoot online and see what other people did to fix the problem. There were many sites where people had posted their complaints that were identical to mine. The answers and suggestions consisted of: "slap it against your palm" "shake it" "squeeze it" "use a bobby pin to pop the lens back into place," etc. I tried them in order, including the bobby pin, which DOESN'T WORK! Don't try it. The bobby pin was the official COD for my camera. It only succeeded in shoving the lens in further.
Then I called Nikon. I could send it in if there was no physical "accidental damage" to the camera. That they didn't cover, only manufacturer error. If only I hadn't just done obvious physical damage to the lens! Craaaaaap. Looks like I'm SOL, seeing as how I don't have enough hours at Big 5 to make enough money to buy a new camera.
After the party Mom, Christina, and I went to Target to see if there was anything I could do to save it. I showed the guy and he said:
"Hmm. Did you drop it?"
"No," I replied flatly and honestly.
"Are we lyyying?"
"NO," Christina and I said together, disgusted at his accusation and belittling tone.
"Hmm. Well this is a common problem with the L3s. You can buy a new one or we can send it in, but that will cost money too."
"Great. Thank you."
We walked away.
Today I decided to troubleshoot online and see what other people did to fix the problem. There were many sites where people had posted their complaints that were identical to mine. The answers and suggestions consisted of: "slap it against your palm" "shake it" "squeeze it" "use a bobby pin to pop the lens back into place," etc. I tried them in order, including the bobby pin, which DOESN'T WORK! Don't try it. The bobby pin was the official COD for my camera. It only succeeded in shoving the lens in further.
Then I called Nikon. I could send it in if there was no physical "accidental damage" to the camera. That they didn't cover, only manufacturer error. If only I hadn't just done obvious physical damage to the lens! Craaaaaap. Looks like I'm SOL, seeing as how I don't have enough hours at Big 5 to make enough money to buy a new camera.
Can't Seem To Get It Right
So once again it seems I am pissed off at the moronic happenings of the world and I'm relying on AH to help me vent. Two weeks before I was to move back home, I came back for Memorial Day weekend. During that weekend I went into Big 5 to fill out all the necessary paper work so I would be ready to start when I returned in a couple weeks. The paper work process takes about a week, then they have to put me on the schedule. I was totally excited because they had given me a raise and promised me more hours and I would have Wednesday nights off for softball. We decided I would start on Wednesday the 13th. I thought I was set. Oh how naive I can be.
I came home two weeks later and called my manager, Troy, to find out when I would be working that Wednesday. Turns out my main manager, Paul, forgot to put me on the schedule. "Of course he did," I think. I was annoyed and expressed so to Troy. He sympathized and promised I would be on the schedule the next week. Sunday the 17th rolls around and I call Troy again to find out when I would be working that week and he says "Ariel, you're going to be so mad at me." *Silence* I couldn't speak. I knew what he was going to tell me and I was already pissed. All I could eek out was "No way Troy."
"I'm so sorry. Paul told me he didn't know what your availability was, so he couldn't put you on the schedule and now I'm looking for your information and I can't find your employee number or anything. You're not on any of our new hire or re-hire lists."
"Why not," I asked trying to stay calm.
"I have no idea."
"Okay...now what? I need to work Troy. I'm now two weeks without pay. What's going on?"
"I don't know. I'll figure it out though. I'll take care of you don't worry."
Well it was too late. I was beyond worried. My mom had taken that week off for my sister's graduation and decided to take me to Olympia to job hunt while she went shopping. I spend the week applying online and at location, and looking through the paper for something to do, but no one has responded. On Tuesday the 19 (the day of Ali's graduation) I called Troy again. He told me I had to come in and take care of some things I had previously been informed I didn't need to bother with. I went in and took care of business like always, and on Wednesday Troy finally called me, instead of the other way around. He asked me if I could come in on Saturday for a training day. I absolutely could. I didn't need a training day because I was already trained, but this way he wouldn't have to take hours of the schedule and I would still get paid. Plus they were going to teach me how to use the cash register, so I guess it really was a training day. While I was on the phone with him, again, I asked if I was on the schedule yet. He said no, but he had gotten a few people to give me some of their hours. Great. So naturally I asked him what days. He told me Tuesday and Wednesday. "That's it," I thought. Yup. That was it. 10 hours. That's it. I need MORE THAN THAT!!!! Fine. So, when I went in to work on Saturday I told Troy I was looking for a second job, because he had screwed me over. I hope they feel bad.
I came home two weeks later and called my manager, Troy, to find out when I would be working that Wednesday. Turns out my main manager, Paul, forgot to put me on the schedule. "Of course he did," I think. I was annoyed and expressed so to Troy. He sympathized and promised I would be on the schedule the next week. Sunday the 17th rolls around and I call Troy again to find out when I would be working that week and he says "Ariel, you're going to be so mad at me." *Silence* I couldn't speak. I knew what he was going to tell me and I was already pissed. All I could eek out was "No way Troy."
"I'm so sorry. Paul told me he didn't know what your availability was, so he couldn't put you on the schedule and now I'm looking for your information and I can't find your employee number or anything. You're not on any of our new hire or re-hire lists."
"Why not," I asked trying to stay calm.
"I have no idea."
"Okay...now what? I need to work Troy. I'm now two weeks without pay. What's going on?"
"I don't know. I'll figure it out though. I'll take care of you don't worry."
Well it was too late. I was beyond worried. My mom had taken that week off for my sister's graduation and decided to take me to Olympia to job hunt while she went shopping. I spend the week applying online and at location, and looking through the paper for something to do, but no one has responded. On Tuesday the 19 (the day of Ali's graduation) I called Troy again. He told me I had to come in and take care of some things I had previously been informed I didn't need to bother with. I went in and took care of business like always, and on Wednesday Troy finally called me, instead of the other way around. He asked me if I could come in on Saturday for a training day. I absolutely could. I didn't need a training day because I was already trained, but this way he wouldn't have to take hours of the schedule and I would still get paid. Plus they were going to teach me how to use the cash register, so I guess it really was a training day. While I was on the phone with him, again, I asked if I was on the schedule yet. He said no, but he had gotten a few people to give me some of their hours. Great. So naturally I asked him what days. He told me Tuesday and Wednesday. "That's it," I thought. Yup. That was it. 10 hours. That's it. I need MORE THAN THAT!!!! Fine. So, when I went in to work on Saturday I told Troy I was looking for a second job, because he had screwed me over. I hope they feel bad.
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