Well, I lived to tell the tale. And honestly, it wasn't as bad as I was dreading. Yes, people were lined up outside the store as early as 1 AM (we opened at 5). And people rushed in to get that unbeatable deal (*scoffs*) on electronics and toys. But they weren't as rude as I expected. Truthfully, I get bigger bitches in the store on any given Thursday than I encountered on Black Friday.
There was, however, the absolutely INSANE lady in jewelry. I had avoided jewelry all day because I knew it was going to be nuts. But, when others had to go on breaks, I had to help cover the department. This woman was YELLING. Not in an angry way, but in a way that made me think she was hard of hearing and didn't realize how loud she was speaking. She asked for a ring in our ad that was featured for $29.99. It was 1/10 of a carat diamond ring set in sterling silver. "Regular" price was $119.99.
(Now, this was YELLED with an I'm-an-old-lady-who's-not-from-Texas-but-sounds-like-a-Texan-hick accent.)
"Do you have any more of these hear $29.99 rings?"
"Yes, they're right over here in this case if you'd like to step around."
"How many do you have left?"
"I'll need to look and check."
[Pause, as I begin to unlock the first lock on the case.]
"How many of those rings do you have left?"
"I'm checking now, give me just a second."
[I have undone the first lock, and was removing the second and sliding open the door.]
"How many of those rings did you say you had left? I wanted to know how many you had left."
"I understand, ma'am. I'm trying to get into the case to see. You'll need to wait just a minute."
"Oh."
[I count the rings, find out there are 3 left in the case, and pull one out for her to look at. Then close and lock the case.]
"I wanted to see that ring."
"I know, I have one right here for you."
"Did you get one of those for me to look at?"
"Yes, it's right here."
She looks at the ring, tries it on, tells me 5 times how well it fits (even though I can see it sliding around in circle on her finger and the big gap at the bottom). She asks me a dozen times if it's the cheapest diamond we have. At first, I told her that the prices varied, and there may be something cheaper, but I'd have to scan the entire inventory to know for sure. Then when she kept asking, I finally told her that it was, because I knew that if I didn't, she'd keep bugging me and I just wanted her to go away. It got to the point that I just said yes to anything she asked to get her to shut up. And then I gave the ring to the other girl there to ring up and went on my lunch break.
Aside from that, though, there isn't anything crazy to report. I had to work from 4 AM to 2 PM and for the most part, I just wandered in circles, picking up slippers off the floor.
I can guarantee, however, that unless I find myself working in retail at this time next year, this will be first and last year that I will be in a store on Black Friday.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
This is going to be EPIC.
In two days, I will experience my first real Black Friday. Yes, I worked at the 'mart last year, and I did have to work on Black Friday. But I only had to close (which was traumatic enough). This year, I'm going to be there when the store opens, and I plan on watching the absolute insanity as it happens.
This could be so awesome, or tragic.
This could be so awesome, or tragic.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Today's entry tastes a little bitter. But can you blame me?
Generally speaking, I like Christmas music. I like it all from secular to religious. True to that statement, I listen to and sing along with (occasssionally I may be caught dancing, too) the music when it plays at work. The Christmas music has been on for a couple of weeks now. For those of you who think that is too soon, I would like to point out that the first Christmas trees were going up in October, and we actually sold one during that same week.
Moving on.
A little while ago, I wrote about stupid song lyrics that I've heard while working. Well, the holiday season is no exception to that. Being the naturally cheery person that I am, I can put up with a lot of ridiculous if done in the spirit of Christmas. However, I would like to draw attention to one song: "The Joy of Christmas" by Marty Robbins. In one line of the song, he says, "People seem much friendlier this time of year." He then goes on to exclaim about the goodwill and merriment that commence as the mother of all holidays draws closer.
I call party foul, Mr. Robbins. You have obviously never worked in retail, and I would dare to venture have spent very little time even in a store around the holidays. I don't know who is "friendlier" but it sure ain't the people shopping at the 'mart.
(Maybe I'm working for the wrong chain? I'll bet they get real friendly down at the liquor store or the adult superstore. Hmmm . . . .)
It, quite simply, confounds me. Christmas is supposed to be about giving. And it's true, the people that come into the store are buying Christmas gifts. Things to be given away with the intent to make the receiver happy. But do people ever stop to wonder at the complete contradiction that the holiday shopping frenzy poses to that wonderful "Christmas spirit"? Okay, so we're out of the toy your child desperately wants for Christmas. That's no reason to piss and moan the people who work in the store and have no control over the inventory that gets sent in. You know what would make my holiday season? Someone, disappointed that we don't have what they want, saying, "It's alright. It's Christmas." And smiling and thanking the associate who dug through the entire stockroom looking for that one gift you wanted. Or who called four other areas stores trying to locate one for you. That's part of the Christmas spirit.
You know what happens instead? Scream. Rant. "You're ruining my kids' Christmas." No, you know what? YOU'RE ruining your kids Christmas by teaching them that the most important thing is getting everything you want, and not caring who you run over in the hunt for it. That if someone is wearing a nametag, it's okay to treat them like crap. That Christmas is about being a complete and utter asshole to people who spend their entire holiday season catering to your wants.
I've only worked in retail for two years, and I dread Thanksgiving. Simply because it is followed by Black Friday. I pray for this week to pass quickly. You know what I'm thankful for this year? That I was able to pay my bills. That my husband and I were able to save some money and not have to scrounge for change every month to eat. That we were able to afford to buy our families presents. That we survived another year, on our own.
And I was able to do all that because you, the American consumer, were nice enough to come into the store and yell at me for not having your shoe size in stock for two weeks in a row. Thanks, KMart shoppers.
Moving on.
A little while ago, I wrote about stupid song lyrics that I've heard while working. Well, the holiday season is no exception to that. Being the naturally cheery person that I am, I can put up with a lot of ridiculous if done in the spirit of Christmas. However, I would like to draw attention to one song: "The Joy of Christmas" by Marty Robbins. In one line of the song, he says, "People seem much friendlier this time of year." He then goes on to exclaim about the goodwill and merriment that commence as the mother of all holidays draws closer.
I call party foul, Mr. Robbins. You have obviously never worked in retail, and I would dare to venture have spent very little time even in a store around the holidays. I don't know who is "friendlier" but it sure ain't the people shopping at the 'mart.
(Maybe I'm working for the wrong chain? I'll bet they get real friendly down at the liquor store or the adult superstore. Hmmm . . . .)
It, quite simply, confounds me. Christmas is supposed to be about giving. And it's true, the people that come into the store are buying Christmas gifts. Things to be given away with the intent to make the receiver happy. But do people ever stop to wonder at the complete contradiction that the holiday shopping frenzy poses to that wonderful "Christmas spirit"? Okay, so we're out of the toy your child desperately wants for Christmas. That's no reason to piss and moan the people who work in the store and have no control over the inventory that gets sent in. You know what would make my holiday season? Someone, disappointed that we don't have what they want, saying, "It's alright. It's Christmas." And smiling and thanking the associate who dug through the entire stockroom looking for that one gift you wanted. Or who called four other areas stores trying to locate one for you. That's part of the Christmas spirit.
You know what happens instead? Scream. Rant. "You're ruining my kids' Christmas." No, you know what? YOU'RE ruining your kids Christmas by teaching them that the most important thing is getting everything you want, and not caring who you run over in the hunt for it. That if someone is wearing a nametag, it's okay to treat them like crap. That Christmas is about being a complete and utter asshole to people who spend their entire holiday season catering to your wants.
I've only worked in retail for two years, and I dread Thanksgiving. Simply because it is followed by Black Friday. I pray for this week to pass quickly. You know what I'm thankful for this year? That I was able to pay my bills. That my husband and I were able to save some money and not have to scrounge for change every month to eat. That we were able to afford to buy our families presents. That we survived another year, on our own.
And I was able to do all that because you, the American consumer, were nice enough to come into the store and yell at me for not having your shoe size in stock for two weeks in a row. Thanks, KMart shoppers.
Monday, November 1, 2010
This just in: Tomorrow--Tuesday, November 2--is midterm elections.
If that's news to you, then I'm afraid you need to visit the eye, ear, and nose doctor.
Get your eyes checked because you haven't noticed that everyone has re-landscaped their yards in election signs.
Make sure you don't have excess waxy buildup in your ears, because you've missed the debates, the youtube viral videos, the commercials, the radio interviews.
And check your nose, because if you can't smell the manure-slinging that's been happening across the country, you're . . . whatever the word is for someone who can't smell anything.
As a socially-concious America citizen, I've voted in almost every election (I think I missed a primary when I was in college) since I turned 18. In fact, you know what I did on my eighteenth birthday? I didn't go to the porn storn, I didn't buy cigarettes. I went and registered to vote. That's how crazy I am about it. I LOVE voting. I wish I could do it more often. I think it's exciting that I get to have an opinion on things that happen in our country. So many women in the world aren't allowed to have opinions about anything, even things that to me seem little--like what I want to wear that day. Voting is both an obligation and a privilege. To me, at least.
Tomorrow's elections are exciting, too, because for the first time in a long time, you can feel the tension and anticipation in the air. People CARE, when for so long, people were apathetic. But the last two presidential elections, and changes that have resulted because of them, have lit fires in people who were before content to watch the doings on television. Crucial things are hinging on tomorrow's voters. Power shifts, social change. Decisions are being, and will continue to be made, that may change the entire shape of our country and our government. To see citizens out there, being passionate about it for the first time in my life, is amazing. Voting matters again.
What's not to be excited about?
So who has two thumbs and will be first in line at her polling place tomorrow? THIS GIRL.
If that's news to you, then I'm afraid you need to visit the eye, ear, and nose doctor.
Get your eyes checked because you haven't noticed that everyone has re-landscaped their yards in election signs.
Make sure you don't have excess waxy buildup in your ears, because you've missed the debates, the youtube viral videos, the commercials, the radio interviews.
And check your nose, because if you can't smell the manure-slinging that's been happening across the country, you're . . . whatever the word is for someone who can't smell anything.
As a socially-concious America citizen, I've voted in almost every election (I think I missed a primary when I was in college) since I turned 18. In fact, you know what I did on my eighteenth birthday? I didn't go to the porn storn, I didn't buy cigarettes. I went and registered to vote. That's how crazy I am about it. I LOVE voting. I wish I could do it more often. I think it's exciting that I get to have an opinion on things that happen in our country. So many women in the world aren't allowed to have opinions about anything, even things that to me seem little--like what I want to wear that day. Voting is both an obligation and a privilege. To me, at least.
Tomorrow's elections are exciting, too, because for the first time in a long time, you can feel the tension and anticipation in the air. People CARE, when for so long, people were apathetic. But the last two presidential elections, and changes that have resulted because of them, have lit fires in people who were before content to watch the doings on television. Crucial things are hinging on tomorrow's voters. Power shifts, social change. Decisions are being, and will continue to be made, that may change the entire shape of our country and our government. To see citizens out there, being passionate about it for the first time in my life, is amazing. Voting matters again.
What's not to be excited about?
So who has two thumbs and will be first in line at her polling place tomorrow? THIS GIRL.
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