Sometime last year, a father brought in his son to get candy. They turned out to be locals, and that turned out to be unfortunate for us.
Son is about 6 or 7 years of age, and comes in after 3:30, after school is out for the day. His father has a 1 dollar bill for the kid to spend. There is not much for the kid to get, even after pointing at the chocolate in the case and is denied. He decides he wants jelly beans. His father opens the bins for him as we look on. To our shock, said child reaches in with his hand to taste, and to grab jelly beans for his bag. Repeated chastisement later, we got the kid out the door, with a $.98 purchase. We breathed a sigh of relief, after much discussion.
A week or two later, who walks in, but the kid and his dad. Same thing, 1 dollar to spend. Except this time, the kid was loud, yelling across the store, "Dad, Dad, DAD!" and his dad totally ignored him. Meanwhile, it is impossible to ignore him from the workers' point of view. We learned a new tidbit that day: the kid does the same thing (grabbing, whiney), and also has a name, Joran.
Hearing that name soon sparked terror in our hearts. Seeing the door open to those two was enough to make us want to run away. We came to know him by name, and always had our guard up when he walked in. Who knew a little boy could strike such terror in the hearts of women?
And then one day several months ago, we never saw him again.....and we don't miss him at all.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Getting Hit on
Today I was chatting with a normal looking man in his 30s. He was with his daughter who was at least 11, probably closer to 12 or 13, but I was not sure, as she seemed small for her age. He had a strange accent, but she did not. He was rather clueless on some things, asking me what different stone rings were made of, and confused as to how mood rings worked.
I sold him a $1.50 ring, and he look at me and says, "Every guy needs a ring, don't you think?" I agreed, to be nice and conversational. And then the man continued, "So he isn't hit on by girls, because he is handsome." By this point, I was looking at him incredulously, and so was his daughter, who promptly left the store at this point. He walked out and I shook my head at his tenacity.
I sold him a $1.50 ring, and he look at me and says, "Every guy needs a ring, don't you think?" I agreed, to be nice and conversational. And then the man continued, "So he isn't hit on by girls, because he is handsome." By this point, I was looking at him incredulously, and so was his daughter, who promptly left the store at this point. He walked out and I shook my head at his tenacity.
How to walk up a street
I had an interesting exchange with a "local" the other day. As a reference, the store is in the main business district of town.
Local: "Does the business pick up in the summertime?"
Me: "Yes, of course."
Local: "I've lived here for 25 years."
Me: *nod*
Local: "How do the tourists get here?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Local: "How do they find you guys?"
Me: "You mean the street?!"
Local: "Yes! How do they find their way up here?"
Me: "I dunno..." Thinking: How did you find your way here? You drove or walked...
Not sure if my point came across, but he basically was asking me how people find the main business district...for one, there is a sign. And plenty of tourists find their way.
Local: "Does the business pick up in the summertime?"
Me: "Yes, of course."
Local: "I've lived here for 25 years."
Me: *nod*
Local: "How do the tourists get here?"
Me: "What do you mean?"
Local: "How do they find you guys?"
Me: "You mean the street?!"
Local: "Yes! How do they find their way up here?"
Me: "I dunno..." Thinking: How did you find your way here? You drove or walked...
Not sure if my point came across, but he basically was asking me how people find the main business district...for one, there is a sign. And plenty of tourists find their way.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I hate retail Valentines Day
Twas a typical Valentine's Day at work today. Men rushing in, glancing over the chocolate, grabbing a box and leaving. Women rushing in, meticulously taking their time picking out pieces of candy that are only going to be devoured in a matter of hours.
And then, chaos struck. The candy box guys showed up. These are two men that work on the slope, who buy candy with company money. They always want several boxes made up. Today was no exception. And, without exception, they manage to always bring a ton of people in with them. The store will be dead before they arrive. And once they walk in the door, we get slammed. They come in every couple months, and every time this happens. I can only think of one exception.
They came in today, and we were overwhelmed with customers, my boss and I, all wanting candy at once. I made 3 boxes for the first man and my boss started in on the 2nd. Not sure how many she made. At least 4. All the while, the customers left out are getting more and more agitated. I hate it when that happens. If you all would spend more money all the time, we could have more help on a day like today!
We finally got all of the customers out the door. And then it happened again. And again. I filled candy all day, and made boxes.
Some other highlights:
- A man walks in, "Is the candy straight from the Amazon?" "Mmm, no, ---" "Oh well, better get my antioxidant fix."
- A hard of hearing Native man who when I give him a choice (Milk, or dark?) responds with "yes". Therefore, you will take what I give you and like it. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, I don't have time to waste on questioning you.
- My boss dealt with a man who was so indecisive and unsure of what to get that she had to help him along. "You have 3 pieces. You need 12 more. What else would you like?" "I thought you were going to pick them..*confused*" Um. No, we don't know what your wife likes. "Well, is coconut ok?" "NO, she hates coconut!" There you go. At least you know her that well.
- Old hippie guy started playing one of our wooden flutes in the store. Kinda obnoxious, but he was in the other room. We could handle it. He purchased it and his wife says, "Why don't you play your flute, honey?" *Resume playing for 5 minutes while they wander the store.* Please...go outside.
Definitely an obnoxious day today. We made lots of money, but it felt just like summer already. I am so not eager for that to start again. I hate Valentine's Day in retail
And then, chaos struck. The candy box guys showed up. These are two men that work on the slope, who buy candy with company money. They always want several boxes made up. Today was no exception. And, without exception, they manage to always bring a ton of people in with them. The store will be dead before they arrive. And once they walk in the door, we get slammed. They come in every couple months, and every time this happens. I can only think of one exception.
They came in today, and we were overwhelmed with customers, my boss and I, all wanting candy at once. I made 3 boxes for the first man and my boss started in on the 2nd. Not sure how many she made. At least 4. All the while, the customers left out are getting more and more agitated. I hate it when that happens. If you all would spend more money all the time, we could have more help on a day like today!
We finally got all of the customers out the door. And then it happened again. And again. I filled candy all day, and made boxes.
Some other highlights:
- A man walks in, "Is the candy straight from the Amazon?" "Mmm, no, ---" "Oh well, better get my antioxidant fix."
- A hard of hearing Native man who when I give him a choice (Milk, or dark?) responds with "yes". Therefore, you will take what I give you and like it. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, I don't have time to waste on questioning you.
- My boss dealt with a man who was so indecisive and unsure of what to get that she had to help him along. "You have 3 pieces. You need 12 more. What else would you like?" "I thought you were going to pick them..*confused*" Um. No, we don't know what your wife likes. "Well, is coconut ok?" "NO, she hates coconut!" There you go. At least you know her that well.
- Old hippie guy started playing one of our wooden flutes in the store. Kinda obnoxious, but he was in the other room. We could handle it. He purchased it and his wife says, "Why don't you play your flute, honey?" *Resume playing for 5 minutes while they wander the store.* Please...go outside.
Definitely an obnoxious day today. We made lots of money, but it felt just like summer already. I am so not eager for that to start again. I hate Valentine's Day in retail
Monday, December 22, 2008
Rants
Just because a product is listed on the website, does not mean that our store carries it. Yes, it is probably not marked as not being in all stores and should be. Order it from the website!
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"Most stores are open later around Christmas".....We ARE open later. Nobody else is open past 6 anyway. Nor does anyone come in after 6. Not worth the electricity or the payroll just for you to come in later.
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Wanting me to somehow place a divider in a box of chocolates for sugar free and regular is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. And I have no classy way of putting a note in saying which side is or isn't sugar free...
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When you are a regular customer, how does one manage to suddenly decide to push on the door with all of your might thinking it will open? There's a doorknob for a reason!
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Holding a tin of mints, "Does this have rocks in it?" Um, no...why would I sell rocks in a fancy tin? And why would about 2 other customers ask the same thing on the same day??
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At 12pm, 2 hours after we open - "Well, it was worth opening the store up for us!" Yea, you and your $50 sale......hardly.
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"Can I mail a knife?" I dunno, I don't work at the post office.
"Can you mail this for me?" Again, I don't work at the post office!
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"Do you work here?" No, I like to put on a dumb denim jacket and red apron proclaiming the name of the company for the heck of it.
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If it says that each piece is .25 a piece, why are you sampling it? Do you think I won't charge you for it? If you ask to sample it, I won't charge you for it!
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It's too "Alaska-y" in here....oh man. It's a tourist shop! Of course it is!
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"Most stores are open later around Christmas".....We ARE open later. Nobody else is open past 6 anyway. Nor does anyone come in after 6. Not worth the electricity or the payroll just for you to come in later.
------
Wanting me to somehow place a divider in a box of chocolates for sugar free and regular is not exactly the easiest thing in the world. And I have no classy way of putting a note in saying which side is or isn't sugar free...
------
When you are a regular customer, how does one manage to suddenly decide to push on the door with all of your might thinking it will open? There's a doorknob for a reason!
------
Holding a tin of mints, "Does this have rocks in it?" Um, no...why would I sell rocks in a fancy tin? And why would about 2 other customers ask the same thing on the same day??
------
At 12pm, 2 hours after we open - "Well, it was worth opening the store up for us!" Yea, you and your $50 sale......hardly.
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"Can I mail a knife?" I dunno, I don't work at the post office.
"Can you mail this for me?" Again, I don't work at the post office!
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"Do you work here?" No, I like to put on a dumb denim jacket and red apron proclaiming the name of the company for the heck of it.
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If it says that each piece is .25 a piece, why are you sampling it? Do you think I won't charge you for it? If you ask to sample it, I won't charge you for it!
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It's too "Alaska-y" in here....oh man. It's a tourist shop! Of course it is!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Little boy and the fan
A little boy came in with his father and immediately saw the fan on the ceiling. It was turned off, but he was immediately mesmerized by it. His dad drug him along but a few minutes later, we heard, "Do you want to go look at the fan? Let's go!" The dad brought the boy back, eagerly, and my coworker turned on the fan, much to his delight. The little boy tried to run directly underneath the fan, but couldn't access the location. It was adorable!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
$2 Bills
We get $2 bills often at my work. Most of the time, one of the employees takes them home. I've gotten tired of collecting them, but every once in a while I will snag one. $2 is a lot to shell out for a piece of currency still in use! Anyway, last weekend, we had a customer who was a little irritating, and he rang up an order of $169. Then as the icing on the cake, he says, "You're going to hate me when I pay ^-^" We were all, yea, whatever. He pulls out a huge wad of 2 dollar bills. And paid us $170 in them. Turns out, he pulls them out of the bank by the hundreds and pays for stuff with them. He was on a trip and had started off with $2000 in his wallet. WHO on earth does that?
Please don't ever do this, people!
Please don't ever do this, people!
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