Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - 'HEY, SWEETCAKES'

When working a job, that requires customer service, an employee kind of puts themself out there.  They become the target for verbal and physical abuse, accusations, lies and some rather - I can't think of any other way to put this - smart ass remarks.  And one of the most surprising things, except for the 'S A remarks', is that none of this is really aimed at the employee personally, instead the intentions are aimed at the company.  The employees just happen to represent the company and end up taking the hit instead.

In the line of duty ,through the years, I have been hit by a grocery cart, swatted at, grabbed, hit on the arm, had a head of lettuce and a loaf of bread thrown at me, have been accused of everything from higher prices to rotten produce.  That's the physical end.

And the verbal end doesn't get any better.  There have been instances when customers feel a need to take out their frustrations verbally and that too, can seem like a slap in the face.  There have been days when it can be never ending.   Which has led me to believe that, if a person is frustrated then a grocery store is the place to go in order to release this inner self.

"Why don't you have it?"   Well we don't handle that particular product, but I will check with the _________ Manager to be sure and see if we can get it for you.  "Do we have a problem here?"  No.  "Are you trying to start something?"  No.  This is when you realize that this particular customer is trying to start a fight.  So you stop talking, let them go on, turn and walk away.  As an employee, you just kind of learn to live with it.  Acceptance is a big part of the job.

But it is the comments that kind of have their own ranking and most generally entitle one to a bit of a laugh.

"Hey babe, where's the _____?"  And then there is the customer looking for the sugar, or so you think.  Having taken the customer to the baking aisle you are informed, "No, I mean where is MY sugar?"  Once you roll your eyes, shake your head - you walk.  Then there is the messenger, as he walks by you he hands you a piece of paper - it's his phone number with a message, 'Call me.' 

But, the other night I heard a new one.  "Hey, Sweet Cakes."

Now this term was being aimed at me, only I didn't know it.  The call came from behind me - like an aisle away.  But within seconds I heard it again, this time right over my shoulder while I was stocking a table.  It was a guy and he wanted to know where the limes were.  "Thanks Sweet Cakes." he said with a grin.

I have often wondered what makes people think that they can act, or say, whatever they want.  Some actions are harassment while others border, or are, acts of assault.  Which leads to another question - why work at this job?

These instances happen to most employees, so you are in good company.  And the amount of times these things occur is far less then the acts of kindness and respect that is shown to you by other customers.

So at the end of the day it is realized that this is just part of customer service, the job that you do - no matter what they call you.

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

The first year I was employed at the store, I had a customer come up to me and say, "Don't get comfortable or you will never leave."   I did.  To me, it was taking a breath.  Here I was living in a new community having moved from out of state.  I knew no one but my family and had spent a year looking for a job after the job, which I had lined up prior to moving, fell through .  For me, it was like having the opportunity to breathe.

The pay was above normal wages and my income continued to increase quickly.  There were Benefits, 401K, health insurance - all one had to do was work.  Soon my life began to revolve around the store and I made friends and had places to go and, well, it was an ok deal.  So yes, I got comfortable.

But those were the good old days and today is not nearly as good.

Within the last two weeks our store lost two more people.  Each of them an asset; hard workers, customer oriented, dependable and they fit.  And with their leaving I started thinking that, well just maybe there was a reason besides the obvious.  They lost so much staying with the company but in another way just maybe they gained something. 

With the actions that the company has taken, slowly decreasing the employees to nothing, they have provided us something - a push.  Their actions have made us start thinking and with that, we started searching for a better life.  With what we thought may not be possible is now becoming a reality for so many. 

This company will never again find in employees what they had in all of the employees they have lost. 

But the fact still remains it is the company's actions that have made people start thinking 'outside the box." 

And somewhere, there are other employers who are reaping the rewards.

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - LIGHTS, CAMERA .......ACTION

Last week, a few scenes for a movie were filmed at my house.  My little house was filled with people, technical equipment, lights and all sorts of equipment.  There were people running in and out carrying clothes, props, coolers and whatever else.  So for 14 hours my little house, on my little street, became a set and I got to witness the making of scenes for a movie.  And while people were busy setting up inside there were others busy setting up outside.  My garage was turned into a station for technical and lighting equipment, and the like, while my front lawn became the sight for pitching a large tent in preparation for the dinner to come.  All was set and people began to take their places.

I kind of moseyed around the yard and met the different actors, tech people and whoever else happened to be on my lawn.  But, more or less, I kind of stationed myself out back on my deck with my laptop until, that is, the food came.  There it was nice and quiet with only the birds chirping in the background.  And the only sound that broke the calmness was when you would hear, 'QUIET ON THE SET.' 

Watching the cast and crew I noticed that it seemed a bit like 'hurry up and wait', instead of just going in and getting the job done.  There would be periods where a large group of people would be standing around outside talking with each other, reminiscing about previous movies they had worked on, while others kept to themselves - trying to get into character.  All of this while a scene would be shooting inside the house.  And then all of a sudden the scene would be done and those that were in came out while those that were out went in.  All very methodical.

Throughout the day I had the opportunity to chat with some of these people and learn a little background as to what was taking place.  The scenes, actions, getting into character - it was where each party had a part to play and each part had a purpose.

After 14 hours I kind of noticed the similarity of what I had witnessed as compared to where I work.

We have lights and the cameras are based in the ceiling throughout the store, what we don't have is someone calling, "ACTION".  That is a feeling which you get when you walk in the door.  Now getting into character is something that we don't necessarily try to do - it is an automatic.  Where one moment we can be laughing and discussing something with one customer and within seconds turn around and have to handle a customer with a problem or an irate customer.  There are no patterns and no scene remains the same - everything constantly changing.  We never let the real us show through.  Throughout the extent of our shift, we are in character.  In other words, we act out a scene; one after another.

Now I am sure that an actor would disagree and not see the similarity in these two opposite jobs.  And to some degree they would be right - they dress better. 

But, all in all, we are rather good at acting and yet there is one major difference that I can think of;

We don't have a script - we ad lib. 

Talk at ya later!