Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - ONE MORE TIME

As if we, the employees, had not been jolted enough this week - hold on, the second shoe dropped today.  And trust me, we have been left feeling quite dismayed.

Our store manager announced, that he is being transferred to another store.

Store managers come and go, this is common knowledge, but this manager has a history with this store and this is what makes the difference.

Three years ago, the employees of this store had been under management that had left them broken.  And then, to top it all off, another company came in to take over and we all ended up going through the transitional phase.  It was a difficult time to say the least.  But when things seemed at their bleakest, and the future unknown, we found out that an old, familiar manager was returning.

You would have thought these employees had won the lotto! 

This is the store where this manager did his training to be a store manager, so he was coming into familiar surroundings.  He knew us and we, him.  Good enough.

In the following months we all eagerly jumped in and made changes, cleaned up the store and burst forward in eager anticipation.  He brought us up and we have been that way ever since.

The one thing that you have to understand about us, is that we are just not your ordinary grocery store employees.  We are a group of people who are dedicated to our jobs, our store and know Customer Service better then those that preach it and write about it.  

Good management is always the deciding factor as to how a store will operate. If management respects it's employees, and visa versa, then you will have a winning team. We are a winning team.

So we thank him, for being the type of person that he is; for supporting us, showing us respect, giving us back our store, letting us be ourselves and being a pretty cool guy.

To say we will miss him, goes without saying.  I think that he knows how we feel.

But, I have to say that we will have the last word; 

Thanks Dave!
 
FROM THE MOST AWESOME GROUP OF EMPLOYEES YOU WILL EVER HAVE

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - SHOPPING TREND

Since I was getting off of work, earlier than usual, I decided to pick up a few things and make my semi-annual shopping trip to Target.  After all, it's right on my way to the house.

With list in hand I entered the store, picked up a basket and started making my way to the necessary aisles to complete my list.

First off, the jewelry department.  Having found what I wanted I began to look around for a clerk since the item was in a locked case.  Instead of a clerk I found a red box with a button on it; push the button if you need assistance.  Pushing the button, I hear a voice informing me that someone will be assisting me in 60 seconds.  Sure enough, a clerk appeared.

Okay, next on the list was a DVD Player.  Yep, I guess that seven years is the extent of service for these technical gadgets and I must replace mine.  So, I hunt and am unable to find where these gadgets are and in looking around I find that I don't see a clerk anywhere.  But on the counter sits another red box with a button.  Pushing the button, I hear the same recording as I did in the jewelry department.  But sure enough, within 60 seconds - I think - here comes a clerk.

Now this clerk was polite, but unfortunately did not know that department so we searched together.

The next thing on my list are shoes.  In order to get to the shoe aisles one has to step over shoes that are scattered everywhere.  And when I finally made my way down the aisle, I was disappointed because all that were out, were sandals.  What a mess.

The last things on my list are vitamins and a supplement, which I forgot to pick up at the store.  And, that too was a disappointment.  Although the store handled my brands, their selection was so limited that I could not find what I was needing.

So between the messy aisles, lack of staff and the limited selection, I am not so sure that this is how I want to shop.

And what really gets me, is that I have heard customers complain about lack of staff and limited selection at our store.  My questions is, WHY?

Our store is not messy and is small enough to where you can locate assistance and as for selection, I found things that we have that other stores don't have.

Making my way out to the parking lot, I realize that I don't like this new trend of shopping and made myself a promise that I do not think that I will be back anytime soon.  I want to see the faces of clerks in the departments I am shopping in, not pushing a little button and having to wait for someone who has had to run an aisle or two. 

And when I am talking to a clerk, I prefer that I get to ask a complete question not have to wait while a clerk has to listen and respond to the two-way radio they must carry.

And please, clean up the messy aisles so a shopper can look at the merchandise instead of trip over it.

Apparently, consumers don't mind this type of shopping; maybe it's because they think that they are saving money.  Because if consumers did mind, it's a guarantee that companies would be making some changes.

Once in my vehicle, and key in ignition, I look out the windshield and have the answer of where to shop - Sears.

Now why didn't I think of that earlier?

Talk at ya later!


 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - TOUGH WEEK!!

As the title to this post implies it has been, and will continue to be, a tough week for the employees at the store.

We watch as a part of the store is closing and witness the changes taking place.  Where once there was a sign that said, Pharmacy there is now a banner  informing customers of the  details.

The company has been busy assisting these employees with the offering of alternative positions within the stores or interviews with another company.   Making sure that everyone has assistance with this change.

That is the business end.

But what we, as employees, experience is the personal end of the matter.  Customers with their questions, which we are not capable of answering, the heart felt concerns and the sadness that lags behind.

Throughout these years, we have always been assisted with whatever has ailed us.  From cancer to diabetes, the employees were never without assistance or left with questions.  And if your blood pressure was a little too high, or something else seemed to be out of the norm, they were quick to direct you even without being asked.   It was a place where everyone knew the names of the various customers; customer and pharmacist were on a first name basis.  

Bottom line, we were known and well cared for.

Last night, a customer said to me,

"You know what I hate?"
"It's not personable anymore." 
"No one will know me by name"
"When I go to pick up my prescription it won't be, 'Here you go Dick.', 'How you been feeling?' "
 "Now, I will just be one of thousands."

Talk at ya later!

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Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - THE VALUED EMPLOYEES

Grocery shopping has changed a lot over the last ten years.  And most of the changes have occurred due to the stores themselves; business decisions.

With all of the competition, changes in shopping habits, brought on by the economy, consumers have become more like nomads instead of loyal customers.  And with these changes comes uncertainty for the employees who work in this line of employment.  An uncertainty that lies within each one of us.

Employees, who work in this field, work hard and take on much; both physically and psychologically.  And for their efforts they work irregular hours, less hours, are cross-trained and are told to smile more.

Everything aimed toward customer satisfaction - Customer Service.

But when all of this fails, what happens next? 

We have, in our store, some employees who probably had the most important job of all.  These people are set apart from the rest of us, due to their responsibility.  Their knowledge, expertise and service far exceeded what we, as clerks, have to provide.  And through the years customers, and employees alike, have relied on these special employees to help them get through their health issues.  For many, they became a trusted friend.  These valued employees provided the ultimate in Customer Service.

And now, we are losing this group of employees.

As some of  the employees put it, "We've been on this roller-coaster ride for so long."  "Though nothing surprises me, this has really hit me hard."  "What will we do without them?"

Although we are not given reasons as to why business decisions are made, and to make a comment on such decisions would only show ignorance, we can, however, predict as to how this will affect the customers and the future.

And as to how we feel?  Well, I think that has already been established. 

One employee said it the best, "To tell them how bad I feel about this, doesn't seem to make any sense."

"There are no words to express this."

Talk at ya later!

 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - FROM CHINA TO AMERICA

Until three years ago, there was a certain customer that would come into the store three to five times a week.  His shopping list was simple; hot peppers, a jug of tea.  Hot peppers, he would tell me, was for his heart condition and the tea was just a mere enjoyment.

With each trip to the store, he would stop and visit with me.  Our conversations, I will always remember.

This gentleman, was from China.  Throughout the years, I learned of the Japanese invasion into China, when he was a young man, and of his life in a concentration camp.  It was in the camp where he met his future wife.  It was a meeting that ultimately saved her from the hands of the Japanese soldiers. 

Upon leaving the camp they made their way to the Netherlands.  He would tell me that, it was the Chinese that taught the Dutch to eat three meals a day instead of two.

From the Netherlands, these two Chinese immigrants made their way to America.  It was here that they planted their roots.  He worked as a Janitor, bought a home and raised a family.

He was now eighty-five years old and his wife was suffering from Dementia.  His doctor was pleased with the improvement of his heart condition, to which he was quick to tell the doctor. "It's the peppers."  He often told me about the peppers and to also remember that the cure for what ails one, is in the foods.  Advice which I have taken to heart.

His tidy, brick home sits on one of the main thoroughfares and every day I pass it while on my way to work.  On the porch sit two statues;  Dutch Girl, Dutch Boy.

Today, as I passed his house, there stood a For Sale sign.

One of the problems with this job is that there are some customers you become very attached to and, he was one of them.  Having not seen him, the last three years, I presumed that his health must be failing but I kept looking for him.

Why this customer chose me to talk to, I don't know.  But, I am very glad that he did.  Through him, I got a look inside history and the two lives that survived it.

I will miss him.

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - THE PRIDE THING

There was an employee, yesterday, that kind of made a big difference for his department, for the store.  And well, I just thought we might sing his praises.

A very large order had come through for two different departments.  Each department had a sizable amount of preparation to do, in order to fulfill this order.  In the meantime, the departments printed out the necessary UPCs for the customer, who took them to a clerk to be rung up.

Once the preparation, for the order, was done each department boxed, and put the prepared orders into the coolers to await the pickup. 

Having given some thought to this order, an employee suggested that I might want to double check that receipt and make sure that everything from his department was listed.  There had been four orders, each in the same amount, but only one UPC had been printed out.  And even though he had marked it as the total times four - well, you get the idea.

So, I heeded his suggestion and sure enough he was right. 

When examining the receipt, of the suspended order, I found that the customer had provided the UPCs to the clerk to be scanned but had failed to tell her that there were four items, to one of the UPCs, so the clerk only scanned the UPC once.  Once the oversight was caught, the clerk added the other three items to the suspended order.

Now this made a considerable amount of difference in the sale.

What made the department clerk think of this happening?  And why would he even give it any consideration? 

After all, he was the employee who had allegedly failed to greet a Mystery Shopper and naturally, this was brought to his attention. 

So, here you have an employee who had failed to greet a customer but was able to successfully fill a large order and had the common sense to double check the final sale; without being told to.

Why go to so much extra trouble? 

Most of the employees are diligent about their jobs.  They work these jobs, as if they were working for themselves.  And the other reason is, their store manager.   The employees not only like him but respect him and this calls for dedicated employees.  It makes all of the difference.

Our clerk did a great job.  He pleased a customer and 'thought outside the box'.

And even though his actions will go unnoticed, unlike the Mystery Shopper, he can take pride in a job well done.

And the company can take pride, in knowing the kind of employees they have working for them.

Talk at ya later!




 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - THERE'S A NEW GIRL IN TOWN

Well, I have waited a few months before writing a post about the new manager - actually, she is not new anymore.  But now that the votes are in and everyone is giving a THUMBS UP, I feel it is safe to say, Welcome!

Managers are the ultimate role models.  They set the pace for their departments and have the hardest job in this line of work.  To be blunt about it, I will have to quote a previous manager; he said, "I am the shit wall."  "I take whatever is thrown at me from one side, role it up and throw it to the other side."  Which might explain why management has never appealed to me;  I don't have good aim.

But, even though these managers have a difficult position, it is the true personality of a manager
that will lay the foundation for how their department manages to cope with the every day life of retail.

For one department, it was rough going for about four years.  Murder, was a word often used and tears were often shed.   In fact, a walk out would not have been a surprise. Truth is, one employee did transfer and a portion of business was lost.  But this is often the outlook of employees when they are forced to contend with a manager that is more involved with themselves and how they appear to corporate.  Alas, unhappy employees which doesn't help much when working with the public.

But all of that has changed now.  The cloud has been lifted and employees are smiling.  Everything in this department has taken on a better appearance;  displays, product and the employees themselves.  There is a relaxed atmosphere and they seem to be even working harder - if that's possible.

We are taught that our attitude towards customers can change their shopping experience.  It is one of the factors involved in Customer Service.  But no one has ever commented on what the attitude of a manager can do to the employees.

So now we watch as this new manager lays a new foundation for her employees.

This new manager is a hard worker and works right beside her staff.  Her personality is funny, up beat and genuinely nice.  She understands customers and knows her way around her department.

Having come from a very nice, newly remodeled store, I am sure this move to our store was a culture shock.  But, she moved in gracefully and rolled up her sleeves.

And if she didn't really want to be here, well, she has kept that thought to herself.

But speaking on behalf of the employees, we're damn glad she's here.

Talk at ya later!