Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Carlton Case Files
I'm back at my old/new job. It's been a year since I last got a paycheque from the fine folks at Schurman Fine Papers, but I`m strangely glad to be back among the greeting cards.
I've switched locations, from Markville to the more TTC friendly STC. There are rather a lot of differences between the two stores. Markville is a cathedral compared to STC, but I think they must get the same amount of stock! There are boxes and boxes of candles and Glass Baron and all these figurines that will never sell well enough to keep that store neat. There's a little alcove in the back room that is almost exclusively candles, plus the candles in the main back area, and we're still supposed to get a shipment of 32 more boxes! I didn't realize people in Scarborough were so fond of their scented jar candles! Except they're not- hardly anyone buys them. (If we went back to selling Yankee Candles I would buy those, so I suppose I really am from Scarborough.)
Of course their systems for boxes and extra stuff is different, but the most annoying thing to me is that they keep their bills facing the other way in the till! At Markville, I see a nice shiny row of red/green, pink, and blue. At STC that wavy shiny bit goes in the back. I find myself constantly having to turn my bills around and it's way more annoying than not being able to find things! Register 1 is so slow I have to consciously type slower, which is great for a store. Register 2 is not a touch screen, so I'm constantly jabbing at it. Neither register has a little stand for the price scanner, so it gets all mixed up with the mouse and the other cords there. I will take Markvilles cash setup any day. At least it's consistent and neat. On the other hand, STC has a working vacuum.
Three memorable customers today:
1. The woman who bought a card for her mothers birthday, though her mom had died about a year ago. She wanted it to be perfect, so she painstakingly dictated a heartfelt message for me to inscribe in my best handwriting. When we were done, she wiped away her tears and nodded. Shook my hand and left for the cemetery.
2. A man had spent nearly an hour in the store and finally came up with his $8.49 card for his wife's birthday. After we were done, he hesitated before asking me "how much those glass things in there run". The Glass Baron does range quite a bit, but we went over to have a look at the one he had his eye on- $24.99, just right. I asked, but he didn't want or need to see any other pieces. As I buffed away the fingerprints and carefully wrapped tissue paper around his find, I glanced up for a second to see him smiling a bit to himself. I'm so glad he found a gift that will make him smile when he gives it.
3. A young guy spent ages looking at cards, then staring at the gift-y wall. He ended up getting a super duper fluffy wuffy Webkinz Jr. bear, then a cat to match after I told him it was BOGO free. He then proceeded to spend a half hour writing his romantic birthday card in tiny, even script. When he was finally done, I took a look at all he'd written and nodded to him, "Well done." He smiled a bit sheepishly and waved goodbye.
I am, of course, charming customers left and right. Although I still ask them a plethotra of questions when they get to my cash, (We've got a sale on that, wanna buy some more? Email promotions? Rewards Card? Buy a Rewards Card? Bag?) they seem not to mind too much. One even said she felt bad saying no to everything! I know I get annoyed of asking, but it keeps my ADT at a reasonable level. Actually, the discounts are so good I don't know if they're helping or hurting my "average amount per transaction" quota! B3G3 and a good BOGO sale are all you need to get people in and buying. All that other junk is just more profit the company could be making...and passing on to their sales associates of course!
Can you believe, some people thank me for selling them more stuff? And if you don't mind, that stuff is also final sale? I am rather glad we have such pretty, paper bags for them to put their stuff in. I work at a card store, it's the wrappings that count!
I've switched locations, from Markville to the more TTC friendly STC. There are rather a lot of differences between the two stores. Markville is a cathedral compared to STC, but I think they must get the same amount of stock! There are boxes and boxes of candles and Glass Baron and all these figurines that will never sell well enough to keep that store neat. There's a little alcove in the back room that is almost exclusively candles, plus the candles in the main back area, and we're still supposed to get a shipment of 32 more boxes! I didn't realize people in Scarborough were so fond of their scented jar candles! Except they're not- hardly anyone buys them. (If we went back to selling Yankee Candles I would buy those, so I suppose I really am from Scarborough.)
Of course their systems for boxes and extra stuff is different, but the most annoying thing to me is that they keep their bills facing the other way in the till! At Markville, I see a nice shiny row of red/green, pink, and blue. At STC that wavy shiny bit goes in the back. I find myself constantly having to turn my bills around and it's way more annoying than not being able to find things! Register 1 is so slow I have to consciously type slower, which is great for a store. Register 2 is not a touch screen, so I'm constantly jabbing at it. Neither register has a little stand for the price scanner, so it gets all mixed up with the mouse and the other cords there. I will take Markvilles cash setup any day. At least it's consistent and neat. On the other hand, STC has a working vacuum.
Three memorable customers today:
1. The woman who bought a card for her mothers birthday, though her mom had died about a year ago. She wanted it to be perfect, so she painstakingly dictated a heartfelt message for me to inscribe in my best handwriting. When we were done, she wiped away her tears and nodded. Shook my hand and left for the cemetery.
2. A man had spent nearly an hour in the store and finally came up with his $8.49 card for his wife's birthday. After we were done, he hesitated before asking me "how much those glass things in there run". The Glass Baron does range quite a bit, but we went over to have a look at the one he had his eye on- $24.99, just right. I asked, but he didn't want or need to see any other pieces. As I buffed away the fingerprints and carefully wrapped tissue paper around his find, I glanced up for a second to see him smiling a bit to himself. I'm so glad he found a gift that will make him smile when he gives it.
3. A young guy spent ages looking at cards, then staring at the gift-y wall. He ended up getting a super duper fluffy wuffy Webkinz Jr. bear, then a cat to match after I told him it was BOGO free. He then proceeded to spend a half hour writing his romantic birthday card in tiny, even script. When he was finally done, I took a look at all he'd written and nodded to him, "Well done." He smiled a bit sheepishly and waved goodbye.
I am, of course, charming customers left and right. Although I still ask them a plethotra of questions when they get to my cash, (We've got a sale on that, wanna buy some more? Email promotions? Rewards Card? Buy a Rewards Card? Bag?) they seem not to mind too much. One even said she felt bad saying no to everything! I know I get annoyed of asking, but it keeps my ADT at a reasonable level. Actually, the discounts are so good I don't know if they're helping or hurting my "average amount per transaction" quota! B3G3 and a good BOGO sale are all you need to get people in and buying. All that other junk is just more profit the company could be making...and passing on to their sales associates of course!
Can you believe, some people thank me for selling them more stuff? And if you don't mind, that stuff is also final sale? I am rather glad we have such pretty, paper bags for them to put their stuff in. I work at a card store, it's the wrappings that count!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
16 Shitty Months
Here's the roundup: 3.82 GPA at George Brown, severe relapse 2 weeks before the end of the program, 4 exams deferred indefinitely, 10 days in the hospital, 13 days on Seroquel, 6 weeks getting my brain shocked in an rTMS trial at CAMH to absolutely no avail, Lolo has a massive stroke, 4 weeks in Hell Hospital aka Scarborough Grace, 10 weeks at the much lovelier Providence Healthcare, a friend from the past commits suicide, 10 weeks working at the Ontario Science Centre teaching 5 year olds science, 3 weeks in the Philippines saying good-bye to Lolo and Lola, 1 month looking for a job and feeling ripped apart without my Lolola.
On the upside, my cousins had three new children during these months, Ava, Leanne, and Riley. Though the rTMS did nothing to temper the worst depression I have ever had it made these terrible recurring nightmares go away. Lolo's stroke showed me that I am more than capable of taking control, being a leader, being assertive, and loving wholeheartedly despite the hardness in my soul. The OSC was a great job, I learned a lot about science, working in a team, working in a more formal environment, children, and even changed a lot about how I approach work. I met a nephew, Heaven in the Philippines and discovered I really like my cousins there. And this past month I've discovered that my hand-sewing is way better than it used to be. Bring on the hoop! I'm gonna embroider until I get bored with it.
On the upside, my cousins had three new children during these months, Ava, Leanne, and Riley. Though the rTMS did nothing to temper the worst depression I have ever had it made these terrible recurring nightmares go away. Lolo's stroke showed me that I am more than capable of taking control, being a leader, being assertive, and loving wholeheartedly despite the hardness in my soul. The OSC was a great job, I learned a lot about science, working in a team, working in a more formal environment, children, and even changed a lot about how I approach work. I met a nephew, Heaven in the Philippines and discovered I really like my cousins there. And this past month I've discovered that my hand-sewing is way better than it used to be. Bring on the hoop! I'm gonna embroider until I get bored with it.
