Oy

Eagle Eye · 07-01-2009, 01:37 AM

So, we'll call this Publix Part II?

So corporate tells our store we have to do a total store reset right? Yeah, well, we did what they asked us, and had to re-arrange the store a certain way.

So last Thursday, the store closed early, and vendors came to move their items, blah blah blah.

So, I come into work Friday morning and do my best to learn on the fly. Meanwhile, I've got customers asking me where things are left and right, because, of course everything is moved.

Completely understandable.

What I absolutely hate is when people throw attitudes at ME about the store reset. It's not like I have any say at what goes on in that regard. Usually a conversation with a customer will go as follows:

"How are you today sir/ma'am, can I help you find anything?"

"Yes, where is _______________________"

"I'll take you to it."

"Why did you guys move the store around?"

"Don't really know to be honest with you"

"Oh, that's fine, I'll just learn this set up and roll with it. It's a lot more organized."

Usually there's a joke thrown in there about how I just learned the old set up only to have them switch it on me two weeks later.

But I counted at least five times today, where a customer just went absolutely ape **** at the new set up. Some lady went off on me and said I had the nerve the change the store around, when I tried to tell her I had absolutely no say in it, she said bull****. So I just left. Same lady said that Winn Dixie was going out of business because they changed their store around.

Really? So, people stop shopping at a grocery store because of a new arrangement?

Another lady had some spiel about how this particular Publix has looked the same since it opened in 2002 and there was no reason to change it. For one, that's a lie because they've already done two store resets, number two, again, it's NOT that big of a deal. It takes maybe 5 minutes to learn where everything is. It's extremely organized now, not just by aisle, but grouping of aisles.

It's absolutely funny to me how people can convince themselves into thinking an entire business is going return its store back to the way it was because 6 people complain.

Two more stories.
A guy walks into my section looking for chilled tortilla shells, IIRC it was like Azteca Flour. Anyway, he comes over and starts digging through the shells, then turns around with a real ****ty attitude and asks one of my co-workers where the shells are. My co-worker says that he's put all the boxes of shells out, but that he'll happily double check to make sure he didn't miss anything. He goes back to look, comes out with nothing, tells the guy there's nothing else back there.

By now, dude's going ape ****, and is yelling "bull****, you guys always say that, you didn't go look." Guy walks off, finds my manager, and comes back.

My manager walks straight over to the tortilla shells and picks up the kind he was looking for. The guy says, "oh, that's it," grabs it and awkwardly leaves.

Saturday, an older gentleman comes over looking for Twinkies because his wife is in love with them. Can't find them, starts going ape ****, says we never have them, etc. etc. Says he talked to my manager about having the store order them. He asked me constantly why we don't have them, and I wasn't sure, but I assumed like everything else that if we don't sell something anymore it's because it didn't sell well in teh first place. He continues going on and on about how we never have what he likes and they never listen to him when he says we should order something for the store. After 20 minutes of talking to me about this, he finally leaves. I just start laughing, I know most people don't know or care to know about how grocery stores operate, but a store isn't going to order packages of something if they're not going to sell, that wastes money. This guy didn't seem to realize that.

Oh well.

More stories later?

The Flattest Pancake · 07-01-2009, 08:01 AM

YES,MORE LATER!

Blake · 07-01-2009, 09:19 AM

You live somewhat in the south don't you? I'm kind of surprised people go nuts that frequently.

Customers I work with are a lot more lax over here in SC. I guess part of that can be that my store is located within a tourist industry. Maybe on vacation they're more lenient or something?

But back at my former home in the north, I could relate to many stories like that. There's something about grocery stores that brings out a person's inner demon it seems.

Eagle Eye · 07-01-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake

You live somewhat in the south don't you? I'm kind of surprised people go nuts that frequently.

Customers I work with are a lot more lax over here in SC. I guess part of that can be that my store is located within a tourist industry. Maybe on vacation they're more lenient or something?

But back at my former home in the north, I could relate to many stories like that. There's something about grocery stores that brings out a person's inner demon it seems.

I live in Birmingham right now, and it seems the suburban areas of Birmingham are a lot more pompous than most places I've been. Mountain Brook, which is 10-15 minutes away, is the richest town per capita (or something like that) in the US, so they like to leave Mountain Brook and come to Vestavia (another suburb) to spend money.

***CaptHayfever*** · 07-01-2009, 11:39 AM

I got a lot of that after the Kmart I work at did a renovation about 18 months ago. The real pain was that it was my first day working since they did it (I take off when I'm at school), so I didn't know the new layout yet either.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

t3hDarkness · 07-01-2009, 01:59 PM

The store I'm working in switched everything in November.
People still try to find the video desk over in the corner as opposed to under the giant 'video' sign.

John Galt · 07-01-2009, 09:46 PM

I can relate.

When you work in the retail business, you find out who the pricks are real fast. They gotta give you crap about everything.

Vgfian · 07-01-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake

You live somewhat in the south don't you? I'm kind of surprised people go nuts that frequently.

Customers I work with are a lot more lax over here in SC. I guess part of that can be that my store is located within a tourist industry. Maybe on vacation they're more lenient or something?

You shoudn't assume that everyone in a certain region acts exactly the same.

That's almost like going to Australia, and assuming that everyone there is going to go croc hunting, while wearing cargo shorts, and speaking enthusiasticly to a camera.

That's stereotyping, and stereotyping is bad.
~~Now say that into an audio recorder, and play it over and over, until its the only thing that you think.~~

***Cosmonautical*** · 07-02-2009, 01:15 AM

hahahaha autism

Robotazy · 07-02-2009, 01:35 AM

You know what would hit the spot?

GUMBO

Also, PLASTIC PEARL LIKE NECKLACES.

AND TABASCO SAUCE.

GEAUX SAINTS.

Seriously though, that's tough Andre.

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 07-02-2009, 07:46 AM

Been there, done that, you definitely have my sympathies. Management has a habit of wanting to do things for absolutely no reason.

Also, I had a little old lady nearly go off at me because when our store was bought out by another, we stopped stocking the little coloured pickled onions she liked. wtf. That's gross and I don't care if we don't sell them anymore. Go fill out that form at the service desk to request their return. Gah.

07-01-2009, 01:37 AM	#1
Eagle Eye Diddy bops Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Birmingham, AL Gender: Posts: 15,014 Thanks: 1,616 Thanked 1,084 Times in 597 Posts	Oy So, we'll call this Publix Part II? So corporate tells our store we have to do a total store reset right? Yeah, well, we did what they asked us, and had to re-arrange the store a certain way. So last Thursday, the store closed early, and vendors came to move their items, blah blah blah. So, I come into work Friday morning and do my best to learn on the fly. Meanwhile, I've got customers asking me where things are left and right, because, of course everything is moved. Completely understandable. What I absolutely hate is when people throw attitudes at ME about the store reset. It's not like I have any say at what goes on in that regard. Usually a conversation with a customer will go as follows: "How are you today sir/ma'am, can I help you find anything?" "Yes, where is _______________________" "I'll take you to it." "Why did you guys move the store around?" "Don't really know to be honest with you" "Oh, that's fine, I'll just learn this set up and roll with it. It's a lot more organized." Usually there's a joke thrown in there about how I just learned the old set up only to have them switch it on me two weeks later. But I counted at least five times today, where a customer just went absolutely ape ** at the new set up. Some lady went off on me and said I had the nerve the change the store around, when I tried to tell her I had absolutely no say in it, she said bull. So I just left. Same lady said that Winn Dixie was going out of business because they changed their store around. Really? So, people stop shopping at a grocery store because of a new arrangement? Another lady had some spiel about how this particular Publix has looked the same since it opened in 2002 and there was no reason to change it. For one, that's a lie because they've already done two store resets, number two, again, it's NOT that big of a deal. It takes maybe 5 minutes to learn where everything is. It's extremely organized now, not just by aisle, but grouping of aisles. It's absolutely funny to me how people can convince themselves into thinking an entire business is going return its store back to the way it was because 6 people complain. Two more stories. A guy walks into my section looking for chilled tortilla shells, IIRC it was like Azteca Flour. Anyway, he comes over and starts digging through the shells, then turns around with a real ty attitude and asks one of my co-workers where the shells are. My co-worker says that he's put all the boxes of shells out, but that he'll happily double check to make sure he didn't miss anything. He goes back to look, comes out with nothing, tells the guy there's nothing else back there. By now, dude's going ape , and is yelling "bull, you guys always say that, you didn't go look." Guy walks off, finds my manager, and comes back. My manager walks straight over to the tortilla shells and picks up the kind he was looking for. The guy says, "oh, that's it," grabs it and awkwardly leaves. Saturday, an older gentleman comes over looking for Twinkies because his wife is in love with them. Can't find them, starts going ape **, says we never have them, etc. etc. Says he talked to my manager about having the store order them. He asked me constantly why we don't have them, and I wasn't sure, but I assumed like everything else that if we don't sell something anymore it's because it didn't sell well in teh first place. He continues going on and on about how we never have what he likes and they never listen to him when he says we should order something for the store. After 20 minutes of talking to me about this, he finally leaves. I just start laughing, I know most people don't know or care to know about how grocery stores operate, but a store isn't going to order packages of something if they're not going to sell, that wastes money. This guy didn't seem to realize that. Oh well. More stories later?

07-02-2009, 01:35 AM	#10
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Typing with mai stereo. You know what would hit the spot? GUMBO Also, PLASTIC PEARL LIKE NECKLACES. AND TABASCO SAUCE. GEAUX SAINTS. Seriously though, that's tough Andre.

07-01-2009, 08:01 AM	#2
The Flattest Pancake Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: (insert something witty here) Gender: Posts: 1,391 Thanks: 97 Thanked 25 Times in 23 Posts Blog Entries: 8	YES,MORE LATER!

07-01-2009, 09:19 AM	#3
Blake Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: A generic place such as a house Gender: Posts: 4,628 Thanks: 1,489 Thanked 206 Times in 148 Posts	You live somewhat in the south don't you? I'm kind of surprised people go nuts that frequently. Customers I work with are a lot more lax over here in SC. I guess part of that can be that my store is located within a tourist industry. Maybe on vacation they're more lenient or something? But back at my former home in the north, I could relate to many stories like that. There's something about grocery stores that brings out a person's inner demon it seems.

07-01-2009, 11:39 AM	#5
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,661 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	I got a lot of that after the Kmart I work at did a renovation about 18 months ago. The real pain was that it was my first day working since they did it (I take off when I'm at school), so I didn't know the new layout yet either. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

07-01-2009, 01:59 PM	#6
t3hDarkness Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: I weep oily black tears of joy. Gender: Posts: 7,590 Thanks: 119 Thanked 418 Times in 306 Posts Blog Entries: 5	The store I'm working in switched everything in November. People still try to find the video desk over in the corner as opposed to under the giant 'video' sign.

07-01-2009, 09:46 PM	#7
John Galt Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Little Ireland Gender: Posts: 490 Thanks: 20 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts	I can relate. When you work in the retail business, you find out who the pricks are real fast. They gotta give you crap about everything.

07-02-2009, 01:15 AM	#9
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,102 Thanks: 2,157 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	hahahaha autism

07-02-2009, 07:46 AM	#11
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 28,504 Thanks: 1,658 Thanked 1,820 Times in 1,042 Posts	Been there, done that, you definitely have my sympathies. Management has a habit of wanting to do things for absolutely no reason. Also, I had a little old lady nearly go off at me because when our store was bought out by another, we stopped stocking the little coloured pickled onions she liked. wtf. That's gross and I don't care if we don't sell them anymore. Go fill out that form at the service desk to request their return. Gah.