Botox has a new commercial, with the tagline of "It's about freedom of expression."
Isn't it more about freedom from expression?
I mean, we are talking about a treatment that "works" by paralyzing facial muscles.
By the way, my main blog is here. Stop by and comment there.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
catching up
I'm not often freaked out by customers. Usually, I'm either amused or annoyed by the asshats every retailer has to deal with; I've gotten used to most of the crap that is shoved at us every day.
The guy I had today was not what I would call usual.
When I got to work, my coworker T was running away from the cash registers, where she works. She shoved the head cashier key at me and informed me that she would be back at her station momentarily. Um, okay.
When I got to the register, I saw a guy standing at her register. He moved over to where I was standing and, staring intently at the counter, he pushed a twenty dollar bill at me. I asked him what he was paying for and he started babbling about how a book that he had put on hold had been reshelved even though he has requested that it remain on hold until he could get to the store. He told me that he had brought in his paycheck on Saturday and that not even that had been accepted as payment for the book.
As you can probably guess, we have never accepted paychecks as payment.
The man also told me that T was searching for his book, which greatly relieved me. Maybe I wouldn't have to deal with him!
He was mumbling and his syntax was weird and I had a really hard time follow what he was saying, except for the phrases he repeated several times. To make matters even *better*, he reeked of alcohol. He was also blocking my register while other customers waited. I asked him if he needed anything other than the book that T was looking for.
"Nah, I'll just mumblemumble and wait here for that lady to come back with the book. Mumblemumble."
"Actually, I'd really appreciate it if you could wait by her register, because I can't ring anyone up while you are in front of my register." *hopeful smile*
His completely reasonable response was to bang his fists loudly on my counter and continue to mumble while still staring down, his face hidden by his baseball hat.
I actually jumped back. It was seriously the most bizarre thing I had ever seen.
I was greatly relieved that T then arrived with the book. I was less relieved when she handed the book to me rather than take it to her register to ring him up there. Thanks, T!
He continued to babble at my counter about the injustice of the whole thing as I rang him up VERY QUICKLY, but at least he stopped abusing it.
He was the creepiest and strangest customer I have ever dealt with.
And if I ever find out who reshelved the damn book early....
The guy I had today was not what I would call usual.
When I got to work, my coworker T was running away from the cash registers, where she works. She shoved the head cashier key at me and informed me that she would be back at her station momentarily. Um, okay.
When I got to the register, I saw a guy standing at her register. He moved over to where I was standing and, staring intently at the counter, he pushed a twenty dollar bill at me. I asked him what he was paying for and he started babbling about how a book that he had put on hold had been reshelved even though he has requested that it remain on hold until he could get to the store. He told me that he had brought in his paycheck on Saturday and that not even that had been accepted as payment for the book.
As you can probably guess, we have never accepted paychecks as payment.
The man also told me that T was searching for his book, which greatly relieved me. Maybe I wouldn't have to deal with him!
He was mumbling and his syntax was weird and I had a really hard time follow what he was saying, except for the phrases he repeated several times. To make matters even *better*, he reeked of alcohol. He was also blocking my register while other customers waited. I asked him if he needed anything other than the book that T was looking for.
"Nah, I'll just mumblemumble and wait here for that lady to come back with the book. Mumblemumble."
"Actually, I'd really appreciate it if you could wait by her register, because I can't ring anyone up while you are in front of my register." *hopeful smile*
His completely reasonable response was to bang his fists loudly on my counter and continue to mumble while still staring down, his face hidden by his baseball hat.
I actually jumped back. It was seriously the most bizarre thing I had ever seen.
I was greatly relieved that T then arrived with the book. I was less relieved when she handed the book to me rather than take it to her register to ring him up there. Thanks, T!
He continued to babble at my counter about the injustice of the whole thing as I rang him up VERY QUICKLY, but at least he stopped abusing it.
He was the creepiest and strangest customer I have ever dealt with.
And if I ever find out who reshelved the damn book early....
catching up
Last week at the bookstore:
A customer was walking up to the front desk to pay when she stopped in her tracks, staring in horror at one of the magazine displays.
"The Jonas Brothers are on the cover of Rolling Stone?! That's a sign of the apocalypse, right?"
I'll make your life easier - just look under "future projects" to understand the full horror issue at hand. That "D" word? Yeah. They sponsor the band.
I can't say I had any argument with what the customer said.
The other day, I had a customer buy a gift card. After she paid, she realized that she liked another design better, so she decided to put the gift card, that she had just paid for, back in the display and take out another one. I nearly jumped over the counter in my effort to convince her not to do that.
Luckily, my cry of "NONONONONONONO!!!!!" managed to wake her up and see the mistake she was making before she forgot where she put the gift card she had purchased in the display.
More gift card fun:
We have a new return policy starting on September 1st, which has cause a lot of, um, fun.
The customer is now supposed to return items within 14 days, and must have a receipt. The biggest exception to the new rule is that gift receipts will be accepted for 60 days.
So, I had one customer look at the new policy and yell "WHAT DO YOU MEAN GIFT CARDS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 60 DAYS?!
Yay reading comprehension!
A customer was walking up to the front desk to pay when she stopped in her tracks, staring in horror at one of the magazine displays.
"The Jonas Brothers are on the cover of Rolling Stone?! That's a sign of the apocalypse, right?"
I'll make your life easier - just look under "future projects" to understand the full horror issue at hand. That "D" word? Yeah. They sponsor the band.
I can't say I had any argument with what the customer said.
The other day, I had a customer buy a gift card. After she paid, she realized that she liked another design better, so she decided to put the gift card, that she had just paid for, back in the display and take out another one. I nearly jumped over the counter in my effort to convince her not to do that.
Luckily, my cry of "NONONONONONONO!!!!!" managed to wake her up and see the mistake she was making before she forgot where she put the gift card she had purchased in the display.
More gift card fun:
We have a new return policy starting on September 1st, which has cause a lot of, um, fun.
The customer is now supposed to return items within 14 days, and must have a receipt. The biggest exception to the new rule is that gift receipts will be accepted for 60 days.
So, I had one customer look at the new policy and yell "WHAT DO YOU MEAN GIFT CARDS ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 60 DAYS?!
Yay reading comprehension!
catching up
No updates yet on my lovelorn coworker. I'll continue to watch and worry.
I just found out that OS is out with kidney stones. I really hope she feels better soon.
CC, who had a brain aneurysm a while back is now at home again. I hear she is doing very well, much to my relief. She is planning to return to the store, but there is no telling how long that will take. I miss her, and I'm glad she is doing well.
A couple of other coworkers are getting on my nerves. One guy in the cafe was asked to prepare a turkey pannini for a customer. When it was done toasting, he set it on the counter and announced that "One dead animal in a sandwich" was ready. Why is he still employed? Why? He's gotten many complaints before.
Another coworker griped at me that I started him working on the bestsellers with me so long after we closed. In a way, I can see where he's coming from. The bestsellers are usually done before the store was closed.
Here's the thing. He was out on the sales floor while I was stuck at the registers. He was complaining about not having anything to do in the last half hour the store was open. He also pulled out two of a dozen shelving carts while I pulled out all of the rest. I get it. He wanted to get out of there. So did I. But this stuff had to be done before we left for the night!
And then there was the customer who walked in while I was doing the closing announcement, who convinced the manager to let his buddy in, and then placed what was apparently a long, complicated cafe order. It took them about ten minutes to leave the store. Thanks, guys! Much appreciated!
*sigh*
I know I'm being whiny, but I was really not in the mood to deal with this crap.
I just found out that OS is out with kidney stones. I really hope she feels better soon.
CC, who had a brain aneurysm a while back is now at home again. I hear she is doing very well, much to my relief. She is planning to return to the store, but there is no telling how long that will take. I miss her, and I'm glad she is doing well.
A couple of other coworkers are getting on my nerves. One guy in the cafe was asked to prepare a turkey pannini for a customer. When it was done toasting, he set it on the counter and announced that "One dead animal in a sandwich" was ready. Why is he still employed? Why? He's gotten many complaints before.
Another coworker griped at me that I started him working on the bestsellers with me so long after we closed. In a way, I can see where he's coming from. The bestsellers are usually done before the store was closed.
Here's the thing. He was out on the sales floor while I was stuck at the registers. He was complaining about not having anything to do in the last half hour the store was open. He also pulled out two of a dozen shelving carts while I pulled out all of the rest. I get it. He wanted to get out of there. So did I. But this stuff had to be done before we left for the night!
And then there was the customer who walked in while I was doing the closing announcement, who convinced the manager to let his buddy in, and then placed what was apparently a long, complicated cafe order. It took them about ten minutes to leave the store. Thanks, guys! Much appreciated!
*sigh*
I know I'm being whiny, but I was really not in the mood to deal with this crap.
catching up
Before I say anything, I just want to point out that I am sure that neither person involved in this drama has found this blog.
There is a trainwreck developing at work, and I may well see the next chapter at work in the afternoon.
I have a coworker who has been very sheltered, in large part because of some major health problems she has had her entire life. She is 26, but, emotionally, she is more like 14.
And she has decided that a coworker is Her One True Love.
Said coworker is a really nice guy. He has tried to not be cruel to her, but did tell her that, while he was happy to be her friend, he already had a girlfriend and wasn't looking for another relationship. Her reaction? That she would wait forever for him.
Since then, she has been leaving inappropriate messages on his $social networking site, and, although she shed quite a few tears, has continued to believe that he is The One. And that she will get her fairy tale ending if she waits long enough.
And he's too nice. He is still willing to give her rides home and the like. I don't think he has yet realized that, unless he shuts this down completely, she will hold on to this dream.
He took her to dinner again this evening, and, I imagine, tried to explain matters to her again.
They are both really sweet people.
I just don't see this ending well....
There is a trainwreck developing at work, and I may well see the next chapter at work in the afternoon.
I have a coworker who has been very sheltered, in large part because of some major health problems she has had her entire life. She is 26, but, emotionally, she is more like 14.
And she has decided that a coworker is Her One True Love.
Said coworker is a really nice guy. He has tried to not be cruel to her, but did tell her that, while he was happy to be her friend, he already had a girlfriend and wasn't looking for another relationship. Her reaction? That she would wait forever for him.
Since then, she has been leaving inappropriate messages on his $social networking site, and, although she shed quite a few tears, has continued to believe that he is The One. And that she will get her fairy tale ending if she waits long enough.
And he's too nice. He is still willing to give her rides home and the like. I don't think he has yet realized that, unless he shuts this down completely, she will hold on to this dream.
He took her to dinner again this evening, and, I imagine, tried to explain matters to her again.
They are both really sweet people.
I just don't see this ending well....
catching up
Greyhound has just pulled its new line of ads:
"There's a reason you've never heard of 'Bus Rage'".
*shudders*
"There's a reason you've never heard of 'Bus Rage'".
*shudders*
catching up
Commercial language gripes:
So, if Lysol is the only cleaner approved to kill a certain virus, does that mean that no other substance is allowed to kill that bug?
So, if Lysol is the only cleaner approved to kill a certain virus, does that mean that no other substance is allowed to kill that bug?
catching up
Dear Senator Phil Graham,
I am so sorry we have been whining about the fictional rise in gas and food prices and reduction in employment. I am so sorry we have been making up complaints about minimum wages not being enough to live on. We really should stop "whining" about how hard it is to get shelter we can afford, and health insurance that can keep us out of bankruptcy court.
Silly us.
We should understand that a full-time job should not be enough to pay for shelter, food, and clothing for a single person, let alone a family. I suppose that's why you support family planning, so that we can afford to live on what we make; oh wait, that's right, you oppose funding for contraception, abortion, child care, and needy parents.
Well, as long as we understand that it's all in our heads, we shouldn't have any problems!
Right?
Or maybe you should learn what it's like in the real world.
Have fun living in your pretty mansion with your efficient staff.
I am so sorry we have been whining about the fictional rise in gas and food prices and reduction in employment. I am so sorry we have been making up complaints about minimum wages not being enough to live on. We really should stop "whining" about how hard it is to get shelter we can afford, and health insurance that can keep us out of bankruptcy court.
Silly us.
We should understand that a full-time job should not be enough to pay for shelter, food, and clothing for a single person, let alone a family. I suppose that's why you support family planning, so that we can afford to live on what we make; oh wait, that's right, you oppose funding for contraception, abortion, child care, and needy parents.
Well, as long as we understand that it's all in our heads, we shouldn't have any problems!
Right?
Or maybe you should learn what it's like in the real world.
Have fun living in your pretty mansion with your efficient staff.
catching up
Flip-flopper - politician who is willing to admit that a new situation or new information can mean that a position previously held no longer seems correct
Non-flip-flopper - politician who refuses to ever admit that anything could ever possibly prove a position to be incorrect; see also George W. Bush
This post isn't about any specific instance; I'm just tired of hearing the term thrown around to describe Democrats in general. Right now, I am wishing that Obama would change his mind about the telecom bill in the Senate now and vote against it.
Non-flip-flopper - politician who refuses to ever admit that anything could ever possibly prove a position to be incorrect; see also George W. Bush
This post isn't about any specific instance; I'm just tired of hearing the term thrown around to describe Democrats in general. Right now, I am wishing that Obama would change his mind about the telecom bill in the Senate now and vote against it.
catching up
I am a hopeless liberal, but I am going to miss Senator John Warner when he retires this November.
In response to the gas price crisis, he has recommended what may well be the least popular and most effective solution: a return to the 55mph speed limit.
It would increase mileage, therefore lowering demand for gasoline and the price for it, and no one wants to do it. No one. Only driving better mileage vehicles could have the same kind of effect, and few want to do that, either.
Senator Warner, this lead-footed liberal agrees with you. I don't like it, but you're right.
I hope the right people are listening.
In response to the gas price crisis, he has recommended what may well be the least popular and most effective solution: a return to the 55mph speed limit.
It would increase mileage, therefore lowering demand for gasoline and the price for it, and no one wants to do it. No one. Only driving better mileage vehicles could have the same kind of effect, and few want to do that, either.
Senator Warner, this lead-footed liberal agrees with you. I don't like it, but you're right.
I hope the right people are listening.
catching up
So, the Supreme Court has decided that child rape is not enough to justify an execution.
And I am glad.
I am a survivor of child rape, and I am glad that the death penalty will no longer be allowed in such cases.
Why?
Well, for one thing, the death penalty doesn't fix anything. We in this country like to believe that it deters crime, but there is no evidence to say it does. Ultimately, I think it just provides a false sense of security. I don't happen to believe that is enough to justify killing someone.
There is also the fact that the death penalty has been applied unfairly. People of color are far more likely than white folks to end up on death row, as are the ones who commit crimes against caucasians. How can we claim this is fair? Money also plays an unfair role in this form of "justice". If you rich, you are more likely to avoid capital punishment.
And what about the fact that innocent people have been put to death. Trust me, it has happened. There is no way that are government has killed so many people without making a terrible mistake. There have been innocent people who have made it off of death row, but we can't have caught all of the mistakes.
Then there is the simple fact that you can survive rape. Even child rape. I might not have the Greatest Life Ever, but I am glad to be alive even though I was raped as a kid. Was it easy? Oh, hell no. But I made it.
And I don't believe that anyone should die for something that I survived.
No, I don't believe in revenge.
We should be better than that.
And I am glad.
I am a survivor of child rape, and I am glad that the death penalty will no longer be allowed in such cases.
Why?
Well, for one thing, the death penalty doesn't fix anything. We in this country like to believe that it deters crime, but there is no evidence to say it does. Ultimately, I think it just provides a false sense of security. I don't happen to believe that is enough to justify killing someone.
There is also the fact that the death penalty has been applied unfairly. People of color are far more likely than white folks to end up on death row, as are the ones who commit crimes against caucasians. How can we claim this is fair? Money also plays an unfair role in this form of "justice". If you rich, you are more likely to avoid capital punishment.
And what about the fact that innocent people have been put to death. Trust me, it has happened. There is no way that are government has killed so many people without making a terrible mistake. There have been innocent people who have made it off of death row, but we can't have caught all of the mistakes.
Then there is the simple fact that you can survive rape. Even child rape. I might not have the Greatest Life Ever, but I am glad to be alive even though I was raped as a kid. Was it easy? Oh, hell no. But I made it.
And I don't believe that anyone should die for something that I survived.
No, I don't believe in revenge.
We should be better than that.
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