I'm Exhausted.

With Christmas just now behind us and New Years just around the corner, I find myself absolutely EXHAUSTED.

I've been working retail for the first time in ten years, and I find that it's hard on me physically. My knees hurt, my back hurts, my feet hurt. Basically, I just hurt.

I hurt, and I'm tired.

Working at a store where you make your living mostly on commissions equates to EXCELLENT holiday paychecks. Unfortunately, it also brings out the lunatics.

Case in point... I'm ringing up a customer whose total purchase is just under $20.00. She was trying to come up with 55 cents. It's the holiday season, if I have the change in my pocket, I'll tell them don't worry about it and put the change in myself. (ONLY if it's under 50 cents and I happen to have that change... hey, like I said, it's the holiday season!) I was about to contribute to her purchase when I take notice of her Coach purse. Then I see her dig through her wallet which has at least $200.00 in it. I decide to save my change for someone who actually needs it and wait patiently for her to dig up the change. She says, "I just don't want to break a twenty for 50 cents".

I wait... and wait... and wait some more. I'm watching folks line up behind her. I mentally shred her to bits while I remind myself that I need this job. She is also cursing under her breath. I inhale and exhale...I apologize to the folks lining up behind her and assure them I'll be with them in "just a second".

At one point she actually closed up her purse and sighed loudly. Like she EXPECTED me to tell her to just forget the change she was short.

Sorry. Not happening. You want the pictures of you and your gold toothed boyfriend posing in front of that Escalade, you're going to have to either COME UP WITH THE FUCKING CHANGE ALREADY, or pull out one of the SEVERAL 20's you have nestled in that 400 dollar purse.

She let out a couple choice words and ended up breaking a twenty.

She actually said (and I'm quoting here) "I can't believe I have to use a twenty to come up with 55 cents"

I practically yanked the bill out of her hand and completed my transaction, I quickly moved on to the next customer and apologized again for the wait. If I said she held up my line for five minutes, I wouldn't be exaggerating.

Sometimes... I hate people.

Seriously.

That happened two days ago, today she came back in and dared to bitch about what we charge for a fax. (I'm assuming she's another mall employee... Mall employees are the only ones who come to us for faxes) After the fax went through she decided to question my pricing even though I told her what the charges were before she handed me her precious work schedule.

I guess if that's the worst I have to deal with I'm doing better than Ribeye.

7 comments:

Medic61 said...

That woman should be dope-slapped.
Happy New Years to you as well, Epi :)
Oh, and tell your brother to have a little faith in the ol' skins!

Epijunky said...

I have a feeling I'll be seeing her more in the future... Unfortunately.

I'm telling him that as we speak... er... type ;)

I know absolute crap about NFL (I follow NCAA more) but your reply seemed to perk him up :)

EE said...

How'd the kiddos like the Wii? What games did they end up with?

Mega said...

I know *exactly* how you feel. Its even worse if I'm the guy waiting in line for someone that is digging for loose change in their purse or pocket.

I'm a big fan of the "Card Only" lanes if the store has them.

Epijunky said...

Hammer, it's just incredible. She *OBVIOUSLY* needed some change as she couldn't locate any in her purse to PAY ME WITH.

Hey Em :) The Wii has been in use pretty consistently since Tuesday. Unfortunately no one in town had the Cabelas game. We had to settle for mario party 8 and Carnival Games. I'm fairly certain there's another game upstairs waiting to be unwrapped. (Father-In-Law is in town with gifts)

Hey Dan! You know, I felt so bad for my other customers, but what struck me was they felt bad for me. I love my good customers. I think we need a "NO IDIOTS" line, myself.

overactive-imagination said...

I too love the credit card only lanes..makes things so much faster.

I probably would have told her to get the hell over it and break the damned twenty aleadu....but that's just me and probably why I wouldn't do well in retail. hehe :)

EE said...

I hope they don't get Wii-itis!