Sup FP, I'm sitting here at my computer at 11:46 wondering what to do. I just came off of working a Boxing Day shift at my local Future Shop (The Canadian BestBuy for those who don't know) so I decided to write a small rant about my job. Don't get me wrong, I love it! Working in Entertainment and using your knowledge of video games to provide exceptional service is something I take pride in doing, but in every job there's something you hate so I'm going to (respectfully) post it here.
First off, I'd like to start my rant with thieves. I understand you poor bastards can't afford to buy Modern Warefare 2 or Demon's Souls but please save us the stress and stop stealing from us (Hell, stop stealing in general). You don't know how hard it is to explain to a customer why you don't have X best-seller because some poor sould decided to steal the last copy. If you don't know how stealing games works I'll try to break it down. The thief brings a small knife and moves to the game section, (s)he makes a small incision in the game plastic (very small) and slides out the disc leaving the case/manual inside. It's impossible to notice thefts like these unless you personally inspect every single game and it's irritating to see that something that should be there isn't. Then you have to deal with stubborn customers who think even though the store website says we have it in stock that doesn't mean we always do. This brings me neatly to my second paragraph.
Stubborn customers... Since I am a newer employee I haven't had to deal with this often but occasionally you get customers who like to be as stubborn/irritating as possible. I don't remember every experience I've had but I can name off a couple that stick out. A couple of days before Christmas (I think it was the 21st or something) I had this guy come in looking for a cordless phone set that we had. Since I'm in Entertainment I have no idea about the phone section but I decided to try my luck and help him out. He said that the store website said we had the phone in stock but it was not on the shelf. I explained that maybe we were sold out and the website hadn't updated yet. He said I was lying and I was trying to avoid checking the back of the store to find it. Me (being the polite person I am) said I would go check the back for him. When I enter the back warehouse I ask one of the merchandisers where we keep the phones, he said since it was so close to Boxing Day we keep everything out on the floor. On my way back to the customer I checked the computer inventory system and it said that we had 3 in stock. Me (being the Sherlock Holmes I am) deduce that since the phone was not in the back and it was not on the floor it was placed in the Boxing Day Storage and we could not sell them until Boxing Day. I approach the now impatient customer and explain that although the computer system says we have it in stock, we cannot sell it because upper management requires a minimum of every single product in stock for Boxing Day. He then says to me and I quote his exact sentence "You know you're full of bullshit right?" and then he just turns and leaves the store.
Another thing that grinds my gears are the customers who think that we are their personal servants and that should find every single item for them. This gets especially irritating during rushes because you can't take 30 minutes to plow through the Blu-Ray to find the last copy of Borat when you know 100 percent that it was there. If you try to sneak away they call you back and demand you look for the product for them. This gets REAAAALLLYYY irritating in sections like the music area where it is just a rack of thousands upon thousands of CDs only in a basic alphabetical order. One of my co-workers said he spent 45 minutes looking for some Beyonce CD and then after he found it the customer didn't buy it. I mean, that's bullshit! If you want the product and you know the general location of it please save us the time and effort and at least TRY to look for it.
Finally, my biggest beef is with customers who try every trick in the book to get free/discounted product. The biggest example I can think of off the top of my head was when one customer was looking for a particular version of Windows 7 Professional (the $129.99 upgrade from Home Premium) and once I said I couldn't find it he proceeded to try to bullshit his way to a free version of the retail liscence with excuses like "It was in the flyer, it has to be here" and "I know you have it in stock the website says so!". I eventually got fed up and sent him to Computer Upgrade/Repair (where I soon found out) they kept all of the Windows 7 inclusive upgrades. A second time some old man got tired of waiting in line to purchase is Radeon HD4670 that he demanded to see the manager and have his transaction processed specially for him.
TL DR:My job is fun but frustrating due to some of the customers I work with. I understand that in retail you get stuff like this but since I just ended off a 12 hour Boxing Day shift I felt I needed to get this off my chest.
tl;dr version? (No BRs I read it, just wasn't sure everyone else would)
Oh I get it! You're that guy that I ask to help me and then when you realize you don't know the answer you just walk away and act as if we never spoke! Also that's why it's called work. Not "dick around in a best buy".
PS: So that means that the Canadian future is the American/European present? I knew you guys were slow but damn...
The majority of what you are bitching about is your job, get over it.
I applied to 27 jobs and got nothing. I'm still trying to get any job.
Dude where I live, the games are inside a protected case and if you want to buy a game you ask them then they bring it to the cashier. So you aren't able to even touch it until you pay for it. Canada should try that.
People are dickholes.
Welcome to the wonderful world of customer service.
[QUOTE=nivek;19225110]I applied to 27 jobs and got nothing. I'm still trying to get any job.[/QUOTE]
You're obviously doing something wrong. I got my first job when I was 15, and it was on my first application, too.
[QUOTE=Pacmaney;19225035]
The thief brings a small knife and moves to the game section, (s)he makes a small incision in the game plastic (very small) and slides out the disc leaving the case/manual inside.
[/QUOTE]
You know they have a special cover for that that goes on cases, you should recommend it to manegment if its that big of a problem.
[QUOTE=DanTehMan;19225166]You're obviously doing something wrong. I got my first job when I was 15, and it was on my first application, too.[/QUOTE]
I'm 18, I have 10 good references and previous employers, never been fired, not mentally retarded, neatly dressed, legible handwriting. I guess after holidays is when they DON'T need people?
[QUOTE=PyromanDan;19225175]You know they have a special cover for that that goes on cases, you should recommend it to manegment if its that big of a problem.[/QUOTE]
We do, but we can't case EVERY SINGLE game. We case all of the new releases but even then there are still some left that end up getting stolen. I suggested ordering in some more but they said that stealing is such a small shrinkage percentage that I shouldn't worry about it.
[QUOTE=Jewsus;19225063]
PS: So that means that the Canadian future is the American/European present? I knew you guys were slow but damn...[/QUOTE]
Rated dumb.
[QUOTE=nivek;19225181]I'm 18, I have 10 good references and previous employers, never been fired, not mentally retarded, neatly dressed, legible handwriting. I guess after holidays is when they DON'T need people?[/QUOTE]
They really don't.
Not to mention there are a large amount of people with college degrees applying for low-end jobs because they got laid off.
I feel your pain, here in Ohio I live in one of the hardest hit areas. DHL (Shipping company) pulled out recently and over 10,000 jobs were lost. It's not easy to get a job right now.
[url]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/22/60minutes/main4747832.shtml[/url]
[QUOTE=Pacmaney;19225035]Don't get me wrong, I love it![/QUOTE]
OP doesn't know he actually hates his job.
[editline]12:28AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=ketchup;19225245]DHL (Shipping company) pulled out recently and over 10,000 jobs were lost. It's not easy to get a job right now.[/QUOTE]
I used to fucking love DHL until they pull out of normal consumer markets, got my shit fast.
[QUOTE=LeYang;19225247]OP doesn't know he actually hates his job.[/QUOTE]
Really? Is it some weird reverse psychology? I mean getting a job selling the thing you do the most during your spare time is pretty much a dream job. For every 100 good customers I get one of the ones I mentioned so it isn't that bad.
[QUOTE=LeYang;19225247]I used to fucking love DHL until they pull out of normal consumer markets, got my shit fast.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, they were a great shipping company until they fucked over my entire local area. One of my friends family ended up losing their house because of them. Shit sucks.
[QUOTE=ketchup;19225303]Yeah, they were a great shipping company until they fucked over my entire local area. One of my friends family ended up losing their house because of them. Shit sucks.[/QUOTE]
Mind summarizing what happened? I have no idea how a shipping business works down south of the border. The only similar event I can relate to that is the 8 month long driver instructor strike. This meant that people couldn't apply for a full liscence (or renew their existing ones) so truck drivers were out of work.
It's a shame you can't do anything to people who act like dicks in retail. At least in fast food, you can spit in their order.
Admit that you hate it, and find a new fucking job.
[QUOTE=Fragny;19225355]Admit that you hate it, and find a new fucking job.[/QUOTE]
Rated yourself agree there buddy?
You're lucky you have a job. When I turn 16 and can work I'll be looking for anything I can get. Getting a job like that would be boss, even with idiots.
[QUOTE=Kung Fu Jew;19225377]You're lucky you have a job. When I turn 16 and can work I'll be looking for anything I can get. Getting a job like that would be boss, even with idiots.[/QUOTE]
Oh yeah, the closer the job that matches your interests the less it feels like work. Don't feel ashamed if you get turned down or whatever. Just act yourself and professional and you should be fine.
[QUOTE=ketchup;19225245]They really don't.
Not to mention there are a large amount of people with college degrees applying for low-end jobs because they got laid off.
I feel your pain, here in Ohio I live in one of the hardest hit areas. DHL (Shipping company) pulled out recently and over 10,000 jobs were lost. It's not easy to get a job right now.
[url]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/22/60minutes/main4747832.shtml[/url][/QUOTE]\
I live in Michigan.
Do I win?
[QUOTE=wlitsots;19225114]Dude where I live, the games are inside a protected case and if you want to buy a game you ask them then they bring it to the cashier. So you aren't able to even touch it until you pay for it. Canada should try that.[/QUOTE]
We do have that, the only place that doesn't is Future Shop.
[QUOTE=naughtydog;19225453]We do have that, the only place that doesn't is Future Shop.[/QUOTE]
I said a couple posts above we do. We just don't have enough to case every game. Stop by a Future Shop in Southern Ontario and pick up a new release game and see what covers it.
Heart for you, thieves suck
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