A Cold Ride To Work...

Some people would call my car a an old piece of junk.  I however call it awesome.  Yes it is half my age but it runs really well still.  I have very few problems with it considering its age.  I am really the only one ever in it so it actually looks pretty good.  It might be for this reason I get so upset when something does need to be repaired.  I am not used to it.  I also don't have a lot of free days to just drop my car off and not have a mode of transportation.

Yesterday I left work and got in my car.  It was a little warm in the car so I hit the power window button to crack it and let in some cold air.  I barely hit the button and "thump" ... The glass was gone. My car door had eaten my window.  I panicked just a little and regretted my decision to open the window.  I called my mom to ask if I could borrow her car to go to work the next day because obviously I could not leave it in the mall parking lot for 9 hours with the window completely gone.  Besides theft being an issue we have really unpredictable weather here.  I could come back to a soaking wet car.

Unfortunately my mom reminded me that she and my dad had to work the early morning shift at the temple.  They leave an hour apart and would need both their cars.  She did tell me that if I wanted to wake up and drive her to the temple at 4am I could use her car as back up.  I reluctantly agreed.  What other choice did I have?  I needed to go to work and I needed a car to do it.

Naturally I didn't really fall asleep all night.  I was too afraid I would over sleep.  I got up, dropped my mom off, and went home to sleep a little longer.  And then when my alarm went off at 7 am I had a terrible time getting up.  Suddenly, even though I got in bed at 9:30pm, my body was ready to sleep.   I lectured myself out of bed and got ready for work.  I called the service shop to see if they could fit me in and miraculously the said they could.  Good news: my car was getting fixed.  Bad news: I got up at 4 for no reason.

I jumped in my car and onto the freeway with my drivers side window ALL the way down.  People probably thought I was crazy.  It was for sure the coldest ride to work I have ever made.  My hair was wet which made it so much worse.  I dropped it off and walked 20 minutes to work.  My co-workers had a good laugh at my expense. Which I deserved...it is kind of funny.  Long story short and $600 later-my car is fixed.

The Unexplained....

WHAT. THE. HECK?!  So back in...oh maybe the end of October my body store got packaged PJ sets.  Just before black Friday they went on promotion.  Here is the story with packaged PJ'S...everyone wants to undo them so they can look at them but they don't want to buy the one they opened.  So every year I try and make a preemptive strike and set up a display of each style and at least one of each size.  This year I put out my display and by the time I came back into work I had a pair of PJ pants and no shirt.  I set the pants aside just waiting for the shirt to turn up... maybe someone tried it on and it got separated.  Well I waited and waited and finally after Christmas I price killed the pants and just sold them on their own for way discounted. 

GUESS WHAT showed up today.  on the 25th day of January??  THE FLIPPING SHIRT!  Are you kidding me?!?!  It's been missing for two months- the only possible solution...Big Foot.  It's the only thing that makes sense.  ;)

What is that whistling sound?

Sometimes I wonder about mom's here in Utah county.  At the Gap we are getting new hardwood floors.  FINALLY!! They look awesome.  anyway, these new floors won't be completely done for about a month.  That means that right now our floors are plywood.  Unfinished, rough cut, splintery wood floors.  The floors aren't so bad when they are first laid but after a few days of fixtures being dragged across them and shoppers with strollers- there is chipping and breaking...  With that in mind I will tell you that today I saw 3 different toddlers running around the store with no shoes on.  Um, Mom your kid is going to get a dirty splinter in their foot and you are at the mall without tweezers.  So maybe either put the kid in the stroller you insisted on bringing in with you or put some dang shoes on the kid...it's really not rocket science.  Do what is best for you kids, not just what they like the best! 
Another mom- decided she would slide across the one finished section of floor with her boys.  Only problem was- mom was wearing heels.  Nice.  I wanted to tap her on the shoulder and say, "mom, how would you like it if I came into your newly remodeled kitchen and slid across your floors in my 4" heels?  Across those brand new floors you've been waiting ten years for- oh and I'm going to come do it before they are even done.  Before you have had a chance to see the finished product."  seriously I don't know what goes through these people's heads- besides air that is.   

 

Please Just Stay Home

It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt!.  Amen!

There once was a time in my life when I lived and worked in a county full of people with some weird ideas and who take offense at every turn.  You are probably all aware that in retail we dress mannequins.  These mannequins do not change themselves.  The associates in the store periodically have to strip them of one outfit to replace a new and more current outfit.  Just the other day one of the male associates I work with was doing just that.  He was in the women's department updating the visuals in the front of the store when a woman approached him.  She said something along these lines, "I don't think it's appropriate for you to be dressing that mannequin."   Um, uptight much?  He wasn't feeling her up- he was putting clothes on a life size doll.  First of all...the mannequins are not exactly anatomically correct.  Also they are grey tinted plastic.  Oh and also if those first two didn't make it totally appropriate- because maybe you still think somehow they might be mistaken for a real person, um- they have no heads.  I have decided that some people need to get out more OR, better yet,  find hobbies that keep them inside and away from normal people.  If they stay inside they can't say stupid things that make them sound absolutely ridiculous. 

Some People's Parents

Why do some parents act like they have zero control over what their children do?  let me give you two examples of what I mean. 

1. I am at work.  Super crazy busy and I hear the sound of the towers beeping at the door.  I go up to see what's going on and there is a small child.   Maybe 7 months old crawling on the mall floor (sick btw- I don't even want to know the germs she is picking up since no one even knows the last time that floor was disinfected.  yuck)  But not only is she crawling but she is simultaneously pushing one of our carts (carts we use to fold on) out the door.  On top of this car is a whole bunch of sensors a co-worker had been using.  So as she is pushing the towers are responding to the senors and the parents are just laughing.  Meanwhile I have to stop what I'm doing to take the cart away from the child and bring it back into the store.  Last time I checked mom or dad could have just picked her up and avoided the whole thing.  If not for social reasons for health reasons. 

2.  I went to dinner with some friends and as we are talking we hear this shrill whistle sound.  I look up and there is a toddler at the next table holding a whistle.  Don't worry mom didn't take it away.  She let him continue to blow on it even though is was disturbing to every other patron of the restaurant.  This child is going to be horrible when he grows up because the sister took the whistle and mom got mad at her.  She gave it back to the little boy and he continued to blow on it while mom just smiled. 

Parents.  you are bigger than your kids.  Just take stuff away.  Also, don't sit there and smile at unacceptable behavior.  Your children are going to get arrested because they don't know what is and is not okay in a public venue.  At this stage in life you still have some control over your children- so I suggest you teach them now and not wait until they are teenagers and towering over you.  They can barely walk/talk- don't act like you can't stop them. 

Did That Really Just Happen?

Yesterday at work I had just finished putting out new product. I was standing by the cash register steaming the last of the clothes for the mannequines when a woman approached me. I thought she was homeless, she might just have been eccentric. I'm not sure. She had crazy hair, super layered clothes, and had a lot of bags with her. She asked for another bag because her's was ripping. I gave her the bag and expected her to leave but she didn't. She stayed and talked to me for at least 15 minutes. Please keep in mind that there are not really very many customers in the store. Just another associate and myself . What did we talk about? Let me share with you some of the gems that stood out to me:

Lady: "I was watching all the women go by. They are really beautiful but they all look the same. They have on lots of make up but you can't tell because it's so natural looking. Where do you think they get that make up. why do you think they wear it like that?
Me: I don't know, maybe people magazine decided it was in style. I am pretty sure most of those women try really hard to look the same as everyone else.
Lady: well that's ridiculous.
Lady: Today is Cinco De Mayo. What is the big deal? so they broke off from France- who cares. But I guess the parties are fun.
Me: yeah my friend is having a party.
Lady: well is she a Mormon or a Mexican? I didn't know Mormon's celebrated Cinco De Mayo. Are you a Mormon or a baptist? (because obviously those are the only two options)
Me: I am a Mormon. but my grandfather's parents were baptist I believe.
Lady: oh then you understand both sides. good for you. Do you work here a lot? are you a manager?
Me: yes I am and I work a ton.
Lady: well you shouldn't work so much. what are you- 21?
Me: no I am 29.
Lady: well why aren't you married??
Me: well, I guess I just haven't met the right guy
Lady: yeah you seem like a smart girl, independent - you need a smart guy. a strong leader right?! well what's the problem? isn't the Mormon church full of strong leaders?
me: I guess it is.
Lady: well don't you worry. Jesus has a plan. Jesus has a plan for everyone. why are you ironing those clothes?
me: they go on the mannequins.
Lady: well you are doing a great job....this went on forever. she continued to talk about the dollar store, lipstick that doesn't fade, sea salt scrubs, something about "Jesus is dead but sin lives on"

She finally left and when she was gone I turned to Kaylie and we shared a look. What was that?! Super personal questions from a complete stranger. I don't know why these people find me or how? But I couldn't bring myself to be mean and blow her off. All I could do was answer her straight forward and sincerely asked questions and humor her until she decided to go. She was very nice but the situation was unreal. Maybe like something you would see in a television sitcom. But I'm 100 percent sure that situation like this just have a way of finding me and leaving me asking the person next to me...."did that really just happen?"

Don't Touch

I hate when people touch things they shouldn't. This week at work I had a co-worker say to me, "Lori, this mannequin is leaking powder".....I'm sorry, it's what?!!?! For all those who don't work in retail or don't do a lot of visual merchandising that is NOT NORMAL! So I go to check out this situation- when I pull off the arm to get a good look I realize the problem. The hand is broken. A customer decided that instead of asking the associate to remove the shirt, she would just do it herself. first problem- Mannequins have a weird weight distribution and if you are not used to it you will probably drop and or break the mannequin- guess what? they are SUPER expensive and also we can't order more. They are only sent every few years so if you break it I hate you because now my store looks ghetto. The second problem- she replaced the shirt with something ugly. (ugly outfits don't sell. Call me crazy but I don't like my untrained customers who can't even figure out how to coordinate colors to choose my featured items) Seriously Don't touch stuff that isn't yours. Just wait until the associate is available to help you. And if this doesn't deter your impatience you should know that sometimes there can be super painful consequences. I work with mannequins ALL the time. I dress and redress them several times a week and still tonight- while changing the windows- I pinched my finger between the shoulder and arm of a magnetic mannequin's arm. HUGE blood blister that hurts every time I touch anything (seriously its been like 5 hours and it is still throbbing). Too bad that didn't happen to my 'do it yourself' customer. Did I mention she didn't even buy the stupid shirt. She broke my mannequin for no reason at all. So please- if you have a considerate bone in your body- please don't help yourself to the displays at the mall. There are people who are trained to work with that stuff so just let them do their job. Okay? okay!

Not Going to Work?

So yesterday a man used a $100 bill to pay for his items at work. We gave him his change and he walked away. Not two minutes later I'm called over again because this guy has come back and he would like to trade his $20 bill for a new one. "This one has a tear on the corner and I'm not sure it will work"....really?? You are not sure it will work? The only place that bill won't work is in a vending machine and who puts a 20 in a vending machine?? so basically he is either

1. Completely stupid and doesn't realize that legal tender is legal tender ripped or not or

2. He has obsessive compulsive tendencies and doesn't like the idea of money in his wallet which is slightly worn.

Either way the guy is special.

Believe it or not, sometimes I know what I'm talking about

Yesterday at work we were running a promotion- Spend $100 get $40 off. We were totally busy...and I jumped on a register to help move the line along. The customer who came up had a jacket he was purchasing and it rang up for $98. Being the nice person I am I asked him if he wanted to grab a pair of socks or something else to get his total to $100. He declined. I restated it by saying, "you know if you add on a pair of socks they will be free and it will save you $40. He again said "no I'll just take the jacket". WHAT THE?!?! no. Normally I'm all about respecting the agency of others but seriously I could not, in good conscience, let this guy pay $100 when he could walk out with the same item for $60. So I told him I was going to grab him a chap stick- he could give it to him mom, his sister, keep it or throw it away but I was adding it on for him. I grabbed a yummy mint flavored "gap-stick" and saved the guy $40. Honestly, he was about 16 or 17 years old and probably thought I was trying to sucker him into something. which I wasn't.

I had a few other people who were also lacking in common sense...there were others who were spending $70 and didn't want to spend the time to find $30 worth of free stuff. Its like they didn't understand that they would be paying the same amount and getting more stuff. who doesn't want that?? I think people need to make sure when they leave the house they need to bring their brains along because sometimes retail people really are just trying to get you the best deal-especially since I don't work on commission. Sometimes it pays to set your ideas aside and listen to what you are being told...

What do you love?

wow, two posts in one day...but I'm thinking right now and I'm not sure that will continue over until tomorrow. Last week our corporate offices sent out some rubber wrist bands...you know the ones that come in different colors and have slogans on them. Anyway...Not sure how many people know this but Gap was founded by Don and Dorris Fisher in 1969 (which is why all of our jeans say 1969 on the tag- that is not a distinguishing feature as many people like to think). Well, he was noted for saying "do what you love" and that is the phrase that was printed on this bracelet. We had a visit today from our regional director so I put the bracelet on-even though I HATE things on my wrists- and I wore it all day. On my way home it was bugging me and at a stoplight I stopped to read it again. "do what you love" and I started thinking...what do I love to do??

I love to sing. I love musical theater. I love genealogy. I love to read. I love to dance. I love to have long talks with good friends. I love to meet new people. I love to people watch. I love to solve problems. I love to learn. I love the temple. I love the gospel. I love pictures. I love to scrapbook. I love stained glass. I love history. I love philosophy and psychology. I love Disneyland. I love airplanes. I love to take ugly pictures. I love to laugh. I love to dress up. I love to just be silly. I love to make people smile. I love to write. I love to help people. I love so many things- and I don't make time for hardly any of them anymore. Life is too short not to enjoy. You are right Don, I need to make more time to do what I LOVE!!

Use your words...

I manage people for a living. So whenever I go to other establishments I notice the employees, mostly asking myself if I would have hired this person. well, last night I went to a frozen yogurt place with some friends. This particular one closed at 11pm and since I work retail I never stay somewhere after they close. I always leave right at closing. So at 10:58 the girl working walks over to the front door and locks it. And let me just tell you -it wasn't the type of lock that only locks from the outside but you can still push open and exit. Also let me tell you that my friends and I were not the only people in this place...half the PG cheerleading team was there as well. At her not so subtle hint my friends and I decided to leave. I walked over to the door- knowing full well that I would have to unlock it to get out but I wanted to see what this employee was going to do. I start to push on the door and she runs over and says, "oh sorry" all innocent like she was unaware that there had been 12 people in her store when she locked the door and we wouldn't be able to exit....I mean come on, she can't be THAT stupid. She's not stupid-she's passive aggressive. Here is my problem with her actions, if you want people to leave just come right out and say it...."Hey guys thanks so much for coming in tonight but I have to lock up now", or "we are closing in about five minutes", or "can I help you with anything else before we close"....LOTS of ways to get your point accross without locking your patrons in the building. Just some advice, making people feel awkward has never been agreat customer service technique....save the not so subtle hints and use your words!

If I only had a brain...

I'm at work today- drawing floor maps for our inventory that is next week- and I see a woman just in front of me on her phone. I don't know why but something she said caught my attention....please keep in mind that its about 2:45pm at this particular moment.....

this is her conversation:

"what time is conference?"

"2-4? well we'd have to leave right now and we're still at the mall!"

"oh yeah we could go to the 4 o'clock session"

"totally, we'll grab something to eat and meet up with you for the 4 o'clock session"

gets off the phone walks over to her mom and says, "yeah mom, we are going to meet up with her for the 4pm session"

Really? are people that stupid? you have already missed 45 min of the session so even if you left NOW you wouldn't make it. (benefit of the doubt: maybe she is from California and her watch wasn't set to current time so she thought it was 1:45-although her cell should have reset when she crossed time zones) Also, and most importantly, there is no 4pm session, unless you live on the east coast...but being as you are standing right in front of me, it is safe to say you are currently in Utah and STILL missing that session. There is a 6pm session but since you are not male you aren't invited to that one...so either way, looks like you are not going to get much out of conference today. my suggestion...you should activate your brain or talk more quietly on the phone so others, such as myself, don't overhear your conversations and judge you. And I am...because even though I grew up in California and my instinct tells me conference is at 9 and 1...my brain kicks in fairly quickly and I remember what time zone I'm in...

sorry lady, but it looks like you are missing more than just conference...

Captain Creeper

so ya'll know that I work at the mall. I am not a shopper so I usually walk into my store, work my shift, and walk back out without looking at anyone or anything. Well today was different. Today I had a gift certificate in my wallet for another store in the mall and I had an hour and a half until my voice lesson. So shopping I went. (if you consider a music store and bath and body works shopping) Anyway, outside my store is a kiosk that sells something...I never have really noticed what. There is a girl who works there and I think her boyfriend works somewhere in the mall- at least I hope he does because he's there all the time. well a few weeks ago - the first time I really noticed the couple- I was opening the gates to my store and they were sucking face. seriously people I thought he was going to swallow her tongue. gross. Since then I see him everyday. He comes and visits her at work- which at the kiosk there is no manager to object. Anyway- so today- I left work on my way to the music store and the face sucking hormone was sitting on a bench next to the kiosk staring and winking at his girlfriend. no big deal right....maybe he's picking her up because she's off soon. well and hour and a half later when i'm leaving the mall to go to my voice lesson, senior slobber face is STILL on the bench. Same bench- still making wink faces at the girl. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! that is just creepy. I don't care if you are dating. to sit and watch someone work for over and hour is a bit obsessive and says to me that this is an unhealthy relationship. Heaven help them if things don't work out- I have a hunch it will be a really messy break up. But captain creeper just weirds me out...maybe she will get fired and they can take their lusty liason and park it outside someone else's store.

Some people's wives...

Ugh some women- I seriously have to question their common sense. Let me back up. So today i'm leaving work and my co-worker says to me (about the UPS delivery) "Look Lori, we have lights" at that exact moment the power in the whole building shuts off. No lights, no music, no power. Awesome.
I stayed around for a few minutes just to help get things settled and in my very slow exit from the dark store I heard this conversation about 4 times in less than five minutes
WORK: "i'm sorry ladies, the power has gone out. we have called mall security and they are trying to get things going again"
Stupid woman: "the power is out? do you have register capabilities?"

Are you serious? I wanted to say, "well, when the power goes out at your house does your PC still work? HELLO- a register is a computer. Good ol' IBM. NO it does NOT work when the power goes out. It is a clothing store not a hospital...there is no "emergency generator". Your purchase or return is NOT life or death. If you can't say something smart don't say anything at all...

Entitlement syndrome

Lets say you are walking through the mall with a pack of fruit snacks, fries, wheat thins..whatever snack you so desire...and I walk by and just help myself, "thank you I've been starving". You would probably be bugged or shocked at least....yes as you should be. That would be wrong of me and I would be, dare I say it, stealing from you. What is the definition of stealing?

1. To take (the property of another or others) without permission of right.

Yes that about sums it up so if that is not ok for me, why would ANYONE think it is ok to come into my place of work, reach over my register and help themselves to a coupon that I had not given them, that was not easily in their reach or facing them. The coupon did not say "please take one " or in some cases, "please take as many as you'd like". Seriously, people come in my store all the time and just help themselves to as many coupons as they would like. Perhaps if the coupon applies to you, you could wait until I offer it to you. It will save some embarrassment when I ask you to put it back because it doesn't apply to you. Crazy women- I won't steal your kids crackers if you don't steal my coupons. No matter how much money you want to save, no matter how bad your 18 month old NEEDS that coat it is NOT ok to just take stuff from behind my register. You are suffering from entitlement syndrome. you do not deserve everything you want just because you are breathing. sorry but you don't.

Hello??

I was working the morning shift today and let me begin by explaining that weekday mornings at the mall are not super exciting. There aren't too many people shopping right when we open. So to keep myself from being bored and having the day drag on I was working on running our new shipment. Anyway I was running out of hangers and there was one customer in the store with her two kids. I took the opportunity to run into the back room and grab the hangers I needed. Once I got back there the phone started ringing. Pretty typical...as soon as you walk away from the register the phone rings. I grabbed my hangers and as I opened the door back to the sales floor the phone stopped ringing. "cool, someone else picked it up". As I walked around the corner to the registers I realized yes someone else did get the phone..only this 'someone' was less than 3 feet all and probably 3 years old. As I tried to digest the situation and how to handle it I just looked at this small child saying "hello. hello. hello." And then I heard a woman's voice on the other side saying the same, "Hello??" I grabbed the phone explaining to the woman that I just wasn't fast enough and was relieved to find out it was an employees daughter...so funny and definitely a first!