I think college students are over qualified for most retail jobs that aren't in a college town. I hate my job - I stand around thinking "I'm worth more than this - I'll be a senior in college - I've got a 3.79 - yet I'm spending my summer straightening video game boxes and being pushed around by a know-it-all manager" Not to mention, I only work 15 hours a week! Not a great way to make much money
The only way I was able to get this job is because I had worked there for 2 other summers, and I promised I'd work on weekends when I came home and over Christmas (which isn't going to happen now because I'm moving to a town about 30 min away - and I'm not going to commute for 5.40/hr!!!)
And about not reading cover letters - I live close to the Stennis Space Center in MS. I've had friends work at the Naval Research Labs office there. I've emailed my resume 5 times maybe. The only time I got a response, they wanted to interview me for full time! They didn't even read that I was looking for a summer job!!!!