Behind the Scenes @ Work

[CarolinaCutie]

From when I worked in jewelry:
- In my experience, ALWAYS buy the service plan when it comes to a nice piece of jewelry. When you buy the service plan, ALWAYS follow the terms of the agreement (usually coming in and having it cleaned and checked every so often). If you do this, the store will usually pay for anything that goes wrong... which can include replacing missing stones, prong retipping, new rhodium plating, all kinds of expensive things. But if you don't buy the service plan, or if you miss your inspection dates, and your big 1 carat stone pops out of its setting... we could care less if it's over 90 days. And you will be mad when you have to replace that big sucker on your own dime.

- We sell jewelry cleaner in a box, but what we use in our store's sonic cleaner is one part Mr. Clean, one part water. Use a toothbrush to get it really clean and don't forget to go behind the setting. People who don't take their rings off much have some really funky and gross stuff back there.

-Don't put your silver in regular cleaner though... use toothpaste for that or a cleaner for silver jewelry.

And from what I do now:
- Dollar store pregnancy tests are not accurate. If you want an accurate test, you need to buy the expensive kind in the store or you need to go to the doctor's office. (that may seem like common sense to some of you, but you never know...)
- You can be still getting some form of period every month and still be pregnant. You can still be pregnant and have a negative urine test. These are things that usually run in someone's family, so if you think you might be pregnant but you're still menstruating or you are still getting negatives at home, ask your mom or other family members who've been pregnant before. Sometimes you need a blood test or an ultrasound to confirm.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by CarolinaCutie

Dollar store pregnancy tests are not accurate. If you want an accurate test, you need to buy the expensive kind in the store or you need to go to the doctor's office. (that may seem like common sense to some of you, but you never know...)

you know, there are some things you shouldnt skimp on... while i'd like to think that generic brand XYZ would work "just like name brand ABC" (as imitations tend to disclaim on their packaging), i would rather just shell the $ out on the good ish.

[KSig RC]

Honestly, is there any reason (besides the small-% cut taken by a CC company, which I believe has already been addressed) why a contractor or 'small business' would take up to TWENTY PERCENT off, other than the 'advantages' afforded by untraceable cash transactions?

Interestingly, 20% would be slightly below the tax burden on that item . . . hm, odd.

"Cash flow" can't be correct, since small businesses almost always live off their credit line for day-to-day costs anyway (and the amount of time needed to make another payment, say check, 'liquid' seems negligible in the grand scheme of things) . . . anything else?

Also, why don't larger businesses do this? Why do many large companies specifically avoid dealing with cash transactions?

[SWTXBelle]

I will never understand why some people believe that if they treat you poorly you will JUMP to take care of them immediately. Yes siree, please treat me like crap! Let me drop everything to take care of YOU, since you are so much more important than everyone else.
I think everyone should have to work one Christmas season in retail. They would then be sooooo much nicer and more understanding. At least in theory . . .

[AlethiaSi]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I will never understand why some people believe that if they treat you poorly you will JUMP to take care of them immediately. Yes siree, please treat me like crap! Let me drop everything to take care of YOU, since you are so much more important than everyone else.
I think everyone should have to work one Christmas season in retail. They would then be sooooo much nicer and more understanding. At least in theory . . .

I TOTALLY AGREE! work in retail or in the service industry (at any time) .... I think people would be a hell of a lot nicer.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I think everyone should have to work one Christmas season in retail. They would then be sooooo much nicer and more understanding. At least in theory . . .

Yes. I think some customers were rude just because they enjoyed the power trip they had over the sales associate. I am always friendly to the sales associates because I know the pain they go through!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

Yes. I think some customers were rude just because they enjoyed the power trip they had over the sales associate. I am always friendly to the sales associates because I know the pain they go through!

Or even more so they just plain think they're better than the sales associate. The number of times I've heard people say "at least I got a college education" is disturbing. (And completely ignores the fact that most salespeople I know have or are getting a college education. Or even a Masters! OMG they're smarter than you! /sarcasm)

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Honestly, is there any reason (besides the small-% cut taken by a CC company, which I believe has already been addressed) why a contractor or 'small business' would take up to TWENTY PERCENT off, other than the 'advantages' afforded by untraceable cash transactions?

Interestingly, 20% would be slightly below the tax burden on that item . . . hm, odd.

"Cash flow" can't be correct, since small businesses almost always live off their credit line for day-to-day costs anyway (and the amount of time needed to make another payment, say check, 'liquid' seems negligible in the grand scheme of things) . . . anything else?

Also, why don't larger businesses do this? Why do many large companies specifically avoid dealing with cash transactions?

Our business doesn't take a % off, but when I work my A/R's, I can see the advantage. We've had smaller bills that took literally 30 phone calls, plus faxes, letters, etc to collect. It's just irritating fighting with a company over $500, when the majority of our invoices are closer to $50,000. Anymore, we only do work for new companies "COD" - you hand the plumber a check and he'll get to work. The old companies that have had a history of slow payments get an extra 35% or so added to their bills to cover collection costs.

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Or even more so they just plain think they're better than the sales associate. The number of times I've heard people say "at least I got a college education" is disturbing. (And completely ignores the fact that most salespeople I know have or are getting a college education. Or even a Masters! OMG they're smarter than you! /sarcasm)

I will agree with this. I worked PT at Bath and Body Works just for the discount, and it was hilarious to see all these people (including management) who thought they were "better" or "smarter" than me. That was until I told them that I have 2 degrees and I'm a chemist at my real job.

[OneTimeSBX]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Or even more so they just plain think they're better than the sales associate. The number of times I've heard people say "at least I got a college education" is disturbing. (And completely ignores the fact that most salespeople I know have or are getting a college education. Or even a Masters! OMG they're smarter than you! /sarcasm)

the sheer rudeness of "adults" has astounded me for years. especially in fast food. when i was 19 i worked at Arbys. i was also pregnant at the time, and fortunate for me, women in my family look 13 until they hit their 20's.

while fixing peoples food, i would actually get criticized for being pregnant at "such a young age". i'd hear things like "you should be ashamed, pregnant at your age, how old are you, 14?" i would always smile sweetly and reply "no, im almost 20 and engaged. next time, you should at least ask if im 16, they dont hire any younger than that here!"

the golden rule applies 110% to customer service. treat me like a d***, and trust me, you will get it back

[Glitter650]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Or even more so they just plain think they're better than the sales associate. The number of times I've heard people say "at least I got a college education" is disturbing. (And completely ignores the fact that most salespeople I know have or are getting a college education. Or even a Masters! OMG they're smarter than you! /sarcasm)

I am friendly UNLESS they tell me they tell me that they cant' do something that I KNOW I could go behind the counter and do myself. PISSES ME OFF when I've worked in a store and KNOW the drill and the associate tells me that they "can't do that"

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

At my house, we celebrate 50% off Chocolate Day on Feb. 15th!

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

50% off candy corn on November 1st!

And whenever Easter is, after Christmas too

Originally Posted by jubilance1922

I will agree with this. I worked PT at Bath and Body Works just for the discount, and it was hilarious to see all these people (including management) who thought they were "better" or "smarter" than me. That was until I told them that I have 2 degrees and I'm a chemist at my real job.

I worked part time at Kohl's 2 years ago and used to laugh at the way this one woman I worked with talked to me. I was just there to catch up on some bills and add spending money for some trips. I wanted to tap her one day and tell her about my book but I just kept putting up the sales signs.

Then there was working at a hotel in college and fellow students' parents would try to talk down to me until I told them I was also matriculating at the school that their son/daughter went to.

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

I worked part time at Kohl's 2 years ago and used to laugh at the way this one woman I worked with talked to me. I was just there to catch up on some bills and add spending money for some trips. I wanted to tap her one day and tell her about my book but I just kept putting up the sales signs.

too funny....last summer Mr. Sageofages worked parttime at a Walmart (in the electronics dept) mostly to prove to Sageofages daughter #1, that YES, anyone can get a job anywhere. The managers were really condescending to him...treated him like some pathetic old guy (he has a really gray beard) who was stuck at walmart etc (he worked evenings and weekends). I mean really talked down to him (and Mr Sageofages is the nicest guy, he just smiled and took it) I dont think the Wallyworld floor managers ever looked at his application or resume.

AT least UNTIL he asked for a couple days off to do a training for his Wells Fargo job. The manager didn't really want to give it off. Mr. Sageofages said "well I have to go for my day job." The Wallyworld manager asked him "Ohhhh, you work somewhere else to make ends meet?" Mr Sageofages replied "WellsFargo as a DBA/Unix SysAdmin and I make $XX per hour, so it is adequate." The Wallyword manager said "Wow I wish I made that". Mr Sageofages said after that he got a whole new level of respect and was treated way nicer.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Glitter650

I am friendly UNLESS they tell me they tell me that they cant' do something that I KNOW I could go behind the counter and do myself. PISSES ME OFF when I've worked in a store and KNOW the drill and the associate tells me that they "can't do that"

I'm not saying there aren't stupid/jerk customer service people. It's the people with the attitude that they're automatically better than people who work in retail. There are plenty of sucky workers, it's just usually easier to complain about them to their management than to get pissed off at them.

[Cardinal026]

Originally Posted by Trey_P-I_47

I have heard stories about bar tending and since you bartend on the weekends, maybe you can help me out.

Is it true that bars will use cheap liquors and put them into expensive brand bottles? For example putting Burnetts or Aristocrat into a Grey Goose bottle, or Jose Cuervo into a Patron Bottle, etc....

I can't speak for all bars...but from the four I've worked in, the answer is absolutely no. On a busy night I'll easily go through three bottles of Grey Goose, and you can see me opening it behind the bar, and throwing away the old bottle. Hope no bars really do that!!!