This happened awhile ago. I just remembered it last night. I was ringing up a somewhat edgy looking blonde woman upstairs. I noticed that she had a very nice Japanese character tattoo on her arm. It even had some subtle shadows around it.
Me: "I really like your tattoo. Does it mean anything?"
The woman glances at me coldly and replies curtly, "Evil".
She gathered up her purchuses and walked away after that. My initial impression of her as someone to avoid ended up being correct.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
They Aren't Flamingos, They're Vultures!
I witnessed this on the way back from one of our remote gift shop locations. Another classic example of people saying the funniest things.
Woman with a stroller: "Look kids, vultuers!" *pauses upon realizing what she said* "I mean, flamingos!"
I waited until she was mostly out of ear shot before I burst out laughing. I passed a woman sitting on a bench who was laughing too. Apparently she had overheard what the other woman had said as well and thought it was pretty funny. I chuckled for a good minute over this one.
Woman with a stroller: "Look kids, vultuers!" *pauses upon realizing what she said* "I mean, flamingos!"
I waited until she was mostly out of ear shot before I burst out laughing. I passed a woman sitting on a bench who was laughing too. Apparently she had overheard what the other woman had said as well and thought it was pretty funny. I chuckled for a good minute over this one.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Retail Employee Day
When working in any retail store, you're expected to be courteous, polite, and kind to the customer at all times, even (and especially) when you really don't want to. However, sometimes I really wish I could say what was really on my mind when a customer pushes me too far or is being difficult. When I mentioned this to my boyfriend, who also works in retail, he came up with the idea of a retail employee day. It works like this: 1. Employees do not need to wear a uniform to work on this day. 2. Employees can say whatever they want to anyone (including managers) without getting in trouble as long as they don't use any swear words. 3. Sarcasm is allowed. 4.Employees must still attend to customers. 5. Jobs still need to be completed by the end of the day. 6. No employee is allowed to take this day off if they are scheduled to work. Don't worry, customers will be warned so they don't won't sue the hell out of a retail company for getting bad service. I think it would be best to post signs outside the stores that read:
"Warning! Toady is retail employee day. Expect to be met with sarcasm, rudeness, bluntness, rolled eyes, and possible laughter among other activities and comments in response to your possible impatience, rudeness, self centeredness, spoiled/fat children, etc. etc. etc. We are not responsible for any hurt feelings, annoyance, or discomfort you may experience today. You have been officially warned. Have a nice day :).--The Staff of (insert store here)."
I cannot tell you how many times I've wanted to say something to someone when I couldn't at the risk of losing my job. Normally I like the people I interact with at the zoo, but sometimes even nice people like me can be pushed too far. Below is a list of things I really wish I could say sometimes:
Q: Is there anything for free here?
A: The air is free. Feel free to take as much as you want.
Q: Do you work here?
A: Do you shop here? or No, I just like wearing retail uniforms and badges to confuse people like you.
Q: Can we pay for this up here?
A: No, we just have a register up here for decoration.
To spoiled kids who cannot seem to put things back where they found them: Hey you, want to put that back where you got it? or Didn't your mother ever teach you how do put things away,or are you just so spoiled you expect everyone to pick up after you? or Hey! I'm not your mom! Put that back!
To people in general who don't put things back where they got them: I'm not your mother, okay? Please put that back where you got it! or I'm not paid to be your personal maid. Put that back where you got it please.
To kids who ask me too many questions and can't seem to take the hint when I try to ignore them: Let's play a game. It's called "let's see who can be quiet the longest". or simply: Shut up and leave me alone you annoying little brat! or Go bother someone else for awhile. I'm busy ignoring you.
To the snooty, stuck up, spoiled people: Sorry, we don't serve spoiled brats like you here.
I could go on for ever, but I think you get the idea. I guess what I'm trying to say is, be nice to retail employees. We work hard, and we're people too. We aren't paid enough to be your personal punching bags. Cut us a little slack now and then.
"Warning! Toady is retail employee day. Expect to be met with sarcasm, rudeness, bluntness, rolled eyes, and possible laughter among other activities and comments in response to your possible impatience, rudeness, self centeredness, spoiled/fat children, etc. etc. etc. We are not responsible for any hurt feelings, annoyance, or discomfort you may experience today. You have been officially warned. Have a nice day :).--The Staff of (insert store here)."
I cannot tell you how many times I've wanted to say something to someone when I couldn't at the risk of losing my job. Normally I like the people I interact with at the zoo, but sometimes even nice people like me can be pushed too far. Below is a list of things I really wish I could say sometimes:
Q: Is there anything for free here?
A: The air is free. Feel free to take as much as you want.
Q: Do you work here?
A: Do you shop here? or No, I just like wearing retail uniforms and badges to confuse people like you.
Q: Can we pay for this up here?
A: No, we just have a register up here for decoration.
To spoiled kids who cannot seem to put things back where they found them: Hey you, want to put that back where you got it? or Didn't your mother ever teach you how do put things away,or are you just so spoiled you expect everyone to pick up after you? or Hey! I'm not your mom! Put that back!
To people in general who don't put things back where they got them: I'm not your mother, okay? Please put that back where you got it! or I'm not paid to be your personal maid. Put that back where you got it please.
To kids who ask me too many questions and can't seem to take the hint when I try to ignore them: Let's play a game. It's called "let's see who can be quiet the longest". or simply: Shut up and leave me alone you annoying little brat! or Go bother someone else for awhile. I'm busy ignoring you.
To the snooty, stuck up, spoiled people: Sorry, we don't serve spoiled brats like you here.
I could go on for ever, but I think you get the idea. I guess what I'm trying to say is, be nice to retail employees. We work hard, and we're people too. We aren't paid enough to be your personal punching bags. Cut us a little slack now and then.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Day Camp Horrors
I was outside today selling purple, pink, and blue monkeys for 5 dollars to people walking by. Near the end of the day, this very large group of day camp kids ages 6-10 came out of the zoo to wait for their bus. Normally, I like little kids. They can be cute and fun . . .sometimes. Today was one of those days where I really wish I could say exactly what was on my mind instead of having to be courteous and polite all the time. It wasn't so bad at first. The little kids just asked how much the monkeys were and told me they would buy one if they had the money. Then they started repeating everything. They asked if they could get monkeys for free a million times, they told me stupid little things about themselves that I really didn't care about, they talked to me constantly when they weren't repeating something for the uptenth time. Mostly they just tried to get me to give them a monkey for free or for less than 5 dollars. The thing about little kids is, they can't take a hint. You can ignore them all you want and they'll still blab away at you until the stars fall out of the sky. Honestly, I am not paid enough to put up with this kind of stuff. Nor am I paid enough to be a babysitter.
Needless to say, I nearly did a happy dance when they all fianlly left.
Needless to say, I nearly did a happy dance when they all fianlly left.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Bob the Bear
We have this very large stuffed animal bear in the gift shop. I have no idea how long he's been there, but I know he's been there longer than 4 years, which is how long I've worked at the zoo. He is standing on his hindlegs, making him about 7 feet tall. He used to stand in a corner upstairs and people would often take their pictures with him. At some point, I decided this bear needed a name, so I gave him the very imaginative name Bob.
Often times, people ask me how much the large bear costs. I tell them he's $4,000. $3,500 plus $500 for shipping and handling. Oh, and he comes in black, which I have never seen, unfortuantely :/ One kid responded to the price by saying, "I'll have to start saving then." I'm not sure if he was actually serious or not.
Recently, Bob got moved downstairs. I prefer him upstairs, personally. He keeps me company up there. When I asked one of my managers how they managed to move him, she told me it took five guys. For a stuffed animal, Bob is pretty heavy. And expensive. I'm hoping someone will buy him someday. Though, I kinda like Bob. I have to say the gift shop just wouldn't be the same without him.
Often times, people ask me how much the large bear costs. I tell them he's $4,000. $3,500 plus $500 for shipping and handling. Oh, and he comes in black, which I have never seen, unfortuantely :/ One kid responded to the price by saying, "I'll have to start saving then." I'm not sure if he was actually serious or not.
Recently, Bob got moved downstairs. I prefer him upstairs, personally. He keeps me company up there. When I asked one of my managers how they managed to move him, she told me it took five guys. For a stuffed animal, Bob is pretty heavy. And expensive. I'm hoping someone will buy him someday. Though, I kinda like Bob. I have to say the gift shop just wouldn't be the same without him.
You Can't Erase the Pictures
This story is actually from last summer, but it's rather funny, so I thought I would share it with you.
An older woman comes into the store and asks if she can return a disposable camera. I asked her if there was something wrong with it and she said, no. Her granddaughter wanted to return it because she couldn't erase the pictures.
Yes, it has fianlly happened. There are children out there who don't what a disposable camera is or how to use it. And yes, there are kids out there who don't know how to put film into a "old fashioned" camera. Makes me feel old.
An older woman comes into the store and asks if she can return a disposable camera. I asked her if there was something wrong with it and she said, no. Her granddaughter wanted to return it because she couldn't erase the pictures.
Yes, it has fianlly happened. There are children out there who don't what a disposable camera is or how to use it. And yes, there are kids out there who don't know how to put film into a "old fashioned" camera. Makes me feel old.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Summer of Endless Rain
We've been getting a TON of rain lately. For awhile it was an every afternoon/evening thing. It was so bad, I didn't ride my bike to work for nearly 2 weeks. Around here, this much rain is highly unusual. We're supposed to have hot and dry summers, not muggy and wet summers. Not to say I don't enjoy the rain; it's just really strange to have Seattle like weather around here. And that's not all. We've been getting a lot of tornado warnings too. In some places the alarms would go off about every five minutes.
About a week ago we were experiencing one of the now typical afternoon thunderstorms. Some of the guests asked if we should be in the basement since they heard of a tornado warning nearby. Origionally, we said everything was fine because the warning was east of us. About ten minutes later, a security guard comes in and tells us that we have to send the guests to the basement of guest services or to the parking garage. Not sure of what else to do, we do as we're told only to be informed five minutes later that it wasn't necessary to send the guests below ground. Needless to say, it was a really hectic day, especially since the guests tend to take cover in the gift shop during the rain, making it very crowded and noisy.
Last Friday I saw the craziest rain I have ever seen in this area in my entire 22 years of life. I was upstairs when I heard booming thunder followed by the sound of pounding rain on the roof. Looking outside I could see sheets of diagonal rain blowing through the parking lots. Rivers of rain streamed down the windows and the branches of trees shivered fiercely in the gusts of wind. It looked like images of hurricanes that I've seen on TV, only, this is a land locked state. We don't get hurricanes. Anyway, there were a lot of people who ran through the rain to take cover in the gift shop. Many of them were drenched from head to toe with water still dripping from their noses. A softball team from Alaska asked me when the rain would stop. When I found out that they weren't from around here, I told them that the saying goes that if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change. However, the rain could easily last from 15 mintues to all night to days. Around here, it's impossible to predict the weather and how long it will last. As it turns out, the crazy rain lasted about 20-25 minutes before giving way to bright, warm sunshine.
Yep, that's how it works around here. Crazy huh?
About a week ago we were experiencing one of the now typical afternoon thunderstorms. Some of the guests asked if we should be in the basement since they heard of a tornado warning nearby. Origionally, we said everything was fine because the warning was east of us. About ten minutes later, a security guard comes in and tells us that we have to send the guests to the basement of guest services or to the parking garage. Not sure of what else to do, we do as we're told only to be informed five minutes later that it wasn't necessary to send the guests below ground. Needless to say, it was a really hectic day, especially since the guests tend to take cover in the gift shop during the rain, making it very crowded and noisy.
Last Friday I saw the craziest rain I have ever seen in this area in my entire 22 years of life. I was upstairs when I heard booming thunder followed by the sound of pounding rain on the roof. Looking outside I could see sheets of diagonal rain blowing through the parking lots. Rivers of rain streamed down the windows and the branches of trees shivered fiercely in the gusts of wind. It looked like images of hurricanes that I've seen on TV, only, this is a land locked state. We don't get hurricanes. Anyway, there were a lot of people who ran through the rain to take cover in the gift shop. Many of them were drenched from head to toe with water still dripping from their noses. A softball team from Alaska asked me when the rain would stop. When I found out that they weren't from around here, I told them that the saying goes that if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it will change. However, the rain could easily last from 15 mintues to all night to days. Around here, it's impossible to predict the weather and how long it will last. As it turns out, the crazy rain lasted about 20-25 minutes before giving way to bright, warm sunshine.
Yep, that's how it works around here. Crazy huh?
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