i work at blockbuster video.
i'm also a former employee of hollywood video.
and west coast video.

and jmd video.

yes...i've worked at a lot of video stores...it's the closest thing i have to a career.

anyways...

there are certain things that i've had to deal with throughout the years that get on my last damn nerve whenever they happen...here's how you can make my life easier...

1.) don't take the time to look in your wallet for the membership card you haven't looked for in years...when there's a line behind you.

2.) don't take forever to go through your fucking money...be prepared goddammit.

3.) speak english...for fuck's sake...speak english.

4.) don't argue over a late charge for a movie that you know damn well you returned late...i know you returned it late...you know you returned it late...just pay the fuckin fine man.

5.) if you ask me if we have a movie in and i say no...don't look through the returns for it like i'm lying to you...like we actually have it in and i just don't want YOU to have it.

6.) don't come in on a busy friday and saturday night and get mad when we don't have the newest shit in stock...you shoulda got the shit before the weekend...sorry you can't watch White Chicks tonight.

7.) don't tell me your life story like i give a fuck about it...seriously...i don't care...just shut the fuck up and get out of my store please.

8.) don't tell me stupid jokes...or make stupid comments like "oh you guys are open on thanksgiving...wow that sucks...they should just let ya'll stay home"...we obviously have to be here cuz of folks like you that want to come in and rent shit...yes it sucks...you don't have to tell me about it...just shut the fuck up and get out of my store please.

9.) if you have little fucking bastard kids who scream, cry, yell, knock shit over, fuck up the shelves, and make a mess out of everything...leave them in the car...seriously.

10.) don't take your frustrations with your marriage or your job or your shitty life in general out on us...we're not the reason you're where your at...you are.

thank you.

i used to work at a video store that was voted "rudest store in NYC". it was a distinction i wore with great pride. were i still working there, i'd print out your list and tack it to the wall.

I thank god you don't work in my area.
You're probably right about all of it, but you chose this job, and you know it's part of it. don't try and change your customers, because you're asking for the impossible.


And a merry Christmas to you

Heavenly said:

true true, but as my favorite ex-boss once said on the topic of working with the public, "we have the ability to inform and educate". ya can't change customers, but you can show them that doing things certain ways brings certain benefits. and you can do it nicely or rudely. i know which is more fun, but i also know which is most effective.

I have 2 more messages:

1. If you don't have a DVD player yet, GET ONE. It's almost 2005 fer fucks sake.

2. Join Netflix. Who goes to video stores anymore? It's almost 2005 fer fucks sake.

and this to the list....


leave the damn customer alone...if I want help ill ask for it

no i DONT work here...ask someone who LOOKS like they do

MPLSRAINBOW said:

Gee service with a smile isn't really your thing isn't it????

Why work overthere if you hate the thing PEOPLE do? Find a job where no one will bother you!!!

origmnd said:

that's the one thing i do really hate as a customer...especially at places like beast buy...i'll have 1,000 MFs in blue vests come up to me asking if i need help. I DIDN'T NEED HELP THE FIRST TEN TIMES I WAS ASKED, BUT NOW I MIGHT NEED HELP - PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP, THAT IS!!!

i know they're pressured into being annoying, but the management should be let in on a little secret: namely, KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY.

OH! and when i *DO* need help, the salespeople are of course always unapproachable or just not around, and when i finally DO get to ask a question, nine times out of ten they have no idea what i'm talking about. "oh, the john waters christmas album? i think i stocked a few copies in the country music section." WTF?!?

Anxiety said:

and co-sign to all of that.

although, I do have to admit that on occasion, I don't mind being pestered at Best Buy since 80% of the staff at the store I go to are stud-a-licious young suburban lads. I'm not usually into twinks, but whatevs...

endorphin74 said:

well, erm...there IS that to factor in....

the job would be great if it wasnt for the fuckin customers -dante from clerks

endorphin74 said:

OMG I noticed that too! Do they do that on purpose? I feel like Madonna in that Material Girl video every time I walk into Best Buy...

Tom said:

Working in retail I can tell you this is because managment makes them. As much as it pissess you off that it happens, the most verbal customers are the ones who walk in expecting such treatnebt and don't get it.

Tom said:

that is my favorite quote today!

paintsprayer said:

but i think if someone walks in looking like ally sheedy out of "the breakfast club" and starts browsing at morrissey CDs, they're probably not going to take well to a big ol' faceful of customer service sunshine. the management really needs to let their employees exercise some discretion, or at least train employees to be less obtrusive.

endorphin74 said:

co-sign

lovemachine said:

netflix rocks rocks RAWKS. everyone should check 'em out.

Anxiety said:

Here is the problem with a national chain, someone a thousand miles away gives the comand to aproach every customer (yes they literaly mean every customer), then they hire mystery shoppers to make sure this is carried out, so local managment makes sure everybody aproaches evryone so they don't get a bad report.

I rented `Lost In Translation.` I handed over the box, as you do, and the girl behind the counter told me "it's not very good y'know." Then waited for me to decide whether I wanted it or not!

"Just give me the god-damned film!" I might have said if I wasn't British.

paintsprayer said:

i know, and i never take it out on the salespeople - i just pretend i'm a high profile celebrity and that they're scandal-starved paparazzi. "can we help you find something today?" "no! please! let me be, i have a private life too, you know!" and once they realize how delusional i am, they tend to eventually give me a wide berth.

I don't bother renting anymore, I just buy it if I think I might like it. But then, I live in Thailand so buying a good DVD9 copy only costs $2.50 anyway. Same for PS2 games. I'd probably be a little pissed if I'd bought all these games for the full price because some of them have been very disappointing, but this way there's no risk if the game is crap.

Tom said:

doctormcmeekle said:

That's SHOCKING!!! But it's worse when they say "Hey, 'Dumb and Dumberest', that's a GREAT movie!"

I'm good customer. I always have my money and stuff out right away, especially when there is a line. As for the newest releases, Blockbuster and especially Hollywood tend to garuntee the biggest movies will be in stock. I love that becuase I'll show up on Saturday night and just pick up a raincheck for the movie without the intention of seeing it that weekend. Shit, I'm not going to pay to see "The Stepford Wives" if I don't have to! It was terrible!

Anxiety said:

I've noticed when I go into any music store (the chain stores cause indie owner's will ignore your ass if possible cause they are talking to their friends...leave them alone!) I only get asked if I need help once (by one person) and then I'm left alone for the rest of the time. It works for me. What doesn't work me is the fact that I know most of the new releases better than the people that work there. It's kind of upsetting that they don't seem to be into music or videos or books or whatever they do. I should work at Media Play, shouldn't I?

Anxiety said:

I should do that since I'm already gettng bored with my membership at Hollywood where I can rent almost any three videos or DVDs (excluding the very new releases, under 21 days old or something) at a time. I find myself walking through there and thinking, "I've either seen it or I have no interest". I find that I've been renting TV shows like a Simpson's Christmas disc and discs filled with "In Living Color" episodes. And I really don't rent stuff I've seen before.

origmnd said:

Exactly! I know it's their job and all, but I HATE when salespeople ask if I need help. I once had a salesperson make me take off my headphones just so she could ask me if I needed help.. Fuck off! If I need help, I'll ask.

I try to be a good customer. Even more so if I think the employees are working minimum wage. Working min. wage myself, I know that they already have enough shit to deal with -from in many jobs having to work harder than what they're being paid for, to bitchy customers who think it's ok to take okay to take out their anger and frustration on them. I also try very hard not to be impatient with trainees -especially if they have to work a cash register. When you're just learning how to use the damn thing, it can be very stressful when you've got a line up of people and make a mistake.
[Edited 12/2/04 1:07am]