My otherwise wonderful summer had one major pitfall and the whole reason why I felt like the whole season was a waste.

I had to get a part-time job. I don't need the extra cash, though making roughly $200/wk wasn't a bad deal.

Still, its a stressful job. I was hired right away to work at the FoodTown Deli counter. I can't argue with the many wonderful people I met there and got the chance to work with.

But its the rushes that are the worst. Not to mention you have to always have to be doing SOMETHING. If you're not working or doing something to contribute, you're adapt to get fired.
But none of the people who got fired this summer got fired because of being idle on the job. I'll go into the details later. But quite a few people got fired (new-hires all of them) cuz of stupidity. One of which was one of my closest friends.

Anyways, its good 2b back
[Edited 9/2/08 11:24am]

I worked retail for 9 years (housewares dept. at Macy's) and I came away from the experience with the firm understanding that Long Island has more than its fair share of whining, rude, obnoxious people with too much money, too much time on their hands, and no common sense.

Some of the stories I could tell.....

PurpleJedi said:

9 years... I commend u for sticking it out for that long. I only had to work for a couple of months over the summer.
I know that I definitely don't want to do THAT all my life. That's why Im in college now, but I don't have a clue what Im going to do once I graduate

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Two words for you; GOOD INTERNSHIP

Take advantage of whatever Student Services your school provides to land a good internship. That way when you graduate, you have contacts, advice, and hopefully a goal.

My internship stunk...which is why I had to keep Macy's even after I graduated.

PurpleJedi said:

It'll be difficult getting one of those, seeing as I dont have a car.
But i'll look into Career services this year since its my last year and see what i can find.

Yep. Worked at two different McD's through high school and then during college. Most of the time near the end I would work the closing shift and be content washing dishes in the back while other people had to put up with the stupid customers. They even infiltrated my dreams, although I had my revenge in those same dreams. Once I reached across the counter and started to strangle an old lady for being stupid, and another time I took out an automatic assault rifle (conveniently placed under the counter for some reason) and mowed down all the customers in the place. Oh man...that was so liberating!

Dammit, why cant alot of people who work in shops actually count?

I am not meaning you, but yesterday, I paid £7.10 for something.. gave her £10.20 and she couldnt do the maths.

Oh and I worked in my Mums shop for years during my school years..


can't spell edit..
[Edited 9/3/08 9:07am]

REDFEATHERS said:

Sometimes you get bonus money back when they can't count, though.

I remember one time this one prick gave me a few dollars and change for his meal, and while I'm still counting the damn money he goes all ape-shit on me and tells me that he gave me THIS much and by subtracting the price I owe him THIS much in change, not even giving me enough time to do anything about it. I was hoping he'd choke on his food. Asshole.

I use 2 work at an Adult Book Store in Sin City (Las Vegas) and that was mos deff a diff job ! We got all kinds of perverts,freaks,sexual deviants,etc. The best part was we had 2 test drive all battery operated devices ! Well not literally,we kept a bucket of diff size batteries 2 test em and make sure they worked B 4 the customer left the store? We had a strict "No Return Policy" Well this guy and his girlfriend R shoppin' one day, and while she's still lookin' around.He cums up 2 the counter with 5 diffrent coloured and size vibrators and dildos;and I say;"Sir I am gonna have 2 try those 2 see if they work B 4 U leave"? He turns around looks at his lady friend and says;"Honey Cum here,he wants 2 test these on U and make sure they work"! I was a lil embaressed and back peddled fast and explained the store policy! Needless 2 say that was a fun job ! I worked there 4 a year on the graveyard shift. And needless 2 say I did have a few hook ups and sexual escapades during my time of work !
[Edited 9/4/08 3:25am]

TMPletz said:

Damn yeah.. there was a woman chatting away to her colleague completely ignoring me, so when I got her attention and she served me, I handed over £10 note and still talking to her friend, gave me back change for a £20.

Working retail is hard and thankless. And since most people hired for these jobs are young the bosses tend to take advantage of you.

NDRU said:

Good point

I've been taken advantage OF and I've taken advantage of those who were hired after I was. I even took advantage of the guy who got hired the day before me, pushing some of my workload on him
I miss him to death, though, because he got busted for doing drugs outside of the store. I thought he knew better than that and since then, I hadn't seen him.

There were a couple of people who got hired after me, both hired the same day actually and I intentionally/unintentionally gave them some of my work to do. Turned my back and let them take the more difficult customers, which I didnt know would be difficult

Sorry, but I can't handle hearing people bitch about their part-time jobs if the only reason they got the job was spending money.


If you don't like it and you don't need it, JUST QUIT ALREADY!


And stop annoying those of us who actually do need the work.

meow85 said:

it wasn't like I had a choice. My parents said I had to get a part-time job the past summer because I "need the experience."
If it were up to me, I wouldn't have gotten one at all and spend last summer doing absolutely nothing

My pain is yours as well.

I used to work behind the counter and I hated hearing people complain or come in a store in a bad mood then take it out on you.

But then I understand why your parents did such a thing. As I myself am a parent, my daughter is taking Service Learning which is a class they have for all 7th-8th Graders in our area. And teaches them skills on how to interact with the public and prepares them for the working world.

I grew up working in my grandmothers restaurant which she still has(35 years) and can tell you I learned ALOT from my grandmother.I started out washing dishes, then cook, then finally waitressing. Waitressing is where I learned the most. I learned HOW to interact with customers and people and how to behave or talk to them in order for the patrons to keep coming back. And yes, the tips. The tips was a reminder ofme working my tushy off and I learned if I really wanted something I had to work or earn to get it. And I appreaciated it more as well. I even earned enough while working in one summer I bought my family Christmas presents that year. And I even bought my self a few things along the way.

Working a counter job isnt that bad , its what you make of it.

Edited for spelling errors
[Edited 9/13/08 14:01pm]

Ok, well I worked at facist-ass Starbucks for 5 years, and I gotta admit that despite a few low times (especially toward the end)
I loved it there

yeah, the customers were psycho, and there was a good amount of cleaning to do, and the pay could have been better and some of my coworkers were assholes, but overall, I really enjoyed working there.
Pluss some of my bestfriends I have now, I met during my term as a barista

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Still, If you don't like it and you don't actually need it, quit. You're taking hours away from people who really do need the money. We hate it just as much as you, but for us it's not a luxury.