Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Argh! She's back *WARNING * WARNING * LONG POST / RANT * WARNING * WARNING

SOOO.... the lead sales associate (Mariam) has been gone since before Thanksgiving on a leave of absence. Hooray! Let's all throw a party! Well, she wasn't supposed to be back until almost the end of this month. Unfortunately, she came back early and came back to work on Sunday. Boo!

On her second day of work, tensions are high and so are emotions! My boss (the store manager) came in and asked how were things going. I told her, that was yet to be seen. Later when I talked to her on my way out, she said she could sense that things were tense. First, let's start with the whole "I'm not capable of being in petite" attitude Lesa has towards me. Every time. I was already in petite and Sarah was in front. So Mariam was supposed to be in front right? Not according to her. She sends me up front with two bags of shipment (which by the way, I only finished like half of one) while she rings people up. When I went on my break, I told her that I had TWO customers in the fitting room trying on SKIRTS. Later on, she asked me to sign a return because the customer bought TWO skirts on a charge card, but changed her mind and wanted to open a store charge card with us. So, she returned the items onto the original charge card and rang up the new sale. It was my customer, but she took the sale. Do you have any idea what two skirts cost in our store? That had to have been like a $220 sale.

Things got busy and it was just Mariam and me on the floor. Naturally, I handled the customers while she rang and rang ... oh yeah and rang up some more customers. So tell me. How did she get to have a 1300 dollar day when she didn't help that many people and all she did was ring, and ring ... oh yeah and take sales that should have been mine? Did she put things in a fitting room for a customer? Did she go in and check to see if anything was needed? Did she tell customers where to find things and found things for them? Did she clear the fitting rooms and fix the go backs and actually put them back on the floor? Noooo because she was behind the register the whole freaking time. Then she has the NERVE to get mad at me and glare at me from behind the register because I was leaving the floor to check on my customers. She has eyes. She can watch the front of the store while I'm ASSISTING my customers. And the whole glaring thing? Not appropriate. In fact, I had one customer once come up to me to say it was wrong the way Mariam had spoken to me. I bet if she was there, she would've said the same thing. In fact, one of the customers I was helping asked me if I was going to be able to come in and help her. On the sales floor she had mentioned that she was going to need help putting together some outfits. She ended up buying like three or four outfits. If she was a secret shopper, I hoped I would gotten a good review. Because I can guarantee you ... had there been a secret shopper today ... it wouldn't have been good. Unless it was her.

That same customer had a large sale because I helped pick things out, pull things, suggested things ... basically gave her the best SERVICE possible. Because that's what I'm supposed to do. And while I was doing this, I talked up the store's charge card with her and she said she was interested in opening one. I totally anticipated Mariam taking credit for opening the charge, like she took credit for putting the "out of order" sign on the bathroom door (which Sherisse did. Well, Mariam did put up a sign, if you can call it that. Sherisse took it down and put up a REAL sign). Thankfully, Sherisse came out and noticed there were like five or six people in line and I was still in the front of the store. She came out and I told her what was going on. So, she took over in front so I could take care of my customer.

1300. Are - you - serious. 1300. Just from standing behind the register for four and a half hours. Four and a half. I was there for seven hours, on the floor for a little over six. I made twice as much, but then again, I was running all over the store helping customers. I was doing my job. And being glared at and talked down to while I was doing it. Someone explain to me why SHE is still there?

Not only that ... but while the rest of us mall employees have to park on the roof of the parking structure (which is only three levels), she parks on the second floor. Every time. I don't know what she's doing now with the holiday restrictions. But I am glad I don't close with her any time soon. And then there's the issue with the back door. It's the door in petite that leads to the parking structure. The one that people LOVE to use as a mall entrance when the mall entrance is only a few feet away. Lazy dumb mall people. Anyway, we're not supposed to use this door when we come into the store. But lately, that rule hasn't been enforced. One time I used it because I was late coming to work. I was coming in from that side of the mall because I had parked on the street because getting into the parking structure was crazy stupid impossible. I was already late and I didn't want to go into the mall entrance walk the entire length of the store to enter through the missy entrance. Did I mention I was REALLY REALLY late? I walked in through petite, put my stuff away, and came out and clocked in. Mariam asked me which door did I come in and I told her and explained why. She tsked tsked, frowned, and said I'm not supposed to use that door. I bet she doesn't do that to the other Armenian associates. In fact, she NEVER talks or acts the same way towards them as she does me and Sherisse.

And, by the way ... just this week I was running late (but I actually made it to work just barely on time) and I used that same entrance that I'm "not" supposed to use. My boss was right there and she said it was okay, she understood. Hello? See the big difference there? She didn't tsk tsk or frown at me. In fact, she smiled!

Speaking of parking (okay I know this is getting pretty long. But I just need to rant) ... I am so glad we're down to the last week of no parking at the mall. It is stupid really. Can't they reserve a section on the roof for employee parking? After all, they have a section of the mall for VALET parking. Valet parking. Are - you - serious. It's funny because customers get so offended for us when we tell them that we're not allowed to park at the mall. Yeah, sure, they do have arrangements for us to park somewhere else and then shuttle us to the mall. The L.A. Zoo, in fact. Hello. Most of us drive past the mall in order to get to the zoo. I know I do. It'll take me longer to get from the zoo to the mall than it actually does for me to get from my house to the mall. That came up because I had a customer today who said it was crazy to find parking. I told her I was lucky to find the spot I did. She asked me where i parked. I told her on one of the residential streets. She asked me, "the mall doesn't let you park here?" She thought it was ridiculous that we have to park either at the zoo or find something on the street. I will be so glad when all of this is over. No more stupid parking situation. No more stupid hours.

Speaking of hours ... now we're open till ELEVEN. Who goes shopping at ten o'clock at night? Apparently no one because we only had one person come into our store yesterday night after nine. And guess what? Our lights in the store are set on a timer. One set turns off automatically at 10:15. The next set goes at 11:15. So, the store is closed and we're still in there ... practically in the dark. Now how stupid is that?

Friday, December 14, 2007

"I don't care"

That's what a customer said to me today. "I don't care." What didn't she care about? That I was helping another customer!

Here's how it happened. This lady, we'll call her Ruby (first name that popped in my head. No offense to any Ruby's out there), comes in and shops around. She selects several pairs of pants. I started a room for her and continued to add things to her room. By the time she was done, she must have at least 25 items in her room. I checked on her a few times and took things that she didn't need. I was also helping another customer at the same time. My other customer finished first and I was ringing her up and opening a charge. Ruby tells me she needs another size in a certain pant. I tell her that I will be with her in a moment. While she is in the fitting room and I am at the register, she calls out that she needs help. I tell her we will be right with her. When I finish up with my customer, I go in and she tells me that she has been waiting. I explain and apologize, saying that I was with another customer. That's when she tells me quite angrily that she did not care. She was waiting. So, I go and check for the pant she needed, which I didn't have. I take everything out of her room. She puts about four or five pairs on the counter. Tries on about five more pairs.

THEN when I ring her up, after I already scanned everything, she produces a birthday discount card. I have to go back and manually change each item. When I tell her that her purchase must be made on her charge card, she says she's done this before and they never said it had to be on her charge card. My manager, sensing Ruby's rudeness, steps in and says it says so on the discount card that her charge must be present. We try to look up her charge, but no account is coming up. I call customer service for them to look it up. The customer service guy I got sounded very cute over the phone. Because of Ruby's unusual last name, I couldn't just say it, so I had to spell it to Matt (the customer service guy). Even Matt said it shouldn't be hard to look up her account because her last name was such an unique name. He couldn't find the account and we doubt she even had one. How she got her hands on a birthday discount is beyond me. Ruby changes her mind about using her birthday discount, so I had to go back and manually change everything again. She notices a new pair of denim jeans and asks me where they are. I have to go into the stock room and bring her out two pairs, one in petite and one in regular. She tries them both on and another pant, adding only one more to her purchase. Good grief.

Also, another customer came in and I mentioned to her the discount we were offering to our customers. She replied, "is that all?" I said, "It's better than nothing." She went to the front of our store, where we had another sales associate. The other associate mentions the discount and she didn't make a comment about it to her like she did to me. Then we had another customer come in, who had also come in the previous two days. She was looking for a sweater in size medium and not having any luck. Not only was she not having any luck, but she was leaving behind a trail of destruction as well!

If only I had a PS3...

...

But wait! My cousin does!

Can't wait for THE SHOW

Monday, December 10, 2007

Update on Chloe 12/8

I saw Chloe yesterday. She looks good! It was good to see her participate in the Sunday school Christmas Program. I wish I could've been there. It was the first Christmas Program I have ever missed in all my years of going to Sunday School. I thought about that while I was at work. This was my first Christmas Program I didn't go to. It's been quite a few years since I've been in one (Sunday school wise I mean). But that's part of growing older. And quite frankly ... I don't like being up on stage anyway. Still ... my favorite programs had to have been "The Case of the Missing Christmas" and "Lone Star Gulch."

Team in Training!!! 12-8-07

Yay!! We just finished 10 miles today...we are now officially in the double digits!! Wooo hoo!!!! Go Team in Training!!

Chloe met the team along with Danya our other honored team mate. They were there to cheer us along. We have walkers, runners and cyclists...we all made it! Our entire team is up to 124 thousand in fund-raising and our OC Team alone has raised over 50 thousand to date. Thank you all so much for donating to this super important cause!
By the way, I came in second place overall for total dollars raised...but some checks that came in last night put me in first place!! Thank you!!!! Now it's time for an ice bath..oh joy!


Awesome update on Chloe 12-05-07
I am happy to announce that Chloe made her numbers today (855) and will be starting her last phase of treatment tomorrow morning!!
Please pray for her procedure tomorrow, she will get a lumbar puncture where they will inject chemo into her spine. Not her favorite procedure.

This phase lasts for about three years but it is the final phase of her treatment. Yay!!! We are so happy to be able to finally get there!! Thank you all for your continued support and many prayers. We love you all!!


Love and thanks,
Karla & Family

Team in Training Update...12-01-07

Thank you to those of you that have donated to LLS so far!! We only have a few hundred more to go!! Wow!!! Our NINE mile training was this morning....and we are looking forward to TEN miles next Saturday!! In the mean time we are training 5 days a week to be totally prepared for the LA Marathon March, 2nd...yahoo!! Our Team is pushing to get to the 100 thousand dollar mark....we will be able to fund an entire grant!!! Our little ol team is bringing in the bucks and it is going to help SO many that are fighting blood cancers. Thank you so much for your support!!

(Now it's time for a lovely ice bath)

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Say it isn't so....

Randy Wolf ... Padres.... say it isn't so!

Okay, I discovered this bit of news while checking for MLB News on my phone. My reaction: "No!!!!!" Well, I really wanted Randy to come back to the Dodgers. However, at least he's staying in the NL West. So hopefully (if he stays healthy) I can see him pitch in Dodger Stadium more than once this year. And I'm hoping to find a way to get him to sign my scrap book. There's an article that I saved that I would like him to sign.

It's interesting when I check my stats, that most of the people who read my blog are referred to it from a google search. Does that mean the majority of the people who read this thing are people I don't know or don't know me? Is that a good thing? Well, seeing that no one comments on anything ... I guess I'll never know the answer. How long do these people stay on anyway? Does my blog answer whatever it is they were googling for?

Anyway, with the holiday season almost over (okay half over, but I'm looking forward to the end) ... I'll post a blog later about how I feel about this holiday season and some of the stupidity that I have to put up with.

Now onto some baseball stuff... I was over at Diane's today and we looked through her yearbook from her senior year. Anyone know who Steve Lyons is? Well, I got to see what he looked like when he was a senior in high school. They attended the same high school. Also, looks like we're getting another outfielder ... Andruw Jones. Sounds like the rumor that they were going to move Juan Pierre to left may come true. Does that mean they're platooning Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier? Hello, have we not learned our lesson yet? We need to keep those two in the line up regularly and not platoon them. Stick Andre in left and Matt in right. Too bad we can't get rid of Pierre. And hopefully Jones works better than Pierre did.

Only a few more months till baseball season starts. Does that mean I'm going to have to change my daily route once baseball season starts?

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Update on Chloe 11-30-07

Update on Chloe 11-30-07
Chloe did not make her numbers today ...the hospital just called and she is a bit short at 682.
They will take her blood again on the 7th and see if she can start on Thursday the 8th. Please keep praying...we are well on our way. Just a little bit more...and we will be there. God is in control and He knows best....and this is all in His time not ours.

With much love and thanks!!!

Karla

Prayer Request for Chloe....11-27-07

3 days ago
Please pray that Chloe makes her numbers on Friday's blood draw. If she does, she can start her next phase Monday the 3rd of December. She needs to be greater than 750...

Thank you all for your prayers...

Love,

The Diemer Family