The joys of being severely understaffed.

[StarsAreFixed]

I work in a really large, really popular lower-end department store. I'm also blessed to be working in a city centre flagship one. In my store, there is ONE tillbank for the whole of ladieswear, footwear, handbags and accessories, and hosiery. Which can work well when we have enough staff for them!

Sundays are particularly bad because we get paid time and a half on sunday so the store cuts hours most severely on Sundays. They also like to go by the delusion that Sundays are quiet.

This morning, a severely hungover me manned the tills by myself for three hours straight. There.was.nobody else in my section whatsoever until 2 o'clock. Nobody on the floor, just me! Which of course meant no cover for a desperately needed lunch....

All day long:

SC: This is ridiculous, I've been waiting 15 minutes in that queue!
Me: Sorry, there's no-one else in just yet
SC: This is outrageous! Can;t you page more people on? rant rant blah blah voice escalating....

I thought I just answered that..there isn't more people full stop.

SC: Can you check this for me in a size...
Me: I'm sorry, I can't leave the checkout (with a queue 10 deep), there isn't anyone else. I can page a manager for you to check.
SC: Why can't you do it! Forget it!

SC: Why isn't there any staff on the floor?
Me: There isn't anyone else in just yet, just me at the moment
SC: Well why aren't you on the floor? I had to walk all the way up here to get to the checkout!
Me: (Eh HELLO where else would a SOLE member of staff be, HMM? What would you have me do, be more visible and encourage customers waiting to pay to rob the place blind or something?) Sorry, there isn't anyone else for checkout.

SC: Is there another fitting room?
Me: Just this one here *points*
SC: But there's no one on that one! It's completely insecure (from..the ravaging beats of a sunday morning?
Me: Sorry there isn't anyone else in just yet (...over and OVER aggh) so there won't be anyone on it for another few hours!
SC: Ridiculous!


AGHHHHHHHHHH

[depechemodefan]

*gives cookie to StarsAreFixed* though probably what the customers wanted, a cookie or additional 75% off for the inconvienence.

[Bloodsoul]

I'd like to enquire about these "ravaging beats." Hip hop? Heavy metal? Psychadelic polka?

I hate those days being the only one in a particular department, especially when something that needs lifting requires two or more people.

[vstorevigilante]

I feel your pain 100% on this one.

I used to cover 6 departments at a time at Hell-Mart, all the hardlines (except autmotive) plus Pets and Toys, and my store was GIGANTIC, and I'd have to mix paint for someone, leave the paint shaker shaking while running over to sporting goods to sell amunition, then down to pets to get someone a fish, then back up to give the customer their paint. And of course, there were the constant cry/complaints of "WHY AREN'T THERE MORE PEOPLE HERE?" and "I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 10 MINUTES! WHY CAN'T YOU PAGE SOMEONE ELSE?"


There is no one else.

Makes you wanna hit your head off a wall.


EDIT: This apparently is my first unmoderated post! I didn't even know my posts were approved now. Exciting : )

[Shalom]

I know exactly what you go though, believe me.

I've had people threaten to call Corporate and complain; my response was usually something like, "Seriously, I wish you would. Maybe they'd finally send me some more help here. They don't listen to me when I ask them, but if enough customers complain they might listen to you."

[Food Lady]

I know exactly what you go though, believe me. I've had people threaten to call Corporate and complain; my response was usually something like, "Seriously, I wish you would. Maybe they'd finally send me some more help here. They don't listen to me when I ask them, but if enough customers complain they might listen to you."

I've done exactly this, only to get in trouble for too many customer complaints about the waiting and the mess in the dining area. (I worked in the cafe at the time). I was by myself in the middle of the Christmas season.

[SourRobot]

All day long:

SC: This is ridiculous, I've been waiting 15 minutes in that queue!
Me: Sorry, there's no-one else in just yet
SC: This is outrageous! Can;t you page more people on? rant rant blah blah voice escalating....

Yeah, as if the store keeps extra employees in cages in the back, just waiting to come out and go work on the floor. I've been in that situation many times. I don't even apologize anymore.

[dalesys]

Yeah, as if the store keeps extra employees in cages in the back, just waiting to come out and go work on the floor...

Shh ssh ssshhh schaddup! You'll give ooper manglemunch idio-deas!

[Deadpool]

Ugh, I *hate* people who feel the need to barge through a line of people so *they* can be the center of attention to employees. At Barnes and Noble during X-Mas, I had at least *one* person who would do this every week, would walk over to the counter as I was ringing up a long arse line of people and *demand* I help them find whatever movie or CD they were looking for. God forbid you told them they've have to wait while I rang up customers, as they would get all "Ugh! Oh! I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! How *dare* you not help me this instant!"