Long Hellish Weekend makes for long post on CS!

[TattooedMommie]

I havent posted in a while, because for the most part, things in the deli have been mellow. This past weekend, however, the rain went away, the skies brightened, the store was packed, and I just wanted to headbutt someone. I seriously need to look for another job, away from retail, because sooner or later I won't be able to hold my tongue. A few quickies:
Can you be a little more vague, please?
One of my biggest pet peeves. To amalgomize a gajillion fuckheads I dealt wit this weekend: "Can I have some ham/turkey/balogna/cheese?" (uh, we only carry 6 or 7 different brands, each with two or three flavors/types!!)
Or my favorite, which I get more often that I care to even realize: "What's on sale?" (I always want to answer "MEAT!" "CHEESE!") A more interesting version is "I'll take whatever's on sale" (OK, then...four pounds of pickle n pimento loaf coming right up!)


I don't know what you like to eat!!
Seriously. I can't count the number of people who ask *me* what they want. Quick example,from yesterday:
SC:"I want some turkey..."
Me: "Which one would you like?"
SC: "Oh, what do you have?"
(I HATE this question, given the fact that dumbass is standing there looking into a clear glass dispay case, showing every kind we have)
Me: (lists off every kind of turkey we carry)
SC: "Would I like the <brand X, flavor A)?"
How the hell would I know????

Sub-Shop Rant
Our deli has a sandwich/sub/grinder station at the far end, around the corner.Since I am a closer, generally one of my first jobs is to stock the sub-shop, clean it, and close it up. Yes, if a customer requests a sandwich, we must re-open it, and then go through the whole clean-and-close process over again. Average night, I make one to two subs, no biggie. Yesterday was anything but average! Why is it, the minute CW goes on break, I get a deli line 10 people deep, and then a group of five decides to ask "can you make us all subs?". I understand it's part of my job,but how the hell can I be slicing meat for this angry mob AND be around the corner making subs? I may be good, but I am not *that* good! Also, if it's 10 minutes til closing and there's still a half-dozen people in line and 30 minutes worth of cleaning to do, nope, sorry, I'm *not* going to go make sandwiches for you!

I've got a couple actual SC rants but I will post them seperately to save space. I leave you now with a list of things I have had people ask me for this past weekend, yes, in the DELI (ie: a place to get sliced lunch meats, cheese, picnic salads, occasionally sandwiches):
chicken livers, cocktail sauce, rye bread, lemon juice, "thin-stripped sirloin", blueberries, charcoal, trash bags, a grill-brush, and frozen hamburg patties. None of the above items are carried in any deli I've ever heard of. *sigh*

[TelephoneAngel]

I don't know what you like to eat!!
Seriously. I can't count the number of people who ask *me* what they want. Quick example,from yesterday:
SC:"I want some turkey..."
Me: "Which one would you like?"
SC: "Oh, what do you have?"
(I HATE this question, given the fact that dumbass is standing there looking into a clear glass dispay case, showing every kind we have)
Me: (lists off every kind of turkey we carry)
SC: "Would I like the <brand X, flavor A)?"
How the hell would I know????


I understand how you feel, i worked enough retail venues with the same sc, in a gift shop, its my mother's birthday, what do you think she would like? In a chocolate shop - what chocolates would my mother like? In a video shop - What video would my family like to watch tonight?

*sigh*

[Boozy]

I get a deli line 10 people deep, and then a group of five decides to ask "can you make us all subs?"....if it's 10 minutes til closing and there's still a half-dozen people in line and 30 minutes worth of cleaning to do, nope, sorry, I'm *not* going to go make sandwiches for you!

I couldn't agree more.

Technically, it is your job to make sandwiches right up until closing time. Technically.

But that doesn't change the fact that it's a real douchebag move to walk into a place 10 minutes before they close, see that the entire food prep station has been cleaned, and ask for a sandwich.

As someone who worked in food service for 10 years, I always hated this. If a restaurant (or similar) is about to close, find another place to eat.

[TattooedMommie]

I've actually started telling people I'm vegan, so I have no opinion on the flavors of anything we carry...lol.

[Magpie]

Some stores tend to stock the rye breads at the deli. On the low shelf in front of the deli case. I still wouldn't expect the deli workers to necessarily know where it is.

And I like the vegan excuse. It's clever.

[Exaspera]

Hmmmmm. I thought that it was some kind of universal law that, when a co-worker leaves for a few minutes, everything odd or busy that can happen-does. Sort of like Murphy's Law?

[Cazzi]

Hmmmmm. I thought that it was some kind of universal law that, when a co-worker leaves for a few minutes,

Its an old tradition, or charter, or something....

[Zoom]

I don't know what you like to eat!!

One of the things that gets me is occasionally someone asks me "Is this any good?" or "Will I like this?"

Which may or may not cover deli meat, DVDs or even a particular brand of something or other.

I usually say "no" because it usually isn't, and I'm trying to be helpful and truthful. However, they will occasionally ask why not, and if I don't have a ready answer I probably shouldn't have committed to a polarized response like I did.

But now I have hatched a plan.

I will always say "YES!"

Later on, when they realize they actually won't like it, and they tell me so, I can shoot back with, "What the hell is wrong with you? You're supposed to like it! I thought you were taking my advice. I just don't know any more..."

[SuperNat]

I couldn't agree more.

Technically, it is your job to make sandwiches right up until closing time. Technically.

But that doesn't change the fact that it's a real douchebag move to walk into a place 10 minutes before they close, see that the entire food prep station has been cleaned, and ask for a sandwich.

As someone who worked in food service for 10 years, I always hated this. If a restaurant (or similar) is about to close, find another place to eat.

I used to work in the Deli at our (large chain) local Supermarket.. there was one lady who would ALWAYS come in maybe 30mins to close - usually closer to 15 - and want us to get some ham for her - FRESHLY SLICED. Whenever it was closer to closing time, we refused her because we'd already cleaned the slicer long before that, and not only were we not about to clean it again just for her few slices of ham - but because we weren't allowed to stay more than I think 7 mins past close. And I understand people work etc but this supermarket opened at 7am and closed at midnight EVERY DAY. Kinda gave me some sort of satisfaction when we had to tell her no

[Food Lady]

I've actually started telling people I'm vegan, so I have no opinion on the flavors of anything we carry...lol.

Extra points if you're not actually vegan. A couple of weeks ago I was at the FF and a customer asked about our new burger. She asked, "How does it taste?" Um, like a dead cow.

[draftermatt]

And I understand people work etc but this supermarket opened at 7am and closed at midnight EVERY DAY. Kinda gave me some sort of satisfaction when we had to tell her no

That's why I have no sympathy for people who claim they work "odd hours" and "can't make it in" Your store is open for 17 hours! The store I work in is open 16. That means that unless you're working fire department or hospital hours (24 on, 24 off) you could have made it in while we were open.

[Becks]

I feel your pain.

Just last night, I was in the middle of cleaning the slicers when a woman and her daughter came up and wanted a half pound of *fresh* ham.

Shaved.

I was ready to cry.

[Boozy]

That's why I have no sympathy for people who claim they work "odd hours" and "can't make it in" Your store is open for 17 hours! The store I work in is open 16. That means that unless you're working fire department or hospital hours (24 on, 24 off) you could have made it in while we were open.

And even the 24-hour shift excuse is kind of bullcrap, in my opinion. My sister was in school or at work round the clock for a short period of time, but this schedule wasn't sprang on her at the last minute. Her one day off was used to get everything she needed from local stores for the week ahead.

The only excuse these people really have is "I am poorly organized. I did not plan my schedule very well, so I've run out of time. Give me some of yours."

[trailerparkmedic]

I used to work 12s and still managed to get things like shopping done before places closed on the days I worked. It was pretty cool working nights because then I'd go shopping at 6 am and the store would be empty.

What's up with people requesting freshly sliced stuff? What's the difference?

[draftermatt]

And even the 24-hour shift excuse is kind of bullcrap, in my opinion.

It is in my opinion too.

Unless the sale is "Tuesday only" and you're literally working all day Tuesday.