As most of you know, I start last month working as a greeter at Walmart, and I must say, this is the perfect job for someone like me who loves to people watch. There are so many different and interesting people who come through my door everyday, and I have accumulated so many stories so far, so I decided to create a new blog series about my daily greeter tales. Enjoy!
~I'm in a power chair, obvious to anyone who knows me, and even if you have just met me, it really isn't hard to miss that. Sure, it may not be a manual chair, but it has wheels and a joystick controller, and it is pretty clear it is not a regular chair or recliner. Yet, for some reason, a few times a week someone, mainly really old guys who can't barely walk into the store themselves, have to make some sort of comment to the effect of "Just sitting around here", or "Taking it easy", to "Hardly working eh?". The best had to be yesterday though, when a cranky old man asked me if I was "Loafing on the job?". Yeah buddy, I'm loafing around...give me a break! When I told him no, that I was in a wheelchair and unable to walk, he actually had the audacity to say "Ya right" as he walked out of the store.
~(This from another greeter) - A man comes through the door to leave the store with a big flat screen TV in his cart, with a cashier in tow. The greeter tells the man he needs to see his receipt for the TV, to which the man replies, "Oh, I haven't bought it yet, I am just going to take it to my car to see if it will fit, and if so then I will come back in and buy it". The cashier looked shocked, as he was just told by a supervisor to help them man, and had no idea he hadn't paid for it yet. So the greeter calls for a supervisor to come over, and the guys tells his same story and the supervisors says OK, until the cashier pipes up and informs that he hasn't paid for it yet. He was then promptly told he needed to pay for the TV, and if it didn't fit in his car he could come right back in and return it. Good try buddy, that's like taking a cart full of groceries through the door and saying, "I just want to see if these will fit in my trunk...."
~Guy spills garden soil all over the entrance, then looks at me and says, "Well, aren't you going to clean it up?"
~Another guy spill ice all over the floor and says "Hey look, now I gave you something to do today" as he runs out of the store.
~A woman has a return and I stop her so I can scan it and give it a return sticker. She is on the phone, and when she approaches me, she throws the bag on my lap and tells the person on the phone, "Yeah, I'm at Walmart, you know how when you have a return you have to take it to the dumb ass greeter so they can give you a sticker...yeah what a total waste of my time, guess they have to give the old people and retards something to do".
About Me
- Kimbo Central
- San Tan Valley, AZ, United States
- A wife and mommy to a beautiful three year old son, blogging about being a mommy, and taking care of my family.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Getting settled in
I'm back online! Phil and I finally moved into our new apartment on Sunday, and although we still have things left at the house to bring over, and lots of unpacking and settling in to do, it is nice to be back on our own again.
This apartment is so nice, first off, it is brand new, no one has ever lived in here before. The entire apartment has hardwood floors except for the bedroom, which has Berber carpet. The cabinetry is like a dark sort of cherry wood and there is black granite counter tops and brand new whirlpool appliances and Moen sinks and fixtures. It is so nice, I just love it here, and we plan to stay here for awhile, so it is going to be so nice to get settled in and know we are going anywhere for awhile.
The Walmart job is going well, they have me work my first night shift last night, from 2pm-10pm, which I didn't like because I rather get up in the morning and get work over with and have the night to myself. But I have so many stories from working there, being a greeter is a people watchers dream. I think I am going to have to start blogging some of these great stories..but alas, I must use my day off wisely and try to get settled into our new home.
This apartment is so nice, first off, it is brand new, no one has ever lived in here before. The entire apartment has hardwood floors except for the bedroom, which has Berber carpet. The cabinetry is like a dark sort of cherry wood and there is black granite counter tops and brand new whirlpool appliances and Moen sinks and fixtures. It is so nice, I just love it here, and we plan to stay here for awhile, so it is going to be so nice to get settled in and know we are going anywhere for awhile.
The Walmart job is going well, they have me work my first night shift last night, from 2pm-10pm, which I didn't like because I rather get up in the morning and get work over with and have the night to myself. But I have so many stories from working there, being a greeter is a people watchers dream. I think I am going to have to start blogging some of these great stories..but alas, I must use my day off wisely and try to get settled into our new home.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Hard Workin Girl
I've completed my first full week at Wal-Mart, and I have to say the job really isn't that bad.
Orientation was on the 25th, with just me and two other people who were hired on as cashiers. We watched movies about the company, surprisingly with a lot of references to the fact that union workers try to get Wal-Mart to join a union, and how Wal-Mart is against that. I never realized what a problem they had with people trying to unionize them, but I suppose since the unions are losing money, getting a big company like Wal-Mart in and having every employee pay dues would help a lot. I am glad they are against that though, I don't need some union guy speaking for me over everything.
The next day I came in and spent the entire money on the computer doing computer based learning, such as how to clean up a chemical spill, and other policy stuff. I finished those around lunchtime and after lunch they sent me out on the floor for the first time. They put me with another greeter, a really nice man, who showed me the ropes, and then the next day, I was out there by myself manning the door.
The job really isn't hard at all, and didn't take long to learn. Basically, people come in and you welcome them, people leave and you say goodbye, if someone has a return you scan their item and give them their printed receipt to take to customer service, if someone has items underneath their cart you need to look at their receipt to make sure it is on there, and then make sure the area is clean. I do this for 8 hrs a day, from 7am-4pm. But after this next week my hours will be from 7am-3pm.
The best part of my job is giving out stickers to the little ones. They are so cute and their face lights up when you ask if they would like a sticker. The bad part is that is can get boring, especially in the mornings. They have me at what they call the general merchandise door, because the other door is for the grocery side. That side is always the busiest, my side isn't, but it is a bigger area, and the radio to call for a supervisor or for carts is right at my level because they have another guy in a chair who works nights. It is just easier for me to get around over there, because on the grocery side I would be bumping into people, especially if I need to stop someone to look at their receipt. Also, it gets so cold on my side, with the big fans blowing cool air all day long, so I bring a sweater, but I am just hoping I am not getting a cold, because I feel that way, but it also might be allergies.
I've also made some nice friends there, and the job isn't that stressful for, just more mentally tiring since sitting there saying hello and have a good day gets repetitive. But it is a good job and I am having fun with it, and it is bringing in the extra money we need, so that's great.
We've also decided, due to our schedules and the fact that I won't be getting my first real check from them until the 16th, that we push the move in date for getting into our new apartment for the 19th. This way we have extra time to pack, because things are still all over the place, and it will allows us to have the money we need to get settled in. We were supposed to move this Sunday, which would have meant spending these past two days off packing up all these odds and ends, but now I can just relax since I am still getting used to working.
Well, that's about all the news I have on this front. I definitely deal with some very interesting customers during the day, I might have to blog about some of the people I have seen come through the store.
Orientation was on the 25th, with just me and two other people who were hired on as cashiers. We watched movies about the company, surprisingly with a lot of references to the fact that union workers try to get Wal-Mart to join a union, and how Wal-Mart is against that. I never realized what a problem they had with people trying to unionize them, but I suppose since the unions are losing money, getting a big company like Wal-Mart in and having every employee pay dues would help a lot. I am glad they are against that though, I don't need some union guy speaking for me over everything.
The next day I came in and spent the entire money on the computer doing computer based learning, such as how to clean up a chemical spill, and other policy stuff. I finished those around lunchtime and after lunch they sent me out on the floor for the first time. They put me with another greeter, a really nice man, who showed me the ropes, and then the next day, I was out there by myself manning the door.
The job really isn't hard at all, and didn't take long to learn. Basically, people come in and you welcome them, people leave and you say goodbye, if someone has a return you scan their item and give them their printed receipt to take to customer service, if someone has items underneath their cart you need to look at their receipt to make sure it is on there, and then make sure the area is clean. I do this for 8 hrs a day, from 7am-4pm. But after this next week my hours will be from 7am-3pm.
The best part of my job is giving out stickers to the little ones. They are so cute and their face lights up when you ask if they would like a sticker. The bad part is that is can get boring, especially in the mornings. They have me at what they call the general merchandise door, because the other door is for the grocery side. That side is always the busiest, my side isn't, but it is a bigger area, and the radio to call for a supervisor or for carts is right at my level because they have another guy in a chair who works nights. It is just easier for me to get around over there, because on the grocery side I would be bumping into people, especially if I need to stop someone to look at their receipt. Also, it gets so cold on my side, with the big fans blowing cool air all day long, so I bring a sweater, but I am just hoping I am not getting a cold, because I feel that way, but it also might be allergies.
I've also made some nice friends there, and the job isn't that stressful for, just more mentally tiring since sitting there saying hello and have a good day gets repetitive. But it is a good job and I am having fun with it, and it is bringing in the extra money we need, so that's great.
We've also decided, due to our schedules and the fact that I won't be getting my first real check from them until the 16th, that we push the move in date for getting into our new apartment for the 19th. This way we have extra time to pack, because things are still all over the place, and it will allows us to have the money we need to get settled in. We were supposed to move this Sunday, which would have meant spending these past two days off packing up all these odds and ends, but now I can just relax since I am still getting used to working.
Well, that's about all the news I have on this front. I definitely deal with some very interesting customers during the day, I might have to blog about some of the people I have seen come through the store.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Working Kimbo
So I've officially started working my new Wal-Mart job, and today is my first day off.
Thursday was orientation, which meant me made up our name badges, filled out paperwork, watched movies all about the company, and even played a game. There was only three of us, two were going to be cashiers, and then me, the people greeter.
The next day I started my new schedule of working 7am-4pm. I figured out though, that by working a 32 hour a week schedule, it would put me over the $940 a month that I have to stay under or else I will lose my benefits with disability. I spoke to my manager about it, and she said she totally understood because she has a few other associates who are also on disability and need they work 30 hours a week, so I will start that after this coming week, so she wouldn't have to change my schedule.
The first part of my Friday was sitting on a computer in the training room, doing computer based learning, where you watch videos and slideshows of different things, like how to clean up chemical spills and such, and you have to take an online skill assessment after each lesson, and pass with an 80% or better. I had 18 to watch, and it took all morning until my lunch. After my lunch, I was finally able to go out on the floor and learn my job, because I had to pass the lessons first.
The job itself it not very hard. There are two doors, grocery side, and general merchandise. The grocery door is the side that is the most busy. Basically, when people walk in, you said hi, or good morning/afternoon/evening, and pass out smilie stickers to the little ones. Also, you have to check customers reciepts when the leave if they have anything under their cart, or have anything is their cart, such as electronics. Also, when someone comes in with a return, you scan the item and it will print out a sticker you place on the item, then direct them to customer service. Plus, you get asked questions about where things are in the store, and other misc. stuff. we also have radios that we can use to contact supervisors and managers if we need assistance with a customer, or need to alert them of something. Yesterday was my first full day on the floor, and it really was quite easy, just getting used to working long days like that again. Plus the job is pretty much unsupervised. They come over to tell us when to take our breaks, because you can't have a door unattended, but other then that the supervisors are busy at the front with the cashiers. I know they check on us, but the job is pretty simple, so it doesn't require much supervisors, which is nice because you can just focus on welcoming customers.
Today is my day off, and then I will also have Thursday and Friday off. Phil also has today off, so we have to spend most of the day packing, since we are moving a week from today into our new apartment, and we really havent' had time to do a whole lot of packing. The good thing is I was able to quit doing the rebate job, since I make so much at Wal-Mart. Doing rebates would push me over the $940 a month to make. And with Wal-Mart I am just about there.
I have a cute picture my mom took of us in our wal-mart dress attire, since Phil works at another store doing instock (which is recieving) and will now be the one in charge of assembling bikes and furntiure. I will have to upload it from my camera, we are a wal-mart family, or at least until he finishes school or something else comes along in his field.
Wish me luck packing!
Thursday was orientation, which meant me made up our name badges, filled out paperwork, watched movies all about the company, and even played a game. There was only three of us, two were going to be cashiers, and then me, the people greeter.
The next day I started my new schedule of working 7am-4pm. I figured out though, that by working a 32 hour a week schedule, it would put me over the $940 a month that I have to stay under or else I will lose my benefits with disability. I spoke to my manager about it, and she said she totally understood because she has a few other associates who are also on disability and need they work 30 hours a week, so I will start that after this coming week, so she wouldn't have to change my schedule.
The first part of my Friday was sitting on a computer in the training room, doing computer based learning, where you watch videos and slideshows of different things, like how to clean up chemical spills and such, and you have to take an online skill assessment after each lesson, and pass with an 80% or better. I had 18 to watch, and it took all morning until my lunch. After my lunch, I was finally able to go out on the floor and learn my job, because I had to pass the lessons first.
The job itself it not very hard. There are two doors, grocery side, and general merchandise. The grocery door is the side that is the most busy. Basically, when people walk in, you said hi, or good morning/afternoon/evening, and pass out smilie stickers to the little ones. Also, you have to check customers reciepts when the leave if they have anything under their cart, or have anything is their cart, such as electronics. Also, when someone comes in with a return, you scan the item and it will print out a sticker you place on the item, then direct them to customer service. Plus, you get asked questions about where things are in the store, and other misc. stuff. we also have radios that we can use to contact supervisors and managers if we need assistance with a customer, or need to alert them of something. Yesterday was my first full day on the floor, and it really was quite easy, just getting used to working long days like that again. Plus the job is pretty much unsupervised. They come over to tell us when to take our breaks, because you can't have a door unattended, but other then that the supervisors are busy at the front with the cashiers. I know they check on us, but the job is pretty simple, so it doesn't require much supervisors, which is nice because you can just focus on welcoming customers.
Today is my day off, and then I will also have Thursday and Friday off. Phil also has today off, so we have to spend most of the day packing, since we are moving a week from today into our new apartment, and we really havent' had time to do a whole lot of packing. The good thing is I was able to quit doing the rebate job, since I make so much at Wal-Mart. Doing rebates would push me over the $940 a month to make. And with Wal-Mart I am just about there.
I have a cute picture my mom took of us in our wal-mart dress attire, since Phil works at another store doing instock (which is recieving) and will now be the one in charge of assembling bikes and furntiure. I will have to upload it from my camera, we are a wal-mart family, or at least until he finishes school or something else comes along in his field.
Wish me luck packing!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Welcome to Wal-Mart...
Will be what I will be saying to every customer that comes into the Wal-Mart by my house because yes...I got the job!!!
I had my interview at 9am this morning, and had the first part of the interview with a really nice guy, who asked me a bunch of different questions about my work related experience. When that was done he said I was a great interview and thought I was going to be the right fit for their store. After that I had another interview, the second part with a manager, and I was asked more questions and then I was told I got the job, and they went through how much I would be making, and what the duties and responsibilities were of a people greeter, then I was given the paperwork to go get a drug test and they said they will call me once they get the results of my drug test back, and orientation will be next week.
I went right from interview over to the where the drug testing place was, and figured it should go pretty quickly, seeing as all you have to do is pee in a cup. Who knew I was going to be sitting in there for almost two hours before I was even called back. At one point they told a women who had been there for three hours that all the rooms in the back were full of patients and things should be speeding up, but when I was called back there every single exam room was empty. I am guessing maybe their techs were at lunch and they didn't want to tell us. Anywho, I did the whole pee in the cup, which I have to say is very embarrassing to have your pee in a cup and have some tech have to take it and test it. But I know I am going to pass it, I have never taken drugs and the only medicine in my system is for arthritis.
Now I am on a search to find my Wal-Mart attire, which is Khaki pants and a blue shirt, and I also need to get a pair of shoes, because the only shoes I own are my flip flops, which I can't wear there.
So yay me for getting the job!
I had my interview at 9am this morning, and had the first part of the interview with a really nice guy, who asked me a bunch of different questions about my work related experience. When that was done he said I was a great interview and thought I was going to be the right fit for their store. After that I had another interview, the second part with a manager, and I was asked more questions and then I was told I got the job, and they went through how much I would be making, and what the duties and responsibilities were of a people greeter, then I was given the paperwork to go get a drug test and they said they will call me once they get the results of my drug test back, and orientation will be next week.
I went right from interview over to the where the drug testing place was, and figured it should go pretty quickly, seeing as all you have to do is pee in a cup. Who knew I was going to be sitting in there for almost two hours before I was even called back. At one point they told a women who had been there for three hours that all the rooms in the back were full of patients and things should be speeding up, but when I was called back there every single exam room was empty. I am guessing maybe their techs were at lunch and they didn't want to tell us. Anywho, I did the whole pee in the cup, which I have to say is very embarrassing to have your pee in a cup and have some tech have to take it and test it. But I know I am going to pass it, I have never taken drugs and the only medicine in my system is for arthritis.
Now I am on a search to find my Wal-Mart attire, which is Khaki pants and a blue shirt, and I also need to get a pair of shoes, because the only shoes I own are my flip flops, which I can't wear there.
So yay me for getting the job!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Been awhile...
Since I last blogged huh?
Life has been so busy around here, mainly with me working on these rebates all the time. I really thought this was going to be a job that could help make some good side money, but I am only making about $66 a week, and when payday comes around, the entire check I get goes directly into the gas tank, which makes me angry. Right now I am processing 330 rebates twice a week, I go in Tuesday and pick up mail, which has to be turned in electronically by midnight on Thursday, then I go back into the office on Friday and pick up more mail, which needs to be turned in electronically by midnight on Sunday. So the reason I haven't been online much is because this really takes up a lot of my time.
So..seeing as this job wasn't making much, I decided to put my resume out there and see if something hit, and I also re-applied for Wal-Mart for the greeter position. Well, Thursday afternoon Wal-Mart called and asked if I was still interested in the position and now I have an interview with them on Tuesday at 9am. This is the job that I have been wanting, because when we move into our new apartment I just need to go across this little street and I am right then in the parking lot, so no need to worry about someone taking me to work. And it will be a part time position, so I can still do the rebate job to help supplement our income.
Speaking of apartments, Phil and I will be moving into our new apartment on Oct. 4th. We thought we were going to have to wait until Nov. 1st before we moved but the lady at the complex called yesterday and said they are now offering more incentives which helps lower our move in cost. So now on top of doing this rebate job and hopefully getting this Wal-Mart job, we have to start packing. Luckily, a lot of our things are still packed up and in the garage, so that will make it a lot easier, since there is a lot of stuff in our room that I believe we can toss or give away since we haven't used them in over a year, such as clothes. This should be our last move for awhile, seeing as this will be our third move in a year. The apartment is really nice, it is one of those new apartments with all sorts of fancy features, like hardwood floors in the kitchen and Berber carpet, and huge soaking tubs. When we first saw the place I was really thinking we wouldn't be able to afford it because it was so nice and I figured the prices would be outrageous, but they really are reasonable. I am excited about us having our own space again, and I know that Brandi dog will love being able to roam free like she used to.
Well, this little Kimbo sure is tired, but I wanted to at least check in with my blog friends and let you I am still here, just been busy.
Life has been so busy around here, mainly with me working on these rebates all the time. I really thought this was going to be a job that could help make some good side money, but I am only making about $66 a week, and when payday comes around, the entire check I get goes directly into the gas tank, which makes me angry. Right now I am processing 330 rebates twice a week, I go in Tuesday and pick up mail, which has to be turned in electronically by midnight on Thursday, then I go back into the office on Friday and pick up more mail, which needs to be turned in electronically by midnight on Sunday. So the reason I haven't been online much is because this really takes up a lot of my time.
So..seeing as this job wasn't making much, I decided to put my resume out there and see if something hit, and I also re-applied for Wal-Mart for the greeter position. Well, Thursday afternoon Wal-Mart called and asked if I was still interested in the position and now I have an interview with them on Tuesday at 9am. This is the job that I have been wanting, because when we move into our new apartment I just need to go across this little street and I am right then in the parking lot, so no need to worry about someone taking me to work. And it will be a part time position, so I can still do the rebate job to help supplement our income.
Speaking of apartments, Phil and I will be moving into our new apartment on Oct. 4th. We thought we were going to have to wait until Nov. 1st before we moved but the lady at the complex called yesterday and said they are now offering more incentives which helps lower our move in cost. So now on top of doing this rebate job and hopefully getting this Wal-Mart job, we have to start packing. Luckily, a lot of our things are still packed up and in the garage, so that will make it a lot easier, since there is a lot of stuff in our room that I believe we can toss or give away since we haven't used them in over a year, such as clothes. This should be our last move for awhile, seeing as this will be our third move in a year. The apartment is really nice, it is one of those new apartments with all sorts of fancy features, like hardwood floors in the kitchen and Berber carpet, and huge soaking tubs. When we first saw the place I was really thinking we wouldn't be able to afford it because it was so nice and I figured the prices would be outrageous, but they really are reasonable. I am excited about us having our own space again, and I know that Brandi dog will love being able to roam free like she used to.
Well, this little Kimbo sure is tired, but I wanted to at least check in with my blog friends and let you I am still here, just been busy.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Happy Birthday Phil!!
Today is my husband Phil's 30th birthday. He says he feels old, but I told him that he is still a spring chicken. I wish I had the money to give him a really fantastic birthday and maybe even a party, since turning 30 is a big birthday, but my parents are taking us out to dinner tonight to the new Texas Roadhouse that just opened up not too far from here, and since we all love that place, it should be fun.
Speaking of Phil, he has decided to go back to school and further his education. Work has been really slow in his trade and he wants to finally get out from being the low man on the totem pole and actually make it up into the big leagues. So we found that ITT Tech has a Bachelor program in Construction Management, so we made an appointment and went through the whole process of getting him enrolled. He starts school on Sept. 8th, and will be entering at first the Associates Degree program in Drafting and Design. He'll learn such programs as Autocad, and will learn how to draft up housing plans and do 3D modeling and such. The recruiter said that after the two year program, he will be able to enter the job market working for an architect or even for the city designing plans for commercial buildings. After he receives that Applied Sciences Degree, he will do another year and 9 months in the Construction Management Program, where he will get his Bachelor's Degree. This is really a great step he is taking not only for his future, but for our future, and the future of our family down the road. I am very proud of him and can't wait to see him succeed as I know he will.
With me, I am still here, processing those rebates. It is definitely turning into a job where I am spending a lot of nights up late trying to get my work done before my deadline, which is mainly because I have had so much to do during the day that I don't get a chance to do my work until after dinnertime. Like today, I picked up new mail, 330 pieces of mail due by Thursday at 4pm, and I won't get a chance to do any until maybe later tonight because we are going to dinner for Phil's birthday. I just need to get into a good schedule where I work during the day and have less work at night, so I don't have the tired and bloodshot eyes that I do today.
Speaking of Phil, he has decided to go back to school and further his education. Work has been really slow in his trade and he wants to finally get out from being the low man on the totem pole and actually make it up into the big leagues. So we found that ITT Tech has a Bachelor program in Construction Management, so we made an appointment and went through the whole process of getting him enrolled. He starts school on Sept. 8th, and will be entering at first the Associates Degree program in Drafting and Design. He'll learn such programs as Autocad, and will learn how to draft up housing plans and do 3D modeling and such. The recruiter said that after the two year program, he will be able to enter the job market working for an architect or even for the city designing plans for commercial buildings. After he receives that Applied Sciences Degree, he will do another year and 9 months in the Construction Management Program, where he will get his Bachelor's Degree. This is really a great step he is taking not only for his future, but for our future, and the future of our family down the road. I am very proud of him and can't wait to see him succeed as I know he will.
With me, I am still here, processing those rebates. It is definitely turning into a job where I am spending a lot of nights up late trying to get my work done before my deadline, which is mainly because I have had so much to do during the day that I don't get a chance to do my work until after dinnertime. Like today, I picked up new mail, 330 pieces of mail due by Thursday at 4pm, and I won't get a chance to do any until maybe later tonight because we are going to dinner for Phil's birthday. I just need to get into a good schedule where I work during the day and have less work at night, so I don't have the tired and bloodshot eyes that I do today.
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