March 01, 2005
End of february, negative vibes
It has been two weeks since my last post. During that time, progress has been made with the dustmites, touchfooty, uni and girls however self development has been of insignificant proportions.
Dustmites. Not informed of a meeting between Cathy, Van (both SafetyServices CML) and Megan, i was pleasantly surprised when instead of being bored shitless on the selling floor i was to join them in the meeting. Meetings are meetings, not alot happened however i was informed that test sites will be confirmed, justifying the costs for conducting the tests. Showed the ladies around the reserve, introduced them to other staff who had experienced irritations. A week later, i am informed from Menswear staff that they have conducted the tests and that the results are pending. On top of that, i was informed that Karen (store manager) was part of a committee setup to address this problem and that plans have been layed to adress the situation. This is fantastic news for me as it reflects taht its acknowledge that there is a problem going on. A far cry from the days when she cried 'it must be you, not us'. Yesterday (sunday) she was doing a tour around the store, i was minding my own business when i was greeted by her big smelly presence. On top of that, Ros Fletcher was with her looking the part: professionally dressed - neat and presentable. Karen on the other hand had the most aweful messy hair, buttons undone, jacket crinkled, just outright an inappropriate site for a sunday.
Sunday morning was a very weird day. I swear, all the freaks/idiots/assholes venture out sunday mornings. Evan and Joseph agree. Mentality in mind: to return all unwanted goods, then do some shopping, then bugger off to home or to
First customer was a young couple in their early 30's. A faulty blender without a receipt, problem being the blender produced smoke after a few minutes. I explain that it isn't unusual from my experience, and other customer feedback, that smoke occurs on start up of a new blender. The first thing he says is 'No.... No.....(shake of the head) that is not acceptable, how can you say that.... that is just not right......' After shaking his head he continues by saying 'My father works with motors and alot of electrical goods and it is not right when motors smoke like that'. Rather stunned and personally taking his comment, it was if he was my father telling me off! I then told him in a firm direct tone that what i just said was from experience and is not meant to say that he is at fault, or that it is acceptable that it does smoke'.
I think the couple we're expecting me to be an easy push over so they were taken back from my venomous bite back. He then proceeded to tell me that his father works on the farms and that he knows all about motors and that is not right, i asked him in a fired up way 'oh so you live on a farm now?'. Im not too sure what i meant of that question, but it got him to backtrack his tone of voice and attitude. He said no and that it was just the case. So no receipt in hand, i proceeded to give them a hard time with non-constructive questions: Have you filled out your warranty card? (No) Do you have a bank statement with you (No) In that case do you have a current photo identification such as a drivers liscence (Yes). Still cooling down, i proceeded to drag out the situation by calling up Jason (an experienced small appliance assistant) and ask him if it was ok to swap the goods. Exchange all sorted, the wife in a very sweet sorta way TELLS me to have a wonderful day so rather melodramatic and too cheerily i tell them that i wish that they too have a wonderful day. Im such an asshole aye... lol!
Customer 2. Mother and Daughter (60ish and 35ish resp) wishes to buy a microwave. I scan the item, total the goods and ask for method of payment. A MYER Returns card is present along with $50 cash. Unfortunately the Myer computers are alil silly in taht you can't check how much credit is on the returns cards without trial and error. So asking the customers what was on it, the daughter firmly states '160'. I put thru 160 worth of credit thru via the returns card, leaving an outstanding amount of $58 odd dollars. Rather confused the daughter pulls out a $10 note and wishes to have the remaining paid by cash. This is completed, and upon looking at the receipt i notice that there is a remaining $12 odd dollars on the card. I tell them that i can undo it, take off the remaining credit such that they don't need to lug around the card, then pay the rest of by cash: the mother obviously confused says (in a way only a mother can say it): "No, listen, what is going on? Why would we want to do THAT?" Already pissed off from the first customer, it was clear that she didn't understand so i was patient and calm in explaining what i could do.... she still didn't catch on however her daughter did and told me to do so. I redo the whole thing which involves voiding out the previous sale and repurchasing the goods and typing in $172 odd by Returns card. The whole duration of voiding and repurchasing the goods, i copped a massive earful from the mother. By this stage, i told them in a obviously strained controlled manner that i was doing it in her own best interest. The daughter displayed her sense of sympathy with her own remarks to her mother that itwas all for the better.
Customer 3. Mentally challenged/incapacitated customer enquiring about a Braun juicer.
Customer 4&5, the types taht cant make up their minds. 25 minute sales pitch each resulting in 'oh i'll be back later, i just need to think about it'. Figures, customers 4 and 5 DID return taht afternoon!
After tonights touch footy game, upon reflection i realise i is still give too much of a damn about other people and their feelings. To the point, i need to give more time to myself and put myself before others.
Knees. Both knees have been rather tender since the last post. As a consequence of wearing tight soccer boots, the feet have not had the luxury of cushioning contact. As a result, the knees have been working over-time. the sensations experienced are as if theres a constant burning behind the knee caps, movement results in gas 'popping' as if it is entering gaps (worn cartilage?). I had an x-ray taken this morning (monday) and hopefully the results and diagnosis given tomorrow points to happier days ahead.
First day back at uni, lots of people about. Wide eye bushy tailed first years combined with returning 'vets' truely creates an interesting, uni campus feel. Hopefully with my reduced load (18UOC) i will be able to cope with uni demands coupled with other life commitments.
Railfare. Talk about incompetence on both sides! Living on the Northern beaches i rarely catch trains. This arvo at Central i asked for a 'Single CONCESSION to chatswood'. The dude behind the glass counter LOOKS at my new, blue, university student and CONCESSION stickered card. He asks for $3. After querying him, he verifies that yes, that is concession rate... Still not feeling right, i ask the gate operator if i had been charged concession rates, of Russian decent - she runs my ticket thru the machine. I see on the display 'ADULT', however she confirms it is concession rate....
Arriving at Chatty, i ask the gate operator there and she points out that no printing in the bottom right corner (signifying concessions rates) implys that i had purchased an Adult ticket... To be frank about the situation, W T F! Trust yourself steve.
Leading off this tone, i'd like to bring up touch footy. Last week Team Suss had a brilliant game taking it out 9-2. I will recall the tries later on, however long story short our attack and defence was of a good standard, everyone talking. People were running onto the ball, the initiative was there from everyone. Tone and Quek took alot of pressure off my game and as a result i was lucky to pick a few gaps and score.
However, tonight we went down 7-5. We definately did not deserve to win as we weren't talking, weren't running onto the ball, were shooting and not returning to help the line, etc etc. We are 'newbies' so we will learn from it, however relating to my self-development, im still mighty pissed off at the team effort that went in.
Why am i? Is it becos im damn competitive, Is it becuase i can't handle incompentency? perhaps its becuase i rate myself too much, thinking that if i were in the situation i wouldn't have bombed it???
Anyhow, things such as people not marking up, no one talking, no one going to dummy half, no one running onto the ball, people not sliding, people being too lazy on defence. lol, i realise how pathetic this sounds but understand this IS my passion.
I like to think im a logical, fair kinda guy. We've been thru all the basics at training over 5 times. However, the simple things still aren't working :< This game i was out on the wing majority of the times. We like to spreadout the girls between guys.
I'll back myself here and say that my position on the team is the dummy-half/organiser. However, the less experienced guys have a tendency to gravitate to the ball ( i am guilty of doing so too!) so there is no one out on the wing.
What do you do, when people say 'i know' how to do a paticular thing, when u try explaining how to do the particular thing correctly because they failed to do so in the first place?? For me, i don't know how to react, i am bamboozled. If you know, then do it! lol
Ah and finally on this bitchy mood. Heres a story i was recently told. There is a crown prince whos day of 'induction/annotment/promotion' to king is fast approaching. The crown prince does not know that the special day has been set, it is a surpise for him. The Queen is organising the surprise special day along with the crown prince's loyal advisor/entertainer/jester. The loyal advisor/entertainer/jester is a new adition to the prince's ranks, relative to the crown prince's long standing friends from his early days. Anyhow, granted permission from the Queen, the loyal advisor is in charge of inviting the prince's long standing friends to the surprise bash, however only 1 long standing friend is invited (out of 5). The reason being, the other 4 do not get along with this jester.
So, after the Queen consorts the lone long standing friend whether there are notible absences from the guest list, the friend points out the other 4 missing friends of the crown prince. The Queen states that she would rather not invite the 4 as the trusted jester does not get along with them.
The lone friend thinks to himself, Isn't the surprise party for the prince? So after name dropping the four to the Queen, a few days later the jester invites the remaining four friends. Essentially all is good..... How should the original lone loyal friend feel (with respect to the jester??)
