kalikazi, first read redandblack's post, and then, if you're inerested in working at the meat-serving nightmare store, fill out an application and try to make better sense than your original posting did. I'm not even sure what you're asking!

I agree. Dealing with the customers is generally rewarding. My complaints with Borders stem solely from management--or rather the lack of management.

I was taught, as most of us probably were, in training to take the customer to the section, pull the book off the shelf and put it in their hands. I always do this. I never point to a section. When a customer asks to just point them in the right direction, I refuse and take them there anyway. I think it's great when the customer's face lights up as I put the book in their hands. They came in looking for something specific and we had it, so we met their expectations. That's great and that makes the job rewarding. Seeing the kids at the register can be rewarding. I love the ones who are reading as they stand in line and don't want to give up the book long enough for me to scan it. That's rewarding. I could go on, but you get the point.

Management, though, tries its hardest to wipe out the good times I have with the customers. Last Monday and Tuesday I arrived to find the info desk covered in books. On Tuesday there were more than 400 books and magazines on the info desk. Why? Because the person who worked the info desk on Sunday and Monday nights hates to recover the store and management lets him get away with it. If it isnt something like that, it's the Ops Supe getting annoyed because the registers are off three dollars. Come on, three dollars off on 25 thousand in sales. Mention it, yes. Get all annoyed about? No. And heaven help you if you or a family member get sick or need to go somewhere. You may as well sign the PIN before you leave 'cause you will undoubtedly rack up enough occurrences while gone to get a PIN.

I'm old enough to have seen most everything in the workplace, so when the GM complains about someone quitting for what she thinks isn't a good reason, I try to explain it to her. She does listen, but she never seems to understand. Right now all new hires in our store have to work in the cafe first before becoming a bookseller. The management team can't understand why people are quitting after two or three days. They're quitting because they don't want to do food service. Management is losing potentially excellent booksellers because they insist everyone know cafe. Three of five people hired in the last two weeks have already quit. Management at all levels of Borders needs to wake up and listen to those of us who are still working. We know what's wrong. Maybe we know how to fix it. Maybe we don't. Can it hurt to listen to us?

So, I'm not completely negative. I like the customers, most of them anyway. It's just all those interludes with management between customers that gets me down.

The Cafe sells meat (in sandwiches) and coffee, so it looks like Borders is not for you. If you say in the interview that you won't handle food or coffee, you won't be hired. If you refuse to, you'll be fired. They will not accomodate you.

Your customers are mostly well-off, SUV-driving carnivores who could give a flip about progressive issues, and in fact will be offended if you mention them.

Retail itself is probably not for you anyway, as your ultimate purpose in working everyday is to sell stuff that huge companies made, so another huge company can make a profit.

You ought to look at local organic food stores or coops, or non-profit or some such. Big-box retail is not what I'd call a truthful, meaningful lifestyle. In the past, Borders was different, but now there is little illusion. You're just a replaceable sales facilitation device. They don't even WANT you to stay long.

You're right, rellman, about this being retail after all. Certainly we get our share of rude and boorish customers (and other hangers-about). But at the same time I think that we also get the absolute best of the really good customers too, something they can't say at Wal-Mart, Target, or just about any other retail establishment.

Hey tmp
thanx to you also
kalikazi