14 posts tagged “wal~mart”

As many of you know I worked at Wal~Mart for 10 years.  I started back when Mr. Sam was still around and the concept of a 'Super Wal~Mart' was just being batted around.  This was back when Wal~Mart was still looking out for their associates and the customer was always right. 

I was at my local Wal~Mart earlier today and was strolling through the Christmas decorations when I overheard a customer complaining to her shopping companion about how it wasn't even Thanksgiving yet and all the Holiday decorations were already out.  Wal~Mart was pushing the holiday.  Uhm.  No.  Not like that at all.  If people didn't buy it that early it wouldn't be put out.  Besides when do you want it to go out?  The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year.  You want to be able to come to the store that Friday morning and be able to buy any and everything you want and/or need for Christmas---but you don't want it out before Thanksgiving.  Are you saying that you want Wal~Mart associates to give up their entire Thanksgiving day in order to put out ALL of the Christmas merchandise that will be bought on that Friday?  Do you have any idea how long it takes to set up each four foot section of merchandise?  So, maybe the middle of October is too soon for Christmas merchandise to be on the shelves---but mid-November is not too early.  If you don't like it, don't go to that part of the store, other people enjoy browsing and planning.

I worked the service desk (return desk) for years.  Most of the time it was fun and I had a good time.  There were times that it wasn't so pleasant--like the time I got screamed at by a lady because I refused to take her toaster back.  She started screaming as soon as I said: "I'm sorry, I can't take this ____"  She didn't even give me time to finish my sentence which included: "you got it at Sears, the receipt and the box both say so."  I didn't get an apology when she snatched up her toaster and stomped from the store, either.  Things I learned while working the service desk.  Keep your receipts.  Avoid the Service desk in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Seriously, the lines were longer then than at any other time of the year.  People exchanging early gifts or returning something that ended up being a duplicate gift.  If you must visit the Service desk during that time do NOT go right when the Service desk opens, do not go during lunch or right after work.

When I worked at Wal~Mart my favorite days of the year to work were:
*The day after Thanksgiving---I loved that the store was crazy busy, I loved helping the customers find what they were looking for, and I usually worked early enough that I was done with my work day by 11:00 or so.

*The day that all the lay-a-ways were due out in December (usually about the 15th).  The lay-a-way line was usually really long so I stayed busy either taking payments or searching for the boxes.  While I hated when a box was misplaced, I loved the challenge of then trying to find it.

Chris hated it when I had to work really early the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Especially those times that I had to be at work at midnight and work until 8 the next morning.  He said it always ruined the holiday because I'd have to nap on the holiday in order to stay up all night working.  But then I wonder how much that has to do with him sleeping alone while I was working.

Now-a-days when I'm shopping at my local Wal~Mart I find myself falling back into old habits, if I'm shopping a section and I notice it is a mess---I straighten it out...I can't help it, it's a habit.  I drive Chris and Jordan nuts as I straighten boxes and make sure things are right...I like to think that the associates don't have to clean up after me.

"Have you ever appeared on television?  Tell about it."

When I was in Junior High I was a member of the marching band's color guard.  We were all so excited to be in a parade that was going to be televised.  We practiced extra long and extra hard to get our routines right, we were drilled on how to react if a camera was shoved in our face and all kinds of other things that were specific to a televised parade.  The morning of the parade we all arrived on time only to be told that the parade sponsor pulled out and we wouldn't be on TV after all.  I swore then never to buy a car from Cal Worthington or his dog Spot.

I did finally manage to appear on TV, though.  Back in the mid-90's Wal~Mart did a bunch of local ads that aired during the 10:00 news.  A different ad every week and I had the opportunity to 'star' in one of these ads.  I walked up the Christmas decoration aisle and told about the special sales Wal~Mart was having that week.  I remember being so very nervouse that I had trouble saying my memorized lines.  When the commercial aired I did not like the way I looked or sounded.  I cringe now thinking about the outfit I wore.  We have the commercial saved on tape somewhere.

Dreamt about working at Wal~Mart, again.  And again, I kept forgetting to clock-in.  This time I had trouble finding my locker, once it was found I couldn't remember the combination, once it was opened it was empty, all of my 'stuff' was missing.

I also dreamt I was going back to my ex.  I was very scared and didn't really want to go, but felt I had no other choice.  I felt he had a gun and was going to shoot me when I walked in the door.  I also felt that if he was at the house then he would be sober and things were going to be okay, but if he wasn't at the house then he was out drunk somewhere.  I had very conflicted feelings about this.  At the same time I was in a bus being driven by Chris and he was asking me if I was sure I wanted to go back...I kept telling him 'no, I'm not, but I have to.'

I've been gone 16.5 years---I wonder when I'll quit dreaming about him and the fear he invokes in me?

It's Sunday night.  The long weekend is over.  We had a good time this weekend.  Wednesday we went over to Chris's parents house where I was in charge of making Thanksgiving Dinner.  So, my first order of business was to go shopping!  Went to the Wal~Mart that I used to work at.  I saw many people that I knew/remembered me.  It was kind of nice to touch base again after all this time.  Kind of sad, too.  Because all of these people have aged....that can only mean that I've aged too.  I can only hope that I am aging well.  Got back to the house and made two pumpkin pies and a blueberry pie.  This made Paul mad because I did not bake him an apple pie.  ~whatever~ six people do NOT need four pies.  Especially when five of the six are overweight and at least one of them has diabetes.

Thanksgiving morning came around and I spent the day watching the parade and cooking.  My mother-in-law, bless her heart, can not stay out of the kitchen...she ended up doing the majority of the cleaning.  Which was just fine with me---I hate cleaning up a kitchen.  The turkey turned out beautifully; it was moist all the way through.  I made homemade noodles and they turned out so good that Chris told me on the way home that mine were better than his mother's.  I told him that I can't take all of the credit, his mother was right there directing me the whole way through and adding her own touch here and there.

Friday morning Chris and I got up and hit the stores.  I had laid out my plan the day before and was successfully disappointed by my first two stops.  Neither store had the items that I wanted.  Oh well---I went in knowing that I most likely wouldn't get those items anyway.  Wal~Mart shopping was much more successful.  I can't believe some of the 'Secret Deals' we got in on just because I happened to check out Wal~Mart's website on Thursday.

We came home on Saturday and started putting out our Christmas decorations.  We are not finished yet as we have so many boxes to put away....and I want to put up another tree and my nativity scene.

Back to work tomorrow.  I have to go to T-Town as I have a Dentist appointment.  fun.

Here is a shot of me with all the yummy food I made for Thanksgiving.

Trish--Thanksgiving Dinner

1 comment

I want your opinion on this post that I made Saturday evening.  I've heard from plenty of the girls of my 'hood, but no guys have commented.  What is your opinion of hitting on women in Wal~Mart?  What possesses a man to be so bold?  Should I have told the guy he was creeping me out?  I want to hear from you!

Oh, and what about my note on the car?  What would your reaction be if someone left you a note because you had parked so badly?  Or what do you do when someone parks so badly right beside you?

Come on guys!  Give up your opinions....No deleting and thinking your thoughts don't count, because they do!!

Thanks.

We have a new Wal~Mart SuperCenter.  It just opened on Wednesday.  I went there this afternoon to do my regular Wal~Mart and grocery shopping.  As I walk down one of the Halloween aisles I notice this middle aged man give me the once over.  It kind of creeped me out.  As I continued to walk the aisles and check things out I see the same guy coming at me again.  He asked me if I knew where the Office Supplies were.  I told him that this was my first time in this new store, but if it was laid out like another new SuperCenter I'd been in they were in the back of the store against the wall.  He asked if I was from around here---and all of that other 'stuff' that goes along with trying to pick up a woman.  He really creeped me out.  He even asked if I was married.  After I told him that I was very happily married; he asked for how long, when I told him almost 15 years, he looked shocked and ended the conversation rather quickly.  The entire time he was talking to me, I felt extremely uncomfortable.  I wanted nothing more than to get away from him.  By the time he left I was shaking.  I felt very alone and vulnerable.  So much so, that I almost just left the store before I was done shopping.

Okay, it has been ages and eons since I've been hit on.  I didn't particularly like it.  (I'm weird; I know).  Shoot it has me bothered so badly that I'm thinking about quitting the 'healthy lifestyle'.  I don't want strange men hitting on me.  If I lose more weight then I will (I hope) look better----but I want to do this for me and Chris---not weird random men out there.  Chris thinks it's funny.  He likes that some guy hit on me....at least he's not the jealous type.  This guy really gave me the heebie-jeebies.

When I got finished shopping I headed out to the parking lot.  It took me a minute to find my car as some idiot had parked so badly that my car was practically blocked in.  If I had backed straight back I would have hit their car.  It pretty much ticked me off, so I got a piece of paper and wrote the following note:  "Thank you for parking so ugly.  It took me tries to get around your car without damaging either one of our vehicles.  You are lucky my husband wasn't here.  Please, go on and finish having a selfish day."  I made sure that I had backed out of the spot and was ready to just jump in my car and go---then I stuck the note to the drivers side door.  That was kind of empowering. 

Two things at the new Wal~Mart that haven't happened before.  I wonder if this is a sign that I should stay away from that store? 

I am one of six winners of the latest Angry Bunny contest.

I won a t-shirt (and anything else Kenn may have thrown into the box)!

I'm so excited for my t-shirt to arrive!

Here is my winning entry....

Angry Bunny

Thank you Kenn for picking my entry as a winner!

As soon as I get my t-shirt and my camera returns from India I will make sure to post a picture!

What was the worst job you ever had?
Submitted by salaryman.

I can't say that any of 'em were worse than the other...each had good points and bad points.  With the good outweighing the bad many times.  It was my manager or boss that made the job miserable.  Well, sometimes the customers.  I've held a variety of jobs:

Car Hop at Sonic:  Boss was a butt.  He fired me for calling in sick, even though I covered my shift before calling in.  There right at a year while I was in high school.

McDonald's:  Customers were great, most people I worked with were great.  Sexual harrassment was an issue...I quit when my ex-husband (not an ex at the time) got jealous of the time I worked there.  There about five years.

Domino's Pizza:  I was part time while I was at Wal~Mart.  I answered the phones and took orders.  I loved it.  No complaints.  Again, quit due to jealous ex-husband.  There about a year and a half. 

Wal~Mart: Loved some of my customers and co-workers.  Had a couple of bosses that left a LOT to be desired.  Had a few bosses that were the best.  There around 10 years.  Quit to become a Stay-at-Home Mom

Stay-at-Home Mom/daycare provider:  Loved loved loved all the babies and their parents.  My most favorite 'job' to date.  I'd do it for free if I could afford it.  Was lucky enough to be able to do this for about 6 years.

Service Zone:  CallCenter.  I took phonecalls for a computer company, first I did tech support then they moved me to customer service, because I'm not very technical....although I think I did a good job trying to help the blind guy fix his computer.  Quit when the opportunity arose for me to be a stay-at-home mom again.  There around 18 months

SAHM:  This didn't last very long; unfortunately only around 5 months.

Current job:  Most challenging to date.  Don't have to deal with the public (which I kind of miss).  I have my list of jobs to do, and I do them.  I work from the house most days with a trip in to the office once a week.  Boss is the best one, yet.

Three day weekend!  Wohoo!!  Except I am so far behind at work that I'm going to put in a few hours to try and get caught up a little.  boo....

Saturday morning came around and I was allowed to sleep in.  It was glorious!  I managed to finally roll out of the sack around 11:30 or so.  Oh my gosh!  I did not know I was so sleep deprived.  I felt like a whole new person when I finally got up.  CR, Tigger, Paul and I all went to Fayette to do some eating and some shopping.  We've discovered a new Chinese restaurant.  It was so good.  We all over ate.  I felt like a big fat pig when we left: which was amazing considering this weekend in the Chinese New Year and they are heralding in the year of the pig.  Then off to the Fayette Wal~Mart SuperCenter to get in some much needed shopping.  Over $300 later we left with new speakers for my computer (Darcy chewed the wires to the old ones), CR picked up a new computer game, I picked up some new drinking glasses, food, basic stuff...it was as good a time as I can have shopping with my boys. 

Sunday morning came and I manged to crawl out of bed around 9:30 and was immediately ticked off.  It was the same old same old thoughts running through my head.  No one does anything around here but me, blah blah blah.  I usually manage to keep these thoughts under control, but CR asked at a moment of weakness what was wrong.  I blew up.  As a result, the house got vacuumed, some work got done outside, some laundry got done, the kitchen got cleaned up, and I feel better.  Now we can only wait to see if anything really changes or if it was a one time thing. 

Since most of the work was done around the house, and CR was sitting on his butt not doing a durn thing, I decided to do something for myself, too.  I set about making/sewing a purse.  I picked one up a couple of years ago at Mule Day and I really like it.  The only problem is it is a definate Christmas purse, not something I can carry around in February, August, October, etc...  So, I bought some material and such a few weeks ago, and yesterday I decided to get down to business.  Okay, so I don't sew, the fleece blankets that I've sewn and given for Christmas presents the last few years is it.  I made this purse with out a pattern, with only the other one to go by.  Yeah, it's not the greatest.  the handles are uneven, one side is taller than the other, and the thread lines aren't straight.  But, it has pockets, and I imagine once I get my 'stuff' into it, no one will be able to see most of the cosmetic problems.  I'll have to make sure to take it to my mother-in-law and she will help me make it look better.  (I hope.)

That brings us to today.  Up at 7:00-ish, baked banana chocolate-chip muffins for breakfast, except I'm out of choco chips (*gasp!*) and I used peanut butter/choco swirled chips instead.  I liked them just fine, but Mr. Picky won't eat them.  "Peanut Butter is not a breakfast food."  whatever! **rolls eyes**

Now, to get to work.  blehh

How did you meet your current, or most recent, significant other?

I was at work one evening at Wal~Mart, I wasn't feeling too good so I told my associates that I was going to go to the break room for a little bit.  As I headed toward the back I just got to feeling worse and worse.  As I got near the lay-a-way area this new stockman came out of the back.  He saw me and being a freindly sort he said:  "Hi, how're you doing?"  to which I replied:  "Not to good, I think I'm going to faint." 

I fainted, he caught me.  That is how I met CR and he's been my hero ever since.

When he got home from work that night his mom asked him how his first day went:  "Mom, the girls are falling at my feet."  LOL!!