In working with the public, traveling in airports, and generally just being out and about, it’s amazing the kind of crap I witness on a daily basis. I have days where I can’t believe what I’m seeing or hearing. Today just sort of set me off and I need to rant about what I’ve seen in the last couple of months.
The Stupidity
Example One:
Customer sees a sign on a fixture advertising “2 for $12 Tees”. There are tees merchandised on the fixture, along with pants, socks, and shoes. Customer thinks that everything on the fixture is 2 for $12 and proceeds to yell at the cashier when her 2 pairs of pants (that retail for $39.99 each) don’t ring up at $12. Somehow I get involved and physically bring the sign up to the register to show the customer that it does, in fact, specify tees. At that point, I am told that my sign is “misleading” and she will be filing a complaint with my company. I provided her with my name, position, and the corporate customer service number and told her I would gladly dial our store phone for her if she was so upset. She declined and stormed out. It’s not MY fault that you can’t read the sign correctly or differentiate between a t-shirt and a pair of pants.
Example Two:
I’m at one of my stores early in the morning, before we officially open for the day. We have our holiday hours sign posted on the window for all to see. At 8am, a customer comes to the door and tries to open it. I’m standing near the door and can see the customer looking confused. I go to the door, and without opening it, ask what they need. They said they need to shop before they get on a flight out of town. At this point, the registers are not open, there’s no manager in the building, and half of our lights are off because it gets REALLY hot in the store, so there’s zero indication to this customer we are open for business. I politely tell him we open at 10am and point to our hours sign.
He then asks if I can make an exception and open early so he can shop. I tell him no, that I am not authorized to open registers and ring up customers (which is true). He asks if anyone else in the building can. I say no, it’s just me and another person that isn’t register trained as well (which is true as well). I apologize politely and tell him again that we will be open at 10am and will help him find anything he needs at that point. He starts yelling through the door that I am providing poor customer service and that I should just make an exception for him in his “emergency situation”. Mind you, I have been very nice through this entire dumb conversation and at this point, there is nothing I can do for him.
I remind him again that we open at 10am and walk away. He curses at me through the door and walks away. Funny thing, he was our first customer at 10am and bought a pair of shoelaces (I am not kidding) for $3. Even funnier is that there’s a Wal-Mart right outside of the mall that is open 24 hours……..he could have gone there and bought his shoelaces for half our price and been done with his “emergency situation”. And they were plain black shoelaces too, not even some of the funky colors we carry…..dumbass.
The Rudeness
Example One:
This is just a general blanket statement about how rude and disgusting it is when people talk on the phone while going to the bathroom in a PUBLIC BATHROOM. I see this in airports all the damn time. It’s gross. I’m sure that whoever you are talking to really wants to hear the sounds of toilets flushing, farts, peeing, grunting, etc. during your conversation. Is your conversation that important that it can’t wait for 3 minutes while you go to the bathroom?
If you want to do this in the privacy of your own home or office, that’s your call. But don’t do it in public. I’ll admit, I get a little uncomfortable doing my business when there’s a lady in the stall next to me talking on the phone. Although lately I’ve gotten over it (because I see it so much) and will do my best to fart as loudly as possible in an attempt to make the phone person uncomfortable. :-)
Example Two:
Again, a blanket statement about what Rob (from my favorite radio show Rob, Arnie, and Dawn) calls “verbal rape”. It’s when someone you don’t know buts into your conversation or your business, or generally starts talking to you when you have zero interest in talking back. Let me get this out – I hate people. I do. When I travel, I keep to myself. In stores or restaurants, I am extremely nice to my server/cashier but will ignore other patrons of that business. At work, it’s a different story – I help customers, I talk to them about their day, because that’s my job. Outside of work, I want to be left alone and I leave others alone.
Today, I’m going through security at the airport. The most annoying lady ever is behind me. As she’s putting her things in bins, she starts talking about where her items are organized, how she can’t find her boarding pass, etc. (By the way, she’s traveling alone, so I have NO idea who she’s talking to). I ignore her, put my things on the x-ray belt, and go though the body scanner. She’s still talking.
On the other side, I’m gathering my things and here she comes. Because her stuff is after mine, I am her chatty target. She comments about how her plastic baggie of liquids fell off the bin and is now on the belt. She says how happy she is that her pomegranates made it through x-ray and didn’t get confiscated. I nod and smile, pick up my boots, and move to a bench to put them back on. The damn lady shows up next to me on the bench to put her stuff away, and starts telling me about her son who brought her pomegranates from his trees in California, and how he taught her to peel them and whatnot. Seriously, this lady thought I was interested in her damn fruit. It’s fruit, I don’t know you, and I don’t want to have this conversation. I don’t care. I wait until she stops talking (a full 3 minutes, she just wouldn’t shut up), tell her to have a good day, and walk away. I half expected her to show up at my gate and be on my flight, because that’s the kind of luck I have, but thank goodness, I never saw her again. My example of “verbal rape”.
Now I know some of you reading this may think that I’m overreacting, that she’s just being friendly. But there’s a difference between friendly conversation and someone wanting to hear themselves talk. This lady just wanted to talk to anyone that would pay attention, and ignored all cues that I was uninterested. Friendly conversation includes both parties talking, asking questions of each other, etc. This lady just TALKED. I feed bad for her husband.
***Added in later: Holy crap, chatty lady IS on my flight! Just saw her walk to the bathroom……..good lord, I feel bad for her seatmate. Must avoid her when we land***
Example Three:
I’m on a plane about 3 times a month (round trips, that is). It kills me when people take their sweet ass time getting settled on the plane. They slowly take off their coat, slowly stow their carry on in the overhead bin, slowly put their purse/bag under the seat (and all the while, they’re standing in the aisle, blocking it), and then slowly sit down. Meanwhile, there are 60+ other passengers waiting to get to their seats behind them, and these “slow boarders” don’t even notice or care. I watched this about 4 times on today’s flight alone – I had my phone out, so I timed one of the slow people. It took them exactly 2 minutes 6 seconds to sit down after doing all that crap I listed above. 2 minutes. That’s an eternity when you’re waiting to board and sit down.
It’s that stupid “I’ll be damned” mentality – no one has regard or respect for others. When I board a plane, I get in my seat, then get settled so no one is waiting on me. I’ll be damned if I’m the one that holds up the line.
The Lack of Common Sense
Example One:
Going back to airport security……..the rules for carry-on items hasn’t changed in about 10 years. I find it hard to believe that people don’t get on an airplane during that period of time. And even if you don’t fly often, there are signs posted everywhere with the rules; a TSA agent is verbally explaining the rules to the security lines; and some airports even have a video showing the rules. So why do I constantly witness people doing the following when going through security?
-Talking on their phone and trying to go through the x-ray machine or body scanner at the same time. Like that’s gonna work, idiot.
-Not taking off their shoes, belt, or watch. So then the line gets held up while that moron goes back to the belt to grab a little container for those items to be run through x-ray.
-Not removing liquids or their laptop from their carry on. Now that bag has to be run again through x-ray and again, holds up the line. What I love watching is those people get pissed when their too-large liquid items are confiscated (like you don’t know the rules).
-People who take their boarding pass and ID through the metal detector or scanner. You can put it away when it’s checked by TSA…..no one will look at it again, promise.
Other things I witness at airports or while traveling:
-People trying to use the self check-in kiosks. HILARIOUS. I laugh every time. Those things are SO easy to use, I think I can get through it and get my boarding pass in less than 30 seconds. I’ve watched people stand there thoroughly confused about where to start, when the screen says “touch screen to begin” and then each screen thereafter walks you through the process. Lack of common sense at its finest.
-Southwest Airlines boarding procedures. Now if you want to see some serious lack of common sense or paying attention to direction, watch the boarding process on a Southwest flight. People have NO clue how it works, and to me it’s the simplest boarding process there is. You get a letter and a number on your boarding pass. Match the letter to what the attendant is calling out, find your number on the poles, and stand there. Easy, right? Apparently not. Passengers need to make it more difficult for some reason. They get confused about their group and line up in the “A” line when they are a “C”. They can’t figure out how the numbers work and line up in 15-20 when they are 29. They think that B22 means you are seated in Row 22, seat B – seriously, they don’t grasp the concept of open seating. I’ve had people get loud with me when they thought I was in their seat, and this has happened more than once.
Anyways, enough with my rant. Do you have any stories about stupidity, rudeness, or lack of common sense? I wanna hear - share them below!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Christmas in the Desert
The holiday season is upon us, but it feels different this year. I'm not around my family, I'm missing out on all the holiday fun with friends and my extended family, I have to ship Christmas presents to my brother and sister-in-law, and above all, I am able to decorate my house wearing a tank top and shorts.
Before you ask, no, my heater isn't on, and no, there's no fire in the fireplace.....it's still damn warm here in the AZ!! Highs this last week were in the mid-70s, lows in the 50s. Where I'm from, this is spring/fall weather, not winter. Although I'm not complianing (I love warm weather), it just doesn't feel like the holidays.
The weekend after Thanksgiving, people were starting to put up holiday decorations around their homes, and most were in tanks, shorts, and flip-flops. It's a surreal sight seeing a man in a tank top, sunglasses, and sandals hanging Christmas lights and setting up plastic Santas. :-)
The BF and I put up our tree and the few decorations we kept (we purged a LOT when we moved) last weekend. Here's a picture:
I can't be mad at him - look at that face!!
Happy holidays!
Before you ask, no, my heater isn't on, and no, there's no fire in the fireplace.....it's still damn warm here in the AZ!! Highs this last week were in the mid-70s, lows in the 50s. Where I'm from, this is spring/fall weather, not winter. Although I'm not complianing (I love warm weather), it just doesn't feel like the holidays.
The weekend after Thanksgiving, people were starting to put up holiday decorations around their homes, and most were in tanks, shorts, and flip-flops. It's a surreal sight seeing a man in a tank top, sunglasses, and sandals hanging Christmas lights and setting up plastic Santas. :-)
The BF and I put up our tree and the few decorations we kept (we purged a LOT when we moved) last weekend. Here's a picture:
Yes, those are legitimate gifts under the tree. I'm 90% done with my Christmas shopping. :-)
And as normal, my cat can't get enough of the tree. This year, he's more interested in eating the fake pine needles than climbing it. I hope they don't hurt him.....but he seems fine. :-) Because I'm obsessed with my cat, here he his! My Mom wants me to make this my Christmas card picture....I think she's right.
I can't be mad at him - look at that face!!
Next weekend, I'm taking the BF out to a holiday-themed event to try and get us a little more in the holiday spirit. I'm excited, cuz it's a surprise....he won't know what we're doing till we get there. :-)
Are you and your family/significant other doing anything fun for the holidays? I'd love to hear about it!!
And in closing, I'll leave you with the cutest picture ever. This is my brother and sister-in-law's puppy, Benson. I DIED when I saw this photo, it's too damn adorable!!
Happy holidays!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Engagement Pictures!
If you know me, you know that the BF and I were engaged last October. For some reason (mostly time), we held off on doing an engagement photo shoot until this October.........hard to believe we've been engaged for over a year. Time flies!!
We went home in early October to visit family and attend a good friend's wedding. While there, we managed to squeeze in a photo shoot with a family friend, Carol. She's an aesthetician by day, amateur photographer by night. She's doing our wedding photos too!
I've been hesitant to post any of these pictures (I can tell I've gained back the weight I lost last year, damn Arizona), but it's time. :-) Below are a few of my favorites!
All photos taken in and around my future in-law's house in Elk Grove, CA.
We went home in early October to visit family and attend a good friend's wedding. While there, we managed to squeeze in a photo shoot with a family friend, Carol. She's an aesthetician by day, amateur photographer by night. She's doing our wedding photos too!
I've been hesitant to post any of these pictures (I can tell I've gained back the weight I lost last year, damn Arizona), but it's time. :-) Below are a few of my favorites!
All photos taken in and around my future in-law's house in Elk Grove, CA.
Yep, that's the date above...........only 6 1/2 months away!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Worst Things About Arizona
Now that I've lived in the goddamn hottest state in the country (not sure if that's entirely factual, but it sure as hell feels like it) for about six months, below are my complaints regarding the worst things about Arizona (in no particular order).
1. Arizona residents are the WORST drivers I've ever encountered, and I've driven in many states across the country. They are, hands down, terrible. There are two speeds here - 55mph and 90mph - nothing in between. People think it's perfectly acceptable to go slower than the speed limit in the fast lane and they refuse to move. They have zero concept of "merging", and I've nearly been run off the road more times than I can remember because someone refuses to let me in.
And forget it if it rains...........all hell breaks loose on the roads. People seriously forget how to drive. They go 20mph below the speed limit and hit the breaks for every little puddle. They don't turn on their lights - they use their high beams (no joke).
2. Shorts are acceptable attire on every female body shape and type. And not just bermuda/longer length shorts, we're talking SHORT shorts. I've seen more cellulite and butt cheek than I ever cared to see out here.
Same goes for tank tops - apparently the tighter the better here, and it doesn't matter what you look like in it, girls just go for it. Combine that with shorts so tight they look light boy-short undies, and that's the Arizona summer uniform.
I know that this may be an issue in other areas of the US, but I've never seen it to the extent that I see it in Arizona. Yikes, and yuck.
3. The weather is SO crazy in the summer. It's called Monsoon Season. It can be hotter than hell one day - hottest day this year was 114 - then the next day it's 105 and pouring rain, with 40% humidity. I'm used to 90-100 degree days, with mild humidity. The heat is actually bearable when it's pretty hot, because it's so dry. But when it's hot and humid, forget it. We hole up in the house with the AC blasting (our bill got up to $280 one month).
And we also have this weather phenomenon called a "haboob". It's basically a giant dust storm, several thousand feet high and up to 20 miles wide. They form ahead of a storm, typically, and just cover everything in it's path in dust. I had the pleasure to drive through one last week, and it was like driving in fog - so weird.
The haboob I encountered in Gilbert, AZ.
1. Arizona residents are the WORST drivers I've ever encountered, and I've driven in many states across the country. They are, hands down, terrible. There are two speeds here - 55mph and 90mph - nothing in between. People think it's perfectly acceptable to go slower than the speed limit in the fast lane and they refuse to move. They have zero concept of "merging", and I've nearly been run off the road more times than I can remember because someone refuses to let me in.
And forget it if it rains...........all hell breaks loose on the roads. People seriously forget how to drive. They go 20mph below the speed limit and hit the breaks for every little puddle. They don't turn on their lights - they use their high beams (no joke).
2. Shorts are acceptable attire on every female body shape and type. And not just bermuda/longer length shorts, we're talking SHORT shorts. I've seen more cellulite and butt cheek than I ever cared to see out here.
Same goes for tank tops - apparently the tighter the better here, and it doesn't matter what you look like in it, girls just go for it. Combine that with shorts so tight they look light boy-short undies, and that's the Arizona summer uniform.
I know that this may be an issue in other areas of the US, but I've never seen it to the extent that I see it in Arizona. Yikes, and yuck.
3. The weather is SO crazy in the summer. It's called Monsoon Season. It can be hotter than hell one day - hottest day this year was 114 - then the next day it's 105 and pouring rain, with 40% humidity. I'm used to 90-100 degree days, with mild humidity. The heat is actually bearable when it's pretty hot, because it's so dry. But when it's hot and humid, forget it. We hole up in the house with the AC blasting (our bill got up to $280 one month).
And we also have this weather phenomenon called a "haboob". It's basically a giant dust storm, several thousand feet high and up to 20 miles wide. They form ahead of a storm, typically, and just cover everything in it's path in dust. I had the pleasure to drive through one last week, and it was like driving in fog - so weird.
The haboob I encountered in Gilbert, AZ.
4. People are SO rude. It depends on the area, but I've never encountered the sort of rudeness I see out here. It's not blatant, but it's rude in the sense that people really don't think about others. Some examples:
-In stores, people will park their carts in the middle of the aisle, and then not move when you want to go by.
-In store parking lots, people unload their carts and then leave them right behind someone's parked car. Seriously. I see this all the time. And they do it even if the cart return is 20 feet away.
-If you try to cross a driveway in a parking lot, you'll wait for awhile before a car stops to let you walk across. You pretty much have to step out in front of a car to walk across and hope they stop for you - sometimes they don't.
5. The lack of fresh produce is such a disappointment. One of the first things I did when I moved here was find a nearby farmer's market. I went, and learned what an Arizona farmer's market is - booths of salsa, dip mixes, dog treats, bread, jams, etc, and if you're lucky, 1-3 produce stands. And the produce they sell is sorta uninteresting - carrots, lettuce, onions. No fruit, no seasonal items. It was such a change from the weekly farmer's market I'd hit up in Elk Grove that had an abundance of seasonal produce.
The produce sold in grocery stores is never very fresh - peaches spoil in 2 days, tomatoes spoil in 3 - you pretty much have to buy produce every 2-3 days for as close to fresh as you can get out here. Everything sold in the grocery stores is from California or Mexico, so you know those things have been sitting on a truck for days.
6. The bugs. The disgusting, weird bugs.
Cicadas - giant beetle things (seriously, they're 2-3 inches long) that make an annoying shrill sound and live in trees. You never see them, you just can hear them all.night.long.
Crickets - the ones out here are brown and they jump. Their chirp is also different than that of the crickets I'm used to - it's more shrill and much louder. I have one that lives in our garage, I've named him Larry. He chirps when I turn on the garage light. I never see him, but I can hear him.
Lizards - little lizards/geckos are like squirrels out here. They're about 4-5 inches long and scurry around in bushes. We've got a few that hang out by our trash cans.
Scorpions - these are nasty little things. They just look evil, with their claws and turned-up tail. Ick. We found one in our house (thanks to Bubbs, he was playing with it) that was about 2.5 inches long. I made Mike kill it - I wouldn't get near that thing. Luckily, they're rare to find inside homes, so we think he was lost.
Random other bugs - we've encountered what looked to be a flying pincher bug, miscellaneous spiders I've never seen before, and cockroaches (not in our house, but some of my stores had an issue with them).
To be fair, I am also planning on a blog post regarding the best things about Arizona. Don't get me wrong, I like it out here. I do. But there are things that I am just not used to, and that's what's above. :-)
Have you ever been to AZ? What did you not like about it?
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I'm back. For now, at least.
Yes, it's been like ages since my last blog. The last six/seven months have been absolutely crazy, a whirlwind of new experiences, a new state to get used to, and figuring out a new relationship dynamic. More on all that later.
I'm hoping to get back into this blog thing on the regular - at least weekly. Work is calming down a bit, and I'm managing to get out at the 9-hour mark (instead of 10-12 like I have been) recently. Keep checking back, I'd love to see my readers again. I've missed you.
The below post is inspired by a blog I read all the time, Alis Grave Nil. This chick is pretty awesome. Check her out!
Listening to… the new Dave Matthews Band album, which came out today. It's been on repeat since 5pm. LOVE it.
Obsessing over... boots. I can't stop buying them, even though its still 90 and 100 degrees out here in the PHX. Something about post-Labor Day screams fall to me - leggings, boots, and coziness. I've purchased 6 pairs of boots in the last month and, along with the 15 I already had in my closet, feel ready for the turn in the weather. Rumor has it I'll have a whopping 4 months of boot weather here, and I'll be ready!
Working on…a big project for work that will be rolled out to my entire region. Nothing like pressure.
Thinking about…our wedding and all the crap that I still need to for it. Granted, I have 8 months to go, but still, that time will go by FAST.
Anticipating… my vacation at the end of the month. I get to come HOME for 6 days! I miss Sacramento, as much of a boring place it can be.......at least there are trees and cool nights there. You don't get that in PHX.
Enjoying… the rainy days we've had here!! Yes, it's still 88 degrees with 50% humidity, but I'll take the rain.
Loving... my fiancee. Our relationship has strengthened since we moved here. We rarely fight these days, and have really come to rely on each other and be each other's best friends. I learned how much I really enjoy his company, and how damn hilarious he is when he lets go. He's taken such good care of me out here, and I can't wait to marry his amazing ass. :-)
Reading... nothing at the moment. Just finished Vince Neil's autobiography (yes, the Motley Crue guy). Lives of rockstars are fascinating.
Surprised by....the lack of common sense these days. I experience it daily. You'd be surprised at what people can't figure out on their own. It's rather scary.
Frustrated... about all the headaches I've had recently. I wake up with one daily, and knots in my neck and shoulders. I'm sure it's pent-up stress, but I've had no time for a massage or anything. I think I'll make time next week. I deserve it, damn it.
Wishing… the fiancee was home. He's in New Mexico for work all week. It's rare that we're home at the same time anymore, and I cherish those days/weeks.
Happy... FOOTBALL SEASON!!
Looking forward to... January. Post-holiday calm, a mini-vacation with my parents coming to visit, and cooler weather!
I'm hoping to get back into this blog thing on the regular - at least weekly. Work is calming down a bit, and I'm managing to get out at the 9-hour mark (instead of 10-12 like I have been) recently. Keep checking back, I'd love to see my readers again. I've missed you.
The below post is inspired by a blog I read all the time, Alis Grave Nil. This chick is pretty awesome. Check her out!
Listening to… the new Dave Matthews Band album, which came out today. It's been on repeat since 5pm. LOVE it.
Obsessing over... boots. I can't stop buying them, even though its still 90 and 100 degrees out here in the PHX. Something about post-Labor Day screams fall to me - leggings, boots, and coziness. I've purchased 6 pairs of boots in the last month and, along with the 15 I already had in my closet, feel ready for the turn in the weather. Rumor has it I'll have a whopping 4 months of boot weather here, and I'll be ready!
Working on…a big project for work that will be rolled out to my entire region. Nothing like pressure.
Thinking about…our wedding and all the crap that I still need to for it. Granted, I have 8 months to go, but still, that time will go by FAST.
Anticipating… my vacation at the end of the month. I get to come HOME for 6 days! I miss Sacramento, as much of a boring place it can be.......at least there are trees and cool nights there. You don't get that in PHX.
Enjoying… the rainy days we've had here!! Yes, it's still 88 degrees with 50% humidity, but I'll take the rain.
Loving... my fiancee. Our relationship has strengthened since we moved here. We rarely fight these days, and have really come to rely on each other and be each other's best friends. I learned how much I really enjoy his company, and how damn hilarious he is when he lets go. He's taken such good care of me out here, and I can't wait to marry his amazing ass. :-)
Reading... nothing at the moment. Just finished Vince Neil's autobiography (yes, the Motley Crue guy). Lives of rockstars are fascinating.
Surprised by....the lack of common sense these days. I experience it daily. You'd be surprised at what people can't figure out on their own. It's rather scary.
Frustrated... about all the headaches I've had recently. I wake up with one daily, and knots in my neck and shoulders. I'm sure it's pent-up stress, but I've had no time for a massage or anything. I think I'll make time next week. I deserve it, damn it.
Wishing… the fiancee was home. He's in New Mexico for work all week. It's rare that we're home at the same time anymore, and I cherish those days/weeks.
Happy... FOOTBALL SEASON!!
Looking forward to... January. Post-holiday calm, a mini-vacation with my parents coming to visit, and cooler weather!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Observations of Arizona
So, if you're my friend on Facebook, by now you know that I will be moving to Phoenix, Arizona, in exactly 24 days. The fiancee got a transfer and promotion, but that involved relocation. Lucky for me, my company is also letting me relocate and keep my job.
Last week the fiancee and I spent 2 days in Phoenix finding us a place to live. During all the driving I did (since I didn't know where anything was, I ended up driving all over the city multiple times), I came up with some observations of the Phoenix area.
-Stuff is cheap. Or at least cheap compared to California. The house we found is bigger and newer than the duplex we live in now, and it's $300 a month cheaper. Gas is cheaper by about $.35/gallon. Cable is cheaper - nearly half the price we're paying now.
-People are really nice. Like super nice. Everyone we encountered, from the hotel clerks to servers to the real estate broker, were crazy nice. And it was geniune. Nothing like the indifference of Californians (hell, I'm guilty of it too, it's okay).
-The weather was AMAZING. 75 degrees in early February. I can tell that I will love fall, winter, and spring in Phoenix - average temps in Fall are 70-80, winter 65-75, and spring 70-85. While I love the heat, I'm not sure I'm prepared for summers out there, where the average temperature is 110. Glad I drive a newer car with amazing A/C.
-People refer to their neighborhood by the nearest major cross streets. It's weird......if you ask someone where they live, they don't say "near [insert major landmark or shopping center]", they say "105th and McDowell". They may not live right at that intersection, but within a mile or so of there. Apparently everyone understands this and will judge you based on your cross streets.
-There is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in the area. Almost every shopping center has one, lots of non-Mexican restaurants have Mexican-inspired dishes, and everything was so GOOD. The fiancee and I were in heaven, as we both LOVE Mexican food.
-People are on the young side. The median age of Phoenix is 33 years old. We fit right in.
-There is so much to do. They have all four major sports teams out there (Suns, Diamondbacks, Cardinals, and whatever their hockey team is); Phoenix hosts baseball's Cactus League every spring; there are hiking trails, shopping centers, golf courses, race tracks.......you name it, Phoenix has it. Plus, the Grand Canyon is a 3.5 hour drive away, Sedona is about 2 hours away, Tuscon is 2 hours away - great for weekend trips!
I'm so excited for our new adventure, I can't wait for it to start!
Last week the fiancee and I spent 2 days in Phoenix finding us a place to live. During all the driving I did (since I didn't know where anything was, I ended up driving all over the city multiple times), I came up with some observations of the Phoenix area.
-Stuff is cheap. Or at least cheap compared to California. The house we found is bigger and newer than the duplex we live in now, and it's $300 a month cheaper. Gas is cheaper by about $.35/gallon. Cable is cheaper - nearly half the price we're paying now.
-People are really nice. Like super nice. Everyone we encountered, from the hotel clerks to servers to the real estate broker, were crazy nice. And it was geniune. Nothing like the indifference of Californians (hell, I'm guilty of it too, it's okay).
-The weather was AMAZING. 75 degrees in early February. I can tell that I will love fall, winter, and spring in Phoenix - average temps in Fall are 70-80, winter 65-75, and spring 70-85. While I love the heat, I'm not sure I'm prepared for summers out there, where the average temperature is 110. Glad I drive a newer car with amazing A/C.
-People refer to their neighborhood by the nearest major cross streets. It's weird......if you ask someone where they live, they don't say "near [insert major landmark or shopping center]", they say "105th and McDowell". They may not live right at that intersection, but within a mile or so of there. Apparently everyone understands this and will judge you based on your cross streets.
-There is no shortage of Mexican restaurants in the area. Almost every shopping center has one, lots of non-Mexican restaurants have Mexican-inspired dishes, and everything was so GOOD. The fiancee and I were in heaven, as we both LOVE Mexican food.
-People are on the young side. The median age of Phoenix is 33 years old. We fit right in.
-There is so much to do. They have all four major sports teams out there (Suns, Diamondbacks, Cardinals, and whatever their hockey team is); Phoenix hosts baseball's Cactus League every spring; there are hiking trails, shopping centers, golf courses, race tracks.......you name it, Phoenix has it. Plus, the Grand Canyon is a 3.5 hour drive away, Sedona is about 2 hours away, Tuscon is 2 hours away - great for weekend trips!
I'm so excited for our new adventure, I can't wait for it to start!
Do you have any tips on things to do/see/avoid in Phoenix and the surrounding areas? I'd love to hear them!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Being a Good Customer
I wish I would have written this earlier in the holiday season, but work has been keeping me so busy, I didn't have time.
As you know, the holidays are upon us in full force. This time of year makes me hate my job so very much. Not only does my workload increase almost twofold, customers get mean and evil. Everything is suddenly my fault; they are cranky and tired; and we just can't make some of them happy, no matter what.
I've been on the "other side" of retail for nearly 14 years now, and have handled almost every kind of customer one can encounter. Based on my experience, I've created a list for how to be a good customer, as well as what to expect during your shopping trips, during the holiday season.
1. If the item you want to purchase is sold out of the color/size/style you wanted, it is not the retail worker's fault. 90% of the time, items are auto-shipped to the store based on availability in the company's warehouse. So if it's sold out in the store, one of two things are happening: It's out in the warehouse too, or it's in transit to the store. WE have zero control on when or if things arrive to the stores. My advice - start shopping early for best selection.
Oh, and if the item you are looking for that your husband/girlfriend/child just HAD to have is sold out on Christmas Eve when you finally decided to come looking for it, please do not throw a hissy fit and blame us. It's YOUR fault that you started your holiday shopping at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Yes, I'm talking to you, Mr. Track Suit jerk from 2009.
2. If you decide to shop on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, you cannot and should not complain about lines being long or the stores being crowded. Every store has long lines during those times, as those are typically peak shopping hours. You chose to shop during that block of time, as did 75% of the rest of the world. Stores will staff more people during those times, but every store only has a certain number of registers and associates, so there will be a line no matter what.
My advice - shop early or shop late. I go to malls or do my shopping when stores open during the holidays (8am or 9am), and am out of there by 11am. I never hit a line, I never see crowds. It's wonderful. Typically, business slows down after 7pm on weekends too, that's another great time to do your shopping. Or, if you can take a weekday off (Tuesday/Wednesday are the slowest days), and knock out your shopping then, do it. You'll be glad you did.
3. Retail workers are not mind readers. If you are looking for a very specific item, it is helpful to have an item number (you can find those on the store website), or detailed description. Some kids go as far to cut and paste the items they want into a list, including photos - those are amazing! (I've built a $500 sale on a list like that).
If you come in and say "My daughter wants a black jacket", that is of no help. We have about 20 different black jackets. If you say "My daughter wants the black Ashley brand peacoat with the fur-lined hood", we know exactly what that is and can get you in and out of the store in no time.
It's also important to know sizes of the people you are buying for, not "well, she's about your size" when talking to the retail worker because that is NEVER right. (I look at lot smaller than I am, so I guarantee your granddaughter is not my size). This will also help minimize returns after Christmas (more on that later).
4. I can tell you that retail workers hate people who wait outside the store before opening, peering into the door/windows and banging on the door. We will purposely open late if we find people doing that. Trust me. Wait in your cars or in the mall food court, and come into the store after the door/gates are open.
And if you call the store to find out if the store's hours, don't assume that because someone answered the phone that we're open. Employees get to the stores HOURS before it opens in order to restock, do markdowns, set up new promotions, etc. I know that we get there 3-4 hours prior to opening many days of the week. Yes, I'm talking to YOU Ms. White Winter Coat lady from two weeks ago - you called to see if we carried Uggs at 7:30am, and showed up at the door at 7:45am, and wondered why you couldn't get in - that's because we opened at 10am. Moron.
5. Know the return policy at every store you purchase at. Every return policy is different. The return policies are posted at the point-of-sale (register area), typically printed on the front or back of the receipt and, many times, available on the store's website.
A couple rules of thumb about return policies and returns:
-Keep the tags on. In my store, we will get about 10% of customers trying to return items purchased at a different store every year, because we carry similar merchandise to other stores. We know our product and if we carry it, so please don't argue with us when we tell you it's not ours - I think we know better than you. Keeping the tag on (just remove the price) will prove that it is our product and make your return easier.
-Gift receipts ONLY guarantee the price paid for the item and that the item is from that store. It is NOT a real receipt, therefore refunds cannot be processed - information regarding the tender is not included on the gift receipt. DO NOT expect cash back or a credit card refund with a gift receipt. And DO NOT get mad at the cashier when they tell you this.
-Gift cards usually (there are some small exceptions) cannot be cashed out for amounts over $10. So don't ask. If you don't like the gift cart you received, sell it on Ebay or Craigslist. You'll get about 50% of the value for it, usually. Or regift it. But don't ask if you can cash it out, it won't happen.
-Do not get mad if the store is sold out of the size you need to exchange your item for. Stores can do up to 20% of their entire holiday business in the three days prior to Christmas, so things will be picked over and sold out. That's why knowing the size ahead of time is very important. :-)
6. Just a note about spending your gift cards - I know that they are burning a hole in your pocket on December 26, but WAIT to use them. On December 26, stores are very picked over and light in merchandise selection, and will be that way until at least the first week of January, where the new spring stuff starts to trickle in. I suggest doing your gift card redemption shopping then. Or, if you're really patient, shop in February, when the bulk of the new spring items are coming in. Trust me on this one - I've been doing this forever.
Well, I hope that gives you some insight to the other side of retail and some tips to make your holiday shopping easier. Good luck and happy shopping!
Oh, and in case you were wondering - I'm completely done with my shopping. :-) I was done as of 12/3!
As you know, the holidays are upon us in full force. This time of year makes me hate my job so very much. Not only does my workload increase almost twofold, customers get mean and evil. Everything is suddenly my fault; they are cranky and tired; and we just can't make some of them happy, no matter what.
I've been on the "other side" of retail for nearly 14 years now, and have handled almost every kind of customer one can encounter. Based on my experience, I've created a list for how to be a good customer, as well as what to expect during your shopping trips, during the holiday season.
1. If the item you want to purchase is sold out of the color/size/style you wanted, it is not the retail worker's fault. 90% of the time, items are auto-shipped to the store based on availability in the company's warehouse. So if it's sold out in the store, one of two things are happening: It's out in the warehouse too, or it's in transit to the store. WE have zero control on when or if things arrive to the stores. My advice - start shopping early for best selection.
Oh, and if the item you are looking for that your husband/girlfriend/child just HAD to have is sold out on Christmas Eve when you finally decided to come looking for it, please do not throw a hissy fit and blame us. It's YOUR fault that you started your holiday shopping at 4pm on Christmas Eve. Yes, I'm talking to you, Mr. Track Suit jerk from 2009.
2. If you decide to shop on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, you cannot and should not complain about lines being long or the stores being crowded. Every store has long lines during those times, as those are typically peak shopping hours. You chose to shop during that block of time, as did 75% of the rest of the world. Stores will staff more people during those times, but every store only has a certain number of registers and associates, so there will be a line no matter what.
My advice - shop early or shop late. I go to malls or do my shopping when stores open during the holidays (8am or 9am), and am out of there by 11am. I never hit a line, I never see crowds. It's wonderful. Typically, business slows down after 7pm on weekends too, that's another great time to do your shopping. Or, if you can take a weekday off (Tuesday/Wednesday are the slowest days), and knock out your shopping then, do it. You'll be glad you did.
3. Retail workers are not mind readers. If you are looking for a very specific item, it is helpful to have an item number (you can find those on the store website), or detailed description. Some kids go as far to cut and paste the items they want into a list, including photos - those are amazing! (I've built a $500 sale on a list like that).
If you come in and say "My daughter wants a black jacket", that is of no help. We have about 20 different black jackets. If you say "My daughter wants the black Ashley brand peacoat with the fur-lined hood", we know exactly what that is and can get you in and out of the store in no time.
It's also important to know sizes of the people you are buying for, not "well, she's about your size" when talking to the retail worker because that is NEVER right. (I look at lot smaller than I am, so I guarantee your granddaughter is not my size). This will also help minimize returns after Christmas (more on that later).
4. I can tell you that retail workers hate people who wait outside the store before opening, peering into the door/windows and banging on the door. We will purposely open late if we find people doing that. Trust me. Wait in your cars or in the mall food court, and come into the store after the door/gates are open.
And if you call the store to find out if the store's hours, don't assume that because someone answered the phone that we're open. Employees get to the stores HOURS before it opens in order to restock, do markdowns, set up new promotions, etc. I know that we get there 3-4 hours prior to opening many days of the week. Yes, I'm talking to YOU Ms. White Winter Coat lady from two weeks ago - you called to see if we carried Uggs at 7:30am, and showed up at the door at 7:45am, and wondered why you couldn't get in - that's because we opened at 10am. Moron.
5. Know the return policy at every store you purchase at. Every return policy is different. The return policies are posted at the point-of-sale (register area), typically printed on the front or back of the receipt and, many times, available on the store's website.
A couple rules of thumb about return policies and returns:
-Keep the tags on. In my store, we will get about 10% of customers trying to return items purchased at a different store every year, because we carry similar merchandise to other stores. We know our product and if we carry it, so please don't argue with us when we tell you it's not ours - I think we know better than you. Keeping the tag on (just remove the price) will prove that it is our product and make your return easier.
-Gift receipts ONLY guarantee the price paid for the item and that the item is from that store. It is NOT a real receipt, therefore refunds cannot be processed - information regarding the tender is not included on the gift receipt. DO NOT expect cash back or a credit card refund with a gift receipt. And DO NOT get mad at the cashier when they tell you this.
-Gift cards usually (there are some small exceptions) cannot be cashed out for amounts over $10. So don't ask. If you don't like the gift cart you received, sell it on Ebay or Craigslist. You'll get about 50% of the value for it, usually. Or regift it. But don't ask if you can cash it out, it won't happen.
-Do not get mad if the store is sold out of the size you need to exchange your item for. Stores can do up to 20% of their entire holiday business in the three days prior to Christmas, so things will be picked over and sold out. That's why knowing the size ahead of time is very important. :-)
6. Just a note about spending your gift cards - I know that they are burning a hole in your pocket on December 26, but WAIT to use them. On December 26, stores are very picked over and light in merchandise selection, and will be that way until at least the first week of January, where the new spring stuff starts to trickle in. I suggest doing your gift card redemption shopping then. Or, if you're really patient, shop in February, when the bulk of the new spring items are coming in. Trust me on this one - I've been doing this forever.
Well, I hope that gives you some insight to the other side of retail and some tips to make your holiday shopping easier. Good luck and happy shopping!
Oh, and in case you were wondering - I'm completely done with my shopping. :-) I was done as of 12/3!
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