Post 001
I was nineteen when I became a bookseller. Not that I'm super-old or anything like that. I turned twenty a little over a month ago. Anyway, I started working here over the summer. June, maybe July '08. Right after a six-month stint as a "game advisor." Lack of steady transportation forced me to find something closer to home. Luckity, the bookstore and..let's call it "Halt! Interactive Software"..are owned by the same parent corporation. I secured myself a transfer and here I am.
I guess that today is as good a day as any to start this project. This morning, we employees had to attend a mandatory Holiday meeting, read: "This is what to make people buy this Christmas!" Lasted from 7am-9am. Or, that was the plan at least. Lasted longer that that, but I'll get to that. I've been having pretty bad transportation problems lately. To the point where both of the family vehicles were in the shop. Because of this, I had to use the local cab service. I'm not going to lie. I was extremely nervous about it. I mean, what do you talk to a cabbie about? And do you tip him? What if he decides to go crazy, locks the doors, and veers off of a bridge? My life isn't fantastic right now, but I'd like a chance to improve it.
Got up at 6am, called for the taxi, took a quick shower, and got dressed. Cab got there about 6:30. Now, the driver was an amazing character. His radio was playing really soft gospel music when I got into the back with my things. Greeted him, he returned it and we were on our way. Drove in silence until his cell began to ring. Now, this man who so unabashedly played his gospel music on a somewhat beautiful Sunday morning proceeded to have a conversation with whomever about how big a mistake it is to have a sex with a girl without wearing protection. His actual relay of that statement was a lot more coarse, however. And a bit angrier, come to think of it. Bad experience? I remember smiling at a particular remark he made about going to church after dropping me off. This was right after dropping me off. Was right after another "condom comment." He just struck me as an oddly conflicted person. As if he lived a raunchy life or something and thought that by playing gospel in his cab and by going to church, he could make amends. I don't if that's really his reasons or anything. And I'm not saying that it isn't possible to do such a thing. Forgiveness. He was really..hm.
I made it to the bookstore at about 6:45. Paid the driver ($15.00) and walked in through the cafe door. I always find it a bit odd when I see my coworkers looking normal. Jeans, sweaters..lack of make-up. . It's also a bit reassuring to see them looking that way though. Human. I mean, through my conversations with them I was always able to get a hint that they had lives outside of work but to get a glimpse at it is always different. Whether it's a Garfield sweater that may mean they've a love of that cartoon feline or a love of the person who gave it to them..or what they took from the breakfast table which lets me know they prefer blueberry muffins to bananas. I grabbed some OJ and a cookie and sat at a table with some friends. Noshing my cookie, full of M&M greatness, I noticed something else. There are cliques. All the same little groups too. Almost defined by whatever part of the store they work in. Some didn't work like that. For instance, I'm kind of a hybrid music/bookseller. The 4 friends I sat with, three were music and one was book. But, there were the popular, pretty ones sitting together with their coffee, the nerdier fantasy reading employees together, the more reserved quiet ones were together. Then there were us, the joking, rock-loving gamers. Was kind of weird to see that some things you learn in high school do actually carry over.
After the store manager's obligatory "Let's a have a great meeting speech," we were split into what could be described as field trip groups. After R.B. commented about not holding anyone's hands, I mock cried about getting lost. It was really set up that way. Each group went to separate parts of the store while each area's respective manager(s) gave a little tour and told us what to start pushing this coming Black Friday. First we had to go to our Gifts area we found out how to push calendars. Went over to Bargain then where its manager (my fav) began his tour. I used to have to recover Bargain at night so I'm pretty good with its layout. Then we went to Local, found that local tour guides were expected to sell big this year, then it was Newstand and Music. Music's Leads want us to push Boxsets. All was very humdrum sales techniques but at least everyone involved is fun and happy.
After the meetings at the different areas, we all went back to the cafe for the passing out of the pins. That is, if you've been with the company for 5 years,you'll get a small golden pin to celebrate. I think something..nicer would've been a bit better. More appropriate. Anyway, RB and Music Manager got one. (Sadly, I don't think it right to name any of my coworkers in this blog so..I've just got to use these replacements. Titles, initials. etc) Anyway, after the "ceremony," we were free to go unless you were working, or if you had to go to a specialized meeting, such as Children's Dept. I headed to Music. Had a short meeting there. Decided on a "Boxset Contest." Whoever gets the most Boxsets gets like a 50 dollar gift card. Not too shabby when you consider that we're getting paid regardless.
After that, which was at about 9:30, I headed to the comics area to see if there was anything I needed to pick up for my collection. I did go ahead and pick up aTarot set tho. I guess it's because of my current love of Persona 3. Friend of mine got it for me for my BDay. And it's quickly becoming my fav game. So, yeah. Bought the set, called the cab, headed home. Wasn't a bad day at all.
I guess that today is as good a day as any to start this project. This morning, we employees had to attend a mandatory Holiday meeting, read: "This is what to make people buy this Christmas!" Lasted from 7am-9am. Or, that was the plan at least. Lasted longer that that, but I'll get to that. I've been having pretty bad transportation problems lately. To the point where both of the family vehicles were in the shop. Because of this, I had to use the local cab service. I'm not going to lie. I was extremely nervous about it. I mean, what do you talk to a cabbie about? And do you tip him? What if he decides to go crazy, locks the doors, and veers off of a bridge? My life isn't fantastic right now, but I'd like a chance to improve it.
Got up at 6am, called for the taxi, took a quick shower, and got dressed. Cab got there about 6:30. Now, the driver was an amazing character. His radio was playing really soft gospel music when I got into the back with my things. Greeted him, he returned it and we were on our way. Drove in silence until his cell began to ring. Now, this man who so unabashedly played his gospel music on a somewhat beautiful Sunday morning proceeded to have a conversation with whomever about how big a mistake it is to have a sex with a girl without wearing protection. His actual relay of that statement was a lot more coarse, however. And a bit angrier, come to think of it. Bad experience? I remember smiling at a particular remark he made about going to church after dropping me off. This was right after dropping me off. Was right after another "condom comment." He just struck me as an oddly conflicted person. As if he lived a raunchy life or something and thought that by playing gospel in his cab and by going to church, he could make amends. I don't if that's really his reasons or anything. And I'm not saying that it isn't possible to do such a thing. Forgiveness. He was really..hm.
I made it to the bookstore at about 6:45. Paid the driver ($15.00) and walked in through the cafe door. I always find it a bit odd when I see my coworkers looking normal. Jeans, sweaters..lack of make-up. . It's also a bit reassuring to see them looking that way though. Human. I mean, through my conversations with them I was always able to get a hint that they had lives outside of work but to get a glimpse at it is always different. Whether it's a Garfield sweater that may mean they've a love of that cartoon feline or a love of the person who gave it to them..or what they took from the breakfast table which lets me know they prefer blueberry muffins to bananas. I grabbed some OJ and a cookie and sat at a table with some friends. Noshing my cookie, full of M&M greatness, I noticed something else. There are cliques. All the same little groups too. Almost defined by whatever part of the store they work in. Some didn't work like that. For instance, I'm kind of a hybrid music/bookseller. The 4 friends I sat with, three were music and one was book. But, there were the popular, pretty ones sitting together with their coffee, the nerdier fantasy reading employees together, the more reserved quiet ones were together. Then there were us, the joking, rock-loving gamers. Was kind of weird to see that some things you learn in high school do actually carry over.
After the store manager's obligatory "Let's a have a great meeting speech," we were split into what could be described as field trip groups. After R.B. commented about not holding anyone's hands, I mock cried about getting lost. It was really set up that way. Each group went to separate parts of the store while each area's respective manager(s) gave a little tour and told us what to start pushing this coming Black Friday. First we had to go to our Gifts area we found out how to push calendars. Went over to Bargain then where its manager (my fav) began his tour. I used to have to recover Bargain at night so I'm pretty good with its layout. Then we went to Local, found that local tour guides were expected to sell big this year, then it was Newstand and Music. Music's Leads want us to push Boxsets. All was very humdrum sales techniques but at least everyone involved is fun and happy.
After the meetings at the different areas, we all went back to the cafe for the passing out of the pins. That is, if you've been with the company for 5 years,you'll get a small golden pin to celebrate. I think something..nicer would've been a bit better. More appropriate. Anyway, RB and Music Manager got one. (Sadly, I don't think it right to name any of my coworkers in this blog so..I've just got to use these replacements. Titles, initials. etc) Anyway, after the "ceremony," we were free to go unless you were working, or if you had to go to a specialized meeting, such as Children's Dept. I headed to Music. Had a short meeting there. Decided on a "Boxset Contest." Whoever gets the most Boxsets gets like a 50 dollar gift card. Not too shabby when you consider that we're getting paid regardless.
After that, which was at about 9:30, I headed to the comics area to see if there was anything I needed to pick up for my collection. I did go ahead and pick up aTarot set tho. I guess it's because of my current love of Persona 3. Friend of mine got it for me for my BDay. And it's quickly becoming my fav game. So, yeah. Bought the set, called the cab, headed home. Wasn't a bad day at all.
posted by "Teenage"Bookseller | 4:37 PM
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