I've gotten a FT job at a big box hardware store. I prefer to work outside at the lawn & garden section. Over time I've had to encounter this old guy coming in and BS'ing for too long. He talks to coworkers, talks with them and customers, shares candy and cookies from the grocery store, takes loaded carts out to customers cars while escorting them. Seems some of the coworkers are ok with this since he seems nice, but me and a bunch of other people think he just gets in the way. I'll say that he doesn't get in the way all the time, but read on...
Every time I see him go out, he ends up talking with customers even when they're in their cars (who here is impressed by the correct usage of that word? j/k). I had a couple check out today, and they didn't seem to be in a hurry, yet I could tell the wife was uncomfortable when she said, "Who's that guy?", and I said, "Eh, just some guy that hangs out here.." I and others have even suggested he just get an application.
I had one lady buy about 15 bags of mulch. She pulled her car up to the loading area but no help had arrived. I had to call another two times. After the third call the old guy asked me if someone needed help.
Me: "Yeah, this lady who bought mulch. I've already called for help a couple times.."
Old Guy: "Aw, I'll go take care of it.." (starts to walk out)
Me: "No! We can't have you liable if you hurt your back or anything!!"
Old Guy: NAW ,it's okay..."
After that I got fed up, called for a manager and ended up talking to the store manager and relaying the info to him. I also talked to the younger lawn & garden manager who agreed that he can't be hanging around anymore. I talked to the Sr L&G manager and relayed the same thing, but that despite other coworkers liking him, I didn't want to be a jerk and tell him that the old guy can't be here anymore.
I don't know what will happen, but does anybody else have a person like the old guy hanging out at your store? Like I said, I hate to be a jerk, and he's just being sociable and chatting it up, even helping customers out to their car. It's not even my call whether he can be there or not, but I am wondering how other retail workers handle people like this.
Every time I see him go out, he ends up talking with customers even when they're in their cars (who here is impressed by the correct usage of that word? j/k). I had a couple check out today, and they didn't seem to be in a hurry, yet I could tell the wife was uncomfortable when she said, "Who's that guy?", and I said, "Eh, just some guy that hangs out here.." I and others have even suggested he just get an application.
I had one lady buy about 15 bags of mulch. She pulled her car up to the loading area but no help had arrived. I had to call another two times. After the third call the old guy asked me if someone needed help.
Me: "Yeah, this lady who bought mulch. I've already called for help a couple times.."
Old Guy: "Aw, I'll go take care of it.." (starts to walk out)
Me: "No! We can't have you liable if you hurt your back or anything!!"
Old Guy: NAW ,it's okay..."
After that I got fed up, called for a manager and ended up talking to the store manager and relaying the info to him. I also talked to the younger lawn & garden manager who agreed that he can't be hanging around anymore. I talked to the Sr L&G manager and relayed the same thing, but that despite other coworkers liking him, I didn't want to be a jerk and tell him that the old guy can't be here anymore.
I don't know what will happen, but does anybody else have a person like the old guy hanging out at your store? Like I said, I hate to be a jerk, and he's just being sociable and chatting it up, even helping customers out to their car. It's not even my call whether he can be there or not, but I am wondering how other retail workers handle people like this.
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