Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Not really an SC, but how hard is it to understand?

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Not really an SC, but how hard is it to understand?

    A = Girl who works day shift
    SM = Store manager
    ME = Me, who else?

    Last night, I was working my usual shift at the convenience store. It was going fairly smooth. It had been threatening to storm off and on all day. Okay, no big deal. Life just goes on as usual, rain or shine, or so that's the logical thought pattern in my mind. Usually, we cut up with each other and clown around throughout the shift change process, and a few of the good regular customers will join in along the way as they come and go. It's all good, but we're a busy location, so everything moves fast this time of day.

    So, I get signed on and take the register. I work my way through the small line that built up while customers patiently waited through the shift change process. Most are regulars, and everyone knows the drill on both sides of the counter. I'm a pretty quick and efficient cashier, so it only takes me a couple of minutes to whittle the line back to nothing. A sets about doing her closing paperwork, and SM goes to finish stocking the cooler.

    A short time passes, and A finishes her paperwork. A doesn't drive, so SM tells me that she'll be back because she's working the overlap cashier slot on my shift. Okay, I can handle it by myself most of the time, even if it's busy. The first hour of the shift always seems to fly by because of the afternoon rush. So, I'm now in the middle of the second hour of my shift. The storm cuts loose with its fury. That's still no big deal. I'm not out in it. The power flickers. Okay, now I start to get a little anxious because it's the afternoon rush, and I know it'll be a nightmare trying to get everyone out should the power go out for a while. I keep my cool and concentrate on getting everyone through the line as quickly as possible. The power goes out again for about 30 seconds, then comes back on. The computer goes through its reboot routine. Everything comes back online except for the credit card network. It won't process anyone's cards. Luckily, there were no gas customers needing to pay on credit card. Everyone seems to understand that the power outage has affected the network.

    Time passes, and the credit card network is still down. I tried to unplug it and replug it hoping it would reset. I tried the few other tricks I could think of to try. Still nothing. The manger comes back, and so I tell her what's been happening. She said she had been delayed by the storm because visibility was so bad that she couldn't see the road. Only one SC threw a hissy out of all possible customers. I simply responded that I'm not God, and they should consider themselves lucky for that. The point to all of this is that people take their conveniences for granted, then find themselves in a world of hurt when it's gone. Some people just couldn't grasp the concept of paying by cash or check, but other than that one, they all accepted it without making an issue. After a few hours, the credit card network finally came back online, and all was good again.
    The Borg wouldn't know fun if they assimilated an amusement park. -- B'Elanna Torres, Star Trek: Voyager

    Math! Math, my dear boy, is but the lesbian sister of Biology. -- Peter Griffin, Family Guy

  • #2
    We always kept an "emergency kit" in a cabinet under the register with the old-fashioned sliding card-imprint-taking-thingy (I believe that's the technical term lol) and the carbon copy sheets for writing receipts (and a flashlight). Luckily I never had to use it. When the power went out long enough to have to kick everyone out we would just offer to hold stuff for customers for a few days rather than go through all that hassle. Some people would bitch but never bad enough to make us haul out the kit.
    I don't go in for ancient wisdom
    I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
    It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

    Comment


    • #3
      I simply responded that I'm not God, and they should consider themselves lucky for that.
      Hilarious! Someday I hope to be able to use that line on someone....

      Comment


      • #4
        Quoth BookstoreEscapee View Post
        the old-fashioned sliding card-imprint-taking-thingy (I believe that's the technical term lol)
        The technical term is a WimWam. As I found out one day after my boss told me to go find it and I thought he was winding me up

        Comment


        • #5
          Quoth Linda View Post
          The technical term is a WimWam. As I found out one day after my boss told me to go find it and I thought he was winding me up
          Wow. That's a really onomatopoeic name.
          "I can tell her you're all tied up in the projection room." Sunset Boulevard.

          Comment


          • #6
            Quoth BookstoreEscapee View Post
            When the power went out
            Feb - Apr 1998, 52 day power cut to the central business district of Auckland, New Zealand. Still a world record (as far as I know). Unfortunately my workplace had back up generators.
            "I'm trying to manufacture sincerity." - Simon (Teachers)
            "Ok, you have to stop the Q-tip when there's resistance!" - Chandler (Friends)

            Comment


            • #7
              Quoth cinema guy View Post
              Wow. That's a really onomatopoeic name.
              I was gonna say that!

              You beat me to that comment!!!
              Teach a SC to fish... and they will whine about you not catching, filleting, frying, and serving it up on a silver platter for them. - EvilEmpryss

              Comment


              • #8
                We always called them knuckle busters, as you had to be very careful or you got your knuckles skinned.

                Comment

                Working...
                X