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.
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.
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