slight SFH update

[Becks]

A while back, I mentioned that I was interested in doing the new shop from home (aka online shopping) at my store. {I'm too lazy to look for the thread(s).}

Due to various schedule conflicts and whatnot, I couldn't get in right away, but I'm in demand.

:fast forward approx. two months:

Today, I was scheduled off, but happened to be at the store. What can I say? I needed hamburger meat, but they ran out yesterday. (I can't imagine why...)

Anyhoo. I barely get through the doors when coworkers tell me that the store manager has been paging me for at least 15 minutes prior to my appearance. I was supposed to be off today, but whatever.

I page him to call the department I happened to be standing in, and he asks me if I can help out in home shopping. "Well, I guess so...I'll have to tell my chauffer and I'm in street clothes..."

"Not a problem, and thank you!!"

So I buy the supper fixings I came in for, took them to the car and then signed in and helped out for four hours.

It was great fun.

I felt almost guilty, though, when something wasn't in stock. Maybe I'll get over it.

The people in the department thanked me. Managers thanked me. The owner ( :looking scared: ) thanked me.

I was told I did a great job and to expect to be stolen to work there after my vacation.

[wagegoth]

WOO HOO! Go, Becky!

[Seshat]

I felt almost guilty, though, when something wasn't in stock. Maybe I'll get over it.

I sometimes online-shop for groceries. Don't feel bad about something not being in stock. Sensible customers (me?) will understand, and will either ask for it again next time, or get over it.

Ask your manager/owner/whatever to ask the company that writes your software to put in a 'substititions okay/not okay' option for the customer. The ideal would be a general yes/no for substitution, and the option to denote that a particular item should/should not be substituted.

That way, if you're out of 500g cornflakes, you'll have a marker on your printout saying whether or not grabbing 2 packs of 250g will be okay.

(Mind you, that feature's not available on any of my online shopping sites, but I wish it was.)

[Jadedcarguy]

Will this mean less face-to-face with the public?

[Becks]

I sometimes online-shop for groceries. Don't feel bad about something not being in stock. Sensible customers (me?) will understand, and will either ask for it again next time, or get over it.

Very true.

I was just feeling "new", you know?

Ask your manager/owner/whatever to ask the company that writes your software to put in a 'substititions okay/not okay' option for the customer. The ideal would be a general yes/no for substitution, and the option to denote that a particular item should/should not be substituted.

That way, if you're out of 500g cornflakes, you'll have a marker on your printout saying whether or not grabbing 2 packs of 250g will be okay.

We DO have that option. However, I got the feeling that even with it, some people didn't LIKE the substitutes. Can't win, I suppose...

Will this mean less face-to-face with the public?

In a way, yes, don't really have to deal face to face with specific customers, but I'll still see other customers in the store.