Somehow I managed to survive.

[bunnyboy]

So I'm still training at the store I work at, needless to say it's a major convenience store that I shall call the 9-13 (who am I kidding everyone knows what it is.) Today was one of the fateful days that was a perfect storm, high temperatures (for Western Washington), and Free Squishy day.

So by the end of my woefully short 5 hour shift...

How does one exactly feel ATM?


My standard greeting is "How are you today," and I finally got my first confusing feeling.

person when asked was oddly feeling ATM.

Nice try

So the free Squishies today were in a small cup (about 4.89 oz less than our small.) It should be a little obvious that it was a limit of 1 per person, but this didn't stop one kid from a group of teens who got theirs, and came in to buy some food as well.

As we were busy we weren't that concerned with them hanging in front of the store for a little bit, until one decided, hey it's free Squishy day and I had mine, so I'll try to get another. Luckily the manager training me caught him, and told the kids to shove off, which they did.

Kids, "mom" and Nice try 2: electric boogaloo

About 15 minutes after the kids went off, we had a small family come in, mom ( or older sister hard to tell) seemed to be about as with it as me if I was high on every conceivable drug I could take without dying, the kids (4 of them, who looked between 3 and 8) made their purchases after getting their free Squishies which was maybe about a minute after getting into the store. "Mom" however was acting very suspicious, and kept just standing off to the side... She waited for about 10-15 minutes before actually going and getting the two ther things she eventually purchased along with the starburst she already had in her hands.

About a minute later, she had one of her "kids" go over to get another cup, and was told that it was one per person, never did see someone leave in more of a huff.

Your machine is broken...

Ok here's a little fun fact I never knew, the squishy machines, when in constant use actually have a little trouble freezing said syrupy-carbonated frozen goodness... and take about 15-20 minutes to start freezing again...

Enter guy who just doesn't get it...

guy complains that our machine (which has been in almost constant used for the previous 3 hours) and is told that it's because the machine is getting used almost constantly today.... by me... traning manager guy (hmmm probably refer to him as TMG from here on out), and one of the guys who come in... and still insisted it was broken (though not in those words)


No ID

OK.... not from today but earlier this week.

Guy comes in, goes up to TMG asks for a pack of Marb Menthols, gets asked for ID and doesn't have it, then leaves.

Ok, I can see, you possibly forgot it, heck I've done that before so, it can be forgiven, but not with smokey treats.

the bad part...

He came in the next day, still no ID, and was still accepting of not getting his smokes.

The worst part...

He was driving...yes driving with no form of ID... how I wish we could call the cops on that.

RTFS (or you'd be illiterate of the sign if it was 5 feet tall in flashing neon)

Didn't think I'd run into the sign non-reader. but today got it twice.

Mom: do you guys have a bathroom?
Me: (knowing the great trick if you have a non-public restroom) no
repeat for the next 2 minutes.
Mom (to TMG): do you guys have a restroom, my daughter's gotta go real bad.
TMG: No *points to No public restroom sign)
Mom *buys stuff and huffs off.*

and finally, some observations.

being located in the center of three distinct areas (ghetto-ish area, high scale area and downtown area of the place I reside) we get quite a diverse set of people. However here are some general observations.

We oddly seem to sell menthols to everyone... buuuuut the biggest percentage of menthol buys are white... well only in skin color...

Somehow I can never get lucky at any lotto game, but seems we've had a spike of winners from tickets I sold.... et tu luck field?

you may be 45... but damn you look 20, still need to see that ID (we get a sting about once a week... or so I've been told.)

if you look at our wall clocks, then ask us the time, you'll notice something... our clocks are 10 minutes fast, anyone wanna guess why, I'd exclude some people from playing this game, but it'd be a dead giveaway. Cookies to whomever wins.

Someone play me off?

[Gaki]

You have wall clocks? I work at a gas station and we don't have any wall clocks. But if I could guess why it would be so that more people would get the hell out of your store when it "closes" so you can count your drawer down before you have to clock out so you don't clock out too late. That's if your store closes, I dunno, I work in a 24 hour store.

My observations are these (having worked in the store for a year...my anniversary was today!):

Women buy more 100s than men.

Black people buy more Newports and Kools.

White people buy more Marlboros.

Old white men buy Winstons, Marlboro Reds, Camel Filters, Camel Nonfilters.

Old white women buy Misty, Capri, Salems, and Virginia Slims.

Our biggest sellers are for younger crowds and they are Marlboro Menthol Lights and Marlboro Lights.

Camel Crush doesn't sell unless there's a 2 for 2.50 off sale.

A little advice: Your stores don't get a sting every week, that's ridiculous, they just tell you that so you'll ask for more ID. If there is a sting, however, you have an ace up your sleeve. Before you even ask for ID, here's your safety net: "ARE YOU 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER?" If they are in a sting they CANNOT say "yes" to that question. Sometimes if they look like they might be hovering around the age of 25 you can just ask that question and if they say yes (most of the time they actually whip it out or they tell you their age) then you can let it slide. If there is any doubt when they say yes though, ask for ID, and ALWAYS CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE. That's if you can't swipe it through your register (we have the coolest registers at our stores!)

[bunnyboy]

You have wall clocks? I work at a gas station and we don't have any wall clocks. But if I could guess why it would be so that more people would get the hell out of your store when it "closes" so you can count your drawer down before you have to clock out so you don't clock out too late. That's if your store closes, I dunno, I work in a 24 hour store.

oop nope, we're 24 hours (hint subtract 2 from the name I gave the store)

My observations are these (having worked in the store for a year...my anniversary was today!):

Women buy more 100s than men.

Black people buy more Newports and Kools.

White people buy more Marlboros.

Old white men buy Winstons, Marlboro Reds, Camel Filters, Camel Nonfilters.

Old white women buy Misty, Capri, Salems, and Virginia Slims.

Our biggest sellers are for younger crowds and they are Marlboro Menthol Lights and Marlboro Lights.

Camel Crush doesn't sell unless there's a 2 for 2.50 off sale.

All are true, save the last 2 Crush sells well, and ours are Marb Lights and light 100s

A little advice: Your stores don't get a sting every week, that's ridiculous, they just tell you that so you'll ask for more ID. If there is a sting, however, you have an ace up your sleeve. Before you even ask for ID, here's your safety net: "ARE YOU 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER?" If they are in a sting they CANNOT say "yes" to that question. Sometimes if they look like they might be hovering around the age of 25 you can just ask that question and if they say yes (most of the time they actually whip it out or they tell you their age) then you can let it slide. If there is any doubt when they say yes though, ask for ID, and ALWAYS CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE. That's if you can't swipe it through your register (we have the coolest registers at our stores!)

More than likely it's to scare me into it since we seem to have a few who would give everyone age restricted products, but meh I'm of the firm belief that if you don't have it, you aren't responsible enough to actually smoke, or drink, or gamble now get thee hence. *puffs, takes shot and blows $300 on Mega Millions*

[Megg]

If there is a sting, however, you have an ace up your sleeve. Before you even ask for ID, here's your safety net: "ARE YOU 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER?" If they are in a sting they CANNOT say "yes" to that question.

That sounds oddly like the old adage prostitutes and drug dealers use, tbh. It is said that cops can't lie or it is entrapment. That is actually false, cops can tell you they are house painters, and it won't matter. So just to be safe, I would make sure on that, and not count on it to save my job, were I you. I don't know where you live, or who told you this, so for all I know it is true.

[Javakat]

our clocks are 10 minutes fast, anyone wanna guess why

My guess is that it's to make it easier to enforce cut-off times for restricted sales, like lotto and alcohol.

[Gaki]

That sounds oddly like the old adage prostitutes and drug dealers use, tbh. It is said that cops can't lie or it is entrapment. That is actually false, cops can tell you they are house painters, and it won't matter. So just to be safe, I would make sure on that, and not count on it to save my job, were I you. I don't know where you live, or who told you this, so for all I know it is true.

It is the be-all end-all. Said from the sting people themselves and proven by my sister. They won't say no, they'll just walk out of the store without saying anything, and then you get a 100 dollar giftcard to your store courtesy of Phillip Morris. Woot. At least, that's how it happens here, and I would assume, to be fair, Phillip Morris would do it the same in other places. All of our stings are done by the Phillip Morris company (I'm not sure about R.J. Reynolds, but I would guess they would have to stick to the same rules) and it doesn't matter anyway because if you do ask that question and they say yes but they look twelve, you're not gonna let them get away with it.

[bunnyboy]

My guess is that it's to make it easier to enforce cut-off times for restricted sales, like lotto and alcohol.

Xookies for you, though not lotto, that's mainly enforced by the machines IIRC.

[Andara Bledin]

I'm of the firm belief that if you don't have it, you aren't responsible enough to actually smoke, or drink, or gamble now get thee hence. *puffs, takes shot and blows $300 on Mega Millions*

Outstanding position. If I worked with anything age restricted, you can bet your britches I'd be carding everybody who didn't look at least retirement age.

That sounds oddly like the old adage prostitutes and drug dealers use, tbh. It is said that cops can't lie or it is entrapment.

Cops can lie through their teeth. However, they cannot invite someone to do something that is against the law or it is entrapment. And the old "are you a cop?" question is useless, for the same reasons.

As this relates to people selling age-restricted items, if you ask for ID and the person running the sting wheedles you into selling without seeing ID, that could be fought as entrapment. Technically, it would be, but I doubt you'd be successful, and even if you were, it would be damned expensive to prove.

^-.-^

[Chainsmith]

The only thing i work with that is age restricted is knives. I get yelled at occaisionally by the 15-17 year old wanna be "gangstas" for not selling them pointed objects (have to be 18).

[Megg]

All of our stings are done by the Phillip Morris company

Obviously completely different than law enforcement, in any case. I don't mean to be a skeptic, but we had a not too bright bartender at Crapplebee's who got busted in a sting by the ATF. He asked the chick if she was old enough, but never saw ID. She lied, he got led out of the restaurant in handcuffs. Sucky night for him, he was just trying to get her number. IIRC, she wasn't a cop, either, just some underage chick they got to come in.

Seems like you have your bases covered, though.

[Red_Dazes]

..I missed free squishy day... and I was sad... then I realized that everyone with in a 20 mile radius of any ....9...13.... would be cashing in on this freegoodness...and I would not really be willing to suffer such madness... even for the squishy...

So instead.. I went and bought a squishy today... and a cool metal squishy straw. Those things are BOMB! I totally recommend everyone buying one....*cough* got a little off topic there... sorry...


....SQUISHY! .....

[Jester]

A little advice: Your stores don't get a sting every week, that's ridiculous, they just tell you that so you'll ask for more ID.

That is not necessarily ridiculous. Certain areas may get more stings than others. For instance, a drinking town like Key West certainly gets more alcohol-ID stings than, say, a little podunk town where not much happens.

If there is a sting, however, you have an ace up your sleeve. Before you even ask for ID, here's your safety net: "ARE YOU 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER?" If they are in a sting they CANNOT say "yes" to that question.

As pointed out, that is not necessarily true. Just as cops CAN and DO lie about being cops, underage operatives don't necessarily have to answer this question honestly. They usually are not going to lie, mind you, to avoid the appearance of entrapment, but there really are no rules preventing them.

But let's say it is not a sting. And the clerk asks that question. If the person is underage, OF COURSE they are going to say they are 18 or older. Then if the clerk sells to them, and this transaction is discovered by the appropriate authorities (which can very easily happen), well, the clerk is pretty much fucked, aren't they.

My advice? If you sell age-restricted items, and a person attempting to purchase said items does not produce ID when requested, don't fucking sell to them!

[Kimmik]

My Rule is ID ID ID.... buying booze ID... and yes if you are in a group I am going to ID you all. My Store says so....
Smokes ID...
Sporting Goods and the reg goes BOOOOP ID...

I am a cashier I do not play the carnival game of guess the age.... I rather be yelled at then lose my job... I like my job tyvm

[EricKei]

I used to love it when somebody who was really in their 30's tried to whine about getting carded... I just told them "Well, I wasn't really sure if you were old enough to get this, you look kinda young..." -- 9 times out of 10, they either cheered right up at the fake compliment and were cool from there on out, or else the laughed in spite of themselves. Either way, I got the ID.

[Oberonsshadow]

So the free Squishies today were in a small cup (about 4.89 oz less than our small.)

I missed free squishie day... I was sad... While I dislike the new squishie radio commercials, I really like the new movie-themed flavor...

My observations are these (having worked in the store for a year...my anniversary
...
Old white men buy Winstons, Marlboro Reds, Camel Filters, Camel Nonfilters.

I am a younger white woman who smokes Winstons... I maybe the only young person on the planet who smokes Winstons, but I like them and it amuses me to watch people scratch their heads over my cig choices...