Yay for WAVING

[Gaki]

What Were You Even Attempting?

Guy decides he's going to splash Liberty with some slush from beside the curb. Liberty doesn't move. Liberty also doesn't get splashed. Guy failed...hardcore. Liberty is confused but keeps dancing.

Hah!

Weird Guy: Wow, your job must really suck. I'd hate to be out here in this cold.
Me: What cold?
WG: I'm sorry?
Me: I said, what cold? I'm not cold.
WG: *walks away*

I love how people think we're just popsicles all the time. There is a REASON for us dancing. Most of the time I don't even need extra socks or the shake up hand warmers because I've been shakin' my booty the whole time.

Bingo Night Goodies

Background: Tonight we were helping out with bingo night with the fire department. These are all from this experience.

1. We're handing out scratch-off tickets that can allow you to win a free HDTV or give you such and such amount off your tax return. These are the responses we get:

"I don't believe in that sort of thing." (But you believe in gambling with Bingo?)
"No thanks, I already did them." (Free...HD...TV.)
"Is it free?"
"Do I have to pay for it?"
"What are you charging?"
"I don't have that much money."
"Can I have something else?"
"Free?"

YES, FREE GODDAMNIT.

2. We're greeting people in full costume.

"You two are so unfortunate."
"You're terribly cute out there but don't you get cold?"
"I seen you out there. Terrible job you guys got."

Nice ones:

"So cute, I just love all of you!" The rest were variations on that theme.

3. We're calling up the numbers for winners.

"It's them numbers down there, honey." (Yes...yes I know...I'm not your honey and you smell like burnt hair.)

Out of Costume Around Town

"Hey you! I know you! You're that weirdo out on the street corner!" (Yep! That's me! )

[Kristev]

Oh my word.

[Gaki]

I got kicked out of the Mart of Wal today too for walking in with half my outfit on. The Asst. Manager was like, "We have a contract with [other tax company who probably won't be in Mart next year because they suuuuuuck] so you have to leave."

Me: "So I can't get my mittens?"

Him: "Um..."

I just walked out the door and went to the Way of Subs. .___. I think I made him feel bad. My hands were terribly cold. But whatever... I understand their contract thingo but I still didn't get my mittens...

[bainsidhe]

I got kicked out of the Mart of Wal today too for walking in with half my outfit on. The Asst. Manager was like, "We have a contract with [other tax company who probably won't be in Mart next year because they suuuuuuck] so you have to leave."

Huh? I google-fu'd the costume, 'cause I assumed this must be some monstrosity for you to be turned away. Without the crown, the costume looks like a sky-blue toga with a sash. In other words, not a huge mascot costume for you to stash x-boxes in.

I would complain about this to corporte. It's true that businesses have the right to refuse service, but this example isn't the norm. Why were you picked on? What if you wore a Target uniform into Walmart or *gasp* a Burger King uniform when the Walmart has a McDonald's? That's essentially what the manager was saying. You were not allowed entry because you wore the work uniform of a competitor.

[Gaki]

I think it's because the contract they have with the other company forbids solicitation from other companies, and according to the Asst. Manager, the terms of the contract apparently include in the definition of solicitation, the wearing of other tax company paraphenalia. Which...what if I was wearing a T-shirt? Could they throw me out then? I don't get it. It wasn't even the whole toga. All it was was the extra piece that goes over our shoulders to make the toga look and the tax banner we wear over that same shoulder. I had the hat WITH me...maybe that was it? I don't really get it.

It's whatever, they can do what they want, they still can't stop our pimped out van from rolling around across their parking lot. That's my RIDE, man. LOL. If you want me off your property, you'll just have to RESPECT THE VAN.

[XCashier]

Weird Guy: Wow, your job must really suck. I'd hate to be out here in this cold.
Me: What cold?
WG: I'm sorry?
Me: I said, what cold? I'm not cold.
WG: *walks away*

I love how people think we're just popsicles all the time. There is a REASON for us dancing. Most of the time I don't even need extra socks or the shake up hand warmers because I've been shakin' my booty the whole time.

For all he knows, you could be wearing a ski suit under that robe! The costume is loose and full length with long sleeves. Even if you weren't warm enough with the dancing, I would think you could wear thermals and/or sweats underneath.

I see a few Dancing Lady Liberties when I drive through town. I always smile and wave back. Let them know that not all of us want to throw things or try to splash them.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I now know who the OP is working for, and I promise not to tell.

I know this because they've set up shop in an empty building across the street from the swamp, and I see their Lady Liberty out shakin' it on the street almost every day.

[Imogene]

Weird Guy: Wow, your job must really suck. I'd hate to be out here in this cold.
Me: What cold?
WG: I'm sorry?
Me: I said, what cold? I'm not cold.
WG: *walks away*

That sounds familiar... at my job, I work right beside one of the two doors into the store (first half of my shift usually by one door, the rest of it, by the other...) and people routinely come in and immediately say, "It's freezing out there!"
J: "Can you see your breath?"
"...? No..."
J: "Then it's NOT freezing."

People were doing that all last night to me, and it was freaking 60+ ALL DAY! It's not even CLOSE to cold, you morons!

[LillFilly]

You guys sound a lot nicer than the group of liberties and uncle sams that tried to promote their business on our sidewalk; I don't know if you are the same company, but they were pretty rude when we asked them to leave. You know, being that it's private property and all...

Sucks you couldn't get your gloves; I mean, it sounds like it was obvious that you were there for personal needs, not to promote your company.

[Andara Bledin]

You guys sound a lot nicer than the group of liberties and uncle sams that tried to promote their business on our sidewalk; I don't know if you are the same company, but they were pretty rude when we asked them to leave. You know, being that it's private property and all...

I don't know where you are, but around here sidewalks (and everything from there to the curb) are actually easements, and as such count as public property for the purposes of gathering, traveling, etc.

Of course, that doesn't count for things like private communities (gated or otherwise) like the apartment complex where I live.

^-.-^

[Gaki]

In our little town all sidewalks are public property as long as you're not in like an apartment community. We're allowed to stand anywhere on sidewalks around any building but parking lots are a different story.

My sister used to work for the same place and she was dancing on a corner that was next to a gas station and the manager of the gas station came out and told her very rudely that she had to "get gone" or she'd be calling the police. My sister is very sensitive so of course she teared up, took offense, and drove back to the office all flustered. Well my boss wasn't about to have any of that so he called the cops, talked to them to see what was so illegal about it and when told that it wasn't illegal at all, he sent my roommate and I over.

Now I know why he sent my roommate and I over...we're fierce. I parked my big-ass truck right in that gas station's parking lot, dressed up with my roommate and danced on that corner like there was no tomorrow. That manager said NOT ONE WORD to me after I gave her the HUGEST, SMUGEST, most SHIT-EATING grin I've ever given anyone.

That was the last f-you to that particular store. We don't dance in front of there anymore. We dance in front of the rival station (which just happens to be one of the stores in the chain for which I work during the summer). Said station LOVES us. They smile at us when we come in all dressed up and get coffee. We give them reusable shopping bags, pens, little coupons for their taxes... The manager is pretty awesome too, she's always amused when we're dancing over on their corner.

[Mytical]

Because said dancing will also bring in business for the station. If I were the owner of the other gas station, I would be FURIOUS at the employees for running the dancers off. It's free entertainment for the customers. That their employer didn't have to pay for. What in the heck were they thinking?

[AyreBiskits]

i think wall of mart just has a problem with costumes. we're part of a not-for-profit group who dress up in costumes from a certain sci-fi series and raise money/collect toys for charities. we had an event at the local wall of mart and we could NOT go into the store for bathroom breaks with any amount of costume on. we were told we would be escorted off the property entirely if this happens even once. some of us it was easy to switch into regular clothes but others were in more complicated gear and would take a while to switch back and forth. we were also told not to stand anywhere near the entrance, we had to stand near the cart entrance but also not get in their way either. they have such generous hearts.

oh, little extra: we were doing the same event a couple of years ago when someone called 911 to inform them that there was an armed man dressed in shiny leather with a man dressed as an elf waving on the side of the road at the wall of mart. cops showed up, they all laughed when the cops figured out what was going on and wanted to take pics with the guys in their costumes.

[EricKei]

Yeah, it's annoying on WM's part, but I can understand them not wanting to give the competition free advertisements by letting people into the store *when in costume*, especially if they have their own tax service. I'm thinking they're just pissed they didn't think of it first!