Fester and Rot
Dread. Dread. Dread.
That's all I'm feeling today.
And yes, I do realize that it is over reacting a little bit.
But damnit! I don't want to go to the " other store " today.
Last week, it was brought to my attention that the Petsmart on the other side of town is going to be a bit " short handed ". The first clue was getting a phone call from the manager of the other store, Chris. He left this message, pleading me to " come join the dark side " as he likes to say, and come work for him for a couple of days while his wife pops out another kid. I laughed when I heard it, because no way in hell did I want to go all the way over on the other side of town to work for him. He said he wanted me because he needed someone with a decent IQ. Well, our entire department (well, the ones that count, anyway) has a decent IQ. Anyone could go over there and help ease the load.
The following day, my manager pulled me in the office, and said that I needed to go help Chris. I explained that I really didn't want to. And I don't. For a number of reasons, a few of which I may get to in a moment. And basically, my manager forced me to choose to do that. He kept saying " It would be a good expeirence for you ", and " They really need you ", "It would look really good for you if you did" and for me to go an " Lead up the place ".
What the hell did that mean??
I'm the department lead in our store, but the other store HAS a department lead already. How in the world do they expect me to go over there and " lead the place up " when they already have a lead?
So, I didn't get it. I didn't understand why my manager was being so strange in explaining it to me, and hinting that it would be great for me and the other store.
So, fine. It's 2 days. I can ball up my insecurities, pack my baggage, and drive my happy ass down a half an hour out of my way, to go to the other store and help out a tinge.
But then another thing happened.
This new guy that recently joined our store, that came from the other store, was asking me questions about it. Asking me things like " So, you're going to the other store? Do you know why? Are you going to go there to lead up the place? " (once again, those choice of words were used) And questions, which once again, left a feeling inside me that seemed to think that there was more to me going than just to ease a bit of the work load.
Besides, what work load is there on a tuesday and wednesday?? The other store doesn't even see the business that we do, and we're dead on tuesdays and wednesdays. I even asked the manager, when he called to personally thank me for coming over and helping, if I was going there to receive any shipments, or approve PO's, and his response was " No, my lead can do all of that, you don't have to worry about it...".
Then why the hell do they need ME?
Well, I finally got a bit more information yesterday. A different manager in our store and I started talking. About the other store, and issues surrounding them. Apparently, we are in the top of the district for pet loss. Meaning, we don't have much pet loss. Our animals are healthy. And I know that my department cares, and we work HARD to make sure that we are only selling healthy animals. And we pride ourselves in it. And it helps that we have an in-store vet to see all of our sick animals. But from what I gathered, (and those of you that work with me that read this--I'm not supposed to know all of this information so you don't either, k?) Corporate Petsmart has been contacting the other store regarding the number of pets they loose. Apparently, where our percentage is at 12% (which partly is due to the fact that we are a bit behind in our sales... once we reach our sales goal that number will go down), their percentage is at 38%!!! And they are OVER their sales goal!! Meaning, their loosing animals.
So, this manager says that it will be great for me to go, because I could possibly help them.
And this manager said, specifically, to tell what they are doing wrong, and tell them how to take care of their animals.
Ugh.
Dread.
First off, I can't imagine I would be able to help anything in only 2 days.
Secondly, I can't imagine that the staff there (especially the lead) would appreciate me coming in and start telling them how to take care of their animals. I know I wouldn't like it. If someone came in to my department and started telling me how to start taking care of the animals. But I guess that's why no one is coming in. Because we are doing great with our pet care. And I really hope, that once I do become manager, because it will happen probably this year, that it will get even better. Especially if the staff that we have now is still with us. Everyone cares. And everyone has learned so much, and they use this knowledge and want to help customers do the right thing, and make the right decision, even if it means missing out on a sale. I love it. It's great. I've never been happier with the staff we've collected, than I am now. ( With a few exceptions--but they/she doesn't count ).
So today, I head to the other store. To... help out. And that is exactly how I see it. I am not planning on going in and barking orders. I am not planning on changing anything... seriously. However, if I do see something that isn't right, or something I don't agree with, I will simply make a note and get in touch with the manager once he comes back, on how I think the best way to handle it is.
I'm going to look at everything. Birds, small animals, reptiles to make sure they have the appropriate temps and humidity levels, filter systems, fish--ugh, that's going to suck--I already know they have seriously problems with overstocking and over ordering fish, isolation rooms, EVERYTHING. And maybe I'll find something, maybe I won't. I'm not going to go into it with this savior mentality that some people have hinted at.
I'm just going to go in, and be me, and get these 2 days over with so I can join my store again.
Wish me luck.
Bleh.
....
Oh... and yesterday I found out that they brought in a sick gecko to our vet for her to euthanize.
A crested gecko.
=(
Major suckage.
That's all I'm feeling today.
And yes, I do realize that it is over reacting a little bit.
But damnit! I don't want to go to the " other store " today.
Last week, it was brought to my attention that the Petsmart on the other side of town is going to be a bit " short handed ". The first clue was getting a phone call from the manager of the other store, Chris. He left this message, pleading me to " come join the dark side " as he likes to say, and come work for him for a couple of days while his wife pops out another kid. I laughed when I heard it, because no way in hell did I want to go all the way over on the other side of town to work for him. He said he wanted me because he needed someone with a decent IQ. Well, our entire department (well, the ones that count, anyway) has a decent IQ. Anyone could go over there and help ease the load.
The following day, my manager pulled me in the office, and said that I needed to go help Chris. I explained that I really didn't want to. And I don't. For a number of reasons, a few of which I may get to in a moment. And basically, my manager forced me to choose to do that. He kept saying " It would be a good expeirence for you ", and " They really need you ", "It would look really good for you if you did" and for me to go an " Lead up the place ".
What the hell did that mean??
I'm the department lead in our store, but the other store HAS a department lead already. How in the world do they expect me to go over there and " lead the place up " when they already have a lead?
So, I didn't get it. I didn't understand why my manager was being so strange in explaining it to me, and hinting that it would be great for me and the other store.
So, fine. It's 2 days. I can ball up my insecurities, pack my baggage, and drive my happy ass down a half an hour out of my way, to go to the other store and help out a tinge.
But then another thing happened.
This new guy that recently joined our store, that came from the other store, was asking me questions about it. Asking me things like " So, you're going to the other store? Do you know why? Are you going to go there to lead up the place? " (once again, those choice of words were used) And questions, which once again, left a feeling inside me that seemed to think that there was more to me going than just to ease a bit of the work load.
Besides, what work load is there on a tuesday and wednesday?? The other store doesn't even see the business that we do, and we're dead on tuesdays and wednesdays. I even asked the manager, when he called to personally thank me for coming over and helping, if I was going there to receive any shipments, or approve PO's, and his response was " No, my lead can do all of that, you don't have to worry about it...".
Then why the hell do they need ME?
Well, I finally got a bit more information yesterday. A different manager in our store and I started talking. About the other store, and issues surrounding them. Apparently, we are in the top of the district for pet loss. Meaning, we don't have much pet loss. Our animals are healthy. And I know that my department cares, and we work HARD to make sure that we are only selling healthy animals. And we pride ourselves in it. And it helps that we have an in-store vet to see all of our sick animals. But from what I gathered, (and those of you that work with me that read this--I'm not supposed to know all of this information so you don't either, k?) Corporate Petsmart has been contacting the other store regarding the number of pets they loose. Apparently, where our percentage is at 12% (which partly is due to the fact that we are a bit behind in our sales... once we reach our sales goal that number will go down), their percentage is at 38%!!! And they are OVER their sales goal!! Meaning, their loosing animals.
So, this manager says that it will be great for me to go, because I could possibly help them.
And this manager said, specifically, to tell what they are doing wrong, and tell them how to take care of their animals.
Ugh.
Dread.
First off, I can't imagine I would be able to help anything in only 2 days.
Secondly, I can't imagine that the staff there (especially the lead) would appreciate me coming in and start telling them how to take care of their animals. I know I wouldn't like it. If someone came in to my department and started telling me how to start taking care of the animals. But I guess that's why no one is coming in. Because we are doing great with our pet care. And I really hope, that once I do become manager, because it will happen probably this year, that it will get even better. Especially if the staff that we have now is still with us. Everyone cares. And everyone has learned so much, and they use this knowledge and want to help customers do the right thing, and make the right decision, even if it means missing out on a sale. I love it. It's great. I've never been happier with the staff we've collected, than I am now. ( With a few exceptions--but they/she doesn't count ).
So today, I head to the other store. To... help out. And that is exactly how I see it. I am not planning on going in and barking orders. I am not planning on changing anything... seriously. However, if I do see something that isn't right, or something I don't agree with, I will simply make a note and get in touch with the manager once he comes back, on how I think the best way to handle it is.
I'm going to look at everything. Birds, small animals, reptiles to make sure they have the appropriate temps and humidity levels, filter systems, fish--ugh, that's going to suck--I already know they have seriously problems with overstocking and over ordering fish, isolation rooms, EVERYTHING. And maybe I'll find something, maybe I won't. I'm not going to go into it with this savior mentality that some people have hinted at.
I'm just going to go in, and be me, and get these 2 days over with so I can join my store again.
Wish me luck.
Bleh.
....
Oh... and yesterday I found out that they brought in a sick gecko to our vet for her to euthanize.
A crested gecko.
=(
Major suckage.