The Pros & Cons of Barnes & Noble
Two things you should know about me by now: I like to make lists. I make lists for everything. I really do. I make lists to remind me of things I need to day. I make mental lists of things I should and should not say in certain situations. I even post on here in list-form (bullet points) all the time. That brings me to the other thing. I don't update enough on here. I'm not saying that this LJ is going to be more active from this point forward, but I am saying that I'm trying to post more (mostly because I'm bored right now and don't want to do anything else). So enjoy it.
Going back to the list thing, I thought, since I haven't really explained a lot about work, I'd make a list of the good things and bad things about B&N. This is my first REAL retail job. I've noticed there a lot of differences between this and other jobs I've had. I shall go over them now.
PROS:
1. It's not the MCC Bookstore
Since so many more people work at B&N, things get done quicker and in a more professional manner. At MCC, I was the cashier, the customer service person, the restocker and the janitor all at once. At B&N, I am a cashier. My sole duty during the day is to ring people up and answer any questions they may have at the register. I also call people and tell them their books came in, but that isn't that bad. Eventually, if I continue to work there, which I hopefully will, I'll probably get to work in the Music dept. or in Customer service, but still I'd just be doing that. Not doing that AND unpacking shipments in the back room. This is mostly good because I don't get all gross and sweaty. Also, one of the best differences is most people that come to B&N are shopping for books they WANT instead of books they NEED. If they buy $200 worth of cookbooks, that is their own fault. At MCC, people would buy $200 worth of textbooks and yell at me like it was my fault. So in other words, people are in a much better mood at B&N.
2. I can eat lunch and get coffee right there at work and I get 50% off my food!
I did not want to work here to get discounts, but I'm definitely not complaining. I get 50% in the cafe and 30% off in the rest of the store. This past week was employee appreciation week and we all get 40% off in the store. It is great! I found a bunch of gifts and things that I wanted on my various breaks. I found the Emma Graphic novel which I was so excited about. I eventually will have tried every food item in the cafe because I eat lunch/dinner there almost every day I work. That's probably not a good thing, but it feels good. I also can try out all the coffees and tea at a fraction of the price. I like!
3. Most of the people I work with are very nice
I only say most because I have a bad feeling about some of them, some of the time. But for people who have to deal with a new girl starting at the peak of the holiday shopping season, they are very helpful and understanding. I'm learning a lot everyday and thankfully they are patient enough. Also, REAL TIME, this just happened. They just called me and told me to come in tomorrow. So yep, working 4-9. They must trust me enough.
CONS:
1. It's not the MCC Bookstore
This store is HUGE!! I literally meet a new person that works there everyday. I'm sure there are still more people that I haven't yet met. The fact that it is the largest bookstore in (probably) the World is slightly scary at times. You feel like you have to know everything about the company to work there. You feel like you have to know what is going on at all times in the store, but you can't because it's so vast. It's crazy. There isn't a tight-knit feeling about anything, at least not yet. And if I need help at the register, I need to actually dial a phone and call someone up. I've had to go on the speaker over the entire store. It's kind of insane. And at the end of the day, we have to walk around the ENTIRE store and tidy things up. It is exhausting. On Wednesday, I closed and we were all there until 11 PM because there was so much to be done. We close the store at 10 PM.
2. The Nook
I still know next to nothing about the Nook. For those unaware, the Nook is B&N's e-reader. We have three different kinds: the Simple Touch, the Nook Color and the Nook Tablet. That is pretty much the extent of Nook info that I know. I have been there three weeks already and no one has trained me on the Nook yet. I'm thinking I may have to read the stats online on my own time. I haven't had homework in a while. The Nook is a super cool gadget and I kind of want one, but while I am at work, it's like the bane of my existence. If someone has a question about it, I can't really help them because I don't know a lot about it.
3. There needs to be gel mats behind the counters!!
I worked 8 hours yesterday. Seven of those hours were spent standing. I even wear sneakers (they clash with the rest of my outfit) with insoles and my feet still hurt. I woke up this morning and could not walk down the stairs. I just am in such an immense amount of pain after work everyday. The emotional toll is bad too. You have to say the same thing to everyone that comes up and that gets annoying after a while, plus, sometimes MODs (Managers on Duty) come up and tell us all this stuff that has to be done, or gets stressed out when stuff isn't getting done. Sometimes, I feel like I'm being personally accused. I hate that feeling.
All in all, though, I enjoy working there. I don't want to jinx anything though, so I'm just going to shut up now.
Going back to the list thing, I thought, since I haven't really explained a lot about work, I'd make a list of the good things and bad things about B&N. This is my first REAL retail job. I've noticed there a lot of differences between this and other jobs I've had. I shall go over them now.
PROS:
1. It's not the MCC Bookstore
Since so many more people work at B&N, things get done quicker and in a more professional manner. At MCC, I was the cashier, the customer service person, the restocker and the janitor all at once. At B&N, I am a cashier. My sole duty during the day is to ring people up and answer any questions they may have at the register. I also call people and tell them their books came in, but that isn't that bad. Eventually, if I continue to work there, which I hopefully will, I'll probably get to work in the Music dept. or in Customer service, but still I'd just be doing that. Not doing that AND unpacking shipments in the back room. This is mostly good because I don't get all gross and sweaty. Also, one of the best differences is most people that come to B&N are shopping for books they WANT instead of books they NEED. If they buy $200 worth of cookbooks, that is their own fault. At MCC, people would buy $200 worth of textbooks and yell at me like it was my fault. So in other words, people are in a much better mood at B&N.
2. I can eat lunch and get coffee right there at work and I get 50% off my food!
I did not want to work here to get discounts, but I'm definitely not complaining. I get 50% in the cafe and 30% off in the rest of the store. This past week was employee appreciation week and we all get 40% off in the store. It is great! I found a bunch of gifts and things that I wanted on my various breaks. I found the Emma Graphic novel which I was so excited about. I eventually will have tried every food item in the cafe because I eat lunch/dinner there almost every day I work. That's probably not a good thing, but it feels good. I also can try out all the coffees and tea at a fraction of the price. I like!
3. Most of the people I work with are very nice
I only say most because I have a bad feeling about some of them, some of the time. But for people who have to deal with a new girl starting at the peak of the holiday shopping season, they are very helpful and understanding. I'm learning a lot everyday and thankfully they are patient enough. Also, REAL TIME, this just happened. They just called me and told me to come in tomorrow. So yep, working 4-9. They must trust me enough.
CONS:
1. It's not the MCC Bookstore
This store is HUGE!! I literally meet a new person that works there everyday. I'm sure there are still more people that I haven't yet met. The fact that it is the largest bookstore in (probably) the World is slightly scary at times. You feel like you have to know everything about the company to work there. You feel like you have to know what is going on at all times in the store, but you can't because it's so vast. It's crazy. There isn't a tight-knit feeling about anything, at least not yet. And if I need help at the register, I need to actually dial a phone and call someone up. I've had to go on the speaker over the entire store. It's kind of insane. And at the end of the day, we have to walk around the ENTIRE store and tidy things up. It is exhausting. On Wednesday, I closed and we were all there until 11 PM because there was so much to be done. We close the store at 10 PM.
2. The Nook
I still know next to nothing about the Nook. For those unaware, the Nook is B&N's e-reader. We have three different kinds: the Simple Touch, the Nook Color and the Nook Tablet. That is pretty much the extent of Nook info that I know. I have been there three weeks already and no one has trained me on the Nook yet. I'm thinking I may have to read the stats online on my own time. I haven't had homework in a while. The Nook is a super cool gadget and I kind of want one, but while I am at work, it's like the bane of my existence. If someone has a question about it, I can't really help them because I don't know a lot about it.
3. There needs to be gel mats behind the counters!!
I worked 8 hours yesterday. Seven of those hours were spent standing. I even wear sneakers (they clash with the rest of my outfit) with insoles and my feet still hurt. I woke up this morning and could not walk down the stairs. I just am in such an immense amount of pain after work everyday. The emotional toll is bad too. You have to say the same thing to everyone that comes up and that gets annoying after a while, plus, sometimes MODs (Managers on Duty) come up and tell us all this stuff that has to be done, or gets stressed out when stuff isn't getting done. Sometimes, I feel like I'm being personally accused. I hate that feeling.
All in all, though, I enjoy working there. I don't want to jinx anything though, so I'm just going to shut up now.