First Impression at the New Grocery Store

by PkWynn on March 29, 2010

I’m currently on vacation and I have about another week and a half before I start at my new store. Excited, I wanted to go and introduce myself to the manager and staff. I briefly spoke with the manager on the phone and was told to to come by. Well I came and was told the manager went home for the day. Great, I’ll just come by tomorrow. I called the next day just to be sure if the manager is going to be in and the phone kept ringing and ringing; no one ever picked up. That’s odd, I said to myself. It’s 2 in the afternoon, why doesn’t someone answer? I waited about 30 minutes and called back again. This time somebody picked up…

Grocery Clerk: Hello?

Me: Umm.. Hi, my name is Paul and I was wondering if…

CLICK!

What the heck!? Did they really hang up on me!?

Forget calling! I’m going to walk into the store looking for the bosses. To look presentable, I dressed casually, wore a black polo shirt, blue jeans with the crease in the middle, black sanduks (which by the way are super comfortable), and a few sprays of cologne. I see 3 checkers standing by the checkstands talking to one another…

Me: Excuse me, can I talk to the store manager?

Grocery Clerk #1: Manager’s not in today.

Again? I asked myself.

Me: Is the assistant manager here?

Grocery Clerk #2: Assistant manager is somewhere around here.

Me: Umm.. is the assistant manager on lunch or break?

Grocery Clerk #2: Beats me.

Grocery Clerk #1: When you find the assistant manager, let us know.

What is this the California attitude or something?

Me: Is someone in charge who I can talk to?

Grocery Clerk #3: Nope.

Wow. They must think I’m trying to tattle on them or something.

I walked up the aisles looking for someone who looks like management but I was out of luck. None of the employees greeted me or anything. If it was my previous store, the customer would have been greeted as soon as they came through the automatic doors and then greeted several more times as if they’re being harassed.

Frustrated, I went home and looked up the store on Yelp to see what people had to say about the store. I was shocked at the terrible responses and rating.

I should have done this first before I chose this store. What the hell did I get myself into!

Tagged as: first impression

  • http://minyards7.blogspot.com Alicia

    Oh no! Well, maybe you are meant to be there so you can change things around for the better. It definitely sounds like they need some real supervision.

    I totally can’t wait to read your stories about this store though!

  • http://aneriejello.blogspot.com/ An Erie Jello

    In my own personal experience, every time I’ve liked a place of employment on day 1 I always end up hating it later. Since you did not have a good first experience, hopefully this means you’ll love it later. It’s the rule of opposites. :)

  • http://raisedqueer.squarespace.com Christine

    Nothing like having to kick some ass your first day. How ridiculous! Those soon-to-be coworkers of yours, have much to learn. Like answering a phone properly, for starters.

    I bet it makes you miss home, even more. Hopefully you caught everyone on a bad day…although the Yelp thing kinda shoots that whole theory down, but who knows?

    I’m with Alicia, I can’t wait to read how things are going.
    Take Care!

  • Sharon

    Maybe you can make a positive change at this store, Paul. You need a challenge, right? :)

  • http://suzicate.wordpress.com suzicate

    Another difference between east west coast? Gee, I hope everything will be fine once you start.

  • Jade

    I agree with the previous comments… maybe you can go in there and make a positive change… sounds like their customer service royally sucks >.<

  • http://www.wickedgirlsthinkit.com Wicked Shawn

    Think of what a positive influence you can have on the store. ;-)

  • http://mindofmine.co.uk Ian

    I think the potential for your blog just sky rocketed! People love hearing the bad things!

    Consider it a challenge from the faiths!

  • http://www.skippymom.blogspot.com SkippyMom

    I have to agree with both – I bet you make a positive change, but in the meantime you have very good blog fodder coming your way :D

    I have to say tho’ – nothing that happened even approaches professionalism. It is disgusting.

    Wait till the first day when you show up – bet the cashiers will be a bit surprised at how they treated you

  • http://baconismylover.blogspot.com Aunt Juicebox

    Oh wow! Maybe you can help clean the place up. Or get another transfer. lol

  • Will the Filer

    Hmmmm…. sounds like the stories on here might just start being more about the horrible things that happen to customers instead of the other way around! Although, i wonder what the risk-free path people would think of that one!

    On a side note, there’s a bunch of H*#%^$&#( Hippies that miss ya! ;-)

  • http://www.phoenixism.net Phoenixism

    Sadly this comes as no surprise :(

    Just my impressions of the region.

    Don’t be discouraged Paul, there are still lots of great people down here.

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