As a retail worker, I detest last minute shoppers. There haven't been any sudden announcements of new holidays in a long time, yet people seem very surprised that one is coming up. So, if we all know the holiday is pretty much the same time every year and we have a year to prepare, why do we feel the need to shop for it the day before?
I had to work on Christmas Eve. I think this is completely unnecessary since 1) everybody's had from December 26, 2009 to prepare for December 25, 2010 and 2) Christmas merchandise is out starting right after Halloween. The first thing that happens when I get to work is somebody standing in the aisle yelling "Where the $&@(# is Windex" if you're using it to clean that potty mouth, it's in aisle 13. Just before lunch I get yelled at because we sold out of cookie tins. Ok, were you told just this morning that you're going to a cookie exchange? I doubt it. We've had notices up for the last two weeks that the store would close at 6pm on Christmas Eve and not be open on Christmas Day. What happens at 6:02? Somebody wants to buy booze. Sorry, closed at 6 means closed at 6 no more browsing no more purchasing. Get to the checkout and get out of here so we can go home. You had all year to booze it up don't infringe on my time because you didn't plan.
Now, I can see having to run to the store because you ran out of milk, or marshmallows but not the day before to buy the entire meal. You have a year to prepare, use it wisely.
Also, Walgreens by me was actually open on Christmas Day. What are they thinking? ($$$$$) Don't they realize their employees have families and maybe they'd like to spend the day with them? Or is it about the almighty dollar? I don't know about you, but I refuse to shop at any store that is open on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Those days are meant to be spent with family, not with a bunch of idiotic shoppers who didn't plan very well.
*edited to correct a grammatical error*
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Things overheard at WalMart
As much as I didn't want to, I had to go to WalMart this morning to get some things I need for a dessert I'm making. I'm amazed not so much at the abysmal customer service but with the idiocy I see and hear there every day.
Heard just today:
Customer (actually, this was me): Where can I find waxed paper?
Employee: I dunno, did you look in school supplies?
Maybe if I was going to write a dissertation with it
In the parking lot:
"Why are there so many cars?" Ummmm because you're in a parking lot?
"Weird, the ground is all wet." Because there's water falling from the sky! Run for your lives!
The last time I was in, my total was $7.27 I gave the clerk a $10 bill and the 27 cents. It confused her, she didn't know how much change to give me.
I had a cashier who ran out of some coins that was required for my change. He said "I'm out of ten centses" and called for change. I was in a hurry so I said "Just give me 2 nickles, I'm in a hurry". He looked confused and said "I don't think I can do that." Ummm...last I looked 2 nickles was equal to one ten centses.
Heard just today:
Customer (actually, this was me): Where can I find waxed paper?
Employee: I dunno, did you look in school supplies?
Maybe if I was going to write a dissertation with it
In the parking lot:
"Why are there so many cars?" Ummmm because you're in a parking lot?
"Weird, the ground is all wet." Because there's water falling from the sky! Run for your lives!
The last time I was in, my total was $7.27 I gave the clerk a $10 bill and the 27 cents. It confused her, she didn't know how much change to give me.
I had a cashier who ran out of some coins that was required for my change. He said "I'm out of ten centses" and called for change. I was in a hurry so I said "Just give me 2 nickles, I'm in a hurry". He looked confused and said "I don't think I can do that." Ummm...last I looked 2 nickles was equal to one ten centses.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Deadbeat Dad Issues
I'm revisiting the topic of my first post. Why? Because I'm still dealing with it and I'm very frustrated.
My son is 19 years old. I've been fighting to get child support for....19 years. When I got the first support order, the father quit his job and moved out of state. He claimed that he couldn't pay his support because he couldn't find work. Thankfully, Illinois told him "tough, you still owe, pay up". For a while, his parents were sending in the payments for him, I don't know why they stopped, but they did. For 15 years, all he was required to pay was $25 per week. Yes, you saw that correctly, Twenty Five Dollars Per Week. I never got a cost of living raise in support or anything...why? Because as soon as support was being taken out of his paycheck, he'd quit his job.
Now, a year after he no longer has current support, I'm still fighting him for the $3800 in back support he owes. His excuse...."It's a hardship". Hardship? He doesn't have to do anything but have to send a check every week. I was up all night comforting a baby through his fourth ear infection in 6 months. I was the one rushing a 3 year old to the ER after a mirror fell on him and cut his leg. I was the one who had to try to explain to a 5 year old why he couldn't get a new Power Ranger toy every day. I was the one who had to explain why the other kids at school have a daddy and he doesn't. Believe me, Mr. Deadbeat knows nothing of hardship.
Why am I posting this now? Because once again, I have checked to see if he's made a payment, only to see that nothing for the last month. The last payment he sent was $50. It really makes me want to start a facebook page to say that "Eric Langley of Friendship Wisconsin is a Deadbeat Dad"
My son is 19 years old. I've been fighting to get child support for....19 years. When I got the first support order, the father quit his job and moved out of state. He claimed that he couldn't pay his support because he couldn't find work. Thankfully, Illinois told him "tough, you still owe, pay up". For a while, his parents were sending in the payments for him, I don't know why they stopped, but they did. For 15 years, all he was required to pay was $25 per week. Yes, you saw that correctly, Twenty Five Dollars Per Week. I never got a cost of living raise in support or anything...why? Because as soon as support was being taken out of his paycheck, he'd quit his job.
Now, a year after he no longer has current support, I'm still fighting him for the $3800 in back support he owes. His excuse...."It's a hardship". Hardship? He doesn't have to do anything but have to send a check every week. I was up all night comforting a baby through his fourth ear infection in 6 months. I was the one rushing a 3 year old to the ER after a mirror fell on him and cut his leg. I was the one who had to try to explain to a 5 year old why he couldn't get a new Power Ranger toy every day. I was the one who had to explain why the other kids at school have a daddy and he doesn't. Believe me, Mr. Deadbeat knows nothing of hardship.
Why am I posting this now? Because once again, I have checked to see if he's made a payment, only to see that nothing for the last month. The last payment he sent was $50. It really makes me want to start a facebook page to say that "Eric Langley of Friendship Wisconsin is a Deadbeat Dad"
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The best dental care...
I've had some pretty bad experiences with "professional" dentists. From one who over charged (wanted over $10,000 to fix my mouth) to one who just wanted to pull everything, and one who thought he was 'doing a favor' by drilling my wisdom tooth then leaving it open with the nerve exposed, thusly costing me almost $600 to have it surgically removed.
Hence my trepidation with going back to a dentist. However a few months ago I ended up with a badly infected tooth that caused my jaw to swell bad enough to make it look like I was holding a tennis ball in my cheek and took 2 weeks worth of antibiotics to get rid of. I do not have dental insurance because the one that is offered through my employer covers so little, it's nothing much more than a discount club. My last dentist visit was for a check up, x-ray, and an extraction...they covered $25. So for many years I hadn't set foot in a dentist office, mostly because I couldn't afford it and because of prior bad experiences.
I have since found a really excellent dentist, and she's at a neighborhood 'free' clinic. I have not heard nice things about clinic dentists and doctors...mostly to the tune of "they don't get paid much to do that so they don't care about you." Well, in this case it's the exact opposite. These people are in the business to do what it's meant to do, help people who need it. They're not in it for the money. IMO, this is the best care one could get. Now, I put "free" in quotes because while if you have no income and no insurance it is free, however they have a sliding pay scale for people who do have income. In the past month I've only paid about $300 for 2 extractions, 2 permanent fillings, and one temporary filling. I go back in a month for one more filling. Then I need a crown and something to fill in the gaps from extractions and we're done. Much cheaper than $10,000 huh?
Sorry Big Bucks Dentist...but you can finance your new Mercedes with somebody else's mouth.
For anybody looking for free or low-cost dentistry, do a Google search for "free dental work", that's how I found mine. Look to see if you have an Aunt Martha's Healthcare Network near you www.auntmarthas.org
Hence my trepidation with going back to a dentist. However a few months ago I ended up with a badly infected tooth that caused my jaw to swell bad enough to make it look like I was holding a tennis ball in my cheek and took 2 weeks worth of antibiotics to get rid of. I do not have dental insurance because the one that is offered through my employer covers so little, it's nothing much more than a discount club. My last dentist visit was for a check up, x-ray, and an extraction...they covered $25. So for many years I hadn't set foot in a dentist office, mostly because I couldn't afford it and because of prior bad experiences.
I have since found a really excellent dentist, and she's at a neighborhood 'free' clinic. I have not heard nice things about clinic dentists and doctors...mostly to the tune of "they don't get paid much to do that so they don't care about you." Well, in this case it's the exact opposite. These people are in the business to do what it's meant to do, help people who need it. They're not in it for the money. IMO, this is the best care one could get. Now, I put "free" in quotes because while if you have no income and no insurance it is free, however they have a sliding pay scale for people who do have income. In the past month I've only paid about $300 for 2 extractions, 2 permanent fillings, and one temporary filling. I go back in a month for one more filling. Then I need a crown and something to fill in the gaps from extractions and we're done. Much cheaper than $10,000 huh?
Sorry Big Bucks Dentist...but you can finance your new Mercedes with somebody else's mouth.
For anybody looking for free or low-cost dentistry, do a Google search for "free dental work", that's how I found mine. Look to see if you have an Aunt Martha's Healthcare Network near you www.auntmarthas.org
Friday, May 14, 2010
Product Endorsement
For the record, I am not receiving anything from any companies for writing. Heck, chances are none of them even know I exist LOL When I do find something that works like advertised, I like to share it.
Normally, stuff "As Seen on TV" rarely is what they advertise on television. I actually found an ASOTV product that really DOES work as they say on TV. Heel Tastic. I actually picked up a stick of this at Walgreens recently just to give it a try. I do occasionally get very dry skin on my heels and bottom of my feet, as well as my knees and elbows. The first time I used Heel Tastic I could see a difference right away. It does have a slight odor, hard to describe it...kind of minty, but not medicinal like some lotions I've tried. It also works for my knees and elbows.
Well worth the $9.99 I spent at Walgreens.
Normally, stuff "As Seen on TV" rarely is what they advertise on television. I actually found an ASOTV product that really DOES work as they say on TV. Heel Tastic. I actually picked up a stick of this at Walgreens recently just to give it a try. I do occasionally get very dry skin on my heels and bottom of my feet, as well as my knees and elbows. The first time I used Heel Tastic I could see a difference right away. It does have a slight odor, hard to describe it...kind of minty, but not medicinal like some lotions I've tried. It also works for my knees and elbows.
Well worth the $9.99 I spent at Walgreens.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
McDonalds
A few weeks ago, I went through a McDonalds drive through a little bit past 10pm. I'd closed that day and really wanted a frappe. I pulled into the drive through and got an automated greeting saying Welcome and would I like to try one of their new frozen McCafe beverages. Yay, that's exactly why I stopped.
When the order taker got on the intercom, I ordered a Quarter Pounder meal with a caramel frappe as the drink. The girl then said "We already cleaned the machine". Um, but you just asked if I wanted a frozen McCafe drink..."We cleaned the machine already. There's no coffee drinks". Now, the posted hours of this drive through say it closes at midnight during the week, 1am on weekends. Why would they close down the coffee drinks 2 hours before closing? So I cancelled the order and went up the street to Wendy's. They were able to make a frosty-cino at 10:30pm.
When I got home, I sent a complaint to McDonalds via their website and told them I was offered a 'frozen McCafe drink' but when I tried to take them up on their offer I was told no because the machine had been cleaned. I also said that I went to Wendy's who served me a frosty-cino 30 minutes before closing.
The next day I had a voice mail from the district manager to apologize (he left two messages, because of course they always call when you're not at home), and in yesterday's mail I got a letter of apology from the owner and a coupon for a free small frappe. I'm thinking I'll save it for Saturday, the next day I close to see if I can get one at 10pm.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Yeah, it's been a while
Why has it been so long? More of the same stuff that's been so aggravating I've wanted to scream, or chuck it all and join a convent (and I'm not even Catholic).
The car issue: The car is fixed. Turned out NOT to be the alternator, but the alternator belt was gone. Not broken, just not there. Apparently it broke and fell off somewhere. Also, the serpentine belt was near rotten so I had to replace that too. Good news, instead of $500 for alternator, it was $150 for belts. While I had the car in, I told them to put in a new battery since I had no idea how long that rebuilt one was there, might as well change that while I had it. So, $300 later, my car was running with 2 new belts and a new battery. The next day, it started thumping when I turned left. Not good. Brought it back in, both front axles needed to be replaced...$500. Only problem I've had since was the serpentine belt came loose and started to squeal, but that was under warrantee so they fixed that no charge.
I'm still dealing with the insurance about dropping the old car and adding the new one. I had gotten a letter right after the accident that said I had 30 days to replace the car to keep my insurance current. I bought the new car 29 days after the accident. When I called to get the new car insured, the girl on the phone said I couldn't drop the old one until the adjuster closed the claim. Um Ok, but I don't own the car anymore...she said to call the adjuster and have him close the claim. For 2 weeks, I paid premium on the wrecked car, then for 2 more weeks I paid a double premium. I'm still trying to get a straight story from somebody at MetLife on what's going on. First, the girl who took the information to insure the new car said they could pre-date the end of the first car to the day after the accident. The adjuster said they could only go back to the day when I returned the rental car, and I did not need to keep the wrecked car insured after I accepted their total loss offer. I called back, talked to another girl about dropping the wreck, she tried to say I couldn't drop it until the claim closed, so I told her what my adjuster said, I don't own it so I can't insure it. She finally dropped it, but for the wrong date. In the mean time, my new car is insured as "car 2" and not getting the discounts that should be applied. Now they're saying that if the pre-date the drop on the wrecked car and add the new one, the premium will be higher because of a "lapse" in coverage...2 weeks? They gave me a month to replace the car and now they're going to penalize me for using 2 weeks? I'd love if somebody at MetLife would get their head out of their butt long enough to come to some conclusion and get the story straight.
Work wise...new policy now forbids me from mentioning the company name in a negative manner, so while I can say they suck, I can't tell their name. However, if anybody's been keeping up with business news, you'll figure it out *g*
The corporate fat cats have decided that in order to cut payroll costs (so says the guys with the $100,000 salaries) they would "streamline" the store management. Where we used to have one manager over grocery and one manager over drug (we do have a much larger drug section than most grocery stores) there would be one manager over the entire store. Of course that would mean that at least half the store level managers would be losing their jobs. Good move! Also, instead of telling one manager "you're fired" and letting the other one take over, they changed management in just about every store. My store got a former drug manager who knows nothing about managing grocery. Some stores have a grocery manager who knows nothing about managing drug. See where this is going? Stores are now managed by somebody who doesn't know diddly about what he's doing. I rarely see my manager because he's over in grocery learning how they do things, so my store is being run by the assistants. To top it off, we lost the best assistant to another store and got one who knows less than a clump of dirt. So basically, we have no leadership and corporate fat cats wondering why customer service scores have dropped to about 30%.
Corporate fat cats, I dare you to work just one month at store level and see what your moronic decisions are doing to the people who are doing all the hard work for minimum wage while you sit in your cushy offices pocketing $100,000 a year.
The car issue: The car is fixed. Turned out NOT to be the alternator, but the alternator belt was gone. Not broken, just not there. Apparently it broke and fell off somewhere. Also, the serpentine belt was near rotten so I had to replace that too. Good news, instead of $500 for alternator, it was $150 for belts. While I had the car in, I told them to put in a new battery since I had no idea how long that rebuilt one was there, might as well change that while I had it. So, $300 later, my car was running with 2 new belts and a new battery. The next day, it started thumping when I turned left. Not good. Brought it back in, both front axles needed to be replaced...$500. Only problem I've had since was the serpentine belt came loose and started to squeal, but that was under warrantee so they fixed that no charge.
I'm still dealing with the insurance about dropping the old car and adding the new one. I had gotten a letter right after the accident that said I had 30 days to replace the car to keep my insurance current. I bought the new car 29 days after the accident. When I called to get the new car insured, the girl on the phone said I couldn't drop the old one until the adjuster closed the claim. Um Ok, but I don't own the car anymore...she said to call the adjuster and have him close the claim. For 2 weeks, I paid premium on the wrecked car, then for 2 more weeks I paid a double premium. I'm still trying to get a straight story from somebody at MetLife on what's going on. First, the girl who took the information to insure the new car said they could pre-date the end of the first car to the day after the accident. The adjuster said they could only go back to the day when I returned the rental car, and I did not need to keep the wrecked car insured after I accepted their total loss offer. I called back, talked to another girl about dropping the wreck, she tried to say I couldn't drop it until the claim closed, so I told her what my adjuster said, I don't own it so I can't insure it. She finally dropped it, but for the wrong date. In the mean time, my new car is insured as "car 2" and not getting the discounts that should be applied. Now they're saying that if the pre-date the drop on the wrecked car and add the new one, the premium will be higher because of a "lapse" in coverage...2 weeks? They gave me a month to replace the car and now they're going to penalize me for using 2 weeks? I'd love if somebody at MetLife would get their head out of their butt long enough to come to some conclusion and get the story straight.
Work wise...new policy now forbids me from mentioning the company name in a negative manner, so while I can say they suck, I can't tell their name. However, if anybody's been keeping up with business news, you'll figure it out *g*
The corporate fat cats have decided that in order to cut payroll costs (so says the guys with the $100,000 salaries) they would "streamline" the store management. Where we used to have one manager over grocery and one manager over drug (we do have a much larger drug section than most grocery stores) there would be one manager over the entire store. Of course that would mean that at least half the store level managers would be losing their jobs. Good move! Also, instead of telling one manager "you're fired" and letting the other one take over, they changed management in just about every store. My store got a former drug manager who knows nothing about managing grocery. Some stores have a grocery manager who knows nothing about managing drug. See where this is going? Stores are now managed by somebody who doesn't know diddly about what he's doing. I rarely see my manager because he's over in grocery learning how they do things, so my store is being run by the assistants. To top it off, we lost the best assistant to another store and got one who knows less than a clump of dirt. So basically, we have no leadership and corporate fat cats wondering why customer service scores have dropped to about 30%.
Corporate fat cats, I dare you to work just one month at store level and see what your moronic decisions are doing to the people who are doing all the hard work for minimum wage while you sit in your cushy offices pocketing $100,000 a year.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
More Car troubles
Well, the car needs an alternator and since I bought it "as is", I have an $1850 lawn ornament. Actually, as soon as I get my tax refund deposited, I'm taking it to be fixed. Going to replace the alternator, get a real battery (it has a Bear Cat battery...never heard of them? Me neither. It's reconditioned), and have them look at the brakes because there's a slight whistle. I'm hoping to get this fixed soon with my income tax refund, otherwise it's a nice little car.
I'm still fighting to get my money back from Enterprise, and I'm thinking I'm probably out what they stole. I got a letter from my bank that confused me, I need to call for clarification. It reads like I'm getting money back, but where there are supposed to be amounts and dates, the spots are still blank. They included a copy of letters received from Enterprise claiming that I gave them the OK by signing the contract...then they included somebody else's contract (which was for what Enterprise claims I had), and the kicker...they included the other person's credit card number! I was shocked! I have this other person's name, address, telephone number, and their credit card number. No, I'm not going to do anything with this information, but not everybody is honest. I'm glad I canceled my debit card and got a new number because who knows who Enterprise is giving my information to!
Work has been the same. Unfortunately this is the time of year when retail sales drop so our part time workers are barely getting any hours. Thankfully my being full time guarantees 40 hours, however with less part timers, it's also meaning I'm doing more work that's not mine so once again, my department is suffering because I'm not there. Oh well, I've told the managers that I need the time in my department, and if I'm not in it, I can't work it.
I'm still fighting to get my money back from Enterprise, and I'm thinking I'm probably out what they stole. I got a letter from my bank that confused me, I need to call for clarification. It reads like I'm getting money back, but where there are supposed to be amounts and dates, the spots are still blank. They included a copy of letters received from Enterprise claiming that I gave them the OK by signing the contract...then they included somebody else's contract (which was for what Enterprise claims I had), and the kicker...they included the other person's credit card number! I was shocked! I have this other person's name, address, telephone number, and their credit card number. No, I'm not going to do anything with this information, but not everybody is honest. I'm glad I canceled my debit card and got a new number because who knows who Enterprise is giving my information to!
Work has been the same. Unfortunately this is the time of year when retail sales drop so our part time workers are barely getting any hours. Thankfully my being full time guarantees 40 hours, however with less part timers, it's also meaning I'm doing more work that's not mine so once again, my department is suffering because I'm not there. Oh well, I've told the managers that I need the time in my department, and if I'm not in it, I can't work it.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Insurance, banks, credit ratings, and car dealers
I think I'm close to the end of the car accident nightmare. Finally got the check from my insurance company last week, banked it this past Monday. Went to another car dealer that afternoon. They tried to get financing, but because of my repo last year, nobody's giving me financing..actually according to the letter saying why it's because of a wage garnishment that is 7 years old (it drops from my credit report in September)...which was for my ex-husband's credit card (that he put my name on the account without me knowing). Wednesday I went back to the dealer after work, he was trying another lender trying to get me financing, but that one said "not without a cosigner" but he did have a few "cash buy" cars...older cars that were low-priced and meant as a "cash and go" purchase. He had a 1997 Suzuki Esteem with only 78,000 miles on it (not a roll over, the odometer has 6 digits) and I could have it tax, title, new plates for $1850. I test drove it, bought it and took it home.
The only problems so far hve been a need to replace the wipers (total crap, didn't even hit the windshield), gas cap (previous owner had a locked cap on it, not good in Chicago winters), and possibly the battery. I'm hoping it's not needing an alternator, It needed a jump Wednesday when I bought it, dealer said it was because the car sat in the lot for 3 weeks in the cold, had to charge the battery last night, this morning it started, but I'm taking my parents car to work instead.
The only problems so far hve been a need to replace the wipers (total crap, didn't even hit the windshield), gas cap (previous owner had a locked cap on it, not good in Chicago winters), and possibly the battery. I'm hoping it's not needing an alternator, It needed a jump Wednesday when I bought it, dealer said it was because the car sat in the lot for 3 weeks in the cold, had to charge the battery last night, this morning it started, but I'm taking my parents car to work instead.
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