Case of the Mondays

Margaret sent me an email today listing horoscope signs. Part of the description said that Leo's "make their problems everyone else's problems." In the spirit of that email, let me tell you about my day!

I should have known that today would not be the best day since I did not go to bed last night until well after midnight. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to the sound of my phone receiving a text message. Another telltale sign of a "stellar" Monday morning. The text was from one of my full time people who was still snowed in. She lives in the country and the county had not yet cleared her roads. While I appreciate the notice, I would have appreciated it a little more at 6:00 a.m. I went back to sleep until 6 when my alarm went off and then sent my assistant manager a message letting him know Becky would not be there and to see if he wanted to open or close the store today, hoping that he wanted to open so I could sleep a little later. I got a message back from him letting me know he was sick and was planning on going to the doctor. I was hoping not to open, but instead got to open and close. Still no big deal, just not the way I wanted to start the week.

I got to the store about 7:30 and got things ready for the day. Things were pretty non-stop from the minute we opened the doors at 7:45. It was a little wild today, which probably had more to do with the school being closed the last two days of last week for the ice storm. I was in and out of my office all morning, but spent most of my time on the sales floor. Late morning I stepped out of my office to an older, non-traditional student who usually has a thing or two to say about the way of the world, or more accurately how we are or are not doing things in the store. I asked him how he was doing, praying that the answer would be "fine." It's Monday, I should have known better. He had a problem with the kind of sketchbooks we had received this morning, even though we had been out for three weeks. I spoke with him last week and told him that the kind we ordered were what the professors wanted but that I would order the kind he wanted too, because obviously the students wanted a cheaper option. I guess he failed to realize that the sketchbooks I ordered for him were not in yet, but the order I placed two weeks ago was. Simmer down champ! I explained to him that I had ordered the ones he wanted and that they would be here in about a week, which is what I explained to him last week when I said they would be here in about two weeks. Regardless, he left happy and that bomb was diffused!

I wish I had known the bomb that was about to explode. I would have had some chewing gum, a paper clip and a piece of twine in place to MacGuyver myself out of that sticky situation. I guess it was about 2:30. I was at the checkout with one of my employees, but I was working on the computer so I had my back to the sales floor. I heard a woman ask my employee, "are you the manager?" This is usually not a good question, but she had a nice voice, so I immediately turned around. I asked what I could help her with and that is when I got slapped in the face with her words. "I just wanted to let you know that your new store is pathetic." Excuse me? "When you and Barnes & Noble took over you took all the good supplies out of here. The selection of art supplies you have is pathetic and you should really carry more." I was shocked. I would never say what she said to me to another person, but let's get back to the story. I asked if I could help her find anything and she told me that our selection was "pathetic" and that we did not have what she needed. "And furthermore, the things you do have are all available at WalMart and they are a lot cheaper." Well, be my guest! No one is forcing you to spend your money with me! "You used to have such a huge assortment of art supplies and Barnes & Noble got rid of them all! Don't you remember what you used to carry? Whoever is making the decisions for your store is doing a poor job!" This was not my first experience with an angry customer and it won't be my last either. I explained that I came in with Barnes & Noble last June and was not aware of what the store had before. We have all required supplies for art classes held on campus, but that I would be happy to carry anything she might need. "That does me no good! I need it today!" Well, thanks for waiting until the last minute to get what you needed. I was still trying to calmy diffuse this bomb, because although she had rattled me, she had yet to make me mad. Apparently you can only use the word pathetic to describe my place of business a finite number of times before you finally poke the bear hard enough to get mauled! "Ma'am, I am willing to help you with anything and get the supplies in that you would like us to carry, but I am not going to stand here and listen to you belittle me and belittle Barnes & Noble." I think this kind of stunned her. "I'm not belittling you, but Barnes & Noble is doing a pathetic job with this store." (Sidenote-we are now over our projected sales budget for the year, so you be the judge) "Well you are belittling the company I have worked for for almost 10 years and that is a reflection on me." This stunned her a little bit too. She backed off a bit and said it was a shame we did not have more supplies. She gave me a short list of things that we could carry, like big markers and silk screening supplies. They have big markers at WalMart and I don't even care what silk screening supplies are. I thanked her for coming in and then asked her name. "Judy Gamble, and you can quote me on that!" Are you kidding me? "Ma'am, I was asking your name to let you know that my name was Cole and I would happy to help you with anything in the future. I was not asking your name so that I could write it down and report it." She finally left and I shared a couple of laughs with my employees who were standing nearby. She really did rattle me!

About 10 minutes later a girl walked up who had been in the store when I had my "confrontation." I rang her up and thanked her and she told me she had been in the store earlier and said "you really handled that situation well." I'm not sure that's true, but I really appreciated the fact that she said it, which is exactly what I told her. To tell you the truth, it made me feel a lot better.

I went in to the cash office to finish up some paperwork from the last sales day. My cell phone rang and since I was off the floor I answered it. It was the minister from the church I have been attending here. He introduced himself and thanked me for worshipping with them the past few weeks. It really is true that the Lord works in mysterious ways! In the span of 10 minutes after a conversation with a heinous woman, I had two people lift my spirits. Hallelujah!

The rest of the day was really nothing to blog about, but was just busy enough to be annoying. We were not crazy busy, but busy enough. To top this off, one of my part time employees is driving me crazy! He is a nice kid and means well, but his social skills leave a lot to be desired. I sent him home early just to get him out of my hair.

I had emailed back and forth with Margaret throughout the day and had planned a phone call happy hour for this evening that I could not wait to get to! To my surprise, when she called she had Dana on the phone too. Talk about turning my day around! After a long Monday I cannot think of a better way to unwind then having a beer with friends, even if it is over the phone.

I can honestly say that the group of friends I have now are the best I have ever had. And since you all read this blog (thanks by the way) I feel no need to name names.

Here's to another Monday gone! I will not have to deal with you for another week!