Day Six

            Today I broke down for a good two minutes. The staff had me selling cameras again. One lady came into the store with her daughter. By this point I have decided to admit to customers that I am new, simply to dispel rumors that I am a competent salesman. After motioning me around using only her finger for thirty minutes she decided on a camera. Then we had to find her batteries, memory cards and a tripod. At that point I half-heartedly suggested she purchase the warranty because John was forcibly gesturing and mouthing the word “warranty” at me. When she declined it I was relieved. But she had been drawn in by the lower sticker price associated with our in store monthly print special.

            Immediately I was plunged into the camera paperwork pit. This time Tammy tried to let me do it by myself, which was a mistake because ten minutes of paperwork turned into thirty when I messed up sending the data to the corporate website. The daughter/mother pair was visibly upset by the wait, but when the mother’s credit card was declined at the very end of the process I lost it.

            I stepped into the back and closed the door for a meltdown. Paula was there looking at the stock. I cursed to her in fragmented sentences, “…fucking bullshit…” , “…no training…”, “…how the fuck do you expect me…” “…all this fucking paperwork…”.

Paula gave me a knowing look, “Maybe you should stay away from the sales desk”.

I replied “Yes, yes that’s a great idea, I’ll go tell Tammy”.

I went and found Tammy. I told her, “I’m gonna go stay by the kiosks, I’m not going to try and sell cameras anymore.” Tammy looked disappointed.

During and after work hours, I have been acting more courteous to people outside of work, because I’ve been conditioned by the store environment. I am constantly asking my roommates “Can I help you?” and I tell homeless people “Have a great day!”. Two nights I almost told my mother “Thanks for coming in”.

At the end of the shift there were no customers in the store, so I decided to construct a paper airplane. Instantly Frank, and Jim, who is an outgoing employee followed suit, and we all experimented with all the different airplane making materials available to us. Frank had a warranty plane that went the farthest. Even Sal the security guard joined in making one out of one of catalogues. It was probably the most exciting experience I’ve had so far at the store.