OT I'm LIVID - my first negative feedback

I've worked with lots of good sales people. Usually they are people who
work on commission, because they are, after all, professional sales people
and need to be paid as such.

Tina


"Dr. Sooz" wrote in message
oups.com...
~A lot of people think sales people are either sophomoric, parasitic or
barracudas (like in real estate, or used cars). It is very honorable
work.
I have worked with sales people like you, Marisa, and they enriched my
life, and often my wardrobe (or other possessions) too.

And they're so rare. I think a lot of people in jobs such as
restaurant work, reception, and *especially* retail sales are waiting
to win the lottery. They're just marking time til their big, huge ship
rolls in. Customers are an annoyance to them -- we interrupt their
cell phone call, or their conversation with another salesperson, or
whatever they're doing (while being paid) that's much more important
than the customer.

Plus most of them don't know a damn thing about where they work these
days. I had a senior salesperson at Long's (drugstore chain) insist
the nightlights were somewhere they weren't yesterday. Man, she was so
annoyed that she had to actually walk over there to show me! What're
they paying you for, you ninny? Gee, I'm sorry I asked. All they had
there were refill bulbs (I *told* her!). Every time I ask anyone for
help in a store, I clench my body and get ready for something I don't
want to hear.....either attitude or "Duh, I don't know."

But not everywhere. I love the local fabric stores, for instance,
because the people there (they have some dudes working there too) know
their stuff up and down and sideways. I go in there feeling relaxed
and satisfied before I even choose to buy anything. It's becoming more
and more rare these days -- not only IRL, but online too.

That's funny, Kandice; those are the only two fabric stores in Portland
I'll even go into! Some of the Mill End ladies, in particular, do know
what they're doing but I have a hard time even shopping there since Gwyn
worked there a couple of years ago and she was endlessly frustrated by
how little her co-workers knew about sewing.

Kandice Seeber wrote:
JoAnn's is the worst. I've worked at two different fabric stores (Mill End
and Fabric Depot, both in Portland) and every other worker at both stores
hated the way JoAnn's did business. The fabric is lower quality, too. I
loved working at the fabris stores, though - it's how I got introduced to
beads.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

Oh... I forgot about the one in Beaverton! I was there once, years ago,
shopping for stuff for my first wedding, and they were really nice and
helpful, a rarity these days.

I usually go to the one in Portland, though even that's quite a drive. I
won't go to JoAnn's at all... they have crappy fabric, crappy prices,
undertrained, overworked employees, and last time I was there they made
me feel like a criminal because I was buying yarn. I don't know what
they have against people who knit, LOL!

Kandice Seeber wrote:
Try Mill End in Beaverton. I know quite a few people over there who are
expert seamstresses and one guy who's a decorator. Although it has been
awhile since I was there. The Mill End in Portland has employees who are
less knowledgeable, but they are all better than the local JoAnn's.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

I love the prices, too! OMG! I can spend $40 on ingredients for a meal
for five, easily, OR we can eat out for $20. No brainer!

Kandice Seeber wrote:
Oh, I agree!! I love eating out in downtown Portland! Even the cheap
places have staff that are wonderful and food that is out of this world.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

The employer has a lot more to do with the customer service than the
employees, IMO. The company should make its first priority keeping its
employees happy, and the rest follows. I'm a former career retail clerk,
and I was *really* lucky to mosly work for companies that believed in
keeping their staff happy and loyal.

Kandice Seeber wrote:
While I do agree with a lot of this - I do have to defend salespeople a
little bit here. Most retail companies are terrible to work for, and
salespeople are required to make a certain amount in sales and are treated
pretty poorly by management and some customers. Plus most don't make much
more than minimum wage. It's a pretty thankless job for a lot of people.
Although if you can maintain a polite, helpful disposition, it does have its
rewards. Helping someone find something they need often gets a genuine
thank you and smile from a few people, and that's always nice.

I love shopping at local small businesses. The employees seem to actually
care about their customers. They seem to like their jobs. The people at my
local Costco are always really friendly as well. But that's because they
are paid at least 50% more than most comparable retail jobs, and the company
is wonderful to work for - so the employees are usually happy.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

The Michael's story made me cringe because I've been there, done that. I
once lost $10 to them because I paid with a $20 and they gave me change
for a $10. I noticed right away and pointed it out, and first they tried
to blow me off (rudely), and then they said they'd count the till and
give me a call if it was over. They never did, of course. I wrote a
letter to the main office, and never heard back. I've never gone back
since, and never will.

Polly S. wrote:

That happened to me in Michaels the other day. I did a good job of
looking in several places for leather thong before I 'interrupted' a
salesgirl. She told me "On the aisle with beads!". I replied that I had
tried there. She was NOT happy to have to walk over to show me. Guess
what? Not there. She actually shrugged her shoulders and walked off. I
proceeded to walk aisle after aisle and found them where I should have
looked first. As I left the store I interrupted her again to tell her
where they were located. Another shrug!

But not everywhere. I love the local fabric stores, for instance,
because the people there (they have some dudes working there too) know
their stuff up and down and sideways. I go in there feeling relaxed
and satisfied before I even choose to buy anything. It's becoming more
and more rare these days -- not only IRL, but online too.


At our local Hancock I look forward to seeing the same saleswoman that
cut the fabric for my first ever attempt at making a garment by myself,
(same store, pre-Hancock). I was 6... so thats 43 yrs ago and the woman
is still there. I seem to remember hearing that she had retired once...
for a few weeks! She is an amazing, 100% knowledgeable woman and every
time, even after not seeing me sometimes for years, she lights up, calls
me by name and asks about my 'Mama'!

Gotta love it!!!


Oh and do ya ever want to take someone's scissors away and cut it
yourself... sheesh. Nothing worse than getting home and losing 1/4 yard
due to an inept person with scissors!


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

I go to JoAnn's for Gingher scissors. They have there uses, especially if
you have a 40% or 50% Off coupon in hand.

Tina

"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
Oh... I forgot about the one in Beaverton! I was there once, years ago,
shopping for stuff for my first wedding, and they were really nice and
helpful, a rarity these days.

I usually go to the one in Portland, though even that's quite a drive. I
won't go to JoAnn's at all... they have crappy fabric, crappy prices,
undertrained, overworked employees, and last time I was there they made
me feel like a criminal because I was buying yarn. I don't know what
they have against people who knit, LOL!

Kandice Seeber wrote:
Try Mill End in Beaverton. I know quite a few people over there who are
expert seamstresses and one guy who's a decorator. Although it has been
awhile since I was there. The Mill End in Portland has employees who
are
less knowledgeable, but they are all better than the local JoAnn's.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

Was this at the Portland location? I worked at the Beaverton location about
4 years ago, but I don't remember a Gwyn. I'm sure some of the staff has
changed since I have been there though, because there was a serious change
in management that a lot of us didn't agree with. But it's still a great
store, especially compared with others there. It's sad how many fabric
stores have closed down in the metro area in the last 10 years.

--
Kandice Seeber
www.lampwork.net
"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
That's funny, Kandice; those are the only two fabric stores in Portland
I'll even go into! Some of the Mill End ladies, in particular, do know
what they're doing but I have a hard time even shopping there since Gwyn
worked there a couple of years ago and she was endlessly frustrated by how
little her co-workers knew about sewing.

Kandice Seeber wrote:
JoAnn's is the worst. I've worked at two different fabric stores (Mill
End and Fabric Depot, both in Portland) and every other worker at both
stores hated the way JoAnn's did business. The fabric is lower quality,
too. I loved working at the fabris stores, though - it's how I got
introduced to beads.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

Oh, don't I know it!!! Yep, the drive even to the Portland store is long.
For you, it would probably take about 45-60 minutes to get to the Beaverton
store - unless it's rush hour. At that point, it's a tailgate party. LOL

--
Kandice Seeber
www.lampwork.net
"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
Oh... I forgot about the one in Beaverton! I was there once, years ago,
shopping for stuff for my first wedding, and they were really nice and
helpful, a rarity these days.

I usually go to the one in Portland, though even that's quite a drive. I
won't go to JoAnn's at all... they have crappy fabric, crappy prices,
undertrained, overworked employees, and last time I was there they made me
feel like a criminal because I was buying yarn. I don't know what they
have against people who knit, LOL!

Kandice Seeber wrote:
Try Mill End in Beaverton. I know quite a few people over there who are
expert seamstresses and one guy who's a decorator. Although it has been
awhile since I was there. The Mill End in Portland has employees who are
less knowledgeable, but they are all better than the local JoAnn's.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com

I totally agree. I worked in retail for 14 years or so, mostly for
companies that were terrible to work for. I was more than happy to leave
that line of work.

--
Kandice Seeber
www.lampwork.net
"Kalera Stratton" wrote in message
...
The employer has a lot more to do with the customer service than the
employees, IMO. The company should make its first priority keeping its
employees happy, and the rest follows. I'm a former career retail clerk,
and I was *really* lucky to mosly work for companies that believed in
keeping their staff happy and loyal.

Kandice Seeber wrote:
While I do agree with a lot of this - I do have to defend salespeople a
little bit here. Most retail companies are terrible to work for, and
salespeople are required to make a certain amount in sales and are
treated pretty poorly by management and some customers. Plus most don't
make much more than minimum wage. It's a pretty thankless job for a lot
of people. Although if you can maintain a polite, helpful disposition, it
does have its rewards. Helping someone find something they need often
gets a genuine thank you and smile from a few people, and that's always
nice.

I love shopping at local small businesses. The employees seem to
actually care about their customers. They seem to like their jobs. The
people at my local Costco are always really friendly as well. But that's
because they are paid at least 50% more than most comparable retail jobs,
and the company is wonderful to work for - so the employees are usually
happy.


--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com