#management hell

Customers: *complain about having to drive 15 minutes to get to our store*

Customers: That’s okay I’ll just order it from Amazon- I can get it quicker.

Customers: Why is this obscure specialty item so expensive???

Customers: *peruses our stock of 300+ rosaries*  Is this all you have?

Customers: *calls themselves 'regulars’ when they shop here once a year*

Me: We’re going out of business.

Customers:

Just because you're a "regular customer" doesn't mean I like you.  Sometimes it means that I grit my teeth the moment I see you approaching the front door because you are SO HIGH MAINTENENCE. 

It doesn't mean that you will automatically get special treatment.  Special treatment is reserved for a) people we like b) people we feel sorry for and c) people who we know will pitch a huge public hissy fit then flame us on Yelp.

I had planned on going in today to finally fire my one problem child sales associate.  I haven’t been able to get the time of day from this kid the past month, nor his updated availability.  And I need someone who can work more than 4 hours every other week.

So I was getting ready to go into work and stuff when I checked my phone and saw that he had texted me, informing me that he was quitting and that he was leaving the store in the middle of his shift.

Me: Ok, thanks for sharing your concerns with me, I do appreciate the feedback.

Me: On that note, did you do the work I assigned you on Sunday? I couldn't tell...

Sales associate: Huh, what? No I didn't do any of that.

“Ok!” I say and I finagle a thing to keep all three stores running.

Sales associate walks in Tuesday afternoon, the Tuesday they said they’d be on the road.  “So, I got your text asking about my availability.  I actually have to give my two weeks notice.  My last day will be less than two weeks from now.”