The Vent and Rant Thread

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by BelleZora

I had shingles the first time when I was 46. The pain was so excruciating that not even morphine touched it. I had nerve pain for several years after, the worst in the first year. Then I got it a second time a few years ago, not quite so bad. Hydrocodone provided relief. I paid $200 for each Shingrex shot and consider it a bargain.

My brother had shingles at age five.

Yes, I'm struggling with a lack of relief from the opiates, too. Gabapentin has helped a bit, and I'm taking HUGE doses of steroids and anti-virals, too. The steroids and the gaba help a small amount. It is...it is just unbelievable.

If the Shingrix does prevent reoccurrence--even if it's not 100%--I will bygod pay for it. I'm dreadfully sorry to hear you went through what I'm going through.

Hitch

[badgoodDeb]

FWIW Medicare in the USA now covers it, starting this year.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

FWIW Medicare in the USA now covers it, starting this year.

Oh, that's great, given that I've "aged into" Medicare. :-) Oh, joy.

Thanks, BadGood. Much appreciated info.

Hitch

[DiapDealer]

I despise needing to ring a bell to get service. I know of at least one employee who's waiting for the bell to be rung even though they know very well someone is waiting for service. It's a tiny coffee shop for cripe's sake! The cheapest of buzzers (or even a bell on the door) would suffice to eliminate the need for the customer to ever need to pick up your stupid little bell from the counter.

And no. There are no other coffee shops in Podunk. Not one where I can get espresso drinks, anyway.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I despise needing to ring a bell to get service. I know of at least one employee who's waiting for the bell to be rung even though they know very well someone is waiting for service. It's a tiny coffee shop for cripe's sake! The cheapest of buzzers (or even a bell on the door) would suffice to eliminate the need for the customer to ever need to pick up your stupid little bell from the counter.

And no. There are no other coffee shops in Podunk. Not one where I can get espresso drinks, anyway.

Any excuse to not provide excellent customer service is a bad one and that employee should be let go. However, today, given the...appalling...behavior of many young folks in starting jobs, it might be that a lousy one is better than an intolerable one.

(• ͡˘ _ • ͡˘) ノ ð

Hitch

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Hitch

However, today, given the...appalling...behavior of many young folks in starting jobs, it might be that a lousy one is better than an intolerable one.

A terrifyingly low bar has been set, for sure.

[DiapDealer]

But I happen to know that the owners of this establishment are free to work their own business (and it only takes one). So they don't need to tolerate lousy employees. They choose to do so.

It's like I always say about local bar owners. You won't succeed by sitting on the other side of the bar and paying bartenders. Only the bar owners who work behind the bar (as much as humanly possible) will thrive. Too many business owners are too quick to try and jump from self-employed to employer. If you CAN run your own business with no (or very little) help, you SHOULD. Your bottom line (and most likely your customers) will thank you for it.

Of course it's different if there's more work than one person can reasonably do.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Hitch

However, today, given the...appalling...behavior of many young folks in starting jobs, it might be that a lousy one is better than an intolerable one.

What truly shocks me is how cashiers can’t do mental arithmetic. Once a transaction goes beyond swiping the bar code and reading out the total they’re at a loss. Bad enough when it’s just simple addition or subtraction; percents are the realm of higher mathematics.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by issybird

What truly shocks me is how cashiers can’t do mental arithmetic. Once a transaction goes beyond swiping the bar code and reading out the total they’re at a loss. Bad enough when it’s just simple addition or subtraction; percents are the realm of higher mathematics.

Or the person years back when I took my daughter for a kid's happy meal at a fast food place. Paid with a $10 bill. The math challenged cashier accidentally hit an extra zero when inputting the payment and was happily trying to give me $95 in change.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

But I happen to know that the owners of this establishment are free to work their own business (and it only takes one). So they don't need to tolerate lousy employees. They choose to do so.

It's like I always say about local bar owners. You won't succeed by sitting on the other side of the bar and paying bartenders. Only the bar owners who work behind the bar (as much as humanly possible) will thrive. Too many business owners are too quick to try and jump from self-employed to employer. If you CAN run your own business with no (or very little) help, you SHOULD. Your bottom line (and most likely your customers) will thank you for it.

Of course it's different if there's more work than one person can reasonably do.

Well, I agree. In hindsight, I would have remained far smaller, and only done the work myself. I would not have personally earned a lot less; it's possible I may have earned more. But we were simply inundated with requests and I didn't foresee the stress it would add, to my life, to have employees. People, trust me, if you can remain a sole practioner/provider, do so. When you have people employed and you become responsible for their welfare, their rent payments, food, kids lives'... Jesus, it's an unimaginable psychological burden. If I owned a bar, I would be the man behind the counter, so to speak.

Originally Posted by issybird

What truly shocks me is how cashiers can’t do mental arithmetic. Once a transaction goes beyond swiping the bar code and reading out the total they’re at a loss. Bad enough when it’s just simple addition or subtraction; percents are the realm of higher mathematics.

It's appalling. It's not higher math, for the love of heaven. You don't need Calculus to work at an entry-level job, just addition and subtraction, and maybe a little multiplication. Oh, and maybe, in some unautomated places, percentages for sales tax. But hell, even then, you can make up a chart grid and spare them trying to do, for example, 6.7% of yadda.

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or the person years back when I took my daughter for a kid's happy meal at a fast food place. Paid with a $10 bill. The math challenged cashier accidentally hit an extra zero when inputting the payment and was happily trying to give me $95 in change.

Yes, boggling. Absolutely boggling.

Hitch

[ownedbycats]

It takes some amount of skill to be able to trip on a completely flat carpet floor.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

It takes some amount of skill to be able to trip on a completely flat carpet floor.

One I've mastered extremely well

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or the person years back when I took my daughter for a kid's happy meal at a fast food place. Paid with a $10 bill. The math challenged cashier accidentally hit an extra zero when inputting the payment and was happily trying to give me $95 in change.

Ah, life imitates art...

[cromag]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I despise needing to ring a bell to get service. I know of at least one employee who's waiting for the bell to be rung even though they know very well someone is waiting for service. It's a tiny coffee shop for cripe's sake! The cheapest of buzzers (or even a bell on the door) would suffice to eliminate the need for the customer to ever need to pick up your stupid little bell from the counter.

And no. There are no other coffee shops in Podunk. Not one where I can get espresso drinks, anyway.

Well, it's not exactly what you wanted, but the next time you need to ring that bell record it on your phone. Then, play it back from your seat whenever you need to.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I despise needing to ring a bell to get service. I know of at least one employee who's waiting for the bell to be rung even though they know very well someone is waiting for service. It's a tiny coffee shop for cripe's sake! The cheapest of buzzers (or even a bell on the door) would suffice to eliminate the need for the customer to ever need to pick up your stupid little bell from the counter.

And no. There are no other coffee shops in Podunk. Not one where I can get espresso drinks, anyway.

The business you were in actually had a bell? I never see that around here. A couple of times I've left my intended purchase on the counter and walked out because the cashier was no where in sight and there was no bell.

I do understand that sometimes cashiers need to work in the stockroom or something during slow times, but there needs to be some way to summon them when a customer is ready to check out.