Other Stores

Cutter's Log - Supplemental

I finished my third day at Dixon East. I'm not going to be needed for the rest of the week, and I don't know the possibilities of the week after. I'm going to assume that they'll get someone hired by then. So I'm going into today thinking I've worked my last day there.

I found the experience working there a great one. I don't know if that's how the others feel, though. Personally, I've learned a thing or two from the way they run things there, which I can carry over to my own store.

1. Mystery Shopper - I have NEVER been that fond of the whole Mystery Shopper thing. Sometimes I think it's only out there to ruin employees. I was that lucky person seven times. I passed 6 of 7. The one I didn't pass was a November one. We never had that at BP, and I kept saying, "have a good day" after every customer. That soon changed to "we'll see you later." I've passed "shoppers" that way.

Apparently the correct salutation is something in the tune of "stop in again." I tried saying that early on at my store, but it felt very awkward after saying it. Especially because I get the same customers over and over again. So I started saying that. I'm going to retry this at my store, and see if this still feels weird.


2. Facing Bills - Someone please comment on this one and explain this to me.

I never face my bills. Here's why:

Take two pop cans. Put one on the table and ask yourself if that is a pop can. Now, take the other can and flip it over and put that on the table, and ask yourself if that is a pop can. Do the same with five-dollar bills. Put one on the table right-side-up and ask yourself if that is a five-dollar bill. Now, take another five-dollar bill and flip it over and put it on the other bill. Is that a five-dollar bill?

I've always thought this was some sort of OCD thing. After looking up the whole phenomenon on the Internet, I found out that banks HAVE TO have their bills upright. The money we get in the register goes to banks eventually. Facing them before entry in the register cuts time.

Now, banks have to have it that way. But people? I guess it depends on how much flexibility one can handle. I have found myself able to have a TON of flexibility, do I consider this a talent?

Another thought on this: if you keep doing it, does it really get contagious? It's like I'm being forced to change to accommodate those who can't count as quick as I can. And another: I don't face my coins.


3. Sandwich making made easy - I had to make 24 salad sandwiches the Sunday afternoon I was there. I don't make more than six in a month at my place. After looking at the list of sandwiches I nearly gasped. That was until I was shown how to make six of them at a time.

I never made sandwiches until a few months ago. I now make them as needed, which isn't often.



I changed my salutation to "we'll see you later" after finding out "see 'ya" didn't work. That was a pickup from Route 30. Another pickup from Route 30 was the amount of money per drop. Theirs is more than ours, and I have found that a more confortable way of dropping.