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[ChrisD]

I know that the thread definitely came off as a vent. It really was; it was nowhere near as clear as I'd like. So bullet points (err, one big point) for clarification of thread:


-I'm looking for other jobs, but I'm not quitting until I get one. The job I have is really great but Corporate undercover has flipped the entire job from Cashier to Advertisement Salesperson. I just don't know if moving jobs in three months will effect me in the long run in other, greater endeavors. I'm not special needs kid who can't do what real world requires, but I feel I'm annoying my guests when before I had some cool conversations with them. Now the lines I have to give turn them off from doing any talking.

+a link to my second post

So, I took a job at Six Flags in March after my sister's friend told me how they were a great place to start. I was homeschooled all my life, and got next to no social interaction. I figured you know what? I'm throwing myself right out into the middle of thousands of people. Forced social interaction, if you will.

And it was kind of working. I'm a Food Service Cashier, so there's a lot of talking. I was actually getting along with people, I could see that I'm actually not the non-social person I always thought. Also, the people are generally pretty cool.

But here's the kicker. The job sucks. Now. Why now, but not before? Because I've been introduced into the beautiful world of up selling some of our products. And my introduction was a Supervisor I'm going to be under again today. She stands in the back of the (small) building all day and, in a droning voice pretty much CHANTS, "UPSELL OUR SOUVENIR BOTTLES. Ask EVERY guest if they want a bottle. There are Coke Shoppers in the park, and we won't be happy if you miss one. Even if they have a bottle, ask if they want another."

I quote un-quote confronted her about it. Completely level-headed and no annoyance or anger to speak of, I told her that I won't even shop at stores if I'm being upsold every time I come up to the window. She basically told me I have to do it anyways because we want the rewards from Corporate for up selling to a Coke shopper (undercover people who work for Coca-Cola), tough luck. In her own words, "You're or practicing on guests for when a Coke Shop does come around."

I guess the confrontation must have really bugged her though, because she now takes any annoyance or anger out on me. She needs someone to yell at? Me. Someone screwed up? She tries to pin it on me.

But it was just two days working with her. I've been back with those I MUCH prefer since. We can change that to preferred. These people are all forcing the upsell stuff down my throat now. And I can't, GAF. It sounds pitiful that I'd want to quit over such a thing, but this is no GameStop where you can be the cool employee who still does his job yet doesn't parrot pre-order, get our card ad infinitum. If I don't do this stupid suggestive upsell on every friggin' purchase I actually risk termination.

I've been told my multiple Supervisors that I'm a great employee, and it has only been two months. I've been asked to be a permanent member of three different restraunts in the park (I'm Reserve, so I get put all over), and I've also been asked by three Supervisors in the Cart Operations division to be permanent with them.

I know I can do my job. But wow. I can't be a parrot robot. I don't want to be the employee guests (understandably) dislike with incessant advertising and shoving words down them.

The pay is also minimum wage, and I don't get overtime due to loopholes. Not even on my 46 hour work week I just got out of.

I don't want to be out of a job. I'd actually love to be an On Floor Associate at Target. It's where I first applied, but I got turned down before an Interview because I was new, had no experience. And I'm putting in another application today. But I feel like I may be doing something rash here.

I'd love to elaborate and clarify, as the thread looks more like a venting outlet right now, but I'm leaving right now to work for a full day under the droning Supervisor. I'll respond to any posts when I get back. I just really don't know if I'm jumping the gun here.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

You're a food cashier at an amusement park.

What did you expect?

 

[BFIB]

Get out of retail, you'll be a lot happier for it.

 

[Ape]

i quit my first job and it was the best thing that ever happened

 

[John Kowalski]

You should join a union.

 

[CrimzonSamurai]

If you've only been there since March you might want to hang on a little longer. You don't want the only thing on your resume to be one 3 month gig. Future employers may (probably will) look at that as a sign of a lack of commitment.

 

[echoshifting]

Yup, that's retail for you.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Good grief, retail workers on your first jobs, literally in the real world for the first time ever (this isn't the first thread on this particular topic, sorry) -- grow up, it's a job, do the upsell. It's just a line, and people will ignore it if uninterested.

 

[Mii]

Welcome to gainful employment.

Stick with it bud. You can't appear to have quit your first job after 3 months.

Also, remember, the unemployed are unemployable. Don't leave the job until you have another.

How old are you?

 

[-griffy-]

Honestly, you have a right to be annoyed about upselling because it's annoying and dumb. But it's also your job. It's what you are getting paid to do. Retail/service jobs just kind of suck like that. There isn't a national corporation of the type where upselling won't be involved in some way. Either you do the job you are getting paid for or you quit, I guess.

 

[theepicoftyler]

There aren't a lot of hills worth dying on in entry level, no experience jobs. Go find another one. They're all going to suck to some degree. Go try a labor intensive job. I always found those more empowering than retail.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

The stress of upselling ruins any chance of menial service jobs being okay. Knowing you won't get fired for not managing to do so, but just the contempt of your manager consistently on your back about it.

"Tsk MB, only 5 today? Not good enough, X employee got 25!"

Fuck retail. And resteraunts man. Last time I worked in a resteraunt, we upsold garlic doughballs. Pathetic, shitty chain.

 

[*Splinter]

Why don't you find a new job before quitting? You're certainly under no obligation to stick with this job, but on the other hand it doesn't sound so bad that you couldn't keep it up until you find something else. It's your call really, depends on your money situation among other things

 

[jhmtehgamr20xx]

At least stay long enough to use it as a quality job reference on your resume for another position.

Preferably you'd want to stay long enough to get good recommendation from your supervisor(s), so maybe at least 4-6 months.

 

[Kieli]

Just quit and find another job.

Don't listen to the goobers about how you have to bootstrap your way through upsells because it's your first job or whatever.

I never had to do anything like that on my first job (manual labor).

Edit: to pre-empt replies, i will simply state that one studies hard in a good major to become an employee with rare or difficult-to-replace skill-set. that should reasonably cut down on shit-stirrers and bad management who threaten to terminate you every other second

 

[Kerned]

Retail is a soul crushing nightmare. Despite that, everyone should work retail for a while. You'll think twice before being rude to someone who is just trying to do their job.

 

[Matty77]

If you truly hate that, get out of retail. All retail jobs are about upselling, trust me I did retail for years. The only other thing I can add is the worse your supervisor is either they are bucking for promotion, or they are geting grief even worse from their superior.

Upside is cashiering can be awesome if you actually like interacting with lots of different people.

 

[Tathanen]

I worked at CompUSA for two months right out of college. They were probably the worst two months of my life. I think I would literally live in the street before having to work in retail again.

 

[norm9]

Welcome to working week. I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you.

You like money though, right? Suck it up.

Good grief, retail workers on your first jobs, literally in the real world for the first time ever (this isn't the first thread on this particular topic, sorry) -- grow up, it's a job, do the upsell. It's just a line, and people will ignore it if uninterested.

Snowflake's too important to do this work.

 

[Chris R]

Trying to sell credit cards and upsell memberships was the reason I disliked being a cashier at Sams Club.

Zero issues on every other front, fastest cashier, never over or under, but because I didn't sell as many credit cards as others I was warned time and again.

Needless to say, after I quit I went and got a Costco membership and haven't been back inside a Sams Club or Walmart in quite some time.

 

[woolley]

Your not going to get anything much different from any other retail job. Most of them make you do stupid shit in hope of selling more shit.

 

[Kieli]

There aren't a lot of hills worth dying on in entry level, no experience jobs. Go find another one. They're all going to suck to some degree. Go try a labor intensive job. I always found those more empowering than retail.

well-said.

 

[Earthstrike]

So, I took a job at Six Flags in March after my sister's friend told me how they were a great place to start. I was homeschooled all my life, and got next to no social interaction. I figured you know what? I'm throwing myself right out into the middle of thousands of people. Forced social interaction, if you will.

And it was kind of working. I'm a Food Service Cashier, so there's a lot of talking. I was actually getting along with people, I could see that I'm actually not the non-social person I always thought. Also, the people are generally pretty cool.

But here's the kicker. The job sucks. Now. Why now, but not before? Because I've been introduced into the beautiful world of up selling some of our products. And my introduction was a Supervisor I'm going to be under again today. She stands in the back of the (small) building all day and, in a droning voice pretty much CHANTS, "UPSELL OUR SOUVENIR BOTTLES. Ask EVERY guest if they want a bottle. There are Coke Shoppers in the park, and we won't be happy if you miss one. Even if they have a bottle, ask if they want another."

I quote un-quote confronted her about it. Completely level-headed and no annoyance or anger to speak of, I told her that I won't even shop at stores if I'm being upsold every time I come up to the window. She basically told me I have to do it anyways because we want the rewards from Corporate for up selling to a Coke shopper (undercover people who work for Coca-Cola), tough luck. In her own words, "You're or practicing on guests for when a Coke Shop does come around."

I guess the confrontation must have really bugged her though, because she now takes any annoyance or anger out on me. She needs someone to yell at? Me. Someone screwed up? She tries to pin it on me.

But it was just two days working with her. I've been back with those I MUCH prefer since. We can change that to preferred. These people are all forcing the upsell stuff down my throat now. And I can't, GAF. It sounds pitiful that I'd want to quit over such a thing, but this is no GameStop where you can be the cool employee who still does his job yet doesn't parrot pre-order, get our card ad infinitum. If I don't do this stupid suggestive upsell on every friggin' purchase I actually risk termination.

I've been told my multiple Supervisors that I'm a great employee, and it has only been two months. I've been asked to be a permanent member of three different restraunts in the park (I'm Reserve, so I get put all over), and I've also been asked by three Supervisors in the Cart Operations division to be permanent with them.

I know I can do my job. But wow. I can't be a parrot robot. I don't want to be the employee guests (understandably) dislike with incessant advertising and shoving words down them.

The pay is also minimum wage, and I don't get overtime due to loopholes. Not even on my 46 hour work week I just got out of.

I don't want to be out of a job. I'd actually love to be an On Floor Associate at Target. It's where I first applied, but I got turned down before an Interview because I was new, had no experience. And I'm putting in another application today. But I feel like I may be doing something rash here.

I'd love to elaborate and clarify, as the thread looks more like a venting outlet right now, but I'm leaving right now to work for a full day under the droning Supervisor. I'll respond to any posts when I get back. I just really don't know if I'm jumping the gun here.

Here's a pro tip. Just do the job the way you want too until they fire you. Are you upselling? Lie and say you are. Who gives a fuck? What do they owe you? They are paying you minimum wage. Professionalism and skill is for jobs where employers don't treat their employees like shit.

 

[Aesius]

Stick it out for at least 6 months. Having the experience of that job will make it easier to find another job.

 

[ThLunarian]

If it's that bad then just find another one and quit. You can leave this one off of your resume and put down the next one as your "first" job.

Don't make a habit of this, of course. But a one-time mulligan won't hinder you on its own.

 

[numble]

Are you still in school? Why is it done at home?

 

[*Splinter]

"Tsk MB, only 5 today? Not good enough, X employee got 25!"

I'm choosing to interpret this as meaning that your real name is Master Balls

 

[cwmartin]

I have a rule of thumb I live by, if it's a job, you should want to quit doing it. If not, something is wrong.

 

[Daffy Duck]

You want to quit over that?

I thought it would be some truly horrible thing that had happened to you.

But upselling? I mean that doesn't even seem aggressive upselling, what's wrong with just asking people if they'd like a coke bottle.

I worked in retail for 5 years so i know the struggle is real, but damn, when I worked at Carphone Warehouse that was pressure upselling (TalkTalk landline service when it launched, insurance for phones).

 

[The Broken Ska Record]

I worked at a Six Flags for a Summer when I was 18. Shit sucked, but stick with it. It'll only be for a few months and then you can start finding other places to work.

 

[Mii]

Here's a pro tip. Just do the job the way you want too until they fire you. Are you upselling? Lie and say you are. Who gives a fuck? What do they owe you? They are paying you minimum wage. Professionalism and skill is for jobs where employers don't treat their employees like shit.

Better jobs are for those that don't think this way. Do not listen to him.

 

[Matty77]

I worked at CompUSA for two months right out of college. They were probably the worst two months of my life. I think I would literally live in the street before having to work in retail again.

As someone who has actually both worked retail and been literally on the street homeless, trust me you would rather have the retail job.

 

[Inferno313]

I would start applying and looking for other jobs immediately, but I wouldn't quit this job. You want a steady source of income, and sometimes you'll have more success finding a job if you already have a job. I know it can be hard to come home from a long day of work to spend another hour filling out applications, but it's better than quitting and then going broke because you can't find another job.

OP, if you don't mind me asking, what's your career plan going forward? Are you planning or already attending college or something like that? If you're not planning on building a career out of retail, then I don't think the fact that you're leaving after 2 months should be a big deal. I worked at a McDonald's for 2 months one Summer during college and It never came up during any job interview after that point.

 

[Kieli]

Welcome to working week. I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you.

You like money though, right? Suck it up.



Snowflake's too important to do this work.

Good grief, retail workers on your first jobs, literally in the real world for the first time ever (this isn't the first thread on this particular topic, sorry) -- grow up, it's a job, do the upsell. It's just a line, and people will ignore it if uninterested.

don't know what you two are yammering on about

i never had to do this shit, refuse to do this shit and i'm still doing ok

just learn ur books gud and get some manual job in the meantime

tho i agree EVERYONE should do retail just to learn some respect

Edit: I kinda get where you two are coming from in that real-world is crap and you need to learn to bulldoze through it. But in those situations, the salary can take away some of the sting. Here, you are getting paid minimum wage.

 

[davepoobond]

GameStop doesn't have cool employees....

 

[Arkeband]

Up selling is a part of every retail job, but many other retailers have mastered the art of encouraging up selling while not turning off customers. That's what seperates a warm body from a good salesperson. If you actually enjoy retail, which I did for a while until I got a job with my college degree, don't settle for your current job.

The moment you believe in the product(s) you're selling, the happier you will be recommending it.

I worked at Best Buy for years as a blueshirt and Geek, and having regular customers come back looking for you specifically is always a great feeling.

Just don't get stuck in the rut of retail - they will string you along with small wage increases while your whole life passes you by when you could be making way more money. Set your sights on becoming a manager and then moving into whatever corporate office to make big bucks. Have a game plan.

Godspeed!

 

[rokkerkory]

If you quit over this do you think a job with more responsibilities is not going to give you more to overcome?

 

[Mii]

GameStop doesn't have cool employees....

He aspires to greatness.

 

[Amory]

Just do it. You're just asking them to buy a cup. It's annoying but it's part of the job.

 

[DoktorEvil]

You're a food cashier at an amusement park.

What did you expect?

.

It could be so,so,so much worse.

I worked at Foot Locker and spent time around feet so much that it made me sick.

Your situation as a first job sounds ideal. Don't force the upsell, just float it into conversation. Most people will say no regardless. What you should be asking is why you would upsell something that does not provide a commission incentive to you?

GameStop doesn't have cool employees....

They do have warm bodies though...

 

[Kieli]

GameStop doesn't have cool employees....

When OP wrote "cool employees, never have to upsell", I literally had to do a double-take.

 

[Nose Master]

Why do you care so much about a canned "Would you like the collector's cup?" They know you have to ask, you're not legitimately bothering anyone.

It's creepy that Coke has park secret shoppers, though.

 

[dankir]

You're a food cashier at an amusement park.

What did you expect?

1 and done. Everybody has to start somewhere OP.

 

[StarCreator]

Upsells are just the nature of retail. I did a few stints at retail and they were always part of the job description.

As someone mentioned, you've already signed up for this job, and quitting now would reflect poorly on your resume unless you've already found another job. The only retail jobs I've ever worked shorter than a full year were seasonal positions where I was let go when they didn't need me anymore, rather than positions I quit.

 

[Tathanen]

As someone who has actually both worked retail and been literally on the street homeless, trust me you would rather have the retail job.

I am sure you are right, hyperbole gonna hyperbole.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

I don't want to be out of a job. I'd actually love to be an On Floor Associate at Target. It's where I first applied, but I got turned down before an Interview because I was new, had no experience. And I'm putting in another application today. But I feel like I may be doing something rash here.

Its always easier to find a job when you have a job so apply everywhere you can think of and wait it out.

 

[highrider]

Just do it. Customers know it's your job and even though it's annoying you are there to sell stuff, and of course any retail work will milk that teat. In the meantime look for something else.

 

[Exr]

Itd look pathetic if you quit. It sucks but its an entry level job, it could be a lot worse. Man up and eat da poopoo

 

[Dice]

I know I can do my job. But wow. I can't be a parrot robot.

Then no, you can't do your job. Retail is sales, using whatever bullshit approach your stupid company wants you to use. If it's shitty and ineffective and unpleasant for the guests, that is for the company to figure out. Your job is an agreement with the company to follow their rules, not to run their business however you see fit, even if it is better.

The sooner you accept this, the sooner a whole hell of a lot of stress in the job will drop off. If you feel it is being "fake" like a "parrot robot" then sales are not for you. Personally, I just roll with it and if guests are open with me, I'm also open with them (in a friendly way) that I am made to do it and have no choice in the matter. In time you can learn how to slip sales pitches in upfront, so it doesn't feel awkward or like an interruption from the natural flow of the interaction with the guest.

The only time I've had issues with it is when I end up agreeing with guests about deceptive nature of the tactics the company wants to use. If I start seeing such blatantly anti-consumer and even borderline sociopathic tactics, I am not comfortable working there anymore. But a simple upsell? Welcome to the real world, man. If a person 1) Can't see through that 2) Not take it personally 3) Make a real conscious decision about the offer... Well, that's all on them for being so unobservant about how the frameworks of society are built.

You seem to be taking on responsibility to function at a higher level and make decisions about methodology that is not actually in your employee-employer agreement. You recognize that you don't get paid enough to deal with that shit, yet you don't seem to realize you aren't being asked to deal with that shit. You're bringing that stress on yourself, as well as the stress from the conflict with management that it causes.

So yeah, my advice is to chill out, let a shit job be a shit job. If you want a higher functioning position where your choices about methodology are respected, find somewhere else to work. That doesn't necessarily mean management (which often have even less options). A lot of small business owners appreciate people who can help them figure out how to best run their little operation. Corporations are all controlled by marketing and HR, so you'll never have a working relationship with them, only duty agreements.

 

[Summer Haze]

Get out of retail, you'll be a lot happier for it.

.