| 74. Indeed, these delicate flowers have been through too much. |
|
I pray they can find paying jobs more suitable to their superior intellects and skills.
|
| -Goodbye letter from Borders employee(s) (?) spills secrets of bookselling trade |
PSPS |
Oct-02-11 11:30 PM |
#0 |
 -
I am familiar with the book biz and sympathize 100%. |
Hardrada |
Oct-02-11 11:37 PM |
#1 |
| -
Quick question: I'm looking for a book called, "I'm Above Retail (But Cashing the Check Anyway)" |
wtmusic |
Oct-02-11 11:39 PM |
#2 |
 -
+1 |
progressoid |
Oct-03-11 12:02 AM |
#9 |
| -
LOL - Love the pic in your sig. |
Beartracks |
Oct-03-11 12:11 AM |
#12 |
 -
! |
LoZoccolo |
Oct-03-11 12:21 AM |
#14 |
| -
Uh-oh, all the shallow idiot fans of Nicholas Sparks Romance trash will be flaming that person. |
Odin2005 |
Oct-02-11 11:45 PM |
#3 |
| -
Ooh, more broad brush generalities! |
Missy Vixen |
Oct-03-11 12:35 PM |
#73 |
| -
Pretty cranky is right ... |
frazzled |
Oct-02-11 11:47 PM |
#4 |
| -
Now that I think about it, the manager of one of the Borders always creeped me out. |
The Backlash Cometh |
Oct-02-11 11:55 PM |
#6 |
| -
Did you come in often and never buy anything? |
Tunkamerica |
Oct-03-11 12:03 AM |
#10 |
| -
That's the weird part. |
The Backlash Cometh |
Oct-03-11 09:40 AM |
#48 |
| -
Do you really mean that he was vaccuuming around you? Or do you mean |
tblue37 |
Oct-03-11 05:57 PM |
#94 |
| -
To give you an example, I sat down at a table which consisted of |
The Backlash Cometh |
Oct-03-11 10:59 PM |
#100 |
| -
"Hovering" then, not "Hoovering"? I thought perhaps he was deliberately |
tblue37 |
Oct-04-11 12:22 AM |
#103 |
| -
Thank you very much. I appreciate the correction. |
The Backlash Cometh |
Oct-04-11 06:58 AM |
#112 |
| -
"abboy?" |
geardaddy |
Oct-04-11 02:12 PM |
#127 |
| -
annoy. I can't type--and I have clumsy fingers. When I am hurrying, I make typos and |
tblue37 |
Oct-05-11 12:46 PM |
#190 |
| -
I know. I figured it was a typo. |
geardaddy |
Oct-05-11 05:00 PM |
#192 |
| -
I get that alot, actually. |
Warren DeMontague |
Oct-04-11 12:55 AM |
#106 |
| -
ha-ha. |
The Backlash Cometh |
Oct-04-11 06:59 AM |
#113 |
| -
He probably thought you were going to steal something. |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 02:26 PM |
#191 |
| -
Not just Borders. I worked at B&N for years and it was exactly the same. |
Tunkamerica |
Oct-03-11 12:02 AM |
#8 |
| -
yuck |
ribrepin |
Oct-04-11 01:11 AM |
#107 |
| -
"Toilet Book" as hazardous waste. (nt) |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:03 PM |
#116 |
| -
When I worked at Borders, I caught a black teenager |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 10:03 AM |
#170 |
| -
Was his color somehow indicative of his action? |
Glassunion |
Oct-05-11 10:50 AM |
#175 |
| -
Are you trying to start a fight? |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 11:03 AM |
#176 |
| -
No not trying to start a fight. |
Glassunion |
Oct-05-11 11:13 AM |
#180 |
| -
I'll only use the word "individual" now. |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 11:19 AM |
#183 |
| -
A buddy who works in loss prevention told me about some black girls ... |
CopingBarker |
Oct-05-11 11:35 AM |
#186 |
| -
It's funny the media works in exactly the opposite way. |
Glassunion |
Oct-05-11 11:41 AM |
#187 |
| -
Employees knew their stuff at the original Borders |
caraher |
Oct-03-11 03:22 AM |
#20 |
| -
Too true |
MorningGlow |
Oct-03-11 04:07 PM |
#78 |
| -
Wow -- you must have shopped at different Borders stores than I did. |
Tesha |
Oct-03-11 06:59 AM |
#22 |
| -
Maybe you were easily dazzled. My eight year old nephew thinks I'm the smartest man in the world. |
Hassin Bin Sober |
Oct-03-11 11:27 PM |
#102 |
| -
I like it. |
Renew Deal |
Oct-02-11 11:53 PM |
#5 |
| -
Are those really "Secrets of the bookselling trade"? Doesn't seem like secrets at all. |
Poll_Blind |
Oct-02-11 11:58 PM |
#7 |
| -
All due respect |
alcibiades_mystery |
Oct-03-11 12:20 AM |
#13 |
| -
LOL, oh I agree with you. Definitely, heh heh. That was just the first example that.... |
Poll_Blind |
Oct-03-11 12:55 AM |
#16 |
| -
Here's the salt you'd need to take along with a Phillip K. Dick 'theory'.... |
Ikonoklast |
Oct-03-11 11:12 AM |
#58 |
| -
LOVE Phillip K Dick |
CopingBarker |
Oct-05-11 11:18 AM |
#182 |
| -
there is nothing secret about that, and many complaints are common to other jobs |
JI7 |
Oct-03-11 12:05 AM |
#11 |
| -
It's definitely no secret about Oprah. |
Initech |
Oct-03-11 12:36 AM |
#15 |
| -
In the Kitchen with Rosie |
MorningGlow |
Oct-03-11 04:13 PM |
#79 |
| -
Sis got it for mom...not one recipe was prepared. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:11 PM |
#118 |
| -
For me, it was the Anne Geddes books. nt |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 10:06 AM |
#171 |
| -
Some of these lines hint at a major attitude problem |
lbrtbell |
Oct-03-11 01:23 AM |
#17 |
| -
Sorry, the customer ISN'T always right. |
Behind the Aegis |
Oct-03-11 02:01 AM |
#18 |
| -
try putting THAT |
druidity33 |
Oct-03-11 06:04 PM |
#95 |
| -
I doubt I would be asked. |
Behind the Aegis |
Oct-03-11 11:20 PM |
#101 |
| -
I've been asked a variation |
druidity33 |
Oct-04-11 05:59 AM |
#109 |
| -
I worked in retail for years and have never been asked that question. |
Behind the Aegis |
Oct-04-11 12:16 PM |
#114 |
| -
well |
druidity33 |
Oct-04-11 06:45 PM |
#155 |
| -
The customer isn't always right. |
Behind the Aegis |
Oct-04-11 11:13 PM |
#161 |
| -
Of course they aren't |
druidity33 |
Oct-05-11 05:49 AM |
#165 |
| -
The customer isn't always right. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:18 PM |
#119 |
| -
"Make the customer think they're right" |
Behind the Aegis |
Oct-05-11 01:42 AM |
#163 |
| -
Sometimes it is good to just fire the customer. |
Glassunion |
Oct-05-11 09:54 AM |
#169 |
| -
Precisely |
Sherman A1 |
Oct-03-11 02:57 AM |
#19 |
| -
The 'Playboy' point was indicating something deeper, imo |
Blue_Tires |
Oct-03-11 07:30 AM |
#24 |
| -
EWWWWWW!!! |
Odin2005 |
Oct-03-11 08:22 AM |
#34 |
| -
Found the thread from the archives |
Blue_Tires |
Oct-03-11 08:36 AM |
#36 |
| -
I am one of those people the OP of that thread hates. |
Odin2005 |
Oct-03-11 08:43 AM |
#38 |
| -
Lot of colorful names from the past in that thread |
Blue_Tires |
Oct-03-11 08:51 AM |
#42 |
| -
Also the comments about people returning books and kids wrecking the kids section. |
JVS |
Oct-03-11 08:39 AM |
#37 |
| -
agreed |
Blue_Tires |
Oct-03-11 09:23 AM |
#46 |
| -
and while the two people the corporation is willing to pay to run the entire place are off policing |
Warren DeMontague |
Oct-04-11 12:54 AM |
#105 |
| -
I have worked in retail as well and no, the customer is not always right... |
truebrit71 |
Oct-03-11 08:16 AM |
#30 |
| -
The customer may not always be right but they do pay your salary - |
lynne |
Oct-03-11 08:21 AM |
#33 |
| -
If someone can't tell the difference between "fiction" & "non-fiction," |
WolverineDG |
Oct-03-11 12:19 PM |
#69 |
| -
Are you sure you didn't apply to be a cop, |
Throckmorton |
Oct-03-11 12:31 PM |
#71 |
| -
I think the disctinction is that there are many |
GreenArrow |
Oct-03-11 12:35 PM |
#72 |
| -
How difficult is it to ask a follow up question? |
WolverineDG |
Oct-03-11 03:56 PM |
#75 |
| -
I guess it depends. |
GreenArrow |
Oct-04-11 02:32 PM |
#132 |
| -
But to be confused by the request is strange for someone who works there. |
JVS |
Oct-04-11 01:21 AM |
#108 |
| -
I suspect it's simply a request that one |
GreenArrow |
Oct-04-11 02:52 PM |
#134 |
| -
The staff knows the difference |
sweetloukillbot |
Oct-05-11 01:35 AM |
#162 |
| -
Absolutely true! |
DearHeart |
Oct-05-11 06:45 PM |
#195 |
| -
Unfortunately, there are customers who do NOT know the difference |
DearHeart |
Oct-05-11 06:43 PM |
#194 |
| -
re: the customer |
Warren DeMontague |
Oct-03-11 04:01 PM |
#76 |
| -
LOL! |
Behind the Aegis |
Oct-04-11 12:49 AM |
#104 |
| -
HEEHEE! |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:34 PM |
#121 |
| -
I've been on both sides of that equation, myself. |
Warren DeMontague |
Oct-04-11 02:04 PM |
#126 |
| -
The thing is even when you are "better than all this" you still have a job to do. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 02:31 PM |
#131 |
| -
The majority of my retail experience was different. I was involved with a hip, indie company |
Warren DeMontague |
Oct-04-11 02:43 PM |
#133 |
| -
it's always ten percent or so. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 03:03 PM |
#135 |
| -
Let's just put it this way: |
Warren DeMontague |
Oct-04-11 05:05 PM |
#149 |
| -
LOL |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 05:34 PM |
#152 |
| -
I agree |
Blasphemer |
Oct-03-11 05:06 PM |
#81 |
| -
It could also be that they loved their job and are bitter that they're losing it. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:43 PM |
#122 |
| -
I don't know about the New York market, and I'm sure your store did great! |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 03:23 PM |
#138 |
| -
I once had an English prof |
laundry_queen |
Oct-03-11 06:13 PM |
#96 |
| -
It's true about any kind of reading at all. It keeps the mind active, |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 03:56 PM |
#140 |
| -
Agreed.... sounds like a crap employee... |
Cid_B |
Oct-04-11 06:28 AM |
#111 |
| -
Customer is always right? |
geardaddy |
Oct-04-11 02:19 PM |
#128 |
| -
In my experience, the customer is never right. |
Lucian |
Oct-04-11 04:03 PM |
#141 |
| -
LOL |
Dorian Gray |
Oct-05-11 05:57 AM |
#166 |
| -
I can be if people aren't stupid or lazy. |
Lucian |
Oct-05-11 07:59 AM |
#168 |
| -
I'm sorry... The customer is NOT always right. |
Glassunion |
Oct-04-11 04:57 PM |
#146 |
| -
Thank you for taking the time to type this. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 05:55 PM |
#153 |
| -
There a lot of employers that "get it" and there are more and more waking up all the time. |
Glassunion |
Oct-04-11 06:57 PM |
#157 |
| -
Thank you |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-04-11 09:49 PM |
#160 |
| -
A few others who were apparently "right" |
sweetloukillbot |
Oct-05-11 02:06 AM |
#164 |
| -
What's the problem? |
Glassunion |
Oct-05-11 11:07 AM |
#177 |
| -
When the phone is ringing constantly |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 10:24 AM |
#172 |
| -
Dear Borders Employee: Want to help me?... |
Phentex |
Oct-03-11 06:27 AM |
#21 |
| -
Perfect! |
Lizzie Poppet |
Oct-03-11 11:33 AM |
#63 |
| -
Ok..now I am envious. |
dixiegrrrrl |
Oct-05-11 11:47 AM |
#188 |
| -
Refreshing. The public always gets to comment about retail workers - |
xchrom |
Oct-03-11 07:06 AM |
#23 |
| -
Saw that on Facebook. One question . . . |
HughBeaumont |
Oct-03-11 07:35 AM |
#25 |
| -
Because corporate decides what books go where, not the store employees. (nt) |
jeff47 |
Oct-03-11 09:43 AM |
#50 |
| -
Corporate mostly determines what is prominently displayed. |
MilesColtrane |
Oct-03-11 11:06 AM |
#57 |
| -
I worked at Waldenbooks during the post 9/11 right-wing boom |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-03-11 05:44 PM |
#90 |
| -
I never understood the thing about the right wing and the dozens of books their heroes had out. |
HughBeaumont |
Oct-03-11 06:56 PM |
#98 |
| -
They are delusional, sick people..... |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-03-11 07:14 PM |
#99 |
| -
Because they sold |
CopingBarker |
Oct-05-11 11:30 AM |
#185 |
| -
That's not the "book biz" |
WilliamPitt |
Oct-03-11 08:07 AM |
#26 |
| -
Yeah, the original author(s) call it an ode. Boingboing slapped their own title on there. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 03:07 PM |
#136 |
| -
I'm guilty of the 'quick question', even still... |
Blue_Tires |
Oct-03-11 08:07 AM |
#27 |
| -
EPIC! |
bigwillq |
Oct-03-11 08:09 AM |
#28 |
| -
I'm so glad I'm a CPS worker |
Courtesy Flush |
Oct-03-11 08:14 AM |
#29 |
| -
Indeed, these delicate flowers have been through too much. |
Z_I_Peevey |
Oct-03-11 12:47 PM |
#74 |
| -
I have a close friend who is an ex employee of Borders |
AsahinaKimi |
Oct-03-11 08:16 AM |
#31 |
| -
Replace "books" with any other retail object and you've got the complaints of - |
lynne |
Oct-03-11 08:18 AM |
#32 |
| -
Some of these sound like reasons they went under in the first place and this worker lost a job.. |
JVS |
Oct-03-11 08:33 AM |
#35 |
| -
And Barnes and Noble workers would write |
Are_grits_groceries |
Oct-03-11 08:45 AM |
#40 |
| -
Why would someone let customers return books they know have been used? |
JVS |
Oct-03-11 08:48 AM |
#41 |
| -
It was store policy. |
Starry Messenger |
Oct-03-11 08:59 AM |
#44 |
| -
That sucks. You'd think corporate would care a bit more about keeping sales from being undone. |
JVS |
Oct-03-11 09:01 AM |
#45 |
| -
You would think so, but they went out of business. |
Starry Messenger |
Oct-03-11 09:40 AM |
#49 |
| -
exactly right |
druidity33 |
Oct-04-11 06:19 AM |
#110 |
| -
What a collection of jerks |
AngryAmish |
Oct-03-11 08:44 AM |
#39 |
| -
I think the bottom line for many retail employees at bookstores is that those folk would rather... |
David Sky |
Oct-03-11 08:53 AM |
#43 |
| -
Ode to an Unemployed Hipster Asshole |
Dreamer Tatum |
Oct-03-11 09:33 AM |
#47 |
| -
I rarely experienced anything but annoyed condescension from Borders employees |
Tuvok Obama |
Oct-03-11 10:08 AM |
#53 |
| -
Secrets of How to Annoy Bookstore Employees (apparently) |
KurtNYC |
Oct-03-11 10:03 AM |
#51 |
| -
"...texting this to myself..." |
Dr. Strange |
Oct-03-11 11:14 AM |
#59 |
| -
Always loved the Xerox question... |
sweetloukillbot |
Oct-04-11 04:53 PM |
#144 |
| -
what secrets is he exposing? seems like a crank who hated his job and hates customers |
WI_DEM |
Oct-03-11 10:03 AM |
#52 |
| -
Agreed. |
InvisibleTouch |
Oct-03-11 10:23 AM |
#55 |
| -
KNR...and if they just had the last one, I'd KNR for that... |
joeybee12 |
Oct-03-11 10:15 AM |
#54 |
| -
Worked in a bookstore chain for 20 years; not B&N or Borders and I agree |
DearHeart |
Oct-03-11 10:30 AM |
#56 |
| -
+1 |
GoCubsGo |
Oct-03-11 11:33 AM |
#62 |
| -
My Borders was hipsters and nerds and retired teachers |
sweetloukillbot |
Oct-04-11 04:56 PM |
#145 |
| -
welcome to the site! |
Blue_Tires |
Oct-03-11 12:23 PM |
#70 |
| -
Thanks! I've been lurking here for years!! |
DearHeart |
Oct-03-11 05:19 PM |
#82 |
| -
Thanks and welcome |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-03-11 05:33 PM |
#87 |
| -
Poor snooty hipster. Well he or she wont have to put up with us annoying customers much longer... |
leeroysphitz |
Oct-03-11 11:18 AM |
#60 |
| -
Yeah that's it...this one note that would be written in the future. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:32 PM |
#120 |
| -
I'm an old guy in the suburbs, could you tell me where the" Hipster" |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:54 PM |
#123 |
| -
Animal Collective playing on the PA |
sweetloukillbot |
Oct-04-11 05:00 PM |
#147 |
| -
I'm even older than i thought. (nt) |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 05:05 PM |
#148 |
| -
cool note |
Liberal_in_LA |
Oct-03-11 11:21 AM |
#61 |
| -
For those who have worked retail- ya'll totally get this. For those who haven't... |
Desertrose |
Oct-03-11 11:40 AM |
#64 |
| -
OK - I'll bite |
LibertyLover |
Oct-03-11 11:47 AM |
#65 |
| -
LOL! He's every bit as good a writer as... |
Phentex |
Oct-03-11 11:49 AM |
#66 |
| -
He wrote Nights of Rodanthe |
taterguy |
Oct-03-11 05:23 PM |
#83 |
| -
Things I could add to that list. |
Starry Messenger |
Oct-03-11 12:10 PM |
#67 |
| -
Right on the money!! |
DearHeart |
Oct-03-11 05:25 PM |
#84 |
| -
Why aren't we running things? |
Starry Messenger |
Oct-03-11 05:50 PM |
#91 |
| -
"Do you work here?"...... |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-03-11 05:35 PM |
#89 |
| -
I can see Elaine Bennis of Seinfeld grabbing the customer's head in two hands |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 03:12 PM |
#137 |
| -
Well they should be happy now that they don't have to be miserable at that job anymore. |
Shagbark Hickory |
Oct-03-11 12:17 PM |
#68 |
| -
I think the opposite might be true. Everyone complains about some element of their job. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:58 PM |
#124 |
| -
I was a bookstore worker for many years |
MorningGlow |
Oct-03-11 04:04 PM |
#77 |
| -
Bookstore secrets |
chowder66 |
Oct-03-11 04:51 PM |
#80 |
| -
I also worked in a bookstore for many years. |
DearHeart |
Oct-03-11 05:32 PM |
#86 |
| -
I worked there too |
chowder66 |
Oct-03-11 05:57 PM |
#93 |
| -
Welcome to DU, booklover & DearHeart! |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 02:01 PM |
#125 |
| -
Interesting about the L Ron Hubbard books! |
mainer |
Oct-04-11 01:08 PM |
#117 |
| -
That was the only group I ever knew that did that. |
chowder66 |
Oct-04-11 03:23 PM |
#139 |
| -
LOL, great list (coming from a former Walden employee) |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-03-11 05:28 PM |
#85 |
| -
Dear former Borders employee, your complaints are noted. Sincerely, fully employeed B&N employee. |
Exilednight |
Oct-03-11 05:34 PM |
#88 |
| -
Time to lighten up..... |
rationalcalgarian |
Oct-03-11 05:53 PM |
#92 |
| -
hehe..."101 Ways to Start a Fight " |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 09:44 PM |
#159 |
| -
"We hate a book when it becomes popular" |
AngkorWot |
Oct-03-11 06:15 PM |
#97 |
| -
I hate when a book becomes popular because of a film |
pokerfan |
Oct-04-11 05:17 PM |
#150 |
| -
The choice to have plush toys, puzzles and action figures was |
DearHeart |
Oct-05-11 06:37 PM |
#193 |
| -
Unpacking plushies instead of books was kinda pathetic. |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 09:55 PM |
#197 |
| -
Too late to rec'. |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 01:00 PM |
#115 |
| -
Pretty obvious why they went out of business with employees like this. |
hugo_from_TN |
Oct-04-11 02:20 PM |
#129 |
| -
Pretty obvious you've never worked retail |
quiller4 |
Oct-04-11 04:14 PM |
#142 |
| -
That must be why you are a former bookstore manager. |
Rex |
Oct-05-11 11:11 AM |
#179 |
| -
Seriously. |
JVS |
Oct-05-11 11:23 AM |
#184 |
| -
What was your job in customer service and who were your clients? nt |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 10:10 PM |
#198 |
| -
Bagged groceries for 2 years and worked with customers in a paint store for another 2. |
hugo_from_TN |
Oct-05-11 10:51 PM |
#199 |
| -
Reads like a bitter grapes checklist. |
Rex |
Oct-04-11 02:21 PM |
#130 |
| -
Wow.....awesome classism, dude |
ProudToBeBlueInRhody |
Oct-04-11 04:50 PM |
#143 |
| -
Well you would be guessing wrong. |
Rex |
Oct-04-11 05:18 PM |
#151 |
| -
My favorite: |
Liberalynn |
Oct-04-11 06:15 PM |
#154 |
| -
OMG |
Kurovski |
Oct-04-11 07:06 PM |
#158 |
| -
No Christopher Meloni isn't one of my housepets. |
Liberalynn |
Oct-05-11 11:17 AM |
#181 |
| -
Well if I got this kind of customer service at my book store I'd use my kindle. |
TNLib |
Oct-04-11 06:56 PM |
#156 |
| -
The coupon usually says who can redeem |
itsrobert |
Oct-05-11 06:03 AM |
#167 |
| -
"Are these books in any order?" |
OnyxCollie |
Oct-05-11 10:44 AM |
#173 |
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I'm sad that they all lost their jobs and I personally will miss my local Borders |
Glassunion |
Oct-05-11 10:49 AM |
#174 |
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Well, now I don't feel so bad about Border's going out of business. |
TheManInTheMac |
Oct-05-11 11:11 AM |
#178 |
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There's a whole lotta douche in that poster, former Borders employee. |
Bunny |
Oct-05-11 11:49 AM |
#189 |
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good joke in the comments |
Enrique |
Oct-05-11 06:59 PM |
#196 |
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