Retail Hell Underground

And Here we See That Custyness Has Infected The Technology

Press F1.

Yes.

On the Keyboard?

Yes.

The Keyboard you cannot find?

Yes.

Press F1...on the keyboard... that you cannot find...

YES! WHY IS THAT SO HARD?!

The Robot Revolution still flops so frikkin hard.

Dumbass Custy Mistakes Turning Lane Arrow For Directions

Trippetta with a story this time. This happened a few weeks after I started my current retail job, late last year.

A customer came up to my coworker's till to be rung up. Nothing unusual, until she tells us we ought to repaint our parking lot because she just drove in through the parking lot exit, having followed the arrow.

All I could manage was, "Huh?"

The arrow she was referring to is the arrow in the turn lane that leads to our parking lot, and she thought it was painted in the wrong spot. Let's go over what is wrong with that situation:

1) The arrow she's referring to is in *the turn lane.* As in, on the road. The city paints that, not our store. I tried to tell her as much, and she tells me that it's our arrow, we are the ones who painted it. I was too new to be comfortable talking back to her, so I just shrugged and turned to help another customer.

2) The arrow only indicates that you are in a turn lane and is painted at a seemingly arbitrary distance from where you are supposed to turn. It does not indicate *where* you are supposed to turn. If she really had followed the arrow exactly, she would have driven over the sidewalk, and into some bushes. The entrance to the parking lot is several feet further.

3) This lady blindly followed the arrow, apparently not paying any attention to where she was actually going. I don't think I want to be on the same roads as that woman.

Uff dah, it's been a long day. May common sense become truly commonplace.

--Trippetta

Programmer Signage

Starbucks Being Sued Over Who Should Get Tips

Grubstreet: You might not give much thought to the Starbucks tip jar. If the cashier isn't a jerk, you toss in some change and go wait for the barista to call your name. But who actually gets to keep a portion of those tips is now a hotly contested issue: A federal appeals court has deferred to the New York Court of Appeals to review which of Starbucks' employees are entitled to cash tips. This case's impact will extend well beyond the 200 Starbucks outposts in Manhattan: It could mean more money for a quarter-million hospitality industry workers in the city and shake things up for 2,000 New York businesses statewide.

Currently, Starbucks allocates tips among baristas and shift supervisors, depending on how many hours they work per week. It can mean a bump of close to $2 more per hour. But now assistant managers want in on the extra cash to augment their salaries. Do they deserve it? Ranked in ascending order, here's how the responsibilities and incomes of the rivaling employees break down:

1. Baristas (entitled to tips):
The lowest level of Starbucks employees.They get paid by the hour and, according to Glassdoor, make an average of $8.79 per hour.

2. Shift Supervisors (entitled to tips):
These workers have some management responsibilities, like coordinating staff breaks. They get paid more than baristas, but they still receive hourly wages (according to Glassdoor, an average of $10.98 per hour).

3. Assistant Managers (not eligible for tips):
These employees are salaried and more senior, but they still serve customers. They do not have the power to hire and fire staff, but they do provide recommendations for those decisions. These workers receive an average salary of $33,622 a year, according to Glassdoor. They now want in on the tips, too.

The Court of Appeals will have to decide which employees are official "agents" of Starbucks — and agents are prohibited from receiving tips. And if the court determines that both shift managers and assistant managers are not agents of the company, it'll also have to consider whether New York Labor Law requires companies to give tips to all employees who are eligible. That means that Starbucks could have the power pick and choose who gets tips.

To give you some context, this drama isn't new. In 2008, a California barista filed a class-action suit against Starbucks, stating that shift supervisors shouldn't be entitled to tips. The State Supreme Court agreed, mandating that Starbucks owed baristas more than $100 million in tips. But then, one year later, an appeals court reversed the decision, ruling that supervisors "essentially perform the same job as baristas."

And last year, Starbucks baristas in Massachusetts also challenged the company's requirement to share tips with shift supervisors. This time, baristas won. A U.S. Court of Appeals panel in Boston ruled that Starbucks owes baristas $14 million in damages. Time for damage control: Starbucks started to reconstruct its classification system by creating a "shift manager" tier of employees who won't receive tips.

But now Starbucks is being slapped again — and even harder. These prior cases didn't focus specifically on salaried assistant managers, but the court in New York may have to address those employees to resolve the case. Since judges have been indecisive about letting shift supervisors dip their hands into the tip jar, why would they give the more senior (and better paid) assistant managers access to the cash? Tips are supposed to bring scanty wages up to a reasonable level, not boost salaries.

It's hard to say how New York's case will impact Starbucks on a national level. But since the state's highest court is reviewing this case, it'll set a precedent that will likely be cited again and again as other courts interpret their own state laws — especially because Starbucks' service model is pretty much the same no matter where you're buying a skinny extra-hot vanilla latte.

Our resident number-cruncher, Hugh Merwin, estimates that if there are 13,279 Starbucks outposts in America, with five baristas working 25 hours per week and making between $1.10 and $2.25 in tips, this could affect the allocation of between $1.8 to $3.7 million per week. That's a lot of chump change.

via www.grubstreet.com

 

Walmart Custy Gets a Little Too Excited Over Low Prices

  

Starbucks Opens at Disney World

Do you think this was a good addition to Disney, or is it runining it?

Yahoo: Main Street U.S.A., the gateway to Disney's Orlando park and a nostalgic evocation of small-town America, is the heart of the Magic Kingdom for many Disney lovers. That's why some patrons are balking about a Starbucks taking over the Main Street Bakery, a popular institution along the strip.

More on Yahoo!: Disney Patron Finds Gun On Ride

Despite a petition on Change.org and lawsuit against both Disney and Starbucks seeking to ban the corporate coffee giant from converting the eatery, famous for its freshly made cinnamon rolls, the chain had a soft opening last weekend.

"I used to work for Starbucks and I love coffee but seriously Walt Disney World is a place of DREAMS not NAME BRANDS!!! KEEP DISNEY WORLD A DREAM NOT A SELLOUT!!!" was one comment on the petition.

More on Yahoo!: 10 Drinks on Starbucks Secret Menu

Many other critics lamented that they go to Disney to get away from the ubiquity of chains like Starbucks. "One of our family traditions was to stop there for a quick pastry breakfast just after opening. (Sometimes the mayor walks through on his way out). It's just not the same getting the same fare we can get a few hundred yards from our front door," wrote a commenter from New Hampshire on the blog Inside The Magic.

A visitor from the United Kingdom echoed the sentiment on the petition: "When we go to WDW, we want to experience a different world to normal life. We want escapism -to have a Starbucks will make it like my local shopping mall. Main Street is old time -Starbucks is modern, it doesn't go with the theme. I don't think this was the image that Walt had for his Magic Kingdom. Personally I will be gutted if Starbucks takes over."

Also on Yahoo! Shine: Disney World Scheme: Entitled Families Hire Disabled Guide to Bypass Line

Another wrote: "This is the worst idea ever. You would be destroying the small town early century America that this part was designed to represent! It also doesn't make sense to close a place that so many love. What's next? The Emporium will turn into Walmart? If I want to see this stuff, I could stay at home. Don't let the outside world into the Magic Kingdom."

Shine reached out to Disney and Starbucks, who have yet to comment on the controversial change. The blog The Motley Fool points out that Starbucks strived to re-create a historical ambiance in its Disney World outlet. They also note that Disney World has accepted corporate sponsorship in the past-it's ties to PepsiCo go back to 1964, when Walt Disney was still alive, and Kodak and Bank of America have funded attractions. McDonald's French fries are sold in some restaurants.

While Main Street Bakery lovers are up in arms, it's hardly the first time the opening of a Starbucks has courted controversy. In China, a café that opened near a Buddhist temple in 2012, drew harsh criticism, and in 2007, a Starbucks in Beijing's historic Forbidden City (the former Imperial Palace) was forced to close down after public outcry.

Parisians unsuccessfully protested the opening of a Starbucks in the bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre-once a hotbed of literary and artistic culture. Closer to home, some Annapolis residents were upset when Starbucks moved into a tavern that had been operated continuously since 1780.

According to the blog Mouseplanet, Roy O. Disney, Walt's older brother, first included a description of Main Street U.S.A. in his first proposal for the development of Disneyland park in 1953: "Main Street has the nostalgic quality that makes it everybody's hometown….It has a bank and a newspaper office, and the little ice cream parlor with the marble-topped tables and wire-backed chairs. There is a penny arcade and Nickelodeon where you can see old time movies." Now brought to you with Frappuccinos and wifi.

 

via shine.yahoo.com

The other thing we actually do? Come here to bitch about our jobs.

An Oddly Catchy Tune For The Dumbass Theme Song!

 

And now it's stuck in my head....

The Misery And Stress Of Being That "Someone Else" Everyone Refers To

Well RHU, here's a quick Girl Scout story to share with you. I swear I am going to change my name to "Someone Else" Because that seems to be what everyone thinks my name is.

Need a leader to help out with planning a service event? Nope, they are too busy, get someone else to do it. Need a person to be the Fall Product Chair? Nope, can't do it; ask someone else to do it. Recruitment time coming up, and you need help? Sorry, get someone else to do it. Well guess who is 'someone else?' That is me.

I have 30 freaking troops, which means 30 leaders, 30 co-leaders, and about 350 families in my service unit and hardly a damn one who is willing to help.

Not only am I the SUM which means I act as an adviser for new troops, keep all the troops in the loop with events, Coordinate up coming events, collect and organize the massive amount of paperwork for all the troops, plan out the monthly SUM meetings, and team meetings and train new leaders. But since everyone in my Service Unit is so freaking busy I also have to act as the recruitment and girl placement chair, the Fall Product chair, the cookie booth coordinator, and the recognition chair. I also plan several events for the service unit like bridging and community service day because NO ONE ELSE WILL.

I do have a small team, I have one wonderful woman who helps will the registration paperwork. And another who does our camporees. And a third who is our treasurer. I HAD a cookie chair who did all the paperwork for cookie sales--but this year was her last year. Her daughter is going away for college and is no longer a girl scout, and the woman did the cookies chair for 10 years.

So I am desperately looking for a new cookie chair. I have asked several ladies if they would mind stepping up and lending a hand, only to be told "Oh I'm sorry I'm too busy with work and running my troop...." Well what the ever living fuck? I work full time, have a troop of my own plus DO EVERY OTHER FUCKING THING FOR THE SERVICE UNIT! And manage a disabled child too boot. I have e-mailed out to all my leaders that we need a cookie chair, if they can not do it, see if one of their parents would be willing to train to do it. I have put this in the monthly news letter, I have asked at all the meetings, and no one has come through.

Well my council is asking me who is my cookie chair, and I replied well I guess it is going to be me since no one else will do it. Well council has told me "No." They said I have done too much, and they will refuse to let me do the cookies.

In a way, I am relieved. So I have sent out one more e-mail stating that if we do not get a cookie chair our entire service unit, all 30 troops will not be allowed to sell cookies.

In a week I have gotten tons of responses. Most of them along the lines of "How can council do this to us?" or "I'm too busy, and all my parents are too busy--why don't you ask so and so to do it?" Because I have asked so and so and she said "NO" Only 2 people have responded that they will help.

One of them is a woman who is bat shit crazy leader and I hate dealing with because she NEVER EVER turns in her paper work, always calls me with some petty problem and then complains about council's policies. The other is a husband of one of the leaders. Out of 350 families that is all the help I get.

Council wants me to go with the crazy leader over the husband--but I am favoring the husband. I'm am just so disappointed. Part of me is about ready to say, "Oh well. No one really wanted to help so none of you gets to sell cookies this year." I'm to the point where I am just ready to walk away from it all.

Sorry this turned out longer than I thought it was, I guess I needed to get all of that off my chest.

--Perky (a.k.a.) Someone Else

Postal Custy Desperate For Next Netflix Movie

As Far As I Can Tell, The Only Downside For People Is The Expiration Date

Dolce and Gabbana Found Guilty of $1.3 Billion Tax Evasion, Going To Prison

Wow. This is a shocker! How will those two fair in Italian jail? 

Huff Po: MILAN -- A Milan court has convicted the designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of tax evasion.

The pair were found guilty Wednesday of failing to declare euros 1 billion ($1.3 billion) in income to authorities. The court sentenced them both to one year and eight months in jail.

Prosecutors argued that the pair had evaded taxes on income of 416 million euros each and 200 million euros through a Luxembourg-based company. The statute of limitations ran out on a charge of misrepresenting income.

The designers have denied the charges.

Two years ago, a judge threw out a tax evasion and fraud case against the pair, whose label Dolce&Gabbana is a Milan fashion mainstay. Italy's high court later ruled the designers could be prosecuted for tax evasion, though not for fraud.

via www.huffingtonpost.com

San Diego Airport Has Dog Restroom

From Dangerous Minds: The absolutely incredible image of a dog bathroom sporting a fire hydrant, above, was taken at the San Diego International Airport.

As of 2009, the Department of Transportation has apparently required all airports to make sure that there are pet relief areas available for any passengers traveling with service animals. The website Petfriendlytravel provides a handy guide to pet bathrooms across the US, and confirms that there is indeed a fire hydrant in the San Diego location:

San Diego International has three pet and service animal relief areas. One is located outside between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. At the Commuter Terminal, go to the west end; the area is located outside the terminal entrance. There is also a post-security animal relief area in Terminal 2 West, complete with fake grass, hand-washing station and a fire hydrant.

(Via Reddit)

via dangerousminds.net

Westboro Baptist Church Responds To 'Lemonade For Peace' Sale With Anti-Gay Taunt

The Westboro Baptist Church has responded to one little girl's campaign to raise money for peace the only way they seem to know how: with a homophobic jab.

Over the weekend, the story of Jayden Sink and her lemonade stand went viral online, with thousands of people sharing news of how a 5-year-old took on the Westboro Baptist Church.

As The Huffington Post previously reported, Jayden is the daughter of Jon Sink, founder of the philanthropic arts group FRESHCASSETTE - Creative Compassion. The two decided to sell lemonade outside the Equality House -- a rainbow-colored dwelling owned by nonprofit Planting Peace that campaigns for human rights, gay rights and anti-bullying efforts -- to raise money for peace and love Saturday.

The Equality House sits across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church's Topeka, Kan., compound, and the anti-gay, quasi-religious group was none too happy with Jayden's event. Members from the group apparently attempted to call the local police and later stooped to yelling profanities at lemonade drinkers.

On Monday, Westboro members took things to a new low when they posted an anti-gay message on their marquee, reading: "FAGS & ENABLERS ALL BURN IN HELL LEMONADE WON'T COOL ANY TONGUES."

A sign outside the Westboro Baptist Church compound. Story continues below.

Davis Hammet, Director of Operations at Planting Peace, is not surprised Westboro rejected Jayden's message. The group's messages of hate have been directed at many more people than just Jayden. Just a few days ago, that same marquee had a message thanking God for killing the children in the Oklahoma tornado.

"We don’t hate the Westboro Baptist members, we pity them," he told The Huffington Post in an email correspondence Monday. "We see their hateful signs every day and they remind us how important it is to take a stand for equality and justice. The nasty things they say come from a very dark place. We truly pity them and are thrilled that many members are finding their way out of this hate group."

Of course, we all know who the real winner is. To date, Jayden has helped raise more than $16,000 for Planting Peace and the Equality House with an online campaign through Crowdrise. She plans to set up her stand outside the Equality House on more hot summer days in the future.

Planting Peace founder Aaaron Jackson wants everyone to remember this is a story about peace and not about retribution, he told HuffPost in a separate email Monday. Jayden simply sought to spread goodwill, something Westboro chooses not to do,

"I believe that Jayden's story of spreading love and peace by raising awareness and money by way of a little pink lemonade stand is why so many people have embraced the story and felt compelled to take part in the movement."

via www.huffingtonpost.com

-------------------------

Huh. That's their comeback? It's like watching an elementary school child argue with a well educated, reasoning adult. It's almost better entertainment than 'reality shows' on tv.

Adult: You know, the world is a big place. You should learn tolerance.

WBC: Nuh uh! Gay people suck and are going to hell!

Adult: Well, you can believe what you like, but the rest of us will be over here having fun and doing good things.

WBC: Shut up Stupidhead! You're wrong and are going to hell!!

Adult: Hey everyone, we're selling lemonade for peace!

WBC: Nuh-uh! Stupidhead! Stupidhead! You're going to hell! Stupidhead! Stupidhead! *stomps around in circles throwing a tantrum*

Ilia, Pretending to be a snack vender: Popcorn! Get your popcorn here! $0.25 extra and we'll lend you a stick to poke the WBC with! Poke em right in the bigotry and watch them wiggle around!