Red Head Actress Update and Question About Opening New Accounts

Hey guys, it is redheadactress. 

Before I get the questions of "Where the hell where you," and all that jazz, let me just say thank you for everyone who gave me support and a special shout out to Spritzy for the awesome care packages she sent me. It was seriously the lift I needed. 

As some of you know, I was diagnosed with bipolar two and paranoia. I have been taking medication for it and I have to say it has been a lot easier for me to deal with everything. I am not as paranoid now and my mood swings are minimal. I still have my bad days, but they are few and far between. It took me hitting rock bottom to realize that I needed to do something about this situation. 

Now, I am working for a company that I absolutely adore. Most of you know the place, but I will refer to it as Lance Bass. Hey, I like boy bands, sue me. (Not One Direction)

All my coworkers are women. Though I am not a lesbian, I still find this to be a very good thing since I am not ready for any type of relationship right now and frankly i couldn't care less about dating at all. 

And my manager loves me to death, complimenting me every single day that I am catching on more quickly than anyone she had ever trained. This is where I have to thank Smosh because mostly it is the same with minor differences. Though, because I am a perfectionist, I beat myself up about every little thing I do wrong. Most of the time it is a quick fix. Today, it took a little longer to figure out a mistake I had made, but I eventually did figure it out. I commented, mostly to myself "I am on day four and still making rookie mistakes." At that point, the manager rolled her eyes and started laughing. "Will you knock it off, Redheadactress? You are doing great! We already made our sales quota for the day and it isn't even noon." I had to smile.

I haven't run into any crustys. At least not yet. All the women that come into the store are very friendly and polite, perhaps because they know what it is like to be treated like dirt because of the way they look. Most don't believe that it is only my first week. 

The only issue I have with this store: the credit cards.

This is the first time I have ever had to encounter this and I am not too keen on it. I wouldn't want to get this card and I hate the fact that I have to push it. I just hope I don't get fired for not getting anyone to open an account. 

So my question is: advice? Pretty please?

This terror brings me back to my telemarketer days and I never want to relive those. I'm terrified. Maybe just paranoid?

And on a note that has nothing to do with retail, I am taking the bus now because someone smashed my car window and deflated my tires with a knife. Some people... I never encountered this in the small town where I am from.

Thanks for being there, RHU! 

--Redheadactress

 

 

Comments

[Spritzy]

You're so very welcome! ^_^

[Karebear]

The most you can do is just ask if they would like to apply for the card. If you get into the habit it of saying it at the beginning of your greeting, you'll soon be saying it without even realizing. If they say no, just say okay, thank you and move on. I'm sure if your manager(s) realize that you are at least trying you should be okay.

Good luck! And sorry to hear about your car. That has to really suck.

[Legal Minion]

We had to ask at Old Navy. Hated it, but I got into the habit of it. Most regular customers will realize you HAVE to ask, and not be terribly pissed/offended.

[kuroneko4276]

A piece of advice for the car; a junkyard will generally sell you a replacement window and some tires with enough tread to get you through until you can afford a new set. I had that happen to me and was able to get my car rain-resistant and driving again on $130. I had to remove the window from the junked car and install it in mine myself, but it wasn't hard. The Haynes manual has instructions.

If you elect to go this route, I'd wear something relatively feminine and snug for a top with some very scruffy and loose pants, neither of which you don't mind getting dirty, as there was a significant discount from the junkyard guys due to my adorable mechanic-girl look and cheerful attitude. The goal is to look like Gadget from 'Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers' or Kaylee from 'Firefly.' It's a great look for those of us ladies who shop at Lanie B's and know how to rock the Cacique like a car-fixing, work-doing get-shit-done Wrench Wench. You'd be amazed how many of us curvy girls there are in the DIY car-repair community, and how admired we are by men, women and the random ladies we rescue when their cars break down upside the road.

And as for the charge card, what worked well for me was mentioning it along the lines of "I should let you know, we do have a {store} credit card that lets you save some money and get invitations to our special card-member sales, so if you feel like applying, just let me know. My manager really loves it when we get to welcome a new member." Make it sound like a secret curvy-girls club, and lower your voice a little and lean in as you mention it, as if you're inviting the customer into your special clique. Considering what the typical customers of your store have likely experienced socially, the subliminal resemblance to being invited to the cool girls' table might be enough to get some of them to apply. And if they aren't interested, just smile and say "That's okay. If you have an email address, I bet I can get you the sale invites anyway," which helps your email-capture rate. (Our management at Seared Redneck & Company was NUTS about email-capture.)

Best of luck at the new job!

[Care Plan Pimp]

Just start the question by telling them the perks of the card, don't only ask if they want it.

"Do you want to get 15 dollars off your purchase today? You can get our card and it only takes a few minutes."

Avoid saying the word credit, or the name of the credit provider.

You'll get used to the guilty feeling, although it still kills me asking old people sometimes.

[Minidoc]

Glad to see you back and glad that things are better!

[The Last Archimedean]

Congrats on the new job.

Sorry about your car.

Glad your medication is helping. If I lived closer I'd suggest you hang out with me on bad days and just vent to me until you feel better. Hopefully you have a friend who can play that role for you.

Bets of luck. We RHU'ers are all supporting you.

[Bitch Boy]

Care Plan Pimp got it in one. Never mention the word "credit".

[lamer]

” are you aware of our store card?”. If they say yes or no, then it's a quick, ” are you integrated in applying?”

[Skittles]

I hate those credit cards that stores carry and push on all the folks who shop there, but I still recoginize that the poor sap behind the register has no options about pushing it. Best of luck.

[candieaddict]

I've never been bothered by them asking about the card, I never saw it as a big deal.

"Do you have a store card?"
"No"
"Are you interested in one?"
"No"

And just move on really.

[Fortune Cookie]

Oooh, that place sounds like a great work place. Except for the card. But you'll figure it out :)

[TechChewToy]

Super glad you've found an awesome job and good medication!

[Versatile Vegetarian]

I'm glad to see you back, and I want you to know that you are not alone. I was diagnosed with BP2 about 6 years ago. *hugs* There's more of us out there than people realize, and there's lots of support available.

[NC Tony]

Glad you're back, Red!

[Future Teacher]

It sounds like you work at the sister store of a store I worked at over the summer,and I absolutely hated pushing the card and the membership. Unfortunately, if I'm right, you really don't have an option on the card because not meeting your card quotas can lead to grounds for termination. It really sucked because the branch I worked at, 95% were regulars, so they either already had the card or knew the benefits and still didn't want the card. But we were still required to open at least one card a day, and carry over any we didn't open to our next shift.

[The Last Archimedean]

Speaking as someone who has multiple brain-related conditions [in my case, Asperger's/depression], I know how important a support network is. We'll all be your support, Red -- and best of luck!

[Luna]

I'm pretty sure I work at your sister store. I have moral issues asking our customers to open a card, too, and my manager really helped. She told me I could CHOOSE to ask them based on how much they spent. If they went over $150, for example, you can ask because opening a card really will save them money. If not then it's your choice and if you don't feel comfortable asking the 19-year-old who came in for a pair of socks, you don't have to.