Bad Times Shopping at Target

 So Sunday I am at Target. I was there because it was the start of a "buy two get one free"sale on video games, and I love both deals and video games. However things didn't go well. Not because of Target. 

I went to the Brea Target, as it is the closest to me that has a large electronics department.  It was earlier than I would usually be out, somewhere between 9 and 9:30 am. I look at the available games, and am ready to buy. However, there are no employs to be found. I wait a few minutes, still no one. So I go to the nearest price scanner, which is in the toy department, and press the button on it to summon an employ. It tells me to wait by the scanner. 

After a minute, a young man walks up, and before I can state my business, another costumer starts yelling that "that dude is creepy, you need to get him out of this store, I don't think my kids are safe", referring to me. I have had no interaction this person up to this point, and I do mean ever . I try to explain that I just need someone to open the game case, and he keeps screaming to the point security comes. 

The security guard come and listens and just laughs at the guy. Tells him he needs to go about his business, and uses his walkie talkie to try and get someone with a key for me. I wait buy the register in electronics. Meanwhile the screaming man keeps pacing back and forth staring at me. When someone with a key finally shows up, it is time for round two. He starts yelling again, "You need to understand you are creepy, and I am trying to protect me kids". I don't engage. I talk to the employ with the key and say "I don't know what this guy's deal is, I just want to get and pay for some games". He starts again, " Your creepy dude, you need to get out of here". Walking to the games "I don't know what his insecurity is, but can we hurry this up?". 

While getting my games, we now had to listen about to more. "I got no insecurities bro. Look at my wife. How fucking dare you". He finally left as we went back to the register. 

This was shockingly rude behavior from a man old enough to have grey hair, and two children with him. And honestly, that is the worst part, he did this in front of his kids. They have learn a lesson about how to treat people. One that will cause endless problems for so many people they will encounter. I don't know what about me set the man off.

Raspberry Pi at Target

Target sells raspberry pi computers now. It is a weird sight to see. Just feels out of place. Not just in "educational" kits either.

You can get the pi, various cases, the power supplies, on/off switches, etc. Literally all everything you need to get one up and running. These can be bought ala carte, or in bundles.

However, you can't buy anything other than the basics. No where to be found are the various add on cards for the pi. Nor is there any of the items needed to make a pi more than a toy.

Still, kind of cool, but weird.

Retail "Joys"

Everyone has worked retail at one time or another. If you haven't, you were more than likely born with a silver spoon shoved squarely up your ass. There are certain people that every retail employ has to deal with at one time or another. Doesn't matter where you worked, from Wal Mart to Nordstrom, the dressing might change but the costumer underneath is the same everywhere.

The "But they have it at _____" guy. This costumer wants something that your store does not carry. They come in to inform you that the local competition does have it. They seem to be under the impression that if your competitor carries it, and they inform you of it,  somehow magically it will appear in the store. It won't. If you want that item, please go to the competition, and never come back here.

Then there is the "Oh, I have a coupon.. but I think it is at home, can I use it anyway?" dumb-ass. No, you can't, not now, not ever. If you want to use a coupon, you need it with you at time of purchase. No amount of bitching at the register will make up give you a discount. Oddly enough you get this person more at place that don't actually ever have coupons. This might be the dumbest type of customer in existence, or maybe the one with the biggest balls, but then the two aren't mutually exclusive.

Oh and the "When will this be on sale?" asshole. As if the costumer service level person would know. The best answer to this person is "It was on sale a week or two a go, you just missed it by that much". It will go on sale whenever the hire ups feel like it, no one you can talk to can influence that. You will waste more money on the gas coming here to check that you will ever save on the product.

Welcome to your personal hell.

Working retail is a hell we all go through. Some people stay there forever, some move on to entirely different hells. In the end all we can do is laugh at it, because it hurts less than crying. Bonus points to you if ever told your manager what you really thought.

Retail Retards

Ever notice the look of the people that run the cash registers most places? Something seems "off" about these people. What it is is rather hard to pin down. Likely there are several things going on, a compound solution to the problems of the retail clerk.

Drugs? Retardation? Fetal alcohol syndrome? Little of each?

Admittedly not all retail workers need much in terms of mental abilities. The cart pushers, the door greeters, shelf fillers, and a few others, can be mostly without higher brain functions and perform their tasks just fine. Walmart and Target have taken this idea to its logical extreme.

Some retail workers seem to have something wrong with them. While some simply seem to be high, other seem to have more serious problems. In the retail game, there seem to be a lot of mild retardation. Some of them seem to have both going for them. Remember, don't move to fast around them, they might become aggressive.

Clearly these people have it bad, so we should try them with kindness. Don't take out your frustrations on retail workers. Instead take them out of children screaming in the store.