General Discussion

badtoworse

(5,957 posts)

41. Bloomies was actually a pretty nice store to work at.

Thu Nov 20, 2014, 11:06 AM

Nov 2014

They sold and still sell very nice (but expensive) merchandise. At the time, you got a 20% employee discount and even with that, it was frequently more than I could afford. I'd wait for things I liked to go on sale and then use the discount, so I could get some nice clothes at a reasonable price. Sometimes, I'd hide a piece in the back; put it out when the markdowns started and then grab it.

The big problem I had with retail was not the hours; it was dealing with the public. Most of Bloomindale's clientele were nice people, but there were plenty of dirt bags that thought the people behind the counter were second class citizens deserving of no respect or consideration. Being nice to people like that was a challenge.

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Kmart To Employee: �If You Do Not Come To Work On Thanksgiving, You Will Automatically Be Fired� [View all] RiverLover Nov 2014 OP

That IS retail sales. As long as the employees are making a decent wage, I don't.. BlueJazz Nov 2014 #1

Employees in retail do NOT make a decent wage MohRokTah Nov 2014 #4

Then I have a problem with it. I meant if they are getting double time or at least... BlueJazz Nov 2014 #7

2x or 1.5x might be tolerable if Ilsa Nov 2014 #12

What you say is true. I doubt if I've spent 50 dollars in the past 4-5 years at retail stores.. BlueJazz Nov 2014 #13

I'll bet these employees aren't getting extra holiday pay meadowlark5 Nov 2014 #77

Yep. It's the nature of the business, and it does suck. Sheldon Cooper Nov 2014 #5

Retail stores were mostly CLOSED on thanksgiving BubbaFett Nov 2014 #28

"Were" is the operative word. Now, the standard is "Bring the people in so we can make more dough." BlueJazz Nov 2014 #32

But, Does It ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #81

I had to do it when I was in college so it's ok - this is a core problem with americans belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #53

Ah..., but there's the rub CoopersMom Nov 2014 #59

what you said here , this line right here belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #64

+1 Agree with both of you! RiverLover Nov 2014 #73

That is one Caretha Nov 2014 #97

I think you are overreacting to my words. It's never OK to keep people from enjoying their.. BlueJazz Nov 2014 #68

my apologies to you i dont know you personally and i was trying to address the attitude not belzabubba333 Nov 2014 #74

Actually, one of my traits is: I don't want any of the crap that I went through to be ... BlueJazz Nov 2014 #90

You define a decent wage as $7.25 an hour LynneSin Nov 2014 #54

I was thinking of more like 9.50 X 1.5 = 14.25 OR 9.50 X 2 = 19.00 BlueJazz Nov 2014 #71

I know LynneSin Nov 2014 #79

I shop at Kmart sometimes but I've started to feel guilty about it 'cause the... BlueJazz Nov 2014 #91

Retail is minimum wage... with very few exceptions. Veilex Nov 2014 #61

Apologizing for Capitalist Pig shittiness? Odin2005 Nov 2014 #75

I didn't mean it that way but I'll try to become more informed. My Bad. BlueJazz Nov 2014 #92

Sigh. nc4bo Nov 2014 #2

In Kmarts defense they need that dollar Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #19

True......I made a booboo nc4bo Nov 2014 #39

I worked at a place that made computer boards. hobbit709 Nov 2014 #3

Sounds like a company I worked for Stargazer09 Nov 2014 #65

That is what happens when bean counters with MBAs run things... Odin2005 Nov 2014 #76

Not entirely true laundry_queen Nov 2014 #95

Normal corporate work practices... H. Cromwell Nov 2014 #6

That's really terrible, Cromwell. I hope you have a better employer now?? ~nt RiverLover Nov 2014 #9

Remember when stores were closed on Thanksgiving? RiverLover Nov 2014 #8

Yep. I wouldn't shop then even if I wanted to. tblue Nov 2014 #55

I remember well. I also remember when stores opened at their regular opening time on Black Friday. smokey nj Nov 2014 #84

Heck, H. Cromwell Nov 2014 #88

Meanwhile at Costco... tridim Nov 2014 #10

Same with PC Richards Renew Deal Nov 2014 #23

Totally agree. And they need to continue to not show up throughout rurallib Nov 2014 #31

Most people bust their ass the rest of the year BubbaFett Nov 2014 #29

My daughter works at a very high end national retail chain HockeyMom Nov 2014 #11

I don't have any problem with employees having to work yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #18

It's like that at every retail job I've worked Chisox08 Nov 2014 #24

It is their best day of sales or used to be yeoman6987 Nov 2014 #38

a lot of us in the airline industry BlueCollar Nov 2014 #45

I knew someone that worked retail in a Macys type store Renew Deal Nov 2014 #22

Patronize stores with better practices A Little Weird Nov 2014 #14

Supply and demand JonLP24 Nov 2014 #15

kmart dems unite RedstDem Nov 2014 #16

They need to be looking anyway...the Kmart they work at could close without much notice these days. Lars39 Nov 2014 #17

that's right, I forgot Kmart got bought by sears RedstDem Nov 2014 #35

Yes, indeedy...had at least 2 Kmarts and a Sears go out in middle TN...all were money makers. Lars39 Nov 2014 #36

sears should be where amazon is now RedstDem Nov 2014 #40

Yep, they didn't keep up with the times. Lars39 Nov 2014 #42

Ultimately it's up to consumers to not show up. Renew Deal Nov 2014 #20

How about a paid day off. Skink Nov 2014 #21

That's what we get too. Agschmid Nov 2014 #43

Many years ago, I worked at Bloomingdales and I agree, it sucks. badtoworse Nov 2014 #25

On Thanksgiving Day? Many years ago? RiverLover Nov 2014 #26

I don't really remember, but I probably didn't have to work Thanksgiving. badtoworse Nov 2014 #30

My daughter works at Bloomies now HockeyMom Nov 2014 #34

Bloomies was actually a pretty nice store to work at. badtoworse Nov 2014 #41

10% employee discount now HockeyMom Nov 2014 #82

We had fake columns with two way mirrors on them for store security badtoworse Nov 2014 #83

They should all just not show up. Jester Messiah Nov 2014 #27

They are open on Thanksgiving day. There are jobs where LeftinOH Nov 2014 #33

I used to work in a Group Home for MR/DD HockeyMom Nov 2014 #37

There's a big difference between essential jobs... Feron Nov 2014 #93

Exactly! I can't stand when rethugs compare retail to ambulance EMTs or something. RiverLover Nov 2014 #94

Years ago I worked in the human resources dept. of a LibDemAlways Nov 2014 #44

Wednesday Xmases are the worst. RiverLover Nov 2014 #48

My rebellion against things like this proReality Nov 2014 #46

It should be a matter of principle here to boycott KMart, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #66

We can all bitch about this, of course. hamsterjill Nov 2014 #47

Bingo!!!!!! I will NEVER shop on Thanksgiving because its unpatriotic & disrepectful to the holiday RiverLover Nov 2014 #51

The more you know, the less you need. - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #67

I'll be doing the same thing I do every Black Friday: sleep until 12:00. Initech Nov 2014 #86

They need extra people to staff the one register that they keep open Orrex Nov 2014 #49

In a nation with universal health care, paid sick days, paid minimum vacation, mandatory overtime Fred Sanders Nov 2014 #50

What nation is that? Germany? RiverLover Nov 2014 #57

Employees should just tell Kmart that Target pays minimum wage too. dilby Nov 2014 #52

Did they tell you that you would have to work holidays tavernier Nov 2014 #56

This message was self-deleted by its author redstatebluegirl Nov 2014 #58

Our society is doomed. EEO Nov 2014 #60

Back in the old days when rich people and corporations paid taxes and valerief Nov 2014 #62

Another link from your link with some great graphics! CrispyQ Nov 2014 #63

Oooo That is so good. Should have thought of that...Thanks! I'm off to edit the OP now.... RiverLover Nov 2014 #70

I will never shop anywhere on Thanksgiving day. stage left Nov 2014 #69

Hmmm...I wonder what the Walton family is doing this Thanksgiving? KansDem Nov 2014 #72

LOL RiverLover Nov 2014 #98

Don't go!!! oldandhappy Nov 2014 #78

Two lines to piss them off: cloudbase Nov 2014 #80

If I worked at one of those stores I'd be organizing a massive strike / walk out. Initech Nov 2014 #85

Another reason to like Needless Markup!! Closed on Turkey Day! Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2014 #87

Will Fox report on the War Against Thanksgiving? LeftInTX Nov 2014 #89

I think the retail insanity is stupid, but come on... cwydro Nov 2014 #96