So I work at a video game store called "Game Crazy" (for west coasters, it's inside "Hollywood Video" for all you east coasters it's most likely called "Movie Gallery")
I love video games, I really do, I even have video game tattoo's. My father is the national Pong champion and has a trophy to prove it, so gaming is important to both my father and myself. I hope to have a career in gaming, most likely writing the scripts and story-lines, ah but to the point...
So I've been working at Game Crazy since April, and I used to love it. I LOVE finding that perfect game for you or your kids, it's mostly a commission job, I have to sell you some dumb card, but I usually don't, because you don't need it, but I digress.
So in October I got transferred to another store, which was ok, it was closer to home, I was just nervous since I had to get used to a new boss. New boss was a little stricter, but ok at first, but then I started noticing that something wasn't right.
Since we are a video game store, we have midnight releases for when a popular game comes out. Thing is, you have to tell Hollywood Video this because they are our mother store, and attached to us, so if we stay open, they have to stay open. My boss is constantly forgetting to tell them this, so it causes all kinds of drama.
Slowly I start noticing my boss is incompetent, and blames others for their mistakes. My boss will call one of my co-workers, and CURSE and yell at them over the phone for something they couldn't help, or didn't know. Then my boss started verbally attacking me, and belittling me in front of the entire team; Whether I am off the clock or not.
During one midnight release, my boss and I were the only ones in the store, we were both off the clock, and my boss asked me to give him a sales pitch for the stupid card I'm supposed to sell. I told them that I was tired, it was 2 in the morning, and I just wanted to go home. So my boss gets in my face, waving fingers at me and yelling at me that I "HAVE" to do it and why don't I want to? I told them that they were intimidating me, and that they were in my personal space and I wanted to leave.
They badgered me for another 6 - 10 minutes before letting me go. This is just one of many things that is bothering me. I also had to work Black Friday (for those of you who don't know, that's the biggest shopping day of the year, day after Thanksgiving) I wasn't there for 10 minutes before some woman asked me if I could hold a game for her.
It was our last copy, AND, it's Black Friday, I CAN'T hold anything, especially when it's our only copy. So she starts screaming that I'm refusing to help her, and I said "Ma'am, I'm not refusing, I'm just telling you what my boss is telling me." and so she gets in my face with all attitude and says "yeah, and I bet you get a lot of sales with that attitude, don't you?"
I almost hit the woman, I just smiled, turned, walked into the back room, and punched something. That whole day was horrible, I got yelled at by 4 other customers and then got hit in the head with a speaker. To top it off, my boss shows up to tell me personally that I'm not getting holiday pay because I'm not a "full-time employee" only the manager (that's my boss) is a full time employee. Technically...
So...what's the point of this long rant? The point is that I'm going to London in January, I've been there I think, 4 times before and it never gets old. I bet that evil woman has never been to London! Also, I'm going to tour Oxford University, to see if I qualify and take the entrance tests, I bet my boss has never even been to college!!
So there, bite me world
p.s. I REALLY need a new job, I come home crying cause I'm so stressed
wowzers what a mean boss, i would totally talk to his boss, he cant treat people in that way.
im in retail and IM the boss where i work, im a fun boss, everyday we have what bra are you wearing moments and stupid jokes games. i get shouted at by customers ALL the time because my store is the high street presence for a major uk cellphone network. i get ALL the flack. You can generally tell when someone asks to talk to the manager right away. sigh!
you should explore outside of london, the midlands and the north of england are beautiful and if u want an excursion buddy message me anytime!
Oh, I've been to Wales and Ireland, and what-not. Never been North near Nottingham, though. I should do that!! I can't this trip cause I only bought passes for the Tube in zones 1 and 2, since I'm staying in a condo at Canary Wharf (zone 2) so I didn't think I needed it. I'm taking the train to Oxford, though, that's as far as I'm going this trip.
I'll be going back to London of course though, always do so I'll make a point to expand next time! Thanks Pretty ^^ man I'd love to work for you
edit: Oh by the way, I'm already talking to the District Manager, you don't talk to me that way or my co-workers and get away with it. If I deserved it, that's one thing, but this is something else all together!
Last edited by JRockSoldier; 12-03-2008 at 03:57 PM.
Reason: forgot to mention something
uggg, thats horibble, i used to work at Movie Gallery before hollywood bought them out or vice versa, the attitudes of some of those customers can be crazy, i once was yelled by a women because we only had one copy of a movie and she was mad that the person it was lent to was overdue on returning it, and she had been there mutiple times to get it, not my fault.
Since i worked there i also know the employee conduct rules or whatever they are called and you boss is breaking every one of them, i think you need to do yourself a favor and go to a higher up, i know its scary and u dont want to be the tattle tale, but his behavior is uncalled for in every sence, im sure once you speak others will speak also and something needs to be done with this guy. he has no right to discuss work related matters with you off the clock, and getting in your face is just crossing the line, aside from talking to someone an just sitting there and taking it, you can quit, but in this day a job is tough to come by, and seems you really like it, which is another reason to hold onto it. I hope everything works out for you!
thanks, luv I really do love my job, but at this point I'm thinking of starting my own business with gaming. One that isn't based on commission. Games should be about the love of it and enjoying it, not sales...at least that's my humble opinion.
I *HATED* working retail when I was in college for this precise reason -- undue stress and irrational anger from some customers. I also almost punched a woman one time because she was screaming and violating my personal space (and I worked at a deli and her screaming was about the thickness of a slice of ham).
Ugh... but like you said, this doesn't matter compared to the other things in your life.
I also almost punched a woman one time because she was screaming and violating my personal space (and I worked at a deli and her screaming was about the thickness of a slice of ham).
a-ha!!! That made my morning. Yeah, I think before you're allowed to mingle amongst society you have to work a retail job. That way everyone gets a bit of it.
I most def agree with you, im also a gamer, and i would want to try and sell a person the game better for them and not the more expensive game so i get a better cut.
Just to give you an idea, in my hometown theres this place called video game exchange, its been there for as long as i can remember, and the guy seems to be doing good.
you can bring games and systems you dont want anymore and trade them for something else, or use them to upgrade, like bring in your ps2 and everything with it towards a ps3, and if there happens to not be anything there or an awesome new game is comming out, **** give you store credit for what you gave him. He used to rent games to but i dont think that worked as well, hes got everything from atari-sega-xbox i dont just to give some brainstorming help
Wow, you DO need a new job! Would the company let you transfer back to the old store? Or could you find something else more suited to your career goals by approaching a company you might like to work for in higher position some day or through a site like gamesjobs.com (I think that might be one to check out)? Good luck!
You should start your own company Screw all these commission based jobs. I don't think I would ever last in retail. I'm friendly enough but I just don't think I could work with someone yelling at me. I'm a nanny and I love being my own boss Oh and at your game store you should sell board games too. A little secret geeky thing about me is that I love board games! (Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, etc.) If anyone actually knows those games then you are awesome...lol. I'm such a nerd.
yes brandy! even card games to! like Magic the gathering, you would be surprised how many people are still into that and how much certain cards go for!
You should start your own company Screw all these commission based jobs. I don't think I would ever last in retail. I'm friendly enough but I just don't think I could work with someone yelling at me. I'm a nanny and I love being my own boss Oh and at your game store you should sell board games too. A little secret geeky thing about me is that I love board games! (Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, etc.) If anyone actually knows those games then you are awesome...lol. I'm such a nerd.
not sure how commission works in the uk but me (and my staff) get a very good retail wage plus commission. i love it! i earn about £500 a month in commission alone, a third of my salary extra every month! certainly comes in handy! x
You guys are all awesome I should start a company that sells everything about gaming, from video, cards, board, everything! Rule nothing out! I love all gaming categories, so why not? I was a Gym Leader in the Pokemon Wizards of the Coast Card Tournament! I'm awesome at Clue and Risk! I love playing World of Warcraft and I'm obsessed with Video Games! YEAH!!
Pretty: Our commission, for my job, is you have to sell a discount card that's $10. For every 15 cards you sell...you get $1. That's all well and good, but that's all we get. So...you can see where it sucks
$1 commission just sucks. I'm fortunate that I've never worked for commission, though I have worked retail for many many years through college. I had no problem telling people to get out and I meant it. I flat out told them I wasn't a rug and I'm not going to be walked on and if they didn't like they could go to whatever store was across the street and see if they'd take it. I did the same thing to crappy bosses too... but that's just me.
Concerning games... that is my biggest weakness in life, even beyond chocolate. I am a gaming ADDICT. I think it and the lack of motivation is the reason I didn't finish college when I should have and am now plugging away at it while working full time.
I would spent half my day playing and the other half talking about playing with several gaming conventions and LANs thrown in the mix. I feel like a super nerd now but I met some of my best friends that way.
My Stupid Job and why it doesn't matter - long
I really do love my job, but at this point I'm thinking of starting my own business with gaming. One that isn't based on commission. Games should be about the love of it and enjoying it, not sales...at least that's my humble opinion. 
Screw all these commission based jobs. I don't think I would ever last in retail. I'm friendly enough but I just don't think I could work with someone yelling at me. I'm a nanny and I love being my own boss
