My New Appreciation for Retail

I’ve been “retired” since July 2019. It’s been OK, although I thought I’d have time and money to do the things I’ve been wanting to do, like travel. Covid-19 did that in for me back in March. It cancelled my Phillies games, and my Philly bar visits. As a result, my days have been spent waiting for the gyms to open and searching for stuff to watch on TV. Kinda boring, as it is.

I persevered for about a year-and-a-half. Had it not been for Covid, I might have searched for work earlier. As it was, I waited for the perfect opportunity to return to the workforce. Since I’ve been collecting Social Security benefits, my prospects were slim. I can’t earn more than $1850 a month, or I’d have to give back some of my benefits, and that math is too difficult for me to work on.

The local CVS drug store moved-out of my neighboring complex a year ago, and I’ve been waiting to see who would move back into that space. Last month, the Dollar Tree sign went up and I jumped on the prospect.

On a Wednesday, I sent a resume and filled-out the employment questionnaire online for a part-time job. A few hours later, I got a reply, and later that day, I was hired. Shows ya what a great resume and highly-qualified person can accomplish in a short period of time!

The place is a five-minute walk from home, and the salary isn’t going to interfere with my Social Security, so it’s the perfect job for me. The only issue was that I was not experienced as a cashier - and that wouldn’t be my primary job. OK, so let’s re-invent myself, right?

I spent my first week stocking shelves and sorting things. Stuff comes-in in big boxes. We break them open and place them on shelves. It’s difficult but satisfying work. From empty shelves and racks comes full shelves for customers. Two weeks of work to make a store ready for opening is satisfying.

As it turns out, everybody who visits my store is happy to be there. After all, they’re paying a dollar for everything, and most carts are filled with stuff,

Initially, I was hesitant to work the register. I have heard stories about “Karens” who gave workers a hard time. Right? After a few days on the register, all of my (ALL OF MY) customers have been gracious and kind, and the register work has been a joy - although stressful. The stress has been on my end.

I worry that I’ll give-back the wrong change or that I’ll be too slow.  None of that has happened. My first day, I was 41 cents over. No clue how that happened. My last two days, I was one and two cents over, The store doesn’t care unless you’re $3 either way, but I care because I’m OCD. Even though the computer tells me how much to count, I count it out-loud, and obsess over the money because I know the consumers do.

Mostly, what I do (and like) is the small-talk during the transactions. And, the non-talk I do, which is more difficult,

One customer bought 41 pair of pruning shears. FORTY-ONE. I didn’t say a word - just rang it up. When he left, I said to the next customer, “Wow -  that’s a lot of pruning shears, right?” No response. OK.

We’re busy most of the time. As it turns out, consumers love dollar-store merchandise. One customer bought five pair of reading glasses for $5. He said, “I’ll be back in a month when I lose these.” They are happy to be getting bargains for items that would otherwise cost them more. Party supplies, greeting cards,  decorations, holiday stuff ... the dollar-store concept is HUGE.

Everybody that comes in talks about how much they love the new store. I’m enjoying my time with them, and enjoying how much they love getting bargains for things that would otherwise cost them much more at regular retail stores.

AND, it’s all next-door. Go figure how happy I’d be in retirement. Thanks, Dollar Tree.