Good help is hard to find
OK, maybe I am exaggerating a little bit – I’ve been known to do that at times. You know the old saying, “You just can’t find good help anymore.” Well, I know I am not alone in thinking that is the case across the board these days. I sound like my grandparents or my parents, and I know I’m getting older.
Still, it’s hard to ignore what’s staring you right in the face sometimes when you’re out and about patronizing various businesses. Don’t get me wrong: Most restaurants and retail stores I visit have tremendous employees and most of them are indeed very helpful. That’s what makes it so exasperating when you run into someone who acts like a brick wall or a lump of clay.
Last week, I experienced both in one local big-box store that sells everything you’d ever need or desire to fix up, renovate or take care of your house. The first visit had me in search of hanging flower baskets – geraniums, to be exact. They’re hard to kill, and I love their colors.
They were nowhere to be found, so I asked the woman at the checkout counter if they had any geranium baskets. “I have no idea,” she claimed without expression. I told her that all I could see were petunias, and she said again, “I have no idea. I have no idea!”
After I paid for the one item I had, she had the audacity to hand me the receipt and say, “There’s a short survey you can take there about my service that would really help me out. Thanks.” I laughed and thought she probably wouldn’t want me to take the survey and be honest.
On my second visit, I was looking for a solution to my leaky basement toilet. I thought it might be the flapper but also suspected the fill valve. I had never replaced one of those and wasn’t sure what I needed, so I asked someone for help. Despite being in the plumbing department, the employee said he didn’t know anything about plumbing. He radioed the guy who he said did know who answered that he was busy in lawn care. Apparently, there’s only one guy in the entire store who knows anything about toilets or plumbing, and he doesn’t work in the plumbing section.
I grabbed what I thought I needed, went to the (of course) self checkout and a young lady eventually came over to ask if I needed help. I said what I really wanted was someone to help me with my question about fixing my toilet. She looked at me and said, “I could call someone.” I told her we already tried that to no avail. She sighed and replied, “We have 80 open positions in this store.” I shook my head, went home and fixed my leaky toilet myself.
Maybe I should apply for a position in the plumbing department!
Kristin Emery can be reached at kristinemery1@yahoo.com.