For those of you who do not know what PWNED means, I have the definition for you. Its a terminology used mostly in gaming.
1.
pwned
A corruption of the word "Owned." This originated in an online game called Warcraft, where a map designer misspelled "owned." When the computer beat a player, it was supposed to say, so-and-so "has been owned." Instead, it said, so-and-so "has been pwned." It basically means "to own" or to be dominated by an opponent or situation, especially by some god-like or computer-like force.
"Man, I rock at my job, but I still got a bad evaluation. I was pwned." OR "That team totally pwned us."
So I was "babysitting" the store this morning for a half an hour so the co worker can go to the bathroom and get a drink. During that time, someone walks up to me and asks me to use the bathroom. I told them it is for customers only and that I would have to follow the rules. Here I think that he is going to leave but what does he do?... He pulls rank on me. I lost this fight. His exact words? "I'm the guy that picks up your garbage every Friday night."
You never ever want to mess with the garbage man that picks up your garbage because he can very well screw you over somehow. My facial expression seemed to be priceless since I had absolutely nothing to say to him and I just handed him the key. He even gave me the name of the garbage company and the I.D... I lost... I got owned AND I had nothing to say...
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
THEMED DAYS
As I was helping a customer figure out how to close a washer door (this never gets old....), I thought about having themed days. Thursday is already themed Not My Customers Thursday... yes I will try and figure out a shorter name. Any suggestions? Anywhoots, to those of you just discovering this "new" blog, NMCT means that some customers aren't regulars because of the other laundromat being closed. Which means I have to take care of more people and cater to their stupidity. Who am I kidding? I don't cater to them. Only to the nice ones <3 and the nice ones are MY customers. I should get a stamp and stamp them.
Since I don't work on Sundays, I will make that day Random Sunday. Random Sunday will consist of random videos related to laundromats and/or laundry. I might even throw in an old story. I have tons of those. Monday- Friday will be regular blogs and im thinking of ending Saturday with a quote... or just writing the day.
What do you think?
Since I don't work on Sundays, I will make that day Random Sunday. Random Sunday will consist of random videos related to laundromats and/or laundry. I might even throw in an old story. I have tons of those. Monday- Friday will be regular blogs and im thinking of ending Saturday with a quote... or just writing the day.
What do you think?
NOT MY CUSTOMERS THURSDAY- PART ONE
Its only 10:30 AM and there have been what the fuck moments since 7:35 pm. WHY!? Oh dear god WHY!?... I thought they only existed during my night shift but believe it or not, they are worse in the morning. I kid you not ladies and gentlemen. Where should I start???
Well, one customer that does belong to us does not know how to articulate or speak up. She is a very nice lady don't get me wrong but come on, need something just speak up! She asks where the tailor is and I explain to her the situation. Of course she doesn't elaborate what SHE needs so she continues to ask for her. Finally after asking her 4 times what she needs, she gives in and says that the tailor fixed a skirt for her. Um, nice lady... couldn't you have said this 4 questions ago? I'm not a broken record and for this to be happening at 8 in the fuckin morning means that the rest of the shift will be hell. I ask for her pink slip and she doesn't have it which goes back to asking for the tailor. Finally I ask for her name to locate the tailored garment and I find it... only to be told that she will not be picking it up at that time. I give her a nasty look and she walks away. Only to come back, hand me a 10 and not tell me what she needs.
Ok, nice lady? For the future, please do not do laundry in the morning. It is NOT your forte. Thank you.
Next up, we have a dude that is not my customer. I will call him Bicycle Man. Sound like a super hero right? Nope. More like a walking moron half asleep who is in his own world of iPodness. That's right. iPodness. Can't hear me? Well common sense says to remove your headphones from your ears and tell me what you need.
Here is what happened in chronological order:
- He comes up to me walking all macho and music blasting from his ear. (Um, good sir... I'm sure your brain is out of cells so you have nothing to save... but I think you need your hearing so save that and turn the music down.). Hands we a 20 and says "I need a 20". So here I am talking and mouthing "It will not take a 20 so here are 4 5's". He gets back to me with saying "20". I make a notion for him to remove the headphones so he can hear me. Surprisingly he does and he snatches the 4 5's from my hand and goes his merry way.
- After washing and putting his clothing in the dryer, he walks back with hangers and proceeds to the dryers. Fifteen minutes later, he comes back with music fully blasted and points to his hanger and shakes it. I tried not to laugh... it was a laughing moment for some reason. So I mouth and say loudly, I do not need hangers. Obviously I don't know what the hell he wants from my life or at this point my store so he takes his hangers off and says "need" and I say "I don't". He then decides to use a full sentence like an actual human being and says "I need hangers, have?" Okies, so a partial full sentence. So I give him 3 hangers and he goes his merry way.
- On his way out, he flailed his arms at his buddy... without sound again so I snickered (I love special moments).
-After 10 minutes, he comes back with his bike and instead of parking the bike in the front, he proceeds to ride it in the store. I yell (due to the music), YOU CAN'T RIDE THAT IN HERE. He looked shocked at my request. WHY!? He asks me if he can leave it in the front and I nod. He ORDERS me to watch his bike and I told him "sure, 10 bucks per minute". He ignored me on that and then had the nerve to say "you no watching it". No fucker. I'm not. I'm watching my laptop and trying to finish a game. Okies, I didn't tell him that and I just ignored him.
Thursday morning so far has been a fail.
Oh I forgot about the bleach dude. He kept asking for bleach and I kept saying the bottle or the box for colors? From a friend's advice I just gave him the bleach and he went on his way to wash. I hope he doesn't use it for his colors. On the bright side, it avoided a 5 minute debate.
I can't wait until 2:3o.... then I do NOT have to deal with the night shift....
Also, is it that hard to be polite!? I should slap some of you with the please and thank you hand.
Thankfully I have customers that are nice and actually DO talk, smile, and laugh... to those, A BIG THANK YOU!!!
Well, one customer that does belong to us does not know how to articulate or speak up. She is a very nice lady don't get me wrong but come on, need something just speak up! She asks where the tailor is and I explain to her the situation. Of course she doesn't elaborate what SHE needs so she continues to ask for her. Finally after asking her 4 times what she needs, she gives in and says that the tailor fixed a skirt for her. Um, nice lady... couldn't you have said this 4 questions ago? I'm not a broken record and for this to be happening at 8 in the fuckin morning means that the rest of the shift will be hell. I ask for her pink slip and she doesn't have it which goes back to asking for the tailor. Finally I ask for her name to locate the tailored garment and I find it... only to be told that she will not be picking it up at that time. I give her a nasty look and she walks away. Only to come back, hand me a 10 and not tell me what she needs.
Ok, nice lady? For the future, please do not do laundry in the morning. It is NOT your forte. Thank you.
Next up, we have a dude that is not my customer. I will call him Bicycle Man. Sound like a super hero right? Nope. More like a walking moron half asleep who is in his own world of iPodness. That's right. iPodness. Can't hear me? Well common sense says to remove your headphones from your ears and tell me what you need.
Here is what happened in chronological order:
- He comes up to me walking all macho and music blasting from his ear. (Um, good sir... I'm sure your brain is out of cells so you have nothing to save... but I think you need your hearing so save that and turn the music down.). Hands we a 20 and says "I need a 20". So here I am talking and mouthing "It will not take a 20 so here are 4 5's". He gets back to me with saying "20". I make a notion for him to remove the headphones so he can hear me. Surprisingly he does and he snatches the 4 5's from my hand and goes his merry way.
- After washing and putting his clothing in the dryer, he walks back with hangers and proceeds to the dryers. Fifteen minutes later, he comes back with music fully blasted and points to his hanger and shakes it. I tried not to laugh... it was a laughing moment for some reason. So I mouth and say loudly, I do not need hangers. Obviously I don't know what the hell he wants from my life or at this point my store so he takes his hangers off and says "need" and I say "I don't". He then decides to use a full sentence like an actual human being and says "I need hangers, have?" Okies, so a partial full sentence. So I give him 3 hangers and he goes his merry way.
- On his way out, he flailed his arms at his buddy... without sound again so I snickered (I love special moments).
-After 10 minutes, he comes back with his bike and instead of parking the bike in the front, he proceeds to ride it in the store. I yell (due to the music), YOU CAN'T RIDE THAT IN HERE. He looked shocked at my request. WHY!? He asks me if he can leave it in the front and I nod. He ORDERS me to watch his bike and I told him "sure, 10 bucks per minute". He ignored me on that and then had the nerve to say "you no watching it". No fucker. I'm not. I'm watching my laptop and trying to finish a game. Okies, I didn't tell him that and I just ignored him.
Thursday morning so far has been a fail.
Oh I forgot about the bleach dude. He kept asking for bleach and I kept saying the bottle or the box for colors? From a friend's advice I just gave him the bleach and he went on his way to wash. I hope he doesn't use it for his colors. On the bright side, it avoided a 5 minute debate.
I can't wait until 2:3o.... then I do NOT have to deal with the night shift....
Also, is it that hard to be polite!? I should slap some of you with the please and thank you hand.
Thankfully I have customers that are nice and actually DO talk, smile, and laugh... to those, A BIG THANK YOU!!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
BED BUGS
I get asked many questions about bed bugs since I work at a laundromat. So I figured I would share my knowledge with you guys.
- Bed bugs are quite hard to kill without professional help.
- They can live up to a year without drawing any blood.
- They do NOT only live in beds. They can be found in bed posts, curtains, shelves, bed wheels, drawers, and closests.
- They can easily be attracted in places where USED clothing is being transported. Rarely in big department stores.
- During the summer time, it is hard to distinguish a bed bug from a mosquito. Best way to identify a bed bug bite is by "breakfast, lunch, and dinner"... A bed bug normally bites in three different spots near eachother and the bites are not as round as a mosquito bite.
- "Baby" bed bugs tend to itch more than adult bed bugs because of the bed bug saliva.
- When hiring a professional, remove everything material wise from your room and wash it on hot as well as drying it on hot for an hour. Of course this might cause shrinkage of clothing but... do you really want to live with bed bugs? I think not...
- Once the professional finsihed spraying the room, do not enter it for 24 hours and when you do, clean the room. DO NOT USE BLEACH. IT WILL DEACTIVATE THE CHEMICAL.
- Make sure you have your mattress bed in a ZIPPERED MATTRESS COVER and the same for your pillow. This will eliminate future problems.
There is a posibility where you can attract bed bugs again after this but if you are careful, you should not have a problem. Ask your laundromat what their protocol is when they THINK they are infested with bed bugs. They will most likely lie to you because half of them can not be bothered. At our laundromat, we spray every 3 months and when we suspect a customer brought in bed bugs, everything gets cleaned and washed extremely well. Normally I can spot a customer that is infested with bed bugs for obvious reasons. One give away is the big black plastic bags mounted in a cart. That is a dead giveaway. PLEASE DO NOT JUST PUT YOUR CLOTHING IN THE DRYER ON HOT. YOU NEED TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES ON HOT TOO! I have seen many customers do this and the week after, they come up to me and ask me how to get rid of them. My first question to them always is "did you wash your clothing first?" and they say "no". Well, there goes your problem. Bed bugs are attracted to heat but they can not handle heat after a certain degrees and time. Hence why the hour on the dryer is a necessesity, especially on hot.
Do not be shy to ask questions about bed bugs. Its very common now and when I had spoken to an exterminator, in his words he said "blame the yuppies with their backpacking and wearing used clothing."... He mostly named Beacons Closet and Buffalo Exchange. Mostly Beacons Closet though. I find that quite funny.
- Bed bugs are quite hard to kill without professional help.
- They can live up to a year without drawing any blood.
- They do NOT only live in beds. They can be found in bed posts, curtains, shelves, bed wheels, drawers, and closests.
- They can easily be attracted in places where USED clothing is being transported. Rarely in big department stores.
- During the summer time, it is hard to distinguish a bed bug from a mosquito. Best way to identify a bed bug bite is by "breakfast, lunch, and dinner"... A bed bug normally bites in three different spots near eachother and the bites are not as round as a mosquito bite.
- "Baby" bed bugs tend to itch more than adult bed bugs because of the bed bug saliva.
- When hiring a professional, remove everything material wise from your room and wash it on hot as well as drying it on hot for an hour. Of course this might cause shrinkage of clothing but... do you really want to live with bed bugs? I think not...
- Once the professional finsihed spraying the room, do not enter it for 24 hours and when you do, clean the room. DO NOT USE BLEACH. IT WILL DEACTIVATE THE CHEMICAL.
- Make sure you have your mattress bed in a ZIPPERED MATTRESS COVER and the same for your pillow. This will eliminate future problems.
There is a posibility where you can attract bed bugs again after this but if you are careful, you should not have a problem. Ask your laundromat what their protocol is when they THINK they are infested with bed bugs. They will most likely lie to you because half of them can not be bothered. At our laundromat, we spray every 3 months and when we suspect a customer brought in bed bugs, everything gets cleaned and washed extremely well. Normally I can spot a customer that is infested with bed bugs for obvious reasons. One give away is the big black plastic bags mounted in a cart. That is a dead giveaway. PLEASE DO NOT JUST PUT YOUR CLOTHING IN THE DRYER ON HOT. YOU NEED TO WASH YOUR CLOTHES ON HOT TOO! I have seen many customers do this and the week after, they come up to me and ask me how to get rid of them. My first question to them always is "did you wash your clothing first?" and they say "no". Well, there goes your problem. Bed bugs are attracted to heat but they can not handle heat after a certain degrees and time. Hence why the hour on the dryer is a necessesity, especially on hot.
Do not be shy to ask questions about bed bugs. Its very common now and when I had spoken to an exterminator, in his words he said "blame the yuppies with their backpacking and wearing used clothing."... He mostly named Beacons Closet and Buffalo Exchange. Mostly Beacons Closet though. I find that quite funny.
Monday, July 6, 2009
SO MUCH FOR MORNING SHIFTS
I thought the morning shifts were the best aside from waking up early. Before today, I thought morning shifts were ideal because there weren't that many people coming into the laundromat. Boy was I wrong...
I realized that people in the morning around 9am, do not articulate what they say. As a matter of fact, they mumble and expect you to understand them. This one lady kept mumbling "soap" apparantly and I had to ask her 4 times what she wanted until she snapped back "soap" and then the question "what soap?" came into play. That "what soap?" game lasted one long minute.
Lets not forget the guy that came running in asking for quarters because he wanted to make a phone call... where is the fire?
Needless to say, people with the stupid bug come in at any time.
I realized that people in the morning around 9am, do not articulate what they say. As a matter of fact, they mumble and expect you to understand them. This one lady kept mumbling "soap" apparantly and I had to ask her 4 times what she wanted until she snapped back "soap" and then the question "what soap?" came into play. That "what soap?" game lasted one long minute.
Lets not forget the guy that came running in asking for quarters because he wanted to make a phone call... where is the fire?
Needless to say, people with the stupid bug come in at any time.
Friday, July 3, 2009
AND TODAY THE WEIRD CAME OUT...
In life, im not scared of much. I am not even scared of people. What can actually hurt you is zombies but that is a different story.
So a customer that I completely forgot about emerged after 4 years. Of course I was contemplating whether or not it was him. The way he talked, walked, and acted confirmed that it was him. Last time I saw him, he cursed me out because we didn't fold his laundry IN the shopping cart. I explained that we do not do that but he continued to yell and scream.
Here is the dialogue for today:
Weirdo: Hi. I need help with my laundry with some shirts.
LLG: Okay, I will be with you shortly.
-I go to the back to help him-
LLG: Okies, so what do you need help with?
Weirdo: mMy shirts but let me get to them.
LLG: okies, ill be in the front when you need me.
He never approached me for the shirts. But wait, there is more.
Weirdo: Its going to be difficult to fold my laundry. If I give it to you to do it, will you?
LLG: No.
Weirdo: -laugh- Oh come on. A thang like you can do it.
LLG: Um... no...
Now I started to get "scared" or weirded out rather because he started to smile and bat his lashes at me. He tried to grab my hand too.
Weirdo: How much is it by the pound?
( I tell him)
Weirdo: You know, you can always come help me and stand beside me. -giggles-
(yes he giggled)
LLG: Um, no... uh... ill be back in a bit.
I hide for a while.
Yep. I got a good weird out.
So a customer that I completely forgot about emerged after 4 years. Of course I was contemplating whether or not it was him. The way he talked, walked, and acted confirmed that it was him. Last time I saw him, he cursed me out because we didn't fold his laundry IN the shopping cart. I explained that we do not do that but he continued to yell and scream.
Here is the dialogue for today:
Weirdo: Hi. I need help with my laundry with some shirts.
LLG: Okay, I will be with you shortly.
-I go to the back to help him-
LLG: Okies, so what do you need help with?
Weirdo: mMy shirts but let me get to them.
LLG: okies, ill be in the front when you need me.
He never approached me for the shirts. But wait, there is more.
Weirdo: Its going to be difficult to fold my laundry. If I give it to you to do it, will you?
LLG: No.
Weirdo: -laugh- Oh come on. A thang like you can do it.
LLG: Um... no...
Now I started to get "scared" or weirded out rather because he started to smile and bat his lashes at me. He tried to grab my hand too.
Weirdo: How much is it by the pound?
( I tell him)
Weirdo: You know, you can always come help me and stand beside me. -giggles-
(yes he giggled)
LLG: Um, no... uh... ill be back in a bit.
I hide for a while.
Yep. I got a good weird out.
POST FOR THURSDAY
Last night I did not get around to making a post. As much as I wanted to, I came home too late from my siblings home.
So remember what Thursday is?
NOT MY CUSTOMERS THURSDAY.
That's right ladies and gentlemen. My customers yesterday did not "belong" to me but to the closed laundromat.
Yesterday, a customer walked in at 8:15 PM when the last wash is at 8:00 PM. I realized this after I heard a washer start up. I was FURIOUS. Now, I am exhausted. Even though the environment tends to not be as hectic as an office job, its still pretty bad working at a laundry. When 8:00 PM hits, I think about home and my bed. Not customers.
Anyways I inform the customer that at 9 PM I close and she can NOT dry her clothing. She then says that she only has a small load and I tell her NO. The worst part? She did not understand or speak English. In broken Spanish I point to the sign and show her. Her daughter approaches me 20 mins later and asks if they could dry. I think to myself "round 2 ding ding". I tell her she can not dry and that the last wash is at 8 and I want to close at 9. She was trying to convince me to allow them to dry. I told her "if you were to go to Macy's last minute, you would not be allowed to continue shopping. As a matter of fact, you would be asked to leave."
They finally got it and they left. Is it that difficult to follow rules let alone read a sign? Oh and people that look like hippies and talk like them while calling me sweetie and babe, scare the living shit out of. Especially when their significant other looks drugged and can't grasp the concept that I do not have black garbage bags for sale. *head to desk*
So remember what Thursday is?
NOT MY CUSTOMERS THURSDAY.
That's right ladies and gentlemen. My customers yesterday did not "belong" to me but to the closed laundromat.
Yesterday, a customer walked in at 8:15 PM when the last wash is at 8:00 PM. I realized this after I heard a washer start up. I was FURIOUS. Now, I am exhausted. Even though the environment tends to not be as hectic as an office job, its still pretty bad working at a laundry. When 8:00 PM hits, I think about home and my bed. Not customers.
Anyways I inform the customer that at 9 PM I close and she can NOT dry her clothing. She then says that she only has a small load and I tell her NO. The worst part? She did not understand or speak English. In broken Spanish I point to the sign and show her. Her daughter approaches me 20 mins later and asks if they could dry. I think to myself "round 2 ding ding". I tell her she can not dry and that the last wash is at 8 and I want to close at 9. She was trying to convince me to allow them to dry. I told her "if you were to go to Macy's last minute, you would not be allowed to continue shopping. As a matter of fact, you would be asked to leave."
They finally got it and they left. Is it that difficult to follow rules let alone read a sign? Oh and people that look like hippies and talk like them while calling me sweetie and babe, scare the living shit out of. Especially when their significant other looks drugged and can't grasp the concept that I do not have black garbage bags for sale. *head to desk*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
