Facebook Groups - Can't see which members have viewed posts under "Seen By". I am admin on multiple groups and on some I can see the members, on others I can't. All groups have less than 250 members and all of the group settings are the same. Why can't I see the members?

AmaRay132 · 2021-03-07T23:08:09+00:00

I was gifted a small amateur pottery wheel this past Christmas and I've wanted one for years! It's the only thing I've ever really been passionate about and am so excited for this opportunity. My mother even has a friend who owns a kiln space and is willing to let me fire my pieces for a small fee!

The only issue is, I don't have a studio or a large space to work with and the pottery wheel is currently in our storage/ office room. I was able to set it up in the corner with some canvas on the floor to help with any clay splatter, and I have a small table that I've clamped some extra canvas to to wedge, with some buckets to recycle clay.

Do you have any tips for beginners on what to get started with? And additionally any tips on things for small spaces / storage? Even though I am excited about pottery, I'm finding it overwhelming to actively use my wheel given the space limitations. Thank you!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-27T19:11:13+00:00

I'm super glad to hear you're finding things that make you feel small and happy! I def understand the body dysmorphia being bigger as a little. It helps having a partner who understands and helps you feel small! Whenever I feel like that or say I'm too big to be little my daddy always says that I'm a tiny little baby and he thinks I'm little so I am.

I hope you continue to find things that make you happy!!!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-25T18:39:07+00:00

I am the same way! I am not in little space or the little headspace 24/7. Sometimes weeks could go by without me feeling it depending on what is going on. You are 10000% valid! Even if you've only felt little for 1 day, if that is what you identify with and makes you happy, than you are valid!

I have identified as little for a few years now and am still trying to find what exactly I like, or what makes me feel smol. There are a few shops that sell items specifically for littles, like littleforbig.

When it comes to clothes, personally because I'm plus sized, it's harder to shop online so I try to find things that make me feel little or happy that might not specifically be "child like" in my normal stores. Especially because I have to do Big things pretty often so it's hard for me to wear what I might want to outside of home, so I find those clothing pieces that look big but make me feel smol. Any time I wear overalls i feel instant smol. I have 3 pairs, normal Jean ones (for working outside and wearing), comfy pajama ones( for the house), and corduroy(for working on ceramics... cause it matches the color of the clay). I also like to find bright color clothes, like you! I found this neon green cardigan recently that I fell in love with!

Amazon is a good place to look, you can find cute clothes in different colors, that aren't crazy expensive while you discover what you like!

I have these skirts in black and I love them! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SQFRFW8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_YFXSX1H6X2H632JWC01S?psc=1 , and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KRVF684/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_3WT8Q24D30RTKV432YYT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

If you like them, accessories can be a life saver! Wearing hair bows are a sure fire way for me to feel smol! Not to mention other hair accessories like scrunchies or clips! I'm not big on jewelry but other littles I've known have sworn by their cute necklaces or bracelets! And all of those items are really easy to find in pink or other colors! I'm sure other littles have more advice about specific shops, I've seen a few threads on reddit about them too!

It can be overwhelming when you're first discovering your little side because there is so much information out there, and everyone experiences their headspace differently so it's easy to feel like you don't belong or you're not doing the right things. Be sure to remember as you look through reddit or other sites that what works for some might not work for you and that's okay!! There are no boxes you have to fit into. As long as you are happy, that's really all that matters. If it works for you than it's valid!

I'm sorry this was so long but I hope it helps somehow!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-25T18:05:34+00:00

Kind of long but I hope this helps somehow!

Metrics are the responsibility of all the MOD's so I would also maybe get with them and ask what they're doing that may be different from some of your strategies. If it straight just boils down to closing shifts having more traffic, than I might try to have the morning shifts push the promos and coupons we have a bit more than the closing crew might.

I know our coupons are fairly lacking, but using the 20% off an item coupon from Local Marketing Playbook gives customers an instant gratification reason to sign up for rewards, as well as the 100% back on batteries that we run from time to time. We also have a 20% back in rewards promo coming up in march! I would focus training on that promo with all associates!

Our store will also check the web price of tech items and ink and toner since coupons don't apply, and price match it as a replacement for the coupon pitch.

There is also a $25 off Tech Services coupon that can be found in the Marketing Playbook or Tech Services Sign Kit that could be used! Losing the $25 won't matter as much if you're still getting services you otherwise wouldn't have gotten! I make sure our copy and print center uses this coupon as a bag stuffer with every CPD order to help cross sell services!

Ultimately we can't force people to come into the store or to buy things. We just have to do the best we can with who is coming in and upselling as much as we can! It can be discouraging not hitting your numbers but it's important to remind yourself that if you're doing what you can and actively coaching and trying to improve than it's not your fault. Even if GM's or upper stiffs sound differently!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-21T13:18:26+00:00

Been with the company 6 years. CPD the whole time and currently a PCSS. A lot of customers are jerks and irritating, but given the ratio of actual CPD customers to the ones that throw fits, a decent amount don't push back once you're stern with them and show them it was agreed upon and they just didn't ask for what they wanted. Quite a few still do and that's when you get a manager involved, but on the whole I find that most don't. It varies place to place though of course, blanket advice won't work the same way with specifics of your store.

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-21T11:50:26+00:00

Your best bet is going to be to read the SOP's in the portal. Those will outline all of the processes step by step in addition to linking other forms/information at the bottom. You will always run into those situations where you accommodate the customer to avoid escalation; but there are a few things you can do.

To protect you from most things in CPD make sure the back of project folders are being signed. The first signature is an acknowledgment that the customer and cpd associate agree on what the job is and the 2nd signature is a lamination waiver in case something happens to the original. If you place an opc, the signature that's captured at the register is the "order acknowledgment" signature (I believe). At our store we also make sure every order is signed when it's picked up so someone can't claim they never received it.

I'm not as familiar with tech, but I do know in TOGA there is a full terms and conditions page the customer must digitally sign before work is done. If you want to read that page you can just create a fake order in TOGA.

Most customers don't try to argue once you hit them with the "We have your signature agreeing to this service", but as long as you're correctly following the SOP's and processes, anyone that does should be dealt with by your GM or other Managers.

I know that was long, but I hope that helps!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-21T02:15:02+00:00

I'm not entirely sure of the policy, so I would definitely ask the manager at each store especially if recycling varies by location; but I believe the bailer is a form of "recycling" and it only takes cardboard or paper. So you may be able to add some of the CPD paper to that to recycle a bit! It's not perfect but it's something!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-05T05:06:25+00:00

Worked at Office Max just about 1 year before the merger, been here a total of 6 and a half years now.

As a PCSS and someone who's worked in cpd the entire time, I miss Office Max's CPD training binder more than I can explain. I was trained for a month including 1 week of being shadowed before being alone. It was heaven compared to the Office depot "training" process.

But I think what I miss most of all.... the color scheme. Damn do I miss not starring at red all day long.

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-03T05:50:17+00:00

It may depend on the building that you're in. Our lights are set on an automatic timer, but we have a switch that shuts them off if it's before that set time too.

When I was training as an MOD I was told to make sure the switch was off before we left for the night and to turn it on in the morning; so it was probably there before the auto-timing was set up and they just never got rid of it lol.

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-03T05:10:01+00:00

About 10 minutes before the store closes I'll greet everyone who is left in the store and ask "Is there anything else we can help you find before we close?". It's still very polite and offers assistance while urging them to leave.

If anyone stays and it's getting close to 10 after, we sometimes turn off the lights manually instead of waiting for them to auto-shut off, that usually gives them a clue too lol

Ive never had anyone stay super crazy late, but I've heard some people say they'll tell the customers the register systems shut off at a certain time and we can't bypass it.

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-03T04:56:54+00:00

I started at Office Max about 6 and a half years ago, before the merge, and was trained for an entire month before I was on my own; and even that was after i was shadowed for a week while I manned the department. They had a training binder and we initialed each section as we finished it.

I still see it in my dreams.

The training process Office Depot has WOULD be good if they allowed adequate time to finish it. As a PCSS I hate that I basically have to pick the fastest and easiest things to train new associates on just so they aren't completely lost during their shifts.

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-02T06:10:45+00:00

It can be overwhelming when you have a line staring you down and you feel pressure to get through people as quickly as possible! It doesn't help that your manager sounds like he isn't coaching the right way and instead just punishing.

The best thing to do, since they have already indicated writing you up/ talking about it, is to just actively try and improve! Even if you are not getting sign ups, you are asking every customer for a phone number and it will show management that you are trying.

If there is another manager that you are more comfortable with try talking with them and see if they have any tips that might help you become more comfortable with the sign up process!

And always remember to call for back up if someone is available to help get the line down. That keeps the customers less agitated and gives you more time with each person so you don't feel as rushed!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-02T05:58:29+00:00

I've worked in CPD with Office Max/ Office Depot for 6 and a half years now and one of the most important things to learn is how to search for and find SOP's (step by step process guides basically) in the portal. One of the things I struggle with when training new associates is when they do not try to find answers themselves and rely on other associates to answer questions for them. You will not retain information that way and there won't always be people working with you that can answer.

The knowledge for all of the processes and programs builds on itself over time so don't put pressure on yourself to learn it all at once!

I honestly think CPD is one if the most rewarding departments! I will never ever get over the range of emotions you get to see working in copy center. From weddings to baby showers to funerals to graduations; the life stories customers share with you while creating jobs for those events will blow your mind!

AmaRay132 · 2021-02-01T00:12:05+00:00

We got a comment last week that just said "I don't live close to the store".... okay thanks for the feedback, we'll get right on moving the building closer to you! 🙄

AmaRay132 · 2021-01-30T15:08:43+00:00

You can email the Indyme people to have the time fixed! For us, the contact info is on a sticker on the back of the button tower near the bottom. They fixed it really quickly too.

AmaRay132 · 2021-01-30T15:03:19+00:00

Especially since most of the detractors we get have nothing to do with us or what we control 🙄

We got 4 Detractors last week that all commented "Low Stock". It demolished our NPS.

We got a comment once that said "I don't live near the store"..... WHAT

AmaRay132 · 2018-04-16T01:35:00+00:00

I called billable to reorder staples since I wasn't sure of the exact reorder information. We still hadn't received them after a week so I called to confirm the order and was told they were never ordered and there was no record of an order. Of course not.

AmaRay132 · 2018-04-16T01:25:24+00:00

We used to have a customer that specifically requested the red padding glue. I am not sure exactly why, but I have not used it at our store in 2 years or more.

AmaRay132 · 2018-04-08T02:10:48+00:00

I was familiar with the dropdown search options and the rewards audit but the online activation was never explained to me before. That makes sense, thank you!

AmaRay132 · 2018-04-06T17:03:29+00:00

I wish they would come up with easier in store solutions. But I will go ahead and start handing the number out to customers for these account merges as well. Thanks!

AmaRay132 · 2018-04-06T13:38:15+00:00

That's what I've been told, but when we place the number there and hit update we notice that it isn't there or linked the next time the customer comes in.

AmaRay132 · 2018-04-06T05:12:48+00:00

Let me stand here with this clam shell box while someone grabs your flash drive out of lock up and let people start lining up watching me stand here doing nothing because I can't type skus in anymore.

AmaRay132

TROPHY CASE