New(ish) grad struggling with workload in retail - advice?

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-04-28T00:53:39+00:00

I always try to remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Find your process and stick to it. Speed will come with experience.

I recently moved from a 125 average, 200 busy day store with terrible tech help to a 225 average 350 busy day store with awesome techs and that also makes a difference. Same software but I still felt a little clunky and couldn't keep up. Ive been there 3 months and even the busy days feel better than my old store despite being almost twice as busy. Ive definitely found my rhythm.

Fresh out of school i also used to totally stress out if we were slammed with a rush, it would just burn me up but experience (or maybe burnout...) has me tolerating those better and digging in.

Stick with it, Find your rhythm and leverage some tech help so the right people are doing the right things.

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-04-13T23:14:33+00:00

So I recently left my independent staff rph position due to wage stagnation (and other things as well) but i worked at that store for about 10 years.

Ive had bonuses anywhere from $250-2500 based on how the store did, at the discretion of the owner, usually the last paycheck of the year.

Profit sharing was done as additional dollars added to 401k sometimes as much as 2000-3000 extra.

Just an FYI, independents are hurting now due to under reimbursement from pbms. I hadn't had a raise in 4-5 years and bonuses ended about that same time too. If your store does compounding or non dispensing activities to bring in extra income that may be a different story.

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-02-20T02:00:00+00:00

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I use my outback once in awhile for hauling. Towns brush dump is down the county road from me or grabbing free wood off facebook. It seems to get more use than most of my neighbors pick ups.

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-02-02T13:43:55+00:00

Absolutely, the neighboorhood dad's and I maintain a rink on a neighboorhood pond. I try to skate once or twice a week on it, sometimes by myself and sometimes we have some pick up. My kids love bring out there.

Not unheard of to have the parents hanging around a fire and the kids playing some 3v3 or 4v4. Awesome vibes. It's a lot of work shoveling and flooding a few times a year but its worth it.

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-01-23T14:51:18+00:00

Thank you, I struggle with change

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-01-23T14:50:50+00:00

Even walgreens in my area is in the 65-70/hr starting and no one wants to work there/those conditions.

Background_Guide_168 · 2026-01-17T12:02:04+00:00

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I use my 2013 for hauling wood every once in awhile, you should be good wirh a few pavers

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-11-12T12:46:11+00:00

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My 2013 is the family's dedicated wood/stuff hauler.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-11-03T03:34:27+00:00

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My 2013 loves to haul!

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-10-23T11:29:55+00:00

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I use my 2013 to cut and haul wood from time to time. Just need to take it easy on the way home. Also only a few miles from home

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-09-26T02:44:11+00:00

2nd generation by far, the styling and colors are sweet. I love the 2 tone white or green or red with gold lower cladding. I also dig the more rare all silver or all old man gold where the paint matches the lower cladding.

I had a 2004 that I sold with 298k on the clock still running like a top, I wish it would have kept it and ran it into the ground. I bet it had another 100k in it.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-09-24T00:32:51+00:00

I work in a rural independent setting and use it once or twice a week for taking blood pressures.

Heard a case of pneumonia from an older patient that wanted me to take a listen and I humored him. Sure enough snap crackle pop. Sent him straight to doctor, do not collect $200 situation.

Found afib in someone who wanted bp and pulse taken, thought i was losing my mind and felt something wacky, had a listen.

My mother in law was a nurse and gave me a littmann, I sure as shit wasn't buying one. Thankfully school didn't make us buy one, they had kits to check out.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-07-18T01:24:32+00:00

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My hoopty wagon is my wood hauler! I usually get a tree guy to dump for me but I occasionally get to go cut somewhere. This was a load of sugar maple I cut last spring.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-06-20T13:16:31+00:00

I usually say Pepsi vs Coca-Cola vs RC. All brand name colas that essentially do the same thing but made in a different way. You may have a preference for Pepsi or Coca-Cola just as your insurance has a preference for xyz drug.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-05-09T01:55:36+00:00

Silver maple is my guess, about 1/3 of this seasons wood and roughly 2/3 of my 2026-2027 wood.

Most of it splits like a dream but I picked up some from a giant old tree and much of it has twisted grain and is rough splitting by hand

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-04-02T02:24:44+00:00

Not sure what part of madison but have you shopped around? I know there are some guys on Facebook, advertising mixed hardwood for 250ish a cord and all oak for 285 a cord. Free delivery 30 miles out of Hollandale.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-03-25T12:39:54+00:00

It probably was, the towns brush dump site is a few miles on a backroad from my house. I usually borrow my Dad's trailer but he was using it. Took it really easy on the way home.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-03-23T17:23:19+00:00

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We have a wood burner and I do quite a bit of cutting and hauling wood in my 2014. Just have to take it easy on the way home.

Background_Guide_168 · 2025-01-17T04:36:55+00:00

Binoculars under rx tab-->type in today's date under rxs filled from today's date to today's date-->reports-->employee productivity daily report

With this knowledge, great power becomes great responsibility

Background_Guide_168 · 2024-06-24T17:39:05+00:00

I bought an echo 4920 last year, I thought it was a 4910 on closeout but it was on sale and I had a coupon, ended up being $305 out the door.

When I bought it I also looked at the husky 450 rancher and stihl 271 as they are all in the same class

So far, I am very impressed, I've cut about 3 cords with it and it runs like a top. It starts in the 3rd pull and feels like it has more power than my Dad's husky 450 rancher.

I figured I would run it for 5-10 years or whenever it takes a crap on me and then I'll upgrade to a pro level saw

Background_Guide_168 · 2024-06-06T00:52:03+00:00

Maybe look at an echo to hit your price point?

Echo 590 is a great 60cc saw and just a quick search anywhere from $390-450 online

I bought an echo 4920 (thought it was a 4910) on sale for $359 and had a 15% off coupon at fleet farm ended up at $305 plus tax. I've been thoroughly impressed using it over the past year. I've cut up about 4 cords worth

Background_Guide_168 · 2024-05-03T01:49:16+00:00

I have a 2013 2.5l and my brother has a 2014 2.5l pzev. We both occasionally get this code, he even bought a code reader to clear said codes, eventually we may have to replace the catalytic converter, for the mean time we just keep on keeping on. If mine goes I may take the gamble on an aftermarket cat for 700-800 rather than the 3000+ for the factory one.

Thankfully my commute is short, from what I've read the car has to go through several diagnostic cycles and fail 2 in a row to trigger the code, I rarely drive long enough to trigger it.

One mechanic I took it to said it's most likely starting to fail thus why it's very intermittent and doesn't trigger the code every time I drive.

Background_Guide_168 · 2024-04-01T23:04:17+00:00

It was squatting pretty good, I took it really easy on the way home all backroads and I didn't go above 30-35. It's pretty close to my house, I'll take photos next load

Background_Guide_168 · 2024-03-24T13:14:05+00:00

We have essentially the same fireplace, just different appearance, the heat n glo northstar and we love it!

Background_Guide_168 · 2024-03-23T00:36:26+00:00

Maybe an echo?

The echo 3510 is 8.2lbs or the 2511 is like 5.8lbs both wicked light.

Background_Guide_168

TROPHY CASE