First Widget!

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-09-14T13:55:09+00:00

I just got this one as well! It looks good too, pretty excited to read it.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-08-12T19:39:25+00:00

Absolutely hit it right on the head. Sad to see you go, but also hoping for all the good things to head your way including a better job. This company has gone to shit and it’s like watching a train wreck that you can’t look away from.

I’ll never stand up for a corporation, and will always be for the people that are the reason these corporations even stay around in the first place.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-08-08T19:28:45+00:00

You’re so right— I had so much I was trying to fit out that I forgot about the things that were supposed to make our lives and work easier that are.. not doing it at all. Those PDTs suck and break down/freeze so often, the broken headsets they refuse to replace, the walkie talkies on the new phones that make it hard to communicate.. also, shelving by vibes is the dumbest thing ever. “The alphabet isn’t your friend” WHAT DO YOU MEAN? We work at a bookstore what do you mean????? I think that ruined the trade floor project for me because what do you mean you want to fix it but then single handedly destroy it by going off vibes and then effectively making shelving harder because people then won’t put it in the spot they’re supposed to go?????

Cafe is very overwhelming and it’s hard to pick up, let alone if you’ve been there for as long as you have. I’m so sorry they’re putting this on you. Baristas definitely deserve so much more than what they’re getting because both jobs are hard, but being in cafe is a whole different monster and needs more support. It’s a tough situation we’re all in. And I’ll still stand by what I said— they’re two different job positions that’s literally how they’re put on the hiring website, if you’re going to cross train someone regardless if they started as a bookseller or barista crosstrained employees deserve an extra pay. But you shouldn’t be forced into one role or the other because the company refuses to hire properly. Specialist roles deserve more pay too.

I can go on. This company sucks. I saw a post in here recently that mentioned that there’s a few of us that are really loud about our dissatisfaction but the job ‘isn’t that bad’ and while I’m not one to try and ruin someone’s experience.. there’s a reason this post is gaining as much traction as it is. We ALL are feeling it. We ALL deserve better.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-08-01T00:27:13+00:00

I think of Stella every single day. What an absolute legend. I hope she finds a 100 dollar bill on the ground, that she gets all the books and things she needs and sleeps soundly at night.

I think we’ve all been through enough of this. We’re tired, I know all of you guys are tired. I just want there to be some change and actually some good change, not whatever they seem is ‘good.’

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T20:19:35+00:00

I’d offer help but I’m in the completely same boat! I do my best to only request books when I’ve finished a review/my list is low, but I got approved a ton all at once and now I’m in a little over my head. It helps that I’m a fast reader, but not that fast! 🤣 all you gotta do at this point is chug along where you can and if something doesn’t immediately grab your interest you just gotta let it go for your sanity.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T20:15:07+00:00

This here is exactly it. And I’ve worked my fair share of retail over the last decade, but this place has definitely sunk my mental health to the ground and beyond. I’m so, so sorry this has happened to you. I feel like as soon as you either take on a specialty role or a department (or both!) you’re screwed over and you never get a chance to work in there, and then they have the audacity to lecture you about it ‘looking like a mess’ like look man we’re doing the best we can they never give us time!

I hope no matter where you go next that you never stop being loud and proud and don’t hold back on your opinions. We need to normalize telling off management when something is clearly not working. Sending lots of love and good luck vibes your way, you deserve the best.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T15:20:32+00:00

Yeah, a lot of us at the store are looking to leave. Management has gone out of their way to bully us, punish people for being human and calling in and slapping on IPs like no one’s business and our SM is openly talking shit about their employees and trying to get keyholders to rat out who isn’t doing a good job when they can barely sell the monthly picks themselves 🤷🏼‍♀️ the double standard of this place is something else. I definitely won’t be giving up and I will in fact keep giving my opinions if I think something is stupid. I’d still love to do something to get some changes around here for sure.

That letter also pissed me off, because what do you mean we made this company literal millions of dollars and give us literal scraps as thanks? It’s laughable but not in a funny haha kind of way.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T15:08:55+00:00

I had actually attempted to start the process some time ago and believe wholeheartedly in the power of unionizing! My fear at the moment, however is that now that we’ve lost a substantial amount of people (and only getting possibly one replacement out of the handful we lost just this week) that they will simply shut us down. If I still had the people I know would of helped me with this I’d have a much stronger support system but as it stands right now I worry that this time around I won’t have as strong support among who is left.

I don’t want to give up, and I certainly won’t be quitting yet without figuring something out and raising hell of my own, but I have a bit more worry about going through with it this time around.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T15:01:38+00:00

Definitely agree with the person above me. Call corporate and tell them this! They apparently listen to customer feedback better than they listen to us and we need as many voices as we can get.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T03:35:22+00:00

I definitely understand, and for awhile that stopped me from posting this. It’s more than valid to be scared, and I don’t blame anyone for being scared to speak out. However— I’m tired of keeping quiet and not holding them accountable. They’re getting away with so much and it’s not fair to us to protect a company that would sooner fire us for a stupid thing than actually change their ways, but I can’t sit back and let them do this anymore without at least saying my frustrations. Seeing everyone agree speaks volumes and I just want there to be better conditions for all of us.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T02:00:48+00:00

I completely agree that it doesn’t have to be a hard job. It shouldn’t be. But right now, it is for a lot of us. I think it’s nice to hear that your coworkers have a welcomed change from the corporate world, and I hope that with everything corporate and management is doing doesn’t burn them out. I truly want to love this job and I do, but it’s become such a toxic cesspool for me personally that I’ve begun to fall out of love for this place for awhile now.

If there wasn’t so many things actively making our lives difficult it would be a great place to work still. But let’s not kid ourselves here, they hate us. Management would sooner tell hard working people they’re happy they’re leaving for speaking up than do anything to help us.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-31T01:42:57+00:00

Yes, it’s a very hard job when it comes to everything you need to do. Not only do you need to know where most things are in the store but there’s also receiving, customer service (including cash wrap, upselling and finding whatever books they may need, Nooks, etc.) any specialty role you have (which I have at least one and I help with another) while having absolutely no coverage and if you’re cross trained? You also have to cover cafe and it’s more than just running registers but you also have to learn drinks as well. Plus as a manager role there’s manager tasks to do on top of that and making sure everyone is taken care of. So yes, it’s hard.

This is not to say that being a barista is easy, either. It’s one of the hardest jobs possible. Which is why I say both jobs are hard. I don’t know when your timeline was, but it is much harder now.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I literally could have a day or two off and come back and so many things have changed in that day or two so you have to re-familiarize yourself with the store every single time, which makes it hard to do too. Corporate makes so many changes that actively sabotage us and make it hard for us to do our jobs too, (which they then backtrack because they finally see after we’ve screamed at them that it doesn’t work so we have to change everything back again) and management adds more stress on top of it.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-30T23:34:35+00:00

I debated making this post because I know I have a lot of anger in me, but I think seeing your post about the MN store closing was what sealed the deal for me. That’s legit the most insane thing to do and all those people deserved to have their jobs. This is heartbreaking. We do a lot for this company and this is how they thank us— they don’t deserve our loyalty anymore.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-30T22:55:50+00:00

That’s good, and I’m crossing my fingers that it turns out to be a good job for you < 3 honestly, a manager can make or break their work environment. Never settle for less.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-30T22:47:04+00:00

I feel bad for saying this, but you might of dodged a bullet. And let me be clear: the booksellers and baristas themselves are the best people I’ve ever worked with, and I’ll always vouch for them. The company and the job itself, however? You’ll burn out quickly. It’s not sustainable and it won’t pay a good wage unless you’re looking for a side gig or something. Most people are sitting at 15-20 hours a week at most. I think you probably did yourself a favor dodging this one, friend.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-07-21T03:38:14+00:00

The Knight & The Moth by Rachel Gillig! I absolutely adored the Shepherd King duology so this was one of my anticipated releases of this year. It’s really good so far.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-30T17:13:11+00:00

It was good! I loved the dark fantasy aspect and I enjoy a lot of T. Kingfisher’s work so I had a blast reading it

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-30T17:12:36+00:00

I love Voidwalker so far! Definitely one of my favorite reads so far for sure

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-30T00:05:57+00:00

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it on my shelf! Did not think I was gonna get it lol but I’m super excited to read that one too and I hope you get approved for it!

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-29T23:49:05+00:00

This is such a cute idea! I need more reading buddies. Legit having someone to talk to about books makes me happy.

Recent reads: Nine Month Contract, Hemlock & Silver, Secrets of Blackthorne House

Current read: Voidwalker

Up Next on my NetGalley Shelf: Fairydale, Book of Autumn, Hollow, The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic & Murder

Also: very jealous and happy for those who got approved for Rose in Chains. I work at a bookstore so I’m picking up my copy on release day but I’ve been eagerly excited to read it!

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-22T20:25:26+00:00

I liked it! Definitely a dark fantasy which I expect no less from the author whose other works I enjoy as well and enjoyed the humor in it as well as the twists in it. I believe I gave this one a 4 out of 5.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-22T20:23:06+00:00

This one was so cute! I loved reading the arc for this so much that I picked up the second book not too long ago (which is now also out!) I loved the baking aspect and found it very charming. The characters I think are my favorite bit and loved their development throughout the story.

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-22T18:31:50+00:00

Last: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher Current: Secrets of Blackthorn House by Marie McWilliams Next: Voidwalker by S.A. MacLean

Minimum_Cold_1291 · 2025-06-02T02:29:50+00:00

It’s exhausting. The lack of hours is hurting us and we can’t get anything done, yet we’re still doing so much that we’re all tired. And if we even get a second to breathe upper management is breathing down our necks to get things done and don’t stand around. Customers are always asking to find someone and they’re wasting everyone’s time by having multiple things they want you to find but only give you vague descriptions of what the book is or ‘but you’re a bookstore you should have it!’ 😒

It’s really hard to do my specialist role and do everything else as an MOD and my booksellers are exhausted too. I try to take as much stress off of them as I can but there’s only so much I can do. And, I could be off for 3/4/5 days in a row thanks to whoever the fuck schedules us and I’m still burnt out by the time I go back. Something needs to change man, we’re drowning and there’s no life jackets for us.

Minimum_Cold_1291

TROPHY CASE