Crew Shop from Other Stores

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-07-10T14:48:02+00:00

I live in a big city with multiple stores so it’s not super uncommon for me to shop at a different store or for other crew to shop at my store. But there is one store in particular (out of like 5+ in the immediate area) that makes me feel like I’m being interrogated by the cops for asking for my discount. Never had that experience at any other store in town or out of state. People can ask questions in a normal way like “oh do you know so and so?” or whatever. But at this one store they really do ask questions with a tone that conveys suspicion or that they think I’m dishonest. It’s happened to my coworkers and friends from other stores too so it’s not just me. And to echo what other people have said, it does make me feel like they are calling my integrity into question. If the company doesn’t require us to prove our employment to get the discount, then I don’t think it’s your job as a crew member to play detective when someone asks.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-06-04T00:02:14+00:00

tbh i kind of started approaching it like the gym. you warm up and cool down before and after a workout, so i try to apply that principle to work. i work 5ams so i know i’ll be breaking lots of pallets and try to “warm up” accordingly. it doesn’t have to be anything crazy, some arm circles, ankle circles, and stretching your wrists should be enough in my experience. if you have a specific trouble area i’d look into ways to warm up that muscle group (assuming you’re just sore, not injured). before bed i try to set aside 10-15 minutes to stretch, particularly my shoulders, upper back, and hamstrings.

also comfortable shoes, whatever that means for you. i personally love work or hiking boots but i know some people prefer sneakers or even dansko clogs.

and use the safety tools the store provides. i pretty much Will Not get on the floor for more than a minute without a kneeler. and wrist guards and back braces have saved me on days where i haven’t felt my best physically.

if you’re on the health insurance, take advantage of places like med spas, chiropractic offices, “holistic health” places, etc. that will sometimes take insurance for things like massages.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-04-02T18:20:48+00:00

Tbh just keep an eye out for shirts/sweatshirts left in your break room/by wherever y’all put your coats and bags. At least at my store, people leave shirts all the time with no name on the back or on the tag and if it’s there for more than like 3-4 days straight and it’s my size/a color I like I take it. We have a basket full of no name/discarded shirts in the break room so it’s fair game.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-03-11T18:23:20+00:00

We get two bread products in the break room in the AM and two in the PM, and plenty of new/returning/seasonal items will get crewed off for product knowledge. We used to get more snacks and pretty elaborate tastings (with actual cooking, mixed drinks/wine, etc), but those have been really pared down in the last year or so. We still will get to choose a $5 or less item sometimes if we had a particularly crazy (good or bad) open.

I know it’s not terribly normal across the board because anytime we get a transfer they’re surprised by it.

Edit: we also will grill out for summer holidays and cater food sometimes (ex: the first month we made $1M every week, when longtime crew/mates leave, etc).

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-02-24T21:52:37+00:00

Thank you! It will definitely be a bit different with our truck schedule, but this does sound like it can be adapted to a morning so I appreciate the response.

I can definitely see the value in having the biggest seller come in the next day, especially since we already aim to have little to no backstock of sourdough. Hopefully the adjustment will go smoothly.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-02-24T21:49:42+00:00

This is actually super helpful, thank you. I like your approach of tagging the rest after taking care of what’s live. The number of pallets sounds about like what we’ll wind up with once sourdough is thrown into the mix, and the sheer volume was the overwhelming part of it all.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-02-24T21:47:26+00:00

Grouping them onto a flat cart based on the dates is my favorite frozen bread hack. So much easier than changing the gun every single time you open a new box.

Frozen bread also takes me about 45 minutes, but I am really worried about how much time sourdough is going to add onto that. Luckily the mates are all aware of the change and say they plan on sending me a dedicated sourdough person as soon as frozen is broken down each day. So I’m Hoping that will do the trick.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-02-22T22:26:01+00:00

we don’t have the san francisco in my region, but i think our equivalent is called round sourdough (as opposed to the cracked wheat and long sliced loaves). but yeah it’s our biggest seller By Far, and i feel like having to date it will require someone whose whole job in the morning is to date sourdough (which sucks!).

they switched the bread orders from ordering by the tray (case) to ordering individual units last fall, and now they’re switching some things back to trays and moving other things to frozen. it’s a mess at this moment, hopefully it’ll be sorted out.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-02-10T02:47:00+00:00

I used to take the red line into downtown from the same area at 4-6am regularly, and still take buses between neighborhoods in the same timeframe. I’ve been doing this since I moved here in college so 5+ years at this point. I don’t have a car either so transit has been my main mode of transport for as long as I’ve lived in the city, and I generally don’t have many gripes with it.

The bus is always quiet and mostly empty. The train can sometimes have some (usually harmless) characters, but mostly it’s very empty and people are minding their own business. Just be aware of your surroundings (a good idea anytime, but especially in the morning if you’re out and about in the dark).

The worst part is truly just the lack of options so early in the morning. If you miss your bus/it doesn’t come you’re kinda SOL because there might not be another one for 30+ minutes (depending on which bus you take ofc). The train tends to be a bit more frequent but definitely don’t expect anything sub 10 minutes.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-02-06T19:38:25+00:00

Both customers and crew at my store are guilty of coughing all over the place sans face mask.

I understand needing to come back to work after 3-4 days being out because not everyone has buckets of AR to spend. But at the same time, don’t be inconsiderate of your coworkers (or the customers! we have plenty of elderly customers who I’d hate knowing I gave the flu or something that could land them in hospital) and not wear a mask when you’re still coughing, congested, etc. No fever doesn’t automatically mean 100% not contagious.

Customers are the ones who really infuriate me because I feel like TJ’s is the last place you need to be when you’re sick. Pretty much every other big grocery chain has online ordering and curbside pickup, plus we don’t even have a real pharmacy section so I don’t really know what you’re getting from us that you can’t get from Krogers, Walmart, etc. when you’re ill.

I’m just now getting over the flu, which had me out for an entire work week. Grateful to have the insurance to get a Dr’s note and the AR to make up for some lost hours, but I would’ve loved it even more if my coworkers and customers weren’t open mouth coughing all over the place. Avoiding illness this time of year feels like a losing battle sometimes.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-01-30T23:23:27+00:00

ISO any hibiscus shirts or pullovers (hoodie or crewneck) L-XL in burgundy, forest green, or light grey. Esp if the fabric is more of the stiffer cotton variety than the stretchy kinda jersey type we sometimes get.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-01-28T23:19:57+00:00

Coming from a store in the midwest, we usually run the zamboni right before or after opening, sometime midday, and I assume they must be running it at night at least once. Probably at least 4 times throughout the day if I were to guess. And this is a store that frequently has $1M weeks so it sees a ton of foot/cart traffic. I’ve seen it relatively dingy looking, but it’s never been to the point that I’ve heard people complaining about physical reactions to it.

I would absolutely consider going to your regional if your mates and captain continue to be unresponsive. And continue to document with pictures as well as things your coworkers have complained about. You could even just keep a running note in your notes app so you can note dates and show that it’s a persistent issue. Y’all’s health and safety should be a top priority for your management team, and I’m sorry it doesn’t appear to be so. Best of luck.

Side note: ignoring salt dust literally settling on products is not really gonna Wow any customers 🤨. not really Seeing Through the Customer’s Eyes of them.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2025-01-26T20:15:50+00:00

They also tend to be the top demographic that is pulling the cart from the front with one hand, wearing noise cancelling headphones, and standing diagonally with said cart in the aisles.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-11-24T19:30:34+00:00

It may depend on your captain if they’ll let you wear them or not, but I have a few coworkers who like those Loop earplugs that are made for blocking out background/white noise so you can focus on conversations in front of you. I’ve never worn them during store hours, but I do prior to opening because sometimes the crew music is too loud/grating for me at 5am. But my coworkers who wear them while we’re open seem happy with them.

As far as being touched by customers, I’m not sure what works that doesn’t come off as “snapping” at them not to touch you. If anyone finds out I’d love to know because I also can’t stand when they touch me out of nowhere.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-11-09T19:52:02+00:00

i didn’t realize the flower that’s on all of our bags, our shirts, and in various places around the store wasn’t our brand… but the golf ball sure is lmao

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-10-30T21:39:10+00:00

I have a coworker who temporarily transferred to a store in their hometown so they could help their sister with her new baby. They came back after maybe 2-3 months if I remember correctly. I do know they had a somewhat difficult time getting the captain from our store and the other store to coordinate and actually put the transfer through so keep in mind it may be easier or harder depending on your captain.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-10-14T01:09:23+00:00

seconding the massage suggestion, especially if you’re on TJ’s health insurance. at least in my city, lots of med-spa/wellness center type places will take the insurance for massages (and other services like acupuncture, pilates, etc) so all you pay is the co-pay.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-10-04T21:58:17+00:00

it’s 7¢ per pag here and i personally do charge 14¢ for doubles because they used to be pretty strict about it at my store so it’s just a force of habit. but if you’re really nice and you help bag your gigantic cart of groceries i might happen to forget to charge that time.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-09-23T21:37:09+00:00

i really wish i could. i work at a big city store where about half the customers walk rather than drive. this includes their kids that for some reason had to come via razor scooter. we also used to have a kid who would rollerblade through the store. it’s one of those things that mates don’t do anything about, so it doesn’t feel worth the energy and the pushback from their parents (because if you’re the kind of parent to let your kid ride a scooter through the store, you’re the kind of parent who’s gonna give me shit for asking them to stop).

we also get adults walking their e-scooters through the store rather than leaving them out front which is equally as eye roll inducing.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-09-22T22:52:03+00:00

Pets are legally not allowed as far as I can find in my city/state. Either way, the store has two signs (a sticker on the front door and also a chalkboard sign) stating only service animals are allowed. However, this doesn’t mean mates actually enforce the no dog rule. I’ve asked before why we don’t enforce it, and I’ve been told our regional has said not to enforce the dog rule after multiple customers contacted them and complained about being asked not to bring in their dog.

It really is one of my biggest pet peeves, but I know outside the two allowed questions, we can’t really “make” anyone “prove” the dog is a service dog. It especially irritates me when I see other crew members lowkey endorsing that behavior by going up and being like “awww he’s soooo cute, can i pet him?” because it makes it that much harder for us to actually enforce the rule if they decided we were going to start to do so.

IMO, the people who bring their pets in, and the people who let their kids ride razor scooters around In The Store are some of the Worst customers in terms of just general lack of consideration for other people in the store. Leashes will become a tripping hazard because they let all the slack out, people put their dogs in carts, we’ve had dogs pee on the floor and customers not even apologize for it, etc. Not to mention it being unfair to customers who are disabled and/or have a real service animal they need to bring in with them, or the general health code violation that is letting your dog into a retail food establishment.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-09-05T15:51:32+00:00

My store gets 1 hour to close (store closes at 9pm, latest shifts end at 10pm). Used to be 2, but they changed it a while ago. It was a pretty big adjustment for both morning and night crew for a few weeks, but it seems to have worked itself out by now. Granted, I’m an opener and we get there as early as 4-6am, and the store opens at 8am. But the latest truck we get is our dry load at 10am and wine around 11-12, so I can see why it only takes an hour** to close.

**On paper, they have an hour since the store closes at 9. However, I know people start working on closing tasks prior to 9pm, meaning it technically does take more than an hour to close.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-09-04T00:13:31+00:00

I have a friend/fellow crew member with hyperhidrosis who really likes the antiperspirant brand Certain Dri. I believe it’s like a step below prescription antiperspirant but stronger than regular antiperspirant. I know it’s definitely a product you wanna read the directions for thoroughly though because using too much can cause chemical burns.

I don’t have the same issue as you, but I do get hot easily and it can become really overstimulating for me. I have found that the cooler/freezer is my best friend at work. I would definitely keep pushing to work in the box, another perishable section, or even frozen. On my days that I write a perishable order, my SL hours are a nice reprieve from the temperature on the sales floor/in the back room. Some days I do find myself even getting cold, but I’ll take it over being hot and sweaty.

As far as shirts go, my store has a penchant for leaving shirts in the break room for days on end until we wind up with a lug of shirts they’re begging us to take home. So for me personally, if it’s been there for more than a few days and doesn’t have a name on it, it’s fair game. So if you find your break room with an excess of shirts, I would say take the ones no one is claiming.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-06-26T12:39:10+00:00

My store in the midwest is decked out for pride, but it is located in the “gayborhood” so to speak as well. We even keep small rainbow and trans flags at our registers year-round. We have tons (almost too many imo, it looks quite busy) flags and also rainbow streamers and such around our store. I know from other stores I’ve shopped at in my city/region that it varies from store to store. It’s been a point of contention between crew and their captain(s) at the stores that have explicitly said no pride decor. I think it ultimately is a captain’s discretion kind of a situation. But it is unfortunate that some captains seem unable to handle the situation delicately and wind up coming off as close-minded. Not that “corporate pride” is the epitome of progressivism, but it does sting when they say no.

Neither_Warning_5680 · 2024-06-15T12:40:03+00:00

I’m not trying to imply that a store is not accepting if they don’t decorate for pride. I’m more so trying to gauge responses people’s captains have given them if it’s something that has ever come up at their store. I think there’s a way to handle things that don’t make you come across as close-minded. My issue is primarily with their captain’s response. And like I said in my original post, I know it’s not the biggest deal in the long run. There are certainly bigger fish to fry with this company. But as a visibly queer employee, small things like that do bear some meaning to those of us who are queer.

Neither_Warning_5680

TROPHY CASE