Wow do i hate being a cart pusher. I work at a wally world in a suburb of detroit. I dread going in everyday and loath the the monotony of constantly gathering carts. The machine seems to be in a state of perpetual disrepair. However, everyone insists on fixing the motor when it is evident that the remote is the problem: the button has been stuck in since i started which causes it to stutter every 5 seconds.
Then there are the people. "Can I give you another one." Ha, that quote makes me laugh when other people post it because i literally hear it dozens of times each day. Most of the other guys hate when people throw them their carts but i insist that they whip it 30 yards across the parking lot so i don't have to walk for one cart. The feeble woman don't want to shove it so they walk over to me until they're about 15 feet away then try to push it but hesitate at the last minute so that it only goes 2 feet and i have to walk over and get it.
But after a few months i started to learn the ropes. I can sit on the little curb right in front of the building tucked away in a sort of alcove. Well i got caught here once and i said i was just taking 5 so he said well stand inside so higher management doesn't bitch at him. So i started doing that and now i stand inside the vestibule with a water bottle looking like i'm getting a drink. i used to scatter when i saw a manager inside but now i realize they only think i'm getting a drink so i can stand around for up to a half an hour! I still prefer to sit when i know i won't be caught.
I also used to fear the CSMs, then i realized they are completely clueless. They couldn't care less what i'm doing. I used to tell them I was going on break but now i don't even bother. If they call me for a carry out and I don't answer they just get someone else! "I don't know where the stockman is now" they say. They figure i'm out back gathering carts from TLE.
Not to say I don't do a good job. There is just no use in busting my ass during the day trying to get every cart because the bastards keep regenerating. But at night, at 11 o clock i make sure i get all the carts in, especially when the night shift guy is off. (there is only one)
Then there is the cashier who used to be a cartpusher like me. He told me how bad he wanted to be a cashier and he's been one for a year and hates it. Rather be a stockman again.
In other words, this job sucks, but what job doesn't. The freedom is a huge plus for me. It's the monotony that kills us, as with any job. You just have to dig a groove. i have a system. Hell, on a slow day i can spend half my time not even working! and i literally count it out to see how efficient i am at wasting time. Oh and i find stuff in the carts and if its good enough i take it. Pop, waterbottles, im talking whole packs. That just compensates for my low pay.
