Sorry to hear about the store getting closed down, Rodgers01!
Do you get to keep any of the videos at all? You know, ones that may have been “borrowed” by customers and not returned before the store closed? 
Not that I’m seriously suggesting you do anything illegal, of course…
The boss told us by way of consolation that we could set aside whatever movies we wanted to keep and that he’d give us a “really good deal” on them, though he hadn’t decided yet what that would be. That sounded pretty good – if we couldn’t get any severance pay, maybe we’d get our money’s worth in movies. Found out today that the “really good deal” consists of a whole dollar off what the customers pay for the movies. That’s less than the 20% discount we normally get on sale items.
When we found that out, the “five finger discount” was discussed among the employees, but I put a nix to it – unfortunately I have to stay in the boss’s good graces so that I can get a good reference, and besides, if we were caught we’d get fired instead of laid off, and then wouldn’t qualify for unemployment (AFAIK).
I fucking HATE that.
I don’t mind if I build up a mild relation with a store I visit often but I can’t stand when people call me by name because they read it off my card and expect to be all pally-pals. It really bothers me if they know my name and don’t tell me theirs.
Case in point. I’ve been going to the same coffee shop in the morning for months now. I’ve gotten to know a few of the girls that work there and we spend a few moments each morning joking around. They know my name and sometimes use it. This is fine with me because we’ve created a limited friendship. I’m sure if we met outside of the shop we’d sit and gab for hours.
The dicknose in Corp Coffee Shop Inc who, in the guide book, is required to learn my name, can eat my shit. I don’t know him, we don’t bullshit while he makes my coffee, I know nothing about him. At this point he’s not even close to becoming a friend because when he asks “Hey Seven, how’s your day?” I know he couldn’t give a shit.
Personally, if you want your shop to be more friendly, hire nice people with an honest gift of gab. Make it ok for your staff to bullshit a bit with customers. They’ll get to know your regulars and make them feel comfortable coming in. If the employee feels comfortable calling people by name, they will. But don’t mandate it. Most customers can see right through forced friendly.
my .02
Ah crap. There I went and posted and didn’t bother to read the OP date OR the entire thread.
Sorry.
<Emily Litella> NEEVERMIND </Emily Litella>