C Note(s)

I'd love to say I've so busy that I haven't had the opportunity to write about it, but the funny thing is ... nothing but the same old, standard digging at the warehouse has happened. Aside from the occasional verbal barb from my register to another one in earshot, nothing to write down about. #TBH it's been a daily shitshow that has a projection end date of Groundhog's Day (that means never, y'all) Being one of the more visible, accessible, and approachable supervisors of the crew, I've noticed an uptick in my involvement on the more mundane to complex issues. One day in particular, I heard a call over the radio for a supervisor to the entrance door. Upon arrival, the employees beckoned for me to the garbage cans. I peer into to find this: My immediate reaction, "We certainly don't sell that here!" with a laugh. Then I bemoaned the moment with, "Why me? Why does this craziness happen when I'm on shift?" The employee...

One of my responsibilities of a FE (Front End) Supervisors is to answer radio requests from the Membership Desk. It's usually one of three: key flick, approval, or merchandise pick-up aka MPU. It's been a week now since the Oil of Olay Incident of 2017 , happened. There was a call from the Membership Desk for a MPU. I looked around and realized I was the closest, and most available FE Supervisor, so I answered the radio request with, "Copy that, Carlos en route." It was yet another busy day at Woodinville Costco, so when I arrived at the Membership Desk it was teeming with activity. I searched around for the MPU in the area I usually find it. I spied a bottle of Oil of Olay. I furrowed my brow as this is not a typical item that requires to be locked up in the Return To Vendor (RTV) Cage - yes, we use tons of acronyms to save time communicating. So I called out to confirm, while holding up the bottle. "Is this really the MPU?" I stated loudly but ...

One of your duties as a Costco FE Supervisor is sometimes being tasked with completing the first audit, yet not be the auditor for the entire day. It's taken a year of observations, but I finally decided that being the first auditor is like being a panda zookeeper in the video that went viral on Facebook, YouTube, and all other social media. To give you some insight, you waltz down to the Membership Desk and Refunds Area with an RF Scanner Gun in your hand. Usually it's hot garbage spilling out of the 2 racks provided to store refunds done. I was trained to move all the items over from the left to the right to begin the audit. But usually there is merchandise in both racks, mostly clothes. I kinda wanna scream Panda, Panda, Panda, like the song . And like the song, I'm not impressed with it. By the time you're sent down there, there's only an hour or so prior to the auditor to show up for the day, yet you have more than an hour's worth of work ... ...

This week the management of Costco Woodinville, aka 747, announced whom they selected for the Front End Supervisors. Guess who has two thumbs, wears a red vest, and is on that short list? THIS GUY! To be perfectly honest, the announcement was a grip anti-climatic, and confusing to some of the crew, as they thought I was a supervisor already. I can see where some of the confusion lies, as it's been about late-summer since I had a cashier shift. One of the comments I received while receiving a high-five / fist bump / handshake was "You deserved it, Los". I paused at the comment before saying, "Well, I don't I deserve anything but a kick in the head every once in awhile. I do believe, however, I did EARN my way to the position. Or at the very least earned my way into the conversation." Deserving something has an instant repulsion reaction with me. Deserving to me means that I was entitled to that versus earning. I'm not entitled to anything but a...

As I spy my calendar on the wall of my home-office, and hold my "turkey letter", I noticed I'm nearing my 1st anniversary at 747. My heart and face smiles, as I'm grateful for the support that got me there, as oppose to the role I was in at Costco Travel. While I do miss that side of the business, I feel (and still do) better served in front of the Costco Member and other Costco employees 24/7/365. That visibility started 11/30/15, Cyber Monday, and continues to this day. I honestly thought I would be wearing a red vest by the end of 6 months. I understand now that the additional 6 months was necessary. Not because of my learning curve, and my abilities, but the acceptance of the crew I would be working with and for . I've been coached that I can try all I want to move around but if I don't have the support from the top brass all the way to the maintenance guy - I'll never get anywhere. I'm grateful for those words of advice, as I echo them i...

Look. I get it. I have a Filipino accent that's married with a varied vernacular which is a mixed of English, Urban Dictionary, IMDb, and literature quotes. I consider myself an applied communications expert. I change my word usage based on the audience I'm speaking with. This is a minute to minute change since I talk that much. It allows me to seamlessly transition from one person to another person because everyone is unique, right? Yesterday while cashiering I made a request of more one dollar bills. At the time it was busy so I knew that pleasantries would have to wait. I asked for a supervisor to approach my register. Upon approach I stated my business. "I need 1's, please." He stared at me for a brief second. I repeated, "1's, please, so I can make it rain ." (I've link the UD definition for your reference) Moments later, a different supervisor appeared, with the words. "Ok, Carlos. I'll cashier while you use the restroom....

Athletes, military folks, and mothers have a keen sense of SA (Situational Awareness) After I learn a life lesson from my dad, I have that same developed SA. I'll digress for a grip. You see, my dad was a basketball coach for a couple of years, but I wasn't on the team. So I would travel with dad to each game. As you can imagine, I've been running my mouth about as long as I've been living. Well, my dad warned me several times that if you're on the court (field, pitch, whenever the ball is) you better know damn well where the ball is. One particular afternoon, I was talking loudly on the basketball court. Surprised? Well, he yelled my name so I turned my head in the direction. All I saw was a large orange basketball filling the space. I woke up sprawled out on the court, with my nose blown open like a cantaloupe. Got it, message delivered - know where the ball is. I know my dad didn't mean for that happen, but it did. Let's fast forward tonight, shall we...

Usually my mouth finds trouble for me, and Friday night at work was no exception. Friday nights at the warehouse tends to be busy but mundane. So to spice up the microvisits I have with members, I ask what is the plan for Friday night fun? Again, I usually receive the following safe and mundane answers: Dinner / drinks with a spouse / loved one / friend Movie and eats Chillaxin' at home due to long work week One couple's answer took the cake ... literally. I asked the standard aforementioned question, they said blah, blah, blah. I retorted, "A good looking couple such as yourselves should and probably could tear up the town and paint it red instead." The wife pipes up, "Oh! I know. Something better." The husband and I wait for her to continue with baited breath. "I'll run back to bakery, buy one of those Red Velvet cakes, I'll smear it on you (she's looking at her husband), and I'll lick it all off." She punctuates h...

To be honest, I didn't plan on another entry until a month from the last one ... but life's funny like that. I had a challenging day today, which was mostly self-inflicted by breaking one of my personal rules. "To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is to be forgotten." ~ Anonymous I slept craptastically last night, so after running errands, and breakfast, I decided to lie down for a disco nap prior to my work shift. I posted up on time, but right on time, so I was asked not to clock in then get to work instead of the 30 seconds I spent dropping my backpack into the break room. Fair enough, but no leniency was a grip ticky-tack for me. I volunteered for the Costco Volunteer Reading Program at the local elementary school to tutor a child that needed additional attention to bring his/her reading level up to the class. Today was my 2nd session which was scheduled in the middle of the shift. So I felt that I had to really fight for...

After a full 40 hour week at the Woodinville Costco (747), I only have a few observations. First and foremost, the entire staff at the building is super sweet, welcoming, and accommodating. That was a relief. I heard of experiences of transfers to buildings, and warnings about the work environment, and hearsay but didn't cloud my first impressions. And if you know anything about me, you know this is my SOP for any adventure. Be myself but watch and see what the situation will bear. I noticed there is a subtle hierarchy, in terms of tasks, within the workforce. I envisioned cart runs in the rain, and other not-so-desirable tasks, for my first week. I was pleasantly surprised with tasks that would help me be a better cashier at the front end. I won't list them out, or detail them out, but I'm not afraid of hard work so I accepted all of them with a smile and "I'm on it" on my lips. Secondly, there's a warehouse vernacular that is a mixture of English, abb...