Paper PALLET

Paper PALLET

n. One or more occasional, special PALLETS kept aside to hold CASES of paper towels, tissues, and other paper goods of various kinds and sizes. See also WATER PALLET.

NOTE: While technically BACK-STOCK, CASES on the Paper PALLET are typically not put in the GUN because they are high-turnover, and will not spend any appreciable time in INVENTORY. These PALLETS get worked every SHIFT or so, as often as necessary to keep the SHELF reasonably full.

Peekaboo Shelf

Peekaboo Shelf

n. Also as “Peek-a-boo...” See TIE-IN SHELF. Also JUMP SHELF.

Phone Features

Phone Features

-. Beyond simple direct dialing, there are extra things you can do using the in-store Norstar® brand phones.

NOTE: However, unless you're a MANAGER, probably the only Phone Feature you should learn how to use is the first one listed: Feature-74 = Hold, also sometimes known as “call parking.”

There's an ordinary Hold button on the phone, yes, but if you use it, the phone is then tied up, and you can't use the phone for anything else.

Consider: sometimes you may get a call, and then want to transfer it to someone else, whom you'll want to PAGE. What to do? Feature-74 call parking to the rescue:

HOW TO: Put a call on HOLD using FEATURE-74

1. Ask the person on the phone to “Please stay on the line” while you transfer their call.


2. Press three buttons: [Feature] [7] [4]. The call you were handling is now on hold, and you're free to use the phone for other purposes, such as make a PAGE.


3. Notice the Holding Line Number on the LED readout on the phone; it's usually either 801 or 802 if there's already another call on hold somewhere else.


4. Make your PAGE as usual, including the Holding Line Number. For example, “GM, please take the call holding on 801. GM, 801 please.”


5. Hang up the phone. That call is still on hold, and anyone at any phone call dial the Holding Line Number (e.g., 801) to pick up that call. Meanwhile, you're now free to use the phone again or go on about your business.

Note that you can use Feature-74 to put a call on hold without making a PAGE, and thus you can pick up the call yourself on another phone. That's very handy, for instance, after you've run to a different AISLE to make a PRICE CHECK, or get some other information for a CUSTOMER.

Here are more Phone Features. However, my advice is, except for Feature-74, DON'T USE THEM:

DESIRED ACTION	PHONE BUTTONS TO PRESS
Hold	[Feature] [7] [4]
Background Music	[Feature] [8] [6]
Call Forward	[Feature] [4]
Call Pickup	[Feature] [7] [5]
Conference/Transfer	[Feature] [3]
Do Not Disturb	[Feature] [8] [5]
Exclusive Hold	[Feature] [Hold]
Last Number Redial	[Feature] [5]
Link	[Feature] [7] [1]
Message - Reply	[Feature] [6] [5]
Message - Send	[Feature] [1]
Page	[Feature] [6] [0]
Program External Autodial	[Feature] [*] [1]
Program Feature Autodial	[Feature] [*] [3]
Program Internal Autodial	[Feature] [*] [2]
Ring Again	[Feature] [2]
Speed Dial	[Feature] [0]
Transfer (if equipped)	[Feature] [7] [0]
Voice Call	[Feature] [6] [6]
Voice Call Deny	[Feature] [8] [8]
Cancel Features	[Feature] + [#] + Code

Except for Feature-74 call parking, the other Phone Features are given here just for the sake of reference. Once they were listed on cards on all the phones, but nowadays, most of those cards are missing. Thus, should you for some reason need this information, here it is.

Phone List

Phone List

n. A directory of in-store telephone extensions.

NOTE: For example, these are the phone extensions I know about where I work.

By DEPT. NAME			By PHONE #
Bakery	264		227	Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping	227		231	Manager
Break Room	232		232	Break Room
Capt. Choice	238		233	Meat
Cheese	251		234	Produce
COC	299		235	Floral
CSM	301		237	Dairy
CSM Desk	300		238	Capt. Choice
Dairy	237		240	Service
Deli	250		242	Pricing
Floral	235		248	Unknown
Grocery, Floor	290		249	Unknown
Manager	231		250	Deli
Meat	233		251	Cheese
Mobile, Mgr #1	314		264	Bakery
Mobile, Mgr #2	315		285	Pharmacy
Personnel	308		290	Grocery, Floor
Pharmacy	285		291	Receiving
Pricing	242		299	COC
Produce	234		300	CSM Desk
Receiving	291		301	CSM
Service	240		308	Personnel
Unknown	248		314	Mobile, Mgr #1
Unknown	249		315	Mobile, Mgr #2

There's also an unused phone back in the Dairy/Frozen back hallway: x295. Plus, there's the series of “call parking” numbers mentioned above under PHONE FEATURES: x801, x802, ... and so on.

Occasionally you might hear a PAGE like, “Security, please call extension 804.” Since it's rare for the call parking lot to fill up beyond 802, for the most part, those are likely to be PAGES intended to spook a suspected SHOPLIFTER.

One last trick: If you need to talk to another STORE, and you know its STORE NUMBER, you can pick up any in-store phone and dial [6] + Store Number to be connected to that store directly.

Pick of the Week

Pick of the Week

n. 1. A weekly sales promotion of a usually small ITEM at the checkout registers. Abbreviated POTW. 2. CASES of the Pick of the Week ITEM received as part of the usual LOAD: “Where's my Pick of the Week?”

Plus, (+)

Plus, (+)

v. To record on the (NEGATIVE ORDER WORK) SHEET the addition of one or more CASES put into BACK-STOCK: “Remember to plus that.” Also PUT IT IN THE GUN.

POP SHELLS Porch

POP SHELLS Porch

n. The outside area accessed via ALARMED perimeter door that is enclosed by a high chain-link fence where STACKS of empty POP SHELLS, PRODUCT-specific PALLETS, plastic BREAD RACKS, and other such weather-proof VENDOR-owned ITEMS are stored to await pick-up on their next RUN.

NOTE: There is no doorknob, latch, or doorbell on the outside of the POP SHELLS Porch door. Thus, if you make the mistake of closing the door behind you, or the wind blows it closed, you are extremely stuck.

TRUE STORY: Yep. I've locked myself out. And of course, it was a windy, snowy, sub-freezing winter day. I quickly found an old broom handle and began banging on the outside of that door for all I was worth. The M.O.D. appeared after a few minutes—lucky for me he was in the BACK ROOM, relatively nearby—and said, “Don't feel too bad, I've done it myself.” Yet, wouldn't you know it: the next day, I heard about it from everyone!

POTW

POTW

n. See “Pick of the Week.”

Priority Service

Priority Service

n. An urgent call over the PA announcing that the checkout registers have become backlogged or crowded, and for all DEPARTMENTS to immediately send personnel to the FRONT-END to assist the cashiers by serving as baggers. A way to quickly increase throughput at the registers and increase CUSTOMER GOODWILL.

Purple Tote

Purple Tote

n. A usually purple-colored plastic bin with two large, opposing and interlocking tabs for a lid. Typically used to transport and/or ship a collection of small or oddly-shaped ITEMS, such as spices, toothbrushes, etc. Purple Totes are mainly used by the GENERAL MERCHANDISE (GM) DEPARTMENT. Also TUB

NOTE: TUB is the proper name for these things, but apart from the RECEIVER and a few others, nobody will know what you mean unless you call it a Purple Tote.

Sometimes cigarettes or other ITEMS of special value may be shipped in red totes; sometimes not.

Put it in the GUN

Put it in the GUN

v. See GUN.