I was scheduled to work the 5am shift at Sam's Club this morning. My first real Black Friday. I had never shopped for them, didn't find anything I really needed to be up before the crack of dawn. Who does that?
A lot of people I tell you. But most of them sleep in till noon.
3:40am I got out of bed, showered, ate breakfast (Thanksgiving left overs, something everyone is thankful for!), and left for work. I snuck in the backdoor around 4:40am and got the run down on the sales for the registers. We didn't really know what was going on with the floor sales, I didn't even notice any differences. When a member would bring something up and say "Wow! It's only 45 dollars!" I would nod and smile like I knew all along.
People were lined up outside, and then the doors opened and they all lined up at the member service desk. The cashiers just stood there. I didn't get my first member till around 5:20am. They all bought electronics.
I was chipper, selling Plus memberships for a 25 dollar gift card, until around 7. The store died. Members were shopping for the normal stuff, and they weren't in a rush to get out the door, so I had no one. I started falling asleep. I had to walk in circles, pat my cheeks, clap my hands. It is very possible to fall asleep on your feet, mid conversation even. I didn't want to go on breaks, I didn't want to go home. I was happy to be working and making Plus membership sales.
It didn't get busy in the store till around 12. And it wasn't just busy it was super busy, lines all the way down, every register open. Busy. I couldn't get to my break without someone stopping me and asking where something was.
Finally, 1 hour after my shift ended they kicked me off a register and told me to go home. I did reluctantly. I get to go in tomorrow, but it will be at 2, so i won't make as many sales. We don't sell that many in the afternoon.
Overall it was a crazy day, full of laughs, patience testing, sales, and shouting (my voice is tired tonight, it is cracking). Can't wait till tomorrow. Sales at Sam's don't last a day, they last a weekend. Wish me luck!
P.S. The ice started melting today, we have road again!
