Ever since one of our MBTMs quit, it's been horrid in some zones. I was working on Sunday and as soon as I got called in early, we had a full fitting room + GS cart of go backs to be worked out. I worked on a cart, and then went up for backup cashiering and was up at the front lanes for about half an hour.
I finally got back to my zone and it was being shopped like crazy on top of mixed merchandise everywhere! I was trying to be out of guests' way whilst trying to be like CIHYFS whilst many of them were all pissed off and glaring at me because I was in the way! Dear god, sorry for trying to be available for guest assistance! I walked away, trying to zone what I could, and I heard this rude ass woman say that I was being "inconsiderate" by trying to move things whilst they were trying to find things. I wasn't even in her way in the first place! Okay, bitch.
I went for back-up cashiering again because apparently no one else on the sales floor is capable of going up. I finally got back to my zone after another half hour. We closed an hour early on this day, so I was getting super worried. Also, super bitch from earlier had somehow managed to unfold every shirt I had folded earlier.
"Team, we need back-up to the front lanes."
I still hadn't taken my lunch yet at this point and I was about have a panic attack. I had no where near enough time. Nothing was set to adjacency anymore. Short sleeves were mixed with long sleeves, red and green together, nothing in order by size. I got back to the fitting room and decided I would take my lunch (It was scheduled for that time anyway) and I called for our closing LOD on walkie. I explained the situation to our ETL-AP and he said "Okay, just keep working. You can do it." I was like "WHAT!" And then he talked to our other closing LOD and she had the same reaction as I did. She came over to me personally and asked me to explain and I was trying to explain but instead just kinda walked with her and waved to the fucked up, mixed up, unfolded clothes that I had folded just minutes before.
She sent me on my lunch and I went outside. Seven missed calls from mom. Oh dear god. She hadn't left a voicemail or text so I was worried. I rang her back, and she didn't pick up. I tried again, and she answered, "Just so you know, -- is back in the hospital again. I'll be there, so don't go to my house after work." After that, two missed calls from dad, plus a voicemail because he actually leaves voicemails. Next, two missed FaceTime calls from my boyfriend + one text with an attachment of my dog with shampoo bubbles all around him during a bath. He was taking care of my dog whilst I was at work and decided to bathe him. That cheered me up a bit. Next up, 23 missed messages on a group chat with my close friends. They were planning another memorial for our friend to celebrate the two year anniversary. I missed out on pretty much all the planning, so I read up on the details in the chat and then replied. Time to clock back in. I got back to the madness, and the LODs decided I should get another z-rack and pull all the mixed product off. I did, and kept zoning.
"Team, we need two back-ups to the front lanes."
We had two full carts of go-backs + two full z-racks at this point, plus a half cart we'd just gotten from Guest Services.
"Team, we still need another back up!"
I kept zoning (per instruction of the LOD) and tried to fix the clearance. We were still a little busy and it was 30 minutes before closing. "Excuse me ma'am do you have any of this in the back?" We did. I take care of that guest and get back to zoning. We have 15 minutes until close and still the same amount of go backs. A couple HLTMs come to help in Softlines. We keep zoning, and the store closes. Everyone's in Softlines at this point.
After 5 minutes, the team splits up with some on go-backs and others on zoning. We finish zoning 39 minutes after close. Everyone's pissed cos of that z-rack of dumped clothes. I help TMs put items away and see others just dumping piles back on the racks because they want to get out. I keep saying "Sorry." over and over for adding to the go backs. It was an hour after close by this point.
The LOD is helping and says "I'm just pissed they let it get this bad." (Referring to the dayside/brand team) Those of us closing SLs agreed. MBTM's friend goes "This is why I left Softlines." And I thought to myself, "Honey, if your friend didn't walk out on us, this adjacency would be set be set, and we wouldn't have Xhilaration all fucked up." I tried to reword it, but in the moment I couldn't, so I just said it aloud minus the swear word. Everyone paused for a bit, and after she didn't reply, we finished up the go-backs. Everyone was walking to the time clock over an hour after close and she walks with me and says, "Are you looking to get out of Softlines, too?"
Is it completely the TM that quit's fault? No, not really. But when we have 3 hours to zone the biggest zone in SLs, lots of go backs, angry guests, and a need for back-up everyone hour or less on the lanes, it should be pretty clear we need support.
