return on investment

This past week was not a good one. 

This is what I provided to my company:

• Helping dozens of customers.

• Answering hundreds of questions, such as:

• Where's the bathroom? (Winner of the most frequently asked).
• Do you sell brand X here?
• How do I clean this garment? (I don't know; I always check the label).
• Where's the cheapest floor? (At Macy's).
• Can you hold this until next week; I'd like to think about it? (No, we can't).
• You really don't have this dress in a size 6; why not?
• Where would I find brand Y?
• When is this going on sale?
• Can I return this if I change my mind? (My least favorite question).

• Lugging armfuls of clothes to the area where someone else will sort them.

• Cleaning dressing rooms of inside out, on the floor, left-behind clothes.

• Processing new credit cards.

• Handling returns.

• Researching items we don't stock in the store.

• Trying to find hundreds of items that cover a square city block.

• Oh, and selling a few things, where likely 30% will be returned.

And this is what I received for my three-day, 20.36 hour, work-week.

• Some exercise;  I walked about 25 miles.

• Meeting some very nice people.

• Working with a team I really like.

• Being surrounded by gorgeous clothes, with the opportunity to buy them at a nice discount.

• Oh, and a gross paycheck of exactly $60.66 (My returns were 72% of my sales). That's an hourly wage of $2.98.

Admittedly, this was a very bad week. One of the worst since I've been working. And I do have good weeks. But still. 

Overall for the year, I'm up 22% in net sales; half that in net pay.  I'd say I'm an excellent investment for the company. 

I love Mondays. Four full days ahead to rest my aching feet.