Acme Markets

My responsibilities in this entry level role was to give the "icing on the cake" level of customer service as the final impression before our guests leave the store.  Placing unwanted merchandise back on the shelves if a customer changes their mind, and keeping the parking lot clear of carts as our guests depart for the day.  It was also part of my job to keep the store clean and maintain proper sanitation by clearing the sales floor of spills and emptying trash as needed and in a timely manner.  Greet, Offer, Thank.  Great building blocks for a working youth in high school.

As a cashier, I was responsible for providing that customer with their best experience at the cash register.  Greet every customer and ask them if they found everything they were looking for.  If there was a weekly special that we were offering, not only do I make sure they are aware of the special, but also let them know that with their convenience in mind, we have quantities available right at the register.  Additionally, I was required to process customer payment accurately regardless of tender.  The role builds trust and integrity as we dealt with large amounts of currency on a shared till.

The self-checkout area is a unique area to work in.  As the self-checkout attendant, my responsibilities with regards to the 5+ self-checkouts was to ensure that each customer's experience at the self-checkout terminals was smooth and pleasant.  This involved directing customers to an available self-checkout, balancing which customers to assist if any issues arise during their checkout experience, and ensuring each customer has a great day after finishing their transaction.

At the customer service desk I processed refunds, money orders and money wire transactions, cashed payroll checks, sold lottery tickets and cigarettes.  Occasionally, the closing customer service associate would assist the closing bookkeeper with duties after the Customer Service Desk closed.  If a customer had a complaint, this is where it would be handled in person. 

As the evening bookkeeper I counted, balanced, and reconciled all currency from the day's business.  I made large currency bands for easier counting and for deposits in the following day's armored car pickup.  All monies were accounted for and logged both on paper and in their POS system.

This was the pinnacle of my time at Acme.  My responsibilities in this role included assigning the scheduled cashiers to their respective registers, ensuring break/lunch periods were taken on-time.  Designating a responsible associate to run the Front-End when I had to take my break/lunch.  Occasionally act as the person in charge of the store in the absence of salaried management.  I even learned how to write on cakes....who knew!

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It was this period of time that one manager at Acme in particular recognized that I had an interest in Loss Prevention/Asset Protection.  Between the fraudulent coupons, flim-flams, fraudulent checks, store shrink audits, and shoplifting, this manager recognized that I had an eye for catching these things and encouraged me pursue that interest.  This led to me applying for an open Loss Prevention Investigator position at Pathmark, and eventually getting hired.