Grandpa Gotta Work: A Day Of Firsts
This is my attempt at chronicling different points of significance in my return to work, especially since it's a job I've never done before. My last full-time job was 6.5 years ago working for myself. My last full-time job working for someone else was 20 years ago.
It's Kind Of Like A Chick Being Booted Out Of The Nest
Grandpa Gotta Work is officially out of the training stage. Or at least I think I am. While Thursday and Friday last week saw me taking off on my own for a few stops, today, for the first time, I ended up alone from start to finish.
I'm learning that you never know what's going to happen in this job until it actually happens. Friday I left the main office believing I would meet the general manager somewhere on my own route and that we would go around together collecting machines. Or something like that.
While I was waiting for that to happen this morning, I got a text from him basically asking me to come into the office (a 40-ish minute drive), because he wasn't going to be able to leave as early as he had hoped. And, I was going to be on my own.
Thankfully, I was ready ahead of time and was able to get into the company van and go. As far as being alone is concerned, as I said, they'd kind of eased me into it towards the end of last week.
Once I was at the office, we went over my route for today and tomorrow, so I'd know how much 'product' I needed to load up on. Product is a general term to describe what amounts to prizes—large and small plush animals for crane machines, toys in capsules for other machines, along with candy and an assortment of other stuff.
However, today was a collection day, so the product was basically to replenish what might have gone out over the weekend to keep it full and appealing to anyone who might want to play. We end up doing a major stocking on Fridays or so to gear up for the weekend.
Which meant I would basically be doing a number of things at once. Filling machines with prizes. Collecting coins. Collecting Cash. Checking for mobile/credit card amounts. A lot of machines have an old fashioned meter of some kind inside the machine, normally where the cash or coin is. Others, you have to go into an onscreen menu to fish out. All are different, and since I'm still knew to all of this, it's a discovery each time.
So, are the keys. I've mentioned those before. There's one that is used quite a bit, but there are also two other versions of that key also used. The lock pretty much looks the same, so it's really just a matter of getting familiar with which locks go to each machine. On top of a lock on a door to get to the money, there are also padlocks and metal barriers to get through. Thanks to folks who can't leave well enough alone, I get to go through two padlocks and two door keys just to get money and look at counters.
The Route
By the time I got back up to the start of my route, it was already after 11 AM. Thankfully, the large pizza place I started at did not have a bunch of kids running around it. While today's stop was not to collect, but to make sure things were working and so forth, I did have to fill up some empty bins for prizes (and still need more), along with making sure everything was still working. One machine was not, and has had intermittent issues for weeks. I didn't try to fix it, since I was kind of on the clock and know the least about the machine.
From there it was on to the first collection point, another pizza place, but different company. Things went well there for the most part. I was left by myself again to work, and I managed to get all of the monies retrieved, and then went through and put in all the numbers.
Except I did something I hadn't done before, and that was, I closed out the app I enter the information in before I'd saved what I'd input. Bam! All the numbers were gone!
So, I had to go and open up all the machines again and put all the numbers back in. Rookie mistake. I guess I won't be doing that again.
I got a little lost getting to the next place, because I thought it was in a different location. It turned out to be not so far away from the second pizza place so I had to loop back around. The only thing there was a jukebox machine. I like those. One key got me into the cash receptors, but I needed to also see the mobile pay amount. The machine was off, and I don't remember being told how to turn it on. So, after what seemed like minutes of searching around for an on switch on the inside and around the sides of the box, I texted for assistance. Turns out, the on switch is underneath the jukebox and somewhat recessed. Since the jukeboxes are all mounted on the wall and the casing is black, you can't see them without sitting on the floor with your back against the wall and looking straight up.
With the juke box turned on, I was able to get the amounts I needed, turn it back off, lock it up and move onto the next stop.
The rest of the route went relatively smoothly. I got into nearly every other machine without assistance, until I came to the third and final pizza place (yet another brand). The machines I was there to collect from were all in working order, but a change machine that I didn't have change for (and wasn't there to collect from), was out of service. After taking care of the other machines, I made sure it was one of ours, and was told to go ahead and get it up and running.
Apparently, it had been a while since it was last filled, because it was completely out of change. I used quarters out of another machine to fill it and then made sure it worked by putting a dollar into the money receptor. It worked! Hopefully, it stays that way.
Payday
I got paid for the first time, too. It wasn't a whole month's worth, but it was a substantial amount, and bigger because my starting pay is a dollar higher than I was previously told. I didn't know what to say other than thank you. I don't know if that means I'm doing well, or their expecting me to pick up things quickly, or it was just them being nice. All I know is, I want to makes sure I live up to what feels like trust in me and my abilities.
My wife also got paid today and so it's nice to see both amounts in the checking account. This is what she's been wanting to happen for a while now. It's been cutting quite a bit into my time on STEEM (since I've been working longer days so far), but I believe this job is good for me and us. You do what you got to do, right?
On To Tuesday
Tomorrow, I don't need to go into the office (unless something changes), so I'll be starting a different part of the route from my house. I'm not sure exactly what sequence I'll follow, since different places open at different times, but I will probably start at the northernmost spot and work my way back home.
Need to get some gas before I go, though. Otherwise, I won't make it very far.
All images come from Pixabay
Grandpa will surely have a great time
Well, that is yet to be seen. It's been okay so far. The job has things that I like. I have some structure and repetition, but locations change fairly frequently. Right now I'm paying attention to a lot of details that I will probably not have to worry about so much later. I hope, anyway.
You seem to be quite upbeat about the new job and are taking to it well. In a month or so it'll all be familiar I suppose and you'll probably do your runs a little faster each time.
I think it's good that you've taken to it well and seem engaged with it. Too many people float on by and don't take active roles in their own lives - Not you it seems.
Well done on your first pay day and I'm sure it's only the first of many.
Thanks, @galenkp.
I'd love to be fully up to speed in a month. That would be great. There seems to be plenty of repetition, so maybe that's possible. Except for fixing machines. I know that's going to take some time.
As far as I know, all I've ever done is take an active role in my life. I hope it's always like that. I don't think I know any other way. It's kind of the way I am.
A company Van? Did they give you a gas credit card too, or does the gas come out of your pocket? Sounds like a successful day.
Hey, @bashadow.
There is supposed to be a gas card and a corporate credit card for business related expenses. I don't have either of my own yet, but I've been loaned a gas card until mine arrives. There's a lot of driving involved, with a lot of miles, and we do have to haul stuff around, so I guess they figure it's best to provide all of that.
All in all, I think it went well. There won't be any tallying of the money I collected versus the totals I inputed until today, so we'll see how that goes. So far the collections I've made have seemed to work out. I'm trying to be careful, but it is easy to make a mistake.
I guess that is why accountants get paid well, no one really likes to do the add it all up and balance the books. To easy to miss a decimal place or have a 7 look like a 4 or is that an 8 or 9 type thing.
It has been a while I have read your posts given my vacation but it was great to hear this new chapter for you. As today, it will surey make for some interesting stories! Congrats and enjoy!
Posted using Partiko iOS
Thank you, @newageinv.
You go on vacation and look what happens!
As time goes by, I'm sure there will be plenty of stories to tell. I'm hoping the negative ones will remain at a minimum, but I suppose it's inevitable someone will be unhappy about something I've done. I think as long as I keep trying to improve, that's the important part.
I would say you are settling in nicely. And a paycheck! Aint it nice!.
The paycheck was nice, and I think I'm doing an okay job. My main concern right now is getting into machines, getting the money out and the counter numbers entered, and then getting all the machines locked up and the money where it needs to go.
Sure they have hammered it into you, and your common sense as well. But stay alert, especially if you follow a routine. Don't need anything bad happening. And worst case, remember. Always give up the money and NEVER get in a vehicle with anyone demanding you do so. Stay safe :)
I think your words epitomize why you are @practicalthought.
Good counsel and thanks for your concern on my behalf. At present, I don't have a routine, so I guess I'll just not get one. :)
Be discreet, nondescript, blend in, so on and so forth. I'm pretty good at those things, anyway. :)
I am sure it will all work somehow. :-)
Howdy sir Glen! that job is going well! And it isn't boring yet. lol. Do they give you the list of places to go to and you can make your own schedule?
With machines like the big ones in the photo with the girls, how do you get into them, especially if people are playing? Do they roll out?
Hey, @janton.
I'm not sure if it can get boring with the human element involved. It might not be what I would call fun, though.
Like today. Second to last stop I have a guy come back watching me with a mug and a pitcher of beer in his hand. I say hi, he says hi back and he just stands there as I'm digging quarters out of the inside of a machine (they were supposed to go in the coin bin).
After a minute or so, he takes off into the pizza place and after I've collected the rest of the machines and kind of rearranged one of the crane machines, he comes back. I say hi, he says hi. And then he just stands there smiling at me with his mug and pitcher of beer. I keep doing what I'm doing until he asks if I'm done with the other machine. I say yes, so he starts playing it. I guess he was patiently waiting for me to be done. It just wasn't apparent what he wanted.
re: list and schedule
I finally did get a route list this week. There's an app we use called routeboost, and among other things, it can be populated with places and what to do there. Like today was mostly filling up machines that needed it, and making sure that all the machines were in working order, and if not, called in for maintenance if I can't fix them within a fifteen or so minute period. The timeframe is variable, though, and unfortunately, I do tend to go beyond that amount because I sometimes have to figure out if there is a problem, diagnose if there is one, than try to fix it if I find something wrong. So, it's not always readily apparent because the out of order sign on it doesn't specify, and of course the person who put it there isn't around.
I do get to make my own schedule, except I can only get in when the businesses will allow me. I just found out one of our larger accounts is opened way earlier than I've been getting there so I hope to at least get there an hour earlier than I did today so I get to another place that's fairly large just as it opens. That way I don't have screaming kids and then creepy drunk/homeless guys lurking about. If I can avoid lunch hours in some places and dinner hours in others, it's best.
re: collect machines
I don't know how all are set up, but the ones I've seen, including ours, have locks on the front where they're collected. It's generally in the vicinity of where the money goes in. If people are playing them when I get there, I try to work around them with the machines that aren't being played. That's the reason for getting there earlier if possible.
They do roll out, but if that needs to happen, that usually means there's something wrong with the machine. I'd rather that not be the case.
Howdy again sir Glen! Thanks for filling me in on the way things work. That one guy turned out to be harmless, just a little quirky! I hope you can get to most of them when they first open and I hope you can avoid evenings all together!
I didn't realize that this job, or part of it, is really a technician job with minor repairs and such!
What happens if it's so broke they have to take it out of there, where does it go and who fixes it?
The main office has a warehouse, and they have a couple of people, one in particular, who know how to fix the computer or motherboard parts. I could probably try to learn, it's just that it probably needs to be done at the warehouse rather than on location. So, they pull the machines that can't be fixed on site and take them there. If they can't bring them back to life, they eventually salvage them, I believe.
oh ok, I was wondering if they had to have a factory guy come out or something but that's good if they can fix them themselves.