Tuesday, December 30, 2014

... And I'm Staying

First the drama.  The GM that welcomed me on a trial basis at the new shop has been "demoted".  She is no longer a GM anywhere, she is being sent to "train" as an assistant manager at a different shop for 2 months, then she may get another trial as a GM.

One of the 2 Assistant Managers at the same shop put in her 2 weeks notice to go work the front desk at Kalahari.
Meanwhile:
  • I am making better tips ($3.59 avg compared to $3.01 at the other shop) and more $ per hour ($14.97 compared to $13.38).
  • I feel the neighborhood is safer.
  • The shop is smaller (fewer employees) so I get to learn new skills such as answering the counter or the pick-up window.
  • The shop closes earlier, so I am not as tired the next day.
All of this led to me calling my old GM this morning and asking to be permanently transferred to the new shop (despite the drama and not knowing who the new GM will be).

So I drove tonight, wasn't expecting much as it was a Monday and my previous Monday at this shop was 10 deliveries and $30 in tips.  Tonight was totally different:  19 deliveries and $58 in tips!

Manager Lilly remarked that she had never been as busy on a Monday. I did notice that during the last couple hours I had a few repeat deliveries to neighborhoods that I had recently delivered to ... also I have noticed some other drivers that don't consistently use their car toppers ... coincidence?

Monday, December 22, 2014

New Shop, Big Bucks!

So about a week ago, I thought I was working on a Friday night and found out I wasn't on the schedule.  Mostly on a lark, I called former manager Meredith.  When I started at this shop back in June, she was an assistant manager.  Within about a month she got transferred and is now the GM at a franchise the next town over.  This is a sleepy lakefront town.

Anyways, Meredith replied that she actually did need a driver.  I didn't really want to work farther from home, but since I'm on Christmas break from my day job as a math teacher, I do have time to travel.

This shop is the smallest of the 3 I have worked at.  There is no dining room, it is delivery / carry-out only.  There is no dish machine, all the dishes are washed by hand (by the drivers, me).

My first delivery tip was $5 (to the cashier at the local Marathon station).  Next another $5 on a $50 order.  (Had to rerun because someone else packed the order incorrectly.  Kind of frustrating but learned not to trust others.)  Third delivery was a $3 tip who apologized that she couldn't give more.

I was liking this town!

Next another $5, and then $10 on another large ($55) order, then 2 more $5's.

I was starting to notice a pattern at the former store, that the dinner crowd tips better than the late night crowd, and this was definitely the case, as my next 6 deliveries included a stiff, 2 $2's, and 3 $3's.  Final delivery of the night was another $10 tip (on a $20 order).

Totals for the night were 6.99 hours, 14 deliveries, 56 miles, and $62 in tips.  I was the only driver from about 9:30 until close (midnight, on a Friday).

I've got 5 more shifts planned over the next 2 weeks (including 2 more Fridays plus New Years Eve).  If this continues, I may seriously consider a permanent transfer!