So yesterday was my first day and it was literally nuts. On top of that the most training they were willing to give me was not a lot and pretty brief, I didn't even get my box cutter til the end of my shift. So any tips and tricks of the trade you could possibly spare to make my job easier? And what are some of the job aspects no one tells you about? Overall I'm a little confused with no one to really ask. Thanks.
Sounds like a normal first day to me. Don't panic, it will get easier as you go.
There are a few Drug/GM clerks/department heads that post here so maybe they can offer suggestions.
Find out who your coworkers are in your department and don't hesitate to ask questions.
Some areas are time consuming like the small items. It is important to rotate.
When using the box cutter, make sure you don't cut thru cardboard into product. Especially after you put in a new blade. I work Grocery and Drug/GM sometimes gets the diapers off my paper towel pallets. They open cutter all the way and slice anything in the way like Zorro, toss my products in the backroom to get the diapers. Later, I find a lot of damaged products because they sliced thru the cardboard while cutting plastic wrap off pallet.
Don't waste your time looking for where one or two items go. Set it aside and work what you know is in front of you on the isle. As you are working you will probably find out where those items go you couldn't find earlier. It will take some time to learn where everything is. Stay on your isle. I would break down my boxes as I went and put them in a shopping cart. Make up isle? Good luck. I hated that isle and I'm female and know make up.
A tip for faster stocking, only use the box cutter as a last resort because as stated before it can also damage product. Try setting the box on its side and using your thumbs push on the edge next to the tape, it will loosen the tape and you can then open the top. For light boxes you can gently punch the top and loosen the tape to open.
I'm brand new to these forums. I worked at Kroger for almost 5.5 years...3 of those as a Drug/GM manager.
Here are a few pointers -
-It sounds kind of dumb, but stretch before your shift. Seriously. Drug/GM is a VERY fast paced environment. You'll be bending, twisting, turning, squatting, and/or kneeling throughout your entire shift. You'll also be lifting heavy items/totes. Be mindful of how you are lifting to avoid injury.
-Don't expect a lot of training. The only training I ever received at Kroger was sitting in front of a computer. Even when I was promoted from associate to department head, I received 0 additional training.
-Make sure you put things in the right spot. Check the UPC code on the product. 9 times out of 10 it will match the barcode on the tag. If the product is a "Bonus Buy" (10% more free, has a free sample bundled with it, etc) the UPC code on the product will most likely NOT match the barcode on the tag.
-Communication is key. If your dept. head asks you to do something and it doesn't get done, leave them a note explaining why it didn't get done (co-manager had you do something else, you were up front a LOT, etc)
-Ask questions. Personally, I know I'd rather answer multiple questions and have something done correctly than answer no questions and have it done incorrectly.
-As mentioned earlier, rotation is key. When conditioning, do random date checks on products.
-When conditioning, you don't have to pull everything forward. Only the first 2-3 items. I know at our store, not every product got front faced. Some items (toothpaste, bar soap) were "stair-stepped."
Clean up before you leave. Put boxes in compacter, put items on the back stock carts neatly, don't just dump them on there. Put away security tags, label gun, etc. where they go, don't leave them on a cart or a box in the backroom. Make sure you know where damaged products go.
GM is a department where you run into a lot of oddball things. If you can, get the front end to work some of the candy and cigarettes in their downtime.
1. Stay off your phone. You don't have a minute to goof off because there is always something that needs to be done.
2. Always ask the department manager what he wants you to do first. You might think he wants you to do one thing, but there may be a display that has to go up for free Friday or a 3-day sale.
3. When stocking, make sure that high risk items (nicorette, condoms, pregnancy tests, razor blades) are never left in the open. They get stolen all. the. time. Also, anything over about $10 should have an anti-theft sticky tag on it.
4. When working backstock, make sure your BOH and allocation are correct. If you're not careful, you could end up with a bunch of "holes." Items that are not properly accounted for.
5. Learn how to break down a truck! If you break it down correctly, you can save a lot of time. Nothing is worse than taking out a cart of soap and finding out when you return that you gotta make a 4 minute trip to get one other box of it out there. Also, if you think a cart is too heavy, take things off and make a second trip. It's not worth damaging your back and endangering customers.
6. Don't hog things if you don't need to. If you're not using an RF, put it back. If you don't need a cart, put it back. If you don't need a pallet jack, put it back. Someone else might need it!
7. Look for a new job. Warehouse workers typically do the same work but get paid $10+ an hour. Can you drive a forklift? That's another $2. If you plan on staying at Kroger, you'll want to apply to any lead or manager position you can find. It'll make you look good for advancement within the company.
