CPs that work merchandise

[DirtyDiana]

Hi there!
I have a question for the CPs that have in the past, or are currently working merchandise.

How do you like it? I work retail where I live and it can be stressful at times. I'm not able to do refunds/returns, void transactions, sometimes changing prices for sales in the register, etc (I have to call someone else to do it). Are you able to do that yourself at Disney, or does a manager or someone higher up have to do that for you? Do you run into a lot of problems?

I'm not sure if I want to make merch one of my top 3 choices or not. I don't mind working it where I am because it's not super busy but I think if I were to work retail at Disney (especially during the holidays) it might be too overwhelming.

Can I have your opinion on it?

 

[taigirl87]

I did merch in fantasyland and loved it! I had worked in one retail store that was small before my program and now I work in a bigger one, and of all three retail places, disney was my favorite and the less stressful of them all! There are only a few things that you need a manager there for, I can't remember exactly though...I only remember that you couldn't do an exchange/return from a sale that you had rang up, which can be a pain if you are working at a cart alone! I loved it though and would do merch again at Disney in a heartbeat!

 

[jeeesss]

A lot of stuff you can do without a manager approval. You can change prices if something rang up wrong but I think a manager prefers that you call them unless you're in a huge area then don't bother calling because the guest will get impatient (for good reason). You can't, however, do returns/exchanges if you were the person that originally rang them up. 99% of the time it's not an issue unless you're alone on a cart.

I've been in retail since I could work at 16 and Disney is by far, the least stressful (and duh, it's fun). It's not hard to do and if you're working in a place like the Confectionary or Emporium on busy nights it CAN get hectic but time goes by fast that way.

I've been in merch for almost 2 years and I love it. Plus, if you need more hours, you can pick up shifts anywhere in the parks.

 

[DirtyDiana]

I did merch in fantasyland and loved it! I had worked in one retail store that was small before my program and now I work in a bigger one, and of all three retail places, disney was my favorite and the less stressful of them all! There are only a few things that you need a manager there for, I can't remember exactly though...I only remember that you couldn't do an exchange/return from a sale that you had rang up, which can be a pain if you are working at a cart alone! I loved it though and would do merch again at Disney in a heartbeat!

First, I have to say off topic that on my computer your reply to me is showing up as the first post, above my question. Which I find very odd, lol. Is it showing that way for you/anyone else?

Okay, back on topic! Thanks for replying! That's so odd that you can't refund something you rang up. Are you allowed to do returns on your own without a manager, if you remember? It's just always a pain because where I work they take forever to come to the register.

I just hate at my work when customers want to pay a different way/give you a different amount in cash after you already put in the computer how they are paying, or when they want to take something off their purchase after I've already hit total and can't go back, etc because it's such s hassle and always requires someone else to come up and fix it. During the holidays when it's super crowded at Disney I would be so stressed having that happen! But if you say it's easy and not stressful I'll take your word for it I would love to work merch there but those things are making me worry!

 

[DirtyDiana]

A lot of stuff you can do without a manager approval. You can change prices if something rang up wrong but I think a manager prefers that you call them unless you're in a huge area then don't bother calling because the guest will get impatient (for good reason). You can't, however, do returns/exchanges if you were the person that originally rang them up. 99% of the time it's not an issue unless you're alone on a cart.

I've been in retail since I could work at 16 and Disney is by far, the least stressful (and duh, it's fun). It's not hard to do and if you're working in a place like the Confectionary or Emporium on busy nights it CAN get hectic but time goes by fast that way.

I've been in merch for almost 2 years and I love it. Plus, if you need more hours, you can pick up shifts anywhere in the parks.

Thank you! I can usually change prices where I work unless it's a big price change. It's so nice to hear though from both of you that it's not so bad! That is definitely a plus.

So if you work at a cart, what are you supposed to do if you are having problems? Surely you can't just walk away and leave the cart unattended?

It's those busy days I'm scared of. I hate when customers get impatient when there is nothing I can do about it. I do like how fast those days go by though

 

[jeeesss]

Typically there will be a phone or radio on the register and you just call a cast member in a store you work in (that's close and usually the one where you clock in) OR you call a coordinator/manager (again, it's the waiting game depending on the area)

 

[taigirl87]

First, I have to say off topic that on my computer your reply to me is showing up as the first post, above my question. Which I find very odd, lol. Is it showing that way for you/anyone else?

It's that way for me too! When I replied it was like that. Ive never seen that happen before! Lol

 

[peterpan2011]

Hi there!
I have a question for the CPs that have in the past, or are currently working merchandise.

How do you like it? I work retail where I live and it can be stressful at times. I'm not able to do refunds/returns, void transactions, sometimes changing prices for sales in the register, etc (I have to call someone else to do it). Are you able to do that yourself at Disney, or does a manager or someone higher up have to do that for you? Do you run into a lot of problems?

I'm not sure if I want to make merch one of my top 3 choices or not. I don't mind working it where I am because it's not super busy but I think if I were to work retail at Disney (especially during the holidays) it might be too overwhelming.

Can I have your opinion on it?

I just returned from working merchandise in HS, and I loved it. Like the others have said, it sometimes gets overwhelming, especially at the cart, however, you
do the best you can and the Guests are pretty understanding (usually). I would recommend that when you pick up your shift at the cart, make certain you have what you need! I mean bags, a pen, appropriate change in the till, ice...because although coordinators can be called to have someone bring these things, you will be much happier if you start off well-stocked, trust me! There is nothing worse than having a Guest wait because you ran out of receipt paper! Also...word of caution: make sure you know how to operate the Nextel phone at the cart. I had no idea how it worked, and it was frustrating and embarrassing one day because I could not reach anyone! As far as crazy busy times...it happens. In those circumstances, I just deal with one Guest at a time and expedite the sale as quickly and cheerfully as I can. I try not to let the size of the line intimidate me. There will ALWAYS be people that you cannot satisfy, and you cannot let it bother you. I hope this is helpful!

 

[KiSsMySaSs89]

If I worked a cart and someone asked me to return something that I had just rung up I would give them the choice to either let me call or go to the closest store. You can return anything to any store no matter where you got it. You don't need a manager for it. And like the others said, there's not a lot that you need a manager for. Most of it you can do yourself. They teach you everything you need to know. And it really isn't that stressful... The most stressful part for me was stocking, I enjoyed it, but you can only restock hats so many times before you want to cry. I was stuck doing that on either Christmas eve or the day before and I was already feeling homesick and I had to go backstage and take a few deep breaths and calm myself before going back out. But other than that, I loved everything about it.

 

[MinnieJay]

I worked Merch at the All Star resorts. Pretty easy job except when the Cheerleaders would come and destroy the store and steal everything and oh goodness..THE BRAZILIANS and their gift cards are the MOST annoying thing in the world. They would come in the store in groups of 50 -___- anyways, only things that suck about working merch is 1) the pay...I felt as if we did SOOO much work with stocking the floor and this and that to only get paid 7.25 an hour. and 2) depending where you work, the hours suck super bad. Mostly, I worked 4:00 until 1 am. Which wasn't bad, since most CP's worked that time which made it fun. Then sometimes the early morning shifts had all the full timers who mostly hated the CPs...lol. And everyone was out at the parks around this time so it was pretty quiet, and then I had some 5 am shifts until 1... aka DEATH. But yeah, working merch, you can really ham it up and make magic happens