Running the Store

Here's a list of stuff to do if you're running the Thrift Store. Use your store volunteers well. Don't forget to check out our Store Prices (although they should be posted by the register as well).

This article was completely out-of-date, so here's a first stab at a rewrite:

Preparing the Store for Opening

• Vacuuming: Remember to pick up screws, zip and wire ties, and any other object that is hard to vacuum or could damage the device.
• Reload Monitors: Get the number necessary to fill the number of empty slots. Choose attractive monitors first, as customers will choose these first to buy.
• Reload cards, printers, etc. Make a note of any common item from receiving that is near out/out and let receiving know as soon as may be.
• Tidy and merchandise. Visually put your face in front of every display and treat is like a combination of a painting and an informative poster. Does it pass the aesthetic test (look nice? tidy?) Does it pass the information test (what do I need to know about what I am looking at?)

End of day Closing Procedures

• Doing the till, see [Opening and closing out the till]
• Bring in Free Table
• Turn off Everything
• Secure and lock

About Work Modes

Like any job, there is a regular basket of tasks that come up in running the store. By having defined modes, it is both easier to describe these baskets as well simplifying thinking about streamlining them. Finally, having defined modes, and notably, making them easy to teach is the holy grail of increasing volunteerism in the store. This is important because it is very difficult to both maximize sales and efficiency while improving processes and moving the store forward.

Cashiering (mode)

• Processing Transactions, remember to avoid common mistakes by consulting this handy list. Also, remember no person can handle cash if they are not approved by staff and added to the cash handling list. Finally, when the inevitable problem with a credit transaction occurs, or for a basic primer, please consult [this page, "Processing credit cards"
• Upholding general policy, see here for the main policy page
• Upholding volunteer discount policy, see here for more information of limits to discounts

Sorting, Pricing, and Shelving (mode)

• The initial sort

• Sorting

• Pricing, things that are commonly donated probably have a price here. Things that are less common, and worth more than say 10 dollars, can be price researched on eBay (remember to use completed rates). For uncommon things of little value, just make up some kind of a cheap price.

• Shevling - In the absence of some kind of theming, the main consideration is to heard like with like.

Answering questions/steering

Warranty/exchanges - link Volunteer Discount - link Customers seeking tech support/consultation on a computer purchased at Free Geek. Customers seeking tech support/consultation on individual parts

Selling Computers (mode)

This really should be a simple triage, since there is one. ComingLuiz 19:48, 2 October 2008 (UTC)

• You need to know, at minimum:
  • Is the customer aware that the systems all have linux on them? (You ask this to see if they are doing something that requires a different operating system?)
  • How are they planning to connect to the internet? (You ask this because our computer do not have dialup modems, apples have no onboard modem support with linux, and PCs need a hardware modem for Hardy)
  • What is the primary purpose of the system? (You ask this because it allows for giving the best advice and really galvanizes what you will do next)
  • Are there any tasks that require a particular piece of hardware? (You ask this to see if they need particular hardware...commonly a burner, or printer, or something else)

Improving the Store (mode)

• You can make things look better (often mindless)
• You can make things work better (requires thought)
  • Improve the efficiency of a work mode
  • Improve the quality and accuracy of documentation
  • Improve the volunteer experience
  • Recruit volunteers, and hold on to them like a parasite

The Most Annoying Problems and How to Deal with Them

More customers than you are able to he