Sucky Job

I was at Costco just now, doing a little shopping. And grazing. If you're unfamiliar with Costco, they often have tables set up where one could get free food samples. Part of the Costco experience is stopping at these various tables and, basically, nibbling your way through the store. Some tables are more popular than others; a table giving away mini chocolate-chip cookies is going to be more popular than one giving away fish sticks, for example.

So I got in to Costco and started shopping. Along the way I got to try a lemon muffin, yogurt in a tube (!), a cookie made by Just Desserts, and a surprisingly good pre-made blueberry waffle.

When I finished my shopping and was waiting in the check-out line, I turned around and noticed a table that I had missed. It was easy to miss, as there wasn't a crowd of people surrounding it waiting for their sample. There was no one there, actually, except for the Costco employee standing forlornly with a stack of product boxes, and coupons. This employee wasn't giving away samples, because the product she was promoting was an acne medication.

Now, that's got to be a sucky job. All of your fellow employees are giving away cookies and muffins, basking in popularity as crowds of shoppers fight their way to your table. And you're stuck giving away coupons for acne medicine. You can't exactly hawk your wares the same way the cookie guy can. What are you going to say? "Got zits? Try this stuff. It really works!" Or better yet, single out the thirteen year olds: "Hey, kid, looks like you need this; it's 10% off with this coupon!".

And whose going to even want to come up to your table? The only people who will will be parents with embarassed teenagers in tow ("Does this stuff work? Because little Ashley here breaks out all the time"). So even if you convince people to buy it, any satisfaction you get in making the sale will be blunted by the resentment and/or embarassment suffered by your customers.

Sometime last year I read about how Costco provides medical insurance to its employees. I sure hope that includes some sort of mental health coverage, because I think the acne woman is going to need it.

Or maybe she can just get Prozac from Costco. 500 tablets, only $99.95!