cashier

retail assistant manager

assistant manager

order picker

stocking associate

Specs Liquor

I started as a cashier and within about 4 months, I became the Key holder and Head Cashier. The key holder was responsible for making cash drops from the other cashiers drawers and making sure everyone was doing their job and not goofing around. I learned a lot about wine and different liquors. There wasn't much of a chance to receive a raise, though. You could drive to sowntown Houston to the original Spec's in your free time and take a wine class for a $0.25/hr raise or the same for a liquor class, but that was the only way to receive a raise. I enjoyed having Sundays off because we were closed. During the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays, we were expected to work 12 hour shifts for 6 days, two weeks in a row. We only received 1 30 minute lunch break in those 12 hours and if you were in the middle of eating and they needed you back at your register, your break was over. The paycheck was nice, but I wasn't after being exhausted!! I don't mind working overtime, but breaks are neccessary to eat and take a breather!! It was a small store, so we only had 7 employees which was nice because I knew everyone. Although, this was a liquor store and there were no security cameras in the whole store and the way it was set up was as soon as the customer walks through the door, they could walk right behind the counter and rob you if they wanted because there was nothing blocking the entry way to the cashiers.

Now, I'm lucky because I have a great team and location. This means I have a VERY supporting management team, a very helpful wholesale team, and I, as a delivery driver can move between departments with ease. I don;t feel like I have to sacrafice to get the job done because, there's so many who are willing and happy to help. We all work together as one well-oiled machine, albeit in different parts. For the location I'm at, it's not necessarily the employees but, rather, the difficult customers. The holidays leave people in ah urry to get through the line and I understand. You might get scared if you're hired as a cashier during the holidays but, with a good team, it goes by fast and you're soon left forgetting about the chaos. I'll say this, if it wasn't for a great, dedicated team, (who by the way was in the same predicament), I might have left early on. Is there better? Yes. However, if you need some income and want a place to work, where it doesn't feel like work, try Spec's. Every location is truly unique.

This company pays no mind to their employees and I’m the perfect example ... when i went in for my interview they didn’t even look at my ID not resume because they hired me at age 20 when the legal age was 21 and till this day do not know but I have to admit specs taught me a lot used to love going into work but the warehouse I was at was basically an experiment always changing managers every 3-6 months new rules every week no chance for advancement unless you could be worthy to them but you have to threaten to leave them first then they listen 3 long years and no raise after I worked as a lead/puller/dispatcher and legit did all the paper work managers should of done but while we sat in that warehouse till 11pm they were happily home not answering emergency calls also not offered  401k but they offer profit sharing which gives you nothing absolutely nothing knew a guy that worked 10 years had $12 of profit sharing in his account no health Insurance just a discount plan that don’t cover anything hospitals don’t even know what you’re talking about gene you tell them what you have. The best part of it is when someone asked how your day is all you have to say is “ I work for specs “ and they automatically know what you mean

A typical day/week consists of:
 managing cashiers.
 maintenance on the humidor
 consolidating and moving product for better sales.
 ordering cigarettes for the coming week
 ordering front of house supplies for the coming week.
Ordering cigars for the coming week. 

I've learned how to effectively communicate the benefit of learning and adhering to new systems, creative problem solving and peer relations to promote an overall sense of "team" for the store.

The environments by management vary. There tends to be a constant lack of communication but swift resolution once an issue is addressed. 

My coworkers are hilarious and dependable.

The hardest part of the job is the increasing work load for very little compensation

The most enjoyable part of the job is the great relationship I've created with my customers. For example; my pint customers don't even have to go to the shelf anymore. I grab their favorite pints, bring it to my counter and make their experience a funny and quick visit. They really appreciate that.

At the store level, management is actually quite good. The higher-ups are where there are issues, as they often made decisions without much regard for those working in the stores (management and non-management both) during my time there. There is also pretty clear favoritism from higher-ups. A relatively relaxed job most of the time, with Mondays-Thursdays being only mildly busy most of the year. At least at the location I worked, almost every employee was enjoyable to be around and work with. Nothing unreasonable, dangerous, or embarrassing was ever asked of me and my managers treated me very well. There are three shifts, morning (9:30-5:30), mid (11-7), and closing (1:30-9:30) and they vary by week. The pay could be worse, but is still not great. Unless you are a permanent sales floor person, you will not make hardly anything from commission. Overall not a bad job if you live with multiple people, but not something you want if you are trying to live on your own and save money.

When i interviewed for this job, i was told"no one leaves Spec's. We're one big happy family". 4 drivers walked out within my first two weeks of employment. I'm a wholesale delivery driver and the employee moral is low due to favoritism and a popr management team. Brown nosing gets you a little advantage but the but kissing can't stop. The African American employees are treated the worst and worked the most. I wouldn't say the manager's are racist,but i can/do see why other's do say it(they lookout for their own,for sure). From Speed to Alex to vinnie and other's the placed is run poorly and they speak to certain employees very disrespectful and unprofessional. The delivery vans are in poor working conditions and the health benefits are no more than a discount card. I wouldn't recommend this company to my worst enemy. Fμ©€ Spec's.

A typical day of work consisted of working from 6am- 9pm with 2 days off a week. But you could work on your day off to get more hours. I learned how to package and secure product, that customer service is a must, how Fintech, COD, ACH, and Charge are on paperwork, How to manage your vehicle and give it inspection from time to time, I also learned the vast amount of bottles of liquor that are made, you will also learn about Restaurant and Bar Supply. The co-workers are cool and understand life situations, but they are about the money. The hardest part of the job is getting cooperation from certain co-workers when they have no reason to dislike or mistreat you. The most enjoyable part is delivering to many establishments, meeting and greating the owners, and getting to know the people that you're selling to on a weekly professional basis.

The Work Environment was very laid back but that was about the only thing that was good about the job. Because of the laid back atmosphere employee's were being micro managed by other employee's because the managers were not very effective in their positions. Also the opportunity for growth was very low i worked for three and a half years and only received one bump in pay after working a year as the wholesale manager. After i was overly persistent about the pay increase that i was promised after 3 months as wholesale manager they gave me my first and only bump but put me in a lower position i can only assume so they would not have to give me another bump in pay. All in all the experience was a bad one but i did leave with a lot of skills in customer service and management so i think i came out on top in the end.

On a typical day of work, whether I open or close the store, shelves must be stocked and made presentable, trucks must be received, customers helped, and fires between employees put out.
The majority on what I have learned at this job has been how to deal with people in a wide variety of situations; from customer complaints to arguments between employees, to managing the-who-does-what-whens during day to day tasks.
The hardest part of this job is dealing with the people,mostly the bickering between the employees. That is definitely the most stressful part of the job. The most enjoyable part of my job is interacting with customers, making new planograms and hunting down and bringing in new items for the store.

For the most part when we get BUSY everybody comes together to get the job done right. Everybody knows their role when it comes down it with no questions asked. My co workers make my day everyday weather were joking or goofing around, never a dull moment. As far as management cant complaint too much, there might be a couple of things they can work on but nothing they cant handle and fix. The hardest, when somebody we have had there with us for a while finding a new job with a better pay, we pick up the slack weather we like or not, but we have to move and get the job done. Since working in this type of field, is that there will always be demand for it, season to season it changes, but never stops. I have learned a lot in this type of business from starting as your basic warehouse moving up to a billing clerk, so cant complaint.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Cashier 7 salaries reported	$10.79 per hour
Retail assistant manager 6 salaries reported	$15.50 per hour
Assistant manager 3 salaries reported	$18.33 per hour
Order picker 3 salaries reported	$13.50 per hour
Stocking associate 1 salary reported	$11.50 per hour

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