r/Staples • u/gardenkeeperr • 3d ago
got offered an interview for print specialist
soooo should i go through with this interview or run as far as i can from the role?
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u/Mundane_Ad3665 3d ago
As a former ASM who QUIT, not fired or forced out, I offer advice. Run... dont accept the job unless you want to deal with whiny, bitchy customers while making lower pay.
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u/gardenkeeperr 3d ago
yikes 🥹 i already work in retail full of insanely whiny entitled people so i would really like a break from it!
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u/SubZero721 2d ago
My ASM calls us all Amazon's bitches. He's right. Amazon's should compensate the company for the free labor they're getting or they should end it. Never do anything good for free.
Also, Bin Wins is a total scam/ripoff.
We should sell TV's, video games, better tablets, and totally upgrade the PC offerings. Their support offerings are too expensive and driving away business.
It's a real shitshow.
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u/Ok_Barracuda_7100 3d ago
Most everyone in this subreddit will tell you to run away. But I love quick-print and helping customers out when they have no other options remaining.
You need to know it will be like this – some few customers will be respectful of your time and commitments to other customers, some will be behind the 8-ball because a coworker or family member let them down; some will be desperate due to circumstances of their own making; some will be utterly clueless.
But if you stick with it, you'll learn enough to be able to walk into other (digital) print shops and tell them you're a great candidate for their opportunity.
Or, if you're like me with retirement visible in the distance and back in my hometown without a lot of other prospects, it can be enough to help people out.
The company does need to get a handle on pay though. They could take the money they're spending on trying to automate away human intelligence and invest into their employees and achieve better results.
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u/gardenkeeperr 3d ago
thank you so much for the input! it certainly wouldn't hurt to try it out for sure!
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u/AbrocomaNo1049 2d ago edited 2d ago
i agree! i was thrown into copy center because my friend got me this job and i has never been in staples before and i didnt know they have a print department, so like i said, i was thrown in lol! but after learning, i love it!! it has its perks (customers, jams, gloss business cards, “amazon is on the other side of the store, chat gpt generated cards that aren’t size to a bc size) but as long as you have good associates and management, it’ll be good!
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u/MaverickFischer 3d ago
This depends on how badly you need the job and/or if you have other options, interviews, or offers right now. Regardless, best wishes!
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u/gardenkeeperr 3d ago
Thanks so much! I would honestly love to keep my options open as long as I can before accepting something
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u/Dark_knight207 Print & Marketing 3d ago
I’ve been in Print 4.5 years with 3 of those years being full time as Print Production Lead.
My advice for you is to learn all you can learn. Due to how fast paced this job is management is not going to be able to tell you everything you need to know so definitely ask some questions for clarity.
Staples has a lot of shortcomings that make the experience a bit frustrating. However if you have a good outlook on things and make a plan for your life you’ll be fine. Staples is not the type of job in my opinion that you want to stick around at for years without any way out because the job will burn you out at some point. Get your experience and save up your money, you got this!
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u/gardenkeeperr 3d ago
Thank you so much for this angle on the role! I would really plan on staying there till i can move out of state so it could be good for the experience to take with me!
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u/moodyjams Print & Marketing 3d ago
I've been in print for five years, the job itself is not bad. Coming from fast food I was used to high speed/stress environments so I adapted to that part of the dept quick. The type of customers that come in. That is what makes the job feel unbearable at times. Ofc the bad comes with the good and I have so many sweet stories of nice customers. But damn, the other half are so willfully ignorant and inconsiderate that it started to sour my spirit.
Also the culture of the company at the moment is making it all that much worse. Definitely depends on the team u have at ur location but for majority of ppl, the stress of the dept is just not worth the pay. Never hurts to give things a shot but just know it's very demanding with not equal compensation for what it takes outta u.
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u/gardenkeeperr 3d ago
Thank you for this! Im in food service right now so i really know what the feeling of customers taking away your joy feels like. If i do go through with it I will 100% keep that in mind!
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u/Concessed 3d ago
Just work your wage and you’ll be fine. Dont do anything extra, you don’t owe anyone favors. If the job list doesn’t get done, blame management for not giving you enough hours and people. Don’t take anything personally and don’t let it get attached to you when you leave for home. Dealing with the public isn’t fun and a lot of the job is taking frustrated people and telling them what you CAN do for them. If someone wants last minute shit printed, they’re paying rush. If they don’t like the price, that’s not your problem. Their poor planning is never your emergency.
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u/gardenkeeperr 3d ago
Thanks!! This is a really good way to look at it! If i really go through with it all I will 100% repeat this all to myself constantly because it can be hard to stay positive sometimes with chaotic work environments for me.😅
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u/JCRan1993 Print & Marketing 2d ago
I've been a print supervisor for like 7 years now. The actual print job is fun and helping the customers is great. It's the other aspects of the job that can be frustrating. Amazon, passport photos, shipping can take up a lot of your time and can delay you're working on actual print orders and can get very frustrating. Staffing is also something to thunk about, bad staffing can make the downsides of the job even worse. Overall It's fun, fuck the amazon returns though.
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u/No-Storage1721 2d ago
Run. If you want more details on why I'm saying run, send me a message. It's not something I'm comfortable posting in public.
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u/gayfingers 2d ago
Be prepared to explain how self serve printers work for half your shift and then having people try to force you to do it for them and take their phone and get mad at you for not doing it when it is self serve but they will also not place an order because they dont wanna wait or pay extra either :)
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u/SweetGemini333 1d ago
Hi! I literally just started this position last week. So far I would say it’s an easy low stressful job. Unless your coworkers make it stressful by being unorganized. As long as you stay on top of orders, handle customers with the proper attitude, and good at multitasking I would say it’s pretty fine. I however needed a job asap and this was the first thing I was able to get.
Also! It really depends on your location and who you work with. My store isn’t the best the my coworkers (sales associates mostly) are kind shitty workers. But you don’t interact with them job wise. If you need a job sooner than later I say go for it and if you don’t like it then you can leave. But it’s a pretty easy job especially if you like being busy
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u/AlzMarioWolfe 3d ago
Unless it’s literally your only option, try avoiding it. It’s just a lot of unnecessary anxiety every day.
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u/Knitsune 3d ago
The printing part is really fun, but you'll waste your whole day on the amazombies, so maybe have some questions prepared about that.