Stock Clerk / Glossary :

n. An oblong, yellow and pink (or yellow and blue), adhesive-backed inventory management “PICK” sticker supplied by the WAREHOUSE and placed on or near each and every separate PALLET, CASE and/or ITEM sent on the TRUCK. See also MISPICK, PICK, WAREHOUSE.

NOTE: The top, smaller, yellow portion of the TAG contains just the information necessary for the CREW at the WAREHOUSE to PICK the right ITEM(S). The rest of the TAG is pink for NON-PERISHABLES (i.e., GROCERY), blue for PERISHABLES (i.e., Dairy, Meat, and Produce), and contains a description of the ITEM (i.e., its name), the date shipped, and many other facts.

Sometimes you'll see scrap TAGS that say things like “GO TO AISLE B25” or “THE NEXT LABEL HAS MULTIPLE QUANTITY.” Obviously these were instructions to the PICK CREW who built the PALLETS of LOAD.

Except for the occasional MISPICK, the C&S Tag potentially allows for an exact reconciliation between all actual ITEMS RECEIVED and the TRUCK'S BILL OF LADING.

You may wonder (as I did), what “C&S” stands for. The answer is, “Cohen and Siegel”—the two guys, Israel Cohen and Abraham Siegel, who founded C&S Wholesale Grocers back in 1918.

More at:

^{^{http://www.cswg.com/company/founding.htm}}

Cage

n. A usually locked area in the BACK ROOM where the CLEANING CREW keeps their CLEANING MACHINE, MOPS and BUCKETS, etc.

Can Liner

n. A very sizable and usually clear or translucent PLASTIC bag used to line the inside of a trash can receptacle, or as a container for waste PLASTIC in the BACKROOM, or as a way of bundling recycled cans and/or bottles collected at the recycling center beside the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK. Can Liners usually comes in two sizes: very large, and super extra-extremely large.

Can-Race

n. A gravity-fed SHELF insert with a storage bin and rails that serves as an automatic BLOCKING device by keeping PRODUCT rolled forward, up to the front, or SHELF FACE. Typically used for condensed soups, etc. Compare BOTTLE-RACE, SPRING-TRAY.

Captain's Choice

n. The Seafood DEPARTMENT.

NOTE: In some instances Seafood may be managed as a division of the Meat DEPARTMENT.

Cardboard

n. Various sizes and thicknesses of stiff paper packaging in the form of BOXES, trays, flat sheets or folded SHIPPERS, etc. —v. To remove empty and/or nearly empty Cardboard trays or other packaging from within and behind one or more DISPLAYS, before also tidying up and BLOCKING: “Cardboard the front.”

NOTE: When you Cardboard the series of FAST-WALL DISPLAYS in the FRONT, take a SHOPPING CART. There's typically lots of Cardboard to remove, especially if you get in behind the DISPLAYS to remove what's been simply shoved overboard, either by CUSTOMERS or someone else in a hurry just to do a fast BLOCK.

Carry-Out

n. The task of helping a CUSTOMER move a heavy or over-sized ITEM from the registers to their vehicle. Usually done by CART BOYS.

NOTE: Things like summer lawn furniture that need to be carried out on a RUNNER can occasionally bring one or more STOCK CLERKS into the picture.

Cart

n. 1. See SHOPPING CART. 2. See RUNNER.

Cart Associate

n. The politically correct way to say “CART BOY.”

Cart Boy

n. The person, male or female, tasked with returning SHOPPING CARTS from the parking LOT to the STORE'S foyer. Also does other odd jobs like CARRY-OUTS, BOTTLE RUNS, helping clean up spills in the AISLES, vacuuming the foyer, etc. at the discretion of the FRONT-END MANAGER.

Carts

n. 1. The FRONT-END'S sub-DEPARTMENT of CART BOYS, as in the oft-heard PAGE, “Someone from carts, please come to the Front-End ...” 2. The SPECIALS RUNNERS, specifically, or any RUNNERS in general.

Case

n. An ITEM'S standard-quantity shipping unit. Usually but not always implies an outer covering of CARDBOARD and/or plastic that protects contents during shipping, yet which is removed before the ITEM is THROWN to the SHELF.

NOTE: There's no set quantity for a Case's contents, and packaging varies widely. For example, a 35-pound bag of dry dog food may come with no outer packaging except that which the CUSTOMER purchases, yet is COUNTED as 1 Case either when THROWN or BACK-STOCKED and put in the GUN. (Same goes for 12-packs of soda pop, by the way.) Canned dog food may come 12, 24, or 48 to a Case on a CARDBOARD tray entirely shrink-wrapped in plastic. Bags of cat food may come 6 or 8 to a Case, all bagged in plastic. BOXED cat food may come 12 to a Case, enclosed in a sturdy CARDBOARD BOX. Variations are endless.

WATCH OUT: Some ITEMS—for instance, a few baby food juice assortments, etc.—may come as CUSTOMER-purchasable Cases, which you should be careful to not break open.

Other ITEMS—for instance, foil pouches of tuna—come in tray Cases, where only the retaining tapes on the bottom should be CUT, to allow the butter-dish style top to be removed before the tray gets slid into its HOLE on the SHELF.

Study all unfamiliar packaging carefully to avoid inconvenience, and so no hasty or accidental cut turns such ITEMS into STORE DAMAGE.

TIP: Divide & Conquer. It's OK to conserve CART space by putting more than one thing into a CASE, but...

Always give the next guy a break by writing “MIX” on the outside of the CASE to warn him there's more than one PRODUCT inside. Then, on the inside of the CASE, always make it very clear where one ITEM ends and the other begins. Two popular methods:

Stand one group of ITEMS on its head, and/or
Slip in a scrap of CARDBOARD as a divider between the two different things.

EVIL-STOCK-DUDE can slow you w-a-y down by not marking MIXED PRODUCT CASES, and thus cause you to sometimes have to waste steps and backtrack. Or, by not clearly dividing similar-looking contents, he may hit you with the ultimate snag of having to individually orient and read every LABEL.

TIP: Keep Your Balance. Ordinarily, you habitually take ITEMS out of the middle of a CASE first, to keep the sides strong just in case the rest gets STACKED on a RUNNER, or whatever. (See Mid-Case Goes First, below.) However, there's an exception. If the CASE is being balanced on your lap, on a stool, or on a SHOPPING CART, etc., it's better to take from opposite corners first, and then alternate sides or edges so the center of mass of the entire CASE stays about in the middle. This minimizes the risk of the whole thing toppling over and breaking.

TIP: Mid-Case Goes First. If balance (see Keep Your Balance, above) is not an issue, always try to take ITEMS from the middle of an H-CUT CASE first. This keeps the ends and edges tight, and not only maintains the package's integrity, but also makes it more stackable if it ends up on the SPECIALS CART or in OVERSTOCK.

TIP: Support Your Case. Whenever possible, support the CASE you're WORKING and you'll be able to THROW using both hands, which can be a lot faster.

For a low HOLE, sit on a stool or CRATE with the CASE on the FLOOR or in your lap.
Slightly higher, put the CASE on the stool or CRATE while you kneel, or squat with the case on your thighs.
For average heights, set it on the end of a RUNNER'S shelf, or, if you're careful, you can sometimes even lean the CASE between your tummy and the SHELF.
For top SHELVES, set it on top of a STACK of other CASES at one end of the RUNNER while you stand beside it on a stool.

The main idea is to keep both hands free, and to always minimize the travel distance between the CASE and the HOLE.

Case Divider

n. Those ice-cube-tray-style CARDBOARD dividers that keep help jars separate inside a CASE.

TIP: Hate Hangnails? Immediately pull out any Case Dividers, THROW the PRODUCT, then, if necessary, reinsert the divider. You might also make sure your diet includes sufficient vitamin C (really!), plus routinely dab some hand lotion around each fingernail at bedtime. Strengthen splitting nails themselves by regularly eating more Jell-o® or other gelatin PRODUCTS.

Case Modulus

n. A fancy way of saying how many CASES it takes to fill a particular HOLE on the SHELF. See also DUMMY BOX.

NOTE: I doubt anybody actually uses this term, because I made it up. However, it's potentially useful.

I envision first a “theoretical” Case Modulus—which is, again, the total number of whole and partial CASES it takes to fill a particular SPOT.

However, practical concerns, such as SHELF support brackets, polls, gaps or other damage to the SHELF, the presence of DUMMY BOXES, PRODUCT orientation and so on may affect the “actual” value.

That value may be expressed as a rational (decimal) number or a fraction, whole, or mixed number. For instance, if half a CASE perfectly fills the HOLE, the Case Modulus is ½, or 0.5. If exactly two CASES does the trick, the value is 2. If the HOLE TAKES 3¾ CASES, the value is 3.75, and so on.

Unfortunately, my STORE'S SHELF TAGS at present only show the quantity of ITEMS per CASE. I think there'd also be value to us STOCK CLERKS in showing a SPOT'S actual Case Modulus, but hey—what do I know?

Case Notations

n. Any codes or other notes that STOCK CLERKS write on PRODUCT CASES. Sometimes may be circled, enclosed in a rectangle, etc. to draw attention. See also SHELF TAG NOTATIONS.

NOTE: Examples include:

Mark	Meaning
/!\ (Caution Triangle)	WATCH OUT: CASE is broken, damaged, etc.
///	Stripes bridging multiple CASES indicate CASES have same contents
#/#	Series indicator. E.g., 2/3 stands for “second of three CASES”
# × #	Quantity × Price (= Inventory). E.g., 28 × 0.97 for “28 units at 97¢ each.”
######	6-digit STOCK NUMBER, e.g., 012345
?	Any question; e.g., “Where does this belong?”
→ (Arrow, any direction)	CAUTION: Points to open end, broken seam, etc.
B	B-ITEM (i.e., soon to be DISCONTINUED)
DISC.	DISCONTINUED ITEM
MISPICK	C&S TAG (WAREHOUSE sticker) doesn't match actual contents of CASE
MIX	Multiple ITEMS enclosed
NEW	NEW ITEM
N.F.S.	NOT-FOR-SALE (i.e., RECALLED)
N.O.S.	NOT-ON-SHELF
O.O.D.	OUT-OF-DATE
O.S.	OVERSTOCK
SP/#	SPECIAL / AISLE number
X (Large X-OUT)	Ignore LABEL printed on CASE

Checkout

v. To SCAN and pay for PURCHASES. —n. Any REGISTER at the FRONT END, including U-SCAN stations, where PURCHASES are SCANNED and paid for.

CHEP PALLET

n. A particularly well-constructed and strong third-party PALLET that is leased for use by the STORE. Typically painted blue, sometimes red, they are STACKED separately on their designated spot on the DOCK when no longer needed, and logged on the ASSET TRACKING WORKSHEET as a separate entry when loaded back onto the TRUCK.

Circular

n. See FLYER.

Cleaning Crew

n. Third-party EMPLOYEES contracted to come in during the NIGHT SHIFT and do general housekeeping functions such as clean and polish the floors in all STORE AISLES and common areas, clean all bathrooms, etc.

NOTE: Each DEPARTMENT, e.g., Grocery, Meats, Produce, Dairy, etc., routinely cleans and/or sanitizes its own working floor areas, plus cleans any grinding, cutting and/or packaging equipment, etc. as a normal part of daily CLOSING.

Cleaning Machine

n. A walk-behind mini-Zamboni-style all-in-one device usually only used by the CLEANING CREW, but capable of collecting wet or dry spills and mopping and drying the FLOOR all in one step. Contrast BUCKET.

Clean-Up

n. The task of cleaning up accidental spills, etc.: (Page:) “Clean-up in aisle 3.” —v. What you immediately do upon discovery of any breakage, spill or other mess that occurs out on the FLOOR, regardless of cause—you quickly make it go away. See also BLUE JUICE, BROOM, BUCKET, CONE, DUSTPAN, MOP, PAD, RED JUICE, Spitfire®.

NOTE: CART BOYS and/or other STOCK CLERKS may assist, but you own—that is, are responsible for—everything that happens in your DEPARTMENT. Plus, you should also be quick to assist others who may likewise need Clean-Up help, regardless of DEPARTMENT boundaries.

Clip

n. See SHELF CLIP, BLACK RACK CLIP, CLIP STRIP (below), or J-HOOK.

Clip Strip

Clip Strips,
Adhesive

Clip Strip

n. A movable vertically-oriented hanger that's hooked, clipped or otherwise affixed to and protrudes outward from a SHELF or layer of a DISPLAY. Styles include a J-HOOK rod with small attached spring clips, or a plastic strip with flexible “finger” tabs, or an adhesive stripe. Clip Strips can hold anything from playing cards to spatulas to trial-sized bags of cat food or you-name-it. See also J-HOOK, NAVAJO.

NOTE: Most Clip Strips are taken care of by GM, although some may be DSD, or VENDOR-supplied and stocked. Only rarely are they a GROCERY ITEM, as, say, by DISTRIBUTION.

Clip Strips are a daily concern, however—as an annoying nuisance or obstacle when you're trying to fill the SHELF! The cure? Just move them slightly to the left or right—out of your way. There's nothing sacred about the exact SPOT where they hang. Simply try not to obscure any SHELF TAGS or block the CUSTOMER'S view of other PRODUCTS.

Clock

n. See TIME CLOCK.

Close

v. To be the last DAY-SHIFT person in a DEPARTMENT to CLOCK OUT: “Who's closing?” means either which person in a particular DEPARTMENT, or, more often, which STORE MANAGER will be in charge at the end of the day. “Are you closing?” means will you be the (un)lucky one who has to do all the routine final cleaning, straightening up, and/or other DEPARTMENT chores.

NOTE: The GROCERY CLOSER typically has to tidy up and BLOCK at least the FRONT END (meaning both FAST-WALL and EVZ), and GET AROUND to all ENDS, 3-WAYS, and WINGS.

Closer

n. The person who CLOSES. See CLOSE.

C.O.C.

n. “Carry-Out Cafe,” i.e., the Deli DEPARTMENT.

Code

n. 1. See STOCK NUMBER. 2. See CASE NOTATIONS.

Code-(###)

n. A PA announcement of “Code-” followed by the STORE NUMBER is an urgent call to come to the FRONT-END to witness an alleged SHOPLIFTER in flight.

NOTE: Such Code (###) calls are more typically heard overnight, when staff are few and the STORE is virtually empty. Stay alert. Thieves can be, and often are armed and dangerous.

WARNING: Do not try to apprehend anyone by yourself. Leave that to security or law enforcement officers.

If possible, just do your best to get a good look at the person or persons involved, and write down their license plate number.

Code-G

n. 1. An unobtrusive way of saying “GARBAGE” without offending CUSTOMERS: “Call a Code-G.” 2. To announce over the PA that the STORE'S (usually locked) GARBAGE chute is now open: “Attention all departments: Code-G is now available.” See also GARBAGE COMPACTOR.

COM

n. See CUSTOMER OPERATIONS MANAGER.

Condition

v. See BLOCK.

Cone

n. A brightly-colored rigid plastic or collapsible pop-up fabric pyramid that alerts CUSTOMERS to the hazard of a wet or damp floor. Used to warn of a spill both before and after CLEAN-UP.

Count

n. The tally of the total number of CASES THROWN by each MAN on NIGHT CREW: “How's your count?”

NOTE: High Count is good; low Count, bad—right? Well, it's not that simple. Your Count depends in large part on what you're THROWING.

Consider: if it's 12-pack CASES of soda pop, your Count ratchets up fast, because every time you plonk another one down, Ka-ching! One more gets added to your Count.

However, if it's cat food or BOXED gelatin, your Count suffers, because things like that are small. Also, their HOLES on the SHELF are narrow, deep and closely packed. Plus, for some ITEMS you may have to do something such as shmush each plastic package of brown sugar to flatten it, or otherwise manipulate and/or orient each individual unit to ensure it sits FACE-FORWARD.

So, while a CREW CHIEF may try to even things out by the judicious choice of which PALLETS and RUNNERS of LOAD he assigns, Count remains only the very roughest measure of PRODUCTIVITY.

Thing is—it's easy, and there's nothing else much better.

Coupon

n. An promotional enticement to buy, in the form of a slip of paper or cut-out scrap from a magazine or newspaper which can be surrendered to a cashier upon CHECKOUT to receive a DISCOUNT on a suitably matching ITEM. See also COUPON SPITTER, below.

Coupon Spitter

n. A device on a flexible mount that is immovably affixed to the edge of a SHELF and which protrudes about 6 inches (15mm) outwards into the AISLE, and which may have a proximity sensor sensitive to the approach of a CUSTOMER or any other object. Upon such approach, it may eject a COUPON which dangles from it as an enticement to take the COUPON. Unaccepted COUPONS may be returned to a tray on top of the device.

Most such devices are red, to draw attention. Some also have red blinking lights. Some make noises or play recorded messages. Some even have a mini-TV. See also CLIP STRIP.

NOTE: Little kids are understandably fascinated by these things, and it's no accident that they are always attached to a fairly low SHELF. The PRICE CONTROL DEPARTMENT maintains them.

CAUTION: Be careful not to whack your head on one as you get up from WORKING a HOLE beneath! The attachment's flexibility typically only goes side-to-side, to recoil from errant SHOPPING CARTS.

Cover

v. 1. To respond to any and all PAGES, phone calls, CUSTOMER inquiries, etc., so another CREW member may have an uninterrupted BREAK or LUNCH: “Cover for me? I'm on break.” 2. To substitute of someone else on the SCHEDULE.

Crate

n. 1. See MILK CRATE. 2. A decorative wooden, slatted BOX that serves as part of a DISPLAY. —v. To put something into CRATES: “Crate that up.”

Crew

n. See DAY CREW, NIGHT CREW.

Crew Chief

n. A foreman or senior team member who runs things in the GROCERY MANAGER'S absence; most often serves at NIGHT: “The crew chief usually breaks down the load.”

Crush

v. To compact or compress CARDBOARD in the BALER.

Crusher

n. See BALER.

CSM

n. See CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.

CSM Desk

n. A small command post for the CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER, or CSM, typically located out on the FLOOR within sight of the CUSTOMER checkout lanes.

Customer

n. Anyone who purchases PRODUCTS or enjoys SERVICES supplied by the STORE. Thus, potentially anyone who enters the STORE, including other EMPLOYEES!

Customer Operations Manager (COM)

n. The MANAGER charged with maintaining a professional, friendly, and well-organized CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT and FRONT END. Physically, this includes the parking LOT, vestibule, all CHECKOUT lanes, and the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK.

Thus, the COM, or Customer Operations Manager also oversees the CSM, or CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER. And it is the COM who ultimately handles and coordinates responses to all CUSTOMER-related issues, right down to the appearance and appropriate professional behavior of all ASSOCIATES, whom they also have the responsibility of hiring.

They monitor all cashier-related activities and practices, both to ensure they comply with COMPANY policies, and to help minimize SHRINK. They furthermore monitor the STORE'S bookkeeping and payroll to be sure it's accurate and in compliance with all COMPANY, State and Federal policies and statutes.

Customer Satisfaction

n. The CUSTOMER'S appraisal that the PRODUCT or SERVICE received is of acceptable quality. See also GOODWILL.

Customer Service

n. 1. The DEPARTMENT that issues RAIN CHECKS, collects can and bottle returns, handles complaints, etc. 2. The active demonstration of a friendly, helpful, and patient attitude towards the CUSTOMER, which aims to increase CUSTOMER SATISFACTION and GOODWILL by answering their questions, helping them locate ITEMS, and so on. See also RCS.

Customer Service Desk

n. A counter at the front of the STORE staffed by the CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT for the purpose of handling CUSTOMER questions, compliments and complaints, issuing RAIN CHECKS, accepting bottle returns, issuing Money Orders, Selling Lottery Tickets, plus various and sundry other SERVICES.

Customer Service Manager (CSM)

n. The MANAGER responsible for running the FRONT END (i.e., CHECKOUT) and the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK. The CSM reports to the CUSTOMER OPERATIONS MANAGER (COM).

NOTE: For some reason, my STORE doesn't presently have a CSM, although they do have two Assistant CSMs. Go figure.

Cut

v. To make a cut, incision or trim away material such as CARDBOARD or plastic packaging using a BOX CUTTER. See also BASE-CUT, BOX CUTTER, H-CUT, LIFT-CUT, PEEK-CUT, SHARK-CUT, STACK-CUT, TAPE-CUT, TOP-CUT, TRAY-CUT, WINDOW-CUT, X-CUT.

NOTE: The idea is to always Cut as little as possible. Multiple CASES? Only Cut open one. Don't know if it will all GO? Minimize the risk of later spilling out the remainder by using, e.g., an H-CUT on the CASE'S center top. Keep things as intact as possible, for as long as possible. Life will better that way. Honest!

Cut In

v. To create a new SPOT on the SHELF by shifting and/or condensing the space devoted to one or more other (possibly related) ITEMS nearby. When SCHEDULED, it's most often done by the RESET TEAM following a PLAN-O-GRAM: “A bunch of new stuff was cut in.” However, may sometimes be at the DEPARTMENT or STORE MANAGER'S ad-hoc instruction: “Cut this in somewhere.”

NOTE: Only Cut In ITEMS if a MANAGER says so. And, if you do, remember to also take one of whatever it is over to PRICE CONTROL so they can SCAN it and make a SHELF TAG.

Cutter

n. See BOX CUTTER.

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