Rack n. 1. The heavy-duty multi-story steel storage shelving BAYS in the BACK ROOM. 2. See BLACK RACK. 3. The designated repository shelving in the RECEIVING area for any STORE DAMAGED ITEMS, B-ITEMS, OUT-OF-DATE ITEMS, etc. —v. To use the HIGH-LIFT to put a PALLET, often WRAPPED, up into the RACK (1) in the OVERSTOCK area:
Rack this.
Rain Check n. A make-good promissory slip issued by the CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT upon CUSTOMER request when a SALE ITEM is OUT OF STOCK, thereby guarantying the CUSTOMER the PRODUCT at the stated SALE PRICE at a later date when the PRODUCT is again available.
Rally Point n. A designated place outdoors for all employees to convene in the event of a fire or other emergency that requires everyone to exit the STORE.
NOTE: The idea is to make sure everyone is safe and accounted for.
The Rally Point should be clearly posted in the BREAK ROOM. Mine is printed in big letters at the bottom of a large blueprint of the STORE'S floor plan.
Keep in mind that Rally Points may change. Mine used to be in front of a particular bank, but the bank moved. So, now we're supposed to get together at the flagpole far across the parking LOT.
If you're not 100% sure where your Rally Point is, find out!
The Rally Point should be clearly posted in the BREAK ROOM. Mine is printed in big letters at the bottom of a large blueprint of the STORE'S floor plan.
Keep in mind that Rally Points may change. Mine used to be in front of a particular bank, but the bank moved. So, now we're supposed to get together at the flagpole far across the parking LOT.
If you're not 100% sure where your Rally Point is, find out!
Recall v. 1. To remove one or more PRODUCTS from the SHELF immediately upon management notification that there is or may be an unacceptable problem, for the sake of CUSTOMER safety, etc. —n. The official notification to perform such a Recall:
There's a recall on many cat and dog foods.—adj. Any PRODUCT so designated:
Sorry—that's a Recalled item.
NOTE: Any Recalled ITEM is immediately N.F.S.—Not For Sale—and will be so flagged at the registers and confiscated. CUSTOMER who have purchased suspect PRODUCT prior to the issuance of the Recall may return it for a full credit or refund at the CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK. Recalled PRODUCTS are generally collected and destroyed on-site, and accounted for under SHRINK.
Receiver n. The person or manager who oversees and tracks the arrival and departure of all PRODUCTS and other VENDOR-related ITEMS that enter and leave the STORE via the TRUCK, VENDOR delivery RUNS, and otherwise. Also tracks STORE DAMAGE, OUT-OF-DATE ITEMS, and other kinds of SHRINK.
Regular Price n. The usual price for an ITEM when it is not ON SALE, as stated on the uppermost portion of the ITEM'S SHELF TAG.
Reset v. To systematically reorganize an area, aisle, or section of SHELVING by CUTTING IN NEW ITEMS, removing DISCONTINUED ITEMS, and arranging everything according to a given, corporate-supplied PLAN-O-GRAM. See RGIS.
NOTE: Typically if not always, Resets are done by a special RESET TEAM brought in from outside.
Reset Notice n. A paper note taped to a shelf at one end of a section, saying, e.g.:
Attention Night Crew: This section will be reset on (such-and-so date).
NOTE: Reset Notices are intended as an reminder to the NIGHT CREW CHIEF (among others) not to ORDER any additional PRODUCT for the posted section until after the Reset is complete. Excess INVENTORY on the SHELF would simply be more for the RESET TEAM to move around, and would thus slow them down.
Re-Shop n. Any ITEM found out-of-place or declined by a CUSTOMER at check-out that needs to be returned to the SHELF:
That's a re-shop.—v. To return a bunch of such ITEMS to their proper SPOTS on the SHELF:
I'm doing re-shops.
Re-Shop CART n. A SHOPPING CART kept in the BACK ROOM and/or at the FRONT-END to hold abandoned ITEMS discovered around the STORE, or ITEMS declined by CUSTOMERS at CHECKOUT. These CARTS are periodically WORKED by CASHIERS to return ITEMS to their proper SPOTS on the SHELF.
RGIS n. (pronounced "REE-jiss") Originally,
Retail Grocery Inventory Service,now just
RGIS Inventory Services,since—as a global supplier of INVENTORY, merchandising and staffing services—their client base is no longer limited to GROCERY STORES alone.
NOTE: Like many others, my STORE outsources INVENTORY DAY and RESETS to this company. They send in a team of specialists, and the job gets done. What's not to like?
For more information about RGIS, see:
http://www.rgisinv.com/
For more information about RGIS, see:
http://www.rgisinv.com/Rim Lock n. An annoying occasional occurrence usually only encountered upon making an H-CUT, and characterized by the bottom rim of one can inside a plastic wrapped CASE resting atop the bottom rim of the very first can you're trying to lift out, thus preventing its easy extraction.
NOTE: How high can you jump while someone stands on your toes? Same thing here. You can't fight Rim Lock; just select a different can to remove first, and bypass the log jam.
Rotate v. To keep overall STOCK levels as fresh as possible and minimize SHRINK due to OUT-OF-DATE losses by pulling LOAD in the HOLE forward, and refilling new INVENTORY to the back:
Always rotate baby food!
NOTE: Some things deteriorate faster than others, and eventually will go bad if left too long on the SHELF. Baby food is a prime example of an ITEM where you have to pay close attention to EXPIRATION DATES. Bottled salad dressings would be another.
Consider: if new stuff is always pushed into the FACE of the HOLE, you may eventually run the risk of some ITEMS in the very back going O.O.D. And let me tell you, it can be downright embarrassing to have a CUSTOMER bring this to your attention, saying,
Ideally, you want to pursue a
Realistically, though, it takes a lot more work to THROW to the BACK. That's because often you'll have to remove some or even all of the ITEMS to make enough room to put newer STOCK into position at the rear.
Well, it's like they say: "Sometimes, you just gotta do what you just gotta do."
The good news is that not all ITEMS are so time-sensitive. There are plenty of things—paper goods, for example—where you don't even have to think about STOCK Rotation. Just fill it full to the face and move on.
Consider: if new stuff is always pushed into the FACE of the HOLE, you may eventually run the risk of some ITEMS in the very back going O.O.D. And let me tell you, it can be downright embarrassing to have a CUSTOMER bring this to your attention, saying,
Hey—all this stuff is no good!
Ideally, you want to pursue a
FIFO,or
First In, First Outstrategy with every such time-sensitive PRODUCT, where the
oldestalways gets brought to the front of the HOLE so it can be purchased first, ahead of the
youngerITEMS that come in to replenish the SHELF.
Realistically, though, it takes a lot more work to THROW to the BACK. That's because often you'll have to remove some or even all of the ITEMS to make enough room to put newer STOCK into position at the rear.
Well, it's like they say: "Sometimes, you just gotta do what you just gotta do."
The good news is that not all ITEMS are so time-sensitive. There are plenty of things—paper goods, for example—where you don't even have to think about STOCK Rotation. Just fill it full to the face and move on.
TRUE STORY: One little old lady simply would not believe that the date of manufacture stamped on every can of charcoal lighter fluid on the SHELF wasn't its expiration date. Of course, it wasn't.
But, Ma'am, honestly—lighter fluid doesn't ever go bad.Well, there was no convincing her.
Runner n. A long and narrow flatbed CART, with one or two tall vertical ends and an optional shelf that is used to carry e.g., CASES of PRODUCTS around the STORE and up and down the aisles with minimum obstruction to shoppers. See also CART, U-CART. Also FLOAT, GLIDER, U-BOAT.