Retail Death: For Those Who Live the Retail Life

January 13, 2010

So for those of you keeping score at home, I’ve named the store AND the manager in the last couple of comics. The funny thing is that the names of the characters have always been in my head, but I never really used them. I didn’t want to be a comic about the characters; this comic is about retail, not about a quirky bunch of guys who happen to work retail jobs. But people seem to crave the power of names, and so I’ve always had them in my mind. I promise before it’s all over, you’ll know who you’ve been looking at. Or at least the redhead girl, the black-haired dude with the soulpatch, the spikey blonde-headed guy, and the spikey blonde-headed guy with glasses.

Also, for those of you who have followed my blog over the years; yes, this is comic is an attack on loss prevention -- that ironically named corporate division that fires the company’s peons for minor (often imagined) infractions and does whatever it can to drive up the company’s overall cost of doing business in the interest of saving money. I’m bitter. And they suck. And I am not ashamed to say either of these things!!

So here we have loss prevention doing what they do best, solving a minor problem with a massively expensive solution that does way more harm than good.

Thanks to the people who have sent me e-mails since the Monday. Lots of well-wishing, and nerry a “you can’t stop making the comic you bastard!” I’ve always enjoyed a small but loyal following here, and I want each and every one of you to know how much I appreciate it.

The finale is coming up, most likely next week, unless it draws out longer than expected. As far as I can see, though, there are three comics left after this one. I may skip this Friday (after all, when don’t I), and finish up Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next week. Finishing on a Friday feels like a better form of closure. Yes, let’s do that.

Oh, and everyone wish grocery girl a happy birthday for me. She’s turning...well, I probably shouldn’t say, but it’s happening tomorrow.

See you next time, retail reapers!