Student:
best parts- learning new things. already knowing a lot from my own reading, so having a fairly easy time studying, and being able to help other students understand the concepts. That when I'm done with this, I can get out of retail, get a lab job (I LOVE benchwork! this is apparently rare in bio majors. most of my classmates want to go to med school) where I get to do science all day and not deal with the general public.
worst parts- worrying about availability of classes for the next semester, sometimes getting stuck with awful teachers (of the 'put up a powerpoint and read from it, test on minutia that even professors usually have to look up' type)
Custom Framing:
best parts- seeing some really neat art, and customers who understand that good framing is something worth spending decent money on. Getting to stay in the frame shop where I can have my own radio, and avoid most non-framing customers. doing the actual framing work. it's not hard, but it's precise, and appeals to my slight OCD tendencies. I love when I can get everything perfectly squared and centered, no dust in it, and backing paper with no slack.
worst parts-
not being able to sit except on break. my feet hurt so much after a long day.
Most customers. specifically:
-Customers who ring the button on my table just to ask where the bathroom is (under the sign that says 'restrooms') or where some other thing is (usually on the other side of the store). I swear they don't even walk around to look for it themselves.
-Customers who want custom work for the price of off-the-shelf things. The shelf frames are mass produced MDF from china, the custom is solid wood, put together by hand to order, and all conservation grade, it's going to be a lot more expensive. Don't bitch at me that you didn't realize that.
-Customers who bitch that I usually can't cut a mat while they wait. I'm sorry that you 'need this for the wedding tomorrow' (should have planned that one a bit bettter...) but if I've got other customers, or I'm working on another project that fills my table, or if it's 30 minutes till the store closes, then NO, I won't be able to hand-cut your mat while you wait for it. come back tomorrow or go somewhere else (oh yeah, the other place is already closed!).
-Customers who insist on seeing at least 2/3 of our mat and frame samples because they're so picky, take over an hour to pick what they like, and then only want a quote because they were just comparing our price to a competitor. SO MUCH HATE. if you want a price quote, I can give you that in 10 minutes. just let me know up front. we only have a few price categories of each item, so you don't have to pick the exact thing you want. just '2 wide fancy mats, a big ornate frame, and the non-glare glass' is enough for an estimate.
