Hot Topic training

SkippetyDoo

Big Bulky Brother Pony
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So, my mom and I were at the Ellenton Premium Outlets this evening, and I saw they had pony shirts in Hot Topic.. and ... well.. since I'm 70 pounds lighter and can fit into those shirts, I decided to get them. I was chatting with the guy as he was ringing me out, cause I commented that I don't really shop at Hot Topic, but knew it was one of the few places were I could get pony shirts in adult sizes. So we were talking about it and I said I can get them without being judged and he agreed and then he told me that they actually had to go through special training on My Little Pony culture because of how popular FiM had become, especially with the adults.

I was surprised by this. I didn't ask, but I was wondering what sort of training this involved.. if they made them sit there and watch the shows or something.
 
I'm not sure about where you live, but the people who work at the local Hot Topics. I went to 2 different stores in the area really seemed to be clueless when I was looking for blind bag ponies.
 
Well.. I just moved.. so I don't know about where I moved from, but I'm in Florida now.
 
Perhaps had to watch some documentaries on "Bronies".

I totally saw the one on Netflix earlier this year~
 
That's very interesting. My one and only experience with Hot Topic was still fairly early on and I have to say the female clerks were absolute snobs about me buying pony merchandise. I really haven't gone back to one since to see if they have improved; I live in West Virginia and sadly the people here can be pretty backwards about a lot of things. More often than not I have to resort to my go-to "do you think my niece will like this?" routine just to keep from getting asked a lot of questions. I'm shy and awkward enough out in public without getting nasty or demeaning retorts from workers.
 
My son makes me buy his Ponies for him to avoid getting the stink eye from people. I'm weird and I guess I give off a weird vibe because no one ever acts odd that I'm buying Ponies, and I'm more than candid that I'm getting them for myself. I dunno why people feel the need to be so judgmental about what others purchase.

Fie upon snobby cashiers!
 
He was very nice and understanding. Thankfully those outlets are near the house we're moving into. I'd totally go back to there to get funkos
 
Wouldn't it be an awesome world if we could all be nice to each other? How hard could it be? :bunny:
 
I bet they did have to go through training so the sneers and judgmental looks were hopefully avoided. I haven't been in a Hot Topic in years but each time the employees made me feel out of place and neglected.. like how dare I walk through their store and make them do their job. They thought they were too cool to actually work at work.
 
It's silly that people have problems with adults buying 'kid stuff' anyway. I'm in my late 30's and I've finally gotten to the point where I don't care if they think I'm strange for buying toys or wearing 'The Mountain" wildlife/fantasy Tshirts or whatever different thing I'm doing. It isn't the 'In' thing, but I think the only time I've ever been part of the 'In' crowd was by accident.

I do have a good comeback if people are snotty (hasn't happened yet). "These? Oh I'm just buying them for Toys For Tots, I do that all year 'round so I have a big box to donate at Christmas." All of which is actually true, I do buy toys all year round for that purpose (even some ponies), except that particular transaction may not have been slated for Toys for Tots. I bet it would stop any snotty cashier right in their obnoxious tracks.
 
I'm turning 28 and whenever I am buying pony stuff and I'm asked who its for I say its for my 7yr old niece (which is true I do have one) lol.
 
Well that would explain my experience last year LOL

I went into the local Hot Topic to pick up Pinkie Pie and Lyra, I think? And the lady at the register cracked me up. I put the ponies on the counter and she kind of looked at me, and I was ready to either pull out an excuse or kindly ask her to mind her own, when she asked me if I was a pony fan. I said yes, but I'm more of a collector.

And oh. My. Goodness.

This lady lit up and went on about ponies so fast I couldn't keep up. About how she watches the current show, how she had them as a kid... my non-pony friend and I stood there, credit card frozen in my hand, just staring and blinking as she went on without hardly taking a breath. She was so exuberant and so funny.. "Do you think they're gonna bring Nightmare Moon back? OH MAN I really hope they do, she was so awesome even if she was evil and........"
It's not too common that I'm at a loss for words, but I was that day. Rock on, Hot Topic pony lady. :winkpony:


Also I want to add that it is no one's business who you are or aren't buying ponies for :winkpony: I've found that if you're confident and go into it unwilling to be belittled or judged, it less often turns out that way.
 
Last time I went to HT, a man at the register was all like "..." when I placed the two shirts and 2 issues of the MLP comics on the counter. After a minute or so, he was all like "In those issues, Big Mac gets in trouble, so have fun reading them! Have a nice day!". Then I kept on thinking what the heck just happened. People can be this random sometimes lol
 
We don't have Hot Topic in my country and I buy most of my ponies online, but on those few occasions I've actually gone to a toy store and bought ponies, there's usually young girls at the register and they seem very awkward even putting the ponies in a plastic bag. Like they've seen episodes of FiM and can't understand why someone would want to buy any of the merchandise. Male employees are usually more relaxed and might even joke about how cute the pony is:rolleyes: Second hand stores, flea markets and such are a whole different thing. Sellers with G1 ponies are usually so excited and some even make sure to tell me all about the pony: who she belonged to, where was she bought and so on.
 
My husband actually had a bad experience at Walgreens the other day. Ran in to see if they had a Nurse Redheart for me, and saw they only had 2 blind bags left so he picked those up as well. He said the cashier (a young woman) looked at the ponies, back at him, and snidely remarked "Well someone is going to have fun tonight."

My husband is much like me when faced with confrontation like that, and chuckled a reply of "I hope so...it's for my nieces birthday." To which he got a sharp laugh and reply of "Sure, buddy."

He ended up asking her if a manager needed to be involved for him to make a simple purchase and she went quiet...but had I been in his shoes I am pretty sure I would have just melted into a puddle of embarrassment right then and there. I barely do well with the jeering looks...but the way he portrayed her as acting would have just shut me down completely. I hope more places start doing training like Hot Topic--to be reasonably kind human beings if nothing else.
 
Well that would explain my experience last year LOL

I went into the local Hot Topic to pick up Pinkie Pie and Lyra, I think? And the lady at the register cracked me up. I put the ponies on the counter and she kind of looked at me, and I was ready to either pull out an excuse or kindly ask her to mind her own, when she asked me if I was a pony fan. I said yes, but I'm more of a collector.

And oh. My. Goodness.

This lady lit up and went on about ponies so fast I couldn't keep up. About how she watches the current show, how she had them as a kid... my non-pony friend and I stood there, credit card frozen in my hand, just staring and blinking as she went on without hardly taking a breath. She was so exuberant and so funny.. "Do you think they're gonna bring Nightmare Moon back? OH MAN I really hope they do, she was so awesome even if she was evil and........"
It's not too common that I'm at a loss for words, but I was that day. Rock on, Hot Topic pony lady. :winkpony:


Also I want to add that it is no one's business who you are or aren't buying ponies for :winkpony: I've found that if you're confident and go into it unwilling to be belittled or judged, it less often turns out that way.

That reminds me! Once I was at Joann's getting some of that pony fabric and the lady cutting it for me asked if I liked ponies. When I said yes, she got all excited and told me that she and her friends make group pony costumes and wear them to conventions. She kept talking and when this other lady who worked there walked in, she said "DJ Pon!" After that they started talking about ponies and their next convention while the rest of our fabric was being cut. Turns out that was one of the friends she was talking about! :lolpony:
 
My husband actually had a bad experience at Walgreens the other day. Ran in to see if they had a Nurse Redheart for me, and saw they only had 2 blind bags left so he picked those up as well. He said the cashier (a young woman) looked at the ponies, back at him, and snidely remarked "Well someone is going to have fun tonight."

My husband is much like me when faced with confrontation like that, and chuckled a reply of "I hope so...it's for my nieces birthday." To which he got a sharp laugh and reply of "Sure, buddy."

He ended up asking her if a manager needed to be involved for him to make a simple purchase and she went quiet...but had I been in his shoes I am pretty sure I would have just melted into a puddle of embarrassment right then and there. I barely do well with the jeering looks...but the way he portrayed her as acting would have just shut me down completely. I hope more places start doing training like Hot Topic--to be reasonably kind human beings if nothing else.

I don't know why people are so miserable in their own lives that they find it necessary to belittle others. I would've been terribly upset. I really don't 'do' confrontational people. I would have never stepped foot in that store again. Your husband was really quite sedate in how he handled her, and she's lucky he didn't insist to see a manager. He's a good guy, and much kinder than she deserved.
 
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