I call customers about their drinking water filters being due, and inquire as to whether they would be prepared to purchase replacements. If they do not decline or hang up on me, I process payment and arrange shipment. If the customer has a whole-home system, I attempt to have him commit to scheduled service for filter replacement and/or annual unit inspection. I also receive incoming calls regarding system leaks or other malfunctions, real or imagined, that require scheduling a technician to visit the home. This goes well enough, until I mention the $139.95 technician fee ("trip charge" on the invoice), at which point many customers react with some incredulity at the price. They then begin to guilt-trip me and try to haggle their way out of paying the charge. If I am lucky, they scream into the phone that I am ripping them off, and they are going to turn around and rip the system out themselves. If I get a word in edgewise, I inform them that our technicians will be glad to take care of uninstallation work themselves, for $219 plus the trip charge, but that I can offer a special discount of $150. I love my job.

I served and prepared food for thousands of people. I eventually was promoted from Associate to Associate Trainer level, which provided both a raise and more headaches. I left because the job was too physically taxing at full-time hours. It also did not pay enough to cover living expenses.

During the academic year, I worked at Texas Tech University campus dining concepts (situated between dorms), starting as a cashier, with subsequent promotions to Employee Trainer and to Student Shift Supervisor. Each summer, I was a Conference Assistant at the dorms, operating the offices and providing services to guest residents.