Tell us a secret you know because of your work that others might not know.

I guess I can add something because I won't name the company and its been years since I worked there, but when I worked retail we were told that it isn't "shoplifting" until the person passes the cash registers and is close enough to the door to trigger the motion sensor. And we had to see exactly what they took and exactly where it was on their person. We were also told very blatantly to NOT ever chase anyone or touch them under any circumstances. So in theory there is nothing we could do if someone strolled out of the store with product and they ignored us and kept walking. Possibly call in a license plate number but honestly, no one ever stole anything worth more than a few bucks. 90% of the time it is something really really stupid to steal (as if anything isn't) like a red bull, toy, candy, etc. Our undercover guards took liberties with the rules if it got the job done.

The most interesting story I have is when I was working at a store where we suspected that a guy was taking receipts out of the trash, coming into the store and grabbing stuff off the shelf and 'returning' it for store credit. We caught him outside selling the gift cards and he got away but we called the police to file a report. We rolled the security footage to give the police an ID and they went on their way. A few days later someone was beaten nearly to death within a block of the store and the police thought it was the same suspect that had been doing return fraud at our store. They came back to get another statement from me that he had been hanging out in the area.. which meant that I would have had to testify if anything came of it. I really didn't want to get tangled up like that considering I was always the last to leave the store at closing but I never heard anything again.
 
[quote name='jousley']In my experience, I'll have to call bullshit on this. One factory I worked in, the maintenance dept. made MUCH more than the average worker and they stayed back in their area unless they absolutely had to come and fix something. One of the maintenance guys I worked with was building a custom motorcycle on his "free" time at work. Within a year he had that bike finished from the ground up. Also, sometimes you had to wait for their football games to be finished before they would come out to the floor to fix your press.[/QUOTE]
The place that my brother in law works for (and I worked for for about a week as a "contractor" because they needed some help) is a company that provides their services to whoever needs it. They don't just stay in one shop, they go wherever they're needed, and just about whenever they're needed. Before my brother in law started going to school, he was working close to 90 hours a week. Now he works nights/mornings and goes to school in the afternoon, and he gets almost no money.
 
[quote name='Psykoboy2']Don't eat the popcorn that's already been pre-bagged. Ask for fresh or wait for it.

Seriously.

The safest food you can get at a movie theater is the candy, it's sealed in a bag, in a box.[/QUOTE]


...oh god I hate this! When people ask for fresh popcorn I always scoop from the bottom anyway and try to get as many kernels in there as possible. But that's because I know I work at movie theater that is really good about popping fresh popcorn every half hour or so! It's frustrating when they ask for a fresh after I just put up a bag that I scooped and they won't accept it. ...and we don't bag the night before popcorn for the next morning to use like the last theater I worked at. So I guess it depends on the theater you go to.

to add more....if you complain about the sound being to loud or it being too cold in the theater and we tell you that we're going to fix it....uh not doing it.
 
[quote name='super_dawn']It's frustrating when they ask for a fresh after I just put up a bag that I scooped and they won't accept it.
[/QUOTE]

I don't buy popcorn at movies, but considering the absurd price theaters charge for it, I don't think its too much to ask for a fresh bag. If they don't take that bag you just scooped I am sure someone else will in the next few minutes.
 
[quote name='caltab']I don't buy popcorn at movies, but considering the absurd price theaters charge for it, I don't think its too much to ask for a fresh bag. If they don't take that bag you just scooped I am sure someone else will in the next few minutes.[/QUOTE]


Yes, usually its not too much to ask. But then you get the customers who start wanting you to fill it 1/4 full so they can butter/salt the popcorn, come back and repeat till full. And even some that will want you to ONLY catch the popcorn coming directly out of the popper! I had a lady yell at me to not mix the "old" popcorn in the bin with the fresh popcorn popping...even if that "old" popcorn was from the batch I made just 5 min. prior. Plus once one person sees someone getting a fresh ...then everyone else wants one too. It makes it difficult. People and their food...I really feel for anyone who is a server and the like.

Thankfully I don't deal with it hardly at all anymore...i'm management now.
 
I used to work at an A&W/Long John Silvers Combo Restraunt.

Even though the root beer was on tap. It still was boxes of syrup mixed with water. The root beer just comes on tap to appear it's real. At A&W you get a frosted mug if you eat in but trust me it's probably better to get a plastic cup. After being washed, every mug gets put on a storage rack and is sent to the freezer once the racks are full. The little freezer by the cash register where we deliver our mugs has doesn't get washed until closing.

The fish from Long John Silvers comes as one long length of fish (or at least I hope it is fish, it doesn't look like it came off of any fish) which have been partially cut so it can easily be broken into the classic Lohn John Silvers fish sizes. Also even if they advertise healthy fish options, it's still going to be fried. The only stuff on the LJS menu that doesn't have something fried on it is corn and cole slaw.

Lohg John Silvers, A&W and Arbys all use the same regular fries.

Also we had a rule that we could not kick you out if you came before we closed. Most people were there only an extra 10-15 mins but no one was allowed to leave work or mop the floors until it was empty (I don't know what the time limit was to that, no customer ever pushed it that far :lol:).

That's really about it. Our place was relatively tame.
 
[quote name='Sir_Fragalot']I used to work at an A&W/Long John Silvers Combo Restraunt.

Even though the root beer was on tap. It still was boxes of syrup mixed with water. The root beer just comes on tap to appear it's real. At A&W you get a frosted mug if you eat in but trust me it's probably better to get a plastic cup. After being washed, every mug gets put on a storage rack and is sent to the freezer once the racks are full. The little freezer by the cash register where we deliver our mugs has doesn't get washed until closing. [/QUOTE]

Darn. I ♥ frosted mugs of a&w rootbeer too. lol
 
I know someone who worked at a fast food franchise that told me his owner would train them to mix extra soda water in with the syrup above the formula to save a few pennies and also told them not to push out the bottom of the large fries container so that it would hold less fries, essentially making it the same as a medium. Both practices were actively punished by the franchisee's company though when/if they caught on.
 
[quote name='super_dawn']Darn. I ♥ frosted mugs of a&w rootbeer too. lol[/QUOTE]


Just FYI, you can buy those big glass mugs at just about any Dollar Store/General/Tree for $1 each. I have a set of 12 that I keep in the freezer at all times. :)
 
One thing I remember about working in fast food when I was younger (back in high school)...

There were only the lobby restrooms in the building. Like most places, the employees had to go out to the lobby to use the restroom. The policy at our restaurant was we had to wash our hands when we got back to our job. That is, when you were returning to work, no matter if you worked as a cook/lobby/order taker/etc., you had to go back by the kitchen to wash your hands (in the employee sink).

Since you had to wash you hands in the back, many employees simply left the restroom without washing their hands there. Some would half-ass washing their hands in the restroom while customers were in there; others didn't bother. When a customer came and complained, the manager said the worker would be reprimanded. (They weren't, since 99% of the time, they indeed washed their hands in the back.)

So, if you ever see a worker not wash their hands in the bathroom, it might be because they're going to wash them a minute or two later when they get back to work. (Still, I would still probably be a little concerned/grossed out myself if I saw this at any restaurant today.)
 
[quote name='Rig']The policy at our restaurant was we had to wash our hands when we got back to our job. That is, when you were returning to work, no matter if you worked as a cook/lobby/order taker/etc., you had to go back by the kitchen to wash your hands (in the employee sink).
[/QUOTE]

That just seems like a dumb policy, customer impression of the restaurant is critical, the policy should just be to always wash them in the bathroom so nobody ever see's an employee not doing so.
 
[quote name='seanr1221']I don't know why you insist people make choices.[/QUOTE]

Ok, since you're practically begging for someone to ask, I'll choose to entertain you: Sigh, why do you say that there is no such a thing as choice?
 
[quote name='blindinglights']Just FYI, you can buy those big glass mugs at just about any Dollar Store/General/Tree for $1 each. I have a set of 12 that I keep in the freezer at all times. :)[/QUOTE]


thanks for the info ive always wanted one of those.
 
[quote name='super_dawn']Y

Thankfully I don't deal with it hardly at all anymore...i'm management now.[/QUOTE]

What do you guys do if a patron complains about another patron being loud.
 
Mall security and general LP management Teams can't do anything to you. They can't hold you down, they can't tackle you, they can arrest you if you are willing and agree to it. They will harm you if you harm them or anyone first (at least a 50% chance depending on if they are RIGHT there and are feeling up to it).

Pretty much all Retail locations can't do anything as far as their limited liability is concerned because everyone is afraid to get sued.

So you pretty much can have whatever you can grab as long and you run away from the seen. If you feel bad and wait around 30 min. and feel like getting arrested, you will. Wait I think I'm supposed to post this in the Deals section..
 
[quote name='phantasyx']Mall security and general LP management Teams can't do anything to you. They can't hold you down, they can't tackle you, they can arrest you if you are willing and agree to it. They will harm you if you harm them or anyone first (at least a 50% chance depending on if they are RIGHT there and are feeling up to it).

Pretty much all Retail locations can't do anything as far as their limited liability is concerned because everyone is afraid to get sued.

So you pretty much can have whatever you can grab as long and you run away from the seen. If you feel bad and wait around 30 min. and feel like getting arrested, you will. Wait I think I'm supposed to post this in the Deals section..[/QUOTE]

that would make for a hell of a gameshow "Snatch & Run" 5 people are chosen to grab whatever they can from the mall and escape before being caught and stopped by security or patrons.

the trick is though you cant let the people in the mall know its a gameshow so as far as they know its a real robbery lol.
 
[quote name='Sir_Fragalot']Lohg John Silvers, A&W and Arbys all use the same regular fries.
[/QUOTE]
The LJS near me recently changed their fries to the thicker "natural cut" kind. They still taste the same though, I don't think they've changed the cooking oil at that place since it opened (about 35 years ago). :p
 
[quote name='phantasyx']Mall security and general LP management Teams can't do anything to you. They can't hold you down, they can't tackle you, they can arrest you if you are willing and agree to it. They will harm you if you harm them or anyone first (at least a 50% chance depending on if they are RIGHT there and are feeling up to it).

Pretty much all Retail locations can't do anything as far as their limited liability is concerned because everyone is afraid to get sued.

So you pretty much can have whatever you can grab as long and you run away from the seen. If you feel bad and wait around 30 min. and feel like getting arrested, you will. Wait I think I'm supposed to post this in the Deals section..[/QUOTE]Depends on state and retail store. I had no problem fighting after my first big fight. I once grabbed a black girl that tried to run and literally threw her back to my store, as long as I didn't strike them or more than restraining force, it was alright because we were on tape and used that as evidence.

[quote name='lokizz']that would make for a hell of a gameshow "Snatch & Run" 5 people are chosen to grab whatever they can from the mall and escape before being caught and stopped by security or patrons.

the trick is though you cant let the people in the mall know its a gameshow so as far as they know its a real robbery lol.[/QUOTE]
Already been done, pilot episodes were shot down. It was called Caught Stealing I believe.
 
Depends on state and retail store. I had no problem fighting after my first big fight. I once grabbed a black girl that tried to run and literally threw her back to my store, as long as I didn't strike them or more than restraining force, it was alright because we were on tape and used that as evidence.
Click to expand...
I doubt State, maybe store but it probably definitely wasn't a major franchise. Was it necessary to mention she was black?

I'm going to create that gameshow by the way.
 
[quote name='QiG']I'm pretty sure I worked for 8 years at the same company as you (4 of them as a manager) ;) I worked at stores 8,4,41,5,18,72,19, helped build store 18, and maybe a few more. I have a few fun stories about the upper management of the company too. All of our security guards were ABSOLUTE nut jobs or they didn't last. I don't really have any secrets coming to mind except that if you appeal an issue to the store supervisor, they'll most likely bend over backwards to appease you and unless the manager on duty is a real dick they'll meet you at least halfway on video late fees.

I worked for a couple weeks at Ruby Tuesday and we wouldn't send out any dropped food EXCEPT for ribs. If you eat at a restaurant during dinner rush, there's a good chance any cook that's been there for a while regularly takes adderall to get through it.

As an accountant of a private company all I can really say is that anything the owner "expenses" to the company isn't simply written off, it's included in their income and they're paying at least tax on it.[/QUOTE]

Glad you're out of there man. I love my coworkers but the work itself is shit. My manager and the POS have been working at my store for 30+ years (madness). One of our security guards just hit 1500 busts. You probably know him. You're totally right about the late fees. I worked in cosmetics (got removed because of my sex. yay discrimination) for a while and coming from a guy that used to manage a video store, i thought it was absurd that they don't require credit cards for rentals.
 
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[quote name='caltab']That just seems like a dumb policy, customer impression of the restaurant is critical, the policy should just be to always wash them in the bathroom so nobody ever see's an employee not doing so.[/QUOTE]

I definitely agree.

The only reason I think they had the policy is to simply ensure the employees were washing their hands. (They'd watch you come back from a break or bathroom break). In a backwards-sort-of-way, they were looking out for their customers extra diligently.
 
[quote name='phantasyx']I doubt State, maybe store but it probably definitely wasn't a major franchise. Was it necessary to mention she was black?[/QUOTE]I've never profiled races, I've picked up every kind of shoplifter, she happened to be and to me that's the end of that. I've picked up my own waitress from a diner that I used to hang out in that was white and really screwed up on drugs. Could I have spared it? Sure, I'm not white though and I don't see a reason to censor myself if George Lopez can do it. It's not like I N-worded her.

State does make a big difference, different States make apprehending shoplifters easier or harder. Picking up somebody in NYC doesn't fly the same as in Florida or Virginia. It's also why we kept City and State laws available and mandatory reading/reference material. If a store decides to apprehend versus deter, there is more legality to it than you think. In the 80 million dollar store where I was, apprehending shoplifters paid for our budget because our department didn't generate money the usual way, so we pushed apprehension, civil demand and prosecution.

The average settlement for a "bad stop" was around 10 grand I want to say about 4 years ago. By bad stop I mean somebody who didn't steal anything at all or ditched the merchandise before the last POS and was stopped.

Caught Stealing Pilot episode on YouTube. NSFW. There is more out there, that's just a clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZwW4BoutNs
 
[quote name='confoosious']What do you guys do if a patron complains about another patron being loud.[/QUOTE]


We get this a lot. I gotta say...always complain right away though, I can't do anything when the movie is already over. I don't understand people who will not take two minutes of missing there movie to complain instead of sitting through the entire thing upset. Drives me nuts.

But anyway....for anyone, we give one warning to the patron and then we kick them out. Most of the time its kids and I have no problem at all kicking them out. Yet this past weekend it was an adult that was accused of kicking the seat of someone and putting their feet on the seat....I kicked them out after that warning. And yes, we do refund there ticket unless its for something more serious.
 
If charged with a crime, you really should hire a private attorney. Some public defenders are great but do you want to take that chance?

Go with private counsel. That being said, some private attorneys are shittier than public defenders so if you're gonna pay, make sure you get what you pay for.

Also if you're a cop, expect to get spit in your food.
 
Most people who are clinical laboratory scientists are not scientists in most meanings of the word. They will not deviate beyond what the procedure spefically details. If something is broke or wong they will ask 10 different people for suggestions instead of experimenting and trying to correct the problem themselves.

They will spend 6 hours of an 8 hour day doing competency tests (as required) even though they've been working there for over 25 years and should know this like the back of their hand.
 
Rock stars don't party like they used to, before the groupies go back to the bus or the green room they mess stuff up a little bit to make it look like a party.

The dude from Nickleback has had my sloppy seconds...

The guitar player from Creed is the biggest asshole I've ever met.

The service fee charged by H&R Block (and similar tax prep services I imagine) is basically there to cover the cost of licensing multiple copies of software that does all the work. The person doing your taxes doesn't really know much more than the average person about taxes. The whole thing is setup to scare minorities into thinking that taxes are hard to do and that you'll get audited if you screw something up. Then they catch you on the instant refund loan which is usually 15% or so.

While you do get some fun stories from working security/bouncing a nightclub, the reality of it is that you're dealing with the dregs of society. I've never been more miserable on the job.

Christina Hendricks is no off the rack size 14. She my have giant cans and wide hips, but her waist is very narrow and she doesn't have a gut. Your average size 14 woman will be mostly the opposite, I.E. fairly straight from shoulder to hip and not as pleasant in profile.
That isn't really a work secret, it's just tiring to use CH as a guide for size when she's, well, special.

Live TV News is about the most insanely difficult production to do and none of the backline gets any credit at all.
 
I'm trying to think of things working in TV that people might not be aware of but I can't think of much. I'm sure it's common knowledge but most on-air talent like anchors and reporters are extremely insecure. Women more than men.

I would not suggest a career in radio. They make very little money.
 
[quote name='phantasyx']Mall security and general LP management Teams can't do anything to you. They can't hold you down, they can't tackle you, they can arrest you if you are willing and agree to it. They will harm you if you harm them or anyone first (at least a 50% chance depending on if they are RIGHT there and are feeling up to it).

Pretty much all Retail locations can't do anything as far as their limited liability is concerned because everyone is afraid to get sued.

So you pretty much can have whatever you can grab as long and you run away from the seen. If you feel bad and wait around 30 min. and feel like getting arrested, you will. Wait I think I'm supposed to post this in the Deals section..[/QUOTE]

I know that's the general rule but I have a friend who tackled a thief in a computer store parking lot because the guy was trying to steal a bunch of software.

Nothing more I like then seeing a professional scumbag get what's coming to them.
 
[quote name='camoor']I know that's the general rule but I have a friend who tackled a thief in a computer store parking lot because the guy was trying to steal a bunch of software.

Nothing more I like then seeing a professional scumbag get what's coming to them.[/QUOTE]
A guy once grabbed a ps3 that I was selling to him and walked out of the store. I wasn't allowed to do anything except call the cops/mall security.

Unless you want to testify in court against a criminal who has the balls to steal a ps3 system out of your hands and who knows where you work I would suggest avoiding doing so.

Unless you want to get shot/knifed at work when he gets out.
 
[quote name='Rodimus']I'm trying to think of things working in TV that people might not be aware of but I can't think of much. I'm sure it's common knowledge but most on-air talent like anchors and reporters are extremely insecure. Women more than men.[/QUOTE] I found out lots of weather men are gay, two weather men in my area are gay and I only found out from bsing with a chick who worked at a newstation. A lot more men on TV are gay, the more in shape a man is, the likelier that he is gay.

[quote name='phantasyx']A guy once grabbed a ps3 that I was selling to him and walked out of the store. I wasn't allowed to do anything except call the cops/mall security.

Unless you want to testify in court against a criminal who has the balls to steal a ps3 system out of your hands and who knows where you work I would suggest avoiding doing so.

Unless you want to get shot/knifed at work when he gets out.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that was the real shitty downside. Unless you were trained to do security, it's extremely more dangerous than you think to just take into your own hands. A guy that will grab a PS3 from you and walk out the door is a fight that you alone can't handle regardless of the outcome. Stores will disown you and throw you under the bus if you do anything other than recovering the merchandise without incident.

One of the other guys I worked with took the bus to work and saw most of his shoplifters on that bus. I went on a date and saw two teenage girls I picked up the day before in the next booth, they saw it was me and pretty much tried to hide. I've never had somebody come after me but when you close a store at night, you don't want to think about somebody waiting outside the door for you. I do know once I'm outside the store and clocked out that if they wanted a fight... well, I'm glad it never came to that, the one time it came close to life and death was the longest 11 minutes of my life. It helped that we had PTZ cameras outside and I usually parked close enough to ease my paranoia.
 
[quote name='nasum']

The dude from Nickleback has had my sloppy seconds...

The guitar player from Creed is the biggest asshole I've ever met.

The service fee charged by H&R Block (and similar tax prep services I imagine) is basically there to cover the cost of licensing multiple copies of software that does all the work. The person doing your taxes doesn't really know much more than the average person about taxes. The whole thing is setup to scare minorities into thinking that taxes are hard to do and that you'll get audited if you screw something up. Then they catch you on the instant refund loan which is usually 15% or so.
[/QUOTE]

Funny, Nickelback and Creed are two of the worst bands ever.

They don't do instant refund loans anymore due to new lawls and bitching by regulators. If they're still doing them they won't be for much longer.

EDIT: They aren't: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_723764.html
 
[quote name='darkslime']i just forgot to mail your package, the post office didn't mess up[/QUOTE]
Yeah I forgot to actually ship it but I marked it as shipped anyway.
 
Nintendo products have the worst profit margins.

Yes we know were lowballing you and enjoy it only because you're complaining.

Madden and NCAA come out the same time every year. Are you really that stupid?
 
[quote name='Rig']
So, if you ever see a worker not wash their hands in the bathroom, it might be because they're going to wash them a minute or two later when they get back to work. (Still, I would still probably be a little concerned/grossed out myself if I saw this at any restaurant today.)[/QUOTE]

Cool. Here I thought I was just getting shit and dick germs on my food....but really they are only on the bathroom door handle that I have to pull open to leave. I guess that's better?
 
Pretty obvious but, shoplifting occurs by employees more so than random people entering the store. Every chain of department clothes (expect Boss and most of the expensive lines) has been on the back room floor (read: real floor) before the show floor.

If you every want to eat for cheap in a mall, go to any cafe/mini restaurant and ask for the mall menu. Cheaper and you will get your food faster because they assume you are on your break. If they ask for some sort of worker number, just say you are new and haven't memorized it yet. Though be prepared to name a store you "supposedly" work for. AND never eat the food at the location, go somewhere else to sit down and eat. This does not work if you are in a group, no store lets off five people to go on break.
 
[quote name='j-cart']If you every want to eat for cheap in a mall, go to any cafe/mini restaurant and ask for the mall menu. Cheaper and you will get your food faster because they assume you are on your break. If they ask for some sort of worker number, just say you are new and haven't memorized it yet. Though be prepared to name a store you "supposedly" work for. AND never eat the food at the location, go somewhere else to sit down and eat. This does not work if you are in a group, no store lets off five people to go on break.[/QUOTE]
If you've ever worked at a store that is in the mall(regardless of working at a mall or not), save your name tag. Usually it's enough proof that you work at that store to entitle you to the discount at the food court. It may vary but 10% is what I've seen. Reminds me that I have an old GAP name tag to abuse for some teriyaki chicken.
 
[quote name='Mad39er']I found out lots of weather men are gay, two weather men in my area are gay and I only found out from bsing with a chick who worked at a newstation. A lot more men on TV are gay, the more in shape a man is, the likelier that he is gay.[/QUOTE]

This is true. 80% of the male talent I work with are gay, and that isn't an exaggeration. But keep in mind I'm in South Florida. I get the same reaction when I tell friends "so-n-so" is gay.
 
[quote name='Mad39er']If you've ever worked at a store that is in the mall(regardless of working at a mall or not), save your name tag. Usually it's enough proof that you work at that store to entitle you to the discount at the food court. It may vary but 10% is what I've seen. Reminds me that I have an old GAP name tag to abuse for some teriyaki chicken.[/QUOTE]
Simply saying your a mall employee is enough to warrant a discount as the employees don't care. If they ask just tell them that you work for, duh, the mall. They will never know.
 
[quote name='phantasyx']Simply saying your a mall employee is enough to warrant a discount as the employees don't care. If they ask just tell them that you work for, duh, the mall. They will never know.[/QUOTE]
YMMV. I've never been able to get a discount without a name badge or id card.
 
[quote name='jousley']Cool. Here I thought I was just getting shit and dick germs on my food....but really they are only on the bathroom door handle that I have to pull open to leave. I guess that's better?[/QUOTE]

Man I never touch a bathroom door handle...ever. You gotta either kick it open if it's that type of door it is or use a paper towel. For that matter, you shouldn't touch the faucet with your bear hand after your done washing them. I don't really consider myself a germaphobe, but public bathrooms are disgusting. Nothing beats having to try and avoid that puddle of urine in front of the urinal to take a leak.
 
[quote name='caltab']Nothing beats having to try and avoid that puddle of urine in front of the urinal to take a leak.[/QUOTE]
Or (in the case of a KFC I went to once) the puddle of diarrhea in front of the bathroom door (not the stall door, the actual bathroom entrance.) :puke:
 
This is one of the BEST threads on CAG I've ever read - props to the OP!

Okay - two for you: First, and it's common sense - but do NOT piss off the guy making your food BEFORE you get your food. My brother worked at a pizza joint (Little Caesars!) and did some horrible, horrible things to this nasty customer's toppings. She called in and started yelling about, "Don't mess up my pizza!" before they'd even made it! So he pre-chewed the toppings before making the pizza.

Second - generic medicine IS the same. Do NOT get the name brand. You are wasting your $. Not always true for off-brand items like mouthwash or soap, but always true for pharmaceutical drugs. The LEGAL kind.
 
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