Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 19, 2012

Money talks….BS walks. I think we’re about to see a completely different demeanor come from her.

“TJ!!! You forgot to give me back the precious vest!!!”

So why does she look angry? If she is seeing his sales being higher than the others, she should be calling him sweetly.

How much difference can it be when you get a bunch of porkers to super-size it?

Hit it her where it hurts TJ! Her salary probably includes a store sales performance bonus.

I got to say, we might see TJ and Ann together this February 14th %-)

I really like the shading in panel 2 with TJ’s face.

Too predictable, a good cash register total. Period. I was looking for fireworks, something edgy, something hot, something to take to the water cooler. At this point, it looks like Greg took his story line into the red zone…..and fumbled. Ah, well, maybe tomorrow. At least the art work is nice.

I think he gave the place away, which is why he was able to say his “sales” were up. Ann looks about ready to explode in tears.

He probably used her register log in and discounted the living hell out of everything he sold, making it look as if she did it. Corporate will $#!^ kittens when they think she was robbing them blind and then she’s out.

TJ looks pretty nonchalant for a freshly fired guy. He doesn’t give a hoot. He went in with a plan, implemented it, and wrapped it up in time to get fired. His work is done, and he walks away happy.

TJ is the type to sell ice to penguins. He’s smooth. They’d buy. Upselling to every single customer can make a huge difference. I waited tables for years. Just getting people to upgrade to Coke rather than a glass of (free) water made a difference in sales! (And tips)

Maybe his sales are not good. Maybe he has been giving away discounts, which is why the Wicked Witch looks so angry.

I think you are all overthinking this. I suspect it’s simply that he did what he said he’d do- double everybody else’s sales, and AE’s reaction in panel 3 displays her surprise/anger that his smart-alecky presence was actually a big help to her. She’s a ‘control freak’ who realizes that she is somehow going to have to live with him (in a professional sense), even though he’s not completely controllable.

Ann doesn’t get scared, the only reaction that she shows in a dicey situation is rage that the universe isn’t giving her what she wants. She was supremely pissed when Toni wouldn’t cower, she had to assert herself to keep in control, so she fired Brad. THAT was small potatoescompared to this. .The fact that TJ just “happened” to keep a tally of what he was doing in the way of sales means she’s been hooked and never knew it, and he’s been playing out the line all this time. So she’s furious because she just realized she’s not in control of the situation – and her best asset just manipulated her into pushing him over the side. She also knows he’ll make her pay and pay to get him back. That’s enough to enrage anyone, let alone Ann.

Oh GOOD Gravy!PLEASE Tell Me this Woman is NOT going to FALL for TJ Bullsh*t!

Hey Ann? This Guy once DEFRAUDED the Local Fire Department and NEVER Once Served a Day in Jail and YOU are gonna BELIEVE his “Sales Figures”?!!?

Oh, You didn’t KNOW about THAT little Detail? Hmmm, Smiley Must have forgotten to PUT that on His Resume!

(Sigh) Is there ANYONE, ANYWHERE within this VAST Luanniverse that is NOT Under the “SPELL” of This Grinning Jackass???

game… set… match!

better call the hook and ladder squad i see fire in her eyes

This isn’t a used car place – it’s fast food. I’ve never experienced a fast food cashier attempting to sell me anything else besides what I chose to order, so this part of the storyline confuses me…

some one not buying a T-shirt or mug

Are you all expecting Ann Eiffel to call back TJ and rehire him? It might happen in the strip, but in real life the Ann Eiffel types would sooner burn down the restaurant than to backpedal to the likes of TJ, no matter what his sales figures were. He showed irreverence to both her and, more to the point, her authority, and that’s the unforgivable sin.

Were TJ’s sales figures so incredibly high that Ann wants him back, strictly for the sake of profit? Or were they so incredibly low (because he discounted every sale) that she wants him back so she can punish him? One way or the other, he has maneuvered the Awful Eiffel into having to retract her firing, the first step in his dismantling of her….

He had a plan. He went in, did the damage, got himself fired, and “Oh by the way” I just did something. Whos in trouble and in control now miss ANN EYESORE?

First, I think he’ll keep on walking, regardless of the sales and despite how much she may beg (plus this storyline is pretty much over).

A little double-entendre maybe? “Comparing mine to the others?” Perhaps that got her attention.

know what? TJ sold NOTHING. …but I don’t know why… hmm…

I’m reserving judgement on what’s happening until I see the next 3 toons

I really don’t think TJ will have done anything illegal or unethical, so giving away food or deeply discounting sales for customers is out of the question. Besides, I would highly doubt that he would be given Ann’s manager codes to be able to do so. Then again, this IS a comic strip, and Greg can make happen whatever he wants to make happen, but I doubt he’ll make TJ a criminal.

She’s been blind-sided! Yes!

She is so screechy!

It is vindication for Brad’s struggles. I don’t think he is cheating the company. I think he is being a more attentive cashieer and people like a personal touch. I am not sure romantic sparks will fly—but TJ being one-of-a-kind might meet his match.

this is waaay too much like fishing in a barrel.

This really is like Clash of the Titans. Whatever is actually going on here, I think TJ has the high ground in this struggle – I can see it in his face.

Surprise! Shock! Displeasure! Take your pick, or all 3. Reminds me of mama bear protecting her cubs. Maybe Ann’s protecting her control, reputation & prestige. Even if TJ made significant sales increases, it reflects poorly on her – shouldn’t she have done the same thing? And now he’ll go out bragging about how HE increased WW’s sales. And SHE will have to explain to corporate why she had such a spike in sales & now they’re back in the doldrums. Yep – looks like victory to me.

I agree with BaldEagle! TJ won and Greg can retire this story line for now, or continue it until Anne is gone.

I’m just a little disappointed that we did not learn any more backstories.

I hope this is more than just an increase in sales — although that would be great, too. She can’t get rid of him because of phenomenal sales, but he’ll make her life a living aitch-ee-double-hockey-stick.

I do believe the only two faces that woman a has are “sultry” and “angry”…

Why is the (new) employee giving the boss the register tally? She should have known the figures long before he did.

Still cannot figure out how he lives. Where is his money coming from? If he is so good at sales…or BS, why is he not successful? or is he?

Or maybe he didn’t do anything the whole time.

I suspect that no one has yet guessed where Greg is going with this. The register totals are obviously either high or low (most likely low) but I believe no one has hit upon why.

At least, that’s what I’m hoping.

I don’t think this is the end of it. I’ve noticed that most Luann story arcs run Monday thru Saturday. There have been exceptions and this could be one of them, but I don’t think so, not this time.

Opinions vary,facts come in one size.TJ just put fact in Ann’s hand.Read/weep,A dear..how’s crow at ww? A is apt to know..

Maybe he did double the sales and corporate has congratulated her for the good job. Now she has come to realize that corporate is going to wonder why they plummeted back to previous levels.

Or could it be that his register tally demonstrates that someone has been skimming the til..

How many orders do ya think he bought himself :P

Ok, I’ll wait for the surprise on that piece of paper, but if TJ has screwed over a woman just for the sake of revenge, then he’s an a**hole, and chivalry is dead in the Luann comic strip.

.The bait is placed.

The line is cast.The hook is set.The spin begun.The fish racedright to the last.With no sweatthe catch was won.

Ann Shark fishin’s fun.

Truth be told… I… Spigotman… am the WW CEO., there, now I’ve come clean. And yes, I did notice impressive numbers from employee #2877 — I believe his name is TJ . Also, I sent a memo to the “current” manager, Ann L., and asked that this star employee TJ be sent to HQ for immediate managerial training. I plan to have him run the new state of the art store being built on the north side of town. I’m still waiting for Ann’s acknowledgement of my order.

@Chuck373 porkers? Unkind, sir.

Naysayers, the game is still in halftime. Wait, watch and see. I think Greg’s got one hot potato waiting to serve us.

How about TJ,gave away food, and paid for it himself to increase his sales. Or he sold Meals on credit.

Keep going TJ – make Ann come running after you – begging and pleading that you come back – like that will ever happen! Conflicting agendas: control or profit …

Didn’t expect THIS. Well well. Let’s see where this goes…

Note: when an employee does this repeatedly over the course of a month or so… the profits for the company increase not a little. Frankly, a single sharp employee can net thousands of dollars of additional profits in a very short amount of time. That’s why it’s a big deal when one particular employee stands out among the rest. You always want to find out what that person is doing different… and get the others trained up ASAP.

Ann’s “angry reaction” could be at herself, not TJ. She may be angry for being such a fool — once again — and she now fully realizes it.

Your surmise makes the most sense. I was racking my brain…something about TJ has a source of income that he hasn’t gone into detail about? At any rate, if it’s not like what you said, I was thinking maybe TJ bought out the place and now he’s Queen Weenie’s boss!

Naw… He’s a salesman. He sold more than anyone.Wonder if Greg use’s our chit chat ideas for his strip.Might be fun to have a weekly contest. And have him pic one of our ideas.

TJ makes a little smoke…she calls in a fire. Guess what two people come to put out the false alarm.

Not in my state. Colorado has at-will employment; the employer can fire you for any reason or none at all.

I hate having to wait until tomorrow to see what happens.

On reflection, I have to say what TJ gave Eiffel is probably not good – her facial expression seems more one of anger. If TJ was a super-salesman Eiffel’s expression would probably show more surprise or puzzlement.

BURN!

Honestly, I think that a few comments got this right, while many missed it. TJ walked out still wearing the uniform, hence, just one more way to annoy the shrew.

I’m thinking that TJ just used his charm to upsell the hell out of everything. He’s capable, he just frequently chooses not to use his powers for good. He is toying with her. A man with nothing to lose has the power in this situation, assuming she is responding to a positive showing.

Has to be something more than register receipts. Don’t you think any manager would be monitoring the daily cash totals? Ann may lack people skills, but she’s attractive, dresses well, and had a no nonsense work ethic. Laughing Boy has great potential, but wastes it. Ann belongs up at corporate level where her type thrives. TJ belongs nowhere.

Here’s the wind up….the pitch….

Wait! She’s the owner of this business. Isn’t she doing the reconciliations each night. Isn’t she making the bank drop and checking the register receipts? Why doesn’t she know this information already????