Whether it was a summer job, a part-time job in high school or college, or just a job on the weekends for a little extra spending money, working in retail is a rite of passage into adulthood. As much as you hate to admit it, you probably did have it easy compared to the “real” world. And let us face it, maybe you did learn a thing or two and maybe your boss and coworkers weren’t that bad. Nevertheless, retail was hell while you were working in the middle of it and you walked away with some crazy stories. Why did you even put yourself through that torture?
1. Because window shopping was getting depressing.
2. Sometimes your boss is less than impressed with your attitude around customers.
I am sorry, I am just having a bad day and sometimes people like to test my patience. Plus, you told me to “just be myself”, but I will do better I promise!
3. Phone conversations with angry customers are equally as unpleasant as face-to-face conversations with angry customers.
Despite your temptations to hang up or get “disconnected” somehow, you know the word will get back to management. Props to you for sticking it out and being as pleasant as you could possibly be!
4. There is a dispute going on between your boss and a customer, but you know better than to get in the middle of it.
You desperately want to know what's going on, so you ask one of you coworkers in hopes that she has some details. Finally, something interesting-ish is happening!
5. Why do customers always try to look into the back stockroom or office?
6. It is about two hours into your shift, so it is obviously time for your break.
You are going to regret taking your break so early in your shift, but you are just starving and absolutely nothing productive will get done until you eat. So, you order a double cheeseburger from Five Guys and wait for what feels like an eternity for it to be delivered.
7. Your food arrives, but people somehow know that you want to eat, so they all come into the store at once to prevent you from doing so.
They know. They know that you want to eat. But once you do eat your semi-warm (but still somehow tasty) double cheeseburger, you are satisfied, full, and still have a few minutes left of your 15-minute break to browse Facebook send Snaps about how much you hate your life to your roommates.
8. Now that you have eaten, you can stop being such a pessimist about the day (hopefully).
You have reset yourself and ready to take on the rest of your shift with a new attitude! You can now be the "you" that your boss wants you to be.
9. You have an optimistic attitude going until someone immediately destroys your nicely stocked and organized display.
10. You have your "perky, awake, and attentive" face perfected for when your boss is around.
11. But on the inside, you are really thinking more negative things.
12. If you have ever worked somewhere that sells sex related things, you know there are two types of people that buy them.
13. Closing and opening the next morning is just cruel.
It is even better when the coworker you are opening with is the same one you closed with the night before, because you are both riding the same struggle bus.
14. Pretty much nothing in the retail world is worse than going into work with a raging hangover.
What did everyone else do last night? Why are all of these people awake and functioning so early?! Can't they see I am struggling?
15. It all could have been better but could have been worse, but we have made it so far my retail companions. Cheers to us!
Keep up the good work and stay sane!
