I have only worked in retail for about a year and a half, but I also worked almost every single holiday besides Christmas.
Within the year and a half, I have experienced all sorts of different customers. Though, most of them ask pretty much the same questions, especially during the holidays. These are the things I hear working at the retail store called, "Big Lots." Here are 11 things that people in retail are tired of hearing:
1. "This is supposed to be on sale."
As a cashier, I often have people come up to the register and say, "This is supposed to be on sale," reminding me that when I scan their item, a different price should pop up. Sometimes though, people set items down in the wrong places and can be interpreted as it should be on sale when it really isn't in the first place, which can be frustrating for me and the customers as well.
2. "Is the tag the correct price?"
Yes. Especially at the store I work at, whatever the system says the price is, is what price we make our price tags say. Most often than not, customers are trying to find a way to make the item cheaper.
3. "There is a sign right next to the item."
I get this a lot working not only during the holidays but all throughout the year. Customers often get confused what items are on sale and which are not by where the sign is hung up. During the holidays, the employees usually have more things on their to-do list than normal, so sometimes they forget to either move a sign or take down a sign. Just because an item is near the sale sign, does not necessarily mean it is on sale.
4. "Is the discount going to be taken off now or at the end?"
I realized customers are so eager to make sure they are getting a good price for their items so I have to constantly reassure them that the discount is taken off as soon as I scan the item.
5. "Do you have more in the back?"
The answer is usually no. Unless it is a bigger product like a piece of furniture or a seasonal item like a Christmas tree. However, for toys and other small necessities, my go-to answer is no.
6. "Do I get a discount if it is a floor model?"
During the holidays, items seem to go fast as people are trying to do their Christmas shopping. More often than not, people expect some sort of discount if it is the last item we have in the entire store. I always seem to have a confused look as to why there should be a discount on the floor model. So do you think there is a discount if it is a floor model? If you answered, no then that is correct! Just because it is a floor model does not mean the item is any special.
7. "When are your Christmas items going to be on sale?"
"Honestly, I don't know," it what I would say to some customers. No, they do not like that response, but sometimes customers would come into the store a few weeks before Christmas already expecting lower prices.
8. "When do you think you will have more in stock available?"
Apparently, customers think we get our items on the daily basis so we can stock our shelves just for them. Unfortunately, at the store I work at, there is a massive truck that comes once a week with items. Also, the managers only have an idea what kind of items we will be getting.
9. "Wow, you guys are still open?"
This is probably my favorite question that I get because the only reason we have extended hours during the holidays is for the same people who ask if we are still open. It truly blows my mind.
10. "What time do you close?"
Even though there is a huge sign hanging by the door that says, "holiday extended hours," people still ask this question on the daily. When I finally give them an answer to when we close, they are usually the same people who wait until a minute before we close to either checkout or leave the store. Though, there is a huge relief knowing I made it another day dealing with pushy customers.
11. "What time are you open tomorrow?"
People are either very shocked or happy to hear that we are open at 7 am the next day. The customers that come to realize we open at 7 am do not understand is that they are the reason we open so darn early. I always tend to ask myself, "is this real life," because it will be still dark outside but the store doors are open waiting for customers to walk in. Normally though, we do not open until 9 am after Christmas is over with, people still try to drive by the store waiting for the doors to open.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned so far working in retail is that customers will try to cut corners by getting as much of a discount as they can, especially during the holidays.
