Working in the retail industry is both a curse and a blessing. A blessing because, hey- at least you aren't a waiter or waitress. However, working in the retail industry is basically a one-way ticket to selling your soul to the devil. There are so many things we have to put up with in order to keep our mediocre, low paying job. Most of the time, I'm asking myself silently, "is this really worth it? Do I want to keep my job bad enough to not punch this customer in the face?" These are 12 examples of what I mean that I have compiled into one list, which I'm sure many people with retail jobs can relate to.
1. Having to deal with rude customers, and doing so with a smile
If you yell at me for not having the size shirt you're looking for, I'm probably going to hate you.
2. When customers ask what sizes you have in the back
If it's not on the floor, we don't have it. Why on Earth would we hide it from you??
3. "There's no price on it, it must be free!"
NO! IT"S NEVER FREE! Also, that joke was not funny the first or the millionth time I've heard it, but it's a sure-fire way to piss off any retail worker.
4. "Aren't you going to ask me to dinner first?"
Sir, I have to ask for your phone number if you ask me to look up your rewards card. You're probably old enough to be my father. Please stop making this encounter more uncomfortable than it has to be.
5. "This is supposed to be on sale!"
Was it on the same arm as the $9.99 sale sign? No? Not on sale. Is it an Adidas shirt you found on a Champion sale rack? Yes? Not on sale.
6. When the customer tells you to put the receipt in the bag, then yells at you when you don't hand it to them
Don't do this. Don't.
7. Getting called in for an eight hour shift when someone calls out
8. When you're about to leave for the day, and your manager asks you to stay a few extra hours.
This usually only happens the days I'm craving chipotle after work. Soul crushing.
9. Starting at 4, helping 100 customers, cleaning 10 tables, and realizing it's 4:21
This is enough to make me cry. It's the start to a VERY long day.
10. When customers pick up the same shirt in the same size in 6 different colors
I promise you, if you want that same shirt in red and blue, they're both going to fit the exact same way. Don't be that jackass who leaves a pile of unfolded shirts on top of a table of neat folded clothes. Seriously. Don't.
11. When customers get snotty during checkout after you ask them 100 questions.
Don't get mad, these are things I have to ask. I know you probably don't want a rewards card or extra socks but I gotta ask. Deal with it.
12. When customers tell you their total can't be right
I don't do the math, I promise. The computer is not wrong, please don't tell me to get a calculator to redo the math. And yes, if you ask to talk to a manager, they're going to tell you the exact same thing!
