Over the summer, most kids in school work a job or two (or three) to save money to pay for school, books, and food. A lot of kids, like me, end up in low-level positions at retail stores to make that cash. I work at a cute little country store and restaurant chain, which mostly just means the questions I'm asked on a daily basis range from "What's the special?," to, "Do you have this size in the back?" It gets old, and quickly. However, it is my job, and I intend to continue to do it, so I take my pleasant attitude and friendly smile and respond to those questions as quickly and thoroughly as I can, in spite of them being old news. Here are a few more questions I'm tired of answering, and anyone else who works in retail probably is, too.
1. Where's the restroom?
The store I work at is just off the highway, and draws a lot of travelers, who are weary, tired, and in desperate need of a restroom. We get that! And, for that reason, we have a large light-up sign with "rest room" and an arrow on the door. It's in direct view of the front door. When I tell you to follow the middle path to the doorway directly behind me, I am internally seething about how little effort you put in.
2. Is this actually on clearance?/How much is it?
Most people like a good bargain. I only say "most" because if I said "all" then the few would probably comment, arguing. Understandably, a lot of shoppers want those bargains. However, when you find something on a clearance rack, with a specific clearance tag, and it's not anywhere else in the store... you can go ahead and assume it's really discounted without asking me to go check the price. Also, if it has a price tag, please don't ask me how much it is. I'm going to do the same thing you are -- look at the price tag, and whip out my phone calculator if there's a discount. Don't assume I know the price of every single thing in the store on sight.
3. Do you have any more of this in the back?
This is entirely understandable to ask when you can't find your size on a display, or you want two or three of something, and we only have one on the floor. I will happily go get you something that is still in a main display. This is less understandable when the thing is, again, marked down, in clearance, and you just heard me tell someone else that all the shirts on that rack are the last ones available in that style.
4. (Any vague description.) Or something like that?
If I can't tell whether you're asking for a toy, candy, lotion, or a candle, it's on you when I can't find the mystery object you're looking for. Bonus points for "someone told me I could find a [vague, strange object description] here." Clarity is key with finding what you want. A woman and I once spent 20 minutes trying to find wind chimes because she kept asking me for "fancy bells."
5. I think this is broken, can I get a discount?
Fun facts: at our store, if it's broken or damaged at all, we can't sell it to you. So, no, those damages won't get you a discount, so stop slyly trying to drag it on the ground in hopes of a scrape. I can't give you a discount for any reason, unless you're an employee and give your discount code.
Bonus: [Unaccompanied children screaming.]
Not a question, but seeing a parent let their kids loose in the store breaks me inside. They ransack the toys, and often the rest of the merchandise. No one even tries to pick it up. We are left to figure out what the organizational system in that little toy corner looked like before, and if we can ever make it look nice again.
My job is still really fun. I meet a lot of interesting people and sell them a lot of interesting products. However, as with anything, there is good and bad. So for every nice old lady who just wants to see the newest mugs we got in, there is someone in a bad mood that just wants 20 percent off that scarf.
So please, if you find yourself in a store, leaving shirts unfolded and something that was previously in a box, out of one, just try to put it back. Maybe look around for the restroom first. And please, please, please, stop asking if you can use an employee discount.
