I've been working in retail for three years now. I've seen some pretty weird things happen where I work, and have had some pretty interesting customers. Don't get me wrong, I love where I work, but sometimes when shoppers come prepared with their wallet they accidentally forgot their manners at home.

Let me get one thing straight, the people who work at retail stores are human beings. We are not animals or your personal shopper. Please do not ask me to price check a million different things for you when we both know you can do the math yourself. Please do not yell at me from across the store to get you a fitting room, you can come up to me I won't bite. Please do not try to negotiate prices because we are at a store, not a yard sale. Please do not expect me to hold your things for you while you look around, I will give it right back to you. Please do not leave a mountain of clothes in the dressing room, I am not your mother and I'm sure if she saw the mess you made she would be incredibly disappointed. Please do not leave your food or drinks in the store, it's gross and again it is not my job to clean up after you. Please watch your own kids and tell them to stop playing with the fixtures, it doesn't say "and babysitting service" in the window. Please do not come into my personal space, I can hear you clearly from a proper distance. Please remember your damn coupon because I will not give you one if you don't have it.

I'm going to be perfectly honest, I am a completely different person when I'm working. I try to be as nice as I can be to everyone so that no customer has anything to complain about. Over the years though, I found out that customers will ALWAYS find something to complain about. It doesn't have to be the service that my fellow coworkers and I have provided, but it could be that our prices are too high, or we can't return something without a receipt, or we don't have anymore of the item you wanted in stock. Well guess what, I don't make the prices, if you thought there was any chance that you would return what you bought you should've kept the receipt, and if we're out of something you wanted maybe you should check online or you're just SOL.

Working in retail has really given me so much more respect to everyone who has ever had this job. I love it, but it sucks. I have had some really nice and amazing customers. But for every one great customer there's three terrible ones. Next time you go shopping, please note that even though I work there, I am NOT your maid. Clean up after yourself, be respectful, and please remember your manners — and your coupon.