Pet Peeves of Retail Workers | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Pet Peeves of Retail Workers

There are many pet peeves of retail workers, what are some of yours?

193
Pet Peeves of Retail Workers
Think Progress

As retail workers, we can all relate to similar struggles and pet peeves at work, such as dealing with irate customers, putting back together a destroyed display, feeling crazy during a rush period, and other struggles. I work at Market Basket, a grocery store chain in east Texas and western Louisiana. I work as a cashier and a courtesy booth operator, which is where you do money orders and cash checks. There are several struggles and pet peeves, which I will definitely outline.

1. "Are you open?"

No, I'm just standing here with a light on behind a register for no reason at all. If the worker's light is off, they walk off from their register, pull their till out, put up a sign, or block the lane, they're not open.

2. When Someone Approaches Your Counter and Puts Their Stuff Down while You're Cleaning

Can you not see that I'm cleaning my counter? It could be from a spill or leak. Putting your wet and/or leaking items down right in my way really isn't helping.

3. Not Reading Things

This goes for price tags, sale signs, and fine print in sales papers. Don't get upset with me if your item doesn't come off because you failed to read that you must have a $10 purchase to get the sale price.

4. Not Putting it Back where it Belongs

If you decide you don't want something, for the love of God, put it back where you got it. It gets really annoying when a frozen lasagna is left on the bath soap aisle, or an entire warmed roast is left in the freezer with the ice cream.

5. Ignoring Someone Speaking to You

Unless you are deaf, mute, blind, or have social anxiety, there shouldn't be any reason you can't respond to a worker's greeting or questions. We are supposed to be friendly to customers, not grouchy and flaky. It doesn't help when the customer ignores us.

6. Telling Us How to/How Not to do Our Jobs

I know how to scan an item and total up a purchase. Yes, I am counting (and so is the register screen on my side) how many times I'm scanning your 80 jars of icing. Don't remind me to count it. Also, our store requires us to meet a scan time of items per minute. Don't tell me to slow down. I know what I'm doing. Don't get angry at the new hire if they need help doing something.

7. Throwing Money

I have my hand out. That means hand the money to me, don't throw it. I'm not a stripper. Don't put it on the other side of the counter to where I can't reach it, either. Unless you have an injury, disability, or condition to where you need help with your money counting, there's no reason you should be throwing your money at the cashier.

8. Getting Angry at Prices We Can't Control

I get it, things are expensive. That doesn't mean you should get angry at a worker for how much something costs. We don't gather on price committees to decide how much bread and cheese and other things cost.

9. Frustration with How Many Cashiers are Open

Yes, it is extremely busy. We are going as fast as we can. We have everyone in the store who can use a register up front checking. Don't get angry if we are short staffed. I understand it is frustrating and inconvenient, but that's life. Sometimes people call in or don't show up, so we don't always get the help we need.

10. Watching Us Struggle

I usually have a bagger to help me bag your $200 load of groceries. Sometimes, they are busy doing other aspects of their job, helping someone else, or slacking off. I don't always have the help I need, so instead of standing there and spectating, I would appreciate it if you helped me bag your stuff. This is especially true when it's extremely busy in the store.

These are some of the pet peeves from retail workers. I'm sure I didn't get all of them. If you're a retail worker, what's one of your pet peeves?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

363
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

205
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199086
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20192
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments