It's not strange for a young adult to work a retail or other customer service job at some point in their working life. They can be the easiest jobs to obtain without work experience and it is possible to work up through the ranks and earn raises, or, if you're in food service, you have the ability to earn tips.
As customer service employees, we have our coworkers that become more than coworkers; they turn into best friends that understand this certain part of our lives. We have regular customers that always shower you in smiles and bring you little gifts sometimes to brighten your day. They celebrate achievements with you because they take the time to get to know you a bit more each time they grace the store with their presence.
But, with the good comes the bad.
Yes, this is the Customer Service Industry, and yes that means taking care of customers. I am more than happy to make the customers that come into whatever shop I'm working in happy with the service we provide, be it a renting movies, getting their prescriptions, or fueling up their cars.
Here are five things you should refrain from doing/saying to a retail employee:
1. Haggle
There is a very good chance that the person working the register has absolutely no say over the prices of the products they're selling. No, the clerk can't change the price of gas just because you're a regular. No, lack of a price tag does not mean it's free. And, no, you can't double dip discounts!
2. Put something back in the wrong place on purpose.
Think of a store like a library. If you pick something up but have suddenly blanked on where you picked it up from, return it to a worker. That way we can put it back in the correct spot. Why does this matter so much?
If it's put back on a sale shelf, there will be that one customer that doesn't understand that it was put there by mistake.
If the shop doubles as a distribution center, it takes the processing team too long to find the items, thus it takes longer to ship out online orders.
It takes the employees extra time to clean once the store is close because they're running around the shop, putting everything back together.
3. Tell your life story.
The girl at the register is working. They're not there to socialize. Honestly, if a manager sees an employee chatting with a customer for more than five to ten minutes about non-work related subjects, the employee gets reprimanded.
And, to be honest, we usually don't care about the fact that the mole on your sister's neck that changed shape last month is benign. Not in a "you don't matter, please shush your mouth so I can move on with my life" way, but in a "I really need to get back to work" way. Really, I'm glad she's all right, but I need to take care of the other people in line behind you.
4. Come up to the register or ask for help while you're on your phone.
With cell phones ruling our lives, this one just keeps getting worse and worse. It's rude to both the cashier and the people waiting in line behind you. Step out of line or out of the shop while you're on the phone if it's that important of a call.
5. Walking in ten minutes until closing time and expecting to shop as long as you want.
Seriously? We get that you may not be able to shop during normal hours due to other time constraints. Perhaps the same pertains to retail workers? Does that ever cross your mind?
The girl behind the counter that continually checks the clock and gives your five minute warnings? She may have to go and pick her child up from daycare or relieve the babysitter. The person you gave an evil glare to for vacuuming while you browsed? They have to get to class. The guy that flipped the open sign to closed a few minutes early to give you the hint that he needs to go? He has another job to get to that he can't be late for AGAIN.
We are human beings with lives, too.
