Whomever has worked a retail job will understand that there isn't just one type of customer. Throughout the four years that I've been in retail, I've come to notice the different traits of each customer. Some are easy to handle, while others make things more complicated for employees. There are the customers who are grateful for employees helping them, and then there are those who are never thankful. No matter what the situation is, it is important to remain calm and be ready to assist with whatever they need. Sure, dealing with customers can drive an employee crazy, but they also make for good stories later.
These are a few customers that retail employees come across:
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1. The customers that destroy everything
No matter what, these customers will destroy anything that gets in their way. They are searching for a few things? Well, during that process they will knock items down, push things aside, and place items where they don't belong. These customers can be bothersome, especially to employees cleaning the store. The best thing to do is clean their mess as soon as it is made, and maybe they will get the hint to stop.
2. The customers who let their kids run around the store
Somehow parents think stores are an equivalent to playgrounds for their kids, and leave their kids unattended while they shop. This allows their kids to have full freedom of the store. They will run up and down the isles, scream, and play with the toys, or anything else they can get their hands on. In the end it leaves the store as a mess.
3. The customers who don't understand how their total got so high
There are plenty of frequent customers who are shocked by the total of their spending, and then, they pop the question, "How did I spend this much?", or "This can't be right." As an employee, you have to name each item the person bought and the price. They usually don't understand until you name off every item, and then they laugh it off. When they realized the total is correct they will finally pay, and move away from the register so can start the process all over again.
4. The story-teller customers
These are the customers you can't escape from. No matter how interesting their story is, you don't want to listen to it all. After all, you are trying to get your work finished on time to go home. If you are at the register, they will stand by you. If you are on the floor, they will follow you around like a gnat. They will tell you their life dreams, what they did today, or what they plan on doing in the future. I've heard simple things, like a family getting a puppy, to crazy things, like divorce. These customers don't have any filters, and love a captive audience.
5. The last minute customers
They know that the store is closing, but they still come in and take their sweet time looking around. Even though they know the employees want to go home, they won't leave until they are satisfied with getting their items. It's alright: their time is just worth more than ay employee's.
6. The "regular" customers
These are the people that every employee knows about. When they walk into the store, you'll know exactly what they are going to do as they shop. They will either remember your name, buy the same items, or have a shopping habit. They can either be a hassle, or the friendly type.
7. The customers who can't pick what they want
Their indecisiveness leads to a long discussion when they are checking-out at the register. They will ask employees what they think of the product, what color is the best, or what style they should pick. Sometimes after the conversation about an item, they will end up not buying it, so the fifteen minutes or longer you spent with them was for nothing.
There are a lot of other different types of customers who shop in retail. However, don't allow yourself to groan and sulk about going to work. Yes, customers are a hassle to deal with at stores, but it will help you understand how to communicate with different people. You'll learn how to keep yourself composed when handling angry people and understand that not every customer is bad; just the memorable ones.
