By the time college rolls around, most of us have had the... 'pleasure' of working in retail. Whether it was for a single holiday season or for multiple years now, there are just some moments all retail workers have experienced.
1. When it's five minutes before close and a customer walks in the door
Bonus points if they say something along the lines of, "whew, glad I made it before you guys closed!"
2. Seeing your coworker on their lunch break and knowing you still have an hour until your own
I see you gloating over there with your plate of food.
3. Working an opening shift after closing the night before
I cry for the people who hate coffee (mainly myself).
4. Being forced to deal with a particularly rude customer
No, I do not control the prices. No, I do not control what we have in stock. No, I actually have no real power here. Move along.
5. When that rude customer finally leaves and you can rant about them to your coworkers
Nothing brings two coworkers closer than mutual hate of a customer.
6. Working with a new employee for the first time
Nothing is worse than being alone with the new guy when neither of you know how to interact with each other yet.
7. When someone calls in sick and leaves the rest of you to suffer
What happened to loyalty? To solidarity?
8. When you had the entire weekend off, but are forced to come back to reality
9. When you've given up hope on talking to any intelligent customers during your shift
Sometimes you gotta just give up and hope things are different tomorrow.
10. Pushing the boundaries of the dress-code and praying your boss doesn't notice
Pro-tip: They always notice, and it will end in a long, uncomfortable lecture. Just wear what you're supposed to wear.
11. When a customer attacks you, but you refuse to let it phase you
12. Working a closing shift on the weekend
Alas, I am stuck at work instead.
13. Counting down the hours until you get to go home
"Okay, I've been here for two hours... If I just do this length of time four more times, I get to go home." We've all been there...
14. Finally, when your favorite coworker walks in the door to share your suffering
Now, your eight-hour shift seems much more doable.