I Work(ed) in Retail, and Now I Understand...

[kappa_dancer]

From working in retail, I have become painfully aware that more people than I ever imagined are rude, inconsiderate, and feel as if they are entitled to something, just because they are the customer.

I've also learned just how cheap people can be. Today I had a lady ask me if she could have a discount on a dress because it was missing the belt (that she didn't want), on top of her 40% off she was getting. Seriously?

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by kappa_dancer

From working in retail, I have become painfully aware that more people than I ever imagined are rude, inconsiderate, and feel as if they are entitled to something, just because they are the customer.

The customer is always right

[PhoenixAzul]

I had a really awesome retail job (with REI) just before I got my new job, to help supplement my income. It was a great place to work and I got paid and compensated well.

BUT.

- I will always fold and hang clothes up.
- I will always put things on the cart if there is one.
- I will NOT leave random things in random parts of the store.
- I will be uber patient if the salesperson is helping more than one person.
- NEVER on the phone. NEVER. I would never approach a customer who was on the phone. Just wouldn't even begin to help them. It makes my job too complicated, it's annoying, it's rude, and I don't want to hear your conversation. I'm trying to fit you for hiking boots, I have to actually have a conversation with you.
- I will never use the phrase "you people".
- I will never talk to a salesperson like they are stupid or uneducated or "beneath" me, just because they work in retail. That was what got under my skin the most...don't treat me like crap because of where I work. You're not my superior just because you have money. That's not how that works.

[SWTXBelle]

I worked in Macy's - started off in Men's with a seasonal job which I was told would become full-time if I did well. I was the top salesperson every week, but when I asked for my new i.d. the manager hemmed and hawed. December 24th he gave me the news that the full-time job had been eliminated. He hadn't told me earlier because they didn't want to lose me.

Merry Christmas!

I came back working in the Bridal Registry. "Bridezillas" is missing a bet - they should film the goings-on in Bridal. I was in charge of crystal, and the buyers would come and ask me what I needed. "Iced tea glasses for my Baptist brides!" I answered. They looked at me as though I had two heads. What a shocker - a few years later Macy's ended up leaving Texas. They are now back - wonder if they learned anything . . .

Now I understand -
- why etiquette dictates you should send the wedding gift before the wedding. You don't want your guests running through the store an hour before the wedding.

[lovespink88]

I worked at Victoria's Secret for two summers and a winter break. After that experience, I'm now always extremely careful when looking through pile of jeans, shirts, whatever, as to not destroy the display. I LOATHED working in Pink because you'd get a bunch of idiots who would destroy the panty bar (yes that's what that table with the 5 for $25 panties is called). I would spend 20 minutes making sure that panties were laid out with the right number of sizes, in the right order, etc. It seemed like someone would always come by within a minute of me finishing a row and then pull a panty out from the center of the row and just destroy what I had just cleaned up. I'm not sure why, but I was really set on keeping that thing in order, so that always drove me CRAZY.

I also try my best to not get frustrated when the sales people ask if you need help 943577465203845038 times. I know at VS we were required to ask every person (unless you were already helping someone) who walked through your section if you could help them find something. It's just a part of the job, they're not trying to annoy you.

Same things goes for the credit card thing. No, I don't need a credit card for every store that I shop at, but the sales people are required to ask. At VS, we had to open up 2 credit cards every for hours. If you didn't make the requirements, you'd get some sort of punishment. For example, the people who closed who had the least amount of credit cards for the day had to take out the trash, which sometimes was a HUGE chore, especially if we got lots of inventory that day.

I also NEVER take out my anger on the salespeople when there's something not in stock. It's not their fault!!! I had a few people yell at me on CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING about being out of stock on a few things, and not having any more gift card holders. MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR SHOPPING 3 WEEKS AGO!!! And if I ever try to return something but don't have the receipt or something, I will promise not to yell at the salesperson for only allowing me to have store credit for the sales price. I know they did not make up that policy themselves just to piss me off.

However, I do have to say that I have found one place where the customer is not always right: bra sizes.

Ladies, if you've gained weight, ACCEPT IT. Size is just a number that will help you find something that looks flattering on your body. I can't fathom why women are so stuck on being a certain bra size that they would rather wear that size that is too tight, uncomfortable, and makes them pop out everywhere, than wear one that is the right size at makes them look good! I don't know how many times I've measured someone, told them their size, and then they give me a dirty look and tell me I'm wrong. Excuse me, I have the measuring tape in my hands, I would know.* I had one woman who insisted she was a 34D. I measured her and she was in fact a 38C. She looked at me like I was nuts and refused to believe me. I gave her 38C bras to try on in addition to the 34Ds she grabbed. She called me to her fitting room when she had the 38C to check the sizing. As I knew it would, it looked like a perfect fit for her. However, she insisted it was "too big" and bought her 34Ds anyways. That's fine, you can walk around with back fat sticking out from under your bra because you're insisting on wearing the wrong size, just so you can say you wear a 34D. Have fun looking horrible.

*From experience, the measuring tape system is not a perfect system. With all clothes, you really just have to try them on. However, it certainly does get you very close to your size, so don't tell me you're a 34D when I just measured you and got a 38C!!!!!!!!