Hi. I’m Kaitlin. I usually just watch, and it’s all very entertaining, but I’ve been itching to actually talk. It’ll probably end up being another commitment I’ll break (this happens all too often) but I thought I might as well try. Hell, it’ll ease my boredom at least another night.
Working in retail is killer. Dealing with the people on normal days is hell, but the store I work at is closing and therefore liquidating. I have learned that:
People’s bitchiness is directly proportionate to the amount of savings they are receiving. Twenty per cent savings, twenty per cent bitchier!
Even nice girls like me can get cussed out.
I’m never working in retail EVER AGAIN.
<Kaitlin crawls under a carpet and cries pitifully>
Awwww, someone needs a hug. I used to work retail, and I swore that I’d never do it again. And I never did.
I know a few friends who still do, and they say the trick is to work somewhere that attracts a more intelligent crowd. Border’s bookstore or something like that. But I’d say try to get an industry job, even if it’s temp. They’re better.
Retail isn’t for everyone, in fact it’s not for most people. You are actually blessed for having worked in the retail industry because you now have an understanding that the people who work in retail deserve respect. Heck-- retail work is very hard, the pay is low, and many customers treat you like a slave or an idiot.
But so what? You know you work hard. You probably did a great job and made the retail shopping experience (no great fun there either) better for a few folks. You met some good people too, I’ll bet.
And even if you’re not one of us twisted folks who keep coming back for more, you will more than likely now be a customer who can make retail actually rewarding for those who do decide to engage in the profession for the long haul.
Hey, Kaitlin - welcome to the board! Retail jobs ARE tough…but on the bright side, if you guys are closing, you only have to deal with this particular crowd for a limited time… What kind of store is it, if I may ask?
Some types of retail are better than others.
I worked retail at a mom-and-pop bookstore in a rural town, and it was so annoying to have people bitch me out because their CDs were scratched up and I couldn’t buy them back.
“What do you MEAN?? I just bought this and played it in my car CD player once!”
“Sorry, ma’am, but it’s scratched. We have a policy of taking only non-scratched CDs.”
mumble and evil looks from the customer
gesture to ward off the evil eye as soon as s/he turns her/his back
Oh, I definitely know how to conduct myself in a store at this point. Not that I was ever bad before (I pride myself on politeness) but . . .
I work in a clothing store called Stage, which is a part of Stage Stores Inc. and is also under the name Bealls or Palais Royale. It never had particularly pretty clothes, so my associate discount was useless. The area of town is good, though, and the people who work there seem to be pretty nice.
I’m not a very good salesperson, though. I try, but I’m far too shy to approach people and follow the procedure. I get as far as asking, “Hi! How are you?” and then gabbing about the weather or the store closing or whatever.
I find myself straightening racks of clothing when shopping and cringing whenever the telephone rings, suppressing the urge to answer with “Thank you for calling Stage. This is Kaitlin.”
Sometimes I can have fun. I like making the displays and doing mark-downs. I like being helpful to whoever needs it.
But I always take home at least one embarassing thing I did–and I always make some stupid mistake! It messes with my emotions sometimes.
I must be the only person that loves working in retail.
I work at a fairly large ($18 million) Circuit City(18 million is our annual sales dollar ammount) I love it there.
I actually love it sooo much I have enrolled in the management training and I start tomorrow.
Sure, there are some down sides, asshole managers (hopefully I wont be) a theif in the store right now, and white trash buttmunches that think they are the shit because of their insurance check from their trailer burnng up in a fire. And there are a few salesmen that I want to drop a 36 inch Sony Vega on, but other than that I love it.
I said the “real job” comment in acknowledgement of my own plans to get a job after college in whatever I end up specializing in, though I can see how that’d be misconstrued since I wasn’t specific. I barely get over minimum wage and I’m not sure that the monotony and emotional stress are actually worth the money I’m getting. I’ll only have the job for a few more weeks, though.
I try to take it seriously, but I want to cry every time I have to go back there.
ARGH BEST BUY!!
You have now shown yourself to be my mortal enemy!
Just kidding, but seriously, you would think that you guys coulda come up with a better mascot that a freakin dancing blue tag. We at least have a plug which is at least related to electronics,
Thanks for the welcomes. I have been to other boards and been a part of discussion mailing lists, but this is the first time people have really cared to respond in detail.
What kind of store is it, if I may ask?