So ** sandalfeet ** is the one at fault because there are long lines? Lunch hour is generally one of the busier times of the day, and, yes, the store should be staffed accordingly, but shit happens. People call in sick, or the Powers that Be have cut our payroll to such a microscopic number that many of us are trying to do fifteen things at once(yes, I exaggerate, but only a little). People need to realize that they can’t expect the store not to be busy during lunch hour, and they’re not always going to be able to rush in and out. I don’t like it either, but there it is.
The majority of the price checks done at my workplace are done because a customer thinks it should have cost less. We have a policy of “item rings up incorrectly/you get one for free”, so needless to say, we do a good amount of price checks. I’d say a good 90% of the time, the customer is mistaken. Then, they get all bitchy because they were wrong.
I realize many things go wrong that ARE at the fault of the store. We’re human. It happens. But, I grow tired of people laying the blame for everything on the shoulders of your average retail worker. If people could let go of the idiotic sentiment that dictates that the customer is always right, it’d be easier for us to give good service, and we’d all be happier.
** sandalfeet ** and my other fellow retail workers, just wait till the holidays roll around…<sigh>
heh I started a thread similar to this that got flushed to the pit. Retail sucks. People suck. I also work in retail and find it very hard to drag my butt to work everyday. People swear because they are giving you their money, you must kiss their feet. People are very rude. I got into an argument the other night with four girls. They were mad because we were watching them for shop lifting.
I’ll never understand how hard it is to take your clothes out of the dressing room when you are done, instead of throwing it on the floor. I’ll never understand how people can ask me, “How much is 50% off of x amount?” um…basic math here people.
sigh
I’m seriously debating on going to college. Atleast then I’d have a good excuse on why I am working retail.
VERY few workers are going to want to come in from 10:30 to 2, and just work that time period. That would be a lunch shift, IMO. You MIGHT get some college students who had some early morning and late afternoon classes interested in that shift, but not too many. If a store puts more people on a small shift like this, it’s going to have to raise prices. People who shop on their lunch breaks are just going to have to live with the fact that they’re choosing to shop at a very busy time. Either put up with the waits, or choose another time to shop.
I’ve done my time in Retail Hell, and I think that most everyone should have to be out in the front lines as they grow up. Especially during the holiday season…man, I am SO GLAD that I can spend the whole month of December without setting foot in any store, other than a grocery store.
The only time I’ve ever asked for a discount on a soiled item was because it was a white dress with a lipstick stain on it, from someone who’d tried it on. It required drycleaning, and I just pointed it out and asked if something could be done about that; the cashier knocked a small amount off the price, I think it was double what drycleaning would have cost, and that was fine.
I can’t see raising a fuss about a little dust on something, though; that’s just silly.
i did my time in mchell’s too hybrid. hated pretty much every second of it for 6 months. the customers could often be quite bad, but nowhere near as much as the top 2 managers. i went back there the other day with my mum and siblings and just watched. and was oh so pleasant to this little cock-sucking manager that forced me out of my job that he nearly blew his top…
Aaaaahhhhh… revenge…
I am in Retail Management myself. I have been working in retail for only 3 months, and I am loving it.
Then again, my store has quite a relaxed atmosphere. Fortunately, I have not had much experience with difficult customers. Then again, very little phases me.
I’m sure this will change come the Christmas season.
I never yell at you. I don’t look down on you for working in retail. I’ve done it myself when I was in college…in fact, I worked wrapping presents during Christmas so I know retail can be a bitch.
I 90% of the time don’t ask you to check in the back for a different size. I assume if you don’t have it out front then you probably are out of that size.
I smile and try to wait patiently in line…even if I’m on my lunch hour. I understand that the holidays are busy times. I understand that you can’t help it if your manager didn’t schedule enough people to work.
However…when I am standing at your register for close to 5 minutes while you chit-chat with another worker without you ever acknowledging me then I can feel my temperature rising. I will attempt to take a deep breath and politely say, “Excuse me, miss, are you open? Can you help me?” When you pause from your thrilling conversation about breaking up with your boyfriend long enough to look at me I don’t really appreciate the rolling of your eyes and the heavy sigh. I certainly don’t like it when you glance at said coworker and say, “I guess I’ll finish telling you this in a minute.”
At this point, when I feel like my head is going to explode, you finally take my items and start to scan them. You then cram the linen suit I just purchased into a bag instead of asking me if I would like it hanging or not. I cringe as you throw the earrings I purchased into the same bag without wrapping them in any tissue or anything. The entire time your friend is still standing there glaring at me like I have done something wrong.
But when you then keep popping your gum loudly at me as you are ringing up my items I feel my last nerve snap. I then tell you to forget about the items and to please credit my account back for the items already scanned.
You then yank everything out of the bag and credit my account. As I am gathering my purse to leave you turn to your friend and tell her what a bitch I am.
When I then ask to speak to your manager you turn to your friend and say, “This lady wants to talk to you.”
At this point I can see that I am dealing with beings that can’t imagine what customer service is so I just walk out of your store.
Plankspanker you lasted six months? I only made it six weeks then decided that I didnt need the cash that badly. I admire your perseverence/pity your lack of funds at that time:D
