Working in retail is hard enough. Retail jobs can range from working in a Petsmart to working in a bridal store. Every retail job has positives and negatives, but working in a store that sells clothing is probably the most challenging retail job there is. Here's a list of things that I have personally experienced while working retail that have made my blood boil.
1. Customers who ask if there is more of an article of clothing that is on sale
OK, there are a lot of reasons why something may be on sale. The product could be the last in the store, it could have been an online store, or maybe the store got a surplus of that certain item and it didn't sell enough in time. But, the bottom line is, no, there is not more in the back, because this is the sale section. Everything on sale is out in the store because the store is trying to get rid of those clothes.
2. When clothes look the same
When you're putting clothes back and you think you found the place where one shirt goes, but then you realize it actually isn't the same exact shirt. Clothes can look really similar. Sometimes two shirts will be the same exact color and look almost the same except for one minor detail, like there are slits in one shirt and not the other. It gets really frustrating when putting away clothes.
3. Customers who freak out before you type the discount in
When stores have sales, normally the person ringing you up has to scan all of the items before typing in any discounts. This will result in the customer freaking out, and saying things like, "Wait, wasn't that sweater on sale!?" and then you have to tell them to chill, and that you just haven't typed in the discount yet.
4. Customers who get mad when there is no more of a specific item in the back
This is especially frustrating during the holiday season. Sometimes, customers will come shop the day after Black Friday and wonder why there aren't more sweaters in the back. Obviously, things are selling out more quickly than normal because it's the holiday season.
5. Spending all of your money at the store you work at
I'm not complaining about the awesome discounts that come with working in retail, but I have found myself spending the majority of my paychecks at the store I work at. Which means I have less money for food and other necessities of life.
6. Having to look stylish every time you work
Working at a clothing store means that you are the face customers see when they come in to buy clothes. You have to look good every day, and you have to represent the store's style. This means you need to wake up and do your hair and makeup every morning, as well. Some days I love dressing up for work, but other days, I wish I could just roll out of bed and wear a simple uniform.
7. Customers in dressing rooms
When customers are done trying on clothes, typically they hand the clothes they don't want back to someone who is working back there. Some customers will try to organize their clothes, and they fail. I've seen people put things on hangers backwards, or fold sweaters neatly, but inside out. I've also seen customers hang up pants, but not in a neat way. Honestly, just save us the time of having to undo your mess and rearrange the clothes in the correct way. Thanks for your attempt at making our job easier, but you actually only made it harder.
8. Working weird hours
Retail stores are typically open seven days a week, and typically close around 9 p.m. on weekdays. If you start to work in retail, don't get used to working the same amount of hours each week. One week you may work more than 21 hours, and the next week you may work less than 10. Also, you never work the same shifts, so one Saturday you could get off at 4 p.m., or you could be getting off at 10 p.m. This makes it super hard to make plans.
9. Having sore legs and feet
No matter how comfortable your shoes are, after working an eight-hour shift in retail, your feet are going to feel like they're going to fall off. Even though you feel like you can barely walk, you can't show it at work, because you're supposed to keep a smile on your face. By the end of your shift, you'll wonder how you'll even be able to make it to your car.
10. Closing shifts
If you close at a retail store, this means that, for at least an hour after you close, you'll still be there, organizing the entire store. You'll have to fold everything and make sure all of the clothes are straight on their hangers. On super busy days, the store can look like a stampede went through it. You could possibly be in your store for two hours after you close. You pretty much never know exactly when you'll go home.
Even though working in a clothing store can be really tough and annoying, it's still a great experience. You get to learn about fashion, as well as customer service, and for real, nothing beats the discounts that come with it.
