10 Moments Everyone Retail Worker Experiences | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Moments Everyone Retail Worker Experiences

There are some situations only those in retail will understand.

16
10 Moments Everyone Retail Worker Experiences
Odyssey Online

If you have ever worked in retail, you can most likely relate to the frustrating reappearance of minimum wage, unsatisfied customers and working hours you would rather spend anywhere else. Sometimes you'll meet a really interesting person that will make your day and other times you're counting down the hours, or even minutes, until you get to leave and take off your name tag. Wherever you work or worked, you'll hopefully relate to these scenarios and situations a retail worker will usually run into.

1. "Can I speak to a manager?"

No matter what you say or do, some customers will never believe you. They will cut you off mid-sentence and roll their eyes before looking around the store and demanding to speak to your boss or manager while they hold up the whole line behind them.

2. The "Price Checker"

The most frustrating situation to be in is having a customer bring up a bunch of items that you expect them to buy without realizing every item was associated with a question. For example, "I saw that there was a sign for buy one get one free in the meat department...does that have to do with the goldfish in aisle 3?" or "This has a tag on it for $1.99. Does that mean that's the price?".

3. The "Return" Specialist

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with returning an item if there is a problem with it. However, the situation of people returning their whole order without reason on multiple occasions is definitely not a fun one. They'll usually burst into the store looking for the customer service desk like it was what they were born to do.

4. The "It Must Be Free" Line

For anyone who has not worked in retail, it should be common knowledge that this line wasn't funny the first time and will never be funny. I'm not too sure why people still insist on using this line while cashiers stress out trying to figure out a price.

5. Hearing the Same Songs On Repeat

Depending on where you work, you may have the opportunity to hear some good music. However, if you're stuck with the top 100 worst songs of the 90's you're probably not going to want to hear those songs over and over again.

6. When a Customer Gets a Little too Personal

Nothing is worse than a middle-aged man hitting on you if you're barely a legal adult. It's not like there's anywhere to run to, so sometimes you just have to keep calm and pretend everything is completely normal.

7. When a Customer Refuses to Believe Their Card is Declined

"Well why was it declined?!" I'm not sure why they think retail workers have any sort of affiliation with the bank, but we honestly have no idea what happened to your card or how to fix it.

8. Customers Running into Old Friends and Holding Up the Line

It's nice to see people catch up with someone from the past, but it's very difficult to complete the transaction when people begin having reunions back in the frozen aisle with their third cousin.

9. "Why do you look so tired?"

Nothing is worse than working after barely having any sleep until someone stares at you completely bothered that you're tired. The very mysteriously surprising answer (spoiler alert) to this question is that working can sometimes be tiring after not getting enough sleep.

10. When a Customer Forgets Their Wallet in the Car

Usually the "I'll be right back" means that they'll see you back at the register in about half an hour. I'm not sure if customers are driving to their homes and back, but usually the whole line is backed up while all of the other shoppers give you dirty looks as you wait for the "wallet leaver" to return.

Hopefully these sarcastic situations will be able to be related to for those working or who had previously worked in retail. The retail life is definitely not an easy one, so definitely give yourself some credit for being a part of it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

281836
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

146487
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

249132
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments