While 14 or so days working retail doesn't sound like a long time, if you've worked in retail you understand. It's hard, and I envy every single person who was/is able to hold on longer than I did. However, I did learn many things while working at a thrift shop which shall go unnamed due to my absolute distaste for how they operated.
1. Being friendly 24/7 is hard.
Life happens to all of us, and we're people just like you. Sometimes you wake up in a bad mood and that's okay. If we don't smile at you right away, or take a moment to realize that you need help, just remember that something may have happened on our way to work. We're not just robots that help you get things from high shelves.
2. Tagging and sensoring clothes takes ages.
By the time you're tagging the tenth shirt, you start to realize just how tedious of a job it is. Tag it twice to make sure the price tag doesn't fall off. Sensor the left hip of pants/the left arm pit of a shirt. Sometimes you have to put it over the tag so that it doesn't fall off. Sometimes there's a big rip in both of those places and you're just confused. And the tagging gun likes to cut you every other tag just to remind you that it's dangerous.
3. Everything is color and size coordinated.
There's a lot of color coding and sizing that goes into the layout of a store and where everything is placed. Season, style, "gender", color, size - all of these factors are accounted for. So...
4. You may think you're being helpful by putting things back, but you're not.
I understand that this looks like a t-shirt, but it's actually a blouse. And it's a boho-style top, so it doesn't go there it goes over here. And it's an extra small, not a medium. But, you were sort of close.
5. And then there are those of you who just don't even try to put things back properly at all.
I understand that you're in a rush (hopefully, I like to think the best of people), and maybe your kid was running around the store, but please. If you don't know where something goes, just hand it to an associate or place it on the rack by the changing rooms. That way we can put it back in its proper place and our store doesn't look like WWIII is occurring inside.
6. Stealing is just plain annoying.
One of the most annoying things is cleaning up the store at the end of the night and seeing sensors littering the changing room floors/aisles. Please. If you can't afford something, I understand and sympathize with you. There are thrift shop options readily available for you. If you're a teenager doing it for the thrill, don't. It took me two hours to tag all of these clothes and half of the sensors are now broken and we have to order more.
7. Sometimes there honestly isn't anything you can do to help a customer.
If something is out of stock, it's out of stock and we'll be out until we get a new shipment. If we don't have a shirt in your size, perhaps you can try ordering it online. Some stores may have different merchandise depending on the owner/it's being a franchise or corporate location. I cannot express enough how much we understand not being able to find the perfect top/dress can suck, but it's not our fault.
8. Therefore, getting yelled at is just another part of the job.
Customers can yell and scream all they want to, but if we don't have something in their size or if they don't have a receipt we can't return their item. It sucks, and we wish we could help, but there is nothing we can do.
9. Being around clothes all day starts to make you completely hate your wardrobe.
It's our job to make ourselves look trendy/in style. And as seasons change, we're exposed to all kinds of cute looks. After a while, you start to realize just how outdated your wardrobe actually is.
10. Overselling is what we're paid to do.
... so don't hate us when you get home and realize we talked you into spending $200 extra dollars on shoes and a purse when all you came in for was a shirt.
All in all, it was a great-ish two weeks that I worked in retail. I met a lot of new people, learned a lot of new things, and became exposed to what it really means to work in that kind of environment. It's also given me a new appreciation for those employees. So, the next time you're at work and something goes wrong, just remember. At least you don't work in retail.
