Ever since I was able to get a job I had always wanted to work in retail. Looking back, why did I ever wish this upon myself? Although I love surrounding myself with new faces, great discounts, and (mostly) awesome co-workers, a day in the life of a retail worker is more rough than you would ever imagine. The bills are not going to pay themselves, so I guess my eight hour shift wanting to strangle myself is definitely worth it, right? But anyway, here are some truths I face every time I am working.
1. "No, I am sorry everything that is out is all we have in stock right now."
Typically, the stock room is filled with unprocessed shipment so it is nearly impossible to look for a requested item. It's not that I am lazy and don't want to help a customer out, it's just I physically cannot get in the stock room to look.
2. "This is the same playlist I have heard for the last six months."
Please change the Pandora station. I am extremely tired of hearing 'Work From Home' by Fifth Harmony as I am not working from home.
3. "So what's your schedule like during the holidays?"
If you are planning on celebrating the holidays while working in retail you are wrong. Holidays are ruined due to increasing amounts of sales and being forced to have an open availability.
4. "Let me go get my manager, maybe he/she can help you a little better."
Even though the customer is always supposed to be right, they are really never. It's not worth my time to have a nagging customer yell at me, instead it's better to push it off on my superior.
5. "Just to let you know the store closed five minutes ago sir/ma'am."
It's extremely difficult to keep my composure when a customer walks in five minutes prior to closing. All I want to do is leave the store and go home to my bed, but instead I am waiting for a customer who will most likely not purchase a single item.
6. "Oh that is nice, please destroy my immaculate t-shirt display."
Before working in retail, I never appreciated the craftsmanship of clothing displays until I was the one fixing them every 15 minutes. Customers ruthlessly destroy the displays that I put my heart and soul into folding and organizing. It's not okay.
7. "Hey there, how are you doing today... *customer awkwardly stares with no response*"
Customers who practically ignore my presence really make me question my job. Like what is so wrong with me that you can't even respond to my kind greeting. Rude, rude, rude!
8. "Even though you requested this day off, could you pick up this shift?"
Nothing is worse than checking your phone and your manager asking for you to pick up a shift. They are your superior but you definitely recall calling this day of.
9. "Would you like to sign up for our emails and receive some coupons?"
Rejection is just second nature when asking customers if they want to sign up for promotions. But let me tell you, when a customer agrees it is the best and most unexpected feeling in the world.
10. *Uses phone where you know the cameras can't see you*
When having down time, there is always something to fix or stock in the store. But when your phone is blowing up during your shift, that's the last thing on your mind. Instead, I stand all the way in the back making myself look busy to catch some sweet Pokemon that are hiding in the store.
Although these are just a few moments retail workers encounter during a day at the store, let me tell you there are plenty more.
