To the brave and strong souls who spend half their waking hours in a store. To those that deal with angry, outrageously entitled customers and still put on their happiest face and friendliest voice. For those of us that wonder what bliss it must be to have a job where you can sit for more than five minutes. Anyone who has ever worked in retail can tell you, it's a grueling, thankless job. We face a set of uniquely frustrating problems, the bulk of them relating to customer interactions. These are just a few of the struggles that anyone who works retail can relate to on a spiritual level.
1. The perpetual shortage of pens.
The shift started with a box full of them. We now have 2. Where do they all go? Is someone eating them?
2. Having a smile plastered onto your face all day, hiding your inward pain.
It's like posing for a family photo, but for a really long time. By the end of your shift you'll have to unscrew your face and relax your jaw muscles.
3. "I won't get charged twice, will I?"
No ma'am. Your card wasn't even scanned. That's why I'm asking you to swipe it again.
4. People who try on 30 things and buy 2.
Four of the same top in different colors. Why??? Sometimes I wonder how we as a species have made it this far.
5. The false hope of an on-call shift.
Waiting in suspense all day, wondering if you'll get lucky. You can't make any plans though, just in case. The worst part is you thought you had a chance at freedom, but then one 30-second phone call crushes any hope you had of a free evening.
6. Stumbling upon a fitting room that looks like this:
The return rack isn't sitting there as decoration. Didn't your mother teach you to pick up after yourself?
7. When customers blame you for expired coupons.
Or overpriced items. Or the end of a sale. Or basically anything else beyond your control. "I'm so sorry I don't own the store, or else I would change it for you."
8. Customers who make you wonder if the Tasmanian Devil does exist.
No no, it's perfectly fine to leave your trash on the counter and strew clothes around. We retail clerks will just clean up after you.
9. Customers who either can't or choose not to control their children.
Children in retail are destructive forces of nature.
10. Customers who come in two minutes before closing.
Oh you close at 10? Good thing I got here at 9:57. Now I can take my sweet time browsing.
11. Having to work weekends.
Nothing is worse than watching your friends enjoy their weekends off while you have your busy day at work.
Retail is no walk in the park. Remember that the next time you pull a pair of pants from the middle of the stack.
