In John 13:34-35, the Lord instructs us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, so I try very hard-I really do. However, when you work in retail, sometimes you find this to be a very, very difficult thing to do. Sometimes I feel like retail workers deserve awards for making it through the day. Maybe not awards even, but maybe just little stickers with words of encouragement. For example "Congrats, you didn't shoot someone today" or "Congratulations, you still have all you hair" or "You made it through a 9-hour shift and your still semi-sane: You rock!" Because these stickers don't exist, I'm writing this article to bring to light all the things we as retail workers experience on a daily basis. So sit tight, and get ready to read about what a mini version of hell feels like:
1. People who try to open the door at 7:30 a.m. when we open at 8 a.m.
There's a sign on the door that says we open at 8 a.m. Just because you stand there and glare at me does not mean I'll open it any faster. I'll just glare back and then probably open it at 8:03 a.m. just to annoy you like you annoyed me.
2. People who come in five minutes before closing
At this point in the day, we consider ourselves closed. The register tapes are all printed and put away; everything is pretty much locked up. Sorry if I don't serve you with a big smile.
3. There really is such a thing as a stupid question
My mom told me there was no such thing as a stupid question. Yeah, she lied. If your a retail worker, you get your fair share of stupid questions. Like, "What's the price of this item" when the price tag is staring them in the face. Or, "Are you opened today?" as you're literally talking to the customer on the store phone. Or, my personal favorite (I work in a feed and seed store) "Where are a chicken's teats so the babies can drink milk?" I should have told him they were underneath the wings, but I was too blown away by that question to answer. I understand some people may not know this information, but if you are actively raising chickens, you'd think you would have educated yourself a little bit about them first.
4. Not accepting an item is out-of-stock
Sometimes, suppliers short our items. Sometimes, I forget to order items. Sometimes, I order a bunch of stuff everyone wants until I get it in, and then no one wants it until I've thrown it out and don't have it anymore (Again, I work at feed store-stuff gets moldy/buggy if sits too long). You can't win in retail, and just cause you drove thirty minutes to get to me doesn't mean I can make the item magically appear.
5. Getting your manager for a customer
Yes, give me a minute to get my manager so he can tell you, verbatim, what I just told you.
6. Customers who argue over prices
"I can get it $2 cheaper at "x store!"
"X store" is thirty minutes away. Enjoy spending the two dollars you "saved" in gas money and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
7. Customers who ask hundreds of questions but don't buy anything and are "just browsing"
8. Customer's who want a refund after completely destroying an item
Someone once brought me a half empty bag of dog food and wanted a full refund because their dog didn't like the food.
Ok, I guess it's enough of that. Retail most definitely can try our patience, but at the end of the day, I am grateful for all the people and friends I have made at my workplace.
