Working retail is no peace of cake, however most people try to keep positive. One way is to label the customers. There are 9 different types of people I've seen while I've been working in an Office Supply Store.
1. The "Can I Speak to your Manager"
Everyone who has ever worked retail should know who this is. This is the customer who has multiple expired coupons, has a return over the 14 day limit, or multiple coupons that don't work together. They freak out and regardless of what I or another cashier says, they will always ask for manager. Who will most likely repeat the same thing over again. They'll be back next week. Something to look forward too!
2. The "What's Copy Center?"
This is the customer who assumes that the cashiers do all the copy center tasks behind the counter. These customers are rarely the "Can I speak to your Manager" but sometimes the can be. Believe me the are the worst. They most likely call the store to ask "Do you do shipping?", "Do you laminate?", or "Can you make copies there?" I say "That can be done in the copy center, can I transfer you over there?" They pause for a moment, then most give permission. A few will ask "What's copy center?" I'll say "It's basically a document copy place with much more." Then they let me transfer them. Such a waste of time.
(There are so many Copy Center Memes I didn't know what to go with)
3. The "Gift Carders"
These are the people who buy gift cards with a rewards credit card. (One of those cards that gives you bonuses for buying). They either buy a bunch or they always buy one with every single transaction. There is a reason why there is a daily limit for gift card sales. Almost always you need to call the card company to get approval. I love when I have to say to the customer "Oh I'm sorry, Your card company declined the purchase." The only downside is I have to get the manager to void the transaction.
4. The "Last Minute Queen"
This is the customer that is coming in for an item that is only sold online, and expect to find it in the store. The "Order Here, Not Sold in Stores" means nothing to them. When we say we can place an order for them, they don't want to hear it and leave aggravated, or they want it next day on a Saturday.
5. The "Clearance Hog"
This is the person who fills a cart with just clearance items. However, most of the items are likely items that aren't really clearance. But they will insist that the item is clearance. They will be come the "Can I Speak to Your Manager" if you don't give in to their demands.
6. The "Last 5 Minute Shopper"
This is the person who comes in the store 5 minutes or less before we close. They will do one of two things. 1:They want to get help with everything. They have no clue what they want. 2: They will not want help with anything. They think they have a clue what they want. But they still have no clue. Either way they will make a mess.
7. The "Before or After"
These are the customers that want to come in the store before we open or after we close. People don't understand that we are not allowed to open before the set time. We can't let people in after we close because the tills are being counted and the registers are closed.
8. The "Extra Shopper"
This is the person who will always find more then what they were looking for. Or they say they didn't find the bag of money I was looking for. Like I haven't heard that joke 7 times before today!
9. The "Cashier Hog"
This is the person that thinks that the cashier is just there to talk to them after they finish their transaction. This is only worse when there is a line or the busy season. They don't realize they need to move along.
There is a reason why people think retail is torture. Most of the time with customers I feel like this:
