Management

One of the worst parts of working any entry-level job is the management. They can be super crabby. On many days, dealing with your bosses can be the worst part of your day.

Often if you mess up, they like to throw a fit that you should already know -- even though it's their job to train you well enough that you can do it correctly.

Just remember that this probably won't be your job forever, and once you leave for the day, your job is done.

Technology

In most stores, it seems like they get their computers from the stone age. Everything runs super slow all the time, especially when it's busy.

It can be super frustrating trying to do your network-based job when the network is super awful. A lot of the time, corporate will update the software, but not the computers, so the technology can't actually run the software properly.

Zoning/Straightening 

Regardless of if your store sells clothes, homegoods, food, or anything, inevitably at some point during the night you'll be instructed to "zone." A lot of stores refer to this as something different, but it's essentially just going out onto the floor and straightening so that it looks good for customers.

The ugly thing about this is that it's basically never ending. Ten minutes later, the shelf you just perfected is destroyed again.

Christmas time is an even bigger mess. Imagine this: glitter. everywhere.

Coworkers

Coworkers can be the best thing about your job, and the worst thing. In retail, you often bond with your coworkers over annoying customers, management, Black Friday, and generally having to be there. There is a closeness that comes from struggling through the same job together.

On the flip side, you also have to deal with coworkers who don't pull their weight, or who have a superiority complex.

In retail this can be especially frustrating because if someone isn't doing their job, it leads to you running around all over the store, helping six customers at a time, trying not to cry, taking calls, and also trying to work projects for management.

If your teammates aren't pulling their weight, it makes it super awful to be at work, and you get drained super quickly.

Returns

Inevitably, there will be times when a customer is unsatisfied with their item. Over the course of my time in retail, I've received wet towels, moldy dishes, period-stained sheets, used bras and underwear, rings from failed engagements, mops with maggots on them, items stained yellow from an extended stay in a house with heavy smokers, boxes full of roaches, and vacuums that may or may not have been used to clean a house from Hoarders.

It takes a special kind of iron stomach to touch your returns, and take them graciously (with the receipt of course).

Customers

Customers come in about four categories: entitled, hateful, blind, and human.

Entitled customers will demand you take their coupons that can't work, take back returns that you can't take, or demand to speak to your manager after 2 minutes. Entitled customers are commonly referred to in meme culture as a "Karen."

Hateful customers will take their day out on you. A lot of times if a customer has a problem out on the floor, they'll wait to address it until they get to the register, and yell at their cashier, because they're stopped, and the cashier can't leave. This customer is a step down from entitled, because when they don't get their way they'll start throwing a tantrum like a toddler: throwing things, calling you names, screaming, and stomping.

Blind customers essentially treat you like part of the furniture, because they don't SEE you. These are customers who will respond to "Hi! Did you find everything okay today?" with "I have coupons." Blind customers will see your hands weighed down with the heaviest object in the store, and ask you to come with them for help.

Occasionally, you get a customer who is actually human. You can joke, chat, and have a generally good time whilst doing your job. They are kind, and understand that you just need to do your job.

Of course I recognize how annoying it is that I have to ask for your phone number, if you want our credit card, if you have coupons, if you want your receipt emailed or printed, and if you want to add this super random item to your total, but this is how I pay my bills, and customers who are actually real people who have worked before and notice you trying your best understand that.