Ah yes, it's the most wonderful time of the year for some. Others, especially those who work in the retail world, really dread the holidays. I don't really know what happens when the holidays come around and it brings the worst out of people.
No ma'am, I'm sorry, we are out of stock in store and online of the product you are looking for. I'm sorry sir but that specific item only comes in two colors, no, I can't make one appear out of thin air. Yes, if it isn't on the sales floor we are completely out of stock. No, we do not have anything left in the stock room. Yes, it is only X% amount off that specific product, not the product that does not have the marketing placed above it.
I want to make it known that it's not just the customers that make me go, "Uggghhhhhhhhh," it's also the constant changes going on in the store. While I do love the career path that I have chosen, but the countless amount of times that I and my coworkers are having to re-merchandise product gets out of hand. When the store is running low on product and the sales floor is being replenished with what it can hold, the store starts to look a little scarce. This brings my favorite question of the year.
"Is the store going out of business"
There has been no other time that the soft smiles have been more abundant. I politely tell them, "No (ma'am/sir), we are just running low and not getting as much shipment as we are selling."
The mail only runs so fast people. I have often wondered how exactly UPS and FedEx handle the amount of product they have to ship from the warehouse to the stores. I feel like it would look something like that scene in The Grinch when he is moving everything around in the mailroom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRukOo6-v4M
Speaking of product coming into the stores from the warehouses, let's not forget the amount of product that the store employees have to process when we receive it. Not only does the product have to immediately have to be put out, but we still have to offer the Class A customer service we have to give. When you have about 9 boxes of product and the store is staying busy, it gets stressful.
Now, I love my job and I really love being able to help others find the perfect gifts for their family, but please don't get mad at me. All of us are stressed out, all of us are grumpy, but please understand that we are doing the best we can. This isn't even just between the employees and the customers, but how the customers are interacting with one another.
So this holiday season please spread a little cheer, and if there is a line to the door I seriously am sorry for your wait because I hate waiting in line too.
