It's no secret working retail is hell on earth. Between working long hours for little pay and dealing with horrendous customers, retail is a job that requires thick skin. But retail workers are human, too, and things can get to us. Here are seven things every retail worker understands.
1. The mystical land of "The Back™".
So a customer can't find the item they wanted and asks if there's any more of that item in the back, but you know the back is nothing more than a closet with boxes labeled things like "mannequin heads", a couple rolls of TP, and a broken light fixture.
2. When a customer gives you the change too late.
You ring up a purchase for $13.63 and the customer hands you a $20. Just has you finish punching it in, the customer says, "Wait, I have the 63 cents!" and you gotta act like you didn't almost fail high school algebra.
3. When a customer buys a small item and pays with a large bill.
A customer buys a one dollar candy bar and pays with a 100 dollar bill, and you want to tell them, "I'm a cashier, not a bank teller!" Now you have to page management to bring you the change you need because there's only two $20s, a $10, and some pocket lint in the drawer.
4. Customers coming in one minute before closing.
You and all your coworkers death-glaring at them until they leave.
5. Never having weekends off.
All your friends want to hang out and have fun but you're stuck at your job until 8 pm on a Saturday night, and the last thing you wanna do when you get home is go out.
6. Customers' "jokes."
"If it doesn't scan, it must be free!" and you gotta smile and laugh as if you haven't heard that joke 15 times in one shift. Another one is when they give you cash and say, "Just printed this morning!" That's when I break out the counterfeit pen and say, "If this is counterfeit money, I'm going to have to call the police." They usually are quiet after that.
7. When creepy customers try to flirt with you.
My politeness is not flirting, it's me doing my job. Below is something that happened to me personally.
