Retail workers all share similar daily struggles, whether it is dealing with annoying customers, multitasking, or trying to get through a slow shift without going insane. We all have our pet peeves at work, some being worse than others. Anyone who has ever worked in retail can most likely relate to the following!
1. When you greet a customer and they flat-out ignore you
2. When someone leaves all of their clothes in the fitting room
Really? You couldn't have just given the clothes to me or hung them outside on the door? Sales associates are not your maids! Personally, it is probably the biggest pet peeve when customers leave their clothes on the floor of the fitting room, as if the store is their house.
3. When a customer gets angry when something isn't on sale
Guess what? I'm not the one who invents the prices! I would love nothing more than to make the price lower for you, but keeping my job prevents me from doing that! Plus, it is simply impossible for every item to be on sale, but it is usually not difficult to find something that is!
4. When a customer asks to speak to the manager
My manager is going to tell you the exact same thing that I'm telling you, so what did you really accomplish? I'm not lying to you, I can promise you that. Note to the customer: I work here and you don't; you don't know everything about the store policy!
5. When a customer asks you if you can model what they want to buy
I'm a sales associate, not a model. Next time if you're buying clothes for someone, maybe try asking them their size first, or ask for a gift receipt? Also, please don't compare me to the person you're buying for, please.
6. Refolding the same item 10 times
It is the absolute worst when the same pair of jeans or shirt gets unfolded each time you walk in the room. It is almost like customers are going out of their way to infuriate you, so you have to be repetitive and fix it again, for it to only be messed up again within the next ten minutes.
7. Having to open the fitting room door for the same person multiple times
Really? You couldn't have just left the door slightly open for when you go back inside? It's not that difficult. I really don't have the time to attend to you every five seconds for whenever you feel like going back in the fitting room.
8. When customers get angry when you don't have gift boxes
Unfortunately, sales associates can't control when we have and don't have gift boxes. Maybe don't be lazy and wrap the gift yourself or go to Walmart and ask them to do it for you.
9. Finding dust bunnies the size of a small child
Sometimes finding dust bunnies so huge that they look like the size of a shoe makes you wonder when the last time someone cleaned that part of the store. It also makes you wonder when you're going to develop some sort of lung disease from all of the dust you're breathing in from the store.
10. Not getting paid enough
Seriously, people! Next time when you are shopping in a store, remember all of the situations that sales associates encounter on a daily basis and be nice to them! For a minimum wage job, we have to deal with a lot of unique people and have to put on a smile to get through it.
