1. "But it was in the clearance section."

Miss, if this item was on clearance and you found it in the regular section, you would not be bringing it up to me and loudly exclaiming "but it was in the regularly priced section." Customers pick up items and rarely put them back where they belong. Our team works hard to put the items where they belong, but sometimes we miss a few things. The prices are usually set on the ticket.

Alternative line: "I found this item in the clearance section. Do you think it was misplaced?"

2. "Must mean it's free since it isn't scanning!"

The long chain of numbers is how our system recognizes items for sale. If the barcode does not scan, we have a way to look it up still. The bar codes are just there as a convenient alternative to the laborious task of punching in twenty digits for every item.

Alternative line: "Is it not scanning? I can go get another one, if you would like?"

3. "It's a gorgeous day outside! You must be feeling bad about missing out on the beautiful weather."

I already don't want to be at work on very nice days, and it is usually made a lot worse when you remind me how wonderful the weather is and how much better off I would be if I was outside hiking. Some of us like to make money before we spend it, and this is the easiest way for me to make it. Sure, I'm making sacrifices in the process, but I don't need to be reminded of the sacrifices.

Alternative line: "It's a gorgeous day outside! How are you today?"

4. *Holds perfectly clean shirt/dress/blouse* "Can I get a discount?"

There are no marks on this shirt. That hole is supposed to be in those jeans. If it doesn't wash out in the washing machine, you can still return this item. We don't give discounts for damaged containers, because that doesn't interfere with the performance of the product inside. Very few stores give discounts unless you are a student, you work at that store, or you sign up for a credit card/rewards program.

Alternative line: "Do you have any rewards programs I can join to receive discounts?"

5. *Person is on their cellphone the entire time*

Not only is this extremely rude, it is also very distracting. If you are mixing between discussing something with me and someone on the cellphone, I can't always guarantee I'll have the best responses to your question. I don't know what Carol wants you to bring to the cotillion, but I do know how much this blouse costs.

Alternative line: *hang up your cellphone* or "Hang on, Carol, I'm at the register. I'll call you back/put you on mute"

6. "I would help you with the hangers, but I don't want to interfere with your system."

Thank you for not wanting to interfere with my system, but saying you would do something is not actually the same thing as doing something.

Alternative line: *assist in hanger removal*

7. "Do you think this looks good?"

You and I have very different taste. Don't be offended when I tell you I don't like something. I also don't really know if a color looks good on you. Do you feel good in that color? Do your friends think you look good in that color? It's not up to me, it's up to you. You'll probably ignore my ideas anyway.

Alternative line: "I really like this item, but I also think I might end up returning it. I still don't know how I feel about it."