I am a strong believer that you should treat all the way you would want to be treated if the situation was flipped, however I'm an even stronger advocate for treating those who work part time jobs like they are actually humans.
Believe it or not, the man working behind the counter at Panera has a life outside of making sandwiches, the woman looking in the backroom for a pair of jeans in your size is not lying to you when she comes back out and claims they are sold out, and the student worker at the registration window was trained and knows what they are talking about.
I understand some are fortunate enough to never have had to work customer service, but here are some things to keep in mind when you are shopping in a retail store.
1. Know what time the store closes.
If you are shopping in the late evening or on a Sunday, please check the store's hours. It will take two seconds for you to ask Siri, google it before you leave the house or work, or a minute to call the store and ask. Walking in five minutes before close....yes we're technically open, but we're trying to get home in a timely manner and still have to clean the store up after you finally leave the building. If you have to run in and out, at least know what you're looking for and try not to destroy the entire store while "browsing."
2. Do not be a human tornado.
You're allowed to touch the clothes and try them on, that's why you didn't just order it online. But what I don't seem to fathom is how some people manage to destroy everything in their path on they're way in and out of the store. You don't need to get a folding board out and fold the sweater back to it's perfect state, but rolling it up in a ball inside out and throwing it on the floor is just plain rude.
3. Fitting rooms are not laundry hampers, garbage cans, or diaper changing tables.
You read that last part right: I've watched countless women walk into the larger fitting rooms with a stroller and a child and come out with a dirty diaper asking for a garbage can. I've seen jeans with one leg inside out and wadded up in a ball WITH a top wrapped around it. I've found used tissues or chewed gum on the floor. Come on, really?
4. Sales associates and retail managers are human, and we are not slaves.
Please do not spat at an associate to check in the back for something. We don't expect you to beg on your hands and knees to check the stock room or call another store, but rolling your eyes at me while i have a smile plastered onto my face makes it really, really hard not to walk away and pretend I didn't hear you.
5. DO NOT ASK AN ASSOCIATE WHAT SIZE THEY ARE.
"I'm shopping for my daughter, she's about your size. What size are you?" Okay, that's already a bit uncomfortable. But I continue to answer "typically a small, depends on the fit" to see their pupils dilate and look at me as if I had three heads. "There's no way you're a small. I'll get her a large."
HOW DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND HOW RUDE THAT IS. HOW.
6. Do not threaten to shop somewhere else.
To be completely honest, at the end of the day, it does not matter to an associate if one person does not shop at the store because we didn't have your size in stock. I will gladly help you find another option or look at another store/online for you, but screaming at me that we never have your size and visiting the store is always a waste of your time is irrelevant to me.
7. No one working in that store designed the clothes.
"Why doesn't think come in a coral?" I don't know, why on earth would I know? I can tell you that it indeed does not come in coral, but I do not know why the company and designers did not give you an unlimited amount of colors in that blouse.
"Do you have this exact shirt in another color and fabric?" No. That would make it another shirt. "Oh, okay...are you sure?" It's as if you are pitting me to run to the back, whip out my sewing machine, and make you that custom top.
"This is so ugly, why would you sell this?"
*Crickets*
8. ...and we didn't make the prices either.
"$80 for a pair of denim? You're nuts!" No ma'am, I'm not, but you're driving me nuts. I did not decide to make those jeans $80 to make you upset. Our jeans are always priced that high. And no, I can't give you a discount because you don't like the price. No, I don't have a coupon or I would've given it to you five minutes into you complaining.
9. Sales are sales because they are temporary.
If you're going to ask the associate why nothing is on sale, think it through for a moment. If everything was always on sale, it wouldn't be a sale, it would be a lower priced store, and you'd still be frustrated with the prices.
10. Price adjustments are a one time thing.
And some stores don't even give you an opportunity. So if you come in 15 days later and the bottom of your receipt says our policy is 7 days, I'm sorry, but I cannot and will not adjust it. And before you ask, yes you can speak to my manager, but she's going to tell you the same thing.
11. We know when you wore something you're trying to return.
We understand some items are faulty and fall apart after one wear, and typically if you're kind about it we will give you an exchange for the same top or a credit to buy a new one. But if there is cat hair, food, and makeup smeared all over it, I can't return it. Yes, even if the tags on, because we know you can wear something with the tag on it.
12. Apparel changes.
Styles, fabrics, fits....everything in the fashion world changes constantly. I do not know why your old pair of jeans from here are a different size than what you need to buy here now. I also don't have the exact pair of dress pants you bought from here four years ago.
13. Understand what a stock room is.
It is a tiny hallway of items that do not fit on the floor set up, or hasn't been released yet. We do not have a warehouse in the back. There is no magical fairy that poofs a jacket out of thin air when we are sold out. We do not have little elves making the clothing at super speed in the office. We have a hallway that sometimes only has four different items occupying it. So when you ask for us to check the back, we will, but when we come out empty handed, please do not ask me if I'm sure or to look again. I have no reason to lie to you about an item. I just want to go home, probably more than you want that dress.
