The holiday season is quickly approaching, which means retail is at an all-time crazy. While shopping may be a nightmare, itâs a scene straight from hell for retail employees. Although there are general struggles everyone who works retail understands, these struggles are all the more heightened with Christmas just around the corner. So, on behalf of my fellow retail workers, hereâs a list of struggles we all understand to be true:
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You walk in before your shift to see that itâs super busy.
And it takes all will power not to run back out.
Some customers make it a point to ignore you when you greet them.
Donât worryâitâs not like Iâm a person with feelings or anything.
The dreaded âjust lookingâ response.
Thatâs nice that youâre just looking, but I actually asked about the weather.
The dreaded âlet me tell you my entire life storyâ response.
If I was a therapist, I wouldnât be working for minimum wage.
When customers complain to you about prices.
Because a part-time employee like myself has complete control over things like that, obviously.
Watching a customer mess up a pile of clothes you just folded.
Wow, youâre so considerate.
When you see a customer rummaging through clothes to find a size and you offer to help, but they say theyâre fine.
JUST LET ME HELP YOU.
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That moment when youâre eyeing a potential shoplifter, and they watch you watch them.
Yeah, I know you know that Iâm watching youânow get out.
Really early/late floor set and shipment shifts.
Customers really donât understand what employees go through to make their shoppers happy.
Having to explain to customers that the backroom isnât Narnia.
Believe it or not, there isnât a whole other store back there with every size you are looking for.
Conversion.
If you work retail, you understand the struggle.
When you spend a lot of time helping a customer, only for them to get up to cash and forget your name/say no one helped.
Amazing employee discounts.
Discounts are fantastic, but they only go so far. Before you know it, your entire paycheque goes back into the company.
Customerâs holding up their hand to stop you from talking.
F*ck you, too.
Christmas? More like holiday sent from Hell.
Retail employees donât have a life during holiday season. Be kind to us.
Having to explain the same thing over and over to the customer because they donât understand.
When a customer expects a full refund for something they bought a year ago.
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Customers paying $20 in change.
Having to deal with unsupervised children (*cough* terrors).
If you canât control your children, please donât shop here. I donât get paid enough to babysit your children on top of everything else.
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When youâre in the middle of a conversation with a customer, and they walk off.
Bye, Felicia.
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Customers blaming employees for things they have no control over.
Iâm sorry that sweater you love is too expensive, but I really canât do anything about it except nod my head and act sympathetic.
Youâve mastered the âfake it âtil you make itâ smile.
But behind the act, you can find my black, cynical soul.
The customer is almost never right.
I think I have a better understanding of the return policy than you do, thanks.
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When the customer asks to speak to a manager, and they tell them the exact same thing you did.
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Customers having reunions with friends/long conversations in the middle of the store.
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Being asked if you work there, when youâre wearing a headset/name tag/uniform.
No, Iâm just playing dress up.
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Customers walking through the doors at 8:58 p.m.
When a customer asks to try things on when itâs 10 minutes past close.
Customers who leave 30 minutes after close without buying anything.
Mall rats/swarms of 12-year-olds.
Can you not?
The terrible âOh, if thereâs no price tag/it doesnât scan, then it must be free!â
Ha-ha. No.
When customers try to be witty with you.
Yes, Iâm Victoria working at Victoriaâs Secret. No, I donât know the secret. But thank you for being so original.
Not feeling inclined to do a stock check for a rude customer, but you go to the backroom anyway just to escape.
Youâre convinced âNoâ is every customerâs favourite word.
You desperately want to tell a customer how rude theyâre being, but because youâre at work, you have to hold your tongue and take their crap with a smile on your face.
I really donât like you.
Making plans is impossible.
Thereâs never any consistency in scheduling. You can forget making plans until the day-of.
The gradual state of bitterness all employees eventually experience.
Your outlook on the human race does a full 180 after just a few shifts.
People should be paid more for having to work with the public.
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When shopping this holiday, try to be as patient and kind as possible. Weâre all just trying to do our best.
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