I need to vent

[Ilovepugs123]

Since the end of August I have been working at a retail store (Won't say the name of the store). My dream growing up was to work at this Retail store because I thought it would be easy and it would be a good job. I was 100% wrong, the job is okay, I should be getting paid more for dealing with everything and everyone but no!! I am so speechless at how customers can be so disrespectful to us (Employees). While working at this retail store, I have more respect for those who work in retail or work in stores or with clothes or anything I have respect for you guys. When anybody goes to a retail store or anything please do us a favor and put stuff away where it goes, yes we are hired to do our jobs but if it's too much stuff being thrown on the ground or being thrown somewhere else or anything, we have employee's have to stay later to pick up after everyone and honestly it's not fair at all, we close are 9 pm, we have employees have to stay till 10 but if the store is very dirty or there is clothes or items everywhere we stay till 10:30 and that's not fair to anyone. At the end of my shift, I want to go home on time and go to sleep not stay so late that I don't want to return to work because customers don't respect us or the property. I know I'm going to get comments like why not find another job? no matter what kind of job you get your going to deal with those customers plus it's hard for me to get a job. I just needed to vent because it just bothers me how people can be so rude and be so not disrespectful to the property and it makes me sad for everybody who works in retail we don't deserve that and we deserve better. I want to hear from everybody does this stuff bother you too when you work at a retail store or anywhere? how do you get through it? what do you do in those kinds of situations? I just need to know.

[Pennypeaches]

I don’t work in retail, but as a customer I always am neat and put things back , sometimes i even pick cloths off the floor when i see them. I don’t know why some people are so rude and irresponsible. If u drop it pick it up , take it out of the box put it back. etc… It makes me mad to see people just leaving a mess too and i don’t even work there. They must be on their high horse and think they are above cleaning up their own mess. I am sorry you have to go thru this people need to treat others as they want to be treated and treat the store like it’s your own closet.

[Milkshake_15]

I worked in retail for a bit and it was BRUTAL. Long hours on your feet trying to remain cheerful. I got so overwhelmed one day I cried in the break room and my coworker did nothing. I also learned during this time I have a chronic pain illness no one took seriously 🤪

You're perfectly fine to vent about this, it's a demanding job that really should pay more and SERIOUSLY customers should have more respect! I try to be as neat as I can when I go shopping because I understand how much extra work the employees will have to do if I don't.

[AndrewT]

Dear Ilovepugs123,

'Retail'.... yes it's a Vocation really, Rude, Nasty, Awkward and 'Down Right' Cantankerous, and that's just the Tea Lady!

Seriously though Some, but certainly Not All, Customers can be Rude. Others, like myself, Respect Shop Assistants and will 'Pick Up' Abandoned items- often replacing then, onto their Hooks. I will often, quite deliberately, compliment the, clearly Very Stressed, Lady at the Fitting Room. The one Trying, her best, to Cope- a Smile and a "You look Nice today" or "What's your Name, pretty/ lovely Girl?" If said, at the right time of course, can often bring a Smile to her lips.

A lot, of it, is 'Upbringing', for example- if a child accidentally dislodges an item of clothing Does the Parent/ Carer say "Simon pick that back up, you 'clumsy' boy, Shop Assistants have got Better Things, to do, than Run Round After you".... or do they say "Oh Leave It, someone is paid to do that!"

I remember, some years back now, 'Accidentally' Befriending the Chalet Maid, when on Holiday.... a Very Good 'thing' to do incidentally- Much Local Knowledge, many 'extra' Treats (Biscuits, Hot Chocolate, Hair Conditioner and the like). How did I achieve this.... I Wiped Down The Shower, when I finished with it- apparently many Others don't! I didn't even hesitate, I do it so Automatically at home. (I mean why Wouldn't you?)

So, as I said before, it's down to 'Attitude'- and probably Upbringing/ Manners. Certainly Not ALL of us treat 'Retail Personnel' (to be PC) badly, a great many think you do a Great Job In Difficult Circumstances. So, on behalf of many of us, Well Done And Keep Up The Good Work.

AndrewT