Author Topic: retail workers are not your slaves  (Read 7076 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

FoxPaws

  • Super Hero!
  • ****
  • Posts: 5263
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2006, 01:41:32 AM »
Quote
Oh, and if you want to be waited on hand and foot go to Macy's or something. This is an outlet store, not a boutique.

This is why I always take it with several grains of salt when people complain about "poor service" in large discount stores. There is a reason they can sell the stuff so cheaply, just like there's a reason the boutique with the saleswomen that fawn all over you charge an arm and a leg.
I am so a lady. And if you say I'm not, I'll slug you. - Cindy Brady

Pixie

  • Guest
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2006, 01:30:25 PM »
I have no actual "retail" experience, however, for 4 years I volunteered at a thrift shop 20 hours a week.  Some of you may believe some of the things people would donate, but most would probably be ill at the thought.....  But I do remember having fun telling parents that if their child played with any toy that made noise (we had a policy that the toys were not to be played with at all, and it was posted)  the parent must immediately buy that toy and take it outside.   99% of the parents laughed at this and agreed it would give them a headache to have to listen to that all day, especially since we were all volunteers!  I never had one parent be offended. 
We also had a sign up that stated all unattended children would either be sold at auction (we held an auction every year) or would be given a large coffee with extra sugar and offered a puppy!  ALL of our customers loved that sign!

I also worked as a "Bagel Babe" where I went to 30 businesses in 2 hours and sold hot fresh bagels and cream cheese out of a basket  for a local bakery.   ALL of my customers were lovely, wonderful people!

However.... working as a clerk in the Emergency room at the local hospital was a whole other kettle of fish!   I could scare y'all!

But I still have a personal policy that respect goes both ways, I will be polite and respectful TO you, (general)  but I also expect the same treatment FROM you.  I don't think that's too much to ask.




Ad_Astra

  • Jr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 84
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2006, 02:50:32 PM »
Thankfully I've gotten out of 2 years of retail worker hell (but into a more decently-paid food service job)
To add to the list of dressing room horrors...

-If you are sick and cannot make it to a restroom PLEASE let someone know so they can have it cleaned up. Do NOT throw a pile of NEW clothes on top of your vomit and leave...one salesgirl at my old job scooped up the massive pile on the floor and got a rather unpleasant surprise all over her. Ewww. Did you think that the pile (and your mess) were going to just disappear as soon as you did?
-Men, the dressing room is not the place to um, pleasure yourself, ONTO THE WALLS. *Shudder*

I've also encountered the usual: couples having sex/making out, people switching dirty (literally--FILTHY) underwear by stealing a new pair--and leaving us the old ones, shoplifting, vandalism, and generally gross & obnoxious behavior.

Do people seriously act like this in their own homes? Or is it just that they like that they can be rude and irresponsible and no one can say anything to them about it?

weber06

  • Guest
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2006, 07:40:35 PM »
The TJMax near my parents.  Same woman in the dressing room, "Hi can I count your garments?"  It was her job and my mom and I always respected that.  She had braces on her wrists so we'd hold the clothes while she counted.  And I always returned clothes with their hangers and if she was busy hung them up on the "no" rack after she counted it.  She stands all day.  Why would I make her life difficult?

Of course I worked in two different food jobs in that community so I empathized with her.  The same people yelling at her were yelling at me that I cut their smoked salmon too thick!

snoopygirl

  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2224
  • everybody loves an irish girl
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2006, 09:17:39 PM »
http://cbs4boston.com/local/local_story_308163729.html

Quote
A 57-year-old Plymouth man was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after he threw hot coffee in the face of a 17-year-old Dunkin Donuts clerk.

According to police, the man, Kevin Thomas, of Fresh Pond Circle in Plymouth, was expressing his displeasure over a tax on his coffee. Police said Thomas was going to pay for the coffee but was voicing his complaints.

After one of the clerks told Thomas to calm down, Thomas reportedly threw the hot coffee in the clerks face and then threw the cup at another clerk...

People throwing drinks in their baristas faces is the reason I will not work in Starbucks or any place that sells coffee. I wouldnt make enough to put up with that kind of abuse.

snoopygirl

  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2224
  • everybody loves an irish girl
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #20 on: December 30, 2006, 09:20:02 PM »
Way back in the dark ages, when I worked at K-mart, we often found used disposable diapers crammed behind the packaged socks (you know, the packs of 6 pair all wrapped in plastic).  We never caught anyone in the act (usually didn't notice until straightening or 'ewww, what stinks over here' led to investigation).

Some people just should not be allowed out in public.

I did have the joy of watching a lady change her kids pull up while she was in line to pay. Ugh. At least she paid for the pull up but gross. If you must change your kid in pubic do it in a semi private area out of the way. Not in the middle of a busy line.

Alida

  • Super Hero!
  • ****
  • Posts: 8261
  • Lady Jedi
    • Alida's Journal
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #21 on: December 30, 2006, 09:55:59 PM »
Every single person should be forced to work a customer service or retail job for at least one year of life.  I really think that it'd be nice to let everyone understand why they need to be nice to the poor person who's stuck dealing with their antics.   

Hear! Hear!  Empathy is a wonderful thing.

HushHush

  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2017
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #22 on: December 31, 2006, 02:46:15 PM »
I worked as as cashier for a large media store that has now gone out of business.  Every week a different department was in charge of cleaning the front restrooms when the old cleaners contract ended and there were problems getting a new one.  One night, I go in there and there was a pile of feces in front of the toilet.  Seriously!  You're right there!  How hard would it have been to just sit about 6 inches farther back!

I quit that job not too long after that.

Charlotte

Ciarrai

  • Member
  • **
  • Posts: 771
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #23 on: January 01, 2007, 04:02:56 PM »
I cannot count the number of people who whined at me because the store wasn't open on Christmas Day.
"Why aren't you open tomorrow? I might need something!" *keep in mind that this is not a grocery store, but instead a large Canadian drugstore that sells electronics, cosmetics, computers and has a photo finishing department.*
"Well ma'am/sir, it's because the staff have friends and family too, and we want to spend that day with them."
"But you should still be open. Customers come first you know."

Argh!

vTenebrae

  • I stand in the timeless void, my heart burning with the immortal fire.
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1721
  • There is no part of me that is not of the Divine.
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #24 on: January 01, 2007, 08:30:36 PM »
I cannot count the number of people who whined at me because the store wasn't open on Christmas Day.
"Why aren't you open tomorrow? I might need something!" *keep in mind that this is not a grocery store, but instead a large Canadian drugstore that sells electronics, cosmetics, computers and has a photo finishing department.*
"Well ma'am/sir, it's because the staff have friends and family too, and we want to spend that day with them."
"But you should still be open. Customers come first you know."

Argh!

This, I believe, is where the decline of society began.  It used to be stores were closed on all major holidays.  Now they're closed on a couple and open half days on most.  I understand the retailers are trying to cash in on the almighty dollar, but this is deplorable.  People need to learn to plan ahead.  If you know a store won't be open, think about what you may need beforehand.

The fact that people believe sales clerks, cashiers, etc. are there to endure their whims and *gasp* shouldn't dare take time away from them is appalling.  That really brings home the sad fact that most people do not see people in retail/food service as human beings.  What other excuse is there for this kind of behaviour?
 

nonesuch4

  • Member
  • **
  • Posts: 453
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #25 on: January 01, 2007, 10:54:43 PM »
A neighbor of mine walked into a take-out place to find an employee changing her toddler on the pick-up counter.  She told them why she wasn't taking her order, (they did offer to wipe off the counter before they put her food on it) but she never went back. 

I did a stint at WM for Christmas 2005.  Hired as a cashier, I had little experience with the rest of the store, except for zoning the merchandise:  a lot of half finished coffees and soft drinks left on the shelves, and sometimes food. At a department store in the mall, though, we did have problems with people using the dressing rooms for toilets, and the rest rooms for...ermmm...trysts. In fact, a nationally published magazine said our rest rooms were one of the places in our fair city to initiate a no-strings-attached encounter.  It was unfortunate that an alert reader of that magazine tried to initiate something with a man just trying to relieve himself, and ended up being assaulted.

I suggested that security put some chalk on the end of a stick, and mark the heels of the shoes in the restroom stalls, just like parking control chalked the tires of cars, so they could ticket them if they were still there 15 minutes later. No one thought that was practical.

Our store in the mall carried some of the same brands as some of the boutiques in the trendier part of town.  One day, a woman came in and tried to return a dress because it had been ruined by perspiration stains.  Department Manager looked at the dress and told her it came from Le Expensive Boutique, and the customer said, "But, they won't take it back!" 
 

Gigi

  • Guest
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #26 on: January 02, 2007, 01:16:21 AM »
I'm shopping in a Beverly Hills gift store that has an old fashioned candy display counter.  The samples of very expensive candies are nicely displayed on decorative plates but the clerk fills your order from bins hidden under the shelf.  Clients do not go behind the counter and self-serve. 

In comes Mrs. Gotrocks (MG) and her beastly child (BC).  MG is a regular patron of the shop.  She and BC were greeted by name and asked how they can be helped.  MG states that she and BC have just been to the dermatologist in the building next door and have stopped to look for some party favors while they are in the neighborhood.  BC has nasty, oozy sores all over his arms, which look like impetigo. 

While MG is shopping, and having the clerk dance attendance on her, BC is running wild and creating havoc in the store.  Displays are being ravaged, things are being knocked off shelves.  Other clerks are trying to do damage control but unwilling to tick off MG by being too firm with BC.  BC decides he wants candy.  Instead of asking for some he runs behind the counter, opens the case and starts sticking his oozy arms elbow deep into the boxes of candy.  Mom's response: "Oh, let him have some so he'll be good while I finish up. Put it on my account"  After devouring handfuls of candy BC makes another circuit of the store, grabs a toy, shows it to MG and demands she buy it for him.  She tells him he already has that toy at home.  It doesn't matter, he wants that one and he wants it now.  Screaming fit ensues.  MG sighs, and says to the clerk, "I guess you'll have to put that on my account too." She also wanted the clerk to bring napkins or something to clean the chocolate smears off BC'as hands and arms.

I had planned to buy some candy that day, however this whole performance disgusted me so that I left before I personally gave that brat and his mother a blistering.  I have no idea how much candy the store had to throw away after BC had his hands diseased and arms in it, but I'll bet it was hundreds of dollars worth.  I sure felt sorry for the clerks who had to deal with this family on a regular basis.

Suze

  • I live in the real world. I play in the Middle Ages.
  • Super Hero!
  • ****
  • Posts: 9249
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #27 on: January 02, 2007, 06:00:18 AM »
and if it was MY store each and every box that BC touched would have been weighed and put on Mrs. GR's account.

and sent to her home with an explanation of just why it was there
Reality is for people who lack Imagination

willow08

  • Back on the caffeine wagon
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3119
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #28 on: January 02, 2007, 11:42:32 AM »
gigi,
I think you may have just helped me on my resolution to lose weight. I don't think I'll want candy again for a while.
Icing is the greatest invention known to man.  It's edible glue.  How awesome is that?- Ralphie May

Gemini

  • Guest
Re: retail workers are not your slaves
« Reply #29 on: January 02, 2007, 12:51:53 PM »
Every single person should be forced to work a customer service or retail job for at least one year of life.  I really think that it'd be nice to let everyone understand why they need to be nice to the poor person who's stuck dealing with their antics.   


Perhaps we should initiate an exchange program.  :) Because I've often said that part of a sales clerk's training (or anyone in customer service) should entail spending a day in the customer's shoes. Perhaps then it would become obvious why customers object when the grocery bagger tosses a ton of heavy canned goods on top of our (expensive) produce, or why we don't wish to be handed change by someone who is wiping his or her runny nose with his or her hands, or why we complain about waiting for service while the employee finishes gossiping on her cell phone....

Respect is a two way street. No one should be "stuck dealing with antics", on either side of the cash register. As for customers who treat store employees like dirt... I'd have no problem with a manager who suggested that the customer shop elsewhere. Whoever said the "customer is always right" had quite obviously never dealt with customers...