Winter break brings along Christmas for many, Hannukah for countless others, Kwanzaa for even more folks, and the holiday cheer that comes along with all the celebrations. For me, however, it also opened up a special kind of horror: working full-time in retail in one of the busiest departments in the store.
I love my job and the people I work with, but let’s be honest here; anyone who’s worked in retail knows just how stressful the season can be, with longer lines, later hours, and the onset of anxiety once you see just how packed the parking lot is when you pull in. Now that the holiday shopping rush is starting to wind down, I can share with you guys some of the craziness I witnessed while (somehow) making it through each day in retail and onto the next!
1. Apparently, People Don’t Understand What Lines Are
I’d think it’d be a simple concept, but there was a lot of crowding-in-a-circle going on that made things even more confusing… If you don’t know where the line starts: ask us! We’re here to help and we’d appreciate some sensibility to make that easier on us!
2. “If You’re Standing By The Register, You Must Do This Thing for Me”
I was helping a guest who happened to be standing on the side of the register rather than directly in front of it. She was wearing a red peacoat and had her purse over her shoulder, but another guest approached her from the line and began asking her for a size! Hint hint: We wear mostly black and will be right with you, thanks. And while we’re on that note…
3. “If You’re Wearing Black, You Must Do This Thing for Me”
Here’s the scene: I’m lugging around a giant metal cart and scanning things to update their price for the day. There are three of my coworkers up at the register, helping other guests. I am approached about thirty times and asked to get sizes. If I were able to do that, my dears, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing right now and I’d ask you if you needed help. Leave me in peace!
4. “I Didn’t Want This, So I Threw it on the Floor” *Deep, unstable breath* Man oh man, you guys. This one really takes the cake. Instead of putting things back where they belong or handing them to us to put back for them, people decided that tossing them onto the floor and leaving a mess would be the best, most considerate idea ever. Newsflash: It’s rude and annoying and makes shopping harder for you and selling harder for us.
5. “Asking For the Manager When I’m Told ‘No’ Will Always Work”
I’m not being a jerk, I’m telling you what’s allowed and what isn’t. You asking for a manager is an insult to my experience and, by the way, the manager is who I learned all this from!
6. “Being Rude To The Employee Will Get Me What I Want”Listen, dude… we’re all stressed, we all have places we’d rather be, and we want to make this process as fast and easy as possible for you. Sometimes, we don’t have what you need right then and there, or we ask you to wait for a minute while we assist someone who was ahead of you on the line. Just do it, please. Don’t make us talk about you in the back room.
7. “I Don’t Care If You Need Your Break, I Need Help”
Please, for the love of god, let me eat!! We’re human too, with human needs, and we get tired literally running around for guests all day. When we excuse ourselves for a break and recommend another associate to you for help, be considerate and don’t ask us to stay because you need us for another hour and a half (yes, this has really happened to me).
8. “I Didn’t Read the Sign Correctly so I Want What I Thought it Said”It says “selected styles”, not the whole table.. it says “up to” 50% off… it says “when you open a store card” you get a discount… no, sir, I can’t give it to you for half off, it’s full price… I could go on. I know your eyes stop reading at what you want to see, but there’s more to the sign!
This wasn’t my first Christmas in retail and it won’t be my last, but I can’t say that I didn’t have a lot of laughs through all of the madness! Next holiday rush to fear: Valentine’s Day. At least this is the end of ugly Christmas sweater season.