It didn't take long for me to remember why I left retail so many years ago. It was probably my second day at my retail job when an irate customer, who was completely unreasonable, went nutso on one of our managers. In that split-second, I thought to myself, "What did I do?????" I am usually very chipper at work, smiling, laughing, even with the rude, mean, or generally inconsiderate individuals who shop there. There are, however, some things that incite me. So, I thought I'd offer some suggestions to you as you begin your holiday shopping season. Remember as you wait in your long holiday lines, that your time there is temporary...the cashier/sales associate/customer service rep is there all day dealing with the public. A smile is infectious.
Some kind suggestions for you:
#1-GET OFF YOUR DAMN CELL PHONE! Nobody, and I mean nobody, is that important that you can't at least put down the phone to say a friendly hello and how do ya do while your are being rung out. Don't hold the line up by chit-chatting with your best friend and not paying attention to the fact that you need to pay for your purchase! Cell phones in public are incredibly rude, especially when you are supposed to be having a social interaction.
#2-GET A DAMN DEBIT CARD! Seriously, checks??? Who writes checks?? A debit card works the same way, people, and it takes 1/4 of the time. Don't be that guy! And if you must (and you really mustn't...) at least fill in the information while you are being rung up or while you are waiting in line. Trust me, if you are writing a check, people will be rolling their eyes behind you.
#3-DO NOT ASSUME THE SALES ASSOCIATE IS A MIND READER. I would love to have this amazing insight, but when you slam your Wal.mart bag of returns down on my counters (and I do not work at Wa.lmart), please tell me what you are here for and remove your own items from the bag. I handle a million different situations a day...fill me in...help me out.
#4-DON'T ASSUME THAT YOUR SALES ASSOCIATE IS A MORON. I love this one. Seriously, people talk to me like I barely made it out of the second grade. I can't tell you how many times I have found a way to throw into a brief encounter with a customer that I have not one but TWO Master's degree. The usual reaction? Shock, then embarrassment. People, do I have to say it? In this economy, many people are working many jobs, some of which are not related to their level of education. But even so, I work with some highly intelligent people who did not go to college. Put your snobbishness away and be a kind human. Stupid people are in every profession...
#5-IT'S THE HOLIDAYS, EXPECT TO WAIT IN LINE. This cracks me up. It's December and people complain that they have to wait in a line. All registers are open and cranking people out, yet people still get angry when they have to wait. If you don't want to wait in lines, shop now and get done before Thanksgiving. Otherwise, grab a magazine to peruse while you wait and quit tapping your fingers.
#6-I DON'T MAKE THE POLICY, I JUST ENFORCE THEM. Really...I am paid hourly. Read the return policy. I can't do anything about it. You don't like the policy? Fine. Don't shop there to begin with. And remember, these policies aren't there to piss you off...they are their because one too many people abused the system.
So those, my friends, are my suggestions to you. I will try to smile and be friendly, but if you put on a sour puss and talk on your cell phone while writing a check after complaining about how you had to wait two whole minutes after not being able to return the boots your wore for five years, well, then, all bets are off.
Happy Shopping...
Can you believe it is shopping season again?!?? I'm excited about it but a little bummed it's here already... summer was just a moment ago!
Posted by: Heidi | October 04, 2009 at 01:02 AM
Can we add "It's the holiday season: dont expect to get a good parking space and dont troll the parking lot, stopping randomly as you hope to stalk exiting patrons. Just park at the far end of the parking lot and walk like the rest of us!"
Posted by: Michele | October 04, 2009 at 06:44 AM
My husband almost loses his Jesus when he stands behind someone writing a check! And I always know when it happens because he always comes home from the store and the first words out of his mouth are, "Can you believe there are still people who write CHECKS?!?!?!?!"
Posted by: Ann | October 04, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Not only can they fill in their checks, but even those of us that are living in the year 2009 can speed up the process by running our cards through the little machine and hitting "debit, yes, no, no" while the items are still being rung...at least at most stores!
Posted by: Lisa | October 11, 2009 at 01:14 AM