The Customer-Who-Never-Picks-Up-What He/She Drops

This customer unknowingly reflects themselves of how tidy they are in their own home. Many times I have noticed how sneaky this kind of customer can be. Oh, let me go through the clothing aisles with my big fat stroller and knock every Tshirt there is off the hanger and act like it never happened. 

Opps, I forgot I am the one being paid for this; to bend my back (causing the number 1 injury at the workplace) and picking up after YOU or YOUR children who feel like the store is a huge playground. If you see that you knocked it down, what is so hard for you to pick that item up and place it back. I don’t expect eldery people or pregnant women to do this but if you are physically healthy, just do us the favor. It might not seem like a big deal to you but remember you times a hundred a day is a lot of back bending and putting the clothes in the right spot.

I have also had this customer look me dead in the face and drop something and just kick the item under something else just to not have “seen” what had happened. As many other companies we are low on staff and this can be very time consuming just running behind you and picking up things, making it hard for us to accomplish other things to your favor. 

The Start of Something Great!

At first this blog was all a silly idea (actually it was supposed to be a book but I think that a blog is faster to update and can reach out to more people). I would come home from work and still feel exhausted about the customers, coworkers and supervisors I had to deal with. I started realizing patterns and things that would really stand out and certainly get on my nerves. As I shared my idea with friends and certain coworkers I realized they were going through the same things with their customers and for many of them this blog is their cry for help.

Many people expect retail associates to always be friendly and act almost like robots but to be honest we all are humans. We have days when we shine but also have days that are our doom and if you get cranky with us then, just be careful because you might get something you didn’t ask for. We have problems and issues we have to deal with in- and outside of our job and sometimes it is just hard for us to separate them. I mean, you have to admit to yourself, you as a customer aren’t always the easiest to get along with, so why would you expect it from us. Your excuse is always, “well you get paid for that”. True but we don’t get paid to babysit YOUR children, to solve YOUR personal issues or to even put up with YOUR unthankful attitude. 

We drag ourselves into work every day to fulfill everyone’s needs and sometimes it just takes a toll on us. So instead of keeping things for myself or just ranting to my coworkers and family, I decided to put an end to it all and work on what only started out as a list of specific customers. I am sure everyone has caught themselves being one of these customers, even myself.

This blog is not to offend anyone, so don't take it to heart but maybe stop and rethink before acting. I hope this blog opens the eyes of customers and maybe even associates. I just wish all the best for the associates struggling and that there may be a way to work things out.