Save Me #2

Last time I told you all about my first incident at the job. Oh, believe me, I have many more up my sleeves. For some reason I think, I was the one they did not want me to progress in anyway. So let us continue where we left off at last time. Yes, with Ms. Broomy and Ms. Etta.

Many of you who work specifically in the clothing area of your store, will understand where I am coming from with this one. As you all know there are guidelines that should be followed. It's not just hanging clothes up wherever you want. No way. You have your brands, your age groups, your colors etc. On top of that you also have to be aware on how you arrange everything. 

The store I work at, I have been told at least a million times (for some reason they think I am stupid, if I'm hired as a stocker) that I have to look at the brand and which group it belongs to, e.g. Beach Bum. So everything under the name of "Beach Bum" has to be on one rack. 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I work accurately. I actually put time and effort into the things I do. So after rearranging the sales floor and keeping everything coordinated, I was very satisfied with my work and could go home stress free. This is when everything took its turn. I came into work the next day to find that Ms. Broomy and Ms. Etta were rearranging E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! I couldn't believe my eyes but I let it be and continued with my regular routine.

It wasn't even a day later that they tried to accuse me that I had put up everything in the wrong order. How stupid did they really think I was?! I flat out told them that I had seen them change everything and they would not accuse me of messing it up. 

On my imaginary achievement board, I put a star up for standing up for myself!

Remember, even if you might be wrong, stand up for what you think is right!

The No-Clue Customer

I don’t even know where to start with this customer. This is the person who probably has never worked in retail but thinks they know how companies run. Being the associate of a world reknown store chain, I now realize how things run. Being overseas makes shipping times longer and unfortunately makes the customer more impatient.

Due to the ordering system, which we cannot influence, items might come in scarcely and once gone take 6 to 8 weeks to arrive back in store. This leaves many empty spots and this customer is always quick to making you realize that that particular item has not been in for days/weeks. Usually they don’t understand how the ordering works and that we cannot change the quantity that comes in. But it seems like you talk to the wall because they think we can just snap our fingers and the item will magically reappear.

It's also funny that the customer doesn't believe us when we say that it's not that easy, we are not lying to you. So please don’t give us an attitude because we do not operate what comes in or not. 

The Pressure Customer

This customer is almost like the “Keep-Asking Customer” only that this shopper takes it to every level possible. Can’t satisfy his/her needs, they will certainly put so much pressure on you until you give in. They are like a pittbull that will not let go until they have the answer they wanted to hear. They do not care if they are in the wrong because in their head everyone is wrong except them.

Not having it in the store is not going to stop them. You, supervisors and managers are going to have to stop, drop and roll for this customer to get what they need by yesterday. I always shake my head with this customer, e.g. it is Halloween and you decide to come in last minute for a costume and make up and you actually expect to find it here. Or Back To School, did you forget that there are other kids that need school supplies and not just your child? Sorry to disappoint you but that stuff was sold out fast. The early bird catches the worm, remember that phrase? 

Well I do try to give you alternatives but you are just not happy with any of the options I give you and for some reason in your mind this is the only store on the earth you can get these products at. Come on, think outside the box! Go explore your surroundings and voila, look at that, there are actually other stores close by where you can find those products. Yeah, but just complain and tell us how we never have anything on hand because YOU failed to buy things on time.

The In-Your-Personal-Space Customer

We all have that imaginary bubble or wall around ourselves to determine how close a stranger or friend can approach us. Some people say it is as far as your arms stretch out others only to the elbows and then depending what cultural background you have it might be even closer or further away.

But I am sure that the majority does not want someone literally in their face or just bracing you. I think customers tend to forget that associates still have their personal space at work. Yes, it might be even bigger there because we are w-o-r-k-i-n-g. A verb many have neglected. Our area is more spread out and you cannot tell me that you cannot see that I am working on arranging clothes neatly with a four foot rack with clothes in plastic wrapping behind me. I really do not know what you are thinking when I am sizing and organizing clothes. Sometimes the clothing is still in the wrapping and you have the audacity to yank it out and look at it. 

Can’t you just wait another minute or two until I am done? Would you like it if I came to your workplace and just scattered through your papers and files? I bet not. And sometimes customers you really grind my gears when you see that I am working in a spot you hardly ever check out and then you think there is something new and lean all over trying to see, touch, smell whatever I am putting out. Back off for a second and let me move or say something, don’t just dive in and knock me to the side you Barbarian. Just wait a minute, that is all I am asking for!

The 5-Minutes-Before-The Store-Closes Customer

After a long and exhausting day at work we are just happy to leave this prison we nicely call job and head home to enjoy a good meal and spend time with our families. But sometimes fate comes in between and messes with our plans.

Stores nowadays are open for long periods of time (excluding 24/7 stores for obvious reasons). I am pretty sure that ten hours is a long enough time to get your shopping done. We all understand that you might be working as well and need to get something really quick. Believe me you are not the problem. You know exactly what you want, go for it. Walk in store - find product - buy product - leave. But walking in five minutes before we close just because you are bored and have nothing else to do, that is simply unacceptable.

Believe me you might see us smiling and trying to help you find whatever you need but inside we are cursing the living out of you! How many times have I had customers looking for a specific product before we close. You've gotta be kidding me?! You want me to find that ring with the yellow and blue diamond on it that was shaped like a carrot. Uhmm no, that is not going to happen. And then you want to tell me you did not know your friend’s birthday would pop up out of nowhere. Oh and now you decide to look at every single product closely and examine it for the billionth time and ask my opinion on it.

And after staying open after our official closing times you decide to check in some other day. Wow, well I hope you have a pleasant evening as well while I stand here, feet and back hurting, mad and now having to count the money and organize everything for the next day. 

Oh it's all fine, I really didn't want to go home anyways and I did not want to kick up my feet and call it a day and watch my favorite movie on TV.

The Getting-It-Somewhere-Else-Cheaper Customer

By all means I understand that everyone wants to save money from time to time, especially on a much desired or hard-to-get product, even I! I will search for hours on the internet looking and comparing prices and might even go with a knock-off product if it has the same features but threatening an associate, really?! That is certainly not the way to go.

I mean really, what do you want us to do? Our regulations are clear: we do price adjustments but not on online shops, so stop saying you can get it cheaper at some online store. Go ahead, we are not stopping you. You have the right to choose where you buy your things. Go and pay those extra taxes and shipping fees plus have fun waiting for your product as well, especially if the Government shuts down again. I especially love those customers who say they can find everything cheaper at this specific store that is only available in the United States of Everything.

Yeah, alright. I am pretty sure you never realized that taxes will be added after your transaction. So if you think you can get your desired product somewhere else cheaper and supposedly faster than go ahead, no one is stopping you but please stop trying to make us, as associates, feel bad, like we put prices on the products. We are just mere workers doing our job with no power to control those things.*

 *This one applies to stories I have heard from overseas where there are "limited" shopping possibilities. In actuality you just have to literally buy outside the box.