The Super-Moody Supervisor

Today I start my segment of supervisors. It is unbelievable how many different types there are and to be honest; most of the times I have to stop and think, how did these people end up in those positions. I feel like supervisors are stuck in a sort of "limbo".Too experienced to be regular associates but not qualified enough to be managers. Maybe it's for the best that it's that way. So today I present you the super-moody supervisor. The picture below is truely depicts on how I feel about this supervisor.

This supervisor has no control over their being. They are like the Katy Perry song "Hot & Cold" or like that toy crocodile where you had to push down the teeth, you just never know when this supervisor is going to snap. Constantly it feels like you're trying to detonate a bomb, not knowing if you got the right wire or not. 

You thought your life was tough as it was working retail, well let's just add this supervisor to make sure that everything in your life is miserable. The apocalypse could be happening right outside your door but this supervisor  will still be the # 1 threat. Good news, if you're lucky there will only be one specimen of this kind at your job. 

I myself have come across this rare phenomenon and this person will manipulate you in ways you didn't know were possible. At some point you will realize that just their glare leaves you stuttering and heart racing fast, you start thinking that it is your fault this supervisor is acting the way they are, that is how you know there is no return. You have officially been diagnosed with scaredshitless, even though you might not want to admit it.

Remedies, HAH! No official cure but to run and hide. If you are among the brave ones, you can speak up to this person but remember you have been warned. But for real, if there are problems, go to your manager or work union and make them deal with this!

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 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.

The Keep-Asking Customer

Easily to be spotted if you pay attention to a sales debate between the customer and associate. This buyer just does not know when to stop.

Customer: Do you have this item on hand?

Associate: No.

Customer: Well do you have it in the warehouse possibly? Can you check if another store has it? 

As associates we are condemned to do all that we can to satisfy the customers needs but at some point, you have to realize that there may be NO ALTERNATIVE! Can you live with that? How many times have I been sent back to warehouse to look for a single item. Exactly, too many to count! A SINGLE item, customers are you aware that our warehouse is not the size of your bedroom but as big as a one family house with hundreds of thousands of items. And not only that, you expect us to find everything in seconds. As I said before hundreds of thousands of items, some things take time to look for! And I am sure you do not know the feeling when you return with nothing in your hands. The disappointment is written on your face like a billboard on the highway. And then there are times we are lucky to find the oh-so-really-needed-item-I-cant-wait-another-day, sometimes you are grateful and praise us to the heavens and then there are times where you will keep looking around and just set it back. So I wasted a good fifteen minutes just so you can set it down and tell your child, “oh we will get it next time”. Ofcourse you will never hear this, what is actually going through our heads. We smile back and tell you E-V-E-R-Y time that it is no problem.

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.