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 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 True Definition of "Customer"

According to Google.com

Customer

ˈkʌstəmə/

Noun

1. a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.

"Mr Harrison was a regular customer at the Golden Lion"

Synonyms: shopper, consumer, buyer, purchaser

The actual Meaning

Customer

1. a person who has forgotten the ability to fold clothes; pick things up after themselves; has lost their sense of seeing and understanding (see Zombie for further explanation); thinks they are king/queen of the entire universe; speaks gibberish when agitated and bored; sees the associate as babysitter; psychologist and butler free of charge and after all the above mentioned still wants to be treated as if you were forever in their debt.

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.