Why I hate working retail during the holidays...

[Jughead P. Jones]

this one woman customer I had last night REALLY tried my patience.

Let's set up the story.

Because our store was short-staffed (yet again), I was left covering housewares, small appliances, paper goods and cleaners and food. It was also 5 days before Christmas, so the mood is tense enough as it is.

Then I run into this lady, who I dub "roasting pan b#@$h."

Here's the actual conversation...verbatum.

WOMAN: Excuse me, I need help with something.

JPJ: What do you need? I can try to help.

WOMAN: You got a flyer?

JPJ: No, we're out of flyers at the moment. (since the new flyer took effect the following day, we ran out of old flyers)

WOMAN: Well, I'm looking for an electric roasting pan that was in the flyer.

(at this point, JPJ scratches his head, because he hasn't heard of an ELECTRIC roasting pan)

JPJ: Okay...

WOMAN: Now, I called in on Monday, and they said they had 10, so I come today, and now I can't find them! I hope they didn't lie to me!

(At this point, JPJ feels like saying...'well, they might have had 10 on Monday, but this is WEDNESDAY)

JPJ: Well, let's go look around...they're probably in Housewares.

(So, JPJ takes the woman to housewares, and not exactly knowing where the thing she's looking for is, take her to the roasting pan area...here's where the fun begins.)

WOMAN: Why did you take me here?

JPJ: Well, this is housewares, and I think we'll find it here.

WOMAN: But, these AREN'T electric roasting pans.

JPJ: I know, we're going to start looking here.

WOMAN: But, they aren't ELECTRIC!

(JPJ's blood pressure begins to rise)

JPJ: I know, please...work with me here...we're STARTING to look here.

WOMAN: I'm sorry...I don't mean to be sassy...but THOSE AREN'T ELECTRIC!

(at this point, JPJ needs an Excedrin, but presses on)

JPJ: Well, since we don't have a flyer, can you tell me anything about the...ahem...electric roasting pan?

WOMAN: I know it's in the flyer.

JPJ: That doesn't exactly help, since we're...you know...out of flyers.

WOMAN: I know it's $39.96.

JPJ: Good! That's a great start! What is the make of it?

WOMAN: I don't know...but I know it's $39.96, and that you had 10 on Monday!

(JPJ at this point wants another Excedrin as he calls a manager)

MANAGER: Yes?

JPJ: I have a customer who is looking for an electric roasting pan that's advertised in the flyer.

MANAGER: I've never heard of an electric roasting pan.

JPJ: Me either...just humour her.

(As the manager looks through the flyer on the other end of the phone (all managers have a copy on their person), the woman is screaming at me "There was 10 on Monday, and if you don't have them, it's false advertising", and other redundant garbage. Finally, the manager tells me that no such item exists)

JPJ: Are you sure you read this advertised in OUR flyer?

WOMAN: Do you think I was born yesterday, boy?

(JPJ thinks. "Well....." )

WOMAN: I need this electric roasting pan now!

(JPJ gets frustrated and begins to pull out random items that LOOK like the "electric" roasting pan, because he knows that he has to fill milk up at some point, since he normally works the grocery department)

JPJ: Is THIS it?

WOMAN: No, that's not a roasting pan.

JPJ: Is THIS it?

WOMAN: Does that price tag SAY $39.96?

JPJ: IS THIS IT?

WOMAN: It might be, but I doubt it.

(JPJ needs whole bottle of Excedrin now at this rate...FINALLY, we find the item...which is a ROASTER and NOT an ELECTRIC roasting pan)

JPJ: Okay, well, we have the item.

WOMAN: Is this the ONLY one you have left?

JPJ: Yes...it is.

WOMAN: Then, you had better go get me a shopping cart to put this in, because I don't want anyone else's grubby fingers to get all over MY electric roasting pan.

(At this point, JPJ would have loved to have clubbed her over the head with ANY roasting pan, electric or not, but instead, JPJ ran to the front to grab a shopping cart to put the stupid...whatever the heck she bought...inside)

WOMAN: Thank you...now, since WE'RE done here, you may as well help me in toys too.

(JPJ: AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! )

Fortunately, we HAD a toy associate.

But, with all of that, I'm amazed I lasted 2 years in retail.

Thank god I have Christmas Eve off...I don't think I could handle THAT!

[MouseWife]

Oh gawd. You are going to hate me.

I also work retail. I cover jewelry, purses, watches, wallets, womens' 'foundations' {i.e. bras, panties, girdles, hosiery}, pj's and maternity. This place always gets thrashed...so much worse over the days leading up to the holidays.

Well...management always understaffs. But, this time I think I am a scapegoat. I put in for time off to be home with my son in August. She approved it but then hemmed and hawed. In the end, it was approved. Well, she didn't inform the person who makes the schedule so I have been on the schedule but not there. No one has been. There are others who work it and, luckily for them, they are getting extra hours. {my friend and she wanted the extra hours}.

That all said. Man. I so do not envy you. But, I give you a big pat on the back {and a couple of Excedrin, too!} for the patience you had with her!! Oh my gawd! And she wanted your help in toys, too? Can't people shop on their own? Ugh, and if your store is like mine, we have to help them.

I have to say also you had a lot of patience in not going off on her about the call on Monday and it being Wednesday. I give the 'guests' a ration of it when they try to say they got something on a shelf that was marked something else. I tell them 'Hey, people put things down all of the time. This obviously isn't that item'.

What is wrong with people when they go shopping? This priveledged attitude comes around here and they want to be compensated and they have so many rights.

Poopie on them.

I hope you feel better now. Play some Suduko on line. It will help. I do it.

[CoasterMatt]

People act the same way at theme parks.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

People act the same way at theme parks.

Which is sort of funny you say this because we are all theme park multi-visitors {?}.

Reminds us to keep ourselves in check, no?

[Kevy Baby]

Oh

My

Gawd


That is insane Jughead. Thank you for reminding me to NEVER work in retail!!!

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Eesh! That's misery. Sorry to hear about that (but enjoyable to read the horrid encounter in screenplay format. )

[Mousey Girl]

One of the girls I work with at the party rental store took a side job at the mall. She was working at a video store (notice I said was). When she took the job she made it very clear that it was only a side job, that she already had a full time position. After they kept schedualing her way too many hours she gave her 2 week notice. They still had her working this past weekend 21+ hours in 2 days. This is a small but verrrrrry busy store. When she was schedualed they only had 2 people working, but during the day there were 3-4. Wednesday night shwe was there unti midnight, trying to get the thrashed store cleaned up. It was the last straw. She had no choice but to quit. She works 45-50 hours as an d event coordinator and then another 40+ at the mall.

Things like that make me very glad I am no longer a mall rat. I did my retail time, for many, many years. I totally sympathize with anyone still doing it.

[Strangler Lewis]

My most annoying experience as a waiter at Hamburger Hamlet was not with any of the mindblowing customers but with a district manager who was in the restaurant as I set up for brunch one Sunday. The restaurant proudly served cornbread, and I grabbed a piece to eat as I worked. The district manager asked if I had paid for it. "No," I said. "The register's not open yet." "Well," he said, "that's kind of like stealing, isn't it."

The cornbread was one of our employee half price items. Some were full price. The lobster bisque was forbidden to us to keep it special. That rule had a strangely brain washing effect.

[Snowflake]

Retail, always the closer you get to the actual holiday, gets worse and worse as the late shoppers converge all looking for the hottest item of the year.

This is why I am so grateful for online shopping, no muss no fuss. I find I go into the stores less and less every year.

Xmas at Tower was always maddening and fun. Fun behind the register and maddening when you could not even walk through the crowds in the aisle.

[CoasterMatt]

"Do you work here?"

"No, but I look good in this uniform, how may I help you?"

"Never mind, I need somebody who knows what they're doing"