Working Retail Sucks!

[Inazuma]

My first 4 years of job experience was mostly doing cashier type stuff, among other things. I worked at two different places, and they weren't that bad honestly.

I didn't have much trouble learning how to work the register. However, I did have to deal with angry, insane, and/or stupid customers. I didn't know how fucked up everyone was until working retail jobs. It was pretty depressing.

The most interesting story was probably the time I was working the register, and I hear the security alarm go off at the exit. I glance over and see a woman running outside with a basket filled with about 40 DVDs, still inside the hard plastic security cases.

It was very obvious that she was stealing them, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do in such a situation. I was never told anything, nor did I ever think of it myself. Anyway, my manager yells over to me to stop her. I leave my register, and run out the door to chase her.

I was in great shape back then so I quickly caught up to the thief in the parking lot. I noticed that her family had a minivan waiting there for her. Yes, her husband and kids were in the getaway vehicle. Not a very good role model for the kids. >_>

When she noticed that I was chasing after her, she freaked out and started running even faster. There were some bushes about waist height between her and the minivan. She quickly decided to leave the basket of DVDs behind, and just focus on getting away. She tried to jump over the bushes, but tripped, fell, and then instantly got back up and into the minivan. I couldn't get to her in time, but at least I got the DVDs back.

A random witness outside was nice enough to take a photo of the minivan's license plate number.

Looking back at it, maybe everything worked out for the best. If I was actually able to grab the woman and try to hold her, she would have gone completely bat shit insane on me, and I could have ended up getting hurt.

[Czernobog]

Ah, I forgot to mention a couple retail stories.

Once, when I was working a register, a woman handed me a business check which she had been filling out but I could not see. I politely apologized and explained that the store can only take personal checks, and told her I was very sorry I hadn't noticed that it was a business check when she first took it out. Well, she went bat-shit, started screaming as loud as she could "don't you know who I am?" and throwing her realtor magnet/business cards at me. She then knocked her cart over, after I had bagged and placed all her goods in it and stormed out of the store. The four people behind her in line told me somewhat bemused that they didn't know who she was either.

Also, working at the same store, I had two morbidly obese black woman come through my register on motorized carts with all the kool aid packets the store had left. They were individual and randomized so I had to scan over 2000 kool aid packets. It was time-consuming as hell, but the woman were very nice about it and kept joking with me about how they didn't care about furthering some stereotypes as long as they got their kool aid fix.

[Mendoza]

Freezer sex, the one time your hoping all the food is pre frozen and in boxes.

One of my friends wants me to try his call center job. Im not sure thats going to be all that much better, but I guess at least its not dealing with people directly.

I think the thing that makes it all even more annoying is i had classes lined up for the semester but had to turn them down do to logistics.

No damn public transit in the city.

The city im in now has it, but i get stuck with this crap job.

Though i dont want to mention the store by name, I will say that we do sell firearms.

Now this is a multi step process, and invovles at least three employees. I'll give them this, they don't mess around when it comes to selling guns.

Well the runner comes up to my register and just plops the box on the table not saying a word.

I see that the box says Smith and Wesson, so i tell him Im just starting and haven't done any gun sales yet.

I had been told that if this happened he would walk me through the process.

Instead he scoffs and picks up the box and goes stomping away to another register muttering to himself customer in tow.

Is that the first instance in which a person selling a gun is in fact more angry than the guy purchasing it?

[Luke]

There's that and the fact I fucked a girl named Kelli in the freezer. Not a restaurant with perfect sanitation.

Your burning passion kept you warm?

We also made no-babies in the freezer where she worked; TCBY. When you are 17-18 and have the opportunity to bang a hot senior while you're/she's at work, no matter of cold can stop the passion of teenage sex.

[Hobie-wan]

One of my friends wants me to try his call center job. Im not sure thats going to be all that much better, but I guess at least its not dealing with people directly.

Honestly, call centers are generally rougher, especially when getting started. At least if you're talking to a customer in person you can point at things or draw a picture to get a point across. When you can't see what they're seeing of they can't see what you've described 5 different ways... yeah. Call centers have metrics. If you're on a call over X minutes, it is too long. No hold over Y minutes. 30 seconds to wrap up notes before another waiting call is dropped on you. Surveys sent to customers for them to evaluate if you were helpful or condescending. Supervisors listening to recorded calls to evaluate you. Did you say all of the magic phrases to everyone on every call? Customers that are unhappy with the fact that you can't promise them a refund or are yelling at you because someone else promised them something that didn't happen and wanting to speak to your supervisor.

It is much easier to get up to speed in retail than in a call center. Sure dealing with an angry customer who is right in your face may really ruin your day, but at least most of the people will be pleasant or indifferent. In a call center nearly everyone you deal with is calling because they have a problem and very few will be grateful when you help them.

I'm trying to remember what paperwork I had to deal with when selling firearms back in the day. We had to walk the gun outside for the person as well. Not that some who was truly a lunatic couldn't just load up and walk back in the store. I think there was actually more paperwork involved in selling a hunting or fishing license.

[Mendoza]

I have an interview for a teacher job next week.

With a little luck my time at this retail store will be numbered.

[sheath]

Now you will ascend the greasy poll from dealing with idiots to dealing with their children. At the very least, you can create your own environment in which they can torture you.

[Mendoza]

Now you will ascend the greasy poll from dealing with idiots to dealing with their children. At the very least, you can create your own environment in which they can torture you.

Oh, dealing with their children is easier. I'm used to their level of entitled bullshit.

And unlike retail, the customer is not always right there. Hell, their not right most of the time.

[sheath]

That is one bonus, you can actually tell kids you are teaching to be quiet.

[Luke]

I have an interview for a teacher job next week.

With a little luck my time at this retail store will be numbered.

Best of luck! State employee benefits tend to be a great fringe benefit (fun fact: when I was a kid, and up until probably college I thought it was called a French Benefit).