Who works in retail?

[Ovda]

How many of y'all work in retail? I've been in retail for a little over seven years. Are y'all ready for the Christmas shopping season? At the store we are dreading it a little. The day most dreaded is Nov. 29 the day after Thanksgiving. We open at 6:00am and there will be about 50 people waiting at 5:30 in the morning with their faces mashed against the glass door chanting, "Open, open, open, open..."
If you have never worked in retail, you have no idea some of pains retail people go through. It seems like the closer it gets to Christmas the meanier and nastier the people get. Some of them just don't get it, "I'm sorry but the last one was sold five minutes ago." "This is the last one." "No there areno more in the back warehouse."

 

[amk714]

I don't work in retail (thank goodness), but Ovda's right--some customers are real a-holes! I've seen this many times while waiting in line. Fortunately, more people are shopping online now. They'll still bitch and moan, but at least you won't have to come in contact with them! 😀 Good luck, Ovda. 🙂

 

[eXecutioner]

I feel your pain, ovda... nothing makes you hate the holidays more than working in retail.

 

[TicklingDuo]

I worked the holiday shopping season at a Sevice Merchandise one year. There were a few people who were cool. But, most were totally stressed out and downright mean. The only time people showed any good will was when a guy had a heart attack and went down in the middle of the department I was in. I got on the mic and called up to the warehouse that we had a code blue and ran to the guy. In less than 30 seconds, the guy in the warehouse who's ALS certified was at my side (having run down the merchandise belt) and we were starting CPR. For once, people were thinking of someone other than themselves and looking to help others. The entire atmosphere changed until all who were present at the time had left. It seemed to put things into perspective for them a bit.

I don't miss retail and wish an abundance of patience and thick skin for those who still have to deal with it...along with a little deafness. 😀

Ann

 

[Ticklegrrrl]

oy

I don't work in retail any more but I did for 8 years as a supplement while I was working as a professional dancer. I still remember it very vividly. Oh oh oh do I feel your pain!!!! I used to dread that first day after Thanksgiving. Why do so many people brave the crowds and go shopping on that day anyway? And why do they get soooo crabby and rude? Well hang in there, hopefully at the end of the day you can count your bucks and feel justified (or go home and have someone tickle the bad memories out of you). Good luck!!!


ticklegrrrl

 

[Admiral Trouser]

I've been working in retail part-time for the past two years (although I've worked my fair share of hours lol). Obviously in the UK there's no thanksgiving and we dont really get rushed as such in the build-up to Christmas (it just gets steadely busier), but my working life can be made a misery when the local drunks come in or worse, gangs (and I do mean gangs) of shop-lifters. Nasty, dirty, cunning and vicious when backed into a corner they are. Bah.

*sigh*....I just finished a shift, and yes, I feel the pain sometimes. Usualy in my lower back, lol.

 

[Alex Warfield]

I was the bouncer at a toy store all day yesterday and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. folks were lined up around the building at 3 in the morning and by the time we opened there were several hundred people in a line that wrapped around our store and across the mall. I was assaulted by some weirdo with one of our flyers, and had some woman tell my boss that I wouldn't let her in the exit (We had a long line at the entrance) simply because she was black. Another woman was screaming the entire time she was in line and in the store: "I have to WAIT IN LINE TO BUY A GAME BOY ADVANCE?!?!??!?!?!?" .......Yes, just like everyone else who entered the store today.


Grrrrrrrrr

 

[ForgottenTcklr]

I have a lot of friends who have worked in retail over the years. They all hated it. Year round, but Christmas escpecially. I am so sorry for all of you working!