Attention shoppers: Retail workers' pet peeves

Customers can be the rudest, most obnoxious and stupid people in the world. The worst customer is the one who broke his phone and thinks that I'm going to give him a free replacement because he is in a 3 year contract. Guess what buddy, we already gave you a phone for that. If you broke it, that's your problem!

You can't win as a retail salesperson... You have customers who get mad if you ask them if they need asisstance and you have customers who fly into a rage if you are 10 seconds late on asking them if they do need assisstance once they enter your store.

We deal with every type of personality out there. Every nut job too. Whether they are having bad day, like to look down on the little people.

People believe commission retail salespeople make bundles of money if you sell them a tv or fridge. It isn't so.

Then you have the customers who drag you down into the mud to save money... I mean just a nasty experience with no joy at the end of the sale... plus they don't know that your commisiion just got halved. I would love to see their faces if THEY received their own 9 to 5 wage paid paycheques and found it 50% less every week.

Then, though, you meet really nice people who it is a privilege to serve, people you find that are truly nice and they make the job not so bad afterall.

the author of this article sounded very sarcastic in saying "The list goes on, and on. Sounds like a tough life."

They are customer service reps. They should provide the customer with professional and courteous service. It is their job. If you don't like your job or what it entails, leave!

retail is no picnic and there are some really rude self absorbed customers out there. Love to show up at there work and complain and chisel them for everything. And thing is you know who you are its the minority but there a pain in the ass. jane shopper I'm guessing your one of them hard to please and return everything.

Hey Jane Shopper, how would you like it if a complete stranger showed up at your job and criticized you about every aspect of it for 1/2 an hour, whether you made a mistake or not? Wouldn't that be fun? Oh, and when that stranger leaves, look! There's another one.

I had a customer actually yell at me for not having the item he wanted in stock on the sales floor. Yeah, I don't do the ordering or the floor set~ups, nor do I have any input to management on what merchandise we carry. I only have the right to be abused for others short comings. I smile , serve and hopefully have done my job well.If I can have every customer leave my register with a smile, I'm thrilled!Life is too short to be the Whiner or the chronic complainer.We're only here a short time so make every interaction with another human at least bearable.Have a nice day :)

As a shopper, I am not that difficult. However, there are certain things that sales associates can do to make it a good experience. First off, it is always nice to have someone acknowledge your presence... either a smile or a simple "hi, let me know if you need anything". This needs to happen whether I'm wearing jogging pants or a designer suit.

As a shopper whose "on a mission", I don't want to hear any extra information, I don't want to be followed, I don't want to engage in a long (or ANY) conversations and if I tell the sales associate that I'm just looking, it would be nice if they directed their attention elsewhere. That being said, customers are usually quite honest: when the purchase is made, they will come to YOU, the person who originally offered to help. You usually don't have to worry about those kinds of things. Second of all, one thing that bothers me is when the sales people ask me something along the lines of "do you want a belt with that?". It's not to be rude, but if I wanted a belt, I would have told you that I wanted a belt. The idea is to HELP the customer not to push sales. A better alternative would be "is there anything else I can help you with today?". Of course, it's also possible that these pushy sales techniques are imposed by the manager of the store in which case it's a good idea to switch jobs. I believe that no SERIOUS shopper would buy from a store with pushy sales people and the store is likely to close soon.

The point about going to someone's job and criticizing them is pointless and is not even related to the topic. I teach in university for a living, so I have interactions with students all the time. If the customer (the students in this case) were critical of my teachings, then I would surely have to take that into account. If a comment was made about a sales associates approach, maybe it's a good thing to take that into account.

On a final note, related to the original message, I DO get annoyed when a sales person goes home and it delays me for an extra 2 minutes. For instance, if I was in line waiting to pay and a sales person decided to close the register, I would call the store manager. To me, that's a lack of professionalism and the sales person should get fired on the spot. The better option would have been to arrange for a different option for the customer so that he/she doesn't have to wait. Call someone else over and if that doesn't work, don't go home just yet. Finish serving your customer and then leave. How hard is that? In return, the person is more likely to go back due to the great customer service, he/she will understand that you went "above and beyond" your job description and will go looking for YOU for any future purchase.

ok shopper, there are reasons why people have to leave when their shift is over...many times you get written up for being late leaviing, i am sorry, i am not loosing my job or getting crappy shifts by pissing off my boss for your 2 minutes! Maybe the person has to pick up their child at the daycare before they close, catch the bus, a ride, there are many reasons why. As to your 2 minutes You decided to come into the store, if you don't have the time, wait untill you do!

I've been there... on both sides. I've sold beer and snacks, women's clothes, shoes, building materials, and I've also worked in an office and in a medical clinic (over the course of 10 years, and sometimes 2 jobs at once).
As a salesperson: I once worked at a business that had a 10-point service training program designed to offer the best service, and to sell the most product. It was my job to offer (not push) additional products, and to do so in a manner that was not off putting to customers. That being said, some customers just are not interested, so you judge yourself accordingly, but you still have to make the offer. If not, you could risk losing your job. No joke.
As a shopper: If I am not interested or am in a rush, I tell them " I actually know what I'm looking for, or just want to browse, but if I do need help I will keep an eye out for you. Thanks very much." This way they know that I don't need help now, but to also keep an eye on me in case I get that "need help here" look. Plus, why not be polite about it? I am not offended by someone doing their job well.
As a sales person: It is also sometimes part of the job to provide information to the customer, and knowledge of products. Sometimes this really is for thier best interest, not just to up the sale.
As a shopper: Listen to a trained sales staff member, or just be honest but not rude if you are uninterested. They probably know their stuff, and may end up telling you something you really need to know. (like when a product is prone to lead to mould in the home, and that there really is a better safer option for a fraction more).

On either side, just be polite.
If you really have a problem with a salesperson you feel is not doing their job, speak to them or their manager discreetly. You don't have to cause a scene to get your point accross.
If you are shopping, and need to take a call while being served (it happens rarely, but does happen), apoloze to the salesperson and let them know that this is an urgent call. Step aside and let the next person go ahead of you until you can finish your call. If it's you friend calling about your club hopping plans for that night, for the love of god, this is not one of those calls...just call her back!

There are people of every kind. Sales people after time should be able to learn who is what. If the customer need them to hold their hand or if they want to go on their own. In either case it is hard to make that call. I understand shoppers can be difficult but so can the sales associate. I do not think I am better then a sales associate I treat everyone equal but there are some sales associates who won't give you the time as day as well as there are customers like that. It is your job though so it is part of dealing with it. I am sorry if I get a call and I am in line I am going to take the call I do not need to talk to the sales associate and I am sure some associates are okay with that. I do not find it rude to answer a phone so my son can talk to me. I still have my stuff on the counter I still have my money out on time and I prefer no small talk so it works for me. I will even text while paying you see it as rude I see it as I am getting more things done at once so a big time saver. There are always two sides to every coin so no matter what someone isn't getting what they want. Also maybe the customer has a job where they take a lot of crap from people so you know what goes around comes around. Trust me it doesn't just happen to sales clerks it happens to everyone no matter what job they are in. I work in an accounting office and trust me I have a lot of hard to please clients but it is my job so I deal with it.

There are SO many things I can think of....the biggest pet peeves were, people digging through a table to sweaters that says "LARGE ONLY" looking for a medium....then having to refold the enitre table!
I also disliked being asked out, this happened multiple times, just becuz I'm nice doesn't mean I want to date u! ESPECIALLY when ur at least 40+ years my senior!!!!! EWWWWW!
I also didn't like anything to do with ruined clothing, whether someone expected a special deal (which I can't give) or wanted to return something they wore until it was broken.....even if it's only worth $5!!!! No, I will not give u a refund on something u wore everyday for an extended period of time and I haven't had in stock at any store for over 6 months...... Some people DO NOT understand this!

I work in a large retailer company in which we have to wear a uniform, My biggest pet peeve of a customer is when I am off the clock and doing my grocery shopping with a buggy full of groceries and they can see that I am shopping sometimes they even ask me " are you off the clock" i respond yes but that does not stop them from asking where everything is on there friggin list. I just so want to say can you not see that I am shopping my self, I most times go and get them a clerk I just want to go home, sometimes if I do shopping at my store in street clothes and customers recognize me they again feel the need to ask me where products are. I have been with the same company for 35 yrs now and this is my biggest PET PEEVE

Retail is the most underappreciated career one could have. You work longer hours without extra pay, than most other professions if you want to get anywhere. You take customer abuse on a somewhat consistent basis. Your pay is not refelctive at all of the effort that is put in. When sales dip, even short term, the pressure is intense. After awhile you are replaced with a cheaper employee no matter how good you are. I have been punched and threatened by customers on so many occassions and from the company's point of view, it is just part of the job.
Ultimately there are good sides, (many customers are great people) but retail as a career is not going to ever get you rich or even above average, so beware of what career you choose.

Coming from 3 long time retail staffers in this store, we are telling you that the customer is not always right. In 21 yrs combined experience between us working in this clothing store, we've seen everything, from the nastiest, rudest most arrogant customers to the sweetest, nicest customers who bring us cookies!
Some hints for you customers:
-you can't return a watch because you gained weight & it won't fit your wrist anymore
-don't throw your credit cards/bank cards at us
-if we explain a store policy to you & you don't agree, then we get you the manager who re-explains the very valid reasons for this policy, please don't throw hangers at her
-swearing at us won't make us more helpful
-bringing us cookies & gummie bears will make us like you much, much better
-we don't expect you to put away things you've tried on, but please don't leave them in piles on the floor, and let us know you've left 26 things in the changeroom so we can empty it out for the next customer
-we are a retail store, not a garage sale; don't offer us $5 for an item with a $25 price tag then get pissed off when we say no
-know the store policies; ask about refunds and exchanges BEFORE YOU BUY IT to avoid disappointment later
-don't bring drinks in the store then ask for a discount because a top has a coffee stain on it
-don't make the staff stay15 minutes past closing time & expect us to be cheerful about it....we've worked 8 hours & have to get home to make dinner for our families, too
In general, a little common sense & courtesy from customers will make retail employees a hell of a lot easier to get along with...Remember, we started out the day in a good mood, but customers wore us down by 5:30. (PS-we're customers too, we know what it's like on both sides of the counter & we know there is horrible retail staff out there; it's ok to tell a manager if you've had a terrible shopping experience...they can't fix it if they don't know about it!)

I can see both sides of the issue. There are certainly a lot of pushy, rude customers out there, and it is usually the typical "soccer mom". However, I have also met a good share of retail staff who need some serious customer service training. The cashier who says to each and every customer "have you found everything you were looking for" at the start, and "have a nice day" at the end. That is becaue of the store policy. All the while they are looking at the wall, the floor etc. and don't give a damn about my day.
I really appriciate the ones that do seem to care, and will go wait in their line, even if it is longer.

The one think that drives me totally nuts is having a bill of say $16.53. I don't want more loose change so give them $22.03 so I should get $5.50 back. You get a glassed over look, they have to figure out how to imput that number (as some of the registers have money tendered buttons 10,20,30, etc), and even then, after the register tells them the change, they stuggle to get the correct amount out of the til? In case anyone is wondering, no, I did not hold up the line for 10 minutes to do this, I figured it out all in my head in the time it took to take out my wallet.

I worked retail BRIEFLY! Because it was one of the worst experiences of my life. It was depressing, infuriating and degrading on so many levels. I can count the amount of nice customers on one hand. Bad pay, bad hours, bad job! You spend all day picking up after people too lazy to pick up a hanger they drop and leave on the floor, being treated like a dog learning to play fetch for people, people trying to rip the store off with bogus discounts and purposely damaging items then causing a scene cause they know 'the customer is always right' it's that attitude that makes people lose it and end up jumping down the emergency chute on planes! I have seen a woman drag her screaming child through the store (screaming kid?np! every kid cries!)...but this kid was screaming cause he so clearly had to use the washroom and was being ignored by the most ignorant mother ever...so the poor child wet himself in the middle of the store then screamed even LOUDER because he was embarrassed...oh and then she walked out the store without so much as a sorry or offering to clean up the puddle on the floor my manager was left with! 8 dollars an hour isn't worth that see ya!

Also being a 'retailer", I've also had my fair share of 'far out there' interesting customers, from the stupidest questions ever to what they are wearing for the day. It can be stressful dealing with these people, especially when one works in a post office during christmas rush. I had done it for 2 christmases in a row. Had to leave there because of the stress of being yelled at for a package getting lost and it was apparently your (the worker's) fault.
I also understand that there are 2 sides to every retail store. Management should be obligated to teach / instruct each 'customer service ' rep on how to deal with each customer and situation that arises, especially when this is the first retail / customer serice job that this rep has.
Customers should also know that it also very rude to keep a line holding in order to count out every nickel and penny. There is a thing called a 'debit card' that is used quite regluarly by other customers who know to not hold a line, especially when the person behind you is in a hurry and is only buying one thing. I can go on and on about the little things, too. It's these things that made me leave the retail world and enter a new line of work.. I don't miss it, the stress was not worth my health.......

OK. I'm a patient person, but don't show up 2 minutes before closing and keep me half an hour late while my family waits in the car outside for me. I HAVE A LIFE, TOO. Maybe I'll drop by your office and keep you well past quitting time. And don't start asking me questions about my work while I'm away from the work location AND off-duty, and in my own clothes. I will politely tell you to call me during business hours.

I worked in retail for over 10 years, as a sales associate and a manager. I'd like to clarify something:
When sales staff try selling you items at the cash desk, it's because if we don't we will get fired. It's called upselling, and it does work sometimes.
A huge pet peeve of mine is when stores have "counters". Little button size things that count each and every person going into the store. So it's really annoying when your kids or husband are in and out of the store while they're waiting for you to finish shopping. Think about it, we have to sell to at least 1 of every 20 people. So if your kids are in and out of the store say 8 times, that's 8 people according to the traffic counter. That makes our average go down, then the manager and the district manager are really pissed. And we could lose our jobs for that.
Also, please don't go into a store 5 minutes before closing, and make a mess out of all the neatly folded tables, etc. We have lives too.
And last, please read the sale signage in the store before you start complaining about false advertising. If you read the sign, it's all there.