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If you've ever bought anything at a retail store (so basically, all of you), this is the blog for you. This is geared more towards clothes shops, but still good advice for being a decent customer at any retail store. Without further ado...
I work in a shoe store. We're different than a lot of shoestores because we have 95% of our product out on the floors (all in racks) and it's more self-service than your usual shoe store. Instead of seeing a shoe you like and asking a sales associate to get your size, you can grab your own size and try it on. Most of the customers I get are just fine, but there are a few who blow my mind with how rude they are. Here's a list of things you should or shouldn't do in retail stores:
1. You should try to clean up after yourself. I understand that a lot of clothing stores make this difficult because they have their own specific folds and such, but you should at least make an effort. I get some customers who try on literally ten pairs of shoes and don't put a single box back. They litter the aisles with shoe boxes and shoes, and some of them even put the wrong shoes back in the wrong box. I don't expect customers to put everything back perfectly, but it's seriously rude to not even make an effort when you've made a huge mess.
2. You shouldn't stay in the store too late after closing. At my store, we're not allowed to tell customers we're closed, even if they're still browsing well after we've closed our doors to the public. Today, I was one of the closers and we had a woman stay in our store for 53 minutes (!!!) after we closed. I think what a lot of customers don't realize is that in a lot of retail stores, there are closing processes that can only happen after the last customer leaves. At my store, we can't start empyting cash registers and counting it up for the day until the last customer leaves. It usually takes at least 30 minutes after the last customer is gone, and I'm sure it's like this for many stores. Basically, if you're shopping near closing time, please be aware of when a store closes and be considerate of the sales associates' time. We have lives and families too, and we can't leave until well after you do. Also, don't ask us what time we close (before we've closed) and then still stay half an hour or more after. That's one of my biggest pet peaves... customers who know we're closed and don't give a shit. That's amazingly rude and inconsiderate.
3. You should be grateful to sales associates who do a good job for you, and even more grateful to associates who go above and beyond. I can't even count how many times I've done an awesome job for a customer and not gotten so much as a thank you. Today, I had a customer who tried on literally ten pairs of shoes (all found by me, so I did all the legwork), had me put his shoes on him and tie them (not typical for American shoe stores), and at the end, he was pretty damn ungrateful. I could've really easily just talked to him once and then avoid him, but I went way above and beyond with this guy. And then, I don't even get a proper thank you at the end. This should be obvious, but sales associates will treat you a whole lot better if you're respectful and thankful for their help.
4. You shouldn't get mad at us when we can't return worn shoes or when we can't help you immediately. This is two separate issues, but I'll roll it into one because they're similar. First, we can tell when shoes are worn and we can't return them when they are. This goes for most clothing stores, too. Please don't try to return them and if you do, don't get irate when you're told we can't do it. Some managers are more lenient than others, but most are going to tell you you're out of luck (I would if I was a manager). On the second issue, be aware that we have other customers and you're not the only one we have to help. My store got a customer complaint a few days ago because a man came in with a pair of shoes and wanted to return them. He had no box or receipt (basically no proof of purchase whatsoever), and he left us a complaint because he had to wait a whole ten minutes to get the shoes returned. He even lied in the complaint (said it took half an hour) when video proof says it only took ten. Basically, realize that a "me me me" attitude (some customers are like this, believe it or not) won't get you very far in a retail store. Employees are much happier to help you when you're not acting selfish and angry.
5. You should use common sense. It's really not that hard. Clean up after yourself as best as you can. Be grateful when a sales associate goes out of their way to help you. Don't give the employees a hard time unless it's necessary (and trust me when I say, vast majority of the time, it isn't). Don't stay in the store more than 15 minutes after closing (no matter how "okay" with it the employees seem. They're just being nice). Basically, imagine things that would annoy you if you worked retail (or think about what annoyed you if you have), and don't do those things.
tl;dr, please be a decent person. the retail world will thank you.
 
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i agree with all of these except it seems pretty strange to expect people to leave on time when you're unable to remind them that the store is closing. People lose track of the time quite often and I could see this being an honest mistake quite often, unless there's some other way they're reminded?
Other than that yeah, retail is a hard and unforgiving life and im glad there's some soldiers out there willing to weather the shit storm cause i know i cant
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On August 23 2012 14:53 Divinek wrote:
i agree with all of these except it seems pretty strange to expect people to leave on time when you're unable to remind them that the store is closing. People lose track of the time quite often and I could see this being an honest mistake quite often, unless there's some other way they're reminded?
Other than that yeah, retail is a hard and unforgiving life and im glad there's some soldiers out there willing to weather the shit storm cause i know i cant
I understand it's easy to lose track of time. It doesn't bother me as much when that happens. What bothers me the most is when you get customers who roll in at 8:45pm (we close at 9) and ask what time we close, and then proceed to browse leisurely for 45 minutes. It's inconsiderate as fuck and I just don't understand why you'd even do that.
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Doesn't every shoe store keep its merchandise out... I've never been to one where you had to ask a sales rep to get one for you, that would take forever and be awful
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I appreciate good retail guys (like you, it seems!).
Nothing makes me wanna buy from a store more than friendly salespeople it seems
My question though, is i'm kinda prudish. Generally i want to be approached. I dont really like having to ask the salesperson for help, they should ask me! I do my best not to be rude of course, i'm not gonna be a dick if they're trying to help, that's dumb. How can i deal with this in the best way possible, from the sales person's perspective. I suppose i should just actually say "yo help me find x" but its a preference and ill do what i have to if i want something lol.
You're a great dude ^^ fuck those rude people!
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On August 23 2012 15:16 n.DieJokes wrote:
Doesn't every shoe store keep its merchandise out... I've never been to one where you had to ask a sales rep to get one for you, that would take forever and be awful
That is pretty much the standard in The Netherlands. You point out the shoe you want and they go and get your size.
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Looks like your country got some weak ass unions or your manager/boss is a little bitch.
I used to work @ a national computer store and our motto is treate the customer the way they treate you.
Be a douche then don't expect any service from me. If any customer stays around closing time, we just start all the process (minus counting cash), put all the rails up, turn all the TV off, make it very obvious that we want to gtfo.
We received a few complaints but none of the nerds that work there give a fuck as our core customer base don't have a problem with us.
My manager even kicked out a customer once for saying racist stuff to a girl there, that dickhead won't leave, my manager offered to either call the police or they go around the back and settle it there, fucker never come back again. Baller boss for the win.
If for any reason we stay back beyond 30 mins, we all get paid hourly overtime wage but most of us do it when it's needed.
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On August 23 2012 15:31 Juliette wrote:
I appreciate good retail guys (like you, it seems!).
Nothing makes me wanna buy from a store more than friendly salespeople it seems
My question though, is i'm kinda prudish. Generally i want to be approached. I dont really like having to ask the salesperson for help, they should ask me! I do my best not to be rude of course, i'm not gonna be a dick if they're trying to help, that's dumb. How can i deal with this in the best way possible, from the sales person's perspective. I suppose i should just actually say "yo help me find x" but its a preference and ill do what i have to if i want something lol.
You're a great dude ^^ fuck those rude people!
at my store, customer service is our number one priority. the biggest part of my job is making sure every customer has been greeted and helped (if they need it), so you wouldn't have any problems here. it's one of the things I enjoy most (I'm a people person and it's the reason I like working in retail). I feel like it should be that way in every store.
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On August 23 2012 15:41 haduken wrote:
Looks like your country got some weak ass unions or your manager/boss is a little bitch.
I used to work @ a national computer store and our motto is treate the customer the way they treate you.
Be a douche then don't expect any service from me. If any customer stays around closing time, we just start all the process (minus counting cash), put all the rails up, turn all the TV off, make it very obvious that we want to gtfo.
We received a few complaints but none of the nerds that work there give a fuck as our core customer base don't have a problem with us.
it has nothing to do with the manager. it's a big chain and all of our guidelines come straight from corporate. my managers could get reprimanded and even fired for trying to get people out of the store. I know that sounds stupid, but not much we can do about it.
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So who is paying your wage for staying back? How is that legal?
You can do something about, gtfo of that place, if your employer don't care about employee welbeing then why should you care about their business? tune off, do the minimal required if you need the job.
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On August 23 2012 15:46 haduken wrote:
So who is paying your wage for staying back? How is that legal?
I get paid the same amount throughout. I make a little over $8 an hour and I don't get paid extra when my shift runs longer than it's supposed to.
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On August 23 2012 15:47 iamahydralisk wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 15:46 haduken wrote:
So who is paying your wage for staying back? How is that legal?
I get paid the same amount throughout. I make a little over $8 an hour and I don't get paid extra when my shift runs longer than it's supposed to.
Check your contract. how is the fair that the business get free labour out of you.
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On August 23 2012 15:48 haduken wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 15:47 iamahydralisk wrote:On August 23 2012 15:46 haduken wrote:
So who is paying your wage for staying back? How is that legal?
I get paid the same amount throughout. I make a little over $8 an hour and I don't get paid extra when my shift runs longer than it's supposed to. Check your contract. how is the fair that the business get free labour out of you.
It's not free. I just don't get paid extra for overtime. as far as I know, that's pretty standard for lower level retail jobs here.
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On August 23 2012 15:50 iamahydralisk wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 15:48 haduken wrote:On August 23 2012 15:47 iamahydralisk wrote:On August 23 2012 15:46 haduken wrote:
So who is paying your wage for staying back? How is that legal?
I get paid the same amount throughout. I make a little over $8 an hour and I don't get paid extra when my shift runs longer than it's supposed to. Check your contract. how is the fair that the business get free labour out of you. It's not free. I just don't get paid extra for overtime. as far as I know, that's pretty standard for lower level retail jobs here.
Eitherway, the business is taking advantage of you, sad to see this happening in USA. Even in China they get pay overtime for extra work.
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On August 23 2012 15:48 haduken wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 15:47 iamahydralisk wrote:On August 23 2012 15:46 haduken wrote:
So who is paying your wage for staying back? How is that legal?
I get paid the same amount throughout. I make a little over $8 an hour and I don't get paid extra when my shift runs longer than it's supposed to. Check your contract. how is the fair that the business get free labour out of you.
When you say "don't get paid extra" do you mean you don't make overtime (1.5x normal) or you stop getting paid AT ALL after 9pm/closing? (I'm pretty sure the later is illegal according to most state labor laws). edit: answered
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I agree with your points. Although on the other hand, what about retail staff etiquette? For me, there's nothing more annoying than having the employees hover around you like a vulture while you're browsing stuff. Not everyone appreciates "when a sales associate goes out of their way to help you" if you didn't ask for it. Just saying.
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On August 23 2012 16:23 PandaTank wrote:
I agree with your points. Although on the other hand, what about retail staff etiquette? For me, there's nothing more annoying than having the employees hover around you like a vulture while you're browsing stuff. Not everyone appreciates "when a sales associate goes out of their way to help you" if you didn't ask for it. Just saying.
My general rule of thumb is to greet a customer when they come in my area and check on them every 20 minutes or so, or see how they're doing when they give you "the look" (anyone who's worked as a sales associate would know what I mean here). I'm not one of those associates that hounds customers every five minutes and I agree that it can be pretty annoying when associates do that.
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On August 23 2012 15:36 zalz wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 15:16 n.DieJokes wrote:
Doesn't every shoe store keep its merchandise out... I've never been to one where you had to ask a sales rep to get one for you, that would take forever and be awful That is pretty much the standard in The Netherlands. You point out the shoe you want and they go and get your size.
We don't have that over here in Germany. You try your shit out and you put it back if you don't like it. There are sales reps to help you but nobody serves you.
On topic, it's disgusting how some people behave. There was a blog on TL in which a user described his retail job at a Gamespot or something like that (maybe it was a hardware store, not sure). Oh and there's of course the classic "Acts of Gord" for people who wish to read even more horror stories about customers.
Bottom line, show some empathy. That would work in almost every situation.
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On August 23 2012 16:26 iamahydralisk wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 16:23 PandaTank wrote:
I agree with your points. Although on the other hand, what about retail staff etiquette? For me, there's nothing more annoying than having the employees hover around you like a vulture while you're browsing stuff. Not everyone appreciates "when a sales associate goes out of their way to help you" if you didn't ask for it. Just saying. My general rule of thumb is to greet a customer when they come in my area and check on them every 20 minutes or so, or see how they're doing when they give you "the look" (anyone who's worked as a sales associate would know what I mean here). I'm not one of those associates that hounds customers every five minutes and I agree that it can be pretty annoying when associates do that.
Yep, always greet customer on arrival, if they need something quick they would ask you then.
Otherwise check back every 10 or 20 min or so, if customer respond with I'm just browsing then that's your cue to not bother them again.
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On August 23 2012 17:36 surfinbird1 wrote:Show nested quote +On August 23 2012 15:36 zalz wrote:On August 23 2012 15:16 n.DieJokes wrote:
Doesn't every shoe store keep its merchandise out... I've never been to one where you had to ask a sales rep to get one for you, that would take forever and be awful That is pretty much the standard in The Netherlands. You point out the shoe you want and they go and get your size. We don't have that over here in Germany. You try your shit out and you put it back if you don't like it. There are sales reps to help you but nobody serves you.
Wait what. Every single shoe store I was to (in Germany) was like the dutch dude described. Shoe isn't there in a size / color you want? Ask the sales guys an they'll bring it to you. It might be not the case in discounters and stuff but in you regular shoe store it's exactly this way.
On topic, a former gf of mine worked in a bookstore. What changed how I acted around clerks was that she once told the story about searching for like 10 minutes for a customer who then told her "Young lady, you literally saved my day" after she found what the women needed. She told this story to people even after a year or two, it was just THAT extraordinary to be treated like that as the person selling the stuff it seems.
Ever since that I just let random compliments drop when associates do great jobs and I also tell them when I'm not happy at all. The result: Some (very few) hate me with a passion but most clerks greet me after having been in their store once and perform even better when I need something specific.
Being nice to random people is awesome in general, especially if you might want something from them down the road. =)
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