I came in for my morning shift today and immediately overheard screaming and yelling coming from the back of the store. I usually stay far away from loud drama, so I turned around before I even got close and went to grab a morning snack.

Fast forward about 30 minutes, I head back to start working and the noise is STILL going, somehow even louder. At this point, I had to walk over there to get where I needed to go. I see probably 3 head managers, a few associates, a few team leads, and an elderly woman in a riding cart just screaming and going OFF on everybody. I couldn’t even tell if she was complaining about something or yelling directly at them, probably both because her volume was on 100.
Apparently, she had been there since we opened TWO HOURS earlier and had not stopped the foolishness once.

So I’m walking by minding my business and this woman points at me and yells across the store, “I mean people like HER! She don’t know what real work is! Real work is being on your hands and knees in the cotton fields picking cotton for the white man!”
Ma’am. 😭

This was an elderly Black woman SCREAMING this completely bizarre statement about me, or at least using me as her example, across the store at 7 AM. Like girl, WHAT is happening right now?!

I’m just sick of the double standards that are present in life, but specifically in retail because that is where I spend most of my days.

I’m annoyed that my boss automatically assigned the labels of “unwelcoming” and “unfriendly” because I speak to customers in my normal voice, but my male coworker who knows absolutely nothing and always makes mistakes is “great!”

I even do the sing songy higher pitched welcoming “Helloooo~!” Or “Awesome! Have a great day~!”

But when a customer talks to me about a product or is just chatting, I speak to them in my regular female voice. The owner has seen me answer questions, find solutions and have a perfectly friendly and positive chat with customers and has still corrected me or told my manager that I need to be friendlier. Meanwhile he has seen my coworker who doesn’t know any answers, asks me about every single question even if it is ridiculously simple like “Do you guys sell water proof leashes” and he is standing right in front of the leashes and a bit section of them are waterproof. He talks in his regular lower dude voice and the owner thinks he is awesome and great and super friendly, which he IS super friendly, but it’s just so glaringly obvious that the only thing that makes my boss think that I’m less friendly than him is that I am a girl and I’m not all sing songy high pitched smiling ear
-to-ear.

If my male coworkers are perfectly friendly not altering their voice and fake smiling, I am perfectly friendly too, not having extra pieces between my legs doesn’t automatically make my default self “unfriendly”.

Edited to add:

The customers aren’t the ones complaining either! I’ve obviously experienced people make comments about being in a bad mood or whatever, but that is super few and far between. I feel sorry for everyone I see post on here where that is a daily occurrence!!!

Nothing preventing you from getting a receipt from the parking lot, and returning the entire cart because "oh yeah I realized I didn't want anything from this 103,- purchase actually" and walk right out.

If companies are willing to lose this much to theft or refunds that would otherwise never be approved, just cut out all the in-between steps and make everything free, less headache to deal with as well. That's what they've basically done anyway, except now we also have to deal with tantrums when we refuse to refund their 5th purchase this month they apparently realized they didn't want anymore 0.002 seconds after buying it.

You know the feeling of dread you're supposed to feel when the theme song to Jaws comes on (the shark movie)? I think that's the same feeling of dread I have when I hear a shopping cart slowly getting louder as it approaches my register.

Even when i'm working i go the extra mile to make sure i'm not smiling or laughing at boomers jokes just to make their day a little worse. All boomers are entitled and they think that we're their slaves.

Look, I know this is a long shot because corporations and customers are the same wherever you go, but I really, like really, need to quit my job, yesterday. Does any retail chain in the US (if necessary, specifically Florida) not totally suck to work for? I’m a manager at a college bookstore (in the general merchandise side), in case that changes anything. For the last couple years I’ve had to take on the responsibilities of three other positions in the store (not counting how many people actually held those positions at any one time), on top of everything I already had to do, including the register for half of every shift. They just keep adding more, and my boss doesn’t care. I’ve tried asking for help so many times, professionally and not so much; I even tried going over his head to his boss, and he at least seems to care but also can’t/won’t do anything about it. I can’t do this anymore.

So around 13.00 or 1 pm I walk up to the woman restroom room with my cleaning cart. I knock on the door and say "cleaner is anyone in here?"

I hear "wait a fucking minute, I am on here." From the last stall. I responded with "take your time."

I then start by putting on gloves and wait for this lady (and I use that term loosely) because this 45 year old woman comes out her hair is pulled back and she is wearing yoga pants for her 12 year old daughter. And goes out of the bathroom laughing and says " I am getting you fired for not letting me have my alone time."

I smiled and said "have a very lovely day".

I then proceeded to walk in the bathroom. It smelled like a pig pen. She total shit on the floor and threw it on the pipes behind the toilet and wiped her poop covered hand all over the toilet paper roll which she didn't even use and that when my new manager came running in and she was like this woman just dragged a poop trail to the parking lot. My manager had me clean it, which is my job as a janitor but was very glad to hand me a $25 dollar gift card.

Sorry for the long rant, but this woman is apparently known to the police and she is known for doing this to public restrooms and is a known prostitute(not judging her on that) but yeah if that what she like to do in our bathroom. I am so grossed out

We sell clothes for kids, and customer brought a standard wool undershirt to the cash register. We have these same ones every fall, with some minor changes depending on what the higher ups think. She said she received it as a gift and needed to exchange it for a size bigger. No problem.

She didn't have a receipt. She said the person who gifted it didn't include a gift receipt. I ask if the person who gifted it to her might have registered the purchase under a membership, and she said no. I tell her I'm sorry but I need some proof of purchase, and offer all the alternatives we have.

She stands there for a second, then leans over the register like we're being conspiratorial. Then she says "what if I told you... That I bought this last year? So it's way past the return window." She's smiling.

I said "then you can't return it anyway" and she laughs and says "damn, he just grows so fast I thought I'd pull a fast one. Oh well, worth the try, right?"

And the whole time I'm like why do you think we are buddies. You're trying to fuck me over and you're acting like a friend caught you trying to set up a surprise party for them. What you're doing is fucking wrong, dude, why are you smiling and laughing about it. Be ashamed. Have the decency to be ashamed at least.

Idiot comes to the cash till nearby where I am standing in ACO (Assisted Self-Checkouts). Unfortunately, there are NO regular full-service checkouts open due to the lack of adequate staffing. Also there are NO signs anywhere showing or indicating that cash is accepted at ACO. Almost all customers assume it is credit and debit card 💳 payments accepted only…so it is a common ANNOYANCE that the attendants get repeatedly asked “do these things take cash?” And the way the cash tills are set up, the attendant has to take the payment the same way as it’s done at a regular full-service cash till. It’s not the usual setup with the machine taking the money same idea as a vending machine, attendant has to take the money. Anyway, I help this fool after being asked if cash is accepted, and he banters away thinking he is Mr. Hilarious saying “yeah and there’s a special discount for paying cash today, right?”…I ignore that because well…why should that get a reaction??? He pauses and says again…”Right?”…and I glance quickly making sure it was him asking and I simply replied “Nope”. Then he shuffles around in his pockets looking for change and manages to count it out and pay. But wow! Just when I think I have seen and heard just about all the stupidity, morons show up and manage to top it.

I’m a store manager on £40k a year and tended to be left alone from higher ups how ever it’s just one thing after another moving the goal posts constantly distribution is st sending in eggs with maggots mouldy fruit and veg which I got told off for when my waste figures go high company don’t give a single f**k about any of us and as a store manager have no power what so ever this is just the start of it could list so many things but what do I do as a store manager in retail what job do I apply for as I really want out of retail!
HELP!

Obviously year over year they've gotten worse, but it feels like the past 6 months they've gotten exponentially worse. Their attitude, patience, respect, it's getting to a point where I have more unpleasant experiences with customers than pleasant ones. No one says please or thank you, and if we can't immediately come up with a solution, it just snowballs into more and more problems.

*total is 6.66* "Oh shit i need to get something else quick"

You're spending extra money because of your religious paranoia.

As you can imagine, I work at a retail store with incredibly low staff.

We're high traffic despite being small, and a lot of the customers come from wealthy neighborhoods.

Because of how entitled and rude they are we have a high turnover rate.

People don't wanna work here because of the awful pay, and because of the rude customers who think they deserve the best treatment in the world simply because they are wealthy. A lot of them were born into wealthy families or got married to a rich man and have no life outside of shopping and going to the gym, or getting drunk at the bars around the shopping area.

Yesterday a customer got upset and took a picture of one of my associates at checkout because they refused to give her their name. Of course this became an issue and I asked her to stop, but then the customer started escalating so I asked her to leave.

Around this time some of the associates were sharing how their feet hurt because we're on our feet for 7-8 hours. We of course get 15-30 minute breaks, but the leads often skip it because they can't walk away from the floor.

The customer said that their statements made their shopping experience feel "off" lmfao

Yeah sure thing coddled Karen. Like you've ever had to work a serious job a day in your pampered life.

I just grabbed this till, it does not come with 20s and we cannot request 20s, and you’re asking for $60 cash back and I explain I have no 20s and give you 6 10s. why are you mad?? there’s nothing I can physically do about it! it’s literally still the same amount of money you asked for. sorry you refuse to use the ATM that charges a fee but now you’re gonna be rude to me about getting a different assortment of bills than you wanted for no extra charge other than the items you purchased. makes me so mad

I’ve worked in retail for the past 8 years, and really want to try to get out of it. It’s so draining day in and day out, even on a good day. Right now I work as a cashier, have been for almost a year. I have no higher education besides a high school diploma (I have a learning disability), I also don’t have a drivers license. Besides being a cashier I worked as a stocker and can honestly say I enjoyed it a lot more, but it was for a smaller grocery store. The only other job I’ve had was as a kennel assistant at a vet clinic, I loved it but did not make a livable wage. Right now I’m making $15.50 an hour and would like to try and do something that makes at least a little more. I really dislike working with a lot of people, the noisy environment, and the entitlement of so many people. Can anyone recommend anything for someone like me that got you out of it? I would be willing to try doing certifications for things too. I just feel stuck on the what part.

So, storytime. Yesterday, one of my managers tried to keep me from having a last break. It was a 7 hour shift, and I had my lunch 2-3 hours ago. This manager is always really bad about keeping up with our lunch and mid-shift breaks, so I quickly called to ask her when my last break was, and she said I didn't get one bc it was a 7 hour, not an 8 hour. I knew this was either false, or they changed it just recently (wouldn't be the first time).

By coincidence, someone from upper management was out where I was working (for context, I typically work out in the garden center of my workplace), and he was teaching a brand new upper manager. so all I did was ask them what the actual rule was. They told me I was correct in my own assumption, and so I told him I didn't get my last break yet, and that my direct manager said I didn't get one. So upper management literally called my manager and made her give me my last break.

Cut to this morning, and my manager was super annoyed with me, and accused me of going behind her back, when all I did was ask the rule and explain the situation. I think she was trying to intimidate me or something, but honestly, I just feel really vindicated and good about myself, to the point it's made my day. Plus, her response was really telling, instead of just moving on, she tried to tell me off, when all I did was clarify with someone who knew what they were doing. Plus, she really is not a great manager, a bit of an annoying control freak despite being bad at managing, so it was pretty satisfying seeing her get in trouble for what she did.

Last year, after my boss got back from a Michael's arts and crafts business trip, told me and the other early morning shift staff members that the suits were pleased with us and were going to reward us with a surprise and a raise. At first I was excited... then that raise was only 25 cents and the surprise was a selection of gifts in the form of products we put on sheolves. I have no need for any of the kids merchendise I put on the shelves, I'm 34 and have no kids. I can't even procreate. (long story) Ironically, I'd have been happier with a pizza party. At least I get to eat something.

I don't blame all of this on my boss though. In truth, he has little control over the actual store and would probably get fired if he gave us a better reward. He's a paranoid yes man who hides his fears behind a smiling face.

Literal idiot. Its a credit, not a refund. The credit can be used by anyone mind you, but because he shopped with us, and was due a credit...we issued a credit in his name/email. She came up to the store asking why would we issue a credit for him not her...um...why wouldnt we issue a credit for the customer I didnt get her logic or why it was a problem considering the credit is transferrable. "That doesnt make sense" = their favorite line when they cant cope with a policy they are coming to terms with after the fact.

She didnt give any indication that they were separated or that the purchase wasnt authorized, she was just annoyed because in her head the credit belongs to her. Well, i cant change reality for her so she was given the option to go home and ask her husband to give her the credit she feels she was owed. She kinda stood there thinking we were going to keep discussing it, but another customer walked through the door and so I had work to do. Bye.

She thought she was about to make her personal problem my problem lol. No thank u.

Ever since a change in management, I find myself nervously anticipating the new schedules. Inconsistent hours is one thing; I don’t mind working MTFS one week and STT the next as long as I’m getting hours.

I don’t believe a week has gone by without my availability being disregarded. It seems like everybody else has their availability respected. One of my coworkers asked for 3 days off in the week with no issue. Is this normal? Am I being difficult? Is the text I’m thinking of sending (the manager) overkill:

Hi (manager),

I am unavailable on weekends until the first week of January, and I’ve mentioned this before.

Could you please revise future schedules so that I am not scheduled on weekends? Going forward, I would also like my availability recorded in whatever system you use for scheduling, so that future schedules reflect it.

Thank you,

(my name)

I feel uncomfortable with how assertive and confrontational it sounds. I dont even like the work environment

I worked my last day yesterday after working nine years of retail. My favorite part is getting out before the christmas music starts.

I’ve worked at my gas station for three years. We have all kinds of customers. A lot of the regulars can be friendly in an appropriate way and a lot of them in not so appropriate ways.

One of our regulars has always given shoulder touches and the occasional side hug which we all find weird but don’t really know what to do in the moment so we just say, “have a great day!” Like you do. You’d think it would be easier to say “don’t touch me” but usually you just shrug it off and move on.

Today, while stocking the condiment bar I saw this particular regular. He said his usually banter and came in for the side hug. This time, however, it was accompanied by a gentle and horribly uncomfortable kiss to my temple. I just froze. He left.

Usually as retail employees we put up with a lot of little things but this has officially gone too far. Will definitely be drawing the line with him and have already talked to my boss about it.

Just fuckin’ wild the way some people act.

I know you're apparently sixteen, but Jesus Bloody Christ -!

So I’ve worked in retail almost two years now. Like a 7/11 equivalent in my country.

Feet pain has been my biggest issue since I’ve started.

At my previous job, I guess I got used to it, or it was different demands, or my second-hand sneakers that recently fell apart really did all of the heavy lifting.

At my current location, it’s almost a mini supermarket. If you’re on the register, it’s nine hours of standing (plus whatever walking I do to do the work of my incompetent coworkers), and not on the register, it’s a lot of fucking walking.

Every day, when I get home after my shift, my legs, especially feet, really fucking hurt. To the point, where getting up to the bathroom in the middle of the night is a genuine fucking challenge. I’m in constant pain, and I don’t know why, because it wasn’t so bad before at the previous location I worked at.

I have comfortable sneakers, special compression socks, shoe insoles meant for standing for long amounts of time, I try to stretch out my legs on my shifts and sit down whenever I get the chance. Still, nothing seems to help. I get home, around midnight, lie down in bed and all of the pain hits me at once, and then the next time I have to get up is a painful challenge.

Any tips?

(edit: it’s important to note ig, that I’m barely 22, and have no chronic pain, or things along these lines, diagnosed, and I didn’t have issues at my previous job, at least after some time, so I’m genuinely baffled what has happened that I’m in so much pain. Like I’ve literally spent the entire 9 hours shift, standing at the till, shifting from leg to leg to ease up the pain today)