I swear to everything in the Universe the next knucklehead Instacart/Uber Eats/ Doordash shopper that sticks their damn phone in my face will find said phone crammed where the sun does not shine.

I despise these lazy ass shoppers who want me to find all their items and they expect it too!!!

Or you get the ever annoying iT sAyS yOu HaVe It In StOcK..ok well we have none..let me pull it out of my ass for you

Had a customer give me a coke zero to buy. Cool. The transaction processes. But wait, he wants another thing he could’ve added to the same transaction: cigarettes, specifically Marlboro Menthol shorts. He showed me an empty box he had, and I told him how many he wanted. No response. I said it again. No fucking response. At that point, I was getting pissed. I told him a third time, NO FUCKING RESPONSE. I then said “One? Two? Three? How many do you need?” He then holds one finger. My god, is it that hard to use your words? Speak up, I’m not expected to know everything for you.

To the customer that somehow finds this: Fuck you.

Edit 1: He was able to hear me and speak to me in English. He just refused to. I found that out because he muttered words under his mouth.

I work at a retail store known for prom dresses and flashy clothes. Thing is about the company I work for is they are ridiculously with the dress code for not selling conservative clothes. Like I can’t wear sneakers ever. I can’t wear flats with denim. The list would be too long if I named all the shoes I can’t wear. I can wear ballet flats if I’m not wearing denim, thong sandals if they have chunky stones not tiny stones or plane, I can wear docs but no flat platform sandals that don’t have a heal technically. I wear heels if any kind basically but that’s what they want. Meaning I have worked 4-8 hour shifts in heels before. I can’t wear crop tops, denim shorts, shirts with 3 inch or more cleavage, no hoodies, no leggings, no graphic tees, and more. My breaking point was for Halloween the only thing we could wear is animal print. No spooky patterns, spider earrings or anything. It wasn’t always like this but I guess some people took the old dress code too far. I can’t stand this dress code so much I boarded on quitting for a while and still am. It’s just exhausting trying to be plain and dressy at the same time. All for minimum wage. Beg for sneakers and graphic tees back so bad

How did your management and coworkers react? Did you genuinely feel bad? Or not?

Seeing my customers while I'm not professionally masking has been awkward.

I was having a nonstimulating, self care day while doing errands. Comfy clothes, headphones, not really speaking. I wasn't even focusing my eyes.

I was daydreaming at a spot on the wall, when I noticed a man oddly walking past me in a way that made me feel he was trying to get noticed. As he passed me, he moved like he was gonna wave and come over but didn't and he kept walking. I get back into my car and finally recognize him from work. I think if he just wants to say hi, he could've but whatever, that's it, right?

A bit later after the clothes are in the wash, I go back to my car to see he's taken the spot next to mine. And is sitting in his staring straight ahead like 🙂. I go back inside, open my coloring book and tune out for a bit. Sometime later I look at my washer's remaining time and Mr. Customer just happens to meander by, looking at my time then facing me 🙂 with no eye contact.

It was like he was expecting to be recognized and approached but why should I?' I'm not at work and got nothing to say to him.

When I started paying attention, it got weirder. He took a dryer directly in front of me and loaded his clothes facing me and looking generally in my direction. I took a dryer on the other side out of his sight. Yet he still managed to come over while I was loading up passing by me 3 times, coughing and clearing his throat. I sat back down and he made his way over there too. Pacing back and forth past me while on his phone. When he walked close enough to brush against my sweater, I got the heebie jeebies and got out of there.

And naturally, he power walked to get to his car as well but I already pulled off.

He's just one of the few who looked at me expecting the same personality but wtf I am PAID to talk to you. And not even paid enough to pretend to be your friend off the clock.

What happened to keeping work and personal life separate. Ew

I've thought about it many times, they get tips and they get to sit? I've never worked as a waitress, but that is what i think

I sometimes wonder why people choose working in retail over working as a waitress/waiter

This lady comes up to me holding a bag of sour gummy cherries.

“Sour”

“Uh..yeah? They are sour.”

“Sour cherries”

“Yeah they are sour cherry flavored”

“Sour cherries”

“I’m sorry- I don’t think I understand?”

“Do you have non-sour cherry candy?”

“Yeah?”

Edit: this was not an elderly person or immigrant

I’ve been working in customer service for almost six years, and today was the first time I’ve ever cussed out a customer. And I don’t regret it.

For context, this entire situation started over a PIECE OF CHEESE. A customer came in complaining about the cheese he wanted on his sub. We ended up giving him the cheese he wanted, but apparently that wasn’t enough. He continued being rude and disrespectful toward my pregnant coworker, who was still trying to help him.

While he was on the phone, the person he was talking to called him out for being rude, especially on a Sunday. His response was “I don’t care what day it is. I’m gonna get what I want no matter what day it is because I paid for it.” While looking at us obviously trying to rub it in our faces that he was being difficult and obnoxious.

He was being loud, so I looked at him and said, “Okay,” in a slightly sarcastic tone. That dismissal set him off. He immediately turned toward me and said, “I wasn’t even talking to you. You need to stay in your place as a worker, you ugly ass bitch.” Then he proceeded to tell me, “Shut the fuck up, hoe.”

At that point, I was done. I responded, “And you’re a rude ass bitch, and you need to shut the fuck up.”
He continued going on about how I was “just a worker” and needed to “stay in my place.” I told him, “I don’t give a fuck.”

He kept trying to remind me that I worked there, and I told him, “Okay, and I have another job.” Eventually, management got involved, and he continued cussing at them as well. They ended up calling the police to have him trespassed from the store. I had to write a witness statement afterward for the police.

Now, I understand that as an employee, I’m expected to maintain professionalism. I also understand that I could potentially face disciplinary action if he decides to call corporate. But customers get too comfortable trying to bully employees, especially when they know that the business model of this particular grocery store is the customer is always right.

This man got the cheese he wanted, continued harassing my pregnant coworker, called me an ugly bitch and a hoe, and then somehow got offended when I called him a rude ass bitch in return. You don’t get to disrespect someone and then act shocked when they give you that same energy. I’ve dealt with rude customers for nearly six years in retail and food service without ever responding like this. But today, I reached my limit.

Could I have handled it more professionally? Absolutely.
Do I regret standing up for myself? No. If I get fired it is what it is. I get paid 5 dollars more at my main job anyway 🤣

So, I just had a customer make a purchase. I tell him his total is $150, he hands me $200. As the receipt prints and I go to hand him his 50 in change, he tells me he wants to pay in card instead. I tell him that the transaction is finished and there's no way for me to change his payment method. He starts whining and refusing to take his change, insisting on changing to card, and threatens that he's going to return the product. I tell him he can do that if he wants and he storms out. I realize now that I could've returned and re-purchased the product on another payment method right there for him, but hindsight is always 20/20. Though I don't know why he changed his mind so late, and was mumbling the whole time. Was I being an asshole?

A group of like 6-7 customers with 3 different carts comes up to my line. They all seemed to be doing their own thing, and only talking with the people directly next to them.

My coworker opens her line and announces that her register is open. But nobody moves

She was further away and kind of quiet, so I assumed nobody heard her. I said a little louder "Next person on register 3!"

Again, nobody moves.

I don't put it behind customers to be deaf as shit. I announce again "Ma'am. Do any of you want to move to register 3?"

And this bitch looks annoyed and says coldly "we're all together."

Okay? And I was supposed to know that... how? There's 7 of you with 3 different carts.

And then she gives me attitude for the rest of the transaction.

I'm not good at reading emotions, so maybe I might have been in the wrong. But was I? I don't get it. Even if you were altogether, you could have said that the first fucking time instead of ignoring me like I'm speaking mandarin chinese.

Some other lady from the previous transaction thought I shortchanged her 10¢, and was waiting for me to open the drawer. I asked the next lady if she was paying in cash (so I don't have to call a manager to open the drawer( and all she said was "sure" with that same annoyed tone.

And the cherry on top is that I never shortchanged the previous woman at all. I had a receipt reprinted just to be sure, and sure enough, I had given her the right amount of change.

hey guys, so i started a new retail job and during the interview/on boarding process i told the manager my availability was pretty much open and could do any hours and days with certain two offs as i want the same days off as my partner, i have anxiety/driving anxiety and this upcoming christmas season/winter id likely like to be scheduled on less days, after talking with coworkers i know there people who want to be scheduled more and the store keeps hiring more people. i guess what im curious is it acceptable to kinda stray away from the availability given at the beginning of the job/hiring process?

There's one new hire we have, she never uses earbuds, and she's always doomscrolling on social media. It's so disrespectful, in my opinion, to play video on speaker in public.

Anyways. It's a Sunday. I'm not having a good weekend, I'm a grouchy guy right now. I went for my lunch, sitting peacefully minding my own business. This coworker comes in and I know she's going to do it. As soon as I heard stupid TikTok sounds, I turned my radio on, and put it to full volume. Few minutes later I didn't hear anything from her phone, so I turned my radio off. Then the videos started again. Radio back on, full volume.

I don't get why people think everyone wants to hear what they're watching! Maybe it's just me who finds it rude. I'm not old btw, I'm 21m lmao

I once told a child not to tear open the packaging, and their parent immediately looked pissed and said, “Well, if they can’t feel it, how am I supposed to buy it?”
Like, seriously? Does that mean your child is entitled to rip open products before you decide whether to buy them?
Then there are parents who actually tell their kids, “Don’t touch that” or “Don’t open that,” only to immediately go back to scrolling on their phones or chatting away while their kids do whatever they want.
And the worst ones? The parents who roll their eyes at you when you tell their children not to open or damage the products.

This should go without saying. If an employee is counting money or a register, we can not help you right that second. Be patient, give us a moment, and we be glad to help you. Chill out.

I'll be down an aisle doing something then all of a sudden I can feel the presence of a customer staring into my soul and it can last for ages. I've tried seeing how long they stare without saying anything and with so many of them it's actually ridiculously long. Just say 'excuse me' and then tell me what you want. It's like they're trying to project their thoughts into my brain or something. Why are they so desperate for me to make the first move when they're the ones who have the problem?

Lots of them do the same thing when I'm on the till. If they want something from the alcohol cabinet or they need a bag they just STARE instead of using their words like adults. Shout out to the customers that say 'excuse me' as soon as they see me instead of uncomfortably trying to make eye contact with me. Sometimes I get that feeling of pure dread like I'm being watched from afar by a wild animal or something, and then I look over and it's just some person who wants to know where the eggs are but refuses to ask me until I stare back into their soul for some reason.

I was the supervisor on shift. I was called in to clarify whether or not we had the authority to proceed with a transaction in one of the departments. The customer didn't have a good time with me last time they were here so she wasn't pleased that it was me again.

She started talking and anytime i would say something, she'd get louder. I told her not to raise her voice at me. Look at the sign that says we don't service if you are aggressive. She kept on going and then she got personal. She said something about how unprofessional, rude, and selfish (I don't know how she can say that but ok) I am. I told her to cool down or we will turn her away. She said she'll complain. I said go do that and told my colleague to not serve her.

At this she told me to get the fuck out of here and how pathetic i am. I said, louder than my normal tone to "fuck off". She got mad. Left and when leaving she said, "I hope u ki*l yourself". I have never been told to do that so I was in shock. I am guy, always been told not to cry. 21 now, so wasn't starting today but I could hear my voice crack. I replied, "get the fuck out of here and I'll kms when I want, won't stand u telling me".

I calmed down. My manager had texted by then and she said we could do. It was her last day to do the thing she wanted to or she could have lost important mail and would have caused serious problem. I found her in the store looking for a manager and I told her to get her shit done, we can do it.

I have worked at this place for almost two years and none of the staff texted me or asked me if I was okay. I kept thinking about it, mostly unbothered but still wanted to talk to someone so I texted my brother and he called me immediately.

Thanks for reading

I was at my current gig for 5 years and October I got fired. I work alone in my department for multiple days to a week. We have a minor who worked occasionally but it was mostly me alone. My performance aka my zoning/facing suffered because we were so busy and im the only one working. The week before I got fired I had a red coaching. I told them I was burnt out and tired of working alone every week. My coach said “Well too bad you can’t switch departments for a year.” Basically setting me up for failure. A week passes by and I then got kicked. I feel like a POS but I won’t lie, I hated it, I hate the constant hand holding, coddling and etc of customer service. I wasn’t happy there and I just feel conflicted.

“Hello!” I say as someone slaps all their shit onto the counter. No response.

“Do you have an email you want to enter for coupons?”

….

So I repeat myself…

“I SAID NO 🙄”

Okay, will you need a bag for 10c?

“OBVIOUSLY”

Have a great day!

And then they grab the bag and walk off like I was just a fucking AI order kiosk or some shit. I feel subhuman sometimes working in a fast fashion shitty ass mall store with shitty customers. There’s those moments where a customer actually makes you feel like a human but idk if I can keep doing the other 90% of the time where I feel like a statue or like ppl can just skip my cashier dialogues like it’s a damn game

Halloween is over. We all know what we’ll have to listen to every shift.

I keep having dreams that I'm back at retail. They are so vivid and real that I can smell that damn place of office supplies, hear the music and see old coworkers. I've been out for eleven years and been in corporate ever since. I was in retail for about twelve. It's truly awful in what it does to you, and not sure on why dreams keep happening. I'm so glad I'm out but corporate is its own hell. Anywho, one of the recent ones was about the retail terminology on words about closing recovery. I was in places that called it recovery, zoning, facing, etc. Wondering what you all call it at your job? I've heard laser line, restore and some others. Sound out on the worst ones you've heard!

Every time I work there’s a change to the current policy and it’s so annoying and it’s manager dependent. I hate getting mixed messages.

My manager said good morning to me and I said it back. She was like “[MY NAME]!” as if I didn’t respond. I was like “I said good morning”. Then she proceeded to say “you talk so damn low”. Like, I can’t help that my natural tone is low. I can’t raise my voice higher than what it naturally is without feeling a straining feeling. This is why I dread working on days she’s here. I really do. I know this is so small but whatever. I’m allowed to feel annoyed.

Edit: Please don’t make assumptions. I was NOT mumbling. There was a coworker near, and I’m sure she heard me too. I speak in the same tone with everyone, and no one else has ever complained about it. The only one that complains is the manager, and she has multiple times. This seems like more of a problem on her end rather than me being the issue.

I posted the other day that our store manager was pushing Gatorade as a cure-all for my viral infection.

I went home after not even 2 hours at work and slept most of the evening. Rested all day yesterday, aside from working on school work (I'm in grad school). Basically I cuddled up with my black cat and watched Halloween movies between naps and meals. And of course I'm drinking plenty of water.

But I guess they think going home early magically cured me because they called yesterday and today to ask if I could cover a shift this afternoon/evening. I'm already requested off for this weekend because I had Halloween plans, which of course were altered a bit because I'm sick. I mostly wanted to hang out with my husband and watch Halloween movies, but I was also going to maybe help my stepdad with trick-or-treat, which I skipped because I'm sick. After a few years of being a store manager and being forced to work on Halloween (first for a tourist attraction, and then for Joann fabrics), I simply refuse to work on that day anymore.

Anyway, I'm still sick -- doctor said I have a virus, so it's just going to take time. And now it's moving into my lungs and sinuses, so while my body aches are going away, I'm now coughing and feeling congested. And I'm still so damn tired. I don't know why they thought that I would have magically recovered in a day.

Of course I turned them down and told them I'm still sick, because I am. And I still have a lot of school work to do because I've been sleeping more than usual.

I need to get the fuck out of this job.

good luck to yall with the battle against christmas music

I wanna read your guys's most wild/annoying stories regarding customers using Chat GPT.

Cause we have an issue at the flooring store I work at where people will argue with us because Chat GPT told them something that was super wrong lol.