Things You Learn From Retail

Working retail has been an overall good experience. You wouldn' t know that from the way I complain, would you?

But in all seriousness, I feel like I have benefited from working in retail. I have no problem striking up conversations with random people now. I feel it has helped my confidence and personality. I have also learned how to remain calm and put on a happy face.

I have also learned some bad things though. Like how clueless most people are. And how rude others can be. I guess I really did think that the world can't be that bad. But it is. People can sometimes get to you.

Again, I want to reiterate that I really like my job, but I always seem to have at least one story a night concerning a customer that seriously peeved me off. But I guess I am glad to an extent, at least I have interesting stories to tell.

So here are the main things I want you to learn from my experience working in the appliance department of retail.

1) For some reason, people think Food Network is the end all be all of kitchen tools. They see a certain gadget on a cooking show and have to have it.

"But Paula Dean uses a mesh strainer when she fries the ever-living daylights out of her okra!", they will yell.
"Yes, we have an excellent strainer by Hamilton Beach over here..."
"But that one's too meshy. Paula Dean's is more, ya know, more strainer-like."

Whatever that means. For the record, I really don't care for Paula Dean's products and I really hate Rachel Ray's, with the stupid signature orange handles. Blugh.

2) Please hear me out: We DO NOT carry banana peelers. The good Lord equipped you with two already. They are called your hands!

3) I have learned you can't please everyone, and that the world is very picky. We may very well have the hydrodynamic spatula with port and starboard attachments and turbo drive (LOL Spongebob fans) you are looking for at the best price you have seen, yet you will not buy it because you want to shop around. That's fair enough, but I hate that I could have been helping others out when you knew coming into the store you weren't buying today. Please tell me up front. And never say you will be back. Because no, you won't.

4) Money is very dirty.

5) And so are children. Thanks for sneezing on the cookie racks kids! And please parents, don't allow your teething baby to suck on that silicone spatula, even if you plan on buying. You have no idea that the last person who touched it dropped it on the floor and then picked it up with the same hand that just wiped their runny nose. And I am not lying one bit. Everything in retail should be sanitized daily.

6) I have learned to be more courteous to salespeople when I go into a store. Upbeat and happy people I check out in my store really put me in a good mood, and I know that other customers can be rude.

7) And there's something right there. Don't EVER be rude to the person behind the register. You know the horror stories warning you to never be an ass to your waiter because they will spit in your food? You can also read warnings about cashiers basically doing the same thing to you except, you know, with your debit card!

Granted, the culprit who wreaked havoc on your bank account can be found very quickly and easily and will be F-I-R-E-D, but that doesn't take away from the fact they were able to get your information.

And another thing. If at all possible, never pay with a check. I'm not sure of the whole story, but a guy my dad works with is a CPA and he says that he never pays for anything with a check because of the amount of personal info on that little piece of paper. Scared me to death. I never pay with check, ever.

8) Never ask my opinion of which product to buy. I will always tell you the most expensive is the best.

9) Please say "Thank you" after I show you where an item is in the store. It makes for an awkward situation because I don't know whether you still need me or not.

10) And lastly, we ask for your zip code for marketing purposes, such as where most of our customers are coming from. I, as a cashier, don't give a rats where you call home, I just need to type it in to the computer. Please do not give me a sour look and tell me no, I cannot have your zip code. Puh-lease. You are not the only one to live in that area, I swear. Also, please don't tell me that I don't need your zip code because you are just buying something. As is everyone else at the register, you dummy. And, please don't refuse and then hand me a check and your driver's license with your name, telephone number, street address, and ZIP CODE. Oh yeah, and your bank account number at the bottom of the check. Some people are real winners, let me tell you.

Just be nice to people and treat others as you want to be. Don't throw your money at me and expect me to not throw your change back at you. Everyone, including myself, sometimes forgets that the people serving us are humans too and don't appreciate being yelled at.

I almost think it should be required to work with the public at least once in your life. It changes your perception of others, for the better, mostly.

I just needed to write this post and I hope that if someone reads it and realizes they have not been so nice to those salespeople, that they will change.