I've spent two years in the SCC Bookstore, my older brother worked around three years at Target and a toy store, and my best friend works at Michaels. Each of us has come to a conclusion regarding customers; the majority are nice and cordial, but there's a portion that are downright abusive to retail employees; just one in 20 that will walk in and treat the employees like rugs. Maybe these customers think, since they're spending money, they have a right to be rude or abusive, or that the employees should wait on them hand and foot; it's inexplicable.
So, for the benefit of everyone, I'm going to present a list of things that generally will annoy most employees at a retail store. To most, it'll simply be ways to avoid being "that kind" of customer.
The Cell Phone: Nothing will perturb your average cashier more than when customers are talking on their cell phone when they're trying to ring their purchase up. When they're on a cell phone, they're distracted, and if they give the cashier the wrong amount the cashier has to interrupt the phone call (which perturbs the customer, of course!) to let them know. On the flip side, if the cashier accidentally gives you the wrong change, you're probably not going to notice since you're talking incessantly and tend to just jam the change in your pocket. It's just rude; how would you feel if you were trying to help someone, but they were on the cell phone chatting about the freaky weather or some random subject? The easiest solution is one of two things; tell the person to wait while you check out, or end the conversation before you get to the register.
Help Me, Not Them: This one is based on pure arrogance; it has to be. Why one person should be helped over another is beyond me, but some people think that way! Here's the deal; there are only so many employees on the retail floor at any given time. If they're busy helping someone, you're going to have to wait your turn. There's no use in getting indignant about it, you're just not as important because you weren't there first, but the employee will get to you when they get the time. Just be patient.
"Why Is This So Expensive?": This one I constantly get concerning textbooks (though it's not exclusive to the bookstore by any means) and I feel for you, my fellow students. There are things that will be cheaper at one place and more expensive at another; that's just how it works. Sometimes it's pretty outrageous, I admit, but the fact is employees have no influence over the price of any item; that's the job of the higher-ups in the retail food chain! Asking an average employee in an accusatory or hostile tone why something is so expensive is pretty futile; either they'll explain basic economics to you or they simply won't know, and why would they? They're there to help customers, run the registers, stock the shelves, all the stuff that doesn't involve setting the price of any given thing. If you really want to know, it's best to ask a higher-up.
"I Want My Money Back.": Your average return policy is 30 days from purchase, and it will require that you keep the receipt. Simple enough, yet there are people that come back with items wanting a refund without a receipt or outside the return period. The employees are sorry that your item broke 31 days after purchase or that you lost your receipt, but one of those is your fault, maybe even both. Nothing will make that Return Desk employee sigh in depression more than someone throwing a fuss over being outside the refund period.
The register as your cart: Every store has carts or baskets that can be used to put purchases in, but there are still people who would rather take each item and put them at the register, only to go back and continue shopping. I don't know if people have noticed, but check-out counters aren't the biggest spots in the store and every shopper has to go there. When you put something up there, cashiers would prefer it be so they can ring it up rather than just leaving it there, because they still have to scan other customers' purchases. This could lead to that set-aside item being accidentally scanned into someone else's purchase, bagged with someone else's stuff, or just simply getting in the way. Also, what if you forget about it up there while you continue shopping, then decide you don't need anything and walk out? Someone will have to put it back, and while most employees don't mind, it will still be taking up room at the register. Please, use the baskets and carts.
Please remember these four things when you're at a store, and maybe you won't be remembered by the employees as that jerk or wench who treated them like crap. Maybe you'll be remembered as the nice customer they wish they got more. Or maybe they'll still think you're a wench or jerk. Some employees are silly like that. You can't win them all, you know.
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