First and foremost, and I think anyone who has worked in retail really agrees that the usual saying “Customer is Always Right” is absolute BULLSHIT.  I’m gonna try to keep this post short (and warn, I have a potty mouth when I’m pissed), but given I am now working at a new store since the other one closed, I’ve been out of work for two months before landing a job at a certain bedding and bath gifting shit store.  At my previous job, I did almost everything (except major decisions and deposits, other than that, kind of dealt with it even if only once in the near four years employed).  Every retail store has the usual crazy customers, rude customers, as well as nice customers.  But certain retail stores, I have to think, are getting worse.

Currently, “Customer is Always Right,” and you must drop whatever you’re doing, even if you’re told you’re on a strict timeframe, to help a customer, which 90% of the times are gonna say “Nah, just looking.”  I know when I go into a store, if I want help, I’ll ask.  It’s simple. There’s also this complete trust in customers versus employees.  Bag checks (found out, certain arts and crafts store does it too, yes, employees steal, do this, they’ll find a way to screw the company over more, or at least, they despise the company and end up not giving even more of a rat’s ass about doing their job).  It’s bad enough they may work 5 hrs and 59 min straight, now they may get patted down to check for contraband.

Adding on to “customers are the best” mantra, the magical return policy.  I think it’s a certain clothing store (I’m refusing to use names, but you may know what I’m talking about) has a disturbing return policy of allowing returns for everything (and other stores do it too, with used items, even pillows, (ew!)).  I, as a customer, refuse to shop and buy stuff from a place with a lenient return policy, simply because, depending on the type of item, it can be gross.  Most places probably discard washed merchandise, but what if, they don’t?  What if a kid with lice tried a pillow, and the mother returned it, not with a care in the world?  And the store accepted it and put it back?  I believe in a semi-strict policy, a certain number of days and must always have a receipt.  Maybe that’s just me.  Also, customers should know what fuckin size bed they have, got a Full but thought you needed a queen, wash the sheets and find out they don’t fit.  It’s not our fault you don’t know the size of your own damn bed.  We don’t sleep on it, you do.  Then you have the balls to return it.  It should be a no-can-do.  Check it on the bed before you wash it, at least.  Keep your fuckin’ receipt and keep the fuckin’ packaging.  If you have doubts, ALWAYS, keep everything.  I hate these new ways to check if someone bought something on a credit card, they should keep the receipt, we shouldn’t be expected to do everything.

There’s also what I have to think is actually breaking labor laws, when the only break is for those working at least 6 hours to get a 30-min lunch.  Meaning, work 5.5 hours, there isn’t even a 5-min break.

Most retail jobs, the hourly wages ones, are minimum wage or close to, have to deal with rude people, annoying people, assholes for bosses, be on their feet all day, walk from point A to point B constantly.  We work shitty hours (this week I had a close shift ’til 11pm then a first thing in the morning at 7:30am shift the next day), and are now, probably not even full time.  We’re the cheap able bodies on a floor, and are among the under appreciated, and I WANT OUT NOW!

I hate doing rant posts, but sometimes you got to let out a little steam.  Title may be a little misleading, I already knew this shit.