A plea to all of those oblivious to the world of retail, from behind the cashwrap:
1) Store Policies: Do not scream, bitch, whine, or roll your eyes at the associate explaining store policy to you. She did not write it. Further, do not do the forementioned when speaking with that associate's manager. She did not write it, either.
2) Store Merchandise: Never blatantly throw merchandise up over a rack, under a rack, on the floor, etc. directly in front of an individual that works at the store. That is not only rude and makes us think about how messy your own home must be, but it could potentially damage the merchandise, and cause us to deal with someone else who wanted to purchase it, "except for this scratch right here".
3) Holiday Hours: If the mall is closing at 9:30, do not stroll in at 9:20. And at that, do not stroll in at 9:29. If the mall is closing at 10:00, the same respect is requested. If the people in the store shut the music off and close one of the registers down while you are in the store, LEAVE. Those same items will be in the store for you tomorrow.
4) Weekend Crowds: I had a gentleman (or should I say, unruly dickhead) tell me that he would "never come back" to our store because it was a "zoo". Sir, (or for anyone else who just doesn't seem to get this) EVERYONE AND THEIR BROTHERS MISTRESS HAVE SATURDAY OFF (except, of course, those of us in retail). Sensibly, this would mean that the mall would be more crowded on Friday nights, ALL DAY Saturday and ALL DAY Sunday. If you don't want to come in after work on a Monday to recieve better service and a calmer atmosphere, FINE. We don't want you to come back, anyway.
5) Purchasing Leather, and that magical 10% off: Leather is considered, even in it's finest condition "imperfect". It is made of animal skin (cowhide, lambskin, and pigskin) and will have scarring, and defects, just as if someone to make a coat out of you and a scar on your skin were to show. It is not steel. If you scratch it on something, or catch it on something, it WILL RIP. And no, we do not give that miserable 10% off (which you end up paying in tax, anyway) because of the fact that it is not perfect when it comes into the store. If you don't want defects, buy synthetic leather. Speaking of synthetics... WHY, WHY, WHY people would you ask me, with a look of horror and concern on your face, if the fur on the collar of the jacket is real??? My smart-ass-I-think-you're-an-idiot reply is "no, but the leather is real". "you see, my wife, she loves animals, so..." So, what, Sir, you are saying she'd rather have fake hair on her jacket, but wants all of the rest of it to be made of defenseless lamb??
6) Sweat shops and Slavery: Our leather is typically made as such... the hides of cow, lamb, and pig are sent to another country to be tanned. Tanning is the process of dying and preparing the leather for the production factory. Italian leather is leather that was tanned in Italy. Then, the leather is sent to factories and it is put together in China and Pakistan. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. I am a 19 year old college freshman looking to make enough money to live on my own and pay for school and my car. I DID NOT TELL THE COMPANY TO MAKE CHINA'S PEOPLE INTO SLAVES. But believe it or not, I get lectures from people on a daily basis.
7) Friends, Family, and Visitation: We all get busy. We all forget to call and write as we would like to. But when someone decides to "stop in and say hi" to you while you work in retail, it can sometimes be more of a curse than a blessing. Especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Obviously this is the easiest time to stop in, but it is also the most chaotic time (any time of year) and it makes it difficult for that person to talk with you. They may even seem as if they don't want to talk with you because they are flustered from a long day of servicing jerks. Please don't make it uncomfortable for yourself or the person you are visiting. Come in during the week, or call them at home. I promise, they will thank you for it.
8)Just being rude: We are not commissioned sales people although we are selling luxury items. Do not treat us like garbage for greeting you. It can be guaranteed that if you respond to my cheerful "hello!" with "I'm just looking" I will say "I'm just saying hello". I am an assistant manager of a million-dollar retail store. I work 40 hours a week and every two nice customers that I deal with have another twenty that are rude to me. I have a lot on my plate, and chances are, I really don't care about you that much. The store will get sales, whether you purchase from us or not.
Please, this Christmas season, be nice to everyone. Retail workers, food service workers, and even the girls at the supermarket ringing you out. Remember the flag that you proudly display on your vehicle the next time that you snap at someone for something that they cannot control. Remember what that flag stands for.
2) Store Merchandise: Never blatantly throw merchandise up over a rack, under a rack, on the floor, etc. directly in front of an individual that works at the store. That is not only rude and makes us think about how messy your own home must be, but it could potentially damage the merchandise, and cause us to deal with someone else who wanted to purchase it, "except for this scratch right here".
3) Holiday Hours: If the mall is closing at 9:30, do not stroll in at 9:20. And at that, do not stroll in at 9:29. If the mall is closing at 10:00, the same respect is requested. If the people in the store shut the music off and close one of the registers down while you are in the store, LEAVE. Those same items will be in the store for you tomorrow.
4) Weekend Crowds: I had a gentleman (or should I say, unruly dickhead) tell me that he would "never come back" to our store because it was a "zoo". Sir, (or for anyone else who just doesn't seem to get this) EVERYONE AND THEIR BROTHERS MISTRESS HAVE SATURDAY OFF (except, of course, those of us in retail). Sensibly, this would mean that the mall would be more crowded on Friday nights, ALL DAY Saturday and ALL DAY Sunday. If you don't want to come in after work on a Monday to recieve better service and a calmer atmosphere, FINE. We don't want you to come back, anyway.
5) Purchasing Leather, and that magical 10% off: Leather is considered, even in it's finest condition "imperfect". It is made of animal skin (cowhide, lambskin, and pigskin) and will have scarring, and defects, just as if someone to make a coat out of you and a scar on your skin were to show. It is not steel. If you scratch it on something, or catch it on something, it WILL RIP. And no, we do not give that miserable 10% off (which you end up paying in tax, anyway) because of the fact that it is not perfect when it comes into the store. If you don't want defects, buy synthetic leather. Speaking of synthetics... WHY, WHY, WHY people would you ask me, with a look of horror and concern on your face, if the fur on the collar of the jacket is real??? My smart-ass-I-think-you're-an-idiot reply is "no, but the leather is real". "you see, my wife, she loves animals, so..." So, what, Sir, you are saying she'd rather have fake hair on her jacket, but wants all of the rest of it to be made of defenseless lamb??
6) Sweat shops and Slavery: Our leather is typically made as such... the hides of cow, lamb, and pig are sent to another country to be tanned. Tanning is the process of dying and preparing the leather for the production factory. Italian leather is leather that was tanned in Italy. Then, the leather is sent to factories and it is put together in China and Pakistan. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. I am a 19 year old college freshman looking to make enough money to live on my own and pay for school and my car. I DID NOT TELL THE COMPANY TO MAKE CHINA'S PEOPLE INTO SLAVES. But believe it or not, I get lectures from people on a daily basis.
7) Friends, Family, and Visitation: We all get busy. We all forget to call and write as we would like to. But when someone decides to "stop in and say hi" to you while you work in retail, it can sometimes be more of a curse than a blessing. Especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Obviously this is the easiest time to stop in, but it is also the most chaotic time (any time of year) and it makes it difficult for that person to talk with you. They may even seem as if they don't want to talk with you because they are flustered from a long day of servicing jerks. Please don't make it uncomfortable for yourself or the person you are visiting. Come in during the week, or call them at home. I promise, they will thank you for it.
8)Just being rude: We are not commissioned sales people although we are selling luxury items. Do not treat us like garbage for greeting you. It can be guaranteed that if you respond to my cheerful "hello!" with "I'm just looking" I will say "I'm just saying hello". I am an assistant manager of a million-dollar retail store. I work 40 hours a week and every two nice customers that I deal with have another twenty that are rude to me. I have a lot on my plate, and chances are, I really don't care about you that much. The store will get sales, whether you purchase from us or not.
Please, this Christmas season, be nice to everyone. Retail workers, food service workers, and even the girls at the supermarket ringing you out. Remember the flag that you proudly display on your vehicle the next time that you snap at someone for something that they cannot control. Remember what that flag stands for.