I take it you've worked in retail too? I think of it as a way to measure my own mental strength: if I can survive the kind of customers and clients you inevitably get in retail with my mind somewhat intact, there are few things I won't be able to do. I've also found that the patience and will power required to deal with certain types of customers rivals that of a samurai.
I think everyone should be made to work for a year either in retail or at a petrol station, regardless of their chosen career path. Maybe that way some people would realise that not everyone works flexi-time, gets to go home for dinner with the family at 16.00 every day, and that just because someone is screaming in your face, it won't make the thing they're screaming about magically appear in stock.
The screaming thing is the worst. Like people can't comprehend that it's not your fault that a thing is out of stock...That kind of behaviour totally boggles the mind.
I worked for two years in a hardware store (erk). By the end I was beginning to visualise myself violently murdering customers with power tools.
I thank my father's Military Stoicism for my ability to handle the screaming thing. People who are screaming like that tend to find people who stoically looks at them, just looks, until they quiet down, very, very unnerving. Works like a charm, especially with a raised eyebrow and a well timed comment about what is and isn't appropriate behaviour in Nursery School, and therefore not in my workplace (I'm aware the rules for what employees can and can't say/do in these situations vary from place to place, but I've never been told off for how I handle the issue). I have also screamed back and then feigned innosence ('Oh, I'm sorry, I thought that's how you preferred being spoken to, seeing as that's how you spoke to me'). That was highly satisfying.
Excellent work, lol. I always kind of favoured the, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you worked here..." Or just standing there, still and quiet, while they finish their rant and get their shit back together.
And I love that your father's Military Stoicism gets capitals. Love it.
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I think everyone should be made to work for a year either in retail or at a petrol station, regardless of their chosen career path. Maybe that way some people would realise that not everyone works flexi-time, gets to go home for dinner with the family at 16.00 every day, and that just because someone is screaming in your face, it won't make the thing they're screaming about magically appear in stock.
The Lady 529
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I worked for two years in a hardware store (erk). By the end I was beginning to visualise myself violently murdering customers with power tools.
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The Lady 529
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And I love that your father's Military Stoicism gets capitals. Love it.
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