Fitting Room etiquette

[Kteacher]

I recently switched departments at my p/t job from the jewelry area to the women's clothing area. This is a large national dept. store. There are 2 large racks for people to place the items they do not want at the exit to the fitting room, however I am amazed at how few people use the racks, let alone pick up the clothes they have just tried on. The majority of people using the fitting rooms leave the clothes in a heap on the floor of the fitting room There are chairs inside the fitting rooms, so if someone didn't want to bother with rehanging their items they could simply place them on the chairs, but most people just leave the clothes on the floor in piles- inside out usually. Maybe it's just because I've worked in retail for so long, but I would never do this.

 

[Serena]

Oh man I know what you mean. And the junior dep is the worst. I cannot believe the people just leave the clothes on the floor where they take them off. If we're lucky they'll put them back on the hanger and leave them there, we rarely have anyone actually bring it out and hang it up at the register. That's too much work I guess.

I used to not have to worry about this too much. Only if I wanted to help someone and I wasn't busy. But now they've rearranged the areas in the store and there are a set of fitting rooms that I will have to help with. That was the only thing I didn't miss when I went to an area with no clothes. lol

 

[ericamanda01]

I worked in a big department store in high school in the fitting room. OMG it was a nightmare. So now 15 years later I return my items to the section of the store that I got them. I feel so bad for those that have to work in that area of the stores. And people are gross I mean to just throw new clothes on the floor. Come on! To this day I can't stand to see a pile of clothes on the floor. DH will never understand, but at least he puts his clothes in the hamper.

 

[Kae]

I always use the racks. In high school I had friends who work at a large dept store & they said it was easier for them if people used the racks. that way the clothes got put back were they belonged. but I know what you mean sometimes you do not know if a fitting room is being used because of all the clothes people leave in them.

Kae

 

[mtblujeans]

I've walked into a Shopko store dressing room to try something on and there were clothes all over the floor in each dressing room. I've walked into Penney's and Herberger's dressing rooms and they were completely clean and orderly. Would it be the age of the people trying on the clothing that decides if they will pick up after themselves or not?

 

[Serena]

Nope, through the last couple years I've worked in every department at one time or another. It's everyone, the younger girls are worse, but it's everyone.

 

[DebbieB]

If the rack where I got the clothes is nearby, I just return them to their rack. I hate it when there are clothes all over the dressing room. I usually look around, maybe something I want is in there!

 

[Poohnatic]

First retail job I had was in the children's department at Gimbels. OMG, the girls fitting room (2 stalls) would get TRASHED. I really wanted to ask the parents if they realized what a bad example they were setting for their girls. The boys fitting rooms, while used just as much would not be messy.

I've worked for all different retailers over the years-women are far messier than men. I will rehang and put back whatever I have tried on in its original home.

A lot of times, I just wonder if the same parents that allow their kids to trash the store/fitting room, yell at them for making the same mess at home. Wish I could say "Gee, if you let them mess my store, then they don't think it's wrong to do at home!"

Suzanne

 

[manhattan]

I too take the clothes back to where I got them. I guess its from my years of working retail. And it really doesn't matter the age or social status. I worked at a local store, and have worked at Saks Fifth Avenue on the couture floor, and guess what? They were all the same. And now I have seen people do it on the sales floor. Last night I went to the Gap to buy my DD a pair of jeans, and there were these young 20ish girls shopping in the girls department (can't believe how skinny they are!) and they would pick something that was folded, open it, and drop it to the floor! I was shocked!! I teach my kids to put their clothes back on the hangers, I would definitely reprimand them if they threw them on the floor.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

If the stores had people handing out the numbers that correspond to the items you are taking in, like some of the places I shop, when that person comes out of the fitting room with nothing and a ticket that had "3" on it, why isn't that worker questioning where the 3 items are? They should make the person go back into the fitting room and bring those items out.

 

[RitaZ.]

I can't understand it either. To me it's a matter of courtesy, leave the clothes in the same manner they were before you tried them on.

Last time I was at Macy's, the fitting room that I went in was a mess, the clothes were in a pile on the floor, a couple of thongs rolled up inside out on the floor

 

[Serena]

If the stores had people handing out the numbers that correspond to the items you are taking in, like some of the places I shop, when that person comes out of the fitting room with nothing and a ticket that had "3" on it, why isn't that worker questioning where the 3 items are? They should make the person go back into the fitting room and bring those items out.

Sharon, where I work they don't do that. They just go into the fitting room. We have a sign saying how many items they can take in, but we are not allowed to ask or demand anything from a customer.

 

[Poohnatic]

Sharon, most places don't do that because they don't want to pay the salary of a person to do just that...not important enough. They expect the salespeople to clean up and sell at the same time.

Suzanne

 

[Disney Ella]

I see it all the time in dressing rooms. I always put things back on the rack and if there isn't a rack, I put them back where I got them.

 

[minniemick]

In the UK we are given a disc stating how many items we are taking to the changing rooms, you can usually only take four items with you and it is then checked when you come out so there is no way you can leave them in the changing rooms.

 

[Serena]

Thank you very much to all the people who do hang them back up or put them back where they belong. You make my job so much easier.

 

[Serena]

In the UK we are given a disc stating how many items we are taking to the changing rooms, you can usually only take four items with you and it is then checked when you come out so there is no way you can leave them in the changing rooms.

Some places are like that here, but not the store I work in.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

I always take my clothes back where I got them from if they didn't fit or I didn't like it after putting it on. I have never used the rack that is outside the fitting room. Figure why should someone have to put something back that I took off the rack when I am perfectly able to do it myself.
There have been plenty of times where I have come out of the fitting room and a lady is standing there by the rack. When asked about any clothes that I want returned to the rack I tell them I can do it. They always seemed surprised that I am actully going to return the clothes myself. From what I have read guess they are not use to that. 99% of the time they tell me I don't have to, I can just leave them on the rack there in the fitting room and it's their job to return them to the sales floor. But to this day I would much rather return the clothes myself.

Edited to add.....Since reading this thread, when I am looking for something and can't find my size, I will now start going to the fitting room and seeing if it's laying in a pile on the floor. I can understand why stores get upset about this, they are loosing money. If I can't find my size I just leave it at the store doesn't have it. Now they just might have my size, but it's laying in a pile in the fitting room cause of lazy people.

 

[eeyore kelly]

I work at a Children's store, and I am always amazed at the parents (mostly mothers) and they way they leave the dressing rooms. They are teaching their kids bad manners and how to irresponsible.

 

[disykat]

I love it when there is a rack to return them to! Usually there isn't one so I return them to where I got them - unless I can't get them buttoned etc. properly, in which case I hand them to a clerk at the checkout area.