Please don't do this while shopping...inspired by shopping pet peeves

[Good Ol Gal]

I read through the shopping pet peeves and I have some shopper pet peeves..........

(Preface: I work in the women's department of a retail store. I work VERY hard for the measly money that I get paid. I am working there so that I can stay home with my children during the day and then in the evening my dh can be home with them. )

* have your payment method ready. Other shoppers are waiting in line behind you.

* if something falls off a hanger, please pick it up

*don't leave your unwanted stuff in the dressing rooms. There is a place outside of it for you to hang it back up.

* don't let your children run around pushing the carts, crawling under the tables, through the racks. They can get hurt, or hurt someone else.

* be courteous of the other shoppers. If they're waiting in line ahead of you and a new register opens, let them go first!! (I usually go straight to the person next in line, but sometimes I feel like I'm being circled by vultures!)

* be patient if I have to go and find something from the back.. it's a big warehouse

* store credit cards.... yes it's annoying, but I am required to ask everyone. I don't want to, but I do want to keep my job. My best advice.. just say you have one, but don't want to use it today.

*Why are the tables/clothes so messy, there is not enough stock on the shelves??? I spend 80% of time cleaning out the dressing rooms! I have 3 of them to take care of and I have to fold, hang and put away EVERY SINGLE item you decide not to purchase. The other 20% is split up between actually helping customers, helping at the registers and restocking the floor.

I enjoy my job and enjoy helping the shoppers. If I say hi to you, it's because I want to, not b/c I have to. If I can help you I will...just ask

 

[Marseeya]

* store credit cards.... yes it's annoying, but I am required to ask everyone. I don't want to, but I do want to keep my job. My best advice.. just say you have one, but don't want to use it today.

I'm fine with the asking. What I'm NOT fine with is the eye roll, or the pressure, or the implications that I'm stupid for not wanting to save that 10% with my purchase right then and there. Is that necessary? (not saying you do this) Do the stores put THAT much pressure on you to get people to sign up? I won't go into Kaufmann's anymore, because two different salesladies were downright hostile with me over the cards.

I shouldn't have to lie to get pleasant service, or for them to back off when I say I'm not interested.

 

[ckay87]

Even if it's all common sense, it's good to be reminded. May I just second this...

* be courteous of the other shoppers. If they're waiting in line ahead of you and a new register opens, let them go first!! (I usually go straight to the person next in line, but sometimes I feel like I'm being circled by vultures!)

I so agree! New register opening should be for the shopper waiting in line forever. Not for the one who just strolled up and thinks he got lucky!

 

[Christine]

Do you happen to work at Kohl's?

 

[Crankyshank]

I have no problem with any of that. I actually do it.
I ask in return of salespeople that they refrain from chatting with their co-workers over a rounder which does not but block customers from accessing it and buying something because of it. Oh and please finish helping me before you drop everything to answer the phone, or at least ask if it's ok or apologize for needing to do it.

and please don't give me the eyeroll if I ask if you have my size in the back. I know you want to catch up with your co-workers about what happened on Dr Phil but it can wait a couple minutes, can't it?

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I'm fine with the asking. What I'm NOT fine with is the eye roll, or the pressure, or the implications that I'm stupid for not wanting to save that 10% with my purchase right then and there. Is that necessary? (not saying you do this) Do the stores put THAT much pressure on you to get people to sign up? I won't go into Kaufmann's anymore, because two different salesladies were downright hostile with me over the cards.

I shouldn't have to lie to get pleasant service, or for them to back off when I say I'm not interested.

When we ask, if the person say "no" we do have to tell them the benfits of having one... 10%, coupons, blah, blah, blah...

I usually just say "would you like to open one, it will save you 10% today and you'll get coupons throughout the year" If they say no.. then great!

I don't even have a card from the store I work at

I don't want to make anyone feel pressured about the stupid card, but I am required to go through the whole shabang... you never know when a secret shopper is in your line.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Do you happen to work at Kohl's?

 

[Crankyshank]

I just lie and say I all ready have a store card

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Oh and please finish helping me before you drop everything to answer the phone, or at least ask if it's ok or apologize for needing to do it.

I so agree!! They should tell you that they need to answer the phone and then tell that person to hold on, that they're helping another customer.

That annoys me too!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I just lie and say I all ready have a store card

me too

am I a bad person b/c of that? am I teaching my children to lie?? (ohh let's open that can of worms!)

 

[Marseeya]

When we ask, if the person say "no" we do have to tell them the benfits of having one... 10%, coupons, blah, blah, blah...

I usually just say "would you like to open one, it will save you 10% today and you'll get coupons throughout the year" If they say no.. then great!

I don't even have a card from the store I work at

I don't want to make anyone feel pressured about the stupid card, but I am required to go through the whole shabang... you never know when a secret shopper is in your line.

I don't even mind that kind of comment. This one woman had told me the benefits and I still said I wasn't interested and she got this really stunned look on her face and said, "But who wouldn't want to SAVE money?" and shrugged her shoulders. My big mistake was when I actually responded to that and made some remark about saving 10%, but the interest rates on the cards are almost twice that and she laid into me about how it wouldn't be a problem for someone who knew how to manage their money.

I would have left my merchandise on the counter and walked away right then and there, but it was school clothes for my DD and she really loved them. I should have found a manager, but I was just so taken aback and wanted to get out of there.

 

[mtemm]

years ago I did a stint in retail. thankfully I was in the men's dept (mens Polo). I heard horror stories about the womens depts downstairs. men were much more respectful overall when it came to bringing things out of dressing rooms. At least they, for the most part, didn't just leave stuff on the floor.

 

[Marseeya]

me too

am I a bad person b/c of that? am I teaching my children to lie?? (ohh let's open that can of worms!)

It's not that I'm a paragon of virtue when it comes to honesty but I just get stubborn and feel like I shouldn't have to lie when I'm handing over my hard earned cash! I'm the same way with the whole phone number thing. I refuse to give my number, but I have friends who will lie and give a made up number.

Now, get yourself to the bad parents thread!

 

[NMAmy]

I don't even mind that kind of comment. This one woman had told me the benefits and I still said I wasn't interested and she got this really stunned look on her face and said, "But who wouldn't want to SAVE money?" and shrugged her shoulders. My big mistake was when I actually responded to that and made some remark about saving 10%, but the interest rates on the cards are almost twice that and she laid into me about how it wouldn't be a problem for someone who knew how to manage their money.

I would have left my merchandise on the counter and walked away right then and there, but it was school clothes for my DD and she really loved them. I should have found a manager, but I was just so taken aback and wanted to get out of there.

Heavens! I'd have been asking for her manager.

I always just say I'm not interested. If someone insists, then I explain that I don't believe in credit card debt--if I can't pay for it today, we ain't getting it. I really only remember saying this once, though.

 

[Crankyshank]

me too

am I a bad person b/c of that? am I teaching my children to lie?? (ohh let's open that can of worms!)

I was fed animal crackers in the grocery store before it was paid for. I'm blaming my Mother

 

[Mom2Ashli]

* be courteous of the other shoppers. If they're waiting in line ahead of you and a new register opens, let them go first!! (I usually go straight to the person next in line, but sometimes I feel like I'm being circled by vultures!)

OMG this drives me insane. Why in the world would anyone in their right mind think they deserve to walk up and be the next in line when another lane opens instead of the people in front of them that have been standing in line waiting their turn. Unless they walk on water I say wait your turn.

Normally if I am the next in line I let the person behind me go. Because by the time I move to the open lane it would be my turn to go in the lane that I was in.

 

[luvflorida]

* be courteous of the other shoppers. If they're waiting in line ahead of you and a new register opens, let them go first!! (I usually go straight to the person next in line, but sometimes I feel like I'm being circled by vultures!)

This one happens all the time and really ticks me off. When the cashier says she'll help the NEXT person in line I think some people think she means the LAST person in line. Some people rush up to the register like they just won the lottery or something. Hello!! The rest of us were here long before you came along!!

 

[cepmom]

It's not that I'm a paragon of virtue when it comes to honesty but I just get stubborn and feel like I shouldn't have to lie when I'm handing over my hard earned cash! I'm the same way with the whole phone number thing. I refuse to give my number, but I have friends who will lie and give a made up number.

Now, get yourself to the bad parents thread!

we have to ask for phone numbers at the store I work for ~ I hate it, but I need to (again ~ you never know when a secret shopper is in your line) Most people give it out, some act offended and are rude and some make up numbers. How do I know they make up numbers? One woman was shopping with the young preschool aged son. After she gave me her number, he said "Mom ~ that's not our number. Our number is 555-123-4567"
She turn 10 different shades of red and I wanted to laugh, but tried not to show it!

 

[HappyMommy2]

we have to ask for phone numbers at the store I work for ~ I hate it, but I need to (again ~ you never know when a secret shopper is in your line) Most people give it out, some act offended and are rude and some make up numbers. How do I know they make up numbers? One woman was shopping with the young preschool aged son. After she gave me her number, he said "Mom ~ that's not our number. Our number is 555-123-4567"
She turn 10 different shades of red and I wanted to laugh, but tried not to show it!

Too funny!
I always just say "I'd rather not" when I am asked for my phone number. One time, though, I was buying a chair at Oak Express and the man said, "But I have to have your phone number to complete the sale" when I refused. He told me he really could not sell me the chair (for which I was paying cash) unless I gave my phone number. I said "sorry" and turned around to leave without the chair and then he decided he could go ahead and sell it to me. I don't know why I didn't just think of making up a fake phone number, duh!

 

[Tracey1974]

Please stay off your cel phone when you are in line or getting checked out. No one wants to hear your personal things while waiting to get out of the store!