Former Retail Worker Hilariously Shows Why People Who Start Shopping Minutes Before Closing Time Are The Worst
If you ever worked in customer service, you’ve probably had your share of clients from hell. A popular YouTuber who goes by the name Domics sure did. For a while, he had worked in retail and got to know nearly every type of customer there is.
More info: YouTube
YouTuber Domics posted a video about working in retail that contains things which should be common knowledge
Now, after he has spent some time reflecting on his struggles, Domics is doing God’s work — making hilarious videos that show the public what not to do if they don’t want to piss off the entire industry.
And he has dedicated an entire series to it as well. This episode of ReTales focuses on customers who like to start shopping minutes before closing time and it’s painfully hilarious.
Domics, a.k.a Dominic Panganiban, is an internet celebrity whose work proves to be poignant, funny, and painfully relatable. Domics has 6.7 million people following him on YouTube alone and his videos have amassed over 893 million views.
Interestingly, his degree has nothing to do with animation or social media. He’s an architect. “Although I endure four grueling years of the program, I haven’t exactly pursued the career upon graduation,” Domics told Nikki Celis. “I’ve always had ‘Domics’ on the side back in the second year when I was just making silly comics as an outlet for the workload stress. By the time I graduated, I’ve gained a large enough fanbase that I had a choice on whether or not to continue to build it into something more. I then decided to learn animation and here I am today.”
Surprisingly, there are way too many people who ignore stores’ working hours
“I’ve always depended on visual arts as my outlet for emotion and inspiration,” Domics added. “I believe all artists enjoy that ability to create something out of nothing. That passion was what turned me to architecture in the first place. Architecture wasn’t only about designing abstract buildings, but to design appropriately to the human experience. I guess I’m still somewhat doing that now, but only working with my own personal experiences.”
But Domics isn’t all about creating light-hearted videos. “People often consider me the comedic type, always looking at the brighter perspective of things,” he said. “While I may agree, I must admit that it is sometimes a facade I put up for people. Sometimes I like to take a break from holding up that facade and share with people the different aspects that also make me who I am.”
And some even act surprised when they can’t get inside after closing time
There are, however, people who respect retail workers and Domics bowed to every single one of them
Domics said he feels pretty therapeutical after sharing his own personal stories with the public. “I feel it sometimes acts as an act of closure for myself. However, a lot of the personal and serious stories I share, I’ve already moved on and matured from. So when I actually share it with my audience, I don’t do so as a cry for help and advice, but rather as a rhetorical presentation of honest entertainment that’s open to interpretation.”
Image credits: omnomdomz
Watch the entire animation below
People shared their own experiences
136Kviews
Share on FacebookJust put up a sign: We close at 9. Our staf will be out at 9.01. Our Dobermans will be released at 9.02 and they are not friendly.
My dad used to work at a Kmart and had the job of saying at closing time, "We are now closing, as it is 9:00. Security, please release the hounds.
Load More Replies...I have plenty of stories, but one instance in particular that stands out is when I worked at Best Buy. People would come in about 20 minutes before the store closed, play the display games for 30-40 minutes, and the manager wouldn't kick them out after closing because "they might buy something." They never did, and I was stuck at my register until they left.
I am sometimes THAT customer. I don't want to be, but it sometimes happens. Like when I try to leave my work by taking an hour 'holiday leave'. But it happens: (lack of) work planning is ruining my private planning. So am trying to juggle work, my logistics and your store hours. I am not trying to be an a*****e, so don't immediately judge me please. (I do try to be quick and swift in the store, so everyone can home... me included.)
But usually people like you obviously hurry and are so sweet and apologetic and do what you can do get in and out as quickly as possible. I never minded you guys and would wait as long as you needed, rarely more than 5/10 minutes after close.
Load More Replies...I have so, so much respect for retail workers. I worked retail for a while and it was mostly the pits. I once had an older woman open her top and insist that I touch her bra so that I could help her find the right replacement for it. She was enraged when I refused to do it. And if there's anything that will turn you into a Grinch, it's working the holidays. Don't come in bitchin at me when you come in to do ALL your Christmas shopping in 15 minutes. And it's not like Christmas snuck up on you either. They start advertising for it in like, March.
Well, inconsiderate people exist in high numbers, and they take all chances to be inconsiderate. This also happens the other way around, too: that bakery closing at 1 pm where at noon already cleaning is under way and the cakes are successvily stored away, with anyone coming in getting an evil glance...
I hated when I worked retail and people would come BANGING on the doors demanding I open because they only needed x, y and z. Sorry I'm cashed out and if I log back on to make your purchase I will not have a job tomorrow, it would mess up floats, bank deposits and the books! There was one woman who quietly knocked once, apologized, asked nicely and was very sweet, I felt so bad I couldn't let her buy anything but since all she wanted was a chocolate bar I gave it to her and left the money for the staff when they opened in the morning
I banged on the door of hardware store once -- one of my crutches fell apart after a piece suddenly fell out and headed into the ether, never to be seen again. I waved my crippled crutch, but no dice. Oh well, I hobbled home with one functioning crutch. The next day, I came by and the folks fixed my crutch -- for free. (Reminder to self: dancing to fiddle music is not supposed to be an extreme sport)
Load More Replies...I worked in retail for 10 years. I have so many horror stories.. used feminine hygiene products left in the fitting rooms, a grown a*s man taking a p**s in the corner of the fitting rooms, the list goes on. I think the worst ever was a woman who pushed her way in as I was closing the door. As I hadn’t cashed up yet, I told her we were closed but if there was something I could help her with quickly, I would. She completely ignored me. Several times I told her we were closed and that she needed to leave, she continued to ignore me, wouldn’t even look at me. After 20 minutes I told her I was going to call security, still being polite. I tried several times to get security on the phone, but nobody was answering. By this point I’d missed the last bus home, after a ten hour day, and would need to walk for over an hour, which I told her, still no response. After 45 minutes, and after she’s made a huge s**t-house mess, she finally acknowledges me... by snapping her fingers and yelling ‘YOU! *
Same thing happens in service and hospitality. I had one really bad night where one of our waiters over-served the hell out of his last table right before closing time and then turned in his bank and left. We're the kind of place that doesn't kick you out but these guys were already over-served when those last three pitchers landed. It took them almost two hours to finish their drinks and leave. By then in was 1:50AM, I had clocked on at 11AM. I honestly don't bare any grudge for those guest that night, but I have a hell of an ax to grind for that waiter.
I think everyone should have to work behind a counter or wait tables for at least one week. It's always obvious who has never worked these kinds of jobs by the way they treat the workers. They have no idea how hard we work. I yell at my mother in grocery stores every time she changes her mind about an item and says "just put it back anywhere, they'll put it back where it belongs." She'd be fuming at me every time I walk back several aisles to put something back. I didn't care if I made her mad, I am not here to make someone's job harder.
*serving girl!!’ 😳😳😡🤬 I took her by the arm and practically threw her out the door and locked it. She pounded on the door for the next 5 minutes yelling and threatening to call head office blah blah blah. There’s a special place in hell for these sort of fuckwitts 😭
I always find this debate to be dumb. For me, if I said I close at 8 PM I close at 8 PM and take a few minutes after to close up shop. People are always finding a way to complain.
Which is a fine attitude for a customer to take... if they can ensure that they can get out by 8 PM. If they're coming in during the last 5 minutes of closing, that is not likely at all. Moreover, if you're rifling through c**p and making a mess during the last 5 minutes, you're also being disrespectful of the employees' time.
Load More Replies...Once this couple came in to the picture frame shop I worked at, ar 4:55. I explained that we close in five minutes and the guys like, “Great then we have time!” I say to them that I have a doctors appointment at 5:30, they don’t care. They stay until 5:25, say that they needed to think the purchase over, leave then I had to clean up. I get to my dr and they won’t take me but made me pay $30 for not cancelling my appointment 24 hours in advance. Then my boss won’t pay me past 5:00 and sai I should have just thrown them out!
Horrible experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Load More Replies...If you come to a car dealership with 20 minutes or less to close, do not be surprised when there is either no one available to help you or they make sure to mention right off the bat that the dealership closes in X minutes, but they'd be happy to set an appointment during the day. And look unhappy if you just want to walk the lot. You cannot buy a car in anything less than 2-3 hours, usually more.
I work in a small independently owned candy/coffee/ice cream shop in a touristy part of town. My boss (the owner of the shop) doesn't want us to put up signs of our hours as the change quite often due to different events that go on in the area for tourists and locals alike. We had been starting to close up early because an event had just started so there wasn't anyone in our shop when at 5:58, two minutes before we were supposed to close this teen girl and what seems her younger brother walk in. Now at this point, it is clear that we are closing as I emptied and cleaned the coffee/espresso machine, put away/cleaned up the ice creams, etc. But these two spent twenty minutes looking at the different candies and playing with different toys and talking to each other. We can't exactly kick them out as they may buy some things so we let them stay. In the end, they didn't buy anything and after an 8-hour shift with it being pretty busy, that ticked me off. Some people are just inconsiderate.
When I worked retail, there was always this one lady. We called her the "Lipstick Lady" as she didn't know how to apply makeup. And she would come in 5 minutes before close and would just be shopping with a buggy. The manager would announce the closing time over and over. Finally 15-20 minutes after closing she'd come check out. Price check everything, pull out all her coupons, then right before paying would back out of everything except like 2 items. So now we have to put back the 30 something items she didn't want last minute.
The only time I will go onto a store just before closing is if I desperately need a single item. I quickly grab cash out and get the hell out. I have a retail job and it’s rude AF when people wander around after we close.
I work at an urgent care where most people take at least an hour, maybe longer to get through everting (check in, triage/vitals, rooming, seeing the doctor, tests being run, results, diagnosis, etc). Nurses and doctors have been there for 12 hours at the point of 7:45pm... please don't come in at 7:55pm. Chances are, you've been sick the entire day and waited until now to come in? I love my job but it takes longer to check people in after 7:45. They have to manually be forced into the schedule.
This is the adult equivalent of when you're almost done washing the dishes and your brother adds another pile to the sink.
I work at a ship and print store and had a female customer who came in at 5:55pm, 5 minutes before closing which was at 6pm, she held us up for 10 minutes after closing hour then I had to tell her to come back on Monday, we open 8am-8pm, but we're closed for Easter Sunday, because I was about to be way past my ending shift waiting for her to be done. She threw the biggest tantrum and said that our store had a ten minute window after closing for customers, like her, and that we gave her the worse customer service ever when we did everything we could to help her but we couldn't help her print job because we are not liable to access her personal information on her device. She stormed out the shop yelling at us saying our store had a 10 min window for late customers like her then said we gave her the worse customer service but we were already off shift for that night. And no, our store does not have a 10-30 minute window nor can we go over time for an inconsiderate customer.
I used to work at a grocery store and the boss told us to lock the enter doors at 5 minutes too, which we did but we still had asshats sneak in the exit doors. and a few times we had people be there 30-45 minutes after closing and we weren't allowed to tell them to leave we just had to repeat we were closed.
Yeah, same for me. Retail for years and the worst were the ones who had to be run out on Christmas eve and couldn't figure out why.
"Show me a person with a deep, abiding loathing for all mankind and I will show you someone who works in retail." I worked retail for 10 years, I love this slogan! The only person who is worse than a retail customer is a casino patron. I worked in 2 different casinos for a total of 7 years. Don't TRY to imagine where they kept their gambling cash!
One doesn't mind the customers that spend money in your store after closing time, but the worst late-comers are those who destroy your displays, try on everything and not buy a single thing.
I distinctly remember a Christmas Eve when it 9:30 p.m. half an hour past closing some people were knocking on our gate trying to get in because they had to buy this one gift or else their Christmas would be ruined. Said sorry no I'm not allowed to let you in and they cursed and cussed and yelled and screamed and it was all very sad.
This remind me when working as paramedic on a hotel. 1,5 hours after our closing schedule, two security guards is come to bring their friend who get bleeding-stroke attack. I am proceed to bring the patient to nearest hospital.. Just a normal day for paramedic though..
That's completely different. Nobody decides to have a stroke or a heart attack, so it's only normal for doctors and paramedics to work irregular, unexpected and inhumane hours. In retail, people decide to be a disrepectful a*****e and go shopping 5 minutes before closing time. They should be a special place in hell for them.
Load More Replies...I once had a woman army roll under our shutter as we were closing, with an empty black bag, clothesline the sales shelf, proceed to dump now full black bag on to the register and ask for a discount because she was buying in bulk. This was at a (no longer in operation), shoe chain in London.
goes the same for working in the restaurant biz. the kitchen closes at 9, we close and lock the doors at 9. don't get pissy about it.
I always hated it when I worked retail and people would come up to us after the store was locked and wanted to come in because other customers hadn’t left when the store shut
Most jobs I worked in retail or phone sales were paid for set hours. You would not be paid for the extra time you had to work because of a customer turning up or phoning 5 minutes before the end of your shift. Add to that the inconvenience of having to wait another hour for the next bus as you missed the one that coincided with the end of your shift, and frankly it’s not ‘kind of their job’. The customer is abusing the business’ wish to provide good service, and stealing the employees personal time.
Load More Replies...I get very busy sometimes and I often come within the last hour of closing of our local supermarket. Knowing the time (+ being tired myself), I make sure I QUICKLY get what I need and get out as soon as I can. This post is obviously about people who simply have no concept of the world outside their own.
Load More Replies...Just put up a sign: We close at 9. Our staf will be out at 9.01. Our Dobermans will be released at 9.02 and they are not friendly.
My dad used to work at a Kmart and had the job of saying at closing time, "We are now closing, as it is 9:00. Security, please release the hounds.
Load More Replies...I have plenty of stories, but one instance in particular that stands out is when I worked at Best Buy. People would come in about 20 minutes before the store closed, play the display games for 30-40 minutes, and the manager wouldn't kick them out after closing because "they might buy something." They never did, and I was stuck at my register until they left.
I am sometimes THAT customer. I don't want to be, but it sometimes happens. Like when I try to leave my work by taking an hour 'holiday leave'. But it happens: (lack of) work planning is ruining my private planning. So am trying to juggle work, my logistics and your store hours. I am not trying to be an a*****e, so don't immediately judge me please. (I do try to be quick and swift in the store, so everyone can home... me included.)
But usually people like you obviously hurry and are so sweet and apologetic and do what you can do get in and out as quickly as possible. I never minded you guys and would wait as long as you needed, rarely more than 5/10 minutes after close.
Load More Replies...I have so, so much respect for retail workers. I worked retail for a while and it was mostly the pits. I once had an older woman open her top and insist that I touch her bra so that I could help her find the right replacement for it. She was enraged when I refused to do it. And if there's anything that will turn you into a Grinch, it's working the holidays. Don't come in bitchin at me when you come in to do ALL your Christmas shopping in 15 minutes. And it's not like Christmas snuck up on you either. They start advertising for it in like, March.
Well, inconsiderate people exist in high numbers, and they take all chances to be inconsiderate. This also happens the other way around, too: that bakery closing at 1 pm where at noon already cleaning is under way and the cakes are successvily stored away, with anyone coming in getting an evil glance...
I hated when I worked retail and people would come BANGING on the doors demanding I open because they only needed x, y and z. Sorry I'm cashed out and if I log back on to make your purchase I will not have a job tomorrow, it would mess up floats, bank deposits and the books! There was one woman who quietly knocked once, apologized, asked nicely and was very sweet, I felt so bad I couldn't let her buy anything but since all she wanted was a chocolate bar I gave it to her and left the money for the staff when they opened in the morning
I banged on the door of hardware store once -- one of my crutches fell apart after a piece suddenly fell out and headed into the ether, never to be seen again. I waved my crippled crutch, but no dice. Oh well, I hobbled home with one functioning crutch. The next day, I came by and the folks fixed my crutch -- for free. (Reminder to self: dancing to fiddle music is not supposed to be an extreme sport)
Load More Replies...I worked in retail for 10 years. I have so many horror stories.. used feminine hygiene products left in the fitting rooms, a grown a*s man taking a p**s in the corner of the fitting rooms, the list goes on. I think the worst ever was a woman who pushed her way in as I was closing the door. As I hadn’t cashed up yet, I told her we were closed but if there was something I could help her with quickly, I would. She completely ignored me. Several times I told her we were closed and that she needed to leave, she continued to ignore me, wouldn’t even look at me. After 20 minutes I told her I was going to call security, still being polite. I tried several times to get security on the phone, but nobody was answering. By this point I’d missed the last bus home, after a ten hour day, and would need to walk for over an hour, which I told her, still no response. After 45 minutes, and after she’s made a huge s**t-house mess, she finally acknowledges me... by snapping her fingers and yelling ‘YOU! *
Same thing happens in service and hospitality. I had one really bad night where one of our waiters over-served the hell out of his last table right before closing time and then turned in his bank and left. We're the kind of place that doesn't kick you out but these guys were already over-served when those last three pitchers landed. It took them almost two hours to finish their drinks and leave. By then in was 1:50AM, I had clocked on at 11AM. I honestly don't bare any grudge for those guest that night, but I have a hell of an ax to grind for that waiter.
I think everyone should have to work behind a counter or wait tables for at least one week. It's always obvious who has never worked these kinds of jobs by the way they treat the workers. They have no idea how hard we work. I yell at my mother in grocery stores every time she changes her mind about an item and says "just put it back anywhere, they'll put it back where it belongs." She'd be fuming at me every time I walk back several aisles to put something back. I didn't care if I made her mad, I am not here to make someone's job harder.
*serving girl!!’ 😳😳😡🤬 I took her by the arm and practically threw her out the door and locked it. She pounded on the door for the next 5 minutes yelling and threatening to call head office blah blah blah. There’s a special place in hell for these sort of fuckwitts 😭
I always find this debate to be dumb. For me, if I said I close at 8 PM I close at 8 PM and take a few minutes after to close up shop. People are always finding a way to complain.
Which is a fine attitude for a customer to take... if they can ensure that they can get out by 8 PM. If they're coming in during the last 5 minutes of closing, that is not likely at all. Moreover, if you're rifling through c**p and making a mess during the last 5 minutes, you're also being disrespectful of the employees' time.
Load More Replies...Once this couple came in to the picture frame shop I worked at, ar 4:55. I explained that we close in five minutes and the guys like, “Great then we have time!” I say to them that I have a doctors appointment at 5:30, they don’t care. They stay until 5:25, say that they needed to think the purchase over, leave then I had to clean up. I get to my dr and they won’t take me but made me pay $30 for not cancelling my appointment 24 hours in advance. Then my boss won’t pay me past 5:00 and sai I should have just thrown them out!
Horrible experience. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Load More Replies...If you come to a car dealership with 20 minutes or less to close, do not be surprised when there is either no one available to help you or they make sure to mention right off the bat that the dealership closes in X minutes, but they'd be happy to set an appointment during the day. And look unhappy if you just want to walk the lot. You cannot buy a car in anything less than 2-3 hours, usually more.
I work in a small independently owned candy/coffee/ice cream shop in a touristy part of town. My boss (the owner of the shop) doesn't want us to put up signs of our hours as the change quite often due to different events that go on in the area for tourists and locals alike. We had been starting to close up early because an event had just started so there wasn't anyone in our shop when at 5:58, two minutes before we were supposed to close this teen girl and what seems her younger brother walk in. Now at this point, it is clear that we are closing as I emptied and cleaned the coffee/espresso machine, put away/cleaned up the ice creams, etc. But these two spent twenty minutes looking at the different candies and playing with different toys and talking to each other. We can't exactly kick them out as they may buy some things so we let them stay. In the end, they didn't buy anything and after an 8-hour shift with it being pretty busy, that ticked me off. Some people are just inconsiderate.
When I worked retail, there was always this one lady. We called her the "Lipstick Lady" as she didn't know how to apply makeup. And she would come in 5 minutes before close and would just be shopping with a buggy. The manager would announce the closing time over and over. Finally 15-20 minutes after closing she'd come check out. Price check everything, pull out all her coupons, then right before paying would back out of everything except like 2 items. So now we have to put back the 30 something items she didn't want last minute.
The only time I will go onto a store just before closing is if I desperately need a single item. I quickly grab cash out and get the hell out. I have a retail job and it’s rude AF when people wander around after we close.
I work at an urgent care where most people take at least an hour, maybe longer to get through everting (check in, triage/vitals, rooming, seeing the doctor, tests being run, results, diagnosis, etc). Nurses and doctors have been there for 12 hours at the point of 7:45pm... please don't come in at 7:55pm. Chances are, you've been sick the entire day and waited until now to come in? I love my job but it takes longer to check people in after 7:45. They have to manually be forced into the schedule.
This is the adult equivalent of when you're almost done washing the dishes and your brother adds another pile to the sink.
I work at a ship and print store and had a female customer who came in at 5:55pm, 5 minutes before closing which was at 6pm, she held us up for 10 minutes after closing hour then I had to tell her to come back on Monday, we open 8am-8pm, but we're closed for Easter Sunday, because I was about to be way past my ending shift waiting for her to be done. She threw the biggest tantrum and said that our store had a ten minute window after closing for customers, like her, and that we gave her the worse customer service ever when we did everything we could to help her but we couldn't help her print job because we are not liable to access her personal information on her device. She stormed out the shop yelling at us saying our store had a 10 min window for late customers like her then said we gave her the worse customer service but we were already off shift for that night. And no, our store does not have a 10-30 minute window nor can we go over time for an inconsiderate customer.
I used to work at a grocery store and the boss told us to lock the enter doors at 5 minutes too, which we did but we still had asshats sneak in the exit doors. and a few times we had people be there 30-45 minutes after closing and we weren't allowed to tell them to leave we just had to repeat we were closed.
Yeah, same for me. Retail for years and the worst were the ones who had to be run out on Christmas eve and couldn't figure out why.
"Show me a person with a deep, abiding loathing for all mankind and I will show you someone who works in retail." I worked retail for 10 years, I love this slogan! The only person who is worse than a retail customer is a casino patron. I worked in 2 different casinos for a total of 7 years. Don't TRY to imagine where they kept their gambling cash!
One doesn't mind the customers that spend money in your store after closing time, but the worst late-comers are those who destroy your displays, try on everything and not buy a single thing.
I distinctly remember a Christmas Eve when it 9:30 p.m. half an hour past closing some people were knocking on our gate trying to get in because they had to buy this one gift or else their Christmas would be ruined. Said sorry no I'm not allowed to let you in and they cursed and cussed and yelled and screamed and it was all very sad.
This remind me when working as paramedic on a hotel. 1,5 hours after our closing schedule, two security guards is come to bring their friend who get bleeding-stroke attack. I am proceed to bring the patient to nearest hospital.. Just a normal day for paramedic though..
That's completely different. Nobody decides to have a stroke or a heart attack, so it's only normal for doctors and paramedics to work irregular, unexpected and inhumane hours. In retail, people decide to be a disrepectful a*****e and go shopping 5 minutes before closing time. They should be a special place in hell for them.
Load More Replies...I once had a woman army roll under our shutter as we were closing, with an empty black bag, clothesline the sales shelf, proceed to dump now full black bag on to the register and ask for a discount because she was buying in bulk. This was at a (no longer in operation), shoe chain in London.
goes the same for working in the restaurant biz. the kitchen closes at 9, we close and lock the doors at 9. don't get pissy about it.
I always hated it when I worked retail and people would come up to us after the store was locked and wanted to come in because other customers hadn’t left when the store shut
Most jobs I worked in retail or phone sales were paid for set hours. You would not be paid for the extra time you had to work because of a customer turning up or phoning 5 minutes before the end of your shift. Add to that the inconvenience of having to wait another hour for the next bus as you missed the one that coincided with the end of your shift, and frankly it’s not ‘kind of their job’. The customer is abusing the business’ wish to provide good service, and stealing the employees personal time.
Load More Replies...I get very busy sometimes and I often come within the last hour of closing of our local supermarket. Knowing the time (+ being tired myself), I make sure I QUICKLY get what I need and get out as soon as I can. This post is obviously about people who simply have no concept of the world outside their own.
Load More Replies...
145
55