ADVERTISEMENT

If there's one thing working in retail has taught me, it's that people can be much bigger jerks than I ever imagined. But maybe you understood that from our list of the worst client stories alone. I'd say it illustrates the absurd side of the industry pretty well!

But not every interaction by the counter is unbearable. Every once in a while, when you least expect it, someone comes up and restores your faith in humanity. Even though you swore to your friends that you've become a misanthrope. And there's one Twitter thread that proves it beautifully.

Created by Jenny from Washington, DC, it has people sharing feel-good memories about the times they went the extra mile for a customer just because they didn't treat them like garbage. Continue scrolling and check them out!

You could argue that mutual understanding between employees and customers is now more important than ever. According to a new survey from Zipline, pandemic stresses continue to take a toll on American retail workers, with 48% of them saying they've considered quitting their job in the past year, and 64% saying they're seeing more aggression from customers.

The survey of 512 full-time, in-store retail associates, fielded in November and December 2021, also discovered that the share of retail workers eyeing the exit door has grown: in Zipline's previous workers' survey, conducted last spring, around 41% of respondents said they had thought about leaving their job.

#3

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

zemthings Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathrynbaylis_1 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back in the day when I worked retail, if someone was really nice and I wanted to give them a discount like that, I’d do the old “are you SURE?” thing accompanied by a very knowing eyebrows raised look, trying to send them the message that the correct answer is “why yes, yes I am”, so I could give them a better deal. But if my manager wasn’t around and there was no line behind them, I’d say something like the OP did and give them the discount.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

GeeScoops Report

Add photo comments
POST
saragregory0508 avatar
NsG
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A feel good story disguising the fact that this woman shouldn't have been in a position to have to choose. Unless her food consisted of caviar and imported camembert.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Among those who told Zipline this time around that they had thought about quitting, more than half said they were considering leaving the industry altogether. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Greater confidence in their job prospects is probably a big reason for some of those plans: 4.5% of retail workers quit their job in December—up from 3.1% who quit in December 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report.

#6

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

ErroneousLong Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine being a jerk and calling the police on someone who already is down on their luck.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

And it shows. Retailers had more than 1 million job openings at the end of 2021 but hired just 861,000 workers in December, and that demand for labor has pushed up wages, with leading companies such as Walmart, Amazon, and SpartanNash saying in their latest earnings calls that rising labor costs have pressured margins.

So it's a good time for everyone in the market looking for a job change. But for retailers themselves, results of Zipline's survey point to potential risks that might warrant revisiting their workforce retention efforts. 

#9

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

shhjustjayy Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathrynbaylis_1 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Several times over the years, I’ve “dropped” paper money close to where someone in that predicament is standing, then picked it up and said they’d dropped it. I love convincing them they must’ve forgotten it was in their pocket, then seeing them realize they actually can afford their groceries after all. They always look so relieved and happy. I was poor when I was first on my own, so I know it’s humiliating to have to out food back when you’re at the checkout. I can’t tell you how many times I wished I had some forgotten money on my pocket. Once I actually did, and it was enough to pay for everything. That’s how I came up with the “dropped” money thing to help people who are struggling just like I used to, without embarrassing them.

sanityisnotproven avatar
Damitria
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My 25 yr old daughter who is a functioning autistic likes to go to the grocery store across the street. It makes her feel independent and gives her alone time she needs. A couple of times she didn't have enough money to cover her purchases and was going to put something back when the customer behind her paid for her purchases so she didn't have to do that. A little thing but it meant so much to her and me too. I bless those kind ladies and hope sweet karma finds them and delivers ten fold what they did for her.

heikej_m avatar
Heike J.M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gosh this one made me cry, you definitely restored my hope in humanity

ycribb89 avatar
Yvette Cribb
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idk... sometimes I tell my kids I don't have the money for something I don't want them to have...

turnbull50 avatar
Thomas Turnbull
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your really caring doing without to help some one worse of than you.

jaredxhito0922 avatar
Roberto Rojas Balarezo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

last easter after i stopped at a super to purchase some chocolate bunnies for my kids there was this really great discount only with the store credit card which i didn´t have, i asked a lady if she had one, she said yes and asked to pay for the chocolate, i reached for my wallet and didn´t have enough cash to reimburse this nice lady, so i told her to wait a minute while i rushed to the atm but she told me no need for that, that i was a good father and my kids will be so happy with their candy bunnies, god blessed that lady

juliah_3 avatar
Julia H
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are amazing. So many would not sacrifice as you did

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

SaundraDee7 Report

Add photo comments
POST
emmareads2004 avatar
Xīngxīng Emmersyn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎶Sir, I want to buy these knives for my mama, please It's Christmas Eve and these knives are just right for her🎶

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

chelsiesparks Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something that will not happen if you think that it's your royal right to be rude to servers because "Customer Is King".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Zipline's latest findings also reveal that:

  • 40% of full-time retail associates reported worsening mental health in the past year;
  • 48% said they had experienced or witnessed a verbally abusive customer;
  • 48% said they feel they have management's full support if and when a customer becomes verbally abusive;
  • Of the 32% of full-time retail workers who say they have an additional source of income, 43% say they have a nonretail job, and 11% said they have another job in retail—creating demands on time that may keep some interested employees from taking advantage of continuing-education or career-development opportunities that their primary retail employer offers.
#13

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

JjongsLeftSock Report

Add photo comments
POST
lillymack avatar
Lukas-not-Luca (he/him)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me sad- you know they were risking their job to help... this should be the norm, not throwing away perfectly good food...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

goin2thechateau Report

Add photo comments
POST
txt_islove avatar
Buttercup
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the main reasons I want to become rich is to give it back to people who need it the most.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"If there is one main takeaway from our survey it is this: mental health is declining as burnout increases at a rate we've never seen," Zipline said in a blog post. "It's a problem that, left unchecked, shows no signs of abating ... More disturbing still, more than half of all retail associates surveyed said that their mental health was either not a concern to their manager or that their manager was harmful to their mental well-being."

ADVERTISEMENT

No wonder so many of the respondents are serious about quitting their job. They feel abandoned.

#17

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

Ljtnelson Report

Add photo comments
POST
carlosjose1995 avatar
Jose Antonio
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something that should be known and may be helpful to others. alot of places like walmart and such will give you some syringe's for free(without needles of course) if you just ask them politely.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

starrynightokki Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teachers having to buy school supplies out of their own pocket. In other news: College teams pay $500 million in dead money to coaches to not coach anymore.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda

To fix the grim situation on the floor of retail stores across the United States, Zipline said managers should:

1. Be proactive about creating mental health infrastructure: sixty percent of the associates surveyed reported that their employer either didn’t have a mental health program in place or they weren’t aware if such a program existed;

2. Offer paid mental health days (at least): More than half of retail associates said the service they want most from their employer was paid mental health days with counseling and therapy coming in second place (18%) and paid gym memberships right behind (17%);

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

Agirlnamedandy Report

Add photo comments
POST
suzannegannon avatar
Suzanne Gannon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not nice to people because it pays to be nice, but it *is* a lovely perk.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

cheshirecatcruz Report

Add photo comments
POST

3. Increase pay: increasing an employee’s pay can lessen or eliminate the pressure to take on a second job. This not only increases employees’ dedication to their company, it also gives them more time to relax and take care of themselves, which translates into improved mental well-being;

4. Demonstrate support for employees: the survey found that 64% of retail employees had noticed an uptick in verbally aggressive or confrontational customers during the pandemic, but fewer than half of the respondents felt they had their manager’s support during these interactions;

#25

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

cowliker3 Report

Add photo comments
POST
wesleylucas avatar
Wesley Lucas
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my god, I would marry this woman. I knit professionally and as a hobby so my yarn costs are through the roof! Those handmade sweaters, socks, scarves not only take a LOT of time to make by hand but often also cost way more than an equivalent item at the store because of the costs of quality yarn. Cheap acrylic stuff is usually anywhere from $2-7 per ball and the good stuff can cost anywhere from $9 to $300, depending on the fiber and size.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

emerszi Report

#27

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

_babytweety Report

Add photo comments
POST
stephaniepeth11 avatar
Stephaniep
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went to dunkin once really craving some munchkins, ordered a dozen and the lady says "it's almost closing time can I give you 50 for the price of a dozen". That was a great day.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

_Kyiaaaaa Report

Add photo comments
POST
brittney_little avatar
Brittney Gordon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope when she presented the total, she totally did the Vanna White hand gesture!

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda

5. Acknowledge contributions: fewer than half of the survey respondents felt that their managers frequently acknowledged their hard work. Managers should make a point to show appreciation for their employees’ contributions to the team to build morale and boost job satisfaction.

Of course, there's no quick fix. But if these strategies were implemented, chances are, the employees wouldn't have to rely on customers to enjoy their work!

#29

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

yellzyah Report

Add photo comments
POST
de-pieter-baan avatar
User# 6
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nah, you should be nice to customer service workers because they're people doing their job.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Employees-Pulled-Through-For-Customers-That-Didnt-Act-Like-Karens

paigeybabybear Report

Add photo comments
POST
marthab_higgins avatar
Martha B. Higgins
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jo Choto: Because the post is poorly put, I would presume. The sweater HAD belonged to an employee's great grandparents (who presumably are dead).

View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.