If I had to imagine Hell, I would guess it's something like working in a shopping mall on Black Friday. Hoards of angry customers who didn’t sleep a wink pushing through displays and cutting in line only to arrive at the checkout counter and berate the innocent employees for having too little inventory in stock. If you know experiences like this all too well and you’re looking to trauma bond with fellow retail workers, allow us to introduce you to Retail Problems on Instagram.
Below, we’ve gathered some of the most hilarious (and possibly painful) memes this page has shared that perfectly encapsulate the experience of working in retail. Keep reading to also find an interview with Steve Rowland, host of The Retail Warzone podcast, and enjoy these reminders that you’re not alone in the struggles of selling jeans or electronics.
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I have a ton of these, but I will share one. Worked retail pharmacy. Woman wanted her pain pills early (this was during the huge pill mill problem in Florida). Pharmacist told her the earliest date she could get them. She starts screaming through the store, "If I die because I can't take my medicine, I will sue you!!!" The customers were openly laughing while we had to cover ours.
When I was a teenager, I assumed that working in retail would probably be one of my first jobs. Folding t-shirts, working at the mall, getting great discounts on cute clothes and helping customers choose outfits that perfectly flatter them. What’s not to love right? To my surprise, life ended up taking me in a different direction when I turned 16, and my first two jobs ended up being at a theme park and in a coffee shop, so I never got to experience that glamorous retail life. But I soon realized that I had actually dodged a major bullet, because working in retail is not for the faint of heart.
From dealing with rude and entitled customers to being on your feet for 8-hour long shifts, retail workers definitely have it rough. If something isn’t in stock, they might be yelled at. If an item purchased doesn’t work properly, they’ll have to process the return, which might also lead to yelling if the customer doesn’t have their receipt. Despite how challenging working in retail is though, it’s a massive sector. According to the National Retail Federation, “Retail supports 52 million jobs and represents $3.9 trillion of annual GDP in the United States.”
One in four American jobs is supported by retail, meaning that I’m sure many of you pandas reading this article know what it’s like to sell makeup or video games. When it comes to what makes these jobs so appealing, opportunity for growth and a chance to climb the corporate ladder may be one incentive to work in retail. According to one study, 60% of retail workers have been given a promotion, and 90% have earned raises. Almost a third of retail workers are part-time as well, which means having flexible hours might be a huge perk of working in this industry. Students, parents and those who want to combine their retail jobs with another part-time gig might be drawn to the flexibility of these careers.
For many, working in retail is also a great way to build up work experience early on in their careers. Many of these jobs don’t require any specific level of education or pre-requisites, so it can be easy to start off in retail. “71% of hiring managers say that retail provides its employees foundational skills and experience that are transferable to other industries and recommend that employees include retail experience on their resumes,” the National Retail Federation writes on their site. “80% of hiring managers state that the skills and traits that are most important to them are the same skills and traits that more than eight in 10 current retail employees say they use regularly.”
In middle europe, they cant fire you on spot unless you did something really bad (hurt people, stole etc) otherwise They have to give you 2 MONTHS notice you are fired for you to find another job. The same goes for us full workers, we have to give 2 months unless you have a deal with boss you can leave early
That song is so annoying, you hear it once and then every time after that you want to surgically remove your ear drums. Also, is it js me or do people get 100x more insufferable during the holidays?
We used to measure our shifts at the store by Paul McCartney. Our track was only on a four-hour loop.
I worked at a theme park that had their own themed songs that was also played on the radio.(because some of them were hits) It has been 15 years ago but i still turn it off when possible.
When I was in retail, the song was Barely Breathing by Duncan Sheik. Now I like the song, but at the time I was so sick of it!
My family has this one challenge where whoever around the Holiday Season can go the longest without hearing Little Drummer Boy wins $100. I work retail, my brother can listen to whatever he wants at work, my sister works are a pharmacy, and my parents work from home... We had to change that after COVID started, lol.
That is a great song to hear at parties. That's it. There is one other, that I personally detest. Simply because of the over play it receives. It seems like it's the tenth in rotation every year,second only to Mariah. " Last year I gave you my heart." There's you a little ear worm. Sing it all the way through three times to kill it or any ear worm.
I love this song and sing it at the top of my lungs whenever I hear it.
Customers hate it too. I don't know why they have to play annoying songs most people hate.
I have told my managers that if they don't immediately change the music if anything by her comes on...especially that infernal frickin' Christmas song... There will be indisdriminate violence.
To learn more about the struggles of working in retail, we reached out to Steve Rowland, host of The Retail Warzone podcast, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. First, Steve shared what inspired him to create a show about the experience of being a retail worker. “The inspiration came from being in the business over 30 years with 23 of them being a store manager,” he told Bored Panda. “When I was laid off in 2020 due to the pandemic, I had a lot of time to soul search, and I realized that I had had enough of retail and how it treats everyone, from management down to your lowest paid employee. Having been a manager that was forced, in most instances, to treat employees unfairly (due to corporate decrees), it has been my way of giving back and showing solidarity to those who bear the brunt of the abuse.”
I feel terrible unfolding clothes even when I'm sure I'll try it
Steve went on to share that it’s important to discuss the difficulties of working in retail because, “Corporations look at employees as a controllable expense rather than an essential asset. Also, with most companies adopting the ‘customer is always right’ mindset, they essentially put low wage employees on the front lines to take abuse no matter what. That has to stop, and that's why I do what I do.”
We also asked Steve if he could share some of the best and worst aspects of working in retail. “There's really not a true ‘best’ while working retail,” he told Bored Panda. “However, if you are into certain things like tech and work for Best Buy, or are into instruments and work for Guitar Center, at least you have the limited joy of being around products you are passionate about.”
I found this on YouTube, but as it turns out that phrase was never finished. It was supposed to say "The customer is always right... about to say something stupid", but the person who came up with it died of a stress related aneurysm from working in retail before they could finish it, so that's what it ended up being. (That was a joke btw)
“As for the worst? I don't think there's enough words to actualize that,” Steve shared. “Having said that, the obvious does stick out: poor wages, poor schedules, toxic management, lack of benefits for part timers, the countless amounts of customer abuse and harassment, etc… It's the same story across the board, as those are pretty universal.”
We also asked Steve what all customers need to understand about retail workers. “Retail workers are humans too and not punching bags for whatever anguish the customer is going through,” he noted. “The employees are trying to earn a living and have a life also; they are not paid to be a customer's servant and are not to be treated as such.”
Literally I have a completely different personality, even my voice changes when I'm talking to a customer. Crazy
As far as what customers can do to make retail workers’ lives easier, Steve says, “Just be kind, that's it. Treat employees like you would like to be treated. Customers would be shocked at the care they received if they would just treat employees with dignity and grace.”
But Steve does note that some people actually do enjoy working in retail. In fact, he did for many years. “The worst part is that there are people who enjoy what they do, but over time, the aforementioned practices by corporate and customers eventually rob them of their joy. The saddest part is that it does not have to be that way; it's fixable.”
I'm retired. My last job was part time as customer service for people needing local services. I started the same day with a girl that was also in the AIr Guard. The boss was a nightmare. I rode to work with her and after 2 weeks she picked me up and says I quit yesterday so I'm dropping you off. She said "I don't have to put up with that c**p in the military". During the ride I called the work place and quit.
oh yeah, karma. I had a Karen unload on me about something she bought. Kicker- i could see it was from a different chain. Let her rant and waited till a small crowd were watching then did the big "ohhhhhh geez i think i see the problem" routine. Everyone. was. Grinning.
And if any retail workers out there are currently struggling with their jobs, Steve says, “First and foremost, never be afraid to ask for help. If you do so and are treated with disrespect for trying to do your job better, that company does not deserve to have you. Secondly, retail is not easy, never has been,” he went on to note. “You become part of a marriage that will become unfaithful to you over time. Sure, you can make a career of it if you choose and if you climb the ladder it can in some instances pay very well. It's just up to the individual to really decide if retail is right for them.”
“My advice is to not get trapped and always leave your options open,” Steve says, to all retail workers. “Remember, they do not own you or your life, but they will sure make you feel like they do.”
“To any of you struggling in retail, I want you to know that you are not alone, we see you and you are MORE to us than a controllable expense,” he added. “Reach out to us anytime, we're here to help!”
If you’d like to listen to The Retail Warzone or speak to Steve and the rest of The Retail Warzone community, you can find all of their links right here!
Funny story, I got fired from a cafe for being organized and calm in stressful situations, so yeah
Are you having PTSD thinking back on your old retail days? If you currently work in retail, please know how much we appreciate you, pandas. And if you don’t, well, count your blessings. Keep upvoting the pics you find painfully relatable, regardless of what kind of job you currently have, and feel free to share the worst struggles you’ve ever encountered as a retail worker in the comments below. Then, if you’re looking for more memes that will help you bond with your fellow, weary retail workers, you can find Bored Panda’s last article featuring this same Instagram account right here!
As a nice customer, stuck behind someone in a large box store, who is arguing with the cashier about how her item was in a bin marked $4.99 and it's ringing up as $5.49, I just want to say, " Here's 50 cents. " just so I can get out of there.
Of course. Ask any soldier - the bonds formed through shared hardships are always the strongest
Guy tried to open our door past closing, found it locked, then BRACED HIS FOOT on the wall opposite and began violently yanking the door handle. It's a cup of coffee, bro. F**k off.
Yes. It's a talent indeed. My store manager and I are incredibly good at it
The maddest thing I've ever done for money was ENJOY working retail. That lasted about 6 months. Then, for the remaining 2 years of working retail, I loathed working retail XD but, mama's cats gotta eat!
It wouldn't do any good - the stupidest people have no idea they're stupid. It's a vicious circle
Note: this post originally had 95 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Dear fellow retail and hospitality workers.... I know it's hard and people are idiots but your doing a great job if you made it through the day without stabbing anyone
The other day I got stuck with a customer who would not stop talking politics. She just went on and on, and her political views were the opposite of mine so it was errgggghh. But I didnt want to be rude so I'm just nodding my head and pretending to be interested. Anyway my work colleague passed by and he could see what was happening so he went into the office and he rescued me by calling me on the radio with an "emergency" that I had to attend to straight away. God bless him.
I had a customer yesterday that after several, "have a nice day" 's continue to talk and said "let me prove god is real". (He was buying lotto tickets and saying god will help him win). I'm like ok bye, ok good luck, great have a nice day. But as soon as he wanted to prove his belief I said no religious talk and walked away quickly. Talk about feeling cornered by a crazy zealot
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I was at a store yesterday ( Sunday) . Some person had left a ham it the dry goods area. Not Cool people!!
I haaaaate how people do that. If I find a cold or frozen item dumped on a shelf outside the cold section, I always take it back to where it's supposed to be.
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I haven't worked retail in years and I hope to God I never have to go back. Some days were manageable but it's gotten so much worse. The other day, a worker at a drugstore actually thanked me for covering my mouth while sneezing. Said they had been having such issues with people coming in sick, sneezing, coughing, and all into the open air. I almost cried because I couldn't imagine how terrible it must have been for them during the pandemic.
Really, there is no reason for stores to be open 24/7 and on holidays except to feed corporate greed.
Depends . I gave worked all sorts of shifts in Healthcare and would rather shop when my body and brain are awake that have to shop during my sleep time
Load More Replies... Man, if people think retail is bad or will drive you nuts (I worked two years at the biggest electronics retailer in my country)... Wait until they work in a hospitality job based on reservations (car rental, airline, hotels, etc) where everything is always overbooked, nobody gets exactly what they reserved, their performance or even continued employment is sales-based on "upsells"... Retail is such a chill cakewalk in comparison!
I think everyone should have to work retail or other customer service job for a little while, as a high school class or something just for them to know what it's like on the other side of the counter.
Dear fellow retail and hospitality workers.... I know it's hard and people are idiots but your doing a great job if you made it through the day without stabbing anyone
The other day I got stuck with a customer who would not stop talking politics. She just went on and on, and her political views were the opposite of mine so it was errgggghh. But I didnt want to be rude so I'm just nodding my head and pretending to be interested. Anyway my work colleague passed by and he could see what was happening so he went into the office and he rescued me by calling me on the radio with an "emergency" that I had to attend to straight away. God bless him.
I had a customer yesterday that after several, "have a nice day" 's continue to talk and said "let me prove god is real". (He was buying lotto tickets and saying god will help him win). I'm like ok bye, ok good luck, great have a nice day. But as soon as he wanted to prove his belief I said no religious talk and walked away quickly. Talk about feeling cornered by a crazy zealot
Load More Replies... I was at a store yesterday ( Sunday) . Some person had left a ham it the dry goods area. Not Cool people!!
I haaaaate how people do that. If I find a cold or frozen item dumped on a shelf outside the cold section, I always take it back to where it's supposed to be.
Load More Replies... I haven't worked retail in years and I hope to God I never have to go back. Some days were manageable but it's gotten so much worse. The other day, a worker at a drugstore actually thanked me for covering my mouth while sneezing. Said they had been having such issues with people coming in sick, sneezing, coughing, and all into the open air. I almost cried because I couldn't imagine how terrible it must have been for them during the pandemic.
Really, there is no reason for stores to be open 24/7 and on holidays except to feed corporate greed.
Depends . I gave worked all sorts of shifts in Healthcare and would rather shop when my body and brain are awake that have to shop during my sleep time
Load More Replies... Man, if people think retail is bad or will drive you nuts (I worked two years at the biggest electronics retailer in my country)... Wait until they work in a hospitality job based on reservations (car rental, airline, hotels, etc) where everything is always overbooked, nobody gets exactly what they reserved, their performance or even continued employment is sales-based on "upsells"... Retail is such a chill cakewalk in comparison!
I think everyone should have to work retail or other customer service job for a little while, as a high school class or something just for them to know what it's like on the other side of the counter.
