30 Retail Employees Share The Things That Customers Do That They Can Never Forgive
If you want to know your limit to the amount of nonsense you can tolerate, just get a job in retail. From intense and long shifts to poor management, it gives you plenty of reasons to sigh and roll your eyes. But it's probably the customers that generate the most fury.
The subreddits 'Target' and 'Trader Joe's' unite many of the chains' employees, providing a well-needed space for venting. But scroll through their content and you'll see that these people would be a lot happier if it weren't for us barbarians burdening them with our ignorance, pettiness, and nastiness.
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No Excuses
Old But Gold
*while the kids play the game of how high they can reach to pull everything off the shelves*
We reached out to both subreddits' mods and the folks behind 'Target' were kind enough to reply. "[Our] community is great," they told Bored Panda. "It's like one big, giant, friendly breakroom where Team Members can feel the same relief they do when they enter the physical break room. The community is almost exclusively Target Team Members."
Because everyone is so tight-knit, they don't have to do much "policing" too. "All the mods on the team are volunteers and have lives, jobs, families, and other responsibilities. The automod BullseyeBot is helpful to keep some simple tasks complete," they explained. "The most common problem is spam or other trolling comments. We try to be pretty hands off but when comments are threatening, harassing, etc. we step in and remove them and potentially ban the user."
Every Single Sign In The Store
Facts!
When the store would have been closed, the same person would ask: "Why don't y'all work on Holidays???"
Workers Have Spoken
The mods of 'Target' think the biggest complaints the Team Members have about their job is low pay coupled with the high expectations of their work but there are other cyclical problems too.
"This time of year, you'll find complaints about not being given a day off or being scheduled too much, and then early in the calendar year, you'll see complaints about low hours," they said.
When asked about customers, the mods said that what really grinds employees' gears is when they put unwanted items back in random spots in the store and also when they leave trash in random places like on shelves or in carts.
Gotta Love It
Got their free ticket to heaven, time to go make someone else’s life hell
Thought This Would Fit Here
Me Staring At The Customer Who Just Came Within 12 Inches Of Me With No Mask On To Ask If We Sell Covid Tests
Getting Into The Holiday Spirit
According to its new survey, Mercer said 48 percent of retail and hospitality workers are looking to leave their jobs. And of those polled making less than $30,000 a year, 58 percent said they have their eyes on the door.
While some are considering career changes, many are stuck in low-paying jobs with few benefits or avenues to advance.
And while retail workers say their jobs keep them socially connected and mentally stimulated, researchers at Mercer noted that “the drawbacks outweigh the benefits for them right now. They find the work chaotic, overwhelming, and unfulfilling on a daily basis."
Happens Almost Every Shift
The mask is a BLESSING! Now a days i feel insecure and paranoid and anxious without it. Imm keeping the mask on forever. Introvert paradise
An 8 Year Old Kid Can Destroy An Aisle With More Speed And Efficiency Than A Category 5 Hurricane
Every Time
Raise Your Hand If You “Ruined A Christmas” Because You Didn’t Have Some Popular Item In Stock The Day Before Christmas
Aside from not feeling supported, valued, or heard, respondents said that "they are exhausted by repetitive and physically demanding jobs."
The researchers also highlighted that many retail and hospitality jobs "are customer-facing, and employees have to be always 'on' and cheerful, even while customers are increasingly negative and demanding, taking out their frustration over supply shortages, price increases, under-resourcing and/or dissatisfaction with health and safety policies."
Which we can clearly see in the subreddits' posts.
Absolutely Hate People That Abandon Carts With Food
It’s Called Etiquette
Target Employees Hate When You Think Your Tiny Car Can Fit The Biggest TV On Planet Earth
Ikea is a great place for watching this, when they buy a wardrobe, drawers, coffee table, bookcase and a TV stand and try to fit them in the back of a VW Golf/Rabbit while having brought their 3 children, usually Tarquin, Placenta and Quinoa
Ah Yes, Those Guests That Tell You Their Whole Life Story After You Told Them In What Aisle The Item They're Looking For Is At
When those polled were asked what would best support their mental health and ease burnout, retail and hospitality employees prioritized a reduced workload and flexible work schedule.
According to the researchers, this “is a key area employers need to act on to improve retention — especially because they cannot financially afford a further change in pay."
To give the data more context, Mercer added that hospitality and retail workers "didn't get to stay home during the pandemic — some were laid off, and the rest went to work, wore masks, installed glass barriers, and kept the consumer economy afloat.”
Then, at the end of 2021, the industry was hit with supply chain issues and labor shortages, followed by the war in Ukraine and now, inflation.
And it's inflation that continues to take its huge toll. Mercer discovered that any money the workers had stashed away is now being used for food and rent as well as unplanned expenses. When asked about their top concerns, financial security was a prominent theme of those polled.
Coworker Found This Hidden In The Wine Section…. Yes Those Are Bite Marks
Actual Guest Interaction Today
Same Feeling When My Weekday Closing Lead Says “Have A Good Weekend Team” Over The Walkie On Friday Night
NOTHING spoils Friday as much as someone telling you it's Wednesday..
I'm Dead
The report also stressed other concerns, which included better balancing of work and life; being able to retire, and maintaining emotional and mental health. Personal fulfillment, debt, and personal safety were other factors that made the list.
Action items that companies can do to mitigate some of these issues and maintain employee retention include offering competitive pay rates, offering wellness resources and working with employees on “designing a career” and other career development efforts.
Additionally, we, the customers, can do a lot better, too.
A Guest Decided To Have Breakfast In Our Paper Aisle. Worst Part Is They Used Chocolate Milk
Is It Me Or Are Guests, Target (Things In General), Getting Worse
How dare you close the store at closing time? Didn't you know I'll be arriving too late??
Yea Cus It’s Our Fault U Came In Less Than An Hour Before Closing
Stores like this always give multiple countdown warnings on how many minutes till the store is going to close. So with 45 minutes to shop and then presumably closing warnings at 15 minutes etc this guy and his wife just ignore and keep shopping? Then have the audacity to complain? What is wrong with people?
Right? I had to read that drivel 3 times until I realised it was courtesy
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10-15 minutes... "curiosity"? Ohhh, you mean COURTESY. Yes, please, do have some. For employees.
"we felt like we were being kicked out" no s**t sherlock, you dont say
Stores like Target and Walmart are very picky about employee clocking in and out at their scheduled work time. I think it is to do with overtime. The staff are not the A**holes it's that the company/ HR raises holy heck if employees work overtime without consent.
This is not overtime; it's entitlement from the customer and his family.
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Sadly, it happens all the time. Want to throat punch the parents.
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The clearly marked hours on the door say 10pm. That means 10pm, not the customer's desired time to leave. When I was manager at a gas station, I had people banging on the door to get in because I was still there and should accept customers even though closing was 30 minutes ago. Or I should open 15 minutes early since I'm there and they are going to be late to work. I would just repeat the hours to them. Not my fault..
Why would you be shopping at 10pm with a 2 year old and a 9 month old? The fact that this person uses the age of their children as an excuse for him and his wife to shop after closing time is the real problem here. Ever heard of making a list so that one person can shop and the other can stay at home while the babies sleep?
Holidays are the worse. Closing time is 10 and the day before thanksgiving, knowing we are closed on thanksgiving, people show up 10 minutes before closing and want to shop a full basket. These people have had all week and more to get ready and still wan to do this...it's maddening..
I worked at Walmart before it was 24hrs. The registers would shut down automatically at 9:05pm.
That is not true for all Walmarts. I've seen people lined up to check out five minutes before closing, at our local Walmart. Plus, I can't see Walmart missing the chance to rake in those last few dollars by closing the registers almost an hour before actually closing.
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OP is an entitlement farm. I hate people like this to the depths of my soul. Stop taking people retail-hostage just because you can't shop like a normal human being.
Can you not read the signs, cûmquat?? The store closed at 10:00. You should not have come to the store if you couldn't be out within the "open" time, frame! Entitlement through and through!! BTW, I did use "that" word with insulting, slang definition, intended! No offense to all the good cumquats, out there! lol
Shopping at 22:00 with 2 small children? They should be asleep in bed
I want to know how much was on their list that they couldn't get it all in 45 mins.
I guess that family was “special”, can you say, “entitled”. Have some consideration for others!
Um...no. it doesn't work like this and your young children should be at home asleep.
Oh, and i love the ones having fits of hysteria who show up as we're locking the door and say they want One Thing and when we cave and let them in... they try to Browse! Nope. Get your thing and GO!
Why are you grocery shopping WITH TWO LITTLE KIDS at that time of night?? Idiocy.
1st of all Sir,, You are an a$$hat. So is your wife. We Close at 10:pm. You came in at 9:15 pm. It was 10:10...you had plenty of time to get your stuff BEFORE CLOSING! 2nd: it's COURTESY, not Curiosity.
A long time ago I worked for a warehouse club similar to Sam's or Costco, and we did NOT put up with this s**t. We may let you in the door at 8:59pm, but there were employees lined up at the back of the store and, at 9:00pm on the dot, they started "The Push". They basically did what OP bastard was whining about...they followed the members through the store, all the while repeating over and over that the store closed at 9:00. Staff would NOT leave an aisle until it was clear. Customers DID get pissed...management gave no f*cks. Get lost. It took another two hours for go backs, spoils, re-facing aisles and cleaning...and we weren't allowed overtime.
Lmao, you CAN absolutely kick someone out at exactly 10:00. This employee had to follow you around repeatedly telling you you need to leave and you ignored him and you still left by 10:10. Imagine if you got your curiosity time (which btw is not a thing) of 10-15 minutes by the time an employee told you to leave you wouldn’t have left for another 10-15 min on top so by 10:25-10:30 at that rate. Closing time is not negotiable, don’t be an a*****e, either be quicker if you are arriving 45 minutes before closing or go earlier. Not a hard concept. We had a customer run in literally 2 minutes before closing and was on the phone. Started browsing after we told him were closed so grab what you need quick and you gotta go. He said he made it in in time. Like wtf? That’s not how it works.
Sir, next time you're ready to leave work for the day & the boss hands you more work that will "only take 10-15min" I hope you will be just as accepting & understanding.
It was 10pm. My young coworker was about to clock out and then this late shopper asked her to find a product. I told my coworker to not get said item and to clock out, her shift was done. Customer stated that I could have let my coworker get the item. I said no her shift was done and customer could have come in earlier. She huffed and cried that she was going to complain. I ended our interaction with "of course you are".
I HATE people like this, the store hours are there for a reason. My old manager at Micheals crafts was awesome at kicking people out ASAP. She would go on the intercom at 9pm on the dot and say "we are closed, registers are closed, please leave now." I remember I had a Karen YELL in my face because she need poster board, this was at us as we were leaving the store at almost an hour after we were closed. She wanted us to reopen the store to let her in to get the board... all because she didn't know Sunday hours were shorter than the rest of the week. People can really suck.
Nobody in rush shops for 45 minutes. He just expected the employees to give him too much importance
This guy is about as good at spelling, as telling time... and, yeah, that *courtesy* period is 9:45 if they close at ten, a*****e.
I hate this. I won't even go IN a store in the last 15 min. Last half hour if it's not an emergency. Like, how would you like it if you've been counting down the minutes to go home and the store closes and some a*****e is just walking around who KNOWS the store is closed and continues to walk around and buy stuff. Even worse than retail is the restaurant biz and the customers come in with a full party to sit down and eat (and always the hardest/longest thing to make) 5 mins or less before the store closes. Even worse is the managers that allow this. Then they take their sweet time eating and even once they leave there is still a good half hour of clean up and closing to do. People are so inconsiderate.
And management then screams at, disciplines, or fires employees for unauthorized OT.
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What the hell is 15 minutes curiosity? Is that like what they were doing for the 45 minutes before 10? They were curious about what's at target. I believe they mean courtesy. You know, like courtesy of not keeping your young kids out so late? TF is wrong with people?
I'm assuming that was meant with a touch of sarcasm?? Lol
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My favourite part of working at primark was walking around kicking people out. "Hi, the store is now closed, you need to heae to the till immediately". If they would complain I would just stand firm and physically block them from walking in any direction except towards the till XD
I once stayed almost 15 minutes after closing time helping a family, 1st they where super polite and apologise for being late ( 6:40 PM, store closed at 7 PM ), they wanted to buy Paint for a little girl bedroom, and that takes a lot of time, you have to choose the color, then i have to mix it, só in the end lol i was getting " dagger eyes " from my coworker at the register lol, but i couldn't just let them go away and not helping them, plus my other coworker f****d up só bad, that made me laugh frikking hard after the costumers left, dude was amazing at some jobs lol, but had the IQ of a turnip sometimes, so 7:05/7:10 dude starts singing a traditional song, but changed the lirycs to a XXX version, the face he made whe he Saw that family there with a 9 or 10 year old girl lmao.....
"Curiosity" instead of "courtesy" (and doing it twice) is just killing my soul.
Well, one thing is certain, this person definitely does not know the word COURTESY. 😂 As in, show the store employees some BASIC COURTESY and gtfo when they close/plan your outings better/don’t make your problems their problems.
I worked at Target doing the closing announcements. It starts at 45mins until we close, then, 30 min, 15, 10, 5 then CLOSED. Each time with a warning to make final selections and checkout because the register wil CLOSE. These entitled idiots just think those warnings don't apply to them because "REASONS".
We had a bomb threat called into one of the stores I worked in (ended up being a prank call) and had to evacuate the store. There were customers that were refusing to leave until they got what they came for and complained to corporate that we evacuated them and the employees.
Why are the kids out so late too? Maybe let one parent shop while the other puts the kids to bed. Willing to bet one parent can't be trusted to be responsible for either.
You need to leave! Quit trespassing, the employees also have to finish the rest of the work after you leave and then go back to their lives!
People feel so damned entitled these days. No, you are not special and no, they don't need to make special rules just for creeps like you!
He's right, it is not acceptable whatsoever to act this way. Come earlier next time.
You shouldn't be relying on spell-check, doofus. "Curiosity" does not mean what you seem to think it means. Also, why are you dragging little kids around that late instead of having one parent do the shopping while the other has them in bed where they should be at that hour?
I hated people like this when I worked retail. I mean they forget that the employees just put in 8+ hours some 10-12 hours and in addition to working they cleaned the whole store for the next day and are truly exhausted. I mean this person needs to jump off a cliff seriously!
also isnt the alternative to this guy following them around that theyre potentially in some far flung corner agonising over which colour green they want the spatulas in and no one realizes and the lights get shut off, doors get locked, and suddenly you have to navigate a full familial meltdown and also your phone is dead and then you have to live out a knockoff night at the museum
Probably not going to be the popular reply here, but..... I have been in retail and food service for over 30 years. I have owned and operated several extremely successful stores and food service establishments. If one of my employees kicked out, tried to kick out, or tried to intimidate a customer into leaving before they were done shopping or eating they're employment would be terminated. I don't care if they came in 30 seconds before closing! (granted you should have the common decency to not do this) If the sign says you are open until 9:00, then you are FULLY open until 9:00 and anyone in the business is treated as if they came in in the middle of the day. Also if you are a restaurant that say servers breakfast until 10:00 and a customer comes in at 9:58 and has to wait for service until after 10:00, they can still order breakfast. Do not tell them breakfast is no longer being served! It's called Customer Service!
And were you also the type to write up or fire employees for unauthorized overtime caused by entitled jerks who thought they were too special for policy to apply to them?
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I disagree! Closing time is at 10:00. Most customers respect these general rules of businesses! Get your shît and be out of the store by then! Employees are people, too! When it's time to go, then it's time to go!! They don't owe these "customers" any more courtesy, or respect of their time, than they are being afforded. Kick their àsses out at closing! Problem solved!!
Load More Replies...Not A Target Worker But I Thought This Will Make You Relate
There Should Be A Limit To How Many Items A Guest Can Order For Drive Up…
So, A Customer Tried Paying With This Today…
Every Time!
I think the customer shd have like sorted out what they wanna buy first *rolls eyes*
Every. Damn. Day
It is really annoying though, if the information on the website is incorrect and you travelled all the way to a specific store for that item. And I don't mean the last few items getting sold in the meantime, but if the information is just wrong and doesn't get corrected (if it says we still have 20 and days later it still says that even though in reality they have zero).
Why… Just Why?
Logan (if that is the drinkers name) should be hunted down and have that container inserted up his chuff without the aid of lubricant
Note: this post originally had 71 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Anyone who harasses staff in retail should be made to work the shittiest jobs for a YEAR.
To all those who work in retail, please accept these sincere apologies on behalf of the entitled jerks of my species. Sincerely.
Question rather than a comment. When did customers start being referred to as guests and more importantly, why?
Probably the same people who call everyone working in a store a family, just because they get in their Range Rover and go off to their country house for the weekend. i.e if they're not customers then we can pretend this isn't a taudry exercise in capitalism.
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To me it shows what the whole concept of "the customer is always right" did to businesses. Any Employee should be allowed to put entitled, unreasonable a******s back in their places.
It is sad how that concept lost its true meaning today :/
Load More Replies... Because Americans (I am one) have been trained to expect the highest level of service in the shortest amount of time. We want whatever we want, now; we want it fast. And we want it good. Woe be he who defies us.
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My own addition; Ringing the bell is not rude!! I put it there on purpose!!
Ahm. Did you think covid-19 was gone ? Ppl are dying of covid , right here in the US AND elsewhere , right now .
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When I worked in retail I assumed people came in to transact short-term, courteous business. Nope: it was to play-act master/slave fantasies
One thing that used to drive me nuts when I worked retail was when people would be so vague & expect me to know what you wanted. Honest to goodness, I once had a lady ask for 'that plastic thing' 'you know, it goes in the bathroom' then acted like I was stupid when I would show her plastic bathroom items. After several wrong items, it was finally revealed she wanted little baskets to organize to drawers 😵💫. Another lady wanted 'that famous candy' (she was older so I had more patience for her) Or when people would ask for an item with multiple types, like asking for oil. What kind of oil? They would look at me.like I was stupid and reenforce the word OIL. Ok , car oil, olive oil, cooking oil, vitamin E oil, oil for hair......
As someone working retail, I can confirm that nothing is more infuriating than a customer who won't get off their fūcking phone in the checkout line. I work at a hardware and home improvement store, these are heavy as hell, and I only have one hand because the other is holding a scanner, so GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND HELP MOVE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
I would stop scanning, stare at them, and when they FINALLY get off their phone, I would politely ask, "Oh, are you ready to checkout, now?" No level of evil, or side-eye, would sway me. When you're ready, I'm ready!
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I left retail after a protracted discussion with a disgruntled customer. Who was most put out that despite buying a clearly labelled chicken, BACON and mushroom pie, didn't state clear enough that it contained pork. I never did find out where she thought bacon came from
I worked in retail management for many years at a home goods store that it would send out 20% coupons to its customers with bold print on them as to what they where good for. 364 days out of the year I protected my staff from the caged Karen's. Yes you're right and can't read we will take the coupon, let me grab Santa's elves to print more, or some other idiocy just waiting to fill my heart with holiday cheer. After several long store resets when you could be
Another àsshole troll is loose amongst us!! Dammit, who left their cage open? Lol
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It never ceases to amaze me, elderly ladies with wheelchairs or walkers, stop at the threshold of the exit door to place the rain bonnet on their head. Four people behind them can't get out because the exit is completely blocked.
I find the biggest babies are middle aged men. Biggest temper tantrums ever
Stacey Rae, you just found out they were while middle aged, but they started their life like this while their parents did nothing and will die like this too.
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this is why id much rather prefer to work at olive garden. you know not to mess with them because they supply you with the good stuff.you dont wanna mess with that.
Oh, I bet people at stores LOVE you. I'm also betting you know what the Golden Rule is, but never considered what it actually means.
Load More Replies... Anyone who harasses staff in retail should be made to work the shittiest jobs for a YEAR.
To all those who work in retail, please accept these sincere apologies on behalf of the entitled jerks of my species. Sincerely.
Question rather than a comment. When did customers start being referred to as guests and more importantly, why?
Probably the same people who call everyone working in a store a family, just because they get in their Range Rover and go off to their country house for the weekend. i.e if they're not customers then we can pretend this isn't a taudry exercise in capitalism.
Load More Replies... To me it shows what the whole concept of "the customer is always right" did to businesses. Any Employee should be allowed to put entitled, unreasonable a******s back in their places.
It is sad how that concept lost its true meaning today :/
Load More Replies... Because Americans (I am one) have been trained to expect the highest level of service in the shortest amount of time. We want whatever we want, now; we want it fast. And we want it good. Woe be he who defies us.
Load More Replies... My own addition; Ringing the bell is not rude!! I put it there on purpose!!
Ahm. Did you think covid-19 was gone ? Ppl are dying of covid , right here in the US AND elsewhere , right now .
Load More Replies... When I worked in retail I assumed people came in to transact short-term, courteous business. Nope: it was to play-act master/slave fantasies
One thing that used to drive me nuts when I worked retail was when people would be so vague & expect me to know what you wanted. Honest to goodness, I once had a lady ask for 'that plastic thing' 'you know, it goes in the bathroom' then acted like I was stupid when I would show her plastic bathroom items. After several wrong items, it was finally revealed she wanted little baskets to organize to drawers 😵💫. Another lady wanted 'that famous candy' (she was older so I had more patience for her) Or when people would ask for an item with multiple types, like asking for oil. What kind of oil? They would look at me.like I was stupid and reenforce the word OIL. Ok , car oil, olive oil, cooking oil, vitamin E oil, oil for hair......
As someone working retail, I can confirm that nothing is more infuriating than a customer who won't get off their fūcking phone in the checkout line. I work at a hardware and home improvement store, these are heavy as hell, and I only have one hand because the other is holding a scanner, so GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND HELP MOVE SOME OF THESE THINGS.
I would stop scanning, stare at them, and when they FINALLY get off their phone, I would politely ask, "Oh, are you ready to checkout, now?" No level of evil, or side-eye, would sway me. When you're ready, I'm ready!
Load More Replies... I left retail after a protracted discussion with a disgruntled customer. Who was most put out that despite buying a clearly labelled chicken, BACON and mushroom pie, didn't state clear enough that it contained pork. I never did find out where she thought bacon came from
I worked in retail management for many years at a home goods store that it would send out 20% coupons to its customers with bold print on them as to what they where good for. 364 days out of the year I protected my staff from the caged Karen's. Yes you're right and can't read we will take the coupon, let me grab Santa's elves to print more, or some other idiocy just waiting to fill my heart with holiday cheer. After several long store resets when you could be
Another àsshole troll is loose amongst us!! Dammit, who left their cage open? Lol
Load More Replies... It never ceases to amaze me, elderly ladies with wheelchairs or walkers, stop at the threshold of the exit door to place the rain bonnet on their head. Four people behind them can't get out because the exit is completely blocked.
I find the biggest babies are middle aged men. Biggest temper tantrums ever
Stacey Rae, you just found out they were while middle aged, but they started their life like this while their parents did nothing and will die like this too.
Load More Replies... this is why id much rather prefer to work at olive garden. you know not to mess with them because they supply you with the good stuff.you dont wanna mess with that.
Oh, I bet people at stores LOVE you. I'm also betting you know what the Golden Rule is, but never considered what it actually means.
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