You know how you enter the store to get some milk, only to see the shelf full of pinot grigio right in the way, staring at you with no place to hide? This moment of pure impromptu is basically the essence of the “decisions were made here” meme that shows the lonely product (one intended to buy) standing in the midst of the indulgence section, whether it’s beer or ice cream.
But no matter how funny it may be in the joke format, the reality is a tiny bit different. It turns out, it’s one of the most annoying things customers do while shopping, according to supermarket employees—not even mentioning taking a thing out of its package and leaving it lying out somewhere.
Below is the list of seriously annoying stuff we should all quit immediately if we ever want good shopping karma.
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Accurate
When People Stop In The Middle Of An Aisle And Act Like They're The Only Ones In The Store
"If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You."
!["If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You."](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5f92a01806dc0_YOx7EgQ__700.jpg "\"If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You.\"")
This is really annoying. What kind of parents are them? How do they educate those children?
Back in the 1950s and '60s, the vibe at supermarkets was totally different. According to author Blake Morgan, “brands treated customers like they didn’t have brain cells and used loud and obnoxious voices and obviously exaggerated print.”
It all changed with Ogilvy, the father of advertising who said that you gotta treat customers like you treat your family members. Because, essentially, they’re potential clients.
Then, the now-famous phrase “the customer is always right” was pioneered by successful retailers named Harry Gordon Selfridge, John Wanamaker, and Marshall Field. This approach stuck with us for many years to come, and it’s still in use today. But critics claim it doesn’t work in the current times.
If You Really Love Your Heros, Consider This
Yes, calling people 'heroes' for doing their jobs is a good way to pat them on the back, congratulate them and avoid thinking about work conditions and salaries.
"Retail Workers Know What I Mean"
Getting Told The Same Joke
In the times of consumerism, customers are no longer the perfect beings worthy of praise. According to the author Alexander Kjerulf, sticking to the “customer is always right” mantra has multiple adverse effects.
It makes employees unhappy, it gives abrasive customers an unfair advantage, it results in worse customer service, and it ignores the fact that some customers are just plain wrong.
Even if being customer-centric is part of the customer experience, that doesn’t mean brands and companies have to follow it blindly. They should rather seek a smart balance in making both customers and their workers equally happy.
"Working In Retail Is A Special Type Of Hell"
When I was a kid, customers had to pay for stuff they dropped and destoyed. Doesn't seem a thing anymore.
This Is Accurate
Customers Who Don't Say Hi
I always say Hi and I'm very cheerful about it because I feel like they have taken the time to be nice
When They Act Like Masks Don't Apply To Them
Sounds About Right
All The Employees Have To Do Is Put Stuff Away...right?
"If you do this, f**k you."
When Customers Leave Stuff From Other Aisles In Places They Shouldn't Be
You don't have to work in a supermarket to hate this...I feel for you all.
"I Think We All Can Relate. Am I Right?"
When They Tell Employees Their Whole Life Story
Yup, I have heard about a women having a colonoscopy, a woman being a prostitute and that the fella with her was her pimp and bf, a guy with a big bandage telling me about his infection that was literally oozing pus etc. Some things we just don’t need or want to know.
It's just the opposite for me. I guess I have one of those faces that says, "please vent to me." Me - Good morning! Cashier - Good morning, will that be all? Me - Yep, that'll do it. Cashier - Ugh, I have another 4 hours to go and my feet are just aching. This guy just came in and wanted like all of our lottery tickets and I just felt sad for him. My car didn't want to start this morning and that's why I was late and then Sharon, our manager, well she was pretty ticked but what is she going to do? Fire me? I'm the ONLY one who works extra and organizes the stuff the way it's suppose to be. Oh, that'll be $12.92. Anyway, so the back was really messy because Bryan don't know his butt from a hole in the ground and couldn't understand why you don't put the dirty mops right beside the ice machine...... This happens to me all the freaking time.
For some people, a cashier may be the only person they talk to in a day.
I stood behind a guy once who was telling the cashier about his vasectomy, and how he thought it gave him a better and longer erection...wink, wink. Poor girl turned 50 shades of crimson!
I once had a patient/customer spend forever explaining why the diabetic lancets she had been given to her at another pharmacy were crap and didn't provide her with enough blood to test. As I tried to explain to her (without actually pricking myself) how to use them, and about how much blood she actually needed, she snatched the box from my hands. She then proceeded to slash open the top of her finger and let the more than adequate blood supply plop all over the patient counseling counter. She then had the balls to give me grief for jumping back (retreating) about three feet from the counter and telling the pharmacist that we had a "biological waste situation". Probably didn't need to announce that out loud, in front of other patients, but hey - she was a wench from the get-go and needed a reality check (and that was what pharmacy guidelines instructed me to do).
Oh wow, heaven forbid someone is friendly and conversational with you.....geez, not sure I like this one
I hear you, but I want to emphasize something here. Some customers either tell cashiers really inappropriate things, or they will talk for literally 10 minutes, which is forever in cashier time. Whenever a customer yammers on for 10 minutes, the next 5 customers will yell/complain at the cashier about the wait.
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I once had a customer tell me in great detail how she had been raped back in the 50's, how her employers (a hospital) covered it up to avoid a lawsuit and how her nephews killed the rapist (an orderly she thought was her friend). It was fascinating! She was elderly and could have been telling tales, but the look in her eyes said otherwise.
Okay I do not do this. But after living in THE state with the MOST RUDE people alive, if you are nice to me, I will talk to you just to get my faith in humanity back.
A guy once told me about his childhood, and a whole bunch of stuff that would be better told to a psychologist, then explained that he had a "mind block" and never spoke about any of this to anybody. He left without buying anything.
I don't need to know your whole life story. I need to know what bagel sandwich you want.
Yeah, and then the next 5 customers crab at the cashier because the line is moving too slow. And by them taking the time to complain, that slows the line down even more.
A lot of people are lonely and just appreciate a kind word (or two). . . is that so hard to consider them as such? Without the customers, you might not have a job. . .
On the flip side there's a cashier at my local Walgreens that never shuts up. I went to school with her equally chatty daughter so I knew to avoid her line. But I cant help but feel for the people who get stuck in her line and she scans one item, tells them all about her other daughter's struggles, her grandson Nicky's day at school, how much weeding she had to do over the weekend, etc, etc... And I hear these people going "oh that's interesting but I really have to get going" as they try to move the next item to be scanned closer to the scanner in hopes that she'll grab it and scan. She rarely does. And I rarely stick around to find out what's going on with her other grandson Charlie.
many a times i need to go into the shop to get my bits for work and then there is someone not in a rush counting out the pennies while talking. COME ON!!! people need to get to work!
I was in line behind someone at a Salvation Army thrift store. By the time she was done, she had told the poor cashier all about her addictions, rehab, new life, etc. I have never told a cashier about my personal life. I'd rather take a spork to one of my eyes!!
I once had a lady tell me about how much her husband likes her leg stump in the bedroom and then proceeded to tell me why. I'll spare you that story, but I heard it like 19 times in the three years I worked at that place.
I like when they start trying to justify a purchase that I didn't think twice about, and suddenly I'm suspicious about their actual intent for it!! "Oh all these cucumbers? Well, I'm making this tea and using it as a garnish, but you know, some will float in it, some sink, so I need different sizes for aesthetic." Uh-huh. Suuuure.
Yeah. You came to me to pay for a product, I didn't come to YOU for a lame ass story!
"Any Season"
When Guests Forget The Entire Reason Employees Are In The Store
When They Walk In Just Before Closing
Just close the doors 5 to 10 minutes minutes before closing time and only let customers out. Common practice in the Netherlands.
When Customers Forget How A Store Works
When They Come .5 Seconds Before Closing Time
In my country it is mandatory by law to have 'online cash registers' everywhere, that works like sending all data directly to some tax office or anything. It means if a shop is officially open from like 9 to 18, they can't sell you stuff AFTER 18, because register will note the tax office that out of business hours this shop was doing business. Therefore, shops can legally tell people who come this late that sorry, if you can't make your purchase in the next ten seconds, we can't legally serve you.
"Black Friday As A Wal-Mart Employee."
When Customers Leave Their Dirty Trash In The Carts
Customers Are Relentless
"Well, let me think a bit about this generous offer you made... NO!"
Even Though Zebra Says 1 But Not Binned In Anywhere
You just go in the back, rest for 5 minutes and come back to tell him "No. We don't have it. I checked everywhere"
Things-Supermarket-Employees-Hate
And yet I did get charged twice at a bookstore once when this happened. Took forever to get my money back. I realize that's an exception, not the rule, but I am wary now.
"Why I Hate Working In Retail."
When Customers Disappear After Employees Go Into The Back To Get Something For Them
Reminds me the scene with Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman in the movie "Love Actually"
Cough Cough
I feel awful for my son. He spits when he talks because of a few reasons. He has a lateral lisp which causes excess saliva and he has low muscle tone in his mouth which causes him to still dribble and not have as much control as most people do. I worry how that will impact him as he gets older.
Those Coupons Though
*Beverly Goldberg (please tell me you guys watch that show).
When People Leave Food In A Cart
Carts need a sign, like, “Don’t complain about rising prices of food when you do this s**t!”
When People Take Something Out Of Its Package And Just Leave It There
I admit: I did that once or twice. The packaging had no information about the fabric on it, but I need that info for my decision. Afterwards I really really tried getting the stuff back in the packaging, but gave up after 5 to 10 minutes. If the damn manufacturer is not able to print the f*****g type of fabric on the packaging and I have no chance getting the stuff back in the packaging because it was packed under a vacuum... sorry. And yes. I asked staff about the type of fabric, and mostly the answer is a blank stare and an „I don’t know...“
When They Beckon An Employee Over Like They're A Trained Animal
Things Supermarket Employees Hate
Who Just Decided "No" On The TV?
I really don't understand how people can do things like this. It's so...
When They Don't Recognize The Difference Between In-Store And Online
"98% Of Customers Are Illiterate"
Sometimes this discount applies only to certain items and it isn't always clear which one
People Who Shop At The Absolute Last Minute
In a way I wish we had coupons like they do in the US but as a past checkout operator I am also glad we don’t. Takes up so much time.
Note: this post originally had 53 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
Everyone should have to work in a service industry job for a month (at least). I'm pretty sure it would cut down on a lot of this sort of thing happening.
I wish I could up vote you 1000 times.
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I do not think this reflects normal customer behaviour. One respectless will outweighs 99 considerate ones. And most of the things shown here are likewise annoying to other customers than to staff.
It doesn't, 95% of people don't do any of this. But you don't hear about the boring normal customers.
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I think I could never work on retail. If I'd see any of the crap people pull I'd lose all filters and go off on them. I was taught to be respectful to other people and things I do not own. Clearly there are people that just don't have the mental capacity to understand that.
Those they don't need to work in retail. I will make sure my kids both have summer jobs in retail dealing with customers. It teaches patients and how to deal with uncomfortable situations.
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I've worked retail, both as a worker and a manager. Some customers are idiots and very entitled behaving. However, some retail workers are lazy, rude and disinterested in helping anyone. They can be rude, nasty and dishonest. So, yeah...nasty people on both sides. Saying this, there is NEVER any excuse for being rude, nasty, entitled or demeaning toward anyone, including someone who is this way toward you. If you are a customer and an employee is less than professional, find the manager and complain, but be honest, be polite and try not labeling someone for one bad day.
Here's two. 1. If an item is on sale, it tends to go pretty fast. Had a female customer who was looking for bread on sale but there was none on the shelf. I went in the back and couldn't find the bread I'm looking for. I go back to the store and explain that we're completely out. This then turns into this. Her: But it's on sale. It's even in the paper and since it's on sale it should be on the shelf. Me: Yes, Ma'am but sometimes when an item is on sale it tends to go rather quickly. Repeat conversation 5X before another employee comes up and watch as the explanation is repeated the same amount of times. 2. When you say an item is a certain price and I have to do a price check, if my price is different then your's and you insist on seeing the price for yourself, the price I'm pointing to is the actual price. It's not the price to the left of the item. It's not the price to the right of the item. It's not on the shelf above or below of item. The price is where I'm pointing. Period.
One thing to add to the HATE list: Instore Radio. If I hear "More Than Words" one more time or one more Maddona tune I'd like to take a hammer to the loudspeakers.!
Yeah,yeah I get it. All customers are assholes and retailers are poor downtrodden saints. In the interest of fairness how about posting things that retailers do that customers hate?
I’d like to see a list of things that decent, polite customers hate about rude, oblivious clerks.
This is something that annoys me not as a worker, but as a shopper. You're going for the next item on your shopping list and someone is standing in the exact spot where the item is located just staring at the shelves. You wait a few minutes before deciding to grab a few other items and come back later. You come back ten or fifteen minutes later and Mr. I Smoked Five Joints Before Coming To The Store is still standing there staring.
Reading this gave me an anyurism, because I am going to work in half an hour and I work in a grocery store
I worked retail for a few years, and I swore I would never do it again. Examples like these only make my conviction stronger.
Ahh even though I can relate to most of the these I still loved my job I spent 6 years work at a I guess u would call it a high end clothing store. I love the people I worked with and most of the customers. There were entitled rude ones but the good ones made up for it. And the pay and bonuses were really good.
They forgot the biggest pet peeve (at least for places with them): putting the carts in the corrals!!
Asking how much something is at The Dollar Store. It's the dollar store, not somewhere that it could be .50 or 2.50 or $5. It's the dollar store.
Some countries have mandatory military service for a year. The US should have mandatory retail service for a year.
So many of these have the words "old people" when in my experience as an "old" person who has worked in retail, it seems to me that the younger people who seem to feel entitled are a bigger problem.
So many comments about putting the money on the counter instead of in someone's hand. In large parts of the world it's common to put the money on the counter and it would be considered rude to hold out a hand for change. Hey BP, the world consists of more than just the US of Absurd you know? America might think it's great and the best at everything, but the rest of us really don't
Everyone should have to work in a service industry job for a month (at least). I'm pretty sure it would cut down on a lot of this sort of thing happening.
I wish I could up vote you 1000 times.
Load More Replies... I do not think this reflects normal customer behaviour. One respectless will outweighs 99 considerate ones. And most of the things shown here are likewise annoying to other customers than to staff.
It doesn't, 95% of people don't do any of this. But you don't hear about the boring normal customers.
Load More Replies... I think I could never work on retail. If I'd see any of the crap people pull I'd lose all filters and go off on them. I was taught to be respectful to other people and things I do not own. Clearly there are people that just don't have the mental capacity to understand that.
Those they don't need to work in retail. I will make sure my kids both have summer jobs in retail dealing with customers. It teaches patients and how to deal with uncomfortable situations.
Load More Replies... I've worked retail, both as a worker and a manager. Some customers are idiots and very entitled behaving. However, some retail workers are lazy, rude and disinterested in helping anyone. They can be rude, nasty and dishonest. So, yeah...nasty people on both sides. Saying this, there is NEVER any excuse for being rude, nasty, entitled or demeaning toward anyone, including someone who is this way toward you. If you are a customer and an employee is less than professional, find the manager and complain, but be honest, be polite and try not labeling someone for one bad day.
Here's two. 1. If an item is on sale, it tends to go pretty fast. Had a female customer who was looking for bread on sale but there was none on the shelf. I went in the back and couldn't find the bread I'm looking for. I go back to the store and explain that we're completely out. This then turns into this. Her: But it's on sale. It's even in the paper and since it's on sale it should be on the shelf. Me: Yes, Ma'am but sometimes when an item is on sale it tends to go rather quickly. Repeat conversation 5X before another employee comes up and watch as the explanation is repeated the same amount of times. 2. When you say an item is a certain price and I have to do a price check, if my price is different then your's and you insist on seeing the price for yourself, the price I'm pointing to is the actual price. It's not the price to the left of the item. It's not the price to the right of the item. It's not on the shelf above or below of item. The price is where I'm pointing. Period.
One thing to add to the HATE list: Instore Radio. If I hear "More Than Words" one more time or one more Maddona tune I'd like to take a hammer to the loudspeakers.!
Yeah,yeah I get it. All customers are assholes and retailers are poor downtrodden saints. In the interest of fairness how about posting things that retailers do that customers hate?
I’d like to see a list of things that decent, polite customers hate about rude, oblivious clerks.
This is something that annoys me not as a worker, but as a shopper. You're going for the next item on your shopping list and someone is standing in the exact spot where the item is located just staring at the shelves. You wait a few minutes before deciding to grab a few other items and come back later. You come back ten or fifteen minutes later and Mr. I Smoked Five Joints Before Coming To The Store is still standing there staring.
Reading this gave me an anyurism, because I am going to work in half an hour and I work in a grocery store
I worked retail for a few years, and I swore I would never do it again. Examples like these only make my conviction stronger.
Ahh even though I can relate to most of the these I still loved my job I spent 6 years work at a I guess u would call it a high end clothing store. I love the people I worked with and most of the customers. There were entitled rude ones but the good ones made up for it. And the pay and bonuses were really good.
They forgot the biggest pet peeve (at least for places with them): putting the carts in the corrals!!
Asking how much something is at The Dollar Store. It's the dollar store, not somewhere that it could be .50 or 2.50 or $5. It's the dollar store.
Some countries have mandatory military service for a year. The US should have mandatory retail service for a year.
So many of these have the words "old people" when in my experience as an "old" person who has worked in retail, it seems to me that the younger people who seem to feel entitled are a bigger problem.
So many comments about putting the money on the counter instead of in someone's hand. In large parts of the world it's common to put the money on the counter and it would be considered rude to hold out a hand for change. Hey BP, the world consists of more than just the US of Absurd you know? America might think it's great and the best at everything, but the rest of us really don't
