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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.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Accurate
RELATED:
#2
When People Stop In The Middle Of An Aisle And Act Like They're The Only Ones In The Store
#3
"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.\"")
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
This is really annoying. What kind of parents are them? How do they educate those children?
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
I imagine the parents are the ones leaving onions in the DVD aisle and stuffing their trash into the carts...
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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
I have worked the clothing department at Sears and target. The mens department stays pretty neat (unless a woman goes through there) but the women's folded clothes? Oh my god every 20 minutes it is like a tornado went through. Don't get mad at me for speaking the truth,,,
Wonderful 5 years ago
My first job was at target and to this day I refold shirts and zone in every store I go to. My husband has to tell me to stop. It’s just automatic for me.
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Kathryn Baylis 5 years ago (edited)
Too bad corporate management is so stingy they don’t want to pay for cameras set up in the toy aisle, plus attendants stationed there (and only there), who could nip a lot of this in the bud. They would not be babysitters, they would be security, and take the guilty kids to a holding area while they page the parents to come get them. BUT I’d like for the parents of such destructive children to have to pay for each and every toy their kid unwraps and plays with and/or destroys—-but not get to keep them, as that would teach the kids it’s OK to destroy toys they don’t own. Destroyed toys would be tossed in the garbage with the kids and parents watching, and toys in decent shape given to charity. Hitting them in the pocketbook just might make the parents keep their kids with them as they shop instead of parking them in the toy section.
Tessa Thompson 5 years ago
I worked in the kids' dep't at a Macy's about ten years ago, and adults would allow their kid(s) to wander loose and run around. WATCH YOUR KID, PEOPLE! There are many hard objects with corners and sharp edges in the kids' clothing department and THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT HERE TO BABYSIT YOUR KIDS! Adults would get upset with us for not keeping track of their short people, and I *really* wanted to tell them, "Macy's employees are not here to watch your kids. You are responsible for them. If you want me to babysit your kids when you shop, you need to make arrangements with me in advance and it's $10/hr."
Joseph Hernandez 5 years ago
only $10Hr.? WOW, i bet ya get plenty of business where ya live if ya charge that little, wow....LOL
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Flavia Slag 5 years ago
My sister worked the toy section of a well known store during the Christmas rush. Besides people letting their kids run wild. One lady wanted my sister to watch her kids while she shopped. She got mad when my sister said no way. Left the kids anyway.
Carmen Honacker 5 years ago
Ah, that is the same parent who doesn't blink an eye as their loud brat occupies the seat in a waiting area, while elderly people or pregnant women have to stand
Tien 5 years ago
Where I'm from this is NOT acceptable, you WILL be thrown out of the store if you don't control your evil spawn and you WILL be banned from it if needs be. Customes is always rigth my ass, the customer is usually an entitled asshole and I'm glad we do'nt tolerate shitty behaviour like this in my country
deanna woods 5 years ago
People who allow their children to do this should be forced to pay for anything that got broken.
Storm Anne 5 years ago
If this is a toy store... imagine the book stores. ya know the part with the little toys in barnes 'n' noble yeahhh
Jennifer Cassada 5 years ago
I work in a huge thrift shop and parents just let their kids use the kid's section as a day care and wander the store without them. Last week I said something to one kid and his mother comes out and says "DON'T TALK TO MY CHILD" I felt like punching them both.
Melissa Powell 5 years ago
Not sure this can even be fixed. This day and age, these items will probably be tossed.
The Harry Potter person 5 years ago
Bless the workers to have the shortest prison sentence possible.
Lu 5 years ago
Not sure where this is, but I've never ever seen this in a Canadian store - Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Superstore you name it.
Lucas 5 years ago
It's not generally a thing in UK stores either - they'd get slung out. Don't have that 'customer is always right' rubbish thankfully.
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Curry on... 5 years ago
Yeah, unsupervised kids but... this looks like a whole day of destruction. Where were the workers?
Charlotte Stewart 5 years ago
You think this looks like whole day of destruction? You've never worked in retail, have you?
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Collette Moisan 5 years ago
Also bringing them to the store and let them yell & scream. Or probably) ignoring them while they grab a kinder surprise or other chocolate, open it, then either put it back on the shelf or give it to the cashier & say you don't want it! THEN DON'T LET YOUR KID TOUCH THE DAMN THING!!!
Lynn Morello 5 years ago
The kind of parents who allow their kids to do this are the same kind of parents who take everything for granted and everyone to be their childs minder, but you can't tell their child what to do or say NO.
Paula Carr 5 years ago
These are the kind of parents who were told they had to have kids but really didn't want them. They end up being crappy parents.
Lisa Chambers 5 years ago
This is how some people shop with kids. They dont want them bothering them while they shop, so they park them in the toy aisle.
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
Lazy bastards who don't want to keep an eye on their kids when they take them shopping so just leave them in the toy aisle to make as much mess as in their bedroom then leave for someone else to tidy up.
Steve Cruz 5 years ago
I used to go thrifting a lot, and many stores moved children's toys to the FRONT of the store, closer to cashier supervision.
Patty Leaton 5 years ago
everyday at work ,people have kids don't want to look after them so they bitch all day
Steven Essex 5 years ago
With a beating if they were mine! I wouldn't let my children be unattended at an age where they could be expected to do something like that, so if they did it, it would be through willful disrespect. Then I and an employee would monitor them washing and replacing each one! Fortunately, I have no kids so this wouldn't be my nightmare!
Claire Armstrong 5 years ago
This is disgusting! It's bad enough when kids do it, yes, but I've seen grown ass adults accidentally knock stuff down off a shelf when they're reaching for something they want and just walking away and leaving it lying on the floor! That's atrocious! But I bet these "adults" that do that, used to be the kind of kids who did THIS in the picture! I'm the kind of person who stops and picks the stuff up lol!
Lauren Lee 5 years ago
Retailers need to be able to hold customers accountable, if you disagree you probably have kids you can’t control
Logically Reasonable 5 years ago
Back when I was a kid, store employees would stop you at the door and tell you that your kid played with or broke a toy, now you have to pay for it. It IS considered theft, and/or destruction of private property by law!
Berlinda Dunbar-Nye 5 years ago
People, aka parents, allow their children to do this in libraries also. Often while they sit blithely surfing the internet.
ERIN W. 5 years ago
LITTLE JERKS! This is another reason why I DIDN'T have children! ALSO, WHATHAPPENED TO THEIR PARENTS?!
deanna woods 5 years ago
Probably weren't paying attention and letting them do whatever.
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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.
#4
If You Really Love Your Heros, Consider This
Laugh or not 5 years ago
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.
#5
"Retail Workers Know What I Mean"
#6
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.
#7
"Working In Retail Is A Special Type Of Hell"
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
When I was a kid, customers had to pay for stuff they dropped and destoyed. Doesn't seem a thing anymore.
#8
This Is Accurate
#9
Customers Who Don't Say Hi
cybermerlin2000 5 years ago
I always say Hi and I'm very cheerful about it because I feel like they have taken the time to be nice
#10
When They Act Like Masks Don't Apply To Them
#11
Sounds About Right
#12
All The Employees Have To Do Is Put Stuff Away...right?
"If you do this, f**k you."
#13
When Customers Leave Stuff From Other Aisles In Places They Shouldn't Be
postboredom 5 years ago
You don't have to work in a supermarket to hate this...I feel for you all.
#14
"I Think We All Can Relate. Am I Right?"
#15
When They Tell Employees Their Whole Life Story
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago (edited)
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.
#17
When Guests Forget The Entire Reason Employees Are In The Store
#18
When They Walk In Just Before Closing
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
Just close the doors 5 to 10 minutes minutes before closing time and only let customers out. Common practice in the Netherlands.
#19
When Customers Forget How A Store Works
#20
When They Come .5 Seconds Before Closing Time
Csaba Hegedűs 5 years ago
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.
#21
"Black Friday As A Wal-Mart Employee."
#22
When Customers Leave Their Dirty Trash In The Carts
#23
Customers Are Relentless
#24
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago (edited)
"Well, let me think a bit about this generous offer you made... NO!"
#25
Even Though Zebra Says 1 But Not Binned In Anywhere
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
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"
#26
Things-Supermarket-Employees-Hate
A.M. Pierre 5 years ago
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.
#28
"Why I Hate Working In Retail."
#29
When Customers Disappear After Employees Go Into The Back To Get Something For Them
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
Reminds me the scene with Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman in the movie "Love Actually"
#30
Cough Cough
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
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.
#31
Those Coupons Though
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
*Beverly Goldberg (please tell me you guys watch that show).
#33
When People Leave Food In A Cart
Shelli Aderman 5 years ago
Carts need a sign, like, “Don’t complain about rising prices of food when you do this s**t!”
#34
When People Take Something Out Of Its Package And Just Leave It There
Tiari 5 years ago
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...“
#35
When They Beckon An Employee Over Like They're A Trained Animal
#36
Things Supermarket Employees Hate
#37
Who Just Decided "No" On The TV?
Bardhi's Dad 5 years ago
I really don't understand how people can do things like this. It's so...
#38
When They Don't Recognize The Difference Between In-Store And Online
#39
"98% Of Customers Are Illiterate"
troufaki13 5 years ago
Sometimes this discount applies only to certain items and it isn't always clear which one
#40
People Who Shop At The Absolute Last Minute
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
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.
#41
Being Understaffed
#42
When Customers Mess Up The Displays
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
No, I get looked at oddly because I'm the customer that will stand the boxes back up and put things in order because it drives me nuts when it's not neat.
#43
#44
MellonCollie 5 years ago
"No thank you, I've got your change" or any other polite reply is also fine ... Sometimes customers make mistakes, sometimes they're just really bad at counting or they're distracted. Yes, I've worked in retail for years. If you hate customers that much that you have to bitch about something as little as them proposing the wrong amount of change, please don't take a job in retail.
#45
Customers Who Are Chasing You
#46
New Infant Salad
All Lives Matter 5 years ago
The worst is when they take something like raw meat that needs to stay in the freezer section and dumps it with something like clothes. Such a waste of food.
#47
"Dear Ladies And Gentlemen I Am Going To Thank This Fellow Customer For This Nice Display"
#48
"This Happens Way Too Often In Electronics..."
#50
When Customers Demand To Be Let In Before Opening
#51
When Customers Still Act Uncertain If Employees Work There Even Though They Might As Well Have A Target Painted On Their Face
All Lives Matter 5 years ago
Sorry, but I'm dumb, young, and english, and WTF IS A ZEBRA??? IK ITS A STRIPY HORSE BUT I DONT THINK THEY MEAN A STRIPY HORSE. WHY AM I SHOUTING?
#52
It’s Called Etiquette
#53
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Jayson Hammer 5 years ago
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.
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
I wish I could up vote you 1000 times.
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Hans 5 years ago
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.
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
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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Falcon 5 years ago
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.
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
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...
Carney 5 years ago
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.
Jason Marin 3 years ago
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.
Sirt TenTea 5 years ago
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.!
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
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?
Kathy Smith 5 years ago
I’d like to see a list of things that decent, polite customers hate about rude, oblivious clerks.
John Baker 5 years ago
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.
Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff 5 years ago
Reading this gave me an anyurism, because I am going to work in half an hour and I work in a grocery store
Jeff Diamond 5 years ago
I worked retail for a few years, and I swore I would never do it again. Examples like these only make my conviction stronger.
Mimi777 5 years ago
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.
Katrina B. 5 years ago
They forgot the biggest pet peeve (at least for places with them): putting the carts in the corrals!!
Jaybird3939 5 years ago
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.
TimesNewLogan 5 years ago
Some countries have mandatory military service for a year. The US should have mandatory retail service for a year.
Krazy Kat 5 years ago
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.
Jayson Hammer 5 years ago
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.
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
I wish I could up vote you 1000 times.
Load More Replies... Hans 5 years ago
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.
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
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... Falcon 5 years ago
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.
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
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... Carney 5 years ago
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.
Jason Marin 3 years ago
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.
Sirt TenTea 5 years ago
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.!
Kenny Kulbiski 5 years ago
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?
Kathy Smith 5 years ago
I’d like to see a list of things that decent, polite customers hate about rude, oblivious clerks.
John Baker 5 years ago
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.
Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff 5 years ago
Reading this gave me an anyurism, because I am going to work in half an hour and I work in a grocery store
Jeff Diamond 5 years ago
I worked retail for a few years, and I swore I would never do it again. Examples like these only make my conviction stronger.
Mimi777 5 years ago
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.
Katrina B. 5 years ago
They forgot the biggest pet peeve (at least for places with them): putting the carts in the corrals!!
Jaybird3939 5 years ago
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.
TimesNewLogan 5 years ago
Some countries have mandatory military service for a year. The US should have mandatory retail service for a year.
Krazy Kat 5 years ago
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.
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