People who go out of their way to be rude (semi-long retail rant) [View All]

[skygazer]

:rant:

I'm so glad it's Friday. Retail during the holidays, even in a grocery store, is so stressful. And there are so many people who are just assholes, to put it bluntly.

Had a lady today, asked her if I could help her. She asks if I carry a certain wine. No, I'm sorry, I don't, I tell her politely.

"You mean you're out or you never carry it?"

"I don't carry it."

"Well, other stores in this chain carry it." (belligerently, as if she expects me to say, "oh, sorry, in that case, I'll just pull some out of my ass for you.")

"Well," I explain patiently and politely, "this is a very small store so I don't have room to carry all the wines other, bigger stores might have."

"Hmmmph! All the more reason not to come here. What a stupid store!" and she stomps off in a huff.

Now this doesn't hurt or even offend me but it does kind of amaze me. I am often used by customers as a sort of whipping post for their frustrations and frankly, abusing a retail clerk is kind of like beating a chained dog - they can't leave and they can't fight back. It's pretty low.

Got a complaint about the store condition? Like another lady did today - ("you never have anything I need, the shelves are always bare!" At first, I thought she was talking about MY department which I keep up very well - there's hardly ever an empty space but then I realized she was talking about other areas) - speak to the manager. That's his department, not mine. I'm just a fucking clerk. I stock shelves. I don't write schedules, I don't oversee the grocery department or the seafood or whatever she was bitching about, I stock wine and liquor.

"They should hire more people!" she snaps to me. Yeah, they should and I wish they would because I'm working my ass off and getting nothing in return but a ration of shit from people like you, lady. But I'm not in charge of hiring. I'm a fucking clerk.

I'm sorry - I don't hate my job either. I actually like it most of the time but there's a vocal minority of miserable people out there who make life miserable for everyone they come in contact with. We DON'T have enough staff and we are all overworked, stretched too thin, and it does affect a shopper's experience and I personally think it's poor business practice. But I'm not in charge. I'm just trying to do the best I can and you know, very few people ever tell you when you're doing a GOOD job - they let you know when they're not happy, though.