A column for my fellow retail co-hoards, shopaholics and actually for every single person spending or who has ever spent money in a retail store. I came up with this idea while speaking with my best friend over the holidays. My stories of what I dealt with through each season
was less than desirable; sometimes funny and this year even gross. She said “you really should start writing these stories down!”, thus the birth of Retail Diaries. I’m excited to now be sharing these stories via the web…maybe, just maybe, people will realize not every sales
person out there is a “used car salesman” and actually genuinely cares what they are selling you. Or the scammers might think twice about returning three year old, worn clothes, no tag, no
receipt and want cash back (probably not though.) And of course, there will be lots of laughs from those who suffered the season and the everyday retail life with me across the world.
I will obviously not be able to disclose where I work retail because of legality issues, but the
stories will be fun none the less!
Do you have a story you want to share with me?! Please send it to my email….I will post and
comment.
Thank you for reading…I welcome comments!!
Enjoy-SHEL!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A Wet Chiffon Mess!
I have to say that my favorite thing about this season were the rude customers and the put backs! Yes, it’s true every year we have some of this, but this year in this “challenging” economy it was almost unbearable! And what I found more challenging than the so called bad economy was holding my tongue and suppressing my temper to these ungrateful and mostly idiotic customers.
While, my employer refused to send us or hire us a fitting room checker, it was easily tacked on (by employer) to our list of “on the job duties.” Because selling a $400 gown to a tourist who only speaks Italian and you English, is a piece of cake! And selling this gown atop a pile of already tried on clothes makes that gown that much more special! We needed a checker!
To my point, while cleaning out a fitting room where one or multiple, who really knows, customers had gone in and ransacked the place…I was quickly picking up while looking for hangers to hang them up. Arms full of wrinkled, dirty, although new clothing; I spotted a rolled up mess of what looked like the newest BCBG chiffon cocktail dress which was marked at $398. As quickly as I scooped it into my already overflowing arms, I realized it was drenched, and threw it back down. How can this be? Well apparently someone was just too excited about how good it looked on them or scared at what they saw in the mirror, either way it was urine, lots of urine! That’s $398 toilet paper?
Ok ladies or gentlemen, not sure who tried it on as you can’t segregate fitting rooms or apparently the store can be sued, if you urinate on something, why would you leave it? It’s your urine, and it’s just as bad as stealing, why not take it? At least if you got caught you could say…I did it out of kindness so that the associate didn’t have to touch my urine. And if that doesn’t work, ask for a bag place urinated item in it and hand to associate with a small lie, you found it this way and wanted to be a good Samaritan and help out. OR just using the toilet, bano, potty, lavatory whatever it is you call it, maybe best. This way everyone is happy. I sell a clean, gorgeous cocktail dress and you are relieved.
Now there comes a point in everyone’s career (God I hope this isn’t mine) where you evaluate, how much am I really making here? Is it enough to clean up urine drenched clothes, listen to screaming children and hope my paycheck reflects my outstanding efforts and work ethic? If the answer is ‘no’ get out! Quick, before you get stuck. I found myself asking myself this A LOT this season.
And I should have taken my own advice, but I’m still here.
While, my employer refused to send us or hire us a fitting room checker, it was easily tacked on (by employer) to our list of “on the job duties.” Because selling a $400 gown to a tourist who only speaks Italian and you English, is a piece of cake! And selling this gown atop a pile of already tried on clothes makes that gown that much more special! We needed a checker!
To my point, while cleaning out a fitting room where one or multiple, who really knows, customers had gone in and ransacked the place…I was quickly picking up while looking for hangers to hang them up. Arms full of wrinkled, dirty, although new clothing; I spotted a rolled up mess of what looked like the newest BCBG chiffon cocktail dress which was marked at $398. As quickly as I scooped it into my already overflowing arms, I realized it was drenched, and threw it back down. How can this be? Well apparently someone was just too excited about how good it looked on them or scared at what they saw in the mirror, either way it was urine, lots of urine! That’s $398 toilet paper?
Ok ladies or gentlemen, not sure who tried it on as you can’t segregate fitting rooms or apparently the store can be sued, if you urinate on something, why would you leave it? It’s your urine, and it’s just as bad as stealing, why not take it? At least if you got caught you could say…I did it out of kindness so that the associate didn’t have to touch my urine. And if that doesn’t work, ask for a bag place urinated item in it and hand to associate with a small lie, you found it this way and wanted to be a good Samaritan and help out. OR just using the toilet, bano, potty, lavatory whatever it is you call it, maybe best. This way everyone is happy. I sell a clean, gorgeous cocktail dress and you are relieved.
Now there comes a point in everyone’s career (God I hope this isn’t mine) where you evaluate, how much am I really making here? Is it enough to clean up urine drenched clothes, listen to screaming children and hope my paycheck reflects my outstanding efforts and work ethic? If the answer is ‘no’ get out! Quick, before you get stuck. I found myself asking myself this A LOT this season.
And I should have taken my own advice, but I’m still here.
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