Current Events > Retail Workers: What little things do customers do that just annoys you?

(+) Yeah! (+)

But, the customer is always right guys.
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In regards to #1 I always waited for them to pick the change and hand it to me.
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WizardPowers posted...

Just in general getting mad when we don't know where things are

I get people who have come into my work on a weekly basis for the past 7 years I've worked there presuming I don't know where things are. Not only have I put away everything in the store more times than they've shopped there but we have an extremely low turn over rate, we've had the same employees for the past 2 years with no change.
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Worker: "gimme one quick second I'll be right with you"

Customer: "yes can I bla bla bla"

Worker: "one minute please"

Customer: "ok, can I bla bla bla"

Worker: (in head) "how the fuck do you get around in life"
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- Sweaty. Boob. Money. It's gotten to a point where I tell them I won't take it and they'll need another form of payment. People get stupid mad about it too.

- Haggling at the till. This is a company, not some mom and pop operation. I give you a discount, I get written up. You saving $4 is not worth my job.

- Trying to return used products, returning without a receipt, or returning way out of policy (like, months after).

- Throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child. Shut the fuck up and come back when you grow up.

- Kids trying to buy games/movies that are rated 17+ and trying to convince us to sell them. You getting a product is not. Worth. My. Job.
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1. Putting their open drinks on the end of the conveyor belt. Spilled coffee isn't fun and lrn2fuckingphysics, people. Oh, or people who mix their orders in with the order in front of theirs. Use a divider, dickwad.

2. Changing their mind about buying something and shoving it somewhere it shouldn't be. Doubly so when it's a cold item. Extra points if it's been opened and consumed.

3. Holding up the line and causing a fuss because you got the wrong coupon/coupon items.

4. Customers who don't know how to do their WIC and keep going back to get the correct items.

5. People who go under/around the rope/sign showing that the lane is closed because it's time for me to go home.

6. People who think they're funny. "I just printed that bill today!" "It didn't scan, it must be free." Ha. Ha. Ha...

7. Customers who are on their phone and treat me like I'm invisible.

8. Paying large bill in change. Fuck you.
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It's always the adults and old people who are so whiny and will never compromise.

The kids are always accepting and don't mind if there is a problem.
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Leanaunfurled posted...

Customers who are on their phone and treat me like I'm invisible.

I actually got written up because a customer complained I wasn't attentive to them "Simply because I was on a very important phone call."

I don't play that. A lot of the time I need to talk to a customer about what they're picking up and explain something, and I can't do that when they're on the phone
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Leanaunfurled posted...

6. People who think they're funny. "I just printed that bill today!"

You should mess with them and say "Looks like you did. This is a counterfeit." and watch the color drain from their face.

- Stare at you while you scan their items, just standing there not doing anything, and not help out and bag to make the transaction go faster

- Use $100 bills, especially right after the till gets changed

- Ask for $200 cash back and are surprised when the register doesn't have enough

- (This happened to me yesterday) Use a credit slip from a different supermarket and act surprised saying "I thought all ShopRite were the same!" My ShopRite has never used a credit slip afaik. Didn't even know that was a thing until yesterday.
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Do you have (made up word for particular tool)? Then they describe a incorrect usage for said tool, spend an hour trying to help them find whatever they are looking for only for them to still get a completely incorrect tool even though you have gone out of your way to explain that no an arc welder will not work as a soldering gun as many possible ways as you can.
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Puglia77 posted...

Ask for $200 cash back and are surprised when the register doesn't have enough

Holy shit y'all's cash back goes up to that much?
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DezCaughtIt posted...

Puglia77 posted...

Ask for $200 cash back and are surprised when the register doesn't have enough

Holy shit y'all's cash back goes up to that much?

yeah, for real lol. Mine went up to $100 cash back and that caused enough problems.
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iosifsvoboda posted...

I am trrrible at folding clothes so I feel bad when I look at some shirts or something and the stand looks like a mess

Me too, I do my best but it never looks like it was originally. I'm sorry :(
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_Schwarzlicht_ posted...

iosifsvoboda posted...

I am trrrible at folding clothes so I feel bad when I look at some shirts or something and the stand looks like a mess

Me too, I do my best but it never looks like it was originally. I'm sorry :(

At least you try and don't simply Ball it up and throw it on the rack like some jerks do. A bad fold is better than a pile of clothes any day.

Never worked retail but I did work at Subway.

The worst thing was having a lot of people in line, them coming up to order and not knowing what they want.

Like c'mon...you've been in line for like 5 minutes already.
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Mikablu posted...

You should mess with them and say "Looks like you did. This is a counterfeit." and watch the color drain from their face.

Oh man. I'm no longer a cashier (work at the same store, different department) but I so want to try this now.

But yeah, the people who get rude simply because you don't know where something is in the store. I can understand a small gas station store or whatever, but with a huge chain store I'm not gonna know where every single item is gonna be, especially when they keep moving shit around like every couple weeks. I once had a lady get mad at me and say "well what fucking good are you?"

If it didn't risk my job I would've gone off on her for saying that shit.
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Fat woman came into the electronic department today and got a TV and a DVD player. She pulled her money out of her sweaty, flabby boobs. The bills were soaked in sweat. My co-workers were laughing at me when I poured half a bottle of hand sanitizer on my hands.

An idiot also came into the electronics after he came from the customer service complaining that they will not let him exchange his open 360 game for an X1 game. Got mad when I said the exact same thing that CS told him. Can only exchange for same game on same system. Wanted to speak to a manager. He said the same thing. He left pissed.
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Another thing that annoys me: when something doesn't scan or not on file, the tired and worn out response is always "It must be free, huh?"
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DirkDiggles posted...

Another thing that annoys me: when something doesn't scan or not on file, the tired and worn out response is always "It must be free, huh?"

Yeah. I've gotten to the point where I don't even smile at that, I just pretend to ignore them while I'm focusing to try to get the item to scan. But thankfully I'm not a cashier anymore.

Oh yeah, another thing people constantly say when they sign their name for their card is they ask "Clear or OK?" Um...obviously "OK" is what you press to confirm something...it's so ridiculous the cashiers end up joking around with each other when they buy something at a register.
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1NfamousACE_2 posted...

Never worked retail but I did work at Subway.

The worst thing was having a lot of people in line, them coming up to order and not knowing what they want.

Like c'mon...you've been in line for like 5 minutes already.

Man. I've never worked food service but this is the kind of thing that always frustrates me at Panda Express >_>....there are always those 1 or 2 people ahead of you that don't know how to order or what they want...they ask for samples of everything. they don't understand how the side/entree selection works....it slows everything down.

Leanaunfurled posted...

7. Customers who are on their phone and treat me like I'm invisible.

I just treat them like they're invisible in response. I'll scan their items and then just look at them until they give me the money for it. I won't speak until they put the phone down and speak to me first.
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Being messy
Being rude
Trying to get your attention by whistling or making a noise as if we are dogs.
Coming into the store shortly before closing and not leaving until 30 minutes after closing, slowing down recovery and closing procedures.
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ZeroX91 posted...

Do you have (made up word for particular tool)? Then they describe a incorrect usage for said tool, spend an hour trying to help them find whatever they are looking for only for them to still get a completely incorrect tool even though you have gone out of your way to explain that no an arc welder will not work as a soldering gun as many possible ways as you can.

There was this lady that called last year and my coworker came up to me and told me she was looking for a "bagger" and I said I didn't know what that was and I convinced him to ask again (he didn't want to look like an idiot by asking what she said) and it turned out that it was a damn lawn mower. I know VA is in the south, but I didn't figure it was so far down south that people name their machines the most country sounding shit they can think of.
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At my job...

Customer: Do you work here?

*looks down at standard work attire and name tag*


At some other store as a customer myself.

Customer: Excuse me, do you know where the (item) is?

Me: I dunno.

customer: Why not?

Me: Because I don't work here.
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Stupid questions....

Customer: "Do you work here?"
Ofc not, I just decided to where Walgreens employee cloths inside Walgreens...

Customer: "Can you tell me if this medicine will cure this."
Me: "Sorry you would have to ask a pharmacist.
Customer: "You work here and dont know?"
Bitch, Im a retail worker. Not a licenced doctor or pharmacist.

Customers that ask cam I break the ruled because some other store did it. Im not the one.

Customers that see you are busy, walks passed a coworker whos not....and asks you for help instead.

I could go on for hours which is why Im glad Im out of retail.
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"It's not ringing up, must be free"
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"any discounts today?"
yea i scanned in a coupon for you
"can't do any less than that?"
....no stupid this isn't the flea market i can't change the prices

....then they always come back with "what about your employee discount bahahaha!"

Dont get me wrong, i hate having to stock while customers are shopping but thats the store and not me who decided this. That being said they get right up on me while im stocking. Just say anything and ill get out of your way but when strangers get close to me fast and stay there i get freaked out.
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Oh our system is being slow one second
"I DONT HAVE TO PAY HURRR"

Oh this isn't showing in our inventory
"ITS FREE HURRRR"

*Marks 20 with counterfeit pen*
I JUST MADE THEM THIS MORNING HURRR*

And any form of trying to haggle with me like I have the ability to change prices.

...which I do... But still
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Returning_CEmen posted...

Trying to get your attention by whistling or making a noise as if we are dogs.

I ignored these people.
Best part, since i was the manager, when they asked to speak to one and why I ignored them, i responded.."Sorry, I thought you were calling your dog because only a pet would respond to that."
They sometimes asked for the district number and I happily gave it to them. I was never afraid of corporate, that and I never got in trouble anyway.
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NocturneD85 posted...

At my job...

Customer: Do you work here?

*looks down at standard work attire and name tag*

This you?


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For some reason on Sunday people spend a ton of time reading nutrition facts. Only on Sunday. I dont know why.
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NocturneD85 posted...

At my job...

Customer: Do you work here?

*looks down at standard work attire and name tag*


At some other store as a customer myself.

Customer: Excuse me, do you know where the (item) is?

Me: I dunno.

customer: Why not?

Me: Because I don't work here.

If this was /r/IDontWorkHereLady, they'd then go marching up to the nearest manager to demand they fire you immediately.
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"What's the difference between the pulled pork and the sliced brisket?"
"How much chicken do you get on that half chicken plate?"
"I can't believe you guys charge $13.99 for the All You Can Eat Chicken, that is too much!"
"Why does the Brisket sandwich cost more than the Pulled Pork sandwich?"
"I can't believe this is all I get! This isn't enough meat for $5." (They had ordered a kid pulled pork sandwich, which comes with a side and a small drink... <_<)

Eh, I would give a break to the ones asking about brisket. Maybe they just don't eat a lot of BBQ. Some people don't.
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Puglia77 posted...

- Use $100 bills, especially right after the till gets changed

- Ask for $200 cash back and are surprised when the register doesn't have enough

this This THIIIISSSSSSSS
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Customers that run to the register without being called after I did a return and the counter is still a mess

Ones that leave their cart at the register and then the next customers do that too and it's a demolition derby of carts

I hear this a lot "this doesn't have a price but I found it in the clearance section" which means they want it cheap and they get mad when I find the price and it's not what they wanted

Speaking of clearance section, sometimes customers or kids will leave things there instead of putting it back so then different customers think that item is on clearance even though you can tell by the color of the tag that it's not. They play dumb and say "but it was in the clearance section"

People that will throw their things at the counter and not care about them but all of a sudden don't like the way I fold their shirts and/or pants

When customers are buying a lot of things or big products I let them know the cart locks at the doors so it doesn't go outside, they uh huh me and then when it comes time to leave they are surprise the cart locked and ask me how they are going to carry everything to their car
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I thought of more

Customers that rush to put everything on a counter as if that makes the transaction go faster, it's not a race to empty your cart/basket onto the counter and it will still take some time especially if everything has a sensor on it

Customers that are buying a lot of shirts and very gently lay them down as if they were an egg, then they bend the top part of all the shirts so it looks like one big U, this slows down the transaction as I have to unfold the pancake

Customers that empty everything in their cart/basket onto the counter so they stack things up like some merchandise jenga, making it harder to get one thing without knocking everything over

Customers will try to return well worn shoes and say they just tried them on, ummm...there's noticable marks and stains on the bottoms

A customer can do a return,buy a lot of things,do a layaway and take their time counting their money and exact change but customers will give me a dirty look as if I'm the one holding up the line
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What I do to get around the using large bills right after midnight is give the tobacco register some additional funds on Thursday and Friday because many people are paid on those days.

Customers getting the wrong item for WIC is also frustrating. There is an app that you can scan products to make sure they are eligible. Said app also has the shopping guide in it.

I also hate it when customers go through self checkouts with about half of the store in there cart, doubly so when I need to get them switched over for the next day.
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I work in a pharmacy. Smoking and paying in 100 dollar bills in the drive thru. Same guy does both of these things! We will purposely go slow when we have to get change for him.

Work as walmart overnight maintenance...

>Gum all over store,
>chicken bones all over food aisles,
>some bitch shits in the outside break patio area,
>seeing me cleaning and then asking me where to find their stupid shit they're looking for. I'm maintenance, not a stocker, don't fucking ask me for anything,
>watching me headed toward you with the buffer and not moving. MOVE ASSHOLE. I'm supposed to do it in a straight line and can't wi th you in the way.

BossVersion1 posted...

I work in a pharmacy. Smoking and paying in 100 dollar bills in the drive thru. Same guy does both of these things! We will purposely go slow when we have to get change for him.

Oh don't even get me started on our drive thru

Jesus Christ
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Maybe this is me being nitpicky.

But don't take five minutes trying to dig exact change out of the crack of your ass because heaven forbid someone hand you back anything other than cash.
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I am a cashier at a Walmart. There is a bright orange sign that says DO NO PUT HEAVY ITEMS ON CART in clear view.

Does that stop people from putting 18L water jugs and 24 packs of pop on the till? Fuck no!
I have multiple sclerosis. If you can put it up on the belt, you can also take it off for me, and don't put it there next time. It ruins the belts.

We have hand scanners to get those items.
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EyeWontBeFooled posted...

I am a cashier at a Walmart. There is a bright orange sign that says DO NO PUT HEAVY ITEMS ON CART in clear view.

Does that stop people from putting 18L water jugs and 24 packs of pop on the till? Fuck no!

Tbf, I wouldn't consider a 24-pack of canned sodas to be something so heavy that you can't put it on the belt.
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Let me guess you guys also get pissy when someone gives you extra money so they can get a 5 or 10 back instead of 4 or 9 or pulls exact change out of their pocket and says "I guess it's my lucky day
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iosifsvoboda posted...

when someone gives you extra money so they can get a 5 or 10 back instead of 4 or 9

No, that's awesome. I like those people.

iosifsvoboda posted...

or pulls exact change out of their pocket and says "I guess it's my lucky day

Yeah, that's annoying. Not the exact change part, that's fine (unless they take 20 minutes to count it while there's a line of people behind them), but the stupid joke comment. Goes along with the whole "jokes everybody's heard a million times and you are not funny for adding another one to the tally" thing mentioned earlier.
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pegusus123456 posted...

EyeWontBeFooled posted...

I am a cashier at a Walmart. There is a bright orange sign that says DO NO PUT HEAVY ITEMS ON CART in clear view.

Does that stop people from putting 18L water jugs and 24 packs of pop on the till? Fuck no!

Tbf, I wouldn't consider a 24-pack of canned sodas to be something so heavy that you can't put it on the belt.

I once had a customer put so much crap on the belt, it would not move. It isn't good for the belts, so don't put them on there, full stop.

If you need more, I am indeed physically capable of lifting said heavy items once in a while. Lifting, dragging, and awkwardly curving my back carrying 25+lbs of product several dozen times a day, over the course of a week, a month, a year, however, WILL get to you.

Also, I have a hand scanner to reach these items. Why lift that kind of stuff more than you have to? To show off your slick muscles at the grocery store?
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I thought of another one, the breakroom is right next to the bathrooms more specifically it's next door to the ladies restroom, so many people will see the ladies restroom sign and stick figure picture on the door and ignore it and go straight into the break room that has a big red caution employees only sign. How can you miss the bathroom
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