I work part time in retail and just need to vent about a few things because maybe if I put it out there, some of the miserable shoppers I have encountered will somehow see this (i would think no one from here is this miserable) and maybe they will lighten up a little.

1. Please do not yell at the staff because we are out of items, boxes etc. We do not make the orders, or have any control of the ordering process.


2. We are not a coat room, we can not hold your coat and packages while you shop the mall just because we are on your way out. The same with child care, we can not babysit your child because you are having a difficult time controlling the child in the crowded mall.

3. We were told we can not say have a Merry Christmas to customers because it offends some people, so instead we are saying Have a nice Holiday. Please don't yell at us about how you don't celebrate anything because we have no idea who celebrates and who doesn't and we are only trying to be nice.

4. where I work, we are not allowed to give coupons to the customers, however I always print some before my shift and if I see someone on the floor with a large purchase, i will discreetly hand them one to use. Please do not tell me how you aren't poor, or would not be caught using coupons a simple no thank you is sufficent. There are people who do appreciate them, like the couple who I helped save $30.00

5. Please don't let your children run aropund because if they get hurt, you will have no one to blame but yourself. I had one lady who's son fell ask my co-worker "How did that happen, weren't you watching him"

6. Please while at the register do not take or make a call on your phone and tell us to "hold on" while you conduct your call, there are people behind you who also have other things to do.

Thanks for letting me vent. Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping to all

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

I've never done any of those things, and I can't imagine how awful some people must be, but here are a couple points I'd like to make regarding #3 and #4:

#3 :Why do retail outlets make their employees mention holidays at all? I'm perfectly happy with, "Thank you."

#4: If you're not allowed to do it, maybe you shouldn't. Why risk getting in trouble with your employer and being verbally assaulted by customers?

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I think the same could be said from shoppers to the staff.

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Be careful what you wish for.....

You sweet thing!

I agree people are so jacked anymore. Nobody can bother to be responsible for themselves, just about ANYthing is someone else's problem.

It's such a simple thing - courtesy. So MANY aspects of general life would run much more smooth if people could remember that.

I'd be SO many different shades of fired if I was in your position. To the "Weren't you watching him?" Mom - "No Ma'am, this is a STORE, not free day care". To the cell phone users, loud enough to be heard clearly, "I'm sorry, please step aside to finish your call, the next person behind you is waiting".

I'm so OVER disrespectful and rude people!

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Oh...don't get me started on that list! lol

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Another is don't get mad at me because your charge card or check was declined. It's your fault not mine. Checking balances before you go out to marathon shop is a good idea.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

If you choose to wait until Christmas eve to shop, don't complain about the lines!

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

No worries, DanniC got it started for you in another thread. Hop on, and add your two cents

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Common courtesy has gone away for the most part. Customers feel entitled to something they don't put out it's sad to see how rude people are to service staff.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Thanks....lol

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I do it because I would say 7 out of 10 people do appreciate it, some will say that they never thought to print them, and others appreciate it because they didn't have the supplies or a computer to print them. and those people tell us that they know coupons are out there but they don't have a way to print them. The people who appreciate them out number the complainers and if I can help someone then I will do it, it's not like I'm giving them my discount

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

Well, you can't really complain about how you are treated when you do it, if it is against company policy and you do it anyway.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

What does company policy have to do with a customer being snooty? Her doing something that could potentially get her in trouble wasn't the issue - the attitude was.

All it takes is a polite "No thank you".

Sorry, no excuses for that.

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My point was that if you don't do something that you are not supposed to, you would not have to worry about that problem.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I would LOVE my cashier if she only just accepted my coupons and didn't give me a hard time for them ( I would love them even more if they actually gave me coupons to save more money :-)

In some of my worst expiriences the cashiers will harras and upset me just for having coupons ( main reason I do'nt shop at Walmart anymore ).

It's the season when people both customers and retail workers tend to be grumpy, tired, overworked and stressed.

I tend not to let it bother me if they are moody with me as a custumer ( this mainly due to the fact that once upon a time I used to be the tired, overworked, underpaid cashier LOL so I know how that feels too.

Anyway Kuddos to all the great reatil workers who still smile, say thank you, and are friendly :-)

I am going to jump in here even though I rarely post here anymore....I work at Bath and BodyWorks part time. I have a full-time job. I am a college graduate with a degree in commercial art. I work part time because I am a single parent living in the most expensive part of the country with a daughter in college...

It goes both ways....I go beyond pleasant to ALL of my customers, it is how you build the business and the relationship. I also have co-workers who text on the floor which is against company policy.

I had one customer who wanted me to give her her coupon back after she had used it and got all huffy when I told her I couldn't (I am not putting my job at risk).

There is also a huge language barrier problem these days. I am sorry but my position is if you live in America you have to have at least have some basic knowledge of the English language. I had one couple give me their coupon and product for a free item . They needed to make a $10 purchase to get the free item, they weren't doing that and after repeatedly trying to tell them that they walked out in a huff, again not my fault and again I am not going to risk my job.....

If everyone could take a few moments to just put themselves in the others shoes, maybe the customer is having a rough day and by the same token maybe the cashier just had 10 horrible customers in a row, things could get more pleasant....

I do have to say 90% of the customer I encounter are PLEASANT and very engaging at the cash register...