Listen up everyone.
If you step in a mall you NEED to read this.
Because you are all slobs.
Seriously.
I'm talking mostly about clothing stores here, but this also applies to all places of retail.
1) I'm assuming that most people who read this blog are parents. Let me lay out a scenario here. You step into the other room to answer the phone for a couple of minutes leaving your toddler to their own devices. Now the room you just left was clean, spotless even. Not more than two minutes later you return to the room only to find that your toddler has TRASHED the place! The question I ask you is this. Are able to clean up that mess in two minutes?
Didn't think so. The same general principle that making messes is FAR EASIER than cleaning them up also applies to EVERY retail situation. We are all hurried when we shop, hauling around kids, a stroller, diaper bag and/or purse and other shopping bags. But that does not mean we have the right to trash the place we are shopping. Would you allow your kids to do that? No. So why do you allow yourself to do that? Uncool, very uncool.
I know, I know what you're thinking, "Those store clerks fold so well and the folds are so complicated I could never replicate them." And in many cases, yeah, what you fold isn't going to look as good as what the store employees do, but guess what? At least you tried and at least you didn't unfold a shirt completely and leave sprawled all over the table. Try to leave the display as you found it. This will make it easier for you to shop as well as for the other customers.
True story.
2) Additionally, and I know this will shock all of you. The store employees did not make the mess. You, the customer did. Venting your displeasure at the store personnel is not going to go over well. If this displeases you that the store is not cleaning up your messes as fast as they are being made. Go back to the first paragraph, the one where it takes longer to clean a mess than make it. Then add in the customer to employee ratio. Guess what? They are doing the best they can!
3) This is the most important rule in retail. Follow it no matter how upset you are.
"You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."
The most dreaded words a manager hears are, "I want to speak to a manager." They are already walking over bracing themselves for a verbal assault of what has gone so horribly wrong in your day. Shock them with kindness! In most cases they can TRY to make the situation work, it may not be what you absolutely want and guess what they want to make sure you are happy, but only if you are pleasant. Yelling and accusations are not going to get you anywhere, except being shown the door. That being said, large companies have gotten smart with how their field employees can work the system, so the manager may not always be able to do exactly what you want or need, but be pleasant help find middle ground and they will go the extra mile. Lastly, the second you say something like, "I used to work in retail, I know what you can do," you've completely lost the battle and shown your ignorance.
Got that? Let me say it again. NEVER LOSE YOUR TEMPER IN A STORE!
4) You know how EVERY store you walk into tries to sell you their brand credit card. And yes, some are so much worse than others. Do you honestly think those teenage employees really care that you personally open a card? Probably not. But guess what it is part of their job requirement. Meaning they don't sell that card they get canned. Fair? Unfair? I'll keep those views to myself. But there is no need to get upset with them or make some uncomfortable comment about how you have "too many cards already" or that your "spouse/partner/boyfriend/husband would kill you." A simple, "No, but thank you for asking," once you wait for them to finish their spiel is enough.
5) Check writing died with 90s. Get a check card. Use it. Love it. Don't trust yourself with a check card? Cash works as well. Fraudulent check writing is one of the biggest causes of bad debt that a company carries. As a result, a lot stores don't even take them anymore. And the ones that do are going to make you jump through a bunch of hoops to use them. You don't like it and neither do they. But a few bad seeds ruined it for everyone. Sorry. Don't believe me? Watch Catch Me if You Can for a wonderfully entertaining history of check fraud!
6) I don't know if any of you have noticed, but the country is kind of in an economic free fall right now. As a result stores have drastically reduced the amount of merchandise they have on hand. People aren't buying so stores just don't have any incentive to carry unlimited amounts of merchandise anymore. Unfortunately that means the item you want will not always be there. Additionally, and this goes for clothing stores. Styles are available in limited numbers. They change every season and the main objective in retail is to sell the item BEFORE it lands in clearance. Sell out is the point. For basic items stores try their hardest to keep those items in stock all the time, but especially in this economic climate there is just no way to predict customer behavior. Just ask nicely and a store employee will hopefully at least find you another store location where you can get your item (there are often shipment options if you are willing to wait) or they may even, gasp, point you to another chain entirely. Rest assured no associate has any kind of personal vendetta against you and no one is hiding merchandise from you. Also, there are often strict rules about when an associate can purchase, hold or shop for items so they are not given an unfair advantage.
Yes I know there are managers and employees out there who are absolute horrors. They are intentionally mean and awful. The do nothing to help and can't even smile or be friendly. Guess what they are just bad apples and the rest of the retail world is sorry they exist! But don't judge every store employee by that model. They try not to judge you by the mess making, rude and obnoxious customer model. So make the most of your holiday return, sale and clearance season. Be courteous and try to keep organized, sometimes you may make such an impression on a manager you may get a little extra something coming to you!
True story.
