To the customers who shop a store at closing time: I work retail, and so do my co-workers. We aren’t doctors working an ER and saving lives, we just sell fun merchandise. Most of our customers are considerate, apologetic, and kind, but every now and then, we get a customer who seems to think retail workers are there to serve them.
Sure, while we’re open, we’re more than happy to assist you with whatever you need. But when you’ve been told, “Just so you know, we’re closing up in 15 minutes,” and then again at 10 minutes, five minutes, and at actual closing time, you decide that’s when you want to ask for help? Really dude? You treated us like we were the downstairs servants at Downton Abbey, and you’re the Lord of the house. We’re not.
Our store was open all day long, every employee was tired and would’ve loved to go home and get off their feet. But you couldn’t have cared less and continued to ask mundane questions about which item would look better on you! You know what, buddy? Who cares? At 10 minutes past close, we not only don’t care, but we’re probably going to give you the opposite advice on what looks nice on your white male privilege excuse for a human being. I really wish I could find out where you work and come overstay my self-centered welcome so you get a sense of what insensitivity feels like!
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My assumption is dude was just fucking with you due to your passive aggressive time checks. I found the best way to handle the late hour shopper is doubling down on customer service (which I know can suck after a long day but it’s still just retail, not construction). You never know, that person could be the difference between an okay day to a great day.
You had me until “white male privilege excuse for a human being.”
“White male privilege excuse for a human being” in a rant about uncivil behavior is so Seattle. Sigh.
1: Great points
2 and 3: Such a illiberal thing to say. Sigh indeed.
Yep, he was being an asshole, but your business depends on sales, repeat customers, and having a good reputation. It sounds like you did take care of them and are just venting, so good on you.
well
at Least
they were
Paid a little
Overtime, right?
a
chosen
few of tS’s
commentariat’d
be quite Pleased were
you to come in at three
minutes til Closing, on the
Last Day before a three-day
Weekend & discuss inane inanities
til the following Monday, just as Long
as you didn’t project any Bad Vibrations.
@5 I doubt the workers own the business and highly doubt higher revenue from harder work would translate to higher wages
@4 illiberal might be a compliment depending who you’re talking to, and I don’t mean conservatives
Wholesale landscaping place I use to work at would just turn off the lights and/or blast Closing Time at frightening volume. Perfectly courteous up till closing time though, including courteous warnings of approaching closing time, and a very successful business to boot.
Tell me the place you work, lest I not meet your criteria for service or schedule. I want to avoid disturbing your exit plan.
Don’t worry about it. Your retail establishment probably won’t survive that much longer anyway. So you’ll be free of these annoying customers.