What's your problem?

Today a woman asked me for help. She didn't ask particularly politely, but it's my job to help her regardless of whether she passed the "please and thank you" part of kindergarten. So I tried to help her. But I couldn't quite tell what she wanted because she was asking for help for her FRIEND's problem. The friend hadn't asked her for help, so the woman didn't know ANYTHING about her friend's problem. So how was I supposed to help her?! I couldn't help her. AT ALL.

Pretend my store is a shoe store. The woman wanted shoe inserts to correct her friend's foot problem, yet didn't know the friend's shoe size or what her specific problem was. Further, it's a PERSONAL thing that if the friend wanted the help, the FRIEND would have gone shopping and ASKED for help. What a busybody.

So the woman was all pissed off because I couldn't show her anything to help her friend's problem even though she didn't really know what the friend's problem was. Yep, all my fault. I'm a terrible employee. NOW LEAVE AND LET ME HELP OTHER PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEIR PROBLEM IS!!

Beware

On a personal note, may I remind everyone that little quirks about people will only get worse as they get older. If it's slightly annoying now, in 20 years it will drive you CRAZY!

Creepy Guy

What is it about retail that makes some men think they can say/do anything they want to female clerks??

I think I actually prefer the not-funny jokes of a sexual nature from the older guy (which stopped after I spoke with him) than the general creepiness of today's guy. He commented on various things without really asking for my help but whenever I tried to go somewhere else, he'd follow me. He also didn't get the concept of (or didn't care about) personal space and STAYING AWAY FROM ME so I took a break far away from the sales floor until he left.

After he checked out, the cashier asked if he needed help out with his large but manageable purchases (WHY DID SHE ASK HIM THAT?). He said yes and requested me. I got halfway to the front and saw that it was him requesting assistance. I asked a male employee to carry the items for him. When the customer saw the male employee, he refused the help. Then he came and found me before he left to get in some more creepiness. Nothing specific that I can point to as "sexual harassment," but he made me uncomfortable in a way that he wouldn't have done to a guy.

I know, there were other people in the parking lot, but he had a foot and hundred pounds on me..........I wasn't going anywhere NEAR his car!

Now occasionally we'll have only women working. Usually not, but sometimes. What would I have done in that case? Told the guy I wasn't able to help him? Had two women walk out with him? Hmmm..........

Blanket

I came into work this morning to find a blanket near the front door. We have to clean up beer bottles, fast food trash, and even diapers out of the parking lot on a regular basis. But a blanket is something new.

My first thought was someone had spent the night sheltered against our building. But when I got closer, the smell...........it had a strong smell of oil or gasoline.......did someone do a late-night oil change in our parking lot? Why?

A Waste of Time

First phone call of the day:

"Do you carry product X?"

Yes.

"How much is it?"

Price range.

"Who makes it?"

Company ABC.

"Oh, because I tried doing an internet search and I couldn't find product X. I live 10 miles away and didn't want to drive all the way to your store......" At that point I stopped listening. That's great! The person's so lazy/stupid that they can't do a proper internet search, so instead they call and pretend to be a potential customer just to get info so they can turn around and buy the product online?! What a waste of my time!