The Twelve Worst Things About Working In Retail

Sometimes working in retail has its advantages, you don’t have to work too late, you can progress quite quickly and the discounts are to die for. Then other times, it is about as much fun as gouging your own eyes out. Most of us have had a retail job at some point or another, here are the twelve worst things about it.

1. You have to do silly stuff that doesn’t make sense.

But if we price that whole area at full price, next week it will go into sale. That’s a waste of time, but we’re doing it anyway.

2. You NEVER have a Christmas.

Christmas is another word for hell for all retail folk; it is without a shadow of a doubt the worst time of the year. Not only are customers giving out to you that stock has sold out, there is also the realisation that you will basically have one day off before you have to go back in for a sale.

3. Customers.

Even if you are being terribly polite, some customers feel they don’t need manners to speak to you. “Here you” is not your name.

4. Your manager has a great time.

Do they actually still work here?

5. When a customer says they can find something cheaper somewhere else.

How can you politely say we still get paid minimum wage even if you buy that somewhere else?

6. There are some silly rules.

But why do we have to be in ten minutes before our shift starts? Do we get paid for that? Why can’t we talk to our fellow colleagues? Are we in school? So many questions...

7. Finishing at 9pm on a Thursday night, working at 7am on Friday.

Just, why?

8. Queues at the till.

The ENTIRE shop is on their break, and a queue emerges from NOWHERE! Where did these people come from?

9. Why don’t you have it in stock?

There’s nothing worse than a customer standing and staring at you, looking terribly confused when you tell them you don’t have the item they are looking for. Why are you still standing there? We don’t have it. We can’t order it in because it hasn’t existed in over 300 years.

10. Shop is closing in three minutes, someone still browsing.

Please take your purchases to the nearest register... Or not, we can stay here all night.

11. When you take a job for the summer, and suddenly you work there for three years.

Oh my god, how did this happen? What happened to my dreams!

12. When you have to work every weekend in existence.

What’s a weekend?