Irk

One thing that really irks me (I like that word, irk) is people who argue with you no matter what. The customer is NOT always right, and they should get that stupid thought out of their heads. When I tell you a goldfish CANNOT live in a betta-fish-like bowl I want you to believe me, and just because you saw on it tv does NOT mean it can, and that I am in fact, mistaken. No, I'm right, you're wrong. Deal? Deal.

Just... what?

So I'm walking across the store towards the dog kennels, I'm opening up the door to the back room when I over hear a conversation.
Man: I swear these dogs are genetically modified. They just don't look... natural.
Woman: Oh I know what you mean. What is a cocker-chihuahua? How are they making these things?
Man: Who knows... some science. Cruel.
Woman: I agree, let's leave.

I stand in the doorway, flabbergasted. Yes, flabbergasted.
That actually just happened. I actually heard that.

People amaze me in their stupidity.

Stupid Customer 2

Okay, so going along with last post, I have a similar story.
Once again I'm up at cash with a few other people around me.

A lady comes up to me, once again holding a baby.
she asks: "Do you sell bathing suits here?"
I reply, kind of curiously: "for dogs?"
she gives me a look that says: "are you retarded girl?"
"NO!" she shouts. "for babies!"
"we ARE a pet store..."

What is with people wanting things for their babies at my pet store?
THERE IS A "PLEASE MUM" ACROSS THE HALL!

Stupid Customer

So today I'm standing up at cash when a lady comes up to me, she's holding a baby, and she has a very thick accent. She looks at me and asks:
"yuh haff eeah cleanah for kits?"
I automatically think of ear mite cleaner for cats. Would make sense, yes?
So I double check.
"Ear cleaner for cats?"
She looks at me like I'm utterly stupid.
"Noh! Fohr Behbehs!" and she jiggles the kid in her arm. For babies.
I look around the store. We have a large Macaw in a cage right beside the woman, she walked past a cage of kittens to get to where I am standing.
"We are a PET STORE, ma'am."
"What ees thaht?"
I sigh. Actually?
"We sell animals, ma'am."
She looks around the store, "animals? Really?" she looks back at me like she thinks I'm lying to her. The Macaw chatters.
"Yes... really."
She leaves.
I look at my coworkers who were at cash with me, they all burst out laughing, all I can do is shake my head.

Hello, welcome to my retail hell

My name is Josalyne, I work in retail.
I feel like there should be retail support groups, where everyone in the room would reply: "Hello, Josalyne." back at me, while we all sit in a big circle, cold metal foldaway chairs under us, weak coffee brewing in a pot on a collapsible table near the door, a box of sugar cubes and powdered coffee creamer next to Styrofoam cups.

We'd all gather here a few times a week, a support group for the absolute shit we deal with day in and day out in our jobs. Clothing stores, fast food and the like. We would swap stories about customers and management, give a shoulder to cry on when it becomes too much to handle, when we want to throw in the towel and tell a customer "GET YOUR OWN FEEDER MICE, I'M OUT!"

This blog is about one of those jobs, the job I currently have, and I'll probably throw in a few stories from some past jobs as well. I've worked in retail since I was 14, and have many a story to fill this blog. Why from my shift today I could fill three posts.

I work at a pet store, I will not say which one, but it is vital that I say it is a pet store, will make the stories in this blog easier to understand. (See feeder mouse comment above)

This is my support group. Feel free to comment and tell me your stories too.

Hi, my name is Josalyne.
"Hello, Josalyne"
And I work in retail.