It’s been just over a month since we visited the world of retail. In that time, there have been a ton of scumbag Steves (see above).
Last week, a few customers came into my store half an hour before we close. Fine. Most people would be able to find an item or two they like, buy it, and be on there way. Not these people. They walked into the fitting room 2 minutes before we closed. I was nearby, checking to see if the store was empty (it wasn’t). When they spotted me, they must have known I was annoyed because they said “Sorry, we’ll just be a sec.”. Uh-huh. That’s about as true as Lady Gaga is subtle.
Signs that the store is closing
- Music is shut off
- Employees are following you around. Oddly, you notice they’re trying to push you towards the exit
- No one is smiling
- I tell you “We’re closing, can I help you find something?”
- The store manage says “No, seriously, we’re closing.”
It’s not that we don’t want the business. It’s just that we want it during store hours. As long as there’s a customer in the store who may make a purchase, we can’t close the register. That’s annoying when there’s money to be counted. Worse is when they walk around for 15 minutes past close and then exit the store without buying a single thing.
On the other hand, I do get paid extra every minute you screw around. Maybe it’s not such a tough gig after all.
