I don’t have many nightmares, but the ones I do have are directly related to the time I spent working in a retail store during high school and college. I believe if you’ve worked in retail for more than two holiday seasons, you don’t need to worry about going to hell because you’ve already been there. I spent seven holiday seasons wishing people a merry Christmas and happy New Year, guessing their loved ones’ sizes, wrapping gifts and explaining return policies. Ninety-five percent of those situations were lovely; most people were rushed and stressed but happy to chit-chat with me. And the other five percent? Let’s just say, no one was ever going to make those people jolly. So, on behalf of St. Louis retail workers, I would like to offer the following suggestions.
Please respond when you are greeted upon entering a store. Our store policy was to greet every person who came in. Years later, I can admit that those who took two seconds to look at me and say hello got better service. You want me to check in the back for a different size? No problem. You’d like me to call another store? I’m on it. (That’s not to imply that I wouldn’t do those things if you ignored my greeting. Or maybe it is.)
If there is no price tag on an item, it is not free. Every retail worker has heard this joke many times. If you pick up something that doesn’t have a price tag on it, do yourself a favor—try to find an identical item and bring it with you when you check out. You will save yourself time and might even get a hug from the grateful cashier.
If the return policy isn’t posted, ask about it. Everyone tries their best to get the perfect gift, but sometimes you fail. When you do, a gift receipt always helps. Don’t buy from a store that has an unreasonable return policy. There are plenty of fabulous retailers in St. Louis that want your business and will take returns; shop at those instead and make everyone happy.
You are not quicker than the person working the cash register. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve heard people mumbling that they could do something faster or more efficiently than the employee behind the counter. Trust me, you’re wrong. You would last about 30 minutes, then you would run screaming from the store because of customers who try credit card after credit card before deciding they don’t want any of the stuff you already folded and bagged.
The parking lots will be crowded. There is a simple reason for this. Everyone celebrates the holidays at the same time, which means everyone shops at the same time, which means everyone needs to park at the same time. The salesperson who waits on you cannot help that. He or she likely had the same parking experience you did, or even had to be bussed in from offsite.
Be nice. It seems simple, doesn’t it? But your kind smile and heartfelt “Merry Christmas” or “Happy holidays” may be the extra little push your salesperson needs to make it to the end of her shift. Do it even if you don’t feel like it! Be the customer employees remember with a smile as they are driving home—not the one who asks them to dispose of a child’s dirty diaper. (Yes, that happened.) Happy shopping!
Contact Patty at phannum@townanstyle.com.