Topic: The "complain about work" thread

[Tuxedo Mark]

I thought it might be fun (and stress-relieving) to have a thread where everyone can post complaints/frustrations that they have at work. Just let it all out.

I'll start. I work at Kmart, mostly as a cashier but sometimes in sporting goods, sometimes as a stocker, sometimes unloading the truck, sometimes in garden shop, and sometimes straightening in some other department.

I hate sporting goods. It consists of straightening (which is incredibly boring). Being in sporting goods means not only sporting goods but also hardware and automotive (and I think toys and furniture, too). I know nothing about sports or cars (or even hardware, really), so I'm mostly helpless when a customer asks for something (usually some redneck asking about hunting or fishing). But the person that makes the schedule keeps sticking me there (even though she knows I don't like it).

Same goes for garden shop.

My usual response for stuff that I don't know: "Whatever we have here is what we have."

When I'm on the register, the service desk sometimes forgets to send me to break. I have to remind them. Once, when it was close to the end of my shift, they used my short time remaining as an excuse to not give me a break.

Speaking of the register, that's a whole list of complaints in itself:

The customers often have no clue how to use the credit/debit card scanner.

They'd be surprised when it asks for their 5-digit billing ZIP code. "5-digit billing ZIP code? What's that?" My response: "Your ZIP code." Then they'd understand. They usually don't know their own ZIP code, though. I'd tell them that it's on their driver's license, and they sometimes don't feel like looking. I had 1 cranky old guy recently that asked "Why's it asking for my ZIP code?" My response: "Because that's what it's asking for." He typed it in and was like "In other words, you don't KNOW why it's asking for it." My response: "No." When I said "Have a good day", he blurted something like "Yeah, you, too!"

The credit card scanner is linked to the register by a cord, which goes down through a hole in the counter. The customers would often yank the cord out of the hole. Why? They think there's a pen down there for them to use to sign. And why would they think that? Because Wal-Mart has pens. Never mind the fact that it makes absolutely no sense for a pen to be dangling down a hole in the counter. Freakin' morons.

I've gotten 2 checks made out to Wal-Mart. Other customers have to look at the Kmart logo on the wall before writing it down. These idiots don't even know where they're shopping.

Customers often dispute the price of an item (or multiple items). Sometimes, it's the store's fault (someone didn't enter the correct price into the computer). Sometimes, though, the customers misread a sign or are trying to get away with something. The rule that I've been told is, if it's a difference of only $3 or $4 per transaction, go ahead and do it.

Why do customers bring a hundred or more items through the check-out? It's like they're doing the entire month's shopping at once.

Customers often decide that they don't want something when they get to the register. However, sometimes, instead of handing me the item to put in the returns bin under the register, they'll stick it somewhere else in the lane (sometimes even tellnig me so as if it's perfectly okay).

Customers will leave their carts in the lane, simply leaving with their bags. One customer even told me that s/he was just gonna leave the cart after I placed the bag in it.

If customers come without a cart, I simply leave the bags on the other counter for them to pick up. They sometimes leave with their purchases (or pick up 1 bag but leave another, which makes so sense at all).

If customers decide that they don't want something after I've scanned it, I can void it off, but, if it's more than 3 items or $30, I have to get a supervisor to do a total void. They costs time and holds up the line.

Customers often try to use coupons that don't match their purchases, due to misunderstanding the requirements.

Recently, I noticed that, in electronics, we've got Guitar Hero game/controller bundles sitting on the shelves by the register, unlocked. These things are $80-$100. Apparently, the store manager gave the okay for them to be out in the open. The electronics person is also responsible for stationery and unlocking the razor case in health and beauty (the latter making so sense). Also, the electronics person could be helping a customer on another aisle. It'd be so easy for anyone to come in and steal those games (or the new release movies, which are right at the entrance of electronics, unlocked).

The schedule that's prepared (supposedly on Tuesday, but it's often late) for the following week (yes, 5 days ahead of time, max) means nothing to management. If someone calls in or just doesn't show up, managers will ask me to stay longer (or sometimes make me stay longer) or call me in (even calling at 6:30 AM). The person in charge of the schedule even came up to me at the register WHILE I WAS WITH A CUSTOMER and showed me a proposed schedule change.

There's a lack of communication between the service desk and the cashiers. The max limit of a check that I can approve on my own changes before and after the holiday season, but I'm not told until I come up to the service desk with a check. Rules for asking for ID for checks and age-related sales change without notice. I recently learned that, when working from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, I had to take my break before 9:00 PM, and soon after I was told before 8:00 PM. How'd I find out? I took a break after 9:00 PM. Then I took a break after 8:00 PM.

That's all that I can think of for now.

[Athena]

Poor Mark!  I hope you feel better after that rant!

Up till last month I worked in retail too, in the women's apparel section of a department store.  I had many of the problems you mentioned, or their equivalent.  For example I was often put in the dress department which I knew nothing about--- not that I don't wear dresses, but I know nothing about the sorts of social occasions for which women wear dresses.  I didn't go to prom or any other high-school dance, never went to cocktail prties, never even went to a wedding in my life.  So I didn't know what was "appropriate" or "traditional" for these occasions, and people were asking me that all day. And I'm afraid I couldn't help but kind of despise women who thought these events were SO desperately important that they HAD to have the PERFECT dress.  It all seemed so superficial and vain to me. 

What I really couldn't understand was people who didn't know whether they liked something or not, and expected me to tell them!  They would come in and say they didn't know what they wanted, and look at me expectantly, and when I held up random things to make a start of it, they would vaguely indicate they didn't like them, but couldn't say why.  I rather pity people who can't figure out what they want, who have to be told by someone else what they like.

The department store I worked for, which shall remain nameless, had a system whereby if we didn't sell an impossibly high quota of merchandise per day during a 6-month period, we would get a 10% pay cut!  This was regardless of how long we'd worked there, how hard we worked straightening the department, what outstanding customer service we gave, or how few times we called in or were late.  So all the salespeople were scrambling around cutting each other's throats, competing over the few customers we had in this faltering economy.

Fortunately I'm not there anymore, but your rant brought back a lot of ugly memories for me.

[Zach T]

I won't say much about my line of work because of its nature, but I will make a couple of comments about it.

When I first got posted to my current Company (a Company is part of a Battalion or a Unit, which is then part of a Formation etc etc etc), I was quite glad as it was located near the apartment I am currently renting. After that, I started hearing horror stories regarding my Company Sergeant Major, stories about how he mistreats the men. I grew to believe these stories over time to the point that I was willing to support anyone who wanted to get him charged for abuse of power.

Looking back upon my time, I should have taken those stories with a pinch of salt. My Company Sergeant Major's actually a half-decent guy if you take the time to talk to him politely. Unlike a particular Platoon Sergeant (I'd rather not mention him at all), my CSM actually has a really good idea as to when to reward people, and when to punish people. He just needs to work a bit more as to how much reward/punishment is appropriate for something.

[Captain Hero]

This'd be a perfect time to steal an entry from my Blog/Notes section from my FaceBook profile.  Written July 3, 2008 by me.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Working in retail for three and a half years now (and believe me, it's not exactly my choice for a rewarding and prosperous career), I tend to deal with a variety of people in a variety of age groups, backgrounds, and moods.

I have to say that most of the customers are quite nice, patient, and understanding. Many people bring a smile to my face, and I sometimes enjoy hearing them talk about themselves. I've gotten to know some of the regulars at the place I work at, and I find them to be interesting people.

Then there are those that I find "interesting", in a BAD way.

And, this is what I want to talk about.

I'm issuing a statement to those customers who turn their noses up at us just because we work a menial job like retail. To those customers who sometimes go out of their way to make us feel stupid.

And, trust me...there's more of you out there than you think.

Let's begin.

For starters, if you are a customer, and you need my attention, all you have to do is ask me politely, and I will do my best to serve you. I do not appreciate you snapping your fingers at me, wagging your fingers at me, or shouting "YO" to me from twelve feet away. I am not your slave, your pet, or your b@#$h. I am a human being, and you need to know that it is degrading, and you should know better. How would you like it if I did the same to you? You probably wouldn't.

Oh, and while we're on the subject...don't grab my shoulder or touch me in any way. Like Kelly Ripa said to Clay Aiken, I don't know where your hands have been, and frankly, you are invading my personal space. So, if you feel the need to touch, please cease and desist, or you might find yourself walking out the doors with a restraining order tucked into the bag with the cat food and laundry soap.

I'd also like to take this time to address all of the customers who get mad at me for not having an item that they are looking for. In most cases, we try our best to get the item in question, but sometimes, there are things that are out of our control. These include shipping problems, incorrect data, shipping delays, and so on. In fact, 99.9% of the time, the associate you are yelling at has NOTHING to do with why the item is not there.

I am well aware that customers can have bad days outside of the store. It is still no excuse to throw tantrums in the middle of the store, while we have to stand there and take your insults over a $4.98 block of cheddar cheese. Is your life really so empty that you actually have to make an issue out of this?

And, don't even get me started on customers who try to take advantage of our policies. This may seem like a harsh thing to some of you, but the person who buys an air conditioner in June and returns it in September should be hung.

But, hey...the customer is "always right".

Therefore, it's perfectly okay for a customer to try and swindle a free yogurt out of you because there is a one cent difference between the price tag at our store and the price tag at another store. I know some people are struggling with rising costs, but one penny is not going to mean the difference between suburban living and living under a bridge begging for chicken bones.

I also LOVE people who grab a dozen eggs, and then decide that they don't need them after all, and just leave them in another department...say fashion, for example. Did you know that when items are taken out of the coolers and freezers that they have to be refrozen within 30 minutes by the standards of the store? If not, we have to toss them out. If we toss out every piece of food that is left out to rot by customers by any given day, it adds up to a lot of claims. And, if we have too many claims, we lose profits. And, if we don't make profit, we have to find ways to keep our profits.

This means raising prices!

So, the next time you complain about eggs going up in price, you can thank the dumbasses who leave the eggs out wherever they want because they are too lazy to walk down an aisle to put them away. I almost relish the opportunity to watch a customer abandon a cold product in another area just so I can say "IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE OUR PRICES GO UP!!!"

Not only that, but it cuts back our hours, and therefore leads to the lack of sales help on the floor...and that issue deserves its own article at another time.

I surely have more to say about this issue...this is just a teaser.

We do try our best to serve you as best we can...we just want to be respected while doing it. And, if you can't give us the respect we all want, I'd rather you didn't shop at our store. And, to be honest with you, with thousands of pleasant customers dropping by the store every day, I won't miss one miserable ogre.

MWT - 7/3/2008

[Jeff1555]

I can't really complain about my job because I get paid doing something I like, but my previous job wasn't as pleasant.

I worked in fast food for about 9 months at Ottawa's busiest mall, and standing in a hot kitchen for 8+ hours per day was not fun. Manning the grill was unbearably hot, so they 'fixed' the issue with a fan. So now I had hot greasy air blowing in my face.
Then they're were the customers who always complained about their food. It's frustrating having to remake the same order three times. Don't like it, go home and make it your way, then.
Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention the meager minimum wage paychecks. Working on Canada Day was a nightmare, too. Combine that with a workplace romance that, uh, hit the fan, and let's just say I'm happy I'm no longer there.
I'd rather be on the other side of the counter, as a customer.

[Athena]

Working in retail and/or fast food is an integral part of one's life education!  Everyone should have to do it at least once, I think.

[Zach T]

Working in retail and/or fast food is an integral part of one's life education!  Everyone should have to do it at least once, I think.

Well, as the Company Quartermaster Sergeant, I do end up having to take down measurements for the non-combat uniforms that I need to indent for newly posted-in personnel, and I'm also in charge of ordering the cookhouse rations for my Company on a monthly basis.

[Frank]

I worked in resort hotels for 10 years (from cleaning toilets to Assistant Manager) and have been teaching computers, consulting and writing books for 10.  Sadly ( ) - I really have never had any complaints about any of my work.  I even worked at McDonalds. movie theaters, saw mills and more and enjoyed it all!  (okay.  The first day at the saw mill I worked so hard I threw-up, but it got better)

I know - lame.

[Tuxedo Mark]

More complaints about Kmart:

Customers try to get my attention by 1) whistling, 2) shouting "Hey!", or 3) asking a question while standing a distance behind me and expecting I'll know they're talking to me.

At the 1 cashier meeting that I've been at so far (last year, probably), the store manager said, if a customer leave a purchase, he won't blame the customer; he'll blame the cashier.

Customers often swipe their card first thing when coming through the check-out and then stand there like idiots without entering the required information. I sometimes use this as an opportunity to finish bagging their stuff before dealing with the transaction.

Customers often say "They're all different!" or "Every one of them's different!" regarding the card scanners. No crap. They have to interface with the store's register system, and each chain has its own register system. One guy even said "If I was President of the United States, every one of these things would be the same."

Customers often say "I hope I don't get charged twice" when they have to swipe their card again.

Kmart has a partnership with Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs (for the last 2 years). The two women that run the hot dog "wagon" (actually a stand) make announcements every few minutes about a "15-minute Blue Light Special" (which is then followed by "another 15-minute special", etc.) to lure customers to the hot dog stand. One of them came up with a "cute" rhyme recently: "If you're looking for a bite, stop on by where the price is right." She also uses a lot of unnecessary words: "We WILL be running", "We DO have", "also" in pretty much every sentence (sometimes twice), etc. She also keeps saying "That is correct, Kmart shoppers" and repeats what she just said. She invites the customers to have lunch at 10:00 AM. The other woman often yells "Attention: Kmart shoppers!" and "That's right, Kmart shoppers!" We had a New Yorker that sometimes ran the hot dog stand (she got fired recently for givining a free corn dog to a service desk girl, who was also fired). She was like "Attention, Kmaht shoppehz." Another girl is also running the hot dog stand now, sometimes. She's way too enthusiastic in her announcements and even says "Come on over and have lunch with me today."

[Athena]

Ohmigoodness TM, I didn't think you'd have more to add so soon.  I thought you'd done a complete catharsis.

BTW Tuxedo Mark (I might as well ask you now), why "tuxedo"?

[Tuxedo Mark]

BTW Tuxedo Mark (I might as well ask you now), why "tuxedo"?

It's a pun based on Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon (only 1 letter different).

It started as my FanFiction.Net user name in 2001. A few years later, I used it on a forum where they were talking about me, and the use of such an obscure ID convinced them that it was me (though I merely used it, because my actual name was taken by an imposter). Now, I use it on pretty much every Internet account that I have.

[Captain Hero]

Kmart has a partnership with Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs (for the last 2 years). The two women that run the hot dog "wagon" (actually a stand) make announcements every few minutes about a "15-minute Blue Light Special" (which is then followed by "another 15-minute special", etc.) to lure customers to the hot dog stand. One of them came up with a "cute" rhyme recently: "If you're looking for a bite, stop on by where the price is right." She also uses a lot of unnecessary words: "We WILL be running", "We DO have", "also" in pretty much every sentence (sometimes twice), etc. She also keeps saying "That is correct, Kmart shoppers" and repeats what she just said. She invites the customers to have lunch at 10:00 AM. The other woman often yells "Attention: Kmart shoppers!" and "That's right, Kmart shoppers!" We had a New Yorker that sometimes ran the hot dog stand (she got fired recently for givining a free corn dog to a service desk girl, who was also fired). She was like "Attention, Kmaht shoppehz." Another girl is also running the hot dog stand now, sometimes. She's way too enthusiastic in her announcements and even says "Come on over and have lunch with me today."

LOL!  We have something similar like that.  Occasionally, we'll get this dude in that sells cutting knives at a kiosk within the store.  His sales pitch would sound something like this.

ATTENTION, SHOPPERS!  FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, YOU CAN RUN AND GET YOUR FREE STAINLESS STEEL CUTTING KNIFE ABSOLUTELY F-UR-REE!  (picture the word free as if it were broken into three syllables)  BUT DON'T COME LATER, COME RIGHT NOW FOR YOUR F-UR-REE STAINLESS STEEL KNIFE FOR ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN!  THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE SO GO TO THE KIOSK IN MEN'S WEAR FOR YOUR LIMITED TIME OFFER OF A STAINLESS STEEL KNIFE ABSOLUTELY F-UR-REE!

Now picture this page being made every hour on the hour thricefold ALL WEEK LONG.

So much for a limited time offer...

[BettyMantle]

heh.  nice thread.  but I really don't want to think about work right now. i'll just say IT SUCKS!

[AyaBlue]

When I was working on a gambling boat down in the port, a girl who I'd gone to high school with (and who did announcements in high school) was also in charge of certain announcements on the boat/ship, whatever. Every word she said was VERY VERY cheerful that people would often laugh at the saccharine and over dramatization of every word. Yeah, she was also BIG into drama in high school. ^_^

TM - Tuxedo Kamen-sama would've been too much to write out. TM is an easier abbreviation. Too funny, I had a Sailor Moon inspired name too, but, that was quite awhile ago... now it's NGE influenced, (Aya = Ayanami) but, still. ^_^

[Tuxedo Mark]

TM - Tuxedo Kamen-sama would've been too much to write out. TM is an easier abbreviation. Too funny, I had a Sailor Moon inspired name too, but, that was quite awhile ago... now it's NGE influenced, (Aya = Ayanami) but, still. ^_^

Ooh, don't get me started on NGE. I'm tempted to review that entire series and tear it apart.

That, of course, would be next year, after my Gundam fanfic series is done (my determination to get the remaining 19 episodes written this year is also what's slowing down my Archie reviews).