To me Thanksgiving Break is no break at all. As much as I would like to say that my paycheck here at The BG News is enough to support my extravagant rock and roll lifestyle, sadly it isn’t. During the weekends and over holiday breaks I work in the wonderful world of retail. Most of the time I don’t really mind, but this coming Friday is the day that I (and most other retail workers) dread.
The day after Thanksgiving is like participating in the running of the bulls – it’s sheer madness. As the day progresses I will see many different kinds of customers during the day and it almost feels like I am watching a nature show. So here are the observations that I have made about customers over the past few years.
First, there are the people who stalk one of two things: clearance items or that special goodie that is only available for one day. You can greet them nicely or offer assistance, but it’s no use. They just march right over the shelf as if they are on auto pilot. If you don’t have that item, for whatever reason that may be, you are dead meat. Nothing you can do will appease them or make it any better.
Next, we have the kids. For the most part they are cute and they can lighten up even the worst day. However, you get that one cranky kid and all hell breaks loose. The parents get grumpy and everything gets rushed. The faster you get the little snot out of there the better everything will be.
Parking at the mall this day almost becomes a blood sport. I have to work in the morning that day but I am half ready to get to work at 6 a.m. and sleep in my car before my shift starts. If I don’t do that I will end up parking in no-man’s-land. If you do get a spot anywhere near the door, be prepared to do some defensive driving. I don’t know why, but finding a place to park brings out the absolute worst in people. It’s a parking spot, it’s not some kind of golden ticket.
On this magical day packing a lunch is a must. There is no way you will be able to navigate through the food court, especially by the golden arches. It’s just easier to run as fast as you can to the employee lounge with your lunch in your hands.
With today’s technology cell phones are everywhere, but please when you are at a register getting ready to pay, or if you are placing an order somewhere, get off your cell phone. Is your conversation that important that you have to stay on the phone? First off it is rude (you don’t exactly see most retail workers on their cell phones). Second it makes it really hard for us to help you out when we can’t even talk to you in the first place.
Above everything else, just be nice to your retail worker. I look forward to this day like I do a root canal (and that’s looking pretty good right now). You don’t have to majorly kiss my feet or anything, but being polite can go a long, long, long, way. Patience is also nice to have. We are going to be busy and there will be no such thing as instant service. It is going to take time to get things done. Getting snippy and throwing a hissy fit is not going to make things go any quicker.
Hopefully I will survive the day. I want to also lend my support to all my fellow retail workers, especially anyone who has to work at a toy store. After today it won’t get like this again until Christmas Eve. I thank God that our semester ends so late this year, so I miss out on all this madness.
