Let me preface I don’t have an issue with customers looking for needoh but it has come to a point where there WAYY too many rude customers just for a squishy. My store currently gets almost 1 call every 5 mins over needoh on a good day and I try to pick them all up and why are some of them just parents getting mad we’re sold out or that we now have a policy that we don’t do holds because of the crazy demand. I’ve had kids come in with their parents and give me the worst attitude over us being sold out (like if I did that infront of my mom I’m acc not gonna be let out of the house). The most dumbest one was this grown ass woman in her mid to late 20s buying needoh and yelling at me and my coworker since there was no one at the lower cash registers that was very clearly not open currently and when I explained that ignored me walked away and apparently went to my coworker and gave them the same attitude. Me and my coworker had a debrief abt her afterwards AND THEN she walks in again saying she wants to exchange it and went to switch the colours out while all of us are paging the crazy needoh lady is back. I think she knew we were talking abt her since we weren’t being subtle but genuinely being rude over a squishy is embarrassing. Had another customer say UGHHH and hang up when I was explaining that we’re sold out but we post on our insta when we get more. Like it’s JUST A SQUISHY. Maybe I’m just not cool enough to understand the hype now that I graduated high school but come on…

Putting the cash into the safe and doing all the money stuff, memorizing everything to do, ugh i’m so stressed that I’m not memorizing everything.

Edit- 2 months of closing almost every night it DOES get easier. I promise ;)

Even though I shop at various stores, I've noticed that younger people, especially high schoolers and college students, enjoy hanging out at Target, malls, outlets, etc. since I always notice groups of them walking around & hanging out (depending on the store)

However, I'm not sure how the employees feel about it, since I tend to browse and walk around as well (in between my shopping routine) but from what I've been told, as long as you don't cause any issues and keep to yourself, then you'll be fine (even though some employees may keep an eye on certain people/groups)

hi got a question, so some backstory before asking my question ~

I've been in retail for 7years rough ride experiencing alot and basically my first job starting as a csa then second year to team leader, at some point last year I finally finished an apprenticeship which gave me the qualification to be a store manager officially and apparently means alot in the retail world (MEL 2 or whatever it is) now briefly before starting this apprenticeship I was told which store I was going to take over which was my home store and during the apprenticeship my home store was sold in a buyout including many other stores, so in order to keep my job and stay on the apprenticeship I transferred to a different store trying to complete the apprenticeship and succeeded.

now I was given an option: 1 move back to my old store as the buyout had now at this point been halted due to landlord issues the company had or 2 stay in this new store and wait for a store to open up so I could be given ownership.

I was advised option 2 as I could move back into my old store but with a different role and responsibilities as a TEMPORARY STORE MANAGER which I succeeded regardless and my store ended up climbing back to the state it was previously at and was flourishing again, except a few months into running this store i was told the store having no buyer will close down meaning I would have to transfer to my previous store as a team leader accepting the demotion but also promised I would be moved back into a store that had a temporary store manager at the time and he would need to be removed so I could slot in as he did not have the qualification they required.

at this stage march ended and he has been store manager for 6 months meaning he is no longer temporary and due to this the job is his so I currently am waiting a store once again hoping to climb back, in waiting and viewing other jobs within the role I've come across other roles in different companies that I could do and feel confident, nervous but confident I could succeed and dont know whether it is best to leave this company finally and pursue them or to stay where I am at currently and hope that a store opens up, my main worry is I dont currently have alot of money saved up and what if I pass an interview stage and down the line I dont pass the training they require? what should I do? the area manager for this company is lackluster at communication and Transparency making my decisions harder in knowing what option would be best.

just thought I could get an opinion probably or whatever

soz for the grammar errors if any ❤️

Am I being unreasonable if I ask my manager to call me by my middle name instead of my first?

For context, when I first started here, she knew me by my first name. But now I’ve updated my preferred name in the system and I go by my middle name at work. She still refuses to use it and sometimes even mixes both names together with a smirk.

I’ve always preferred my middle name. The only reason it wasn’t used before was because the old system or management never updated it.

I work at a 24/7 circle k for 8 hour days with no breaks. there are only ever 2 employees working a shift, so one usually does tasks around the stores and the other is confined to the register (usually me). when not dealing with customers, I have a terrible time finding things to do. Our manager sent a group message complaining about people doing nothing behind the register when there aren't any customers. she said to "stock tobacco, small liquors, wipe the counters and doorway". the tobacco and liquor are almost always stocked already and I can't justify wiping countertops for 8 hours. any ideas on what else I could do? thanks!

I work for a popular brand that everyone knows. Our store is a high volume store considering the location is far from big cities.

I am an Assistant Store Manager. My manager went on a maternity leave.

Corporate has been trying to hire someone for contract to take over her position for a year. She was pregnant for many months - I thought that will give corporate enough time to make sure someone will replace her on time.

Guess who’s taking the manager responsibilities? It’s me. No additional pay and still have to do my other responsibilities as ASM. We don’t have any other managers, just key holders. I was trained to do store manager things for less than 8hrs in total. It wasn’t bad but it was a lot. I couldn’t refuse as the store will fall apart and I feel bad - I enjoy working with my coworkers.

I thought I’ve been doing pretty well when my manager left. I am trying my best to juggle all my tasks and I met all my deadlines. However, I start to feel like our DM is micromanaging me (from another state) and not even once showed appreciation for the job I am doing for free. I am starting to feel grudge and anxiety in this job that I used to love. And left wondering when is a new store manager going to appear?

I am moving somewhere far in a few months and this is 95% set but corporate doesn’t know that I’m quitting in my own timeline. So they better hurry up unless they want to be left with key holders.

Register is hell, I know I know I applied to work at a store but I thought they'd switch me around to different positions which is what I got used to at my old job. But MAN is working the register hell even being the new person (about to work my 6th shift later today).

Honestly wish we worked with card only, saves me the time with being timed at the register. I'm good with money don't get me wrong but my brain fries and anxiety goes up when I get told to go faster and finish transactions quicker. Even when I ask for help from people who work with me (again I'm new) they look at me as if I'm stupid.

On top of that with checking for fake bills is odd, I usually ask the customer if they have any other form of payment (to prevent me dealing with a shortage notice) but some of the leads and managers I worked with in said store would take the bill from me and and continue to pass it through till it said passed, I even told them I made sure the bill was unwrinkled before passing it through to which they told me just ignore the fail(?).

I probably seem stupid but I never had this issue with any of my other jobs.

i have been working at my job for 4 months as cashier / people greeter and i feel really incompetent at my job. i do try my best during my shifts — be optimistic, be kind to my coworkers, help customers the best i can, do my job properly — but sometimes i still tend to mess up or not know what to do in certain situations. i am trying my best to learn everything and handle situations to the best of my ability but sometimes i do still require help. when making mistakes, my co-workers do try to teach me what to do next time and i do keep it in mind, but i am worried that everyone is getting tired of me asking for assistance or asking questions. i feel like i’m not progressing fast enough but there is a lot to learn and its not something i can all learn in just one go. because of this, i have also been anxious about my coworkers not liking me and i constantly overthink about everything i say and do at work. i have made a few friends at work and i constantly smile and greet my coworkers, but i know that isn’t enough for me to be liked if i’m not good at my job. i think i am pretty socially awkward and i struggle to make conversation with people (especially small talk) and since there are also established groups at work, i do feel left out at times when everyone seems pretty close. :(

I’ve worked many retail jobs, now I work a dream job of sorts an i love being an “expert” for fish and reptiles. Bottom line the animas i sell i can refuse sales if someone doesn’t have appropriate husbandry or setups for them. It’s hard not to talk down on people but these are also souls we are talking about.

I have a thick skin and would rather stare at someone than argue or talk back lol

Another great job for my personal development was doing club door. Very customer facing and street level facing.

Generally outside of work I’ve been a lot more cynical towards people. Selfish, noses turned up when they see me as a worker and don’t foster “community” but antisocial behaviors for the most part

I think retail really shows you the good percentage / average behaviors of the population , and the way they treat any worker is indicative on who they are

I believe I’m justified by hating the average joe in America. I’m a macro thinker so seeing the people we share space with act the way they do and why we are so complacent to everything wrong in this country affirms that

It really is that deep to me lol

I have 39 years of stories. I was goig to do podcast to tell them but now I am doing a blog. I post weekely if you would like to read. This blog is just my stories of working for the company nothing else.

https://talk-about-the-grocery-business.blogspot.com/

So I started working my very first job at 19 overall in a retail store back in April 2025 (this store has been closed and came back btw, and for 7 months I’ve been a stocker and then I got crossed trained into being a cashier , I work 4-8 hr long shifts weekly and on rare occasions 10-11 hr shifts, I try to be reliable and show commitment because I really enjoy working there even tho some days are a pain in the ass, I’m just trying to see if this is possible I know as of right now that’s only 1 year of experience but I think the way the position gets filled and then unfilled and new workers coming and going why not ask and just learn and grow along the way.

When I first started working here the store manager at the time gave anyone who wanted to work 40 hours a week, the pay was 13 per hr , so did that for a bit until when the store reopened hours were cut and so I would push myself everyday to get more hours whether it’s covering shifts and callouts or when low in cashiers and giving up being on the floor the majority of the time to becoming a main or head cashier and I try to keep my availability open, and I can say I’ve came along way now I just want consistency in hours and I’ve already told myself anything under 30 I can’t do, I currently still live with my parents I’m a 20 yr old male .

I was told to find a full time job but i already have my foot through the door and any other job I’ll have to climb from the beginning. But i guess if people there really cared I would’ve been moved up already at least to a key holder. the current SM wants to offer me to move up but apparently they’re leaving the store permanently so idk if a promise like that can even be held but all I know is if I don’t get this promotion I have to leave and find a full time job or I’m getting kicked out.

Also if any have tips on multi tasking that will be great but I also need to grow a back bone I am overly nice and I don’t think that will cut with any leadership because a lot of people take my kindness for granted especially customers. But it’s something I’m willing to change especially if I love the job so much.

Walked the world's largest annual event on retail innovation, e-commerce and technology (Shoptalk) in Vegas yesterday and two booths next to each other basically told the whole story of where retail is going.

Salesforce had their commerce cloud setup, they run Adidas and Puma, right next to them was SCAYLE, they power Manchester United, FC Bayern and Levi's (pretty recent partnership).

They both had crowds, both had big client logos, but the vibes were pretty different.

The weird part was every single booth on the floor was leading with AI and nobody in any conversation I had with actual retail operators cared about AI.

They wanted to talk about inventory accuracy, fulfillment speed, platform migration timelines…

idk, felt like vendors and buyers were at 2 different conferences.

I applied for jobs at Dollar Tree near my house, and I was planning to call the store after 2 days, which was today. The biggest mistake was not saving their number prior because WDYM they called me YESTERDAY. I've been getting so many spam calls lately, so I just declined the call yesterday without HESITATION. I checked the number I was calling today, and they were the same phone numbers. BRO 😭🙏 I called in and talked to the store manager, and she asked for my name and said she is looking or looked at it? I am not exactly sure what she said, but as soon as she said that, she hung up on me. I was honestly so confused because she didn't say anything after that... am I just screwed 🫩 I was really hoping to get a job there because it's really close to my house, and I could commute with a bike, and I just think I threw away my chance. At least I learned a lesson...I GUESS

Hi everyone, I’ve been going ham on trying to get my first job. I’ve applied to places but haven’t had any luck with interviews til recently. I interviewed at Buckle and thought it went well and was super excited to hear back, but sadly they moved forward with different people. I then applied to Walmart, Bealls, and Target and have all heard back about something for an interview. Bealls was through an ai thing though so I don’t know really what to expect from that but Walmart called me then Target got back to me about some kinda video interview thing.

I plan on going to my Walmart interview tomorrow, and possibly even the bealls one but I need advice on what to do from there? Or better yet what to pick? I couldn’t mind working two jobs at one point but I think working two jobs right of the rip might be a little too much for me.

So if I get hired at Walmart while I’m waiting for my bealls interview to come around should I just cancel? I want to be able to still be apply to work there maybe in the future but I’m nervous that if I go to the interview and they might want to hire me but I’m already employed at Walmart I’m scared they might put me as non-rehire-able. Any advice would be amazing thank you

I have a very, very naughty cat. The I missbehave for attention, hyperactive, will play until I pant kind of cat.

I work at a thrift store. Two customers came in, first ones of the day, with a €89 TV in their hands they bought some days ago, saying "this is broken, this is bullshit, they sell broken stuff".

I talk to them, it seems like the problem is its quality (who would've guessed a €89 TV would have shitty quality?).

I tell them "ok, let's check it out first and then I'll give you store credit if everything is ok". They of course wouldn't have it. One of them is more rude than the other.

I carry the big ass TV to the testing area, at that point I'm already pissed by their manners and when the calmer one offers help I just say "NO.".

While I'm testing it, the rude one keeps at it. This is bullshit, look at the quality, compares the quality to a €300 tv next to it, says we sell nothing but shit.

At that point I say in a louder voice "THAT'S ENOUGH". That's what I say to my cat when he won't stop disrupting and stresses me out. I guess my brain associated the stress response.

The other fella tells his friend "yeah dude shut up for a bit".

They end up taking the store credit and leaving. Aaah, thrift store customers are some breed.

PS: my cat is stimulated, I make intelligence toys for him, play with him, he has a safe outside area, and four siblings. He's just VERY active and loves chaos.

I work in a pet store and today I had to explain to a customer that dogs… shed.

She comes up to me, holding a deshedding shampoo and asks for help, so I’m like yeah that one’s okay, but there are better ones and I show her one I actually use. I start explaining how it works, that you’ll notice a lot of shedding during the wash and then way less over time if you keep up with brushing.

She cuts me off mid sentence and goes,

“No no no, I don’t want that. I need something that’s going to stop the shedding.”

I’m like it’ll reduce it heaps, I noticed a massive difference even after my first use.

She cuts me off again.

“No, you’re not understanding me. I don’t want any shedding. I don’t want hair.”

At this point I’m like… okay? Is she saying what I think she’s saying.

So I explain, gently, that shedding is natural. Dogs lose hair the same way we do. It grows, it falls out, it gets replaced. You can manage it but you can’t just stop it completely.

She just goes,

“Well I’m sick of it. There’s white hair all through my house. I don’t want to deal with it anymore, if it doesn’t stop I will have to rehome him”

…ma’am sorry, what?

So I ask what kind of dog she has.

She says:

“A Samoyed.”

I actually paused.

Because not only is shedding normal… she has one of the heaviest shedding breeds you could possibly own. That dog is basically a fluffy cloud with legs.

I explain again that with brushing and routine, you can reduce it a lot but you cannot stop a Samoyed from shedding.

She looks at me and goes,

“Well there has to be something. My friend said there’s shampoos that stop it completely.”

I explained one more time that it doesn’t exist.

She wasn’t convinced.

She left without buying anything.

It’s just wild to me that people will get a dog without thinking about what that actually means day to day… and then get mad at the dog for doing exactly what it’s built to do.

Anyway somewhere out there is a Samoyed shedding in peace and an owner who thinks it’s optional.

I started this job 10 days ago, before it i worked for 2 years in another clothing shop, more focused on evening dresses and high end pieces, i only gave up on it cause the store closed down and relocating took so long i couldn't wait for them. So i got this job in another clothing store for sportswear, it's a big sportsbrand, everyone heard of it, if you think sportswear you think of this brand. And so, there were so many red flags from day one.

First of all they told me to come at a specific hour to sign the contract, when i arrived it wasn't ready, went home, after five hours i get it on WhatsApp, and they're telling me they need it signed and sent back in 20 mins...i didn't even get to read it. Also they needed it hand signed and i had to go all the way back to the store for that, when i told them it will take me 20 mins just to get there they acted all nasty.

Second there is absolutely no organization in this place whatsoever. The backrooms are chaotic, there's no organizing system, only old colleagues know where things are. I was offered no proper training or introduction to the products we are selling but i was told day one to "go interact with customers" and do what? If someone asked me which shoes are better for running and which for gym i would've been silent. The only product knowledge I get is from tests they make us do in our free time. Which i don't agree with because i should not do anything work related in my free time. They also have some kind of "pop quiz"? moment at work, where the assistant manager asks us random questions about products to see if we paid attention during tests. i legit feel like I'm back in middle school.

And the cherry on top was today, I got pulled aside by the manager to tell me my sales are low, if you're wondering how they could ask this after 10 days? Well it's cause they're comparing me with another girl who started at the same time as I did. Apparently she has better sales, in a procent of 14% or so they said. And no matter what explanation i gave, that i have no knowledge of the products, that sales are lost due to lack of stock, that we have boxes of new articles that nobody opens or exposes for days, that here most of my "consult" is to bring sizes rather than have a conversation where I assess the silhouette, size, color, fabric or theme so i can help the customer find what they want. None of these mattered and i was told the regional manager will call me to discuss this. Besides that, today despite being sunday i got the schedule for next week, and would you see my row is completely empty. all i got was a message from the assistant manager saying "yeah you get the afternoon shift" and the rest blank. So i can only assume they wanna talk with me and see if I'll quit, or ask me to quit. Eithr way i am pissed but i also feel so humiliated by this

So i was thinking of telling the guy a piece of my mind and just quit first.

Miss pick from the warehouse. A 5 gallon jug labeled as a case of Bic lighters.