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So glad I no longer work in retail. Heres a few of the incidents that I had to endure while working for a Major US Pharmacy Chain thats boasts to be trusted.
Worked in quite possibly the busiest store in the northeast for this chain. Was in a downtown area near a major ivy league school and a hospital. This led to 8 basic types of customers.
1) Well off socialites. Mid 20's-late 30's all well off because of their jobs. Tend to think that they're better than the rest of the customers and definitely better than the employees.
2) Not well off or socialites. Same age group but they live in the local projects and are on welfare. At least 1/2 of them get caught stealing or trying to at one time or another. They tend to treat employees like douches so they wont be interrupted while trying to fill old shopping bags full of product. Also known to shout across the store that they need help instead of finding an employee. You can tell when the store will be full of them by the bus schedule.
3) The spoiled ivy league student. Does this really need explanation? I come form money and a good school so I'm gonna talk down to you and must be right about everything I say/do.
4) The hardworking ivy league student. Generally the nicest of the groups. Due to having to pay for education themselves though they tend to demand discounts for no reason citing education as being too expensive.
5) Hospital staff. The I'm on my lunch break and need to get through the 50 person line faster than everyone else group. Also known for spending an hour on the photo kiosk during their 30min lunch and then complaining that we're keeping their patients waiting.
6) Hospital Visitors. Thank you for buying a pack of gum so that you don't feel as bad about using our 20 car parking lot instead of the parking garage for the hospital. Thank you even more for complaining for hours on end when your car is towed after the 1 hour limit.
7) Home less. The elite corps of humanity that can steal and drink an entire display of Listerine in a night solely for the alcohol in it. (Stuff is about a 56 proof)
8) The Crazy. The fine folks that need special requests done. Such as how much diet ginger ale do you have in back? I need to know so I can buy more than 1 bottle maybe. Or the person that shops around the store just so they can later demand a rain check on every item in the circular thats not in stock. Managing to find the item in the back room generally makes them not want it or want a "different" variety.
Heres a few basic scenarios that transpired.
From the pharmacy:
Lady comes up the pharmacy to drop off a prescription and presents an our of state welfare card as her insurance. The pharmacist informs her that he is not allowed to accept out of state welfare as a payment method. The customer then gets into a huge hissy fit about how shes on vacation and had to spend the night in the emergency room since her son had a stomach ache. The Rx is of course for something that can purchased over the counter, she had just gotten the script so she wouldnt have to pay for it. Pharmacist looks at the woman straight in the eye and tells her "Listen lady if your really doing so bad that you have to rely on the government for basic medicine like this I don't see how you can afford to be on a vacation".
Round 1/2 way through my time working there the local state government decided that for people on welfare instead of getting free Rx meds they would be required to pay a co-pay. The cost. $1. Since its state sponsored program the pharmacy can't deny the patient the medication if they state they cant afford the copay. Approximately 80% of Rx customers on the state dime would flat out refuse to pay the co-pay but then make the pharmacy counter ring up their purchase of twinkies, soda and chips.
From the photo lab.
In the Photo Lab:
If I learned any thing its never work in a photo lab.
I asked/told the following things while working the photo lab.
Son you look like your on drugs, you need to quit the crack/cocaine and find jesus. (I was slightly tired that day)
What kind of film do I need for this digital camera?
This one not directly told but had 2 people loudly talking about which file sharing program could get them the best porn the fastest while at my register.
I have negatives of a girl doing a german shepard can you print those for me? (I told him no and still wish this was a joke)
2 days later my manager came out and told me:
I just got a report from the corporate office. They say that if we get asked to print beastiality to just say no.
Still not necessarially as bad as some of the customers that actually dropped off film. (For the record our policy was if theres a store i nteh neighborhood that sells that kind of media we'd print it. There was at least 1 adult store in walking distance)
Had 1 regular customer that would drop off film every sunday morning on his way to church to pick it up on his way back. Every time it was him with 2 incredibly fat girls in a three way. Going to confess to the sins of the night before before picking up the proof I guess.
1 Guy seemed to have a new girlfriend every week. As soon as he did there was a roll of nudey pics to develop. Wouldn't have been as bad but on several occassions he would come back and complain the photos weren't of good enough quality and make a scene in front of the other customers about it. Little discretion please.
Then there was the nightmare of the picture maker. Listen buddy I don't care where the picture came from. If it is copy written I can't let you use it unless you have the artists consent. I don't make the law I can't do anything about it.
That annoyance only seconded by "how do i use the picture maker?" Its a freaking kiosk that has diagrams and audio cues as to how every single step is supposed to be done.
If your not familiar with the picture maker it has about a 17" monitor in to that displays your photo and the changes your doing to it. These machines are always set up so you can easily see them from anywhere in the store. So why on earth would you try to edit your nudy pics on one in the middle of the store where children are walking around?
On The Register.
Our store when busy would easily have over 300 customers in it shopping/waiting to check out. This sicked as out parking lot could hold maybe 50 cars max. This parking lot of course has signs up everywhere stating "Customer parking only, 1 hour limit". Of course one year when St Pattricks day rolled around the lot was more than full with people stopping in on the way to the parade as well as trying to park for the parade. One lady decided she'd be clever. Instead of parking in a normal spot where there was an obvious sign about the parking she parked alongside the building in what would be considered the fire lane. Her car was obviously towed and she would not shut up about it. The lady went as far as to call the police into the store to accuse the manager of grand theft auto. Upon getting there the cops just sided with the store, told the woman how to get to the impound lot and then escorted her off the premises.
Had to work 3rd shift a few times. This led to a few interesting events.
Since the neighborhood wasn't the best we of course would get the strippers coming in after a long nights work. Even if they had changed (often they hadn't) you could always tell as they'd pay you with a wet wad of singles.
Better yet was the prostitutes in fishnets that would come in to buy douches at 3AM and then demand to use the ladies room.
I can understand that people have to work for a living too and 1AM might be the only time they can get to the drugstore for personal items. But c'mon leave the kids at home. 6 year olds shouldn't be walking around a drugstore, let alone awake at 1 am for any reason.
And as a final bit for today. For the love of god people wear appropriate clothing when you go out. I can understand you have a genetic weight problem but I can't think of anyone that wants to see a 350lb man wearing a tight fishnet shirt. Would have been icing on the cake to see him complain about an employee being out of uniform.
Worked in quite possibly the busiest store in the northeast for this chain. Was in a downtown area near a major ivy league school and a hospital. This led to 8 basic types of customers.
1) Well off socialites. Mid 20's-late 30's all well off because of their jobs. Tend to think that they're better than the rest of the customers and definitely better than the employees.
2) Not well off or socialites. Same age group but they live in the local projects and are on welfare. At least 1/2 of them get caught stealing or trying to at one time or another. They tend to treat employees like douches so they wont be interrupted while trying to fill old shopping bags full of product. Also known to shout across the store that they need help instead of finding an employee. You can tell when the store will be full of them by the bus schedule.
3) The spoiled ivy league student. Does this really need explanation? I come form money and a good school so I'm gonna talk down to you and must be right about everything I say/do.
4) The hardworking ivy league student. Generally the nicest of the groups. Due to having to pay for education themselves though they tend to demand discounts for no reason citing education as being too expensive.
5) Hospital staff. The I'm on my lunch break and need to get through the 50 person line faster than everyone else group. Also known for spending an hour on the photo kiosk during their 30min lunch and then complaining that we're keeping their patients waiting.
6) Hospital Visitors. Thank you for buying a pack of gum so that you don't feel as bad about using our 20 car parking lot instead of the parking garage for the hospital. Thank you even more for complaining for hours on end when your car is towed after the 1 hour limit.
7) Home less. The elite corps of humanity that can steal and drink an entire display of Listerine in a night solely for the alcohol in it. (Stuff is about a 56 proof)
8) The Crazy. The fine folks that need special requests done. Such as how much diet ginger ale do you have in back? I need to know so I can buy more than 1 bottle maybe. Or the person that shops around the store just so they can later demand a rain check on every item in the circular thats not in stock. Managing to find the item in the back room generally makes them not want it or want a "different" variety.
Heres a few basic scenarios that transpired.
From the pharmacy:
Lady comes up the pharmacy to drop off a prescription and presents an our of state welfare card as her insurance. The pharmacist informs her that he is not allowed to accept out of state welfare as a payment method. The customer then gets into a huge hissy fit about how shes on vacation and had to spend the night in the emergency room since her son had a stomach ache. The Rx is of course for something that can purchased over the counter, she had just gotten the script so she wouldnt have to pay for it. Pharmacist looks at the woman straight in the eye and tells her "Listen lady if your really doing so bad that you have to rely on the government for basic medicine like this I don't see how you can afford to be on a vacation".
Round 1/2 way through my time working there the local state government decided that for people on welfare instead of getting free Rx meds they would be required to pay a co-pay. The cost. $1. Since its state sponsored program the pharmacy can't deny the patient the medication if they state they cant afford the copay. Approximately 80% of Rx customers on the state dime would flat out refuse to pay the co-pay but then make the pharmacy counter ring up their purchase of twinkies, soda and chips.
From the photo lab.
In the Photo Lab:
If I learned any thing its never work in a photo lab.
I asked/told the following things while working the photo lab.
Son you look like your on drugs, you need to quit the crack/cocaine and find jesus. (I was slightly tired that day)
What kind of film do I need for this digital camera?
This one not directly told but had 2 people loudly talking about which file sharing program could get them the best porn the fastest while at my register.
I have negatives of a girl doing a german shepard can you print those for me? (I told him no and still wish this was a joke)
2 days later my manager came out and told me:
I just got a report from the corporate office. They say that if we get asked to print beastiality to just say no.
Still not necessarially as bad as some of the customers that actually dropped off film. (For the record our policy was if theres a store i nteh neighborhood that sells that kind of media we'd print it. There was at least 1 adult store in walking distance)
Had 1 regular customer that would drop off film every sunday morning on his way to church to pick it up on his way back. Every time it was him with 2 incredibly fat girls in a three way. Going to confess to the sins of the night before before picking up the proof I guess.
1 Guy seemed to have a new girlfriend every week. As soon as he did there was a roll of nudey pics to develop. Wouldn't have been as bad but on several occassions he would come back and complain the photos weren't of good enough quality and make a scene in front of the other customers about it. Little discretion please.
Then there was the nightmare of the picture maker. Listen buddy I don't care where the picture came from. If it is copy written I can't let you use it unless you have the artists consent. I don't make the law I can't do anything about it.
That annoyance only seconded by "how do i use the picture maker?" Its a freaking kiosk that has diagrams and audio cues as to how every single step is supposed to be done.
If your not familiar with the picture maker it has about a 17" monitor in to that displays your photo and the changes your doing to it. These machines are always set up so you can easily see them from anywhere in the store. So why on earth would you try to edit your nudy pics on one in the middle of the store where children are walking around?
On The Register.
Our store when busy would easily have over 300 customers in it shopping/waiting to check out. This sicked as out parking lot could hold maybe 50 cars max. This parking lot of course has signs up everywhere stating "Customer parking only, 1 hour limit". Of course one year when St Pattricks day rolled around the lot was more than full with people stopping in on the way to the parade as well as trying to park for the parade. One lady decided she'd be clever. Instead of parking in a normal spot where there was an obvious sign about the parking she parked alongside the building in what would be considered the fire lane. Her car was obviously towed and she would not shut up about it. The lady went as far as to call the police into the store to accuse the manager of grand theft auto. Upon getting there the cops just sided with the store, told the woman how to get to the impound lot and then escorted her off the premises.
Had to work 3rd shift a few times. This led to a few interesting events.
Since the neighborhood wasn't the best we of course would get the strippers coming in after a long nights work. Even if they had changed (often they hadn't) you could always tell as they'd pay you with a wet wad of singles.
Better yet was the prostitutes in fishnets that would come in to buy douches at 3AM and then demand to use the ladies room.
I can understand that people have to work for a living too and 1AM might be the only time they can get to the drugstore for personal items. But c'mon leave the kids at home. 6 year olds shouldn't be walking around a drugstore, let alone awake at 1 am for any reason.
And as a final bit for today. For the love of god people wear appropriate clothing when you go out. I can understand you have a genetic weight problem but I can't think of anyone that wants to see a 350lb man wearing a tight fishnet shirt. Would have been icing on the cake to see him complain about an employee being out of uniform.
effect on most of them 
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