The sign says "CLOSED", dumbass!

[dispatch]

I disagree. The message this sends is that your stepfather is a really nice guy willing to do things above and beyond for his customers, not that this is something any store would do. Unfortunately, the SC's of the world don't get that message, the message that they are lucky with this one proprietor. No, they get the message that this is something all stores should do for them all the time. That being said, the SC's would have that attitude whether or not they encountered someone like your stepfather. The GOOD customers of the world, however, get it.

true, but the bad part is the SCs would probably get impaitient with him because he had to re-open the kiosk and register because they think their time is that valuable, you wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've heard and the looks I used to get while signing in to a register during a rush

[csdrone]

I guess we are supposed to ignore procedures and safety guidelines for the overentitled SC. Our reaction: come back tomorrow.

[repsac]

I remember (and this may be the same elsewhere) that many customers did what we called the shake and rattle when they found the doors closed.

Typically, this meant that they would come to our doors, shake one and then stare into the store. When that set didn't open, they'd move to the next set right beside the first and shake those. And, again they would stare. After that attempt, they would return to the FIRST doors and shake them, as though shaking the others unlocked the first.


Though, of them all, my favorites had to be the people (usually older women) who would walk in the store when I let the employees in. This happened several times in fact. At the time, the store I worked at had me come in around seven (management) and then the employees got there around 9. I'd open the doors for them, and then open fully at 9:30.

I remember one lady that got rather perturbed with me. "Well, you let THEM in." she spat at me, to which I responded. "Yeah. They work here. Doors open at nine thirty." and then I locked the door back.

[XCashier]

I remember (and this may be the same elsewhere) that many customers did what we called the shake and rattle when they found the doors closed.

Same here. We've had to have our door repaired several times because people have yanked, pulled and rattled our door so hard that sometimes the hinges become twisted and the magnetic lock gets displaced.

The funny thing is, this is a coin and stamp shop. We're not selling anything necessary to survival, like food or medicine. The customers can freaking wait until we bloody well open!

[starglitter]

Our store opens at six a.m. now but back when it opened at 7 (my shift starts at 7) I had a lot of issues with people in the morning. If I got there before 7, the entrance would still be locked but the exit would be open. So I'd go in through the exit. I can't tell you how many times people followed me through. I had to turn around and tell them that we weren't open yet and they had to leave. The same thing happens at night, I hear. One night an employee was closing and some woman walks by with a cart -- and this is well after we closed. Apparently, since the entrance was locked this lady figured that meant it was perfectly acceptable to push her cart through the exit and proceed to shop.

My personal favorite is when my light is off and someone will come up, throw their things down, and then inform me that my light isn't on. Well duh.

[Pagan]

Gotta love the putz I encountered the other night in Music. Walked up to him and asked him if he needed any help. He said "no" and that's when I let him know (nicely) that we had been closed for 10 minutes. It was news to him! I can understand that. We'd only been make closing announcements for a 1/2 hour before we closed and had made four announcements after, the last one having been seconds before I talked to him! Just amazes me how oblivious they can be!

Off-topic: starglitter, gotta say I love the Duran Duran avatar! Can't wait for their next album!

[Silas G. T. Brontë]

One of the things that annoyed me about closing up is when the person is across the street or parking lot and sees you locking up. They then start running towards the store as if they think if they can stop you from leaving you have to reopne for them

LOL! I can totally picture it. Mr. Store Worker is closing and locking the doors. Meanwhile, Mr. Stupid Customer see that Mr. Worker is closing and dashes towards the doors. However, Mr. Customer slams his head against the locked doors.

Back to the topic, When I used to be a supermarket cashier, I used to have a manager who rarely smiled or gave compliments, but was never rude to anyone either. Despite that demeanor, I admired his direct, nerves-of-steel attitude to those customers who came in as we closed. He never gave in!

[Mike Taylor]

OK, I'm ignoring the fact that he had ALL DAY to shop. Even though I'm considered spoiled, I never expected my birthday presents to be available the second I woke up. (That's what Christmas is for!!!!!!!!! ) Why can't Daddy think of that?

Oh, and what about the lovely braindead twonks who throw hissy fits on CHRISTMAS EVE because we dare to shut our doors and go home to OUR families and THEY still haven't bought toys for their kids yet.

"YOU'VE RUINED CHRISTMAS!!!"

No I haven't. You've had since BEFORE THANKSGIVING to shop for your child. Don't get angry at me because you can't manage your time properly. The blame falls on YOUR head.

[mrtauntaun]

When I had to close up the computer shop I worked at, I had to set the storm alarm. It gives you 30 seconds to get out the door and close it before it activates.
One day im rushing, practically running, out the door, I open it and a customer is there. He grabs it and says thanks, like im holding it open for him. Now im caught in a desperate tug of war with him, while trying to explain we are closed and the alarm is about to go off.
Well, the door didn't close in time, and the night air is filled with howling sirens. The guys turns pale and just takes off. Thanks, jerk, now I have to stay even later to wait for the cops and talk to the alarm company.

The sad thing is, he probably really did think that I was running to the front of the store to open the door for him.

[staticradio]

My personal favorite is when my light is off and someone will come up, throw their things down, and then inform me that my light isn't on. Well duh.

I'd get this multiple times...when people have like half their orders on the conveyor, but don't bother to look up and see...hi ...CLOSED...and the number light off. sometimes, I'd have to point to the CLOSED sign, and get "oh"...durr!

on a lighter note (pertaining to grocery stores), I really hate when people leave parishable food items...trash...their kids (kidding ) in front of the registers, and don't care to pick it up. and these are the same neophytes that bitch and moan about the cleanliness of the store. come to think of it, I'm sure any type of store has their fair share of dilemmas.

later.

[repsac]

I worked at a Fred's once for the christmas season. Good easy job with no real problems. Good crew, good management, good fun all around.

Well, I remember one evening maybe a saturday, when we were closing that Susan the mgr told me and Andre to go back and turn out all the lights. By then we'd been announcing that the store was closing and to make your final purchases. Well, (now this was 30 min after we had closed) Andre and I raced back to shut out the lights and then on the way back to the front, passed by the toy ailse. As we came up to the front this woman comes up to he and I, and in a very testy voice says. "WHY did all the lights go out?" Andre looks at me, laughs some and says in his perfect NYC accent (this happening in the deep south) "Lady, we've been closed for half an hour!" the lady got rather upset and said "But I'm not done shopping." To which Andre grinned and said. "Well, you got all night. You're about to be locked in here by yourself."

The woman pushed her cart up to the front and started to whine about needing this and that. Well, the mgr listend some and when the woman said (again testily) "Well, are you going to ring me up?" the mgr responded. "Nope. You're SOL on that one. All the registers are closed, we're closed, and unless you want to spend the night here, I suggest you leave. The cart will be there when we reopen Wed (long holiday), if you want to buy it then."

Customer stomped out and we never heard from her again.

[Amalthea]

Though, of them all, my favorites had to be the people (usually older women) who would walk in the store when I let the employees in. This happened several times in fact.

Oh, that reminds me... Our store has its carpets cleaned once a quarter. Most of the time the carpet cleaners get there before we close, haul their stuff in, and start cleaning once we've locked the doors. But this time they hadn't, so my manager was checking the front every five minutes or so to see if they'd come yet. Then finally she went up and there they were, waiting patiently to be let in. So she opened the door, and four guys trundle in. Then a fifth with the equipment. So she locks the door, we continue to recover. A few minutes later I go to recover the computer books, and two of the guys she'd just let in are looking at the computer books. My first thought is that they're being slackers, but then I realized... They weren't with the carpet cleaners! These guys had apparently come by, seen some people waiting out in front of the store, and decided to wait with them. I could understand if it was morning and they figured we were about to open. But it was after 9pm! I don't understand their thought process. Did they think we'd locked the doors cuz the store was too full, and were letting people in a few at a time? I mean, HELLO! Honestly...

[ArenaBoy]

Working in a parking lot, we do not have hours but we do have a time for when the doors open. We do shut certain sections of the parking lot down if they are full at one point, it depends on the event. People complain that they have a pass and thinks its stupid that they can't get in when the lot is obviously full. This is over some lousy parking spots too.

[batmoody]

My personal favorite is when my light is off and someone will come up, throw their things down, and then inform me that my light isn't on. Well duh.

Hahha, I get that alot. I turn off my light and am ringing up the last person, almost never fails, some wisecracker will come into my line,
SC: Hey, your light isnt on!
Me: (with a sugary sweeeet voice) I'm not supposed to have it on if I'm closed <hint> <hint>

Most of the time they just chuckle but don't leave (don't care), and while I am ringing them up, another nutcase comes up and we start the whole thing over and over and over.
<sigh> Reminds me of dogs chasing their tails.......

[starglitter]

Off-topic: starglitter, gotta say I love the Duran Duran avatar! Can't wait for their next album!

Thanks! I love them. I can't wait either!

Hahha, I get that alot. I turn off my light and am ringing up the last person, almost never fails, some wisecracker will come into my line,
SC: Hey, your light isnt on!
Me: (with a sugary sweeeet voice) I'm not supposed to have it on if I'm closed <hint> <hint>

Most of the time they just chuckle but don't leave (don't care), and while I am ringing them up, another nutcase comes up and we start the whole thing over and over and over.
<sigh> Reminds me of dogs chasing their tails.......

Oh yeah they never leave. Once I had a customer who saw that my light was out, came into my line and said "I know your light is out but I'm coming here anyway." If I had shut down by then I would have told him it was too late but alas, my register was still open and I'm just too nice.

Although I don't think people pay attention to lights at all. Or barriers for that matter. One morning I was cleaning my register before I opened it and a customer comes up and asks me if I was open yet. I said no. So she pushed her cart past the barrier then stood there and proceeded to complain about the smell of the cleaner, and how she didn't want to put her food on the belt now. And then she says "They should make you do this before you open." HELLO!? I just told you two seconds ago I wasn't open yet!