Tips for seasonal retail workers

[MoonBucket]

(or maybe new retail workers in general)

I told someone else I would start this thread, but now I forgot what I meant to write. (It would have been off-topic for an astrology sub-forum.)

At the very least, please try not to make anyone regret that they even entered the store.

Ideally, stay somewhat pleasantly impersonally well-mannered in a way that makes all or most customers feel slightly or moderately happy (joyous would be too much) or at least distractedly neutral about having shopped there, and (most importantly) willing to shop there again.

Be available to help, but don't insist on helping -- that's a great way to drive a browser and potential customer right out of the store.

Remember the possibility that a customer might be musing and composing instead of just clueless and indecisive. Do not interrupt that muse!

Be considerate of others who are waiting in line. Be the regulator and traffic-conductor if you need to be the one to wind up a potentially endless conversation with a gabby customer, even if you have been blessed with the "talking post" gift and know that their unburdening themselves might be the most therapeutic and healing opportunity they have experienced in ages.

But the other side of that is that for many people, a trip to the store and exchanging a few words with the cashier is really the only social activity they have going on these days.

We all know that the customer is not always right, but in the rare, difficult cases pretend they are right until it's time to call the manager or the police.

I probably forgot some things. Any other tips or advice?

 

[Opal]

And may I add, be patient with the other drivers, on the road, and in the parking lot.

Road rage can escalate.

Normally people don’t want to kill their neighbours, or go to jail,

 

[PenguinTrauma]

I think some rules need to apply to customers as well.

Mine is simply to be friendly to the cashiers, they may have dealt with a rude Karen customer 5 minutes before you've entered the shop.

A little chit-chat and friendly small talk goes a long way but don't spend too long chatting, if there is a long line behind you in the queue. Just wishing them a good day is enough.

 

[PenguinTrauma]

And may I add, be patient with the other drivers, on the road, and in the parking lot.

Road rage can escalate.

Normally people don’t want to kill their neighbours, or go to jail,

Bit of a synchronicity there.

Was at the local garden centre, and witnessed a car go straight into the back of another one, who had been stationary and patiently waiting to turn into the garden centre car park. She swerved in time though, so she hit the car diagonally, which caused less damage, but blocked the opposite side.

A white van driving on the opposite side narrowly missed the two, luckily he braked in time as well. It did cause a traffic jam for a bit, and a lot of irate drivers.

Poor driver who originally crashed looked shaken up, it seemed like she wasn't concentrating on what was in front of her.