Retail fail
Notice something a little amiss with this jacket in my closet?
Actually, notice a few things?!
- Holy crapola, my closet is packed.
- Um… why does that jacket have tags on it? Why am I buying a new jacket? I don’t need one, and the high today is 82°! When am I even going to use it*?! But it’s sooooo cute!
- But mainly… UGH THEY LEFT THAT STUPID SECURITY TAG ON IT!!! GAH!!!
Sigh. I had a bit of an absent minded cashier at the store the other day. The cashier forgot my gift receipts, didn’t give me back the “all day” 20% coupon, didn’t give me back an article of clothing I wanted to check at the store kiosk to see if they had it in other stores***, and left this security tag on. I was kind of annoyed with the first three things, but thought “whatever!” until I got home and saw the security tag was still on the coat. Dang it! Would you have tried to remove it yourself?
I guess that is a good marketing strategy – they got me back in the store (a different location) the next day, and I found the things I was going to check at the kiosk the day before… so I spent more money, and got the security tag removed. By a not so absent minded cashier.
Did/do any of you work retail?
My high school working experience was in food service (McDonald’s – don’t you ever wonder why I went vegetarian, then vegan?!) but I always wonder what it would be like to work retail. I don’t think I would do well at the places that require you to ask people to sign up for points cards and credit cards. I’m just not that pushy!
*Note, it was actually chilly enough to wear it last night. Because 30+ degree** temperature swings is how we roll in the midwest.
**That’s not even that big of a swing, either!
***They said they couldn’t check this at the register, no biggie.
Themocracy
I’ve had that happen to me and it makes me sooooo mad!!!! Especially if I went on my day off, and the next day I have to work, but have to make a trip to the store…ugh!!
I worked in a sporting store (similar to Dick’s Sporting Goods) when I was in college (the first time!) and I loved it! Of course back then people didn’t use credit cards, and we didn’t have point things either. We just worked, sold shoes and gear, people paid cash and went on their way…no pressure.
I am not a pushy person either. I couldn’t do it now!
I was thinking about that awhile ago, that when I worked at McD’s it was all cash. I wonder what it’s like with cards now. Remember when people used to carry cash? Ha!
I worked a lot of retail through high school and college. I started at Hardees and decided fast food was not for me haha! I ended up at County Seat (do they have those any more?) and then worked at a Maurices for a few years. Back then, we were actually expected to provide customer service. Shocker! I really did enjoy it though, and the discount on clothes was super nice…
Bobbi, I worked at Hardee’s too!
I still have a shirt with a security tag on it, just never got around to going back to get it taken off. I’ve never really worked in retail or at a restaurant. I always had more obscure part time jobs, not that I’m complaining! 🙂
It sounds like you need to google how to take that off! I did and got scared… and went back to the store 😉
I almost bought that same jacket! Love it!!! Had a similar experience at kohls last week and was so annoyed. I worked retail a few times (target and gap). Dealing with mean/rude/annoying customers is the worst! I always make sure I’m nice and patient with cashiers. Also, all of my paycheck went to clothes! I looked good (and so did my family) but I didn’t make any money!! Lol
Ugh, I hate when they leave those stupid security tags on!!
And I worked at McDonald’s, too! For 7 years……
Uggh that is so annoying when they leave those tags on! I get nervous so I always have them remove it..I’m surprised the security alarm didn’t go off as you left! But I’m guessing the jacket is from Kohl’s?! Love love love!
And yes, I worked retail in HS/college- at Gap and Ann Taylor outlets. And I will NEVER EVER go back. So many rude, impatient “I’m the center of the universe” type of people! I’m sure you saw that at McD’s!
Of course it’s from there! And the security alarm went off when I brought it back in. Ha!
Oh yes. I have so many horror stories. Really weird stories, too.
Oh yeah, that happened to me once when I was buying shapewear before a wedding. I didn’t notice until I was putting it on the day of the wedding! I had to cut a hole around it, which was ok because no one was seeing it anyway. (I did try to pull it off first–that did NOT go well.)
So, I always check now. Great security tags if they don’t set the alarm off on the way out of the store, right?
I worked in the housewares section of Lazarus (like Macy’s) in college. It was okay–mostly old ladies who were really nice to me. I was terrible at opening credit cards, but won a couple customer service awards so it evened out. 🙂
Oh gosh! Thankfully you could still [sort of] use it! Geesh! I hope I remember to check now!
I worked at the Olive Garden, and we were trained for the up-sell – try to get people to order wine, appetizers, desserts. Yeah, I’m not pushy at all, but then again, most other servers didn’t care either, so it’s not like I looked like a slacker.
I’ve had those thingies left on before and I had to go back to the store to get it removed. I think I tried Googling for a way to remove it myself.
One of my roommates in college took out his brand new comforter set he had bought a few months before moving away just to find they had left the security tag on it. When he brought it back to the store they refused to take it off since he didn’t have the receipt. Luckily we had a friend that worked at a different store who was able to take it off for him. He wasn’t happy!
I worked in both fast food and retail. I am really patient when I’m out eating/shopping until I witness bad cutsomer service. Then I get cranky pants.
Oh geesh! That is lucky to have someone be able to help when the store wouldn’t!
I try to be super patient too. But gosh. I have had some really bad customer service, that makes me wonder why the hell the person chose to be in that position!
I worked retail at your favorite store! All through college. It could be annoying sometimes, but it was such a fun job. We were supposed to ask every customer about credit cards, but I really only did it when managers were nearby, or when someone was spending a ton of money and would actually save something substantial (I laugh sometimes when they offer to open one to save me $3 or something). We got paid a whopping 50 cents for each application we processed. I really miss the discounts I used to get though! I scored a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for $30 and several pairs of gym shoes for $5-$10. I wish I worked there now to get cheaper gym clothes 🙂
I’ve had the security tag thing happen, and it’s annoying because I always want to wear stuff I buy right away.
I worked at the candy counter at a movie theater, Brown’s Chicken, a hot dog place, a women’s boutique so yes, lots of retail. We didn’t do the upsell/points thing. I would have hated that. Chronic returners though….omg what a pain!
Oh gosh! Yes! I know a few chronic returners IN person. Sigh. Just commit!
Um I return a lot of things, I hope people don’t think I am a chronic returner. To be fair though, I often shop alone and so sometimes I just need a second opinion.
Ha ha ha. Do you return most of what you buy? I know someone who does this, and it just seems like a total pita to me! 🙂 Of course, I am pretty lazy… if something doesn’t work, I would almost rather give it away than bother with returning it 😉
Ugh, it’s so sad when that happens! Especially when you have it all planned out when you’re going to wear it. I’ve never worked in retail, only food service, but I know I wouldn’t be any good at it. I love the rush of serving food!
That’s happened to me several times, and it’s SO annoying! One time it was at JC Penney, and when I came in the next day, they acted like I had stolen it, since I didn’t have my receipt. Made me so mad that they would blame ME for their incompetent cashier! I know everyone makes mistakes, but that just bothered me. Mcd’s was my first job too.
I don’t think I’ve ever had one of those tags left on, but I do tend to forget to remove the ones that are sewn into the seams of the clothing. Apparently sometimes those can also set off the security alarms! Haven’t that had happen yet, either, thankfully.
I’ve never worked retail. Just food service and random office jobs!
That jacket looks nice!
I worked retail- my first job ever was the shoe department at Kmart. Followed by McDonald’s belch. Then in college I did pacific sunwear, and some other place I can’t remember the name of (clothing/home goods). Eventually ended up grooming dogs for a year. Yay. I would have been mad if the tag was left on… Because I hate going to stores around here because they are all ZOOS and I generally hate people & their cluelessness.
This happened to a friend in high school once on a pair of jeans. Since she didn’t want to make the 30 minute drive to the store, we just took it off ourselves. I think with a pliers. It was funny.
I’ve never worked retail. I hate the upsell so I’m glad I never had to do it.
p.s. I love Kohl’s.
I <3 Kohl's too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even when there were a few mistakes 🙂
Overall, they have pretty great customer service!
I worked retail during summers/breaks in college. I worked at JCP and then at a locally owned outdoors/lifestyle store. I actually loved it! But then again I never had to push CCs or anything like that. I loved getting in the new merchandise, helping the little old ladies at JCP and the “inventory balancing” at the local store. Days went by very quickly!
THIEF!!!
Grr, so sorry you got a totally incompetent cashier. Huge bummer. I’m currently working retail and it’s not so bad, but then again, I’m working at a running store, so the experience is a little different than working at a big box store or something similar. I don’t really have to push things, especially things that won’t greatly benefit the customer, which makes things easier, I think.
I never worked retail in high school (I was a lifeguard/ swim instructor) so by the time I applied for retail jobs my junior year of college, I was apparently not qualifed for retail jobs. I couldn’t believe the number of stores that passed me up for someone “with more experience!”
Geez. That is interesting. You would think experience is experience!
Recently I have had a few run ins with security tags being left on. Once when I was in a time crunch headed out of town and had no time to go back to the store. Thanks to Google I now know how to get them off pretty easily.
that has never happened to me, I need to buy more clothes obv
I’d be annoyed to have to go back! I hate it when stuff like that happens. I don’t think you can EVERY have too many clothes, can you?
Since I have summers off, I often think that I should work at one of my ‘favorite’ retail places, but then I think that I’d end up spending all of the money I earned. So, maybe not a good strategy?
Funny you mention it – my son received a sweatshirt in the mail for his birthday a few months ago where one of those security tags was still on, and since we don’t even have that store here in Belgium, we were like, oh crap, what do we do now??? But we searched online and lo and behold, on Youtube there were a couple of helpful videos showing how to use a tool to get them off. It wasn’t easy but we did finally manage to get it off without damaging the sweatshirt.
I did wonder about the people who made the videos, though – hmmm…shoplifters???
Ha! I just assumed it was unfortunate customers like me 😉 I am happy your son was able to get it off!
Gah, that security tag is so annoying! I ordered a pair of pants from Kohls and they shipped it to me with the security tag – I had to go to the store and set off all the alarms just to be able to wear my pants!
I worked retail for 6 months. It was in a home improvement/hardware store (think Lowes or Home Depot) and I hated it.
Oh my gosh! Shipped to your home with the tags?! Now that takes the cake!!!
I hate it when stores leave security tags on! I know which store you are talking about and I have had the same experiences every now and then.
I have worked retail – two (very) different stores. I worked at a large, well-known department store in both commission sales (computers/vacuum cleaners/electronics) and clothing. I did have to ask everyone if they wanted to sign up for a store card but I didn’t really feel pressure to get people to actually sign up (though we did get rewards if we did I think). The commission part was the pushier part and selling extra protection on an item. I hated that part! We had to keep a certain % and it was a PITA. Then I worked at a large pet store (where I met Joey). When I shop at stores now I sometimes get frustrated with customer service because it is so important and something I strived for when I worked in those positions.