As much as I hate to say it, I am finished with this holiday season. I have never had to deal with so many unpleasant customers in all the years I have worked retail. There are complaints about prices and the exchange rate*, our selection**, our opening hours, the postage rates, etc. It is becoming maddening!
My last day of work is December 31st, and there is nothing that could convince me to stay longer, not even the ridiculous raise I have been offered. I have many skills that make me quite successful in retail sales, but the overabundance of inconsiderate customers has cause me to burn out. If I could say something to all those customers that have caused me grief over the years it would be this: I am a real person with feelings, who works very hard. No matter how much money you spend in my store, you have no right to treat me poorly. If there is something you don’t like, please go somewhere else because my time is better spent helping kind and reasonable customers.
* Gift cards, gift wrap, and many other items have both an American and a Canadian price on them, and the Canadian price is rarely changed to reflect what is thought to be temporary changes in the exchange rate. The fact that our dollar has been over 80¢s U.S. for over a year seems to have had no effect on prices.
** If is the middle of December! Of course we are going to have a smaller selection of boxed and individual cards now then when they first when out two months ago! Christmas isn’t very far away and many people have already sent their cards. *sigh*
Needleworker, Knitter, Crocheter, Sewist, Cricuteer, and more!
You couldn’t pay me enough to work voluntarily in retail. I’m really sorry you’re having such a horrible time of it, you’d think with all the “christmas spirit” and good Christian will people have been spouting about people would actually be nicer at Christmas. It makes me really sad that at a time of year that’s meant to be able love people are often nastier then at any other time.