I hate working retail (this is a general and long rant)

I really do.. there's literally no upside to it. No, occasional customers who are cheery and kind do not count. Since when was being cheery and kind an exception? It should be the god dammed rule. Why on earth do people think it's ok to treat retail workers with anything less than that?

I'm subscribed to this subreddit because I have worked in retail for a fair few years and I enjoy reading your stories and can relate to them. What gets to me is the fact this is possible - you know, the one thing I have in common with you lot is the fact I've encountered dickheads in the same situation as you. Just why on earth is it so prevalent?

What drives people to be douchenuggets to the people paid to help them? Are they just like that normally or is there some switch in their brain that flips when they come to part with their precious money? Simply by virtue of working there, you most likely know more about store policy than the customers do, but every day, I read a tale about how jerks think you're screwing personally with them. Here's a clue, customers - they're not. You're wrong and you should have enough pride to admit it. Whether it's about closing/opening hours, returns policy, sale price, whatever - you are in their domain and as such, must act under their rules. Simple as that. Arguing with a retail worker about any of this instantly defines you as a sub-human, not them. They are not things to be argued with, trodden on and ridiculed - they are human beings who have to put up with your kind of shit for a living. Show some fucking respect.

Maybe it's just me but if I go into a shop and there's a situation between me and an employee, I defer to them. I do not think that just because I'm giving your company money, I have the right to treat them like shit. What they say goes. If you, as a customer, personally don't like it, don't treat the employee as if they had any say in the matter. These policies were decided upon by people in suits who have more than likely never set foot in the store (if you are such a suit, I suggest you try it some time. It might open your eyes).

Why do customers think that if they throw a tantrum, the employees will cave and give you what you want? Yeah, it might work, but fuck you if you do it. You know that's exactly how kids become little shits, right? Unbearable because they know if they shout loud enough, they'll get what they want. If you, as a customer, do this - you are acting like a petulant child and are worth nothing more than that. If you, as a customer, then get a hint that I think of you as I would a child, and then call me out on it, that's exactly what I'm saying - first off, if you weren't acting like this, I wouldn't be thinking it in the first place and second, I'm a human being with thoughts and feelings too, you know. You think you can treat me like shit and I'll take it lying down? Fuck off.

And that's another thing - if you, as a customer, are a dick to the employee and they in turn are slightly less than polite (because god forbid we should truly show customers how we feel), you don't have a problem with that store - you have a problem with them as a person. Don't assume they are the store, they're a person you've pissed off, nothing more. If you think saying 'well, we won't be coming here again!' actually does anything, you're misguided. In fact, you'd be doing the company a favour by not making them put up with your arrogant attitude again.

By all means, go tell everyone about how that company is so disrespectful and everything, I'm sure you'll tell the story exactly how it went down. Besides, for everyone who thinks the company's awful, there's someone who can't fault it and have never had a problem. I know this from experience - I've had people come up to me about the same thing with completely polar opposite views. I told you where to find something, you didn't look and went elsewhere, then came back and told me that I was wrong. Fair enough, but the guy who was stood next me actually looked where I was fucking pointing and knew I was right.

This wasn't meant to be so long, but by god, you customers don't half make our job difficult. Everyone has off days, but we're still people, just like you. Treat us as such. That said, why I should be telling people to act like fucking adults and not be a dick, I don't know, but the amount of stories I read here tells me that some people need a serious lesson in being a normal human being.

TL;DR retail sucks because people are dicks.