Pet Peeves Revisited - Now with a Poll!

[karma_gypsy]

The list keeps growing and growing . . .

In no particular order:

People who come in, fiddle with the stereos or tv sets, turn them way up loud and walk away.

We keep guitars behind the counter, people come in, want to see a guitar, they have no intentions of purchasing, tune it, then hand it back. At least play a song first . . . make wasting my time more worthwile.

Kids, who have no money, that ask to see certain things from behind the counter, just so they can touch it or play with it.

People who ask, "do you work here?" when I'm wearing a work shirt the same as everyone else in the store (it's pretty obvious).

People who help themselves to things behind the counter, like reaching over and under the glass to grab a CD.

People who claim they can go behind the counter to look at the DVDs (which there are tons, they all don't fit in the case, so we keep the overflow on the floor). It's a rule, we don't allow people behind the counter, it's been like that for awhile, stop arguing and get over yourself.

People who argue with you and you know they're wrong but they still argue.

People who treat you like crap because they're having a bad day.

People who spit on the floor or leave their garbage on the shelves, come one people, we do have garbage cans.

People who come in and ask if we have a certain something, when I reply, "sorry we don't" they still stand there, staring blankly at you. "Nope, still don't have it."

People who come in a bitch about our prices (we're a Pawn Shop), and say Wal*Mart is so much cheaper. Guess what, Einstein? We're not Wal*Mart! Plus, you can't haggle prices at Wal*Mart, and the reason we may be slightlymore expensive than Wal*Mart is that the item you're bitching about is a well-known brand name, and Wal*Mart may have a similar item for either the same price or cheaper, but it's an off-brand. There's your price difference, retard.

People who make you go through the trouble of getting something from up high, they wander away.



That's all I can think of right now, I'm sure you guys will find more to add later!


kg

[evilhomer]

People who overload a box (part 1), boxes are designed to be stacked; if you load it up over the edge, the lid won't go on properly, the boxes don't stack properly, and the stack I try to make is dangerously unstable.

People who overload a box (part 2), I'm strong enough, but a box completely loaded with paper comes in at 50-100 lbs. Put it in two boxes and let me keep my back.

People who underload a box. I just finished heaving your last 100 lb box around and look to the next one expecting the same. But of course this ones tipping the scales at a massive 0.2 grams and I just about throw it through the ceiling and fall on my heiny.

People who put the labels on the top. I'm not moving one box at a time, I'm stacking them and moving them 5 or 6 at a time. Put the label on the side so that I can see it in a stack.

People who label improperly. Write where it's going with the correct code. I'm a mover, I don't care what's in the box, I don't care what your name is, the only thing I care about is taking the box from one place to the other. Your station is 1234, write 1234 and it will get there. Write "Mike" or "shoes" and it won't.

People who label improperly, then blame me when it goes to the wrong spot. They don't label it properly so I couldn't take it to the right spot. Their fault right? Nope, I'm to stupid to figure out what they meant and/or too lazy to do so.

People who don't label anything. 100 people are moving, you think I can remember where one box or one knick-knack came from and deliver it to the right spot, not a chance in hell if there's no label on it. But they can identify their own stuff so why can't I??? I'm obviously too stupid and/or too lazy.

People who don't read their move information sheet. All of these pet peeves are covered on it, but what do I get when I mention what someone did wrong? "Oh, I didn't know that... you should really think about handing out an information sheet that covers these things".

[Gas Station Girl]

People who think we're still open even though all of the lights are off, the door is locked, and they can see that we're counting all of the money in our tills.

People who think that banging on the door, begging, and saying that they "just need one thing" is going to make us reopen the store for them.

People who buy a small item with a large bill, while saying something like, "I don't really want this, I just need change." Well, you know what? I don't really want to serve you, I just need my paycheck. So instead of me emptying out the entire till to count out $99.72 in change while you eat the candy you didn't even want to buy, how about you just haul your lazy ass to the bank that's RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, and let them give you some change. Why do so many SCs carry $100 bills around anyways?

People who wait in line for 10 minutes and when their turn comes, they still have no clue what they want.

People who leave huge piles of scratch-offs on the counter without any explanation whatsoever. Do you want me to validate them? Do you want me to throw them away? Are you giving them to me as a birthday present? How am I supposed to know?

People who think they can rent a movie without showing us any ID. Okay, so let me get this straight, I don't know who you are, I don't know where you live, I don't know how to reach you, but I'm supposed to let you have this movie and just assume that you'll bring it back?

People who talk on their cell phone during the entire transaction.

People who park at the pumps when they're not even buying gas.

People who come in huge crowds just so that one person in the crowd can buy an ice cream.

People who read the newspaper while I'm processing their transaction.

People who read newspapers or magazines, take them apart, and don't buy them, and don't put them back together.

People who don't check which kind of gas they're pumping, and then once they start pumping, they'll realize they're pumping premium, so they'll shut it off and swich to regular, and then they're completely SHOCKED that they got charged for the $3 of premium that they "accidentally" put in their car.

Customers who hit on me.

Customers who call me "sexy" or "baby" or "cutie" or "kitten".

Customers who call me by my first name just because they read it off my name tag, but they don't actually know me.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Customers who think I understand retardese; ie, they're thinking something but cuz what comes out of their mouth is complete gibberish I have to ask them to clarify it... then they get mad and accuse me of being rude. Either say what you want clearly or just don't bother!

[Kiwi]

I voted for the screaming kids

that can last 200 times as long as some the other ones

and a screaming kid.... is physically painful

[Ringtail Z28]

I voted other.

I'd say that my biggest pet peeve is a toss up between "do you work here?" and getting yelled at for not speaking spanish.

[evilhomer]

People who wait in line for 10 minutes and when their turn comes, they still have no clue what they want.
Part 2 that I hate is they bring it all to the counter, mindlessly daydream away as it's being rung up, then finally snap out of it when the total is read off to them. Then they spend the next five minutes rummaging through their purse or bag or pants to find their wallet. Then the next five minutes is going through their wallet finding their cash or finding their card or deciding which card has the best reward options. And of course if it's cash, they've got the change in there somewhere, hold on another five minutes while they dig it out. :hairpull:

[Imogene]

How about customers who get 'grabby' at things on your computer? I used to have a guy who would come into the store every week, never bothered with so much as a 'Hi', would go right up to the register, no matter how busy we were, grab a copy of the pre-order list from the file folders we kept them in, grab a stack of reserve slips, and take up a whole counter filling out slips, but never bothering to order them while he was there. No, he'd take the slips home with him... and then sometimes get angry when he'd return and find those movies out on the shelf. "Why didn't you call me to tell me this was in?" "Well, you see, you have to pay us money to assure we do that for you, you just took a slip, and went home." He also had a tendency of just reaching over my computer and grabbing pens off my keyboard. Just before Chesterfield closed, I snapped at him one day. "Don't you dare just grab at my pens like that again! If I'd had the drawer open, I wouldn't know where your hand was going." He yelled back "Well, then, leave a pen on the counter!" We'd done that before, and they never stayed there, they'd wander off, or just generally make the registers look messy.

How about "people who reserved a movie then came back in two days later, cite 'the economy's doing poorly' and ask for their $5 back? Every single week. We just banned him from the store. "Look, dude, the economy's in the toilet right now, sure. But you come in every week and reserve something, then come back to get your money back, we're not a savings and loan. Keep better track of your money."

Sorry about the long reply.

[blas]

As an ex gas station employee: everything gas station girl said, lol.

I'm glad someone else around here has people who park at gas pumps but don't get gas, they just park their vehicle right at the pump and trot inside like it's completely ok. I hated it the most when people did that during rush times.

The multiple people coming in to buy just one thing. Dontcha LOVE groups of like, 3 or 4 people, and one person buys a pop? Plus, it's even worse when the hordes come in and one person wants a pack of smokes. Then it's like, newsflash: You're ALL getting carded. And they used to look at me like I had green skin. I wanted so badly to say, "You were stupid enough to all come in here, shoulda stayed in the car!"

Hmmm.....don't miss the scratch off junkies at all. And they'd all seem to show up at once, right during rush times. We had customers who'd "hide", or scratch their lotto tickets in the weirdest places in the store, and when I'd go to clean, I'd see scratch residue all over certain corners and countertops. And these people NEVER knew when to stop. Barely any of them were nice or patient. They thought they were the only people in the store, even though there was a lopsided line going all the way out the door (and all the way back to the beer cooler, and all the way back to the soda cooler).

Don't miss the people who didn't know how to pay at the pump and would only get gas, come inside, see the long line, sigh HEAVILY, and wait 10 minutes, when it came to be their turn, they'd sign again, and flop their credit card down on the counter. Newsflash, moron, if it was only gas you were getting, PAY AT THE PUMP. No one's gonna steal your identity, no one is watching you. Just do it. I used to love when people would pay at the pump. Then I could get more cleanups done and relax a bit.

[kellee]

PET PEEVES, EH!
When my light is obviously OFF because I'm trying to use the BATHROOM and another customer mysteriously ends up in my line. Either a perplexing feat of physics or someone's ignorant.

I'm standing there, right a my register, with my light blaring like the sun, my scanner ready to go, and I get an " Are you open?"

People that just throw the money on the counter (this is esp annoying with the coins) like they don't want to hand me the money like a civilized person, but I know if I did that with their change they'd throw a hissy fit.

And for the last time....the CARD WAS DECLINED. yes, DECLINED. No matter how many times I run it through my machine the outcome will be the same :
DECLINED! Now get out of my face and get your ass to work like the rest of us!

[Pagan]

And of course if it's cash, they've got the change in there somewhere, hold on another five minutes while they dig it out. :hairpull:


Especially since we're watched on our transaction time where I work. They want you to have a quick time, but then you have the "I'm sure I've got the change" dork. Then there's the ones that decided that they have the cents after you've put in whichever bill they gave you and you've already got their change!:hairpull:

Oh, and let's not forget the charmers that are writing a check, and knew they were going to write a check. Not only wait until you've rung up everything to start writing a check, but also do not have a pen!:headdesk:

When you rent a video at our place, you have to show us some sort of photo ID. At least once a day you will get some dink that gets mad that you have to show ID, even though they rent here all the time!:eek: Look, if you don't want us to make sure that unauthorized are not using your account, fine. Just don't come complaining to me about late charges!

[pbmods]

My biggest pet peeve is the SC in disguise. You know... the one that's all friendly and helpful and gets you to let your guard down... and then WHAM! calls you a stupid bitch whore whatever because the penny you dropped in her hand fell out onto the counter.

[MadMike]

I went with the "screaming kids", although the "not reading signs" was a very close second.

I had one of these at my register, and his stupid mother was actually standing there smiling and encouraging him ("Can you do that even louder?") And of course, the kid did.

Another time one screamed right in my ear while I was trying to stack some cases of soda. Ended up dropping the thing, and then just kind of went into zombie mode. I just walked away without picking up the case I dropped, and just kind of wandered into the back room for awhile until I was able to compose myself.

[stickycoins]

I hate the change-diggers too. It is SO much faster for me to give them 11c back instead of them trying to find 89c. When I am a customer I never give exact change unless it's 50c or less, or I will throw in the odd cents so the cashier doesn't have to hit the pennies.

Also high on my list are the people that keep grabbing stuff every time you ring them out. Get it all at once, why don'tcha?

Another one, people that bring stuff to the register, you start ringing up, and they disappear! Never fails that somebody else comes in and I have to void because the moron wasn't done and didn't say anything.

I hate hearing the words "I've got change" because it usually means that's ALL they have and they brought a 12 pack of beer, chips, and other junk to the counter and also asked for smokes. This usually works out to at least $20....And it's ALWAYS on Thursdays.
Get a better job, rethink your priorities, give up your bad habits, or go to a Coinstar.

People that come in wanting change for a $20/50/100. When you tell them no, they slap a 30c pack of gum or a 10c piece of candy on the counter and say "there, I'm buying something". Nice fireworks when I take the money out of my pocket and pay for it. Or give them 19 ones.:devil:

I'm sure there's more, but I've been off for the last 2 nights and I tend to put that place out of my mind when I'm not there.

[chainedbarista]

i can't choose, they're all high on my list, because all of them happen frequently enough to cause severe enough irritation.

[theredbaron47]

And for the last time....the CARD WAS DECLINED. yes, DECLINED. No matter how many times I run it through my machine the outcome will be the same :
DECLINED! Now get out of my face and get your ass to work like the rest of us!

That rates high up there on my list of pet peeves. It's happened time and time again, and will continue to happen time and time again. I run the card through, a second and a half later the message box comes up saying "ERROR 301: DECLINED", I tell the customer this, and without missing a beat, it's "what?? you're kidding! try it again, I just put a whole bunch of money in that account this morning!" or "what?? that's impossible, I have a $5,000 credit line on that card!". A lot of people either don't know or don't care that they can only spend so much with a debit card in a single day, and it stops working after that for the rest of that day. But the fact remains, no matter what I do to my machine, I can NOT make it work. Pull out another card, pull out cash, hell with it, even pull out a check, but telling me to repeatedly slide the card through like a dumbass will NOT make it work. </rant>

[stickycoins]

Makes me glad(kinda) that we are cash only....Behind the times for sure, but less hassle. But I still get SCs that whip out a card when there are numerous "Cash Only" signs posted. They don't see them.

[Gas Station Girl]

And let's not forget the customers who are too drunk and/or stupid to use their own debit card. I swipe the card through, and then when it's time for them to enter their information they'll just stare off into space or they'll take so long figuring out which buttons to press that the machine times out and I have to restart the transaction.

Oh and then there are the ones who borrow their friend or significant other's debit card, and they have to call them six times during the transaction to confirm the PIN and the account.

And a few more pet peeves that I had almost forgotten:

Customers who want to talk about the weather. I don't need to hear that it's hot/cold/windy/raining/snowing or whatever 99 times per shift. I can tell just by looking out the window.

Customers who stay at the counter once the transaction is over. This isn't too bad if there aren't any other customers in the store, but if there's a line up it really slows things down. Find another place to reorganize your purse or wallet.

Customers who think that I memorized the price of every single item in the store. It's especially bad when they stand at the very back of the store while I'm at the counter, and they hold up a small item that I can barely even see and ask, "How much is this?" It's even more frustrating when I come over to see the item and it actually had a price tag on it.

Drunk customers. Enough said.

Customers who complain to me because the prices are too high or because we don't have the products they want. Those are things that I cannot control. Go talk to the manager.

[werewolffan98]

i choose other: because i work at a renaissance faire and i get very dumb questions from patrons like "are you people like the Amish" no we are all actors madam,or people who ask where the privies are when there is a big sign saying "privies" right in front of them,and people who talk on the cell and wave a cigarette around in their other hand,because one almost burned my templar knight tunic i sewed together.

[Lace Neil Singer]

1. "Are you open?" This is my one biggest hate; I do try to be patient if I look like I'm closed, like if I'm tidying my till area while it's quiet, but if a customer is just leaving or if I've just taken the lock off and putting the cash in my till, then being asked if I'm open makes me want to shout "Use your f***ing eyes!!" back at the idiot. Of course, those customers are more than likely the same morons who just plonk their shopping down on your till when you're cashing up or just cleaning tills and then get pissy when you tell them you're closed.

2. Leaving trolleys with kids in or pushchairs next to my till. I'm not a babysitter and it's not my job to look after your child while you run and get something else. People who do this don't even ask me if it's OK (to which the answer would be a resounding "no") they just wander off, leaving the kid.

3. Dumping their basket on the end of the till or leaving their full trolley next to it. Then they come back and get mad cuz I've let other customers on. Why shouldn't I? Why should they wait for you to come back when they've organised themselves better than you have? We're not in primary school any more; you can't "bagsy" a till in the supermarket by leaving your trolley beside it. Either ask me to get a supervisor to get what you've forgotten or at least unload the damn thing so I can pack your shopping while I'm waiting for you.

4. Yack yack yack. Either on a mobile phone or to your husband/wife/friend/kid; it's extremely annoying to be ignored while you blab to someone else. Finish the transaction, then you can yack to your heart's content.

5. Whining to me about anything wrong with the store. It may come as a surprise to you, but as far as the empty shelves/long queues/lack of the specific thing you came to buy/toilets out of bog roll/dirty floors go, I am completely powerless to do anything about it. If you want something done or want information about something, go to customer services. Unless you're whinging about having to pay for parking. There are signs all over the carpark informing you that the carpark belongs to the local council, so go and whine to them.

(Will probably be back to add to this later)

[blas]

I'm not even in retail anymore, but it's scarred me so bad that I have more to add:

People who find fault with any little thing at a store, yet come back, nearly every single day, and whine and whine and whine some more. Exact phrases could be:
"Every time I come here, this doesn't ring up...."
"Every time I come here, you card me.."
"Every time I come here, you're out of..."
"Every time I come here...."

People who swear they'll never shop at your store again, but to your utter dismay, they are back the very next day.

People with entitlement issues. This happens in very small stores with a very low key type of customer service, and this is the result of being way too nice of a manager to low life scumbags:
"Ye manager only charges me $.xx for this!"
"Ye better tell ye manager to order ME some more..."
"Why doesn't ye manager listen to me and order this?"
"Ye manager NEVER makes me show ID for checks!"

People who pitch a fit over not being able to write checks at stores. Get over it. If so many people weren't so irresponsible with their bank accounts, we wouldn't have this problem.

People who mumble.

People who talk wayyyyyy too fast.

People who buy something small, and whip out a $50 or $100, but you can see a $10 or $20 in their wallet. Jerks.

People who abandon their cart in the middle of the store.

People who open stuff like underwear packages or socks, etc etc......then proceed to throw that package aside and take a closed one of the same kind.

People with the ungodly talent of spritzing poo all over bathroom walls.

Women who leave used tampons on the floor..

[fizzgig]

I agree, with the screaming kids, i have 2 girls ages 6 and 9, but they are well behaved in stores.
they know that if they aren't, they will be in trouble. have threatened to swat my 9 yr. olds butt in the middle of w-m to get her to calm down and she did. never have had to yet.

fizzy

[xshaq]

You have overlooked the best one of all: The parent who shops elsewhere and send their 'darlings' in to your store for the free childcare service. I have no problem calling Child Welfare on parents like that.

[fizzgig]

You have overlooked the best one of all: The parent who shops elsewhere and send their 'darlings' in to your store for the free childcare service. I have no problem calling Child Welfare on parents like that.
parents like that make me sick! that's something i would never do
i don't let my kids get away from me, eldest must keep atleast one hand on cart at all times and little one rides in cart.

fizzy

[dragonflygrrl]

First of all, I second everything that has already been said. Also:

Parents who park the car and send their ten year old in with a handful of cash to buy a prepaid refill for mommy's phone. Maybe if mommy wasn't drunk, she could come in and buy minutes herself.

People who say, "Gee it's nice out! Too bad you're stuck in here!" It would still be too bad if it were hurricaning, but thanks for rubbing it in. At least I have a job. Jerk.

People who say, "Wow, it's hot out! You're lucky to be in here where it's cool." Yes, I am so lucky to have the chance to serve you.

People who come in and ask, "Do you sell [wireless carrier we don't sell}?" and then when I say, "No, we sell [wireless carrier we do sell]," want to argue with me. You are so right. I completely forgot what we do here for a second. How can I help you with your [wireless carrier we don't sell] service?

[toolbert]

I think my tope 5 pet peeves for our store are like this:

#5. The "What do these things do?" question: I have gotten pretty good at knowing when someone is going to buy something and this question always means that they are not. It is always starts out the same way; "I've always heard about these and never knew what they do, so can you tell me what they do?". I'm not spending an hour going over each and every product that I have so you can keep me from other customers...get over yourself.

#4. Where's the directory?: I am right next to, and I mean directly next to, the directory. I am not one, don't ask me where what store is cause I'm not going to tell you.

#3. Can I pay with Cash, Credit and a check?: Why must some people break sales into multiple payments? It annoys the hell out of me when someone wants to pay for $600 worth of stuff with 3 different credit cards because they can't learn not to max them all out :wtf:. Pay with one or don't buy at all ><;.

#2. I'm not making change for you...: The cheapest thing in my store comes to $10.84 after tax. Why, for the love of God are you paying with a $100 bill? GO GET CHANGE OR GET A 20 FROM AN ATM! I will not give you all my small change because you don't want to pay with those two fives and a one that I can see in your wallet. The next person who pays for something that small with a hundred is going to get nothing but one dollar bills from me as change. HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES????

#1. Where is the bathroom...: I know this is similar to the 4th one, but it is my biggest pet peeve. There are signs, there are directories...there is even a bloody concierge for freak's sakes...but no, I feel I'm the only person on this floor that gets that damn question. I have to answer it at least 60 times a day. I'm not kidding, we even made a sign to tell people where it was and THE MALL TOOK IT AWAY FROM US :burneyes:. One of these days people will read in the paper "Palm Store employee kills customer with a spoon." And why a spoon you ask? Cause it'll hurt more!

[WonTon]

I chose "OTHER."

I hate when people act like a baby about everything, period.

[thegiraffe]

Oooooh....my pet peeve has to be the PARENTS of the screaming, unruly children. Most of these kids are under 5 and have never had a role model other than their parents as far as how to act. Kid screams, the parent give them candy. Next time they come to the store, kid knows that if he/she screams, they'll get candy. So they scream, and they get candy. The parents do it I'm sure for instant gratification (quiet kid), but what they'll wind up with in a few years is a very unruly, rebellious pre-teen and teenager, etc. I know it seems small, but if the parent will cave over candy, imagine what else they may cave over.

I've mentioned before that at school (halfway across the state), I'm a substitute teacher at a child development center. We have children 6 weeks through 10 years, and as young as a year, you can tell whose parents cave and whose teach them the value of "no". We have parents who think it's so cute when Johnny incessantly taunts Sarah because "awww..he must like her!", when in fact, Sarah may be socially behind, and it causes her unnecessary distress.

Back to the OT though ... It sounds stupid, but it bothers me when customers try to bag their own groceries. Why? Because invariably, the bloody piece of meat will wind up keeping the broccoli company. My name is on the reciept. I'm the ONLY Melissa in the store. If (when) they get food poisoning as a result of cross-contamination, they'll come to me. Management and everyone knows that if I don't have a bagger (more often than not), I bag my own groceries. I don't need them coming back to me if a customer gets food poisoning. I'll also admit to being a bit of a perfectionist. The customer whines and complains when we separate their groceries - cold/frozen/wet, dry, hot, chemicals, and raw meat (which sometimes lands them several bags, but it's easier to put things away) - yet they put like 2 things per bag. Ugh. I know they're trying to help, but...it bothers me.

I also don't like it when they come around MY side of the register, especially when my drawer's open (they sometimes do this when they forgot to sign their credit slip, so they'll come around THAT way to sign it. I have to close my drawer indiscreetly enough so they don't feel like I thought they were going to steal or whatnot.

Hmm...I also don't like it when they ignore the light. We have lights at each register. On = open, off = closed/closing. I can't always get around to the other side to pull my closed sign (sometimes I'll ask the last customer in line to do it). Please please PLEASE pay attention to the light! Just because someone is standing there doesn't mean the register is open.

The express lane. Oooooh...the express lane. 10 items or fewer. 11 or 12 is ok...I can deal with that. 43, however, is a different story. No, I won't break it up into "4 orders of 10". That takes more time than just doing 1 order. And I don't care if you don't feel like waiting. Next time, don't come shopping at 3pm on a Saturday. I also don't care if "it's slow". Someone will invariably come in behind you and bitch at me because you had a big order. I don't like getting dirty looks - I tend to give them back. And no checks means no checks. If your card is declined or something, then I'll go ahead and take a check just to get you out of the line, but don't come in the line intending TO pay with a check. It just pisses the people behind you off.

I'm sure I'll think of something else.

[KayEm]

You know...it occurred to me while reading this thread that about 99.99% of these pet peeves would be eliminated altogether if the laws in the "laws" thread were put into place lol

Anyone for lobbying our congressmen ? lol

Seriously though, I'm sick of a general public that knows it can go out and act any way it wants, basically, and it will get it's collective ass kissed.

Um....someone needs to teach management a few basic psychology 101.

You reward the bratty behaviour = SCs get worse and worse

Yeh..I know..they don't care.


I voted Screaming children. I wish these parents would for one moment think of how we (the hapless workers) are a captive audience to their shrieking spawn. Do they even give it the barest consideration at all, I have to wonder. We are there all day, there is no escape. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK !!!!!!!!!!!!!" in the highest bloodcurdling tones you can imagine literally hurts my ears and gives me a headache.

I'm sorry, but I can't control my facial expressions when I'm in pain. If some parent is offending because I block my ears when their kid screams, that's just too bad.

[Imogene]

Customers who think that I memorized the price of every single item in the store. It's especially bad when they stand at the very back of the store while I'm at the counter, and they hold up a small item that I can barely even see and ask, "How much is this?" It's even more frustrating when I come over to see the item and it actually had a price tag on it.

Pssh, when you get those people, yell at them to turn the damn box over. I swear, I stopped giving prices to people verbally if they brought something up to ask me how much is this? If it didn't have one of our sale stickers on it, I would flip it over a few times, then show them the price tag I just found.
However, then you run the chance of hearing "If it had been a snake..." which is remarkably similar to "If it weren't for my horse..." about forty times every day.

Kay: Start screaming right back at them, when they get near you. If nothing else, it confuses them.

[karma_gypsy]

I've got a few more,

People who smell and are generally dirty - either like alcohol, b.o. or cigarettes.

People who have yucky teeth or have chew in their mouth, I understand some people can't afford dental, but then there are those who can afford to at least take care of their teeth - and don't.

The lonely people (or kinda crazy too) who trap you and talk and talk and talk and talk. . . . One guy actually tried to sing to me, for no reason (he was a little touched in the head though)!

When I approach someone and say, "can I help you find anything" or something along those lines, they reply, "no just looking." A co-worker will be two seconds behind me and ask the same question, the customers replies, "yes, do you have?" or "I want to see this." Happens to me all too often (although it happens in reverse too, I'll be the one behind my co-worker).

People who ask me a question about something, I'll answer to the best of my knowledge, they say "thank you" turn around and ask a co-worker of mine and get the same answer. What you didn't believe me?

People who are testing out either a camcorder, camera, CD player, whatever and they can't figure out how to get it to work, although they won't give up and hand it to me - who knows how to work the item. They just keep fiddling with it.


I'm sure there are a ton more out there that we're all missing :)

kg

[Think Blue]

I voted for screaming kids because they are always there at any store, running around unsupervised and knocking stuff down, but when the parents see the stuff on the floor do they bother to pick it up, NOOOOO they are too high class to pick up the stuff their hell spwan knocked over.

[One-Fang]

I voted for the signs.

IMHO, it's best to ignore your screaming child. Paying attention to it or buying it a candy bar to shut it up is bad parenting. It would be nice if you'd remove yourselves from the premises, but it's not really feasible for a lot of parents of young kids to do the shopping without them every time or go home when it screams. Real life gets in the way.

Signs though, they're there for a reason. If you're at all perplexed or confused, read the damned sign first and only THEN ask your question if it's not answered on the sign. And no, do NOT ask me to clarify that what the sign says is correct. That's why the sign's there. Yes, it's correct.

[morgana]

Kay: Start screaming right back at them, when they get near you. If nothing else, it confuses them.

I've done this. The confused/stunned/bewildered look that results just warms the cockles of my heart! :D

[HawaiianShirts]

I voted for the signs. It's been a plague lately.

- Girl makes a lap around the store glancing casually at everything. Girl makes second lap around the store looking more intently at everything. Girl makes third lap around the store, peering down every aisle as if looking for a friend, during which she refuses my offer to help. Girl makes fourth lap around the store glowering at the merchandise. Finally, on her fifth lap, she huffs, "WHERE are your MP3 players?!" I reply, "Up front, under the big black and yellow sign that says 'MP3 Players.'"
- Guy is looking at projectors. "Do these ever go on sale?" The model he wants is on sale. The tag says "Reg Price $1299. Sale Price $1149 after $150 In-Store Rebate. Offer Ends 7/15/06."
- See the giant copy of our return policy on the wall next to you? THAT'S where it says we can't take back your four-year-old and broken laptop, even if you claim you bought it here and found it in its current condition when you opened the box.

My other pet-peeves.
- Call-In Price Matching: If Other Store a block away from me has what you want on sale, why do you call me from home to ask if I'll price match it? The whole point of price-matching is to KEEP you in my store once you're already here.
- Internet Price-Matching: I don't care how nicely you ask, I will not price match this laptop with one you saw on eBay!
- The You-Don't-Have-It Blank Stare: When I tell you I don't have the item you're looking for, why do you then just stare at me like I have five heads? Staring doesn't make it appear.
- In-The-Back Shoppers: I know my inventory. It's a small department. With the possible exception of flash drives, desks, chairs, and RAM, if the item isn't on the shelf, I don't have it. And, no, I will not just go check for you "to make sure."
- Just to Be Sure: If you call and ask if it's in stock, and I tell you it is, why do you then ask me to make sure? I counted those laptops when I came in an hour ago. There were nine of them at that time. I've sold one. There's eight left. I don't need to look. And calling it "physically verifying" doesn't make your request any less insulting.
- Returning a Product Because You Didn't Listen: I TOLD you this computer doesn't have a DVD burner. I TOLD you its graphics card wasn't good enough for World of Warcraft. I TOLD you it didn't have MS Office. Don't you DARE try to blame me because the computer won't do what you want it to do. I explained that it would not do what you want, and you took it anyway.

There are more, but I have to go to work.