IF you're gonna stay past closing...

[retailsweetie]

... can you at least please buy something more substantial than a lipgloss and a pink wig? Oh, and could you also control your little kids from trashing our toy section? We'd like to go home at some point.

Love always,
Your friendly neighborhood brand rep.

[Miss Maple Leaf]

Oh, I hate that! It always pisses me off so much!

(Warning: Swearing)

I remember once when I was working at a well-known Canadian drug store chain that promises "everything [the customer] wants in a drug store'. Our particular store didn't close until midnight, so those of us working the night shift were always glad when closing time finally came.

One night these two teenage girls came into the store at 11:55pm and spent about 20 minutes browsing. First of all, that really annoys me. If you're coming in that late, you come in, get what you need, and get the hell out of there! You don't dilly-dally! And unfortunately, while we were allowed to sort-of herd the late customers along, we weren't allowed to actually kick them out.

Anyway, after their little inconsiderate wander through the store, they finally came up to the register. What did they buy, you ask?

Chalk. That's it. They came in at 5 minutes to close, wasted 20 minutes browsing, and all they bought was a fucking pack of chalk!

I was beyond furious. If I had been Bruce Banner, there would have been no more drug store, because I would have gone Incredible Hulk right then and there.

As it was, I'm not, so I didn't. I just went home, threw a video game in, and blew shit up. Improved my mood greatly.

[Food Lady]

Luckily, we are allowed to kick 'em out when we're actually closed.

[MoonCat]

For some reason I always thought if the sign says the store closes at [whatever time], it means they're going to close the store....so I don't bother going in at 5 minutes to closing. Silly me.

[EricKei]

Luckily, we are allowed to kick 'em out when we're actually closed.

I would have killed for the ability to do that back at [boutique grocery] back in the 90's...If people got there "just before close", we couldn't tell them anything. We couldn't follow them down the aisles with a dust mop or anything...We just had to clean ONLY aisles that they had already left, ditto for the lights, and pray that they got the hint. Naturally, this bit us in the ass when one of the people showed up who specifically came to take advantage of this policy. Some actually TOLD us that they preferred shopping after closing time because there were no other customers to get in their way. Any time one of them showed up, minimum one hour. Even tho they usually got a decent-sized order, there's no way it was enough profit to pay for the extra time for ALL of the closing managers, a cashier, a bagger, and the other closers who had to work late to START major nightly cleanup after they left.

For some reason I always thought if the sign says the store closes at [whatever time], it means they're going to close the store....so I don't bother going in at 5 minutes to closing. Silly me.

No need to bring logic into this, MoonCat ~_~

[Victory Sabre]

For some reason I always thought if the sign says the store closes at [whatever time], it means they're going to close the store....so I don't bother going in at 5 minutes to closing. Silly me.

Same here. I also, won't go into a restaurant within a half hour of closing, because I know they are trying to get everything done to close.

[dalesys]

No need to bring logic into this, MoonCat ~_~

Mo-om! Moonie's talking dirty!

[Ironclad Alibi]

As it was, I'm not, so I didn't. I just went home, threw a video game in, and blew shit up. Improved my mood greatly.

Since I retired about 8 years ago I have lost interest in playing any video games where I blow things up. I wonder why?

(Except for Angry Birds.)

[bbaaww13]

We had 2 ladies do that during christmas. They came in at 11:55 and proceeded to just wander aimlessly up and down the aisles. After 15 minutes my manger goes up to them and explains that were closed and we open at 6 am if they would like to come back to shop. They say ok and continue to walk around. Manager makes announcement on store intercom to tell them he's closing the last register in 5 minutes. They continue to wander around. Manager finally tells them to leave right now. They say "but all these other people are still shopping". The "people" there referring to are the overnight stock crew who are all wearing uniforms and carrying around huge boxes and unpacking them.

[Catwoman2965]

I hate that more than anything. Our policy is we are NOT allowed to tell people we are closing, closed, or to leave. If they ask, we will of course tell them what time we close. Not that it does any good! But really, if you come into a clothing store at 8:50 and we close at 9, unless you are buying a gift card, doing a quick return, paying your charge, or you know exactly what you want, and simply need to grab it and pay, GTFO! The best ones are the ones who KNOW we are closed, and KNOW we can't do a thing about. Bonus points for those who also repeat "oh I know you're closing, I'll be done in a minute" and 30 mins later are still there! Or the ones who ask if they can try stuff on at the last minute. Again, we aren't allowed to refuse.

we will however, turn off the music, lock the doors to prevent any one ELSE from coming in, start vacuuming, and ask over and over if they need help. Some get the hint, but most don't.

[taxguykarl]

About 10 minutes prior to closing the tax office, a nurse arrived. She said that this was the only time she would be able to do her return because of her work hours (I have not doubt Amina516 can corroberate this--not exactly news to me as I once dated a nurse). I had to explain that one to the franchsie owner and Mrs. TGK. In the end, she got a 4-figure refund and the store exceeded its quota for the weekend....IOW all's well that ends well.

[rose_metal_nz]

Trying to see the suctomer's point of view here... Aren't they afraid they might get locked in?! ("accidentally" of course )