I HAVE to help you, since when?

[MidoriDelSol]

I've been in retail for a long time, but I recently graduated college and gone on to what I consider a "real" job, far far away from SC! I guess I'm a glutton for punishment because I still work 1 day a week at my retail job, we'll call it the Toy Barn. I've had a LOT of SC in my time there, but this completely inconsiderate lady prompted me to finally register and stop lurking!

Me
SC: Crack head looking woman with 3 lb baby
SC1: Her mom

My shift is done and I'm emerging from the break room, purse, soda, and keys in hand. This usually signals to most considerate customers that I am off the clock, and you probably shouldn't ask me for help.

SC1: ::drawn out:: hiiiii ummmmmm do you think you could maybe help me?

I usually politely decline mentioning that I am off the clock and need to go, or ask them what they need first. If it's a simple question, I can answer you or show you to your item. If you want me to be your personal shopper, you need to find someone else.

Me: Mmmmm (deciding what to say) what did you need?
SC1: Can you tell me where to find X item?
Me: X item? Yeah, Ummmm... (x item is about 10 feet away so I walk the 10 feet and wait for them to follow)
SC: GEEZE she's acting like she don't wanna help us!
Me: (standing 10 feet away and hears everything) That's because I'm actually off the clock....(not in a mean tone, just explaining that I'm not on the clock)

SC: (pitching a fit) SO WHAT! I'm still a customer and you still HAVE to help me!

In all my years in retail, I don't know why, but that statement takes the cake as far as being completely inconsiderate goes. No I don't have to help you when I'm off the clock, but I will a majority of the time. In type it doesn't sound that bad, but in real life, you just had to hear the way this woman said that to me.

Me: And I am helping you, by showing you where X item is....it's right here....(points to the aisle 10 feet from them).
SC1: Thank you.
SC: (Bitchy stare)
So what? SO WHAT?! So even when I'm off the clock I guess I need to stop what I'm doing and help you just because your a customer huh? If that were the case I would never be able to leave the store! You've all been there I'm sure. Especially during Christmas time when people are at their worst in rudeness and desperation, you have to fight just to get out of the store without someone asking you for help.

Most customers are nice when I mention that I have to go, and that I'm off the clock. I mean I would never dream of asking an employee that is obviously on their way home (purse, coat, etc). This woman however, seemed to think that I have to bow down to her all mighty consumer prowess. IR Customer, U MUST HELPS ME!

[Trixie]

In my store the breakroom in on the other side away from the timeclock so we have to cross the store to punch back in. So I usually get stopped on my way to and from the breakroom. I mostly don't mind helping. I can get away with just pointing in the right direction and it's all good. This one day as I was making my way back had a lady stop and asked for my help with this gem. "I know you're off the clock and that's okay." Okay for who? I guess for you.

[iloveasunflower13]

oh man, this happens to me all the time. hah. the other day i was merchandising,(stocking shelves) and a lady asked me to scan something for the price. i told her i didn't have a scanner, and pointed out that there was a price checker on the wall two feet away. 20 minutes later i clocked out and headed for the door...purse, keys, sunglasses, no name tag, same lady stopped me and asks " do you have a damn scanner NOW? i don't get why you people don't know the prices in your own store." I bit my lip, and firmly told her that i was OFF the clock, and that the price checker was still TWO EFFING FEET AWAY. geez. store has 30 depts, so...i'm magically supposed to know the prices to EVERYTHING. good lord.

[MidoriDelSol]

I usually don't mind helping, but since my store was changed our break room is in a department I know next to nothing about (babies). If it were my department I have no problem taking an extra second to help you out, but the customers on the baby side are like clingy and confused. I don't know anything about the products or where half the stuff is so I try and decline helping when I'm off the clock. MOST people are cool with that, ms crack head with a poor helpless 3lb crack baby apparently wasn't.

I'd like to also point out that, even after playing this through in my head tons of times in the past 3 hours, I can't figure out why she said it seemed like I didn't want to help. Maybe because I paused with a "mmmmmm" before confirming I could show her mom to X item? Geeze, makes me wonder what melt down she would have had if I had said my usual" sorry I'm actually off the clock right now". Derp de derp that shouldn't matter, silly me.

Word on the people thinking we have all the prices memorized. In my department there is a price checker right across from my desk. People always bring the item to me and ask me to tell them how much. I always point and say "actually, there's a price checker right behind you". Teach a man to fish....

[tropicsgoddess]

Inconsiderate twat. Off the clock means = can't/won't help you and don't have to help you. You don't want to work for free so why do you demand that we do so for your petulant entitlement minded ass?!!

[bbaaww13]

That would happen to me at work all the time. I got tired of it so I started wearing a tank top under my uniform shirt. That way, the second I clock out I take off my uniform shirt and then most SC can't even tell I work there.

[Food Lady]

That would happen to me at work all the time. I got tired of it so I started wearing a tank top under my uniform shirt. That way, the second I clock out I take off my uniform shirt and then most SC can't even tell I work there.

I used to put on my big, black sweatshirt and zip it all the way up while I shopped after work. Didn't stop one SC.

[The cat whisperer]

I'm not surprised. People will ask me for help on my days off if I'm at my Toyland shopping for the nieces. One SC even hand the gall to say "I know you're off, but you still work here and I need help now!" I had to walk away before there was a scene.

[EricKei]

"I know you're off the clock and that's okay."

"Well, all right, then -- you'll understand that I'm under no obligation to help you!" ^_^

Inconsiderate twat. Off the clock means = can't/won't help you and don't have to help you.

Indeed. I am unsure if it's state-based or Federal -- but in the US, at least, an employer cannot either MAKE you nor even ALLOW you to work, unpaid, off the clock. Legally, they're the same thing, and they could open up the entire company to extreme liability. If you choose to point someone in the general direction of an item, sure, that's your choice (I do that as a civilian sometimes if I happen to know where something is, even if I have never worked at a given store), but you never have to. Technically, if a manager sees an off-the-clock employee doing this, he's really supposed to take over on the spot and (hopefully politely) shoo you away.

[underemployeed]

I'm not surprised. People will ask me for help on my days off if I'm at my Toyland shopping for the nieces. One SC even hand the gall to say "I know you're off, but you still work here and I need help now!" I had to walk away before there was a scene.

Yeah, Once i clock out, I make a point to take off my uniform shirt and toss it over my shoulder or in a bag.... you know so there is NO mistake while I'm standing in line that I am not being paid and that I have no intention of bending to your whim. If you ask nicely I might lend assistance but if not OH well. Especially if I just clocked out and now am sitting in the office eating what I brought to try and eat during my shift that never happened.

[Marmalady]

I started wearing a different top to work and changing into it before and after my shift, because I was tired of getting pounced on by customers who couldn't see the jacket, car keys, bag etc.
Now, if I can just work out how to stop the ones who grab me when I'm trying to go on my lunch break....

[Syriilord]

Teach a man to fish....

And he'll start bludgeoning you with a fresh-caught haddock

[greensinestro]

I'm the same way. Used to happen to me at Publix all the time. I'd clock out, still clad in dress shirt and tie, holding my green apron in my hand (not wearing it should tell you I am off the clock), walking to the door, yet people would still stop me to help them out.

[Little Retail Rabbit]

Its not happened to me yet. Mainly because I don't wear a lanyard on my break and I will carry my bag if I'm leaving the premises to buy something.

I'm sure I heard that if you are not paid for the entirety of your break, you have every right to leave the building, and in the same sense I think that means that you are under absolutely no obligation to help customers at that point. If you are paid in full for your break (not likely in retail, more likely, say, in security) however, you would probably have to.

[MiloMorai]

Should have asked her if she gives BJ's without getting her rock. No? Then I don't help you since I'm not getting paid.