Out-Of-Work Borders Employees Deliver an Honest Farewell

[Hungry Donner]

When I go to a bookstore for a specific book I usually bring the ISBN number with me. I've gotten some very heart-felt thanks from the employees because of this.

I used to work at a library circulation desk so I understand their pain.

 

[ace_of_something]

In the long long ago I worked at Borders and their Kiosks at the mall as well (they owned 'day by day calendar co. and a kiosk that just sold legos) This was from June-January when i was in college. I believe the 2nd Harry Potter book came out during this time.
People. Were. Nuts.
There were religious fundamentalists protesting with signs. There were counter protesters. This was before I'd even heard of HP (no movies out at the time). Either way both groups were mad at US the employees for selling the book. Clearly having no grasp on how a big company works.

Retail

I feel like I'm gonna take over this thread, but I seem to have a feeling about every damn comment:

9 outta 10 in retail are only doing it cos they don't have a choice, fair enough, it's no reason to be a dick to them. I still maintain everyone should do a 3 month placement in the retail or food service industry, so they know what it's like, and I'd think in 5 years or so, the vast majority of people would be far nicer, as they'd have been there.

I support this plan. I know my own father, who only ever worked 3 jobs in his life (dairy farm, his own ranch, steel industry) Never really worked any job like that, I've seen him be pretty mean to people calling them thieves over bad in-store signage, etc. When I or any of my brothers would tell him stories of nasty customers while working retail/fast food he usually would tell us we gave bad service and take the customers side. Though my dad is one of those people that expects perfection out of everything at all times.

 

[repeating integers]

*OhJohnNo fires up rarely-used Cynicism drives to full power*

"Retail workers bitter about their jobs" Film at 11. Not that it mattered but if that was their attitude they should get jobs where they don't have to deal with the public.

It doesn't matter what your job is, it doesn't matter if you like it. What matters is that you do the best you can to make the lives of your customers better.

Something tells me you've never worked in any sort of customer-support job. People are stupid. Don't debate it, don't call it into question. It's a verifiable fact that the vast majority of humanity is stupid, ignorant, arrogant and self-absorbed. The only difference is the degree to which each individual reaches.

Almost anyone who works with these people on a daily basis despises these people. It's not a matter of attitude. When you're regularly given unreasonable demands, with no respect and expected to fulfill them, you tend to dislike customers on principle.

Yes, the vast majority of the human race is stupid, ignorant, arrogant and self-absorbed.

This includes the customers. It includes people who work in retail. It includes you. It includes me. It includes everyone reading this site, no exceptions (unless one of them happens to be Steven Hawking or something), to some degree at least.

I am so tired of people saying "people are stupid", as if they do not fall under the category "people". "Of course, everyone is stupid... except me."

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for the people who work in retail, and have to deal with hundreds of assholes every day, just to get enough money to make a living. But this argument has always irritated me. You are not (and, most likely, never will be) better than everyone else. Stop acting like it, dammit!

Now I shall lighten the mood of this post with a picture of kittens.

 

[orangeapples]

*applause*

that shows years of pent up frustration. Working retail is such a thankless job.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I feel their pain, customers can be very rude, fussy and messy.

Since starting work I came to realise how I was making someone else's job more difficult, and vowed to change.

 

[lacktheknack]

If it comes across as a little bitter, odds are you've never worked in retail before, because those of you who have are probably admiring the polite restraint it shows.

This is incredibly understated. These people are patient angels.

Had I have written the list, the Barnes and Noble point would have involved "They deserve you" or "Please, go. You'd do more damage to them than we ever could."

Seriously, customers have no idea how often I've broken rules and risked my job just to get them out of the store as quickly and quietly as possible.

 

[lacktheknack]

"Retail workers bitter about their jobs" Film at 11. Not that it mattered but if that was their attitude they should get jobs where they don't have to deal with the public.

It doesn't matter what your job is, it doesn't matter if you like it. What matters is that you do the best you can to make the lives of your customers better.

Oh, I do. When they ask me where the limes are, I show them. When they want to get boxes from the back (illegally), I get them. When they threaten to pee on the floor because our bathroom is broken down (because God forbid they go next door), I take them (illegally) to the staff washroom. When the smash a product in protest, I clean it up. When they complain about the slow-moving lines, I resist the urge to staple job application forms to their head (I have picked up a form and stapler and put them back down again before). When they threaten to go to a different grocery store, I try to act surprised and worried (even though I personally hope they do and never come back). When they threaten to sue us because of they got sloughed off from someone else for being an unreasonable twat, I promise that the other employee will get punished (I lie).

Just because I'm nice doesn't mean I like you, though. Au contraire, I'm probably wishing for your death.

 

[Voza]

I used to date a girl who worked at Starbucks. I think they get it the WORST out of all retail folks because you know how people can be before they get their morning coffee.

 

[Voza]

It's amazing how well a picture of kittens can actually make you feel better.

 

[fletch_talon]

Cool story.

Uh I mean..

No, just stop there. I was feeling great until I read the rest of your reply, then I realized you're one of those people who has nothing interesting to say. You'd criticize your own asshole if you could see it. You can't simply let a person tell a story or a joke without trying to dismantle the thing, like this is 60 Minutes and you're goddamn Barbara Walters, setting the record straight for everyone.

... Also yes, I have no problem admitting I think you're a total pussy if you consider working in a bookstore anything like disposing of used needles. Here's my middle finger salute, buddy. Report me, cry into your pillow, move on. =)

Really? that's the best you can do?
I'm uninteresting and critical? Oh and apparently I'm a pussy.

Its funny, when you first posted, I figured you were just some dumbass with self esteem issues, trying to feel better about yourself by winning an internet pissing contest (one that didn't exist until you came along).
Now I can't make up my mind. You're clearly either a troll, or you actually believe what your saying, and thus even more ignorant than I first gave you credit for.

So far you havn't even given a shred of evidence as to how trash collection is a worse job. So you deal with trash as a trashman? How shocking. Try a job in which you deal with the kind of shit that isn't mentioned in the job description.
But you're clearly such an excellent judge of what is interesting that I've no doubt you can enlighten us with many a tale.

-How about the one about the threats of violence, and the bogans waiting in the carpark... Oh wait that happened to me.
-Well what about the countless shoplifters who... oh.
-Verbal abuse?.. ummm.
-Oh I know, how about the pervert who rings up to talk dirty to the teenage girls in cosmetics? No?

Ok well here's one from a co-worker of mine about retail. One time, in footwear somebody took a dump right in the aisle.
Oh but wait, that can't be right, cuz only trashmen deal with gross stuff, my colleague must have been imagining things. Just like the blood, vomit and partially chewed food that I "haven't" seen in my time with the company.

So tell me, is it worse to deal with literal shit and bile in a job you know full well holds that possibility. Or dealing with the metaphorical (and sometimes literal) shit and bile flowing from the very people you're trying to help and serve?

Don't strain yourself, the answer is neither. They're both bad, in their own ways for their own reasons. Some people will find one option the better, and others just the opposite.

 

[Callate]

Whoever coined the phrase "the customer is always right" hadn't worked in retail for many, many years.

Bravo to the Borders employees for keeping their souls alive inside shells of restrained courtesy. I'll miss the stores.

 

[MrPop]

The note about parents treating shops like day-care centers is so true.

Many I time I would organise stock on shelves only to have a parent leave their child there to toss things onto the floor and all over the place

*Shakes fist*

 

[EHKOS]

I'm sorry guys. I shouldn't have put that book back on a random shelf. I loved your store plz don't goooooo!!!!!!!!!

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

If I were to make a note for my retail job, it'd be this.

"Dear customer,
Unfortunately, our magical janitor wizard has become sick and will not be working until further notice. So now whenever you put trash on the floor or shelves it will NOT magically disappear, WE will have to pick it up.
Thank you."

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Like the article says, most customers are pretty decent and harmless, they just want to buy their shit and go home and if there's any extended communication it's usually polite and courteous.

But there's always those insufferable "service means serve us!" shit heads who swagger in with the misconception that the customer is indeed always right and that the customer/employee relationship is in fact a master/slave relationship.

You know the kind of folks I'm talking about, the guy who orders a cheeseburger with no onions and then completely flips the fuck out when his order is wrong... or his counterpart, the lady who barges into the store after getting her drive through order demanding to have a serious conversation about the definition of "fresh fries".

The lady who brings her kinds to a rated R movie and then spends 20 minutes complaining to the kid at the ticket booth about the filth we just subjected her kids to.

The usually drunk but occasionally just a prick "dude" who spends 2 hours using all of his best date rapist pick up lines on the night shift waitress.

Yeah customers can be fucking terrible and the short time I spent in a retail environment more or less cemented the fact that I try to be as respectful and polite as possible in any customer service situation...which essentially just boils down to treating them like fellow human beings.

 

[BlackWidower]

I worked retail briefly, and I guess I was lucky because during those six weeks I got absolutely no bad customers. They were always a dear to help.

 

[maninahat]

Really sad to see borders close. All those people out of work. I've never understood how a bookstore could be "left leaning"; it still sells the collective works of Beck and Palin.

It was my primary source of Rex Stout novels. I thought I could find a suitable alternative during a holiday, but during my three weeks, I only came across a grand total of ONE book store in Florida.

 

[WaysideMaze]

Reading the list, yeah I can definately relate.

Still, one more week and I'm out of retail and away from customers! Warehouse job here I come!