Ok so this isn’t really about a specific style of clothing or store I love. But it is fashion- and wardrobe-related and I just have to get this off my chest. I work at a women’s clothing retailer on the side for a little extra clothing money and to be up on current trends, etc....

Overall, I like the job a lot, because I get to take the fashion tips that I know and have learned about over the years through sites like Sparkle*Shelf and apply those to real-life women. It’s fun and rewarding putting outfits together or helping a client find a great suit for that first job interview.

But lately I have noticed a gradual escalation in the number of RUDE clients (Have any of you other retailers noticed this?).  I mean we aren’t just talking one snappy person who doesn’t like our return policy. We are talking every day a dozen or more people come in and are so exceptionally rude that the whole store staff is put in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

Here are some recent examples:

A client came in with her iPod blaring. She didn’t bother to turn the volume down or pull the earbuds out of her ear. Usually we know to leave those clients alone. They want to shop on their own and not be bothered. But this client marched right up to the counter and demanded to know what belt she could pair with a particular shirt. She was so loud, yelling over the music volume that literally everyone in the store turned to look at her. She ended up staying there nearly 20 minutes talking with one of the sales associates and yelling the whole time.

Our return policy is pretty lenient, except when you don’t have a receipt then things get sticky and we offer a merchandise credit at the lowest selling price. That is pretty much a standard in the business. But one client had the audacity to tell me she didn’t believe me, then demand to speak with the manger. The store manager confirmed our return policy and the woman said “I know you can do this. Just take those little fingers, type it in the computer and give me the full price back for all these items.”

Same situation a few days later and the woman threw her hands up in the air and said, “Am I speaking French or do you just not understand English? Just do the return!”

Ok, I know people have bad days. And I know financially things are tight for 95% of Americans. But that does not give us permission to be rude. So, for all you Sparkle*Shelfers here are a couple of things to keep in mind when you are out doing your holiday shopping:

• Most sales associates at higher-end, boutique-style retail establishments have college degrees (I even work with a lawyer and two women with their pHds). You don’t need to talk down to us like we are four.
• I know the last thing you want to do is straighten up the fitting room after you have tried on 25 items. But at least put them back on hangers instead of leaving them piled in a heap on the floor. That cuts our job in half and allows us more time to help you.
• Sometimes we don’t have a product, or can’t do a return or exchange the way you want it to be done. It is not a personal offense. If we could do it for you we would. There is no need to get huffy about it.
•  Rifling through the stacks of clothing overturning everything to get at your size is common. But it takes you only 2 seconds longer to lift the stack of shirts on top of the one you want and remove that one, then place the stack back in place.
• It is not helpful to bring your clothes out of the fitting room and place the whole set of things you don’t want on any random rack in the store. Just leave them in your room or return them to an associate.

THANKS!