Far from every customer is maliciously toxic, at least according to the second mod. Rather, the issue is a lack of awareness and empathy.
“It's not that they want to be [jerks] to the workers, it's that they literally can't see outside their bubble and recognize that it's another human being stocking those shelves. I really think they often don't take the time to mention that. You'll see that in stories from here,” they said.
“A customer is being a complete [jerk], but the worker shows emotion like crying, and suddenly they realize what they've done. I've seen workers talk about de-escalation methods that speak to this very issue. When you get them to realize that you're a human, rather than simply a conduit to donuts, their attitude often changes.”
And yet, in some cases, some customers are simply, well, awful people. The moderator said that, in their opinion, it’s likely that “most of those people” are horrible “outside of a retail setting, too.”
“Sometimes retail is simply society's first line of defense against [jerks],” they added.
‘Retail Hell’ first came into being in late 2010. Though that’s nearly a whopping 16 years ago, when you look at how much the economy and job industry have changed and changed again, 2010 feels like it might as well be a century ago.
The subreddit is a spot for workers from all retail spaces to “come together and support each other.”
Internet users posting on ‘Retail Hell’ are encouraged to vent about their bad experiences and moan about their awful bosses. However, it’s not just about the negativity. Retail workers also share some of their most heartwarming stories about the wholesome customers who turned their day around, and post funny memes from time to time, too.
#25 We Proceed To Get The Most Amount So Customers We Have Had Since Christmas
The moderator team that keeps ‘Retail Hell’ running like a well-oiled machine is serious about protecting employees and making the community a safe space for them to air out their grievances.
They want to make it “crystal clear” that anyone who insults, degrades, or devalues retail workers will get banned. For example, anyone telling employees to “just do your job” or “stop whining” won’t be tolerated for long.
The obvious has to be said as well: ‘Retail Hell’ is meant for, well, retail-related content. The mods point out that the focus should be on anyone working at a business that “sells a product to its final customer,” like employees in grocery stores, at gas stations, in the food service industry, etc.
Meanwhile, “customer posting” is not allowed, even if you’re being positive!
Something else to avoid is talking about self-checkout and shoplifting, as these topics “bring out the worst in the internet.”
What has your time in the job industry looked like, so far, Pandas? Have you ever worked in retail before? If so, what was your experience like? What are the biggest challenges that you had to overcome? What advice would you give anyone fresh out of school or college who is about to take on their first job?
Join the discussion at the bottom of this list. And if you currently work in retail, well, we’re sending you lots of support.
#32 Keypad Is Tap Only Right Now. Adding A Label Every Time A Customer Inserts Anyways. 3 Hours Left
#34 I’ve Started Taking Pictures At Work Of Messes Customers Leave Behind
#35 People Would Have A Much Easier Time If They Looked For Signage And Not Employees
