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You know how you enter the store to get some milk, only to see the shelf full of pinot grigio right in the way, staring at you with no place to hide? This moment of pure impromptu is basically the essence of the “decisions were made here” meme that shows the lonely product (one intended to buy) standing in the midst of the indulgence section, whether it’s beer or ice cream.
But no matter how funny it may be in the joke format, the reality is a tiny bit different. It turns out, it’s one of the most annoying things customers do while shopping, according to supermarket employees—not even mentioning taking a thing out of its package and leaving it lying out somewhere.
Below is the list of seriously annoying stuff we should all quit immediately if we ever want good shopping karma.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Accurate
Bridget Price 4 years ago
for everyone asking, this is from the TV show "Malcolm in the Middle"
semelina pitrone 4 years ago
Thank you for knowing. I love this show and am on the last season with my mom and IT. IS. HILARIOUS.
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Chris Maddock 4 years ago
So very true. There really are people like that and the worst of it is that there are a lot of them !!
Damon Hill 4 years ago
I've worked retail for 50 years. This is the tip of the iceberg. People say everyone should have to serve in the military, well, EVERYONE should have to work in retail, customer service and required to spend a week riding in an 18 wheeler to get a drivers license of any kind.
Hart 4 years ago
100%. When I worked for a supermarket, that was almost every customer I've ever encountered. Patience thinner is what that job is.
Shivesh Gupta 4 years ago
I used to work at a greetings card shop and customers always used to ask for new envelop after they have messed up with the one that came with the card itself :(
Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff 4 years ago
I work in a grocery store, and this is true, reading this post might give me an anyurism! (Sorry if misspelled!)
Tessa Thompson 4 years ago
I've totally missed what was RIGHT THERE before and asked an employee where it was, only to be directed to what was Glaringly Obvious. Unlike this woman, I've acknowledged being oblivious to what was RIGHT THERE and thanked them. I've worked retail and customer service, and shudder remembering customers like this woman.
Barbara Vandewalle 4 years ago
They do not get this because they are old. They grew old being this way. I worked with someone like this and the older she got , the more so it got.
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Cathy Cee 4 years ago
I once worked in a grocery store. I was busy adding new stock, a 'lady' asked me where such and such was, I turned my head and answered "aisle 5" since I didn't hear another word, I looked over my shoulder again, she was fiddling with merchandise on the shelves behind me, so I went back to my project. About 5 minutes later, I feel eyes boring into my back, and dummy me, I turned around to look. Miss Inquisitive was giving me a very dirty look. But I can stare holes into someones head, I said: I told you aisle 5, but you rudely couldn't bother to listen! Of course she marched up to the office and complained to the store manager. Thankfully, while I was in trouble, when I told my side of the story, he softened and gently reminded me that customers were our guests. . . . .
Claire Armstrong 4 years ago
Lol, I'll tell you, not that I have ever disrespected someone working in retail anyway, but my appreciation and respect for them went up tenfold during this pandemic! In one supermarket I was chatting with a couple of the staff going through the self-scan checkout and they were telling me about how difficult it's been trying to do their normal duties around customers who seemed to think that the staff weren't included in the 2m rule! Reaching right over them, instead of saying excuse me can I just get in there for something please! They were extremely worried about their health! Then in a different shop one time I'm walking along the centre aisle to get to the aisle I wanted to get to and I sense someone walking right behind me! Turns round and it's one of the staff looking at me as if 'can you please get out of my way', and I'm thinking to myself '2 FECKIN METRES PLEASE'! I let her pass me and carry on with my shopping and then she does it AGAIN! I just let it go but it did annoy me!
Paula Carr 4 years ago
This is a scene from the old "Malcolm in the Middle" TV show. Very funny. With a doofy Brian Cranston.
Elaine Mattingly 4 years ago
Tell her buy batteries for the mustard dog and have some fun! Then watch her implode!
RELATED:
#2
When People Stop In The Middle Of An Aisle And Act Like They're The Only Ones In The Store
#3
"If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You."
!["If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You."](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/5f92a01806dc0_YOx7EgQ__700.jpg "\"If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You.\"")
Bardhi's Dad 4 years ago
This is really annoying. What kind of parents are them? How do they educate those children?
Back in the 1950s and '60s, the vibe at supermarkets was totally different. According to author Blake Morgan, “brands treated customers like they didn’t have brain cells and used loud and obnoxious voices and obviously exaggerated print.”
It all changed with Ogilvy, the father of advertising who said that you gotta treat customers like you treat your family members. Because, essentially, they’re potential clients.
Then, the now-famous phrase “the customer is always right” was pioneered by successful retailers named Harry Gordon Selfridge, John Wanamaker, and Marshall Field. This approach stuck with us for many years to come, and it’s still in use today. But critics claim it doesn’t work in the current times.
#4
If You Really Love Your Heros, Consider This
Laugh or not 4 years ago
Yes, calling people 'heroes' for doing their jobs is a good way to pat them on the back, congratulate them and avoid thinking about work conditions and salaries.
#5
"Retail Workers Know What I Mean"
#6
Getting Told The Same Joke
In the times of consumerism, customers are no longer the perfect beings worthy of praise. According to the author Alexander Kjerulf, sticking to the “customer is always right” mantra has multiple adverse effects.
It makes employees unhappy, it gives abrasive customers an unfair advantage, it results in worse customer service, and it ignores the fact that some customers are just plain wrong.
Even if being customer-centric is part of the customer experience, that doesn’t mean brands and companies have to follow it blindly. They should rather seek a smart balance in making both customers and their workers equally happy.
#7
"Working In Retail Is A Special Type Of Hell"
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
When I was a kid, customers had to pay for stuff they dropped and destoyed. Doesn't seem a thing anymore.
#8
This Is Accurate
#9
Customers Who Don't Say Hi
cybermerlin2000 4 years ago
I always say Hi and I'm very cheerful about it because I feel like they have taken the time to be nice
#10
When They Act Like Masks Don't Apply To Them
#11
Sounds About Right
#12
All The Employees Have To Do Is Put Stuff Away...right?
"If you do this, f**k you."
#13
When Customers Leave Stuff From Other Aisles In Places They Shouldn't Be
postboredom 4 years ago
You don't have to work in a supermarket to hate this...I feel for you all.
#14
"I Think We All Can Relate. Am I Right?"
#15
When They Tell Employees Their Whole Life Story
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)
Yup, I have heard about a women having a colonoscopy, a woman being a prostitute and that the fella with her was her pimp and bf, a guy with a big bandage telling me about his infection that was literally oozing pus etc. Some things we just don’t need or want to know.
#17
When Guests Forget The Entire Reason Employees Are In The Store
#18
When They Walk In Just Before Closing
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Just close the doors 5 to 10 minutes minutes before closing time and only let customers out. Common practice in the Netherlands.
#19
When Customers Forget How A Store Works
#20
When They Come .5 Seconds Before Closing Time
Csaba Hegedűs 4 years ago
In my country it is mandatory by law to have 'online cash registers' everywhere, that works like sending all data directly to some tax office or anything. It means if a shop is officially open from like 9 to 18, they can't sell you stuff AFTER 18, because register will note the tax office that out of business hours this shop was doing business. Therefore, shops can legally tell people who come this late that sorry, if you can't make your purchase in the next ten seconds, we can't legally serve you.
#21
"Black Friday As A Wal-Mart Employee."
#22
When Customers Leave Their Dirty Trash In The Carts
#23
Customers Are Relentless
#24
Bardhi's Dad 4 years ago (edited)
"Well, let me think a bit about this generous offer you made... NO!"
#25
Even Though Zebra Says 1 But Not Binned In Anywhere
Bardhi's Dad 4 years ago
You just go in the back, rest for 5 minutes and come back to tell him "No. We don't have it. I checked everywhere"
#26
Things-Supermarket-Employees-Hate
A.M. Pierre 4 years ago
And yet I did get charged twice at a bookstore once when this happened. Took forever to get my money back. I realize that's an exception, not the rule, but I am wary now.
#28
"Why I Hate Working In Retail."
#29
When Customers Disappear After Employees Go Into The Back To Get Something For Them
Bardhi's Dad 4 years ago
Reminds me the scene with Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman in the movie "Love Actually"
#30
Cough Cough
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I feel awful for my son. He spits when he talks because of a few reasons. He has a lateral lisp which causes excess saliva and he has low muscle tone in his mouth which causes him to still dribble and not have as much control as most people do. I worry how that will impact him as he gets older.
#31
Those Coupons Though
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago
*Beverly Goldberg (please tell me you guys watch that show).
#33
When People Leave Food In A Cart
Shelli Aderman 4 years ago
Carts need a sign, like, “Don’t complain about rising prices of food when you do this s**t!”
#34
When People Take Something Out Of Its Package And Just Leave It There
Tiari 4 years ago
I admit: I did that once or twice. The packaging had no information about the fabric on it, but I need that info for my decision. Afterwards I really really tried getting the stuff back in the packaging, but gave up after 5 to 10 minutes. If the damn manufacturer is not able to print the f*****g type of fabric on the packaging and I have no chance getting the stuff back in the packaging because it was packed under a vacuum... sorry. And yes. I asked staff about the type of fabric, and mostly the answer is a blank stare and an „I don’t know...“
#35
When They Beckon An Employee Over Like They're A Trained Animal
#36
Things Supermarket Employees Hate
#37
Who Just Decided "No" On The TV?
Bardhi's Dad 4 years ago
I really don't understand how people can do things like this. It's so...
#38
When They Don't Recognize The Difference Between In-Store And Online
#39
"98% Of Customers Are Illiterate"
troufaki13 4 years ago
Sometimes this discount applies only to certain items and it isn't always clear which one
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What do you think ?
Jayson Hammer 4 years ago
Everyone should have to work in a service industry job for a month (at least). I'm pretty sure it would cut down on a lot of this sort of thing happening.
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago
I wish I could up vote you 1000 times.
Load More Replies...
Hans 4 years ago
I do not think this reflects normal customer behaviour. One respectless will outweighs 99 considerate ones. And most of the things shown here are likewise annoying to other customers than to staff.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
It doesn't, 95% of people don't do any of this. But you don't hear about the boring normal customers.
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Falcon 4 years ago
I think I could never work on retail. If I'd see any of the crap people pull I'd lose all filters and go off on them. I was taught to be respectful to other people and things I do not own. Clearly there are people that just don't have the mental capacity to understand that.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
Those they don't need to work in retail. I will make sure my kids both have summer jobs in retail dealing with customers. It teaches patients and how to deal with uncomfortable situations.
Load More Replies...
Carney 4 years ago
I've worked retail, both as a worker and a manager. Some customers are idiots and very entitled behaving. However, some retail workers are lazy, rude and disinterested in helping anyone. They can be rude, nasty and dishonest. So, yeah...nasty people on both sides. Saying this, there is NEVER any excuse for being rude, nasty, entitled or demeaning toward anyone, including someone who is this way toward you. If you are a customer and an employee is less than professional, find the manager and complain, but be honest, be polite and try not labeling someone for one bad day.
Jason Marin 2 years ago
Here's two. 1. If an item is on sale, it tends to go pretty fast. Had a female customer who was looking for bread on sale but there was none on the shelf. I went in the back and couldn't find the bread I'm looking for. I go back to the store and explain that we're completely out. This then turns into this. Her: But it's on sale. It's even in the paper and since it's on sale it should be on the shelf. Me: Yes, Ma'am but sometimes when an item is on sale it tends to go rather quickly. Repeat conversation 5X before another employee comes up and watch as the explanation is repeated the same amount of times. 2. When you say an item is a certain price and I have to do a price check, if my price is different then your's and you insist on seeing the price for yourself, the price I'm pointing to is the actual price. It's not the price to the left of the item. It's not the price to the right of the item. It's not on the shelf above or below of item. The price is where I'm pointing. Period.
Sirt TenTea 4 years ago
One thing to add to the HATE list: Instore Radio. If I hear "More Than Words" one more time or one more Maddona tune I'd like to take a hammer to the loudspeakers.!
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
Yeah,yeah I get it. All customers are assholes and retailers are poor downtrodden saints. In the interest of fairness how about posting things that retailers do that customers hate?
Kathy Smith 4 years ago
I’d like to see a list of things that decent, polite customers hate about rude, oblivious clerks.
John Baker 4 years ago
This is something that annoys me not as a worker, but as a shopper. You're going for the next item on your shopping list and someone is standing in the exact spot where the item is located just staring at the shelves. You wait a few minutes before deciding to grab a few other items and come back later. You come back ten or fifteen minutes later and Mr. I Smoked Five Joints Before Coming To The Store is still standing there staring.
Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff 4 years ago
Reading this gave me an anyurism, because I am going to work in half an hour and I work in a grocery store
Jeff Diamond 4 years ago
I worked retail for a few years, and I swore I would never do it again. Examples like these only make my conviction stronger.
Mimi777 4 years ago
Ahh even though I can relate to most of the these I still loved my job I spent 6 years work at a I guess u would call it a high end clothing store. I love the people I worked with and most of the customers. There were entitled rude ones but the good ones made up for it. And the pay and bonuses were really good.
Katrina B. 4 years ago
They forgot the biggest pet peeve (at least for places with them): putting the carts in the corrals!!
Jaybird3939 4 years ago
Asking how much something is at The Dollar Store. It's the dollar store, not somewhere that it could be .50 or 2.50 or $5. It's the dollar store.
TimesNewLogan 4 years ago
Some countries have mandatory military service for a year. The US should have mandatory retail service for a year.
Krazy Kat 4 years ago
So many of these have the words "old people" when in my experience as an "old" person who has worked in retail, it seems to me that the younger people who seem to feel entitled are a bigger problem.
Tien 4 years ago
So many comments about putting the money on the counter instead of in someone's hand. In large parts of the world it's common to put the money on the counter and it would be considered rude to hold out a hand for change. Hey BP, the world consists of more than just the US of Absurd you know? America might think it's great and the best at everything, but the rest of us really don't
Jayson Hammer 4 years ago
Everyone should have to work in a service industry job for a month (at least). I'm pretty sure it would cut down on a lot of this sort of thing happening.
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 4 years ago
I wish I could up vote you 1000 times.
Load More Replies... Hans 4 years ago
I do not think this reflects normal customer behaviour. One respectless will outweighs 99 considerate ones. And most of the things shown here are likewise annoying to other customers than to staff.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
It doesn't, 95% of people don't do any of this. But you don't hear about the boring normal customers.
Load More Replies... Falcon 4 years ago
I think I could never work on retail. If I'd see any of the crap people pull I'd lose all filters and go off on them. I was taught to be respectful to other people and things I do not own. Clearly there are people that just don't have the mental capacity to understand that.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
Those they don't need to work in retail. I will make sure my kids both have summer jobs in retail dealing with customers. It teaches patients and how to deal with uncomfortable situations.
Load More Replies... Carney 4 years ago
I've worked retail, both as a worker and a manager. Some customers are idiots and very entitled behaving. However, some retail workers are lazy, rude and disinterested in helping anyone. They can be rude, nasty and dishonest. So, yeah...nasty people on both sides. Saying this, there is NEVER any excuse for being rude, nasty, entitled or demeaning toward anyone, including someone who is this way toward you. If you are a customer and an employee is less than professional, find the manager and complain, but be honest, be polite and try not labeling someone for one bad day.
Jason Marin 2 years ago
Here's two. 1. If an item is on sale, it tends to go pretty fast. Had a female customer who was looking for bread on sale but there was none on the shelf. I went in the back and couldn't find the bread I'm looking for. I go back to the store and explain that we're completely out. This then turns into this. Her: But it's on sale. It's even in the paper and since it's on sale it should be on the shelf. Me: Yes, Ma'am but sometimes when an item is on sale it tends to go rather quickly. Repeat conversation 5X before another employee comes up and watch as the explanation is repeated the same amount of times. 2. When you say an item is a certain price and I have to do a price check, if my price is different then your's and you insist on seeing the price for yourself, the price I'm pointing to is the actual price. It's not the price to the left of the item. It's not the price to the right of the item. It's not on the shelf above or below of item. The price is where I'm pointing. Period.
Sirt TenTea 4 years ago
One thing to add to the HATE list: Instore Radio. If I hear "More Than Words" one more time or one more Maddona tune I'd like to take a hammer to the loudspeakers.!
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
Yeah,yeah I get it. All customers are assholes and retailers are poor downtrodden saints. In the interest of fairness how about posting things that retailers do that customers hate?
Kathy Smith 4 years ago
I’d like to see a list of things that decent, polite customers hate about rude, oblivious clerks.
John Baker 4 years ago
This is something that annoys me not as a worker, but as a shopper. You're going for the next item on your shopping list and someone is standing in the exact spot where the item is located just staring at the shelves. You wait a few minutes before deciding to grab a few other items and come back later. You come back ten or fifteen minutes later and Mr. I Smoked Five Joints Before Coming To The Store is still standing there staring.
Xandra, The Little Hufflepuff 4 years ago
Reading this gave me an anyurism, because I am going to work in half an hour and I work in a grocery store
Jeff Diamond 4 years ago
I worked retail for a few years, and I swore I would never do it again. Examples like these only make my conviction stronger.
Mimi777 4 years ago
Ahh even though I can relate to most of the these I still loved my job I spent 6 years work at a I guess u would call it a high end clothing store. I love the people I worked with and most of the customers. There were entitled rude ones but the good ones made up for it. And the pay and bonuses were really good.
Katrina B. 4 years ago
They forgot the biggest pet peeve (at least for places with them): putting the carts in the corrals!!
Jaybird3939 4 years ago
Asking how much something is at The Dollar Store. It's the dollar store, not somewhere that it could be .50 or 2.50 or $5. It's the dollar store.
TimesNewLogan 4 years ago
Some countries have mandatory military service for a year. The US should have mandatory retail service for a year.
Krazy Kat 4 years ago
So many of these have the words "old people" when in my experience as an "old" person who has worked in retail, it seems to me that the younger people who seem to feel entitled are a bigger problem.
Tien 4 years ago
So many comments about putting the money on the counter instead of in someone's hand. In large parts of the world it's common to put the money on the counter and it would be considered rude to hold out a hand for change. Hey BP, the world consists of more than just the US of Absurd you know? America might think it's great and the best at everything, but the rest of us really don't
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