They don't, its a interesting topic that is brought up alot.
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For Some Reason, No One Wants Entry-Level Retail Jobs
- Thread starter Dalek
- Start date
They don't, its a interesting topic that is brought up alot.
March of the Crabs
Member
I went from a nice office job for 8 months back to retail on weekends now that I'm back in school. Seeing a beautiful glimpse of the other side makes it much worse. I wish this fate on no one.
At least they accomodate my weekends-only policy I guess.
At least they accomodate my weekends-only policy I guess.
Steeped in a Sea of Games
Member
They rely on people working three jobs, people who live at home with parents or in a house with 6 roommates. People in college, retirees, people with spouses who bring in sustainable incomes so they don't have to, people who use welfare to supplement their low income.
Yeah, it's mostly shit how they get away with it.
Gaius Cassius
Member
Not surprising..because it's shit? Literally all my part time work has been through retail, mostly Electronics retail. It's always shit.
Last I worked in it was in Austin, there was a supervisor in another department named Tad. A real prick. Guy worked in his 30s till his 40s until his hair was gray. Stress I assume. He would freak out over everything. PC guy. Took out all his frustrations, not just on customers, but employees too. Talked down to all. Kept getting awards and promotions because of it. Racist jokes or treatment, it didn't matter. Because his customer service performance, when it was good, was very good. Long story short, in retail, men like these are your supervisors. If this were war, theyd be fragged.
Last I worked in it was in Austin, there was a supervisor in another department named Tad. A real prick. Guy worked in his 30s till his 40s until his hair was gray. Stress I assume. He would freak out over everything. PC guy. Took out all his frustrations, not just on customers, but employees too. Talked down to all. Kept getting awards and promotions because of it. Racist jokes or treatment, it didn't matter. Because his customer service performance, when it was good, was very good. Long story short, in retail, men like these are your supervisors. If this were war, theyd be fragged.
Steeped in a Sea of Games
Member
I had a supervisor who literally told me to pull down 150 xbox 360s from the top rack to build an island display just to make me put them all back up once I pulled them down just because he was a prick who demanded everyone look busy at all times, even in an empty store. He once blamed me for coworkers calling in sick and made me call the staff list to get help and then got mad at me when I couldn't finish resetting tags before open because I couldn't find anyone and had to do it all alone. He regularly refused to talk to customers even when they demanded to speak with management and when he sometimes got cornered, he'd scream at us for not taking care of the problem.
I quit that job after 6 months.
jordan0386
Member
Long live retail.
Office workers think too highly of themselves because they get to wear decent clothes as their uniform.
All the money is the same green.
Office workers think too highly of themselves because they get to wear decent clothes as their uniform.
All the money is the same green.
brianjones
Member
I made it out the retail game years ago and now im goin back because I fucked my life up
at least its whole foods.. could be worse I guess
I would recommend looking into data entry or general office temp jobs for peeps without a degree.. you might find a decent company that will promote you from within
at least its whole foods.. could be worse I guess
I would recommend looking into data entry or general office temp jobs for peeps without a degree.. you might find a decent company that will promote you from within
2+ years at Best Buy made me realize I would never work retail again. People are assholes, corporate/HQ are greedy assholes and $11 an hour in the worlds hottest real estate market means jackshit. The people are the worst though. We weren't even commission and I never even hawked product service plans or monster cable like they wanted us to,but the entitlement of the stupid fucks who came in still boils me to this day. I even worked two boxing days, the Wii and PS3 launches. Never again.
zerokoolpsx
Member
I worked in retail for a couple of years. Pay is shit at minimum wage and long shifts, with most of it on the weekend. Dealing with terrible customers, pushing for the store card on every customer. Working the infamous weekend of Black Friday. I had customers and co-workers yell at me for the stupidest reasons. Its so mentally exhausting dealing with crap on a daily basis. You become cynical pretty quick. Its so soul draining when they expect so much out of you for so little pay.
I put in my two weeks right before inventory. I didn't care since they had reduced my hours. One of the managers begged me to stay and help with inventory. I told him nope, I'm done. Left retail after that and never looked back.
Funny thing in that article, they never mention higher pay to attract new employees lol.
I put in my two weeks right before inventory. I didn't care since they had reduced my hours. One of the managers begged me to stay and help with inventory. I told him nope, I'm done. Left retail after that and never looked back.
Funny thing in that article, they never mention higher pay to attract new employees lol.
In my area (NoVA) it seems like everyone's short-staffed in retail. We just straight up need more people.
Steeped in a Sea of Games
Member
Yeah, I worked Best Buy the first year of the Wii. What a nightmare. We'd get a pallet of systems and there'd be a huge rush. 4 hours later some person would always mosey in and throw a fit that the systems were all gone. They'd usually act like it was my fault directly and that I'd somehow disrespected their entire family line by not having more hidden in the back.
The worst though was customers who would get pissed at you for not having the ability to haggle with them. I had a guy threaten to stab me because I wouldn't 'go down $10' on a ps2 game at Wal-Mart.
Raylan Targaryen
Member
Id rather trump get a third term than work retail ever again
This isnt even an exaggeration, its that bad
This isnt even an exaggeration, its that bad
I work at the bakery department at a grocery store. luckily I get to avoid customers, and the ones I help are normally nice.
The lengths the higher-ups go to save money is ridiculous, Two people quit from my department, one got a better job, and the other decided she had enough of the job, and so management decides we only need to hire one new person replace the two people leaving, and it's only a month until The holiday rush starts.
The lengths the higher-ups go to save money is ridiculous, Two people quit from my department, one got a better job, and the other decided she had enough of the job, and so management decides we only need to hire one new person replace the two people leaving, and it's only a month until The holiday rush starts.
Master Of Illusion
Member
I...agree with this statement.
Gaius Cassius
Member
Are you sure we weren't working at the same store, or perhaps same state?
They'll sooner replace them with robots before that happens.
SuperBanana
Banned
I'd never work in retail in America. It sounds fucking horrendous. I do work in retail in Australia but I get
$25.50/hr.
150% pay rate for Sunday.
Public Holidays are 250% pay rate or a paid day off. Employees choice.
Days in lieu for any public holiday on a rostered day off.
Free physio.
4 weeks holiday.
2 weeks sick leave.
8.5 weeks long service leave after 10 years.
A strong union to back employees up.
I wouldn't even consider working in this job for less.
$25.50/hr.
150% pay rate for Sunday.
Public Holidays are 250% pay rate or a paid day off. Employees choice.
Days in lieu for any public holiday on a rostered day off.
Free physio.
4 weeks holiday.
2 weeks sick leave.
8.5 weeks long service leave after 10 years.
A strong union to back employees up.
I wouldn't even consider working in this job for less.
T
thepotatoman
Unconfirmed Member
"entry-level" implies there's a destination beyond that where things stop being so terrible.
It's very possible to work into management for higher than minimum wage pay, but it's still half the pay with more demands than a similar level employee in other industries.
It's very possible to work into management for higher than minimum wage pay, but it's still half the pay with more demands than a similar level employee in other industries.
AbortedWalrusFetus
Member
I am the minority that loved retail work. I hated the hours and the wages though. Fixing minimum wage could fix both of those problems.
bobbychalkers
Member
The world would be a lot kinder if everybody was required to work retail for a year.
CampbellzSoup
Member
This post has won the thread. Exactly right not only are you like shit from the public but from management too.
Dr. Black Jack
Member
Costco, just sayin'.
thetrin
Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
I worked retail all through college and for some time after that. Fuck retail forever. The only saving grace is that I worked at a GameStop where everyone working there became a life long friend.
Lol, my union rep here in the US took over a week to even file my sexual harassment report after I made it with him. Also I got yelled at for using the sick days I was given.
AwayFromInfinityx
Member
I'd never call out if this was the case. Work would be so much fun
mugoldeneagle03
Member
Man there's some salty ass people in this thread haha.
It's a job. Most jobs suck.
Wages aren't even that bad anymore. "Entry level" jobs are aimed at high school shit heads who have terrible work ethic who can still make $11/hr most places (I've seen as high as $14) to sit around and talk. The ones who are actual good workers usually move up with ease or are smart enough to find great jobs elsewhere.
Granted I'm a Supervisor but I'm making enough money that my Nurse GF gets upset about how much harder she works for not much more.
That said everything you hear about retail is generally true. The soccer mom horror stories, the crazy conversations you can have. I've seen some shit, no doubt. But honestly interacting with the worst people really does make you appreciate friends so much more.
My two personal favorites I'll probably never forget:
1. A woman once asked to sniff me, I let her, it was weird and awkward.
2. An elderly man once recycled his VHS player, with a tape inside labeled "Anal Gratification" and then called the following day asking if we still had it.
Top that. I dare you.
It's a job. Most jobs suck.
Wages aren't even that bad anymore. "Entry level" jobs are aimed at high school shit heads who have terrible work ethic who can still make $11/hr most places (I've seen as high as $14) to sit around and talk. The ones who are actual good workers usually move up with ease or are smart enough to find great jobs elsewhere.
Granted I'm a Supervisor but I'm making enough money that my Nurse GF gets upset about how much harder she works for not much more.
That said everything you hear about retail is generally true. The soccer mom horror stories, the crazy conversations you can have. I've seen some shit, no doubt. But honestly interacting with the worst people really does make you appreciate friends so much more.
My two personal favorites I'll probably never forget:
1. A woman once asked to sniff me, I let her, it was weird and awkward.
2. An elderly man once recycled his VHS player, with a tape inside labeled "Anal Gratification" and then called the following day asking if we still had it.
Top that. I dare you.
Retail is awful.
I remember being forced to essentially scam customers into applying for credit cards, or else risk getting written up.
Commission rates that dropped every quarter.
The madness that is Q4.
The nasty customers.
I didn't even give my 2 weeks. I left as soon as I got an offer in te city.
I remember being forced to essentially scam customers into applying for credit cards, or else risk getting written up.
Commission rates that dropped every quarter.
The madness that is Q4.
The nasty customers.
I didn't even give my 2 weeks. I left as soon as I got an offer in te city.
therealist
Member
Does no one bother to read articles anymore? It's fucking 3 paragraphs.
No one is complaining. The article is about observations on the retail job market and what companies like Walmart are doing to adapt, like increasing wages.
Rei no Otaku
Member
As someone who has worked both, I'll take the Amazon warehouse easy. Better pay, consistent hours, benefits, and no dealing with the public. Did the warehouse job have its issues? Definitely. Nothing close to the hell that is retail though.
Oh man, my days at Game Crazy were so very righteous.
Catching robbers.
Falling in love.
Meeting best friends.
Pre-streets.
Concussions.
Kids barfing.
Jimmy the Saint (my ex-mob DM).
Midnight launches.
Pancreatitis.
Finding my passion.
Pitchfork tunes.
NBA regulars.
Fucking loved retail and it led me to meet a bunch people that shaped my life.
Catching robbers.
Falling in love.
Meeting best friends.
Pre-streets.
Concussions.
Kids barfing.
Jimmy the Saint (my ex-mob DM).
Midnight launches.
Pancreatitis.
Finding my passion.
Pitchfork tunes.
NBA regulars.
Fucking loved retail and it led me to meet a bunch people that shaped my life.
Maybe instead of national service, everyone should be drafted into Retail Service for 2 years after school/college. It would help the economy and give people important life lessons. Perhaps if all managers had a stint in a customer facing role, theyd be less likely to be shitty managers.
No kidding. I'm still living at home, my older brother rooms with several other guys, and my older sister moved to Texas.
PdotMichael
Banned
Automatize the jobs no one cares. It's a net profit for society and economy.
Dang, these benefits are better than my salary job.
Entry-level retail. Can have crazy random schedules, with no guaranteed hours, and with terribly low pay and no benefits.
Gee, I wonder why people are looking to other places for work like Uber.
Gee, I wonder why people are looking to other places for work like Uber.
Retail in Australia sounds like a paradise when compared to the hell that it is in the US.
Pyroclastic
Banned
I do it now, and don't hate it, you could do a lot worse for entry levels jobs, at least in the uk. The main crap thing is that in supermarkets at least there are very few full time positions which isn't great unless you are a student or elderly, so you have to be at the whims of whether there is extra time or not that week.The pay is OK compared to similar places, and I've been lucky enough to have not had too many nightmare customers in a year or so.
The only thing really I hate about the day to day really is having to go on checkouts when it's busy,that shit is completely mind numbing. It is a bit annoying if you have a manager that just babysits, but if you're lucky you have someone that sees through that bullshit too. It does boil my piss too when they call you short notice offering a shift which can fuck up your plans, but I don't mind saying no now and then, I have no ambitions of rising up in this place. If you have some good colleagues it can be quite tolerable, there's a really broad of range people working here.
The only thing really I hate about the day to day really is having to go on checkouts when it's busy,that shit is completely mind numbing. It is a bit annoying if you have a manager that just babysits, but if you're lucky you have someone that sees through that bullshit too. It does boil my piss too when they call you short notice offering a shift which can fuck up your plans, but I don't mind saying no now and then, I have no ambitions of rising up in this place. If you have some good colleagues it can be quite tolerable, there's a really broad of range people working here.
Seriously how many other industries are there that give you schedules that change every week? It's the one of the worst things about it, and good luck trying to get more consistency from it. You can of course, but that seems more for lucky people.
Honestly though as a seasonal temp job it's not too bad. I worked at Best Buy for a holiday season and they had me in headphones. For weeks my job was to point people to where the beats are at and give recs for which is the best cheap shitty earbuds. Lol
My mistake was staying after the holiday season. Quit right the next one.
Honestly though as a seasonal temp job it's not too bad. I worked at Best Buy for a holiday season and they had me in headphones. For weeks my job was to point people to where the beats are at and give recs for which is the best cheap shitty earbuds. Lol
My mistake was staying after the holiday season. Quit right the next one.
PingPongvonLaserstein
Member
For some reason, no one wants to self-lobotomize with a rusty butter knife either.
Mysteries abound.
Mysteries abound.
ClosingADoor
Member
If they want to make retail attractive to work in, then stop the 'customer is always right' attitude. No, if some asshole is acting like an asshole, don't blame the employee.
Then add a decent wage and stable hours.
Then add a decent wage and stable hours.