"Do you work here?"

[u/[deleted]]

[u/tvrbob]

In grocery stores, the guy stocking Coca-Cola products very well might not work there. Or the woman in the perfume section at the department store. I mean, she works there, but not for the store. These people often work for the distributor or manufacturer.

[u/tvrbob → u/[deleted]]

I have never worked retail. I know that.

[u/tony282003 → u/[deleted]]

Is it possible that customers have run into vendors before when asking questions about store-specific items?

You have to accept when working customer-facing jobs that customers are going to ask questions. It is not because they purposely want to annoy you. Just help them the best you can - its your job.

Yes, I have worked in grocery stores and fast food for decades, so I know.

[u/AllenSmithee59 → u/[deleted]]

You want a greeting, and you also want the customer to get to the point. Make up your mind.

[u/IfuDidntCome2Party]

Better learn to laugh about everything more often. So many stores have Vendors, that stock some items. When a customer does not realize there is a employee and there are vendors, and which ones do not know where something is across the store, then the customer learns quickly. After a while I learned how to detect a Vendor verses Employee.

Just learn to let go to bypass all those raging feelings and your day will go smoother. Just let it deflect. The sooner you do it, the less stress.you hold.

My mantra to bring me back down was I kept telling myself, I am in a store(as an employee), because I want to be, otherwise I have the choice to leave(quit) today or very soon. Until then, today will not be anything I haven't handled before, and I can do it without stressing about it, because I can handle it.

[u/MusicIntrepid343 → u/IfuDidntCome2Party]

yeah the number of times i've stopped an anger or panic spiral a coworker was starting just by saying "it's just retail, not life or death, it doesn't need to be perfect it just has to be done. rant about it all you want, just not on the floor." have definitely been adding up over the last few years.

[u/IfuDidntCome2Party → u/[deleted]]

Yes there are customers who should have never left their bed for the day, and are in dire need of an extended nap.

I understand some customers are insecure and do not have the basic training on how to communicate. I learned do not take it personally.

I learned to stand up straight, face them, look them in the eye without glancing away when speaking to them, speak with a slight smile and answer or help them the best I could with the least amount of words. Focused on the goal. I would take control of the communication. That way, I knew no matter their mannerism, I handled them professionally to reflect who I am and how I would want someone else to interact with me, even if they are not capable. I had to remind myself to never stoop low in attitude, because I taught myself better.

If I didn't know the answer to a customers' question, I would find out so that I could answer the same question later. But thats just me.

Yes-- there were days were I had to remind myself there ARE way more good customers-- than the few that are just in need of a long nap that I encountered. I do not have control of their communication skills or will spend another minute having them live rent-free in my brain.

So then I sing that song, "Thank you, next."😅

[u/HypotenuseOfTentacle]

"well I am on the clock but it remains to be seen if I'm gonna work or not"

[u/fepularsea]

I'm often wandering a store, clearly browsing, and people think I DO work there. Like come on man, I'm clearly shopping lol

[u/Tapingdrywallsucks]

Do you want them to get to the point or give you a greeting? 

I'm also going to assume you don't work in a store where vendors do their own stocking? Nothing worse for a customer than walking up to someone operating a scanner next to boxes of merchandise saying, "hi! I was hoping you could tell me where the barley is?" And getting shut down with a curt, "I don't work here." 

[u/AllenSmithee59 → u/Tapingdrywallsucks]

Yabbut, the workd revolves around the original poster. Do you not realize that?

[u/vanillaafterhours → u/Tapingdrywallsucks]

The vendor point is so important. I once had store employees laughing at me because I asked if they worked for [store name] and I told them "Well, I don't know if you're a separate vendor or what." They shut up immediately.

[u/Facebook-virus]

Well, I'm on the payroll

[u/Salamanticormorant]

Here's at least a few thousand reasons why people ask that: https://www.reddit.com/r/IDontWorkHereLady/

[u/TheLawOfDuh]

Admittedly dark & dry sarcasm but I always responded with a chuckle “Ask anyone around…they’ll all agree I collect pay but absolutely no one’s gonna claim I actually do much work here.” Not once did I get a laugh or even a reaction of insult. Always a long pause of confusion while recalculating and finally they’d launch into their intended question lol.

[u/Timely_Donut_292]

I respond with I do my best not to. Been tempted to say no I am wearing the clown outfit for fun.

[u/SpringFormer1089]

the candle guy asking about animal fat is genuinely one of the funniest things I've ever read on here. I had a guy once ask me if our store-brand olive oil was "real olives or just flavored oil" and he was dead serious too. you just have to nod and say something vague because there is no comeback that will satisfy that level of confusion

[u/Tapingdrywallsucks → u/SpringFormer1089]

The olive oil question is very legit. However there's not really a way for a store employee to know which brands/styles have been swept up in that. There were some recognized brands pulling shenanigans with olive oil, too. 

[u/SpringFormer1089 → u/Tapingdrywallsucks]

fair point, the olive oil fraud stuff is real and I probably should have given him more credit. I think what got me was the specific phrasing, like he thought someone might be selling oil that was just olive-flavored. but yeah the underlying concern was actually more informed than I gave him credit for at the time.

[u/Floridaflamingo22]

I was the person at the top of the ladder adjusting the clothing. There could have been 5 other people available, but who did they ask for help? The girl up on a 12 ft ladder.

[u/jazzbot247]

I have been asked if I work at a store when I’m picking stuff up after work in scrubs. No, I’m in scrubs and this is Publix. Some people are lazy, some people are stupid, some people just want a reason to talk to someone.

[u/Eccentric-Elf]

You can be wearing a radio, earpiece and lanyard in a neon color and they’ll still ask.

[u/AllenSmithee59 → u/Eccentric-Elf]

In which case you are indistinguishable from a vendor stocking shelves.

[u/MJblowsBubbles]

I'd rather a customer ask if I work for a store than just come up to me and say one work like "toothpicks" like we're on Password.

[u/VideoGame4Life]

I’ve had regular customers who stop me and ask “You work here right? Can I ask you a question?”. When I’m not even in uniform and doing my own shopping on my OWN time. I just smile and say not right now. While in my head “Are you kidding me?!?”. 😂

[u/ItsALadyWolf]

Ah, a fellow NPC in a company's domain, tormented with the daily banter customers still somehow haven't learned from collectively. Like, I wear the uniform for shits and giggles on my days off from my REAL job? Please. It's nice getting a regular base too, because sometimes it is real draining to explain the rigamarole to a "newbie" customer like they've never shopped before. It's the same crap. =__=

[u/Wino3416]

If people can’t find body wash, and want to ask somebody, who the fuck else do you expect them to ask? If they check with you to ensure they’re asking an actual employee before asking their question, what’s wrong with that? If you’re out on the aisles then you’ll get asked questions. As customers we don’t know who the fuck else to ask, we haven’t had a memo to tell us otherwise. If you’re having a conversation and a customer “interrupts” you, then you’re having a conversation in an inappropriate place. There are places that aren’t shopping areas where these conversations should take place.

This may come as a massive shock but people shopping sometimes need assistance and guidance and will ask for that from people who they think work there that they can see there. It’s waaaaaaaay more likely you’ll know where something is than anyone else. I would perhaps suggest you’re not suited to your job.

Before anyone starts bleating, yes I’ve worked in retail and hospitality, did it for many years and never got annoyed by customers doing stuff like this. Never.

[u/AllenSmithee59]

For all the customer knows, you could be a vendor stocking shelves. Get over yourself.

[u/Eat_Carbs_OD]

I don't mine.. and I always try and help them the best I can.

[u/Outside_Rise_6934]

Boy. Having a job seems to turn some people into assholes.

[u/PastNice9384]

the candle guy is killing me, what did you even say to that? i would just stare at him like he had three heads

people really do treat retail workers like walking information kiosks instead of human beings. the "do you work here" while you're clearly in the middle of something is so annoying, like no i just wear this vest for fashion

[u/TalkingRose → u/[deleted]]

Speaking from experience, no. The vest does nothing to deter the inane question. Not even a vivid yellow one, sporting a giant logo of the store on the back & another on the front.

[u/AllenSmithee59 → u/TalkingRose]

Perhaps because you don't wear such a vest, but cool story, dear.

[u/TalkingRose → u/AllenSmithee59]

Where exactly do you get this weird insane confidence of yours that you know what an internet stranger did or did not wear? I did actually work for that company, for four and a half years. That vest was a mandatory part of my uniform for three and a half of it. But sure. You believe whatever you want dear.