I've been working in retail since I was 13. I'm now 37, you do the maths, either way it's a long time. I get thoroughly fed up with the absolute stupidity and general ignorance of the general public. Time for me to get a new career me thinks!?
After all this time you'd think I should have become immune to the idiocies of society. Developed some kind of nuclear resistant skin. At one point I think I did. It was about ten years ago, around mid afternoon, somewhere between me emerging from the toilet, to putting the kettle on for a nice cup of tea, sooth the aching brain tissue.
The idiocies and frustrations I refer to are very tiny, minor points really. In context to world problems, they wouldn't even register on the Richter scale. If you've never worked in any form of retail then you really have no idea! You can read this and think "what the hell is he complaining about?"
I call this infraction in brain wave patterns as "The Shopping Effect." It's kind of like the butterfly effect except the fluttering wings of an aviatorial based insect only creates natural destruction on the other side of the planet. The shopping effect happens to everybody at all times during any given moment you walk onto a shop. In principal you could have a PHD, MA, BA, pick any acronym you want but as soon as you enter a retail establishment you become as dumb as two mules playing Buckaroo! Apologies to Hasbro for the analogy. I had many a happy childhood moment playing your Ass kicking game.
I give you my points of evidence.
If the guy behind the counter asks if you would like a bag, the correct responses are - yes please or no thank you. Not "If you have one?" The reason behind the question wasn't designed to be a conundrum. It's not asked as a polite request. One day I will say no and wait for their response. Probably be something like "Why did you ask if I wanted a bag then?"
Another notable point is when you first walk into a store. I find it quite helpful if the patron actually looks around the shop instead asking "I can't find your chilled beer?" before the front door has closed behind them. In order to find something.....you first have to look ! You may have missed that point whilst growing up. Moving one cushion doesn't constitute looking for the elephant showering in your bathroom.
Parenting is a joyous moment for a lot of us, when expected. I still have images of me as a kid constantly harassing my mum to point of a nervous breakdown for a packet of sweets. She stayed firm, retained her sanity and said no. Happy days! Nowadays parents treat stores like mini daycare centres. If you're in a hardware store, wine store, Satan's sharp pointy things emporium, it's not a five minute license to allow your children to run havoc and let the sales assistant play babysitter to your children. What's more, when the same said sales assistant tells the child to put the sword down, don't lecture the poor sap in parenting skills. You should be keeping an eye on what your rugrats are doing. The reason why the assistant has chastised your child is because they seem to care more about them than what you do.
Bikes, umbrellas. Mmmmm! Where do I begin? Bikes I guess! If you choose to mobilize your self via the power of your legs, fair play! As a cyclist I am happy to see people not being run down by maniacal motorists and enjoying the fruits of their own transportation endeavours. Still, if you decide to cycle to a shop, lock your bike up outside. Parking your Penny Farthing inside, then asking "Is this OK" when there are visible areas outside to lock your wheels up is ludicrous. How about this? You've driven up to friends house, there's nowhere to park. You drive your car, full throttle, through the front garden hedge and plant it firmly on the rose bed. Then ask "Is this OK?"
Umbrellas. People should have permits to handle an umbrella. Occasionally you get the odd one or two who will leave a brolly at the door. They realise that wandering around an open floor could cause a safety hazard. Hussah! What about the other 99% of customers who think it's acceptable to drip a trail of water around a shop floor.
I could go on. The point is showing respect to the outlet you are shopping in. The attitude I've seen from people over the years leaves me scratching my head.When challenged over rudimentary behaviour the customer tends to become aggressive. Would you act this way in your own homes? Shops are there to allow us to purchase, to enable us to survive. At the same time a shop is someone's property, livelihood. What gives people the right to abuse someone else's property in the name of retail? If I was to act this way in your home would you have me back? Doubt it.