Shopping Help

This is the second post in Riley’s blog, Adventures in Retail. If we’re going to offend anyone, it’s best to start right now.

It’s time for a refresher course in shopping etiquette from one who’s been in retail for over 40 years.  Despite any bad shopping experiences you may have had, please keep in mind that most of the people behind the counters are not social misfits who couldn’t get a “real” job. They shouldn’t be treated that way.  A lot of us are teachers, students, housewives, and other part-timers trying to earn an extra buck in difficult times. The rest of us are full-time employees and shop owners here to help you find exactly what you want. Our livelihoods depend on it. So here are some things to think about before you step into any store. These examples come from actual experiences in our store but apply to any type of retail establishment from the corner greasy spoon to the highest-end boutique. Yeah, the kind that you and I will never be caught dead in.

If we don’t have exactly what you’re looking for; crying, yelling, and stamping your feet will not make it magically appear.  We probably don’t have “anything like it” either.  If we did we’d have suggested it. We would have told you if more were on the way.  And, no, we don’t know who else has it; we have enough trouble keeping up with our own inventory. If we send you to another store, it just to get you to leave. It’s the oldest retail trick in the book, not that we at Riley's would ever resort to such an underhanded measure.

Coming into a store at two minutes til closing “just to look around” will not get you any kind of best customer award.  If you know what you want, we’ll go out of our way to get it for you as quickly as possible because we have lives outside of the store and we’re tired after being on our feet all day.  We do not want to stand around while you amble through the aisles for half an hour after last call then leave empty-handed without acknowledging that we’ve held the place open for you.  The fact that we don’t live somewhere behind the counter comes as a shock to some shoppers.

Please pull the cell phone away from your ear when in the store.  It’s very difficult to conduct business with someone who’s carrying on an apparently one-sided conversation while communicating with us in some kind of undecipherable sign language.  If you must use the phone while in the store, please keep your conversation on the subject at hand:  sizes, colors, cost, etc.  We do not need to stand idly by while you discuss your Aunt Tilly’s latest medical crisis with your sister.  Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s an electronic device, not a hollow tube. There is no need to shout so that everybody in the building knows your business.  And please, please don’t call other stores to compare prices while we wait, it’s just rude.

Please put your garbage in a container outside the store or keep it in your car until you get home. Do not come in a business and expect us to dispose of your half-eaten chalupa or greasy bag of fries.

Finally, a word on bringing children shopping if you plan to ignore them while they're in the store: DON’T, unless you're going to keep an eye on them at all times

Most of the kids that come in are on their best behavior, with or without their parents. They're polite and don't handle everything they see. Others have no respect for other people’s property and their parents don’t do anything to encourage that respect. They let their kids treat a store as a playground, leaving a trail of merchandise on the floor in their wake. You are responsible for any damage caused your children; the store is not responsible if they get hurt doing something they’re not supposed to.  If you have no option other than to bring your kids with you, please don't ignore them. When they demand your attention, don’t ignore them.  It’s very difficult to conduct a transaction when someone’s child is screaming. “Mommymommymommymommy…”  If they say, “Hey, look at me” you probably should because it’s a good bet they’re doing something they shouldn’t.  If all else fails and your child becomes completely uncontrollable, remember that most stores are not No Spanking Zones. There should be a helpful sales associate or good Samaritan customer nearby to help hold your little darling down while you remind him of the proper way to behave.

These helpful hints will make your shopping experience more enjoyable for both of us. The retail workers of America thank you.