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Tales from behind the counter.
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I regularly look in on these fora to see what people discuss and also as a way of improving the service offered in the store where I work. Life behind the counter can be hard work, rewarding and very very irritating. So with that in mind, I shall attempt to keep you entertained with my musings.
One thing is for certain, I shall not be using this as a form of advertising.
One thing is for certain, I shall not be using this as a form of advertising.
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Comments
I'm a pig
...apparently
Maybe that's one of the tales Dave.
Scotty - that reminds me about one incident when I worked in an underwear shop - a larger customer tried on a bra that is was fairly obvious was not going to fit her, but what can you say when they insist it's their size. It was a warm day and after she left - without buying the bra - we noticed that the bra really stank of full on BO. It was amazing considering she's only had it on for a matter of minutes. We had to throw it away such was the smell!!
I was fitting a little kiddy with shoes when I let a silent one go - and it was a really stinky one. The woman looked at the little kid and started telling him off and saying what a dirty smelly kid he was - but it was me. I had to go out to the stockroom and couldn't stop laughing for ages.
The funniest thing I've heard happened when I worked in a private hospital- not a shop at all but funny. A girl had to go to the gynacologist in the middle of the day and the mum lived near to the hospital. she went round to her mum's house for a quick shower before the appointment, had a clean up and a spray of the femfresh then went to the gynae feeling as happy as you can for one of those appointments. When she got there the doc started laughing and said he'd never seen one like that before. The girl was almost in tears and was going to report him but when she went to the loo she realised she'd sprayed glitter spray - not femfresh!
Back in the shoe shop, we used to get a bloke come in regularly every month to try on all the size 8 ladies high heel court shoes - he never bought any- just tried them on.
Between the shop, the hospital, flogging houses in spain and the pub I've seen a few things
Don't get the wrong idea. I shan't be telling stories about sexual transgression behind the counter. As far as I know, none of that has gone on in my shop.
Now, right from the off, lets make this clear, most customers are very pleasant and some or neither pleasant or unpleasant but some are just down right rude and ignorant and some are very stupid. Occasionally (as Puffin mentions) some stink. I've been there, done that as well. It's deeply unpleasant.
I get asked allsorts of stupid questions. I also get spoken to as if I'm a second class citizen on a daily basis.
As the thread description says this thread is "the musings of a running shop worker".
Here's some things to think about, one of which Scotty has already touched on.
Why come to buy running shoes without bringing your running socks with you?
If you ask me a question, allow me to answer.
If your child urinates on the floor, please tell us so we can mop it up. A young child weeing on the floor is forgivable, watching them doing it and then leaving the shop without telling us isn't.
Believe me, I've got many many more. I shall post them as and when I have time.
Look forward to hearing some more
Funniest thing I saw during my lifeguarding days was a regular swimmer who used to come in swimming in what I could only call nowadays "tight hotpants", they themselves were quite amusing but guess he didn't know one day that "bill and ben" were hanging out either side!
When I say I don't sell them, I mean I don't sell them. It doesn't matter how many different ways you dress up the question, I DON'T SELL THEM. So get that into your thick skull.
LWJ that would sort of defeat the object of wearing a sports bra - I can't buy them in running shops they never stock my size
Can't understand why people are so defeinsive about their foot size - we had a lady forumite who had large feet for a girl but didn't hide the fact
LWJ - when it comes to running shoes, ladies usually say they are a size or two smaller than they actually are. Men usually say they are a size or two bigger.
Another classic that I get on a daily basis is people asking for something that, as a running specialist, I don't sell. A good example here would be a football or maybe a suitcase. Please accept my answer without tutting and demanding I tell you where I will get one.
I know, that's why the very thought of doing it does make me chuckle.
Counter - I'm amazed that people do that, although I wouldn't doubt for one minute what you're saying. It's a bit like going to the Doctors then giving dishonest answers to the questions they ask - pointless, but people do do it.
There is an assumption there that the customers are being dishonest. I think that is very unfair and I am surprised at your attitude. Most of my normal shoes are a 36 but in running shoes I take a 38. When I first went for shoes I said my usual size and the guy in the shop suggested we try a 37 as running shoes generally need to be a bit bigger, but even tho they fitted they were too small when I ran up and down the road and so I tried the next size up and they fitted. Absolutely no question of me lying/being dishonest about my shoe size and absolutely no problem to the guy who was helping me. Hopefully this thread is a two-way street and maybe you won't jump to conclusions that your customers are being dishonest in future -surely it is more likely that they just need bigger shoes than normal for running? No question tho I agree there is no excuse for people being rude to people who are doing their jobs.
I swear someone said 36DD just now ...
As regards going to buy shoes without taking running socks, I have to admit that I often do that. I tend to drop in my local Sweatshop on a whim just to check out what they've got. It's rarely with the intention of buying shoes but if I see a good offer I take it. I make allowance for wearing my everyday socks and fortunately haven't had problems so far.
While we're on the subject, allow me to praise my local Sweatshop in Reading. The guys and gals in it are unfailingly helpful, knowledgeable and patient. They also organize weekly runs from the shop without any kind of hard sell, all comers welcome. I have no connection other than as a satisfied customer and happily pay a bit extra there than I would on tinternet because if we don't use our local resources we lose them.
B - I see your point about beginners not knowing that running shoes need to be slightly larger than their everyday shoes.
In my experience, adding 2 sizes on is a lot. Also, may I ask why you refered to me as "he"?
Muttley has just touched on another subject which is a bugbear of many running shop workers. Buying shoes off the internet. Please please please, if you are going to come into my shop, accept all the advice and the fitting service I give you for free and then go and buy them on the internet, can you please not do it on a Saturday or Sunday. If you have to do it at a weekend, please make it quick. Maybe 10 minutes maximum. This is my busiest time of the week and I will have other loyal customers to assist. Don't forget, I can spot you a mile off and I will tell you a shoe is suitable for you when I know fine well that it isn't.
You called, Mutters?
Counter, I would go even further re buying from the internet (and I have no affilation with any runing shop). If you take up shop time trying shoes, please buy at least one pair (as long as something suitable was found) from them. Otherwise you may find that the shop has gone and you have nowhere to go for advice.