I worked yesterday and the store closed at 6. I usually go home after church to change my shoes, but I didn't have a chance yesterday, so I had on heels. I am in the early stages of degenerative disc disease, so standing on my feet is painful (and not at all good for me) anyway (but I need the money and insurance, so what else can I do?), but yesterday that was pain times 10 because of the heels!
After the store closed as I was counting my money, looking forward to sitting down to dinner with two friends after work and just getting off my feet, a woman came to my counter from behind me, tossed a pair of shorts on the counter, and said she would be back in a minute. I continued counting, and when she returned a couple of minutes later, I asked her if she wanted to put the shorts on hold. It was now 3 minutes after close. She said, no, she wanted to buy them. I explained that both the store and register were closed, but she said "That man said I could ring this up here." I said I was sorry, but that I had started closing the register as soon as the store was announced closed and that I would be glad to hold them. She went off to get "that man" and she came back with a manager who apologized to me later, saying he thought she was going to get the shorts immediately, not shop around another couple of minutes. But he made me reopen the register so I could ring up Miss Late Shopper. So, I reopened the register, rang her up, and then had to start the closing procedure all over again.
I am also dyslexic, so when I get flustered, I can't count. It took me another 1/2 hour to get closed out, then I forgot my purse in my haste to not be any later meeting my friends, so I had to go all the way back down, retrieve it, and head back out...
I ended up being 1/2 hour late leaving to meet my friends and by the time I left, it just started POURING DOWN a hard, blowing rain, so I had to run in my heels from the parking lot to my car, and then from my car to the restaurant before I could rest my aching back and feet and meet my friends who were dry, because they arrived on time. Today my back is shot from being on my feet so long on heels and having to run in the rain in heels, plus just the stress the situation caused. All this so some woman could shop after the store was closed another couple of minutes and then demand to be rung up.
Reminder: when store hours are posted 12 - 6 or 10 - 9, that means the store CLOSES at 6 or 9. Closing time is NOT the time to get in line with your purchase. You should be OUT THE DOOR by the time the store closes. It is one thing to get in line before the store is closed and still be in line when the store closes. But to shop through two announcements and then run up to a counter with your purchase after the store is closed is a completely different (and much ruder) animal.
These clerks have been on their feet all day, and standing on the floors in department store causes many leg, back, and joint problems for MANY of the workers. They are usually in various degrees of pain or at least discomfort by the time the stores close, and they DON'T want to have to wait on people who could not be bothered with the store hours and must be treated like a special case! This "the customer is always right" hogwash is fine for the stores to spout, but let me tell you, I am on nobody's time clock right now, and the customer is NOT always right, and it is just plain RUDE to make people stay late in a store because you couldn't get your shopping done before the store closed! Some of the employees have sick relatives to get home to. Some are undergoing medical treatment but have to work to pay the bills and keep the insurance. Some have not had a restroom break and need to go! Some (like me) work TWO jobs and are already tired before they get there, but we do our best to provide good service DURING STORE HOURS. Some of us do have a life and have other plans or family to meet after work.
And just because you are in a store with your money or charge card does not mean someone died and made you King or Queen of the world!
I hear all the complaints from customers who don't like this policy or didn't get good service or are dissatisfied with something. I know sometimes customers have valid complaints, but they usually have recourse by complaining to a manager. However, employees have no recourse! There is no management we can go to to complain about the rudeness of customers! We make barely above minimum wage in stores that have downsized so much the past few years that I am now doing the work that FIVE PEOPLE used to do when I started in retail many years ago. I love retail, but it seems the longer I work, the ruder the customers get. I know when I worked at Castner Knott in Green Hills, people were usually not hanging around at closing time still shopping except on Christmas Eve. Now it is a frequent occurrence.
So next time you are out shopping, please have your shopping done before the store closes. This is America! We all own watches! So use yours!
