Retail Temerity

 Ya know, I have worked lots of jobs in my life.  From serving ice cream at BOGO banana split sales, to negotiating million dollar deals in foreign countries in foreign languages.  I've even flipped burgers, and worked directly with the FDA (though not at the same time).  I've worked an inordinate amount of my life with lawyers (what is up with that?), and have managed hundreds of people around the world.

But nothing has prepared me for.......

RETAIL!

How did I never work in this sector?  

Seriously, I think it should be a requirement for all budding professionals and future workers of the world.  Something like a prerequisite to turning 25 yrs old.  

Really, since the education system, IMHO, doesn't really teach all of the right and useful things (like finances, building credit, how to live with others, relationship building, managing a household, etc).  I believe there should be an internship at a retail store that you must pass to get into your next stage of life.  

Byres Road, Glasgow, Scotland

Let me start here, I am 100% loving my volunteer job at the British Heart Foundation.  I was almost brought to tears when I first got back to Glasgow, after the summer in GR, when I went into the shop to announce my return.  The managers screamed with glee as we bumped elbows instead of hugs (thx covid), talking over each other about our summer and how the shop has been doing.  The reunion was so very sweet!  The diverse group of people that work here are incredible, and I know, without a shred of doubt, that these are MY PEOPLE!  

BUT.....

............................................some of the patrons are a wild ride in comparison.  

Now here is where there is a book just waiting to be written!  

Phillip is awesome, he comes in and we discuss Eckhart Tolle, and other like minded authors.  Other patrons I recognize as frequent shoppers, but are quiet and on a mission. (we get really good stuff here in the West End and it is wise to check often as our merch turns over quickly).   The Uni kids are back in town and they are fun and vibrant.  All finding hats the last time and walked out each with a new lid and a unique & precocious solidarity between them.  

But wow, we also get some real characters.

The other day I was watching a North Face coat, it was really cute, like new and £25.00.  I have approximately 512 coats to my name, so decided to pass it up.  No sooner had I moved on to another area of the store when an old lady came in (you know the kind that look old then you realize they are the same age as you!), and decided to buy it and brought it to the register.  I wasn't working the till, but was nearby (it's a wee store) and I heard the manager ring it up at £8.99.  WHAT?  I walk over as the lady walks out and say, that wasn't 8.99 it was 25.  To then hear the manager say, I wondered, since she presented the coat with the tag removed and one 'stolen' from another jacket.

What?  You are stealing from a charity shop?  One that raises funds for heart research?  Seriously?

After I told that story at dinner, Levi now asks me every night if I've caught another thief.  (tho that one got away. no is the answer, but I'll keep trying).

Another girl came in high as a kite on something and was literally so strung out, she was like a cartoon character.  She complimented my shoes, my jacket, and how great I looked, then asked me for money so she could buy some shoes.  

Ummmmmm, no?!?!?

The latest guy, came in guns a blazing.  He had a donation that is a Gift Aid (which means that the BHF gets back 25% more of the proceeds or something like that).  The managers must check them into the system and put a special sticker on the bag, it's just not very straight forward.  Volunteers are not allowed any of these privileges. 

I explained that the managers were in a meeting and I wasn't sure how to proceed.  To which he replied,

"I BROUGHT IT HERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING!"  (yes, it was that CAPITAL LETTER kinda nasty) "DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE IT ELSEWHERE?" 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I contemplated my responses in rapid succession in my head.....

    1-HA, you were right, we literally have NO IDEA what we are doing here.  Pause for effect and let the         silence fill the room.  (checkmate)

OR

    2-You can take that shirt worth £3.00 and shove it where the sun don't shine.

OR

    3-Really dude?  I'm a volunteer working for free to better our world and you are yelling at me about a             donation?  No comprendo.

OR

    4-Sorry sir, I'm just a volunteer, let me take some photos of your Gift Aid information and I'll figure it         out later.  Thank you ever so much for your donation to the British Heart Foundation.  We really                 couldn't do this important work for heart research without the generosity of you and all our patrons.

My mid-west niceness, won out in the end and I went with the last one.  Oozing niceties to counter his nastiness.  You know, the Michelle Obama way; when they go low, we go high.  But GURL, I can be an East Coast B#@!% when I need to, so don't test me a second time buddy.  There simply is no reason to be so mean.  

We all have our bad days, right?!?  But maybe, just maybe, we should try not taking them out on people who are giving their time freely in a charitable capacity.  

I don't know, it's just a thought.  

Be kind friends,

laugh often, 

and enjoy the ride!

PS.  I totally get that when someone lashes out at you, it is more about them than it is about you.  And I work to have compassion for the pain they must be in to act that way.  I mean, they must be miserable with themselves if they are treating others this way.   It is just hard to keep this in mind when you are under attack, but I'll keep working on it.