ok, i work retail.?

Question

Why in the world do people come in stores, with the kids, and then let the kids run a muck in the store. They pull stuff off the shelves, come in with food, and they get it on the merchandise, the kids run, etc. we as the people who work in these places, don't feel like we should be babysitting these children. I am just wondering am i the only one.

Answer 1

I also work in retail and I totally agree with you. lt isn't just the kids though. Adults are just as guilty. We have people leave dirty diapers in shopping carts , piss on the floor of our restrooms leave dirty paper plates from the samples we provide on the shelves. It is amazing what people do. You can't help but wonder what their houses look like. I have a child who is autistic and he behaves better than most kids his age who areregular kids when we are out in public. I would never tolerate the destruction of property that way nor do I expect the employees to clean up after us, unlike that other ignorant respondant above. It is no one's job to baby sit or clean up after my child but mine. When my son drops a cracker, I pick it up. Also, I am amazed in this day and age that the people who let their kids run around like that aren't more concerned that someone could perhaps steal their child while they aren't paying attention. If kids can disappear from their own bedrooms at night, then they can be snatched very easily in the supermarket or shopping mall. While mothers may be busy, that doesn't excuse them from not teaching their kids good manners and to behave properly in public. If they misbehave, they need to remove them. Their responsibility as a parent should come before everything else. I know that mine does.

Answer 2

You are not the only one, Snetta, and I sympathize with you. I've always believed that everyone should be required to work retail/services for at least one year, to learn what it's like. In this day and age when the "customer is always right," it's the salespeople who end up at the short end of the stick. The pay alone is miserly, and I honestly don't feel that babysitting is part of the job description. It's bad enough that you have to pick up after adults who act as if you're their personal maid (I DON'T believe that's what you're paid for; people should have consideration for salespeople.) Then to top it off, you're supposed to babysit? And do it graciously or you'll get written up/ reprimanded? I see going into a store no different than going into someone's home. You respect their place, and by the same token, I don't think many people would look forward to a repeat visit from someone who left a mess in their home the first time.

I've raised 4 kids and took them with me everywhere I went. It was an opportunity to teach them how to behave in public and when things started to get out of hand, I reminded them of the consequences of their behavior (and followed through). And if THAT didn't work, we left the store, plain and simple. I'm sorry you have to work at a time when there is very little respect for salespeople; but no, you're not the only one. :-)

P.S. You would be doing a great service to those parents who do have well-behaved children, to offer them a compliment for this, because that's a hard job too. :-)

Answer 3

Most stores have a sign posted that say No food allowed. If someone brings their kid in and they have food (Unless they are strapped into a stroller) politely tell them that store policy forbids it. If they get it on the clothes tell the manager and the parents should have to buy the merchandise that their kids ruin. Maybe have management post a sign stating that kids need to be with an adult at all times. I NEVER let my son just run all over. I have let him out of his stroller, but he is within eyesight.

Answer 4

Depends on what retailers. Walmart has been doing better than Target because its cheaper and appeals to lower income families. Borders books and Circuit City are both highly in debt and are filing for bankruptcy. Barnes and Nobles is doing well. Those people who are spending loads of money are still spending money they dont have. Its credit card debt they're building up. Thats why the economy sucks, banks cant make loans cause of shopper's after xmas debt.

Answer 5

I heard just the other day that certain cities/towns in this country are considering fining parents for not maintaining control over their children in public settings....now that would make more parents snap to and stand at attention; If I'm in a restaurant, store, movie,etc. and a child is being totally unruly, I make it a point to either say something directly to the parents, shoot them "the look" or contact the management as a last resort; I raised my son to behave properly in public and if he started to have a tantrum (rare), he would be immediately be removed from the situation so he wouldn't bother other people;

Answer 6

This is the best way of dealing with it I've seen: The retail worker gets on the loudspeaker and says, "Due to the breakability of our products, we ask that our customers keep their children with them at all times. Thank you for shopping at ____ and have a nice day." It's anonymous, and you don't have to embarrass someone by telling them to get their kids under control.

Answer 7

I used to work in retail years ago, and it used to annoy me when parents would dump their kids off in the toy department while they shopped. The kids had the toys all over the aisles and out of boxes.

I would bring them to the customer service kid and say they were lost or abandoned kids. Imagine the embarassment when the parent had to come up to claim them !

Answer 8

I know exactly what you mean! It's incredible. I often wonder if the pendulum of child rearing philosophy has swung so far in the 'you must never tell your child s/he is less than perfect' direction that the little urchins have no boundaries (and the parents have no responsibility to instill right and wrong in their children).

Answer 9

it's amazing....people will drop their kids off in the toy dept, open up a package of toys-give it to their kids to occupy them and then leave their kids and go do their shopping....then they come back when they're done shopping and collect their children and leave the toys that are opened, used, broken, and dirty in the middle of the aisle.........what is wrong with people???....when i was a kid i would have gotten into big trouble by my parents for opening up a toy in the store....and my parents would have bought it, because they were responsible for what their kids did

Answer 10

If a store provides buggies I always utilize those to keep my children contained. If they don't have buggies, I am just one person trying to keep up with three. I don't expect anyone to babysit my children for me but I do expect them to realize that they are children and not to expect them to act like adults. I personally don't have a babysitter at my disposal and a lot of my errands have to be run when I have the time. Many times that requires that I take my children with me. Would it be better for me to leave them in the car and then worry about having DFCS called on me? For people in my position there is no good option. We do what we have to do. For someone in your position I think you should just consider it part of your job and customer service to straighten up or clean up after the customers regardless if the mess was made by the customer or by the child of the customer. It's just part of the job, sweetie.