Boy, there sure are times us folks in retail would like to indulge (and that's what it would be, a final indulgence) in something of that sort. We have waaaay too many "retail experiences" for the shite pay we get. I think of it all as fiction fodder. (I feel like wearing a t-shirt that says, "Watch it, or you'll wind up in my novel.")

Within the past coupla months, when I was alone (as usual) and the shop was packed with customers demanding attention and I was dispensing (I'm registered with the state as an ophthalmic dispenser -- this ain't a walk in off the street sales job) several pairs of eyeglasses -- progressives, by the way -- to a customer, she "went off" on me. Haven't a clue as to what I may have said or done or how she perceived it. She just exploded and screamed (yes, screamed) at me to not patronize her. All I'd done was ask her to look out at a distance and tell me whether she saw clearly (lenses correctly positioned) or a bit fuzzy (looking through the beginning of the progressive part of the lens). I apologised for anything I may have said or if she perceived I was being short or anything with her (I only had 7 other impatient customers in the store at the time). She started yelling, "Shut up! Just shut up!", threw the glasses at me and stomped off.

I stood there, stunned, with everyone else staring at me. The customer who had been waiting (very patiently) at the counter loudly said, "That's why I don't work retail." No one else had a clue as to what may have flipped her switch (although a few suggested she may have been "off her meds") and went out of their way to be nice to me. All I could do was shrug it off with a smile and go on taking care of customers and making each of them happy.

I work for a company that keeps us understaffed and underpaid so they can sell eyeglasses comparatively inexpensively. They are quick to blame the employees rather than the economy if sales are down and we can't meet sales goals (set by last year's higher sales) and I haven't had a raise in close to two years. (Company-wide freeze on raises for most of that time.)

But it's a JOB which is major in this economy, and I'm getting a very good education in the field by having it and by learning from the manager I have. I work with some wonderful people, too.

Linn