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Mall Etiquette  A rant by: Anonymous Hey. Christmas is coming. Know what that means? Shopping time. As a frequet shopper, as well as an associate at one of the malls in this great city... I just wanted to shed a little light on the ettiquette of shopping in a mall. Walking: Its like traffic okay? Everyone walk on your right. Its that simple. Walk at a decent pace for crying out loud. No need to shuffle along.. looking lost and confused... That doesn't mean speed either... and cut people off. If everyone walked at a decent speed, there wouldn't be a need to cut people off. Try and keep everything doublefile. Don't wanna walk alone in your threesome? Then invite a fourth. 3 people do not all need to walk next to eachother. NO PUSHING. Use your manners like you were taught when you were little. Talking: Don't yell. Its really annoying. If you need to answer your cellphone, then pull over. DOn't stop in the middle of mall traffic and blah blah blah. Thats how the pushing starts. People get frustered with your idiocy and start brekaing all teh rules. First come Frist served: Yeah. Waiting's annoying. But if someone got there before you, its only fair that they get helped first. I'm sure you all think you're very important.. and to someone you probably are. Not in the mall though. Get in line. Didn't buy something when you first saw it, and now its gone? Too bad. First come first served. See above. Having a bad day? Don't go shopping. You're just going to spread your bad mood, you'll be cranky and you won't nejoy yourself. The mall has a specific closing time: So when they say 10 minute still closing thats NOT your cue to run to the next store and try on half of the inventory. The employees wanna go home too. And if for some reason they're kind enough to let you stay an extra 45 minutes.. you better buy something. Small points to keep in mind: *Throw out your own garbage* *Be nice to the associates, or they'll lie* *if its not on sale, its not on sale get over it.* *if its too expensive, then don't buy it. No one wants to hear you complain* *knock the snow of your boots* *Break it? At least appologize, not lie* *Stealing is lame... do i really have to touch on that?* *Patience is necessary. Sometimes you have to wait* *KEEP YOUR RECEPTS!!!!!* << Back Add a Comment Comments ( Add a Comment ) FreedomFries says: 2005-11-17 10:53:13 Excellent post, I haven't hit the malls yet and I'm not looking forward to when I have to. Sometimes the best bet is to do your shopping on Christmas eve, the majority is men shoppers who leave everything to the last minute, they don't have time to sit and chat, so things move faster. Anonymous says: 2005-11-17 14:46:04 Great Post! :) ultradawn says: 2005-11-17 23:46:55 Hey, anonymous! Can't think of a user name? How about Shopping Nazi,or Grinch? Why, oh why would someone like you ever want to work in retail? Some of your rules are no-brainers, like not stealing. How many people read your rant and suddenly realized that stealing is a no-no and decided to quit doing it? The other suggestions are just plain ridiculous. I love a crowded mall at Christmas and three people walking side-by-side is not going to ruin it for me. CreamSoda says: 2005-11-18 00:25:28 "Cant think of a name?" .. how about 'shopping nazi'?... come on now.. You could be a little more origional.. I dont see why you are so offended by someone stating the obvious. Christmas shopping is sometimes unbearable with slow walkers, kids running wild in front of you and teeniboppers in rows of eight wearing jeans that show butt cleave' since they have none of the other kind. Obviously you must be one of these 13 year olds trolling the malls for love since you dont seem to get any at home. Let me remind you where you live little one.. this is Winnipeg. I think many of us tend to forget just how ghetto 90% of the population here is. Yes, you do have to remind people not to steal.. and yes, you do have to remind people that you cant haggle prices in malls... and yes, everyone seems to forget this when it comes close to Christmas. So when I see you at Polo, in a row of 8 child prostitutes, please.. get the hell out of my way, I dont have time for you or your lack of common etiquette. nekochan says: 2005-11-25 01:05:10 Ultra, hav eyou ever worked in retail? Nothing jades a persn faster than that. And while working in a mall at Christmas time, when you're suddenly expected to stay till 9:30 on Saturday nights and 11pm on Friday nights thus ruining your social life for 6 weeks, all you want is a litte kindness from the crazies. And not all people still cause they need to, they do it cause they think it's "cool" so reminding them that they're ust lame little trend whores is sometimes necessary. BigB says: 2005-11-25 12:39:23 Christmas hours ruin the chance to have a social life? When I worked in the mall I observed there were 16-22year olds working there. Anyone over 25 that worked there was either managers or pathetic people with no ambition in life. The longer hours are opportunity for the young crowd to make more money. This helps with university, Christmas presents for family, booze fests in places like Mexico and the Dominican and partying like any young irresponsible adult should be. You complain about how 11pm is to late to have a social life, when I was that age that was when the evening just got started. Clubs aren’t good before 12 anyways and this city has a decent nightlife as it is and if your opening the next day you have to be in at what, 10? Chances are if you closed at 11 you wont have to be in until 4pm the following day, giving you lots of time to sleep. As for the rude people…I personally enjoy people like that. But working in a mall was actually fun. It was like being in school, lots of friends always around to chat with (while getting paid). I have no pity for retail workers. People with these jobs that aren’t in school are afraid of the real world and working a 9-5 like the rest of us. ultradawn says: 2005-11-25 14:30:04 Yes, nekochan, I have worked retail for several years and I loved it. In fact, when I got my first "real" 9-5 office-type job, I kept my retail job on Saturdays because I like working with the public. I've never met a nasty customer that couldn't be diffused by a smile and a good attitude. The problem is that many retail workers have that "I don't know, I only work here" attitude when a customer has a question or concern. As for long hours at Christmas, well, that comes with the territory and until you can get a real job, you pretty much have to put up with it. You might not believe it, but your employers are working harder and longer than you at Christmas. Anonymous says: 2005-11-27 03:01:13 Good evening ultradawn. First to clarify: i love retail. I love people, And i love christmas. I'm a fanatic. I also have a 9-5 office job, and i work in retail because i enjoy it. Most of my observations were made as a customer myself. I'M sick of EVERONE ELSE having a bad attitude, and i'm annoyed with the "moronity" that is the "consumer public". Yes. much of what i said is a "no brainer". You'd think so wouldn't you..? But then... you go into the mall, and its impossible. There are so many impatient people, and people that don't follow the "no brainer" rules, and its important to remind them sometimes. There is nothing worse than having to stand in line, and listen to the person ahead of you complain "god, why can't people be any faster.. i only have to buy one shirt", meanwhile the reason the line is so long is because there someone at the front of it trying to get a discount, or didn't bring their receipt for a return. I can't help but sympathize with the associate, because she's having to deal with someone that DIDN'T remember the rules, and everyone else behind them is being impatient and rude. I don't mind crouds and i love it when its busy, I don't like it when teh impatient person being me pushes me, becasu ei'm stuck behind the girl chatting on her cellphone walking at a pathetic pace of 0.0005 m/h. Most people's attutudes can be changed with a friendly smile, and your sincere effort to help them. But sadly not EVERYONE. I don't believe for one second that you've never had an unreasonable customer. It happens. Its real life. I have a realistic attitude, and i give great customer service. And i don't need to validate myself to you. -"anonymous" Anonymous says: 2005-11-27 03:03:07 also. I've never had an "i don't know i just work here attitude". That just drive me nuts. If i don't know you better believe its my mission to find out. Anonymous says: 2005-11-27 03:11:54 Creamsoda.. you rock my socks. |
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I agree with your rant completely. It also reminds me of the #1 reason to hate Winnipeg: THE PEOPLE