Do people really look down on retail staff?

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Aibu to think more people than I realised secretly look down on people who work in retail.

I work in retail, in quiet a nice store. I earn quiet a bit more than minimum wage and get some nice perks. While it's certainly not the most taxing/complicated work I am required to use my brain more than appears to be perceived.

I've noticed on threads on here people usually will defend retail staff and seem to understand how trying dealing with the public can be. However while posters admit to having previously worked in retail no-one seems to admit to currently doing so. I've also noticed defensive comments about having worked in retail, that it was only done to support a degree etc. That's fair enough but on a recent thread a poster made reference in front of a customer (who was been nasty about her job) about having made sure she let the woman hear she was doing her degree and wasn't stupid. Sounds daft but up until then I hadn't considered that we would be considered stupid because we work retail.

Thinking back I've often seen similar comments before but not quiet as blatant. It was only then I realised that I've never seen anyone here else "own" up to working in retail.

I'm not going to explain/justify why I'm currently working this role other than it suits me to do so now and on the whole I like it. But I am going to say I don't think my job or anyone else's defines me. I am not better or worse than anyone else and don't look down on or up to anyone else because of what their profession is.

I absolutely don't look down on retail staff. Always be polite, turn my phone off if I have a call when being served etc. I don't look down on anybody.

@Anatidae

That's exactly what I'm talking about. That's respectful. Because we are still open, so there's no issue.

My issue is with the people like the OP from the other thread I mentioned, and the horrible retail worker with a chip on her shoulder that I mentioned, who don't hurry, don't apologize, don't get what they need and get out. They saunter in. They take their time browsing. They have a stroll around the store. They amble up to the counter... and if we're not stood there beaming like idiots at the joy of having to stay late, unpaid, because of these people, then they complain (often asking for a manger on the spot, which takes even longer...)

@Anatidae, you were/are respectful. The people like those in my last paragraph are not. Because even if they never open their mouths once, they are screaming "I can take my time because you don't matter" with their actions. I'll serve you with a smile in the last thirty seconds before close any day, because you recognize that I am a person. THAT is the difference.

Retail and hospitality are the hardest areas to work in - your run ragged in both and its hard on your feet all day.
I am always polite and the people working there are certainly not thick at all!

It's universal - some people are just shits. It's them, not you, but of course that's easy to say from a point of remove.

It happens in every sector. When I was working in academia I saw a student reduced to tears during a presentation by senior member of staff who was putting her down - she was presenting a paper and he was the world expert. What a waste - he should have encouraged her not put her down. I actually stepped in that time (I'm afraid I can be an arse when I need to be) and asked him why he, Dr. So and so with x decades of experience and all his credentials and the power differential felt the need to make a keen, smart student cry just to prove he knew more (in front of the entire seminar, yes, I'm an arse...)

Some people are just shits. Some enjoy making others feel bad, some are compelled to do it from insecurity.

I don't think it's so much looking down on retail staff, but more that it's a job that a lot of people wouldn't want. As many PP have said, it can be long hours, over weekends and evenings, and usually not great pay. It's just not a job I would aspire to personally. It's also probably because there is the feeling that anyone can work in retail, as in you don't need a degree or qualification, and people will think less of it because of that. At the end of the day, if you are out working, earning a living, then it shouldn't matter what the job is. The fact that you are contributing to society is enough.

I don't look down on anyone. Work is work whether you are a brain surgeon or a road sweeper.

I worked in an office for nearly 30 years and often had to deal with clients. In all those years I had one rude client on the phone who swore at me.

Then when I wanted to work part time I could not stay in my job so went into retail. It opened my eyes to how rude some people are.

I was working in a bookshop and a customer asked me to search for a couple of legal text books. He asked me in a loud voice "Shall I spell the titles to you" in a sarcastic way. I replied just as loudly "no need as I was a legal secretary for 30 years and can spell". He went bright red.

I have always been polite and friendly to shop staff but now am probably more so. I would never run into a shop just before it closes. I don't pick up items then dump them somewhere else in the shop if I change my mind about buying them. One of my pet hates was having to go round at the end of the day picking up all the items dumped in the wrong place and putting them back in the right place. I also don't blame the shop assistant if they don't have an item I want, or not in my size, or the wrong colour etc.

I actually really enjoyed working in a bookshop and most of the customers were lovely but I got fed up with things like never being able to have any time off in November, December and January, having to work every Christmas Eve (till late to get ready for Boxing Day sale), every Boxing Day, every New Year's Day, most weekends and never ever getting away on time - shop closed at 5.30 and the earliest we ever got out was 5.45 but usually more like 6pm. We only got paid to 5.30 and almost every day I missed my bus and had to wait half an hour for another

I've had 2 retail jobs. One in Primark and one in a bridal shop.

The difference in the way I was treated was incredible. In Primark I was just invisible. No one really gave me any aggro but just barely spoke to me.

In the bridal shop it went from being bought chocolates to say thank you for my support to bringing skinhead thug fiances in to threaten me because a bridesmaid's dress wasn't ready.

It didn't put me off retail but it really put me off weddings!