Just because I work in a shop...

[LunasOrchid]

... doesn't mean I'm thick! 😡

I had a woman approach me on checkout and demanded (didn't ask) that I convert the size of something for her from mm to inches e.g. 270mm by 540mm.

I get my phone out and use google to convert 27cm and 54cm. I tell customer is x inch by y inches. Customer immediately says I'm wrong? That the box says medium and y inches is this long whilst holding her arms out to show me. I explain it is correct and show her my phone. She says no you can't be right. There's no way it's that big.

At this point, I reiterate what I've typed in, and explain that it is definitely correct. She snatches the box from in front of me and says she's going to ask somebody who actually knows what they're doing

I have to admit I did lose my temper here and told her not to bother coming to my till as I won't be serving her. Luckily my supervisor heard everything and backed me 100%.

I was fuming. Why do people assume that people who work in shops are thick and speak down to them. I have a first class degree and a post graduate degree. I work in a shop because it's stress free (most of the time), flexible hours and I enjoy it. I am not thick

Inside ... No working in a shop does not mean you're thick and does not mean you don't deserve respect from customers and the woman the op mentioned sounded rude, unreasonable and clearly in the wrong. However the fact remains that you don't get a masters if you're aspirations are to work as a shop assistant.

@Nixby3 some people study for fun. Some people have to work around other commitments. Some people have had to quit high pressured jobs for their own sanity.

Some people just like to make others feel small for their own life choices.

Nixby3
Some people have had their ‘big’ career and just want to wind down. Is that okay with you?

However the fact remains that you don't get a masters if you're aspirations are to work as a shop assistant.

Can you seriously not think of any reasons why OP might be working in a shop? It might be a temporary job to fit around children, an elderly relative, career break from a high pressured job. Maybe OP has made enough money to live from for the rest of her life, but doesn’t want to sit at home staring at the 4 walls (Like my SIL who retired at the age of 45) The list is endless 🙄

Whilst there is nothing wrong in working retail, 100,000 jobs have been lost in UK stores in the past year. If I worked in retail, I would be looking to upskill as retail will be heavily automated in the future.

As a Master’s student, I was looking for a part time Christmas temp job. My CV is professional office based roles.

I was interviewed by an assistant manager who bluntly told me that I was too over qualified to work there by having a degree and that most of his staff were “lifers” and “fully dedicated” to a career in retail.

I found a lovely job temping at a university instead!

Times have changed @PlomBear. Where I work we dont even see a cv anymore. There is an online test and then a list of successful candidates sent to us. We then have them in for group interviews and a quick trial on the shop floor because personality and to a lesser extent flexibility around hours are the most important. I literally get a list of names. I have no idea of age, experience or anything else at all. So all candidates start as equal and they show me what skills and qualities they can bring with them.

sweeneytoddsrazor - this was last Christmas!

I work in a supermarket. People either think I'm a wine expert and want to chat vintages or they are ruuuuude. Iv had 2 customers on separate occasions mention their /family member's cancer as a reason for not having ID or why they've pushed in and assaulted other customers ..... I was shocked at the lengths people will go to.
Retail is flippin hilarious 😂

I may not have a degree but I'm not daft, my colleagues are fascinating people with interesting lives. I adore my team

I think some people think I'm being snobby but I'm not at all and don't mean any disrespect to anyone. The truth is you wouldn't do a masters to work as a shop assistant. BillBen... I have no idea why op works in retail, perhaps you're right and maybe my first message was clumsily written but generally speaking you don't have a msc/ma. I think everyone realises this but some have taken personal offence to this (or argued for arguments sake!)
Giveherhell... trust me you don't do a masters for fun, a degree maybe but not a masters! And before I get grief again, I repeat, working in retail does not mean you're thick or deserve less respect and I can well imagine that some customers can be very rude.

@Nixby3 I know two people who've done a masters as their 'hobby'

Well good for them. I know that the thousands I spent and the intensity of my msc wasn't exactly something you'd describe as fun.

Some people are weird 🤷‍♀️

@Nixby3

I have trained in an industry that comes with long hours and a lot of stress. I have a young DD and have decided to take some time out to enjoy time with her seeing as she has spent a lot of her young life in nursery.

I don't have to work but I choose to because I'd go crazy as a SAHM. Retail compared to my training is stress free, allows me to spend time with my daughter and I work with great people.

I will return to my chosen 'career' when DD is older and feel I can balance work and home life better.

I think a lot of people in retail (just like every other job) don’t actually want to be there. It’s nice when people post that they do genuinely enjoy it but I think that they are the minority. Just do a search for “I hate retail” on Google. When I go in my local shops, the staff barely make eye contact. And I’m always polite.

I’m currently studying for a Master’s degree and when I’ve finished I do not want to work in a shop. Not because it’s “beneath me.” Because it’s hard work for minimum wage, unsocial hours, rude customers and I would find it really boring.

Whilst it is JUST a job like all jobs, it’s not something I would want to do. We live in a society where we are defined by our jobs, it’s the first thing you are asked at social events. I’m hoping as work and jobs become automated we can stop toiling at jobs we don’t want to do.

We live in a society where we are defined by our jobs, it’s the first thing you are asked at social events

Really? I find that hard to believe. OK to ask a friend or acquaintance, bit rude to ask someone you barely know.

I always liked working in retail. The only negative was the salary. If minimum wage increases much more perhaps it will be worth doing though

Moja... happens all the time, not that I like how people are 'judged' by their job.
(You wouldn't need to ask a friend because surely you'd already know!)

Asking someone what they do for a living is just weird. There are other things to talk about. I can imagine someone's reluctance to tell anyone from some of the judgemental replies here.

One of the most terrifying things about teaching maths is how terrible most children are at converting between units. Even the most basic of metric units.

@Nixby3 you can have brains and ambition without a degree.They are not the bee all and end all.
Not everyone is suited to univercity.
Theres no shame in working in a shop and working your way up the ladder.

Mojaverattles - I attend a lot of military social events - dinners and balls. I am always asked “so what do you do?”

Same with going for dinner parties or drinks at friend’s houses where you meet new people.

Dustarr73 please give it a rest now. I've said at least twice that working in retail does not mean you are thick. No where have I said that going to uni is be all and end all.

People would give me a five pound note and a penny to “round it up” and been very surprised to get £4.02 back. That always made me smile

Sadly I have found giving a large note and the loose change so you just get a banknote back rather than a handful of change, just seems to baffle some shop staff.