Working in retail is one of the most difficult jobs although many people do not believe it because they do not know exactly what this occupation involves. To be more specific, retail employees are affected both mentally and physically by their work. 

For instance, they have to carry heavy boxes and parcels, memorize product codes, spend a lot of time on their feet and clean after dozens of customers. But this is not all and these tasks are not the worst compared to frustrating experiences with grumpy and rude clients. Rude people not only cumber their work, but they also affect the store employees mentally. 

So, these are the rudest shopping habits that someone could do! Read on for more info!

Testing products that should not be opened

We all want to know the quality of a product before buying it because it is important to see if it really is worth the money.

But depending on the product category, you will find in some stores different testers that can help you figure out the texture, color, quality and more – such as stores with make up products and cosmetics.

If you do not have testers available, you should never check items that are not intended for testing.

In fact, there are online reviews and return policies that can allow you to change the product or get your money back.

Stores can’t sell the tested products and it can lead to a significant loss of revenue.

“Many people will spray deodorants in-store, but then replace the can they’ve tested with a pristine one to put in their shopping basket,” explains Philip Adcock, managing director of Adcock Solutions Ltd. “You can always spot displays that have been in-store for a long time by the mass of samples painted on them,” he said.

Check the product price at the cash register before buying it

Well, we all want to take advantage of every discount but checking the price at the cash register is not a good idea, especially when there are other shoppers who wait there. So, next time when you want to know more about some offers just try to talk to an aisle employee or read the banners. 

“Holding up the line to have each item at your cart price-checked is not only time consuming for the cashier, but extremely rude to the other shoppers,” says Toni Dupree, founder of Etiquette & Style by Dupree.

Leaving items on the wrong shelves

Leaving the products on the wrong shelves is one of the rudest things you can do in a store. In addition, besides the fact that you cumber the work of store employees, doing this it is not polite to other customers as well. Nonetheless, if you can’t put the items back in the right place, you can ask an aisle employee to help you. 

“The next person might actually look for the same item and won’t find it,” says Jacquelyn Youst, etiquette expert and president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Protocol.

Not supervising your children while shopping

We have to admit that going shopping with your family is really beautiful, especially for busy people, because this way you will spend more time with them. But not watching your kids while shopping is a rude deed. Before going to the store make sure your children are well fed and rested so they don’t cry or run in the supermarket.

“You should never leave your kids unattended because they may injure themselves in the store. It’s also not the staff’s responsibility to watch after your children,” says Bonnie Tsai, founder of Beyond Etiquette.

Do not leave clothes in the dressing room

If you leave clothes in the dressing room you are listed as impolite in the dictionary of good manners. Well, employees have to clean up after you and this is also rude to other customers who want to try on clothes there. So, next time when you want to renew your wardrobe make sure you take the clothing out with you. 

“You should rehang or fold the clothes you don’t plan to buy and return them to a staff member on your way out of the dressing room,” Tsai says.

Keep the distance

Every person has a certain intimate space that should not be violated and we should always keep the distance, especially while shopping in a small or busy store.

Moreover, this rule does not only apply if you pay and someone is behind you but also when you are at the pharmacy and you want to have a private conversation with the pharmacist. So, it is very important to respect other people’s personal space and do not stay too close to them!

“When it’s your turn to pay, leave a shopping cart length between you and the person behind you,” says Karen A. Thomas, founder of Karen Thomas Etiquette.

Do not try food in the store

We understand that it is perfectly normal to try food that is served as a free sample, but in another scenario, this is really rude and it is actually illegal. For instance, there are a lot of people who try the food before buying it and some of them never buy it and this is actually considered stealing because you have taken something that should be paid for. So, no matter how good it looks or how insignificant the food is – such as grapes or other fruits – you should never try food that is not proposed for this purpose. 

“Refrain from sampling items that are not out for samples such as grapes, fruit, and candy. That’s actually stealing!” Thomas says.

Talking louder on the phone 

No one can prohibit you from talking on the phone and it is normal to do so, but speaking louder in the store or talking on hands-free phones is infuriating, especially when you are in a public place. Not everyone around you is interested in your conversation, so try to solve this problem if you do not want to be seen as rude. “If you must make or take a call, do so quietly and never on speakerphone,” says Thomas.

Failure to comply with the policies of express lane 

If you choose the express lane then you should respect the policies, such as not having more than ten items. The truth is that many people feel offended by the frustration of cashiers and other customers when they do not comply with this rule. Well, if you have more than ten products, you should choose another cash register. This way you will be more responsible and respectful towards the people around you. 

“Don’t pretend you can’t count 10 items in the express lane,” Thomas says. “And no, 5 cans of the same item are not counted as 1.”

Not preparing your money at the cash register

I think that one of the most annoying things that someone could do is not being prepared to pay after the cashiers have scanned all the products. In this case, people who think about the meaning of life and forget to prepare their money are considered rude. So, the best solution is to prepare your money or debit card and be ready to pay when the cashier finished its job. 

“Waiting until the last moment and holding up a line of people behind you until you find your credit card or count out the correct change is time consuming and rude to those behind you,” says Thomas.