<![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying - Jezebel Comments]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I work in retail, and I think one of the worst types of shopaholics is the mother who completely disregards how miserable her child is while trying on clothes. Or disciplines her child for wanting to go home.
The worst case was when one little girl kept begging her mom to take her to the bathroom and the mom told her to do it IN THE CORNER OF THE FITTING ROOM. My manager was seething.

aimy

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Trashtastic is battening down the hatches: This type of thing was perfectly normal for female salespeople to do when I was in Taiwan. They'd bust into your dressing room without knocking and stick a hand in your bra cup to make sure it fit! But I did get some nice-fitting bras over there.

aimy

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Jan74: You should be Knighted for that! Sweet.

MahvelousDahling

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic (AΦ): keep that nice relationship and INHERIT.

:)

MahvelousDahling

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @embobly:
that is exactly my type.

watereatsrock

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Shopping for jeans=tears and self-loathing. Shopping for shoes and/or makeup=happy super-gorgeous feeling me who has shiny shiny lips that are so damn fabulous nobody will notice that my clothes are falling apart.

seresy

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Emmie of Doom: The thought of you doing the downward facing dog next to a hotdog vendor cracks me up.

porterlicious

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> im currently working retail, i've encountered all of the above. i can't count the times when customers beg me to free them out of their clothes while wearing nothing underneath; young women ask me to put together a sexy outfit for their much older boyfriend who i mistaken for her dad. ohh i talked to the aformentionned older man:"i feel bad for you, your daughter's very indecisive."
ooops.

but yeah working there makes me lose hope in humanity.


bjchilipepper

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I'd be the addict. If I had any money.

whateverhappened

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I once threw a complete fit, TOTAL temper tantrum, in a dressing room. I screamed at my Mom and gave major attitude to the saleslady assisting us at the time. There were tears and hurt feelings.
I was ten.

heckyeah

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> also....i do like shopping, but i dont shop often for shoes or clothes, i usually save up money until i can afford something a bit more expensive so it lasts longer. but i do have an addiction, glasses and plates, i cant stop buying 50s tableware, its getting out of hand! any dresses i tend to get off ebay, better bargains than in vintage shops, they can be expensive in england.

silverbird

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Sparker_Pants:
ick yes, i have seen poop in some random places, most notably, NEXT TO the toilet, how the person missed it, i will never know.....

silverbird

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I have a 24hour CVS addiction. It's pretty bad.

bansaiiiiii

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I worked retail in a lingerie department and we got tons of #2 and #4. #2 because, when you shop constantly but don't actually need anything, it's easy to keep "stocking up" on unmentionables, because technically you might technically end up wearing them (unlike a ballgown) so it seems productive. #4 seems crazy, but they definitely exist. They are usually tony middle-aged women with fake breasts. They often ask you to appraise their fake breasts. One woman I saw through three different cup sizes and countless shifts in fat/cellulite/muscle ratio. I knew her body better than I knew mine, mostly bcs I don't look at mine in well-lit rooms with a zillion mirrors in balconet bras.

sugartitties

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @aleja: I got snapped at by Rudy Giuliani's now-wife (then girlfriend). She wanted me to go find her daughter an SAT prep book, and STAT.

LoSpaz

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> When I was a kid I worked in a store that Marilu Henner used to frequent. Whenever she walked in, all of the sales people on the floor would run to the back and rock/paper/scissors to see who would be stuck with her.

I've never met such an entitled cunt in all of my life. She would literally SNAP her fingers at people... I guess when you're a big a has-been as she is, you need to get your jollies by treating other people like slaves.

aleja

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> When I worked in a dept. store, a guy pooped in the dressing room and wrapped it up in clothes, which he left in the room. People don't believe me when I tell this story.

I think the inappropriate pooping is a result of a fear of public restrooms, among other disorders.

pescataria

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Ugh, Victoria's Secret. Once I was buying my stuff and the saleswoman asked me if I wanted to open a VS credit card--not a problem, they're supposed to do it, so I politely said no. She brightly goes "Why not?" so just to say something I said "Oh, I have enough credit cards, no thanks." Then she goes "Well how many credit cards do you HAVE?" Like yes, VS lady, be my new financial manager.

My boyfriend worked in a women's clothing shop abroad for a while--he expected to be hired with all the other guys in the stockroom, but after an interview the managers said they thought his "talents would be wasted" in the back. Sometimes I'd meet up with him for lunch and I always found this mob of junior high school British girls milling around wherever he was in the store. Totally hilarious.

Meanmllemustard

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Oh, except shoes. THAT is team sport material. And is best with martinins and girlfriends.

Blujai

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Oh, shopping is not a team sport for me. When I am serious and I know what I want, it is all about the finish line.

Blujai

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @ediebeale:

Thanks! That will ease the guilt.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I worked at a department store in high school and we had a mentally retarded pervert in constantly. He always wanted to hug and touch and the store would do nothing about it. They were worried he would sue us! Never mind us 16 year olds getting molested! He was finally banned when security caught him jerking off in the juniors department! Then the store manager wanted us to clean up the cummy clothes! My dept. manager just scooped it all up in a bag and threw it away

kaylinda

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @tscheese: oh yea - shoe shopping makes me cry. My mother said she decided to never have another child after our first shoe shopping trip together when i was four. Large feet plus very sensitive feet. I can't have socks with seams that stick out too far, or shoes with seams facing in that might scratch my skin, and my heels are too skinny and toes too long...ugh...it's horrible.
I remember when we had the Amazon Models - all 6 feet tall plus - size 6's, and my mom told me - that's going to be you - you're so lucky, which was awesome because i was 14 and looked like an electocuted poodle on a rubberband WITH braces, and shopping always sucked, but then, i grew into myself, right when Kate Moss heroin-chic came into vogue and all that tall healthy lankiness that was me suddenly became so gauche and shopping NEVER GOT EASY. i'm a little bitter. still.


bonnilicious

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Jan74: That is not psycho. That is AWESOME.

ediebeale

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Side-topic: "They have me lift a boob, adjust a bra or snap a bodysuit" - This would be my husband second dream job. The man has a boob addiction that will not quit.

I've all but given up on clothes shopping. In Iowa we have no good retail stores (J.Crew, Banana Republic, etc.) so every six months I'll drive to Old Navy and load up on clothes. Its like a grocery store run, except for clothes.

Internet shopping is next for me.

technotica

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Oh fuck now I remember an instance where I was a Psycho Shopper. I got a holiday part-time salesperson fired once.

I went to a store I was a regular customer of, but in a different location than usual. I asked this girl if she had the 2 jeans I liked in an 8. She looked at me smarmly and said "We don't make jeans that big! We only go up to a 6!". Never mind I am wearing jeans from that store - in an 8. And that I know they go up to a 10 in all things, and up to a 12 in certain items. So I calmly told her that, and she still refused to go check, saying they really didn't make clothes in "large sizes". I asked another salesperson to talk to the manager, he told me the manager was on a break. So I stuck around outside the store waiting for the manager.

Well what a surprise when the manager walks in: she is a woman who wears a size 12 or so. And she is wearing clothes from the store, including jeans. I told her the story expecting her to just reprimand the girl, but she fired her on the spot, in front of me.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @tscheese: Oh god, I meant close to SIX FEET tall. I made it sound like you were six INCHES tall, which is about how tall I feel when I can't find anything that looks good on me.

tscheese

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Y'all are the best! Thanks for all the leads on dresses.

My shopping experience is usually pretty miserable; I really hate it. It's for the best; otherwise I'd be in debt up to my bra straps. Bookstores are my poison - I have to ration my money before I go in there. Especially used and antique stores. I really just have no self-control with books at all.

♥ dosido ☮

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @lisaraine: Oh, definitely. I feel like there are a lot of people out there who get high on the whole "the customer is always right" thing, and the idea that, being a customer makes them "always right" causes them to go mad with power.

Notes from the underwhelmed

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @bonnilicious: I'm nearly six feet tall and I *AM* around a size 14, and I get just the opposite: salescreatures thrust tiny little things at me because "oh, this is a size 8, I'm sure you can get THIS on."

Now I do own some clothing that does *SAY* size 8 on the label, but what the salescritters thrust at me usually turns out to be size 8 from the Delia's catalog from the year 1873, and I can't tell if they honestly are deluded or if they're mocking me.

If you're close to 6", do you have trouble finding footwear? Don't even get me started on shopping for shoes in size US12. Salescritters always grasp at the largest size they can imagine and invariably fall short. "Can you wear a size 10.5? I think we have a size 10.5 in the back. That's a big size, right?"

tscheese

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Miss_Robyn: I think places like Target and Nordstrom have set a bad precedent that allows customers to think "SHIT YA! I'm right." And the current economy being in the crapper and all makes customers think stores had better kowtow to them.
As a constant returner, I see these people and hear their bullshit stories which segue into abusive comments hurled at the customer service people, and it makes me feel bad.

lisaraine

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @midwesternmom:

I identified with your story. I normally don't like to shop, but when my mother-in-law is visiting I feel this incredible need to buy a lot of stuff to get my mind off the stress.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @bonnilicious: Sweet, thanks for the advice!

ediebeale

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @rocknrollunicorn:

Me too. I'm very picky about fit. But to make life not hell for the people who work there, I always hang the items just as they were before, so they don't have to spend hours dealing with the mess I made. So my conscience is clear! hahah

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> The very worst, can I just say, are the combo Miss Lonely Hearts/Ms. Indecisive. The ones who want you to work with them exclusively for three hours or more- showing them everything in the store, helping them debate for hours on which DVF wrap dress best compliments their sagging breasts, and then not buying anything, or buying something and returning it the next day. Worst ever.

Notes from the underwhelmed

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic:

I keep telling myself its better than eating the pain away! This is the first time I haven't paid off my credit card bill in full though.

TheOtherJen

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Brigit: Shopping for pants is the worst. Back when the Gap was still making their "Modern Fit" pants, I bought every pair in my size that I could find on clearance, because they were the only pants on the planet that fit right. Now I have to scour thrift/resale stores for them when one of my older pairs bites the dust.

LBB

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @ediebeale:

All my Nikita stuff is a size medium and I'm a 4-6 (jean size is 26/27). Medium is a little big for me in the upper chest (i have non-boobage), but fits nicely in the hip area, which is a little curvy.

Volcom makes some cute casual dresses too - nothing fancy but good summer-weight stretchy dresses. they run a lttle smaller.

I order a lot of stuff from dogfunk.com. They carry a lot of cute sundresses and the like.

bonnilicious

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I work in a high end boutique, and what I can't stand are people who believe that the laws of retail return policies do not apply to them. Like the men who come in after their wives have tried and failed to return something. As though we're a mechanic shop and are going to somehow give them a better deal because they have a penis. The other day, this guy came in with this Alice + Olivia dress that had clearly been bought during the holiday season, without tags and without a receipt and said "Let me tell you what you're going to do here. You're going to take this dress back, and then you're going to take my credit card and give me a full refund on it." Which of course, I refused to do because like most boutiques we have a strict seven day/store credit only policy. The fact that they really think that the whole "I'm going to walk in there and I'm not going to take no for an answer" thing is going to work just kills me.

Notes from the underwhelmed

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @gherkinfiend: Yeah, I just don't get the whole need to be naked/take off your undergarments, etc. thing. The same woman who was bottomless walked around the store in a tank top and underwear in front of a designer who was in town for a trunk show. And he's straight. And a total lothario.

I also worked with brides. There is nothing worse than a bride. I had four great brides, and ironically enough, they all spent over $5,000 on their dresses. They were sweet and gracious, and always thanked me. The other ones were heinous.

amandahugnkiss

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @merely_a_muse:

My most embarrassing moment was, after trying on a bunch of stuff in a dressing room, putting on the drawstring linen skirt I came in wearing only to have said drawstring come off in my hand. The clothes I had in the dressing room were all shirts. So now, I have no bottom to wear.

I had to scream out for someone to get security. Then have security get me a salesperson, to whom I explained I needed her to get me a skirt. Any skirt. Preferably elastic waist, so it would fit. I'm really short, so pants were never an option to wear on the spot like that.

I still have the skirt I bought that day. It is pretty ugly, but comfy, so I wear it around the house, haha.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @TheOtherJen: same here. The only shopping I do in general is retail therapy. It was a tough year, I have lots and lots of clothes in my closet.

treschic

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I am a just-broke-up-with-my-bf-of-a-year shopper that buys things I don't need to make myself forget how depressed I am. It's sad. It's necessary.

TheOtherJen

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Brigit: If you work at Gap or Old Navy, you'll get a 30% discount at Banana (even on top of discounts)... it could definitely be a help, especially if you're making a few extra bucks working at gap/old navy.

Speaking of Old Navy - some seriously cute stuff from them this summer season! I'm totes excited. (sorry off topic)

If you were my husband or my child, I'd be able to share the love. Unfortch that's the one thing that banana is crazy about is discount sharing. I can't even share with my mom! Otherwise, I'd offer to share the love and send you the pants.

But I definitely understand the love of the 30" inseam (I'm 5' myself) and the extra thigh room. Those contoured dress pants are a life saver.

treschic

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @bonnilicious: Aw, those are cute! How does it/that brand's stuff run? Big/small? Because I'm in that weird area between medium/large in most things.

ediebeale

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @blackbirdfly: No, it was more a store geared towards the uber-wives who do not work but shop and can starve themselves into size zero because they're bored and have time to spend 6-8 hours going to the gym and spa. They had no sizes over 8 there. None.

I hate shopping these days. If you're not 5'2" and a size zero than you're fat and oversized and it's depressing.

For a fun flirty dress well under $100 google Nikita Chupa Chupa.

bonnilicious

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic: There's no Banana in my town :(
There's a Gap, an Old Navy ... but no Banana.

Brigit

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @♥ dosido ☮: JCrew sales= magic. At lest one of their cute flirty dresses is on sale for $49. AND their stuff lasts more than one season.

CorporateTool

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: An ability to return things is a great skill...handy in shops and restaurants!

I'm off to shop for things in preparation of you ever coming to London!

gherkinfiend

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @♥ dosido ☮: i second the J crew suggestion. i have a black strapless tea-length dress that i've worn to 6 weddings and a graduation. and it will be worn four more times this summer. it was a little over $100, but it's pretty, versatile, and being worn to DEATH.

onthecornerofparkerandwoolf

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @gherkinfiend: Oh, no regrets. I have very few skills, especially related to my retail experience, so I should probably offer my services in any way possible. If you bring me overseas, I will return the shit out of your entire closet.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Brigit: Oh Brigit! A word of advice!!! WORK FOR BANANA. I mean it. Part-time. Take on one weekend shift a week. Seriously. You'll get those pants for $10 EASY. That's one thing about banana: they take care of their salespeople better than they take care of their customers. You'll not only get 60% discounts, you'll get 50% discounts on items already on sale. I have at least 6 more pairs of jeans in my closet (loove urban boot cut) because at $8 each, it was well worth it! The secret is to find the pair you want once you start working there, make friends with the stock guys, have them hide it for you (maybe in a shoe box? or in the petite section?) in the back and once a few weeks goes by, it'll go on sale. BTW, if a sale price ends in 97 cents, that's the FINAL final sale - otherwise, if you want it and it still says $_.99 don't bother, unless it's the last one.

But honestly, at $10 an hour, it's worth your shopping addiction. You may not make any money, but you're not losing any either. Just cut out a few hours of tv time. Your closet will love you. And so will your thighs.

treschic

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @blackbirdfly: I don't like having any help when shopping- this is all completely nuts to me. Like some of you have already expressed, I like to go in, have a look around in peace, grab the stuff I want and get out. 90 percent of the time I don't even try on, I can just tell by the way things are cut if they will fit and I know my size in most of the lines I buy.
Obviously I am not rude to the saleshelp, I smile widely and say hello when I walk in and then when they ask if I need help just say something like "Oh, I think I am just looking around for now" and then they say "Let me know if you need any help" and I say "Ok, great thanks you."
My BIGGEST pet peeve is after we have already had this pleasant exchange and the man/woman continues to stand about 12 inches away from me, breathing down my neck and making comments about every item I put my hand on. I like to look at everything on a rack- I dont need a running commentary, and I certainly dont need to be followed around like at any second I am going to grab some dress and make a run for the door. I find that really insulting. I think salespeople should be like waitresses, there when you need them but not overwhelming if it seems you just want to browse/eat in peace.



LaFemme

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic: That was the best part about when I worked at Crabtree & Evelyn--because it is a smaller company that relies on a small amount of big spenders, the disposable shoppers who were only there for an argument would be written off. A few people would say, "I'm not coming back," and my manager would say, "Good." I mean, I think there needs to be a restoring of common decency. Companies should really adopt the attitude of, if you're going to be an asshole to salespeople, we don't want your business. It would lead to much more internal solidarity and better customer service because we could concentrate on selling to people who aren't there just to cause problems.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @myblueheaven: I feel you on this. If I see clothing with baseball, puppies or dinosaurs on it, I will buy it. Immediately. usually in the wrong size. Target is offcially coming after me now because I recently picked up a romper that says Dinosaur Baseball on it.

Spaceman Bill Leah

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @lisaraine: I do that too. Not all the time, but when I know I have no money and I really need to get a fix on the shopping jones.

@♥ dosido ☮: J. Crew's stuff is great for weddings, and I don't really wear any of their other stuff. I recently wore their "Sophia" dress in a wedding and I love it. Will be able to wear it again and again. But it's going to set you back a little more than $100. Unless there's a sale.

blackbirdfly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I was briefly and very mildly the addict after I lost a ton of weight and suddenly found way more stuff looked good on me. That leveled out pretty quickly, though, and my natural "Oh, god, I can't be bothered" reasserted itself. I tried to go shopping this afternoon for the first time in four or five months, found three pairs of underwear and the nailpolish colour I'd been craving for about three months, got bored and went to the bookstore. Total shopping time: one hour fifteen minutes, including the bus-ride there.

goldberry83

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @blackbirdfly:
That's true, but I think the original poster is right and the sales bitch was being mean. I am a long-legged 5'9", wear a size 8, and it never fails that I will have to get the jeans hemmed, else risk looking like I'm running around,wearing footy denim pajama bottoms.

lisaraine

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Yeah, well, this might get me yelled at for threadjacking, but can anyone here PLEASE recommend a good online retailer for semi-formal dresses? I have a wedding to go to and I am stumped. I want something pretty and flirty and dance-y and hopefully under 100.00. Can any of you help here? PM me if you think that's too big a threadjeck. THANKS.

♥ dosido ☮

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hamburgerhotdog: Oh my god, you reminded me of when I worked at a spa and a lady borrowed the scissors from the front desk before her brazilian to trim her pubic hair, inspecting the blades for curlies before she handed them back over as if that somehow mitigated how horrible it was. I almost forgot what I wanted to comment on. Oh yeah. Fuck retail. I never worked in a high end store but I did deal with innumerable psychos who would buy and return things over and over. One woman bought the same pair of shoes over and over and returned them over and over and each time would carefully inspect them and deliberate over the size as if she'd never seen them before, let alone brought them in and out of her house 40 consecutive times.

aubonpam

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: You might regret that offer! I live in Britain, home of lacklustre and rude retail!

gherkinfiend

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: Yea, I totally understand that. It's really all about focus and perspective. VS has it's heart set on cookie-cutter salespeople and an "image". BR tends to lean more towards the "make the customer happy and find multiple avenues to make them happy" type of strategy where the focus is manipulating your speech and approach to appeal to customers, not to force customers to like you. It's a pretty great idea, and it always makes me sad when I walk into a store like VS where salespeople jump on top of me to give me a spiel when they'd probably get me to buy more if the coaxed me to ask the right questions (i.e. make it seem like getting that product was MY idea). Oh the psychology of retail...

And those people requesting upper management can shove it. My managers are as high as you can get before you have to go to corporate headquarters, and I think most people stop when they're told that those managers are the highest level they can speak to. It gives them this silent power than insinuates this threat that because they're upper management, they might have the power to prevent you from shopping there ever again, and that fear always shuts em up. Sometimes losing a customer is worth it - the time spent arguing with one is potential time spent selling stuff to another.

treschic

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @bonnilicious: I have the exact same problem. Every time someone suggests that I'm a "14-16" just because I'm tall, I want to smack them.

For that, JCrew is magic. Thank you wasp-y sizing!

CorporateTool

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I have a condition that I call "retail bulimia."I will buy a crazy amount of shit,like spend a full day buying shit. Then a couple of days will pass, and I'll feel bad, hate all of it,hate myself, then take it all back. Sometimes when I'm buying something, even as I'm forking over the money for it, I just know I'm gonna take it back. Occasionally, I will buy it, take one step outside the door, turn on my heels and take it back, telling customer service I already hate it. I'm sure I look like a nutjob, but at least I'm not wearing it then taking it back. I'm an ethical nutjob.

lisaraine

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @bonnilicious: Question. Was it a store that caters to younger girls (like Delia's, for example) or the junior department? Because their sizes run crazy small. But I'm not trying to defend the salesperson. It's just that it reminds me of trying on pants in certain stores and having to go about ten sizes bigger...very confusing.

blackbirdfly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @gherkinfiend: They sound like idiots, to be honest. If it is an obvious defect in the product, there's no point in arguing. Unless you just feel like fighting, I guess, and everyone has those days.

That is the good thing about having worked retail, though--I'm pretty sure I could return things to the wrong store if I tried hard enough. I've got the ins and outs down if you ever have another Pink Panther crisis.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @SpicyTamale: OMG! ME TOO! Like for real. Last week I asked my husband to take away my credit cards for a while because how many summer rompers does one kid need?

For some reason I have never had this problem with any other consumer item - but something about kid's clothing fills some sort of previously unknown need.

On the plus side, my son looks adorable!

myblueheaven

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130:

I only had to clean little rich girl dog pee, never kid pee, fortunately. And the floor was ceramic.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> i recently had a horror story of a shopping experience. i always hate shopping - i'm just not a person who likes spending money, but my closet has 3 things in that are wearable. So i went to the store looking for some jeans to replace my favorite jeans that died. I'm not a size zero by any means, but i'm thin-ish - less than a size 6 ,a couple inches shy of 6 feet tall, and at well, well over 30 i'm happy with my weight and size. I go into a store and look at jeans and the owner comes over and tells me she will help me and then eyes me up and down and says - hmm - size 12 or 14? At first i just shrugged it off - i'm tall and so i can look "bigger" than little petite anorexic dolls, but then i started to get insulted and just walked out.
I shop online now. I'm actually tracking a shipment of Nikita dresses arriving tomorrow! whee!


bonnilicious

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic: Actually, Banana is the only place I've found pants that fit me off-the-rack. Hate being short and tick-thighed.
But I just finished paying off my credit-card debt, refuse to get back in it, and now have only one pair of those magical pants until I get my stipend- in June :(

Brigit

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: I hate those people...they give genuine returnees a bad name!

I once had to return a t-shirt with the Pink Panther on to the shop I bought it in, because when I washed it he went green. I then had to stand and argue for 30 minutes with the manager and assistant for a refund because they swore blind there was nothing wrong with it.

We eventually compromised on credit when I pointed out that Rinky Dink Green Panther isn't so catchy....

gherkinfiend

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Emmie of Doom:

Oh hahaha. I laughed.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @CorporateTool: I do remember that. I took that as a cautionary tale and cut up all my charge cards. Horrible.

I'll go back to my ramen noodles and refillable bottle of water right now.

pishposhspice

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @raleigh likes swaddling: Wow, I think that takes the cake.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @PetiteGal: When I was in grad school, I worked at an American Eagle store in the mall part time. Of course, a LOT of junior high school girls came in there, and I can't tell you how many times they asked me "do you have any sizes smaller than zero?" Once, after hearing it 20 times already that day, I got pissed and I told them to take it to Baby Gap.

@lautaylo: *laughing* You think I CAN afford this type of buffoonery? Not even close. And yet I still have a problem.

blackbirdfly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @BadenBaden: Yeah, oddly enough it's often the wealthy customers who want to return shit half-used or ruined. And they are always the most adament about it, like it is their RIGHT to return an ice cream soaked sweatshirt.

I loved hearing my managers get in fights with customers on my behalf. I would just listen in while I took the next customer and pretend, with the shit-eating grin on my face, that it didn't completely make my day to restore some dignity.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Once when a dear relative was dying and I couldn't deal anymore, I bought several large bags of clothing at a couple different stores, then purchased a luggage set so I could neatly place my purchases inside and keep on shopping. It was cathartic. I stopped when my credit card company made me confirm my identity the second time. The very nice person apologized and noted that most people don't spend that much money that quickly, and asked if I just needed to take a little break. Wheeling my luggage to the car through a mall was a bit surreal.

midwesternmom

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I bring 30 items into the dressing room and leave with 2. I seriously can't help it though, I must be terribly oddly shaped because very little fits me well.

I guess that makes me "Little Miss Indecisive" because I return a lot too.

rocknrollunicorn

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @PetiteGal: Mostly that just makes me sad, because I feel like I've sized out of "average American."

I've got a BMI of under 25. Stupid fashion industry giving me issues.

CorporateTool

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @jemandtheholograms: @Brigit: OK, I have TONS of retail poop stories! My second best (can I call it my number two?) poop story is that a really cute Japanese girl came into the store with her boyfriend to look at some men's jackets. She asked if she could use te bathroom, and we said yes, which we had discussed in the past because people were constantly pooping ON the toilet and not IN the toilet. Oh, also, she was wearing Comme des Garcons hammer pants. We were super busy, and no one was really monitering bathroom use or anything, but a few minutes later, another customer asked to use it. When I showed her where it was, I could not believe the poop smell, but figured it would dissapate. The next morning, the whole store smelled like poop, so we sent the security guard into the bathroom to investigate. Japanese girl had pooped in her underwear and thrown them in the garbage can. I think there should be a rule that if you poop your pants, you have to take them with you.

TempleDrake

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> How about this? I never go into a dressing room. I just buy stuff that I like that looks like it will fit and if it doesn't I bring it back the next day. One time I was in a dressing room and a man's voice from up in the ceiling or behind a mirror, or somewhere said "oh, that looks really cool." I ran out of there as fast as I could and didn't stick around for more comments. I was a teenager at the time and too scared to tell anyone. Ever since then I try my clothes on at home.
Also: People are pooping in dressing rooms?


clownstar

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @amandahugnkiss: : I worked one whole night in the lingerie department of the local department store and never came back to even get my wages when an old lady came in looking to buy another bra same as she was wearing...

Sadly it was about 15 years ago and her description was vague. She also didn't know her size and kept saying she was 'small. Not as small as you though'...and eventually decided to take the bra off from under her clothes to show me. Sadly she hadn't quite mastered doing it subtly and gave me a nice eyeful in the process...and handed me a tatty looking warm bra to read the label...and discover it came from an entirely different shop.

Retail experiences like this make me reticient to deal with shop staff. They are always about to crack and I don't want to be the one to push them over with a seemingly simple query

gherkinfiend

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I don't feel like I've accomplished something if I pay full price. I'm also very indecisive. So I live off Yoox, Smartbargains, Overstock, etc.
But I have pants-trauma, I can't get them online and shopping for them just sends me straight to an evening of sadness, pot, and cookies.

Brigit

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Where's the window shoppers at? Only the ones who have to try on everything in the store that they know they aren't gonna buy?

I never did it on a serial basis but I stopped completely after I got stuck in an Ann Taylor dress and after a series of misadventures had to be cut out of it by the sales associate. Most embarassing moment of my life.

merely_a_muse

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> What about women who get upset at sales clerks because their sizes don't exist at that particular store? Is that a form of psycho?

PetiteGal

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Yikes! Count me in with the multitudes who can't afford that kind of buffoonery. I attempt to make myself as invisible as possible, and only ask for help if I really need it. I like shopping, but I loathe the whole "mall experience". The air burns my eyeballs, meandering idiots walk on the wrong side of the thoroughfare and play chicken, and my most comfortable shoes inevitably become little matching torture chambers after the first half hour. I'm not 15 anymore - why spend any more time at the mall than absolutely necessary?

lautaylo

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @thwarted: Yes. Retail is a special kind of hell all its own, and it smells like Poison and Obsession, and the quiet desperation of sales reps. **shudder**

♥ dosido ☮

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic: Along the way, I had a couple managers like that, who would almost never give in to customers even when the customers were...right. But eventually, they always have to give in, because customers are all about going even higher. "I want your District Manager's number. And the Regional Manager. And the direct line to President of the company! And while you're at it, I'll take your first-born."

I understand the need for perfection at flagship stores and all that, but sometimes it's overkill. Have you been to a Victoria's Secret lately? Those girls are forced to have everything perfect at all times, while harrassing everyone who walks in the door. It really makes actual "customer service" take a hit.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I didn't know there were other Ms. Indecisives in the world. I have a friend who treats clothing with tags still on it as a liquid asset. Need to free up some cash to pay the credit card? Take back some of those Victoria's Secret bras in the closet.

She even received a piece of clothing in a gift bag at an industry event, and tried to talk me into taking it back for her. It had no tags, but she wanted to see if she could get store credit.

Sick, sick girl. And thousands of dollars in debt.

Gumbina80

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @blackbirdfly: I would only go shopping for shoes. As those look good no matter my weight/size.
@pishposhspice: Fortunately you have the self-restraint for that to be the case. Remember that lady on Oprah, who was $100k or so in debt? It's the saddest when poor people have a shopping addiction.

CorporateTool

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @raleigh likes swaddling: I was working at a hotel recently, and had an old homeless man pee in the lobby. Just sit down in one of the chairs and pee. It stunk up the entire first floor. :(

embobly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: I once had a mom come in with her toddler-aged daughter, eating an ice-cream cone (and of course, because it's a toddler, there were ice cream and sprinkles all over the sweatshirt). So the mom says to me "I bought this shirt yesterday but it has a hole in it." I said, "Well it also has ice cream all over it...so how am I supposed to know if the hole was there first or if it happened while your kid was wearing it today?" (all in a nice way) and we proceeded to get into a very loud fight about my refusing her money back. Eventually a amanger took over (I was like 16) and THEY proceeded to get into a VERY loud fight. And eventually, another manager took over and gave in to the customer's demands while the first manager took a break.

This woman wanted a new sweatshirt or her $25 back, despite the fact that it was an island resort and she was surely staying in an overpriced beach house for the season, and despite the fact that there was ICE CREAM ALL OVER THE SWEATSHIRT and her baby had very clearly been wearing it all freaking day.

I don't understand the nerve of some people, honestly.

BadenBaden

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic: I was a life long Banana Bepublic shopper and my first job was at Gap. However, I'm done for good, because they changed the return policy. I tried to exchange my x-mas presents in Feb, with receipts and tags attached, and the policy had been changed to 30 days. The girl did.not.give.a.fuck....I promptly cancelled my credit card and have stuck to Nordie's and Shopbop ever since. I won't even buy my hubbie clothes there-- J Crew is a suitable and friendlier alternative.

sabbaticalplease

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @CorporateTool: OMG, a magic closet in which clothing would just appear?!! ME!! ME TOO! I'd still go shopping, but I want one of those too.

blackbirdfly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: I had a kid poop in the toilet, then proceed to pick the poop out of the toilet, and SMEAR IT ON THE WALLS. No joke.

raleigh likes swaddling

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I'm so poor right now I can't even pay attention so none of these apply to me.

pishposhspice

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hamburgerhotdog:
Comparison shopper! That's me. I scour stores, the internet, and everywhere in between to find what I want, but I always get the best deals. It will take me over a month to actually buy the sunglasses or boots I'm dying for, because I have to keep checking. I'm so good at it my friends enlist me to help them sometimes.


desertbloom79

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I used to work in the Bloomingdale's kid's department, and I once had a woman (dressed to the nines, tan, blond, Chanel handbag, D&G sunglasses) come in and try on a bunch of kids' clothes. This wasn't necessarily unusual, since lots of petite women shopped in our department, but it got super-creepy when she tried stuff on and pranced around the floor and kept asking, "Does this look sexy? Is it sexy? But is it SEXY?" And I'd have to reassure her that yes, she looked sexy, yes, she looked sexy, YES, SHE LOOKED SEXY. In a skirt for a 10-year-old. (She said she tried on a skirt size 6x--that's for a SIX-YEAR-OLD--but it was too small.)

thwarted

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Two others:

1. The dirty old husband: "Excuse me, miss - could you try this bra/lingerie/slinky dress on? You look about my wife's size..." GROSS. When I worked at Vicky's Secret (briefly, merciful God) I could count on one of these every week or so. Absolutely disgusting, and some of the saleswomen would actually do it. FOR TIPS.

2. The gay boyfriend shopper: Won't go into a store without her gay boyfriend and takes him into dressing rooms. You know what, guy? I don't care if you're a Liberace-caliber poofster - I still don't want you looking at my business under florescent lights and near three-way mirrors.

♥ dosido ☮

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: Maybe that's the one endearing thing about Banana Republic - my managers are MASTERS in the art of explaining how customers are wrong and winning in the end. I bow down to their persuasive genius. I think that when I get a difficult customer, it's fun to shove them over to the managers just watch them work their magic. Now there are new regional managers with the legal ability to call out people on their stealing. It's awesome! Retail has really reformed for Gap Inc. just because they get screwed so badly - but I definitely think they're going about getting back on the band wagon the right way.

I can't wait to go back this summer - hopefully they'll train us in using similar to the tactics managers use.

Also, I got a little off topic - it's important to bear in mind that the banana I work in is in the top 5 highest grossing store in the US, so perfection is necessary just because the store is so big and there's so much traffic. The stories are endless, and endlessly entertaining! I once had a woman try to buy my shoes off of me because I had the pair she wanted in her size. Hilarious!

treschic

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Lady Skittlehattington's evil twin, Whorey Licoricetits: Unfortunately I'm ALWAYS the largest size in a store.

I wish that I had a magic closet, in which clothing would just appear.

CorporateTool

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I remember once on "Rich Girls" Ally and Jamie were in London shopping and they were having issues with one of their friends and they must have spent at least 3 hours in the store on their cell phones and telling the employees all about their issues with this girl. I have no idea how any retail employee can muster up anything but contempt for people who do that. I'm just glad I never have to do retail work ever again, hopefully.

AndThenTheresMaude

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I'm what I deem to be a summer/winter panicky shopper. Every summer and winter, upon discovering that most of the clothes in my wardrobe have holes in them/rips in them/are discolored from too many washes, I go on several panicky shopping sprees to try and replace stuff. And Murphy's law dictates that I won't find anything I like if I'm actively looking for it. Then I get frustrated and buy stuff I don't like. Then return it. And then I find myself alternating the same 3-5 items of clothing the entire season until they fall apart. Gaaah. My blood pressure is rising just thinking about shopping now.

cautionarywhale

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Jan74: Ugh I know. Or they'll leave lollipop sticks on the floor, or other half-eaten things. I had a couple kids pee. on. the. floor. And the parents would just watch as I had to clean it up.

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @TempleDrake: @Sparker_Pants:
Whaaa? What's with people and poop in public spaces?

Brigit

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hamburgerhotdog: I'm like this too, and I think it makes me a little bit of an indecisive shopper, cause I'm always wondering if that really IS the lowest price- what if I find it somewhere cheaper? Will it be marked down in the next few days? Is there a price-adjustment period? I make myself crazy.

Alipaps

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @onthecornerofparkerandwoolf: I actually have an Eddie Bauer skirt that I've had for more than half my life, and it still holds up great. I can't live without it. It's a plain, long, black knit skirt. Very simple, but I'll be devastated if it ever dies. I've had it since I was 12.

tscheese

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Where the hell are these people shopping? Isn't doing yoga in a thong on the sales floor reason enough to call the police? Maybe I'm just old fashioned...I like to do my naked yoga in the food court, just like God intended.

Emmie of Doom

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @tscheese: That's such a sad story. ::HUG:: for you!

pinkyBella

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @LoSpaz: thankfully (or scarily), i'm so familiar with the layout of most bookstores that i rarely need to ask for help.

CMG

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hortense: Me too. And then I wonder why everybody around me all looks so well put together.

malishka

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I was once a compulsive shopper -- I shopped mainly out of boredom, put the stuff in the closet, and would find it months later, tags still on. What cured me was going shopping with another compulsive shopper. She bought 14 pairs of shoes while I tagged along: nine pairs of mules, and five assorted other kinds of shoes. When I found some flats that I liked, she bought them, too. It took the clerk plus the two of us to get them all to the car.

That did it for me.

brendastarlet

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @blackbirdfly: I'll have to second that one. I was up two hours later than I should have been last night trying to break my top BrickBreaker score on my new Blackberry. I can chew through a cup of ice in about ten seconds and could count the number of drinks/ food/ everything I've consumed in the last week, because I can't not keep track.

sabbaticalplease

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @type_slowly: You said the "A" word. No fair.

blackbirdfly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I've got a major dress buying problem. I buy dresses for any and all occations that might happen in my life. I've got super fancy designer dresses, casual loungy dresses, going out dresses, work dresses... it's redic. I do try to buy them on sale though, so that's good, right? Right??

WallSt_Rabbit

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @howdybeep (rear wheel drive): I hate shopping too. I have blinked back the hot tears and swallowed back on the choking throat-welling of "FUCKING SHIT IS THERE NOTHING IN THIS STORE THAT LOOKS GOOD ON ME."

I have cradled my head in my hands in Gap fitting rooms and tried, tried, tried to will the hurt, bewildered magenta out of my face.

tscheese

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I worked in a high-end boutique and encountered one woman who was a terrifying hybrid of Miss Lonely Hearts/The Addict/The Performer-Exhibitionist. She wasn't my customer (when you spend $25,000 per trip, the owners tend to want to take care of you), but one day the owners were gone and I helped her. She wanted to try on a skirt and went into the dressing room. I brought the skirt in, and she was naked from the waist down. I made $11.50 an hour, which is not enough to obtain knowledge of another woman's bikini wax preference.

There was also a woman who was an Addict. She spent $500,000 in one year. And she never brought her clothes home. It was INSANE. She bought an $11,000 evening gown and never wore it. I was the same size as her, and everytime I had a wedding or party to go to I was tempted to borrow something of hers, because I knew she'd never wear it.

amandahugnkiss

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> uh-oh. i think i am a bit of a performer-exhibitionist...maybe it's the yoga? maybe i just want to show off my sweet ass? but i think that most likely it is from years of swimming and changing in front of people. this seems to have have annihilated any modesty i ever had.

and i wouldn't force the saleman to check out my bethonged ass. that just wrong. and creepy. and besides, he would prolly be checking it out on his own anyway. or whatever.

wigglepuppy

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @treschic: Yeah the best is when they have no receipt, the thing has been used, and they want me to find the receipt in our system because "that's what Saks does." Well, here at my job, we don't use magic computers that materialize receipts five years later.

The worst part is that, with all the things you mentioned, no matter how much you argue with them, they can just default to management, who, by virtue of their title, pretty much have to agree with them. I've seen people get away with some pretty shady stuff. And I just wonder, WHY do you have so much time on your hands?

boring diatribes

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @TempleDrake: amazing! More stories like this to make the day pass!

jemandtheholograms

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Ugh, after working in retail for six years, I've SEEN IT ALL. Trust. Especially where I live. The rich trophy wives flock here. I think that's maybe why I keep working in retail. It's so God dammed entertaining! Seriously! The money ain't shit, but it's worth it. And yeah, some of these ladies (and some guys too) are emotionally draining. They've made me cry before, but they make for the best stories that you just cannot make up. And as far as shopping addictions go, I'm working through a shopping co-dependency right now, which isn't quite an addiction, but it's a fucking pain in the motherfucking ass I'll tell you that much.

raleigh likes swaddling

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Unfortunately, I don't have enough money to be any of these. But I have SEEN shoppers like that, enough to make me glad I'm not a billionaire.
I think .

murielmercurial

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @SpicyTamale: But see that's AWESOME though. The clothes are all probably really cute, and just sort of soft and nice-fitting, right? Your son doesn't have to worry about Curvy, Classic, or Lean, or Low-Rise or Hip-Hugger, or Cowl-Neck vs. Boat-Neck vs. V-Neck.

Baby clothes are adorable, too. Whenever I'm in the baby section of a department store, I keep thinking "what if I had a cat? Or a kid? And I put this little SWEATER on him/her? AWWWW!"

tscheese

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130:

I have worked retail too, and the best is when the bratty kids have dirty little candy or ice cream hands. And they are heading towards the color-coded WHITE section of the store.

Then I'd have to stay overtime carefully dabbing the stains with Woolite, and then of course, ironing all the damn clothes again. *sigh*

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hortense: ms. still wears 8th grade t shirt over here. would you like to join my friends and i when we have a *middle school hits the bars* party? we're going to wear clothes we still have from middle school and go to the bars. i will be wearing my once-forest-green-but-now-dingy-grey-except-for-the-seams long sleeve shirt, and my boyfriend will be wearing a short sleeved maroon polyester shirt with dragons on it.

onthecornerofparkerandwoolf

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> What about a rigid obsession with only buying things that are on sale? Cause that's my type.

embobly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hamburgerhotdog: I bought an entire extra dress worth in shipping costs for the dress I finally ended up with for my brother's wedding.

I must have some serious body dysmorphia going on. I mean, I kind of looked the same shape as the internet models, or so I thought. The mounting shipping costs indicated otherwise.

coopergirl

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I've watched a woman have a 40-minute crying fit in a dressing room in a department store (well, I didn't stay there all the 40m, I'd go out and get more stuff to try and she was still having the fit... 6 pieces of clothing at a time policy).

The store does free alterations, but they are limited to hemming pants and skirts. They won't shorten sleeves, or tighten anything. This woman comes to get some clamdiggers that were hemmed for her and has a crying fit accusing the store of tightening the pants, cause now it is tight on her. Keep in mind she still fits them, it is only a little bit tighter on the leg. It was sad.

Jan74

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @howdybeep (rear wheel drive): You are not made of fail. We all fluctuate. :)

Lady Skittlehattington

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> Oh the best is when 13-year-old come in and act all entitled, WITH THEIR MOMS who smile at them all sweetly like it's a grand accomplishment for them to be belittling others at such an early age.

I used to work at Urban Outfitters and holy hell was that fun. I wasn't working when it happened, but we definitely had people use the dressing rooms like they were bathrooms (I am not talking urine here) and some poor manager had to clean it up.

Sparker_Pants

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @CMG: That would include my personal favorites from a few years on the B&N salesfloor: Ms. I'm in a Book Club and Need to Get This Book, But I Don't Actually Want to Read It, Sooo...You Look Smart, Can't You Just Tell Me What It's About?; Mr. What? The Iliad Is In Poetry? Since When? I Bet Borders Has It In Fiction; and The Couple Who Make Out in the Erotica Section Which Was Conveniently Placed In Full View Of The Kids Section.

LoSpaz

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @hamburgerhotdog: Wow! I'd file it in 'Thanks jeebus for not making me work with people'. Honestly. Major cootie-phobic here, although I work with e.coli for a living.

Brigit

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @Bellina130: Oh, if someone says "hello" to me, I wouldn't ignore them or anything. But I don't go and ask anyone for help and usually say that I don't need any help if asked. But yeah, you know, people fucking suck, dude. Why anyone thinks they have the right to be horrible and condescending to a salesperson or a waitress, etc. is just beyond me.

@Archetype: I am compulsive about pretty much everything. It's all or nothing with me. This does not bode well for any addictive behavior.

blackbirdfly

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> The only time I have cried is at a car dealership. That is one shopping experience I do not need.

Archetype

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> I had an indecisive friend who once tried to get a salesman to sneak a table out of the store and carry it three blocks to her apartment so she could "just see how it will look." When she tried to throw in a candle or two, he ran in terror.

midwesternmom

]]> <![CDATA[There Are Five Types Of "Extreme Shoppers," And They're All Horrifying]]> @PrettyBitch: Okay, I take it back. I don't return stuff *that* frequently, apparently. Maybe I'm just a bargain shopper and I don't like to waste my money on things I've decided I won't get use out of.

PrettyBitch

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