Retail Worker Not Prepared for Customer’s Reaction When They Tell Them Store Is Closing

A retail employee working at a small family business found themselves at the center of an unexpected customer meltdown, in front of his child, after politely reminding a shopper that the store was closing.

The incident, shared on Reddit by user MikeyOTB, describes how a father and his son entered the store just minutes before closing time, setting off a tense exchange.

The original poster (OP) explained that the store closes at 6:00 p.m., and as a common practice, employees give late-arriving customers a polite heads-up.

Immediate Backlash

At 5:50 p.m., the father and child arrived, and a cashier informed them that the store would be closing soon. Another customer entered at 5:56 p.m., quickly grabbed what he needed and checked out without issue.

However, the father and boy took their time in the sports department. At 6:03 p.m., the employee approached them again, saying, “In the nicest way possible, we’re trying to shut down the shop and get out of here.”

The remark, meant as a courteous reminder, triggered an immediate backlash from the father.

“Really? It’s not like it’s 6:15?! You’re gonna do this over a sale?” the man snapped. His child tried to de-escalate the situation, urging him to stop, but the father pressed on.

The worker responded, “We’re not really worried about a sale, honestly.”

The situation escalated further when the man sarcastically accused the worker of not being a “team player,” to which the employee replied, “Yeah, I am. I’m trying to get my team out of here on time.”

Frustrated, the father muttered expletives under his breath, berated his son for trying to calm him down and finally approached the counter to pay for a pair of gloves.

After making his purchase, he stormed out, peeled off in his truck and honked his horn repeatedly as he left the parking lot.

A Common Struggle for Retail Workers

Many retail employees deal with customers who disregard store hours. Some shoppers assume that closing times are flexible, expecting staff to accommodate their last-minute needs.

One user responding to the thread summed up their reaction by saying, “If I was that kid, I would be f***ing mortified. What a sad human being.”

Another commented, “We close at six too. I’ve had people call and ask, ‘But can y’all stay till like 6:30?'”

The struggle to enforce store hours while maintaining customer satisfaction is a widespread issue, and some businesses have gone as far as closing early to avoid these conflicts.

A Newsweek report highlighted a restaurant that shut its doors ahead of schedule due to a wave of rude customers, demonstrating how chronic mistreatment of workers can force businesses to take action.

The Need for Respecting Store Hours

According to Treefrog Marketing, maintaining firm business hours helps small companies stay efficient and ensures employees can maintain a healthy work-life balance.

While customer service is important, setting clear expectations for closing times is equally vital. Businesses that fail to do so may struggle with employee dissatisfaction and burnout.

Retail workers often go beyond their duties to assist customers, but as MikeyOTB pointed out in their post, courtesy should be mutual.

“If you’re nice and cooperative, I’ll go out of my way to help you,” they wrote, “But if you’re gonna make mine and my coworkers’ lives hell, it’s out of the question. I won’t even help you at all.”

Newsweek has contacted MikeyOTB comment via Reddit.

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