'She told me I could NEVER tell a customer the store was closing': Retail employee works all night long after manager tells them to never tell customers to leave

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  • 01
    Sleeve - 'We weren't allowed to lock the door or turn anyone away.'
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    Font - Proved to my manager that it's better to warn customers of closing time M OC I used to work at a store that was open until 2AM every night of the week, so as you can imagine, when 2AM rolled around I was always ready to get out of there.
  • 03
    Font - Around 1:45AM, I would walk around and let each customer know individually that the store was closing in 15 minutes, and ask them if they needed help finding anything before then. I did this for about 4 months working there and never had a problem, other than the occasional super ru de customer who would completely
  • 04
    Font - ignore me and keep shopping until like 2:30/3 or whatever. Or occasionally, especially on weekends, drunk people would come in after 2AM and just ignore that we were closed, because we weren't allowed to lock the door or turn anyone away.
  • 05
    Font - Usually I was alone by 1:45 since business really slows down, but one night my manager was still there. When she saw me go and tell customers the store was closing in 15 minutes, she was ped. She told me I could NEVER tell a customer the store was closing. She said it was incredibly r de and put too much pressure on them.
  • 06
    Font - Fast forward to a few weeks later. I have still been giving customers a 15-minute heads up, because frankly I don't think it's r de to tell someone your store is about to close, especially at 2AM. Here is when I see my opportunity.
  • 07
    Font - A woman had come in around 12AM. She seemed pretty out of it, and was wandering around the store aimlessly this whole time, but occasionally bringing something to the counter, asking me to hold it, then coming back and asking me to put it back because she changed her mind. I had the feeling she could spend all night wandering around the store, so I decided that this would be the one customer I wouldn't warn about closing. 2AM rolls around and I say nothing, and I proceed to say nothing al
  • 08
    Font - I literally got a call at 8AM the next day from my manager, furious that I had closed the store almost at 5AM. I innocently told her that the woman was still busy shopping the whole time, and I remind her that it's extremely r de to tell a customer that the store is closed.
  • 09
    Font - The next night when I went in for my shift, they had made the 15 minute warning a universal rule. We were all supposed to warn customers the store was closing, PLUS we were supposed to turn people away if they showed up after 2AM. Score! Afterward I
  • 10
    Font - admitted to my other coworkers I had done it intentionally to show management how dumb their decision was, and I'm glad I did it because we never had to let another dr nk teenager into the store after 2AM again.
  • 11
    Font - AngelaMotorman Good move! Meanwhile, most stores now issue such a warning via loudspeaker. It was always a good idea!
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    Font - Tembldrock Your manager clearly had no understanding of what a terrible plan they had, think about it: You close at 2am but can't shut the door or turn anyone away, someone rolls in at 1:45am, looks around and then buys something at 2.15am. In the meantime someone comes in at 2.10am, looks around and buys something at 2.45am. When you are ringing them up at 2.45am someone else walks in, this could literally go on all night until the next morning! No logic, just a manager who likes to make
  • 13
    Font - UrsaSnugglius As I customer, I always appreciate those 15 minute announcements. Means I can quickly finish up and not feel like an a when I only realise at the checkout counter that the store is already closed and the poor store people are waiting for me!
  • 14
    Font - Jasmine94621 I used to work customer service at a large store. I would give the customer 30, 15, 10, AND 5 minute warnings before we closed. I had the authority to tell the cashiers to close down and cash out for the night. I'd get a kick out of it when customers would ignore me and keep shopping and then when they were done (taking their sweet fing time) they'd see that there were no cashiers to help. I loved that look on their face. If your gonna waste my time I'm gonna waste yours.
  • 15
    Font - eltf177 I have never understood the policy of not telling customers you're closing soon/now closed. By not doing so you constantly run the risk of situations like this. And having to keep the store open and paying the employees is expensive, and I seriously doubt these lurkers will buy anywhere near enough to show a profit. This policy needs to de the death it deserves.

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