oh, pshaw, this was years ago, I've got a real job now. I didn't say this in the original post, but I'm like, 6'2, and 250ish, its not that hard for me to make an intimidating presence. the guy was much shorter, and was in pretty bad shape. I assume somewhere before he started his shouting he said something like "now watch, THIS is how you deal with the help"Brotherofwill said:
The best thing I ever heard is just let them yell, dont agree with them, dont get angry just let them yell it out. Interrupting them will just make them angrier, and eventually they run out of steam. This is easily noticed when they are standing there waggeling their finger, and all they can think to say is "yeah" thats normally the period on the tirade. then make your substantially better point, and help them with the best service possible.
The job itself wasn't all that bad, it wasn't as good as you think working at a game store is though most of my time was herding kids back to their parents before the rents left them behind assuming we were a daycare center, answering silly questions "if I crack my playstation, can I play halo on it?" and receiving, boxfulls of crap no one wanted came in every day(oh good, another 30 used copies of NCAA football 99). You will however start to hate things like G4 "well like 6 months ago G4 said it was coming out today, why isn't it here?" or "G4 said this new jrpg was great, so I put down my copy of modern warfare (which is the only game they've bought since the last madden), and it sucks, i want my money back). And general gaming culture for every one cool, well informed, interesting to talk to, actually buys games guy you deal with expect like 20 or 30 tweens who walk into the store, mess up the displays, tell me something I don't care about from G4, and then read strategy guides after having mistaken the store for a library, ad not a place of business. I would spook the mallrats by asking them if I could help them with the thing they had in their hands, if I was told no I offered to ring them up, the idea of spending money scares them pretty bad.
Still, I think its important for everyone to work retail at least once in their life. I know I'm substantially nicer and more patient with sales associates than some of my "my parents still pay half of my bills" coworkers.
