So people really liked my “shopping tips” post! I’m glad that you guys did. The last few weeks of awful summer shopping, though, I have been composing another, slightly more serious post.

We’re going to talk about shopping etiquette.

I’m going to do my best to not turn this into a rant about All of the Jerky People that come into my store, because I don’t need to rant about them, but I will tell you that most of this comes from my own experiences.

Here are things to keep in mind while shopping at a Store That Sells Things.

1. Make an effort to put things back where you found them.

Now, I totally understand why you would hurriedly toss an item that you don’t want as you run out the door onto the closest clothes rack. I do. I promise. I am the type of shopper that carries an item through the entire store, only to decide at the cash register that, Hey, maybe I don’t need to spend money on this. and I leave it somewhere close by.

I do this all the time.

Because of this, as an employee, I’m incredibly zen about this concept. “Eh. I’ll put it back.” It’s my job. If everybody put everything back where it was during the day, I wouldn’t have a job, because the store wouldn’t need someone to put stuff away!

However.

Every single person I have ever shopped with takes me to task for putting items in random places in the store. I’ve had my wrists slapped, and also been glared at by many a friend (and stranger!). Remember this kids, nobody wants to clean up after you. Clean up after yourself!

You can bet your boots (haha) that I put this back where it belonged. Right next to all of the other amazingly bright coloured boots at goodwill!

Along the same lines of “pick up after yourself,”…
2. Hang up your clothes in the dressing room.

Many a day I work in the dressing room, only to have a customer hand me a GIANT PILE OF CLOTHING and apologize, “Oh, I’m so sorry! So sorry!” for handing me a giant pile of clothing and hangers.

Apologies mean nothing if you can fix it. If your baby is screaming and throwing a tantrum and you’re walking out the door? Apologize. If you tripped and fell and knocked a display over? Apologize. If you don’t attempt at all to fix the problem? Don’t apologize. It’s not a band-aid that solves everything.

Hang up your clothes as you try them on! You have the extra 2 minutes it takes to toss them on the hanger! It doesn’t take that long, really! They don’t even have to be straight, or completely buttoned up. Just take a minute, and remember that someone always has to clean stuff up after you.

3. If shopping with friends, be aware of your surroundings.

Trust me on this one. I love shopping with friends. The best trips involve lots of giggling and photographing silly things.

Darn straight we’re hugging a stuffed unicorn!

The problem with shopping with your friends is that it’s easy to forget that you’re not still in the basement where nobody’s around to be irritated by you. It’s easy to walk slowly, be in the way, and just generally too loud.

Try and be aware of your surroundings, even when you’re having fun in the mall, because there are still Nice Old ladies shopping around, and new mothers with sleeping babies, who don’t necessarily need to hear about Your Latest Sexcapade or the Sexy Lingerie You’re Going To Wear Tonight. Have fun, but try not to be too disruptive.

Basically this post comes down to, remember that people work in the store. People who deserve common courtesy.

Tune in next week when we discuss when it’s appropriate to use a potato spork during a first date.