This is what a typical conversation with my daughter is like.
The entry to this post were her words as I noted them down.
It stems from her working experience at Aldo's shoes. She has been working for that company for almost three (3) years. The youngest sales person ever hired sixteen (16) years old at the time.
Her work stories amaze me and I don't believe I would have tolerated some of the poor behavior she has had to deal with over the years. From Spring sales to Black Friday's.
She shares how the sales people are treated, how customers speak to them, how the merchandise is treated and different issues that come up during opening and closing times.
The pushing and shoving during sales and the circus that is Black Friday.
Which led us to start to throw out names and see what we came up with.
-Macy's hot mess depending on time of year, event and location
-Lord & Taylor easy breezy
-Toys R Us chaos on a bad day, confusion on a good
-Bloomigdales a place for everything, everything in its place
-Mandees you hope the correct shoe size, is in correct box
-Prada shop at your leisure, no need to pounce on you as you walk through the door
-Old Navy hope you don't trip and fall over the sales items, that happen to be all over the floor.
-Coach "oh did you have a nice shopping experience?"
-Aldo's "we have a great bag to go with the shoes, you must really check it out"
The names went on for a minute but these were just a few that stuck in my mind. We laughed about how you would never see someone run into Chanel two (2) minutes before closing and ask the sales person to ring this up real quick but you will see someone do that at lets say Strawberry.
I bought it all down to one word...Value.
The thought process we use and our conditioning over the years to think that a label or price range somehow makes an item better or worse. That it may even be acceptable behavior to treat and speak to people differently because of the setting you may find them in.
Granted there will always be some difference in the quality you encounter but it doesn't mean better or worse, just different.
Chalk it up to preference, budget, opportunity or options. Don't judge it simply because its a sale item, in a particular store or a particular price range.
This can translate to anything in life.
We must teach our children to value all things equally. To respect differences and to exercise their right to options.
What lessons have you learned about value? What else can we do to teach value?
I always enjoy reading your posts!! You always have such thought provoking topics. Thanks again for another great post.
ReplyDeleteMegan thank you so much I try :). Appreciate visit, comment and support as always!
DeleteGoing to sound weird but the masses don't have respect for themselves, so why should they care about others when shopping.
ReplyDeleteShopping in most places triggers our primal hard-wiring as hunters and gatherers. Some have not evolved past that.
Another thing is that those higher end places attract those who carry themselves with a little something about who they are. A little pride.
I have tried to instill that into my two kids. I tell them-act like you have a little something about yourself-never reach for the lowest common denominator in yourself as many people do.
Patrick, thanks for share. I guess the more we talk about it the more aware we will become ;) Thanks for comments as always!
DeleteWhat a perfect summation, it is so important that we teach our kids (and ourselves) to value all things equally: jobs, beauty, toys, clothes... we must appreciate that which God has given us. I agree with the writer above, your topics are always thought provoking... I love reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you ! Appreciate comment and visit as always :)
DeleteOh my God, Mari! My husband and I were just talking the other day about how society's manners in general -- not just the youth, sadly, but even adults -- have gone the way of the dodo. I bear witness to outlandish -- and often embarrassing -- acts at the hands of customers virtually every time I'm in a store. (Granted, I'm not in stores a lot because I do more than 75% of my shopping online -- and partly for the reason of ease and convenience, but I digress.)
ReplyDeleteAll I know is that I am a stickler for good old fashioned manners: Respecting one's elders; saying please and thank you; I'm teaching my son (and soon my daughter) to hold the door open for people. Before we can even begin to discuss the value of things, I think kids need to know first and foremost the value of kindness and acceptance.
Okay. Climbing down off my soapbox now...
GREAT post, Mari!
Courtney lol, please don't come down from your soapbox it allows you to share some great thoughts ;). Thanks for visit and comments and yes I agree kindness and acceptance can carry you very far indeed :) chat soon.
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