The Retail Blues

I write this while finishing the fifth consecutive day at work in a retail store. I've worked there since Christmas and I've got to be honest.. It is DRAINING. Yeah, there's the usual job gripes: Feet hurt from standing up all day, don't get paid enough, hours are too long, breaks are too short. That stuff, though, is easy. It comes with the territory of any job. However there's only one thing that really REALLY annoys me.. Customers.
Before I start let me say that I certainly don't mean all customers. Customer service is the best part of my job.. I enjoy helping people and I love it when someone leaves happy because of the assistance I gave them. The customers I'm referring to are the difficult, ignorant and aggressive people that I have to deal with on a daily basis. My proposal is that everyone on earth has to do a short, mandatory stint as a sales assistant in a clothes shop to learn some retail etiquette.. But I somehow don't think it's gonna catch on.
So here's some rules on how NOT to be that customer that every sales assistant hates.

• Politely ask for help if you need it. So that's no 'oi's' no clicking of fingers and no whistling. We are not dogs. It puts you on an already good footing if you simply say 'excuse me have you got a minute? I was looking for this in a different size/colour/fit/whatever'. 
• If you don't need help and staff ask if you're ok or need anything don't scowl or be rude to them. It's part of their job. You'd be quick to complain if you needed help and weren't approached.
• In the event of that particular shop not having the item you want don't blame the staff. It's not the end of the world that you can't have that new pair of shoes right this instant. Accept it as one of life's mild annoyances.. Like rain on a Saturday.
• When rifling through clothes on the rack keep in mind that the mess you make will eventually have to be cleaned up. That top that fell off the hanger won't miraculously jump back on and that dress you placed on a rail full of trousers won't somehow walk back to it's allocated spot. Yes it is a sales assistant's job to do such things and we will do it.. But it shows a distinct lack of respect to have no regard for that fact. If you were in a fast food restaurant you'd clear your table - It's the same principle.
• Remember that we WANT to help you. It makes our days go much quicker when we have a creative task such as picking your outfit for your work night out. This, again, is within reason. Asking for every shoe in stock in a size 8 because you can't decide crosses that line.
• SMILE!!!!