History Main / SouLSuckingRetailJob

If the store is making people's lives miserable outside the store as well, it's a PredatoryBusiness.

* ''Webcomic/{{Shortpacked}}'' takes place in one of these - granted, the employees are more a RagtagBunchOfMisfits, but their boss, Galasso, is a case of SmallNameBigEgo personified. For contrast, the [=McAwesome's=] across the street is possibly the greatest place to work at.

* Some of the main characters in ''ComicStrip/AdultChildren'' work in a superstore, and many of the strips deal with the crazy customers and managers they have to deal with.

* ''Literature/AAndP'' has Sammy see the [=A&P=] as this. He quits when he wants to enjoy the higher life.

* ''Literature/PretendingYouCareTheRetailEmployeeHandbook'' was written by a poor soul who spent too long working at such places ''for'' poor souls who are working at such places. (and was written by the same person that does the Retail strip mentioned above).

* ''VideoGame/MinotaurInAChinaShop'' has the title's minotaur character trying to fetch breakable china for customers while contesting with clumsy awkward controls. When the minotaur has broken too much merchandise, he goes into an UnstoppableRage.

* One of the main characters of Paul Southworth's ''Webcomic/KrazyLarry'' works at the superstore "Everything But Walnuts", a giant store that carries literally every imaginable product except walnuts, first as a clerk, and later, as their mascot "Nonuts The Ferret". Ironically, he finds this job after quitting his old BurgerFool job. He actually enjoys the mascot part of the job more because even though it involves him standing outside naked with only a censor bar over his crotch and getting pelted with rocks by passing cars, it's still better than dealing with the soul-crushing drudgery inside the store.
** Similarly, his third comic, ''ReptilisRex'' revolves around the main characters working in one of these called Lemmy's, a retail chain owned by a sexist, racist old man, a job they got after meeting another worker in prison. Upon being informed what retail actually is (i.e working with the public), Krell asks if there are any available spots open cleaning out feces-encrusted public bathrooms instead, but they're unfortunately already full.

* ''Webcomic/SaturdayMorningBreakfastCereal'': [[UsefulNotes/GreekMythology Ares]] comes running to Zeus complaining that Athena had allegedly cheated on a bet they made over who could put together the most formidable army. Ares organized an army consisting of badasses from throughout history such as ninjas, vikings, spartan warriors, etc. They were all massacred in seconds by Athenas sole choice of fighters- ''unpromotable retail workers!''

* This Playlist on Website/YouTube, entitled [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmFjwOM1tbu55W9Uw1MXKqirgBdQW0u6e Retail,]] is home to {{JediMaster362}}’s Retail Job Experiences.

Yes, I'm there most all there most all the time\\

* Mega-Lo-Mart from ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' qualifies. Filled with incompetent clerks with poor customer service skills. Hank had to work there when being laid off from Strickland Propane when Mega-Lo-Mart temporarily sold propane and was supervised by the dim-witted Buckley whose inexperience with propane ensured that he didn't survived to the next season.

* Mega-Lo-Mart from ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' qualifies. Filled with incompetent clerks with poor customer service skills. Hank had to work there when being laid off from Strickland Propane when Mega-Lo-Mart temporarily sold propane and was supervised by the dim-witted Buckley.

* Sam from ''Film/ACinderellaStory'' works at a diner run by her WickedStepmother, in which she is unpaid and overworked. She gets made fun of for it at school by [[AlphaBitch Shelby]] and her GirlPosse, who then proceed to drive her to tears by maliciously chanting "diner girl" at her. [[spoiler: At the end, however, she quits her job and moves in with her co-worker Rhonda, who also quit alongside her.]]

* In "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziX1oQRiA3w Konbini]]" by Brief & Trunks, a bored woman goes to the convenience store late at night. The workers at the store are blank-faced part-timers who look like they really don't want to be at work.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioOdyssey'', the [[SpeakingSimlish Simlish]] of one of the Crazy Cap shop employees in New Donk City can [[MemeticMutation easily be heard]] as him saying "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykO745qpveU I just want to die]]".

--->"[[https://www.nerfnow.com/comic/2771 Anne-chan looks surprisingly energetic today.]]"

* Then there's [[http://www.customerssuck.com Customers Suck]], a web forum to exchange stories and sympathy. Sections include several for stories about customers, "Cursing out Coworkers" (to vent about peers), and "Morons in Management" (getting the latest nonsense from those above off one's chest).
* This Playlist on Website/YouTube, entitled [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmFjwOM1tbu55W9Uw1MXKqirgBdQW0u6e Retail]], is home to {{JediMaster362}}’s Retail Job Experiences.

* Some of the main characters in ''Adult Children'' work in a superstore, and many of the strips deal with the crazy customers and managers they have to deal with.

* ''A&P'' has Sammy see the [=A&P=] as this. He quits when he wants to enjoy the higher life.

* ''Pretending You Care: The Retail Employee Handbook'' was written by a poor soul who spent too long working at such places ''for'' poor souls who are working at such places. (and was written by the same person that does the Retail strip mentioned above).

Either way, as this is TruthInTelevision, having this job is certainly no fun. Between the obnoxious customers who think "the customer is always right" is SeriousBusiness, [[ProfessionalSlacker lazy]] and [[IncompetenceInc incompetent co-workers]] laying all their tasks on the [[DisposableIntern interns and temps]] who will end up having to take the fall for them, the horrible music (especially during the holiday season), the long hours consisting of [[AgonyOfTheFeet standing on increasingly-blistered feet doing nothing]], then being forced to work at a ridiculously clumsy pace by impatient customers (and co-workers), and the tyrannical management, quitting or getting fired is sometimes the only way out. In the U.S., since a lot of manufacturing has been moved overseas, retail has become the standard "blue collar" job. Unfortunately, with the prevailing retail apocalypse resulting in numerous retail chains downsizing seriously or going out of business altogether, this job is getting more precarious as well, especially with rise of self-serve checkout kiosks threatening to replace the cashier operators.