If you know anyone who worked in retail, then they probably told you a lot of unsavory stories about their work days. Of course, not all of them are bad, some are good experiences. But when it’s bad, it’s really bad. And the worst part, the bad stuff happens to be company policy.
At Victoria’s Secret, some of the former employees share the ridiculous company policies they’ve had to follow even when they didn’t want to follow them. Here are some examples.
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Wikimedia Commons
1. “You look great!”
The policy of Victoria’s Secret: when a customer asks how they look, staff always have to say, “You look great!” This is the only statement they can say unless you’re asking for another size. So if you want an honest opinion, rely on your instincts or bring a trusted shopping companion.
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Pexels - Julia Larson
2. “Just smile.”
Employees are often harassed. And sometimes, they’re harassed by the most unruly people who are not even customers: teenage boys.
“One time, a 14-year-old boy who could barely see over the cash wrap informed me he wanted to buy lingerie for his ‘future wife’ because I looked just like her. Meanwhile, his friend was hiding behind the panty bar filming it on an iPhone. They thought they were hilarious,” Ranker reported.
And the worst part is, the management just tells them to “smile and bear it.”
3. One-person-per-changing room unless…
The general rule at Victoria’s Secret: only one person per changing room. But sometimes, someone slips past them and well, one thing leads to another in the changing room. And Victoria’s Secret employees can’t do anything about it but call security and wait for them to break it up.
4. Same thing with shoplifters
They can’t intervene because the employees could either get hurt or sued. And that’s additional expenses for Victoria’s Secret. It’s best to just wait for security to handle it. It’s better to lose a few items than to pay for hospital or litigation fees.
5. You’re in the zone
There are certain zones in every store. There are high-traffic zones, high-end zones, etc. And you can get assigned to certain zones based on seniority.
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Pexels - Rachel Claire
6. “Would you like to sign up for the credit card?”
Employees hate asking but they’re required to ask the customer if they want to sign up for a credit card three times during their transaction. The company doesn’t care if the customers get annoyed. What they care about is signing up the customer and then they’ll spend more at the store and the company gets more money.
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Pexels - energepic.com
7. Men are treated differently
Women customers know Victoria’s Secret products. They know which ones work for them and which ones work for their budget. When men enter the store, they have no idea what to get. They just know they want to buy something for their partner. Employees know this and that’s why men are always shown the most expensive items in the store.
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Pexels - cottonbro
8. Different treatment
There are customers treated better than others. And it’s not what you think. The nice and patient ones are always treated nicely. The jerks are singled out and other employees (through their headsets) are warned so they can prepare.
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Pexels - Sam Lion
9. With the tag, it’s still okay
As long as the tag is still intact, it’s okay to return. And it’s okay to place it back on the shelf and sell it again. Remind us again, what does Victoria’s Secret sell? Yeah, exactly. They said Victoria’s Secret has since changed its policy, let’s hope so! But maybe make sure you wash first the items you buy before wearing them just in case.
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Pexels - Karolina Grabowska
10. No break? No problem!
Every employee is required to have a one-hour break. But they’re also pressured to meet their sales quota every day. And if they don’t, well, their future at the store seems unsure. Even though breaks are required, there is intense pressure to keep working until those sales quotas are met.
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Pexels - Tima Morishnichenko
11. Promo ads must be destroyed
Since Victoria’s Secret sells underwear and lingerie, they do catch the eye of some lusty individuals. They’re not going to stop using sensual photos for promotional ads but they also have a rule. All these promo ads must be destroyed beyond recognition before trashing it to avoid the ads being “misused.”
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Pexels - Joy Marino
12. Experience not necessary
Requirements to be an employee are the bare minimum. Their focus is on maximum profits, not employee training. Training videos are enough and then you learn on the job. But it’s up to the employee how to learn.
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Pexels - Andrea Picquadio
13. Lack of information
Some employees have deliberately withheld information from customers on how to take care of their Victoria’s Secret bras. This is for one reason only. The customers will wear out faster and they’ll buy more bras again.
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Pexels - Olya Kobruseva
14. A certain look
Because Victoria’s Secret sells a certain look, their employees have to live up to this reputation. Of course, they don’t have to look as beautiful and gorgeous as the models. But they have to always look good and presentable at all times.
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Pexels - Liza Summer
15. Only the super important ones
Do you think Victoria’s secret managers and top employees get invitations to attend the fashion show? Unfortunately, no. Only the super important employees from the top stores are invited to the fashion show.
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