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    Retail worker cuts off their friend, Vanessa, from using their 30% employee discount after they spend $2800 and threaten their job: ‘My manager actually pulled me aside’

    Employee discounts are a privilege for the workers only, and if management finds out that employees have been misusing this concession, they might just bring out the book of pink slips and job listings. 

    The retailsphere is a strange place. Disingenuous, manufactured, and highly manicured, retail is a work environment that makes employees force a smile, clock out for their lunch break on time, and stand on their feet all day for no reason. And don't even get me started on the angry customers… The greatest, and arguably the only perk of the retail environment, is the employee discount. Highly coveted and usually the main reason anyone applies for the job, discounts give employees the semblance of control of their own lives, as if the department store playlist on repeat isn't making them go insane. 

    Like any retail employee, this worker was proud of her 30% off and got caught bragging about her perks to a friend. Hoping to capitalize, the shopaholic friend, Vanessa, insisted that she share her discount with her, hoping to cash in on herself. However, when her spending habits got out of control and when Vanessa started shopping on a disturbingly regular basis, suddenly the retail worker's job was at stake. 

    Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer Jesse Kessenheimer
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    • Woman with a yellow apron working at a retail store.
      via Design Studios

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • Retail managers can smell a scam from a mile away, and this employee's unusual spending habits on her account were raising red flags in every department. You're not supposed to give out your employee discount to people because obviously that undermines the price of every item in the store for regular customers, but this employee's friend's flagrant misuse of the discount is ultimately what got her banned. Not only did her spending keep her from saving, but it drove a wedge between an otherwise pleasant friendship, highlighting Vanessa's selfishness and complete disregard for her hardworking friend. 

      Unlike the surface-level friendships you make on your shift at work, this friendship betrayal was more than just a miscommunication about swapping shifts or coworker gossip; this put a woman's career at risk and therefore transcended into utterly treasonous behavior. Nobody should ever mess with a friend's income, not in this day and age. She needs this job!

    • From Your Author

      Woman wearing a hat in a snowy tundra in the Eastern Sierras.
      via Jesse Kessenheimer

      Wilderness Jess, reporting from the snowy tundra. 

      Luckily, I no longer work in retail, but I had a job at a luxury department store for over 4 years. As the only woman without click-clack nails and the only person without extensive knowledge of designer clothes, I was immediately the black sheep in my store. I never fit in with the retail crowd, but there was one coworker, a salesperson from Women's Shoes, with whom I clicked.

      We would blab on our break over company coffees and peruse the fragrance aisle on breaks. And despite the mind-numbing music and riotous customers, this friendship made each shift tolerable. Truly, it was this one coworker friend who helped me survive retail, but at the end of the day, it was the 30% employee discount that really sweetened the deal.

      And discounts are not something to mess with.

    • "My friend can't use my employee discount anymore after she abused it"

      I work at a popular retail store and employees get 30% discount. We're allowed to use it for friends/family occasionally. My friend "Vanessa" (both 27F) has asked to use it maybe 4-5 times over the past year which was fine.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
    • Last month she asked to use it for "a few things." I said sure and gave her my code. She spent $800. I was shocked but whatever, she bought a lot of winter clothes.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
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    • Two weeks later she asked again. I said didn't you just shop? She said "these are gifts." Fine. Another $600.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
    • Woman buying clothes at the retail counter with a contactless payment.
      via Pavel Madalina
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    • Then last week she asked AGAIN. I said this is getting excessive. She said she'll "pay me back" for helping. I said its not about payment, I'm worried about my discount being flagged for misuse.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
    • She promised it was the last time. I reluctantly agreed. She came to my store while I was working and filled TWO CARTS. Got to checkout and the total was $1,400. I said absolutely not, this is way too much.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
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    • Cheezburger Image 10597351936
      via Pavel Madalina
    • She made a scene saying I "promised" and now she's embarrassing in front of everyone. I told the cashier not to apply my discount. Vanessa left the store angry.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
    • Now she's texting me saying I "humiliated her" and "broke my word." She told our friend group I'm being selfish with my discount when "it doesn't cost me anything."
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
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    • My manager actually pulled me aside and said my discount has been used unusually high lately. AITJ for cutting her off?
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
    • TL;DR: Friend kept using my employee discount, last time tried to spend $1,400, I refused, she says I embarrassed her and broke my promise to help.
      via Opposite-Canary-1359
    • DesignerSandwich8678 She is taking advantage of you and doesn't seem to care that you could get in trouble. Doesn't sound like much of a friend
      via DesignerSandwich8678
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    • Firebird562 Is she selling the items for profit?
      via Firebird562
    • MidgetLoving Maxx NTJ. Your friend is almost certainly using your discount to resell items, which, in every company ive managed in, is a fireable offense.
      via MidgetLovingMaxx
    • Relative-Giraffe-977 No u're definitely not the jerk. she was literally about to get u fired over some sweaters. $1400 is insane and she's being a fake friend for even asking that much.
      via Relative-Giraffe-977
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    • PisFingerz42069 sounds like she's possibly selling the items to flip a profit. Cut her off since she's clearly not thinking about the possibilities on your end. Real friends don't jeopardize others. NTJ
      via PisFingerz42069
    • Beneficial-Sort4795 Group text. "My manager pulled me aside and said my discount was used an unusually high amount. That's all Vanessa. Then she tried to use it for $1,400 and caused a scene at my job when I said no. This is officially abusing my discount and my friendship and she will no longer be allowed to use it. This isn't up for debate. I'm not losing my job or my discount trying to be nice." NTJ but rethink the friendship. It's likely Vanessa is reselling everything she's buying.
      via Beneficial-Sort4795
    • Mobile_Emu_8404 Two carts?? for a "few things"?? she's definitely reselling that stuff or she has a major shopping problem. either way, she's putting ur livelihood at risk. if she was a real friend, she'd be worried about u getting in trouble, not about her $1,400 bill.
      via Mobile_Emu_8404
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    • Ntj DumbBees2 Tell to get a job at ur store, problem solved. Btw she needs to grow up.
      via DumbBees2
    • SaturnaliaSaturday NTJ; she's going to get you fired. She's not a friend.
      via SaturnaliaSaturday
    • Woodiewoods No you are not the asshole. Your friebd is using you and the exact thing you were worried about happening happened. Do not risk your job for someone who doesn't care what happens to you. And they might remove the discount for all employees due to this.
      via Woodiewoods

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