No companies were named in the writing of this article

There's a high level of competition when it comes to getting certain "cool jobs" in retail.  Let me tell you now, it's not worth it. 

The corporation knows that they can replace you at anytime, so they don't care how much you get paid. This specific company is in the top 1000 profit making companies in the U.S. but they only pay their sales guys minimum wage plus a low commission, I made about $.75 over minimum wage and no commission, not even tips. 

For the guys that wanted to buy a lot of equipment, the discount made it worth the low wage, but for the rest of us, it was long hours, boring and thankless work.

I sat in a podium and checked people's receipts to make sure they got what they paid for and didn't sneak in a $2000 guitar somewhere.  It didn't matter how many people you saved hundreds of dollars by realizing they were rung up for the wrong item or too many things, people still would treat you like a jerk for stopping them and checking their stuff.

Worse then that, some people were so rude. 

I don't just mean the people upset because you tell them they have to pay for something the cashier didn't ring up.  I don't even mean the people that think they own you and all the other employees because they're buying a lot of stuff. 

I mean the people that think they're being nice and leave you feeling like you need a shower.  I mean the dirty minded kids and old men that would come in and say horribly obscene things to the girls working at the door.

Just in case any of you guys are confused about what's an ok way to hit on a girl and what's not, playing guitar for a girl (as long as you actually know how to operate the instrument) might not always work, but will rarely her to beg her boss to have you kicked out of the store.  On the other hand complimenting a girl's chest or telling her what you'd like to do to (not with) her is not a good way to get a girl interested.

I worked there for ¾ of one year and I still have nightmares that I work there, literally.  I dreamed the greasy sleazeball with the trumpet was slobbering all over me and I tried to quit but my boss wouldn't let me and forced me to keep working.  I woke up repeating to myself "I don't still work there, I don't still work there."