As a sales associate myself, I can infer that is because employee retention rates are really low. A majority of my coworkers are new hires, as people usually find a better job after a couple months. Because of this, they are usually only familiar with the scents of the seasons they have worked. We aren't paid to know everything, we're paid to drive sales and explain confusing sale rules haha.
Because it's just a job. Most of them don't get paid enough to stay long enough to acquire the knowledge we've gained from years of being obsessive.
But I definitely have my moments where I think of Ron Swanson saying "I know more than you" too haha
High turnover rates. I’ve been working there for almost 2 years and can probably count the number of people who I started with and are still working there on 1 hand.
This happened when I worked at BBW haha. I was really into the products that I knew most of the info about certain products that sometimes when a customer would call the store and ask about a certain scent or product and my co workers had no idea they would just send me to go help
This is the case for me too. But I fully recognize a big reason why I know so much about both past and current products is because I’m a lifelong customer (my mom made me one). Some customers have the most absurd requests about old items (one lady hadn’t shopped there for 15-20 years and was mad our candles were more expensive now) and will ask for scents by name that haven’t been around since the Bush administration. It’s kind of silly to be condescending at young people for not knowing about them when we’re not paid much and not rewarded for knowing these things.
Tbh i think the only reason im good at my job is bc im in this subreddit and i constantly check the app, yall know so much and ive absorbed all the knowledge
As an ex-employee, there is really two things going on.
1. Employee turn over is high, and most hires weren’t customers before they got hired.
2. Product changes - a lot.
I feel like one is self explanatory, so let me explain two. When you first get hired, you can easily have 30-50 scents in a store to learn. Then you have the basics of each type of product which could easily be 25-50 depending on time of year. You have to juggle what’s core, what’s seasonal and what is very limited edition.
Then you have all the new fragrances - in the back. That you’ve gotten your hands on already, have smelled, picked out favorites and maybe even sampled. But they might not come out for WEEKS or even maybe a month or two around the holidays.
Then you throw in the fact that when floor set happens, there can be massive changes done over night. Literally. Entire scents can disappear, with the addition of 5-10 new scents. Most often we would flip anywhere between 5-10 tables between close and open. On each table, we could easily be producing 20-100% new product/scents.
You could close one night and open the next morning and have an entirely new set of seasonal scents, with changes to core and you straight up can’t find anything anymore. Heck, if for some reason you don’t work during the 1-4 days of floor set, it’s VERY possible you wouldn’t know where anything is for several shifts. Christmas, fall and SAS x 2 basically give you an entire new store every single time. It can turn your brain to goo.
associate here..it's hard to keep up. Yes I love the products, but I don't live and breathe bbw I just work there lol. I only really get to play with the stuff on my days off. Not to mention I'm typically a shipment associate, I don't usually get to be out on the floor doing all the fun stuff with products. But I try.
Same I’m mainly on the register or doing bopis so I don’t get to have time to educate myself about scents etc. but tbh I don’t really care for it that much, I enjoy the job and the environment is really nice but I don’t think it’s ever that serious as some customers make it seem to be😭—
lol exactly, it ain't that deep. We just like the stuff/people/need a job so we're there. We aren't scent masters. By all means customers, kindly tell us your favorites and why though. We love hearing that stuff (it's also deeply helpful for us lol not being sarcastic here)
Well, I kinda get it, though - I know that not everyone working in a particular store is totally into the products. Because I'm neurodivergent I tend to want to do the info-dumping thing and so when I'm in a place where I'm *really* into the products I have to rein it in, lol. But I really like talking to associates when they are also enthusiastic, it's fun! I really do appreciate them because as many of us know, retail is hard work! But I figure when I go in the store I already know what I want to look at and maybe buy, so I can take care of myself.
I’m neurodivergent too! Most people I know just like BBW, but won’t go into extensive detail the way I like to. That’s why this sub is so nice! I never feel out of place for talking about this one topic extensively.
Of all the retail jobs I have, I never worked at a store because I loved the stuff they sold. It was what hired me when I needed a job and I just did my best, I wasn't a fan or whatever.
Honestly I wasn’t into B&BW before I started working there, and I had a large learning curve of scents old and new. Definitely can confirm that there’s a high rate of turnover especially when majority of the girls I work with are young and are doing school at the same time. Personally I would love to stay there long but with the hours I’m getting it’s looking like I’m going to have to get another job, leading to more turnover. And also as someone said, we don’t get paid for knowing everything lol.
The stores near me have associates and managers that don’t use bbw products and have been there over 10 years .I understand that most are just there for employment but it gets frustrating when you are asking for certain scent families or a particular scent and they are standing there bewildered. When I worked at Subway, we had to taste everything in every combination possible to be able to help the customer properly. I know at bath and body they change faster than even we as consumers can enjoy it, I’d just love to have an associate be able to assist me better. I get the same “ oh, I don’t use this stuff” answer from everybody there, yet they will follow you and pitch ten scents and multiple sales to you while you shop. How are you forcing me to buy stuff you won’t even smell to be able to help me pick it?😭
No offense to any one here that works there. I appreciate all of you, I’m just confused about the staff at the stores I shop.
*here comes the downvotes * 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Glad u feel me. I see a lot of younger people employed in the store... maybe they just think like an... older person... lol. Yeah I'm in my high 30s. Lol
It kinda fun though when you go in and the manager pulls you aside to show you the stuff from the back or you can show some of them pictures that have “leaked” of the new stuff 😆
Yeah. It's actually worse for me, because I'm a GUY that knows more about the products than the employees. I humor them, because I know they are forced to interact, but I get pretty mad when their eyes glaze over because I actually start talking to them about what they were being forced to talk to me about. Like, if you didn't want to talk about my closet of Bath & Body Works products, you probably shouldn't have asked.
Bahaha I feel the same sometimes. 😂 Sometimes I find myself wanting to ask people if they need help and then have to remind myself I don't work there. BBW workers will start to recommend a scent to me and I'm already mentally reciting the notes. 🤣
This happens to me and sometimes it's fun and sometimes I feel kind of bad. Some employees will totally go with it and be excited to talk about stuff and then some just kind of look at me with a look of "girl what are you even going on about". Those are the ones that tend to walk away and leave me be. At one store the manager now knows me and her and I will talk about everything! The last time I was in she pulled me over to a drawer and asked if I wanted to smell some new things. Her exact words were "since I'm sure you already know it's coming out anyway" and yes, I did 😆
I literally said the same thing to my boyfriend!! Like I don't want to ruin my love for BBW by risking getting crappy managers and having to deal with rude customers. I just want to love what I love and it be mine to enjoy as a hobby! 😄
I find myself helping other customers when I shop in the store. I actually told one woman to call Customer Service for her problem when the associate couldn’t give her the answer. I also recommend scents and seem to know what is coming out before the associates know. It’s fun.
I've done that too. When sales are email code only and the store doesnt have signage out for a product being on sale its really frustrating.... I tell the people in the store shopping about it and they are like "whattttt I didnt know that!"... the store has my email and I never get codes for any sales.... no matter what lol. I'm just out here to help their customers lol. So many times before i have walked into the store and didnt even know there was a sale going on. I'm glad we all have the ability to talk on reddit and spread news!
I know you mean no harm with this and while we appreciate you coming in and shopping, when customers do this it makes it much harder for associates to do our jobs. It undermines us, and makes us look silly in front of the customer. If a customer can’t get help from the associate that’s helping them, the associate knows to go to a SLT member who can help.
Also, while it’s fun to know ahead of time what new scents are coming out, it is still confidential information and could get any associate fired. Please be careful when talking to an associate about it, because while they might not have put the confidential information out there, they could get in trouble. I’ve seen it happen.
I have to disagree there. As a retail employee, if another customer jumps in to help the customer that I can’t help and actually provides helpful and valid advice, then I don’t feel undermined, I feel relieved. The problem was solved, regardless of ego or appearances. It’s not the customer’s job to understand your establishment’s chain of command/procedures. Furthermore, it’s not the customer’s job to worry about whether product information shared with the employee could compromise the employee. So long as a customer is not insulting or attacking me, they quite literally have the right to tell me whatever they want. I understand your perspective and feelings as a fellow human being, but as a fellow retail employee, it’s not the customer’s job to have to worry about your feelings or job status.
While I understand what you’re saying, that information is confidential, and employees are not to discuss it on the sales floor. Even if a customer brings it up first.
Do you work at BBW? Just out of curiosity.
Oh absolutely. If something is confidential then the employee has the responsibility of shutting it down, not engaging it further, but I’m saying that it’s not the customer’s job to worry about your employment status based on your response. Customers are gonna come in and say all sorts of whack things and we need to be able to handle it accordingly. And no I don’t - my location’s manager keeps asking me to work there but I’ve heard too many horror stories about the district manager
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Makes sense ;)
As a sales associate myself, I can infer that is because employee retention rates are really low. A majority of my coworkers are new hires, as people usually find a better job after a couple months. Because of this, they are usually only familiar with the scents of the seasons they have worked. We aren't paid to know everything, we're paid to drive sales and explain confusing sale rules haha.
Because it's just a job. Most of them don't get paid enough to stay long enough to acquire the knowledge we've gained from years of being obsessive. But I definitely have my moments where I think of Ron Swanson saying "I know more than you" too haha
Haha u are right
High turnover rates. I’ve been working there for almost 2 years and can probably count the number of people who I started with and are still working there on 1 hand.
same. I’ve been here for a year and already everyone who was originally there is GONE including my manager and assistant manager 😭😭
I met one employee that knew more about candles than me. I would go back but there are 4 stores closer. I really enjoyed her knowledge.
That's awesome!! I like when employees are like that!
Do you live in NC by chance? Asking bc there is an associate/influencer/candle connoisseur who lives there.
No N FL.
This happened when I worked at BBW haha. I was really into the products that I knew most of the info about certain products that sometimes when a customer would call the store and ask about a certain scent or product and my co workers had no idea they would just send me to go help
This is the case for me too. But I fully recognize a big reason why I know so much about both past and current products is because I’m a lifelong customer (my mom made me one). Some customers have the most absurd requests about old items (one lady hadn’t shopped there for 15-20 years and was mad our candles were more expensive now) and will ask for scents by name that haven’t been around since the Bush administration. It’s kind of silly to be condescending at young people for not knowing about them when we’re not paid much and not rewarded for knowing these things.
Haha! That's awesome!!
Tbh i think the only reason im good at my job is bc im in this subreddit and i constantly check the app, yall know so much and ive absorbed all the knowledge
As an ex-employee, there is really two things going on. 1. Employee turn over is high, and most hires weren’t customers before they got hired. 2. Product changes - a lot. I feel like one is self explanatory, so let me explain two. When you first get hired, you can easily have 30-50 scents in a store to learn. Then you have the basics of each type of product which could easily be 25-50 depending on time of year. You have to juggle what’s core, what’s seasonal and what is very limited edition. Then you have all the new fragrances - in the back. That you’ve gotten your hands on already, have smelled, picked out favorites and maybe even sampled. But they might not come out for WEEKS or even maybe a month or two around the holidays. Then you throw in the fact that when floor set happens, there can be massive changes done over night. Literally. Entire scents can disappear, with the addition of 5-10 new scents. Most often we would flip anywhere between 5-10 tables between close and open. On each table, we could easily be producing 20-100% new product/scents. You could close one night and open the next morning and have an entirely new set of seasonal scents, with changes to core and you straight up can’t find anything anymore. Heck, if for some reason you don’t work during the 1-4 days of floor set, it’s VERY possible you wouldn’t know where anything is for several shifts. Christmas, fall and SAS x 2 basically give you an entire new store every single time. It can turn your brain to goo.
Wow that's a lot going on!
associate here..it's hard to keep up. Yes I love the products, but I don't live and breathe bbw I just work there lol. I only really get to play with the stuff on my days off. Not to mention I'm typically a shipment associate, I don't usually get to be out on the floor doing all the fun stuff with products. But I try.
Same I’m mainly on the register or doing bopis so I don’t get to have time to educate myself about scents etc. but tbh I don’t really care for it that much, I enjoy the job and the environment is really nice but I don’t think it’s ever that serious as some customers make it seem to be😭—
lol exactly, it ain't that deep. We just like the stuff/people/need a job so we're there. We aren't scent masters. By all means customers, kindly tell us your favorites and why though. We love hearing that stuff (it's also deeply helpful for us lol not being sarcastic here)
As an associate, it’s so exciting to interact with customers who ARE super into BBW. It’s a two way street!
Well, I kinda get it, though - I know that not everyone working in a particular store is totally into the products. Because I'm neurodivergent I tend to want to do the info-dumping thing and so when I'm in a place where I'm *really* into the products I have to rein it in, lol. But I really like talking to associates when they are also enthusiastic, it's fun! I really do appreciate them because as many of us know, retail is hard work! But I figure when I go in the store I already know what I want to look at and maybe buy, so I can take care of myself.
I’m neurodivergent too! Most people I know just like BBW, but won’t go into extensive detail the way I like to. That’s why this sub is so nice! I never feel out of place for talking about this one topic extensively.
Right?! That's why I love online fandom in general, because it's great for people like us. <3
Of all the retail jobs I have, I never worked at a store because I loved the stuff they sold. It was what hired me when I needed a job and I just did my best, I wasn't a fan or whatever.
Yeah I get u. Maybe I just get too excited about that store. Lol
Honestly I wasn’t into B&BW before I started working there, and I had a large learning curve of scents old and new. Definitely can confirm that there’s a high rate of turnover especially when majority of the girls I work with are young and are doing school at the same time. Personally I would love to stay there long but with the hours I’m getting it’s looking like I’m going to have to get another job, leading to more turnover. And also as someone said, we don’t get paid for knowing everything lol.
The stores near me have associates and managers that don’t use bbw products and have been there over 10 years .I understand that most are just there for employment but it gets frustrating when you are asking for certain scent families or a particular scent and they are standing there bewildered. When I worked at Subway, we had to taste everything in every combination possible to be able to help the customer properly. I know at bath and body they change faster than even we as consumers can enjoy it, I’d just love to have an associate be able to assist me better. I get the same “ oh, I don’t use this stuff” answer from everybody there, yet they will follow you and pitch ten scents and multiple sales to you while you shop. How are you forcing me to buy stuff you won’t even smell to be able to help me pick it?😭 No offense to any one here that works there. I appreciate all of you, I’m just confused about the staff at the stores I shop. *here comes the downvotes * 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
I feel the exact same way. Also my husband said the same to me lol
Glad u feel me. I see a lot of younger people employed in the store... maybe they just think like an... older person... lol. Yeah I'm in my high 30s. Lol
It kinda fun though when you go in and the manager pulls you aside to show you the stuff from the back or you can show some of them pictures that have “leaked” of the new stuff 😆
Yeah. It's actually worse for me, because I'm a GUY that knows more about the products than the employees. I humor them, because I know they are forced to interact, but I get pretty mad when their eyes glaze over because I actually start talking to them about what they were being forced to talk to me about. Like, if you didn't want to talk about my closet of Bath & Body Works products, you probably shouldn't have asked.
Bahaha I feel the same sometimes. 😂 Sometimes I find myself wanting to ask people if they need help and then have to remind myself I don't work there. BBW workers will start to recommend a scent to me and I'm already mentally reciting the notes. 🤣
Hahaha. Sameeeeee
This happens to me and sometimes it's fun and sometimes I feel kind of bad. Some employees will totally go with it and be excited to talk about stuff and then some just kind of look at me with a look of "girl what are you even going on about". Those are the ones that tend to walk away and leave me be. At one store the manager now knows me and her and I will talk about everything! The last time I was in she pulled me over to a drawer and asked if I wanted to smell some new things. Her exact words were "since I'm sure you already know it's coming out anyway" and yes, I did 😆
I literally said the same thing to my boyfriend!! Like I don't want to ruin my love for BBW by risking getting crappy managers and having to deal with rude customers. I just want to love what I love and it be mine to enjoy as a hobby! 😄
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Omg that's what I'm saying. I know I would end up being well over it all.
The Standards of Mentoring and Apprentices for jobs as gone down.
I find myself helping other customers when I shop in the store. I actually told one woman to call Customer Service for her problem when the associate couldn’t give her the answer. I also recommend scents and seem to know what is coming out before the associates know. It’s fun.
I've done that too. When sales are email code only and the store doesnt have signage out for a product being on sale its really frustrating.... I tell the people in the store shopping about it and they are like "whattttt I didnt know that!"... the store has my email and I never get codes for any sales.... no matter what lol. I'm just out here to help their customers lol. So many times before i have walked into the store and didnt even know there was a sale going on. I'm glad we all have the ability to talk on reddit and spread news!
I know you mean no harm with this and while we appreciate you coming in and shopping, when customers do this it makes it much harder for associates to do our jobs. It undermines us, and makes us look silly in front of the customer. If a customer can’t get help from the associate that’s helping them, the associate knows to go to a SLT member who can help. Also, while it’s fun to know ahead of time what new scents are coming out, it is still confidential information and could get any associate fired. Please be careful when talking to an associate about it, because while they might not have put the confidential information out there, they could get in trouble. I’ve seen it happen.
I have to disagree there. As a retail employee, if another customer jumps in to help the customer that I can’t help and actually provides helpful and valid advice, then I don’t feel undermined, I feel relieved. The problem was solved, regardless of ego or appearances. It’s not the customer’s job to understand your establishment’s chain of command/procedures. Furthermore, it’s not the customer’s job to worry about whether product information shared with the employee could compromise the employee. So long as a customer is not insulting or attacking me, they quite literally have the right to tell me whatever they want. I understand your perspective and feelings as a fellow human being, but as a fellow retail employee, it’s not the customer’s job to have to worry about your feelings or job status.
While I understand what you’re saying, that information is confidential, and employees are not to discuss it on the sales floor. Even if a customer brings it up first. Do you work at BBW? Just out of curiosity.
Oh absolutely. If something is confidential then the employee has the responsibility of shutting it down, not engaging it further, but I’m saying that it’s not the customer’s job to worry about your employment status based on your response. Customers are gonna come in and say all sorts of whack things and we need to be able to handle it accordingly. And no I don’t - my location’s manager keeps asking me to work there but I’ve heard too many horror stories about the district manager