40+ People Share What It’s Like To Work At Abercrombie & Fitch During The Early 2000s
Do you have a passion for fashion or a desire to learn what it’s like to work at a recognized retail establishment? One of the most well-known apparel companies from the early 2000s is the subject of this article. Unfortunately, most of the employees of Abercrombie & Fitch did not find working there to be a joyful learning experience, despite the fact that working at a big-brand store should be. Scroll down to learn why…
Hey, How’s it Goin?
The greeting isn’t very warm, no matter how hip the manager of this particular A&F establishment thought it was. Furthermore, it is absurd to believe that individuals are only employed to pose in front of stores and welcome customers.
Hey, How’s It Goin?
Just for switching up the dreadfully boring greeting, this poor woman received a stern scolding. We wouldn’t be shocked if she had resigned following that encounter.
Stay Barefoot or Go Home
We are beginning to question if A&F is a clothing retailer or a military facility. We have never in our lives heard of a member of staff being sent home or made to work barefoot behind the counter just because they weren’t wearing the proper flip-flops.
Stay Barefoot Or Go Home
A nightmare indeed! Who would desire such a job? We genuinely hope the unfortunate man realized his error and stopped before anything more absurd occurred.
The Smell of Nausea
That is just too much cologne, dude! If you’re using that much cologne in such a small area, it’s sure to smell. Anyone entering must feel sick to their stomach. We don’t see why the clothing needs to be sprayed so frequently; a few spritzes daily ought to be plenty.
The Smell Of Nausea
Some customers might never return to the store because they perceive the smell to be so repulsive. We find it incomprehensible that A&F’s managers would assign such pointless activities to its employees.
Sit There & Look Pretty
Ironically, a salesperson’s primary responsibility is to interact with consumers, not to sit about doing nothing. It is understandable why the remuneration is so cheap given that all of the workers receive compensation for doing nothing except seem attractive.
Sit There & Look Pretty
Who is intended to assist them if they are not permitted to speak with customers? This can cause them to lose clients and damage the company’s reputation.
Hook-Up Hub
What else can you anticipate if you solely consider someone’s appearance while hiring them? Any kindergartener would understand that hookups are inevitable when there is a concentration of attractive people of different genders or even the same gender.
Hook Up Hub
This internal connection could negatively affect the work atmosphere, and making matters worse, if people break up, it might lead to unpleasant situations.
Unpleasing Sight
These requests are both gravely impolite and an invasion of people’s privacy. The employees should be permitted to wear whatever fit they choose as long as it is respectable and doesn’t violate the dress code since they are also adults.
Unpleasing Sight
These managers made a number of unethical demands and requests. It certainly doesn’t look professional to hang the belt that way and display your underwear line.
No Facial Hair Allowed
After several absurd requests, this one seems somewhat sensible, although it is still incorrect. Because facial hair is on the face, it is up to the employees to decide how they wish to maintain it.
No Facial Hair Allowed
Another military-style regulation that we don’t really comprehend is this one. Yes, the employees should present themselves well, but a beard needn’t always detract from that.
No Sales for You
What’s the use of working for money if you only use it to buy clothes that you have to wear to work? Because A&F is so inexpensive, they even forbid their employees from wearing sale items on the floor in an effort to encourage customers to buy full-price items.
No Sales For You
This is absurd because they profit from every item sold. Just let’s hope that u/nathanielj5 leaves this job soon after beginning it.
Nail and Piercing Police
Who are they to tell you how many piercings and what nail paint you can wear? How do they perceive themselves? They only exist as a clothing company. Clothing and hair are somewhat acceptable, but were people even allowed to paint their nails however they pleased?
Nail And Piercing Police
We can’t even conceive the potential harm that a few painted nails could cause. It makes sense why they have a high turnover rate. Who would desire employment there?
Natural Look
We don’t know when a great “natural look” became synonymous with being good-looking or handsome. Probably never will know. There is a reason why the managers refrain from using these terms to describe the employees, but even so, anyone entering the store would be able to discern what the perfect A&F appearance is right away.
Natural Look
Although there is nothing wrong with having a natural appearance or physique, the brand might want to think about hiring a variety of people to model their clothing.
Clever Employee
It was only a loan, right? He did put it back afterward, so if it wasn’t theft, we assume it wasn’t that horrible. How did this go on for so long without anyone noticing? It’s true, though; why would the underpaid worker spend half his salary on an overpriced sweatshirt?
Clever Employee
We’d call that a wise decision on his behalf. But then again, if you were a customer, would you really want to purchase a sweatshirt knowing that it had been worn by a worker throughout his eight-hour shifts?
No Rainbows
Imagine being limited to wearing only three or four colors all year long. Even over the holidays, there was no freedom for this employee. It was also not acceptable to wear black, which is a wardrobe need. What impact did colors have on them?
No Rainbows
What baffles us is that you’d assume the management would have their staff model a wide range of hues, silhouettes, and sizes so that the customers could picture themselves wearing it. Isn’t that the entire point of employees sporting the brand’s apparel?
Scent Obsession
Once more, what is it with A&F and scents? What exactly is this bizarre obsession? They should have enough to last them for five spritzes each day. Why do they act so irresponsibly? We simply ponder how many bottles of cologne and perfume they must use each week.
Scent Obsession
It appears as though they use all of their income to purchase unlimited quantities of colognes and fragrances. We could think this is a waste of money, especially because A&F colognes and fragrances are already a mainstay of the company. There’s no need to publicize it excessively…
Scouted Password
Naturally, they only want to hire people they have carefully vetted because not all naturally occurring candidates will meet the brand’s standards of attractiveness. To go to the trouble of maintaining a password solely for this purpose, though, is astounding to us.
Scouted Password
This superficial trait of theirs needs to leave if they want to reclaim their popularity and prosperity again; otherwise, it will simply be a protracted string of misfortunes for them.
Black Is Illegal
When is the bias based on race going to end? Where and how is it possible that a hue is forbidden to wear? Even further, they stated that employees might wear really dark navy blue as long as it wasn’t black.
Black Is Illegal
We may never understand the rationale behind these peculiar rules, but we’re just glad we’ve never had to deal with anything similar. The question that remains is: Does A&F even carry black clothing?
Smart Decision
Who will stay on staff if you force everyone to spend nearly half of their income on the attire that will serve as their uniform? After being hired, employees are required to purchase their own clothing, which is absurd in and of itself.
Clever Employee
However, it appears that the staff members began to think outside the box. Simply purchase an absurdly large number of gift cards. After a month, you take your pay and leave. Though it doesn’t seem like the most moral course of action, each to their own.
“The Look†Is Missing
That is simply harsh. It is completely odd to go to the lengths of lying only to maintain a particular appearance. We would never support or work for a company with such a vapid and uninteresting brand.
“The Look†Is Missing
If all they want are attractive people, they could just advertise it as their brand, making everyone aware of their true motivations. The conceited manager even forced Nancy to tell lies.
All Types of Beauty
We applaud this woman for never working again. The worst kind of discrimination is this because there are many different kinds of beauty in the world. They have no right to deny her employment because of the natural hair she has. We assumed their only concern was a natural appearance.
All Types Of Beauty
We ponder what about her hair makes them feel so out of place or weird. It is entirely wrong and unprofessional to act in this manner. It should come as no surprise that the brand’s popularity has fallen given that they should be aware of it better in today’s society.
Scouting for Good Looks
This ploy just serves to reinforce our criticism of A&F’s standards, and some people might even find it disturbing. Imagine simply walking through a mall, observing people, and making decisions about them based solely on their appearance. Once you locate a qualified applicant, you immediately give them a job.
Scouting For Good Looks
This could annoy the person who received the proposal and damage the reputation of the business. Because you’re only using outward appearances to make your judgment, the conduct is also immoral.
Six Pack Mannequins
The Abercrombie & Fitch company is concerned with the appearance of both its mannequins and its staff members. They even gave these lifeless items six-packs, that’s right.
Six Pack Mannequins
We’re not even being facetious. Every single one of the mannequins has a six-pack if you take off their clothes. Friends, let that be your incentive to start going to the gym.
Shoplifting Paranoia
See, this is what happens when you judge someone based solely on their appearance rather than their character or principles. The managers are left feeling uneasy about their merchandise being stolen. However, it is never acceptable to search your staff members’ baggage without reasonable suspicion, let alone while they are on break.
Shoplifting Paranoia
This is incredibly disrespectful and degrading to the workers. It’s incredibly harsh that minorities are likewise employed mostly in the backroom merely because English isn’t their first language.
Cast-of-Tracker
One of the strangest and most biased ways to handle your employees has to be this. It is abhorrent to decide whether or not your employee gets a promotion based purely on appearance. It’s unethical and wrong.
Cast Of Tracker
Why would a worker need to look a certain way in order to do what is required of them? And why keep other employees secret if you don’t believe they uphold the A&F reputation?
The Look Policy
Why are A&F so concerned with their appearance? Can you imagine constantly needing to consider your appearance or what you’re wearing? It’s not the Oval Office; it’s just a store!
The Look Policy
If they cared so much about what their employees wore, they could simply provide them with clothing, but instead, they simply implemented a dress code as if the employees were high school students. They also give attention to their nails, hair, and makeup.
Not Cute Enough
This is simply not acceptable! How vicious is this company? They shouldn’t have fired a lady merely because she didn’t meet their standards for attractiveness, how dare they? Imagine how ashamed and upset she must have felt, especially since they did it in front of a crowd.
Not Cute Enough
After hearing all the terrible confessions, it’s difficult to support, patronize, or work for a brand like this. Everyone should have an equal chance!
Body Shaming
This intensifies the practice of body shaming. We find it absurd that this company believes it has the right to choose what is and isn’t beautiful. First of all, nobody should be made to feel less than attractive since everyone is lovely in their own unique way. Second, A&F ought to begin selecting employees based on their moral character and work ethic.
Body Shaming
It is clear that this company and its managers have some catching up to do. After all, people, the year is 2021.
Lucky Employee
The way A&F treats its staff is probably to blame for the company’s high turnover rate. They not only pay considerably less, but they also evaluate their staff members only on their outward looks. However, some employees who are successful in keeping their jobs for a long time might acquire more power.
Lucky Employee
One of the fortunate ones was this young man. Many individuals even believed him to be a manager. He must have enjoyed it.
Sandals Are Mandatory
You would expect that a large company would give their employees’ comfort a higher priority than their beauty. Why subject your employees to such suffering? Since there are so many other footwear options, there is really no reason to insist on wearing flat sandals; additionally, it can’t be good for the health of those who work shifts requiring constant standing.
Sandals Are Mandatory
In addition, only very tight jeans and jeggings are permitted, which may be harmful to the health of the workers. A & F, awaken!
The Large Is a Medium or Small
For a brand to survive in the modern world, it is imperative that all sizes are represented. Abercrombie, on the other hand, only offers sizes up to large, and even that typically runs very small because they don’t believe in inclusivity.
The Large Is A Medium Or Small
They only support serving those who are incredibly small. At the end of the day, we can only hope that this brand is aware of how ashamed the workers and customers are.
No Shirts Please
Even the poor models are tortured. If you ever pass an Abercrombie outlet, it’s a frequent sight to see a man standing in front of the store without a shirt on. Since, as far as we are aware, these individuals are recruited to display the clothes, not their abs, we are unable to see how this aids the brand in finding a suitable model.
No Shirts Please
Instead of asking the models to remove their shirts for photos right away if shirtless pictures are required, the manager could simply ask them to bring their own photos.
Star Jeans
People don’t exactly carry stopwatches with them all the time, so the requirement that you approach a customer within 15 seconds of them entering the business makes us uneasy.
Star Jeans
As if saying “Hey” isn’t horrible enough. How’s it going?” The manager then came up with an even wackier tagline/sales pitch, asking the client if they’ve ever tried the jeans before saying they’ll look like a star if they decide to put a pair on. Cheesy. Strange. Simply no.
Ladders to Get Jeans
Do you understand the reasoning behind this? Why do they wear regular-sized jeans that are cuffed up so high? If a customer walked in and demanded a pair of jeans in a size that any short staff would need to use a ladder to reach, it would be incredibly awkward and inefficient.
Ladders To Get Jeans
That’s so annoying! We don’t know if they enjoy torturing their employees or if they are afraid of theft.
Damaged Eardrums
We don’t understand these stores or their managers. So are the people who are chosen to run a branch of this store simply lose all sense of reality? These unfortunate workers and their ears
Damaged Eardrums
Over that loud music, how do they even manage to hear each other, let alone the customers?
Smelling Like a Guy
Unquestionably insanely obsessed with smells, this store. How else might a worker who spends six hours a day there begin to smell like the store? Imagine the suffering this poor employee must through just to get rid of that abhorrently offensive odor.
Smelling Like A Guy
Being a woman with a man’s smell must be a major annoyance, even though it probably isn’t all that bad for male employees.
No Brains, Only Beauty
It completely boggles our minds that these managers would invest so much time and money in hiring a particular type of person, even if they aren’t the smartest. Why go to all this trouble for ineffective employees?
No Brains, Only Beauty
That, we suppose, is what results from prioritizing “beautiful” people over clever ones.
Flirty Customers
The only customers who enter the store are a bunch of creeps who are only interested in your staff and not your actual products, so we guess this is the result of hiring primarily attractive (by A&F standards) individuals. Actually, the staff members may even annoy customers who are there to buy the goods.
Flirty Customers
Moreover, even though it’s nice to feel beautiful and wanted, if it’s at your place of employment, it probably feels downright odd. However, it’s really cute that the poster posed for a photo with a young fan.
Interview Instructions
These pointers will probably get you a job at your preferred retail establishment, but we should warn you that it won’t be all sunshine and butterflies once you start working there. Being attractive is the real key to getting a job there, and only after that does everything else come into play.
Interview Instructions
You should be fine if you follow the dress code and wear natural makeup. Answer the simple questions in an upbeat and welcoming manner. So you’ll definitely get in!
Useless Protest
We would also protest against A&F after discovering how inhumane this company can be and how they treat their staff. But stealing isn’t a very effective method to express yourself.
Useless Protest
No matter how much your theft aids the poor and needy, it still qualifies as theft. Go on a strike with your coworkers if you really want to protest the brand!
No A&B, No Abs
Imagine the strength of character this person exhibited to work at Abercrombie. To work there, they actually dropped weight. However, after discovering what it was really like to work there, the person must have been extremely disappointed and lost all motivation.
No A&B, No Abs
And it makes sense why. Just let’s hope this poster found fulfillment somewhere else. People, never forget that you are beautiful regardless of your shape or size!
Dark Humor
We must admit, a bit gloomy confession. Any retail job is enjoyable because different types of individuals are always going in and out. Even though it may be hurtful, there are occasions when employees engage in their own brand of sardonic humor with clients.
Dark Humor
When customers asked her an either-or question, this specific poster would recommend the item with the worse appearance. The managers really ought to have known more about this little game.
A Waste of Time
It’s understandable that this poster felt they were wasting their time since Abercrombie has a high turnover rate and ends up giving all the hours to certain employees while leaving others “on call.”
A Waste Of Time
We would advise them to apply for a position at any other business where their time is valued so they won’t have to wait for a call saying whether or not they will be working today.
Hospitalized for Scents
Imagine being admitted to the hospital merely due to a store’s aroma. Well, for this poor employee, that nightmare became a reality when they had to go to the hospital because of an allergic reaction brought on by the scents employed at Abercrombie.
Hospitalized For Scents
Consider what it would have been like if a consumer had experienced this. A&F might possibly concentrate on their preoccupation with colognes and scents as that would have made quite the effect.
Good Money, Bad Experience
It’s a bit unexpected that a former employee of Abercrombie wasn’t truly dissatisfied with the compensation but was instead sort of comfortable with it. It sounds like they didn’t work with the most pleasant people, so they must have had a lot of tolerance.
Good Money, Bad Experience
They only consider a person’s outward appearance when making judgments about them. Not much better, it seems, are the managers.
Stupid Customers
A guide on how to handle inexperienced and unreasonable customers ought to exist. The name of the store is actually Abercrombie & Fitch, not American Eagle, after all.
Stupid Customers
So why did this one customer think he could just take his A&E t-shirt back to an A&F store? Fine. The two stores do look pretty similar when written with initials, but we believe that people are more sensible in real life!
Love for Food Court
Again, a surprising statement considering how much everyone else laments A&F’s low pay. However, why would someone work at a place they dread so much? We suppose it was worthwhile to visit the food court.
Love For Food Court
If there was a food court nearby, that would convince us as well to work there. However, it would put a serious dent in our budget. We can only hope that this wasn’t the case for this guy.