I get annoyed by people who can’t follow common courtesy, so if you’re about to go shopping, please remember the 10 commandments of shopping retail.

1. Thou shalt use common courtesy with customers and salesmen alike.

Saying “Hello” “Hi” “How are you?” “Can you please..?” “Thank you!” can really make a difference and often make salesmen and customers respond more positively towards you.

2. Thou shalt understand thyself is not entitled to special privileges.

Coming in and demanding something, be it service or a particular item, is not going to automatically get you what you want.  Someone who asks nicely is more likely to get special help than someone who demands assistance.

3. Thou shalt attempt to help thyself prior to requesting assistance.

Important.  Asking for help after two seconds of looking, especially for large and obvious items, is something that annoys people to death.  If you are in a hurry and spot someone and ask, that’s understandable.  Saying you looked when you haven’t is obvious.

4. Thou shalt not abuse thine relationship with salesmen.

Customers are in a position of power.  Enough bad words and a salesman is suddenly out of a job.  However, most salesmen know how to untangle themselves and ensure that nothing is done to help you, even as you get more and more irate.

5. Thou shalt not bring small animals into thine store.

Small animals do not contain self control, and therefor will use the restroom, make loud noises, freak out, etc., often at the most inopportune times, leading to quite a few headaches.

6. Thou shalt control small children or remove them from thine store.

Children should be taught and mentored in how to correctly act in public.  However, just like you don’t take a completely untrained driver onto the interstate for the first time, your child needs some background in how to act.  If they can’t behave, they need not be there.

7. Thou shalt not steal.

This one is fairly obvious for two reasons.  Security will remove you from the store (with police if necessary) and it harms the salesman’s opportunities for getting a bonus.  When a salesman sees theft going on, they’re watching money that could be in a bonus check leaving, and will not appreciate it.

8. Thou shalt attempt to replace unwanted items correctly.

When selecting multiple items, several selections must be made.  Often, items are clustered together to let you have options all at once.  However, tossing the unselected items away only makes a mess, one that a salesman has to then clean up.

9. Thou shalt not use loud or unbecoming language.

Many retail stores are host to children and young adults.  Both of them are highly influenced.  Yelling curses and swears shows they are probably more mature than you, and that you do not need to be in the store.

10. Thou shalt attempt to clean thine own messes.

Vomiting and accidentally dropping a bottle of juice can be understood when it comes to leaving a mess.  However, throwing trash on the floor, leaving items scattered and untidy is a mess a salesman must also clean up.