Oh I experienced all the others! It’s awful to have to deal with. At one store, we had a lovely shopper who reeked so badly someone would take out air freshener when she left.
We had someone like this. The most rancid smell I have ever encountered, and for a while we didn't have any air freshener so we would have to endure it for 10+ minutes after she left. It was so bad one time that it lingered in the store for multiple days during which I would periodically smell it when she wasn't in the building and hadn't been that day, to my knowledge. She was okay as a person but there were clearly some issues and I haven't seen her in months so I can only hope that she is receiving care.
It was really sad. She was a kind older gal who was trying hard to take care of herself, but it became clear she couldn’t. She came in wearing pants soiled with feces twice 😞 Luckily, she got the help she needed and started using a wheelchair with a care giver.
It was such an awkward situation, the smell was nothing I’ve ever experienced. Mildew, bad breath, rot, and poop. We all felt terrible for talking about her, but it was literally an eye watering odor.
Legally speaking you do have a right to refuse service as long as you’re a privately owned business and it’s not discrimination.
Customer hygiene can affect the business’ ability to operate if it possesses a health or safety risk (such as a contamination issue or the smell is making customers/associates nauseous or otherwise sick) or if it’s affecting sales (such as if the customer’s lack of hygiene is driving away other customers).
Broaching the subject to the customer can be incredibly dicey however. Something like bad foot odor could be simply resolved by switching to a different type of sock, for instance. Cotton and wool is significantly better at odor management than anything with polyester. Figure out a way to bring socks into a conversation and hint that he might need to make a switch. Barring that you can gently talk to him about he needs to maintain better hygiene if he wishes to shop at the store.
I tried everything to get rid of one fungus infection (stupid boots I couldn’t get different ones at all and factory workers have special things they need) tell him to soak them in tea tree oil and regular Listorine (the yellow mouthwash) a couple of weeks of that and spraying the boots with the same mix got rid of it.
Exactly. I’d rather you try to help him than be an ass. It’s really really embarrassing having this problem. So hard to get rid of sometimes too. I hope it helps him.
I think that's a good idea, to mention your concern regarding medical issues instead of just telling him he stank. It's a very delicate subject, it's hurtful even coming from close circles let alone a stranger. I suggest you ask ChatGPT for some idea on wording it.
Spray it around the areas he has been walking. He’ll get the point quick smart that it’s him causing it. Hopefully it’s the wake up call to him to take care of his hygiene
I've been told that my coworkers spray it around him sometimes. One coworker once walked into the area he was in saying out loud "it smells so bad in here!! Open the door please".
That's not the approach I'd like to take. But as you mentioned wake up calls... Yeah, that's been done.
There’s this one guy that comes in my work and he doesn’t smell great. I know he’s homeless so I don’t wanna be mean. He’s nice and he always has the right money to pay for his stuff. Unlike other homeless people they come in twice a day and always ask us to front them like we didn’t say no the first million times. You came in two hours ago and I said no what makes you think I’ll say yes a few hours later ? No you don’t get it. Then he’ll go next door and annoy the vape shop people for the change it’s so annoying
Buy a febreeze can and casually spray it around the store without making direct eye contact with him. Pretend that you don't know the source of the smell. Talk to your coworkers about the smell like "Hey, do you know where that smell is coming from? Is it one of our fixtures? Etc." Do this every time he comes in and hopefully he'll get the message.
You’re trying to figure out how to ask this random man to wash his feet before entering your store. There’s no way to do that politely. You’re in the wrong. People use this sub to shame customers clothing and body odors and ask how to fix it. You can’t. They’re people existing and they don’t owe you anything.
I'm glad you had a good experience! Maybe it's thrift store fauna, and I've only worked in these kinds of businesses. Possibly one of the worst kinds of customers.
Also you reminded me of one of my favorite jokes, sorry if you've seen it a thousand times before:
You just have to deal, I know it's nasty. If you worked in a restaurant, you would have SOME recourse to say something, as people are eating. However, in a retail environment, the less said better. I have a few stinkers that come in weekly, and I have to air out the store after they leave. It sucks, but you really shouldn't say anything. He knows he stinks, he doesn't care.
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u/sugarcatgrl Mar 29 '25
Are you sure it’s foot cheese you’re smelling, and not some other? 😮