Ridiculous Rules You Would Have To Follow If You Decided To Work For Victoria's Secret

Sure, many of us have worked in retail at one point or another, and it's not always easy. You understand that it physically and mentally exhausts you. We're not really sure what's worse, the tiresome hours, the extremely long days, the short breaks, or a manager who really won't stop micromanaging you? OR, could it be the customers themselves? There's not really many plus sides to the jobs (besides maybe employee discounts), so the nicer the other employees and employers are, the better the atmosphere will be. But throw some ridiculous rules in the mix of all those things, and it'll probably drive you crazy. Victoria's Secret is America's largest retailer of women's lingerie, and it makes an absolute killing every year. Since it's a worldwide established brand, you would think they would treat their employees with kindness! Well, some former VS workers came forward and talked about the ridiculous rules they had to follow in order to work for the brand. Prepare to be shocked and most likely infuriated.

Sure, many of us have worked in retail at one point or another, and it's not always easy.

Employees MUST Look A Certain Way

You understand that it physically and mentally exhausts you. We're not really sure what's worse, the tiresome hours, the extremely long days, the short breaks, or a manager who really won't stop micromanaging you? OR, could it be the customers themselves? There's not really many plus sides to the jobs (besides maybe employee discounts), so the nicer the other employees and employers are, the better the atmosphere will be. But throw some ridiculous rules in the mix of all those things, and it'll probably drive you crazy. Victoria's Secret is America's largest retailer of women's lingerie, and it makes an absolute killing every year. Since it's a worldwide established brand, you would think they would treat their employees with kindness! Well, some former VS workers came forward and talked about the ridiculous rules they had to follow in order to work for the brand. Prepare to be shocked and most likely infuriated.

Employees MUST Look A Certain Way

Sure, for some retail stores, appearance matters, looking smart and knowledgable about the products are important! However, at Victoria's Secret employees are required to have their hair made to look pretty and their makeup should be done nicely. It's been suggested that Victoria's Secret only really employs people they deem 'attractive enough' that reflect the brand's image.

Only V.I.P Employees Are Allowed To Go To The Fashion Shows

If you're a Victoria's Secret employee, the VS fashion show is the event of the year! You'd probably expect one of the perks of the job to be an invitation to the show! Unfortunately, that's not the case. In fact, not even the managers are guaranteed a ticket to the show, only extremely important employees like regional managers can expect to bag themselves a ticket.

Employees Have To Sell Returned Items If Tags Are Still Attached

Sure, at most retail stores, this could be okay. But no one wants to buy used underwear! According to one of the former employees, Victoria's Secret company policy allows anything with a tag on it to go back out for sale. Luckily, after a few investigative reports went on, it was found that some of the products on the sales floor were a little....less than pristine and as a result, employees started damaging out returned underwear. This is why you should always wash your new purchases!

Employees Have To Push Sales Multiple Times For Store Credit Cards

Sure, if an employee has to upsell something while in the store, you can easily decline. However, if they keep pushing and try a second time, you can easily become annoyed and impatient. IMAGINE if a sale was pushed on you three times? Can get pretty annoying, right? Well, this is a requirement of VS staffers, and as you can probably understand, they hate it. Although this could possible be counterproductive, VS doesn't really seem to care, meaning credit card signups means more money.

Employees Have To Compliment Customers Even If It Looks Bad

So, you're shopping at VS, decide to try things on....When you come out, multiple employees are there telling you how ravishing and amazing you look! So, thinking they know best, you decide to buy it! Never trust a VS employee's compliments. Make sure you always get a second opinion from a friend or family member! VS management says that if someone asks for an opinion on how lingerie looks, honesty is not the best policy. They say that the truth is irrelevant.

Employees Are Given Minimal Training

This is probably a regular thing for retail chains. Their focus usually shifts to efficiency, and because of that, staff aren't usually trained fully enough. Former Victoria's Secret workers have said that they were often put on the floor with only minimal training.

Employees are Encouraged to Withhold Care Instructions From Customers

Yes, some VS employers actually don't want you to know how to take care of your purchases, because that means you'll have to return to the store sooner! So, next time you buy, make sure you read the care instructions!

Many Employees Don't Actually Know How To Size A Customer

Many people go into VS looking to be sized, as well as to buy a bra. However, many employees are totally winging it, as they haven't been trained how to size a customer properly yet. It seems to be a total hit or miss, so keep an eye out to see if they know what they're talking about!

Employees Enjoy Assisting Male Shoppers

Employees enjoy assisting male shoppers for multiple reasons. One of them is that men are innocently naive of the sizes and reasons for certain products. Other employees have found that the male shoppers are easy to take advantage of and could easily be up-sold, since they don't know what they're looking for and want to leave the store as soon as possible. One former VS employee said, "Women know the lingerie ropes and sometimes didn't want our help, while the male clientele were the easiest to upsell: 'How about a garter and thigh highs to coordinate with that corset?' or 'That style thong comes in five colors -- why not treat her to all of them?' They couldn't wait to get out of there and I found they usually listened to me. Associates didn't make commission, but I would make a game out of it because big sales meant Starbucks gift cards from my manager." Employees enjoy assisting male shoppers for multiple reasons.

There's a Zoning Policy (and Hierarchy)

One of them is that men are innocently naive of the sizes and reasons for certain products. Other employees have found that the male shoppers are easy to take advantage of and could easily be up-sold, since they don't know what they're looking for and want to leave the store as soon as possible. One former VS employee said, "Women know the lingerie ropes and sometimes didn't want our help, while the male clientele were the easiest to upsell: 'How about a garter and thigh highs to coordinate with that corset?' or 'That style thong comes in five colors -- why not treat her to all of them?' They couldn't wait to get out of there and I found they usually listened to me. Associates didn't make commission, but I would make a game out of it because big sales meant Starbucks gift cards from my manager."

There's a Zoning Policy (and Hierarchy)

Basically, an employee is assigned to a certain zone, and depending on the zone you're assigned it could make or break you. For example, working the front of the store is the money-making zone. One former employee says, ""There was definitely a hierarchy within zones. Employees with the highest sales numbers were put in the front of the store by the signature Body collection because it got the most foot traffic — one time I was zoned there and got sent home early by my manager because my conversion rate was slacking. Being in the Pink room was exhausting — you'd spend hours folding itty-bitty thongs, only to watch a client pillage the panty bar display looking for a size small when we only display mediums. The beauty room was boring because no one wants your help picking out perfume; I'd end up using all the makeup testers to pass the time." Basically, an employee is assigned to a certain zone, and depending on the zone you're assigned it could make or break you.

You'll Probably Get Harassed On The Job

For example, working the front of the store is the money-making zone. One former employee says, ""There was definitely a hierarchy within zones. Employees with the highest sales numbers were put in the front of the store by the signature Body collection because it got the most foot traffic — one time I was zoned there and got sent home early by my manager because my conversion rate was slacking. Being in the Pink room was exhausting — you'd spend hours folding itty-bitty thongs, only to watch a client pillage the panty bar display looking for a size small when we only display mediums. The beauty room was boring because no one wants your help picking out perfume; I'd end up using all the makeup testers to pass the time."

You'll Probably Get Harassed On The Job

One former VS describes her time dealing with young boys who would attempt to harass her, "Horny teenage boys loved to come in and bother us — they'd pose for photos groping the half-naked plastic mannequins and try to steal their wings. One time, a 14-year-old boy who could barely see over the cash wrap informed me he wanted to buy lingerie for his 'future wife' because I looked just like her. Meanwhile, his friend was hiding behind the panty bar filming it on an iPhone. They thought they were hilarious." One former VS describes her time dealing with young boys who would attempt to harass her, "Horny teenage boys loved to come in and bother us — they'd pose for photos groping the half-naked plastic mannequins and try to steal their wings.

One time, a 14-year-old boy who could barely see over the cash wrap informed me he wanted to buy lingerie for his 'future wife' because I looked just like her. Meanwhile, his friend was hiding behind the panty bar filming it on an iPhone. They thought they were hilarious."