“I worked in a women’s boutique in an affluent area outside of San Francisco. It was easy to distinguish the rich from the wealthy by how they treated our sales associates when the owner wasn’t around. Rich customers were some of the rudest and most insufferable people I have ever encountered while working retail. I’ve had shoe boxes thrown at me and full glasses of wine spilled on designer handbags without as much as an apology. In contrast, the truly WEALTHY were the most unassuming and appreciative.”

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"If we remembered anyone, it was the people who dropped four figures on clothing."

"When I notified my manager, her first question was, 'How much did they get?' She never once asked if everyone was OK, physically or mentally. Her main concern was merchandise, which is insured and can be replaced. I quit three weeks later."

"The company itself was pretty shady about manufacturing practices also. They abused the 'made in USA' label in that only part of the furniture had to be made in the US for them to have that label, and they would get some parts from China, which really pissed people off when they discovered it on their pieces. I’m so glad I’ve long since left that place."

"Designer brands all have outrageous markups. They could sell at 80% off and still make money, but they rarely have deep discounts because they don't want 'the wrong kind of people' buying, so unsold inventory is usually destroyed."

"Customers were mostly pleasant at Nordstrom, although I did have a man try to come to return a pair of shoes from 1993. And yes, I did it. But only gave him the value of what they’re worth today. Oh, and I met Michael Kors's mom when she came in to present a new line of his."

"We got a lot of lonely housewives of tech millionaires (and billionaires) coming into our store regularly just to chat for an hour or two between spin classes and spa breaks. They were an absolute pleasure."

"Also, turns out...some associates buy up newly released products, or hide them 'in the back,' to sell on eBay."

"Our next customer came in with children, too, and one of them broke a rather expensive vase by accident and proceeded to panic quite a bit. She calmed him down while her other children stood quietly looking at toys. She insisted on paying for the damage (I knew it wouldn't be much for her), but we told her she really didn't have to since it was an accident. She proceeded to buy every single staff member a bottle of our best champagne (around £600) and wished us a Merry Christmas. I feel like it shows you don't get anywhere in life without being nice to people."

"Celebs and other well-known millionaires came in at least once a day, and there were always stacks of cash — like an only-see-in-movies amount of cash — in the back after large sales."

"There were always women who ordered clothes during designer truck shows and not show up to pay for garments when they arrive. And the most disgusting thing I witnessed was women who would wear and return expensive handbags and/or garments with stains on them and sometimes smelled like bad body odor. I've seen it all!"

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.