47.

7:55pm
I was preparing for my store to close in five minutes.  Of course, there were several people gawking around, oblivious to the fact that we were, in fact, getting ready to shut down.  No big deal.  I go around to each customer and politely give them a "heads up" that we were getting ready to close for the night, otherwise they would loiter for hours and somehow multiply while they were in there.  Every customer was completely surprised but okay with that news.  "Oh, you're closing?  Guess I'll have to come back when I have more time to shop!  Hahahahaha!"  Blah Blah Blah, yeah whatever.  Just leave.

8:00pm
As 8pm rolls around, I turn off the music (actually, I turn it way up for a second to get everyone's attention, then abruptly shut it off) and lock the doors (loudly, as in rattling the doors and clicking the locks several times).  Unfortunately, two more people had snuck in before 8, so after locking up, I let them know what's going on too.  This is the busiest the store has been in eight hours of work today.

8:04pm
Most everyone slides out within a minute or two.  A couple people buy some shit.  A kid and his dad ask me to "explain each backpack to them".  I fly through my spiel hastily, but professionally.  They're satisfied, and they get that it's time to go.  They are the next to last to leave.  No big deal.  But there's one lady, she's got half the store in the dressing room, trying it all on, trying to decide which crap (that I'm sure she doesn't need) to buy. 

8:10pm
She was actually the first person that I told that we were closing, because I saw her with 47 garments heading towards the fitting room.  An enormous mound of clothes in her arms--literally looks like one of everything.  Tried to nip that one in the bud--apparently it didn't work.  I'm starting to get severley annoyed--but I'm still composed, professional, and polite. 

8:18pm
I guess some things didn't fit or she wasn't too keen on the colors, 'cause now instead of trying shit on, she's back to shopping.  There are literally 47 pieces of clothing in the dressing room.  I ask, "Would you like me to start putting some of these back?"

"No, I haven't decided which ones I'm keeping yet."  She continues shopping in a silent, empty store with two employees staring at her.

Super.

8:32pm
This is getting ridiculous. Ten minutes is about all I'll give someone before I start becoming not their friend.  "Ma'am, we're shut down for the night.  We open back up at 10am.  I can hold some of that stuff until tomorrow if you like?"

She becomes annoyed that I am rushing her.  Apparently this woman thinks that since she is a paying customer that she can dictate her own hours of operation.  She starts sighing loudly so I can hear her.  I don't care.

8:38pm
She ends up buying four out of the 47 pieces that she tried on.  Not a word was said during the tranaction.

I now have to put back 43 pieces of clothing.

8:49pm
I leave work, aggravated.


My store is open for ten hours during the day.  10 o'clock in the AM to 8 o'clock in the PM.  If you can't make it in to buy your shit within that time frame, then please go fuck yourself.

The End.