If you’ve ever wandered the aisles of Kmart late at night, you might have noticed something a little less than magical: piles of clothes strewn across the floor, shoes abandoned in odd corners, and a general sense that a tornado has just swept through the store.

Well, you’re not alone—one Aussie mum recently took to social media to call out this messy behaviour, and her words have struck a chord with Aussies everywhere.

Emma Karanges, on a late-night shopping trip, was shocked by the state of her local Kmart. In a candid social media video, she didn’t hold back:

‘I can’t believe the state of the store tonight,’ she said, panning her camera over mounds of discarded clothes and shoes.

‘To the Kmart staff, you do an amazing job and I’m sorry that you have to put up with us grubs who just come in and think we can just throw everything on the floor. I get that it’s a budget store, but it doesn’t mean you’re in a rummage bin.’

Kmart staff were criticised after clothes and shoes were left scattered across the store, prompting a Queensland mum to call out the messy behaviour. Credit: @themumway_ / TikTok

Her video showed just how bad things had gotten—clothes and shoes everywhere except where they belonged.

Emma was quick to point out that it’s not the staff’s fault, but rather the customers who treat the store like their own personal dumping ground.

‘What are we doing? You can hang things back up if it doesn’t fit. Don’t just throw it on the floor and think that’s someone’s job,’ she said, echoing what many retail workers have probably wanted to shout for years.

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Emma even chatted with a staff member, who confirmed that this wasn’t a one-off mess. ‘And they’re like 'yep',’ Emma recounted.

‘They have to set up these barricade things, like wet weather barricades, so people don’t fall all over the stuff because of the amount of stuff on these floors.’ Imagine that—so much clutter that the store needs safety barriers!

But Emma didn’t just complain—she led by example. After trying on several dresses, she hung them back up, much to the surprise and gratitude of a staff member.

‘The look on the girl’s face was like 'Oh my God, thank you so much, why did you do that?'’ Emma replied simply, ‘It’s the right thing to do.’

Her video quickly went viral, with many Aussies praising her for holding customers accountable rather than blaming the staff.

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‘You have to wonder what their houses are like. I feel for the staff,’ one commenter said. Another added, ‘People are just getting lazier and their behaviour is like they’re entitled.’

Retail workers themselves joined the conversation, sharing their own stories of customers leaving chaos in their wake.

‘As a Kmart employee, thank you. I’ve had customers leave shoes on the floor whilst I’m literally in the same aisle picking up the other shoes,’ one wrote.

Of course, not everyone agreed on where the blame should lie. Some pointed out that Kmart stores are often understaffed, making it harder for employees to keep up with the mess.

‘This has been happening for decades,’ one person commented.

‘Now there are even fewer staff on the floor, and customers have to serve themselves. This is also a major managerial problem.’ Another former Kmart worker added, ‘Yes, the customers being like this doesn’t help, but it’s also because Kmart is so understaffed.’

So, what’s really going on here? Is it a case of customers behaving badly, or are stores simply not providing enough staff to keep things tidy? As is often the case, the answer is probably a bit of both.

There’s no denying that retail work can be tough, especially in big stores like Kmart, where the sheer volume of customers can be overwhelming.

When shoppers treat the store like a free-for-all, it makes an already difficult job even harder. And with many stores cutting back on staff to save costs, it’s no wonder things can get out of hand.

But at the end of the day, a little common courtesy goes a long way. Hanging up clothes you’ve tried on, putting shoes back where you found them, and generally tidying up after yourself isn’t just polite—it’s a way to show respect for the hardworking staff who keep our favourite stores running.

This isn’t just a Kmart problem. Anyone who’s worked in retail (or has a family member who has) knows that messy customers are a universal challenge.

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It’s easy to forget that behind every tidy shelf and neatly arranged rack is a team of people working hard, often for not much more than minimum wage.

For many older Australians, this story might bring back memories of their own time in retail, or perhaps of teaching children and grandchildren the importance of cleaning up after themselves. It’s a simple lesson, but one that seems to be forgotten all too often.

Credit: TikTok​

Key Takeaways

• A Queensland mum has slammed 'grubby' Kmart shoppers for leaving clothes and shoes strewn across the store, calling out their disrespectful behaviour towards staff.
• Footage posted online showed large amounts of clothing and other items dumped on the floor, with staff reportedly forced to set up barricades for safety due to the mess.
• Many Aussies praised the woman for holding customers accountable, with several sharing their support for Kmart staff and frustration at declining shopper manners.
• Some social media users argued that understaffing also contributes to the problem, suggesting management needs to roster more staff to maintain order in stores.

Have you noticed this kind of behaviour in your local Kmart or other stores? Do you think it’s getting worse, or is it just the same old story? And if you’ve ever worked in retail, what’s your take on the customer vs. staff debate? Share your stories, tips, and thoughts in the comments below.

Read more: Kmart shoppers share distressing sights in several stores: 'F****** grubs!'

 

[Wandiwa]

I will say my local Kmart is always a mess, 50 metres up the mall, Big W is always tidy.
Is it a staffing issue, maybe a different class of customer, your thoughts?