I responded to a store ad outside the store. The store manager was an immigrant Indian guy who asked me about my educational background. When I told him I have a masters degree in international economics, he asked why didn't I find a job in that area? (Let's keep in mind this was in the spring of 2012, amid the poor economic recovery following 2008.) Now I've worked in many retail settings between college semesters, but this was the first time a store manager told me when you apply for a store job, you mark that you're available all seven days of the week. No one day off Sunday for church or nothing. He also told me the position was only part time, with very little chance of becoming full time in the near future. Sounds pretty typical in American retail these days. They want you to be available all the time, but won't give you full time hours, benefits, decent pay, nor regular hours. There are two other arrangements that come to mind: slavery and indentured servitude.