Hot Topic Employee's Contacted Me And .. It Is Intense

[@lunchbox7337ify]

I was at the mall a couple weeks ago and the entire place was dead except the absurdly long line at hot topic. My mind was sufficiently blown.

[@angelgjr1999]

Haven’t been to a mall in like a year. Crazy.

[@3v068]

I have to say. Thank you to the manager at the McDonalds I worked at. Whenever a kid would shit in the play scape area and I'd have to clean it, Hed have me go on a ten minute break and pay me 50 bucks every time I had to do it. Did that for every employee out of his own pocket. He was the real MVP. Eduardo, if you're still working there man, you BETTER get a damn raise, or a promotion.

[@scionixx9568]

Hot Topic?? *lights up a cigarette* Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.

[@neilpeartspurplenose8739]

Ben Kenobi smoked?!! He DID turn to the dark side.

[@MangaMaster13]

Hot Topic...that's a company I haven't thought about in over 20 years.

[@bigox666]

Liar

[@MangaMaster13]

@@bigox666 Out of all the things in my life that I could possibly lie about, I would choose something a bit more consequential.

[@bigox666]

@@MangaMaster13 doubt it

[@Clear_Spectre]

Me either. Haha. I never cared for it, nor Spencer's but to each their own. Haha.

[@rickbone3906]

Said old Ben to Luke.....

[@8BitAssassinTV]

Marilyn Manson carried Hot Topic during the late 90s, without him I sincerely doubt they would have lasted beyond 2005

[@magincap70]

stackin that manson money bought two more decades lol

[@teleportingpotatoe]

hes finally canceled now

[@CeeJayThe13th]

From about 2000 on, Nu Metal was what kept them going. And for a while, Insane Clown Posse was a big part of it.

[@ThatHomelessScrubbalo]

It never used to be Emo... it was Gothic! i got pissed when they changed up!

[@Ferbals]

Yes!

[@daughterofsekhmet81]

Yes, back when I was in high school in the mid-90s it was specifically a goth store with much higher quality clothes. I haven't actually been goth for a couple decades now but it still makes me kinda sad that they completely changed :/

[@ThatHomelessScrubbalo]

@@daughterofsekhmet81 Right! i used to go there to get the latest artist merch (Juggalo) i still own a pair of Original Tripps. the baggy ones not the new skinny ones...

[@magincap70]

yeah thats what i remember hot topic being. Emo wasnt a thing yet in mid to late 90's

[@magincap70]

@@daughterofsekhmet81 they sold jnco jeans and chain wallets and that was good enough damn it.

[@rontaviussnipes3021]

Retail and call centers are the worst industries to work in. These videos are never ending SHOCKING!

[@1Bean1]

I like Hot topic, and I'm glad these stories were mostly about customers and not corporate evil-doings (that is, all of your Gamestop videos). Now it makes sense why all the dressings rooms in the hot topics I've been to are locked up until you ask an employee.

[@emmittsmith482]

“These skinny jeans are a little snug, let me just drop anchor real quick” -plop, plop- -zips- “Much better, perfect fit”

[@ItzDrPlow]

lol no need to wipe

[@FittedInThe798]

Haha nasty

[@Rainpower86]

Hot topic isn’t what it use to be.

[@whollymindless]

Nor was it ever what you thought it was...

[@asm42]

@@whollymindless it wasn't the place to get band shirts?

[@abethepunk]

It's like the Disney Store now.

[@CassandraPantaristi]

The only goth stuff they have now, is dresses, corsets, and makeup.

[@SnowmanTF2]

I am surprised they still exist at all. I vaguely remember my first impression of them from back in the 90s, back before malls in general were between declining and dying, they seemed like one of those store aiming for a trend that would be gone or rebranded for a new trend within five years.

[@scionixx9568]

Super serious face 🧐 “It’s not a phase mom!! ITS MUH LIFE!!”

[@Rose-ln4sd]

"It ain't play doh it's poo doh"

[@dreel37]

I always wondered wtf that store was Kinda scared that it has the longest line in the mall

[@GrayWoIf]

It's not really emo anymore now it caters still to emo but also pop, rap, marvel, movies, TV, video game, etc culture. You'll find a bunch of meme shirts from like 2012 in the discount rack. Wish it was still an emo goth store but now it's mostly anything goes.

[@dreel37]

@@GrayWoIf Oh well sorry to hear it doesn't have what you want anymore but at the same time it makes the store feel alive

[@sephirothrhal1930]

Just gonna set the record straight, not a thing I'm wholly proud of, but, as a Michigander, I can confirm Michigan is actually the Juggalo capital of the world.

[@angelgjr1999]

I just don’t understand the smell. They immediately stink up any room they walk into.

[@jonathanvogt4341]

@@angelgjr1999 like linus from charlie brown

[@chucklytell]

@@angelgjr1999 it is my understanding part of being "hardcore" is taking 2 weeks between bathing lol, assuming said washing happens at all

[@ilysukiluv]

Yeahhhhhh

[@Excalibur-Sonic]

When I have gone there, it's mostly for the movie/anime/game stuff. Even then mostly for the shirts. Since alot of the stuff is a bit higher in price then I'd like. Bought a Kingdom Hearts throw blanket once though, that wasn't too bad in price. But man the Hot Topic in my mall is tiny. Kind of hard to move around when you have stuff like coats/bags/etc that you brought in. But of course, haven't gone to my mall is nearly a year due to the outbreak.

[@1Bean1]

Ours has K-pop goods a few times a year , but they dont' stock those for more than a few weeks a time

[@joshuaayres8932]

I wasn't able to do simple math before this video. Mind already blown

[@RatedEd]

I didn't know that stuff was happening at Hot Topic. I tried to get a job there and I'm glad I didn't.

[@syoung4471]

I'd like to give a tip for anyone having to clean up poop. I have kids and a dog, so grab a plastic bag and use that. Wrap it over your hand like a glove (sort of). Yeah it's going to feel warm and squishy but it won't be on your skin or under your nails.

[@StageRight123]

I remember Serial Killer clothing. We sold them at the skate shop that I worked at in the 90's.

[@richardlairson8718]

Fighting over a pop is common... some broke into one of the stores local to me and stole a shipment of pops

[@3v068]

I just started a job at WhatABurger and im hoping that I dont have to contact you about an experience there. So far it seems reasonable. Best wishes to everyone out there at a shit job. May you get everything set up to leave for a better job.

[@Angealies]

Mom it was never a phase, It's a lifestyle!

[@jaymesfairless7207]

Also, hot topic was the core goth store before Emo Kids took over, it was one of few places that sold real Tripp pants.

[@CassandraPantaristi]

Fishnets, jackets, buttons, patches. 90s goth look is what Hot Topic was. I think that they used to sell goth band CDs I think.

[@adraniumcaelum1591]

RIP for those still going there looking for tripp pants.

[@That-Wanderer]

Jeans and a shirt is basically your "average joe" style

[@theterribleyoutuber7376]

I call it the johnny bravo

[@angelgjr1999]

Jeans, shirt, and new balance shoes. It’s my neutral style. When I want attention I bring out the bomber jacket and timberland boots.

[@Calabask]

Oh god. I remember my stint at Hot Topic. It was painfully boring and corporate was breathing heavily down people’s necks and giving no one hours. I was so unhappy there, I had a constant countdown of when I left. Employees weren’t up on the stuff they were trying to sell, except for me. And oh god out bathroom was fucked. It had severe issues and if you went number 2 it would clog up.

[@blaznphoenix8013]

That one little girl loves her daddy.🤨🤨🤨

[@melodyconte]

Oh no! 😭 That makes me so sad! Hot topic was my first job and I had a blast working there senior year.

[@Violent_Wolfen]

One of the reasons why my friend hates juggalos. I live in Bakersfield, CA and our Hot Topic doesn't have any of that shit going on. Then again, it doesn't have a Fitting Room either.

[@waydagotc]

I worked here for almost 11,years and have stories for days. Including being told I couldn’t leave when a family member was in crisis.

[@humphreygobo6576]

It’s been known for a while that Hot Topics suck to work at in general. Pre-scene phase I had employees telling me to never work there.

[@dbnathan5]

The last time I went to Hot Topic was to grab some new gauges and during check out they asked me five different times if I wanted to sign up for their rewards. I haven't been back since.

[@Cameron-el3jd]

Wow todays video topic is pretty hot.... Ill see myself out of this imaginary door

[@MelchVagquest]

I actually wholeheartedly understand the desire to fight over a Funko Pop haha

[@toader06]

I worked at Hot Topic from 2005-2007. I started at $5.15/hr got a raise then the federal minimum went up. I didn’t get compensated the difference instead went back to federal minimum again. People LOVED to steal and we were trained real hard to detect this. People made death threats after catching them and had security walk us out most nights. I was overworked and way underpaid for dealing with all that crap as a high school teenager.

[@barneyrubble736]

Thank you! This was extremely hilarious. The possibility that hairs on your fork came from your own dingleberries completely made me lose myself in laughter.

[@Vee-Shan-CC]

One of my biggest issues with retail: Men using the opportunity to harass or hit on women. We're stuck trying our best to provide customer service and make a pay cheque, guys will be like "Can you try on this lingerie?" "You smell nice" "Do you come with the purchase?" Blargh. You are basically holding the woman hostage so you can live out some sick fantasy. Don't hit on women in the service industry! Or anyone for that matter. Just don't. Stop. Get some help.

[@Bulgeofpersuasion]

KZbin erased my very mild comment. Fuck all.

[@chasejackson7248]

You must be a cat lady.

[@adamgray1753]

If you mean that Vee-Shan individual, @@chasejackson7248, probably so. Such stupidity to think hitting on anyone is holding them hostage in any profession. People are getting dumber with each passing day it would seem.

[@macuss87]

This sounds like cody is reading an old reddit thread, I heard the exact same things, word for word, on one of those robots read reddit youtubes.

[@ElementsRook]

Find memory of the "goth and go". Regularly used it as a spoting area of potental "play toys". And yes, yes, there was the occasional "horizontal calastinics" in the dressing room. That was back in the 90s. Can only assume that it's still a thing

[@ironglandx3270]

I remember i had one of those hot topic trench coats. I would wear it to high school. Two years until i got called into the principles office, and was informed by her and the sheriff that a student was uncomfortable with my trench coat due to Columbine...

[@GS-ry6on]

Hot Topic USED to be dark n dingy. Then all of a sudden, it was all lit up inside!!!! Think parents were scared to go in.. Am thinking all the "good" stuff happened years ago. I don't think it was "Emo" persay. Was a lot of metal and punk vibe as well. Always enjoyed a quick peek to see their stuff.

[@CassandraPantaristi]

Per se*.

[@sonshawnzy9975]

My friend used to work at hot topic and she said it was the worst place to work ever

[@joeyshuster8569]

Good to see more and more channels expose the hell that is working entry level or min wage jobs. Change will come soon😭

[@gracecookie4604]

Man I'm getting old I remember when hot topic first opened. Still go in there when I go to the mall nostalgia

[@marrag1]

I use to work at Hot Topic years ago and it is not what it use to be and also the people that shopped there sucked and the reasons why I quit working retail. Then I went to work two more retail jobs one being True Value then Home Depot then I was officially done with retail.

[@VoDKaVicious]

Hot topic used to be the goth store. Then emo happened, and that was the end of that.

[@jayc5942]

“I got a damn fork.” That one struck me as hilarious

[@summonsays2610]

The store with the adult toys you're thinking of is Spencer's. But they look a lot alike from the outside.

[@Terabit3]

It was even worse at my local mall because they were literally right next door to each other

[@Full_Metal_Courier]

@@Terabit3 That was the same with my local malls.

[@CassandraPantaristi]

I like the corsets Spencer's has.

[@Terabit3]

@@Full_Metal_Courier Washington State?

[@i2010mac]

Hot topic is still a thing 😲

[@growingup15]

yeah and gaining popularity again

[@Yoni4958]

Yea. It's the funko pops that keeps it alive.

[@growingup15]

@@Yoni4958 they are selling cool band tees again

[@ElementsRook]

IKR. My kid recently excitedly told the wife that they "found a cool store" that had some "things I'm going to see if you are ok with". When we got walked over to the local hot topic we started snickering. I flipped open my phone and called a buddy I've known for decades now who is the regional manager. Wife and I knew the kid when he first started at that company. The kid borderline freaked when her mom said "O, I used to have boots like that long time ago, your going to want to look at the desmonias, their better." Poor little sperg behind the counter started to explain goth to us. That's a story for another time but the wife caused him to hide in the stock room. We think he was calling his momma

[@kathleensuhy1875]

I am from Louisiana and I married an Alabama boy. You’re right, I’m from the south and I still don’t get Alabama people and I’m married to one. LOL. I do collect Funko Pops so I do go to places like Walmart and Hot Topic and BoxLunch etc. to get certain exclusives. Of course some of these pops even have what’s called a chase, I know you know this because you worked at GameStop, which of course is extremely limited in number. Some of these pops can resell as soon as they’re released for over $100 on the resale market and they only cost like $14 to buy. That’s why grown people literally fight for them in the stores which is ridiculous. It’s crazy to see grown-ups acting this way. You have to stay on your toes and you have to make sure that you protect what you have if it’s something that is a more special Funko pop if there are a lot of people around. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

[@MikeZuluJr]

you forgot to mention vampire kids

[@TherealbigO1]

Camelot331, you should make a podcast. Your videos have affected my views on several companies and honestly, hearing you talk about what these megacorps are doing would be awesome to listen to in podcast format. Use Anchor, seriously, you got some good content man.

[@Mr.Kratoast]

Lol I worked at hot topic when I was 18 as a shift lead.....I liked how the paychecks had rock quotes. "Of all the things I've lost, I missed my mind the most" Ozzy Osbourne

[@bruknorx]

I think I would like to hear about someone getting caught taking a dump in a dressing room and the employees rubbing the Phantom Pooper's face in it.

[@hayatorpg3896]

Lol yo! Im listening to you walking through this mall parking lot and you got me cracking up haha! People looking at me like om crazy lol!

[@blankadams3120]

Had a manager once who had worked previously at the Hot Topic in the mall where our store was... he was... early thirties? Maybe? He frequently tried to brag on just how often younger girls would come into Hot Topic specifically to talk to him, to... linger in his presence... He also had a little group of friends who would come into the store on his days off to ask about him, if he was working, to which I took a sadistic glee (eventually) in just telling them, "No, and if you were actually his friends, he'd have told you his work schedule"

[@SegaDisneyUniverse]

The only thing I go to Hot Topic for is exclusive collectibles.

[@pewpewmothafaka7828]

Camelot you told us a whole bunch of places not to work . Were the hell are we supposed to work then?😂😂

[@davidzito66]

Don’t work in retail. That’s for sure

[@Urbansilverback]

In the 90s it was all about Hot Topic Spencer's Gifts Cinnabon and Sam Goody or Coconuts. The last two were actual music stores. You had to go there before the internet era to buy physical music.

[@roddicus]

“i got a damn fork!” okay bro?????🤣🤣🤣

[@tomkirchner4153]

People at our mall fought over a Michael Jordan pop about a year and a half ago but it was a full blown fight on video, lol it’s great

[@rib_rob_personal]

Yeah the whole mom, dad, child thing that high schoolers did when I was in school always creeped me the hell out. Great to see I was justified...

[@Iloveturtles]

I’m shocked all these brands didn’t sue him into oblivion

[@Bassotronics]

@ 1:58 “Smashing pissers”... That’s a new one for me! 🤣

[@SegwayBossk]

I used to go there in the late 2000's to buy [Adult Swim] t-shirts, mainly ATHF. I haven't been to a Hot Topic in at least 12 years

[@PNWBabe]

Back in my day it was a Goth store. We used to call it Goth in the box. It hasn't been like that though in about 20 years though. It don't know WHAT it is...

[@yippykiay13]

Lmao Goth in the Box! I remember those days. Didn’t think anyone else called it that.

[@GrayWoIf]

It's basically Twitter now. Anything popular on Twitter is sold there straight up shirts with memes on em.

[@APunisherKnight]

I would love to see how well 'speech to text' would work with your glorious accent

[@bannisher]

Ahhhhh, hot topic. As a former mall employee hot topic was always the place to hang out on a 15 minute break.

[@Terabit3]

Oh God. I remember that I was an emo kid all the way from 8th grade though senior year. Dark times, man

[@NottyGurlStyle]

Watching this video as I open up my package from them 😂😂😂 I stay running in there when I got to the mall.

[@MahkaqueXSV]

Keep up the grind my dood

[@patvalentine6090]

that's when you become an engineer figure out anyway so it doesn't touch your hand. I think some of these are just made up because I used to work for Spencer's and you can call the janitor and get the throw away gloves that go all the way up to your elbow from them

[@alisonrondy6201]

Yes! I'm early lol... I needed this right now too...you're so funny I love it

[@fitness65]

I'm not surprised seen some crazy customers do crazy things especially at the hot topic in my hometown. And the one where I live at in vegas

[@cius2112]

Lol i love the Karen calling corporate everytime, like they can do anything about people being gross

[@nobeac]

lol I haven't laughed so hard about the way you presented everything in this vid for a long time. That's hilarious

[@CrunchgTime]

All I know it I’m sippin on my ultra zero as I’m watching this too 🤣

[@reptilemetaljen]

🤣🤣 I know former managers and people would bang in that dressing room all the time lol

[@ViperChief117]

This doesn’t surprise me anymore. I haven’t been to a Hot Topic in years. XD

[@jetman80pops]

Only go into Hot Topic for Funko Pops. What I use to do at GameSlop but don't set foot in that store anymore.

[@seekertosecrets]

3:50 That's some Jerry Springer level shit, man! 10:55 That's pretty creepy. 12:51 I watched the last Simpsons episode when Chalmers and Skinner were on a road trip to get to a educators conference and this story reminded me of that!

[@miltonortiz7249]

I only go to hot topic for Funko. That’s it.

[@kalvorax]

if there is ONE thing i love about your videos.....no matter WHEN i pause the still of your expression is ALWAYS funny as hek :D Thanks for making such enjoyable content.

[@TheBrister]

I haven't shopped in one of these in at least 15 years.

[@narsos6043]

Yeah at least it's not evil corporation stories so much. Any retailer has customer horror stories like these. Honestly nothing here was as bad as some of the stuff I saw working for a movie theatre chain for 6 years.

[@dwccbiggestfan]

I used to go there all the time back in the day for a lot of hippy and stoner stuff

[@GaryGoRound-to7ld]

I used to go there and try to pick up the cute goth / scene chics back in the day ..but being a masculine metal head they weren't into me

[@alexsomethiing]

I'm imagining them anime fighting over the pop

[@ChicagoMadisonWesternRR]

Yeah got to love the self deprecating comments from Cody.

[@fluttershystayshigh4202]

lol I was wondering why Boondox was in the thumbnail for this vid. As a Juggalotus to the fullest i can definitely confirm the occasional body odor but its not from bad hygiene its from the train we all ran on eminem's mom, that shit works up a sweat. MMFWCL!!!

[@jamesgilbert6023]

Whoop whoop @fluttershystayshigh420

[@Or_Am_I_Alpharius]

Wasn’t a scene or emo kid, but I was a massive metalhead long hair bands shirt and ratty jeans. Hot Topic had some badass band shirt, got my favorite The Black Dahlia Murder shirt there back when Nocturnal dropped.

[@chickfinnegan8969]

If my boss ever asked me to clean up human poop, I would not.

[@bakerfrank98531]

Lol I shop at Hot Topic. My daughters love all the anime and Disney stuff they offer now. So we shop there quite a bit. Sometimes I will pick myself a Totoro shirt or an 80s metal shirt.

[@r.c.t.travels]

Just found your content. Very entertaining. We are from Alabama ourselves. South Alabama 50 miles north of the Florida line. Lol. Keep up the good content!

[@iBRANCHPro]

Stomach pancakes 😭

[@dougrussell1926]

I worked for Spencers for 4 years, biggest pain in my ass were Juggalos coming in to shoplift. One day I heard the jewelry case glass break, I ran up and a Juggalo was standing there bleeding all over the floor holding a hatchet man necklace. He tried acting like he didn't do anything, and I had called mall security while holding tee shirts on this guys arm. Later his mom tried suing, I don't think anything happened with it because I was never asked for a statement.

[@patrickmarsh2538]

Camelot: do not work ANYWHERE

[@juggalo_kronikturdzgaming7075]

I'm a juggalo myself but I have never understood why the rest of the community doesn't wanna take a shower or wash their damn clothes? I mean I'm all about scrub life but some juggalos take it to the extreme

[@blakebambam3143]

Yes my favorite KZbinr is back!

[@roddicus]

also i can so see HaloGoddess fighting someone for a funko pop 💀😬