You know, I worked in retail back in the early 90's, and I distinctly remember being told not to hire:

Handicapped People
Ugly People
Odd Looking People
Smelly People

I asked when exactly in the store manuals that information was (knowing full well it was *not in the manuals) and I was told it was the unwritten policy of all retail establishments. That people don't want to buy clothes from someone they feel uncomfortable around.

The next week, my regional manager went behind my back and hired me an assistant, drop dead gorgeous... and dumb as a stump. She didn't last more than a month when she realized that she had to do *gasp* paperwork!

Needless to say, I found work in my field within a few months after that, and I was able to say goodbye to retail. What an experience!

Karen