Everyone has that friend who worked in retail and still gets the urge to return items to the correct shelves, occasionally going so far as to give in to that urge while you’re out shopping with them. Or maybe you’re that friend! TikTok user ugh_madison definitely is, having gone viral with multiple videos of her “randomly working” at Targets, Walmarts and Krogers for free.


@ugh_madison

I went to a random walmart and worked there for free

♬ original sound - ugh madison


In her Walmart video, Madison rearranges the shelves, folds clothing and throws trash away while fielding questions from customers, one of whom mistook her for another TikToker. In the Target video, she cleans the store’s entryway, rearranges shelves, answers a customer’s queries (about Stanley cups, no less) and even cleans the bathroom.


@ugh_madison I worked at a random target store for free! @OLIPOP #olipoppartner ♬ original sound - ugh madison


One thing all of these videos have in common is the amount of product placement, which is unavoidable if your videos are recorded in stores that sell thousands of products, but still feels slightly sneaky. In the Walmart video, Madison holds up a container of Halo Top ice cream to the camera, as well as a bottle of Dr. Thunder soda and a Feastable chocolate bar.


@ugh_madison The employee and manager caught me this time @OLIPOP #olipoppartner ♬ original sound - ugh madison


Her other videos are more explicitly advertising material, however, with Madison tagging soda brand OLIPOP and hashtagging #olipoppartner in the caption of her Target and Kroger videos. In the Target video, she hands out cans of OLIPOP and gift cards to random customers, and in the Kroger video, she holds up a can of OLIPOP’s Doctor Goodwin to the camera.


Most commenters either didn’t notice or didn’t care, however, with the majority of comments focusing on how nice she is to work a shift for free out of the kindness of her heart. Her Kroger video raises an interesting point, though: She was asked to leave because employees at that Kroger are unionized and her working there for free undermines them. After all, if they can just get TikTokers to work for free, who needs to pay existing workers fairly or at all?


Which is the true moral of this story: Clout-chasing and capitalism are a hideous mix.