I wasn't sure what to title this but anyway...I work in a retail store that is very dead on week nights. Usually my department supervisor will ask me to run and get her tea from the nearby Dunkin Donuts and will give me money and tell me to get myself and the 1 or 2 other people from my department something also. This is fine with me. However, the problem is everyone else in the store expects me to get them a hot beverage also. I am not going to try and carry a dozen or more drinks out of Dunkin Donuts, nevermind what I am supposed to do with these drinks in the car. I am not risking spilling coffee all over my car and staining my seats.

Everyone makes me feel bad when they see me walk in with coffee or tea. It's always "Oh you didn't get me anything?" or "I didn't know you were going, I would have asked you to get me something?" Or sometimes certain people will catch me before I leave and I will tell them I do not feel comfortable getting more drinks than fit in a tray and they will persist about it and I have to say no and then I feel bad. How would you handle this situation? I work in a department store, not like a small mom and pop shop, so it is not feasable to get something for everyone. Plus everyone gets a break and could leave to get their own snacks or what not...What is a tactful way to deal with this without being mean?

I'd probably ask them if they're gonna pay to have my car cleaned when their drinks inevitably spill, but I guess I'm just mean. :p

Seriously, though, I'm not really sure what else to do in that situation other than politely saying you don't feel comfortable carrying that many drinks and leave it at that. If somebody gets upset over something so simple, it's their problem, especially when they could go get their own drink.

You could ask if anyone wants to come along with you because you need an extra hand to carry stuff. I think people sometimes forget you only have two hands. They are just thinking of coffee or whatever and not so much the logistics of getting it.

Talk to your supervisor who sends you. This isn't right, and she needs to understand this. You're in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation, so it's best if you don't. I've been in a similar position - you're everybody's general waitress, I've been everybody's general secretary. Stop it as soon as you can.

You could ask if anyone wants to come along with you because you need an extra hand to carry stuff. I think people sometimes forget you only have two hands. They are just thinking of coffee or whatever and not so much the logistics of getting it.

I agree with this.

If they don't feel bad for your safety by putting you in these situations with all these drinks, then I wouldn't feel bad about saying "no" to them. They're obviously selfish people if none of them offer to go with you and help you out.
I don't understand why you feel bad. I'd seriously be mad if people put me in that situation.

I agree with this.

Me too! I'm sure that's probably what their deal is. But I wouldn't do something I'm not comfortable with, and I wouldn't be comfortable juggling hot drinks either. I wouldn't worry too much, especially if your co-workers have breaks to go get their own.

Yeah I guess from now on I'll just brush it off and not let it bother me. Most of these people are much older than me and they act so immature, it's just annoying. I can't leave the building whether its just for a quick coffee run or for my lunch/dinner break without several people asking me to get them something. It's like, it's my break and I just wanna get what I want and that's it. I need to be more assertive!~

Yes, be more assertive. You can be firm yet pleasant about it, and hopefully they'll understand. Just explain it to them the way you did to us. It's a small thing getting drinks for people, but it can get frustrating when people come to expect it of you when all you want is to take your break in peace.

Unfortunately, once some people see you're willing to do things like that, they'll take advantage of you and take you for granted. Then, it becomes "expected" of you. Fun, fun. The sad thing is that many people (IME dealing with people anyway) will keep pushing the envelope to see how far they can get with you. The good news is that they get only as far as you let them. You do one small thing, then they may push to see if you will do more. It's a snowball effect. Fortunately, not everyone is like this though!