Coworker apologizes constantly but keeps making the same mistakes. The apologies feel like a shield now. How do you address incompetence wrapped in sweetness?

Maybe talk them through the point where they keep making the same mistake and help them problem solve a little bit more thoughtfully. As somebody who has gone through points where I've made the same mistake over and over again because I wasn't addressing the root issue, I can relate.

The key word of your complaint is, “incompetence”. For if you view the coworker as such, there will be no possibility for growth, as you have already decided in your mind that there is no potential for them. Remove toxicity from the workplace. We all go to work for the same reason, and we all cease to exist in this world. Don’t end your story thinking you are better than anyone else, it will bring you no peace in the end.

Some people just can’t or won’t be taught. I trained a guy for 3 months and he would consistently make mistakes and not correct himself after. Management would get onto me about not watching him, but eventually external forces got rid of the guy.

I feel like I'd need more context but do you have any reason to think he's conciousnessly choosing not to implment whatever feedback you've given him?

Why is it your job to address this? You said coworker not subordinate. If this is a concern, you could bring it up with your manager otherwise it’s really not your problem.

At some point you just have to make it clear to people that they need to do their job correctly. If someone is making the same mistakes repeatedly they need to be reminded that perhaps it would be better if they were let go and someone else did their job. Sounds heartless, but a job is a job, and if someone can't do it they can't keep it.

At a certain point, you have to start penalizing them for it. Writeups or whatever your store policy entails. If there aren't any consequences, there isn't any incentive for them to learn and do better. And failing to do so sends a bad message to the rest of your team.

Its not hard to write people up and fire them.

Not knowing the exacts but to me it sounds like as in most places the employee was not either properly trained or in such a way for that employee to be trained in such a manner that they would grasp what precisely is required of them, for that employee to say what you are posting here instead of the "incompetence' or 'ineffectiveness" of management or lack of empathetic coworkers or those that hire and make life for others he'll.

If you are a reader, reading the book 12 1/2 ingredients by Gary Vaynerchuk helped me understand the importance and impact kind candor can make in the workplace