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Do retailers know anything about customer service

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  • 28-07-2009 5:37pm
    #1
    littletiger
    Registered Users Posts: 256 ✭✭


    Am I totally off the wall in saying that customer service sucks in Ireland?

    Example: I was at a supermarket checkout where two female ckeackout assistants were talking across the customers infront of me about what one of them have gotten up to the previous night. She never said please or thanks when the customer handed over their money.

    Surely if a manager is worth anything they would not allow this to happen?


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    #2
    My name is URL
    Registered Users Posts: 25,068 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    Did you complain in the shop by any chance?


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    #3
    TheZohanS
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,582 ✭✭✭✭TheZohanS


    littletiger wrote: »
    Surely if a manager is worth anything they would not allow this to happen?

    Unless someone complains to a manager they can't be pulled up on it.

    Did you complain to a manager?


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    #4
    AckwelFoley
    Registered Users Posts: 12,556 ✭✭✭✭AckwelFoley


    Was my name mentioned my any chance?


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    #5
    c_dog
    Closed Accounts Posts: 53 ✭✭c_dog


    i agree with you, i worked for dunnes stores as a customer service operator. i myself was polite and worked hard but as for the other people who worked there i found them rude and they didn't seem to give a ****


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    #6
    AckwelFoley
    Registered Users Posts: 12,556 ✭✭✭✭AckwelFoley


    My name is URL wrote: »
    Did you complain in the shop by any chance?

    Dont be stupid.

    AH is a much more effective means of venting dissatisifaction


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    #7
    drunkmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 28,120 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    I hope they washed their hands before handling your sweets...:pac:


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    #8
    littletiger
    Registered Users Posts: 256 ✭✭littletiger


    c_dog wrote: »
    i agree with you, i worked for dunnes stores as a customer service operator. i myself was polite and worked hard but as for the other people who worked there i found them rude and they didn't seem to give a ****

    The first two asked did I tell a manager. As you have worked in the industry - would I have achieved anything if I had reported it?


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    #9
    TheZohanS
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,582 ✭✭✭✭TheZohanS


    littletiger wrote: »
    The first two asked did I tell a manager. As you have worked in the industry - would it have achieved anything if I had reported it?

    Reporting it to AH won't achieve anything but reporting it to a manager would.


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    #10
    AckwelFoley
    Registered Users Posts: 12,556 ✭✭✭✭AckwelFoley


    littletiger wrote: »
    The first two asked did I tell a manager. As you have worked in the industry - would I have achieved anything if I had reported it?

    Yes.

    A little bit extra in your coleslaw next time you went there.

    Thats why i never complain about the food in a resturant.


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    #11
    Einstein
    Registered Users Posts: 2,630 ✭✭✭Einstein


    littletiger wrote: »
    The first two asked did I tell a manager. As you have worked in the industry - would I have achieved anything if I had reported it?
    yea it would.

    If my staff did that they'd know all about it. Customer complaint = verbal warning tbh.
    I'm not a v nice boss.


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    #12
    Schism
    Registered Users Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭Schism


    Good old Irish, don't report something to anyone that might be able to do something but be sure to moan about it to friends. (no offence OP, we all do it.)


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    #13
    thelordofcheese
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,368 ✭✭✭thelordofcheese


    littletiger wrote: »
    Am I totally off the wall in saying that customer service sucks in Ireland?

    Example: I was at a supermarket checkout where two female ckeackout assistants were talking across the customers infront of me about what one of them have gotten up to the previous night. She never said please or thanks when the customer handed over their money.

    Surely if a manager is worth anything they would not allow this to happen?

    As powerful as they are, managers are not allowed to reach into the minds of customers and remove their ridiculous sense of entitlement.

    Mores the pity.


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    #14
    littletiger
    Registered Users Posts: 256 ✭✭littletiger


    betafrog wrote: »
    The lack of customer service in Ireland has a lot to do with too many customers being self righteous cünts. After a while of trying to be polite and courteous you get tired of being treated like utter shîte and start treating the customers the same why. It's a 2 way street. If you expect respect try showing some.


    How was standing there saying nothing and being spoken across being rude. Do you like your job? I think you are one of the people I am talking about. Can you define a self righteous c*** in the context of the issue I raised and please define the term c***


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    #15
    Poor Uncle Tom
    Registered Users Posts: 14,547 ✭✭✭✭Poor Uncle Tom


    thelordofcheese wrote: »
    As powerful as they are, managers are not allowed to reach into the minds of customers and remove their ridiculous sense of entitlement.

    Mores the pity.

    No, but they're allowed to reach into the pockets of customers and remove ridiculous amounts of their earnings though.

    F*ck em, power to the people, complain with your feet, shop elsewhere.


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    #16
    littletiger
    Registered Users Posts: 256 ✭✭littletiger


    thelordofcheese wrote: »
    As powerful as they are, managers are not allowed to reach into the minds of customers and remove their ridiculous sense of entitlement.

    Mores the pity.


    Surely they are entitled to being served in an efficient and mannerly way?


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    #17
    Einstein
    Registered Users Posts: 2,630 ✭✭✭Einstein


    littletiger wrote: »
    How was standing there saying nothing and being spoken across being rude. Do you like your job? I think you are one of the people I am talking about. Can you define a self righteous c*** in the context of the issue I raised and please define the term c***
    this is AH...no defining here...
    boob talk maybe...


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    #18
    My name is URL
    Registered Users Posts: 25,068 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    littletiger wrote: »
    Surely they are entitled to being served in an efficient and mannerly way?

    You chose not to say anything to the only person that could do anything about it, the manager

    entitlement waived tbh


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    #19
    Wertz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,909 ✭✭✭✭Wertz


    Agree 100% OP....had a similar experience just last week in my local Dunnes...two till operators and a manager having a chat as they do. I walk up with my basket, get virtually stared through...the girl operating my till decides to start rabbiting on about her "pho-in" and how she switched to whatever comapny for free texts...the manager walking away shouting back over his shoulder about what package he was on...my only interaction with the girl on the till was being barked at did I have a clubcard.
    It's pretty disheartening walking out of a shop after dropping 40 quid and not even getting smile or feckin' hello, thank you, or a goodbye.

    To those saying complain to the manager...lol. All that gets you is smiles and apologies and the minute you're out the door it's "Who was that dry sh*te?".

    The trouble is we never complain...and because of that when we do it's ineffectual because it's just seen as someone being cranky or unreasonable...heaven forbid shop staff treat customers with a little manners, in return for our patronage...more over customers are seen as some sort of passingf inconvenience for a lot of staff, or at least that's how it comes across...


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    #20
    bakkiesbotha
    Closed Accounts Posts: 172 ✭✭bakkiesbotha


    What can a manager do about this? He can't turn back time and make it better. And if he pulls the checkout girl up on this specific incident it will just result in the OP receiving even worse treatment next time he is at the same checkout. Either sullenness or sarcastic, exaggerated politeness.

    His job is to be on top of these girls all the time, riding them hard.


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    #21
    ejmaztec
    Registered Users Posts: 24,004 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    snyper wrote: »
    Dont be stupid.

    AH is a much more effective means of venting dissatisifaction


    Customers shouldn't take it from these till-scum and should always carry a revved up chainsaw when they go shopping.

    Many's the time that I've seen body-parts hanging on meat-hooks in Tesco car-parks.

    Another satisfied customer.


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    #22
    TheZohanS
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,582 ✭✭✭✭TheZohanS


    Next time it happens OP drop your shopping and walk out.


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    #23
    Poor Uncle Tom
    Registered Users Posts: 14,547 ✭✭✭✭Poor Uncle Tom


    bakkiesbotha wrote: »
    ........His job is to be on top of these girls all the time, riding them hard.
    :eek:

    Any vacancies for managerial positions?


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    #24
    K4t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,362 ✭✭✭K4t


    The customer is always right.

    Thread/


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    #25
    littletiger
    Registered Users Posts: 256 ✭✭littletiger


    betafrog wrote: »
    I didn't say you were being rude. I said that after a while of being treated like crap you will starting acting the same way.

    In the way that you assume that all retailers know nothing about customer service a retail worker is gonna start feeling like everyone is a dick if they start getting treated that way. You say that they never said please or thank you. When I worked in retail I went out of my way to say please and thank you and heard it back on average 10% of the time. When I worked in retail every second customer would assume you were there to screw them for every penny they had and would become very animated about it.

    What's more, the whole Eddie Hobbs and EU Trade Laws craze that has sweeped the nation means that a large number of customers suddenly think they're god and will make it known to you at every possible opportunity. Can't tell ya how many times I heard the phrase "I pay your wages", and before you give out about my Customer Service skills I was awarded for my "skills" several times and have a copy of a letter sent to a previous manager praising my service. Thankfully I only ever did retail part time but I can very easily see why someone would stop caring if they had to do it as their career (no offence to does that do).



    Agreed if people are being knob heads then they should be treated as such but until that fact is established people should be dealt with in a professional and friendly manner.


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    #26
    Wertz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,909 ✭✭✭✭Wertz


    littletiger wrote: »
    Agreed if people are being knob heads then they should be treated as such but until that fact is established people should be dealt with in a professional and friendly manner.

    Exactly. Until I or any other customer starts acting like a dickhead, do we not deseve the benefit of the doubt?
    I'll always make it my business to say please or thank you and treat staff in a dignified way (who honestly likes doing this sort of work or thinks it's easy?)...but I'll be damned if I'll keep doing it in the face of ever increasing ignorance and indifference to the customer...


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    #27
    Abi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,058 ✭✭✭✭Abi


    TheZohan wrote: »
    Next time it happens OP drop your shopping and walk out.

    Bang on. I've dumped clothes I was going to buy into a managers hands over the same kind of shyte, and told him exactly why I wasn't buying the stuff. If a shop wants you to hand over your cash, then they'd better keep their staff in line. That was nearly a year ago now I'd say, when people could have their choice of jobs. If the OP is talking about a recent incident, not only are the staff incompetent at their jobs they are pretty fcuking stupid too. The way things are at the moment, they could be replaced in a nano second for someone far more competent and happy to have a damn job.


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    #28
    thelordofcheese
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,368 ✭✭✭thelordofcheese


    Abigayle wrote: »
    Bang on. I've dumped clothes I was going to buy into a managers hands over the same kind of shyte, and told him exactly why I wasn't buying the stuff. If a shop wants you to hand over your cash, then they'd better keep their staff in line. That was nearly a year ago now I'd say, when people could have their choice of jobs. If the OP is talking about a recent incident, not only are the staff incompetent at their jobs they are pretty fcuking stupid too. The way things are at the moment, they could be replaced in a nano second for someone far more competent and happy to have a damn job.

    No. Not really.

    But as long as you feel better about yourself, that's cool.


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    #29
    AckwelFoley
    Registered Users Posts: 12,556 ✭✭✭✭AckwelFoley


    When i go to a supermarket i have a simple checklist of what i value as a good store.

    Good produce.
    Good Prices
    Decent Parking


    People that are on tills in these places are scanning barcodes and dealing with people 9 hours a day. I'll forgive them for not breaking into conversation with me. Its not what i went into the store for. I went it for my cheap value pack condoms and refuse sack and duct tape.

    If however im paying 40k for a new vehicle, i would expect the salesman to at least ask me how my day was and perhaps why im looking for an all terrain amphibious motor vehicle


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    #30
    Bandit12
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,442 ✭✭✭Bandit12


    I had a experience in Tecso in Nutgrove few weeks back not unlike the OP's. Two teens behind the checkout talking about a night out (massive it was :rolleyes:), anywho they took an eternity to serve me and i complained to the manager about it. The manager told me they where "only human and had the right to talk during work hours"....With a manager like that it's no wonder the shop is in the state it is.


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    #31
    TheZohanS
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,582 ✭✭✭✭TheZohanS


    snyper wrote: »
    I'll forgive them for not breaking into conversation with me. Its not what i went into the store for

    I agree.

    But the shopping eperience should be neutral at the very least, not negative as described in the OP.

    If you spend €100 each week that equates to €5200 per annum. If you lose a few customers like that each week you won't be long having to cut back of staff hours.


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