Annoying Customers

Its that time of year again. They have lost all their manners and you are ready to kill them. Just wanted to hear from some retail people about their experiences with the enemy - customers.
Just yesterday i had a customer fart right beside me (i heard it) then wonder why i walked off when he started to talk to me and it started to smell.
Plus all the personal shopper requests where they ask you for one thing, then continue on their list. Finally, the aisle hoggers that use their trolley to performing a rolling blockade.
What are your stories?

seanybiker

Loves when I fart and someone walks away because the smell. Makes me so proud to have cooked it myself. Your customer might love you now.

CardBordWindow

Maybe you should spend more time providing service to your customers, and less time complaining on boards.

Toby Take a Bow

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Maybe you should spend more time providing service to your customers, and less time complaining on boards.

If you keep it all bottled in, you'll develop ulcers.

I remember once spending around 20 minutes explaining the sterling to euro conversion rate. It was a pretty good conversion rate we were operating with, but the customer just saw the numbers and couldn't quite get his head around why we were charging 'more' for a product. Then he began shouting and attempting to intimidate me by towering over me.

Fun times. This is the first time in 10 years I'm not working in retail :pac: (cause I don't have a job )

Captain Darling

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

If you keep it all bottled in, you'll develop ulcers.

I remember once spending around 20 minutes explaining the sterling to euro conversion rate. It was a pretty good conversion rate we were operating with, but the customer just saw the numbers and couldn't quite get his head around why we were charging 'more' for a product. Then he began shouting and attempting to intimidate me by towering over me.

Fun times. This is the first time in 10 years I'm not working in retail :pac: (cause I don't have a job )

I had a summer job in a Bus Eireann ticket office in 1997 and a customer chucked a display in over the counter that had a load of leaflets with timetables on it.

I was just sitting there like a pleb with the place packed and the place was covered in thousands of a4 sheets.

The guy was off his head on something. They put in glass to stop stuff getting chucked in after that then.

SarahBeep!

People who stand too clise and people who share too much!!

Im a sales person not a gynecologist!

Micky Dolenz

What the fcuk?

You are a shop assistant. The clue is in the title. Do your flippin job.

SeaFields

Its been one of the handiest run ups to Christmas in years. The peoples just ain't spending.

I'm finished tomorrow afternoon and I don't think I have had a stressful moment yet.

WindSock

Unhelpful shop assistants piss me off a bit. The ones who are rarely on the floor but hiding behind the counter flirting or chatting away and look horrified that you have disturbed their conversation to ask a question or try to pay for something.

Captain Darling

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What the fcuk?

You are a shop assistant. The clue is in the title. Do your flippin job.

Bit harsh there now. It wouldnt be the easiest thing to stand there and smell the pong of someones guinness and taco fries fart.

I dont mind smelling my own farts, but some one elses positively churns my stomach.

Edit: Ohh, the personal shopper thing, yeah, do yer job for fcuks sakes!!

Micky Dolenz

Captain Darling wrote: »

Bit harsh there now. It wouldnt be the easiest thing to stand there and smell the pong of someones guinness and taco fries fart.

I dont mind smelling my own farts, but some one elses positively churns my stomach.

Bit harsh my hole. People should be on their knees thanking their customers for the business , shur arent they lucky to have jobs

Oranage2

Deleted User wrote: »

Its that time of year again. They have lost all their manners and you are ready to kill them. Just wanted to hear from some retail people about their experiences with the enemy - customers.
Just yesterday i had a customer fart right beside me (i heard it) then wonder why i walked off when he started to talk to me and it started to smell.
Plus all the personal shopper requests where they ask you for one thing, then continue on their list. Finally, the aisle hoggers that use their trolley to performing a rolling blockade.
What are your stories?

Yep customers are so annoying - I use to work retail 2 years ago. I'd be helpful enough but at Christmas I was just to busy to be somebody's personal shopper. They'd usually ask where something was and I'd just point them to furthest lane away from me and walk off.

Or if somebody was about to stop me I'd just say 'sorry I'm on my break'.

Captain Darling

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Bit harsh my hole. People should be on their knees thanking their customers for the business , shur arent they lucky to have jobs

Check out my edit. I stand firm in my position that you shouldnt have to smell someone elses arse emissions.

Otherwise do yer fuppin job!

Micky Dolenz

Captain Darling wrote: »

Check out my edit. I stand firm in my position that you shouldnt have to smell someone elses arse emissions.

Otherwise do yer fuppin job!

people pay good money for that in Japan.

Captain Darling

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

people pay good money for that in Japan.

Hmmm, onion bhaji... I'd buy that for a dollar.

demanufactured

Captain Darling wrote: »

Hmmm, onion bhaji... I'd buy that for a dollar.

Thats indian

Captain Darling

demanufactured wrote: »

Thats indian

Racist.

Oranage2

demanufactured wrote: »

Thats indian

Native American or Asian American?

Captain Darling

Oranage2 wrote: »

Native American or Asian American?

Yes.

Stiffler2

WindSock wrote: »

Unhelpful shop assistants piss me off a bit. The ones who are rarely on the floor but hiding behind the counter flirting or chatting away and look horrified that you have disturbed their conversation to ask a question or try to pay for something.

I agree but it irritates me even further when they come up to asking if you need anything.

"No, I'm just looking, thanks"

This is of course after only getting 3 steps into the door before you get harassed. Sometimes you can see them eyeing you up as you walk in and you think to yourself "Bollix"

nlgbbbblth

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

people pay good money for that in Japan.

are you mickydoomsux in disguise?

sarahbro

Working in a supermarket has made me lose my faith in mankind

harrythehat

I'll never understand why people can't ask for what they need or make their inquiries with a simple please and thank you.

lil'bug

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055527204&page=65

all your retail griping needs
shop workers of the world unite we are not alone

Catxscotch

I let an absolute stinker in a shop the other day, it was so bad even I was struggling to breathe..the shop assistant was very good, she didnt run away screaming, just carried on showing me the stuff.. fair play to her!!

44leto

There all annoying by their nature, they just always seem to want something from me:(

I wish they would just piss off and leave me alone.

Ronin247

Deleted User wrote: »

Its that time of year again. They have lost all their manners and you are ready to kill them. Just wanted to hear from some retail people about their experiences with the enemy - customers.
Just yesterday i had a customer fart right beside me (i heard it) then wonder why i walked off when he started to talk to me and it started to smell.
Plus all the personal shopper requests where they ask you for one thing, then continue on their list. Finally, the aisle hoggers that use their trolley to performing a rolling blockade.
What are your stories?

First rule of customer service,customer is always right.
second rule of customer service,Customers sh*t don't stink.

bicardi19

Oranage2 wrote: »

Or if somebody was about to stop me I'd just say 'sorry I'm on my break'.

Annoying shop assistant winner right here!

mattjack

Stiffler2 wrote: »

I agree but it irritates me even further when they come up to asking if you need anything.

"No, I'm just looking, thanks"

This is of course after only getting 3 steps into the door before you get harassed. Sometimes you can see them eyeing you up as you walk in and you think to yourself "Bollix"

I find if you say "bollix" out loud as they approach you has an even better effect .

Stiffler2

mattjack wrote: »

I find if you say "bollix" out loud as they approach you has an even better effect .

Lol - and what effect does that have exactly ?

Gavin "shels"

Stiffler2 wrote: »

I agree but it irritates me even further when they come up to asking if you need anything.

"No, I'm just looking, thanks"

This is of course after only getting 3 steps into the door before you get harassed. Sometimes you can see them eyeing you up as you walk in and you think to yourself "Bollix"

Don't blame the Shop Assistants for that, I used to work in a busy sports shop on Mary St (Dublin for you culchies) and we had to ask every question did they need a hand.

mattjack

Gavin shels wrote: »

Don't blame the Shop Assistants for that, I used to work in a busy sports shop on Mary St (Dublin for you culchies) and we had to ask every question did they need a hand.

The very person....Gavin did you ever hear of a pub called Toners in Kevin st area....?


Also a customer of mine tried to bite me recently.

Toby Take a Bow

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What the fcuk?

You are a shop assistant. The clue is in the title. Do your flippin job.

In my experience, I would always attempt to assist. But some customers don't really want assistance and are there simply to complain or demean people they see as lesser mortals because they work in retail. These people can go f*ck themselves.

WindSock wrote: »

Unhelpful shop assistants piss me off a bit. The ones who are rarely on the floor but hiding behind the counter flirting or chatting away and look horrified that you have disturbed their conversation to ask a question or try to pay for something.

You should set up a thread about that. It's a bit off-topic in a thread that's titled Annoying Customers.

Today, my annoying customers were complaining to me that our Salmon wasn't from Ireland. Do they think fish operate to boundaries? All swim in the same sh*t. Also, are cream is too hard to whip and a woman things we should take it off shelves so we don't leave people disappointed Xmas day.
I forgot one of my other gripes. Taking things from the fridge/freezer and leaving them anywhere they like. Instant waste. More waste = higher prices. They dont seem to get that though :-S

120_Minutes

Ronin247 wrote: »

First rule of customer service,customer is always right.
second rule of customer service,Customers sh*t don't stink.

First rule of working in retail is that your first rule is a lie.
Second rule is, coincidentally, that your second rule is also a lie.

Cardinal Richelieu

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

What the fcuk?

You are a shop assistant. The clue is in the title. Do your flippin job.

Problem is that some customers think that had a ****e day think they can take it out on retail staff.

Cheeky_gal

You actually can't win.

If you go up to a customer and offer to help them they're like "Leave me alone I'm only browsing".

If you don't go up to them you're considered a sh*t shop assistant.

:rolleyes:

Hate rude customers though, I actually refuse to serve them. Just because it's your jobto assist people doesn't mean you need to take sh*t

Coriolanus

Ronin247 wrote: »

First rule of customer service,customer is always right.
second rule of customer service,Customers sh*t don't stink.

Bullshít.

Frank Black

Cheeky_gal wrote: »

You actually can't win.

If you go up to a customer and offer to help them they're like "Leave me alone I'm only browsing".

If you don't go up to them you're considered a sh*t shop assistant.

:rolleyes:

Hate rude customers though, I actually refuse to serve them. Just because it's your jobto assist people doesn't mean you need to take sh*t

I agree man, it hardly takes that much effort to say, 'no thanks, i'm just having a browse', politely.

AgileMyth

Ronin247 wrote: »

First rule of customer service,customer is always right.
second rule of customer service,Customers sh*t don't stink.

Nope. You often have to point out that a customer is wrong. You just have to explain to them in the simplest terms why they are wrong.

For example I had a customer try to buy wine off me at ten to eleven at night a few weeks back. Apparently we're the only shop in the country enforcing a ten o clock closing time. By your logic I should have just sold her the bottle though yeah?

Tesco Massacre

I worked in Smyth's toy store one Christmas.

On Christmas Eve a lady asked me if we had any Furbies left. I said no. The murderous look she gave me will stay with me 'til the day I die.

WindSock

Tesco Massacre wrote: »

I worked in Smyth's toy store one Christmas.

On Christmas Eve a lady asked me if we had any Furbies left. I said no. The murderous look she gave me will stay with me 'til the day I die.

So she went to Tesco's instead with her gripe?

Adyx

I can honestly say after almost 12 years of working in bars, I have never, ever known a customer to be right about anything. Seriously, if I'm in the wrong I'm happy to admit to it and put it right, But that has never happened.
The problem with Irish customers (maybe it's the same worldwide) is they have this sense of entitlement and vague (completely false) idea of what the law is.
I regularly read the Cries of Retail thread in R&R and I can't believe how people in some situations don't completely lose the rag. I absolutely will not put up with any bullshit from anyone. I don't care who you are or who you know, I don't care if you're a guard or related to one and sure as fuck if you threaten me with with Joe Duffy or some other loser, I will laugh in your face and ignore you.

Gophur

To anyone working in pubs or retail, do not ask your customers "are you all right?", or "are y'all right?" WTF is it about Irish customer service that this has become the standard greeting? 'Of course I'm all right! Do I look sick?'

"May I help you?" or "How may I help you?" is the way to approach customers.

Optimalprimerib

Cheeky_gal wrote: »

You actually can't win.

If you go up to a customer and offer to help them they're like "Leave me alone I'm only browsing".

If you don't go up to them you're considered a sh*t shop assistant.

:rolleyes:

Hate rude customers though, I actually refuse to serve them. Just because it's your jobto assist people doesn't mean you need to take sh*t

I did a little experiment with this yesterday in a popular restaurant. Usually 1 minute into your meal, the staff come over asking is everything ok. Normally your mouth is stuffed so all they hear is mmmmph mmmh. This time I needed a knife and fork. I didn't grab their attention, I waited about 10 minutes until I had my burger finished an half my chips gone. She eventually asked, but again as my mouth was full all she heard was mmmmph mmmmh and walked away.

When you don't need them they are there, when you do... They are there but much slower and are gone as quick.