Rudely spoken to at butchers

TheTruthIsMine · 20-05-2018 2:05pm #1

Just to set the picture, this is a chain store that I frequent one of location of, and they give a 10% discount to students. So this day I asked for €11 of stir-fry, and showed him that I'd a card when paying. I was sure to check the receipt though when walking away. I saw that the price charged was €11, with any reduction. As soon as I turned around to question it, I saw a frown down his face.

I said that I didn't see that any discount came off. He then said that he gave me €11.30, and he said it as if I somehow should have known. So I told him that I had asked for €11. He then grabbed the receipt from my hand, as his fingers rather clumsily bumped into mine, and rather condescendingly said "and what does that say?". Of course it said €11... he was trying to make me look stupid. Saying such is actually only making things go around in circles.

I then explained how one would expect the discount to be deducted from the value of €11, which would give €9.90. This made me feel like I making a big deal over a few cents, but at the same time I was merely calling a spade a spade. He said something else, and definitely seemed to be speaking to me like a bouncer. For a second he awkwardly just looked away, as if I was trying his patience. At this point in time he seemed pretty hot headed, and I, not knowing how to diffuse the situation, just said "look, it doesn't matter" and walked off.

Sometimes it's as if we're so used to "the customer is always right" mentality being employed, that when something like this happens, we (or at least me) just don't know how to react. On hindsight, he didn't call out the final price or even face the card reader towards me so that I could see the price as I tapped it. If I were back, I'd have tried to return there and then, as I hadn't left the premises.

It was my first time being served by this particular guy at this butchers, and he actually seemed like one of the more experienced guys there. There were a few other small things off about his demeanor before that. I wonder if he's even aware that they've just lost a customer because of him.

s8n · 20-05-2018 2:07pm

I’d say you are traumatised !!

Fighting Tao · 20-05-2018 2:07pm

and?

Franz Von Peppercorn · 20-05-2018 2:08pm

What were the “few other words”.

I’ve worked in retail for 3 months in my life. That was enough time to generally side with staff.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 20-05-2018 2:08pm

I would have given you a Net €11 worth myself, as I thought that what you asked for.

Falthyron · 20-05-2018 2:10pm

Doing a stint in retail should be a rite of passage for every human being. Gap Year? Fúck that. Sabbatical? No way. Do a year in retail and you will see what humanity really is.

TheTruthIsMine · 20-05-2018 2:11pm

Katalina Famous Rainbow wrote: »

I would have given you a Net €11 worth myself, as I thought that what you asked for.

Yeah that was what I asked for, but then you add the discount! Try to keep up!

I don't know if you're being smart, but wasn't the way it worked before at this particular place.

munster87 · 20-05-2018 2:11pm

Wurst story ever.

Wheety · 20-05-2018 2:11pm

Oh no. Call the police.

Conservatory · 20-05-2018 2:11pm

Well you have two options. Be a pain in the hoop report the incident to his manager get him in trouble or fired and feel really big about yourself or let it go and get on with your life for all you know his wife left him that day and you melting his head over a euro discount that you don’t bring up until after the meat is bagged probably didn’t help.

Malayalam · 20-05-2018 2:11pm

10.90 and obviously it's vegetarianism for you OP

Kivaro · 20-05-2018 2:12pm

I was about to tell a joke about your incident but I'd probably butcher it.
My only advice to you is to steak out the place in the coming days because there's probably more to this story than meats the eye.

igCorcaigh · 20-05-2018 2:12pm

He was rude. I would have interpreted the request as €11, and then apply the discount.

Regardless of the confusion, his response was rude and unprofessional. I would not shop there again.

TheTruthIsMine · 20-05-2018 2:12pm

Falthyron wrote: »

Doing a stint in retail should be a rite of passage for every human being. Gap Year? Fúck that. Sabbatical? No way. Do a year in retail and you will see what humanity really is.

You're assuming I haven't. There's no excuse to take your frustration out on other people. Anyway, the Irish aren't known for being good at it.

TheTruthIsMine · 20-05-2018 2:13pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

What were the “few other words”.

I’ve worked in retail for 3 months in my life. That was enough time to generally side with staff.

wished?

verycool · 20-05-2018 2:13pm

TheTruthIsMine wrote: »

J as his fingers rather clumsily bumped into mine,

Sue for assault!

The only reasonable thing to do in this situation.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 20-05-2018 2:13pm

TheTruthIsMine wrote: »

I don't know if you're being smart, but wasn't the way he worked before at this particular place.

Not being smart in the slightest. That's how I interpreted your request. Move on.

Tipsy McSwagger · 20-05-2018 2:13pm

TheTruthIsMine wrote: »

Just to set the picture, this is a chain store that I frequent one of location of, and they give a 10% discount to students. So this day I asked for €11 of stir-fry, and showed him that I'd a card when paying. I was sure to check the receipt though when walking away. I saw that the price charged was €11, with any reduction. As soon as I turned around to question it, I saw a frown down his face.

I said that I didn't see that any discount came off. He then said that he gave me €11.30, and he said it as if I somehow should have known. I then said that I had asked for €11. He then grabbed the receipt from my hand, as his fingers rather clumsily bumped into mine, and rather condescendingly said "and what does that say?". Of course it said €11... he was trying to make me look stupid.

I then explained, how one would expect the discount to be deducted from the value of €11, which would give €9.90. There were a few others words too I think, but this guy seemed to be speaking to me like a bouncer. For a second he awkwardly just looked away, as if I was trying his patience. At this point in time he seemed pretty hot headed, and I not knowing how to diffuse the situation, just said "look, it doesn't matter" and walked off.

Sometimes it's as if we're so used to "the customer is always right" mentality being employed, that when something like this happens, we (or at least me) just don't know how to react. On hindsight, he didn't call out the final price or even face the card reader towards me so that I could see the price as I tapped it. If I were back, I'd have tried to return there and then, as I hadn't left the premises.

It was my first time being served by this particular guy at this butchers, and he actually seemed one of the more experienced guys there. I wonder if he's even aware that they've just lost a customer because of him.

And when I'd got the discount from the other staff members at the same place, sometimes some of them seemed a bit confused how to work that feature on the till. That didn't bother me, because I could see that they'd make the effort. One guy once even opened the till to physically take out coins because he didn't know how to give the discount.

What a condescending post. I don't blame the guy for losing it (I'm sure you're leaving a lot out),and anyone who works in customer service would understand his reaction.

Malayalam · 20-05-2018 2:13pm

Sorry the vegetarianism has affected my maths...

Fighting Tao · 20-05-2018 2:14pm

Best thread ever!

Franz Von Peppercorn · 20-05-2018 2:14pm

TheTruthIsMine wrote: »

wished?

Worked. I corrected it.

You aren’t coming across very well here so I’m even more siding with the butcher.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 20-05-2018 2:15pm

TheTruthIsMine wrote: »

You're assuming I haven't. There's no excuse to take your frustration out on other people. Anyway, the Irish aren't known for being good at it.

That’s another phrase that rattles, particularly when Irish people say it.

Earleybird · 20-05-2018 2:15pm

You have it rough buddy, got the €1.10 back but you'll fork out hundreds to psychiatrists in years to come getting over this. I'm in such shock I dare not read your post ever again.

Tipsy McSwagger · 20-05-2018 2:16pm

OP is probably upset he didn't get his usual free 'sausage'.

ConnyMcDavid · 20-05-2018 2:16pm

The customer is always right mentality is long gone. Just look at how popular it is for businesses to post a reply to Internet reviews openly berating the reviews and how they are wrong. Occasionally they are promoted on twitter and Facebook feeds.
In fact I think it's making a full swing.

verycool · 20-05-2018 2:16pm

But in all seriousness, did anyone else read the title of the thread and then go "parklife!".

TheTruthIsMine · 20-05-2018 2:17pm

Conservatory wrote: »

for all you know his wife left him that day and you melting his head over a euro discount that you don’t bring up until after the meat is bagged probably didn’t help.

Well I wouldn't relate to that as I've never let my personal life get in the way of how I treat customers.

Come off it with the wife leaving him. I actually saw him sort of snap at another new staff member a previous day. Pretty certain of it.

You can always rationalize reasons to let yourself be walked over.

wexie · 20-05-2018 2:19pm

ConnyMcDavid wrote: »

The customer is always right mentality is long gone. Just look at how popular it is for businesses to post a reply to Internet reviews openly berating the reviews and how they are wrong. Occasionally they are promoted on twitter and Facebook feeds.
In fact I think it's making a full swing.

No doubt that has something to do with the fact that some customer are completely unreasonable twats

Conservatory · 20-05-2018 2:19pm

TheTruthIsMine wrote: »

Well I wouldn't relate to that as I've never let my personal life get in the way of how I treat customers.

Come off it with the wife leaving him. I actually saw him sort of snap at another new staff member a previous day. Pretty certain of it.

You can always rationalize reasons to let yourself be walked over.

You keep fighting the good fight buddy.

Ulysses Gaze · 20-05-2018 2:20pm

A little tip. Don't post this type of thing in AH.

Phone Joe Duffy instead

TheTruthIsMine · 20-05-2018 2:22pm

ConnyMcDavid wrote: »

The customer is always right mentality is long gone. Just look at how popular it is for businesses to post a reply to Internet reviews openly berating the reviews and how they are wrong. Occasionally they are promoted on twitter and Facebook feeds.
In fact I think it's making a full swing.

Don't take the saying literally. What it really means, is that with face to face interactions, to customer is empathised with always spoken to politely. That attitude will never change.

Rudely spoken to at butchers

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