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Child Item

Abusive Customers!

Red Alert

A customer rang in on the phone today and had a discussion with one of the girls in the shop i work in. Obviously she didn't have whatever the woman wanted in her department and so suggested she try elsewhere (Dunnes) in town, the customer retorted that she was 'an arrogant little bitch'. My colleague was visibly shaken after this and the call ended soon after. The girl was in bits by this stage, and she's not exactly one of the more fragile members of staff. She's around 22 and well able to give as good as she gets, but this really took the biscuit.

Is it the heat or are people just getting really abusive/rude?

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Mossy Monk

i hate those bastards that try and turn something going against them into a race issue

Pyr0

Usually when someone throws out the racist card in any situation, I just reply by saying "look *points at face* this is me giving a f^uck" . I only use it when someone really gets to me, i guess working with the public is a different story having to watch your words and all.

tallaghtoutlaws

There are two sides to every coin. Yes there are ahole customers and yes there are ahole staff members.

Alot of staff memebers get abuse thrown their way because they do not show respect to the customer as someone mentioned earlier about the 2 staff memebers chatting that is plain rude and is a big no no in any customer related role. This sort of thing is the type of thing that pees people off to begin with. Irish and British customer service has become terrible of late with people who care less about their job and throw this on the customer. Look if you don't like being there and hate your job and know you cannot provide proper service quit!

The other side. I always found the best way to deal with ahole customers is to always be nice to them no matter how much they shout or curse etc. Say things like Im sorry sir/madam you feel that way, or I understand etc. The reason for this is because they do not know whether you are being an ahole or just nice to them even though they are abusing you. Then 90% of them realise how much of an ass they are and back down.

The other 10%. The nutters. Keep saying politely that if they continue to be disrespectful you will not offer anymore assistance and and will ask them to leave. These aholes are the type of customer that need to be put in their place. But always remember to do it politely as this pisses them of but keeps you on your bosses good side. Patronise these fookers to hell is my moto.

InFront

I agree with you (above). You have to show them that theyre being assholes. If you tell them, they wont accept it and will just argue further.

Doctor DooM

luckat wrote:

I'm very sorry if their job is mind-numbing; perhaps it would be less so if they did it with more dignity.

Sorry man but thats a really, really ignorant thing to say.

Try doing that job for a few years and see if you retain your dignity.

I have a theory on nasty customers: Basically, there are two kinds of customers. Ones who have had public facing jobs, and ones who haven't.

Ones that have had customer facing jobs always say please, always say thank you, are always polite when they complain, And generally treat you like a person.

The other type seem to think if you work in a service industry you are either stupid, ignorant, or worthless. Sometimes they genuinely seem to think you dont count as a person, and can be abused/ ordered at will.

On the topic of falling CS standards, it is probably because alot of jobs are cutting the amount of floor staff, which puts the remaining floor staff under alot of pressure.

Of course, there ARE some gits behind the counters too. But try to remember if someone is a little nasty to you in a shop, you could just be the hundredth person in a row to ask them the same question, and they are people.

That said, if they aren't doing their job, they arent doing their job and their manager should pick them up.

Rockiemalt

i work in an office palce where we issue cards afteer you've done a certain course. they are taking about 3 months to fgo through at the moment and I had one woman ring up the other day asking could she not just laminate the card herself?!?!?!?!?

Doctor DooM

Rockiemalt wrote:

i work in an office palce where we issue cards afteer you've done a certain course. they are taking about 3 months to fgo through at the moment and I had one woman ring up the other day asking could she not just laminate the card herself?!?!?!?!?

People...

Collie D

I managed a restaurant for a year and did not mind if a customer made a genuine complaint ie cold food, slow service, etc... If they complain to me without shouting I can solve the problem, apologise and maybe offer a discount, throw in a few free drinks or something. Irish and British people generally don't like to complain as they think they will be looked at as arseholes. Most restaurants would prefer a complaint on the spot so they can resolve the issue to the customer's ssatisfaction, whereas if you go into a restaurant, wait an hour for your meal and then it's cold/crap and say nothing you go home, tell all your friends that X restaurant is crap and never return. The restaurant business is based on word of mouth so this is not good. People shouldn't be afraid to complain as long as they do it in a civil manner. There are also a small per centage of people who will look for things to complain about no matter how well the place is run, these are the arseholes. Was also told that most restaurant complaints come at start of month when customer sees credit card bill and decides they want a refund

[Deleted User]

I was repairing computers in schools in my previous job. I had a teacher tell me off because I walked too close to her in the hallway. Needless to say I didn't take it too well and could have lost my job over it. But my boss was understanding in the end and things were ok.

mysterious

tallaghtoutlaws wrote:

There are two sides to every coin. Yes there are ahole customers and yes there are ahole staff members.

Alot of staff memebers get abuse thrown their way because they do not show respect to the customer as someone mentioned earlier about the 2 staff memebers chatting that is plain rude and is a big no no in any customer related role. This sort of thing is the type of thing that pees people off to begin with. Irish and British customer service has become terrible of late with people who care less about their job and throw this on the customer. Look if you don't like being there and hate your job and know you cannot provide proper service quit!

The other side. I always found the best way to deal with ahole customers is to always be nice to them no matter how much they shout or curse etc. Say things like Im sorry sir/madam you feel that way, or I understand etc. The reason for this is because they do not know whether you are being an ahole or just nice to them even though they are abusing you. Then 90% of them realise how much of an ass they are and back down.

The other 10%. The nutters. Keep saying politely that if they continue to be disrespectful you will not offer anymore assistance and and will ask them to leave. These aholes are the type of customer that need to be put in their place. But always remember to do it politely as this pisses them of but keeps you on your bosses good side. Patronise these fookers to hell is my moto.

Being "nice"...
Staff don't come in dressing like clowns... The majority of Staff are obliging and áre not aholes, and are doing the job right... simple as that. Being to nice dosn't work, especially with ahole costumers.... However I see your point that if they spit or scream, you don't need to, or be at that level.. You lose your own respect etc...
Being polite works. for the simple reason they can't accuse you of so and so. It's your job to be polite when working amongst costumers. Being firm and assertive to these fookers is also works wonders.

I somewhat dissagree with the idea, that staff cannot communicate to each other. I mean if they talk, There's a time and place, and as long as it's not on busy hours or pouting personal life etc.

It creates a positive environment amongst the staff if they talk to one another. It's rude to have a blaring conversation in front of public, yes, but it depends on the job and where.

mysterious

Mossy Monk wrote:

i hate those bastards that try and turn something going against them into a race issue

Oh that makes my blood boil...

DarkJager

I personally hate arrogant and abusive customers. I work for a tech support company and somedays the customers who get through to me are unreal. I remember one day last week I had a pakistani on the phone. His computer hs been in repair for a few weeks (waiting for parts) and he proceeded to state that myself and my company were racists and we were delaying his repair because he was coloured. Then he hung up. So i thought fvck this, and I rang him back and told him that as soon as he felt mature enough not ot play the race card, he could call us back and we can discuss it.

I personally hate nothing more than abusive customers like that. I've given up being nice to them. As soon as they start to get big mouthed I tell them in no uncertain terms to go fvck themselves...works a treat and not one complaint yet.

mysterious

luckat wrote:

Whoo, bouncing cheque story. What a crook.

Staff chatting to each other - of course I don't think they shouldn't chat - just not when they're doing a transaction with their customer. It's just rude.

People at the moment don't seem to have good manners. Maybe we need some kind of a national campaign.

For instance, in my bank there's a notice asking people not to use their mobile phone while they're at the counter. But I constantly see people chatting loudly on the mobile walk up to the counter, shove a filled-out withdrawal form at the clerk and keep talking, phone glued to ear.

For instance, people talk loudly on their mobile phone on the bus.

For instance, people talk loudly to their friends on the bus.

For instance, the government funds commercials that are nothing but sadistic, showing people screaming after car accidents. Guilt-tripping the general populace like this is nothing but rude.

For instance, I was walking down Talbot Street the other day and saw a mother with her little boy. He'd just finished a drink in a paper cup and held it up to her to ask what to do with it. She told him to leave it on the street, and they walked away leaving it there.

(Of course there are exceptions; plenty of people have lovely manners.)

That is never going to go away... and to respond to your post, we know. and to be honest that's none of our business what the lady says to the child etc.

Collie D

That race **** really pisses me off, although only incident I can remember of it was the one I posted above, think I am older and mature enough now that if it happened again and the guy said "Is it because I'm Jewish" I'd say yeah and walk away

the_syco

Sparky-s wrote:

They inform me that the womans cheque kept bouncing.

After all that, the bitch gives me a rubber cheque.
TBH it was not worth it to go back...the bank kept trying for me but it bounced too often.

I'd go back and retrive the switch. Say "your cheque bounced, so I'm retrieving my goods".

luckat wrote:

For instance, the government funds commercials that are nothing but sadistic, showing people screaming after car accidents. Guilt-tripping the general populace like this is nothing but rude.

OT, but the one where they bounce around in slow motion rules. Esp funny, as its not the guy without the seatbelt who killed them all: its the f*cker who slammed into the back of them that killed them all, tbh.

ferdi wrote:

so what if its a saturday? loads of people work weekends too and dont go round charging extra

You want it cheap? Take a day off work during the week, and get someone to do it cheaply then? Want it at your convenience? Well, be prepared to pay for it, tbh. Also, those who work weekends will get more money than during the week, with either "weekend rate", "shift allowance", or under some other heading. This extra money comes from somewhere, you know.

ferdi wrote:

getting anything done in your house these days costs massive amounts of money for very little effort

TBH, if its easy to do, do it yourself. Otherwise it'll cost you. Don't think that they do it for free, do you?

=-=

When working, I'll talk to my work collegues. From a simple "how's it going" to "what did you get up to last night?". If its quite, I converse, if its busy, I converse less. I converse with the customers, and sometimes not.

I have worked in jobs where I did not converse. It's soul destroying, if the customer is your only outlet to the human race, as all they'll talk to you about is complaints.

But when conversing, I ensure my back is never turned towards the customer, and that I look back at the customer. This will send them two messages, I feel: I'm not ignoring you, and if you open your mouth to say something, I'll listen. If you turn your head around, and converse, the customer will become irate.

mysterious

I'm posting this simple because, as it's minor and it's an example of costumer's being ignorant for no reason...

Today at work... I was pushing something heavy, very heavy down the corridor. But anyway. I stopped to let costumers go by, eventually the guy that was in front of me. Just stood there and replied (with a little arrogance) are you going to go right through me or what - in other words what he was really saying "I'm not moving"

No sir! I'm just waiting til YOU move... He moved because I was not going to maneovre around him or take his attitude:D . fooken hideous crap costumers come up with.

can anyone come with a really stupid abusive costumer complaint, probs livin this thread a little.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Metacortex

SDooM wrote:

I have a theory on nasty customers: Basically, there are two kinds of customers. Ones who have had public facing jobs, and ones who haven't.

.

I think that is so true.

Having worked in CS, (and i will be returning to it in a few weeks when i start a new job) i would never, never abuse someone who is just trying to do their job.

Some people are just horrific, they will lie and scream and curse like spoiled children.

I guess the one call that sticks out in my mind went something like this -

*Phone rings*

Me - Hello, welcome to *company name*. How can i help?
Customer - *screaming already* Where the **** is the courier?
Me - Sorry, whats the problem?
Customer - *still screaming* I ordered a courier to come collect my ****ing computer two days ago, where the **** is it?
Me - Can i take you name? *to check on the system*
Customer - *Screaming escalates* What the **** do you need my name for?
Me - Sir, if you don't calm down im oging to end this call.
Customer - *A torrent of abuse*

*click*

The guy rang back about an hour later and screamed at me some more. Eventually i managed to get some details out of him.
Turns out he only called the courier, not two days before as claimed, but only that morning.

Things like this are a regular occurance. Some people are just unreal.

mysterious

Metacortex wrote:

I think that is so true.

Having worked in CS, (and i will be returning to it in a few weeks when i start a new job) i would never, never abuse someone who is just trying to do their job.

Some people are just horrific, they will lie and scream and curse like spoiled children.

I guess the one call that sticks out in my mind went something like this -

*Phone rings*

Me - Hello, welcome to *company name*. How can i help?
Customer - *screaming already* Where the **** is the courier?
Me - Sorry, whats the problem?
Customer - *still screaming* I ordered a courier to come collect my ****ing computer two days ago, where the **** is it?
Me - Can i take you name? *to check on the system*
Customer - *Screaming escalates* What the **** do you need my name for?
Me - Sir, if you don't calm down im oging to end this call.
Customer - *A torrent of abuse*

*click*

The guy rang back about an hour later and screamed at me some more. Eventually i managed to get some details out of him.
Turns out he only called the courier, not two days before as claimed, but only that morning.

Things like this are a regular occurance. Some people are just unreal.

I think you would have to be very "cool" to be in a job like that.. Fair play to yeah!:D

It's just so stupid when costumers are screaming their heads off on the other line. What's the point in screaming, I mean you can still issue a complaint without being absurd.

It's a true fact people don't actually hear the person speaking, when screaming their heads off. In fact, People actually pay less attention to people who shout with aggression, by means of getting their point across. and rightly so.
Some people believe if they don't get it through to other's, it's millitary action, Or just shout louder and be more absurd.
as the above post phased.- acting like spoilt children - .

It would be smart and effective for a costumer "A" to take a long deep breath before calling "B", be able to talk in a reasonable tone to person "b" and solve a complaint in a normal manner. Panicking and screaming is'nt going to help. Note: it make's things easier not just for the person "B" on the other end but the person making the complaint also. Things just don't get done when your swearing and fuming and banging the phone off the wall:D .

People like that should have a dedicate phonecall recorded of the " ahdhghgjdrarrrarrr scene" and sent to them on their birthday or something in front of all their loved ones, Just to remind them on their special day how stroppy and nuts there at the time for everyone to see:D.... Genuinely I guess people who actually see themselves afterwoulds in a rage, by means of a recording etc, would probably be embarressed and ashamed.