Retail workers; what do customers do that annoys you?

Novella · 05-07-2010 11:17PM

"Will you run out the back there and see do you have this in size ten?"

You go to the stockroom, check, come back.

"What took you so long?

What took me so long? The stockroom isn't just 'out the back'. It's up a few flights of stairs. It is packed with clothes, so I had to go looking for whatever it is you wanted. Maybe I had to climb a ladder. I'm scared of heights so this may have taken a few moments as I built up the courage. My sincere apologies.

Oh, and "Any chance of a discount?". This is not a fucking market. No, you cannot have a discount.

blackbox · 05-07-2010 11:19PM

Vinta81 wrote: »

Always asking for discounts, especially last year it was awful " I'll give you €40 (for a say €60 pair of shoes) it's a recession ater all" erm imagine me going to my local shop to get a loaf of bread, "I'll give you 10c" get a grip.

Bread is now reduced to €1 in my local shop.

mikemac · 05-07-2010 11:20PM

I'm not going to unleash my contempt at the way many people treat retail workers, customers can be pigs

My contempt goes to middle managers with no balls who will do anything for an easy life. They disregard the rules that you could be sacked for.

Example
You patiently explain to a customer why you can't give a refund, you highlight store policy and damn it, you even point to the signs on the walls showing store policy.
You take abuse for the company but in the sure knowledge you are doing your job correctly.

Assistant manager comes over and a refund.
WTF?? :mad:
The manager avoids a confrontation, the customer learns if they scream for a manager they get anything they want.
And the only sucker who works for close to minimum wage is left looking like a fool as they got bypassed

Propellerhead · 05-07-2010 11:26PM

Degag wrote: »

I work in a bar. I hate it when it's busy and people take an age to tell you the order or tell you it one drink at a time or have to go back to the table to see what Mary is drinking.... Also annoys me when you complete a transaction and just about to move onto another customer when you hear, "Oh can you put on another Guinness for me please?" Or "Can you give me change for the fags aswell?" etc etc.

People who tell me the price of the pint is cheaper elsewhere.... i don't care! Or people telling me the drink is bad.... they may have a point at times of course, but it gets annoying.

One fella who rarely comes into the pub always asks for a Guinness with a big head. Doesn't realise that isn't really possible to do.

People who ask me "Do you want money for that?" Just

Farting

People who won't feck off home at closing time and stay talking and singing till all hours and don't ring a taxi until they finish their drink instead of half way through.

People who ask for drink after hours.

There's alot more too:rolleyes:

Plenty of good reasons to drink at home so

Degag · 05-07-2010 11:36PM

Propellerhead wrote: »

Plenty of good reasons to drink at home so

Why may i ask?

G_R · 05-07-2010 11:44PM

feelingstressed wrote: »

I'm not going to unleash my contempt at the way many people treat retail workers, customers can be pigs

My contempt goes to middle managers with no balls who will do anything for an easy life. They disregard the rules that you could be sacked for.

Example
You patiently explain to a customer why you can't give a refund, you highlight store policy and damn it, you even point to the signs on the walls showing store policy.
You take abuse for the company but in the sure knowledge you are doing your job correctly.

Assistant manager comes over and a refund.
WTF?? :mad:
The manager avoids a confrontation, the customer learns if they scream for a manager they get anything they want.
And the only sucker who works for close to minimum wage is left looking like a fool as they got bypassed

I seriously cannot thank this enough. Drives me nuts.

A person came out of a screen the other day, about 3/4's into the film and came to the Guest Service Point, which I happened to be on.

"I didnt like that film, any chance I could get my money back"
"No madam, I'm sorry, but we can only give refunds if there was a problem with something we can control like heat or sound quality, I'm afraid we can't control weather or not you like the film"
"thats ridiculous, I would like to see you manager"
/sigh, gets manager
"this man refused to give me a refund"
"what was the problem madam"
"i didnt like the film"
"oh come with me madam ill sort that out for you now"

Seriously, how do they think that makes us feel. I mean fair enough if I was actually wrong, I have no problem someone going over my head, but when I am right and the manager is just doing it for an easy life, it's downright humiliating to be honest.

EdgarAllenPoo · 05-07-2010 11:46PM

The thing that boils my ****e where I work is people dumping baskets at the end of a til and then going off shopping again for 5 minutes. It's the equivalent of trying to reserve a sunbed by putting a towel on it so nobody can go ahead of them.
Then when they do finally come back they have a puss on because you had the unmitigated temerity to serve someone else while they were away.

Flojo · 05-07-2010 11:47PM

Walk into the store...

sky88 · 05-07-2010 11:48PM

its after closing time and they still wont get out of the damm shop

06-07-2010 12:06AM

My favourite is: "Do you work here?"

When customers ask if the size they'v picked up is big or small fitting.
I never really know quite how to answer that.

When customers pick up an item, that is clearly NOT from sale (not from sale rack, no sale price yada yada yada) and ask if its on sale.

When customers from the travelling community pull money from their bra. . and hand it over. I always shudder when I have to take it.

Theres so much more that I cant think of, but I usually hate customers & generally people after a long day.

Pauleta · 06-07-2010 12:07AM

Its been a couple of years since i worked in a shop but anyway......

When customers tell me <insert name> is cheaper in tesco and they will go there to get it (You do realise i dont care if you buy something or not as i dont get the profits. In fact it will leave me less work so piss off)

After being asked for a certain product all day and it not being in stock. They still ask can i go out bacl and look for it (I looked earlier and its not there, although i will take a sneaky smoke break while you wait

)

I dont bring my kids to their work place so why dont they leave their rodents at home

People who leave random shopping baskets about and never return (Whats that all about

)

I get paid to turn up to work, pack shelves and give information to customers. Not to care about your problems.

CiaranMT · 06-07-2010 12:09AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Retail workers in Ireland are f*cking useless tossers in general. They are lazy, unhelpful & clueless. And that's just the managers.

Customers who knock something or break something and then walk away. Tell the staff! You don't have to pay for it!

mikemac · 06-07-2010 12:11AM

Worked in a bar.

Government put up the price of cigarettes, let's abuse the barman.

I think Charlie McCreevy racked up the price seriously a number of years ago, I was cursing his name and I don't even smoke

Minister of Finance increases tax on drink, it's the barmans fault of course.

Tip for the drinkers of Ireland, the person on minimum wage who you know is a student and only works weekends can't control prices and will in fact be sacked for giving discounts.

Take your grievance on tax to your local TD!

mikemac · 06-07-2010 12:14AM

CiaranMT wrote: »

Customers who knock something or break something and then walk away. Tell the staff! You don't have to pay for it!

I'm surprised, I was always told as a child anyway

if you knock something and break it you pay
I'd be convinced if I dropped a jar of say Dolmio sauce in Tesco tomorrow I'd have to pay.
I wouldn't walk away but I was sure the staff would demand payment

Our local shop has some sign like
"Lovely to look at
Lovely to hold
But if you break this it's certainly sold"

Amalgam · 06-07-2010 12:18AM

wmpdd3 wrote: »

open and use the hand cream / deodorant / make up and through it back, buy another one.

What's surprising about that is that its just as likely to be 'posh birds' doing it, as much as 'yokes'. No class or age is immune from the quick Olay two finger scoop, replace on shelf.

Funny thing is.. if you did the same thing in their homes, you'd have your eyes removed, with nails by Rimmel.

QuiteInterestin · 06-07-2010 12:28AM

Customers talking on the phone while they're being served, especially when they stand there and finish their conversation while you're waiting for them to hand over the money. The whole shop could be filling up with customers waiting to be served just because their phone conversation is more important then everyone elses time!!

CiaranMT · 06-07-2010 12:44AM

feelingstressed wrote: »

I'm surprised, I was always told as a child anyway if you knock something and break it you pay
I'd be convinced if I dropped a jar of say Dolmio sauce in Tesco tomorrow I'd have to pay.
I wouldn't walk away but I was sure the staff would demand payment

Our local shop has some sign like
"Lovely to look at
Lovely to hold
But if you break this it's certainly sold"

What type of shop is it?

I work in a Supervalu and we would have allowances on say, breakages, out-of-date stock etc. Rebates and what have you. T'would be the same in the other multiples.

Personally, I always appreciate it when after a breakage, a customer seeks out staff to let them know.

Another pet peeve I have, now that I'm thinking of it, is when people partly eat an ice-cream, and leave the rest on a shelf to melt. It might only be unique in the place I work, but it's always a Loop-The-Loop and we never see who it is!!

irish1967 · 06-07-2010 12:48AM

Another barman here.

Customer walks in. 40 people sitting at tables eating. Others looking at menus. Delicious smell of food in the place and they say "are you serving food?"

People who just haven't a clue how to order drinks.

Obviously barstaff are responsible for every new law brought in affecting pubs. Smoking, drink driving, kids out by 10pm, closing times.

People trying to buy 1 coke with a visa card.

Parents who let their kids run wild.

Customers arguing over who is going to pay for the round.

The beermat rippers.

pablomakaveli · 06-07-2010 12:57AM

QuiteInterestin wrote: »

Customers talking on the phone while they're being served, especially when they stand there and finish their conversation while you're waiting for them to hand over the money. The whole shop could be filling up with customers waiting to be served just because their phone conversation is more important then everyone elses time!!

I absolutely hate that. Too many people who come up to my counter and then say hang on a sec while i have to wait for them to finish talking is ridiculous. It's one of the rudest things i've come across.

Anyway working retail has pretty much killed off my faith in humanity. To be honest a lot of customers are grand and simple things like manners and treating people with a bit of respect go a long way and yet there are a lot of people who are'nt capable of this.

I never want to work in retail again after i leave my current job which will be hopefully be soon.

questionmark? · 06-07-2010 12:58AM

irish1967 wrote: »

The beermat rippers.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Degag · 06-07-2010 01:00AM

irish1967 wrote: »

Another barman here.

Customer walks in. 40 people sitting at tables eating. Others looking at menus. Delicious smell of food in the place and they say "are you serving food?"

People who just haven't a clue how to order drinks.

Obviously barstaff are responsible for every new law brought in affecting pubs. Smoking, drink driving, kids out by 10pm, closing times.

People trying to buy 1 coke with a visa card.

Parents who let their kids run wild.

Customers arguing over who is going to pay for the round.

The beermat rippers.

Yes! All these will be added to my list!

fruvai · 06-07-2010 01:02AM

When a customer hands you something to put in the bin for them (EG - a chocolate bar that they haven't paid for yet)

When a customer reaches deep in their pockets and produces a plethora of change and pubic hair

When a customer complains about the prices being too high (I can do what exactly to help?)

Customers who don't have the following in their vocabulary: 'Hello' 'Please' 'Thanks'

Customers (mainly old guys) who emit such a foul and pungent odour that they can miraculously transfer said odour to the legal tender they use to pay with

Customers who ask you to put the credit they've purchased on their phones

Customers who pay for chewing gum with their credit card

Kids

rodgered · 06-07-2010 01:05AM

Plenty annoys me, working in footwear and a customer gives you four pairs of shoes to get sizes in!
Are you a fcuking octopus?

Barwork, young people in general are ok at ordering however older crowds have a tendancy to give the order one drink at a time :mad:

Back to the footwear, customers asking for discounts because they have bought maybe two pairs of runners, 'Be nice to me buckeen'

Also all there foreign summer students over are a complete nightmare.

For every customer that is a complete pain in the hole, there are two who are sound.

Kintarō Hattori · 06-07-2010 01:08AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Retail workers in Ireland are f*cking useless tossers in general. They are lazy, unhelpful & clueless. And that's just the managers.

I would respectfully disagree with you there. It really does depend on where you go.

mikemac · 06-07-2010 01:13AM

Ah the classic scam

Some gent comes up to the bar and orders a massive round, you watch them carry the drinks or even give a tray
"Right that's x euro please"
"Oh and a pint of Guinness as well and drop it down to me" :eek:

Drop down the drink? it's three deep at the counter and management cut staff costs so we're mad busy, just not possible, I would if I could

Of course there are 200 people at this wedding and the room is dark and they are convinced you are too busy to chase them or find them.
If they don't return I don't care if the bar goes even more short-staffed, well I do care but I'm on the floor with a bouncer and looking for payment and shall shame you in front of your table.

I take it as insult someone will try to con me and it's been done several times, very common in nightclubs.
Edit, of course I got a bollocking from management on my return for leaving the bar

cc-offe · 06-07-2010 01:13AM

fruvai wrote: »

Customers who ask you to put the credit they've purchased on their phones

Hate that one, used to drive me mad, I can't even use my own feckin phone let alone your crappy ones. Also usually the people that do that to ya don't even ask you to put it in their phones, they just hand you the phone and look at ya :mad::mad:

Like a lot of others on here I also used to hate people who go on and on about knowing their rights even though they're wrong, infuriating.

People can be so rude, I think most people who work in retail themselves tend to be that little bit nicer to other retail staff.

rodgered · 06-07-2010 01:15AM

People can be so rude, I think most people who work in retail themselves tend to be that little bit nicer to other retail staff.

Very True

punchdrunk · 06-07-2010 01:17AM

quote outlandish internet prices,then look for a reason as to "why are you so dear??" as if im the ****ing company Director who sets pricing! :mad:

after 14 years in retail,I could write a book :mad:

P_1 · 06-07-2010 01:27AM

cc-offe wrote: »

Hate that one, used to drive me mad, I can't even use my own feckin phone let alone your crappy ones. Also usually the people that do that to ya don't even ask you to put it in their phones, they just hand you the phone and look at ya :mad::mad:

They do what?? Seriously, the money's gone through the till, GTFO.

cc-offe · 06-07-2010 03:46AM

pithater1 wrote: »

They do what?? Seriously, the money's gone through the till, GTFO.

Yep they were absolutely unreal, how they'd cope in an emergency if they had to put in their own credit I do not know!

On the other hand I used to serve an elderly gentleman every day and he always came in with a smile and he always cheered me up, it is absolutely amazing how happy it makes you feel when you get a nice customer who actually appreciates what you're doing. That's a bit sad really i guess lol

It was actually the attitude of the owners that made me leave the job in the end, the rude customers were nothing compared to them so luckily I quit and got another job somewhere I love.

Retail workers; what do customers do that annoys you?

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