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Ar**hole Staff

MadsL

For the sake of balance from the customer thread, regale us with your tales of rude obnoxious staff.

Are yer alright dere?

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P_1

MadsL wrote: »

I'm not American.

I know that but you have been living over there for a good while now. Not turning this into a location based argument but surely you've noticed the subtle differences between the spoken English language on both sides of the Atlantic?

loveBBhate

MadsL wrote: »

No. No, it isn't. Sometimes when you mean something, you have to actually say it.

I have to say, whilst living in Ireland I missed the attitude of the Czechs, whilst they were often grumpy sales people when actually dealing with customers, at least every shop gave a cheery Good Morning, and Goodbye when you left, and it was expected that you do the same. The Austrians/Germans are the same.

I guess once upon a time rural Ireland did it too...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=One+way+flights+out+of+Ireland+

I am pie

MadsL wrote: »

"are you alright?"

and

"need a hand with anything?"

are very different. The first is a lazy phrase that doesn't actually offer help (ok, it is implied, but show little respect or courtesy to the customer) the second actually offers help.

I actually think it is a symptom of Irish misplaced classlessness. How dare the customer be thinking he's above the staff, bring him down a peg or two. It's trying way too hard to egalitarian, and unnecessarily so.

I think it is rude personally. I also think better commission/satisfaction structures would fix it.

Misplaced classlessness!! ...what in the name of all that's green does that mean??

Anyway, I reckon this is something that offends nearly no one. Casual language is much more accepted in Ireland than in other parts of the world, I like it. I believe the majority of people do, it doesn't obstruct your purchase but somehow offends your delicate sensibilities.

In short, it's just you.

pickarooney

MadsL, how would you get on if you had to deal with yourself as a customer? You'd surely be on the floor brawling within seconds.

[Deleted User]

Anyone that gives out about staff in retails have never worked in retail before.

[Deleted User]

MadsL wrote: »

Do elucidate further. Or perhaps I'm supposed to infer your argument?

Nope. That's all I have to say on that matter.

Are you alright there?

I am fine at the moment but thanks so much for checking

Uaru

MadsL wrote: »

No. No, it isn't. Sometimes when you mean something, you have to actually say it.

It is to everyone else. Maybe you need to reconsider how you view your shopping experience and maybe accept that you are the one with a problem.

[Deleted User]

pickarooney wrote: »

MadsL, how would you get on if you had to deal with yourself as a customer? You'd surely be on the floor brawling within seconds.

You'd have to wonder if they'd be bawling or brawling.

jimgoose

I am pie wrote: »

Misplaced classlessness!! ...what in the name of all that's green does that mean??...

I think he misses the old Raj. Or something.

osarusan

MadsL wrote: »

No. No, it isn't. Sometimes when you mean something, you have to actually say it.

Yes. Yes, it is.

If you were in a shop, looking for the right kind of SD card for your camera, for example, and a member of staff came up and asked if you were all right, you wouldn't know what they meant? You'd consider it an enquiry about your personal well-being?

But if they asked if you needed anything, it would be helpful and polite?

Are you all right there, or do you need any help? That's the full question. It's obvious to everybody what it means, even if you go out of your way to get offended and pretend it doesn't.

Miss Lockhart

Personally I think your complaints about staff asking "are you ok/alright there" are petty in the extreme MadsL. And I sincerely doubt your sentiments would be shared by many in this country. It's an acceptable way of asking if somebody wants assistance in this country. I really think bringing your dislike of informal language into a thread about arsehole staff is a bit much

I've had only three stand out encounters with arsehole staff. None were in Ireland.

One involved a staff member in a fast food establishment in Florida laughing at my accent, asking me about leprechauns and asking colleagues loudly if they had potato burgers.

The second involved a TSA official at JFK roaring in my elderly mother's face because she was struggling to take off her shoes because she has a problem with her ankle and with her balance. They had already refused to provide a chair for her to sit on. She continued to scream as my mother actually cried.

The third was a staff member in the BFI IMAX in London who sat on the steps at the end of the row right on front of me and talked loudly through much of the film to his friends who were sitting beside him.

I've had no experiences of arsehole staff in Ireland that I remember. I have unfortunately experienced bad manners and poor training too frequently though, with staff who continue to chat while you wait at the till being a very regular occurrence.

loveBBhate

MadsL is to the 'Arsehole staff' thread as to what Kneemos was to the 'Arsehole customers' thread.

The two should should shop the 32 counties of Ireland and make a little programme out of it that'd air some evening on RTE, it would make for an interesting watch.

Drexel

I hate goin into a shop and the person behind a till has a face of thunder on em. Puts me right off! I dont expect them to have a permanent smile on their face but please take the puss off. It feels to me like Im annoying them for even coming into the shop.

I love the dunnes woman in intermission I think it is. Big sigh and a tut everytime shes asked for something!

MadsL

P_1 wrote: »

I know that but you have been living over there for a good while now. Not turning this into a location based argument but surely you've noticed the subtle differences between the spoken English language on both sides of the Atlantic?

I'm saying that the trend to 'are you alright?' is generally some misguided attempt for the sales staff to maintain equal status with the customer. If we were to go back 20-30 "How may I help you?" "Do you need any help?"

It's not a linguistic difference, it's a lazy attempt to avoid actually offering help (and being seen as subservient, shock horror) whilst maintaining at least some verbal contact. That said you are often lucky to even get that.

P_1

osarusan wrote: »

Yes. Yes, it is.

If you were in a shop, looking for the right kind of SD card for your camera, for example, and a member of staff came up and asked if you were all right, you wouldn't know what they meant? You'd consider it an enquiry about your personal well-being?

But if they asked if you needed anything, it would be helpful and polite?

Are you all right there, or do you need any help? That's the full question. It's obvious to everybody what it means, even if you go out of your way to get offended and pretend it doesn't.

That's where the cultural and linguistic differences between Ireland and the States come into it I reckon.

Are you alright there = Nice and polite in Ireland, vague and rude in the States
Do you need anything = Nice and polite in the States, too direct and pushy in Ireland

I am pie

jimgoose wrote: »

I think he misses the old Raj. Or something.

Filthy shop workers with their disgusting coloquialisms, failing to display the requisite deference to their betters.

I shall write a strongly worded letter to the relevant authorities.

Harrumph!!

Overheal

I usually just provide a 'howdy (fcuk you all, its fun to say) or How are you doing today (which is the extended vernacular for Howdy, incidentally)

Can't say I've ever had anyone be outwardly offended by either. Except the odd person who gets offended that more than 2 associates acknowledged their presence today and that means we're "pushy"

[Deleted User]

Hm. MadsL has wasted enough of my time. Off they go to my ignore list, which by the way, is the single greatest thing about boards.

P_1

MadsL wrote: »

I'm saying that the trend to 'are you alright?' is generally some misguided attempt for the sales staff to maintain equal status with the customer. If we were to go back 20-30 "How may I help you?" "Do you need any help?"

It's not a linguistic difference, it's a lazy attempt to avoid actually offering help (and being seen as subservient, shock horror) whilst maintaining at least some verbal contact. That said you are often lucky to even get that.

I think you're reading far too much into that to be honest

dukedalton

Staff at those stalls selling skin moisturisers, such as in Jervis and Liffey Valley, who want to ask me a question every time I pass within earshot. It's an irritation for me every time I've to run the gauntlet past them, but it's almost funny to see them giving it the whole nine yards when theyve trapped some poor middle aged guy whose wife left him to his own devices for five minutes while she went to pick up something in M&S.

MadsL

jimgoose wrote: »

I think he misses the old Raj. Or something.

I've explained it clearly above. I think that there is a dread of 'service' in the Republic for fear of being seen as 'subservient'. The use of language betrays this.

I do not notice it the North, the UK, Europe or the US.

I think there is a form of stigma associated with serving someone in Ireland, or more accurately, the Republic.

I am pie

Overheal wrote: »

I usually just provide a 'howdy (fcuk you all, its fun to say) or How are you doing today (which is the extended vernacular for Howdy, incidentally)

Can't say I've ever had anyone be outwardly offended by either. Except the odd person who gets offended that more than 2 associates acknowledged their presence today and that means we're "pushy"

Howdy = howya = are you alright dere

I doubt anyone would be offended by that.

Bullseye1

Sounds like someone might belong in this thread. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057071086

jimgoose

MadsL wrote: »

I've explained it clearly above. I think that there is a dread of 'service' in the Republic for fear of being seen as 'subservient'. The use of language betrays this.

I do not notice it the North, the UK, Europe or the US.

I think there is a form of stigma associated with serving someone in Ireland, or more accurately, the Republic.

Well, tally-ho, yippety-dip and zing zang spillip!

Red_Dwarf

@rsehole Staff can depend in which section they are in.

Sales and Customer Service are fine

Arrears Dept W@nkers :pac:

MadsL

P_1 wrote: »

I think you're reading far too much into that to be honest

Just an observation. Enough to drive some screaming for the ignore button (and posting about it) not that I'll miss them.

anncoates

Any fuckwit working in a trendy bar that spends more time arsing around, chatting up other spastics, changing their crap niche tunes, or posing and then interminably pouring a shit pint with a sulky slapped arse face on them.

Time to make it a rule that only old school bar staff (over 40) can be bar staff.

Overheal

dukedalton wrote: »

Staff at those stalls selling skin moisturisers, such as in Jervis and Liffey Valley, who want to ask me a question every time I pass within earshot. It's an irritation for me every time I've to run the gauntlet past them, but it's almost funny to see them giving it the whole nine yards when theyve trapped some poor middle aged guy whose wife left him to his own devices for five minutes while she went to pick up something in M&S.

I had my thumbnail polished up by one of them. I made it my own challenge to get out of the situation without being rude and frankly I couldn't I was only saved by handing her a defective credit card I've been hanging on to in my wallet and when it wouldn't take I shrugged and said I'd be back. And now I just have to avoid that entire section of the Mall. Simple.

MadsL

Bullseye1 wrote: »

Sounds like someone might belong in this thread. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057071086

On the contrary, I'm incredibly polite and friendly to retail, fast food workers and other customer service staff.

It costs nothing, but I'm astonished when they don't bother to extend the same courtesy. If I complain, I ask them to channel it to management, it is never directed at them.

elefant

I am pie wrote: »

Howdy = howya = are you alright dere

I doubt anyone would be offended by that.

Clearly you'd be surprised at what people are offended by!

Dratted uppity retail staff.