Sick of customers thinking they can treat me badly

Corruptedmorals · 18-12-2013 01:19PM

It matters how nice you are, sure. But up to a point. There will ALWAYS be at least one customer per day who varies from rude to a total asshole, no matter how nice you are. They just take things out on cashiers and enjoy the fact you can't say much. Almost always women, usually middle aged well-off weapons.

MonstaMash · 18-12-2013 01:22PM

Try working security, you really get to experience humanity in all it's glorious wonder...

krudler · 18-12-2013 01:25PM

Corruptedmorals wrote: »

It matters how nice you are, sure. But up to a point. There will ALWAYS be at least one customer per day who varies from rude to a total asshole, no matter how nice you are. They just take things out on cashiers and enjoy the fact you can't say much. Almost always women, usually middle aged well-off weapons.

Always, hands down the worst people in the world to deal with. Middle aged self entitled bints who think the world owes them a favour, usually the one who scream Joe Duffy , which is akin to telling me you'll have me licked to death by kittens as far as threats go.

Corruptedmorals · 18-12-2013 01:26PM

duffman13 wrote: »

How do you access ranting and raving?

Private message one of its mods. There is or was a thread in feedback to do it there..

degsie · 18-12-2013 01:28PM

Frank Black wrote: »

Maybe they just expect some proper english - what da fcuk does that sentance even mean?

lol indeed.

sentence, no?

Gavin "shels" · 18-12-2013 01:38PM

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

I think everyone should be forced to work in retail or a similar job at least once in their lives. It really changes your perspective being on the 'other side'.

This! I had the joys of working in a retail for 4 years, thankfully my Degree kicked in over the summer and I worked hopefully me last retail job. Wouldn't mind, only talking to a mate today who's gotten his first job (age of 22) and he's moaning he only has Christmas Day off.....my first point was "you've never worked in retail".

massdebater · 18-12-2013 01:44PM

Jesus, all the cows.

5starpool · 18-12-2013 01:47PM

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

I think everyone should be forced to work in retail or a similar job at least once in their lives. It really changes your perspective being on the 'other side'.

No way. I'm not an asshole to staff in shops/restaurants so why would I ever want to subject myself to dealing with the public? Some customers are assholes, just as some staff are rude as well, no helping that.

Ghost Buster · 18-12-2013 01:52PM

samapple789 wrote: »

Frank and Zillah makes both of you fell like big men making fun of some one who has dyslexia does it ? Considering i am in the last year of my degree i can't be that stupid !!!

You two come across as a asshole's who i would hate to be dealing with

I know dyslexia and your post is not an example of it.

the_monkey · 18-12-2013 01:55PM

GarIT wrote: »

Dyslexia cannot affect capitalization or language use. Dyslexia didn't make you write "LOL". Dyslexia also doesn't stop you using punctuation and doesn't make you put words in the wrong places. I don't think anyone mentioned your spelling so I don't see how dyslexia is a defence to the replies given.

Actually it does !!!

kylith · 18-12-2013 01:55PM

Deleted User wrote: »

There's nothing funnier than just keeping straight faced and calm, talking in a calm tone of voice to someone who is like that. After a few minutes they realize it is fruitless.

I've had so many bad experiences working with customers.

Absolutely, watching someone get angrier and angrier as you get more and more polite is one of the joys in life. I only snapped once - some wan was giving out about her favourite teacher not being rostered for her class. After 15 minutes of saying how terribly sorry I was for the inconvenience while she yelled at me I told her I'd let her know when we'd managed to perfect human cloning so that he could teach as many classes as she wanted.

Gods, it felt so good.

Stone Deaf 4evr · 18-12-2013 01:58PM

krudler wrote: »

Always, hands down the worst people in the world to deal with. Middle aged self entitled bints who think the world owes them a favour, usually the one who scream Joe Duffy , which is akin to telling me you'll have me licked to death by kittens as far as threats go.

not entirely on topic but it did remind me of a time I was returning from a wedding and the missus wanted to stop in avoca for something or another. The law-de-dah accents of the other clientele as they mused about the cinatro and the hint of cinnamon in the buns at the deli counter was grating on my nerves a bit.

however, the surprised look of disgust on their faces after I liberally crop dusted the area with my guinness and captain morgan infused farts brightened up my day no end.

Deandrumm · 18-12-2013 02:00PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Being passive aggressive to people with aggression/lack or manners/rudeness is hilarious

Have to say this has worked seriously well for me on many occasions

In fairness, have had my fair share of ignorant customers but most tend to be polite, working in the city centre on a Friday night though you get some great characters coming in

Dartz · 18-12-2013 02:04PM

krudler wrote: »

Always, hands down the worst people in the world to deal with. Middle aged self entitled bints who think the world owes them a favour, usually the one who scream Joe Duffy , which is akin to telling me you'll have me licked to death by kittens as far as threats go.

****ing truth.

I've had:
One demand a discount because a plumber fell off her roof and the job was delayed while he got taken away in an ambulance
One demand she get it for free because a contractor 'stole' from her. What he stole was a bottle of water from the Kitchen tap on the hottest day of the year.
One ask for the cheapest system possible - one we warned her wouldn't do what she actually wanted to do - repeatedly, then threatened to go to Joe when it performed exactly as we told her it would. She wanted a free upgrade.

And it's always the 40-50 year old oul cows. ****ing crones are the personification of misery.

jd83 · 18-12-2013 02:07PM

I agree with the other posters. Been sickeningly nice works best. There hoping you lose the head so they have something else to complain about. When your ned flanders nice to them it just really messes with their heads!

If im dealing with someone who is pissed off with the service I will do everything I can to help them. The minute they try to take out that frustration out on me I will become the nicest most unhelpful person in the world!

old hippy · 18-12-2013 02:15PM

I worked stacking shelves in supermarkets back in the day and it was incredible the amount of crap you'd have to put up with, not just the customers but some of the managers could be real nasty.

I also ran a newsagent for a few years and crikey, you really saw the best and worst of humanity.

Gummy Panda · 18-12-2013 02:24PM

samapple789 wrote: »

A new thing is to give out about you online on review sites and not saying there problems that they might have had to your face. I am one for replying to them and saying clearly why are you being a coward and using a review site when you could have said it to my face. One bad review was for being closed another was for not doing takeaway. The best was one for the way i dress LoL. I was in a suit and she wasn't happy with a skinny suit as i called her back up and asked what was wrong with the way i dress ?. She said i should not be wearing tight fitting suits in a restaurant i went to her whats on me is a hell of a lot better that what you where wearing that night

How did you get their contact number from the site?

WellThen? · 18-12-2013 02:25PM

I worked in an optician's for a few years. When customers did not have a prescription for their contact lenses we were not able(by law) to sell them. It was usually women, 20's and 30's who would lose the plot. There would always be a party or wedding ect. We would try test them to determine the prescription, however they would not want to wait to do it. It was crazy, it didn't matter how nice or helpful i tried to be they would always go mad. Like we can't guess which lenses to give ,we would get sued. My stomach would always drop when they replied, no i have no idea which ones, just give me a 2 or 3.... haha 2 or 3 what ? Anyway, i can imagine how infuriating it would be to have to wear your glasses on a night out, i wear lenses too but the actual abuse i received was unbelievable.

18-12-2013 02:31PM

DeanAustin wrote: »

I hope your degree isn't in anything which might result in you dealing with the public. You aren't suited to it.

That's it, you're going to have to leave now

sebastianlieken · 18-12-2013 02:49PM

cloud493 wrote: »

I'm sick of customers thinking they can talk to me badly, just because I am an employee of the shop. I work in a supermarket and the amount of abuse I get every day is shocking. Its better than being on the dole but still.

I get of course there's a lot of bad customer service in stores, but why should we all be tarred with the same brush? I go in every day and I try to be cordial and helpful to everyone I serve, even when I'm being told they're gonna get me sacked cos I can't give them the discount they want or being told I'm a waste of space when they have no ID for alcohol or what have you or when I'm, having stuff thrown at me and I'm not supposed to say or do anything back.

This is a two way street obviously. But I'm sick of people being like 'all employees who earn minimum/not very much wage don't care about their job and so do bad customer service, cos we don't. End rant.

@ OP, hang in there buddy.

Just remember that there are lots of idiots out there. There are alot of assholes out there too. Every so often (and more often than not) you get a combination of the two. Try to remember that their anger towards you is simply an amalgamation of their general ignorance and their social ineptitude.

Take a few deep breaths and don't allow yourself to stoop to their level, remain calm and collected and try to remember that they could be having just as crappy a day as you are because people were hurdling abuse at them in their jobs or in their families.

You've alot more patience than I have, i'll say that much. I'm comfortable here in my engineering coccoon away from the general public. That said, I very much appreciate curtious staff and it's something I always take note of, so from me to all of you friendly and helpful people who work with us people, thanks

cantdecide · 18-12-2013 02:49PM

Worked in a customer services role of sorts in the construction industry. That was a mindfcuk. They'd have the balance that you badly need in their pocket meaning they have you over a barrel and despite the assurances that the issue would be dealt with, so many people appeared to relish the opportunity to walk all over you.

I think if you're male, out-nicing them and being apologetic is pointless, they just see it as weakness. In the end, I would just become completely flat with them and assure them 'we're sorting it out' and when they whinge about some completely abstract consequence, I just wouldn't engage.

G_R · 18-12-2013 03:07PM

cloud493 wrote: »

I'm sick of customers thinking they can talk to me badly, just because I am an employee of the shop. I work in a supermarket and the amount of abuse I get every day is shocking. Its better than being on the dole but still.

I get of course there's a lot of bad customer service in stores, but why should we all be tarred with the same brush? I go in every day and I try to be cordial and helpful to everyone I serve, even when I'm being told they're gonna get me sacked cos I can't give them the discount they want or being told I'm a waste of space when they have no ID for alcohol or what have you or when I'm, having stuff thrown at me and I'm not supposed to say or do anything back.

This is a two way street obviously. But I'm sick of people being like 'all employees who earn minimum/not very much wage don't care about their job and so do bad customer service, cos we don't. End rant.

OP - I've just given you access to the Ranting and Raving forum. Find the cries of retail thread and have fun

18-12-2013 03:07PM

I got a hot chocolate in McDonalds for my lunch (FU other boardsie person for telling me they're yummy). When I was standing at the counter a lady came up in between both me and another customer and stood between us quite tightly, it was rather odd.

So she orders a small latte and hands in her loyalty card and the dude says "you're entitled to a tall latte for free now would you like that?" and she says yes.

Other dude puts her tall latte in front of her and she snapped at him telling him "I asked for a small one" and he kind of got confused as this was bigger and she started banging her hand on the counter saying "I ASKED FOR A SMALL ONE, I WANT A SMALL ONE".

So me being me I said it to her that the guy had asked her did she want a free tall one and she said yes. She apologised profusely and actually looked like she was about to burst into tears and then turned to me and said she had a lot on her mind. She just kept saying sorry sorry sorry to the guy. She nearly had me in feckin tears then. As I was walking out the two of them just kept apologising to each other

Whoops....

So yeh she was being unecessarily mean to the dude but I guess you never know what's going on in someone's life do you?

Lesson of the day: Go forth and be nice to everyone

\o/

returnNull · 18-12-2013 03:13PM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

How did you get their contact number from the site?

Anything is possible in walter mitty land :pac:

The Diabolical Monocle · 18-12-2013 03:16PM

cloud493 wrote: »

I'm sick of customers thinking they can talk to me badly, just because I am an employee of the shop. I work in a supermarket and the amount of abuse I get every day is shocking. Its better than being on the dole but still.

I get of course there's a lot of bad customer service in stores, but why should we all be tarred with the same brush? I go in every day and I try to be cordial and helpful to everyone I serve, even when I'm being told they're gonna get me sacked cos I can't give them the discount they want or being told I'm a waste of space when they have no ID for alcohol or what have you or when I'm, having stuff thrown at me and I'm not supposed to say or do anything back.

This is a two way street obviously. But I'm sick of people being like 'all employees who earn minimum/not very much wage don't care about their job and so do bad customer service, cos we don't. End rant.

Simple solution is to give them the plastic generic training response to their abuse, with a fake smile and happy tone, mid levels of patronizing so they're unsure. Now they're left with no ammo to complain about you and you can enjoy trololololing them.

Thank you for your input sir, you relevant opinion is important to derp ltd.

Is there anything else I can help you with today.

Would you like to apply for a loyalty card.

Thank you for shopping with us.

You come back soon now.

Stella Virgo · 18-12-2013 03:20PM

Banjo String wrote: »

I just flash my cleavage at the old dudes.

That baffles the bejaysus outta them.

whats the name of your shop again....;)

returnNull · 18-12-2013 03:31PM

Stella Virgo wrote: »

whats the name of your shop again....;)

Ann Summers

anncoates · 18-12-2013 03:33PM

Lost a part time job before for calling a customer something like fathead or dickhead.

I always tried to do the passive aggressive polite thing too but am too irascible.

B0jangles · 18-12-2013 03:34PM

Stella Virgo wrote: »

whats the name of your shop again....;)

Woodie's

The Diabolical Monocle · 18-12-2013 03:37PM

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

So you expect people to be nice to an asshole just so said asshole might not do something disgusting to your food?

Sam is right. You dont criticize the chef. Be careful if you do.

Never get obnoxious when dealing with fast food. Theres always a special reserve burger put to one side.

Sick of customers thinking they can treat me badly

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