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Sick of customers thinking they can treat me badly

cloud493

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.

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wyndham

returnNull wrote: »

Anything is possible in walter mitty land :pac:

I would imagine the phone number was provided when they reserved the table.

ebbsy

I had customers who brought back takeaways and looked for refunds.

I always said to them " I bet you try to exchange underwear as well"

One woman threatened to call the police and I said " you would need to understand numbers 0-9 to do that"

Frank Black

ebbsy wrote: »

I had customers who brought back takeaways and looked for refunds.

I always said to them " I bet you try to exchange underwear as well"

One woman threatened to call the police and I said " you would need to understand numbers 0-9 to do that"

With quick-fire zingers like that you were wasted in retail and should have been pursuing a career in stand-up comedy.

Mardy Bum

Suckler wrote: »

You are failing to see that dyslexia is the fall back for stupidity. Always the dyslexia, it's getting as common as movie/music stars telling the world they were the bullied underachieving ugly duckling growing up and also throw in suffered with depression.

Dyslexia is not diagnosed how you think it is diagnosed.

tin79

samapple789 wrote: »

They expect everything and anything like with black paper and parmesan cheese they dont know how much it costs as its dear LoL

If you keep putting freshly ground black paper on peoples food you deserve to get abused IMO

tin79

ebbsy wrote: »

I had customers who brought back takeaways and looked for refunds.

I always said to them " I bet you try to exchange underwear as well"

One woman threatened to call the police and I said " you would need to understand numbers 0-9 to do that"

Why shouldn't they return a takeaway if its dodgy, inedible etc?

Also technically to call the police you only need to understand the number 9. Jokes on you buddy.

kylith

The Diabolical Monocle wrote: »

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

On a work night out a few years ago one guy sent his steak back five times because it was overcooked (he wanted it blue). He said "I'd never send back an undercooked one because they'd just cook it a bit more and give me back the same steak. I always cut a lump out too so they can't give this one to someone else". I shudder to think how many people had spat on his steak by the time he deigned to eat it, but the guy was a total asshat who deserved it.

ROCKMAN

ebbsy wrote: »

I had customers who brought back takeaways and looked for refunds.

I always said to them " I bet you try to exchange underwear as well"

One woman threatened to call the police and I said " you would need to understand numbers 0-9 to do that"

Seen a smart ass shop assistant been like this to an elderly lady one day .its was amazing how polite and helpful he became when her 6 foot 4 son walked in ...

LOSTfan57

The customer is always right.....but really some of the people here. I'm not suprised people have got thick with you when you try being a smart arse....

IvaBigWun

Banjo String wrote: »

I just flash my cleavage at the old dudes.

That baffles the bejaysus outta them.

Banjo String is a woman?

:eek:

[Deleted User]

No just a dude with big boobs!

awec

I worked in retail for a good few years (in a supermarket) during my days as a student. Yes there are arsehole customers, but I feel the whole thing is over-exaggerated. If you feel you are getting abuse every single day then I reckon there is an underlying issue there, rather than you just being unlucky with the customers you interact with.

Also, in my experience some retail employees actually are idiots and the customer is in fact correct to be taking issue with them. Some of this is undoubtedly down to poor staff training, but a lot of it is just people struggling with basic common sense.

gctest50

LOSTfan57 wrote: »

The customer is always right...

Problem is some of them believe that

Potential-Monke

MonstaMash wrote: »

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

Try being a Garda!

Worked in many, many retail/customer care roles so far in my life. Absolutely adored working in Bella Italia in Limerick (still my favourite job to this day) and it was rare in fairness that we would have got an idiot in there, a lot of the customers would be regulars and all the staff were well trained and versed in the menu/ingredients. If there ever was an issue, the same as others, beat them with kindness. Most would usually leave me a tip after i sorted out their "issue" - even if it wasn't an issue to begin with.

However, working in call centres was possibly where i had the joy of dealing with the most idiotic and aggressive people ever...

woodoo

The Diabolical Monocle wrote: »

Would you like to apply for a loyalty card.

That one would be perfect to say just after they have ranted at you for a few mins. Just come straight back with a smile and ask.. 'Would you like to apply for a loyalty card'?

NuckingFacker

I tell customers to fcuk off permanently the first time they're rude. It's my "button" and I make no exceptions. It's been a long cull, but I've ended up with nice customers. I'm never rude, always calm and professional and I expect the same in return. If the odd one plays the tough-guy "rude" or "shoutey" card or tries to brow-beat me into somthing, we're done and we stay done. Eventually word gets out and you get to deal with people who are calm, rational and polite. It wouldn't dawn on me to give someone verbals in a shop or business and if I did, i'd fully expect to be told to fcuk right off. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Or the "shouting at you down the phone" types. WTF is that all about? They wouldn't do it face to face, what's the phone, a magic portal? I hang up and head straight over so they can shout at me to my face. They're never that keen.

Femme_Fatale

cantdecide wrote: »

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.

I'm the same. I can't do the OTT nice thing at all. The best way IMO is to be really emotionless and polite, but minimally so. Not being nice, not being rude, not being passive-aggressive - just bland and neutral.

LOSTfan57 wrote: »

The customer is always right

Nah, that is one of the greatest lies ever told.

but really some of the people here. I'm not suprised people have got thick with you when you try being a smart arse....

Actually they all seem to be cases where it was the customers who provoked them, not the other way around.

cantdecide

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

I'm the same. I can't do the OTT nice thing at all. The best way IMO is to be really emotionless and polite, but minimally so. Not being nice, not being rude, not being passive-aggressive - just bland and neutral.

Passive aggression gets right up my nose. I can smell it at 20 paces and I wouldn't accept it and I certainly wouldn't give it no matter how outrageous a disgruntled customer is being.

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Nah, that is one of the greatest lies ever told.

It is true but sometimes you have to give them the space and time to realise what 'right' is.

cloud493

I can't do passive aggressive either. Being stupidly nice is easy though./

wonga77

cloud493 wrote: »

I can't do passive aggressive either. Being stupidly nice is easy though./

It is easy but it can be hard to keep a straight face at times especially when you see the person outside the counter getting angrier with you.

camel jockey

It is nice to be nice, politeness costs you nothing.

Bolderdash

wonga77 wrote: »

It is easy but it can be hard to keep a straight face at times especially when you see the person outside the counter getting angrier with you.

Be careful doing that, a guy I know was punched in the face and spat on for doing the overly nice routine. There's some nutcases out there.

krudler

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I tell customers to fcuk off permanently the first time they're rude. It's my "button" and I make no exceptions. It's been a long cull, but I've ended up with nice customers. I'm never rude, always calm and professional and I expect the same in return. If the odd one plays the tough-guy "rude" or "shoutey" card or tries to brow-beat me into somthing, we're done and we stay done. Eventually word gets out and you get to deal with people who are calm, rational and polite. It wouldn't dawn on me to give someone verbals in a shop or business and if I did, i'd fully expect to be told to fcuk right off. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Or the "shouting at you down the phone" types. WTF is that all about? They wouldn't do it face to face, what's the phone, a magic portal? I hang up and head straight over so they can shout at me to my face. They're never that keen.

I never understand it either, screaming like a child gets you nowhere, or the "now I'm not taking it out on you" brigade, ehh, you are, I'm the only person besides you on this call. It's the call centre equivalent of "I'm not a racist but" :pac:

strobe

I blame the managers/owners tbh. Anyone being actually abusive to a member of staff should be barred for life on the spot and run out of the place.

Is it the times that are in it and employees are just seen as discardable whereas customers are not or has it always been this stupid?

120_Minutes

strobe wrote: »

Is it the times that are in it and employees are just seen as discardable whereas customers are not or has it always been this stupid?

they've always been discardable, it's just during the boom if you walked out of one job due to abuse you could easily walk into another.

No matter how much they say they care the powers that be dont care about the schmucks in the trenches.

systemicrisk

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Try being a Garda!

I know Gardai have to deal with the dregs of society on a daily basis and I wouldnt do their job for all the tea in china but there must be some satisfaction in dealing with pricks. All the giving out in the world wont change the fact that they are getting a fine/court summons and if they go overboard abusing the Garda they are getting in more trouble. That must make up for the shíte they put with in some small amount.

Vojera

Bolderdash wrote: »

Be careful doing that, a guy I know was punched in the face and spat on for doing the overly nice routine. There's some nutcases out there.

Yeah, but if that's what happened to him for being overly nice, can you imagine what the reaction to him being an asshole would be?

Caliden

"I hope the rest of your day/Christmas is as pleasant as you are...", I always like that one.

kowloon

Deleted User wrote: »

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?

I reckon there's a lot of truth in that. Some people are at snapping point and it inevitably gets taken out on strangers they might never meet again and who have to exercise restraint. Snapping on family and friends can have repercussions, people hold it in. The real grievance isn't anything to do with something in a shop or cafe.

And then there are the people who are just @rseholes. Maybe they got away with it too much and now it's acceptable behaviour for them. A lot of them are oblivious to the fact that people will be decent to you if you're decent back. They screw themselves over and don't even realise it because they're too busy being angry at the world.

Perhaps my post belongs in the ranting & raving forum

wonga77

My parents own a small grocery shop, a few years back my gf, who's Estonian btw was dealing with a particularly difficult customer. This guy is English, in his mid seventies roughly and has lived here for years. Not the most pleasent of fellows, always looks down his nose and speaks down to people, extremely posh, finds fault with everything, you know the type. Anyway one day my gf was serving him, he was being a nob over something small as usual and trying to belittle her in front of the few in line. He turned around to the guy next in the queue (some random customer)and muttered "these bloody foreigners, should go back to where they came from"

The response he got, "who are you to be calling anyone a foreigner you fcuking black and tan"

We havent seen him inside the door since