Customers

[Gelsamel]

Pet Peeve #8 People who come into the store I work in, don't say hi, even though I do, don't smile, even though I try to, don't say thanks, even if I say "you're welcome", and don't say "you're welcome", even though I say thanks. Even worse, sometimes they don't say a word, just throw money on the counter and leave. That pisses me off sooooo badly.

I hate 10, with a lot less restrictions.

And Roffle, you'd hate me. I say thanks, but I probably wouldn't smile or say You're welcome. I'd say Hi back if you said Hi to me though.

Really it doesn't matter though, it's just a string of words, which is a string of letters.

Edit: Where the hell did you come from Julia?

I remember your avatar, but I don't even remember reading your name xD.

[Belial]

Really it doesn't matter though, it's just a string of words, which is a string of letters.

It's a show of courtesy. Respecting that the other person is there and whatnot.

Customers that acted like I wasn't there or wasn't human always bugged the *crap* out of me when I was working retail, many moons ago.

[German Sausage]

customers that aren't polite miss out on a lot of stuff.
'did you know you can get another three movies for the same price? no, because you're an ass.'
'no, i can't give you a bag, we're all out'
'sorry, i can't find that flavour'

sure its petty, but it keeps me sane.

[Belial]

We used to just shortchange them, and keep the money. You'd be surprised how few people count their change. Especially when they're still riding that "I'm such an asshole" high that I assume raging bastards get.

[Gelsamel]

Because people who don't bother with courtesies are obviously riding an "I'm such an asshole" high.

[Belial]

I had actually moved on mentally to thinking about a couple of willfully asshole-ish customers we had. One left with about 20 bucks less than he should have, and never noticed. Another just consistently got her special orders thrown out, sold, or never filled.

So yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the discourteous but otherwise nondescript ones anymore, my bad. But hey, shortchanging the discourteous ones is a good way to elicit a response if they notice, aye?

[Gelsamel]

I had actually moved on mentally to thinking about a couple of willfully asshole-ish customers we had. One left with about 20 bucks less than he should have, and never noticed. Another just consistently got her special orders thrown out, sold, or never filled.

So yeah, I wasn't even thinking about the discourteous but otherwise nondescript ones anymore, my bad. But hey, shortchanging the discourteous ones is a good way to elicit a response if they notice, aye?

I guess, although it seems discourteous to throw out their stuff and shortchange them.

[Roffle]

Well, I find my self being very careful about making sure that I am polite whenever I'm at the store. I smile, I say hi, I utilize the amazingly effortless skills called "common courtesy". And it annoys me to no end when people can't be bothered to even be polite. I mean, is it asking too much? Is it asking much, even?

I don't shortchange, though, though I have been sorely tempted on several occasions. But my boss is an asshole, and he'd fire me in a second if he even suspected. But I do tend to take care of polite customers a lot better than impolite ones.

I think there is such a thing as an "I'm such an asshole" high. Or at least, I think that self-righteous, better than thou attitude "I'm so important that I can't even be bothered to treat you like a fellow human being", comes very close.

Grrrr....

[Belial]

I guess, although it seems discourteous to throw out their stuff and shortchange them.

"Do unto others what has been done to you"?

But I was mostly kidding. I only actively screwed with the assholes. The discourteous ones just didn't get terribly good service.

Stand by for thread split.

[Toeofdoom]

I generally say hi, and always say thanks, unless I'm extremely preoccupied.

I usually count change, but although I can do that fast cause of maths skills it seems discourteous, almost as if I don't trust the person to give me the correct change. Apparently you guys don't think it bad to check change though?

[JuliaGlass]

I'm pretty awful at customer service.
I try to be nice to people, but I am not the best at small talk. A lot of the things I'd say wouldn't even make sense.
Customer: How are you?
Me: You too. I mean, fine. I am fine.
Customer: Long day, huh?
That kind of thing.

There was really awful communication between the management and the employees at my previous job, so I'd never know how to answer customer's questions. I'd give the logical answer, and then get yelled at for not following a policy that I had never been informed of (and was probably made up afterwards anyway). I was constantly apologizing to customers because of it.

[Roffle]

Nah, you can check all you want, but I'm going to make fun of you if you complain about not getting the right amount, because I never make mistakes. I have a computer that tells me how much you're supposed to get, and a security cam recording that monitors the exchange as well. So mistakes are highly unlikely. Hasn't happened to me yet, and I've managed to stick it out in that crummy place for three years now.

[Belial]

I usually count change, but although I can do that fast cause of maths skills it seems discourteous, almost as if I don't trust the person to give me the correct change. Apparently you guys don't think it bad to check change though?

Retail employees are, on the whole, a disgruntled, angry, and frustrated group of people. Therefore, it is very smart to count your change and take stock of your items. Especially if your change is mostly bills, it's not that hard, do it in the guise of getting it all situated in your wallet. When I have cash (Which is rare, I do most things with plastic), I organize my wallet from least-value bills to greatest-value bills, so this is easy for me.

Granted, they're disgruntled, angry, and frustrated for very good reason. People treat retail and food service grunts like absolute *crap*. It pisses me off.

As at least one of my friends who got bitchslapped for giving unnecessary trouble to a taco bell clerk can testify.

[Toeofdoom]

heh. I also have a tendency to give correct change for purchases if I can... seems more efficient anyway...

[Belial]

Trust me, it is appreciated.

[Gelsamel]

If I'm discourteous for what ever reason, it's really probably because I'm indifferent about most everything, and really lazy.

[Roffle]

Amen.

Or better yet, buy gas. Outside. On a pump. With your credit card. Don't come inside. Thaaats a good customer.

My favourite kind, in fact.

[Belial]

If I'm discourteous for what ever reason, it's really probably because I'm indifferent about most everything, and really lazy.

Well, of course it's because you're lazy. That's why most people skip courtesies. Doesn't make it any less discourteous.

The message it sends is "You are so worthless, I can't even be bothered to expend the energy to engage you."

Not to say that everyone needs to follow the same formulaic courtesies, really, the discourtesy, in my mind, is in refusing to really engage the other person and fully acknowledge that they're *there*.

[Roffle]

Which isn't really that much energy. It's really quite effortless. Which makes it even more discourteous.

[Tractor]

Retail employees are, on the whole, a disgruntled, angry, and frustrated group of people. Therefore, it is very smart to count your change and take stock of your items. Especially if your change is mostly bills, it's not that hard, do it in the guise of getting it all situated in your wallet. When I have cash (Which is rare, I do most things with plastic), I organize my wallet from least-value bills to greatest-value bills, so this is easy for me.

And how. I mean, a few pennies here or there I couldn't care less about, but I do almost always check the bills. Especially since I too organize my bills in my wallet.

Granted, they're disgruntled, angry, and frustrated for very good reason. People treat retail and food service grunts like absolute *crap*. It pisses me off.

That's true. Anyone in any service industry gets more than their fair share of assholes. That being said, if the worker initiates the assholery instead, I will respond in kind. I do not enter asshole mode without prompting.

[Toeofdoom]

I do not enter asshole mode without prompting.

You know... that is a really good quote that symbolises something I believe in muchly I may have to sig it at some point...

[Roffle]

Maybe that causes a ripple effect? Like, your first customer is a total asshole, so you get pissed, and the next guy walks in, you give crappy service, because you're still pissed at the last guy, and this guy suddenly turns out to be an asshole too, etc...

[Belial]

That's why I go to a lot of effort to focus anger on the cause, and not let it bleed onto people who aren't involved.

[Gelsamel]

I won't ignore you, but I won't necessarily say "You're welcome" etc.

On occasion I'd say "no problem". But when it comes down to it "discourteousness" spawned from laziness =/= "You're too worthless to engage."

Worth is comparative, and since I'm lazy and indifferent about everything, you're no more/less worth then everything else.

[Belial]

I'm sure that makes sense internally, but be aware that to other people, it just looks like you're being a dick.

And if you can't be bothered to even engage them, they probably can't be bothered to fathom your inner motives, so expect them to treat you accordingly.

[Gelsamel]

Not my problem, or my care. There is the indifference again .

[Belial]

All good, then.

[Tractor]

I do not enter asshole mode without prompting.

You know... that is a really good quote that symbolises something I believe in muchly I may have to sig it at some point...

Maybe that causes a ripple effect?

It can. Although I tend to focus response assholery on the one instance...then just bitch about it to others later

[Akira]

hahaa... i always make it a point to at least flash a smile, even if i can't manage to muster polite-sounding words.

Never worked in service, but i imagine that it's really tough.

[AnonyMouse]

I did telephone customer service for 2 different cable companies over the course of 3 years. it was absolute, unadulterated HELL. If you think people are rude and discurteous in person, try being a faceless voice to them. I've been called every name I can think of and some I'd never heard before at every volume audible to the human ear. Usually because the customer had screwed up and I couldn't fix it right that very second for them. If you don't pay your bill for 4 months and we turn the cable off, you can't expect me to send a technician the day you pay it. it's always done within 24-48 hours. that's the best we could do. If you won't check the connection I asked you to check, we have to wait for a tech. I can't do same day if it's after 5pm. before that, perhaps. It's really about understanding what's reasonable, and what the person helping you is responsible for. It's not my fault you have $400 worth of pay per view movies on your account that you don't want to pay for. (note I don't mean the ones your kid ordered because you didn't know how to block the box. the first time, we can credit and explain the PIN procedure. I mean the people who want to order more RIGHT NOW without paying the bill).
Long story short (too late, I know. sorry.) I am SO GLAD I no longer work with customers. I'm terribly terribly shy to begin with, so it wasn't a good job for me. I really enjoyed troubleshooting, but I'd get in trouble for "treating the customers like a problem to be solved instead of a person" but that was the only way I could get through the day.

[Pebbles]

i try my best to be nice and polite to everyone who serves me now that ive experienced being the one serving. Some people really are very rude to people in retail. At one of my stores we used to get alot of business people come in and just throw a piece of paper with book details at us and say find it, while he/her chatted on their mobile. No thank you for looking for the book for them, no thank you for finding the book and only abuse if we couldnt find it for them. Some people are just so into themselves and their own lives they cant see that the person they are talking to is actually a PERSON.
xx

[Castaway]

It depends on where you live. I live in Brooklyn, NY, and there are some clerks that you just do NOT want to talk to. Like, if you have to go get him from the back room, and you interrupt his horse races... you do not even want to look at that dude. ESPECIALLY when you KNOW he's connected. O_O

[Roffle]

Why do you not produce your projectile weapon and bust a ballistic object in his hindquarters?

[Pau!]

I've been trying a new technique with cashiers lately, and I think I have made a lot of people's days a bit better. I used to work in the service industry as well (McDonald's bitch, boo-ya), and before I wondered if retail people were just too jaded to respond to hyper-friendliness, but the results have been quite positive!

One thing I've noticed makes a huge difference is looking someone in the eye when they ask 'how are you?' then responding with something really enthusiastic, like "Fantastic, thank you! And how are YOU?" when you look people in the eye when asking that, the question gains a whole new dimension.

[Mother Superior]

Me; Hello. That'll be £24 please.
Customer: I'd like to use my card.
Me; Okay, could I please have it?
Customer; I left it at home.
Me; Okay, do you know your card's serial number?
Customer; Nope.
Me; Okay, do you have any other cards on you?
Customer; Nope.
Me; Then I'm afraid you'll have to pay cash.
Customer; What? Why?
Me; I'm sorry, but I can't let you pay with your card if you don't have the card or the number.
Customer; I was able to do this once before!
Me; Well then someone else made a mistake cause we can't do that.
Customer; Fine! *pays with cash very grumpily*
Me; I'm sorry, it's just how it is.
Customer; *angry stares, then leaves but stops by customer service to register a complaint which I believe is the reason I can't get a job there any more.*



I HATE people.

[Tractor]

Customer; *angry stares, then leaves but stops by customer service to register a complaint

A complaint? What for? "I'd like to complain that that guy over there wouldn't let me pay with my hopes and dreams."?
People are morons.

I HATE people.

QFT

[D. Wolfwood]

I havent had a job yet, but I had to work Baggage drop-off at the Anime con this weekend. People would drop off thier bags, then come back minutes later looking for thier money, cell phones, whatever. The con had an attendance of about 3000 people, and everyone who wanted into the dealer room had to leave thier bags, purses, bags and such with us. You can imagine how fast all that piles up.

Now, These are all Anime fans, which leads into "They arent normal". Normal people dont get Inuyasha bags, or drench everything in thier wardrobe with black. Almost every person that came back to get thier bag would give us the vaguest descriptions of thier bags, then get pissy when we had to sort through 100+ bags to find it.

"Im looking for a black messenger bag with some Inuyasha buttons on it.
Motherfuckingsonofacocklovingwhorebag..."

[Roffle]

At Mother Superior.

That actually happens where I work too. I absolutely HATE it when people say that "Well, I did do it that way when I was here before", because they are either lying their asses off, or some asshole you work with isn't doing his job, and now YOU have to correct HIS mistakes...

Teh pain!

[CorranH]

Trust me, it is appreciated.

Unless of course you're a geriatric who always pulls one of these: "What's my total? Nine dollars and ninety-nine cents? Why, I'm sure I've got ninety-nine cents! *dumps purse upside down on counter* Hmmmm . . . There's a nickle . . . Oh, and a quarter! Dum de dum dum dum . . . Oh, here's two cents, we're up to thirty-two now . . . What was the total again? Oh wait, no, one of those was a button. Only thirty-one cents now. Hmmmm . . . Oh look, here's another quarter . . . Oh, no, that's one of the new state quarters, I collect those . . . Oh, do you have a towel? I seem to have been splattered with blood when your head exploded from frustration. Oh! Another penny! Oh, no, that's Canadian . . ."

Trust me. Just give me a fucking ten, and I'll give you a penny. It's easier.

[Tractor]

Seriously. Getting in line behind one of those is just as bad as someone writing out a check. Who the fuck writes a check in the 12 items or less line!?

Also, I have horrible line-fu.