Don't take it out on the check out girl/boy

hbloomers

Just on the flip side, I had a lovely customer the other day. She phoned in, looking for a pair of shoes that she'd saw on the internet and was so pleased we had them in stock. I love it when you can truly help a customer. I know it was only a pair of shoes, not a life or death situation, but I did feel good afterwards.

On the other hand, that same day I had a horrible customer. She was looking a pair of shoes we didn't have in stock, so I took her phone number, said I'd phone other branches and if any had them, ask them to hold them over. After phoning every branch in a 30 mile radius, I phoned her back, explained the situation and apologised. She just replied with a "mmm" and hung up the phone.

hollydays

Takoda wrote: »

Yes it may be childish but it is true and it has worked since the thread is now back to discussing customers.

You think your teachings have altered the course of the thread? That may be somewhat delusional.Go and sit on the naughty step.(Adds annoying ";)" winking face just to be in keeping with the childish theme).

vyle

Takoda wrote: »

If I have a choice at a checkout I will always go for an older till person as I find they often have a more reasonable idea of how to deal with customers properly.

You can tell that most of the people on here whining about awful customers are younger people.

Just my 2p.

Hah that just reminded me of something I found quite amusing at work the other day.

I have a colleague who looks a lot younger than he is. He's brilliant with computers and is by far the best computer salesman in my department. The thing is, customers quite often dismiss him because he looks so young.

So on saturday, a really snooty person was kicking up a fuss because she wanted to be served by 'an expert,' and kept trying to get older people who don't work in that section to try and sell her a computer. So she snagged me, and as I was meant to be sticking to TVs that day, I went to get my colleague.

When she saw him, she looked like she'd just trodden in something nasty and said, "no, I want to be served by an expert, somebody more experience."

As, unbeknownst to me, he'd already been dismissed by her twice, already, he said, "There isn't anybody, but don't worry, I'd be delighted to get you somebody less experienced."

He then went to get our most senior computer salesman, who didn't have the required level of technical knowledge, so had to keep my colleague close to hand to answer the questions.

The snooty hag had a great, shocked look on her face when she realised what was happening.

Oh, and a quick point to anybody shopping late. If a shop closes at 6 (5 on a saturday), don't expect everybody to be just so DELIGHTED to serve you as you dawdle in the most long winded way possible. We don't get paid after the shop shuts and especially on sundays, there's only one bus an hour.

I mean, really. Why do people, when they're told that the shop has closed say, "it's ok, we're not buying anything."?

If you're not buying anything, that's double reason to get out! Christ, we can't go home until the customers are off the shop floor!

I wish security could bum rush people out as soon as it hits 6pm.

Freddie_Snowbits

vyle wrote: »

Oh, and a quick point to anybody shopping late. If a shop closes at 6 (5 on a saturday), don't expect everybody to be just so DELIGHTED to serve you as you dawdle in the most long winded way possible. We don't get paid after the shop shuts and especially on sundays, there's only one bus an hour.

That I suppose is the problem with Head Orifice and clock watching. When I served proper beer in a bar during my apprenticeship, the bar closed at 10:30, 10 minutes drinking up time and we were paid until 11:00! Some days we got out early, some days we were late, but never did we refuse to serve anyone who was at the bar at the close.

Now, today in the computerised clock watching overlording world, the computer says pay to six! And the rest, I suppose is ignorance by whom?

Oh, now said bar is computerised, hooked in and linked through. Go in there befor 7, and the bar firl, wont serve you as she is not on til the till accepts her code. That I suppose is progress, Computer says NO!

Takoda

hollydays wrote: »

You think your teachings have altered the course of the thread? That may be somewhat delusional.Go and sit on the naughty step.(Adds annoying ";)" winking face just to be in keeping with the childish theme).

Merely leading by example.

HTH


I will add a retail related comment just to keep things further on track otherwise my reply to you could be interpreted as off topic thereby rendering me hypocritical which is something I'm definitely not.

At the moment in the Co-op the till operators are doing a really annoying thing. You go up with a basket full of shopping. They scan about 12 items which pile up on their desk and just before they scan the last item they ask...

"Do you want a bag?" which leaves you hurridly trying to pack your stuff because there's a queue behind you.

So why don't they ask BEFORE they start scanning your stuff?

Then they ask

"Have you got a dividend card?"

And I reply...

"No I usually buy things at a local shop where they pack your shopping for you. I don't come here very often so it isn't worth having one."

Then they say...

"I could've packed it for you."

Doh....... :rolleyes:

So why?

Oh never mind.

I give up.

With staff like that is anyone surprised that people get cross?

emmas42

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Now, today in the computerised clock watching overlording world, the computer says pay to six! And the rest, I suppose is ignorance by whom?

I got a telling off recently because according to the alarm system, I arrived and turned the alarm off at 7.57am
We open at 8.00am
The traffic had been unusually heavy, I normally arrive at 7.40am. (BTW we get paid from 8.00am)

I had a customer come in straight away, and I served him as soon as the lights were on, which meant that he actually got served at around 7.59am!! Still I get a telling off!

If it means the difference between hitting budget and not hitting budget I will even stay until around 7.00pm with a customer if they are serious and not wasting my time. We close at 6.00pm and get paid until 6.00pm only.
I constantly eat into my own time and would expect a little leeway if I happen to arrive "Only" three minutes before I am expected to open the store.
Gosh! might even start taking the hour for lunch I haven't had in years and don't get paid for if they want to start nitpicking over three sodding minutes! :rotfl:

Takoda

So are you going to name and shame this mickey taking employer?

emmas42

I daren't!
It has been written into our contracts that we cannot talk about the company in a negative way on websites!

I really should go and see if there is a clause in my contract about joining a union...

Takoda

Fair enough. You've got to look after yourself especially in this economic climate.

hollydays

emmas42 wrote: »

I got a telling off recently because according to the alarm system, I arrived and turned the alarm off at 7.57am
We open at 8.00am
The traffic had been unusually heavy, I normally arrive at 7.40am. (BTW we get paid from 8.00am)

I had a customer come in straight away, and I served him as soon as the lights were on, which meant that he actually got served at around 7.59am!! Still I get a telling off!

If it means the difference between hitting budget and not hitting budget I will even stay until around 7.00pm with a customer if they are serious and not wasting my time. We close at 6.00pm and get paid until 6.00pm only.
I constantly eat into my own time and would expect a little leeway if I happen to arrive "Only" three minutes before I am expected to open the store.
Gosh! might even start taking the hour for lunch I haven't had in years and don't get paid for if they want to start nitpicking over three sodding minutes! :rotfl:

And what reason did they give for this not being acceptable?

Was it because you were alone on the premesis