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

kalaika

Dave101t wrote: »

i often get mistaken for a salesperson in asda or tesco because im young and always wear a shirt and tie.
i usually say 'sorry i dont work here' and they dont smile and say 'oh, ok then' they just hmph and walk off.
working up the courage to walk them round the perimeter of the store next time....

Hehe. I often have a similar thing if I go into the supermarket after work (wearing shirt & tie). I've now started picking up a basket every time I go in, even if I'm only buying one item, as it makes it clear I'm a shopper not an employee! :rolleyes:

I think the best one I had was when I was browsing the clothes section of Asda with a basket in one hand, crawling the racks wth the other hand and was listening to my ipod (bright white earphones - fairly obvious). After hearing over my music "excuse me" and a tap on the shoulder, I turned round to find a guy next to me: "Got any more of these?" he barked. After replying that I'm sorry but I don't work there (which I thought was pretty obvious) he just walked off chuntering to himself. No apology. Not even a disgrutled "hmmph" in my direction - I was quite disappointed! :rolleyes:

Littlemiss27

What a wonderful thread!

I work in retail, have done for almost 9years, and I love dealing with customers. 99% they are great, say thank you when you help, are understanding when something goes wrong, are grateful when you sort out issues, but I have come across my fair share of numpties though. The two worst types of customers have to be........

The men who think it is ok to become abusive when things arent going their way. It seems like they think just because i'm female, look young and i'm small in stature that they will get what they want by swearing and telling me they will trash the store/lose me my job/set their daughter on me!!

And the women who insist on using the "I'll be sending my husband in to see you" line. This always makes me laugh, i think it makes them look a bit pathetic tbh.

emmas42

GrammarGirl wrote: »

I absolutely loved working with people, though. I don't do that any more in my current job and I really do miss it. You do get some tough customers and you do have bad days, but when you solve a problem for someone or find them something they've been searching for and they're so pleased and grateful - it's really worthwhile. I also love giving advice and would love to incorporate a more customer facing role into my current job.

I have to admit actually, as much as I hate the customers that treat me like something they trod in, the ones that really appreciate the job that I am doing for them make it all worthwhile.
We do get thankyou letters sometimes and they go up on the office wall for us all to be proud of.
My absolute favorite customers are the ones that thank you for your time, say "excuse me" before asking the questions rather than interupting, and realise that we are trying our best for them. These guys get gold plated service with a smile, the very best deals, and the chances are they will be remembered by name "Oh Hello Mr Smith! back again I see, what can we help you with today?" Makes people feel special being remembered!

Flashdaisy

Reading through this thread I am absolutely gobsmacked at how some of you that work in retail have been treated by customers. People who shout abuse and are rude to shop workers ought to be bloomin ashamed of themselves, the shop assistants are only trying to earn a living!

Louise22

SpammyTheSpammer wrote: »

Are you suggesting that the Checkout Staff are JUST OBEYING ORDERS and that they should not be held responsible for their actions?

Should we all do what they suggest without querying?

yeah, but there are nicer ways of putting things instead of being deliberately awkward about things and trying to be confrontational just for the sake of it.

Comyface

I work in a bank and my colleague was on reception the other week and a lady (and I use that word in the loosest sense!) was yelling at her for some spurious reason (lack of ID is the usual), she then stomped off, leaving her purse on the reception desk. My colleague (who is a hoot), said 'You've left your purse' in a voice loud enough for the other customers there to hear, but just quiet enough so that the lady made it out of the door. The other customers there even chuckled that the yeller had left without her purse, no-one went after her and the purse got put in the safe. Next day the 'lady' came back, all smiles saying 'Do you remember me? I think I might have left my purse'. Did we ever!

She was asked to take a seat while we checked. Obviously her purse was returned. She had a good ten minute wait, though!

Louise22

Comyface wrote: »

I work in a bank and my colleague was on reception the other week and a lady (and I use that word in the loosest sense!) was yelling at her for some spurious reason (lack of ID is the usual), she then stomped off, leaving her purse on the reception desk. My colleague (who is a hoot), said 'You've left your purse' in a voice loud enough for the other customers there to hear, but just quiet enough so that the lady made it out of the door. The other customers there even chuckled that the yeller had left without her purse, no-one went after her and the purse got put in the safe. Next day the 'lady' came back, all smiles saying 'Do you remember me? I think I might have left my purse'. Did we ever!

She was asked to take a seat while we checked. Obviously her purse was returned. She had a good ten minute wait, though!

haha things like thta used to always happen when I worked in retail banking. It was always the snooty old cows :rotfl:

Pound

Flashdaisy wrote: »

Reading through this thread I am absolutely gobsmacked at how some of you that work in retail have been treated by customers. People who shout abuse and are rude to shop workers ought to be bloomin ashamed of themselves, the shop assistants are only trying to earn a living!

There's lots of websites dedicated to "horror" stories from people who work in retail. Practically every person that has worked with the general public has some tales to tell about cocktails of verbal abuse and terminal stupidity.

Helix

I had something funny happen at my till yesterday. I had to try and stop myself laughing. Had one of those people who are incapable of writing out a shopping list before they go shopping and therefore end up forgetting stuff until they get to the till, so asked if I could get someone to get them some tinned tomatos (I don't know why people expect this, If I forget something I just go back round and get it myself afterwards, I would never dream of getting someone to get it for me but we have to do it if asked). So I got someone over to go get these tinned tomatoes for the customer. Meanwhile while they had gone to get them, the old man in the queue behind the current customer started singing "Why Are We Waiting". I really had to control myself from laughing, I don't know how people can be so rude, I know its annoying but theres nothing that can be done about it. In the end he put his stuff back in a basket and moved to another checkout.

clarabella23

I just don't think it's fair that the young, unexperienced staff get picked on. If you have a complaint, don't just shout at anybody you come across, ask to speak to a supervisor or manager- we get paid to deal with all that, however unpleasant it may be! Also, as someone else pointed out, kindness gets you a lot further than shouting or swearing! If you are calm, explain the situation calmly, and are polite, most staff will go out of there way to help you.