Rant - The ignorance of some people!

AsknAnswer2

I was in Debenhams having a browse for gifts. Three staff members were walking past me, obviously talking about some event or other as I heard one of them say: "Yes but the customers spoiled it", to which another replied, rather loudly: "Customers spoil everything though". Needless to say, I left without buying a damn thing. If that is how much they think of their customers, and have no qualms about loudly communicating that "customers spoil everything" in a store full of them, then I'd rather not be one of their customers, thanks very much.

Don't get me wrong - I am sure they have come up against some very rude and hostile customers, as many retailers do and which I've seen with my own eyes. Myself and coworkers have experienced rudeness and abuse from customers. However I would never generalise that all customers "spoil everything" and certainly not within earshot of them in a wide open space where many are around. The fact that I've been on the receiving end of some nasty customers does not give me the right to generalise that they are all like that. Without their custom, I'd not be receiving a salary each month.

What a brass neck!

geordieracer

Maybe they were talking about somewhere else. like they all work in the same strip bar at night.

i'd boycott Debenhams if i were you - the only thing to do after you have been so affronted

geordieracer

Maybe they were talking about somewhere else. like they all work in the same strip bar at night.

i'd boycott Debenhams if i were you - the only thing to do after you have been so affronted

DCFC79

Good god, i wouldnt even think about it, just let it go and move on, if you want to continue shopping there then do so but if not then dont,

AsknAnswer2

I won't be shopping there again. I'm not about to line the pockets of any retailer whose representatives show such little regard for their customers in front of them. If a person wants to make criticisms of customers, it's generally good practice to do it in private, outwith earshot of customers. If a person feels that customers "spoil everything" I'm afraid retail isn't the right place for them to be working. Funnily enough, one tends to come across a lot of customers in retail.

shaun_from_Africa

Funnily enough, one tends to come across a lot of customers in retail

And without a doubt, some of these customers will be arrogant and obnoxious, but would you say that because of this minority all customers are like this?

Isn't it the same with sales staff?
You heard 3 people out of possibly hundreds who work in that store talking. How do you know that the other 99% of staff aren't the opposite and treat their customers with respect?

sookipeaspud

Do you think a letter to Mr Debenham would suffice or should the newspapers be informed of this outrage?
Perhaps a demonstration outside every Debenhams on April 29th 2011 would send shockwaves to the retailer.

Mankysteve

Well they usually right--runs away and hides.

shellsuit

You should have said "If it wasn't for customers, you 3 wouldn't have a job".

vyle

I'd let it go. It's just a moment of levity between two colleagues who work in a pretty dreary place.

I'm sure you've never EVER experienced a moment of light-heartedness in your job and have been 100% professional for every second you've been there.

Where I work, we quite often say it'd be a nice place to work if it wasn't for the customers, but we're not being serious. There are some pains in the backside and some lovely ones, and it'd be boring without them (and we'd be out of business) but it's much the same as soldiers in warzones have ways of making the day more enjoyable that'd probably raise eyebrows back home.

Granted they shouldn't have said it on the shop floor in an ideal world, but they would have said it somewhere else and surely it's the same sentiment regardless.

Just chill out and don't blame the whole company because of two people saying something that the company likely doesn't endorse.

Takoda

Unfortunately the OP is one of those people who does not know the correct meaning of ignorance. It means "not knowing" something. Being unaware of the facts etc. Obviously, the sales assistants in this case do not fit that description. As such the complaint is meaningless.

All a storm in a teacup. Some people need to get a life.