Robot sales assistant

Fuzzy_Duck

In my opinion we make way too many excuses to try and prove the OP wrong on this board. Personally I don't think it's much to expect the person serving you to say hello, state the amount of money owed and say thanks at the end.

If she was having a bad day?
We all have them. You shouldn't let it interfere with your job and you certainly shouldn't take it out on the customers.

If she was suffering a bereavement?
If you're struggling to cope, you shouldn't come into work.

If she had a mental health issue?
I have one myself that makes social interaction difficult, but I still made an effort to be polite. I now work in an office where I don't use the phone, which is far more suitable for me.

I used to work in a shop where I sustained a back injury- I was in agonising pain but they wouldn't let me take any time off. I dosed myself up on painkillers and got on with it. I think the only time I offended a customer was when I was serving them and a huge surge of pain went through me- and I realised I was going to throw up :eek: I still managed to shout to a colleague to take over and apologise before dashing off to the toilets though!

gildius

I agree that you shouldn't take your problems into work with you, but if it was just a one-off experience I wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

Actually, look up 'David Mitchell customer service rant' on YouTube, it's brilliant!

mad_dr

I'm completely baffled at the number of people who seem completely incapable of understanding that there's a big difference between being overly chatty and slow versus being totally uncommunicative and moody.

To get frustrated when cashiers are overly chatty, intrusive and 'nosey' is understandable but is probably just a sign of them trying to be friendly. You may not appreciate the gesture but it's not something that should ruin your day either.

To get annoyed when cashiers are sullen, moody and rude is completely justified. Regardless of what's going on in their personal lives, everyone ought to be capable of providing the (very basic) level of manners and customer service that they agreed to. Sure, we all have bad days but then I refuse to believe that anyone well enough to attend work would be incapable of being polite.

No one's asking for people of the highest social graces but judging by some of the replies on here, their authors wouldn't be capable of understanding that it's abundantly easy to simply smile and look approachable, say "hello", ask if the customer needs bags or help packing, state the total and say "thank you, bye" when the transaction is complete.

I'm not sure I could be persuaded that the above is unreasonable and don't feel that the OP is asking for much!

OP: I agree with you.

motch

FOREVER21 wrote: »

Went into my local Wilkinsons store to-day have always found the staff friendly and helpful, until now.

Approached the check out, said hello, no response, she then started to scan the items and I asked for a bag which I was given still no comment from her to my thanks for the bag.She then rang up the total and held out her hand for the cash give me the change, all again without a word been spoken.

At that point feeling really cheesed off I said thats pretty amazing, what is, she said, how you managed that transaction without saying a word, I replied. still no further comment from her.

I think that was rather rude, even the self service tills manage a thank you!:eek:

I'm not saying this is you, but i'm going to put a point across which I don't think has been mentioned yet.

Are you an older gent, is "she" a young girl or lady, was you looking her up and down?

FOREVER21

Valli wrote: »

"Went into my local Wilkinsons store to-day have always found the staff friendly and helpful, until now.
Approached the check out, said hello, no response, she then started to scan the items and I asked for a bag which I was given still no comment from her to my thanks for the bag.She then rang up the total and held out her hand for the cash"...

At this point you could have just stood there and waited until she TOLD you the total or said 'That will be £xx.xx (please).

You're complaining about her lack of interaction - by the same token YOU didn't speak to HER.

Did you not read my original post? I did speak to her.

FOREVER21

Quote

Are you an older gent, is "she" a young girl or lady, was you looking her up and down.



Totally irrelevant!

lucy03

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

In my opinion we make way too many excuses to try and prove the OP wrong on this board. Personally I don't think it's much to expect the person serving you to say hello, state the amount of money owed and say thanks at the end.

I agree with this. A rude, or uncommunicative, member of staff who puts a customer off from returning could cost that business thousands of pounds over the years.

The training for one supermarket consists in part of a line which says something like "remember that the customer you're serving might not speak to anyone else all week, so be nice".

It's up to each individual whether they'd complain about poor service, or go and fill in on-line feedback, but I don't personally think anyone who does complain is wrong to do so.

motch

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

In my opinion we make way too many excuses to try and prove the OP wrong on this board. Personally I don't think it's much to expect the person serving you to say hello, state the amount of money owed and say thanks at the end.

If she was having a bad day?
We all have them. You shouldn't let it interfere with your job and you certainly shouldn't take it out on the customers.

If she was suffering a bereavement?
If you're struggling to cope, you shouldn't come into work.

If she had a mental health issue?
I have one myself that makes social interaction difficult, but I still made an effort to be polite. I now work in an office where I don't use the phone, which is far more suitable for me.

I used to work in a shop where I sustained a back injury- I was in agonising pain but they wouldn't let me take any time off. I dosed myself up on painkillers and got on with it. I think the only time I offended a customer was when I was serving them and a huge surge of pain went through me- and I realised I was going to throw up :eek: I still managed to shout to a colleague to take over and apologise before dashing off to the toilets though!

There's probably a similar thread on this site somewhere with someone who was offended by a shop assistant who rudely ran off and didn't hear any apology:) (bad hearing)

Azari

motch wrote: »

There's probably a similar thread on this site somewhere with someone who was offended by a shop assistant who rudely ran off and didn't hear any apology:) (bad hearing)

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Abbafan1972

I think I would rather have what the OP experienced than some airhead sales assistant talking incessantly about nothing at all or moaning about their crappy wages.

Hubby used to go to a local off-license and the guy behind the counter would talk non stop and not concentrate on doing the transaction and getting the change right. The final straw was when he was jabbering on, got the change wrong again and then said it was hubby's fault!:eek:

He understandably doesn't go there anymore! :mad: