Surly assisstant at millies cookies

Bamber19

Spot on, I did too at one point, a previous poster is glad i don't work in the service industry...me too, terribly low pay and having to deal with the one in twenty customers that wants to moan regardless of the service, used to work in a small area at one point and it was funny how something would happen in work and a few days later i'd hear the story being re-told by an old woman but it would now be nothing like what happened. One time i remember a colleague not having the right change available and having to get a new lot brought round from a back office and the customer was left standing for...i'd say a minute, tutting away, of course when the story was retold a few days later the poor woman had been standing for an hour waiting and was being treated very rudely by the cashier.

zappomatic

While it can be irritating to be asked if you want help when you're just browsing, it's possible to acknowledge someone's presence in an un-intrusive way: "hello", a nod or even just a smile.

I spent 5 years in front-line retail service. If you do the best you can you will still get the odd whinge but the thanks and appreciation from some of the other customers outweighs it.

Comments on here suggest some people think they are above retail and service so don't bother giving their best. It's not the way to do it.

dangeroussports

If Im getting paid peanuts I'll behave like a monkey.....

I've told a customers 'F**K off' before. Only because they are being unreasonable and I for the life of me cannot fake a face which actually cares when Im not in the mood.

zappomatic

Not all shops pay peanuts, especially to people who don't act like a monkey. Shops that do pay peanuts deserve to get monkeys and all the lost custom and bad will that goes with it.

dangeroussports

I didnt tell you to ......

andyrules

Bamber19 wrote: »

the term "troll" should be retired, all it seems to mean these days is someone that doesn't agree with your point of view. One of the classic traits of a troll(in the original sense) was that they were trying tog et a rise from someone but no-one who's been accused of being a troll on here seems to be guilty of this, their only crime, siding with someone other than the OP.

There is a difference between not agreeing with the OP and deliberately side-lining the thread with contentious and barely relevant comments. When people post on the VENT board, they generally have experienced/suffered some mishap, and there are certain posters who frequent this board with the sole purpose of parodying others' misfortunes. That, in my book, is worthy of the term 'troll'. Most people on here offer constructive or supportive comments, whether or not they agree, and I believe that is the spirit of this forum. It would be a shame to jeopardise that.

There are plenty of forums around if you just want fun.

uktim29

pulliptears wrote: »

Bamber19 wrote: »

since when has the word "what?" which is generally used to convey that you haven't understood something or wish for it to be repeated, been rude?
quote]

Wow Bamber, Im glad you dont work in the service industry! The correct turn of phrase would have been:

"Can I help you madam?" or "Yes please". Not "WHAT" barked at the OP. Its completely unnaceptable whichever way you dress it up.


Basic manners cost nothing. The OP is paying this ignorant young womans wages and therefore deserves to be treated with some respect.

Thats all very well but it's based on assumptions!

It does not say anywhere the what was barked. The word use to describe was just simply "said". With the op's rather damming view of the assistant I think we'd know if it was barked.

This is just one side of a story. There is no way of knowing the way the op spoke to the assistant wasn't in a rude way or over sarcastic (although the comment to get the assistants attention most wouls view as sarcastic).

And I really think people need to dump the "I pay your/their wages" idea, you don't! If you or the op never shopped at a certain location again a where you may have a problem with an assistant they will still get paid exactly the same amount as they did before.

zappomatic wrote: »

Not all shops pay peanuts, especially to people who don't act like a monkey. Shops that do pay peanuts deserve to get monkeys and all the lost custom and bad will that goes with it.

To my knowledge theres probably not much more than £1.50 to £2 difference in retail/catering sales assistant wages across the board. I don't think that could make a massive difference in the type of employee one might get.

ovetta2001

dangeroussports wrote: »

If Im getting paid peanuts I'll behave like a monkey.....

I've told a customers 'F**K off' before. Only because they are being unreasonable and I for the life of me cannot fake a face which actually cares when Im not in the mood.

So you’re saying that a person’s behaviour is acceptable because of their pay? I’m sorry but you get paid to do your JOB. It doesn’t matter what you get paid. If you don’t like it you go somewhere else and if you don’t like the pay then you find something with higher wages. Simple as. If you have sworn to a customer that shows what a poor standard of service you give and I’m surprised you weren’t sacked to be quite frank. I have worked in retail for 5 years now and I started with being paid ‘peanuts’. That isn’t an excuse to act like a hard done to little s**t. It’s simple. This sales assistant was in the wrong. No matter what she was being paid.

ovetta2001

uktim29 wrote: »

pulliptears wrote: »

To my knowledge theres probably not much more than £1.50 to £2 difference in retail/catering sales assistant wages across the board. I don't think that could make a massive difference in the type of employee one might get.

I have worked somewhere where the wages start at £4.35 and finish at £12.45 minus managers.

dangeroussports

sometimes customers are a pain in asre....

How did I used to respond to customers? Before answering I would always ask myself...'would i let them talk to me like that if I werent in this shop working?' if the answer is no then they would get a piece of my mind. I remember this one couple who wound me up and kept pointing their finger and getting more and more red! I gave them a real reason after that!...lol.... oh the good days...