Bad customer service or just bad customers.

hgotsparkle

I get very annoyed at customers who come up to me when I'm with a customer on the phone - they seem to think I'm just having a little chat with a friend but I'm not, I'm securing a customer order placed over the phone. Thye get annoyed if I don't immediately hang up on their arrival and walk off giving me a nasty look. It infuriates me and really makes me want to shout after them that I was dealing with a custome!

geerex

It should be mandatory for everyone in the UK to do a years "conscription" in customer facing roles.
If everyone knew what it was like, maybe there'd be less entitled idiots around.
Honestly, I worked in a lot of "cs" roles in the past, and there were many times that, put simply, if someone had spoken to me like that in the street, they'd have ended up with a sore face. Instead, I would warn them once, if they continued, I would walk away.
Some people think they can treat you like crap simply because of where you work.
Indeed, I've had a number of people arrested and charged over the years due to their behaviour. Hopefully it made their lives a lot harder for a little while.

bluenoseam

Oh that brings to mind another pet peeve! When customers believe that because you're wearing a uniform you're available to serve them regardless of any other situation. So for example coming up to you while you're heading out for lunch (have to walk through the shop to go for it), I might be wearing uniform but I'm on my break. Worst ones though are the ignorant ones who will ask questions while either commuting to work or while you're standing outside waiting on a keyholder to get there.

Worst of those are the ones who despite seeing food in your hand will DEMAND that you serve them - sorry no, that's my LUNCH in my hand, I don't come up to you while you're at lunch so don't do it to me!

(should point out where I work we have visible name tags constituting part of our uniform - when I go on break I take it off, while it may be easy to say "wear a jacket" it's not exactly something I should have to do especially when I won't be going outdoors!)

geerex

I used to get asked in supermarkets where the sugar/bread/incontinence pads were. "Sorry, I don't work here". "Are you sure?". "Yes, I'm almost certain"....
Morons, the lot of them.

I actually get angry on behalf of those poor, poor people who work for Sports Direct. Not only are their wages crap, and the owner is a fat **** (sorry, a fat, rich ****), but they have to put up with countless idiots who can't seem to understand that, no, they're NOT entitled to a refund if there's nothing wrong with their kappa tracky.
Invariably, they start threads on here about how unfair it is, that they KNOW THEIR RIGHTS, and the "attitude of the staff was appalling" simply because they didn't get what they wanted. Aaargh.

Cycrow

geerex wrote: »

The person who came up with the phrase "the customer is always right" deserves to be shot. If they're dead they should be exhumed then shot.

People in public facing roles should start each day reminding themselves that the general public are morons, that way their day brightens up when they come across someone who isn't.

yeah that is the most annoying saying, and customers who say it are the ones usually in the wrong.

i once worked at a deli counter in a supermarket, it was at a time when it was being converted to metric and many customers were still asking for lbs and oz. A customer asked for some slices of ham, and it came to about 500g. But complained about being overcharged, expecting it to cost the same as a pound, whereas it was slightly more, saying there is 2lbs in a kg, so 1/2kg is the same as lb. I tried to explain there was actually 2.2lbs in kg, but they kept saying the customer is always right and that i and the scales were wrong.

The most annoying thing about customers are when they treat staff differently to managers. Many are overly aggressive towards the staff, but as soon as the manage comes over, they change and start being nice and polite to them.

One time i saw a customer having a go at one of the managers, they didn't relise they were a manager, when asking to speak to a manager, he pointed out he was the manager, and the attitude completely changed.

in our store the managers started making it clear they were managers and not regular staff because they all got fed up with the constant abuse

sazaccount

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I love this site - http://notalwaysright.com/

Some years back I read through the entire archive (it took an age) and since then make reading the daily additions one of the things I do each day.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS SITE!!!!! Nice big shouty letters :rotfl:

It has kept me amused for the last couple of days and I've still got 1500 pages to go!!!!!

gunsandbanjos

geerex wrote: »

It should be mandatory for everyone in the UK to do a years "conscription" in customer facing roles.
If everyone knew what it was like, maybe there'd be less entitled idiots around.

Totally agree, people who've never worked in hospitality or retail have no idea how hard it is at times. It's not all bad but it can be horrendous at times.

People think you're stupid because you're a waitress and often talk down to you. I often wanted to give them my swipe card and hand over my 10 table section - now don't screw it up, but...
21 wants to order
10 need the bill and will probably want separate checks:cool:
22 have drinks at the bar that need run
11 need cleared and dessert menus
There are people at the door that need sat
24 want to order desserts which you have to make
The kitchen are shouting for hands as food is getting cold
Dishes need washed (no dish guy on an am)
Byeeeee:D

daytona0

geerex wrote: »

I used to get asked in supermarkets where the sugar/bread/incontinence pads were. "Sorry, I don't work here". "Are you sure?". "Yes, I'm almost certain"....
Morons, the lot of them.

I actually get angry on behalf of those poor, poor people who work for Sports Direct. Not only are their wages crap, and the owner is a fat **** (sorry, a fat, rich ****),

Hahaha I'm going to reserve judgement on Ashley until Newcastle's 14/15 season is done with as he's been quite ambitious with the club (and he also recently turned down a fat bonus at SD and allocated it to other employees)

sillyvixen

geerex wrote: »

I used to get asked in supermarkets where the sugar/bread/incontinence pads were. "Sorry, I don't work here". "Are you sure?". "Yes, I'm almost certain".

Years ago (when we used to be provided with tea and coffee at my place of work) we used to go to the narest place that sold milk (M&S) and use petty cash. i have lost count of the amount of times i was asked "where is this or that", "do you have this in a size 14" etc. people were usually a bit sheepish when i politely explained i did not work there. but one women accused me of having an attitude problem and reported me to a manager for denying working for M&S - she pointed me out while i w as waiting in the '5 items for fewer' line, stating in a loud voice, "she is wearing a uniform and name badge." to which the manager replied, " yes but neither supplied by us".

Bollotom

Most businesses would be fantastic if it wasn't for the customers. Showing respect and a smile and a bit of understanding when things go wrong from both sides can make for a pleasant experience. I used to work for London Underground so I've had it from all sides but it never bothered me. I was paid too much to get a crank on with the dears. :cool: