No respect for Grocery store workers

[Shoggoth2588]

-words-

Exactly. The classic example of dont piss off the people who make your food.

I am honestly too scared to tell the people at Wendy's they got my order wrong. I basically just bend over and take it, and I think every single fast food restaurant in the world is catching on to the fact that I have no balls.

I mean honestly, "No cheese, please..."

At this one could say that a majority of the people working at wendy's, mcdonald's and most other fast food chains don't speak English [or your language of choice] well enough to understand what you've said the first time around but I would rather not like to be that guy who brings up that point [valid though it may be]

 

[TankCopter]

Take comfort in the fact that you don't stand between people and their meds. I worked in a pharmacy for a while, and people get mighty crabby when they found out that just saying 'I have a prescription for this' doesn't make it appear, otherwise we'd have every druggie in the country just claiming they have scripts for Oxycontin and morpheine. We need the bit of paper, and they have to pay for it. They also get real crabby about the wait for prescriptions during the tourist season.

One guy was yelling at me because the wait for his script was going to be an hour (busy time of year, only pharmacy in a 300k radius, only one pharmacist doing 40/50 scripts), and I couldn't get it sooner. Firstly, I am the clerk. It is illegal for me to dispense prescription drugs. Secondly, it's not my fault all of you want drugs at the same time. It got so bad the pharmacist actually came out and gave his script, told him to take it somewhere else.

 

[WakeTheDead1]

I work in the games section in HMV - music, dvd and games etc store if your country doesnt have one
i enjoy a good conversation with customers about games and consoles, but sometimes you still get the tools coming in thinking they are better than you, but all i think when they buy the £40 game is that i could buy that game for £28 becuase i get 30% off everything, a small victory on my part...

 

[Brad Shepard]

I work at a well known (at least in the U.S.) pizza chain, and we are treated like bags of shit too, i got yelled at for being a theif over 50$ from a delivery, i work as a insider only, i dont even drive and i get told im going to get my ass kicked. the drivers have it a lot worse though...

 

[nutgear]

I hate rude people. Some people just think they are entitled everything and treat other people badly if they don't get there way. *sighs* I guess that is life. Good Luck to all the people with have to deal with people on the job.

 

[GeneralDefiance]

total sympathy for the original poster and anyone else in retail (or for anyone forced to face the general public on a daily basis). i work in a smaller location of one of the bigger supermarket chains here in the uk, and i can honestly say that the crap ive had to put up with in my time there has been nothing but shocking.

I have had junkies pull knives and needles on me when ive caught them stealing, ive had customers barge me into fridges and other customers resulting in getting a mouthfull from other customer. Ive had gangs of people wait for me in the alley next to the store because of our strict ID policy (government ID policy, not mine might i add) waiting to kick my head in. Im only 24, im about 6'2", im pretty well built and i keep in good health....ive had two trips to hospital from heart trouble as a result of needless customer hassle, getting shouted at and treated like a servant, i honestly dont mind helping people in fact i quite like it but when people act like you owe them your very soul because you put beans on a shelf to make ends meet i really despair.

The retail world for me isn't a bad place to work, and not all people are holier than thou who go into fits if you dont point out where there favourite cous cous and mineral water is while your cleaning up a bottle of wine that someone smashed and didnt report or a baby has thrown up on the frozen section window, but some are.

Nevermind those people, just console your self in the fact that you arent so hollow and empty in your life that you need to shit on someone that does there best to make sure that one little moment of your day goes as smoothly as possible with a smile.
End.

 

[Kasawd]

Alot of folks don't seem to realize when they're stepping on the services toes.

One night, I was cleaning up the kitchen, ready to go home from a long days cooking, when this couple come in at 5 minutes to closing. A little ticked, I turn the grill back on and await the probable order of two burgers to go with fries. They order the dish with the lengthiest cook time: Yellow breaded perch eating in. Angry now, I throw the fish together and power through the cooking time thinking that they can choke on their fish.

They have coffee for A FUCKING HOUR. I normally get home at 8:30 pm. This time? Close to ten.

I feel your vague style of pain, man.

 

[Zappa Daddy]

Well, look at the bright side. My first job out of high school was in the Army. One time I was working in the chow hall (as shitty and thankless job as working at Mickey D's), when some jerk-off sergeant walks in and screams at me. I ask him if he can repeat his lunch order as I couldn't understand a word of his incoherent ranting, and he starts screaming at me louder about not listening and having shit for brains. In the end, I'm ordered to do 50 push-ups in the middle of the lunch hour rush, all because a high school dropout with a few more years in the military than me decides he needs to go off on a power trip.

Be glad that your most annoying customers can't inflict corporal punishment or have you shipped off to Leavenworth prison.

 

[Good morning blues]

Yo I've worked at a grocery store too and while I agree that I don't appreciate dealing with people trying to bully me into giving them discounts or being rude to me because I'm working a service job and they're the customer, complaining that they don't know where products are is fucking ridiculous. They don't work there; they have no reason to remember this shit. Part of your job is directing people to the product so that they can buy them; if you can't accept a job where you have to talk to people, go to college and study your ass off in hopes of becoming a coroner.

 

[Cowabungaa]

I think it's one of the few perks of living in a small, rural community. I work in the local supermarket, but I barely get any crap from customers. It's quite relaxing really. They're not my kind of people (hence why I want to get out of here) but at least they're very friendly and considerate.

Sure sometimes they're pretty stupid, like people who constantly ask where the eggs are even though they're standing (literally) in front of them or regular costumers who still comment on how everything is hard to find because we had rebuild the store over half a friggin' year ago, but I'm not that bothered about that, I laugh it off.

Nah, the customers aren't really the problem, the work that's so mind-crushingly dull is the real problem.

 

[scrambledeggs]

I know the feeling

I work at a seven eleven, and fuckwits bring things to the counter, then don't have enough or choose a different item, and just leave the item on the counter. Even shit like icecreams when i've got a massive fucking line.

I don't get paid to be your slave, you inconsiderate asshole. Just put it back. It takes two seconds.

 

[DoomyMcDoom]

I've worked in several facets of the "Service" industry, and so far my current job as a Gas station attendant (though the hours are long, the job is boring, and they pay is pretty damn low, like minimum wage level low) though I'm almost starving due to the pay being so crappy, the fact that it's in a relatively poor area of town and surrounded by low income housing mixed with a 3 section military base mainly housing for navy personel even taking into consideration the pub across the street. and the 24hour nature of the establishment. I take less crap off customers working there than i did working at the last pizza place i worked for... maybe cuz people are so addicted to the cigarettes they buy from me all the time and the need of fuel and energy drinks and quick snacks. that they are just happy that they can get it all there in one place... and for a convenience store/gas station the prices ain't half bad.

but it might also be because I'm a 6' even slightly grumpy lookin dude with a shaved head and a goatee... also the fact that i take a pretty easy going attitude on everything other than ID checks on unknown customers who look young, and shoplifting, which in a neighborhood with a high population of junkies and welfare-bound inhabitants is pretty damn common.

my advice for dealing with people who give you shit, ignore their attitude. seriously you aren't there to take their shit, but when you just smile kindly and answer their questions in an unassuming and friendly manner, if they're really assholes it pisses them off even more, and then when they make a scene. throw their ass out. if they just seem to be jerks because they're having a bad day a pleasant attitude on your part might make them relax and not be so annoying... also seriously putting effort into being energetic and positive at work is in itself a really really good way to make your day fly by at unbelievable speeds. helping you get to weekends and offtime faster(at least in perceived time terms.).
but yeah service jobs suck, but if you got nowhere better to work, a job is a job. suck it up and do what they pay you to do all the while looking for a sweeter gig and a fatter paycheck.

cheers
/end

 

[Auric]

Haha yea, i would hate to see myself working at a supermarket.

I would flip in the first week and get fired.

 

[arsenicCatnip]

It's hard to deal with customers, especially when you work in a service industry job (and believe me, I've been serving coffee for the past five years).

Like Akira, I'm an optimist most of the time. And people may be stupid, but they pay my wages (and some fat tips when I do a good job, and comments that get me raises...) so you suck it up, smile, and go about your day.

I find a good tip is to imagine slamming a watermelon down onto a really annoying customer's head when they're pissing me off. Keeps me smiling alllll day

 

[Deadlock Radium]

I worked in a grocery store for almost a year and a half and got a biiiiiig load of shit dumped on me almost every time I was at work, it's like they think they're better than you because they've got a job that pays a little more.
I don't work there more though, I am a possible new employee at the local computer store though, yay

EDIT:

but it might also be because I'm a 6' even slightly grumpy lookin dude with a shaved head and a goatee...

Kratos?

 

[RadioKnight]

A grocery store is one of the worst gigs out there. Thankless customers, angry managers, and crap pay. Ive worked at pretty well every grocery store chain around, and everywhere is the same. Most people just stay at the most a year or two to work their way through school. Also most stores will only have a few full-time staff, and the rest are always considered part-time, no matter how long thet have been there, just so they can avoid having to give benefits.

My advice? Go work at McDonalds, its better than a grocery store.

 

[loremazd]

For the love of all that is holy, do not work in any part of the food industry. Everyone buys food, everyone.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Anyone else fee the same?

Dear sir, I believe you would enjoy this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.70218-The-Customer-Is-Always-Wrong?page=1].

 

[Snownine]

I feel you man, it is not always easy biting your tongue and playing your part. Its weird because its not like the job is hard, just crappy sometimes. A guy I work with says "it's the easiest job you'll ever hate".

 

[UndeadLex]

Okay, I work at Walmart.

There alone should give you some idea of what type of customers I deal with.

Most of the time, I'm in electronics, but also in the Photo Center some of the time as well.

Anywho, just last week, I had a guy call in:
"I'm looking for a cable."
"Alright, can I ask what kind of cable?"
"Well, it goes to my TV."
(this is a VERY common occurrence.)
"Alright, and what are you hooking up?"
"A DVD player."
"Okay, so what kind of colored jacks are on your player as well as on your TV. Normally it is the red, white and yellow jacks, or the red green blue, and red and white jacks."
After some time.
"Well, I guess I need a box."
(referring to an RF modulator)
"Oh, okay. Well, we have three different price ranges of our RF modulators. I'll still need to know what kind of jacks you have on the back of your DVD player to know which box to suggest to you."
After some time.
"No, I just need a modulator. I don't need a jack."
I speak VERY clearly, after 4 years of this kind of stuff, you HAVE to.
"Okay, so is it an S-Video, Component or RCA (sometimes referred to as composite, but it's too much like component, and it confuses people easily) hookup?"
"I don't understand what you mean."
So again, I start off, "I'll need you check your DVD player and tell me what color the jacks are."
After a short pause.
"Is there anyone else there that knows what they're talking about?"
At the time, I was the only one there. "No, sir. I'm the only one here right now."
Then they hung up.

I'm sorry but I can't help you if you don't know what you need.

There is a certain ignorance to some customers, not all are complete jackholes, but there are times where weeks go by with nothing but head aches.

Another VERY common instance when working in the Photo Center.
"I'd like to make some pictures off my camera, but I don't know how."
"Okay, do you have your camera card?"
Without much hesitation, "Yes, right here."
"Alright, so I see that your card is an SD-card. Just follow me over to the Photo kiosk and we can get you started. Okay, now just put it in the slot, marked SD."
Starts putting it in the compact flash slot.
(if you don't know anything about the card sizes, An SD-card is about the size of a Cheez It/Cheese Nips cracker. And a compact flash is about the size of a saltine/soda cracker. Yes, crackers was the only thing I could think of to compare them to, leave me alone)
So inevitably, "No, just the one on the far right."
Now, I know that it shouldn't be that hard to ALL the way right... but the customer just stops on the one right next to it.
"The one at the FAR right."
... again... just one position...
Eventually we get it.... and 9 times out of 10.
"Sorry, I'm just so technologically illiterate."(or ignorant, or any number of iterations of this, my favorite one, though was when the guy said, word for word, letter for letter 'techno-loger-iterate when it comes to these sorts of things. I'm surprised I can even run the damn thing.')
It's sometimes hard to stifle a laugh.

Also, something to point out... DON'T TRY TO BE CLEVER...
Seriously... annoys the hell out of us working-class, can't stress that enough.

Another common instance, as I've seen so many people refer to is the pricing.
It's amazing how mad some people get when prices change, or sometimes when things move around.
We DON'T have ANY say in these sorts of things.
One thing to remember is that we are peons.
But one thing I have learned is this lovely golden holy thing to say:
"One of us has the power to change (problem), and it's not me. There are forms up at customer service for your concerns. Home office will listen to the customer. (seriously SO true) And if (problem) has inconvenienced you, then by all means, complain."
Seriously works every time.

Oh, and another thing while I'm on the subject of STOP TRYING TO BE CLEVER.
I bring TVs up to the front of the store quite often for customers that are still shopping.
And after 4 years, I still get some other customer stopping me on the way up there with the same freaking... stupid... trying to be witty comment of:
"Oh, just wheel that out to (vehicle X) it's parked (location X)." Smile, nod.
It is not funny.
Maybe the first... oh... two times I heard it in the first 2 weeks I worked there.
But seriously.

One more thought:
Treat your service people with respect.
We're people too.