Poll: Look dude, I'm just doing my job...

[mjc0961]

Usually, customers should not be assholes. Doing things like throwing a receipt at someone's face instead of asking for a manager because their computer says you still owe money on a preorder even though you don't, for example, would be a really rude thing to do and make you look like a dick. Be nice to the service and they're usually nice to you. No need to be rude to them unless they start being rude first, but even then you should just try to go above their heads instead of making an ass of yourself.

I worked in pizza delivery while I was in college and every time I got a rude customer (or one that didn't tip) I had the satisfaction of knowing that the next time I took their order I'd be alone and unsupervised with their food. I gotta say you would be amazed what you can do to a pizza that will go totally unnoticed by the people eating it.

The point of this thread was "I'm doing my job properly and get treated like shit.", not "I get treated like shit at my job so I start doing my job improperly and putting my customers at a possible health risk." People like you are the reason that sometimes customers do have the right to treat customer service like shit. You, sir, deserve to be fired for pulling shit like that, and I hope it happens to you sooner rather than later.

 

[Brutal Peanut]

I used to work for a cleaning company that would clean homes right after they were built. It was actually hard work. We had to pick up all the trash the construction workers left behind, scrape all the paint off the windows, and use sharp razorblades to gently scratch all the paint/spilled stuff off the carpets on top of cleaning every-other-little-corner. That alone would take hours.

What I hated, was cleaning a really big house. The owner always seemed to be there when I was there. The bigger the house, the ruder I found that owner to be. I remember once my boss told me to start sweeping up in a massive garage. I told him there was a car in there parked on top of most of the actual mess and that it would probably be best if I waited, but my boss wouldn't change his mind. I 'HAD' to start there. So I swept up a bit, trying my best to avoid getting any dust/sawdust on the car but still trying to get it out from underneath. The owner of the house (more like a manor) comes walking in:

"Hey, you there! Do you speak English?"
"Yes sir, I do."
"What were you thinking coming in here and sweeping up?! You've ruined my wife's present! Now I'll have to go get it washed! Do you ever think?"
"Sir, my boss told me to start here. I'm sorry if I dirtied the car, but I was told to start here."
"You don't seem to understand,...I already had this washed, now I have to do it again. I mean, what's the matter with you?"
"Sir, I AM sorry about this, but you'll need to speak to my boss about the situation."
"Sigh" -throws his hands up at me and stomps off-

The conversation is burned into my memory. It was the first time that I had ever been talked to that way. Sure I'd been treated rudely in the past, but not really at that tone. He was pretty angry. It nearly happened again. My boss was eventually fired for incompetence and everyone underneath him was let-go as well, regardless of how we did our jobs.

I never really liked dealing with people. ;;>_>

 

[maninahat]

The worst is when you are in fine dining restaurants. People in fast food joints know the food is going to be sub par, and they are only paying a few quid so they don't care. But fine diners are paying lots of money fo with that, they get the right to ***** about anything. The number of assholes sending steaks back to the kitchen because they aren't medium rare enough (even when the professional chef knows they are) is mind boggling. You get people who swear at the staff, make sexually indecent remarks, try to rip the business off and do anything they can to get free compensation. Utter, utter arseholes. And as a fine dining dinner service, we have to smile and let that shit fly (or lose prospective customers).

But ultimately, you have to accept that these guys are paying for a particular service, and if they are not provided with it, they have a rightto complain. They don't have a right to be rude, but they can point out they are not getting what they asked for.

 

[The Apothecarry]

I worked retail for six months. I didn't have to deal with angry customers or jerks so much. There was the occasional guy with the "Leave me alone" look. For me, the biggest issue was the language barrier. There were some cases where I just had some major issues telling someone that we didn't have their size of shirt or pants left. You'd be surprised how many people take "I'm sorry, we don't have that size" to mean "Let me check again."

 

[Thamian]

I haven't had to deal with asshole punters (security does that, I watch and laugh) since I work tech at a nightclub (lights and sound and sometime draping... it's awesome), and while I would say that if people are just doing their jobs or atleast are being polite about not doing it, customers shouldn't be assholes.

If of course people are not only failing to their jobs but also being c***s about it, yeah I can't really blame a customer for going off on one. As such, I put down in the 'Depends' column, mainly because I like having that option.

 

[Stoic raptor]

Ehh, I never had experience with asshole customers when I was working. I have experienced many assholes, but not asshole customers. Then again, I am quite new to working. My co-workers on the other hand.....

My mother also has experience from working with asshole customer. Thankfully she knows how to handle assholes easily while her co-workers have a lot of trouble. I know how to deal with assholes too. I wouldn't deny a job working as a telemarketer oh even working at fast food(it would bring more money) but I probably would not like it either way. I do plan to be a biologist in the future so hopefully I will skip all of this in the future.

Personally, I think it would be easier to deal with retarded people then with assholes. At least with stupid people it could be seriously funny. But with assholes, there is no amusement.
And people who are both stupid and assholes... goddamn.

 

[William MacKay]

my only job so far is a paper round. i accidentally left someones gate open one day and got yelled at a bit for a few minutes. the basic thoughts in my head were yelling:
"sorry, but i have to deliver about 150 papers starting from half-seven in the morning on a fucking sunday in february, in scotland which i hope you notice is fucking freezing, and i still have about 50 left, so shutting a fucking gate is not my main fucking priority. i'm fucking exhausted from revising for prelims and i really can't be fucked with this shit."
i ended up mumbling 'sorry' a few times because when i'm tired i cant even yell. but if i forget a paper or deliver the wrong one i'm fine with annoyance because hey, i fucked up. but it seems that they're really calm.

 

[Lilani]

I worked at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida for 8 months last summer, serving popcorn and ice cream at outdoor stands. Needless to say, I dealt with EVERY type of customer. From the polite, to the rude, to the polite, to the certifiably insane.

I've had people thank me for being so patient with them even though my line is miles long. I've had people cry and moan to me on stormy days, as though it's my fault Splash Mountain is shut down due to the risk of a lightning strike. I've had people ask me how I can be so cheerful on a hot summer day wearing tall wool socks, pants, and a bow tie on my neck. I've had people lie to my face, and there are even those who have had the gall to tell me I lied to them--just so they don't have to admit they made a mistake. I once had a man accuse me of cheating him out of a receipt, and I once had a little boy about age 6 tell me that I smile a lot.

Customers are hit or miss. In the end, it comes down to their own nature. It comes down to how much humanity they bestow in other people, and how much of that humanity they are willing to recognize. Some people just have it in their head that those who are in a position to serve them do not deserve to be treated as an equal, and they have no problem behaving as such. It's just a part of life. Needless to say I have a very thick skin now, and though I can easily recognize even the smallest hints of frustration, it is damned near impossible for me to be provoked in that type of situation.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Gah, yes! I've only been working at a bakery for 6/7 months, but I already know that people will either not read what is right in front of them, or will not use their common sense when it comes to stuff. Like, the crisps are on the bottom shelf, below some of the sandwiches and so many customers think the sandwiches are about 60p, I have to pint out the 'Quavers: 60p' 'Ham and cheese baguettes: £2.00' signs, which we shouldn't have to do...

I had a women today who threw a strop because we didn't have any boxes for her donuts, because she was far too precious to carry them in a bag! :O You know, like everyone else.
And when I passed her the change she dropped it and blamed me for her stupidity and stormed out the shop. Everyone else agreed she was rude, really pissed me off.
Also, the amount of people who think they're they're far too good to talk to you or have basic manners because you're only a lowly worker who should obviously lick their shoes clean.
I can't even look at my works Facebook page anymore, it's just full of retards complaining and not using their common sense.'dey wudn't heat up mah pastieee!' 'I can't read for shit and it's somehow their fault!!'

What made me laugh t'other was some girl who came in holding a Louis Vitton bag, in D&G glasses and some shitty designer dress and she was bitching about a 3p price increase.

 

[Mandalore_15]

They never thought about one thing: DUDE, I'm just doing my job. Why are you being an asshole with me? (I've never told them, but I've been thinking about it all day).

Have you ever had job that ended up like this? Do you have your own stories?

I've never had a job where I have to deal with arsehole customers, although I have been that customer from time to time...

I try to make a distinction though. I won't be an arse to somebody who is just doing their job, but if they're doing their job badly or they're giving me shit, I'll sure as hell let them know about it. Especially when they work in call centres.

 

[Slick Samurai]

I think that workers should stand up to customers more. You can't let them trample all over you like that. Sure, in a normal exchange, use "Sir" and "Ma'am". But when the customers starts giving you lip, you return the favor ten fold. Make sure they know that there are hundreds of different customers that come to your store, and you'll be damned if you're going to allow one of you minnows to walk all over you.

That being said, one boundary that is NEVER meant to be crossed is the tampering with the product. Whether it be food, car maintenance, books, etc. you do NOT mess with it. You NEVER spit in the burger or leave things undone, I don't care if the customer has your mother at gunpoint. It is your job to do your job properly, but not take lip from the customer. If was manager and I saw an employee tampering with the product, I would fire him on the spot but not before giving him/her the chewing out of a lifetime.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

well I used to work at an entertainment center.

that's really all I need to say

 

[Random Argument Man]

Snip

Project rant is a series of youtube videos were people usually rant. This is the only positive one and I consider it more of an indirect rant to shitty customers.

They never thought about one thing: DUDE, I'm just doing my job. Why are you being an asshole with me? (I've never told them, but I've been thinking about it all day).

Have you ever had job that ended up like this? Do you have your own stories?

I've never had a job where I have to deal with arsehole customers, although I have been that customer from time to time...

I try to make a distinction though. I won't be an arse to somebody who is just doing their job, but if they're doing their job badly or they're giving me shit, I'll sure as hell let them know about it. Especially when they work in call centres.

That's why I added the "Depends" option. I wouldn't call a customer an asshole if I did something wrong, but it bugs me when I'm doing it right.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

The customer is NOT always right

http://notalwaysright.com/

This. A thousand times this. If you've ever worked in job that involved relating to customers one-on-one, this site will probably make you laugh.

It will also probably lead to lose faith in the intelligence of the human race. But fear not! For ever stupid customer you read about, remember that there was an reasonable person who recognized the stupidity and posted the story.

 

[Bleedingskye]

I figure people just like to feel like they're in control...you show them one inch of hesitation or leniency and they'll rape your face. They lose all logic and reasoning and only think of getting more and more and more and more, for free. I was a manager at a Subway style place. the other manager would deal with complaints normally, and by normal I mean giving in to all ridiculous demands and smiling and saying "thank you" when he was insulted by idiot racists, giving out free stuff to anybody who had the balls to yell about something. I found it much harder, but much more worth it, to never play the game. If a customer complained about something being in their food that wasn't supposed to be, I would reply...too bad you should have been paying attention when you asked specifically for it.The trick is to convince the customer you're on their side and show them reason afterward, get them to show sympathy for the other employees. We got a mic installed by the counters, I can't tell you how great it was to play back people's order and see their reactions. I'd also give free stuff to people who were respectful and nice to me when a douchebag was on a tirade.

 

[deathninja]

One job I had more trouble with the manager than the customers, up to and including being punched in the face in the middle of the store.

 

[Xanthious]

The point of this thread was "I'm doing my job properly and get treated like shit.", not "I get treated like shit at my job so I start doing my job improperly and putting my customers at a possible health risk." People like you are the reason that sometimes customers do have the right to treat customer service like shit. You, sir, deserve to be fired for pulling shit like that, and I hope it happens to you sooner rather than later.

That's as well as may be, however, my point is that food service workers are the last people you ever want to piss off and tipped food workers even more so. After spending my seven years between bussing tables in high school and delivering pizza in college I don't care how messed up, late, etc my food is I will go out of my way not to piss off food workers at places I frequent. Hell the pizza guy could show up two hours late and key my car on his way to the door and I'm still gonna throw him a five spot and tell him to have a nice day.

People that think they can treat continually treat food workers poorly and expect no retribution are delusional. In both places I saw more than a few rude people or chronic non tippers get their comeuppance while being totally oblivious to it. You may think it's wrong vindictive, disgusting, or whatever but it doesn't change how the industry works in quite a few places.