The Customer Is Always Wrong
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It goes without saying that about 70%-80% of people who will walk into a shop/pub/cafe etc. are going to have a vague feeling of superiorty over you, the staff member serving them (emphasis on the word serving). What more do you expect?
I believe that the phrase 'the customer is always right' is an optimistic reflection of the fact that it is a given that any job that requires you to interact with the public will require you to take shit from them, smile and reply 'sure, no problem ma'am, is there anything else?'.
Trying to do otherwise (in my experiece) usually results in the manager getting pissed at you (due to all of the complaints) and potentially firing you (it's how I lost my last job).
If you don't like the idea of customers being rude, offensive and arrogant then you should consider finding a job in IT or an office.
I believe that the phrase 'the customer is always right' is an optimistic reflection of the fact that it is a given that any job that requires you to interact with the public will require you to take shit from them, smile and reply 'sure, no problem ma'am, is there anything else?'.
Trying to do otherwise (in my experiece) usually results in the manager getting pissed at you (due to all of the complaints) and potentially firing you (it's how I lost my last job).
If you don't like the idea of customers being rude, offensive and arrogant then you should consider finding a job in IT or an office.
This thread is so win.
I work in a Tesco in a city populated by old people and farmers as a trolley boy and on a kiosk selling cigarettes. Now it aint bad money and i normally get to take loads of breaks but i get so many brain dead people its crazy.
Being on trolleys everyone assumes i defy the laws of physics and drive like crazy thinking i will be able to get out the way. Can i just say getting hit by cars hurt. They also assume i have super-sonic hearing when im on kiosk im forever asking people to speak up when they just mutter what they want.
Anyway this is the best story by far i've experienced in my 2 years working there:
It was a quite busy Saturday afternoon and i was walking up to a bay to push a huge chain of trolleys down to the main doors when i see a hot bag of chicken in one of the smaller trolleys (i find loads in trolleys, credit cards, DVDs, Charcoal, walking sticks). Seeing as though it was busy i decided to leave it and take the bigger trolleys back. Now as im walking down to the main bay with this chain a really fat women with chocolate around her lips and smelling of BO waddles past me. After putting away the chain at the main door i decide that i should go get the bag and hand it in to customer services. As i get to the bay i realise its gone and the fat women is slowly waddling to her car stuffing something into her mouth. At that exact moment a women pulls up by me in her car and asks me "Excuse me sir, have you seen my chicken?" I couldn't actually believe what had happened so i said "No i haven't sorry" and she drives off. My friend and co-worker is watching this and comes up to me and asks what the hell just happened. I simply say "Fat Ninjas, there everywhere" and burst into laughter. I had to actually to go upstairs for a break as i was laughing so hard.
Ah good times.
I work in a Tesco in a city populated by old people and farmers as a trolley boy and on a kiosk selling cigarettes. Now it aint bad money and i normally get to take loads of breaks but i get so many brain dead people its crazy.
Being on trolleys everyone assumes i defy the laws of physics and drive like crazy thinking i will be able to get out the way. Can i just say getting hit by cars hurt. They also assume i have super-sonic hearing when im on kiosk im forever asking people to speak up when they just mutter what they want.
Anyway this is the best story by far i've experienced in my 2 years working there:
It was a quite busy Saturday afternoon and i was walking up to a bay to push a huge chain of trolleys down to the main doors when i see a hot bag of chicken in one of the smaller trolleys (i find loads in trolleys, credit cards, DVDs, Charcoal, walking sticks). Seeing as though it was busy i decided to leave it and take the bigger trolleys back. Now as im walking down to the main bay with this chain a really fat women with chocolate around her lips and smelling of BO waddles past me. After putting away the chain at the main door i decide that i should go get the bag and hand it in to customer services. As i get to the bay i realise its gone and the fat women is slowly waddling to her car stuffing something into her mouth. At that exact moment a women pulls up by me in her car and asks me "Excuse me sir, have you seen my chicken?" I couldn't actually believe what had happened so i said "No i haven't sorry" and she drives off. My friend and co-worker is watching this and comes up to me and asks what the hell just happened. I simply say "Fat Ninjas, there everywhere" and burst into laughter. I had to actually to go upstairs for a break as i was laughing so hard.
Ah good times.
Love this thread.
Supermarkets are up there with the worst.
I work in produce and cop a heap of crap when I am asked where to get kettles and saucepans (?????) and I politely tell them i have no idea, and the walk off cussing or demand that i find them someone who does know. Idiots should do it themselves.
Today I was out the back of the shop cleaning during the last hour of my shift, literally 10 minutes ago I had swept out in the shop so there was nothing anyone could slip on.
When ever people grab grabs they drop them all over the place, and a lady had the nerve to try and blame me, she didnt take too kindly when I told her the only way I could have prevented her slipping on the grape was if I was out in the shop sweeping 24/7 and that since I was the only person working that would be a bad idea and that she should just watch where she is walking.
Supermarkets are up there with the worst.
I work in produce and cop a heap of crap when I am asked where to get kettles and saucepans (?????) and I politely tell them i have no idea, and the walk off cussing or demand that i find them someone who does know. Idiots should do it themselves.
Today I was out the back of the shop cleaning during the last hour of my shift, literally 10 minutes ago I had swept out in the shop so there was nothing anyone could slip on.
When ever people grab grabs they drop them all over the place, and a lady had the nerve to try and blame me, she didnt take too kindly when I told her the only way I could have prevented her slipping on the grape was if I was out in the shop sweeping 24/7 and that since I was the only person working that would be a bad idea and that she should just watch where she is walking.
@Iron Mal - yes, we expect to take a lot of flak working in those lines of employment, but it doesn't mean we have to put up with it. If any customer is bordering on abusive, we can act. Or post on here, just to let off steam. We shouldn't *have* to put up with that kind of behavious though, as there's simply no need for it.
Had some wonderful evenings recently - I worked monday...in the snow blizzard (it's bad for England, but in reality not that bad at all).
We had no delivery of fresh food, milk or bread, as there's a hill near the store and the lorry just couldn't make it to us. So we put up a lot of signs "apologies for the inconvenience, we've not had any deliveries of *list* due to the bad weather".
People would read them and say "So, you don't have any bread/milk do you?"
"No, sorry, we've sold out"
"Why?"
"As it explains on the sign, the poor weather has meant we've had no delivery, and our backstock has simply sold through as people are panic-buying"
"Ok. So why does that mean you don't have any?"
"Because it's too icy to get the lorries in"
"Yeah, nasty weather, but why don't you have any bread/milk?"
"..."
We finally got our on back on a very, very abusive customer. I'm serving this "gentleman" who is really getting snarky about the fact that I work in a shop - going down the whole "Your parents really should have made more of an effort, then you may be a respectable human being instead of a piece of shit that really doesn't deserve to be in paid work. Go back to your own fucking country (I'm caucasian, UK born-and-bred, no other ethnicity)!"
So I refuse to serve him, and he demands to see the manager as I'm being "insolent". Manager comes out and has a word (he's been working down the aisle behind this man and heard the whole conversation). The man demands someone who is "able to do their job properly and serve like a normal human being would", so my manager walks to a till and signs on - and calls a lady over.
The man is irate at this point, demanding to know why he isn't being served. Manager says "You asked for someone who was willing to serve you - none of my staff, nor me, are prepared to put up with your abuse. Put your basket down and get the FUCK out of my shop and never come back!"
On the way out, he turns to give us the finger - and gets stuck in the sliding door, which repeatedly bashes into his head and arm before he can pull it out. It may not be much, but since none of us wanted to loose our jobs for assaulting him, it was all we could do.
Had some wonderful evenings recently - I worked monday...in the snow blizzard (it's bad for England, but in reality not that bad at all).
We had no delivery of fresh food, milk or bread, as there's a hill near the store and the lorry just couldn't make it to us. So we put up a lot of signs "apologies for the inconvenience, we've not had any deliveries of *list* due to the bad weather".
People would read them and say "So, you don't have any bread/milk do you?"
"No, sorry, we've sold out"
"Why?"
"As it explains on the sign, the poor weather has meant we've had no delivery, and our backstock has simply sold through as people are panic-buying"
"Ok. So why does that mean you don't have any?"
"Because it's too icy to get the lorries in"
"Yeah, nasty weather, but why don't you have any bread/milk?"
"..."
We finally got our on back on a very, very abusive customer. I'm serving this "gentleman" who is really getting snarky about the fact that I work in a shop - going down the whole "Your parents really should have made more of an effort, then you may be a respectable human being instead of a piece of shit that really doesn't deserve to be in paid work. Go back to your own fucking country (I'm caucasian, UK born-and-bred, no other ethnicity)!"
So I refuse to serve him, and he demands to see the manager as I'm being "insolent". Manager comes out and has a word (he's been working down the aisle behind this man and heard the whole conversation). The man demands someone who is "able to do their job properly and serve like a normal human being would", so my manager walks to a till and signs on - and calls a lady over.
The man is irate at this point, demanding to know why he isn't being served. Manager says "You asked for someone who was willing to serve you - none of my staff, nor me, are prepared to put up with your abuse. Put your basket down and get the FUCK out of my shop and never come back!"
On the way out, he turns to give us the finger - and gets stuck in the sliding door, which repeatedly bashes into his head and arm before he can pull it out. It may not be much, but since none of us wanted to loose our jobs for assaulting him, it was all we could do.
Elderly people are the real devils of the customer world. I've seen them ram into a glass display cabinet, shattering it and then claim that it was our fault for having so nice displays that captivated her so she didn't see it. Yesterday I had to elderly ladies who could seemingly only understand each other. Me and a co-worker were trying to put through a granite table they had bought, and when you wwere talking to one you got no reply except a what, then the other would say what you were trying to get accross, and it was both of them, so it wasn't like one was deaf and the other could hear, they just couldn't hear when you spoke to them directly, you had to speak to them through the other one.
I worked in fast food. We had this simple coin game on the counter that this moron felt that he need to cheat at to win. I told him that he didn't win because he cheated. he got angry and told me to get my manager. He told him the same thing. so this idiot starts throwing his food at me after the manager left. I called him a retard and he called me a fag an throw his tray at me. I snapped and jumped the counter and proceed to beat the crap out of this guy. Luckly the cops arested him and not me because of cams. Needless to say i was fired. But it was fun.
Working in a library, you've gotta love those ones who come in and say something like:
"I got this book out once - it was like, red, and had a picture on the cover. Do you think you could find it for me?"
Working in retail, I always dreaded the ones who would come in RIGHT AT THE END of a busy Saturday, looking harrassed, collar you and say:
"I need a present for my cousin"
like you're this cousin's best friend and know everything about them. You ask a few leading questions about gender, favourite colour etc, and take them round the WHOLE FRAKKIN' STORE until they eventually settle on the thing you showed them first.
*sigh*
"I got this book out once - it was like, red, and had a picture on the cover. Do you think you could find it for me?"
Working in retail, I always dreaded the ones who would come in RIGHT AT THE END of a busy Saturday, looking harrassed, collar you and say:
"I need a present for my cousin"
like you're this cousin's best friend and know everything about them. You ask a few leading questions about gender, favourite colour etc, and take them round the WHOLE FRAKKIN' STORE until they eventually settle on the thing you showed them first.
*sigh*
Wait, not Taco Bell, right? Not that damn submerged coin-dropping game. If it is, I hate that thing, and wish I knew how to cheat at it, because I've never won a damn thing.marrick said:
I won't divulge the name of the place where I work (since they'd probably sue me), but we get a lot off whiny customers there. For example, I was working there on one Saturday night a few weeks ago, and there was a huge rush of people. Every table and booth was filled, and just about every party had at least 4 orders. The best part, though, was that there were only 3 of us working the front that night, and two of those people were busy running the drive-through and the main cash register. Naturally, we fell a little bit behind, and a few orders slipped through the cracks. Eventually, one lady came up to me at the cash register, and in a very condescending tone of voice told me that she had been waiting more than 20 minutes for her order and wanted a refund. It was a reasonable enough request, so I told her that I would put a stop on her order and refund her cash immediately. She responded,
"No, I still want my food, but I want a refund!"
I think that I blacked out after that--the human brain can't handle that level of stupidity without proper training.
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Another great story is how my friend's mom used to work in a retail outlet (again, name withheld). Anyways, it was a very small chain, and they kept their condoms in a glass case under the counter. This was where my friend's mom worked. Whenever a guy would come up to her, the following conversation would take place.
Customer(C): "Hi, I want some of those..." *gestures in the general direction of the condoms*
Friend's Mom(M): "Some of...?"
C: "Some condoms."
M: "Oh, sure. Would you like flavored or non-flavored?"
C: "Uhhh... non?"
M: "Okay, and what size would you like?"
C: "..." *quietly* "Medium..."
M: *loudly* "All right, medium it is!"
I want to work there just so that I can do that.
"No, I still want my food, but I want a refund!"
I think that I blacked out after that--the human brain can't handle that level of stupidity without proper training.
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Another great story is how my friend's mom used to work in a retail outlet (again, name withheld). Anyways, it was a very small chain, and they kept their condoms in a glass case under the counter. This was where my friend's mom worked. Whenever a guy would come up to her, the following conversation would take place.
Customer(C): "Hi, I want some of those..." *gestures in the general direction of the condoms*
Friend's Mom(M): "Some of...?"
C: "Some condoms."
M: "Oh, sure. Would you like flavored or non-flavored?"
C: "Uhhh... non?"
M: "Okay, and what size would you like?"
C: "..." *quietly* "Medium..."
M: *loudly* "All right, medium it is!"
I want to work there just so that I can do that.
bahahaha condoms reminds me of an epic day in a pharmacy i worked in bout 2 years ago....
Sunday, boring, fuck all people around. Me n the other girl on the till r just chatting behind the counter when this complete mong walks up to the counter with the 'I'm inteligent grin' on his face with two of his friends behind him, youngfella's now mind you (who else). I sigh and just wonder what the fuck is this plank gonna do.
So anyway boy wonder lobs a 36 pack of condoms down on the table the grin on his face now about to move past his eyebrows.... n looks at me expecting me to refuse service or what ever. His friend behind him is saying "aha fuck bi, what ya buyin them for ya tool" (putting petrol on the roaring fire that is this pillocks ego -.-)
I swipe the condoms anyway n your mans like "I'm actually allowed buy em hur hur hur....."
I look up from the till n go "Oh of course, I must tell you one thing tho."
"Whats that bi"
"Theyre not water ballons, you know that right?"
He looks back face slowly turning red as his friends and the one behind the counter with me start busting their holes laughing, I even manage to bag the condoms and hand em back to him before I start lauging my ass off. Hehe, was one of the better days in retail =D
Sunday, boring, fuck all people around. Me n the other girl on the till r just chatting behind the counter when this complete mong walks up to the counter with the 'I'm inteligent grin' on his face with two of his friends behind him, youngfella's now mind you (who else). I sigh and just wonder what the fuck is this plank gonna do.
So anyway boy wonder lobs a 36 pack of condoms down on the table the grin on his face now about to move past his eyebrows.... n looks at me expecting me to refuse service or what ever. His friend behind him is saying "aha fuck bi, what ya buyin them for ya tool" (putting petrol on the roaring fire that is this pillocks ego -.-)
I swipe the condoms anyway n your mans like "I'm actually allowed buy em hur hur hur....."
I look up from the till n go "Oh of course, I must tell you one thing tho."
"Whats that bi"
"Theyre not water ballons, you know that right?"
He looks back face slowly turning red as his friends and the one behind the counter with me start busting their holes laughing, I even manage to bag the condoms and hand em back to him before I start lauging my ass off. Hehe, was one of the better days in retail =D
Used to work at an ice cream franchise whose speciality is in mixing toppings right into the ice cream. It is also a very pricy franchise and is located on the edge of the rich part of Atlanta, and by rich I mean stuck-up so-and-so's who could not care to check out the prices before they order and complain that what they ordered costs too much and don't want it. Or will get offended because I could not legally accept their hundred dollar bills.
The one key moment in my time there was a Friday night in July. We normally had 4 people behind the counter weekend nights during the summer. One person got sick and another literally disappeared. Clearly understaffed, the manager and I were more than a little annoyed that night and not exactly excited about a line out of our door for 3 hours, at least. Anyways, these two woman walk to the front of the line and order a sundae each (about 6$ if I recall) an extra brownie mixed into their ice cream (baked goods were 1$), three other toppings, a cone and god only knows what else. Their totals came up to 15$ a piece. When they were shocked and angered by the total, I walked them through it, then added it all up again on the register, and walked them through it again. After wasting about 10 minutes of my time complaining about a price I had no responsibility for, they demand to see the only other worker in the store, the manager and complain to him because I was calculating their price wrong. Within 30 seconds of listening to the story, the manager asks, "Are you going to pay for that?" When they reply, "No," he just throws out both of their ice creams and yells, "Next!" and walks off. When they try to get his attention again to complain about him, he just tells them they have to go to the back of the line if they want some ice cream. Seeing them stomp off brought a happy smile to my face despite the harsh conditions of working that night.
The one key moment in my time there was a Friday night in July. We normally had 4 people behind the counter weekend nights during the summer. One person got sick and another literally disappeared. Clearly understaffed, the manager and I were more than a little annoyed that night and not exactly excited about a line out of our door for 3 hours, at least. Anyways, these two woman walk to the front of the line and order a sundae each (about 6$ if I recall) an extra brownie mixed into their ice cream (baked goods were 1$), three other toppings, a cone and god only knows what else. Their totals came up to 15$ a piece. When they were shocked and angered by the total, I walked them through it, then added it all up again on the register, and walked them through it again. After wasting about 10 minutes of my time complaining about a price I had no responsibility for, they demand to see the only other worker in the store, the manager and complain to him because I was calculating their price wrong. Within 30 seconds of listening to the story, the manager asks, "Are you going to pay for that?" When they reply, "No," he just throws out both of their ice creams and yells, "Next!" and walks off. When they try to get his attention again to complain about him, he just tells them they have to go to the back of the line if they want some ice cream. Seeing them stomp off brought a happy smile to my face despite the harsh conditions of working that night.
This story is more disgusting than annoying
So I get to work, punch in, and then walk out front to my register. This woman comes up and asks me to check if we have any more of a specific kind of orange juice in the back, since it was on sale along with apple juice. So, I go take a look, find out we're all out of it. When I go back and tell her, the response I get is: "Well, I don't want the apple juice, cause it will give me the diarrhea."
That bit of knowledge is a great way to start out my day. All I could think was I can't wait to get home and post this
So I get to work, punch in, and then walk out front to my register. This woman comes up and asks me to check if we have any more of a specific kind of orange juice in the back, since it was on sale along with apple juice. So, I go take a look, find out we're all out of it. When I go back and tell her, the response I get is: "Well, I don't want the apple juice, cause it will give me the diarrhea."
That bit of knowledge is a great way to start out my day. All I could think was I can't wait to get home and post this