posted
Ever notice that when you go to a store and they don't have what you want, and you get all huffy and bothered and think just what a bonehead idiot that person was? We are all guilty of it. Just because someone works at the local Wal-Mart or whatever, it's a given that they are three steps below that stuff on the bottom of your shoe? A few times here, and among friends in other circles, I have heard labels of all kinds shoved onto these people. Thought I'd give you a view from the other side. My wife has worked for a chain department store for some time now, as a department head. I could tell you many stories of customers that berated, flogged, threatened,and demeaned her, all because she didn't have what they came for. "It's in the sale paper, why don't you have it?" She's heard that so many times, it's laughable. THing is, it's like shooting the messenger. See, she and others like her, usually have no control over what gets sent to their respective departments. They order things , sure, but most of that is done by the powers that be at the main office. If that 39.99 drill you wanted aint there, it aint their fault. If you try and buy ten 12 packs of coke when the sign says limit 5, it aint their fault, they are just following orders. Sure, there are some that work in these stores that are maybe not too bright, but at least they are working. That says alot to me. At least they are trying. I can tell you this, if I had my wifes job, I wouldn't last a day. I was there one day when a male customer was having a bad day and decided to take it out on my wife. I sat and listened to him run his mouth over some small insignificant matter, and then run off in a huff. I followed him outside and explained to him that I was the young ladies husband that he just berated so loudly, and that I was fixing to educate him on the proper etiquette of dealing with a loudmouth. For some reason he became quite apologetic. Even apologized to my wife. Just remember folks, we all can't be self-employed signmakers, and doctors,lawyers,etc. Some of us have to work at the local buy and run. So next time, just think about the fact that you are the 185th person that the clerk in the store has had to deal with today. And they HAVE to be nice to you. Have a good day all.
-------------------- Maker of fine signs and other creative stuff. Located at 109 N. Cumberland ave. Harlan, Ky. 40831 606-837-0242 Posts: 4172 | From: Ages-Brookside, Ky. Up the Holler... | Registered: Jul 1999
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Yep John....it is disgusting the way some people treat others. I was in a large department store a few days ago, and a woman was returning an item without a receipt. The saleslady was being so nice, and the customer was yelling 'just give my my da*n money NOW!' I felt so sorry for the saleslady. That kind of customer is exactly why I didn't last in retail. You have to have a certain kind of personality for it. Your wife must be a very understanding person.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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Personally attacking the sales person is out of the question, but I definitely have attacked a store's "morals" through the salesperson. Some department stores lack customer service (as a whole). Being the salesperson is the only one you'll ever see, the hopes are that enough complaints (and angry workers) will get SOMETHING done.
In my area, there is one store that is known for advertising items in their flyer that have NEVER been in their store! Then, of course, it begs the question "Why did you have it in your flyer then?!" I don't believe that question demeans the salesperson. It is an honest question for an obviously avoidable situation.
Now, I'm not talking about your specific situation, just giving my .02. and observations around my area.
But attacking any person "personally" should always be out of the question.
-------------------- Randy Graphic Details Promotional Merchandise Distributor South Glens Falls, NY
Posts: 381 | From: South Glens Falls, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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i saw one of these a- holes in home depot one day...they brought in a lawn mower, all dirty, looked a year old never cleaned....and was making a scene with one of the help....sayin it didnt work right and bla bla bla.....well the manager gave them another mower........after they left i got a chance to talk to the manager....you know what....he told me they didnt even buy the that mower at any home depot.....that no stores carry that make or model.....but the people were makin such a scene....it was easier to give them a mower. hahahahahha
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Before I became a world famous artist (haha...someday!)
I was a motel maid, a waitress, an art store clerk, and change girl at Harrah's casino, a dog bather, a dog anal expressor (now, bet you can't guess who else here has had to do that?!) a veterinary assistant, a dishwasher at a Mexican restaurant, a prep cook at the same, a sandwich maker, a kidney dialasis machine filter inspector,(whew, say that five times fast) a babysitter, and a welfare Mom.....
I was painting a KFC in Susiun last week, and the lady that was working the counter (mostly by herself) told me, when she came outside for a cig break, that she had had one of those customers just a few minutes ago. She said this man was so rude, yelling at her, and demanding this and that. It only made her more flustered and she was so upset by the time he left she had to excuse herself to the backroom to cry!! Poor thing, I felt so bad for her, if you've ever done retail you will know just what she was talking about.
posted
I've been on the end of that stick, having worked at the counter at a Mc Donald's when I first started working, which is why I'd never even think about taking my frustrations out on an employee who doesnt have any control of the situation.. then again, it's not my nature to cause a big stink like that in the first place, I'm pretty hard to get upset.
One of the nice things about dealing with customers or clients, whether you're on the bottom rung of the ladder or top management, is that you can refuse service to anyone who rubs you the wrong way.
I can remember refusing to "serve" customers when I worked at McD's on many many occassions.. usually when the lobby was filled shoulder-to-shoulder with busloads of groups going to the local Six Flags Theme Park. Sometimes people would get sick of waiting - DUH!! If there's a hundred people waiting in line at a fast food joint, dont you think there's gonna be a good wait?? - So they'd take it out on the "lowly" Mc Donald's employees.
The looks on their faces when we told them we wouldn't serve them was just classic!
By the way, many of my former McD's co-workers are now engineers and doctors.. so much for the "idiot behind the counter" stereotype, eh?
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
I hope it wasn't my post about the idiot at walmart that inspired this...
I too have worked retail. I know it's hard to deal with some customers. (I worked Christmas help at the mall one year, which is why I now do all my Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving or mail-order.)
If it was my post that led to this one, let me elaborate. If a person is working in a certain department of a store, that person ought to know if they have a particular item. Don't know about everyone else, but at my walmart, if you get a sales person to talk to you (instead of running the other direction as you approach them with a question), you look in their eyes and see the back of their heads. They just should know what their store has better than I do, they work there!
And A, I have done the dog anal expressor gig, although my experience is completely amateur.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa
Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
This reminds me of when I used to be an assistant manager at a Kinney's shoe store in Pensacola, Fl. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I worked at the Cordova Mall (OP should know where that is). A woman walked in the store. She appeared in deep thought. I spoke up and said, "Smile! Its a beautiful day!"
She looked up and glared at me. Then she proceeded to find the manager to lodge a complaint against me.
Like Linus told Lucy..."I love Mankind. Its people I can't stand."
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