I got reprimanded one time because a customer came up to me and started shouting at me to do things HER way.
I told her I couldn't, because it was actually against the law.
She shouted "I'm going to HAVE YOUR JOB!"
I smiled at her and said "I don't think you're smart enough to do my job."
She stood there gasping like a fish fresh out of the lake, and then gave an earth-curdling shriek and stormed away.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm sitting in the manager's office explaining what happened. My boss said "consider yourself reprimanded" while smiling at me. The assistant manager was doing her best not to laugh.
I’ll never understand why a moody customer thinks telling me they’ll never shop there again is going to change the outcome of our interaction. If they are being a jerk, of course I’m thrilled to think this will is the last interaction we’ll ever have. We got this all the time at a women’s high-end clothing store. I think people always assume that we lowly clerks get a commission. And yet, it’s the cheapest customers, who take all our time and don’t always buy much, that say this. Oh, and they always come back.
The lament of all retail workers (along with dealing with bosses and insane corporate policies) is having to deal with "moody people." There's another word for folks like this, but I will respect the family-friendly nature of this blog and not delineate it. But it never ceased to amaze me how many folks seem to turn into "moody people" once they get into the presence of a retail or service worker, either in person or on the phone. It's as though stepping behind a counter, like Tabby or Penny, suddenly changes a human being with value, thoughts, and feelings into one of the three pillars Mina, whose sole purpose is to be stoned by the faithful. Moody people then act in ways that they never would otherwise. I've been in that position, and working customer service for six months was literally the most soul-sucking job I've ever had to do. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that there is no transformation involved - moody people in public are moody people in private, but there is something arcane and unholy about service jobs that allows these people to ignore conventions and contracts normally in place in society that prevents us from acting in ways that would get us thrown in jail or, at the very least, the recipient of protective orders. It's a sad puzzlement.
I broke my wrist and had the cast on when I worked at the restaurant where you can shop for all kinds of stuff while you wait for your table. I had this gentleman come up to pay his bill at the cashier. He asked me if he could pray for me. We weren't busy so I let him. I didn't think it was strange though.
“Lady, I’ve had 84 customers already, and my shift isn’t half over. I’m going to forget your face 72 seconds after you leave and I won’t recognize you if you come back tomorrow. We’re a multinational chain, we see tens of thousands of customers daily just in this location alone. You won’t be noticed, let alone missed.”
Remember, the Roaring 20s led to the Great Depression. A lot of people, good people, people who know about these things believe it was the music of the 20s that held the Depression off until the 30s.
I always ask for the winning lottery ticket numbers went ask by clerks “ is there anything I could help you with “ . Rarely get an answer even if I offer splitting the proceeds!
A lady didn't like my explanation for not having a particular fertilizer and primly told me she wanted my manager. I implored her to wait there, walked to the end of the aisle and up the other side and told her truthfully, I'm Terry the manager, can I help you.
I love the strips but I think it’s the intro that will stay with me this week. All the things … weekend things that I did (yay!) or postponed (ugh) or forgot …
More than once I told customers who thought they knew how to do my job better than I did that they were welcome to come behind the counter and show me how. I even offered to give them my 'Manager' name badge.
I got reprimanded one time because a customer came up to me and started shouting at me to do things HER way.
I told her I couldn't, because it was actually against the law.
She shouted "I'm going to HAVE YOUR JOB!"
I smiled at her and said "I don't think you're smart enough to do my job."
She stood there gasping like a fish fresh out of the lake, and then gave an earth-curdling shriek and stormed away.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm sitting in the manager's office explaining what happened. My boss said "consider yourself reprimanded" while smiling at me. The assistant manager was doing her best not to laugh.
...and then in the 1930 that guy invented the supermarket. You've probably heard of Piggly Wiggly, right?
I’ll never understand why a moody customer thinks telling me they’ll never shop there again is going to change the outcome of our interaction. If they are being a jerk, of course I’m thrilled to think this will is the last interaction we’ll ever have. We got this all the time at a women’s high-end clothing store. I think people always assume that we lowly clerks get a commission. And yet, it’s the cheapest customers, who take all our time and don’t always buy much, that say this. Oh, and they always come back.
The lament of all retail workers (along with dealing with bosses and insane corporate policies) is having to deal with "moody people." There's another word for folks like this, but I will respect the family-friendly nature of this blog and not delineate it. But it never ceased to amaze me how many folks seem to turn into "moody people" once they get into the presence of a retail or service worker, either in person or on the phone. It's as though stepping behind a counter, like Tabby or Penny, suddenly changes a human being with value, thoughts, and feelings into one of the three pillars Mina, whose sole purpose is to be stoned by the faithful. Moody people then act in ways that they never would otherwise. I've been in that position, and working customer service for six months was literally the most soul-sucking job I've ever had to do. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that there is no transformation involved - moody people in public are moody people in private, but there is something arcane and unholy about service jobs that allows these people to ignore conventions and contracts normally in place in society that prevents us from acting in ways that would get us thrown in jail or, at the very least, the recipient of protective orders. It's a sad puzzlement.
I couldn’t get through the week without a weekly dose of StBeals, please keep them coming.
Thank you! I will if the customers will.
I broke my wrist and had the cast on when I worked at the restaurant where you can shop for all kinds of stuff while you wait for your table. I had this gentleman come up to pay his bill at the cashier. He asked me if he could pray for me. We weren't busy so I let him. I didn't think it was strange though.
Hope the wrist healed nicely!
Yes, I had the chairman of the hand surgery at the teaching hospital repair it. He also did my carpal tunnel surgery on both hands.
“Lady, I’ve had 84 customers already, and my shift isn’t half over. I’m going to forget your face 72 seconds after you leave and I won’t recognize you if you come back tomorrow. We’re a multinational chain, we see tens of thousands of customers daily just in this location alone. You won’t be noticed, let alone missed.”
Remember, the Roaring 20s led to the Great Depression. A lot of people, good people, people who know about these things believe it was the music of the 20s that held the Depression off until the 30s.
The best response to “I’ll have your job for this!” Is David Sedaris’, “You wouldn’t like it!”.
Great France joke!
I always ask for the winning lottery ticket numbers went ask by clerks “ is there anything I could help you with “ . Rarely get an answer even if I offer splitting the proceeds!
My answer to that is "If I knew which was the winning lottery ticket, I sure as HELL wouldn't be working here."
A lady didn't like my explanation for not having a particular fertilizer and primly told me she wanted my manager. I implored her to wait there, walked to the end of the aisle and up the other side and told her truthfully, I'm Terry the manager, can I help you.
I’ve heard of other managers doing variations of this. Always a fun move.
I love the strips but I think it’s the intro that will stay with me this week. All the things … weekend things that I did (yay!) or postponed (ugh) or forgot …
It all boils down to the little things.
More than once I told customers who thought they knew how to do my job better than I did that they were welcome to come behind the counter and show me how. I even offered to give them my 'Manager' name badge.
Always appreciate your posts and strips!
As always wonderful