To ask you all to abide these rules when shopping

[Ladyofthehousespeaking]

I've namechanged as my boss is a mumsnetter-

I work in retail at a large pharmacy/beauty shop and I'm disgusted at the manners of mostly female customers. So if everyone could justfollow these I would be very grateful!

1. Please don't throw your credit card down on the counter - you know how to use a chip and pin machine
   

1. Don't call me a bitch because you don't have enough points on your loyalty card to pay for your disgusting perfume - I do not make the prices.
   

3.please acknowledge my presence as a human being - a simple nod will suffice although I am willing to wave this for busy mums with screaming kids and those on their lunch hour

4.do not accuse me of stealing £3.50 of your gift card, it is physically impossible for me to do so.

5.please and thankyou are expected.

1. Please do not answer calls in the middle of my serving you ad completely stop what we are doing and immediately ignore me. You're decision of wholewheat linguine or organic canneloni can wait.
   

I love my job but all of these examples are from 30-40 year old well dressed women. It's baffling and demeaning.

[jonicomelately]

[2shoes]

I will abide by these(and do) as long as you
speak to me
do not chat to someone else whilst serving me

[Firawla]

yanbu!
those examples are all rude but some of them can you not refuse to serve, eg calling you a bitch? really not sure how someone would find that acceptable to do.. strange

[Mowiol]

Someone called you a bitch?? and accused you of stealing??..........

That's awful - and very demoralising.

Having worked in shops, restaurants myself when younger I understand what you're saying and I do always try to be civil and friendly.

Doesn't cost anything to be pleasant does it?

[HowsTheSerenity]

I totally agree with you. The behaviour of some people is down right rude but can I add some from a customers perspective?

1. Please acknowledge the customer.
   

1. Stop talking to your colleague about last nights party when you are meant to be serving me.
   

1. Make an effort to know what stock you have in the shop. It is part of your job.
   

1. DO not look down on me becuase I am not dressed in the latest fashion. I may have lots of money to spend in your store.

[mippy]

People using the phone whilst being served in shops really piss me off. Why do they not understand how rude that is?

[Vallhala]

You're kidding? You really get treated like that? Good god, I wouldn't be able to hold my tongue, what nasty creatures.

And people wonder why I prefer my dogs....

[JandT]

If I'm standing behind customers that behave like that, I make a point of being extra nice to the person serving me and possibly making a joke about them.

I used to work in a clothes shop (as in very very cheap clothes in a very very well off town) and found the less money (or rather obvious money), the nicer the customer.

What a life lesson!!

[AbsofCroissant]

I hear you woman. Having worked in a shop habituated by middle class, middle aged women, some of them (not all, but some) had appalling manners.

1. Having a go at me because the (free) gift-wrapping that I did was not "magical" enough. FFS woman, get a grip
   
2. Asking me to get my customer out of the changing room as she wanted to try on something (lunatic)
   
3. Throwing money at my colleague when she's putting through someone's purchases and saying "that will make you work faster"

[penguin73]

Not acceptable - but can the please and thank you work both ways? As well as not starting to serve someone else whilst I am still stood in front of you picking up my shopping and not leaving me half way through the sale to go and help another colleague or answer the phone? Oh, and actually check the money I give you rather than giving me the wrong change then giving me evil looks for having the audacity to bring it up? Thank you!

(not aimed at the OP of course, but half the shop staff I came across at the weekend)

[TheFoosa]

I am always nice to shop assistants, but please DON'T read my copy of Heat as you scan it, buy your own

[SuePurblybiltByElves]

Yes to the please and thank you working both ways. And not wandering off half way through serving me to answer your phone.
Again, not to OP

[Showaddywaddy]

I worked in TK Maxx when I was a student.

It was abysmal (thankfully I worked mainly in the cash office but did my turn in the store).

I was sworn at, ignored, laughed at etc. One woman crouched down in the changing room and had a wee in front of me. A colleague had the same thing, except it wasn't wee...

Dirty, dirty people.

Not necessarily women, well dressed or otherwise though. Just people. Random, nasty people.

[Mowiol]

"I was sworn at, ignored, laughed at etc. One woman crouched down in the changing room and had a wee in front of me. A colleague had the same thing, except it wasn't wee..."



Heard it all now!!

[Mowiol]

What did you do showaddywaddy - I would have had no idea how to respond!!

[Rosedee]

Showaddywaddy! Eewww who on earth would do that? So far wrong I can't even say!

[ProfYaffle]

I've done my time in retail and don't intend to ever go back! People can be horrific and I always make a point of being nice to shop assistants and people in call centres (another grim job)

The thing that really annoys me as a customer are the snotty assistants in cupcake bunting shops in middle class areas. Like the pub Ruth Watson owns in Orford, I asked for a bottle of mineral water, the bar maid looked me up and down and said "It's very expensive, but if you're prepared to pay, I'm prepared to sell it". And when I was buying Emma Bridgewater beakers the other week: "You do realise they're £4 each?"

[HowsTheSerenity]

They did a wee! Now I have heard everything. What did you do?

[brokeoven]

well dressed twat if you ask me.

no excuse whatsover for that, disgusting behaviour.

i promise that i am friendly and happy and chatty to all shop folk..even those who are pig ignorant and who obviously have had enough of what you describe.

[Showaddywaddy]

I froze. I was utterly horrified. She pulled her knickers back up and left. It took me a good minute to phone up hygiene for a mop and bucket. I was astounded.

The vast majority of people were normal but I saw some horrid behaviour.

[MmeLindt]

ProfY
I would have walked out and taken my money elsewhere if someone had said that to me. Bloody rude.

[whensitgunnahappen]

I've been a retail manager for years, nothing will phase me anymore and I'm behind you totally! The stories I can tell! Poo wee and period mess are the norm! My personal favourite was
Mum; can my kid Use the toilet
Me; I'm sorry, there are no toilets here, if you go across to xxx that's your closest
Mum; (to child) xxx do it on the floor luv, she's being a bitch!

I kid you not! I work in luxury retail and I am daily spoken to with such terrible manners and total disregard. I wish I could show some people how they are behaving. It's so ugly xx

[Dando]

Mais oui. If the fictional shop assistant could:

1. Make eye contact
   
2. Say please and thank you
   
3. Not carry on conversation with fellow shop asst until finished, then deign to take my money, or
   
4. Deign to take my money whilst continuing conversation with other shop assistant.
   
5. Don't ignore me, in your cupcake bunting shop, when I say hello. Or even goodbye.
   
6. Not sigh when I ask you a perfectly reasonable question, politely.
   
7. And lastly, and a bit off topic, but Boots security guards: buggy does not equal shoplifter.
   

That would be nice. But, just as I don't do any of the things on your list, I'm sure you don't do any of the above, either.

[MrsBuble]

I worked in boots for a few years and people treat you so badly.
I remember a woman shouting at me because I wouldn't refund her used lipstick, her argument was that it wasn't make-up WTF?!? and therefore she could return it.
I've also been accused of stealing from customers.
Rolled eyes if I made a simple mistake.
Customers who come in when you're closing to do their monthly toiletry shop.
People on the phone was one of the worst and most frequent.
And you're right it is the 'respectable' looking ladies who are the worst.

[RiojaLover75]

at these stories.......

I worked in retail over 15 years ago and never had experience of rude, disgusting customers like those described. Have people REALLY sunk that low in basic social etiquette???