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AIBU?

Complaining!

54 replies

Sister77 · 10/03/2014 13:12

Have just read the thread about the rude sainsburys check out man and wanted to ask what are people's best/worst outcomes when they've complained?
I've decided that I will not accept shoddy service, rude attitudes or bitchy/bullying behaviour towards me or anyone else.
My DH thinks I'm loopy and getting on my high horse for nothing but I don't think it's acceptable.
I don't complain then stew about it and argue with the person in my head like I'm back in that situation!
Sometimes my DC ask who talking to as they can see my lips moving!

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BumpyGrindy · 10/03/2014 13:17

I was sent a 20 pound voucher when I complained about a rude checkout assistant.

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blahblahblah2014 · 10/03/2014 13:23

How happy would you be serving people in a dead end job for minimum wage? Yes customer service is important, but who knows what that person on checkout is going through/dealing with - They are doing there jobs but they are NOT you personal servants, they are people just like you and I...so give people a break. Is ruining there day and job prospects justiified just because they didn't smile and say hi? Being outright rude is different to someone just being withdrawn. And the thread about sainsburuys, it was his home time and she was being deliberatly slow, she said so herself!

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Nicknacky · 10/03/2014 13:24

Dead end job or not, you have a job to do and you do it professionally regardless of what is happening outside work.

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blahblahblah2014 · 10/03/2014 13:26

being a bit withdrawn when you are finishing your shift after hours of bleeping and swiping is not unporofessional, just human! Plus he was "swiping too fast" - Meaning he was good at his job actually!

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BumpyGrindy · 10/03/2014 13:26

blah no job is a "dead end job" unless your outlook is very pessimistic. A checkout job can lead to a promotion just as other types of job can.

Also, no matter HOW boring a job is, it's FAR worse if you don't make an effort. I've been there...I made the effort and had a nicer time because of it.

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CrohnicallyFarting · 10/03/2014 13:27

blahblahblah I've been there, done that, got the Tshirt, and no matter what I was going through I served customers with a fake smile plastered on my face. It was part of my job to do so.

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Roshbegosh · 10/03/2014 13:27

Not everyone is as perfect as you nicknacky What sort of work do you do?
Bad service pisses me off and a point comes when I will complain but don't want to become some jumped up entitled bitch. Get over yourself.

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coffeeinbed · 10/03/2014 13:29

I don't really complain.
I get angry and rant here, or to DH but don't really complain officially because I don't want to cost someone their job.

Once had about £70 or so because an airline lost my bags on both legs of the trip. That was exceptional though.

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Nicknacky · 10/03/2014 13:30

I was in retail for ten years now I'm a police officer. Not perfect at all, far from it but I'm paid to do a job and while we all have bad days that's not the customers issue.

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coffeeinbed · 10/03/2014 13:31

Sorry, I never get rude in the store itself, not sure how my post above reads.
I worked up in the privacy of my home or car.

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blahblahblah2014 · 10/03/2014 13:34

Sorry, shouldn't have said dead end job, just meaning that if he was very young (in the other sainsburys thread) he was probably viewing it as a temp filler job like many checkout operators do - Wasn't meaning to sound condesending at all, a job is a job of course and respect for anyone who works!

I just want people to take into account that everyone is human and job description or not we all have our off and withdrawn days. Outright rudeness is different as i stated but i don't think someone scanning too fast counts for being complained about, especially as they are monitored on their speed by managment (it's all recorded on a database for managment to view)

Just...give people a break sometimes. Is your annoyance worth a young lad potentially losing his job? We are people, not machines, and all get a bit withdrawn sometimes. And he was going off shift after she was done so had been there for hours already and fake smiles do wear off, even if you are trying hard!

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BumpyGrindy · 10/03/2014 13:38

Blah to be honest, ANY job is so precious today that those who are lucky enough to have one, need to be fully aware of that fact and to perform to the best of their ability.

I don't think there is ANY excuse for being grumpy when you're being paid. I've been a bar assistant, a checkout assistant, a factory worker and a chip shop assistant and the ONLY thing that kept me going was being bright and cheerful and doing my job well.

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MatryoshkaDoll · 10/03/2014 13:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nicknacky · 10/03/2014 13:40

Matry, I would have been raging!! Def worthy of a complaint!

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Nicknacky · 10/03/2014 13:42

I don't think a staff member viewing it a as a temp job is anyway justification for not doing a job as well as you can.

I have really shit days at work, but the next person I deal with is not interested in that and no way can I treat them badly because of that.

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Sister77 · 10/03/2014 17:07

When I say complaining I don't just mean bad service. I have people in my life (for various reasons) who I "allow" to get away with certain behaviour as it rocks the boat too much otherwise.
Then I wonder why I tolerate it! I get cross with myself!

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Pippintea · 10/03/2014 18:01

So not just bad service although I got £20 voucher after complaining about rude shop manager to HO.
Well, I finally complained to my 'friend' about her DD's ongoing mean & spiteful behaviour towards my DD. She wouldn't hear a word if it as her DD is a princess chip off the old block. I finally sent her a message telling her exactly what her DD had done. Every single thing. I don't regret it, we have not seen or spoken to either of them since.

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LovelyJubblies · 10/03/2014 18:54

I've been a cashier at Tesco for 23 years. I have never had a customer moan or complain about me.
I give everyone bloody good service and pride myself on doing my 'dead end job' well.
Anyway OP, I got 40% off my bill at a resturant once because the service and food was shit.
Even better I got a free pudding at Frankie and Bennies once when I took one of my ds there for a treat, because I had been nice and friendly to the staff when I told them I wasn't having dessert but my ds was they bought me one out on the house...it tasted so much better Grin
My oh got 2 months free Sky after complaining about something.

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Groovee · 10/03/2014 19:05

We went out for a family meal which was a disaster. The kids meals never arrived and when they did they were dried out and looking minging that the kids all refused to eat them.

The whole thing was a nightmare. So I wrote to the company concerned and a week later my postie stopped me as I had a signed for letter and he knew he would see me along the street on my way home from the school run.

Inside was vouchers for another meal. But certain family members had fallen out with me so we went out twice to use up the vouchers on our own instead Grin

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Grumpasaurus · 10/03/2014 19:26

This is a HUGE issue for me. As far as I am concerned, a job is a job and you are paid to do it professionally and well. I come from Canada where good customer service is the expected norm, and the complete and utter lack of service over here still shocks me. If you are paid to do a job; do it. If not there are plenty of people looking for work who would be happy to do it better. I just don't accept why this is accepted over here. It's mind boggling how bad it is sometimes!

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wobblyweebles · 10/03/2014 19:38

Grumpasaurus - totally agree!

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thesecowsaresmallthosearefaraw · 10/03/2014 20:19

Free night in a hotel because they buggered up my original booking :)

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wowfudge · 10/03/2014 21:44

Bottle of wine in Aldi after checkout guy made downright rude 'funny' comment when I paid with a stack of pound coins. I was fuming and he was very publicly commenting.

Free course and 50% of drinks bill when restaurant service was painfully slow and they served puddings which should have been hot stone cold.

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smegley · 10/03/2014 22:07

I've had a free hotel stay after a night in a broken bed, a free family ticket to a local farm after appalling remarks from a member of staff and free tickets to a local family attraction because the car park was very badly flooded with massive potholes (didn't complain about this one really, just mentioned it in passing and they offered-fantastic service).

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smegley · 10/03/2014 22:09

Oh and we were offered a free desert once, but politely declined as the whole experience had been so awful we couldn't wait to leave.

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