Customer’s absurd suggestion

Auburngal · 2024-04-14T16:28:11+00:00

Customer is one of those who insists on going to us when it’s extremely busy. As per usual we are short staffed - which is the case for many retailers. Again it’s because staff leave as fed up with the rude and aggressive behaviour from customers. In fact - some customers are bullies. As when they shout at me, I get the same feelings that I got from bullying at school. She suggested that we should be on call on our days off! What a bloody ridiculous idea! I want my days off to relax etc. If any retailer had this option- no one would take it up!

Original poster

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 16:39

Bravo @Maverickess - if the customer shout at staff when their paper goes up by 5p and think its the end of the world. how do they cope when they or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer and its untreatable?

OP posts:

Maverickess · 16/04/2024 09:26

Honestly, the way people carry on you'd think that people were suffering from life changing and traumatic injuries or dying from it taking them 10 minutes longer to get round Asda than they'd like or if something has been discontinued or is out of stock.
It might be irritating and annoying but it does not warrant the behaviour that's being dished out on a daily basis towards other people. A bit of a grumble or an expression of disappointment is a normal and proportional reaction, being personally offensive, shouting, humiliating and belittling people and being verbally abusive, being (or threatening to be) physically aggressive is not - and although some will say that those are in the minority, there's a reason that employers such as supermarkets are spending out on body cams for their staff and there's posters just about everywhere you go stating that abuse won't be tolerated, it's increased and is still increasing, but sadly it's socially acceptable to behave that way towards someone in a shop or similar environment, people feel perfectly entitled to offload their frustrations onto someone else and walk off feeling superior and 'I showed them!'.

Being on the recieving end of that day in & day out is soul destroying , it's hardly surprising that spending a lot of time in a negative atmosphere creates negative feelings in the person in the midst of it. And then being told that they should be better and not let it affect them - not for the most part for their own mental health - but for the customer 'experience', just adds to that.

The main issue ime is the out of proportion reactions to things that aren't dangerous, they're not life changing and traumatic events, they're not greatly detrimental to quality of life but people are responding as if they are and then directing their feelings towards someone they perceive as not being able to react in kind.

Needmorelego · 16/04/2024 08:53

@Auburngal I hadn't realised you were the same person on numerous threads on this same subject.
You clearly hate your job.
I understand that - I did retail for 20 years and mostly hated it. It made me depressed and I came close to a breakdown.
You need to get out. You need to leave that job for the sake of your mental health.
There has to be other jobs out there.

Testina · 16/04/2024 08:41

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 06:20

I don’t do this on purpose but recently we have been delivered loads of new lines and damaged products. I put them back in the chillers in the relevant places otherwise they get lost etc

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You don’t do it on purpose?

You literally typed, “When I see the queues at checkouts and kiosk are large, I can go into the walk in chillers as I can’t hear the tannoy! “I’m sorry I was in the chiller”

So yeah, one of the reasons customers are frustrated by long queues in your store, is because you’re skiving.

Noyesnoyes · 16/04/2024 06:36

@Auburngal stop hiding from work and making the customers wait, stop judging when people shop, you might find your job easier.

Stop moaning about everything to do with your work, didn't your spare time off MN moaning and you might have a bit more positivity.

You appear a very negative person and one that could bring a team down.

For what it's worth, I don't believe about the recent influx of damaged goods meaning that you can't deal with the queue of customers, you admitted previously you did this to avoid the queue....that's lazy.

Original poster

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 06:30

Noyesnoyes · 16/04/2024 06:23

@Auburngal stop whinging and whining, you're biting and talk utter nonsense.

Go get another job, or stay in the chiller longer.

It's assistants like you, hiding from work, moaning about when paying customers shop that give retail a bad name!

I would love to change jobs but there’s nothing suitable for 15+ miles. I only live half a mile from my work. One job I looked at I had to be at their HQ twice a week and that’s 70 miles away. Got no room in my one bed place to WFH. With the cost of fuel and losing my discount - i would be worse off.

Please understand that i have changed my work dept and customers need to stop being nasty about things beyond our control such as brand stopped making a yoghurt, a brand has changed their recipe, price of newspapers going up etc.

OP posts:

Noyesnoyes · 16/04/2024 06:25

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 06:23

A week before I left a call centre job, I was pulled up later in the day for doing too much customer service on a call! WTF? I said if I didn’t do what I did, she would have left. She’s done loads of business with us.

On bless you!

You're such a good worker and everyone picks on you.....

Original poster

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 06:23

A week before I left a call centre job, I was pulled up later in the day for doing too much customer service on a call! WTF? I said if I didn’t do what I did, she would have left. She’s done loads of business with us.

OP posts:

Noyesnoyes · 16/04/2024 06:23

@Auburngal stop whinging and whining, you're biting and talk utter nonsense.

Go get another job, or stay in the chiller longer.

It's assistants like you, hiding from work, moaning about when paying customers shop that give retail a bad name!

Original poster

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 06:20

Testina · 15/04/2024 22:28

Oh it’s you with your ageist shite again 🙄

When I see the queues at checkouts and kiosk are large, I can go into the walk in chillers as I can’t hear the tannoy! “I’m sorry I was in the chiller”

So if you actually did your job instead of lazily hiding in the chiller, maybe the queues wouldn’t be so long? Maybe there’d be no need to bring in the “on call” staff if you weren’t pretending you couldn’t hear where you were paid to be? We’ve all worked with people like you, sadly 🙄

I don’t do this on purpose but recently we have been delivered loads of new lines and damaged products. I put them back in the chillers in the relevant places otherwise they get lost etc

OP posts:

Original poster

Auburngal · 16/04/2024 06:19

ClareBlue · 15/04/2024 20:54

The customers shouting about needing more staff are one of the reasons there is a shortage of staff. Who wants that abuse on min wage.

The reason for staff shortages? Staff leaving and on sick leave thanks to the customers’ behaviour!

Wish customers would complain to head office where their complaints are put onto a system. Whereas shouting at staff - you may as well shout at wall. We can’t register your complaints.

OP posts:

Testina · 15/04/2024 22:28

Oh it’s you with your ageist shite again 🙄

When I see the queues at checkouts and kiosk are large, I can go into the walk in chillers as I can’t hear the tannoy! “I’m sorry I was in the chiller”

So if you actually did your job instead of lazily hiding in the chiller, maybe the queues wouldn’t be so long? Maybe there’d be no need to bring in the “on call” staff if you weren’t pretending you couldn’t hear where you were paid to be? We’ve all worked with people like you, sadly 🙄

Eenymeanymineymo · 15/04/2024 22:20

Applescruffle · 15/04/2024 13:15

People are dicks. That's all there is to it.

I've had all sorts of crap running a window company. And what people don't realise is that the nicer you are, the nicer I want to be back to you.
Ask me nicely? I'll go the extra mile for you all day long because I want ot help and because I want your returning business
Be rude and entitled? I'm going to say no because I want the job over with as quickly as possible so we can get away from you and never work with you again.

100% this! Every time. Being a miserable, rude, entitled, ignorant cunt to me (or my team) then you get the bare minimum we can get away with. Lovely customers get the red carpet and gold star treatment.

nothingsforgotten · 15/04/2024 22:18

INeedToClingToSomething · 15/04/2024 15:29

This.

I don't think retail is the job for you. And I worked in retail for many years. The people who tended to have problems dealing with customers were the ones who had no customer service skills. If you are rude to customers, they'll be rude back. Part of working in customer service is knowing how to deal with difficult customers without resorting to being rude and confrontational. Unfortunately good customer service is a skill that has been undervalued and underpaid in this country for years so it's not surprising that good customer service is now very hard to come by.

Your ageist post makes it very clear where the problem lays here and it's not with the customers. Older people can shop whenever they like. It's not for you, or anyone else to dictate or criticise.

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Oh, well said!! I agree with this, I have witnessed retail staff who have zero customer service skills, and then they complain about the customers! I worked in customer service for nearly 50 years and know how to deal with difficult customers, it's really not difficult. As for "entitled" customers, yes there are plenty of those, but there are also "entitled" staff who refuse to go the extra mile for anyone.

Fortunately in my day to day business I do see many examples of good customer service, and it's across the age board too.

Purplebunnie · 15/04/2024 22:17

I used to get irritated with moms and babies/toddlers always in the shops/banks during my lunch hour until I had children and realised it had probably taken them that long to get themselves out of the house and to the shops.

Who knows why old people shop on a Saturday, it's probably just a habit they've got in to, something to do with when they used to get their pension?

dimllaishebiaith · 15/04/2024 22:16

Auburngal · 15/04/2024 20:07

None of my family and friends who are elderly, shop on Saturdays.

On meeting up with a few of them a few weeks ago. One of them returned from holiday on Friday evening. So shopped on Saturday morning. They were shocked in the number of elderly customers. She chatted to a couple of staff. They said this is normal and other customers are getting fed up with it.

Before anyone asks, I didn’t bring the subject up.

They said this is normal and other customers are getting fed up with it.

Yeah some people get irritated when I dont walk as fast as they would like because I am partially sighted and they wish I would just stay at home out of their way so they can get on with being importantly able bodied. Doesn't make them right, just makes them, and the people who agree with them, knobs.

nothingsforgotten · 15/04/2024 22:07

SeeTheWorldAnotherWay · 15/04/2024 10:20

I’m a small business owner too. The way I see it is that the customer isn’t always right, but they are always the customer.

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Exactly this! No customers = no business. If people can't handle dealing with the occasional grumpy customer then they need to look for another job.

ClareBlue · 15/04/2024 21:05

And why does everyone have to be horrible to each other. So what if you spend an extra 10 minutes behind an elderly couple out shopping, it makes no difference in the bigger picture. Maybe have a chat to them. Our shopping in rural Ireland is a social event, as it should be.

ClareBlue · 15/04/2024 20:54

The customers shouting about needing more staff are one of the reasons there is a shortage of staff. Who wants that abuse on min wage.

Noyesnoyes · 15/04/2024 20:19

Auburngal · 15/04/2024 20:07

None of my family and friends who are elderly, shop on Saturdays.

On meeting up with a few of them a few weeks ago. One of them returned from holiday on Friday evening. So shopped on Saturday morning. They were shocked in the number of elderly customers. She chatted to a couple of staff. They said this is normal and other customers are getting fed up with it.

Before anyone asks, I didn’t bring the subject up.

"I don't bring the subject up"

What a pile of bull 💩!!

You expect people to believe the batshit crazy poster always going on about "elderly" customers and retail on loads of posts, doesn't bring it up in "real" life?

Okies 🤔

Original poster

Auburngal · 15/04/2024 20:07

None of my family and friends who are elderly, shop on Saturdays.

On meeting up with a few of them a few weeks ago. One of them returned from holiday on Friday evening. So shopped on Saturday morning. They were shocked in the number of elderly customers. She chatted to a couple of staff. They said this is normal and other customers are getting fed up with it.

Before anyone asks, I didn’t bring the subject up.

OP posts:

Original poster

Auburngal · 15/04/2024 19:57

valensiwalensi · 15/04/2024 12:11

I remember when I worked in a call centre and the fire alarm went off. I told the customer that that the fire alarm was going off and I would call her back end she went BALLISTIC that I wouldn’t sit in a potentially burning building to talk to her.

I wasn’t in that day - was off after surgery. There was a massive storm which flooded the store.

Customers were asked to leave. Due to H&S. Everyone complied but one.

One customer refused to leave until she finished going around the store and shopping. The managers were asking just buy a few essentials (milk, bread etc) but no insisted he would do the whole shop.

I can’t remember exactly what my colleague told me as it was 8-10 years ago. Customer was told to leave as the water was ankle deep in some places in the store. He completely lost it.

OP posts:

Noyesnoyes · 15/04/2024 19:46

@Elvis1956 people who decide when people should shop for their convenience annoy the hell out of me!

I mean really, you think the number of "OAPS" shopping when you want to shop causes an issue.... 🤔!

I think it's your tolerance levels to be honest, have you considered coping mechanisms?

ScentlessAprentice · 15/04/2024 19:42

Auburngal · 15/04/2024 06:40

Sorry for an ageist post. The problem on Saturdays are the elderly (the second generation 85+. As those in their 60s and 70s have different attitudes etc). Working age customers have asked me what on earth are they doing shopping on the busiest time of the week. Plus heard those who shout “leave Saturday mornings for customers who worked all week”. Generally those under 55 are getting more annoyed with the 2nd generation elderly.

Stubbornness and stuck in their own ways achieves nothing.

I was staying a place 120 miles from home and popped into a supermarket on Saturday morning. I was walking around and heard two elderly couples down different aisles moaning about how busy it is.
“Why do you shop on Saturdays?”
”We always shopped then”
”When you were working…..”

I am so tempted to tell the elderly that they are pissing everyone off with their stubborn antics. The elderly are their own worst enemies.

My parents changed their shopping times when they retired. Also my mum only does the grocery shopping. It doesn’t need two people to shop if they drive or just buying two bags of stuff.

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See I read your OP, and having worked in retail was prepared to fully support you. Then I got to this post, and nope, can't support this awful, ageist mindset. Maybe the way you treat your customers, who you clearly view with utter disdain, is being reflected back at you.

Elvis1956 · 15/04/2024 19:29

Noyesnoyes · 15/04/2024 19:20

What's your point?

You really think that people you and OP have decided shouldn't shop at certain times are causing the OP their issues?

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No I've not worded it well...just that threads go off topic and I pushed it further that way.

Oaps who shop etc at the busiest times annoy the hell out of me