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Original poster

Should I make a complaint about this rude woman at the post office?

34 replies

Cinnamonjar · 14/12/2021 21:37

I post parcels about once a week, never had problems sending anything, usually very straightforward, but today I went to a different post office from usual. The woman at the till was being very difficult, saying the address wasn't valid etc when I knew it was, and we know there are mistakes in the software etc. It was all getting ridiculous, she was being totally unreasonable and it turned into an argument.

Then she started shouting at me and said "Get the fuck out of my post office" and swore at me more than once. I'm not usually offended by swearing as is, but it's so unnecessary and totally unprofessional. I'm sure we've all encountered grumpy shop staff occasionally, and obviously people have bad days, but none of them have ever sworn at me and it was very over the top. She was shouting at me and then left the counter and ran off?!

I wouldn't usually make a complaint about staff behaviour, but maybe I should in this case? It was totally beyond just having a bad day. I don't know her name, but the postage receipt has a Session ID on it, which I think might identify which member of staff was logged into the till maybe?

I've also read through some reviews online, and found several referring to the fact that one member of staff in particular is very rude, so I know it's not just me. I also know for a fact that it's not "her" post office and she's not in charge.

OP posts:
wildcheesesteak · 14/12/2021 21:46

She swore at you?! Yes I would definitely report her

Original poster
Cinnamonjar · 14/12/2021 22:16

Thanks. I do think it was something more than just being a bit rude. Very over the top.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 14/12/2021 22:18

Well she could do that to someone who can’t speak up for themselves, so I would definitely complain yes.

chelle0 · 15/12/2021 00:32

There's two sides to this story. I'm sure she wouldn't of sworn at you and asked you to leave for no reason. So what did you do and or say to her?

Original poster
Cinnamonjar · 15/12/2021 00:33

Thank you. I have sent in a complaint, and you're right, there are probably other people out there who can't speak up for themselves.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cinnamonjar · 15/12/2021 00:40

@chelle0

There's two sides to this story. I'm sure she wouldn't of sworn at you and asked you to leave for no reason. So what did you do and or say to her?
She insisted that the address and company didn't exist. I said that it did, and showed her the company website with the address. She eventually gave in and found the details so it could be sent after all, but did the whole thing in a deliberately difficult manner when it could easily have been handled in a much more straightforward way. And no matter how much you disagree with a customer, there is literally no reason to ever swear at someone. Regardless of what it was about, her reaction was totally not on. I'm sure we've all disagreed with shop staff on the odd occasion, but 99.9% of them don't swear and shout at you.
OP posts:
halloweenie13 · 15/12/2021 00:47

Yes report the incident in an honest and factual way, her actions were not appropriate at all. Regardless of that though, they can either formally discipline her or look into the situation deeper, sometimes it seems that there is deeper things happening and maybe she needs support to overcome that from her management x

Pixiedust1234 · 15/12/2021 01:17

Let's hope she hadn't been told that someone in her family was dying/dead whilst having to deal/serve with awkward customers. Your parcel might have been the thing that tipped her over the edge. The fact that she left her counter and ran off suggests to me that she was about to cry and couldn't cope anymore. I wouldn't complain.

Original poster
Cinnamonjar · 15/12/2021 01:29

Yes, I reported it in a factual way.

Pixiedust1234 I'm not an awkward customer. She saw in the end that the address was correct and did exist, but still turned it round on me. Swearing and shouting at someone isn't a reasonable response. I did think it through as I don't usually make complaints about staff behaviour, but this situation was over the top.

I don't want to continue this conversation any more as what's done is done.

OP posts:
3luckystars · 15/12/2021 04:04

Well she might take some time off now or find a more suitable job. She sounds very stressed out. I think you did the right thing as the next customer might have an issue too and doesn’t deserve that treatment.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 15/12/2021 04:51

@Pixiedust1234

Let's hope she hadn't been told that someone in her family was dying/dead whilst having to deal/serve with awkward customers. Your parcel might have been the thing that tipped her over the edge. The fact that she left her counter and ran off suggests to me that she was about to cry and couldn't cope anymore. I wouldn't complain.
So every time someone acts poorly, it should.be written off as 'ah, maybe they've had bad news'? Plus the fact that she has form for that behaviour as per the online reviews...
Suzi888 · 15/12/2021 05:02

Pixiedust1234
“Let's hope she hadn't been told that someone in her family was dying/dead whilst having to deal/serve with awkward customers. Your parcel might have been the thing that tipped her over the edge. The fact that she left her counter and ran off suggests to me that she was about to cry and couldn't cope anymore. I wouldn't complain.”

It doesn’t matter.
You can’t swear at customers, if you can’t deal with a situation then you get a manager. It sounds like this person is in the wrong job.

KatherineJaneway · 15/12/2021 05:02

I would agree that you should report her and am glad you did. No need for such behaviour. I worked in retail for years, if you are upset etc you remove yourself from bring with the public.

ClaudiaJ1 · 15/12/2021 05:22

@chelle0

There's two sides to this story. I'm sure she wouldn't of sworn at you and asked you to leave for no reason. So what did you do and or say to her?
Please stop victim-blaming, @chelle0 . There is literally NOT always 'two sides to a story'. That is a myth. Sometimes a person is just an arsehole to another person for no reason. Your post is ignorant and unhelpful.
ClaudiaJ1 · 15/12/2021 05:25

@Pixiedust1234

Let's hope she hadn't been told that someone in her family was dying/dead whilst having to deal/serve with awkward customers. Your parcel might have been the thing that tipped her over the edge. The fact that she left her counter and ran off suggests to me that she was about to cry and couldn't cope anymore. I wouldn't complain.
Your victim-blaming is also disgusting, @Pixiedust1234 . If she received bad news, she'd be sad, withdrawn, she wouldn't be abusing people and attacking them. For all she knew, the OP could have ALSO had bad news before going to the post office. Also the OP said reviews speak about this rude person so it's clearly not an isolated incident and is her personality. She is a vile and abusive creature who has no business being out in public or serving people.
ClaudiaJ1 · 15/12/2021 05:26

OP, you definitely need to report this vile woman, it sounds like she is anti-social and has got away with this for so long. She needs to be stopped. I wonder how many innocent and unsuspecting customers have had breakdown because of her.

ClaudiaJ1 · 15/12/2021 05:28

OP was there any other customers in the room at that time? Any other employees, who could back you up, that overheard and saw the encounter?

LaBellina · 15/12/2021 05:36

Yes, complain. I have worked in a shop for years, have absolutely experienced some very very nasty customers (you don’t sound like one) that I would have loved to punch in the face but I have never so much as raised my voice to them because it’s unprofessional and I valued my job. Swearing is not on.

Luredbyapomegranate · 15/12/2021 06:43

Yes absolutely

Write down exactly what happened, and refer to the other poor reviews - she needs to be disciplined

Highlanders372 · 15/12/2021 06:57

Yes definitely complain. She might be making her coworkers lives hell and if she was having an off day (due to bad news as a pp suggested, no excuse really but there you go) then they'll understand that and get her some support because if she's breaking down and swearing at people then she maybe needs some time off to look after herself and if she's a nasty piece of work then she needs dealing with.

Ducksareruiningmypatio · 15/12/2021 07:24

@Pixiedust1234

Let's hope she hadn't been told that someone in her family was dying/dead whilst having to deal/serve with awkward customers. Your parcel might have been the thing that tipped her over the edge. The fact that she left her counter and ran off suggests to me that she was about to cry and couldn't cope anymore. I wouldn't complain.
Oh please. That's no excuse whatsoever I'd complain, what if the OP Was bereaved? What if she was close to the edge? I'm fed up of bad behaviour being excused by "aww you don't know what they are going through, be kind!" I've worked in Customer facing roles and have worked under pressure having suffered a massive bereavement too. It doesn't wash with me. I'm not a cunt though and send just as many "this staff member was excellent" emails as I do whinges
chelle0 · 15/12/2021 07:59

@ClaudiaJ1 but what if it was the customer who was an arsehole. Everyone perceives things differently. The OP is unlikely to say, I walked into the post office and was an absolute dick to the woman and then I got offended when she told me to fuck off, is she?

amylou8 · 15/12/2021 08:07

Checking addresses is part of her job. However arsey you may or may not have been to her about it, swearing at you isn't acceptable.

Hwory · 15/12/2021 08:14

Just so you're aware if you went to a corner shop post office it'll be very likely it's actually her shop and nothing will be done.

Original poster
Cinnamonjar · 15/12/2021 08:34

It's not a corner shop, it's a major shop and I know for a fact that she's not in charge because I know who is.

Thanks everyone, I've stopped feeling bad about it now.

The one I usually go to is actually a small, family-run convenience store and everyone there is really nice.

OP posts:
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