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Original poster

To be fed up with everyone moaning at us shop assistants!!

140 replies

Dartfordmummy · 03/01/2012 19:29

I've been reading a lot threads recently and there are so many of you out there moaning about Sales Assistants/Advisors...We are only human and do sometimes make mistakes!!

That's it....rant over.

OP posts:
PandaG · 03/01/2012 22:31

I worked in the family firm when home from university. I remember being asked whether we had a specific item in stock in a different size - we hadn't, I'd just checked in the stock room for another customer. I apologised to the customer and said we were out of stock. They clearly did not believe me, and asked to speak to Mr X (X being my family name). I said certainly, which Mr X would they like to speak to, my father, my uncle, or which of my cousins!

EduStudent · 03/01/2012 22:32

A1980 and what about when customers are rude despite adequate, or, dare I say it, even good service?

And a little recognition for those who do the job well wouldn't go amiss. Many jobs aren't rocket science, but shop assistants do seem to take a considerable amount of flak.

BaublesandCuntingCarolSingers · 03/01/2012 22:32

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

toodaloo · 03/01/2012 22:38

A1980 the vast majority of retail staff do not give bad service yet they are supposed to take all sorts with a smile. In every job there will be some bad staff but they are the minority I think. Your post comes across that you think you are above shop staff and that you are better than them. I'm sure that is not the case but that's how it comes across.

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:39

EduStudent I am never ever rude to shop assistants, i smile, say hello and goodbye and always say thank you. I don't care about waht other people do, I am polite to them and I do not apprecaite being ignored or waiting for them to bother to serve becasue they're having a conversation with their colleauge about some trivial shite when they're meant to be doing their job.

Just last week in vodafone, I was going to upgrade to iPhone4, chanign ym contract for £15 a month ro about £45 while also paying £40 for the handset. It was a 2 year contract so they were going to get a shed load more money out of me. The sales girl leaned against the wall looking bored out of her skull, couldn't be arsed to answer questions, slung a pamphlet at me and told me to go and read it rather tahn explain different price plans to me, etc. She just couldn't be arsed to help with anything or explain anything. i wasn't rude to her but in the end I said to her, if you can't be bothered to help, I'll go elsewhere and I walked out. Another network will get my money now when i decide on the best option.

EduStudent · 03/01/2012 22:39

Notvery I used to get that too, would explain refund policies and why, unfortunately, I couldn't refund their item. They'd kick off, I'd get the manager and then she'd just do the refund to get rid of them. All while they stood there looking smugger than smug and I had to stand by, be gracious and thank them for their custom [anger]

floweryblue · 03/01/2012 22:40

The obnoxious don't get their way in my shops and my staff get my full support if we get any unreasonable complaints because I know we are operating within the law and any complaints are unfounded legally.

I don't actually want to deal with nasty people, so to loose their trade is no harm to us, we would rather deal with nice people.

EduStudent · 03/01/2012 22:42

Taking your custom elsewhere due to poor service is an entirely different matter to having people be downright rude to you for no apparent reason.

And yes, poor service does exist, but so does good service. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to correspond with the way you get treated by customers.

JestersHat · 03/01/2012 22:42

A1980 have you ever worked in a shop? I can assure you that most of the "shit" comes from customers who want to have a go for no good reason.

BaublesandCuntingCarolSingers · 03/01/2012 22:42

"The job ain't rocket science and it isn't hard to do it well."

It's a person who utters a patronising piece of shite such as this that lauds it around shops wondering why no-one is bringing them their required items on a velvet cushion, isn't it? Hmm

It might not be rocket science but it's not a sodding picnic either. I'm sure people think that all I do is stand behind my cash desk, smiling and folding posh frocks. Cuntstomers don't take into account the other shite that goes with running a store: payroll, admin, merchandising, end of week banking, floor moves, densities, dealing with HO people, dealing with wankers...

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:43

Your post comes across that you think you are above shop staff and that you are better than them. I'm sure that is not the case but that's how it comes across.

Not at all. I don't feel taht way at all. Some of the girls in my local deaprtment store are fantastic and would bend over backwards to help. I juts had a very bad expereince in vodafone lately: see above. Also the saturday staff at Boots piss me right off. Screaming and laughing together and talking to each other when they're meant to be serving you.

I always read the small print before i buy anything and make sure I am allowed to take it back before i buy it. If I'm not, I make damn sure it's suitable. I hardly take anything back though.

I'm really nice to shop assistants, there's no reason not to be. I guess that's why the post got my back up a bit. Don't tar us all with the same brush. I'm always polite to them.

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:45

It's a person who utters a patronising piece of shite such as this that lauds it around shops wondering why no-one is bringing them their required items on a velvet cushion, isn't it?

I say that as someone who was a shop assistant for years as a student. I was a shop assistant myself. It's not a sodding picnic but it's a walk in the park compared to the job i do now.......

toodaloo · 03/01/2012 22:46

Getting all my rants out is quite stress relieving lol! While I'm on the subject, the complaints dept just don't back up shop staff at all where I work. I know they must have a difficult job talking to customers on the phone, but recently I had a punter going mad at me, banging his fist on the counter, shouting, swearing etc.... he would not listen so I gave him a leaflet for customer relations. He spoke them, they spoke to me and they just gave the customer what he wanted. So in his eyes, being rude and aggressive has got him what he wants so he will act in that way again no doubt.

BaublesandCuntingCarolSingers · 03/01/2012 22:47

Well bully for you.

nativitywreck · 03/01/2012 22:47

Hmmm. I have to say that the sales staff in the UK are generally a bit shit.
They either don't know what stock they have, they can't be bothered to find things for you, they look completely gormless or they are downright hostile.
Occasionally you get a good one, but more often you don't.
IMO it's down to low pay, no incentives and poor training.

Of course, it goes without saying that some customers are evil.

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:48

I do remember a few customers who were rude beyond belief. One told me "oh come on" in an irritated tone as I wasn't counting her change fast enough. I counted in even slower and enjoyed every minute of her expression.

But for the most part, I don't remember it being anywhere near as bad as anyone desribes. I was shouted at or abused on a daily basis. But then again it was 10 years ago. perhaps peoples manners have deteriorated in that time.

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:49

Well bully for you.

Oh just fuck off and grow up. Spoiling for a fight are we.

notveryinventive · 03/01/2012 22:50

Don't tar us all with the same brush

Don't tar all shop assistants with the same brush.

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:50

I was shouted at or abused on a daily basis.

Sorry that should say wasn't shouted at or abused on a daily basis.

LizzieChickens · 03/01/2012 22:51

I used to work in a cinema, and the customers were the rudest and nastiest. One indicated towards me sweeping the floor and said to his son, "You make sure you go to university or you'll end up sweeping popcorn." Actually, cretin, nearly all your staff (including me!) are university students - this is a university town. Nine hours on your feet cleaning up people's discarded rubbish which they can't be bothered to haul into the nearest bin and they top it all off with insults! Ugh, never again.

I now work in a supermarket, which is much nicer. I spend all my time in the bakery hiding from the customers making cookies and pastries. :)

A1980 · 03/01/2012 22:52

Notveryinventive I was taken aback too. Normally I avoid phone shops like the plague as you can't get away from annoying staff. This time surprised me thoguh.

I haven't tarred all shop assistants with the same brush: I said upstream that the girls in my local department store are fantastic.

BaublesandCuntingCarolSingers · 03/01/2012 22:53

My store manager has backed me up each time I've had a cuntstomer. A good one was this summer when some thick cow bought a coat back that she had bought two bloody years ago because there was some bobbling in the wool under one of the arms. Hmm I held in my mirth and told her that after six months, anything of this nature would be put down to natural wear and tear and that I wouldn't be giving her her ninety quid back. She went ballistic saying she wanted to speak to whoever was in charge of my department. I told her that would be me so she demanded that I call my area manager. Grin I said no but offered to get the store manager. She couldn't have cared less and said "I am passing my authority on to you to just get bloody rid of her!" Which I did. Her parting shot was "All your clothes are GAY." Hmm

manticlimactic · 03/01/2012 22:53

Lets not forget the ones who come in trying to quote the Sale of Goods Act but getting it completely wrong (probably been advised wrongly on a forum somewhere) and that other great chestnut "I work in retail you know...'

I do find smiling no matter what kind of disarms the bolshy ones.

I do remember one woman, not English but could speak perfect English, was carrying on because SHE read a sign wrong for a joint of meat saying it should be £7 when it clearly said £7 a kg and her having a right go at me effing and jeffing at me. She went storming off to get the sign and the bloke with her looked at me sheepishly and said 'I think there's just a language barrier' I replied 'I think you'll find rude is rude in any language' and she kind of proved my point when she slung the joint of meat at me. Shock

nativitywreck · 03/01/2012 22:53

phoneshop is dead funny though.

toodaloo · 03/01/2012 22:53

Baubles I agree, most people don't know what else the shop staff have to do, if I am on as duty manager rather than a cashier, then I am responsible however many £££ that are in the safe, banking and all the other duties that comes with it. Although I work in a Bookies so not totally the same I know but I have worked in the high street shops when I was a student.