To think that shop staff...

[Justme23]

Should have basic manners?

Am I getting old now I recognise this as a reason to get remotely peeved?

Just nipped out in my lunch hour to get a sandwich and some bits and only one staff person actually maintained eye contact and said please and thank you!

The girl at WHSmiths was looking out of the window, face like a slapped behind, scanned the items and then barked £12.50 at me, didn't even offer a bag! And acted the same to the three customers before me.

Is this just accepted behaviour now?

I was in John Lewis and they were falling over themselves to help this older couple (clearly had money)

We were there to get some advice and buy some electronics that day and were totally blanked and in the end had to go and ask someone, who didn't seem remotely bothered and then started helping someone right next to us!

I was foaming

Jumping wtf?

surely it would make more sense not to be prejudiced against something you know nothing about?

When the lad had charged me five times for a double cheeseburger meal... Twice.. And then when I questioned it he very rudely said, that's how much a chicken salad is LOVE... My reply was can you read? Well then show me exactly on my receipt where it says CHICKEN SALAD?

I requested the manager and he said he won't tolerate racism. Wtf?

I remember helping a lady who was quite elderly and blind. She also seemed quite confused. So it took me the guts of half an hour to sell her a pair of tights.

Then I had to escort her to the entrance of the shopping centre and walk her across the road. She wanted me to walk her home but 1) I had no idea how long that would take and 2) I was the only keyholder on at the time so shouldnt even have left the shop.

Anyway, later that day another customer who had witnessed this approached the other manager to tell them how wonderful I had been etc. In all my years in customer facing roles that was the only compliment I had ever heard of in all the places I worked.

Complaining and complementing is necessary. Complaining on its own is counter productive. Chances are, the assistant has a dreadful manager and is taking it out on the customer....not ideal, but the conditions some retail employees work under would put anyone in a bad mood.

I agree that everyone should have basic manners though.

I totally agree OP!
Bad customer service always winds me up! I put it down to people being paid national minimum wage and taking it out on the customer. Still no excuse, I suppose. Also I imagine how different these people must sound at interview and all the bullshit they must tell the interviewer in order to get the job!
Having said that, the Italians are worse! I once went into a shop and was looking at a size 8 shirt. The shop assistant approached me and said "that's not for you. You need a bigger size"

I have had that in Sports Direct recently too. Went in there expecting to be ignored while they all stood chatting as usual and instead had fantastic service. I think the people serving me were possibly A level or uni students though from what they wee saying, maybe the usuals will be back soon.

yanbu.

But I hate the too friendly "how are you" brigade too. I'm looking at you Marks and Spencers.

I got told by a customer in McDonald's once that we were a racist organisation because we never had more than 3 fish fillets or veggie burgers ready at the same. Time.

Meglet, LUSH is the worst for that lol

JustMe. Ok. sounds like he patronised first .

Wannabe - I agree. I do say thankyou for good service. I was on a Bus the other day and the driver was really really helpful, knowledgeable and patient with an elderly lady who had lots of detailed questions about her route around London. As I got off the bus I told the drive what great service she had given

Meglet - I know what you mean, but it is better than being ignored

Jumping, what a vile post.
It takes a particularly nasty and arrogant person to use someone's disability as an insult. Your comments are often unpleasant and narrow-minded, but that is foul even for you.

I remember working in a holiday job where the petty little boss in charge reduced one of the staff to tears. She was crying in the middle of the warehouse and saying
'I'm not thick, I'm not. I've got two O levels'
He didn't see how his need to be unkind and dominant reflected more badly on him than it ever could on her.

I thought you did well, Justme. It isn't as if the member of staff was likely to defend herself even though she was the one being manipulated.

I am straight to the manager for a moan when I get bad service, but I am also a really good tipper and will also get the Manager to tell them directly when I have had good service, and I also make a point of thanking the assistant.

If everyone did both these things - praise and complain when appropriate, we might get better service. I think that the big retailers have cut staff levels to the bone, its impossible to find anyone in some shops these days.

The other week in Sainsburys, I saw an assistant helping a blind man who also seemed to have some LD do his shopping. I kept meeting them on each aisle I went down, and she was so patient and kind. I asked to speak to a Manager and told him how impressed I was by her.

The same week I complained about a snotty cow in H&M who was dog ignorant to me!

I agree. I hate grumpy service. I notice it a lot.

Incidentally I am on the autistic spectrum and I give excellent customer service in my public sector job :)

Don't get me started on Bensons Beds 'customer service' line, who today specialised in talking over the top of you and trying their best to make you understand how unreasonable you are to expect a bed which doesn't arrive damaged.

Those of you complaining about the "how are you" and the commenting on purchases.

We have to do it. We get jumped on by management every FUCKING time we don't.

So a typical exchange at the till might be

"Good Morning. Did you find everything you were looking for? Will you need a gift receipt?"
"Whassa then?"
"A gift receipt just says where and when it was bought if they need to change it for a different size? Yes?"
"Better had. It's for the new grandson. Daughter/Daughter in law probably won't like it anyway. Never do."
"It's for your new grandson- how lovely. It's so cuddly and soft. When did he arrive?"
"yesterday......"
"Do you need to buy a bag?"
"5p aint they? Go on then, as it's for a new baby. Robbery mind, 5p for a bag."
"That's £12.05 please"
"Which way in does this bloody thing go? Ah that way. Too many different machines"
"Could you enter your pin when your ready please?"
Customer enters pin.
"That's gone through fine. If you'd like to take your card out, I can print your receipts. We're currently trying to raise funds for X charity by means of a whatever. Would you like to help at all?"
"No"
"Ok, here are your receipts. The smaller is the gift receipt and you can include that with your gift and this is your payment receipt. We're currently doing an online survey if you'd like to help us out at home? You could win X-amount of vouchers?"
Waves receipt at me, snatches bag and marches off, stuffing receipt into bag as she goes.
"Thank you. Bye!" (from me)

Now imagine you have forgotten to ask if they have found everything the wanted, or asked about a bag, or asked about the fundraising or the survey in the end and your manager hears you. The one time you don't ask gets held against you forever.
Every week Head office is on the phone or sends e-mails out reminding managers to make sure we're all asking that.

Retail is becoming a horrible place to work. Please don't forget most of us poor bastards are on minimum wage or just above and we get expected to know everything in the universe and then some. Many people I know who work in retail are trying not to give in to depression/stress. You take a day off sick with a cold or flu and you get made to feel like your letting everyone down. You don't take a day off you get told off anyway. Can't win.

Sorry about the essay.

YANBU to expect decent manners Equally shop staff should be able to expect basic manners from customers. Some of the customers I've served in the past, sheesh

Secret - I understand. And I don't mind the M&S chat.

I used to work in McDonalds and we were jumped on if we didn't "sell up" ("Is that a Large Fries?") and Suggestive Sell (" Would you like a drink with that?")

they should all have basic manners, yes

I work for a food retailer and our staff would be disciplined severely for not being bovvered

I was speaking to my line manager about that recently, SNF. I don't like it either but I know it's not their fault if they are being made to do it! And it's still vastly preferable to somebody being rude and dismissive (and I say that as someone who, due to having an ASD, hates small talk!).

My LM agreed that it's really shortsighted to make people do this. We should recognise that some people don't want to talk and that you can still be polite and friendly without invading their space. It's a big cliche but recognising that customers are individuals is important and it is shortsighted of big companies to ignore that.

I don't understand though how some companies (and I do notice it more in some shops than others) don't keep track of how their staff treat customers. Maybe lack of complaints (but should it really get that far?). I know that if I was seen anything like many of the cashiers I've met in particular stores, I would get an instant telling off.

SNM sorry not SNF.

i have read the thread now

we have to say hello and make eye contact etc, we are not supposed to ask loads of questions like ome of you are expected, how demoralising