To expect people in customer facing roles to be polite and friendly?

[digitalpaintartist]

I am 39 weeks pregnant so wondering if I'm being hormonal here but in the last week I have come across some of the rudest people! Approached a booking clerk at antenatal, to book a scan. She barely acknowledged me and seemed agitated that I needed her to book a scan. When she couldn't book me in for when my consultant wanted to see me and I asked if there was a another option, she glared at me and said, 'Speak to your consultant, I just book what is available!'
Then today, I needed to grab a prescription. I went to a supermarket pharmacy and cheerily said hi as I approached the woman at the counter, she said nothing back, took my prescription out of my hand and walked to the back before returning to tell me they don't have it!

I mean, is it just me? I get that people can have shitty days but I seem to be coming across these rude people on a daily basis. If you are going to work in a role where you have to deal with people, then smack a smile on and be pleasant or AIBU?

Can't believe people are having a go at MrsJamie. Where are your standards, people? That lad should have given a simple reply like "ah, sorry, we aren't showing that game here. It might be on at x, y or z pub in the village." Come on, that is BASIC, people! No-one should have to be taught to behave like that, if that doesn't come out of your mouth automatically, however hungover you might feel, then you're in the wrong job. In fact that is so basic an requirement that I'm thinking that it's something he's done many times before.

I've been into work with hangovers before when I was younger. You smile and behave normally in front of the customers and then stagger out to the back to have a quick sit down, a sip of water and some fresh air. If you are genuinely so bad that you're collapsing on the bar then you call in sick and say you've got D & V or something. the fact that he turned up in such a state makes me suspicious that it's a regular thing. In which case maybe they need to get someone in who is more professional than that.-

I'd be gobsmacked if someone didn't get sacked for calling a customer a 'fucking psychotic bitch', tbh!

Any previous interaction is pretty much irrelevant (unless she'd spat in his face or kicked his dog or something).

Sympathy for the sacked barman = nil.

I don't think an overreaction at all msJamie, totally unacceptable behaviour

Sometimes I do wonder how people in customer facing roles got the job. The last time they smiled must have been at interview.

Sometimes when they say 'is there anything else?' I feel like saying 'a smile wouldn't go amiss'.

I worked in a bank for years and I know the public can be horrible, but you grit your teeth and get on with it.

after being at home with kids, I'm actually trying to get back into retail I really enjoyed it

but I agree with the posts saying some people in customer facing roles couldnt be ruder and it makes me wonder, when I read the job adverts these days, they are along the lines of "you need to be super friendly, super helpful and love meeting people", certainly makes you wonder who actually interviews some of the people you meet in shops etc

I worked in McDonald's for 7 years, through A levels, full time in gap year and then through Uni. I dealt with many many many horrendous customers. During Uni it was in Stratford upon Avon so a super busy one.

I've almost always had great service at McDonalds, where I go when I'm hungover and also sometimes when I'm not. I think they excel at what they do - it's a great training ground for employees.

12 hours of interacting with people is exhausting, sorry if you people agree but it is. It's very easy to put on a smile but that's very different to actually providing a decent customer experience.

Personal story time:
I refused sale of alcohol to a woman who was drunk in a supermarket. She kicked up a storm in store and was escorted off the premises by security. The next weekend, in the pub, she attempted to assault me. When I went to work on Monday, I didn't feel like being nice to customers. I know they didn't do anything to me, but at the time I couldn't think about that

For those in customer facing roles - customers (indirectly) contribute to salaries.

If there were no customers, appointments to book etc we wouldn't need the likes of store assistants, advisers or receptionists.
They would be out of a job. I took that approach when I was in customer service. It's not hard. No one asks for a song and dance routine but if they can't put a game face on for the amount of time they are paid to work then they shouldn't be employed in that position. Sure, anyone can become agitated at the end of a long day but customer service friendlies have the ability to push past that. I take my hat off to those who do

I'm always a bit wary of people complaining about customer service because I once got sent home after a customer (who'd never seen me before) complained to the manager that I wasn't friendly enough (manager didn't like me). I was only 18, it was very busy so quite stressed out and wasn't at all smiley. I shouldn't have been in that job but had no other options which is the case for many. Being outright rude is obviously not on but complaining about perceived grumpiness is unfair.

I have workes in various customer facing roles for all of my working life (21 years). I will always treat people how they treat me, if a customer is rude, swearing etc then i wont help them, and will usually walk away/put the phone down. However, if the next person is friendly and polite then there is no need to carry over the attitude from the previous person.

Being outright rude is obviously not on but complaining about perceived grumpiness is unfair.

I agree with this and I have also been in a similar situation in the distant past. I guess some people on here would be of the mentality that for someone to complain that we must have done something wrong but that's really not the case always. Some people genuinely have a chip on their shoulder and unfortunately people in customer facing roles can get the brunt of it, fortunately those types are rare but it does happen.

I've worked in customer facing roles since I left school (hair salons, Primark, and now a pub) and honestly no matter what is going on in my personal life I am always polite, friendly and hardworking. However customers can be downright evil. I had someone threaten to complain about me on trip advisor because I warned her (in a friendly way) that it was kicking out time for kids soon!