To think "well you don't have to shop here do you?" Isn't appropriate from a shop worker?

[littleblackdoggg]

Just that really. It's very inappropriate isn't it!? She was a young girl as well and I don't want this to sound 'ageist' but I do find a lot of younger employees rather rude? They seem to have a lot of attitude.

AIBU to complain about this girls attitude?

No, she shouldn't have said that. But after asking her multiple times and obviously not getting the response you wanted, why not ask another member of staff? Did you speak to a manager?
I'll add that I work for the nhs (but have also had plenty of retail experience) and 9 times out of 10 it'll be an elderly person who is rude and unreasonable. You hear people say respect your elders, but I'm sorry, it needs to be earned in my eyes. Age isn't a free pass for respect.

Perhaps the assistant should have simply apologised for being unable to assist and offered to call manager or similar - who presumably would have been able to give a fuller explanation and/ or resolve matters.

Yes, because managers absolutely love being called to deal with nonsense that they feel staff should be able to resolve, and there are never, ever consequences for staff who call over a manager to a difficult customer.

She was a bit blunt but you had to keep asking, like someone picking at a scab and being surprised when it bleeds. Most people will just go somewhere else if they see what they need isn't there.

I understand what you are saying Nitsuka, but why should a young woman be expected to apologise on behalf of a large multinational company because their policies don't enable her to give good customer service?

She would probably have loved to be able to go and get the bloody cucumber, and moved the OP along so she could deal with the next 50 customers, but she couldn't. Because she's not allowed.

The only issue with being young is that you haven't yet learnt how to deal with irritating customers without pissing them off. Yes she was rude, but it's all in the delivery. "Maybe you would find what you need in X shop Madam" implies exactly the same sentiment in a more polite way.

To think "well you don't have to shop here do you?" Isn't appropriate from a shop worker

I worked in a shop when I was at school, you've no idea how many times I thought of saying that.

She was right, you just wanted your veggies and were pushing her even though she had explained why she couldn't get them. You'd be unreasonable to write a complaint and t y and get her disciplined or fired. That would take you into total arsehole territory.

Karma is a bitch, I really wouldn't tempt her....

Crap service, but rounds like the manager of our local co-op who's in her 60s.

The other bad service I've had recently was from Coast - the two older women who dealt with my complaint were rude, insulting, called me a liar etc. The 'young girl' who served me originally was very charming and helpful.

Bad training and shit wages. (Sums up 90% of retail work today). She complicated the issue by revealing that the desired article was on the premises but the customer couldn't have it.

Staff member could/should have avoided the agro by simply saying right at the outset: i'm very sorry there's not much fresh veg out, our delivery has been delayed.

IF the OP had persitsted the staff member should have just called her manager.

Till staff are paid to work the till, make a basic transaction and handle basic enquiries. Managers are paid to deal with anything further than that.

Shop assistant: You cannot have a cucumber..

Customer: I don't understand

Shop assistant: You can not have a F>U>C>U>M>B>E>R

Customer: There's no F in Cucumber

Shop assistant: At last you understand

She probably thought "I don't get paid enough to deal with people like this"

Bet they're all hoping you don't shop there again. The customer is not always right, sometimes they are total dicks not worth having.

'why should a young woman be expected to apologise on behalf of a large multinational company because their policies don't enable her to give good customer service?'

Not sure why this has copied into tiny writing!!
However, I would say that as she works for them, she is representing the company and should apologise if she (as in 'the company') can't help a customer whether it's her fault or not. Obviously there would be a difference in apology if it isn't her fault as in this instance. But to say, 'I'm sorry, I can't get this item for you because...' sounds a lot more polite than 'I can't get this item for you because...'.
I think that's part of the point I'm trying to make, that these days people often merely shrug if they can't help people and don't even attempt to offer an alternative.

Maybe I'm too the other way as I love helping people and would go out of my way to help anyone if I can. I tend to assume everyone is the same, especially if you work in a customer facing role.

'Maybe I'm too the other way as I love helping people and would go out of my way to help anyone if I can. I tend to assume everyone is the same, especially if you work in a customer facing role.'

Then you'd rather get fired for violating employer policy? Go for it! This woman has nothing to apologise for.

why should a young woman be expected to apologise on behalf of a large multinational company because their policies don't enable her to give good customer service?

You are missing the point. Apologising is the 'good customer service'!

If you're a shop assistant, you're the company's point of contact with the customer. If a customer is complaining about lack of stock, you apologise on behalf of the company for the inconvenience. You're not admitting to being personally at fault!

Cross-poster with Nitsuka.

And no, I wouldn't take a complaint any further if I was OP. But yes, I think it's rude service, whether the shop assistant was 17 or 47.

To be fair I find older folks (particularly middle aged women between 40 and 70) much ruder than young people. Although what she said wasn't the best customer service, I wonder what ton of voice you used ?

I said that to a customer once. I was a 19 year old student working in a shoe shop for the summer.
The place was total chaos and I was hassled.
As you can guess I gave zero f###s.
I've never worked in retail since.

'Then you'd rather get fired for violating employer policy?'

I'm pretty sure that suggesting the customer shops else where would have been violating employer policy more than apologising and saying a time that the customer can get her produce wouldn't it? When I say helping people I don't mean being a doormat, in this instance, i mean not looking like you don't care. If I was her manager I'd actually be Pretty annoyed at this response and I'd think the staff member needed further training in Customer service as although isn't particularly hard work it does require a lot of resilience.

The things is, you weren't going to be satisfied with anything she said unless it was "yes madam I'll fetch that right away madam". She can't leave the till, she has nothing to do with deliveries or stock.

Why didn't you collar a manager?

A poster up thread said they made a comment very politely and not sarcasticly, honestly trying to be helpful

Only later did they realise how it may have sounded

Sounds like the same sort of thing, especially if they were young

But it all depends on the tone and attitude and unless you are there yourself you are never going to tell the difference

You were being persistent and not taking no for an answer, so you were BU, however I agree that there seems to be a real lack of respect and care amongst some younger shop/cafe workers these days. I'm often shocked by some attitudes.

As with all AIBU threads none of us know exactly what the customer said or what the assistant said

Or indeed how it was said

Channeling my mum i was often told 'its not what you are saying...its the way you are saying it

I think the girl was telling you that you could shop somewhere else to get your veg as it wasn't available at that point in that shop

You sound like you have the attitude problem here not her.

That is very rude of her
She's obviously untrained.

What the conversation should of went like

Her: the new stock is not out yet unfortunately

You: could you get me some please?

Her: I am not able to leave here right now but there might he someone around to help you

Or the fact that its just not out yet and sorry. Jesus is she a complete idiot or what? :S 'yes but it hasn't been put out yet' means no there is none.