Customer’s absurd suggestion

[Auburngal]

Customer is one of those who insists on going to us when it’s extremely busy. As per usual we are short staffed - which is the case for many retailers. Again it’s because staff leave as fed up with the rude and aggressive behaviour from customers. In fact - some customers are bullies. As when they shout at me, I get the same feelings that I got from bullying at school.

She suggested that we should be on call on our days off! What a bloody ridiculous idea! I want my days off to relax etc. If any retailer had this option- no one would take it up!

You really are a delight!

I said the customer isn't always right (no mention of OP being always right).
You then told me that OP isn't always right either.
I pointed out that I hadn't ever suggested OP was always right.
You seem to think you have made some sort of point.

Moving on.

I would have told him the till closes in 5 mins and has he seen the show 'supermarket sweep'?

Not just in retail

I am a mortgage broker

I get people calling me at 9pm, 7am, sundays at lunchtime. Mothers day at 1pm, boxing day - I would prepare to bet they wouldn't call their solicitor at these times. I ignore all calls after hours.

Also you get the people who email you stuff either after hours friday or over a weekend and then call at 9:01 on a monday asking if it has been looked at yet.

@KeinLiebeslied54321 I have made a very valid point!

The OP is unpleasant and certainly not always right!

As I said in my previous post, I should imagine that the customers are just reflecting her poor attitude.

Glad you're moving on!

I wonder if she’d been on hold for an hour waiting for your company to answer?

Generally it’s frustration that leads to that sort of outburst

I was thinking that ! OP if you are lucky enough to be alive when you are 85 I hope people will be kinder than you maybe not

🍿

I also don't understand what you mean, OP. You work in a shop on a till, why does the customer expect you to be on call? What does she think you can do for her from your home?

I’ve had similar experience. Most customers are lovely, but occasionally I’ve encountered people who wanted to buy a certain item, but tried to negotiate the price and got offended when we declined.
They seem to feel really entitled to the items in question, without wanting to pay the whole price.

You didn't make a point.
That's why I'm moving on.
😂

@KeinLiebeslied54321 you're moving on again?

👋

People are dicks. That's all there is to it.

I've had all sorts of crap running a window company. And what people don't realise is that the nicer you are, the nicer I want to be back to you.
Ask me nicely? I'll go the extra mile for you all day long because I want ot help and because I want your returning business
Be rude and entitled? I'm going to say no because I want the job over with as quickly as possible so we can get away from you and never work with you again.

OP, you're your own worst enemy. You make some valid points on your threads and then shoot yourself in the foot with the ageist remarks. It's no wonder people lose sympathy with you.

Yes, the way retail staff are treated by the public is disgusting sometimes and no, you shouldn't have to put up with it. That includes if it comes from someone elderly (obviously). But expecting them to shop at different times isn't on. Maybe when you're elderly yourself you'll understand that the elderly, just like younger people, are under no obligations to make their daily routines fit around the preferences of others.

Is return business really a thing for a window company? Most people get them done once every decade at most.

Yes, absolutely it is. We have lots of returning customers. People get their windows done and then when they have the money they come back to get a nice set of bi-folds too. Then a year or two later they decide they want a conservatory or a garae door replacement. Then that door they didn't have replaced because it was fine then now needs replacing orhas been kicked in or something. Or sometimes people can only afford one or two windows at a time and get them all done over the course of a year.
And that's just the regular homeowning customers. We also work with plenty of property developers and landlords with multiple properties and who regularly buy new ones to do up and sell. Plus businesses like care homes and shops with multiple branches.
Oh and people who move. We did one's guy's house because he was doing it up to sell it. Then after he moved out and bought a new house, he had us back to do that one too.

I've used the same local window firm several times in the last 5 years because of their dependability and professionalism: replaced misted sealed units, replaced a broken glass unit, and had two new double glazed external doors (not at the same time).

I've also recommended them to others.

I used to work as a cashier in a bank many years ago, and our busiest period on the tills was between 12 and 2 (naturally, as that was when working people had their lunch break and could come in).
There would always be some retired customers who could clearly come in at any time of day but would insist on coming in during the lunchtime rush. They would then complain about having to wait and demand that we open another till. On explaining that we couldn't because some of our staff were actually at lunch, they would say we shouldn't be allowed to have lunch breaks at lunchtime then.

This.

I don't think retail is the job for you. And I worked in retail for many years. The people who tended to have problems dealing with customers were the ones who had no customer service skills. If you are rude to customers, they'll be rude back. Part of working in customer service is knowing how to deal with difficult customers without resorting to being rude and confrontational. Unfortunately good customer service is a skill that has been undervalued and underpaid in this country for years so it's not surprising that good customer service is now very hard to come by.

Your ageist post makes it very clear where the problem lays here and it's not with the customers. Older people can shop whenever they like. It's not for you, or anyone else to dictate or criticise.

Oh fab, more blatant ageism. I guess that’s OK, because MN have informed me that they do actually allow ageism as they regard it merely as a difference of opinion

Anyway, how do you know that they were retired? Or that they could go any time they wanted? And are you sure that all the complaining about busy-ness was done by older people, because frankly I don’t believe it.

Unfortunately good customer service is a skill that has been undervalued and underpaid in this country for years so it's not surprising that good customer service is now very hard to come by.

I agree with this, people demand good customer service but don't value it. It's obviously important to people to receive good customer service but also that those delivering it are not worth much and the drop in customer service reflects that attitude I think.

If you (society in general) spend enough time telling people they're useless for doing these jobs then it's hardly surprising when they believe what they're putting their time and energy into is unimportant because they're not valued by anyone for doing it. Either customer service is important enough to recognise as a skill that's needed or it's not, and if not valued as important, then it's hardly surprising that they don't invest themselves in delivering it.

The same can be said for a lot of roles that our society needs and wants too, but people just keep shouting how shit it all is without considering why.

Oh do shut up. I'm well over 60, semi retired myself and was working in a bank in the late 1970's / early 80's.

I am describing a customer demographic. I used the word 'retired' instead of 'old' on purpose, because not all retired people are old. I could just as easily have mentioned young mums on maternity leave or whatever, but they didn't come in at lunchtime and complain about the queues. When you work in a small bank branch, you get to know the customers well. I knew they were retired because they were my customers and I saw them every week. Usually on a Thursday lunchtime. You'd see them queuing up at the post office next door to collect their pensions as soon as the place opened, and then they'd go home again. At lunchtime they would return to conduct their bank business.

So jog on with your ageism, there's a love.

This is silly. You clearly identified the retired people by their age (otherwise, how could you?). You were moaning about what behaviour you consider to be acceptable for older people compared to younger people and that was ageist.

Sorry, why the fuck is ageism ok on here?!