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!

The OP starts multiple threads bashing older/old people who visit ‘her’ supermarket. I don’t think it’s them that’s the problem.

Wow mn never fails does it. We go from dick entitled customers to not being able to moan that oaps seem to go shopping on Saturday morning when they've had all week (there's a reason why Iceland give pensioners discounts on Tuesdays)
I've just retired and love the fact I get to stroll around virtually empty shops at 9.30 in the morning.
Pils used to visit the local large town every Monday....it's a seaside resort...and without fail be perplexed that it was busy on the bank holiday Mondays..fil had only just retired as a university lecturer at the time!

What's your point?

You really think that people you and OP have decided shouldn't shop at certain times are causing the OP their issues?

I worked in Boots in the 1980s and customers have not changed at all. Store closes at 5.30pm. Customer pleads with floor manager to let her into the one door still open (but guarded), because she is desperate for nappies. Manager relents. Customer gets nappies and spends another 15 minutes browsing the shampoos and No17 lipsticks while 55 staff watch with absolute hatred.

No I've not worded it well...just that threads go off topic and I pushed it further that way.

Oaps who shop etc at the busiest times annoy the hell out of me

See I read your OP, and having worked in retail was prepared to fully support you. Then I got to this post, and nope, can't support this awful, ageist mindset. Maybe the way you treat your customers, who you clearly view with utter disdain, is being reflected back at you.

@Elvis1956 people who decide when people should shop for their convenience annoy the hell out of me!

I mean really, you think the number of "OAPS" shopping when you want to shop causes an issue.... 🤔!

I think it's your tolerance levels to be honest, have you considered coping mechanisms?

I wasn’t in that day - was off after surgery. There was a massive storm which flooded the store.

Customers were asked to leave. Due to H&S. Everyone complied but one.

One customer refused to leave until she finished going around the store and shopping. The managers were asking just buy a few essentials (milk, bread etc) but no insisted he would do the whole shop.

I can’t remember exactly what my colleague told me as it was 8-10 years ago. Customer was told to leave as the water was ankle deep in some places in the store. He completely lost it.

None of my family and friends who are elderly, shop on Saturdays.

On meeting up with a few of them a few weeks ago. One of them returned from holiday on Friday evening. So shopped on Saturday morning. They were shocked in the number of elderly customers. She chatted to a couple of staff. They said this is normal and other customers are getting fed up with it.

Before anyone asks, I didn’t bring the subject up.

"I don't bring the subject up"

What a pile of bull 💩!!

You expect people to believe the batshit crazy poster always going on about "elderly" customers and retail on loads of posts, doesn't bring it up in "real" life?

Okies 🤔

The customers shouting about needing more staff are one of the reasons there is a shortage of staff. Who wants that abuse on min wage.

And why does everyone have to be horrible to each other. So what if you spend an extra 10 minutes behind an elderly couple out shopping, it makes no difference in the bigger picture. Maybe have a chat to them. Our shopping in rural Ireland is a social event, as it should be.

Exactly this! No customers = no business. If people can't handle dealing with the occasional grumpy customer then they need to look for another job.

They said this is normal and other customers are getting fed up with it.

Yeah some people get irritated when I dont walk as fast as they would like because I am partially sighted and they wish I would just stay at home out of their way so they can get on with being importantly able bodied. Doesn't make them right, just makes them, and the people who agree with them, knobs.

I used to get irritated with moms and babies/toddlers always in the shops/banks during my lunch hour until I had children and realised it had probably taken them that long to get themselves out of the house and to the shops.

Who knows why old people shop on a Saturday, it's probably just a habit they've got in to, something to do with when they used to get their pension?

Oh, well said!! I agree with this, I have witnessed retail staff who have zero customer service skills, and then they complain about the customers! I worked in customer service for nearly 50 years and know how to deal with difficult customers, it's really not difficult. As for "entitled" customers, yes there are plenty of those, but there are also "entitled" staff who refuse to go the extra mile for anyone.

Fortunately in my day to day business I do see many examples of good customer service, and it's across the age board too.

100% this! Every time. Being a miserable, rude, entitled, ignorant cunt to me (or my team) then you get the bare minimum we can get away with. Lovely customers get the red carpet and gold star treatment.

Oh it’s you with your ageist shite again 🙄

When I see the queues at checkouts and kiosk are large, I can go into the walk in chillers as I can’t hear the tannoy! “I’m sorry I was in the chiller”

So if you actually did your job instead of lazily hiding in the chiller, maybe the queues wouldn’t be so long? Maybe there’d be no need to bring in the “on call” staff if you weren’t pretending you couldn’t hear where you were paid to be? We’ve all worked with people like you, sadly 🙄

The reason for staff shortages? Staff leaving and on sick leave thanks to the customers’ behaviour!

Wish customers would complain to head office where their complaints are put onto a system. Whereas shouting at staff - you may as well shout at wall. We can’t register your complaints.

I don’t do this on purpose but recently we have been delivered loads of new lines and damaged products. I put them back in the chillers in the relevant places otherwise they get lost etc

@Auburngal stop whinging and whining, you're biting and talk utter nonsense.

Go get another job, or stay in the chiller longer.

It's assistants like you, hiding from work, moaning about when paying customers shop that give retail a bad name!

A week before I left a call centre job, I was pulled up later in the day for doing too much customer service on a call! WTF? I said if I didn’t do what I did, she would have left. She’s done loads of business with us.

On bless you!

You're such a good worker and everyone picks on you.....

I would love to change jobs but there’s nothing suitable for 15+ miles. I only live half a mile from my work. One job I looked at I had to be at their HQ twice a week and that’s 70 miles away. Got no room in my one bed place to WFH. With the cost of fuel and losing my discount - i would be worse off.

Please understand that i have changed my work dept and customers need to stop being nasty about things beyond our control such as brand stopped making a yoghurt, a brand has changed their recipe, price of newspapers going up etc.

@Auburngal stop hiding from work and making the customers wait, stop judging when people shop, you might find your job easier.

Stop moaning about everything to do with your work, didn't your spare time off MN moaning and you might have a bit more positivity.

You appear a very negative person and one that could bring a team down.

For what it's worth, I don't believe about the recent influx of damaged goods meaning that you can't deal with the queue of customers, you admitted previously you did this to avoid the queue....that's lazy.