To reply to a rude customer, saying no customers no wages….no workers no benefits

[Isthisfairorwhat]

I felt I was just reply back in the way he spoke to me, mirroring
as we taught to do…..

he was annoyed that he wasn’t attended to instantly
but it’s not the kinda place you can do that instantly
it can take a couple of mins

Not if the receptionist is already dealing with someone you don’t
you get in the queue and wait your turn

takes nothing to acknowledge someone

I mean, he's right.

Your mistake is not realising, people on benefits fill they declaration on the Back stating why they don’t pay
and yes medical exception is one of the many reasons

Well don’t you sound a delight?

It’s very easy to say, “Won’t be a moment,” or “I’ll be with you shortly,” without even looking at the customer. That would diffuse most people immediately.

Unfortunately, in a customer facing role you will always get rude people but you have to develop a thick skin and just smile sweetly. Being rude back won’t make your life easily and two wrongs don’t make a right.

If you can’t handle this, I’d suggest a different job.

Oh yeah because you don’t need to concentrate at all not in the slightest after all it’s only smarties

It sounds like you blanked him rather than offering a friendly 'Ill be with you in a couple of minutes' and he, rightly, felt slighted. His response was rude as well but prompted by you. I don't know why people work in a customer facing role if they don't actually enjoy dealing with the public. Just smile and be polite and you'll get a smile back and then everyone's having a better day and you might enjoy your job more!

Well put it this way, he’s going to have an extremely long long wait every single time
all you can really do
and then let it go in one ear and out the other….

A pharmacy is still a business. A business doesn't survive without business. Business is provided via customers.

Yes I get in the queue because there are signs and a clear communication of the process. But there is actually a staffed reception so yeah you wait your turn but you can see you will get processed. Waiting at an empty pharmacy desk that's clearly in chaos and seems to have no order and is in obvious chaos can to some people be so frustrating. Put a friendly sign on the desk it really will help. Of course there will always be simply rude people but that's unfortunately a downside of working in a public facing role. Looking at solutions rather than getting annoyed might be a good start

I’m really hoping this is just “what you would like to have said” and not actually what you said.

Because if you publicly shamed a customer for being on benefits as punishment for their rudeness then that’s absolutely appalling.

I’m astonished your manager hasn’t had a serious conversation with you.

You are rude.what an arrogant madam you are. Serving in a chemist shop and giving yourself such airs and graces. Put up a sign so people on benefits know to bow to your superior self.

Ah, so you are saying you are better than him, because he's on benefits? It's not an attitude that's going to cover you in glory, to be honest. However, if you are going to stick with that, are you sure you are a net contributor to the tax system?

Yes I completely agree. People actually mostly respond well to a big smile rather than a snippy irritated staff member.

So if he was paying for his prescription you’d have said what exactly?

Using his private information to berate him is rather low. You’re using information learnt in the course of your job to try to embarrass someone. As an employer I wouldn’t be happy with that.

What are you actually talking about here? A pharmacist in the back dispensing medication? Of course nobody would expect them to stop what they're doing and greet a customer. Similarly, nobody would expect to be greeted when they joined a queue of other customers.
If I'm stood in front of someone who is dealing with paperwork or something then, yes, it doesn't feel too much to expect them to glance up with a smile and say something along the lines of 'I will be with you in a minute'.

My pharmacy does that anyway. They have assistants out the front and the people dispensing medicine out the back. The assistant out the front might be sorting scripts but if I'm the only person in there when I walk in they'd always glance up and greet me if they can't serve me straight away.

People picking up prescriptions can be anxious about it for all sorts of stressful reasons, so I would expect pharmacy staff, especially ones who know they are understaffed and failing to provide an efficient service, to try and be nice.

You were rude and unprofessional.

I’m happy to own my mistake, not being familiar with either the benefits system or the ins and outs of prescriptions. But, I think if that is the case then what you’ve done is even worse. Because you haven’t just made a baseless statement in the heat of the moment you’ve broadcast private information in an area where others could be reasonably expected to hear it. After all, you said it was busy…. Now, without a name it’s probably not a data breach, but if their name was subsequently called out when the prescription was ready it would be because the two pieces of information could be put together. So, are you willing to own your mistake…?

Yeah, I was getting the anti benefits statement. He's saying he's paying her wages but she thinks she's paying his. Kind of thing. I do get her frustration. But glad she didn't say it.

It not shaming anyone in benefits
i have no problem with anyone claiming benefits that needs them

just pointing out it’s the same

no customers no wages
no workers no benefits

thays not judging benefit claimants
its judging rude people that don’t get it

but anyway
I’ve wasted enough of my time thinking about this arsehole now
off to something brighter
and forget about it

I'm on regular medication and have used a few different pharmacies. If I go in and there are people Infront of me I don't expect the staff to stop what they're doing and greet me. I wouldn't be too happy if they stopped serving me to greet someone else earlier (although I wouldn't be a dick about it).
In response to another poster saying they should have a sign saying please be patient etc, people shouldn't have to be told that. It's basic good manners and most do have a sign but some customers are still dicks.

That's interesting because I fill in the prescription form (medical exemption) after I've been served and been given the drugs. Grew up in a similar business working customer facing and would never have replied like that - just a sweet smile and an insincere "sorry we're so busy" is more than enough. You can't separate who's being snippy because they're in pain or majorly anxious about their health from the plain rude.

Of course you can always be rude if you choose. In my case my mother would have smacked me across the back of my legs if I'd spoken to a customer like that especially within hearing of other customers.

I work in a supermarket and occasionally get the 'I pay your wages' type remarks. I tend to reply to that with a big smile and a 'can I have a raise then?'

If you can make them laugh, they are on your side. If you are rude then things escalate. But it is frustrating when customers apparently can't see that you are busy and want individual treatment - but that's people for you.

Publicly calling out that the man was on benefits in front of the whole shop is shaming him - otherwise you wouldn’t have said it.

I think this is where an inner voice is helpful. You are working, he isn’t and thinks it’s acceptable to say that. He’s also in a pharmacy so maybe under some stress because of an illness? None of that makes it right he said that, the fact he said it suggests he’s also a bit thick . So I’d suggest he’s in an inferior/weakened position and has no agency, saying stuff like that makes him feel a bit better about himself.

so I’d say either no reaction as that’s what he wants, or a concerned are you ok or a - I think you feel quite marginalised and are trying to get some power back by saying that to me (but I’m a cow so maybe not the latter!).

every time I go in a pharmacy there is someone being rude. It’s a real powder keg.