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Original poster

Should I complain

17 replies

happydays · 02/03/2003 21:10

I was shopping in the supermarket today and the checkout lady (aged 50+) was having a conversation with the operator opposite, whilst I was there with my 3 yd old son, she said bl**dy twice. I was quite annoyed at the time, but as there was lots of people in the queue I didn't want to make a fuss. I mentioned it to my DH who works in retail and he says he would want to know if it was a member of his staff. I am not sure what to do. Any advice.

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eidsvold · 02/03/2003 21:36

I would complain in terms of how you were disappointed to hear that kind of language particularly in front of your son. You could state that it upset you and you felt it reflected badly on their establishment. There really is no need for inappropriate language whether it is in front of children or not.

Moomin · 02/03/2003 21:38

Most of the big supermarkets are very receptive to complaints like these.I'd write a letter much as described by eidsvold - I'm sure you'll get a reply. Why not email them?

anais · 02/03/2003 21:39

I would complain. It's bad enough on the street, but somewhere like a supermarket - no way. They should have more respect for the customers than that.

Chiccadum · 02/03/2003 21:56

I agrree with all the comments previously made, you showed more restraint than me as I would have also said something there and then. The least you deserve is an apology.

Lindy · 02/03/2003 21:59

Yes, you should definately write - a short, to the point letter, don't go over the top - just state the facts. I used to run the customer service department for a large retail company & we did appreciate genuine feedback from customers ...... but not a rambling incoherent letter that you don't know what it's about, we used to get plenty of those!!

ScummyMummy · 02/03/2003 23:27

Erm... sorry, but I don't think I'd have noticed if it'd been me in the queue since personally I consider "bloody" to be a fairly innocuous word. I wonder if this is true of quite a few people and therefore a complaint could fall upon deaf/incredulous ears? I expect the check out lady didn't think to moderate her language on the grounds that she didn't realise that it might offend you.

I'm always reluctant to complain about people who have really boring jobs, I must say. I'm sure that a stream of expletives would emerge from my mouth if I had to work on a check out for any length of time.

SofiaAmes · 02/03/2003 23:45

Sorry, but if I got this correctly, she was having a conversation with the operator opposite while she was supposed to be serving you??? I would be complaining about that. (I agree with scummymummy, don't really find bl**dy offensive, but I wouldn't use it in front of strangers or children in case they did).

Original poster
happydays · 03/03/2003 04:34

Thanks again for your replies.

Yes she was talking to someone else while serving and didn't even look up to say hello, only time she spoke directly to me when when she asked for the money.

I have thought about this a lot more and yes I am going to complain.

I myself do find Bl**dy offensive, when my child is around. I may swear when he is not around, boring job or not I feel as though when they are out there serving the public, you should be professional.

My DS is at an age when he is repeating things he hears, and luckily I didn't have to hear him going around saying bl**dy.

It is also not a one off either, as previously I had been served by the same person and with similar behaviour, this time I was alone, but the dirty look she was given my a lady and her small child behind me said to all.

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sis · 03/03/2003 10:46

I'm with SofiaAmes on this - I get so fed up with cashiers paying no attention to the work that they are being paid to do and just chatting away to their colleagues! I do take your point Scummymummy, about the mindnumbing nature of some jobs - but I do wish they would save the chatting for less busy times.

Clarinet60 · 03/03/2003 11:31

I would complain.
So many people have said bloody in front of DS that he now says it himself when things go wrong. THAT is really embarrassing, and we don't need it.

Batters · 03/03/2003 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
happydays · 03/03/2003 12:54

Batters, I appreciate your comments, but feel as though she should act professional as she is representing her company. We are talking about one of the major supermarkets here, and feel as though, she should do the job that she is paid to do. I am sure they would rather receive a letter of complaint from me then lose my custom, and where I live I am bang in the middle of 2 supermarkets and given the option, I would rather shop at the other because of better customer services.

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Original poster
happydays · 03/03/2003 12:56

Might also add at this point that I did write a letter to asda recently, because I found their young check-out operator to be extremely helpful, especially as I was having a bad day with DS, I didn't notice a couple of items had slight holes in them, and she asked me if I would like them replaced. So I do do it both ways.

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Lindy · 03/03/2003 21:48

Happydays - I would reiterate that you are quite right to complain, all the major retailers will invest a lot in training and they do need customer feedback. (Positive & negative). I think it is offensive to use 'bloody' or any swear word, whilst I agree that supermarket checkout work can be boring - quite honestly so can many, many other jobs. Acutually, if you don't want to get the employee into trouble you do not have to mention who it was, just say something along the lines that you were disappointed with your shopping experience. No retailer wants to lose customers to the opposition.

Just as a funny aside ...... when I was managing a customer department one of my assistants was dealing with a particularly difficult customer complaint; the conversation ended .... but before the phone line had been disconnected she said ' f*ing old bore' - or similar. Guess who then had to sort that problem out!!

lorne · 03/03/2003 21:57

Hi Happydays,

I think you have every right to complain. No way should a check out operator talk to another operator while serving a customer. I think that is very rude. She should certainly not use the word 'bloody'either. I would not be surprised if other customers have complained about her as well.

clucks · 05/03/2003 00:48

I have complained loads and got nowhere and as a consequence am really timid now. I used to be a total ball-buster. I have tried complaining to the offender at the time of the misdemeanour e.g. bloke in food retail picking up dropped cutlery and putting back in tray. This drove me crazy and people (including other customers) just stared at me as if I was a total nutter. We all have different standards (of hygiene, language etc.) and sadly for me, it's not worth the effort.

Except for a recent parking fine, that is..

Original poster
happydays · 05/03/2003 08:01

Thanks again for all your advice. I didn't want to complain to the lady as she seemed like she would enjoy it, and do not want my ds to see me and her going at it.

I have out in a letter to the manager, enclosing my receipt so then will know who it is. Posted it on Monday. Just waiting for any reply now.

i will let you know when/if I receive a reply.

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