Just resigned due to abusive male ‘customer’. I feel so sad and humiliated.

[TheEmperorIsNaked]

Yesterday I tried to serve a man who, I think, had decided to act like a cunt before he entered the store. I did my best not to rise to it and tried to remain professional in the presence of what I can only describe as utter contempt from him. He called me names and threw paper at me and goaded me to call the police.

I called for security but they didn’t come. I have since been advised that they are employed to protect stock and not staff 😡.

I should have left my desk but I stupidly decided to follow previous instructions to never leave the desk unmanned. When he left he said, menacingly “You better not report me”.

After he’d gone and a colleague came to relieve me I burst into tears … In front of customers! I think the humiliation of that is what hurts the most. I then had to walk through the shop like that. I don’t know who saw me but I feel so ashamed; like I disgraced myself in public.

I left a note on my bosses desk explaining that I was leaving early. We spoke today and I told her that my husband would be delivering my resignation letter tomorrow and that I would not be able to work my notice period. She was very kind and offered solutions but I just can’t face going back in there. I’m terrified that this man will come back in again, but even if he doesn’t, some other nasty misogynist probably will.

I feel absolutely defeated.

@TheEmperorIsNaked - Letter sent! Brilliant

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and dont waste any time thinking about this incident.

And next week start your job search.

I wish I could remember, but there is an online vacancies web site where not only are jobs advertised but previous and current employees can give their experience of working there.

If anyone knows which site it is please do list. It was certainly an eye opener reading about the experience of staff and volunteers as the UK's largest domestic violence project (not to be taken as apply to any other DV service but to one that has become corporatised)

And then OP can not only find a job with an idea of what employees think about the employed but add her comments to any vacancies (eg her old job!) listed by the company who treated her so badly.

Anyone employing customer facing roles, and the general public need to wake up to the fact that one of the reasons that customer service is in decline is because those doing the job are treated like this far too often and for an unskilled, low waged job, frankly it's not worth it. So no, they don't care, or they leave and there's less and less people willing to put up with this shit for someone else's benefit and profit margin.

It's going to push prices even higher if it continues to be an employee market because they'll have to pay more to get staff at all.

There's another thread recently about nasty, rude and entitled customers and most of the responses are "No one should abuse you but...... Service is rubbish....... But people get frustrated.... But.... But"

There's no but, take some bloody responsibility for your own behaviour and stop being an arsehole because you know you can and get away with it. Stop creating problems where there aren't any to get attention, take some responsibility for yourself and grow up a bit! And companies and people meant to control these things need to stop pandering to overgrown children and protect their staff from people who are essentially bullies hiding behind 'customer service' as an excuse.

@AlrightJulia That doesn't sound like a safe environment at all, can you raise concerns with management? You shouldn't be in a situation where there's no back up, although realistically I know all too well it happens.

I’m glad you’re feeling relieved. Just looking back to when I worked in shops, I cannot ever remember having any issues with customers. This was 30 years ago but people were pretty much all nice. I loved Christmas in one shop even though it was busy as it was men buying gifts for their wives and girlfriends, looking for advice from me, a young woman. I know the 80s and 90s had their own issues but it was such a different time.

Good luck op I admire your stance.