Anyone noticed an increase in rude customers?

rozthemumofone · 2022-01-16T11:53:55+00:00

I work in retail. I'm wondering if it's just me or has anyone noticed an influx with rude and grumpy customers?

AwaitingSueGraysInvestigation · 16/01/2022 11:56

Not retail but public/customer facing. Yes — short fuses all round at the moment.

Hang in there. It’ll improve. People can’t be snappy forever, in the same way they can’t remain stressed and scared forever. It’ll pass.

lozzythemumofone · 16/01/2022 16:37

@AwaitingSueGraysInvestigation

Not retail but public/customer facing. Yes — short fuses all round at the moment.

Hang in there. It’ll improve. People can’t be snappy forever, in the same way they can’t remain stressed and scared forever. It’ll pass.

Ah that's a good way to look at it, I hope people aren't snappy forever haha done retail for nearly 10 years and really notice that lately people have been very rude

desperatehousewife21 · 18/01/2022 22:04

Not retail but insurance, on the phone. Feel like I’ve had 2 solid days of rude people. I’m currently trying to get out…I think generally everyone is just so fed up, which I get, but not fair to take it out on people just doing their job.

InTheMiddle23 · 18/01/2022 22:07

Hospitality. Absolutely. The sense of entitlement is astounding.

Floogal · 20/01/2022 13:55

Always been an issue, but more noticeable over past 10 years or so. I blame the popularity of food and consumer programs. Also fact leisure activities are more expensive and sparse. So often people treat grocery shopping as a day out and expect the Downton abbey experience from the people they look down on.

Not quite Gordon Ramsay, but I've sniped back at rude customers. I called one woman a Karen. Also told 2 very rude men "when you get a job, then you can tell me how to do mine!". They shut up after that.

Whydoesthecatalwaysdothat · 21/01/2022 22:29

I'd say there is also a direct correlation in the standards of customer services.

I've had appalling service from two companies in the last couple of days.

CharlotteGoldenblattYork · 22/01/2022 03:12

@Floogal I don't think using a term like Karen is something to be proud of!

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 22/01/2022 03:22

It’s funny because I was only saying to my husband how irritated I’ve started getting when trying to pop to the shops and get a few jobs done. It seems every time I go, no matter how much I plan ahead, it goes to shit.
For example, I ordered some medication online. The only shop that could do it was across town. I waited to get my text message to say it was ready to collect, loaded my three kids (all under five) into the car, drove across town, got them all out, queued for a while and when I got the the front they said the pharmacist had gone for lunch and I’d have to come back in an hour. I said I’d had a text saying it was ready to collect and no mention of this hour window where I couldn’t and got a shoulder shrug in response. So back into the car with all three kids, and home again, only to have to repeat the whole thing an hour later.

Now, this kind of thing seems to happen every time I need to get something like this done and I’m starting to lose my mind a little bit. Maybe you’re just the straw that broke the camel’s back?

SquidMonkey · 22/01/2022 20:19

@Floogal

Always been an issue, but more noticeable over past 10 years or so. I blame the popularity of food and consumer programs. Also fact leisure activities are more expensive and sparse. So often people treat grocery shopping as a day out and expect the Downton abbey experience from the people they look down on.

Not quite Gordon Ramsay, but I've sniped back at rude customers. I called one woman a Karen. Also told 2 very rude men "when you get a job, then you can tell me how to do mine!". They shut up after that.

Why were you using a misogynistic slur to a customer?

BoodleBug51 · 22/01/2022 20:24

We run a business selling bespoke mid/high end niche products and have always had fairly "exacting" customers, but we've reached a new high over the last few months.

Some people are just unbelievably rude, and their rudeness makes me want to help them even less.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 22/01/2022 20:26

@Floogal

Always been an issue, but more noticeable over past 10 years or so. I blame the popularity of food and consumer programs. Also fact leisure activities are more expensive and sparse. So often people treat grocery shopping as a day out and expect the Downton abbey experience from the people they look down on.

Not quite Gordon Ramsay, but I've sniped back at rude customers. I called one woman a Karen. Also told 2 very rude men "when you get a job, then you can tell me how to do mine!". They shut up after that.

I'd really be interested in your justification for those types of responses. I've been in hospitality/retail of some description since Jesus was in nappies and I've never been that rude.

ShaneTheThird · 22/01/2022 20:38

Yes I've been in retail for years and have absolutely noticed a big increase in rude customers. Someone even called my colleague a cunt the other day because she asked her to join the queue to get into the shop. Not sure why it is but about 50% of my customers are now really rude.

fortheloveofcheesecake · 22/01/2022 21:03

I'm in private healthcare and had a really rude patient this week. No need for it...I was not having the best day and I really had to breathe deep to compose myself. Just so unnecessary.

Tumbleweed101 · 23/01/2022 11:35

I find mask wearing in shops makes me irritable so maybe people are just feeling like they want to get out quicker than usual and delays annoy them.

Not an excuse to be rude but maybe why people are getting more impatient.

drinkingwineoutofamug · 23/01/2022 11:38

Nhs. Not patients but relatives. Wow
Been told I'm in a cushy job 😂😂
Told them there's plenty of vacancies if they also want a cushy number

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 23/01/2022 11:42

I'm never rude to retail/hospitality staff - I spent too many years suffering in customer service myself! - but I have noticed that my tolerance has dropped massively. I've stopped taking shit from the higher-ups at work (known as 'the cunts upstairs), mostly. I just refuse to roll over anymore.

I don't know if it's age or related to the restrictions of the past couple of years, but I've definitely become a lot more assertive.

There's never an excuse to be rude to those in customer service though. It's a tough job.

QuestionsorComments · 23/01/2022 11:43

I feel I have become ruder as a customer because I'm so frustrated by the customer service from so many firms ATM. Not so much in retail, actually , but anything that involves a call centre. When you've been on hold for 30 minutes to be told they can't help you, you need to call someone else or they can't do what you wanted, it can be quite hard to be patient!

I don't think I'm outright rude, I wouldn't dream of swearing at someone doing their job, but I know I'm likely to be grumpy when I've had to wait a long time for someone not to help me.

Why are the queues so long for all of them still? I gave up and emailed the HSBC CEO direct this week. Then I did get my (very small) issue, that I'd been chasing for 2 months resolved, in 24 hours though and £50 goodwill gesture!

worriedatthemoment · 23/01/2022 11:45

My ds16 works part time for a fast food restaurant chain and the abuse he gets sometimes from grown adults its quite worrying as you can clearly see he is a young lad , sweared at , shouted at etc

Userxxxxx · 31/01/2022 19:47

Yes, after 10 years+ on the telephone whether it be telesales, customer service work in a courier depot even, I never heard much different to you have a lovely/professional/bubbly manner.

Until I become a live chat robot with a company who now I know why they switched the phones off! I was actually more afraid of someone calling me a robot because of the behind screens. Never mind as the first thing you should say to someone who calls you.

Blow me down, went out of the way to call a customer (and it is an exception to be called by our company pretty much as we have to do this in our own time when just on emails) this customer goes are you a darlek as I'm trying to pass DPA and advise calls are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.

I'm so taken aback - I'd even apologised for phone line quality but checking back call recording it is as clear as crisp!

Joy69 · 06/02/2022 22:33

Not sure if people are ruder or if now I have to work on a telephony line I'm being subjected to unfiltered customers. I am astounded by the amount of racism that I encounter. It's almost as if they think it's ok because they're on the phone. A colleague of mine who isn't from this country( but speaks English fluently) was reduced to tears a few weeks ago. People are disgusting.

Starlightandsparkles · 06/02/2022 22:47

I work in retail and I walked on shift at 4pm today
By 4:02pm I’d been called a ‘fat cunt’ and by 4:05pm I’d been called ‘a huge slag’
It’s so soul destroying as I’m just trying my best-99% of my customers are lovely but there is always one

I have a woman come in weekly and she’ll speak to me like shit-while smirking because she knows I can’t do anything about it as the smallest slur and she’s there complaining about me-I get hauled in every time to explain to the boss
I’d love her to do my job for one day and see how she copes with it
I’m sick of her sitting on her fat arse loudly slagging us all off and telling us how to do our jobs

This is from a woman who’s never done a days work in her life