Engadget Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 I truly don't get it! I manage a store for a non-profit and the people are becoming more insane. Some examples: Showing up when we're closed and freaking out about it. Talking to another employee and lying about what they said. Trying to enter when the store is closed, and says so in front of their face. It's getting to me, doesn't help that I hate my job and need a better one and there isn't much around here.
jerbear Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 Some customers believe they are always right, staff has to kiss butt, brown nose, has to be right, and entitled to five star service for a half star price. There is not much staff can do but the manager can step in and diffuse the issue. That is one reason why I could not work in retail sales. Have you looked into another job? I don't know your situation even after numerous posts. I do know it is not easy to get a job right now. It is improving.
Author Engadget Posted February 25, 2012 Author Posted February 25, 2012 Some customers believe they are always right, staff has to kiss butt, brown nose, has to be right, and entitled to five star service for a half star price. There is not much staff can do but the manager can step in and diffuse the issue. That is one reason why I could not work in retail sales. Have you looked into another job? I don't know your situation even after numerous posts. I do know it is not easy to get a job right now. It is improving. I need a better job, unfortunately I had one that paid a lot more but it ended up not happening because of a hiring freeze. I guess it was good because it entailed a TON of driving, like 4 hours per day, and possible 80 hour work weeks for 10k more than I make now. I am the manager, and my previous job was a shift supervisor for a security firm. I just hate dealing with them, they're nuts. My area for jobs (I live 5 minutes from where I work) is awful too. I need to go far away. I used to work at Target and Best Buy maybe 8 years ago, and those customers are zombies. People would push a cart through a Target aisle and walk right into you and not even notice. I'm not a fan of mindless consumerism, so I'm in the wrong business for sure.
jerbear Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 I need a better job, unfortunately I had one that paid a lot more but it ended up not happening because of a hiring freeze. I guess it was good because it entailed a TON of driving, like 4 hours per day, and possible 80 hour work weeks for 10k more than I make now. I am the manager, and my previous job was a shift supervisor for a security firm. I just hate dealing with them, they're nuts. My area for jobs (I live 5 minutes from where I work) is awful too. I need to go far away. I used to work at Target and Best Buy maybe 8 years ago, and those customers are zombies. People would push a cart through a Target aisle and walk right into you and not even notice. I'm not a fan of mindless consumerism, so I'm in the wrong business for sure.I'm trying to get myself out of consumerism and it is hard once you start. "They" get you started in college! Credit cards, living on credit, borrowing for education, etc... My goodness, 5 minutes from work is great! To bad the customers are zombies. In reality, many places will still hire depending on need even with a hiring freeze. The Target, Walmart, Sears, and Kmart shoppers are insane! Target shoppers will run into other customers. Keep going and won't' say sorry especially to staff. Walmart and Kmart staff and shoppers are worse, carts hitting cars, cars hitting cars, people getting ruined over. So much easier with Amazon! Anyway... I know what you mean by the jobs not being there and doing more work, mindless work, for a few thousands more. It is not easy, sometimes it is just easier to stay put, sit in a chair, twiddle the thumbs, read news at work; but it does get old very quickly. I don't know, sometimes I wonder how the US survives. Have you looked into other regions for work? I've looked into other regions for work but that requires national networks and having a job lined up before jumping. Or worse yet, one has to be there to get a job. I do wish you the best in your job search. A good job or career is the second dysfunctional family you encounter; good thing is you can get out of that family and go into a new one.
veggirl Posted February 26, 2012 Posted February 26, 2012 hah I work in an office but we have customers.. They will look straight at my boss, while I'm sitting 5 feet away and be like "well VEGGIRL said *insert total lie here*" It's...great
Jynxx Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 >>Customers, why are they so insane? Because they can, and they can because they understand that their spendings pay your wage. Never forget that. 1
Author Engadget Posted February 28, 2012 Author Posted February 28, 2012 >>Customers, why are they so insane? Because they can, and they can because they understand that their spendings pay your wage. Never forget that. There are always more customers, I tell them off if they cross the line. The customer is NOT always right. 2
juliebean2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 I used to be in retail and now I run my own business. I've learned that the customer is supposed to be always right. However, there is only so much we as humans can do to please them. The hardest part about business is realizing we may not be able to please everyone. Of course, if a customer is abusive and rude, you can refuse to serve that person and/or report the individual.
D-Lish Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 I've worked in retail my whole life. My mom owned a store, I took it over, I've managed stores, managed managers... I've seen it all. I've been screamed at, threatened, I've had things thrown at me- and I've even dodged being spit on. Dealing with rude customers happens on a daily basis in the customer service industry. The customer is not always right and I've never had a problem telling them so. When I owned my own business I had a woman try and return a worn housecoat that was months old and reeked of smoke. When I said no- she threw such a horrible tantrum, screaming and swearing and calling me every name in the book. I hopped over the counter and chased her out of the store. 7
Feliciti Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 Try working with children instead I love children, but unlike adults, they actually believe that the universe revolves specifically around them. That's really a handfull sometimes, even if I do love kids a lot Probably just stress. They don't do it to harass you, they do it because they are stressed out. I'm used to a Lawyer, I'm 99% sure they have worse customers than the retail business does, and he also acts like a jerk when shopping sometimes. Just don't do it yourself, and you contribute to a better day for all the other people in the retail business
zengirl Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 People are too often rewarded for bad behavior in a retail setting, so they continue that bad behavior elsewhere. The big chains will often give someone whatever (sure, you can return these shoes you've worn for 6 months---that was commonplace when I sold shoes in college) because it's a drop in the bucket to them and not worth the hassle to separate the real customer issues from the bad customers. This is getting much better, as retail operations are trying to cut losses to stay open, but it's still a problem. But really, the reason people adopt these bad behaviors is because it's gotten them somewhere. Honestly, it's not even the best way to work the system. I'll fully admit I am a 'complainer' when something goes wrong or a product is faulty or a mistake is made, even a minor one, but I do so nicely. You usually get better compensated for your complaint that way.
Feliciti Posted March 10, 2012 Posted March 10, 2012 People are too often rewarded for bad behavior in a retail setting, so they continue that bad behavior elsewhere. The big chains will often give someone whatever (sure, you can return these shoes you've worn for 6 months---that was commonplace when I sold shoes in college) because it's a drop in the bucket to them and not worth the hassle to separate the real customer issues from the bad customers. This is getting much better, as retail operations are trying to cut losses to stay open, but it's still a problem. But really, the reason people adopt these bad behaviors is because it's gotten them somewhere. Honestly, it's not even the best way to work the system. I'll fully admit I am a 'complainer' when something goes wrong or a product is faulty or a mistake is made, even a minor one, but I do so nicely. You usually get better compensated for your complaint that way. So they're actually just like children. They are used to get what they want if they scream - So they continue to do so
nofool4u Posted March 16, 2012 Posted March 16, 2012 I truly don't get it! I manage a store for a non-profit and the people are becoming more insane. Some examples: Showing up when we're closed and freaking out about it. Talking to another employee and lying about what they said. Trying to enter when the store is closed, and says so in front of their face. It's getting to me, doesn't help that I hate my job and need a better one and there isn't much around here. Go to Customers Suck! - Just because we serve them, doesn't mean we like them! That is some funny reading.
Tayla Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 Its the level at which we allow another to get under our skin. Its a toss of the coin most times. Our Business PULSATES off the Customers "wants". So much so that I often wonder why we don't get lipbalm from kissing them you know where...Its almost humiliating some days....The Constant "Im sorry, what can WE do to make things right??"....Granted 50% of the time there is reasonable requests and we absolutely want to correct our mistakes. But there is that customer who Pushes the envelope and actually gets one of the staff members to not only kiss the area...but smile the whole time. I have a level of No can do when it boarders on that request. Here is an example- On a business level we make Beautiful Color Prints (BANNERS) for clients ...They use them at family reunions, Birthday Parties...Basically to celebrate or give honor to. Yet in comes a "customer" who requested Prints of some Photos that I should have called the police about. (Think Children and not in a good position). My boss says...Listen this is the customer, you must do as they ask...just do your job...And I absolutely cried ( yes viewing those photos were perturbing)...About three prints in..I could go no further...I handed the guy his stuff and asked him to find another company for these shannigans...I could not in good faith serve his request. My boss berated me ...and I left feeling horrid. Yes I am an adult...and I could have just done the prints...but being a Mother my heart was breaking for these "subjects" of the photos...So sometimes the customer is less valued ...and this was one of them.
Black Jack Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 There are always more customers, I tell them off if they cross the line. Your job is to be responsible and cordial, not getting on their immaturity level. That's not good business ethic.
somedude81 Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 I work at retail and have to deal with customers more times than I would like. And it's weird, because when I'm working is the only time I actually have to interact with rude people, who expect way too much of me. One thing that also surprises me is that some people are actually pretty stupid and you have to explain everything to them.
chrissylee Posted March 17, 2012 Posted March 17, 2012 Showing up when we're closed and freaking out about it. . These are the worst type of customers.There is nothing I hate more then a last minute customer who expects you to stay open late for them.
DirtBiker Posted March 29, 2012 Posted March 29, 2012 Everyone has a negative reason about their job because they only think the negative side. Even I’m in the same trouble. The only way to survive this is to think only about the good things and stay calm.
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