People who go out of their way to be rude (semi-long retail rant)

[skygazer]

:rant:

I'm so glad it's Friday. Retail during the holidays, even in a grocery store, is so stressful. And there are so many people who are just assholes, to put it bluntly.

Had a lady today, asked her if I could help her. She asks if I carry a certain wine. No, I'm sorry, I don't, I tell her politely.

"You mean you're out or you never carry it?"

"I don't carry it."

"Well, other stores in this chain carry it." (belligerently, as if she expects me to say, "oh, sorry, in that case, I'll just pull some out of my ass for you.")

"Well," I explain patiently and politely, "this is a very small store so I don't have room to carry all the wines other, bigger stores might have."

"Hmmmph! All the more reason not to come here. What a stupid store!" and she stomps off in a huff.

Now this doesn't hurt or even offend me but it does kind of amaze me. I am often used by customers as a sort of whipping post for their frustrations and frankly, abusing a retail clerk is kind of like beating a chained dog - they can't leave and they can't fight back. It's pretty low.

Got a complaint about the store condition? Like another lady did today - ("you never have anything I need, the shelves are always bare!" At first, I thought she was talking about MY department which I keep up very well - there's hardly ever an empty space but then I realized she was talking about other areas) - speak to the manager. That's his department, not mine. I'm just a fucking clerk. I stock shelves. I don't write schedules, I don't oversee the grocery department or the seafood or whatever she was bitching about, I stock wine and liquor.

"They should hire more people!" she snaps to me. Yeah, they should and I wish they would because I'm working my ass off and getting nothing in return but a ration of shit from people like you, lady. But I'm not in charge of hiring. I'm a fucking clerk.

I'm sorry - I don't hate my job either. I actually like it most of the time but there's a vocal minority of miserable people out there who make life miserable for everyone they come in contact with. We DON'T have enough staff and we are all overworked, stretched too thin, and it does affect a shopper's experience and I personally think it's poor business practice. But I'm not in charge. I'm just trying to do the best I can and you know, very few people ever tell you when you're doing a GOOD job - they let you know when they're not happy, though.

[KitchenWitch]

1. Having worked in Retail

I can empathize...Retail can be hell.

:hug:

[flvegan]

2. I always go out of my way to be especially nice, respectful

and full of praise for the folks I see working retail, especially in the grocery stores.

I try to have a kind word or kudos for a job well done (when it is), as I know that these folks are looked upon by many as mere servants, put on earth to put their shit in bags, or to scurry off and see if there's any more of X in the back. Oh, and to run out like a tennis ballboy to retrieve their cart because they might burn a fucking calorie putting it in the cart return or (God fucking forbid) bringing it back to the store.

And you know, if not for these folks doing their jobs, the things I wanted, wouldn't be there for me to buy. No Boca Burgers. No chips. No produce. God help the person responsible for restocking the tater tots and beer if that job isn't done extra dilligently...

Sorry you had such a shitty time of it...

[skygazer]

4. Bless you, flvegan

We love customers like you.

I don't mind chasing carts and checking the back for rice cakes and helping people reach items on top shelves and all the stuff I do all day - that's what I get paid for.

But I don't get paid enough to be someone's whipping post or take the brunt of their bad day at the office.

Thanks for appreciating the little guys. :hi:

[flvegan]

6. Little guys, nothing.

You guys do all the work.

The last law firm I worked at, the file room folks were "the little guys" there. I was in leadership, so I had some clout. I made damn sure that the file room folks not only got first dibs on our pizza, cake, etc that was brought in, I also made damn sure they got more vocalization as to "job well done" than anyone else. The attorney folk could pretty much kiss my ass, but the file room kids, were gold.

Why? For one, they got shat on by everyone else. For two, if they did half-assed jobs, that place would have come to a standstill. People forget how much they rely on the "little people" that are usually the glue that holds a process together.

[skygazer]

7. I think I love you

:loveya:

A few years back, we were considering a strike, mostly because of the issue of health care. We didn't want a raise, we didn't want any change in our contract, we just wanted to retain our health benefits.

A customer very snippily told me one day that SHE had a degree and was a teacher and I made nearly as much as she did and she didn't think that was right and we had no reason to complain and should accept what we were given and be thankful for it.

I explained to her that we were compensated for the wear and tear that our job puts on our bodies. I work 40 hours a week. Every day I work, I lift at least 60 or 70 cases of wine, usually much more than that - 100 or more. Each weighs anywhere from 40 to 60 pounds. I lift, stack and move them, I kneel, I bend, I stretch, I carry. I have arthritis in my hands, my back and my knee, I have carpal tunnel in both wrists. I had surgery on my neck last year. There's not a person in this industry who doesn't have pretty substantial wear and tear injuries. THAT'S why I get paid what I do - by the time I retire, I'm going to be a cripple.

She shut up.

[LeftyMom]

8. Oh god, tell me about it.

My right shoulder still hurts from moving appliances around and I haven't worked in retail for almost five years. I used so many freaking Salonpas patches on my aching muscles I developed an allergy to the adhesive. All that for $9/hr part time and all the attitude customers and management wanted to give me.

I have never missed retail work. Not for a single moment.

[MrScorpio]

3. The service industry is no better

They should be careful... I'm a ACC trained killer.

[skygazer]

5. Yes and it's often worse

A lot of people in the service industry depend on tips and that can be a good or bad thing depending on a lot of factors, beyond whether the person is good at their job. I'd rather work retail and how depressing is that?

[TheCentepedeShoes]

9. Guess I'd better apologize

Looks like my mom got out on the loose again. I'll try to keep a closer eye on her. :7

[Beaverhausen]

10. When I worked retail customers loved me

Because I never answered their questions with "I don't know" instead I said "I don't know, let me find out/let me find someone who does know."

It amazed me that by me actually DOING MY JOB I was praised and thanked by our customers.

when I had bad customers I tried my best to "kill them with kindness" and that worked some of the time but I agree, some people go out of their way to be rude. I tried not to take it personally.

I try to be understanding to retail workers because I do understand the the pay sucks, the hours suck more and it isn't their fault that there aren't enough employees.

But I have to admit if they aren't being as helpful as they should (for instance, if I get the answer "I don't know") I can be rude back.

[Err]

11. When I worked retail this past summer...

I was equally rude to customers.

If I had to put up with it, then they're going to as well. It was only a summer job so what the hell did I care.