Frustrated: customer service!

[ICF]

A survey and three letters actually. I'll check the barn for the pitchforks. I'm sick and tired of people taking the submissive route. When did it become ok/standard to be insulted or ignored or treated poorly in a place of business? It's not OK.

If you dont mind me asking, which Meijer (assuming it is one in Indiana) were you at?

 

[Ciao Mickey]

What foul language did the cashier use? Did you leave it out of your post?

Why didn't you speak with a manager that night before you left the store if what she said bothered you so much? That's when it would have done some good. Now they probably feel that you are being a PITA and want something out of it.

 

[Kathi OD]

That's just the thing... they don't have a manager there at 11p... at least one that can do anything. I've encountered that before, several years ago.

But...did you seek one out this time? Several years ago, there may have been extenuating circumstances that caused the manager to be out of the store. Or...company policy on this matter may have changed.

I would appreciate something more than being ignored for a couple of weeks. Homophobic slurs aren't a garden variety complaint, at least to my knowledge. I would assume that if something like that came across my desk, I'd make darn sure to nip it in the bud and make sure the person with the complaint knew that it wasn't company policy to allow that kind of language on the floor.

How do you know it wasn't nipped in the bud? What your letter pretty much described was discriminatory behavior. I am sure the corporate office took your complaint seriously. However, put yourself in their shoes. Do they take your letter at face value or do they take a few days to investigate the situation before replying? You know you're an honest person and wouldn't make up something like this, but the corporate offices of a large company don't know this.

Maybe a demotion to the stock room would be more appropriate for her choice of language... I don't want to see anyone lose their job, especially now - but the last thing I would want to do as an employee is piss off the people who were purchasing things from the store that provides my paycheck...

Not your decision to make. Also, not your business how it was handled internally. Personnel matters are protected by federal law. Hence, the blanket statement that the matter had been resolved. They can't tell you how it was resolved, just that it was.

So I should sit back and allow the company to let someone with a foul mouth still be on the floor? Just letting it go is a green light for some people.

Again, this is not your decision to make. It is the company's decision. If the company doesn't care enough, then that's their decision. Not yours. If you want to make decisions regarding corporate policy as it pertains to employee behavior, get a job in the Human Resources department at corporate.

FWIW, depending on the age of the employee, the term "gay" used as the cashier used it, is not meant to be a derogatory remark against homosexuals, nor were they calling you or your husband a homosexual. It's used to describe someone as just being weird or uncool (not that the employee of a store should be calling a customer weird or uncool, just that there is more than one negative meaning).

I want reassurance that this type of actions are not tolerated there. There is no reason for someone to be like that to another person.

You've gotten all the reassurance you're going to get. Unless you can find others who have been treated this way and can prove that this behavior is condoned by the company...

We are. We've not shopped there since (and that's big deal considering that is where we would go for everything other than groceries). Told several others too - but that still doesn't fix the matter.

This is all you can do. To be honest, you don't know whether or not the matter has been fixed. Even if it has not, it's not your job to make sure it's been fixed.

Complacency only allows this type of improper behavior to continue.

WOW! You are wasting way too much time and energy on this. I understand you were highly offended, but honestly...let. it. go.

 

[Magic Mom]

So I'm wondering if a $20.00 gift card from the store would make this better for you?

I was thinking $50.

 

[MsDisney23]

I was thinking $50.

Na, mayber $25.00

 

[ajk912]

Na, mayber $25.00

I am thinking $25 per instance of poor customer service. Once for the initial contact with the cashier, and let's not forget the OP sent 3 letters/emails with unsatisfactory results, so we are talking 4 instances of bad customer service here. She is entitled to $100 now. Plus medical bills, for the growing ulcer and reimbursement for the stamps/internet costs for sending the letters/emails. And of course an apology and assurance that the cashier has been fired and banned from any retail job ever again.

 

[ols386]

So I'm wondering if a $20.00 gift card from the store would make this better for you?

I actually don't think that's what the op wants. I don't think it's about money.

 

[sbell111]

Honestly, I can't imagine holding onto this issue long enough to even remember it by the time I got home. It blows my mind that anyone would be so troubled by it that they would not only issue a complaint once they've gotten home but be still simmering over it weeks later to the point that they would 1) issue a complaint over the form that the response was in and 2) then start a thread about it in here.

Not too long ago, something wacky happened and I actually said to myself that I couldn't wait until the next day because I was going to start a thread about the very imortant, yet somewhat amusing issue. Unfortunately, by the next day I could not remember what the issue is.

I have far too many demands on my actual life to spend energy on these minor dramas.

 

[sbell111]

I actually don't think that's what the op wants. I don't think it's about money.

Any idea what it IS about?

 

[wvjules]

With the way you're reacting I was expecting the chairs to be up on the tables 2 hours before closing!

 

[ols386]

Any idea what it IS about?

I think the op wants a personal apology, or something along those lines. And maybe to know how management handled it. JMO

 

[luvmy3]

Any idea what it IS about?

According to my DIS psychology degree, I think the OP feels that the cashier was directly targeting her love of Harry Potter. She was offended that the cashier finds Harry Potter "gay" as in geeky, nerdy, etc and maybe the OP feels that the cashier is saying that the OP herself is geeky and nerdy because she is buying a very expensive Harry Potter lego set for herself. Her feelings were hurt and she is using the "sexual orientation slur" as a deflection of why she really wants this cashier punished.

Disclaimer, I do not think the OP is geeky or nerdy for her love of HP, I myself am an HP lover

 

[ajk912]

With the way you're reacting I was expecting the chairs to be up on the tables 2 hours before closing!

<snort>

This reminds me of...oh boy, who is that poster..who takes all the atypical threads of the year and makes them into a downright hilarious parody around the end of the year. Well, that's the way I remember it in my head anyway. I remember having some fun with that thread last NYE while safely drinking at home.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I actually don't think that's what the op wants. I don't think it's about money.

I think the OP just wants people to tell her she's right.

Unfortunately, I cannot tell you I think you're right because I believe you are off the deep end here.

The matter has been settled. You sent a survey and wrote three letters. You got an apology. Now you're unhappy because it's not a "proper" apology (according to your definitions of what a "proper" apology should be).

I suggest if you want a "proper" apology, you either go to the store or write the store and tell them what a "proper" apology is. I'm sure they'd be happy to hand-write a note and send it to you if that will stop a situation that is apparently escalating out of control.

 

[LuvLDM]

YOU took the submissive route. If bullies need to be stood up to, then you should have told the cashier right then and there that her language was rude and ask to speak to a manager. Even if you "think" no manager is around. Make a stink. You don't walk away and write a letter. That's just cowardly and, as you have found, does nothing.

Exactly!
Op, you did not stand up to anyone, you went home and wrote letters.

FWIW the cashier doesn't sound like a bully, inappropriate & unprofessional....yes

Off topic but I think the term *bully* is so over used these days..it seems every time someone is rude they are characterized as a bully. There is a difference!

 

[focusondisney]

No, you call them on it on the spot.

How hard it is to say, hey that was a very rude comment you just made to me.

When I am in a store, if I feel that a cashier, or sales clerk, or whoever is being rude or behaving even just generally inappropriately, I will usually deal with it right then and there. I'll just come right out and say that I think they are being rude. Probably 9 times out of 10, I think they don't even realize that they are coming across rude, and will usually apologize right then. Not always, but usually.

I agree with these posts. Usually a well placed "Excuse Me?" will call attention to the clerk that you are not amused. And if they value the job, they will stop the rudness. But not always.

I had an incident at the grocery several years ago. I had to ask the young clerk to be more careful packing my bags & she made rude remarks back. I said "excuse me? " and pointed out that I had been shopping there for over 25 yrs. & no other clerk ever had a problem packing the bags as I asked. She continued her rude behavior for the rest of the transaction, even making rude comments & smerks as I walked away. Went right to the service desk. Yes, I was nervous & shaking about it.

Explained the situation to the customer service person & offered to speak to a manager or fill out a complaint form. The customer service person wa horrified about the comments & apoligized profusely. Said she'd make sure it was handled. I believe it was. This is a regional chain that prides itself on customer service. Other employees don't want that bad service reflected onto them, either.

Point is, deal with it at the time. I think it shows how important the incident was to you. And gives you a chance to see for yourself how the management reacts to your concerns.

 

[msjprincess]

I think the op wants a personal apology, or something along those lines. And maybe to know how management handled it. JMO

That's really none of her business

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

That's really none of her business

Agreed

 

[ols386]

That's really none of her business

I didn't say it was her business, but I think that she did want to know how it was handled. At least, that's my take on it.

 

[Acklander]

I think the op wants a personal apology, or something along those lines. And maybe to know how management handled it. JMO

I think the problem was, she waited until she was home to e-mail the info. If you want a personal apology, you should handle it in person. An e-mail just doesn't carry the same weight.
Personally, if someone said something I found offensive, I'd same something on the spot, but I'm the type where if I have something to say, I just say it.