People are just not nice!

[TnKrBeLlA012]

I have come to this conclusion several times this past weekend. I work customer service at Kohls. I have come across the rudiest,nastiest,miserable people. We had one lady who wanted 44.00 griddles for 14.00 because that's what a cashier told her so she should get them at that price. What does the store do? They gave them to her for 14.00. Then she says her candles rang up wrong. We explained she had different ones then the ones that are cheaper. She again complaines,so they give her that too. The next day she comes back to return some items. I'm the lucky one to get her again. After returning her items she mentions a pair of pants she bought rang up wrong. That day we had our district manger and regional manager in the store. I get the one manger who isn't tied up with the big bosses. She explaines the pants she wanted are different then the cheaper ones on the rack. She starts yelling about the customer is always deceived and that she wants these pants for the 20.00 price not the sale price of 34.00. She then goes on a rant about dvd players that we sold out of the day after Thanksgiving. That they again deceived the customer and the store is going to have many lawsuites. Just as she is yelling this our big managers show up. They tell us to give her a dvd player we have in the back, it's bigger than the one pictured in the ad. She then gets it and complains it doesn't come with a case. At that point I want to hit her in the head with it. She says she does this to help other consumers. She has researched all the retail laws on line and will not be taken advantage of. Nuts is all I will say. People are rude to others . They don't care what they do as long as they get what they want. I'm sure these are the same ones that show up every Sunday for church. We also gave out 10.00 coupons for every 50.00 that was spent. If you return 50.00 you have to give one coupon back. I'm sure this makes sense? so when they return items I inform them they have to return the coupon. They never seem to have the coupon on them or they say, "What coupon?" I then tell them we have to deduct 10.00 off the bill if they don'yt return the coupon. A miracle then happens, the coupon shows up. They will lie right to your face and could careless that they are doing it. I am so sick of mean ,lying, rude people. Everyday new ones show up with different stories to tell. What I think should happen is when a person treats another person badly they should be given the same treatment back. I will never go out of my way for a rotten person. The nice ones I will do whatever I can. If they forget a dicount card at home I will make sure I give them one. It pays to be nice to people. A lesson so many need to learn!

 

[danacara]

A customer service job at Kohl's, during the holiday season - I bow down before you. You have patience that I can only imagine.
All the best,
D

 

[jeleebeene]

I have worked in customer service, and I do understand what you are talking about. THe philosophy is "The Customer Is Always Right", but I never have agreed with that as they take advantage then. The customer may be right to a certain extent, but after that, they just need to deal with it and move on.

I saw alot of what you are talking about while shopping this past weekend. All I could do was roll my eyes and walk away - I will only argue a price if it is marked one way, but rings up another. Mistakes like that happen - but to try to pull a fast one is just wrong. And the managers will give it to them on weekends like that as they don't want to hold anyone else up. I stood in line at Kohl's for an hour just to check out, and the cashiers were doing that left and right I heard...so ofcourse others are going to try it. It isn't right.

 

[Serena]

Just another month to go.

 

[Disney Doll]

You are my idol. Customer service at Kohl's in the month before Christmas!!!!!!!! You are my idol.

Console yourself with the fact that "karma" catches up with those people eventually.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I spent 13 years in retail and am still having holiday nightmares. Seriously, when I am stressed I have "TARGET NIGHTMARES." It's awful.

I wanted to say "THANK YOU" to y'all for having online Black Friday shopping. It was awesome.

Hang in there.

 

[tinkerbee]

I totally can relate to you. I work at Wal-mart and they are they same way there. People are always trying to get something for nothing. People know how to take advantage of the stores because they pretty much know that the store will do anything to keep them coming back. I just don't know how these people sleep well at night. Because in the long run we are the ones who pay for their cheepness with higher cost for products for the stores are not the ones who pay the cost it's the consumers.

 

[krissy3483]

I worked customer service at Kohls for over a year, and was there for last Christmas. I was also a POS supervisor, so I got it from all ends. I always hated those $10 coupon promotions because we had a group of regulars who would come in when we were giving them out, buy hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise, get the coupons, and then return everything. Of course they never had those coupons on them to give back. I absolutely could not stand it when people would blatantly lie to me, because they knew they would get what they wanted if they complained enough...not from me, but from managers who couldn't stand to send someone away angry. I always hated when I followed policy, and then they would make me look like an idiot by giving the customer whatever assinine thing they wanted. That happens everywhere though, and now I work returns at Home Depot....many days, I wish I was back at Kohl's.

 

[liznboys]

Oh gosh, I feel bad for those of you in retail right now! I worked in retail for awhile in my teens, and I still have vivid memories of some of the awful customers. It is truly amazing how low some people will stoop to save a few dollars. Hang in there!

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Boy, does this bring back memories! Before we were stationed up here, I worked at a Kmart in Fl as a front-end supervisor and spent alot of time at customer service. *shudder* I once had a customer that wanted to return a pair of pants that were from a different store (he didn't even have a receipt). When I tried to explain that they were not our brand and I could not refund them he reached across the counter and slapped my face. Our security officer Jeff was watching on his camera in the back and rushed up there along with the store manager. While Jeff (who was a friend of DH and I) checked to make sure I was ok (the man's ring split my lip), our manager took the guy outside and actually told him to leave. Both Jeff and I were furious since it was assult and I was mad enough to want to press charges. I quit right then and two days later was hired at Walmart (where I was never hit). I hated working with the public (ask someone at a fitting room what goes on back there ) and I will never do it again. Those in retail (especially layaway and cust. service which I have worked before) have my sympathy, not only during the holidays but all year. Isn't it nice when a manager tells you to follow policy, then acts like you were just giving the 'poor' customer a hard time. Then they give the customer whatever they want and act like a hero.

 

[Amberle3]

I've never like the "customer is always right" phrase, and I frankly don't agree with it. I didn't agree with it before I owned a business, and I sure don't agree with it now.

No, I'm not giving you a discount on the fare because "someone" in my office told you that you could go for half price. I'm the only one in the office, and I'm quite sure I'm not that stupid. I love it when I have customers give me the "someone else there" told me line.

And I've seen plenty of the people returning items that they "never wore" but you can tell they did. I was at Zellers the other day and a woman there was returning 2 pair of sneakers (that her kids were wearing) because they apparently have a deal where you can return items that your kids have grown out of? Well the shoes were a pretty common brand (can't remember right now) and the clerk didn't ask to see a receipt or anything, I remember thinking that wow, anyone could just walk in and get a new pair of shoes for their kids. At least from that store.

OTOH, I do believe that customers do have rights. I'm in a bit of a tussle with Home Depot right now because of some vertical blinds. The track is missing the 2 little clips in the centre parts to hold the vanes there. I have those vanes, just nowhere to put them. I've been trying for weeks now just to get the clips sent, they apparently can't do that. They were going to have a rep from the manufacturer come and look at them, but then decided that they should just replace the track (!) which means I have to take all the vanes off it, unscrew it from the wall and take it down, and then put a new one up (why can't I just get the two clips?!). Last week when they called to say they were ordering it, I was told they would deliver the new track. Today they called, the new track is in and I can *come and pick it up* at any time. Well I had to bribe a family member into driving me to get the other ones, they don't fit in my car. He's not available for several weeks, I'm going out of town (twice) in the next month, and I just don't have time to figure out how I'm going to get the track from there to here. I'm sorry, but a) it was their choice to replace the track, not mine and b) they said they'd deliver it, so I want it delivered.

I'm sure the customer service rep that called thinks I'm being unreasonable, but I just want them to do what they said they would. Mind you she also said that she'd call back shortly, and that was 10 hours ago.

 

[HollyJoy]

I worked in retail for many, many years, and well, unfortunately, there are many like her in the world. Is she really doing this for the average consumer? NO. She's trying to get away with as much as she can, because she knows she can. It's aggrivating, but you just can't let people like her get to you... what goes around comes around. ... she'll get hers one day.

 

[Serena]

Tinkerbela, just remember, there are a lot of nice people out there. It's just there are too many of the other kind.
Vent here if you like, but remember your attitude will be the deciding factor with a lot of people. If you let the scam artists put you in a bad mood, then the rest of the day will be bad.
A lot of the times a customer just needs to see your smile to make their day a better one. And in turn they are pleasant to deal with.

I don't mean to lecture, I just don't want you to let them get to you.

 

[mtemm]

you have my sympathy.

I did a stint working at jordan marsh in the mens polo shop. my biggest nightmare was a particular man who would come in from time to time and buy about $1k worth of merchandise. Of course before purchasing he had to model it for me, ask me my opinion, ask me to suggest other items, etc. then a few weeks later would come and return it all...obviously used, disgusting, smelly. and management would tell me to take it back. all of it. ick. there was another jordan marsh that finally stopped allowing him in their store (we all talked, he hit ever polo shop within a 50 mile radius). ours never would ban him. ick ick ick.

 

[sweet angel]

I can't imagine working in customer service at this time of year. I know I wouldn't have the patience to deal with the wackos that come out of the woodwork!

 

[gr8tpanther]

Yup, I work in retail management, and holidays are the worst!!!! I am just GLAD I don't work at Toys R Us this time of year!!!!

 

[mum4jenn]

OHHHHH the memories.......!!!!


I also used to work in a large Dept store Gayfers)and I just about lost my mind there. We had a customer bring a dress back with a SEARS label sewn in and she insisted that she bought it at Gayfers so they gave her a refund!!!!

We even had people (grown adults) use the bathroom (#2) in the fitting rooms!!!

I could write a book!~!!!

 

[Tuffcookie]

Sorry you have to deal with rude people. I will remember your post when I do my shopping and offer a word of encouragement to the salesclerks I encounter!

TC

 

[chesirekate]

I worked in retail, at a music store at the mall, for 4 or 5 holiday seasons. I actually didn't mind it at all. There was a major difference though, between my situation and yours. I was an assistant manager and the manager was excellent. He would never let people get away with the crap they try to pull and he would never question my actions in front of a customer. If I made a decision on something, he would back me up when the person asked for a manager. If the manager had been like yours and just given people whatever they wanted because they wanted it, I would never have been able to handle it. I don't understand companies that do whatever it takes to keep a dishonest customer. Who wants thieves and con artists 'shopping' at their store? Because that's what these people are. Letting them get away with their scams just enables them and ends up hurting the good, honest customers.

I'm truly sorry you have to deal with jerks. Both customers and upper management.

 

[DiaDeGuadalupe]

Ooh, sorry to hear about the bad day
There will always be people like that sharing our air (sad, isn't it?) and I'm another who believes that what goes around comes around.

I was a hairdresser for a long time, and we'd get people like that, too. I don't know how a person could use 3/4 of a bottle of shampoo, then demand we refund the money because "it wasn't good". Well if it wasn't good, wouldn't you have figured it out within the first few tries? Uh, yeah. Then there were a few people who would do the same with conditioner, but DILUTE the leftover stuff with water! Like we wouldn't notice...

The best, though, were the people who came in for updos (prom season, military ball season, etc.). They knew up front what the cost would be, and after a stylist would work on the client's hair for 1 1/2 hours +, the client would try to get away with the "I hate it" excuse and not pay. One of the best updo people in the shop had this happen, and as soon as he heard about the no pay client (who was still at the front desk), he calmly walked up and quietly started taking the pins out of the 'do and letting it all fall. The girl was mortified. Let's just say that suddenly the hair was beautiful and she paid up. The entire salon decided that Le was the hero. LOL!

Keep your chin up, and remember that for every rotten jerk that comes through, there are 10 nice people who appreciate what you do