Rude Customers

[Serena]

I have one customer that shops quite often. I never know what mood she's in though or why she always comes to me. One day she will cuss me out, the next time she'll blow me kisses or such. I think she's nuts. lol

Another woman comes in at least every week. I happen to know her from elsewhere and she knows my girls. She knows my oldest is in the military and every time I see her she makes some reference to the war and is she dead yet?
I avoid her if I can. I told her I didn't like her talking like that but she does what she pleases.

 

[teacherforhi]

I worked in a grocery store when I was in college. We would physically move a snack stand into the line to block it off, along with putting up a closed sign and turning out the light, and people would still try and get in my line!

More recently, the computer lab at our local library was being remodeled. We put up a theater-type rope as more of a reminder that the lab was closed, along with signs at both entrances. Keep in mind, there were no computers in the lab. There were some new cubicles being installed but it was obvious that it was a work in progress. People would come all the way upstairs and step OVER the rope, walk into the lab and then look around shocked that there were no computers! After the first few, I just sat there and watched them. I can't tell you how many times I was asked, "Is the computer lab closed?" Ummm, what was your first clue?

 

[mum4jenn]

Back when I was a cashier at Publix there was a sign at the end of the register that pulled out to indicate closed. People were constantly closing it and walking right on in. Then we would pull the sign out, place a buggy sideways across the entrance of the line and they would move the buggy. Then we would pull the sign out, place the buggy across the entrance AND pull a large heavy display in front of the entrance and they would either move it or slide it enough to squeeze through!!!! This happened so many times ti me it is not even funny.

People just don't realize that clerks have to clock in and out and when they have to clock out late(because of something like this) then they usually get into trouble by the management. Getting overtime is usually a huge no-no and if you are scheduled to close the next day after getting too much time there is no way you can go home early if you are the only one closing.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Ok, this happened to me twice yesterday and once today--a customer called asking about the status of an order she had placed in a different store! And none of the times had this customer called our location by mistake--they knew they were not calling the location they placed the order at. Even worse, two of the three got very upset when I could not tell them about their order!

Also, as the receiver it is my job to call the customers when their orders come in. TWICE today I got a "someone called me and I don't know who" callback--when I left messages! And every single day I'll get at least one "you just called and said my dress was in, can you check and see if it's really in?"

 

[MaryPA]

I was once "told" {or should I say screamed at},

"The customer is always right, IT'S THE LAW!"


btw, she bounced a check and was upset that I wouldn't let her write a check to cover a bad check.

We still remember that one in the office and it was about 10 years ago!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

yikes!
I've had tons a issues with customers returning things but I've never been spit at!

The hilarious part is that she refused to take the gift card and said she would never be shopping at our store again (BTW, I love that threat. Usually I am dying to say back, "Thank you! I never want to see you again!"). Then she spit on me and stormed off. About five minutes later she stormed back and snatched the gift card off the counter (where I had left it, expecting this), and stormed off again!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I work at a fast food place and usually work the Drive-thru. either the window or taking the ordes.
Ive had people ask me to hold while they finish their cell phone conversations!!!!

I'm sometimes thinking about what I need to order--as soon as I pull up BAM they want to know what I want. Umm--still looking at the menu. If you don't wish me to look at the menu, I suggest not putting one that is nearly as big as my van by the speaker box.

I wonder how many think I'm talking on my cell phone.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

As far as the "line closed" thing in a store...I have always thought that they needed to put up a physical barrier of some sort at the end of the line. Like a 3 foot x 3 foot board with the words "Register Closed" painted on it, that could be placed to block entrance to the line.

Nope--they usually just turn off the light--then they tried the little bars--then the little chains. I had worked in one store where they put the movable snack racks to block the aisle. Yet still some would just try to inch on through anyway.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

There's two more types of customers that I just love.

We have savings cards at our store, as most stores do. Some of the parents will let there babies / toddlers hold them - and stick them in their mouths, and then hand them to me covered in baby spit.

Then there are the customers who get mad if I don't have a bagger. Umm, if there's six registers open, and only three baggers, then half the registers aren't going to have them.

Baggers do move around, and usually one will come right over if a older, disabled person, or someone with kids, or is pregnant comes in. But there are some people who just don't want to bag becuase they don't want to bag.

I've had people ask me, "Do I have to bag my own?" in a rude way.

I've also had people argue with me about sale prices. Once ice cream was buy one get one free, and a guy only got one, and it rang up at full price, $6. Well he was insisting it was $3, but I was saying, "no sir, it's buy one get one free." But he didn't want two, so he was being very rude, basically demanding that I only charge him half price since he only wanted one.

 

[sha_lyn]

My other pet peeve is that we have the large ride on toys on display. They are up on a shelf that is about 4 feet up, and there are signs in front of each display that says "PARENTS - FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY, PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN PLAY ON DISPLAYED MERCHANDISE". But yet, every time I work, there is at least one parent who will lift these items down to the floor and let their little brats ride all over the store.

I never woiuld let either of my kids do that (although havebeen know to get something down for them tosit on the check the size of it before buying, but anyway). One time we were in Toys r Us and a lot of kids were riding all over the area with the ride ons. We were shopping in that isle (bike helmet, or skating pads or somethign like that) and couldn't even get through to where the itemes were. Ds then started askign why he had to be in the cart instead of riding around with the other kids. I very loudly said "honey we follow the rules. I'm sorry but those parents don't care about following rules, or the safety of their children." Oh boy I thought I was going to be skinned alive before I could get out of there. Of course this is the same Toy's R Us where a mom grabbed the last one of a power ranger toy (I think it was the green ranger)out of my sons hand "becase my son was too young to have it and her neighbor's kid was upset because her son had one". About a week later the same crazy lady was in the store bragging about what she did. she was so proud of herself.

 

[Meezers]

I believe that someone spitting on you could be considered assault. The police may not do anything but if you know the person...you can go to your local magistrate court and take out your own warrant on the person....what fun!

Thank goodness for bullet proof glass between me and the public....

 

[maxiesmom]

I've also had people argue with me about sale prices. Once ice cream was buy one get one free, and a guy only got one, and it rang up at full price, $6. Well he was insisting it was $3, but I was saying, "no sir, it's buy one get one free." But he didn't want two, so he was being very rude, basically demanding that I only charge him half price since he only wanted one.

We run the buy one get one sales too, and all of the associates hate them! It confuses so many customer for some reason. What part of buy 1 get 1 free is so hard to comprehend?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

If this has been said already, I apologize. I've only had time to get though the first six pages.

On the issue about phone numbers on checks - can you link me to website that states that law? As far as I know, it's only illegal to require social security numbers on checks.

I can tell you why most major retailers require phone numbers even though it does sound stupid - at the end of the day, it's not the store or company policy, it's the policy of their check clearinghouse. If they use the service of a check service like Telecheck or Equifax and a check is returned with no listed phone number, by contract they are not obligated to cover it. Now if the phone number leads to a dead end, that's not the cashier's or the stores fault and the check services will still guarantee the check. Its just a matter of compliance to the contract.

 

[OK!]

As far as the "line closed" thing in a store...I have always thought that they needed to put up a physical barrier of some sort at the end of the line. Like a 3 foot x 3 foot board with the words "Register Closed" painted on it, that could be placed to block entrance to the line.

Even if a store did that, you'd be amazed at how few people would notice and/or read said sign. When I worked at Michael's, we had countertop signs to indicate when a register was closed, and yet every single day we'd have to tell at least half a dozen people who were standing there at an unmanned, signed register that that particular register was closed. We tried putting the sign smack in the middle of the counter where surely it would be noticeable; people would shove it aside to make room on the counter for the merchandise they wanted to buy. I'm still not entirely sure who they thought was going to be ringing them up; Casper the Friendly Ghost or the Invisible Man perhaps?

 

[Shugardrawers]

If write a check to a retailer I personally feel they have a right to my contact information. I have never refused that request. What I have a serious problem with is the ones who want your phone number for any transaction, including cash. I'll leave the purchase on the counter and walk out rather than give it to them. I'm do decline politely though. I usually just say I'd rather not. Sometimes they try to push it saying they HAVE to have it to complete the transaction. I tell them to make one up because otherwise they won't be completing the transaction period.

 

[sha_lyn]

Well I just had a experience at WalMart
Only 4 registers opened, about 8-10 people in each line. I'm behind the guy who is about to be waited on. Another guy jumps in line in front of me holding up a container of hawiian punch "I olny have one thing". I'm shaking my head and said something like the end of the line is back there. He just ignores me. He takes forever.... doesn't know about PIN number for debit card, then wants cash back in certain bills. Then he stays at the end of the line while the cashier is ringing up my items. I have a large itme in my cart so I'm at the end of the cart holding it up for the cashier to ring up. the guy grabs his bag of stuff holds it opens and says something like "see it's mine". I just look up at the guy behind me and we were both shaking our heads. I tell the cashier abot the guy passing me in line (not really complaining to her about it, just commenting on it) and turns out the guy works there. She appologized and said the guy pulls stuff all the time, and maybe finallly he'll get fired over passing us in line.

 

[Meezers]

One of my recent favorites....people in the express lane...more items than supposed to have...then guess what?! Turns out they can't count American money!! OMG! 2 people in front of me...and neither one can figure out how much money they owe! It really is right there on the cash register?!

 

[MomofKatie]

Oh, I remember my days of working in customer service- people can be real doozies!!

I worked for a couple of years at a mid-priced ladies' store in the mall. There were these 2 nice older ladies, very well dressed and sweet, who would come in and purchase suits and dresses as soon as they came in to the store. They would pay full price. Well, about 5 months later, when we had our end of season clearance and all the leftover merchandise was marked down to its final price, they would come back in, suits and dresses STILL IN THE ORIGIONAL BAGS, WITH THE RECEIPTS ATTACHED, and demand a "price adjustment" of the rock-bottom, final clearance price. Since our store had the policy that each customer could get one price adjustment on any certain item, we would have to do it for them. We would try to tell them (each and every time they would pull this) that this was the last time we could do this for them, but they kept right on bringing back every single full price suit and dress they bought the entire 3 years I worked there. Those 2 ladies sure did get some GREAT deals off of us! After a while, I just had to laugh about it- I guess that if the upper Management wasn't going to stop them from ripping us off, I wasn't, either. They were always so nice and sweet, too- actually were proud of what "thrifty shoppers" they were.

DH works for a major Bed and Bath retailer, and is responsible for resolving customer complaints for his region. He gets some real strange ones! He recently had a lady become irate at a cashier because the cashier said Hello to the customer. The customer told the cashier that she was being condescending by saying Hello to her, and she was very offended and she'd never shop there again. WTH?? Whatever, lady!

He also had a complaint from a customer who was angry that the cashier had discreetly coughed (with her face turned away, into her arm) in front of the customer. The customer told the cashier she should stay home if she was sick. The cashier explained that she just had a dry throat, and the customer said that she had cancer, and her immune system was weakened, and she could DIE if she was exposed to any illness. The cashier apologized, and called a manager over to finish ringing the customer up, since she didn't want to accidentally breathe on her and her compromised immune system (wouldn't you think she should be at home herself if she was so sick that being out in public could KILL her ). The customer threw her items on the counter, and stormed off, saying that she was terribly offended- that cashier obviously was afraid of "catching her cancer" by not finishing ringing her up!!! Hello- you just finished telling her you don't want her near you if she has germs!! Geez!!

I am soooo glad I am no longer working customer service jobs- but I am glad I did for a while. Made me a lot more tolerant and understanding of the job cashiers, tellers, and waitresses and waiters do.

 

[bsmcneil]

Okay, I'll add one- If you write CHECK ID in the signature spot on the back of your credit card don't get mad at me when I ask to see your ID!

Can I get mad when you (not YOU, but the proverbial you) flip the card around, don't look at the signature/please see ID line and then give me the card back. It drives me crazy. I know retail is busy - I've worked at Target. But goodness, take 30 seconds to see my license.

 

[mum4jenn]

We run the buy one get one sales too, and all of the associates hate them! It confuses so many customer for some reason. What part of buy 1 get 1 free is so hard to comprehend?

Actually there are stores that will not force you to get both items and one item will be half price. They have it in their computer at half price and they advertise it at BOGO because it "sounds better"...kind of like 12.99 sounds better than 13.00. I know Fool Lion does this as well as others. I am glad they do this on some items because if a 10# bag of potatoes is on sale I sure don't have a need for two bags!!!! LOL!!!

I do understand though. I used to have people come in and only want the free one and never even buy the first one.