Rude Customers

[disneyfav4ever]

I have to vent. I work as a cashier at a store in my town, and I have to vent about certain customers.

1) If we need your phone number on a check, don't rufude, if it's "unlisted." We still need it, and your just wasting time. It's our stores policy to refuse checks if there's no phone number.

2) If you have expired coupons, don't get mad at the cashier for not accepting them, just because "the other cashiers don't check." Don't yell at me for doing my job. (I've been complained about for not accepting expired coupons.)

3) Don't get mad at me for not starting to ring up your order, when the order before your's is still being bagged.

4) Don't cut in front of employees in a check-out line, (usually self-checkout,) just because they work there. (Usually the employees are on break and only have a few minutes to eat.)

5) Don't complain about the cashiers being incompetent if they can't actually do something. I.E. - Check gift card balances, which is only available at customer service. Example -
Lady - Can you check the balance on this.
Cashier #1 - Only if you buy something, but they can check at customer service.
Lady - But I don't want to buy anything.
Cashier #1 - You don't have to, they can check at customer service.
Lady walks to a different register, has same conversation with the next cashier, then goes to customer service, complains, then leaves the store, I'm not sure if she ever checked the balance.

6) If a store is busy, don't try to get into a closed line. Yesterday I was closed, and was finishing the last order I had. A man came up with a basket.
Me - I'm sorry sir, I'm closed. (The lights off and everything.)
Man - Well I only have a few things.
Me - I'm sorry, I'm closed.
Man - The other lines are all long, you don't have a line, and I'm in a hurry.
You can all see how this is going. He ended up going through a different line. If a lines closed, it's closed. I was in a hurry to, since I had other things to do after work.

7) If you decide you don't want something, especially frozen or other cold foods, give it to an employee instead of just putting it in some random spot. It's annoying when we find boxes or cans in aisles they don't belong, but it's down right rude to leave food in a spot where it will go bad. A few days ago there was a box of popsicles out, and by the time we saw it, it had melted, and was no fun to clean.

8) Don't drink half a bottle of soda, and then leave the other half just because you don't want to pay for it.

I know all you DIS'ers don't do anything like this, at least I hope not, but I just had a looong day at work and wanted to vent. Thanks for listening.

 

[mum4jenn]

 

[simba928]

I know what you mean about the whole closed thing. I work at an ice cream shop and our lights will be off and we are counting the drawer and people come up to us and stand there waiting for us to get them something. Then they get mad when we tell them we're closed. One guy came up to me (about 30 seconds before closing) and I was wiping down the counter and he started ordering a milkshake. I said "sir, we can't make milkshakes anymore. Our blenders are being washed" Then he asked for a different kind of milkshake. I said "sir, we can't make any milkshakes..." He said "well, why not" I said because we are closing in about 30 seconds. He said o and walked away.

Another old lady came up to me and we were closed. I told her that, but she wouldn't back down.
Lady: All I want is a small ice cream, can I just get one small ice cream.
Me: Fine, I can give you one ice cream if thats all you want.
Lady: Yes. How much is it?
Me: 2.51
Lady: OK, how much do I have to pay
Me: 2.51
Lady: Now, whats in New york super fudge
Me: chocolate ice cream with....(and I told her the rest)
Lady: Whats in Phish food
Me: chocolate ice cream with...
This went on for about 3 minutes with her going through ever kind of ice cream we have including strawberry
Lady: Can I try the phish food?
Me: Yes
And she went through maybe 5 flavors or so
Lady: I'll take a small strawberry on a cone. How much will that be?
Me: 2.51
Lady: How much do I have to pay?
Me: 2.51
The lady went over to her husband (?) and got money.
Lady: I should have told you I also wanted a small chocolate. How much will that be?
Me: 5.03
Lady: Oh my. 5.03?
Me: Yes.
Lady: (after I had scooped out the small chocolate) I'll just take the strawberry. How much will that be?

I was ready to scream by that point. LOL.

 

[Luv'sTink]

Everyone should have to work in customer service, then maybe, just maybe they would understand. No, they still probably wouldn't get it!

 

[Honu]

Last week I watched a lady open a bag of cookies, pass one to each of her kids to see if they liked it, and when they nixed it she put the open bag back on the shelf. WTH?

 

[Nancy]

I have to vent. I work as a cashier at a store in my town, and I have to vent about certain customers.



2) If you have expired coupons, don't get mad at the cashier for not accepting them, just because "the other cashiers don't check." Don't yell at me for doing my job. (I've been complained about for not accepting expired coupons.)



5) Don't complain about the cashiers being incompetent if they can't actually do something.


6) If a store is busy, don't try to get into a closed line. .

These are my top complaints..especially the one about the closed lane. If my light is off don't come up and ask "Are you closed?" "Can't you just take one more, I only have --- items here" Nope if I'm closed, I'm closed. I either have to take a break, lunch or go home. This is really important with the minors working, we have real tight restrictions on when they can work, we don't want any minor violations so when we shut them down, they are done.


Cashiers aren't always able to do everything, some things are manager functions so even if they know how to do it, if they don't have the key they can't do anything about it. Patience is a virtue!

Expired coupons, yep, some cashiers don't check, but I do. I do because if they choose to do an audt on my till and I have expired coupons I will be written up, I don't feel like having to sign an audit report that will go in my file just cause you want me to take expired coupons.


I don't cash too much anymore since I'm now in the management end of things but I remember those days really well.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I agree with most everything but #1.

They could give you a wrong # and you wouldn't know. I never really let that bother me--just stuck to my guns.

But the rest--IRRITATING!

Let me add:


9) I can't charge you for one apple--we weigh apples. Please don't eat it before you get to the register.

10) Alchohol sales end at 2am. That is the law (or whatever other time you have)--so please don't yell at me. Just a minute late is LATE! I'm not going to jail just so you can have your malt liquor!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

OH and on one tortuous closing episode.

My stepfather (at the time) really revelead how much of a *non appropriate word for the dis* he was.

It was running late--it was super busy. They try to release us as soon as they can when that happens. I was about 15 minutes past my shift--walking my drawer to the office when he comes in screaming at the top of his lungs a phrase not appropriate for the dis-but the santized polite version woudl be "It's time to go now. I've been waiting too long."

I had never been so mortified in my life and my store manager came running out of the office to see who was causing the ruckus.

I was bright beet red and near tears. She just took my till and let me clock out and go.


Step-dad never had much of a work ethic anyway.

He was by far more rude than any customer I ever encountered except for the one that I had to walk away and request a manager to finish the transaction. (he was harrassing me and we didn't have to put up with any behavior like that from a custy).

 

[Stacerita]

I don't understand the thing with rude customers. If everyone follows the rules and does what they are supposed to then things will almost always go smoothly. Rudeness won't get you any further in life. Its true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but its also the first wheel to be tossed. And whats the deal with opening something, putting it down, and not paying for it??? WTH???? There are times, especially when the sweetpea was younger, that she would need something opened. I always kept the wrapper or the opened box and paid for it on check out. Now its usually a bottle of water, but we still keep the bottle till the end. Otherwise its stealing. I am so glad I don't work in a customer service job, because I know I would tell way to many people off. I know Im not cut out to work with the general public. I just can't be that nice all the time.

 

[Nancy]

LisalovesPooh, our registers will block the sale automatically as soon as it hits the restricted time and we have no way to over ride the system, it makes it so much easier.

But one Sunday morning (around 10am) a woman wanted to buy a case of beer for a party she was having. In our county Sunday sales for alcohol start at noon on Sunday. She was flipping out over our store policy and can't we make an exception and just put it through? We tried explaining that it is NOT store policy, but State and county LAWS and we could get in serious trouble, plus we have no way we can over ride the system. She left the store, came back about 15 minutes later and insisted on speaking to someone higher up. We got the number 3 in command up to talk to her, told her all the same things we did and she still was arguing about how we could make an exception just this once. Manager explains that there are huge signs back by the beer explaining the LAW. Customer walks to the back of the store still in the mood to fight us over it. Her daughter is telling her to just let it go they can't change the law just for you, Mom is insisting we make an exception. Finally after about 1/2 or more she left.

 

[piglet too]

Fortunatly, I have never had a customer get upset for needing a phone number on the check.

I have had my share of rude ones though, most memorable was the guy who swore at me since I could not open my drawer and give him change, his kids were with him too.

Another lady got mad and called me a liar and a racist since I told her a certain video game was not avaiable on the platform she wanted it on.

Now, most of my complainers are the ones who get angry that I need to see an ID with their credit card.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i agree i used to work at shaws as a cashier before i got promoted and then left
and i saw this everyday
most customers are great but some are brutal and RUDE and its just sad
and inconsiderate

 

[kelleigh1]

I haven't worked in retail for many years, but wanted to add a few things:

First, with regards to this statement:

If you decide you don't want something, especially frozen or other cold foods, give it to an employee instead of just putting it in some random spot. It's annoying when we find boxes or cans in aisles they don't belong, but it's down right rude to leave food in a spot where it will go bad. A few days ago there was a box of popsicles out, and by the time we saw it, it had melted, and was no fun to clean.

Not only does it cause you more work and make a terrible mess, but in the long run, it ends up costing us all money. Every item that is returned because of damage is one more thing that doesn't get sold and yet it was accounted for and could have made the store and the manufacturer money. Everytime they lose money, it adds up and eventually prices are increased to make up for the difference. And really, will it kill you to walk back and put the item back where you got it?


From the customer standpoint, I wish I could find more cashiers, etc. who actually care about their job and treat the customers with respect. I agree, there are jerks who probably don't deserve your respect, but nothing irritates me more than a cashier who doesn't acknowledge the customer - either because they just really don't want to be there or because they are too busy talking to their friends - sometimes even on the phone. That's just plain rude and I'm not likely to keep shopping there if your phone conversation is more important than my purchase.

I will say that most of the big stores that I've shopped at recently, everyone has been great - except the people bagging groceries. Really...if I've got 2 frozen items, can we put them in the same bag instead of putting one in with the fresh baked muffins?

And while I'm at it, SIMBA, can I get a coconut almond fudge chip in a waffle cone please!!!! That is my favorite flavor all time and you can only get it at the scoop shops...where the only one near me is at the movie theatre and you have to actually buy a movie ticket before you can get near the ice cream.

 

[pigletz]

I volunteer at a concession stand at the Indians games. I can't tell you how often people get mean about stuff that I can't control. I don't know why they don't have straws and lids for cups but I do know yelling at me about it won't do any good. I can't give you free water, refills or more than two beers at once. I only volunteer at one stand so please don't get mad when I can't tell you where to find fried balogna (yes, someone did ask me where to find that as if that's a normal ballpark food). The thing that annoys me the most though are the kids who are 21-25 who get mad that I carded them. I'm 32 and I still get carded for cigarettes. I consider it a blessing that I look so young.
Sometimes I really just want to yell "I'm not even getting paid to be here!"

 

[LadyyRedd]

I worked in retail at least part time for 10 years and I agree with everything everyone has said!

Another one I'd like to add is don't call my store and ask what the name of the jewelry store or shoe store or children's clothing store is 3 stores down from me in the mall. I can't see it from my phone, no I can't leave the store to go look for you, and no, I can't see it if I lean really far out the front door!!!!

As a side note: all the grocery stores around me take expired coupons. Not that it's a dig on you at all, OP. Because if they said "sorry, it's expired, we can't take it", I certainly would NOT argue or give them a hard time!

Kimya

 

[simba928]

And while I'm at it, SIMBA, can I get a coconut almond fudge chip in a waffle cone please!!!! That is my favorite flavor all time and you can only get it at the scoop shops...where the only one near me is at the movie theatre and you have to actually buy a movie ticket before you can get near the ice cream.

Of course kelleigh. I'll ship you a pint along with a couple fresh baked waffle cones. While I'm at it, I'll send you a dozen home made muffins along with your ice cream. LOL.

 

[pezheadmeg]

Throughout all of 2004, I had one negative customer comment. It was the last customer who was standing on line, holding a full price item, at 10:15 pm (mind you we closed at 10) on the night after Thanksgiving. I have spent the last 10 hours cleaning up the mess from the early morning rush. She's annoyed and takes down my name to report me as having bad service when as I'm bagging up the purchase before her that the item was new merchandise and full price. My store manager simply cracked up laughing as she was standing 5 feet away trying to herd customers out of the store.

My biggest pet peeve, parent's who turn us into the villians. Please, please, please, do not tell your uncontrollable child that the "mean" sales lady will yell at you. I'm not paid enough, nor is it my job to discipline your child.

 

[piglet too]

My biggest pet peeve, parent's who turn us into the villians. Please, please, please, do not tell your uncontrollable child that the "mean" sales lady will yell at you. I'm not paid enough, nor is it my job to discipline your child.

Yes!!!! When I was working at Toys R Us, I had parents all the time tell their kids that I "knew Geoffrey and Geoffrey knows Santa" so they had better be good or I would tell Geoffrey (and therefor Santa) if they were bad.

 

[katerkat]

My favorite - guy runs into the store, up to the check-outs (we're an entertainment store, only had three and I was the only female cashier with a male manager at customer service.) He asks (almost yelling) if I can go outside and kiss his friend. Uh, wha? As I'm trying to come up with an answer, he notices my rings, says, "Oh, you're married!" and runs out. Never found out what the deal with that was, but my coworkers thought it was hysterical.

 

[Jeanny]

I used to love when I was counting out a drawer at the end of a night and I'd have receipts, etc, on the counter, head down, counting the change out and customers would come up and move the receipts and start talking to me......."um, I'm counting here, now I have to start over!" is what I really wanted to say, but I had to be nice and ask them to go to the other cashier who didn't have anyone at the counter, this register is closed.