VENT - Customers

[disneyfav4ever]

I want to start off by saying that above 90% of customers are nice people, some are even better then nice. But then there's that small percentage of customers that drive me insane, and make me wonder why I still work at this job.

Yesterday started off fine. But then some customer got really mouthy with another employee, for something that was his fault, and he just hadn't been paying attention. That really didn't affect me, he was just being a loud jerk, and I could here it from where I'd been.

A few hours later, for whatever reason the credit / debit card machine broke. Which didn't annoy anyone that much since it was "unpreventable," and it took about two minutes to reset. Of course, there was one guy who had to get mouthy.

Also, and this happened about a week or two ago, but this guy deserves mention. Some guy got mad that something wasn't in the computer, so we had to look it up. He yelled at me, and three other people. The manager was nearby, and overheard him mouthing us off, and came over, and tried to get him to calm down. He didn't and started giving the manager attitude, so the manager gave him attitude right back.

I decided I liked this manager awhile ago, when one night we were trying to close, and he'd been at the door making sure there was no one coming in, and people were just leaving. We always have someone at the door until it's just employees left.

So some tries to get in. The manager says, "sorry, we closed five minutes ago." The guy doesn't care, since he'll only be a few minutes, and shoves himself past the manager. At this point the last customer is going out the door, and the five of us in the store should be able to leave about ten seconds after her. The manager is annoyed, everyone else is also annoyed, so he tells us we can go, and him and the other guy working go to find the guy. Who doesn't want to go yet, but unfortunatly for him all the cashiers are gone, and there's no one to ring him up.

Do customers ever realize how ridicolus they are sometimes? I mean, at the time this stuff happens it's very frustrating, and all we do is get annoyed. But we don't forget certain people, or what some customers have done, and it becomes jokes amongst us.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I don't work retail, but I'm a waitress and I have 99% good/great customers, but that 1% rotten customers can really spoil things. Sometimes you just want to smack them upside their heads and ask them "what is your problem?"
I think those types of people need to work a week or two at our job.

 

[agnes!]

They couldn't *handle* your job Chatty.

agnes!

 

[SC Minnie]

I firmly believe everyone should work with the public for at least 1 year. It would really open some eyes except for the people that are just born rude.

 

[Chicago526]

I've worked retail, and I deal with the public in my current job too. It really makes you want to shake your head in confusion. People are nuts!

My current pet peeve is people who don't listen when you tell them something. I'm a corporate travel agent so I book airline flights all day long.

Me: Okay, there's a non-stop American Airlines flight leaving Boston at 7 AM and landing in Chicago O'Hare at 8:30 AM.
Client: Is that a non-stop?
Me: Yes it is.
Client: I want American Airlines, what do the have?
Me: This is an American Airlines flight.
Client: Does that go to Midway?
Me: No, it goes to O'Hare, do you need me to check Midway?
Client: No, O'Hare is fine. This is a non-stop, right?
Me: Sir, can I put you on hold for a moment while I bang my head against the keyboard?

I swear to God, this really happened! (except the head banging part, of course!).

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I just remembered I had another customer yesterday, who I swear could not pay. He ran his card through twice, and it was denied both times. It said "unknown" on my side, and that usually means the customer is doing something wrong. So I slid it through, since I "know what to push." (Not a problem, he was getting into a bunch of stuff he didn't want anyway, like he didn't want cash back, so why was he hitting yes, and then saying he didn't want any.

So anyway, I slid it through, then, instead of it being "unknown," it was "denied." Which, of course, we can't override. But, he wanted a reciept saying it wasn't going to allow him to pay. WTH? He decided to use a different card that was also denied. He wanted a reciept for that too

 

[shirleyb]

I've served my time working retail and foodservice, but frankly, customer service in general, is so poor these days that it's no wonder that sometimes you might be the straw that breaks the customer's back, so to speak. For instance, I was checking into a delayed flight in Atlanta Friday, and after the check in agent is typing into her computer for 20 minutes (what is all the typing about anyways???), she's annoyed at ME because I did internet check-in that morning, and she can't figure out how to rebook me on another airline. I remained pleasant, but how is it my fault that I'd checked in not knowing her airline would have a 2 hr flight delay?

 

[Makdyn]

I always wanted to start a thred about bad customers when I see a thred about bad employees. I work at Target so we always have some fun people there especially with the return policy that we have no control over. I love the people who say I have spend over $2,000 in this store and I cant return this. Nope not with out a receipt dated withing 90 days, if you used your two returns on you license. Oh the stories we tell each other.


I remember one time a parent called to say that her 11 child was in our store and bought the sims 2. She was mad that WE(target) let him buy this because it is rated teen. She wanted to return it but since it was open she could only return it for the same thing. There was nothing we could do it the law. It states it on the receipt same item if open. but all she keep saying was that you did not check to see if he was old enough. We dont have to card you unless it is rating M. Plus what is your 11 year doing in target alone. One of the manager looked up her receipt and this 11 year old child also bought the sims 1, the sims pets and socks.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've also had people who didn't know their pin numbers, and their card wouldn't go through as credit, just debit, and they haven't been able to pay, and they've gotten mad at me. Who has debit cards, and doesn't know the pin number?

 

[Makdyn]

Not a problem, he was getting into a bunch of stuff he didn't want anyway, like he didn't want cash back, so why was he hitting yes, and then saying he didn't want any.

This reminds me of another customer calling complainting that the cashier MADE her get cash back. Hello when you put your debit card in after you you enter your pin it asks you if you want cash back then you have to OK it. And If the customer did not want the cash back why did she take it.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I've served my time working retail and foodservice, but frankly, customer service in general, is so poor these days that it's no wonder that sometimes you might be the straw that breaks the customer's back, so to speak. For instance, I was checking into a delayed flight in Atlanta Friday, and after the check in agent is typing into her computer for 20 minutes (what is all the typing about anyways???), she's annoyed at ME because I did internet check-in that morning, and she can't figure out how to rebook me on another airline. I remained pleasant, but how is it my fault that I'd checked in not knowing her airline would have a 2 hr flight delay?

I don't really get what you're saying. Yes, I agree with you that service is very poor in some places. And trust me, there are some people I work with that are prime examples of it.

Obviously the delay wasn't your fault, and she shouldn't have gotten mad at you. But, when there is something that is not my fault, and especially when it is the customer's fault, why is it they get mad at me?

What I really love is when there is sometimes a very minor mistake, or breakdown, (like the credit machines yesterday,) that takes about two minutes to fix, is why people then have to scream, because "they're in a hurry," but then they complain about it for ten - fifteen minutes before leaving.

 

[Tazicket]

Oh yeah. I used to work retail. We'd give extended return deadlines that coincided with the start dates of the semesters (college book store). The dates would be printed on the return policies that we handed out to every student and verbally went over with them (we'd also circle the date and that they needed to bring a schedule that showed they were enrolled in that semester) and the dates were posted in the store.

Never fail, there would ALWAYS be people who brought in the stuff after the deadline and/or without a schedule or receipt. And about 95% of the time they'd try to say that nobody told them about the return requirements (never mind the fact that there is a copy of the return policy with circles around all those requirements attatched to their receipt.) And it was always my fault that they were too boneheaded to read the policy.

So glad I'm not in retail anymore.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I remember one time a parent called to say that her 11 child was in our store and bought the sims 2. She was mad that WE(target) let him buy this because it is rated teen. She wanted to return it but since it was open she could only return it for the same thing. There was nothing we could do it the law. It states it on the receipt same item if open. but all she keep saying was that you did not check to see if he was old enough. We dont have to card you unless it is rating M. Plus what is your 11 year doing in target alone. One of the manager looked up her receipt and this 11 year old child also bought the sims 1, the sims pets and socks.

OT - But I love the Sims, I was just playing it this morning. I have the Sims 1, with all the expansion packs, and plan on getting Sims 2 soon.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

It goes both ways! As a customer i've had some people that just didn't want to be at work that day (waitresses) or EVER (cashiers). They are rude and beyond BORED and they let you know it with rants about other customers and the company they work for?? soo wierd!

BUt as a Resort CM front desk at the YC ohhh boy are there some people that i could just write about for days...annoying and entitled, when it's obvious they are wrong!

 

[va32h]

My current pet peeve is people who don't listen when you tell them something.

Oh yes. I deal with this every weekend! My company does live auctions - the auction guidelines are: there is a service fee added to each purchase, everything is as is, all sales final, and the items have to be removed that day.

This information is explained to each bidder personally when they walk in the door. It is also printed on the registration form they have to fill out and sign. It is also written on the front page of the auction catalog. The auctioneer announces this information at the beginning of the auction, and this info is on signs that are at the registration area.

But I get asked all day long "What is this fee?" "I changed my mind, do I have to pay for this?" "How long do I have to pick this up?" "Can I pick it up tomorrow?"

They don't listen, they don't read, they don't care. Drives me nuts.

 

[PhotobearSam]

I used to be a Photolab manager and I would get yelled at for pictures being out of focus. I would explain that it was that way on the negative but nnnoooooooo I must have done something. I guess that the laws of Physics don't work in their camera. When you take a pic with no flash in a dark room, I guess I must have blurred it...SURE....


I own a motel now and I will get customers who come in, go see a room, I tell them the price, they pay, they sleep and the NEXT morning, I am told I am a horrible person for charging so much... I ask was the room dirty? NO, Was the room loud? NO, Did everything work? YES, Did the room change since you saw it last night and paid for it? NO. Then what is the problem. I let them see it, they rent it and then say it's too much $$$...I do not force people to rent from us.

I can't stand when my customers let their small children come HANG out in my office and use me as a babysitter. I had a couple last year that would send their 2 kids to SEE me for 2 hours each night after supper for a week...I guess I must look like I have nothing to do. They are crazy. How do they know that some child molester is not around...I know I am not one but how can these parents take a chance with their kids?

 

[dolcezena]

I've been in retail for about 19 years now, & for the most part, I love my job. But I swear, some days I wish I had a tape recorder for some of the STUPID things people say so I could play it back to them!!

Back when I sold footwear, people always used to say, "Do you have this in MY size?"

Sorry my psychic foot measuring abilities have failed me.

And debit cards??? Canada has the highest user percentage in the world. I now work at a liquor store, & the system failed. On a Friday. At 5 pm.

I explained to the man at my register, that no his bank card wouldn't work - there had been a nation-wide system failure. (Apparently the 4 ft x 2 ft sign telling people this didn't apply to him.)
He looks at me blankly for a moment & then says, "Will it work at the other till?"

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Ugh. I worked retail for 5 years. Threads like this remind me why I plan on never going back.

Trust me, I understand there are some rude and stupid employees. I worked with a bunch of them. Some managers decided to hire on looks only, and well those girls were usually the ones that made me want to bash my head in. I can understand customers getting annoyed with them. Hey, those customers only had to spend 5 minutes with the girl, I had to spend hours with her!

So some tries to get in. The manager says, "sorry, we closed five minutes ago." The guy doesn't care, since he'll only be a few minutes, and shoves himself past the manager. ... Who doesn't want to go yet, but unfortunatly for him all the cashiers are gone, and there's no one to ring him up.

My managers would lock the doors about 3 minutes to closing. I remember one night we went around and announced to each customer still in the store that they had 5 minutes to make their purchases. We made a couple announcements over the PA system also. Every customer but one purchased their stuff and left. That customer came up to the registers about 15 minutes AFTER we closed. The registers were closed and the manger told her she would have to leave and come back tomorrow. Of course she got angry, but is it my fault you didn't listen to the numerous announcements?

One time during a heavy storm the store lost power. There is a deluge of rain coming down, hurricane force winds, and tree branches falling like crazy. So we had to usher all the customers out of the store for security reasons and because nothing was working anyway. Customers actually complained DEMANDING that we let them purchase their items. I understand you took the time to shop and now you want to pay for it. Managers were offering to hold their baskets behind the registers through the next day (which is never allowed). That wasn't good enough either. But HELLO! The power is out, and the registers don't work! How am I supposed to ring up your purchases!?

Never fail, there would ALWAYS be people who brought in the stuff after the deadline and/or without a schedule or receipt. And about 95% of the time they'd try to say that nobody told them about the return requirements (never mind the fact that there is a copy of the return policy with circles around all those requirements attatched to their receipt.) And it was always my fault that they were too boneheaded to read the policy.

That annoyed me too. After every purchase as we were handing the customer the receipt we had to say "You have 60 days to make a return and you must have the receipt." Nevermind that the policy was also written on the receipts themselves and on signs in the store. People would try to bring back items with out receipts and long after the 60 days. My favorites were the customers trying to return an old item without a receipt saying they only purchased it a few days ago. The sad part was I had worked there for too long and I knew that we hadn't carried that item in years. And I know I personally boxed up the old ones and sent them back to the warehouse when they were discontinued.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

One time during a heavy storm the store lost power. There is a deluge of rain coming down, hurricane force winds, and tree branches falling like crazy. So we had to usher all the customers out of the store for security reasons and because nothing was working anyway. Customers actually complained DEMANDING that we let them purchase their items. I understand you took the time to shop and now you want to pay for it. Managers were offering to hold their baskets behind the registers through the next day (which is never allowed). That wasn't good enough either. But HELLO! The power is out, and the registers don't work! How am I supposed to ring up your purchases!?

We had that problem one night to. It was storming, (and I saw a crash on the way home, not to mention a thousand tree branches,) and our power went out. The backup came on, but of the computers were being weird. We could still ring up orders, but we could only take cash. There was however a working ATM in the store.

There was one guy who had a card, but didn't want to withdraw money because of the service fee, because it would be $2, (or whatever the fee is,) wasted. And apparently it was our fault. He apparently also didn't want to have to make a second trip. There was obviously nothing we could do due to the storm. But he must of thought we could magically make all the efts work again.

 

[OK!]

My personal favorite is when customers see sale signage in a location somewhat near the item they actually want to purchase (sometimes as close as 3 aisles away!) and therefore assume that their item must also on sale, even when the sign specifically states which item(s) actually are on sale. Then, when their items don't ring up as expected, they get angry and take it out on the cashiers. As though it's their fault that some customers choose to abandon literacy as soon as they step through the front door.