What are your biggest customer service pet peeves?

[Chocoholic]

I can't stand a rude attitude from store personnel or waitstaff, period. If you don't like your job so much, then find a new one where you don't have to deal with so many different people.

It really bothers me when the person bagging my groceries can't be bothered to keep the cold stuff together, fragile stuff from getting crushed, cleaning products and detergent away from food, and avoid putting all the heavy stuff like cans and jars in one bag. Some people say, "You should just bag them yourself" but why should I? Isn't the money I'm spending going towards this kid's salary? They should bag it right the first time and bag it without the attitude!

It also infuriates me when I get subpar service in a restaurant and the server gets annoyed when I leave little to no tip. Tipping is NOT mandatory! If you want better tips, then improve your service!

I've also had cashiers make negative comments to me about my choice of music, DVD's, clothes, etc. I did not ask for your opinion! I just want you to ring up my purchase so I can go.

I also can't stand employees who pay no attention to you because they are too busy chatting with their friends. When you ask them a question, they always look irritated like you're interrupting something important.

Something else I don't quite get: Why does it take two or more people to assist a customer who has a problem or complaint? Why doesn't one of those employees step aside to assist the customers who are waiting behind the customer with the problem?

I worked in retail and I know how physically demanding and emotionally draining that line of work can be. However, I still don't think that is any excuse for poor customer service.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

I agree with everything you said except for the tipping part. It is rude as hell NOT to leave a tip. I've never been a waitress/server but my mother had before she married my father, she just came from Russia when she took a job as a waitress when she came to New York and it was totally hard on her, I remember my aunt telling me stories about my mother as a waitress, some people were rude to her because she couldn't speak English that well and left her NADA. So I make sure I leave something, because no one knows their story, unless they were REALLY rude, that's when I leave them nothing but the check.

I can't stand going to a fast food place, McDonald's especially, McDonald's now have rude as hell 'ghetto' kids working their with 'ghetto' attitudes to match. They act like they don't want to be bothered with you, they rudely pop their gum while talking to you, they roll their eyes when you make a special order of extra pickles, and look at you funny.

I also can't stand cashiers talking to other cashiers when they are ringing up my stuff, especially when they are dealing with my credit card. Talk some other time, it's called a break.

I hate it when servers/fast food employees mix up my order, I would let it slide if they are new, but if they been there since the grand opening, you have no excuse!

I hate long behind lines, hello people, if there is ONE cashier there, it would be smart enough to send someone or yourself(managers) to ring your customers up, that's how you won't get pissed off customers.

[Chocoholic]

Oh yes, I can't stand when food service people mess up my order. There's just no excuse for that, IMHO. I've notcied that when it happens to me, it's usually because they are not paying one bit of attention to what they are doing.

Also, I know they have to train new people on the register sometimes, but do they really have to do it during the busiest times of the day? I was in a drugstore a few weeks ago. There was one register open and a new person was being trained on it. There were six people in line and at least a dozen more in the store. They couldn't have opened up another line or two with a more experienced person? Back when I worked at the grocery store, new people had to come in during the slowest hours to receive training.

[catlover79]

What a good question. I worked as a cashier (ticket booth) at a movie theater for many years and now work as a sales associate at a call center so I think I am quite qualified to speak on this topic.

The number one thing is that you ALWAYS treat your customer with proper respect and attention. I went to Target the other day (in the EXPRESS lane!) and the cashier, a teenage girl, didn't look at me or talk to me once while ringing up my items. All she did was yammer with the cashier (also a teenage girl) at the next station. I find that kind of behavior inexcusable.

The teenage employees of the McDonald's by my house are so rude it's not funny. I got my food at the drive-thru and the kid shorted me on my change. I pointed this out to her. She rolled her eyes, gave a huge sigh, had to get a manager to unlock her drawer. SORRY!!

What I've taken from experiences like this is to not repeat the mistakes of others. When I was a cashier I always smiled at people and treated them the way I would want to be treated. I had many regulars and repeat customers, and they were all terrific to me. You catch more flies with honey.

Now I work in a call center and all my customer interaction is via phone and sometimes email. But I still keep the smile in my voice and try to be as polite as I can. Sure, there are some annoying/rude people, but that's universal. The nice thing about being on the phone with rude, demanding customers is that you can make all the faces you want and no one can see you. (Not that I've ever done that, !)

The key to customer service success is to give the customer your utmost attention and treat the customer the way you would want to be treated, IMHO.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

Oh yes, I can't stand when food service people mess up my order. There's just no excuse for that, IMHO. I've notcied that when it happens to me, it's usually because they are not paying one bit of attention to what they are doing.

Also, I know they have to train new people on the register sometimes, but do they really have to do it during the busiest times of the day? I was in a drugstore a few weeks ago. There was one register open and a new person was being trained on it. There were six people in line and at least a dozen more in the store. They couldn't have opened up another line or two with a more experienced person? Back when I worked at the grocery store, new people had to come in during the slowest hours to receive training.

Thank you, how hard is it to remember a number 5, without cheese?

I've noticed that too, why train new people on the busiest days? Every store knows when their busiest days are, so why train your new people on those days? My cousin who lives in Delaware says that Wawa are notorious for doing that. I have visted my cousin a few times and been in Wawa before and their service kind of sucks(my cousin is in the Air Force, the wawa right near her base). They are slow as hell to make a simple toasted turkey sandwich with extra turkey, they take forever getting the gas pump right, and all they hired is stupid kids who don't know what the hell they are doing, even after they have been trained.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

Originally Posted by catlover79

What a good question. I worked as a cashier (ticket booth) at a movie theater for many years and now work as a sales associate at a call center so I think I am quite qualified to speak on this topic.

The number one thing is that you ALWAYS treat your customer with proper respect and attention. I went to Target the other day (in the EXPRESS lane!) and the cashier, a teenage girl, didn't look at me or talk to me once while ringing up my items. All she did was yammer with the cashier (also a teenage girl) at the next station. I find that kind of behavior inexcusable.

The teenage employees of the McDonald's by my house are so rude it's not funny. I got my food at the drive-thru and the kid shorted me on my change. I pointed this out to her. She rolled her eyes, gave a huge sigh, had to get a manager to unlock her drawer. SORRY!!

What I've taken from experiences like this is to not repeat the mistakes of others. When I was a cashier I always smiled at people and treated them the way I would want to be treated. I had many regulars and repeat customers, and they were all terrific to me. You catch more flies with honey.

Now I work in a call center and all my customer interaction is via phone and sometimes email. But I still keep the smile in my voice and try to be as polite as I can. Sure, there are some annoying/rude people, but that's universal. The nice thing about being on the phone with rude, demanding customers is that you can make all the faces you want and no one can see you. (Not that I've ever done that, !)

The key to customer service success is to give the customer your utmost attention and treat the customer the way you would want to be treated, IMHO.

ooh, what you said has burned my ass too! It is always those dumb teenagers that are forever acting like they don't know what to do. Most of my bad customer experiences has been with stupid teenagers who instead of working customer service, just needed to deliver papers and go the hell away.

I totally hate when they have a conversation with another employee while ringing up my items. Or hate when they short change me, correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't the register tell your ass the EXACT change?

Yes, McDonald's are notorious for hiring rude as hell teenagers for years now. Don't give me mouth because you don't know the difference between a big mac and a big and tasty!

[tdf4077]

After having worked in customer service for 7 years, I'm really sensitive about getting good customer service...

My biggest peeve is when I go somewhere (particularly restaurants) where the ppl working don't wish me a good day. Often times, I'll turn and say out loud, "Thanks! You have a good day, too" to make the point. It's not that hard.

When I was working customer service, my biggest peeve was when ppl would try talking on their cell phone while I was trying to check them out.

[¤I Love Clay Aiken¤]

I work in customer service and Im annoyed by everything.

[Corolla]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

I can't stand a rude attitude from store personnel or waitstaff, period. If you don't like your job so much, then find a new one where you don't have to deal with so many different people.

It really bothers me when the person bagging my groceries can't be bothered to keep the cold stuff together, fragile stuff from getting crushed, cleaning products and detergent away from food, and avoid putting all the heavy stuff like cans and jars in one bag. Some people say, "You should just bag them yourself" but why should I? Isn't the money I'm spending going towards this kid's salary? They should bag it right the first time and bag it without the attitude!

It also infuriates me when I get subpar service in a restaurant and the server gets annoyed when I leave little to no tip. Tipping is NOT mandatory! If you want better tips, then improve your service!

I've also had cashiers make negative comments to me about my choice of music, DVD's, clothes, etc. I did not ask for your opinion! I just want you to ring up my purchase so I can go.

I also can't stand employees who pay no attention to you because they are too busy chatting with their friends. When you ask them a question, they always look irritated like you're interrupting something important.

Something else I don't quite get: Why does it take two or more people to assist a customer who has a problem or complaint? Why doesn't one of those employees step aside to assist the customers who are waiting behind the customer with the problem?

I worked in retail and I know how physically demanding and emotionally draining that line of work can be. However, I still don't think that is any excuse for poor customer service.

Good points. I hate it when you order a particular kind of pizza or something, and they come out with the wrong thing. I ordered cheese once, because I can't stand anything on my pizza besides that, and they came out with a pepperoni pizza, wouldn't admit that it was a mistake, so I had to *manage* to eat the pepperoni (thought it would be rude and a waste to take it off) and pay an extra $1 for the pepperoni. The pizza was also a little cold. :/

[Chocoholic]

Originally Posted by JuicyCoutureGirl

ooh, what you said has burned my ass too! It is always those dumb teenagers that are forever acting like they don't know what to do. Most of my bad customer experiences has been with stupid teenagers who instead of working customer service, just needed to deliver papers and go the hell away.

I totally hate when they have a conversation with another employee while ringing up my items. Or hate when they short change me, correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't the register tell your ass the EXACT change?

Yes, McDonald's are notorious for hiring rude as hell teenagers for years now. Don't give me mouth because you don't know the difference between a big mac and a big and tasty!

I honestly don't know why teenagers are allowed to work in those places. You should have to be at least 18 to work behind a register. Most of them do not have the maturity levels to handle customer service. Don't get me wrong, I don't think ALL teens are like that. I've worked with a few who were mature beyond their years; However, I find that the majority of teenage employees would much rather be socializing than working and the supervisors and managers just do not care as long as they are making money.

Of course, I've dealt with more than a few adult store or restuarant employees who were as rude as anything. Usually, when I get crappy service, I just take my business elsewhere.

[JuicyCoutureGirl]

Originally Posted by Homeriffic

I honestly don't know why teenagers are allowed to work in those places. You should have to be at least 18 to work behind a register. Most of them do not have the maturity levels to handle customer service. Don't get me wrong, I don't think ALL teens are like that. I've worked with a few who were mature beyond their years; However, I find that the majority of teenage employees would much rather be socializing than working and the supervisors and managers just do not care as long as they are making money.

Of course, I've dealt with more than a few adult store or restuarant employees who were as rude as anything. Usually, when I get crappy service, I just take my business elsewhere.

You are right, it's not all teenagers, but MOST of them. It is so annoying when I have to deal with a 15-year old kid who got the job just because his/her dad is the manager or no one else wanted the job. This one WaWa in Delaware where my cousin lives is full of knuclehead teenagers who don't know what the hell they are doing. While visiting my cousin(mind you it was on a Friday, where it's their busiest because the military gets paid that day and it's their hangout.) we went to WaWa and I ended up getting some raspberry iced tea and a toasted turkey sandwich and as I was being rung up, this little girl wants to comment on my items. "That tea is nasty, why did you get it?" I looked at her and said "I didn't ask you, just ring my crap up."

There are a few adults who have the same crappy service 'skills', but not as often as the fresh off of formula kids.