Sometimes I Need Customers To Speak To Me In Snappy Tones! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice Johnson · 12-15-2008, 03:21 PM

At my job at Walgreens, i used to be slow as hell, (thinking customers don't like to be rushed)..... Until a few customers complianed about my slowness.... One customer said, 'If you were any slower, you'd be a statue,", one cutomer said, 'there is no excuse for you to be that slow,", another customer said, 'it's ridiculous how slow you are with this line," and another customer said, "She's that slow on purpose."(rolling her eyes)... Notice how not one of those customers thought I was"cute"? After that, I got REALLY fast....If those cusotomers didn't speak to me in snappy tones, I would have STILL been slow.

Another situation I needed a customer to speak to me in a snappy tone was when I didn't know if I gave the previous his correct change. I asked the next customer, 'Did I give the last customer his change? She replied in a snappy tone, 'Look, I'm not here to watch your business for you. Just ring up my items so that I can leave." I just rang her up, and she left..... Turns out, i'm not supposed to ask customers questions like that.

Yet, another situation when I needed a customer to speak to me in a snappy tone was the other day. I asked a young woman(around my age) if the OLD gentleman(around his 70's) with her was her Grandpa, she coldy replied, 'That's none of your business." Even though I apogized, she complained to my manager about my question. My manager had a talk about my tactlessness about the question. I had just been trying to be conversational and friendly. My manager knew that, and warned me to not ask anymore personal questions. I'm lucky that the woman had complained to my assistant manager, and not my store manager, because my srtore manager would have most likely suspended me for a day for the complaint.....(Assistant managers are more lenient about mistakes and customer complaints than Store Managers). See? For trying to be "cute" I could have been suspended for a day...... After that, I just rang up customers, with no more personal questions......

Hollow · 12-15-2008, 03:34 PM

it sounds like you need training in business ethics. getting yelled at by customers is a very poor way to learn how to do your job. you could easily be fired if you were to continue doing some of the stuff listed here.

HuntingtonM15 · 12-15-2008, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

it sounds like you need training in business ethics. getting yelled at by customers is a very poor way to learn how to do your job. you could easily be fired if you were to continue doing some of the stuff listed here.

I agree. I don't know why you would want to try so hard to be "cute" while doing your job. I also don't see how any of those things mentioned could be considered "cute."

Chocoholic · 12-15-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

it sounds like you need training in business ethics. getting yelled at by customers is a very poor way to learn how to do your job. you could easily be fired if you were to continue doing some of the stuff listed here.

I agree. It also sounds like she could use a little training in social skills.

Waterston_Fan · 12-15-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

it sounds like you need training in business ethics. getting yelled at by customers is a very poor way to learn how to do your job. you could easily be fired if you were to continue doing some of the stuff listed here.

Yeah. I don't know how long you have worked at Walgreens but I have worked at Old Navy for the last 8 years, in fact two of my male co workers have been there just as long as I have. And we three got hired there when the store first opened even...

Let me tell you a story.... I did work at Toys R Us for the Christmas in '99 then got hired at Old Navy in May of '00.

I had picked up the phone there to help a customer and he wanted to know a size on shoes, we used to sell them in '00. So I told him that there could be a pair in another store then he asked if I could call that other store...

I don't remember what I told him but I think I wasn't sure if I was allowed to do that, being new to this and stuff. I remember his comment.... He asks, are you an invalid or something?

I bit my tongue... I really wanted to say, No, but we got a Presidental candidate who might be one.

I did what he wanted then I mentioned this incident to a friend and she told me that when a customer asks for something, you have to do it. Even if they can call another store themselves since they are calling yours...

Janice · 12-15-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

I remember his comment.... He asks, are you an invalid or something?

I bit my tongue... I really wanted to say, No, but we got a Presidental candidate who might be one.

That might have landed you in hot water. I had nurse rambling on about Bush to me. I told to to save the speeches and that not everyone in Massachusettes is a liberal. I reported her to her supervisor. Who knows if they did anything about it. I was there for a flu shot, not to listen to her insult the President.

Waterston_Fan · 12-15-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That might have landed you in hot water. I had nurse rambling on about Bush to me. I told to to save the speeches and that not everyone in Massachusettes is a liberal. I reported her to her supervisor. Who knows if they did anything about it. I was there for a flu shot, not to listen to her insult the President.

Even if I was pretty new to being in retail and stuff?

But glad you reported that nurse, may have been rude of her to do that.

OH Nuts! · 12-15-2008, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That might have landed you in hot water. I had nurse rambling on about Bush to me. I told to to save the speeches and that not everyone in Massachusettes is a liberal. I reported her to her supervisor. Who knows if they did anything about it. I was there for a flu shot, not to listen to her insult the President.

That was very inappropriate; I don't blame you for being miffed Janice.

TripperFan · 12-15-2008, 11:19 PM

I agree. Even if you think it's an "innocent" or cute question, don't ask it.

Who knows - that "grandpa" you thought could have well been her boyfriend. I'm sure my ex has been getting that himself.

But it's true - that could have been quite insulting to them.

Have you ever been tested for autism at all?

Hollow · 12-15-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

I agree. I don't know why you would want to try so hard to be "cute" while doing your job. I also don't see how any of those things mentioned could be considered "cute."

exactly. if you're just beginning to learn about customer courtesy and doing business properly (ie. being productive instead of "cute") while already on the job, it's not likely you'll have it much longer.

littlebelle · 12-16-2008, 01:05 AM

I deal with rude customers all day, it's part of my job. The good thing about my job is that if somebody is being difficult, we have the right to refuse their order. Unfortunately I did not know this rule (I thought it was "the customers always right") and had a terrible experience where a man was verbally accosting me-calling me every name in book while I was proceeding to ring up his groceries. Luckily, my co-workers are really sweet and supportive towards each other so my supervisor came over and told him to stop it or he could leave. I then learned my favorite "rule"

.

Big C · 12-16-2008, 01:20 AM

Ramona,

do you ever have any stories to tell of rude customers ala the way Al Bundy would talk about fat women in his shoe store?

Big C · 12-16-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

a man was verbally accosting me-calling me every name in book while I was proceeding to ring up his groceries.

What was he angry about- you forgot to put the ice cream next to the whipped cream?

Wreckless · 12-16-2008, 01:22 AM

That reminds me, I'm about to go get some ice cream now.

LuLu Rogers · 12-16-2008, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wreckless

That reminds me, I'm about to go get some ice cream now.

What does that have to do with this thread?

12-15-2008, 03:21 PM	#1
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,740	Sometimes I Need Customers To Speak To Me In Snappy Tones! At my job at Walgreens, i used to be slow as hell, (thinking customers don't like to be rushed)..... Until a few customers complianed about my slowness.... One customer said, 'If you were any slower, you'd be a statue,", one cutomer said, 'there is no excuse for you to be that slow,", another customer said, 'it's ridiculous how slow you are with this line," and another customer said, "She's that slow on purpose."(rolling her eyes)... Notice how not one of those customers thought I was"cute"? After that, I got REALLY fast....If those cusotomers didn't speak to me in snappy tones, I would have STILL been slow. Another situation I needed a customer to speak to me in a snappy tone was when I didn't know if I gave the previous his correct change. I asked the next customer, 'Did I give the last customer his change? She replied in a snappy tone, 'Look, I'm not here to watch your business for you. Just ring up my items so that I can leave." I just rang her up, and she left..... Turns out, i'm not supposed to ask customers questions like that. Yet, another situation when I needed a customer to speak to me in a snappy tone was the other day. I asked a young woman(around my age) if the OLD gentleman(around his 70's) with her was her Grandpa, she coldy replied, 'That's none of your business." Even though I apogized, she complained to my manager about my question. My manager had a talk about my tactlessness about the question. I had just been trying to be conversational and friendly. My manager knew that, and warned me to not ask anymore personal questions. I'm lucky that the woman had complained to my assistant manager, and not my store manager, because my srtore manager would have most likely suspended me for a day for the complaint.....(Assistant managers are more lenient about mistakes and customer complaints than Store Managers). See? For trying to be "cute" I could have been suspended for a day...... After that, I just rang up customers, with no more personal questions......

12-15-2008, 11:19 PM	#9
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	I agree. Even if you think it's an "innocent" or cute question, don't ask it. Who knows - that "grandpa" you thought could have well been her boyfriend. I'm sure my ex has been getting that himself. But it's true - that could have been quite insulting to them. Have you ever been tested for autism at all?
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

12-15-2008, 03:34 PM	#2
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	it sounds like you need training in business ethics. getting yelled at by customers is a very poor way to learn how to do your job. you could easily be fired if you were to continue doing some of the stuff listed here.

12-16-2008, 01:05 AM	#11
littlebelle Spell Caster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,659	I deal with rude customers all day, it's part of my job. The good thing about my job is that if somebody is being difficult, we have the right to refuse their order. Unfortunately I did not know this rule (I thought it was "the customers always right") and had a terrible experience where a man was verbally accosting me-calling me every name in book while I was proceeding to ring up his groceries. Luckily, my co-workers are really sweet and supportive towards each other so my supervisor came over and told him to stop it or he could leave. I then learned my favorite "rule" .

12-16-2008, 01:20 AM	#12
Big C I Heart Angie Watson Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 3,531	Ramona, do you ever have any stories to tell of rude customers ala the way Al Bundy would talk about fat women in his shoe store?

12-16-2008, 01:22 AM	#14
Wreckless Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 04, 2007 Location: Banned Posts: 9,406	That reminds me, I'm about to go get some ice cream now.