(no subject)

[hathycol]

The UK is in full sale mode. Everything is cheap, combined with people bringing back stuff they got for Christmas and they don't like. At the point of sale, we try to point out that gift receipts are only for exchanges at value that you bought the item at. We'll do you a gift card, if you want. This is, to my mind, fairly reasonable, although to be honest I don't see the point of gift receipts at all. But, you know, they exist and we do what we can with them. We are a bloody nice company, you know. We're polite. We'll help you find stuff. It's not our fault the sale started on Boxing Day and you bought this in late November.

So, today was the day of returns from hell, but I powered through them, got it all done, never argued, was unfailingly polite and cheerful. A couple come up to the till, wanting to exhange some items they'd bought for new ones. No issue there, they had a gift receipt but we're cool with exchanges.

Then they kicked off, because we weren't giving them the exchange at the price they'd bought the item at. She shouted at me, which is apparently okay to do if you say 'I know it's not your fault but...' I got my supervisor. They shouted at her too. They then made a decision that they'd buy the new tops, keep the old ones and return the old ones with the full receipt that she hoped she had at home. "Okay," I said, painfully aware of the angry mob of customers waiting behind them. "Look, I do see why you're angry, and I hope you're able to find..."

The man glared at me. "You're arguing now. I am the customer and you are the shop assistant. Be quiet!"

I was just... stunned, really. If that had happened anywhere else, I would have asked him to leave the store. I've been really rude to customers who talk to me like that, when I worked in Homebase. (See: "thank you for showing me that I was right to quit my job, madam. Have a nice day.") But I was so shocked at the rudeness and superiority he felt he had over me that I simply completed the transaction and just about got up enough power to say "Have a lovely day!" as they left. Things were made worse by the man after me, who was very annoyed that we only had one till and that it was really our fault for not advertising our returns policy.

It was on a massive poster directly behind my head, with a specific part regarding gift receipts.

I mean... I see where they're coming from, but there was no need to be that nasty, and quite frankly we don't make policy but we have to stick by it.

I was shaking by the end of it. I have many customer grievances, sure, but that was just a very nasty incident. I'm dreading work tomorrow.

Comments

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Jesus. That is... god, that is inexcusable. You don't talk to another human being like that. Also, something about it has the flavour of, I don't know, not racism, obv., not really classism either, but a definite sense that all people are not created equal. I absolutely don't blame you for not wanting to go in tomorrow.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I think it's similar to all those things in the horrible bracket of 'entitlement', i.e. I am entitled to something that you are not because I am better than you, in this case because I am the customer.

To be honest, I sort of hope they do come in tomorrow; none of us could tear a strip off them because we were only assistants and a supervisor, whereas my managers have full powers to tell them to fuck off and die. It's just shook me up because we don't get this where I work; we're a small happy shop in a small happy town. Just... ugh.

[chiasmata]

Foul, foul self-important little man. I do loathe the whole 'I am paying, you are being paid, therefore I am better than you and can talk to you how I like' thing. Poor you! I hope tomorrow is better, and features fewer idiots.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

My job is generally idiot free and I rather like it, most of the time. Still, though! Bring on the graduation and a world free of face-to-face customer service, that's what I say (and hope.)

[emerald-embers.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Yeah, I had a good old cockrag customer yesterday too; "I think you're making this up as you're going along. Can I speak to somebody technical," in that particular manner that lets you know that by 'technical' they mean 'male'.

Maybe it's the season for it? I don't know.

Either way, that person was a complete wankslapper, and I hope you feel better tomorrow <3.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I think what makes it worse it knowing that all these arsewipes are on holidays and meanwhile we're slaving away at the time of year we should all just me drunk on mulled wine and eating turkey.

[purplerainbow.livejournal.com]

That is so rude. There is no excuse for that kind of behaviour - no one should say things like that to another human being.

I confess to being very very glad that this year I am not working in retail. Two years ago I worked on the returns desk at Marks & Spencer and it was... memorable. Best of luck for the next few shifts!

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

It is this time of year that I sort of long for the days when I worked in the Union, cleaning up sick. Which says it all, really...

[sunlightdances.livejournal.com]

God, that's horrible. Arg, you poor thing. *huggles*

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

Aren't people fun, sometimes? *hugs back*

[balthaser.livejournal.com]

I greatly dislike people who do that. Today I went and returned a DVD to HMV (I'd bought it from Zavvi but they're not accepting returns due to being in administration - I didn't tell them that though). I was fully expecting them to say they couldn't do anything but I was perfectly nice about it & I got a giftcard for £6. You tend to get more if you're nice than if you shout.

But my other point was that I love your workplace, I managed to find an amazing pair of non jeans trousers in the sale, at short length and fitted me at a size smaller than I usually am, hurrah! & the girl behind the till was way too cheery for my liking, but it was amusing non-the-less.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

We are a cheery workplace and we will Put Up With Your Shit. If you're nice, we're nice. If you're nasty, we're nice, but wishing you're dead.

Also our clothes sizes are HUGE. I love it. Non-jeans trousers... are they the mya trousers or the rock boot cords, by any chance?

[balthaser.livejournal.com]

They are just trousers to me =p
Upon inspection they are the Mya, they are lovely!

[tashmania.livejournal.com]

God, self-important (I actually initially wrote 'impotent' there, a telling slip!!), arsewipe entitled customers are bloody awful. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. *hugs* I hope you feel better about it soon. x

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

Entitled customers can just GO AND JUMP. Awful people!

[theriversdream.livejournal.com]

Argh that's just terrible! Poor you! It's dreadful when people forget that the people behind tills are in fact human beings like themselves and deserve to be treated as they expect to be treated! :/

Anyway, I hope you have a happy new year!

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I'm not a human being, though, I'm a shop assistant, and am therefore scum... apparently.

[elentari-valie.livejournal.com]

(((hugs)))

And this is why the supervisor should be given the kick-the F*** off tyhe sttore powers. No one has to take shit like that from anybody, and while the assistant should be polite, so should the client.

good god.

(((hugs again)))

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I know! *hugs*

[flickerswitch.livejournal.com]

Sounds familiar, I did a couple of sales at M&S and jacked it in, couldn't be doing with it. Fuckin hate retail!

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I know! Bloody customers.

[sevenhelz.livejournal.com]

Aagh. I hate when people try that on me - usually wherever I'm working doesn't even have that "customer is always right" policy
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