Why are people so self centered and unreasonable nowadays?

Question

I work in retail and like most stores, we are understaffed and overworked. I work 6 or 7 hour shift with no break, no lunch, and no there isn't one person that can cover for me because every area is busy and understaffed. I work in a customer service department which gets busy., I am trying to do orders, make phone calls, wait on customers, do projects, etc and sometimes I will have 6 people in line and do to the fact that I am only one person, I can't take care of everyone at once. I try first come first serve or if someone has a small request I will take them first to get them on their way because I don't want to make a person wait to pay for one item while I spend 30 minutes with another person making a custom order. So many people get impatient and holler at me and all I can tell them is sorry I will be with you as soon as possible but this person has been waiting and was here first , etc. Why do consumers blame the employee when it isn't their fault?

I don't agree that the customer is always right because there are a lot of dishonest customers that come in to return stuff they didn't pay full price for and lie about losing their reciept, etc when it is stated plainly that they must have one. Also I don't see what the customer always being right has anything to do with one person trying to help 6 people at once. I am a human being , not a machine. Any idiot should know that one person can't take care of 6 different things at once without screwing them all up. I can't be 6 places at once, no one can.

Answer 1

I cannot believe these STUPID answers that some of the GUYS here have given you.
#1 If you are doing the best you can, don't sweat it because this
is the way many customers are going to treat ya, sadly. Just
learn not to take it personally. It's business, not personal!
(Remind yourself of that every time you think you are going
to break down)
#2 If at all possible, search for a job elsewhere if it will reduce
stress but still cover your bills.
#3 Pay no attention to what a---holes like okronbon,
curious james and billyandgaby. They are probably the ones
treating the store clerks like crap. They belong on a chain
gang somewhere out in the hot sun where they can learn
what real work is.

Answer 2

Welcome to the world of retail business. All you are doing is just providing a "service" for products from various manufacturers. This is value added business where you are simply providing a service by displaying, stocking and having all those items in you're store and unfortunately there's no way out from the always unsatsfied customers. They'd care less if ure understaffed or overstaffed. If their needs arent fulfilled, they will make a noise, its human nature. If you'd be in their place, you'd do the same.

I believe you should talk to the management about it, cos if u guys are feeling the effect of being understaffed that means business is doing good and y'all are making good money and it would be a good idea to get a few helping hands in your store. Show them what you mean, justify what you are fighting for. I would also suggest trying to develop a few work-flows and procedures that could save time and try to serve the customers even more better, this would also add more value to your already experienced-self. Who knows maybe the management might consider your ideas and even promote u!

** hands REALLYFEDUP a nice fat trout **

And if all fails and the management doesn't really see the need to hire more staff or take any positive attitude towards ure problem... slap them across the face with the trout i just handed to u.

Answer 3

Most consumers and customers are dealing with worsening customer service and while they might not know the circumstances of your day..you don't know theirs either. People have gotten to be very short sighted and there is a certain amount of pleasure that is taken in giving someone a hard time..it makes us feel superior. Truth is though..service with a smile? Be real...You're fortunate nowdays if the mono-tone, slack jawed, zombie behind the counter will even make eye contact nowdays. Just recently I had my children sitting out in the car with me while my friend ran into a department store to fill some prescriptions. It was hot outside and my son not feeling good got sick..well, I couldn't take him in the store along with my daughter and I didn't want to leave them there alone and my friend didn't have a cell phone so I used my cell phone to call into customer service to her paged so she could get back to the car faster. It was a mess...I got put on hold twice and then sent back to the seafood department 3 times..cuz instead of paging her..the "be'otch" on the other end thought it was funny to deal with the difficult customer in this manner. Needless to say..this particular department store (Fred Meyer) doesn't deal well with customer complaints so that CS Rep at the CS desk no longer has a job with Fred's. I was crying and shaking I was so mad. When my friend got back to the car..she had been taking her time thinking everything was all good...she was horrified. If I had not needed to get my son home I would have gone in there right then and ripped her up one side and down the other. So it goes both ways. I do sympathize cuz I've been in your shoes to but that's just the way the cookie crumbles and until people are willing to be a little more Jesus in their attitudes toward each other then...such is life. It frustraiting but..you can go home at the end of the day and mayhap you should ask for a raise or find another job. God bless you. Love in Christ, ~J~ <><

Answer 4

I second, third, or whatever those who point out that breaks are required by law. Bring the wrath of the law down on them.

Sorry you have it so rough.

Continue to be polite to the rude customers. Nothing else you can do, really. Apologize and thank, and continue your current set of priorities (first come first served except quick things over drawn-out transactions).

I feel compelled to point out that people have not just become self-centered and unreasonable. First, not all of your customers are -- you just notice the ones that are. Second, there have always been a lot of self-centered and unreasonable people.


Good luck to you! If management continues to refuse to hire enough people, look for work elsewhere.

PS That (obviously false) thing that people keep saying about the customer always being right really means that you should always TREAT the customer as though whatever they said was right, as people resent being told that they are wrong.

I think the people who say that weren't really paying attention to what you wrote, or perhaps they recognize their own behavior in your explanation, and are reacting to their own guilt by lashing out.

Answer 5

Most likely everyone else is working in an understaffed environment and dealing with problems similar to yours, they don't want to hear it when it is thier turn to be the customer.

I get mad too, not necessarily at you, but the inconsiderate person that is taking 30 minutes of your time. Maybe as you become more experienced you can learn to deal with people in less time.

The thing is, like it or not, your job is to give great customer service. Unfortunately there are people that you will have to deal with that are nasty and impolite. That's the way it is! Just be patient and polite and don't blow your cool. Just remember, it is just a job.

Answer 6

First it is illegal for your employer to work you without a break. And if I were you I would look for another job. Yours sound like they are taking advantage of you. They are understaffed because they know you are willing to do the work of 2 people so why hire another person to help you. I see it all the time in business, it's nothing new they ask you one thing and you end up doing it all.

PS It's not going to change!

Answer 7

Because they ARE selfcentered the problem is you can't give them a piece of your mind!
It's truly sad that alot of people classify themselfs as a higher class just because they think they have a "Better job" "More money" Or they just want to belive they are a higher class.

Even on this site people are really retarded, makeing rude comments, Ect, I would if people yell at you just say "I'll Be with you in a moment" If they continue then alert the store manager.

Oh yeah and you have to have a lunch break atleast every 5-6 I would alert the emploment department

Answer 8

I am completely in agreement with you. I have a job similar to yours. A small, dollar store. People come in with out their money, with small children, let their children pull everthing off the shelves and leave it in the floor while they do their own thing and then get to the checkout and you tell them what they owe and they have to run to their car for their money while other people are waiting in line and looking at you like its all your fault. They have no consideration of people that are waiting for them to get their money and whatever else they forgot (checkbook, debit or credit card, EBT or Lone Star card) whatever. It makes me sick. Or they stand their rummaging thru their bag while talking loud and 10 miles an hour on their cell phone. The rudest. I could go on and on with the rudeness. Just to let you know, I can't take it much more and am looking for another field of work. Please let it be soon. I can only hope that our world will wake up one day and say," hey I'm going to try and be more considerate of others and not so just all about me".

Answer 9

I feel your pain. I was a customer service manager at Wal-Mart years ago; worked the service desk before that. My husband is currently an assistant manager with the company and has been there for the last 11 years.

In a way, you already answered your own question. People are self-centered and unreasonable. That's really all there is to it. Selfishness.

Answer 10

Because everyone is in a hurry and wants things right now. They think u should have 50 arms and be able to listen to 50 people's orders at one time!!! Next time tell them "Hey I don't come to ur work and demand things of u while ur boss has important S**T for u to do do I? see the reponse u get it would be funny just for a laugh anyways better not u might get fired but remember that next time and u'll be laughin' and they will think ur crazy and wait their turn. Good luck and keep ur chin up!!!