Have you ever dealt with a ..."STUPID CUSTOMER" at work?

Question

This question doesn't apply to those who haven't a job or just happen to be the CEO of some company. If you are a dumb manager who doesn't work with your crew and just gives orders you are exempt as well.

As a hard working wage worker tring to pay bills and have at least some fun in life, it is you who truly knows what is wrong with the world by serving stupid customers.

What is your unique philosophy as a customer service worker?

What have you noticed about certain people?

Have you had trouble serving any of the following.....

Drunks, Rich People, Impatients, Senseless Complainers, Ignorant Children, Racist, Robbers, Mothers and Fathers who use their kids as reason for a discount....ETC..

If you have learned anything about the people in this world by dealing with "Stupid Customers" at your job that makes your life a difficult one to live please share it.

If you detest the word "stupid" in this question then you must be a stupid customer.

Only those who work hard to make a living would never be offended by the word "stupid" in this question.

Answer 1

What about cruel?

I worked at a local joint, lots of animals - big tourist attraction. (Nope, I'm not going to name it. I'm sure you can figure it out.) And because there was a lot of animals at this place a lot of birds like to freeload. Among them ducks.

And one evening Mommy Duck was leading her young ducklings past a food joint in the place where they passed a table with a family of several kids.

One of the boys followed the ducks and then, before the last little one could get away - stamped on the baby baby duck and crushed it. He was about seven or nine years old. Old enoug to know what it means to kill or to cause pain to another living creature.

The parents could have cared less. The boy did a victory dance while the poor baby duck laid dead on the ground.

I was so furious. I scooped up the dead duck with a co-worker and we brought it to security to take care of and to report the little bastard.

To this day I think about it and see that boy laughing about killing the duck and the parents not even doing anything. I still hope everytime I think about it that the boy has a horrible life and suffers everyday.

Answer 2

I work in customer service and I have dealt with all those type of people you mentioned above. I use to think that the whole world was going completely mad but, dealing with the public has also taught me to appreciate life and be thankful for what I have. Take the time to listen because,I learned that everybody has a story and those stories shaped the lives of these people.

Answer 3

Actually yes, if I see a few interesting or suspicious questions/answers from someone I'll check out their about me and sometimes even search through their activity and even check the name they've signed up with(which no one should be able to see but there's a trick to it lol). Yeah it's a little stalkerish but it's really helpful to recognize trolls and gain insight on people here. Like you're a Mean Angel, what does that mean anyway?

Answer 4

Granted, there are some bloody ignorant people out there, but I for one have HAD IT with rude cashiers who throw merchandise around, whip change back at the customer, barely acknowledge my existence (I don't expect special treatment but a Hello might be nice instead of a dirty look like I'm bothering them), store clerks who are all over you when you walk in the door but are completely invisible when you need help, won't even talk to you if you're not wearing a designer suit (I had that happen in Value Village of all the places), and act like it's a great big deal and and a huge inconvenience if they have to answer a question about a store product. And who the HELL gave clerks the right to say, "I don't know" and just walk away?! That is bloody ridiculous and TOTALLY unacceptable!!!

I have never, ever once been outright rude to a business employee but I cannot count the number of times I have been shoved, insulted, refused service, received horrible service, and even spit on (yes, spit on) by employees who are wroking because people like ME spend their money there.

Sorry, but my sympathy comes in very limited doses for anyone in the service/retail/hospitality industries.

Answer 5

What is your definition of stupid? Is it someone who has a different view than you do, or actually uneducated persons?

In any type of work, you are going to have to deal with customers at one point or another. Not everyone is going to be happy with the service they received. This is their perception. Your perception is different. PERCEPTION IS REALITY TO THE PERSON WHO PERCEIVES. Just as you THINK that they are stupid, they are thinking you are stupid as well.

You are in the service industry, paid to serve the customer, even if they are 'stupid', this is not about you. Get over yourself.

One thing to remember - When arguing with a fool, make sure they are not doing the same.

Answer 6

worst job at worst time?? Retail Asst. Manager at a discount store at the First of the Month. The first is not a day like most ppl think. It is the first week of the month that those "state checks" come out. And trust me we get allll kinds. My co managers and employees work our butts off and ppl throw soda's at us, yell at us, teach their children to steal...I've seen it all at this point. Watch your back on December first cause you are in for a wiiiiild ride. I know others out there are nodding their heads and my heart goes out to each and every one of you because as the old saying goes..."I know there's a hell I work in retail". People put back diapers for their babies to get fake nails and clothes for them that they wear and try to bring back all stained and then yell at us because we wont take them back. People yell at us and are rude and feel no shame in the treatment. I was at work on a day off and (we have two registers) was demanded to open a third register and work. This demand was by a customer. I looked at her and said then go to a store and buy me another register because there is two and two ppl are working at it. Do your math before you make demands. She then dropped a large storage container on my mom's foot and did not apologize but complained that we held up the line. I could write a book with my stories. All I can do is say the serenity prayer often and tackle theives. (lol done it too but dont mess with the butchers at the grocery next door- they are ruthless)

Answer 7

Difficult people often have a reason they are difficult. Listen to them. Just like your current post--you are psycologically involved in a recent customer.
Just listen to the difficult person--sort out the TRUE issue from the "noise" of the frustration of the individual.
Find the real problem. Help the customer solve the real issue. It may not help you--but it will help the next CSR who the customer deals with.

Answer 8

I totally understand what you are saying, but I agree with the other answerer about the label "Stupid". I have, in over 20yrs in retail, dealt with all of the types of people you've listed, and more. I have learned much from many of these people. The only stupid people that I had to deal with were the employess who, despite the training and admonitions delivered, refused to adopt, or adhere to, a solid ethic of customer service. To say that "the customer is always right" limits you, and must not, by any means, be held as a universal truth, but the customer is your paycheck and advertising. This must be internalized.

As a manager, or floor worker/associate iin the reatail environment, you will be dealing with every type of person in virtually every type of condition:The customer who hates waiting in line; The customer who is drunk; The lost, elderly, misinformed, etc. It is your job to send that customer away happy and satisified. It is your job to call the police or company security when needed, too. It is your job to call a Code Adam and respond to the same when necessary. And, if you are the boss, you are the one who needs to instill a good, customer-centric ethic into those who work under you.

I once traveled this country for one of our largest of retailers and it was my job to train and even troubleshoot customer service related issues. What many just don't understand is the basic fact that it takes one dis-satisfied or angry customer to ruin your business, but it takes the satisfied customer to help build that same business.

In a lot of cases, your customer just needs someone working there to simply LISTEN and UNDERSTAND them. We all tend to communicate differently and therefore we, as the one they need to peal with, need to recognize that, and respond to them the best we can. If you can remain positive and confident with your customer, keeping eye contact and open body language, you will be in the perfect place to deal with any type of customer you must face.

Did I help you? I don't know, but good luck to you!

Answer 9

Definately.

When I was much younger, I had just come on shift and my first customer at the drive thru threw their food at me and then proceeded to scream at me. I calmly told her that I was sorry her order was wrong but that she had me mistaken for the last person and that I'd be happy to find my manager for her. She continued to scream at me that I was a liar and that I had just served her. I told her I would ask my manager to print out my time sheet for the day for her. She flipped me off when I told her to have a nice day.

I also had a man yell at me because the ice cream machine was broken. I told him we had the call in for repair and that if I had the technical experience to do so that I would happily repair it so I could fulfull his request for icecream. Sadly, I do not so I offered to get my manager for him. He continuted to yell at me at which point I told him how much I was paid per hour and that it was not enough to take verbal abuse.

I am a very good customer when I go to fast food places now. If there are obvious problems or my order is wrong, I simply ask them to correct it.

Answer 10

My son works for a national retailer and comes home with stories that you wouldn't believe about drunks, old people (who don't understand and you have to keep repeating yourself), violent people, and people just trying to pull a scam.

One of the funniest stores was about an old lady (around 90) that came in with a problem with her computer (e-mail for grandchildren). She kept hitting him to emphasize her point. He kept saying don't hit me ma'm, but of course she did. She wasn't hurting him so he let it go.

One of the worst was a man who came in for camera repairs, but didn't buy a warranty (it was out of manufacturer's warranty). So it couldn't be fixed without a charge. The man threw the camera at my son, who let it drop to the ground. He then told the man that intentional damage was not covered under any warranty. The man was made because my son didn't catch it, thereby, he couldn't say it was damaged because it wasn't caught.