Why do people come into a store 5 minutes before it is closing when they know what they came in for will take longer? This is annoying to those of us who work in retail and would like to get home at decent time. After the store closes, we have to close registers, clean up, etc, which takes about an hour. When we have customers coming in at the last minute not knowing what they want and asking a hundred questions, it gets annoying. Sure you can say it is our job, but the customer is not always right, if they were, most stores would be out of business from the shoplifting some "customers" do. This happens on the weekend as much as weeknights and people have the whole day to do stuff so why wait till the last minute? People should only come in at thelast minute if they want to make a quick purchase, not to order a room of furniture, a computer system, or other services that take time to process.
2006-09-13 05:09:58 · 17 answers · asked by reallyfedup 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I do want the customer to come back but if they put me at risk by causing me to work a half hour late and miss my bus, thus being out alone after dark, well their sale isn't work my safety. Those of us who have to depend on public transport need to leave on schedule.
2006-09-13 05:14:56 · update #1
Unfortunately, we have evolved into a "Me only" society. We don't think about others anymore and we don't care how rude we are anymore. You can even see this rudeness on the roads driving, at restaurants with cell phones ringing and people talking loudly as if the person on the other end cannot hear them or maybe because they want everyone to look and see how important they are because they received a phone call while they were out to eat. We also see this "Me" stuff by the way children are turning out. It's selfish parents who never spend time with their children that cause us to have a new society of little devils that run around with no manners and even more rude than the previous generation. It is a snowball effect too and with each new generation, it gets a little worse. Not all are bad though. People who are polite usually had good home training and parents who loved them more then life itself and spent plenty of time with them, and were genuinely interested in what the child was/is doing.
My thoughts on the subject......
2006-09-13 05:16:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
A store that closes at 8:00 pm should be expected to serve any customer that manages to get in the door by 8:00 pm fully and without complaint (well, a little grumbling behind the customers back is OK.) Employees are paid to do just that. Most of the people in retail are hourly anyway, so it's not like the extra time being spent working is for nothing.
I do work in retail. It can be annoying to get a difficult customer as we are closing. However, I have been on the other side of the counter as a place was closing as well. Taking time to help me even if it means staying late is a good way to make sure I bring a particular store future business.
2006-09-13 05:24:14 · answer #2 · answered by Akfek_Branford 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I sympathize with you, I really do, but when I was really young I worked in my father's store to earn spending money and later just to help out, and he was very firm about staying open until EXACTLY the moment of closing time. If a customer came in even at 1 minute before the time, he would welcome them and we would service the customer even if they took another hour. He would lock the door, but we would focus on them. And we still had the after closing stuff to do. I learned that this is what keeps a store in business. If you don't care about your clientele they will sense it, even from something like this.
Anyway, money is a good thing.
2006-09-13 05:16:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Great observation! I always try to be respectful, and make a point not to shop or go to restaurants just prior to closing. That's really rude in my opinion. I understand that the owners want you to sell as much as you can, but you have to have a personal life, too. Good post, try not to let the rude people get to you.
Centurion-nice post, I was just thinking about the poster's specific situation, but you are right on target that this is just part of a societal problem. We need to all be more considerate and respectful of each other.
2006-09-13 05:13:48 · answer #4 · answered by babalu2 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I did retail for only a few months but I know what you have to do after closing. My husband doesn't get that! I can understand if you need something and you run in and get it but my husband actually wants to wander around and shop! He gives me the "They'll have to wait because they were still open when we came it, now they'll just have to wait until we're finished." Sigh. It embarrasses me to no end and I nagged him and nagged him until he can't stand it anymore and pays and leaves. It's the best I can do, but I try.
2006-09-13 05:20:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hear ya. Your store needs to do like all the government or city agencies do- close the doors ten minutes before closing time or turn away customers coming at the last minute. They are so bold about it. "The lady in the blue shirt is my LAST customer come back tomorrow before 4:30. Thank yooou!
2006-09-13 05:15:20 · answer #6 · answered by prettybrowneyes. 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I sympathize with you. People are on overload and aren't aware of their inconveniencing others. I live in another country right now. The main store in the village flicks the lights off and on, like a five minute warning.
2006-09-13 05:14:05 · answer #7 · answered by beez 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Politely let them know,that the store will be closing soon,and tell them what the store hours are. If they insist on you waiting on them anyway,then tell them the only person who can handle their needs at that moment,is "the Manager". Pushy,and inconciderate people don't like talking to store managers. It is easier for them to try and piss you off!, besides,talking to the store manager at closing time means they will not get "their way",and will have no choice ,but to go back tommorrow.
2006-09-13 05:21:24 · answer #8 · answered by Squeakers 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the customer IS always right....you get annoyed with them because you don't believe that.......that is part of the problem. Our society has allowed customer service to go right out the window. what you may consider convienient others may find difficult. A good salesperson/ retailer will realize that going out of your way to help a desperate customer at the last minute will increase the chances that your customer will come back to your store....
2006-09-13 05:13:18 · answer #9 · answered by jachooz 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
LOL... I used to work in retail and yes this can be annoying....we would turn half the lights out in the store so people would know to get out
2006-09-13 05:11:54 · answer #10 · answered by diva 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋