Why do customers do this to me while I try to work?

Question

I'll be working in one department and they will ask me where something is that's located on the other end of the store. It's obvious that the item he/she asked about is not in the department that I'm working.

I didn't say I don't know where the items are at. I know exactly where almost everything in the whole store is located. But someone that's looking for a bag of dog food in the cereal aisle is just plain ignorant.

Answer 1

I get some rediculous questions form other servers tables while i am waiting tables. They will see me at a omputer putting in orders or getting silverware for my table and ask me for a ranch or something stupid. I am like"GAAH, DON'T YOU SEE I AM DOING SOMEHTING HERE YOU F******G IGNORANT SON OF A "BLEEP" (well i say that in my head while i am plotting a way to kill them in their sleep for being so stupid) Anyway... people see you at work and think that you are there for "them" and them alone and you should follow them around the store and help them pick their nose if they want. People who have never been ina customer related industry (whether it be restaurant or department store) don't understand what is and what isn't your job.
does that help you????? just smile and point..... that is what i do....... :o)

Answer 2

This isn't a big mystery, and its kind of surprising to me to think you don't understand why someone would do it. Haven't you ever shopped anywhere?

A person goes into a large store (large enough to have different people in different department). He wants a bag of dog food and knows he needs to find the pet department. What he doesn't know is where the pet department is, so rather than go walking all over a whole big store in the hopes that he'll run into it, he does the quickest thing of asking the nearest employee where the dog food is. He doesn't ask where the pet department is because he's looking for dog food and figures he may as well say exactly what he's looking for in order to get the right answer.

Mr. Customer may know you work in the shampoo department but figures since you work in the building you're probably familiar with where different things are. He figures that because you're an employee part of the job may be to have people ask where stuff is, and he would never imagine that you have some problem with his asking a simple question about where something is.

Mr. Customer is actually giving you credit for maybe walking around the building some time during your employment at the store, and he's giving you credit for realizing that it is normal and natural for a customer to look for the nearest "customer service representative" or "sales associate" to ask where something is in order to be able to just go and get it. He's giving you credit for being enough of human being that asking you a question isn't a big problem for you.

Mr. Customer isn't stupid. He doesn't think that you, in the shampoo department, sell dog food. If he saw some customer and knew for sure that the customer was a frequent visitor to the store he may even ask them where to find the dog food; but the vest or smock you wear is the thing that tell him if he has a question he can ask you.

Answer 3

In the customer service industry, the employees are like hosts for the customers who are like guests. As an employee, you are expected to have familiarity with the store. As a human being who is out in public, you are expected to act with civility.

I guess customers don't realize that stocking shelves is highly-skilled, intensive work that requires deep concentration.

Answer 4

You should know where to find something, anything that's available in your store, how would your customers ever be able to know?

Its called customer service.

Lighten up and try some empathy, put yourself in the shoes of someone who hasn't a clue, at least not as much as you do.

Answer 5

customers expect people who works in the store to know where what is located. so to make life in the store easy for them, they ask the employees of that store. its part of customer service. and believe me, if u r not people oriented, u will have a hard time working in such highly customer-populated environment.

Answer 6

It is called Customer Service you would need these skills even if you were in an office enviroment. Please be nice or your wages go down due to loss of customers if you are not sure find someone that is and ask if they may help also. kudos Jes that is what I have had to do for a pharmaceutical company also.

Answer 7

Ummm hmm but your still part of customer service no mater what department you are in. So be polite and either show them yourself or find another associate who can. Its part of your job as much of a pain as it is...grin and be polite. Go above and beyond it could pay off for you. If its really that big of a hassle to you...maybe try another job.

Answer 8

It happens. People are too lazy to go walk to another department and part of your job is customer service. It's just what you have to deal with when you work in retail. If you don't know tell them "I don't know but I will call someone from that department for you" - This way you don't make them mad because you didn't take them yourself and you are letting them know in a kind way that you don't work in that area.

Answer 9

When you wear the uniform, most people assume you know the store. If you don't know the answer, find someone that does. That is called Customer Service.

Answer 10

Don't you think that if they knew which department it was in, they would just go there and find it? Or it could be that you are the only employee that isn't hiding from customers.