I work in retail and have a hard time keeping my opinions to myself. Whenever a customer is rude to me I just want to bite back so badly, and it gives me this horrible attitude and chip on my shoulder. How do I stop it from getting to me and stay happy for the rest of the day?
I just can't stand people talking rudely to me... I think everyone deserves the same amount of respect. What's the best way I can handle it?
2006-11-06 00:49:50 · 17 answers · asked by kismet 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Just try and remember it really isn't you personally that the people are being rude to. They are probably having a bad day and just taking it out on you. I have been in retail for several years and have found the best way to deal with any customer is to treat them exactly as you would like to be treated. "Kill em with kindness". Go above and beyond normal customer service. This will not only have an impact on how the customers respond to you but your supervisors WILL notice. Good luck!
2006-11-06 01:00:41 · answer #1 · answered by Badkitty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Attitude...don't ya just love it? We get it all the time where I work. All I'm trying to do is earn some money for my family and I get treated like a "idiot" because their credit card is rejected or their food stamps aren't in their account yet or their check is refused. Like I have anything to do with it personally. It is all done by computer and all I do is push a button...no personality involved. And yet it is still MY fault. I try to be friendly with all I come in contact with at work. I chit-chat with alot of people all night as I ring up their items and I can say I have met some really nice people...and we have our regulars that we joke with and enjoy seeing...and even worry about when we don't see them. That's the great part of the job. And the crazy bunch of people I work with. I like the saying "Kill them with Kindness" the nastier someone gets with me the nicer I get. If it gets really bad I call my manager over and walk away...that is what they are there for. We are not paid to take abuse from anyone and your manager should be there when someone is getting out of hand. Remember to "Never let them see you sweat!" Hang in there..Christmas season is the worst....and this year is gonna be hard on everyone since the price of gas and heating and electric have gone sky high and people are going to have less to spend. Good luck!!
2006-11-06 09:09:19 · answer #2 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have worked in retail for 14 years so I know what you mean!!!
Usually you just have to "kill them with kindness". This way they can't come back and say you were rude to them. Some people will get even more mad when you do that but they usually realize that they were the one being a complete idiot after they leave the store.
Then you go in the back room and ***** up a storm about them! lol
2006-11-06 09:06:20 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I too must deal with the public regularly during my work day. While the various personalities of the customers are not always to my liking, I must remind myself from time to time that I am here for a reason. That reason is to bring home a paycheck. I am not here to enjoy my co-workers, customers or other incidental personalities that cross my workday's path. All too often I find myself in a bad mood about work or otherwise and then I am faced with a rude customer. What do I do?
Smile and complete the transaction to the best of my ability.
This is really the only option. Of course if the customer is being more than rude (aggressive, swearing, intimidating, etc) then I will gladly tell them that I will not deal with them and refer them to my superior.
As for shaking it off....well, that is not so easy as it may sound. Just like our customers, we too are imperfect creatures and will tend to be affected by the rude comments or attitude of the person(s) we just dealt with.
This part just takes practice. Try and remember that their day (maybe their whole life) must be going worse than yours in order for them to approach the world so negatively. I find it easier to shake it off if I can pity them for being so small.
Most importantly though, it is only a job. Do what you are paid to do. Don't take the idiots that you serve too seriously and remember that you should be working to live, not living to work.
2006-11-06 09:04:46 · answer #4 · answered by Teufel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If someone is rude, ask them how they are doing today. If it is a problem within the boundries of you being able to make them satisfied, then that is your job. If they are just rude because they had a bad day and they are taking it out on you, then you have to decide if you should kill them with kindness,totally ignoring their rudeness, or confront them bluntly, but politely, by asking them to please speak to you with the same respect that you show them. I feel that killing them with kindness works because it is hard for most people to be upset with someone that smiles and is happy. It can even brighten up their day! Maybe you will be the only person to smile and be polite and kind to them. But if it is an abusive tone or language problem, let them know that you are not there to be verbally abused.
2006-11-06 09:07:27 · answer #5 · answered by moose on the loose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have also worked in retail for many years. I know exactly where you are coming from. There are ways to get your point across with a smile on your face. I have even gotten quite a few of my rude customers to re-evaluate themselves and make a complete attitude turn around. They will walk away thanking you and you will feel better because you brought their bad attitude to their attention. In short... "Kill them with kindness"
2006-11-06 09:01:57 · answer #6 · answered by sharon_misspriss 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Communication is the greatest skill you can have in life. Not just talking, but really communicating. That means understanding what others are saying and having others understand you. It is possible to learn to communicate without causing upset or feeling upset.
This skill can be improved a great deal and help you be more successful in life. There is a short, inexpensive course available through Scienology churches and missions called SUCCESS THROUGH COMMUNICATION that is very effective at improving your communication skills so you can be successful in life, in business and in relationships. You can find information about this course at the following website link : http://www.scientology.org/en_US/results/introservice/courses/stcc.html
There is also a lot of good information about what you can do to create your own happiness at the following website http://thewaytohappiness.org
Wishing you the best of success in life!
2006-11-06 11:14:38 · answer #7 · answered by Money Manager 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i too work in customer service and have had this problem. the thing you have to remember is that most of the time they are mad at some1 or something else that they way they are treating u is not personal. if you need to get away from teh customer pretend you need to go into the back room for a min until u can calm down, on cusotmer is not worth losing your job over. if it gets too bad just get a different employee to handle the customer and make sure to thank them. and always keep your cool if you dont let them see you get upset they will more than likely realize that their ranting and raving is not getting the reaction they were looking for and will normally calm down.
2006-11-06 08:56:52 · answer #8 · answered by sigmapi_razz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree that those customers are upset at something / someone other than you & unfortunately you catch their wrath.
Perhaps just smile at them & ask "are you having a bad day? can I help?". That might at least call their attention to their rudeness. Might even get an apology. Could certainly make your day go better.
Good luck.
2006-11-06 09:00:05 · answer #9 · answered by chey_one 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bad behavior triggers something in me also. you have no idea how much i want to reach over the counter and choke them. but i've learned to deal with it. i don't know if this helps. but i take a deep breath or two and answer politely. and tell them that you did not appreciate their tone of voice or rudeness. that way, you'll come out as the victor.
2006-11-06 09:05:16 · answer #10 · answered by ses 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋