i got yelled at today.?

Question

at work we are now required to play christmas music till x-mas. anyway, this has been the policy for years and of course every year someone makes a coment and you just ignore it but today was extreme. While helping another customer a woman came to me screaming demanding to speak to THE OWNER yup the owner. My first thought, what the hell p!ssed her off that she wants to speak to the owner 2nd thought-where the hell am I gonna find the owner (get real) anyway I asked her what the situation was and if I could help her. She than very loudly told me that playing xmas music is offensive to her as a muslim woman. I said Im sorry you feel this way but Im just following orders, I turned to help my customer and she pulled my arm and said maybe you are not hearing me...I am offended and I want this turned off NOW!!! she continued rambling and I had enough so I said Listen- I dont like hip hop but I have to listen to it in most shops and I tolerate it I dont rant and rave, theres nothing I can do

well she didnt like my answer and said the shop was discriminating against her. She asked for my name, the managers the district manager and owners name and number and said she was going to the papers. Now I ask you, fellow yahooers was I in the wrong here or has the world gone mad????? It was just music!!! Sorry its so long :)

Answer 1

Am I going senile or did someone just rewrite the constitution and the slogan "In God we trust". The U.S. ( and Canada) are recognized as being primarily christian countries. That means the majority of the population is christian. The constitutions allow that everyone may practice their own religion within the country. that means EVERYONE - including the store owners. The customer has the freedom to shop elsewhere. I have been a business owner and if I were still in retail in a Mall I think I would be very tempted to put out a signpost each day right by the door or painted on the window stating "We celebrate Christmas here!" If customers are offended by it, they don't have to come in. Sheesh, things are getting weirder and weirder! I know loads of Jewish storekeepers who have a Menorah in their window and wear a Star of David around their neck. I shop there. We greet each other warmly. We respect each other. They have things I want to buy and they want to sell. That's it. By your store owners playing Christmas music, they make it clear that they recognize that, for the majority of their customers, it is the Christmas season and they wish to get us in the buying mood. They are not bashing people over the head and saying "Convert, convert!" If a Muslim or Jew or atheist comes in to buy something, the only important thing should be that it is priced right, is good value, and they get the correct change. How much nicer the world would be if a person like that extremist would come in, smile and say "I don't celebrate Christmas but this is such as nice season for you." . You would have treated her even better than usual and might have even opened a dialogue about HER traditions. That's what makes a peaceful co-existence and understanding - not shrieking and threatening. Keep on keeping your cool, you're obviously much more mature and your boss should appreciate your patience!

Answer 2

When she grabbed you, that was assault.

She's not a Muslim. A Muslim would have accepted the music for what it was. Theme music that is generically played in department stores around the US. She's just some evil woman trying to manipulate the current political climate to make some quick cash. If she was truly offended by the music, what was she doing in the store in the first place?

Yes, there is something you can do. Call the police. Her violent out bursts are affecting your business as well as you're other customers.

As soon as something physical starts to happen, you get the law involved. She's not a real Muslim, just a con artists.
Last time I check, these stores, though commercial, are considered privately owned property. You could play Godsmack if you wanted too.

Answer 3

Been there, done that! Some people just like the attention and they know that by complaining loudly about the "customer is always right" and that they are offended will probably score them some free stuff from a big company that doesn't want bad publicity. Give your bosses the heads up on the situation, they will appreciate it! As long as you were polite to her, I wouldn't worry about it. From the standpoint of a regular citizen, I would tell her to can it. THIS IS AMERICA AND CHRISTMAS MUSIC IS A TRADITION IN THIS COUNTRY. If you don't like, move to another country!!!!

Answer 4

No, you weren't in the wrong. Unfortunately, working in retail, you will always come across people like this. All you can do is try to calm them down and help them out as much as possible. But, you can't make everyone happy.
You guys are only following company policy. I would have wanted asked her if she was asking every store to change their music. She is being totally unreasonable.

I probably would have said something like this: "I'm really sorry you feel offended, this isn't our intention and unfortunately, I have no say in the matter. Let me see if I can find a manager for you."

As a manager myself, I would have said pretty much the same thing. "I'm sorry, but it's the holiday season and we're simply following company policy, just like all the other stores in North America are doing."

With people like this, you will never be able to please them. They can either put up with it and do their shopping or go to another store.

Answer 5

You were caught between a rock and a hard place, but you do not offer good customer service when you shout at your clients. You apologized which was good. You could probably also have sympathized with her and then offered to assist her, or got someone to assist her, so that she could make her purchase and leave promptly. She probably would have calmed down then and she would be out of the store in minutes.

You said every year people are offended. Does the 'owner' know this? Christmas music could probably be played intermittently.

Answer 6

Yes dearheart, the world has gone mad. You did a very good job at trying to contain the situation and youdid give her the numbers she requested. It's very unfortunate that people don't respect other's religions. I don't care what music is playing (I'm not fond of rap and hip-hop either but if they're on when I come into a store I tolerate them until I leave.) it's a bit much to demand that music in a store be turned to one person's specific needs. Good job and good luck.

Answer 7

Sounds like you handled it very well. I would have just told her that you had no authority to change the music and she was welcome to call your manager (which sounds pretty much like what you did). Don't give somebody like that your name unless there is a clearly a store policy that says you HAVE to. You have no idea with people like that, they can look you up in the phone book and stalk you (unlikely, but that's why you don't do it). And I STRONGLY agree with the person that said once she grabbed you she should have been thrown out right then and there. I would have the attitude that they don't pay me enough to deal with **** like that and just keep repeating, "you can talk to the manager, I am doing my job, you can talk to the manager".

For what it's worth, anyone who is offended by CHRISTMAS MUSIC, so much so that she flies off the handle has serious mental health issues and is NO reflection WHATSOEVER on YOU,

Answer 8

Here is the policy at a major store my son works at: First of all if a customer is rude to you (like this woman) she can be asked to leave the premises. Second, just the fact that she grab your arm is enough reason to throw her out (it is an assault) and if she persisted call the police and have her removed/arrested. You do not have to put up with customers that are rude. Talk to your management and see if these are already in place. If not, ask that guidelines be established for customers that manhandle and belittle employees.

Answer 9

First of all, you were just doing your job and you get paid to do it. Her nastiness shows that at the root or her, no matter what her religion is, she's a nasty person.
Personally, I'm one of those people who hate blending everything under one title of "holiday." So when I go into a store and it is the season for Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa, I want to see signs that say "Merry Christmas," I want to see "Happy Hannukah" and whatever it is they say for enjoying Kwanzaa. Play music that represents all the holidays for the season. I think that's fair. I can respect other people's holidays due to religion/nationality and/or race. I want others to respect mine, too.
And if that means putting up signs of celebration for Ramadan (sp?) or another holiday during it's season, then that's only fair, isn't it?

Still, if the owner of your shop wants Christmas music on, that it his right and it is your job to follow his wishes. Next time you're faced with someone like that, ask: How am I supposed to respect your viewpoint when you are so disrespectful to me.

Anyway, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, or Happy Kwanzaa....whichever you're celebrating!

Answer 10

When you work with the public you soon realize that many people are crazy. It's just something you have to deal with. Some customers are not worth your time and will cost you more in the long run with all of their complaining. You don't decide the music that is played so it's not your fault or your problem. You should just get a manager for her to yell at that's what they get paid more for.