Why is it when you are dealing with customers they treat you like dirt?

Question

I deal with many "personalities" in a day, so why is it that people have to be so rude when you ask them if you need help or if you say hello to them or just don't answer you at all? Why is it they can't watch their children while they are causing demolition to the products and display items? Do they think we are their personal shoppers or babysitters? Why do they feel the need to drop the food they are eating on the floor and not be nice enough to pick it up? I am not a maid. The last time I checked, I put my pants on the same way they do. I would just love one day to say what I feel to the rotten so and sos of the world. Wouldn't you? THOSE OF YOU WHO TREAT RETAIL PERSONS POORLY(AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) WHY NOT TRY TO BE NICE FOR ONCE?

DZE you sound like one of those "personalities" that I deal with. You need to work one day in retail to see how it feels. And no, I do not get paid to take abuse from you or anyone else. I am not an idiot(college educated, thank you), I chose this job to stay close to home to take care of my child.

For the record, I do like my job most of the time and I am good at what I do and I do get praise, but sometimes people just plain suck and when you are having a low self esteem day, the "personalities" always seem to come in and give you grief.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. I don't drop things on the floor, I put my clothes back when I take them to a dressing room and they don't fit, and if I had screaming kids, I would not let them scream in public or drop food in a store, etc.

It is appalling what people do in public. I wonder what they do in their own homes when they are truly "relaxed."

Answer 2

i am right behind you on that. retailers dont get paid nearly enough to do the crap that we do. ive worked retail since i was 16. yes, im only 23 but thats too many years. i feel it should be a requirement to graduate high school to work 1 month of a clothing retail store. i feel the customers are even worse in a high-end places (Oakbrook Mall for the people in the Chicago suburbs). They have more money so they work less retail jobs and they think because they have a better job and more money they can walk all over you. I had a woman snap her fingers at me before to get me to come to her for help. it rediculous how people treat retail workers and i dont really put up with it anymore. whats fun to do, however, when someone is angry with me for whatever reason, it ticks them off even more half the time if i am uber-nice to them. just have customer service oozing from your pores. its so much fun to see them get angrier and it makes it all worth while. if they complain to a manager all you can say is you were being polite and asking her if she needs any more help, etc. have fun and good luck.

Answer 3

I know how you feel, i work retail for the last 13 years to them you are a clerk nothing more than that. Before i became a clerk i was human People are rude and nasty i know it is my job but i does not mean i have to be abused by the customers i am a person just like they are but better, they all need to work retail for 1 week they will think twice before they are rude again.To dze person that was mean you need to get a HEART.

Answer 4

I work in one of the busiest stores on the East coast. Wegmans. And I too meet different "personalities" everyday. The best advice I can give you is to look for the little things. Like that one person who takes the glass bottle from their child before they drop it, and you have to clean it up. The old lady compliments you on how much she likes to come to the place you work, and you are apart of that. Or how about the person that actually come and TELLS you that someone else spilled something. At least they TOLD you. Also, your coworkers, I work with some amazing people, and if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't put up with half the crap I do. Like I said, look for the smal things, it will make the time there pass more smoothly.

Answer 5

People have forgotten the Golden Rule
'Do unto others as you would have done to you'
I'm not saying you should treat the customers with disrespect (although at times I certainly would like to bark at that woman who let her kids run rampant through the store) you need to take it in stride and remember there are a lot more considerate people than rude ones. I feel for the cashiers of this world (I used to be one)
Take care!

Answer 6

Hello Hazeleye. I work in a Walmart store, and I get uppity and rude people a lot. People think because someone works there such ones don't have a brain, can't think, or is real low on the totem pool socially speaking. I'm supposed to know how much every single thing in the store is, be an ink pen dispensing robot devoid of thoughts, dreams, and feelings. I can't tell you how many times people in their stupidity have nearly poked me in the eye with their merchandise. It's like the conveyor belt is the most God awful filthy thing in existence and all. Folks think Walmart is the place for free trash bags (i.e. bagging things lighter than vanity so they'll have bags for their trash). It's like the name should be changed to "B***H-Mart... they can do it to get a lower price. I tell myself to just keep pushing and to hold on for one more day. Yeah, it's like I wonder once I clock in the word SLAVE magically appears on my forehead. Take care.

Answer 7

i don't know about you but i don't like it when you walk thru a store and every other person says can i help you or hello but i always acknowledge them. I hate when people let their kids run crazy messing up the store. Alot of it i think is they have no manners or have never worked in a service industry. I used to work at an amusement park and 1 day a lady told me numerous times "you are here to serve me" and i thought to myself no i am here to help you but not be your slave. she was so rude and screaming at her kids the whole time. Normally i would go beyond what my job description was because of where i worked and you do want to be nice and helpful but it is hard when people treat you badly. i just learned to remember the good days. might be time to change professions.

Answer 8

The stupid customers think that they are higher in social life than you, so they can treat you like dirt as if you are a slave to them. Trust me, i've seen it in action before. (Not me, some stranger treating someone like that.)
Also, they think they are smarter than you in every way. For example (If you work in a grocery store for example) i've seen people telling the guys who bag the groceries where to put the items and in which bags, even though the bagger already knows.
They are all just stupid, stupid people engulfed by the social food chain.

Answer 9

I am so sorry that you have to put up with the crap that you do. What can I say to make it better? All I can do is praise you and all like you who work so hard and contribute so much to society. God bless you darling. Work hard, and soon you will reap the rewards. Remember, this is temporary, you will grow and prosper. I promise.

Answer 10

The "me first" generation is now of adult age. They have been trained since birth to stand on a pedestal while everyone praises their every move. They now expect to get what they want..when they want it..and you had better get out of their way. God help us when those little self-important brats they are raising become adults themselves.