how do you handle a rude customer?

Answer 1

Smile sweetly and go about your job as usual.

Answer 2

I try to become as neutral as possible. I am still polite, but not that fake, sweet polite that is sort of a passive/aggressive response because that just makes the customer feel like he's being patronized. Sometimes they're rude because they're just grouchy, but sometimes they have a legitimate complaint that can be addressed if I just listen to them instead of jumping to the defencive. Even if I can't solve the problem, it seems to help that I listen and understand why they're unhappy. Nearly every time I have handled a customer in this way, the customer has felt a little foolish and embarrassed by the time we're finished and often apologizes for being rude in the first place. And honestly, it's easy to keep happy customers happy, but if you can turn a grouchy one around they'll become loyal customers and that's good for business.

Answer 3

Politely, firmly, professionally.

If they persist in rudeness, bring in your supervisor (they get paid more, after all, partly because this is their job).

Never be rude back. In the end, that's what your boss will remember, your rudeness, not theirs.

Besides, meeting rudeness with rudeness just escalates things.

Meeting rudeness with politeness has a chance of calming them down, or even embarrassing them.

If would have been helpful if you'd said what you do, and what kinds of rudeness from customers your talking about.

I highly recommend the writings of Miss Manners. She has a lot to say on the subject of politely dealing with rude people, and coming out ahead.

Answer 4

Well, it depends on what the rude behavior is.
If the person is cursing and using racial epithets, you are within your right to refuse service. Get your manager. He/she is paid to deal with customers like these.

If the customer is just crabby and universally impolite, treat him/her with kindness and hope they leave soon.

I recently took a class on "Verbal Judo" on how to handle difficult people. The speaker had a few words of wisdom
1. Let them have the last word, you have the last act. (if the objective is to get them to leave, let them vent- they will leave- eventually)
2. Think what you want, but don't say what you're thinking. You can get into big trouble if you answer back.

Treat the customer with respect or else he/she will want revenge. Doesn't seem fair. The speaker referred to how uncivil we all are becoming. He stressed that we needed to conduct ourselves with integrity.

Good luck. We've all been there.

Answer 5

This reminds me of a really good Dilbert cartoon:
There are 2 rules of management. 1 - the customer is always right. 2 - they must be punished for their arrogance!

If they are just rude, you have to be nice. If they get really ugly, saying, "That is uncalled for. I will be glad to help you, but I will not tolerate this behavior" usually gets an apology and a calming down.

Answer 6

Unfortunately I just smile and go about my duties because I KNOW my supervisor will bend over and let the customer do whatever they feel (like letting them come into the express lane with a full cart!!!).

Inside my head though, I say what I'd LOVE to say to rude customers.

Answer 7

Honestly, you have to suck up your pride and be as nice as possible. Just keep in mind that they probably had a bad day or have a hemmeroid or something... that usually helps me to not hate their guts. Keep your fake smile and keep trying to figure out what they need. If they are just being absolutely ridiculous you may want to ask them politely to wait a second and go get a manager. Just don't start being mean or cussing because somehow the customer will automatically win that fight. Just find the humor in it and try not to take them too seriously.... be glad YOU arent the one with the hemmeroid! ;-)

Answer 8

Just try to grin and bear it and just be polite to them. I know that the customer is not always right, but keep in mind that there are some really great ones that make up for the bad ones.

Answer 9

I try not to take it personally. There could be thousands of reasons why they are being rude to me and most likely it has nothing to do with me. Plus, they aren't important to me, other than the fact they are customers. I can choose whether or not to make their actions important to me. If they are being rude, I choose not to let them be an important factor in my life.

Answer 10

The best way is to be as polite as possible and don't let them bother you. I did have a customer when I work at sizzler that would burp in my servers faces or fart on them well so many of them wanted to pour his coffee right in his lap. Well one day I chose to wait his table and he burped right in my face while i was pouring his coffee and I turned my head and just kept puring the coffee burnt his stuff and he never came back.

Answer 11

Some people are rude because they are hateful people and some are rude because they are having a really bad day. This is a part of working with people. Just take care of their needs, don't allow them to disrespect you, and finally be nice.

By not allowing them to disrespect you, I mean if they make personal comments or they are condemning to you, tell them that you are glad to help them but, you would appreciate it if they would not be disrespectful to you in a very kind tone of voice.