As a South African, how nice are you...?

Question

...to people who work in the services industry, i.e. cashiers, managers, basically anyone who has to put up with a lot of customers' sh!t on a daily basis?
Does the thought that they've probably already had at least 15 people before you with the same question/comment/problem as you, before you?

I'm not griping, just wondering. Normally customers are really nice but you get people that no-one wants to serve, even if it means that you lose them as customers...
As a cashier you realise how easy it is to get tired of the same comments from different faces E.V.E.R.Y S.I.N.G.L.E D.A.Y... And you still have to be "Sannie Sonskyn".
Your views?

Have a nice week guys! =)

Thanks so far, quite a lot of valid points.
I thought about this Q because I feel that my own attitude towards people (like me now, too) that "serve" has changed drastically. I now know how it feels to have your first day on the job and being so scared! I know about people calling just to complain, or reading rating cards that are really unfair towards yourself or your co-workers. Sometimes I just want to call the Customer care line at Sunsilk, for example and just telling them that love their products...


Sorry guys, I just got the greatest B-day present EVER: my lecturer just called: I've been chosen to go to Tübingen in Germany for 4 weeks in January!!!!! =)

I'm not rude to them either, I just get that sinking feeling sometimes... If you're rude you lose your job...

Moonfairy: I feel your pain, my mom's like that too. That's what got me started on this topic - she handles those situations so differently than I would (lately) and it can get really embarassing when she gets on her high horse... =/

Answer 1

I hate customers who make a scene (I wish I could stand up for the poor person serving them). Some people have forgotten how it is to be humane and nice.

For sure you can give crap back to a person giving you intended crap service. But then again... why should one try matching an ignorant idiot? Ask to see the manager and just ask them to have so and so's attitude changed. If the employee barks and bickers, stay calm... you'll be the sane one.

Another thing, as a customer, dont be impossible. Some jobs are a strain, people arent perfect, even those who are good at their jobs. Dont have someone lose their job because they didnt use skim milk, thats a problem that can be repaired in a minute... not another jobless person.

Answer 2

I believe that the principal of "the customer is always right", in SA, is not applicable. South Africans like to complain & I mean complain a lot.
The fact is that if you're not made to work with people like you've described here, you should get out of the industry. Why? Because you stand to loose more clients than just one. Reason: in SA people tend to complain more to the people they know about bad service, than the business or company that provided the bad service. Statistics show that in a case of good service, you could end up getting up to 8 new clients, from just 1 happy customer, but you could loose up to 18 customers due to just 1 unhappy customer.
Along with knowing this, you should never try to keep a bad customer, as you could loose good existing customers, because of just 1 bad customer, depending on the industry you're in.
If you have a professional way of handling a problem client, even though you don't satisfy the client, you will see them come back anyway, so you won't loose that person, or any other potentials.

Answer 3

I work in a supermarket, but I am not employed by the supermarket. I work for another company. If the customer is looking for some item, then I will try to help them. If it is something that the company I work for stocks, then I will fetch it from the store for them. But, it often happens that customers crap on me because this or that item is not in the shelf. Sometimes they can be very aggressive, when I tell that I do not work for the shop, and if they have a problem then they should approach the information desk where they will be assisted. I really try to be friendly, but sometimes when people realise from my accent that I am a foreigner here in Germany, then they are super ****, others are inquisitive and start talking to me. But I have never been downright rude to a customer, simply because it would affect my job.

Answer 4

I too have to deal with customers every day and there is a handful of people that I don't even bother to help . We have a new spate of Pakistanis who came to town that I don't help at all .They are what we call : P.T.W'S . Professional time wasters ! They Will roam around your shop , make a list of the prices and then offer you half the marked price as if I am running a auction ! Service in general in S.A is not as professional as it should be and if a customer complain there is normally a problem .

Answer 5

I always try to be polite and friendly with everyone that ever serves me. I feel that it is quite unnecessary to be rude to someone who has to deal with people throughout their day. Wheither they are in the mood to or not, wheither they are sick or even tired, they have to just smile and put up with whatever the customers feels like dishing out at them. And with the motto of 'The Customer is always right', it just makes the cashier/sales person all the more vunerable. After all, they work hard and are human too.

Answer 6

Usually I'm quiet, I would just say the necessary, like Hello and Goodbye and Thank You. I don't say that much to strangers in general. I guess if something happens at a store where I can't find something, I would ask and thank the person that helped me find it. If I buy something and go home and it's bad I usually just leave it and don't go back to the store. I'm easy going and I usually don't make a fuss. My mom likes to make a fuss about things and I sometimes get embarrassed when I go shopping with her and she does that. It's just because she speaks her mind, sometimes I admire that but every person is different. So as a South African, I think I'm pretty darn nice :}

Answer 7

Im generally well mannered to these ppl, having been on the other side of the till before.
Sometimes, customers come with complaints as if we, the shopstaff, can do something about it. Sometimes we cant, y'know!
These guys have a hard enough job as it is, without having to deal with difficult customers; its not all about you!

Trust me, saying "Thanks" as you leave means a helluva lot!

I know exactly what Heavy D's going thru! The price you see is the price you pay, ijit!! Some ppl, honestly...

Answer 8

Im also usually very nice to cashiers, salespeople , shop assistants, etc as i have also worked as a cashier/salesman previously and i know it feels when a customer becomes difficult or kaks you out for things you have no control over , so im never rude to them...
do unto others as you would want others to do unto you

Answer 9

I can certainly relate to that doing the same kind of work it is sometimes very hard not to loose your temper and you do get people that is so rude, you just want to strangle them but hey the customer is always right - right???

Answer 10

There's always a few rotten apples that have a worm up their bum about everything. Best to do is be nice and polite right back to them. That way you don't sink to their level or give them the satisfaction of ruining your day!