December 30/09 @ My Job
So I go to school but while I'm schooling, I am also working, but of course this job is just temporary, as I am going to school to you know... get a Real Job that means something to me.
I have been working this job (in retail) for the past year and a half and have since decided that when I get a rude customer, I stop smiling and pretend that they are no longer there while I complete a transaction or help them into a fitting room.
Last night I was working a register and the customer approached, the transaction began friendly as all transactions do.
She then kindly asked for me to wrap the socks she purchased w/ some of the tissue we had so I did w/ the first rectangle of tissue on my table. When I put it in the bag, she then grabbed and said "I didn't want this tissue, I wanted the blue. Just give it to me, I'll wrap it myself." So I took the tissue and handed it to her.
I then told her the total and she gave me a 50 and told me she was going to try to get rid of some change so handed me four cents. However, when the change due to the customer came up I ended up just giving her the four cents back because the change due was some-odd dollars and 49 cents. She then locked me w/ a stare of what I would say was an 'are you stupid?' stare. She then asked me to re-open the cash drawer and give her a quarter back because she wanted to get rid of her change because she wasn't done giving me change that she wanted to get rid of it. I then proceeded to tell her I couldn't re-open the drawer because I didn't have the authorization.
I then gave her the receipt and gift receipt she asked for but then she told me she had wanted them stapled and that she had asked me that even though I never heard her say that. She then looked to one of my managers at the next till and asked "She's got authorization to open the register, I want my change." My manager then told her that we don't make change, take money nor give money to customers because it is the policy. The customer then told me that there was so much attitude and continued to say so. I called for the next customer in line and begun to ignore her existence.
The customer then told me she had another item to purchase. "I still have suitcase to buy, but don't think that I'm going to lift it up for you. Just give me the scanner so I can do it myself." I then told her that I had to bring it around to my side of the register to remove the sensor tag and she continued to complain about the "attitude" and why she couldn't just scan the price herself. When I picked up the suitcase she immediately yelled at me "Don't even think about damaging this suitcase, I know you're aggitated, so don't even think about it." I got the suitcase to my side of the till continuely getting more and more upset with this woman's attitude. I scanned the price and took off the sensor tag then brought her bag back to her. She continued to complain about the attitude and I got back onto my side of the register.
I then told her the total and she handed me her Visa card. I swiped her card and waited for the receipt to print. However, when it printed it did so twice and didn't rip off straight. She then got upset over this and said she wanted my scissors because she refused to leave the store with her receipt looking like that. I gave her the scissors and she signed her name but she snatched her card from me before I could check the signatures so I told her she needed to let me check her signatures and she chucked her card back at me.
Continuously talking about the attitude and complaining about the service was really getting to me since I had originally done nothing wrong. After her not backing off I tried not to cry but started failing, and she knew I was getting more upset, so she told me "There's no need to be crying." My manager then told me to close my till and when I put up my sign the next customer was pissed that I was closing up and that's when I could no longer hold my tears and began crying.
My manager then told the customer that she cannot talk to me that way and that she could no longer shop at our store.
----
When I left work the customer who was pissed that I was closing up was waiting for me outside, and still crying, she asked what exactly had happened then hugged me and told me it was not my fault but that the customer I was serving probably has some issues and was taking it out on me just because I was there.
Everyone told me that this customer was probably on something dealing w/ problems and taking these things out on me for no reason.
----
So the idea:
On a card or a few cards put together, have pictures, words, things that make you happy and carry these things around w/ you. Then when you're out and about if you ever see someone whether it be an employee or just someone you see who is clearly feeling down or getting upset because someone is demeaning them, making them feel worthless, putting them down in any way you give them that card(s) and hope that it makes them feel better, even if it's in the slightest way imaginable.
----
No comments:
Post a Comment