(no subject)
One of the most important things I learn from my 'summer' job is how to
treat other people, regardless of their race, gender and social status
with respect.
Here's a few example of bad/rude customers I have faced this summer:
Case 1:
Customer A, a white male in his 50s: CAN YOU GET ME A STOOL!?
In my mind: geez, what's wrong with you...
Me: Is there a specific stool you are looking for? (There are 100 different stools in this store)
Customer A: I want THAT stool in the ad. GET it for me, NOW!!!
In my mind: hello??? Do you have any manner? I'm not your slave.
Me: If you don't know the location and the code number, the information center over there can help you locate the stool you're looking for. This is a self serve area, sir.
Customer A: I'M ASKING YOU!!!!
Me: Fine, if you don't want help, we can start looking from this section then...
A few moment later, we found the stool, and he didn't even say "thank you"...
Case 2:
after scanning all his items:
Me: Debit or credit card?
Customer B, a white male in his 60s: (ignored me and slided his credit card on the ATM-only pad. Of course, he failed.)
Me: If it is a credit card, I have to slide the card for you, sir. There is a sign right there that says, "This machine is for Debit Card use only."
Customer B: I don't want to give you my card!
Me: Ok, if you don't want to give me your card, you can come in to the cashier register and slide it yourself...
Customer B: (grinned at me) Fine...
Me: Can I see your photo-ID please?
Customer B: Geez, I'm here shopping for 2 hours and you still need to see my photo? Do I look like a thief? Do I?
Me: This is the company's policy.
Customer B: (showed me his Taxas ID)
Me: Thank you.
Me: Please sign at the Pad, please.
Customer B: Why do I have to sign?
In my mind: errr... you purchase with your credit card and you don't want to sign?
Me: (stared at him)
Customer B: Fine, fine, fine. Geez.... how does this thing work?
Case 3:
Me: Your total is $40.89
Customer C, Asian woman in her 40s: (gave me $50 cash)
Me: This is a credit/ATM card lane only. There are 2 huge signs right here...
Customer C: I don't READ! Take the cash or I'm leaving! (in perfect English)
Me: Ok, I'm calling the manager.
Case 4:
Co-worker X: Your total is $50.56
Customer D, white male in his late 50s: (slide his debit card, punched in his code)
Co-worker X: You need to click 'yes' to complete your transcation.
Customer D: Why do I have to click 'yes'? I don't know what will happen next. How do I know for sure you're charging me? I didn't even KNOW MY TOTAL!!!
Co-worker X: I just told you, and your total just showed up on the screen...
Customer D: I'm not clicking it until I know what you are up to!!!
Co-worker X: You can stand here all day starring at the pad...
Customer D: (waited for a while, finally gave up)
These are extreme cases. Most of the customers are nice and patient. But I found out that upper-middle class, white males in their 50s-60s from the Southern states, who think they are "King of the World" are the most diffcult customer type to handle. They like to boss everyone around them, including their wives and kids. Chinese women in their 50s are the trickest type. They like to sneak-in items here and there, and argue for "bargains".
Here's a few example of bad/rude customers I have faced this summer:
Case 1:
Customer A, a white male in his 50s: CAN YOU GET ME A STOOL!?
In my mind: geez, what's wrong with you...
Me: Is there a specific stool you are looking for? (There are 100 different stools in this store)
Customer A: I want THAT stool in the ad. GET it for me, NOW!!!
In my mind: hello??? Do you have any manner? I'm not your slave.
Me: If you don't know the location and the code number, the information center over there can help you locate the stool you're looking for. This is a self serve area, sir.
Customer A: I'M ASKING YOU!!!!
Me: Fine, if you don't want help, we can start looking from this section then...
A few moment later, we found the stool, and he didn't even say "thank you"...
Case 2:
after scanning all his items:
Me: Debit or credit card?
Customer B, a white male in his 60s: (ignored me and slided his credit card on the ATM-only pad. Of course, he failed.)
Me: If it is a credit card, I have to slide the card for you, sir. There is a sign right there that says, "This machine is for Debit Card use only."
Customer B: I don't want to give you my card!
Me: Ok, if you don't want to give me your card, you can come in to the cashier register and slide it yourself...
Customer B: (grinned at me) Fine...
Me: Can I see your photo-ID please?
Customer B: Geez, I'm here shopping for 2 hours and you still need to see my photo? Do I look like a thief? Do I?
Me: This is the company's policy.
Customer B: (showed me his Taxas ID)
Me: Thank you.
Me: Please sign at the Pad, please.
Customer B: Why do I have to sign?
In my mind: errr... you purchase with your credit card and you don't want to sign?
Me: (stared at him)
Customer B: Fine, fine, fine. Geez.... how does this thing work?
Case 3:
Me: Your total is $40.89
Customer C, Asian woman in her 40s: (gave me $50 cash)
Me: This is a credit/ATM card lane only. There are 2 huge signs right here...
Customer C: I don't READ! Take the cash or I'm leaving! (in perfect English)
Me: Ok, I'm calling the manager.
Case 4:
Co-worker X: Your total is $50.56
Customer D, white male in his late 50s: (slide his debit card, punched in his code)
Co-worker X: You need to click 'yes' to complete your transcation.
Customer D: Why do I have to click 'yes'? I don't know what will happen next. How do I know for sure you're charging me? I didn't even KNOW MY TOTAL!!!
Co-worker X: I just told you, and your total just showed up on the screen...
Customer D: I'm not clicking it until I know what you are up to!!!
Co-worker X: You can stand here all day starring at the pad...
Customer D: (waited for a while, finally gave up)
These are extreme cases. Most of the customers are nice and patient. But I found out that upper-middle class, white males in their 50s-60s from the Southern states, who think they are "King of the World" are the most diffcult customer type to handle. They like to boss everyone around them, including their wives and kids. Chinese women in their 50s are the trickest type. They like to sneak-in items here and there, and argue for "bargains".