maybe proof that opposites attract!!??
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010I attract horrible customer service. I have come to the conclusion that I am way nicer sounding in my head then I am in person. I have also come to the conclusion that I am going to call people out when I think they are being rude. Since they already think I am rude then I don’t see any problem with this.
Here are some recent examples:
(at a café)
“Do you have any chocolate croissants?”
“If we do they would be in the case.”
“OK, are these chocolate?”
“Those are ham and cheese.”
“How do I know if they are chocolate?”
“Believe me sweetheart, you would know if they were chocolate.”
That’s when I turned and walked away.
What I wish I would have said in this situation: “Seriously, are you really going to be that rude and condescending? How am I supposed to know what is inside the croissant? All you have to do is answer yes or no if you have any chocolate croissants. Don’t take it out on me if you hate your job and/or life.”
Then if I was really brave I would stand there and wait for a response because it is a little cowardly to yell and then walk away before the person can respond. But then as soon as they start to respond cut them off and say “Never mind, I don’t have the time.” Good right?
(at Target buying 1 bag of cotton balls)
“Oh, I don’t need a bag.”
(said just as she had placed it in the bag but not taken the bag off the metal thing.)
Employee rolled her eyes and was pissed at me the rest of the transaction and also talked very quietly which was quite irritating.
This Target one might not seem like a big deal but it is just an example of what happens on a regular basis to me.
What I wish I would have said: “Why are you irritated that I don’t want a bag? Don’t be rude to me.” This one is not that great but it is something and let’s face it, I am way too nice to actually say something, right?
I have been working on my tone to see if I can make it sound nicer but I just end up speaking in a higher tone and if you have heard my voice you know that if I go any higher it would be pretty annoying.
So the moral:
Give people the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they think they are being nice or maybe they hate their job and they are rude to people who are being nice because they are a miserable person. I am choosing to go with the latter.
And a side note; you shouldn’t give free samples of something you are sold out of. It is a slap in the face to tempt me with something so delectable and then tell me you are out of it!
Ha. Ha. Ha. I love it! Your blogs are so funny they lighten my day!
It’s so true about the sack thing!! For some crazy reason, that just makes checkers very angry. Can someone explain this??? I’ve been a checker, many times, and I still don’t get it. But, I’ve decided what I hate even more than them being “quietly” rude is when they say in a condescending tone, “Oh, you’re going green.” AAAHHHHHH!!!!! In response to that I now say, “Nope. I just don’t want your bag.”
PS. You need to write a strongly worded letter.
Well I have plenty of chocolate croissants for you!
I think I attract bad customer service as well. I love hearing your bad customer service stories, and if you start calling them out on their rude behavior – these stores are just going to get better. I can’t wait!
Oh, and I think strongly worded letters are in order every single time you receive bad customer service. You should just make a standard form letter where you only have to change the name of the store and a few other details and shoot them off every time you have a negative experience.
I have been a checker before too and I did run into some rude people, but I was always nice back. It doesn’t get you anywhere to be rude to your customer unless they are TOTALLY being a Jackass!
It does baffle me to see how poorly people react to you though. I know your tones might not match your meanings, but that isn’t any excuse.
I think the world is just more full of bad service in general. That is, unless you go to Chick-Fill-A.