Current Events > I understand retail workers have a bad time, but sometimes they are just dicks

(+) Yeah! (+)

I went into one of those small metro supermarkets yesterday to get some basic supplies. There were a few customers but no staff in site. I grab some champagne and head to the self-check out. Now there's really not a single staff member anywhere to be found, which is a problem because you can't self-checkout alcohol without a staff member swiping their card to verify your age.

So I wait for a solid 2 minutes. No one shows up. At this point there's now another 2 people waiting like I am. I walk around trying to see if anyone is about. There's one girl stocking shelves. I know this isn't her fault, and clearly they're just kinda low on staff today, so I muster up the most gentle and apologetic manner I can to ask her for help. I mean I was perfectly British about it.

Conversation went like this:

Me: Hi there - I'm really sorry about this but I don't suppose you could help at the checkout? I have some alcohol so it's asking for an age verification.
Her: *looks agape at me* - Ummm, Actually I'm doing this right now?
Me: I know, I can see that. However there are a few of us now and we're kind of stuck. Would you mind helping?
Her: *Rolls eyes dramatically* Whatever. Fine.

At this point she storms to the checkout like a 6 year old having a tantrum and angrily swipes everybody's machines. If I didn't know any better I swear I just interrupted a critical moment in her life.

You know what, I know it's shitty to be in a supermarket on boxing day. That's also not my fucking problem you crabby little bitch.

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Everybody has bad days. It's part of being human.

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Welp, this thread is gonna be fun.

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Wii_Shaker posted...

Everybody has bad days. It's part of being human.

When you have a bad day, it doesn't give you a pass to make someone else's worse.

I have bad days too, I don't get to take it out on my clients.

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pinky0926 posted...

When you have a bad day, it doesn't give you a pass to make someone else's worse.

I have bad days too, I don't get to take it out on my clients.

I agree. Shitty empoyees eventually get fired. It's the circle of life, Simba.

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Maybe plan your shopping better so you don't get on their nerves?

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LightningAce11 posted...

Maybe plan your shopping better so you don't get on their nerves?

Ok boogie-obsessed troll. Explain to me how coming in during opening hours and politely asking for the assistance necessary to checkout is bad planning

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LightningAce11 posted...

Maybe plan your shopping better so you don't get on their nerves?

im a beta cuck so i would do this

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pinky0926 posted...

When you have a bad day, it doesn't give you a pass to make someone else's worse.

I have bad days too, I don't get to take it out on my clients.

I don't either, but I get paid enough to make it worth my while not to. Retail workers barely have a stake in their own employment. If they get sick for more than 3 days, fired. Opportunities for advancement? In 10 years you might be considered for a $1.25 raise and shift manager.

Should they set it aside? Ideally, yeah, but when you're disposable to your job, the job is often rightly disposable to you.

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pinky0926 posted...

Ok boogie-obsessed troll. Explain to me how coming in during opening hours and politely asking for the assistance necessary to checkout is bad planning

You go shopping during the shittiest time of the year and expect superb service?

I'm on your side TC but I've done retail and you aren't exactly making strong points.

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Wii_Shaker posted...

You go shopping during the shittiest time of the year and expect superb service?

I'm on your side TC but I've done retail and you aren't exactly making strong points.

Superb service, who said anything about superb service? I live in the UK mate, we don't even know what good service is.

I would have been fine with passable service. Fuck me, turns out I don't like being nastily guilt tripped for asking someone very politely if they can help me when it is already their job to do so

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pinky0926 posted...

Superb service, who said anything about superb service? I live in the UK mate, we don't even know what good service is.

I would have been fine with passable service. Fuck me, turns out I don't like being nastily guilt tripped for asking someone very politely if they can help me when it is already their job to do so

It's the holidays. You shouldn't take it personal. If it bothers you so much just don't shop there. That's the power you have as a consumer.

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I have never personally hadl a bad experience with retail staff. Just sayin

Wii_Shaker posted...

It's the holidays. You shouldn't take it personal. If it bothers you so much just don't shop there. That's the power you have as a consumer.

Again I'm not really seeing eye to eye on this. I don't get to be shitty to my clients because of my problems. I don't even get to be shitty to my friends and family because of my problems. When you treat others shitty because of your problems, you're being a dick. End of story.

So yeah, I get it. It's the holidays and it sucks that you're here. Totally understand that, sucks for you. But don't take it out on me.

And I'm not going to change supermarkets because of one grumpy staff member, lol

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i work in customer service and i absolutely hate dealing with customers but yea she was being a bitch.

but also youre making a huge deal out of something i wouldve just rolled my eyes at lol

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pinky0926 posted...

Again I'm not really seeing eye to eye on this. I don't get to be shitty to my clients because of my problems. I don't even get to be shitty to my friends and family because of my problems.

See: the difference between clients and customers at a business where their patronage doesn't benefit you.

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vigorm0rtis posted...

See: the difference between clients and customers at a business where their patronage doesn't benefit you.

Do you need a reason to treat others with courtesy? It's got nothing to do with my paycheck or a rewards scheme. I'm nice to the postman too and he comes regardless of whether I say hello or not.

I've worked retail (and hospitality before). I get it, sometimes you don't have your gameface on. But if you snap at a customer that doesn't deserve it you're still in the wrong.

SSJCAT posted...

i work in customer service and i absolutely hate dealing with customers but yea she was being a bitch.

but also youre making a huge deal out of something i wouldve just rolled my eyes at lol

I'm not really making a big deal out of it because I just walked out and laughed to myself about it, but this topic was just to make the obvious point that sometimes it's the retail worker who's in the wrong.

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pinky0926 posted...

Do you need a reason to treat others with courtesy? It's got nothing to do with my paycheck or a rewards scheme. I'm nice to the postman too and he comes regardless of whether I say hello or not.

I don't. I was also an impeccably polite retail worker back when I was doing that, at least to customers (if management was shit, I was, for better or worse, unafraid of clashing with my bosses). But I understand how people wind up just not giving a shit anymore.

I'm also cognizant of the difference between my position as a person with my own clientele and someone in retail. Two years ago I was dealing with these two chronically-late, rude trust fund babies. If they hadn't been paying me an absurd about of money, I would have terminated our contract and been done with them. Rude, no, but I wasn't stuck in shift work and had the freedom to walk away if so inclined.

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pinky0926 posted...

Do you need a reason to treat others with courtesy? It's got nothing to do with my paycheck or a rewards scheme. I'm nice to the postman too and he comes regardless of whether I say hello or not.

I've worked retail (and hospitality before). I get it, sometimes you don't have your gameface on. But if you snap at a customer that doesn't deserve it you're still in the wrong.

I'm not really making a big deal out of it because I just walked out and laughed to myself about it, but this topic was just to make the obvious point that sometimes it's the retail worker who's in the wrong.

I don't know, sounds to me like you were lucky she could help you out at all. In most stores, a stocker wouldn't be able to do anything for you.

Was there no one available at a nearby regular register who could call for help, or a customer service counter?
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I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I'm not defending the little snot that disrespected you.

Ever get a shitty delivery person? Ever get a shitty waiter or an arrogant barista? A bartender that ignores you? It happens dude.

I don't know you personally so I don't know how reasonable or unreasonable you can be in any given situation. Most people get over it and on with their lives.

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Let's be fair, it's not like TC is petitioning the UN for sanctions over this.

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Sphyx posted...

Let's be fair, it's not like TC is petitioning the UN for sanctions over this.

No. It kind of seems like a crying over spilt milk sort of thing though.

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Wii_Shaker posted...

No. It kind of seems like a crying over spilt milk sort of thing though.

You never discuss things that happen in your day?

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write up a complaint and she'll at least get reprimanded or maybe even outright fired

that's how you improve customer service

pinky0926 posted...

You never discuss things that happen in your day?

Well sure but I'm in criminal justice. I deal with criminals for a living. Real scum-of-the-Earth types. I have had convicted felons threaten my life and follow me home.

I'm not the type to get bent out of shape because some tween throws me shade at the check-out line.

Again, I understand how frustrating it is dealing with shitty people can be. Unfortuantely it's a very solid fact of life.

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lol at people letting this topic ruin their day while calling TC a crybaby for letting a retail worker ruin his day. #irony

Just remember TC, people work in retail for a reason. I have zero expectations when I talk to retail workers.

Should had asked for her number, she probably needs to let all that frustration out someway.