Current Events > Do you think it's rude to tell a customer when a business is already closed?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I work in retail(wireless) and we close at 8. A customer came in at 7:55 and I took care of some issues they had with their services. Solved their issues and it was 8:45.

They asked to make a purchase to upgrade their phones. Before I started the transaction that can often take anywhere from 30mins or more, I said that we had closed at 8 and I can do the necessary transaction but if they needed additional support/help it would be beneficial to schedule an appointment to come back and take care of everything at once. My co-worker came from the back starting closing duties and asked me how long we might be, and I said to the customer, I dont want to push you out the door but my coworker was asking me if we were finishing up, did you need to complete this today or would it be ok to schedule an appointment.

The customer felt it was rude and went off on me, saying that they live 30mins away and expecting a customer in store to have to come back is poor customer service. They have worked in retail, restaurants, and customer service and would never bring up closing times with a customer that was in the location before locking the doors.

I personally disagree but was curious of peoples perceptions on this and maybe it is my own experience being different.

Most of the time if someone is in the store after closing time and wasnt there to specifically upgrade in the first place, we offer to schedule an appointment...but maybe that does come off as rude to people.

If the business is closed it's closed. I don't see any reason not to tell them come back tomorrow unless he s like a daily customer or something.
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it may be wise to consider race of the parties involved because these days all it takes is someone to cry racist and sjws are like locusts that swarm to destroy a crop.
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actually it's more rude of them to come in last minute and expect service that could take more than 15 minutes because you haven't technically closed
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If you're hourly, no problem, you got 45 minutes of overtime. If you're on commission, no problem, you made a sale. If you're on salary, no problem, leave 45 minutes early the next day.
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Mainly because they felt because they were in before our actual closing time that we should take care of them regardless of the time.

I think of it as a common courtesy type of thing. Especially if the initial thing you came in for got taken care of.

I do get that if they were only in their to upgrade and it took long, different story.

ModLogic posted...

it may be wise to consider race of the parties involved because these days all it takes is someone to cry racist and sjws are like locusts that swarm to destroy a crop.

Oh fuck off.

On-topic, having been in this situation, I tell them we actually closed 45 minutes ago and act like the system/computer can't do it. It might be dishonest, but hell, retail is dishonest.
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Generally when you hear someone say "that's poor customer service," you can safely discard their opinion. Generally that's a coded phrase for "WHY WONT YOU LET ME DO ANYTHING I WANT????," and nothing short of specifically that is good service in their eyes
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Fuparulez posted...

If you're on salary, no problem, leave 45 minutes early the next day.

If only it worked like that :/
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Fuparulez posted...

If you're hourly, no problem, you got 45 minutes of overtime. If you're on commission, no problem, you made a sale. If you're on salary, no problem, leave 45 minutes early the next day.

I dont consider pay relevant to the consideration here.

Regardless, I do get commission but not for transferring content or basically teaching them how to setup apps, etc. after a transaction. Had they come back with an appointment Id have made the exact same.

ModLogic posted...

it may be wise to consider race of the parties involved because these days all it takes is someone to cry racist and sjws are like locusts that swarm to destroy a crop.

Its funny you say that...my co-workers joke cuz Im latin in a heavily black populated area and often get angry customers ask to work with the other rep (thats black) or I greet them and they walk past to the other rep.

TheKingOf-Kings posted...

ModLogic posted...

it may be wise to consider race of the parties involved because these days all it takes is someone to cry racist and sjws are like locusts that swarm to destroy a crop.

Oh fuck off.

On-topic, having been in this situation, I tell them we actually closed 45 minutes ago and act like the system/computer can't do it. It might be dishonest, but hell, retail is dishonest.

My co-worker suggested this but at the time I didnt think of that and would have sounded like I was lying.

They also tell people they dont like that were out of stock. Which does lose us money but honestly, some people arent worth the headache.