Both the jobs I work at deal with customer service. One of my jobs is a salesgirl at a florist and then I work concessions at a movie theatre. So I deal with a lot of people on a weekly basis.
People do such weird things, at least in my opinion. It's like people have lost the ability to be a good customer.
I'm willing and able to answer your questions, and if I don't know, I'm willing to find out the answer. It's kind of my job and I don't mind you asking. But please speak up. Because if I can't hear you, I'm not going to answer and if I didn't hear you, you have no right to get pissy and think I'm ignoring you. If you talk to me while my back is turned, why do you assume I heard you? WHY? Especially if there is a lot of noise nearby. I do not have supersonic hearing. On the rare chance I do hear you and acknowledge that with a nod, I might still have to ask you to repeat it. Because I was in the middle of doing something else at the time.
If you are running late, it is not my fault. I'm am doing my job and I'm going to be doing my job at the same speed I always do my job. I'm pretty fast, but I'm not superhuman, nor am I paid enough to run around like a chicken with my head cut off simply because you couldn't be tossed to show up to your movie five minutes earlier, or because you happened to forget you needed flowers until the last minute. Please don't get snippy with me because YOU didn't have your stuff together.
Do not bitch at me because I had to help other customers before you. I did not purposefully move slower to make your life miserable. I help everyone at the same speed. Sometimes you are going to end up in the line that moves slowest. Usually it is not because the person helping the customers is slow, usually it's because a customer is indecisive, or needs a lot of stuff. This is life. Please deal with it in a mature manner. Don't complain to me.
Do have patience. Remember the person who is helping you is a person not your slave. I do my best to help you get the best deal, there isn't really any need to be rude to me unless I'm actually screwing up, which is pretty rare. Even then, I'm much more likely to be helpful and fix the matter if you are polite. If I'm having trouble figuring out your order, politeness will earn you my gratitude and perhaps a little free thank you (if I have any means of doing so) rather than my hatred. I'm not perfect, neither are my co-workers and none of us do either job 24/7 which means someone else can screw up a pre order, or spell a name wrong, or ms-hear me and get me the wrong thing. Most things can be solved pretty quickly. If it can't, I'm loyal enough to both my employers that I will try to make your inconvenience worth your while.
In terms of politeness, you don't have to say please to me when I'm getting your popcorn/drinks/anything. And please don't bother if it's going to be an after thought. If it flows out of you as a natural asking method, I'm fine with that, but when it gets tacked on half a minute after you ask for what you want you don't mean it. I can tell you don't mean it and you should just not bother. It's actually my job to help you.
Don't tell me your life story. When I ask if you want a bigger size/upgrade, it's because I'm required, not because I want to hear why you hate your kids and never would want to bring popcorn back to them. If I'm making small talk, go ahead, we can chat, but when I just want to know if you would like to spend a dollar more to get 40 more ounces of popcorn, or if you have a points account with us, there is no need for any other information other than yes or no.
Don't ask me to give you free stuff. This pisses me off the most. And I don't understand it. People are always asking me for free candy, free flowers, etc etc. Are you trying to get me fired? What the hell. If a big arrangement is too expensive for you, I will not under any circumstances add half a dozen roses (which even at their cheapest is 29.99) to the arrangement. I will not comp you a vase. Or sneak you any candy. You may not use my employee discount. Don't ask.
If there is something I can do for you, the best chance of you getting a freebie of any kind is going to be you being nice and polite. If you are on a budget but you are doing something nice for someone else, I might find a way to save you a few dollars. My choices might be limited, especially if most of our things are inventoried, but there are a few things I can do. I'm not going to do it if you are an asshole, or if you have been complaining to me. The only people I cut breaks are either other employees, people the owner say to, or those people who it has been a real pleasure to help.
Don't bother complaining about price to me if I'm a low level employee. I've heard it many many many times before, I don't actually care because I've gotten used to the prices and I don't have to pay the price you do anyhow. All you do is annoy me. I don't set prices, I can't do anything about the prices and you are wasting your air.
If your kid is old enough to be dating, he/she can buy his/her own corsage or boutonniere. They can also pick it up themselves. Teach them some time management. Or at least bring them with you.
I am not a flower expert because I work at a florist. Nor will I know for certain what the person you are buying for will like. I don't know them. YOU know them. I can wrap flowers pretty and I can pick out a nice color scheme, but I'm not a miracle worker. And I can't read your girlfriend's mind from fifty miles away. Also, just because I work in a movie theatre doesn't mean I've seen all the movies. If I liked a movie or not has no indication if you will like it or not. We aren't the same people.
I feel like I should offer classes in how to be a good customer. I feel like I've gotten better as a customer now that I've worked in customer service but the majority of people either have never worked in customer service, feel entitled, or something. I don't know. But it's ridiculous.
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