Poll: Look dude, I'm just doing my job...

[Creator002]

I don't work at all, at least not yet, but I'm never (unless they are first) an asshole to someone working at a store, on the phones, door-knocking, etc.
I don't understand why some people have to be such dicks to someone just doing their job. Even at McDonald's or Hungry Jack's, I don't yell at the person serving me if they're a little slow. Places like that get busy, I understand. You don't even have to say sorry.

EDIT - Realised I didn't add much to the discussion (as in the poll). I voted "depends" due to "I will be if they are" attitude.

 

[Vigilantis]

Im a security guard and I gotta say, the job is nothing but complaints and "Im just doing my job" is often said multiple times a day. When I first started it was pretty stressful I must say, the insults didn't help and neither did the idiots I dealt with. I swear the job is universally known as an moron-magnet.

However after a bit you grow accustomed to it, so much so that I can have a great attitude and smile on my face when someone calls me a stupid motherf***er because I tell them to use the other entrance.

Things will get better, and it always helps to think of the money...just shrug everyone off and do the job.

 

[Nargleblarg]

I work at Gamestop and everyday someone will complain about why their piece of shit copy of Bad Boys II Miami Takedown is only worth 10 cents.

Also no one understands our return policy of you bought a new game, opened it and now its yours, we are not a rental service.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

There is a balance. No, of course staff should not be blamed for stuff that is obviously not their fault, and even if it is that is no excuse to overreact the hell out of it. I've heard stories from the US where people have actually called the Police because they were served the wrong meal at a fast food joint. What the fuck?!

But on the other side of the coin, I live in England where NO-ONE complains about ANYTHING. Businesses know this and they often use it as an excuse to try and take you for a fool all the time, and the staff have no obligation to try and make you happy so they look at everyone like they are literally the worst person they have seen all day.

Criticism towards staff should always be polite and carefully considered beforehand. But if you want service with a smile you have to stop accepting being treated like a mug.

 

[Grunt_Man11]

I worked at a grocery store called Albertson's. Those of you on the east coast, and in other countries, won't know the name. Those on the west coast, southwest, or Florida might.

Anyway, most of the customers we got were nice, respectful, and even liked shopping there. The company policy practically revolving around customer service helps with that. However, there are the occasional one that just won't be missed if they "never shop here again."

One such case was some bimbo who treated me like one of her 5 year-olds after I accidentally spill a package of strawberries when I opened the passenger door of her minivan. I didn't say a word and simply left her there in the parking lot. My manager completely agreed with my decision.

She started the whole treating me like a child after I started to gather the strawberries so I could dispose of them easier. She was all, "No, they're ruined now." I was thinking, "I know that. That's why I'm gathering them together so I can toss them."

The funny thing is, I was all ready to offer to replace the strawberries, which she bought at Wal-Mart, with some from our store free of charge. I considered it my fault the strawberries hit the parking lot, and my managers would of agreed to replace them without a second thought too.

I'll admit mistakes I make and try to make amends, but if you treat me like an idiot then you can forget it.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Im hopefully going to start work at an Ice Cream shop soon, hopefully my first day will be better than yours.

 

[Xanthious]

That's actually really, really sad that you think it's acceptable to tip on a 2 hour late order. What do you tip when the service they provided is very good?

Here's the thing I believe is lost on a lot of people, pizza drivers are alone and unsupervised (let that sink in for a bit) with your food from the time they leave the store to the time they get to your door. I don't want them pissed off at me in the slightest.

I order from the same place once or twice a week. I tip VERY well (usually 8-10 dollars on a 20 dollar order). I haven't waited on my food for more than a half hour for as long as I can remember. Most of the long time drivers there know I drink Sprite and more times than not a free 2 Liter finds it's way to my door. When I call in an order, regardless of how many orders are ahead of mine, you can bet mine will go out the door before most of the older orders.

On the flip side of the coin I can tell you first hand from working in pizza delivery many moons ago that someone who is known to not tip usually waits as long as the drivers can get away with not taking their order. I don't care if they live a block away, if they don't tip you can bet every driver at the store will do their best to go around and avoid that order making them wait as long as they can. Furthermore, god help those cheap bastards if the driver is having a bad day and decides to take out a little of their pent up aggression out on the pizza sitting in their passenger seat. Again, alone and unsupervised (remember those words).

All this being said I'm well aware I tip far above and beyond what is expected. People who have worked in a tipping job are usually the best tippers. Typically you throw a pizza guy three bucks and they walk away happy. Pizza drivers remember things like being stiffed though and getting a really good tip and treat those people accordingly. I personally kept a notebook and wrote down each address and how much they tipped each time I went to their house. Now I'm sure there are drivers that use their phones or whatnot to do similar things.

 

[claymoreguy18]

I've worked at a Mickey d's, a chuck E. cheese, and a hot dog stand before I joined the army. I have plenty of stories but the only thing that comes to mind right now is how people constantly asked me if the hot dogs were beef or pork. ***** I don't know do you want it or not? Its a freakin hot dog you don't eat it for the nutrition you health concerned fucks.
GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA YOU PRICK!!!

sorry bad memories.

 

[demoman_chaos]

I work customer service at a catalog company call center. Generally I get stuck taking orders more than anything else. That, checking on order statuses, or taking payments is my usual gig. Not bad, when people act like they have a brain. So many TERRIBLE names, usually (and I am not being racist, it is the truth) the black people are the ones with the most ridiculous names. I seriously had some chick named Stoneisha (Stone-isha), and one that had 5 kids (putting their names on a ring) all with names that started with Da (Dashawn, Daneesha, etc.).

Angry people are plenty as well. I usually just tune them out and let them rant away. They usually calm down after they get all their ranting out. Tis a lot easier to deal with idiots over a phone because you can always hang up on them when they get too bad.

 

[thetruefallen]

Working as Casino dealer i have been called every name under the sun in more languages than i can identify, you end up either growing a pretty thick shell or the classic stress induced mental breakdown. That being said not every punter is a prick. Some realize what they are doing is stupid but the majority are ignorant assholes who thinks the world should revolve around them. I can't say that i'm always better than that but i do try.

 

[Spade Lead]

I work at a Target and contemplate human genocide each and every waking second of my existence.

I just got fired from telemarketing. Trust me, You would probably be kind and polite about your genocide compared to me. (Imagine carpet bombing with napalm... That is how I would START...)

 

[thylasos]

It depends entirely on the member of staff.

You shouldn't be an arseshole to be, for example. I'm trying my best, but the bar's poorly managed, and occasionally we'll run out of things.

Also, to the people asking for more head on their pint,

a) It's an issue with the lines, largely.
b) You realise you're asking for less beer, right?

 

[SpireOfFire]

i was working at best buy a few years ago during the holiday season (of course the busiest season all year round). i was working in the video game area and i helped everyone i possibly could. i even had customers on two seperate occasions walk with me to my supervisor and tell him what a wonderful experience they had with me, how i was so helpful, they never had an easier time shopping etc. right after the 2nd time this happend, my supervisor pulled me aside and asked me how i was doing, to which i replied "great! im having fun, people are thanking me, its great." and then he completely ruins my day by saying "i'm sorry but i have to send you home." being suprised and heartbroken i asked "why?"

this was his answer: "i'm getting too many customer complaints about you."

"they say ur ignoring them, you dont look at them, you dont help them, ur unapproachable, ect."

i did NOT see that coming. i didnt even know who he was talking about.

 

[Craorach]

snip

You make me sick. In my years working in the food service industry I have met a total of two people who did things to people's food.. they were all fired, fast, as I reported it as soon as I found out.

I thank god that the industry here pays as all industries everywhere should.. flat wages, no tips. None of this "I didnt get my tip so you're treated like dirt" garbage.

i was working at best buy a few years ago during the holiday season (of course the busiest season all year round). i was working in the video game area and i helped everyone i possibly could. i even had customers on two seperate occasions walk with me to my supervisor and tell him what a wonderful experience they had with me, how i was so helpful, they never had an easier time shopping etc. right after the 2nd time this happend, my supervisor pulled me aside and asked me how i was doing, to which i replied "great! im having fun, people are thanking me, its great." and then he completely ruins my day by saying "i'm sorry but i have to send you home." being suprised and heartbroken i asked "why?"

this was his answer: "i'm getting too many customer complaints about you."

"they say ur ignoring them, you dont look at them, you dont help them, ur unapproachable, ect."

i did NOT see that coming. i didnt even know who he was talking about.

Well, firstly.. if you're helping one customer out extensively you are, by definition, not helping the other customers who are there at the time.

People in large department stores don't expect or need personal service... if they ask you if you have something, check, find it if needed, then move on to another customer. If your conversation with the customer is so long it actively prevents you from helping other customers, or you are attempting to "sell" something on how great it is, you are spending to much time.

Also in these sorts of places you aren't expected to know much about your merchandise. While some people will like having someone who knows games, most people who buy games in Best Buy will probably be just wanting to know what the game is and where it is.

 

[Astoria]

I used to work at a game arcade where the games liked to be little bitches and not register that you put money in them. This woman in maybe her 40s came up to me to tell me that the machine wasnt letting me play so I got it working for her but then she said she wanted to play with her husband who was already playing a game as his machine worked. I told her that she'd have to wait for him to finish his game and then he'd have to pay for another one and I'd reset her machine for her when he was done. Nope not good enough for her. I had to stand their and listen as she went on for about 10 minutes about what a ***** I was and how she was going to complain and get me fired. I kept trying to tell her over and over again that I couldn't give him a free game but she wouldn't listen. Took a lot of restraint to not give her a mouthful back. We got a lot of customers like that and ones who tried to get us to give them free toys.

 

[Grabbin Keelz]

I work in the back room, so all I have to do is worry about cardboard boxes being a dick to me

 

[Freshman]

Man, my dad is that customer that the world revolves around. I'm always super wary about going to get food with him, and I have on more than occasion "gone to the bathroom" to go apologize to the waiter/waitress.
Like the other day, he got a virus on his computer, so he made me go to the apple store with him. (you need an appointment for getting something fixed I guess) So we get there, he has no appointment, and chews out some random employee because when he called, they didn't tell him he needed an appointment. Not like this was the guy on the phone dad!

 

[FURY_007]

IF YOU JUST WANT TO READ THE STORY LOOK FOR THE START IN ALL CAPS

I work at the UPS Store, which is not the worst customer-wise, but it is hilarious how little people know about the shipping/postal industry. Most of the customers are regulars/businessmen who are awesome and understand, but since the point of the UPS Store is to bring the above services to the public, morons generally tend to make their way in.

Now UPS tends to be more expensive, but more reliable and tracking and all of that good stuff, and most people either simply say "I'll take my business elsewhere" or sure, sounds good!, but then theres the people who make it personal, and/or WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE, IT SHOULD BE 20$ BLAH BLAH BLAH. I always want to reply with "GO TAKE IT YOURSELF THEN" lol

MY CASE IN POINT: This lady comes in with a small package going to Germany, and is like "Can I ship this to Germany?"
ME: "Sure, how would you like this sent, UPS international, or just regular mail"
Her: "oh just regular."
ME: ok regular mail will be this amount (I can't remember), and remember it doesn't come with tracking or anything"
HER: "don't UPS services come with tracking",
ME:"yes, but you said just send it regular mail."
HER: "Why would I come to the UPS Store for mail, I'm so confused, I didn't know you guys offered that." Now keep in mind it was in a "you're stupid and I'm right tone."
ME: Yeah we offer US Mail internationally because it tends to be pretty cheaper than UPS"
HER (in a smug tone): Doubt it, just send it UPS
At This point I'm like grreeaaattt
ME: Ok, let's start with your phone number
HER: Ok, That's new, why do they want that?
ME: (in my head: wtf?) Just in case something happens us or UPS can contact you
HER: ok, (in a very rude tone) isn't there just a way you can tell me the pice without going through all of this?
ME: Ok, I'll do the best I can do
I enter in the informations, weight, size, going to Germany, blah blah
ME: the price will be around 275 (I think it was)
she looked like she was gonna go through the roof
HER: WHAT! this is crazy did you say 275? this is ridiculous, are you kidding me? you've got to be kidding me, you are just kidding me?
I hear this all the time, and so in my head I was like YES, IM MAKING UP NUMBERS, CAUSE THATS MY JOB lol, and I've always wanted to sa the following,
ME: No ma'am I'm not here to kid around
so she continues to freak out, all the while there a line starting to form
HER: OK so this is going international, do you guys consider Canada International?
ME: well, yes, it's another country
HER: well why is it only like under 20 bucks to ship there, and so much to Germany?
In my head i Was like WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU, DID YOU SERIOUSLY JUST EQUATE CANADA WITH GERMANY, USE COMMON SENSE
ME: Well Canada is right up north, whereas Germany is across the ocean, therefore more expensive
so she left, and my boss was like well you shouldn't have got smart with her, but it was pretty damn funny, and my coworkers found it hilarious, and for the next coupla days they gave me shit like oh, he's not here to kid around lol. It was so worth it.

 

[Craorach]

Man, my dad is that customer that the world revolves around. I'm always super wary about going to get food with him, and I have on more than occasion "gone to the bathroom" to go apologize to the waiter/waitress.
Like the other day, he got a virus on his computer, so he made me go to the apple store with him. (you need an appointment for getting something fixed I guess) So we get there, he has no appointment, and chews out some random employee because when he called, they didn't tell him he needed an appointment. Not like this was the guy on the phone dad!

I'm curious, has your father ever worked face to face with customers in the last.. say.. twenty years?

I find three types of people are the worst for this kinda stuff..

..the unemployed who feel the world owes them everything under the sun, normally physically disabled or "indiginous"

..people who work in office jobs or other non service industries and think they are better than the people behind the counter.

..people who worked in a service industry a few decades ago when people, both customers and staff, expected less and were far more polite.