I work at the local discount store. After work was over I needed to do a little shopping. As I was looking at some stuff a lady comes up and asks me a question. Note that at the time I wasn't wearing my vest, just holding it in my arms, and had things in my hands. Anyways, I just started babbling some stuff and she finally went away. Can't some people get it through their head that if I am not wearing my vest that I am not working? Geezus. Anyone have similar experiences?

All I can say is don't ever go into a Best Buy wearing a blue shirt.

Do a search for posts by calhoun07

See: Anyone who has worked in retail.

Just like the people that wait at the end of your register line and while you have your vest on, light on and are tapping on the register keys they ask you, "Are you open?"

You don't know how many times I've been tempted to say, "Well yes, but for you sorry I'm closed." Or turn my light on and off and say, "I'm open, sorry I'm closed, now I'm open, but look now I'm closed again."

For an opposing viewpoint...It is clear this customer knew you worked there. In my opinion, customer service never ends even when you are in the parking lot about to go home, much less actually still in the store. How hard would it have been to either help her anyway, or simply refer her to one of the other people who presumably would have been willing to help her...rather than just "babbling some stuff" at her so she would go away?

Certainly if other people working at your store had the same attitude..if I were a customer I would find another store to shop at. If I was the store manager I would have to acknowledge that I had not done my job properly in the way I had hired and trained my staff.

Give me a break! I was shopping after work, which meant that I was off the clock and that it was my time to do as I please. I didn't want to be rude to her but I didn't have to help her either.

But as you described it in your initial post...you were rude to her. You titled this topic as "Idiot Customers" yet all you said this "idiot customer" did was to come up to you and ask you a question. Not what I would describe as being an "idiot." (Though obviously you disagree.) In response you "started babbling some stuff and she finally went away" (YOUR words not mine.) She probably would have gone away quicker if you had simply answered her question or referred her to someone who was working.

So in MY opinion...you were rude to her. (Remember that when you post here not everyone will agree with your position...and I don't expect all to agree with mine either.)

Wormwood, I have to agree with maineiac on this one. It doesn't sound like this lady was asking you to split the atom or anyting too challenging, what's the harm in helping her and making sure she has a good shopping experience. Many people on this board have complained about employees doing exactly what you did to this woman. If you care and take pride in the company/business you work at then you would likely have helped her out.

When people come up to you in the street and ask you what time it is do you tell them to F-off?!? This is pretty much the same thing. They saw that you worked there (it's not like they knew why you had your vest off you could have just gotten there) and asked a question.

The golden rule: "Do on to others as you would have done on to you....." If you don't have a couple seconds for a fellow human then why should anyone have time for you...??

I ask this. You know why? All of the times I've gotten up to a register with the light on, cashier standing there doing nothing, and suddenly saying "Oh sorry...I'm closed."

If you want to hear about some idiot customers....go to www.actsofgord.com. That site is hilaaaaarious!

I've gotten this before too.

One time at CC I was got behind some lady who was checking out.
After about a minute of waiting she was done and it was my turn. The cashier just looks at me and say "Sorry, but I can't check you out, I'm closing." then runs off.

WTF was that about. She could have at least told me when I first got in line.

Typical wal-mart employees babble on the clock as well, makes nary a difference.

heheh that gord site is great! I have been forwarding the link to everyone I know

Cheddarmuff, I was off the clock and doing some shopping so I would be considered a customer just like the others. I am not supposed to do anything work related while I am off the clock, you could get in trouble for that. And maybe I should have made it clear that she asked me where a certain item was, not for the time. Would you like it if you were doing some shopping and another customer asked you a question when they could have asked somone who worked there instead? That woman should have gotten the hint that if my vest was off that I wasn't working.

I wasn't there, so I don't know exactly what happened... but I think the point is that you are an employee and you had a company uniform with you (even though it wasn't actively on your back). A customer approached you to ask a question. I hardly consider this the move of an "idiot"... She was probably unfamiliar with the "if I remove my vest, I'm not working" rule. (I know this is the first I've heard of it.)

And how hard is it to simply say "I'm sorry, I'm not actually working now, I'm just shopping. There's some one right over there who can help you." You're an employee of a company, on the floor with your uniform visible. A little bit of common courtesy is not an unreasonable expectation.

I think it makes no difference whether you are a customer or an employee. How much effort does it really take for a human being to help out a little every now and then?

Quote:

Originally posted by Wormwood
Cheddarmuff, I was off the clock and doing some shopping so I would be considered a customer just like the others. I am not supposed to do anything work related while I am off the clock, you could get in trouble for that. And maybe I should have made it clear that she asked me where a certain item was, not for the time.

It happens all the time. If I know where something is I will help the person out (like giving directions, jumping a car or advice on clothing). As Dsilva71 puts it Take a moment and think about what you said to that woman. In the time it took you to "babble" something you could have given her the information. Granted I don't know where you work, but I would bet dollars to doughnuts that management would be happier if you assisted the customer than blowing them off. You are a representative for your Company each and every time you carry or wear your uniform (shirt, vest, whatever).

I'm not trying to be mean or harsh, but this is just plain silly...

You know, I'm going to have to side with Woody here. After a long hard day in the trenches, the last thing I want to do is work some more - but for free this time. Customer Service is a lousy enough job as it is without having to do it off the clock too.

Seems like a good time as any to plug www.customerssuck.com. Great site! I actually decided to register and start posting some stories, and some of them there are really good.

If I am off the clock and I have my vest/uniform/whatever in my hands, I am not required by company policy to provide any assistance to any Guest/Customer/Shopper. At that point I am a Guest/Customer/Shopper of my employer.

Out of the kindness of my heart I probably would provide assistance, however, if I am approached rudely, I'd have no qualms about ignoring the person.

The issue isn't "customer service" it's "civility".

You guys are right, I shouldn't have called her an idiot. And maybe I shouldn't have been rude to her. But, after working all day with customers asking questions left and right the last thing I want is a customer asking me a question when I was shopping. Those of you who have actually worked in retail understand.

You're wasting your breath on these employees. They think the phrase "customer service" means "putting up with stupid f*&%king customers until my next smoke break"

Yeah because the brain-trust-employees who work retail always turn off their register lights when they're closed and always turn them on when they're open. Give me a freakin' break.

This is just like the calhoun07 thread where rude employees think that every customer who asks a question is an idiot.

I hope you all enjoy your low-income retail jobs. You deserve no better.

Wormwood,
When it comes to customer service, it's never too much and it never ends. When you have your own business you'll appreciate it much more, though I can understand your frustrations while working for someone else, but there's really no excuse for what I see in your attitude.