PET PEEVES.....

[samburusunset]

Here's one:

People talking in confined spaces on cell phones. I was on a train going to or from NY (don't remember which) and there was a guy sitting behind me who didn't shut up the whole time he was on board. Of course he made no efforts to keep his voice down. I found out WAY too much about him and his wife.
I found out too late they have quiet cars on trains now. I think they should have cell phone cars and make all the yappy people sit together and drive each other nuts!

[Mrs. Gradenko]

[quote="bella"]Yeah, I also hate it when snotty cashier's don't look me in the eye when they are ringing up my crap. What ever happened to customer service? Is it a dying concept?[/quote]

More and more customers are assholes. After enough of them even the nicest people are like that. It's worst after around 4pm on the weekdays where people are swinging by after work, they take their anger out on us for no reason.

[visions]

That is so true

when i see a customer been very nasty i will always hang around to say to the receiver that there are many more nice ones worth that one

People just don't have the time or the patience any more

I worked in a supermarket for years and loved been around people and they always come first i used to get into so much trouble with my bosses but hey customer always had to come first and we did have some really good bosses who stuck up for us when the customer were been totally unreasonable

i still help people if they look lost or need help and i don't even work in these stores but it's manners and to me so many have forgotten what that is.

i find here so many care about others feeling and do worry about perfect strangers for that what we are and bonded together because of one man and that my friends is very powerful thing.

Peeves do not like drivers who do not indicate for i am not a mind reader and it goes back to manners

Keep rocking everyone and remember share a smile you will be surprised how many smile back

Jan.

[bella]

[quote="Mrs. Gradenko"][quote="bella"]Yeah, I also hate it when snotty cashier's don't look me in the eye when they are ringing up my crap. What ever happened to customer service? Is it a dying concept?[/quote]

More and more customers are assholes. After enough of them even the nicest people are like that. It's worst after around 4pm on the weekdays where people are swinging by after work, they take their anger out on us for no reason.[/quote]

It doesn't matter how bad the customer is. The employee should not stoop to their level. Everyone wants to blame everyone else for their bad attitudes. Customers have always been assholes and they always will, it's up to the employees to set the tone. It's up to the employer to train them to use the proper customer service skills and to not put up with employees who don't keep up those standards. Asshole customers don't make employees sit around and talk trash within their earshot.

[visions]

Bella in some ways you are right however what gives the right for anyone to reduce someone to tears

it is a two way street

one my bosses said we offer an item or items but we have the right to refuse to sell to someone

I get it is frustrating when others are more involved with life and not serving but also no one has the right to be so abusive to others that it's offensive

my daughter got abused from the customer for her visa card not working not her fault but still blamed, she took it but by rights she didn't have to.

it all goes back to manners


Customer service has to come from both ends not just one.

How many time have you suffered through phones

I do get where you are coming from, however we are all human and we all have bad days

where is the love and tolerance

just a thought, Jan and remember I have dealt with this all my life.

[bella]

I think we are talking about apples and oranges here, visions. I'm not one of those evil customers, so why do I get treated like I'm a nuisance by the employee? That's what I'm talking about. So, I hope you aren't telling me that because the person before me in line was an asshole, it gives the employee the right to treat ME like shit. I don't think so. Only YOU can control your attitude and how you respond to a situation.

When it comes to evil customers--I have been on the receiving end of every kind of nastiness you could ever imagine, but I used my assertiveness, not aggression, to deal with the situation. When the employee loses their cool, they are just sinking to the level of the evil customer, which is exactly what the customer wants you to do!!! Then, it gives them more power over the situation. It's the hardest thing in the world to deal with a nasty asshole customer, but I always considered it a challenge and I'm happy to say, I always won. There is nothing they can throw back in your face if you control your emotions and eventually they end up showing their ass.


Addendum: I also wanted to qualify this by confessing to possessing the WORST temper on the planet, so if I can control mine anyone should be able to control theirs. Oh, and I was once even 'technically' assaulted by a female guest at a theme park I worked at when I was younger. The lady actually grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her right in front of her kids and 1,000s of other guests while cussing and screaming. On the inside, I was imaging myself grabbing her face and slamming it on the ground (I told you have I have a bad temper!) but I controlled the situation, took a deep breath, and just turned and walked away to get my manager while the fool actually followed me the entire way to the backstage area all the while yelling and cussing. The wench ended up making profuse apologies to ME, even though the initial incident was no one person's fault. That is pretty much unheard of in the park where I worked. Usually the guests were swooned over and given free passes up the wazoo, no matter whether they had a good reason for complaining or not. But, the fact that I contained my emotions and didn't react to her, there was nothing she could do! She made a fool of herself in a room full of people!

Ahh, those were the days. I should really start a consulting firm where I go into big ass companies and teach their staff customer service "survival" skills.

=)

[TheEqualizer]

Feeling very dillusioned by the world today. The world is just full of asshats. Seems rare for a non-ashat to poke his or head out. Uhhh. Don't know what's wrong with me. I'm on a mini vacation yet I'm so surly. (wondering whether I should really post this bit of pointless whining)

[Kalypso]

Equalizer....I think it is called coming down from an outlandos experience.


I know the feeling all too well. That is also the reason why the rock stars smash their hotel rooms. One minute you have the world in your hands, and the next you are sitting in an empty hotel room staring at the wall.

[Jennythenipper]

[quote="Kalypso"]It is very interesting to get an insider point of view.
Wow. Don't they have supervisors? Not at the Gap, I'm sure, I saw the behavior you are talking about there and at the defunkt Tower Records.
I won't even mention Macy's, that has the WORST customer service EVER! Once I was literally given the paper and the ribbon to wrap a present MYSELF. Needless to say, they lost me.

In Europe it really depends about the money. In good stores, where the ppl are union, you get Nordstrom-quality service (at least here on the West Coast, the service there is impeccable, I only complain because they always have sales for men, never for women!) In stores where the assistants are hired illegally, you get the annoyed look, the silent treatment, and the stuff slammed on the counter.[/quote]

I have to take issue here. Some of the rudest, worst store employees I've ever encountered were in the UK at very high end stores. Good service is hit or miss at best there. I agree on Nordstrom though. They are the bomb. And Macy's sucks. My Grandma used to work there waaaaay back in the day (when that chain was Dayton's in the midwest) and they were very old school, ever customer had someone to help them. They have slipped so much. It's all teenage girls after their discount now.

My worst ever customer service horror story was at Kohl's. I was in line buying a bathing suit. I had just gone through the agony of trying on and selecting one, when the cashier said,

"you can't buy this suit."

"Why not?"

"Well the top and the bottom are two different sizes."

"I know. They are separates. They put them on separate wracks and they are priced separately.

"Look. You can't buy a LARGE bottom and a medium top. Who's going to buy the other ones?"

"Someone with big boobs and a little butt?"

"Ma'am. You can't buy a LARGE bottom and a medium top."

"If you say Large bottom to me in that tone one more time I'm going to take your 16 year old ass to school."

At that point I think I see security heading my way, so I high tail it outta there. No swim suit and a pledge to never, ever go to that crap store again.

[Kalypso]

Yep, Jen, I concur. Oxford Street, I shudder only to remember the rudeness. London is like any other metropolis. But outside London, I remember people being very courteous, especially in smaller cities.
And Europe is not just England, but many other countries. Americans, IMHO, are pretty insular. I was shocked when I heard that many don't even have a passport.

Don't let me started about NY...

[Mrs. Gradenko]

I remember once we were at some fast food restaurant (only eat at one of those maybe once a year), and the guy in front of me listed off like ten different meals really really fast, then freaked out when the cashier missed one of them, and had to ask what it was. I bet the kid spit in his food. But really if theres anywhere where you should be really nice it's in a restaurant, if not they will spit in your food.... probably your drink. My friends do it.

Anyone who tips less then 15 percent (unless theres a good reason like bad service).

[conroy]

[quote="Kalypso"]
And Europe is not just England, but many other countries. Americans, IMHO, are pretty insular. I was shocked when I heard that many don't even have a passport.
[/quote]

Yeah, I am shocked by this as well and I'm an American. Actually, one of my high school classmates was working in London about 15 years ago when he suddenly fell ill and died (from the same type of rapidly moving bacterial infection that killed Jim Henson). His twin sister who was also over there living with him was the only member of the family who had a passport and had to make all the arrangements to bring his body back to the U.S. by herself as a result. Lesson being if you do any sort of international travel, be sure others in your family have passports in case you get sick while traveling.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Good luck getting one in this day and age. I hear the delay is still weeks upon weeks, even if you pay through the nose for "expedited" handling.

(Got one myself this year - finally legally changed my name after getting married 3+ years ago - and barely dodged the bullet, before they started requiring passports to the Caribbean...

Which is funny. I've been down there a slew of times in the last few years and I don't remember ever being let on a flight without first showing a passport...)

[cpriddims]

Pet peeves:

1. The utility truck in the left (fast) lane on the freeway going 50 mph.

2. People who go up to a cashier to buy something while still talking on their cell phone

3. People who don't punch the gas pedal when on the entrance ramp to the highway

4. Famous musicians who are actually terrible musicians

5. When my band students don't do what I instruct them to do!

6. Parents who don't take their children into consideration for everything they do.

7. Rock Stars and Movie stars who act like they deserve a medal when they actually spend time with their kids once a month.

8. Rap artists who cuss every word in the book in their songs and degrade people, then on the album credits (or on tv) say " I'd like to thank God and Jesus Christ for making everything possible"

9. Grandparents who are supposed to spend time with their grandchildren, but act like they are doing the parents a favor when they watch them (long story)

10. Someone taking my food or drink without asking (grrrrrrr!)

[visions]

Bella i wasn't having a go at you and I don't see you as a nasty customer i was writing down thoughts
I am bit like Stewart writing before thinking

you are right it is up to everyone to do the right thing and if you are in the front row in customer service one should give 100 percent

I find the best way to piss someone off if they are been really nasty is be ever so sweet niceness will always beat nastiness they hate it

It is very frustrating trying to get served and they are busy talking to each other
if it wasn't for customers we the servee couldn't get paid

My father will always walk away if he has to wait too long to be served

then i have been to other placed where they hunt you down and i hate that

wouldn't it be great if everyone thought of others before themself and treated everyone with respect

what a great world we would live in
one could aways dream.

You did the right thing with that pushy customer because as you said she was the fool not you.

Keep smiling and the world will smile with you

Jan.