Rude Customers

I’ve worked as a manager in a retail setting and have my share of customer service stories.  Anyone who deals with the general public has experienced awful customers.  As both a previous retail manager and a life long consumer, I feel there is absolutely no need to be rude to people trying to help you.

Do not blame the person working at the customer service desk when you can’t return an item.  They did not create the policy, they are just trying to follow the rules so they don’t get in trouble.  Don’t yell at the cashier when your item rings up for pennies more than it should because of a mistake in the system.  The cashier didn’t intentionally add 10 cents to your bill.  And so on and so on.  Calm down.

Attention customers – don’t act like spoiled children every time something doesn’t completely and immediately go your way.  Yelling and criticizing is a sign of your ignorance, not a plea for better customer service.  Even if you are 100% right, you are spending “good money”, and you could have “shopped across the street” – there is no excuse to be rude.  Try to keep in mind that the person you are dealing with probably has too many things to do, a manager breathing down their neck, problems at home, is making less than $10/hour, and most importantly, has already dealt with 20 awful customers today.  Give them a break.

Here’s not only a shopping lesson, but a life lesson – communicating clearly, speaking respectfully, and being patient will not only make you happy (by not being angry) it will also lead to getting what you want (which makes you even more happy).  Next time you are in a store or any situation when you are dealing with other people you need to be calm.  Customer service people are trying to help you.  What benefit is it to you to insult them?  Maybe you feel better temporarily, but it only leads to those same people disliking customers even more, thus making things worse for you in the future.  Besides, if they didn’t put up with your crap than who else would?