As someone who has worked part time in retail for almost 6 years, I can safely say I've met my fair share of interesting people. In fact, I think working in a garden centre can bring even more "unique characters" than perhaps working in a high street shop. I'm sure many many people working in all kinds of retail can recognise and categorise these types of customers listed below, and please feel free to leave any you think I've left out! I love reading your comments!
1. The Messenger Shooter: taken from the saying "don't shoot the messenger", this type of customer will scream and shout at the till operator when they are not satisfied with non-negotiable shop policies, as if it is their fault. Our store's completely legal but unusual policy of not being able to give a cash refund if returning a non-faulty item is a particularly unpopular one and I have been verbally abused on many occasions because of it - nice!
2. The Worship Expector: don't get me wrong, I always treat customers with respect and I am always super polite. However, expecting me to get all your shopping for you whilst you have a coffee (and then claiming I've picked up the wrong "medium-sized" pots) is taking customer satisfaction slightly too far, in my opinion.
3. The Youth Doubter: this customer will ask me a question, I will give an answer and they will then go on to ask the EXACT same question to an older staff member who will give them the EXACT SAME ANSWER I GAVE THEM. Despite being 21 (and looking about 16) I do actually know what I'm talking about (most the time). Another example falling under this category involved a customer recently inspecting the change I gave him for a good minute before announcing how he "knows what [us] young girls are like, always after [their] pension money". How wonderfully ageist, sexist and naive all at the same time.
4. The Phone Conversationalist: this isn't a huge grudge of mine, but it is just pretty rude when a customer is on the phone while I'm trying to serve them. It makes the exchanging of money that little bit more awkward and disables any communication between customer and till operator. Funnily enough, us till operators are people too, not just robots working a till!
5. The Change Chucker: fairly straight forward - that customer who will throw their change at you, expecting you to count it all out for them. Charming.
6. The Change Hoarder: and opposing the previous "Change Chucker" persona; this customer typically leads a queue of people and will count out their pennies as if they don't have a care in the world (they probably don't). Often this will lead to the customer in fact not having enough change and having to use a card or break into a note instead anyway.
7. The Price Announcer: "These strawberries are expensive!" "I saw this exact bag in another store for much cheaper" "You can get this compost from Lidl's for half the price" DON'T BUY IT HERE THEN. Need I say more?
8. My Favourite Type of Customer: Okay I've had my vent, now let's finish on a more positive note. Polite, friendly customers are my favourites. The ones that say good morning, the ones that acknowledge I am only human, the ones who smile! If you're feeling adventurous, even a small compliment can make a retail worker's day!
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Love this post. I think you've hit the nail on the head with all the different types of customers. I've worked on a customer service desk and you can get much worse people coming there!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Kudos to you, I don't think I could do that!
DeleteAgh customers are the worst aren't they haha? I work in a clothes shop and my worst thing is when people try clothes on and leave them ON THE FLOOR IN THE CHANGING ROOM. Argghhh!! So annoying! hahaha. Great post lovely : ) xx
ReplyDeleteJessie | allthingsbeautiful-x
That's just so rude!! I wouldn't even dream of doing that! I think working in retail makes you think twice when you yourself are the customer though!
DeleteI so so so so agree. Working in retail was the best and worst year of my life. So much time spent having people doubt I knew what I was doing (part of the babyface clan!) or being horrifically sexist, but so much learned about life. Encountered all of these ;D
ReplyDeleteFii | little miss fii
Totally know what you mean! I actually love working in retail but there are so many niggles! High five to my baby face homies too :D
Deleteok, I'll try the last point. I'll try harder :) I usually just have a monotone voice, I say hi, but don't actually give a full smile. I'll try harder :)
ReplyDeleteAyre
Haha you won't regret it! :)
DeleteI worked for a day at Next as part of their extra sale staff and I didn't encounter any of these, but I did encounter a man who sat on the floor for a good half an hour folding all the items he was about to purchase into the clear bags they give out at stores. And plenty of people who dump items they don't want in the wrong place...in a messy pile...*shudders*
ReplyDeleteParis
http://lifeinflorals.blogspot.co.uk/
I encountered all of these when I worked in retail, I think it is part of the reason why I hate people now, haha! As a result, I always try and behave a lot nicer to retail workers, because they don't need an unruly dick ruining their day with bad manners and general rudeness.
ReplyDeleteKirstiekins// Literary & Lifestyle Blogger
I love reading this, I have to admit i'm in between the coin counter and the one who throws it, but i ask for help. In my defense I still don't understand US coins :( But I agree being polite is key.
ReplyDeletex,Abril
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