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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Tired, Out of Customer Service, Wondering What I Did!!!

It must be insane to think that I could handle two jobs during the Christmas season. Now, I am refreshed as I didn't have to work any job on Sunday. So I had a nice day off. But working two jobs at the same time is HARD and TIRING. Friday and Saturday, I go to both jobs and won't hit the door until 8pm. Mind you, I did this to myself and the benefit is a cash only Christmas so no bills come January! The payoff is totally worth it, but I do not know how people do it that HAVE to do this in order to live their life and support themselves.

Working two retail jobs has made me realize that 5 days before Christmas, I am out of customer service. What in the world makes someone think that because they are in a hurry they can be rude? This woman was in our store today who had to be at school to pick up her kid at 2! Anyone who lives around here knows that if you need to be somewhere this time of year, you better leave early because everyone is shopping and running errands so the roads are crowded. Small town, but everyone comes in from the surrounding areas to do their stuff and we have about 3x the normal cars on the road. She kept telling us she had to be somewhere while we were trying to get her stuff situated. Finally, she announced very loudly, "I'll be back at 5!"

What was that supposed to do? She runs the store? We all have to wait for her to come back? What?

Then another whacko comes in and says she just picked up her necklace, and she asked for it to be gift wrapped, and it was not. I waited on this lady's daughter 5 seconds before. I looked her right in the eye and said, "You didn't pick this up. Your daughter did, and she did not asked for it to be gift wrapped."

What is the point of lying? We gift wrap for free. It's not an issue, just ask. We're happy to do it.

I think that if people just used their manners, allowed time, and didn't wait until the last minute, the Christmas shopping experience would be better for everyone. I don't believe in being rude to customers. I don't mind waiting on people, but I do mind if they are rude to me.

It's like the guy at my other job who told me the only reason I couldn't take out more than two items (of jewlery) at a time was because I couldn't count to two. What was the point of that? Did he think that would motivate someone? I explained very patiently that it was a rule that loss prevention put in place and checked us on. He said, "Well, that's because they knew you could only keep track of one thing at a time."

I'm not saying these things to complain, but I'm saying that my holiday spirit has suffered due to rude, inconsiderate, ingorant people who really should get a lump of coal and a stick from Santa Claus! I'm also saying that if I wasn't working two jobs, I might be more tolerant of their idiocy, but dealing with it seven days a week has worn me down.

In that light, I am pleased to say that I only work one job tomorrow for a total of 4 hours. So I do believe I can muddle through!

So if you are out shopping, please allow yourself plenty of time. Remember that person behind the counter is doing the best they can so give them a kind word and help them keep going!

Also, the moral of my story is that next year, I am only getting one Christmas job!

10 comments:

Melanie H said...

I can't believe people could be so rude. That is also why I avoid the shops and crowds at Christmas, its not the workers, its the rude customers that ruin it for everybody.

susan said...

It is such a stressful time of year. Good for you for being to nice to your customers!

susan said...

I agree! Good for you for bing nice to your customers!

Carjazi - aka Diane said...

Unfortunatley it's not just at Christmas time anymore. But I think it just gets maganified then. I'm sorry you have to experience it at this time of year. I get it all year all. And I always laugh when people complain about customer service going down the tubes. It's a knee jerk reaction to the constant rudeness of the customer. One doesn't excuse the other though. Well at least you only have a short day today and knowing that you'll be without the mounds of cc debt will get you through the next 5 days. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Neverland Scraps said...

that is really rude. I dont get how people can turn into demons around Christmas. Its so sad. Im sorry people are taking it out on the workers, its a shame, but it happens more and more every year.

Anonymous said...

People are rude! There are times I miss managing a jewelry store, but I don't miss the holiday season in retail.

People would get upset at the 1 piece of jewelry out with me too. It's company wide policy. It's too easy to do a switcharoo when there is more than one piece out. But, people would want to compare one ring to the other on their hands, etc. I would do it when there was 2 of us standing there one piece for each of us to watch, but with just one, sorry, can't do it.

Here's to people getting some holiday niceties back!

Monique said...

OMGosh how rude! That's why I like having all my shopping done by December 1st, that way I don't have to deal with employees who are cranky, customers who are rude to the employees and each other, the idiot drivers you have to watch out for.... crazyness!

I hope you have a great Christmas!

Victoria said...

ARGH! I worked retail for 10 years and I know what you are saying is all too true! We are shopping today, but know that it is not the salespersons fault if anything is out of stock or the lines are long. Attitude is such a big part of life. I hope you can enjoy your time off and knowing all is paid for!

Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Aaaagh! Poor you with grumpy Christmas shoppers. I try to get all my shopping over early, so I can avoid them now - but you work there so you don't get to avoid them.

20Birds said...

good point, we all need to remember the stresses of this time, and that we arent the only ones experieincing them. Maybe if we were kinder and easier on salespeople they could help us more