Oooooh! I pissed off a customer. Bigtime!

[Knightmare]

Yesterday was hella busy. My ZM has decreed that we will now have a lunch schedule for the weekends, and we'd better stick to that schedule. Or else!
So, anyway, my lunch time was here. I clocked out and took off my vest. I am now officially "Knightmare", not "Underpaid corporate wage slave."

I'm pondering about where I want to eat as I walk out from behind the paint desk. Coworker WOS comes around the corner with a customer walking behind. WOS sees me and asks "What do you think, Knightmare?"
WOS seems to think that I can read his mind. He always asks me what I think about something, or tries to pawn off customers to me. Usually, I'm not paying any attention to WOS because he annoys me. But he thinks that I'm constantly listening to him talk to his customers, even though I am usually as far away from him as I can be.
So when he asked that, I said "Good idea." and kept walking. WOS runs up to me and asks, while I'm still walking to the door, "You didn't hear me. I said, 'What paint will stick to galvanized metal?'"
I turn my head and say "Rustoleum. Prime it then paint it." and left the store to eat lunch.
When I got back an hour later, WOS told me that the customer lost it. He said that after I left, the customer turned beet red in the face and started yelling. The customer called me an asshole, then tried to find a manager to complain to. Why? Because I wouldn't answer his question. Fuck him. I DID answer his question. The customer was mad because I didn't stop and hold his hand through the whole painting process. I answered the question in six words. What more do I need to say?
My ZM came to me a few minutes later. He wanted me to tell him what happened. So I told him. I said "WOS came up to me as I was headed out the door for lunch. He had a question, and I answered it, then I left to eat. End of story."
ZM told me that the customer "Felt ignored and that [ I ] was rude to him." My reply was "WOS with helping the customer. I was clocked out and headed out the door. If the customer felt ignored, then talk to WOS. I wasn't rude, either. I answered WOS's question then left."
ZM said "Okay" then took off.

So was I wrong? I was starving, hadn't had a break in 5 hours. When it's time to go to lunch, we must go to lunch at that time or face a possible write-up.
Should I have stopped to help, even though I was off the clock and almost out the door?
Nah.. I answered the question. And if that happens again, I'll do the same thing.
I'm just following company policy.

[April]

You were off the clock. You weren't being paid to help. You could have said what I always said "Sorry, I'm on break"

[Broomjockey]

You answered the question. You did everything you were supposed to do. WOS was helping the customer! It's his job to do the handholding at that point! You did awesome.

[chainedbarista]

you did more than what you were paid for; the customer was *look of shock* an ahole, pure and simple. what else was he looking for, someone to follow him to the restroom and hold his hand there too, perhaps?

[April]

what else was he looking for, someone to follow him to the restroom and hold his hand there too, perhaps?

Probably not JUST his hand.

[Strikesfirmly]

My ZM has decreed that we will now have a lunch schedule for the weekends, and we'd better stick to that schedule. Or else!

Yeah, silly silly policy. Watch it hit the fan the first time you try and tell a customer "I'll get another associate to help you, I have to clock out for break/lunch/day or I'll get in trouble."

Clueless Management: 1
Real World: 0

[Food Lady]

My absolute biggest pet peeve. I didn't mean to be, but I was borderline rude to a customer last week. I was clocked out for the day, shopping, with my coat and other stuff in a cart, walking around on the phone, yet still being asked for help. I simply answered the first customer's question, interrupting my mom on the other end of the line, because that was just easier and took 2 seconds. But by the third customer, my response was a shrug of the shoulders and "I'm off the clock and on the phone." I know my tone was one of annoyance. The thing is that as long as I've worked there, I've always helped people while on break, off work, on my day off, whatever. But now that the "no work while on break" policy is being shoved down my throat, fine. The customers can suffer. It's not my fault the company doesn't schedule enough people on the salesfloor.

[draggar]

Companies parade around the public that they make us take our lunches, breaks, vacations, day offs, or whatever but once they need you during those times you better bend over and kiss them and the customer in the ass!!!

Hypocrites!!

[DesignFox]

I just politely tell people I'm on my break. If they don't like it, they can suck it. I am a human being and I need some time to myself, too once in awhile.

Only once I had a customer get annoyed with me when I explained to her that I was on my break.

Snotty lady: "Excuse me! I have a question."
Me: "Oh, I'm very sorry, I'm on my break right now."
SL: " (in that really condescending, horrible tone of voice) You can't answer ONE QUESTION!?"
Me: *turns around, gives her a death glare (as my food is getting cold in my hand)* "Ok, fine."
SL: "Can I take one of those?" (pointing to a stack of things next to the counter that we have set aside for another customer)
Me: "No. Those are for a specific customer. If you want one you will have to wait in line." *points to line wrapped around store, which I know said customer just came out of and refused to take one of the things she was pointing to when the cashier offered her one the first time*

I sped away for the back room before she could bitch at me some more. I hate when people pull that shit. If I stopped to answer every little question for every customer from the front of the store to the back door, my half hour break would be gone before it started. If you see an employee carrying food in their hands, leave them the f*** alone!

I think you acted just fine Knightmare.

[draftermatt]

If you see an employee carrying food in their hands, leave them the f*** alone!

I don't see why people don't do that. I guess its hard for me to think people are that inconsiderate. But I only ask people for help that are behind a desk or standing in a certain area. If they are walking someplace I assue they are either on break, or they are in the middle of something.

Reading some of these stories, I think that if there was a fire and everyone was running out of the store, someone would try and stop and employee and ask for something. Even if said employee was on fire.

[mrsjfreak]

Technically, being off the clock, you didn't even have to answer the question.

[Becks]

At some places, you could be disciplined for "working" off the clock.

[mrsjfreak]

At some places, you could be disciplined for "working" off the clock.

That's the case with most places because it's the labor laws. I know in NY, you can't work off the clock at ALL, and if you do, you are subject to termination

[RentalRacer]

You know, it is one thing if a customer asks you a question when they see you, even if you are off the clock....Sucky still, but at least its expected of the SC's.

Its a different story altogether when a co-worker asks you a question when they KNOW you are off the clock. Leaving your department without your vest on is a huge indication he/she should pick up on. I would have told WOS off big time.

[Delphae]

I will answer a quick question when walking through the store, but haven't ever had someone demand help. I did have a complaint over the phone because I someone waited to long while I was on break (I usually eat in the office which is visable to the front end). I do get, "Can you get me some change". No, I'm off the clock! This was just after getting a letter in our paychecks about not doing so. Duh!