Today's issue of the day

[aurelemsrealm]

I have this one guy who seems to bring up a new issue every day. Yesterday, it was complaining because some of our stores are BP franchises while others are Shell franchises, and how this is inconvenient for him to use his new BP card.

So, today, his issue was with two odd pennies on his total. He got a bottle of orange juice and two coffee refills, and the total came to $3.02. He paid with a $5 bill. Had he not said anything, I would have just given him his exact change. So, he starts in asking if he can just get two pennies from his car and bring in the change.

"Okay, whatever floats your boat," so I give him $2 and wait for him to move out of the way so I can take the next customer.

He goes on, "Yeah, my buddy at West Market always has pennies ready for me. (Insert more prattling which I virtually ignore)"

Shrugging indifferently, "Okay, I'm happy for you."

"I swear I'll bring it right back," in this annoying I-promise-I-really-really-promise tone. I just shrug it off and move on with the next customer, making a nonchalant comment about how some customers are just more of a headache than they're worth.

He comes back in a moment later, and hands me four pennies, "I got you two pennies, and a couple more for later."

I respond, "You're ahead of the game now. At least you know where you can get more pennies if these aren't still waiting on you next time." As I say that, I'm thinking to myself Does there really have to be a next time? Can't you just go elsewhere?

[edible_hat]

Weird! There seems to be a bit of that happening lately - yesterday I had somebody walk into the store, say "I owe you 25 cents from yesterday", put some change on the counter, and walk out.

[XCashier]

At least they're honest.

[aurelemsrealm]

From my perspective, the primary issue is that this guy always has some stupid little nitpicky issue everyday. Every time he comes in, he feels compelled to mention some totally irrelevant issue pertaining to the way our company does business, and then acts as if I'm supposed to provide him with some kind of explanation of why we do business the way we do or find some kind of satisfactory solution that will appease his whims.

It usually ends up with me telling him some version of life is what it is, so just accept it and move on. I'm too busy with other customers also to care about or deal with such minor concerns. Other than being a minor annoyance (like mosquitos on a hot summer night), these exchanges of opinion don't bother me. I just have to wonder why some people bother. When I'm a customer, I generally accept that they do business a certain way and that's just the way it is -- take it or leave it. I do what I need to do, and move on to the next task on my agenda.

The only reason I even bring it up is that I've just started to notice that this guy seems to have an issue with something every day. He always starts out trying to engage me in small talk, then works into his issue. I've already gotten so that I don't acknowledge him until he speaks first, then I virtually ignore most of what he says as I work to complete his transaction and move on to the next customer. I don't necessarily act rude toward him, but I'm not really that friendly toward him either. Whatever dude, get your shit, and get the hell out of my sight.

[ta2ooed1]

Sounds like the guy is lonely and looking for someone to talk to.

[bainsidhe]

Sounds like the guy is lonely and looking for someone to talk to.

I agree. He sounds like one of those lonely types.

[powerboy]

Weird! There seems to be a bit of that happening lately - yesterday I had somebody walk into the store, say "I owe you 25 cents from yesterday", put some change on the counter, and walk out.

I had done that a few times before. If I know I am going by that place, I will drop by and give that cashier or whoever is working there what I owe.

[meme]

I work on the phones, but I get people like that too. They're usually older and, I assume, lonely. At least with my job I can make funny faces while they prattle on.

[smileyeagle1021]

Weird! There seems to be a bit of that happening lately - yesterday I had somebody walk into the store, say "I owe you 25 cents from yesterday", put some change on the counter, and walk out.

i've done that before at a local burger joint a few blocks from where I live... they are pretty cool, if i'm short one day they'll just say close enough because they know that the next time I'll overpay to make it up.

I work on the phones, but I get people like that too. They're usually older and, I assume, lonely. At least with my job I can make funny faces while they prattle on.

that is also what the mute button is for... then you can do things like type on this board while they prattle on... not that i'm doing that right now

[matty]

Generally speaking in the various retail jobs I have held, when it wasn't busy, I was perfectly happy to engage in general conversation about the weather, latest shows on television, even politics.

But, if someone wanted to ask something about the way the company did business, I would generally just say "I don't know" or "I'm not sure about that". Sure, this invites them to say things like, "Well, you should know", but at least it kills the topic. (I'm obviously talking here about corporate-type details as opposed to things that actually make a difference to the customer's shopping experience.)

In the call centre on the other hand, with all the monitoring to keep down talk times, we had to try to eliminate "idle conversations" with customers.

[Fawn]

that is also what the mute button is for... then you can do things like type on this board while they prattle on... not that i'm doing that right now

hehe I did the same things when working Tech Support.

[SuperB]

My first customer this morning was a local whom I let run a tab. He wanted to leave his 30 some-odd-cents change towards his tab he owed.

I don't think so. It's first thing in the morning, I'm having to listen to the details of his flu bug and how he was up all night and I haven't had my coffee yet. Keep the damn change and just pay the bill off. I'm not hauling out the book to add 30 cents to it!