Little things that SCs do that bother me but shouldn’t

[smileyeagle1021]

My biggest pet peeves at the people who don't give their phone number area code first.

ditto people who will say things like "i'll be holding the room on my HSBC reward zone mastercard"... mastercard would have sufficed... for that matter just going into the number "5xxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx" would suffice... i've done this long enough that I'll be able to figure out that is a mastercard.

If I tell you that I do not have the ability to do something it is because I really can't do it... my calls are monitered and refusing to do something that I am able to do will get me fired... oh and if you're nice I'll offer to connect you to someone who is able to do whatever it is you want to have done, but yes, there will be a hold time because those people are always busy.

"I'd like to make a reservation" is not a correct answer to "may I ask with whom I'm speaking"... the only correct answer to that question is your name...

when I answer the phone "reservation desk" don't ask me if I am the person you want to talk to about making reservations... this may come as a surprise to you, but at the reservation desk we make reservations (what a concept).


oh, completely but I just finished a call where apparently I made the guys night because I spelled his name correctly on the first try... yay

[MadMike]

Approaching me at all.

I know, it sounds like a joke, but after dealing with so many assholes, I got to the point where I'd cringe anytime a customer even approached me, even if they weren't sucky in any way.

It was probably best for them and myself that I got out of there.

[CancelMyService]

It drives me nuts when I want to unload my grocieries at the checkout line, but I can't because the douche in front of me emptied the contents of their wallet/purse on the belt.

I mean, it's the selfishness/obliviousness of them thinking that there couldn't possibly be any reason someone would want to use the belt for any other purpose, not to mention how they just assume the cashier is going to flip the switch to their bills, coins, and/or cards don't get pulled under.

It's even worse when you consider there's a little shelf right there who's only purpose in life is to give a person a place to sort out their payment options while the next person starts to unload their cart.

[Lace Neil Singer]

People who whinge when I check their notes, or even ostentatiously check their note in their change. It gets on my nerves, cuz I flipping well have to check notes cuz if I let a fake go thru the till I could get in trouble. And if it comes out the till, of course it's real dipstick! I checked it!

[ShinyGreenApple]

If a customer does not have their reward card with them, we are able to still give them their discounts/points by entering their phone number into the register. This scenario is all to familar -

Me: Do you have your WD card today?

SC: *flustered* Oh! Yeah, I have it . . . somewhere. *dig dig dig dig dig dig for five minutes while a line piles up behind them* Oh, I left it in my other purse/pants/Barney suit, can I just give you my phone number?

Or not say anything at all and just start rattling their number off to me. Damn, if you know what number you used when you signed up, why did you just waste all that time? Wouldn't it just have been easier to use the number in the first place?

Equally annoying is when I try to greet them or ask the "Do you have your card" question and they cut me off.

Me: Hi, how are y-

SC: 555-867-5309!

Sorry, that is not the correct answer. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Ugh.

[TravisRB69]

If the aisles are congested and I have to move aside OBVIOUSLY TO MAKE WAY JUST FOR YOU before I get back to what I was doing, by all means, feel free to SLOW DOWN. Take your time getting by. Really.

[Aggravated Associate]

I've actually always liked it when someone calls me by name. The unexisting familiarity happens for me when, instead of my name, pet names like "Honey" or "Sweetheart" are used, by either men or women. That's overly-friendly to me. I love it when people call me by name, probably because it happens so rarely. To me, when someone says, "Thanks for your help, Aggravated." It implies that I'm more than a mere peon that is expected to do their bidding, and they actually could be bothered to take the time to pay attention to the name prominently displayed on my shirt. Maybe I'm just a weirdo, but it always gives me the warm fuzzies.

Now, on to the complaints:

1) The very people who swipe their credit cards BEFORE I've even finished SCANNING their items are always the ones who take their receipt from me, scrutinize it, then come back to my till to complain that I've rung something up improperly or they were CERTAIN that item X was on sale.

1a Sidenote) Yes, that was a horrendous run-on sentence. I don't care, because I meant it.

2) People who complain, nay, RANT when a purchase rings at the price that it does. "THE SIGN SAID. THE SIGN SAID. THAT SIGN SAID THAT THIS WAS ON SALE. THE SIGN. GO GET THE SIGN. GET ME YOUR MANAGER. THE SIGN. THIS IS ON SALE. HAVE YOUR MANAGER GET ME THE SIGN. THE SIGN. IT SAYS SO ON THE SIGN."

2a) Fuck you. The sign is bright orange. That other sign that lists the specific items that are, in fact, on sale is written in RED ink. Fuck you harder if after I point this out and completely prove you wrong, you sputter about how "deceptive" we are.

3) The thrusting of the card OVER the self-scan into my face.

4) Leaving the cart at the exact place where you stopped to ring up. You walk THROUGH the cart vestibule on your way OUT of the building. It is unavoidable. PUT THE DAMN THING AWAY.

5) For the love of god, people who refuse to control their children. We have this seasonal display of those hideous stuffed animals that sing and dance when you press their hand. At LEAST once per day, a child will run through it and press EVERY SINGLE ONE. It is infuriating. The only thing more infuriating is glancing over and realizing that not only is the parent not discouraging the behavior, but that they are PARTICIPATING in it.

6) Asking how much something is when the price tag is clearly visible.

7) Asking for coupons. Learning that we don't give them out. Whining in hope of a different answer.

8) Telling me to take the price tag off of something before I gift wrap it. Thanks, it's my first day.

9) Playing with the obnoxious, sound-making, light-producing crap we provide as impulse purchases at the register. Yes, that oinking pig keychain is "OMG SOOO CUTE." You're not the first person to notice or point it out to me. Now please keep that blinding LED light out of my eyes.

10) "Hey, this item isn't ringing up/Isn't priced. It must be free! HAR HAR HAR"

11) "Hey, you look like you need something to do! HAR HAR HAR" Yes, I do. But the company policy to stand in front of the register and look inviting isn't my brainchild. I'd rather be busy actually doing something productive.

12) Walking up to the counter and saying, "HiIneedaweddingregistryprintoutforaJessicaRabbitt heweddingistodayandI'minareallybighurry THANKS" ....What? Do you see me at the keyboard already?

13) The proper response to "Hello!" or "Have a great day!" is NOT "Harumph," "I will," or "Yup." The equivalent to this in the food service world is "Hi, how are you all doing today?" is NOT to be met with "Yeah, I'll have a beer."

14) When I'm trying to scan an item and there's no barcode, some people actually say, "Here it is! It's right here!" and point to the PRICE TAG. One guy once actually just picked up a box out of his cart, held it for two seconds, and said, "Did you get it?" Are you serious, man? My response was, "No, I didn't get it. The barcode is on the BOTTOM." What do you think I've been scanning this entire time? What do you think cashiers are scanning, EVER?

14b) Bringing up something without a barcode and getting irritated when I have to call for one. "It's $9.99. Just ring up $9.99. Seriously, it's $9.99, just type it in." Yeah, thanks. It may be our fault that something happened to slip through without a UPC, but for the love of god, do you really think I'm just going to take your word for it? "Oh, this vacuum cleaner is $9.99? Thanks!" I don't even have the ability to type in a price and just have it show up on the bill. What would it be listed as? Have you never heard of a little thing called INVENTORY?

Man, I just ranted a LOT. It felt incredibly good, but I feel like I should say something nice to counterbalance all of the complaining. So, uh..

Bunnies, unicorns, fluffy kittens and pie!

[Lace Neil Singer]

I can type in a price, but only if the price is on the item, or if I definitely know the price. Some customers get all whiny when I call for a supervisor to check a price if the barcode's ripped off or doesn't work, or to check a special offer. "Don't you believe me?" Well, after all the bullshitters I've encountered during my years in retail hell... no.

[TryNotToBeThatOne]

See, that's why when you're shopping, you try to get one that has the price/barcode on it. If you feel that you must get the one that has not the barcode/price, then bring one that does. Better yet, buy them both. I've done that, when I'm buying multiples. If there's one that doesn't have the info, I'll pick it up. Theoretically, the clerk can scan the one with the info twice.

[Estil]

* “Don’t call me ma’am!” or “Don’t call me sir. I’m not in the military.” Um…okay. How about asshole?

Actually, I'm VERY insulted when someone calls me ma'am, especially over the phone. But isn't that supposed to be more polite, you say? Not if I'm a GUY. God I can't STAND it when someone just assumes your gender. And you know what they say happens when you assume? That's right, it makes an ASS out of U and ME.

[karath]

If a customer does not have their reward card with them, we are able to still give them their discounts/points by entering their phone number into the register. This scenario is all to familar -

Me: Do you have your WD card today?

SC: *flustered* Oh! Yeah, I have it . . . somewhere. *dig dig dig dig dig dig for five minutes while a line piles up behind them* Oh, I left it in my other purse/pants/Barney suit, can I just give you my phone number?

Or not say anything at all and just start rattling their number off to me. Damn, if you know what number you used when you signed up, why did you just waste all that time? Wouldn't it just have been easier to use the number in the first place?

Equally annoying is when I try to greet them or ask the "Do you have your card" question and they cut me off.

Me: Hi, how are y-

SC: 555-867-5309!

Sorry, that is not the correct answer. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Ugh.

Geez. I'm quite familiar with that policy (usually at barnes & nobles, bookworm much?) but I always make sure that the associate I'm dealing with is aware that I'll be using a phone number and is ready to punch it in before I begin. It's not particularly difficult to just do something that simple...but as SC's always prove, common sense isn't exactly common.

I've actually always liked it when someone calls me by name. The unexisting familiarity happens for me when, instead of my name, pet names like "Honey" or "Sweetheart" are used, by either men or women. That's overly-friendly to me. I love it when people call me by name, probably because it happens so rarely. To me, when someone says, "Thanks for your help, Aggravated." It implies that I'm more than a mere peon that is expected to do their bidding, and they actually could be bothered to take the time to pay attention to the name prominently displayed on my shirt. Maybe I'm just a weirdo, but it always gives me the warm fuzzies.

I have to agree with Aggravated here. It's a bit annoying when people mispronounce my name (It's spelled Stephen but pronounced Steven, you can see guess how that might work) but I appreciate the effort at least. Having worked in the service industry for this long, ANY indication that I'm more than a lump of meat that gives you food when you say the magic words is welcome. I've taken to going out of my way to thank anyone who is also in the service industry; one time I was at a college study session for finals where the college in question was generously offering free hot chocolate. I looked the poor students serving the drinks in the eye and loudly thanked them; from the way they reacted, I was the first person to acknowledge their existence the entire night. Every little bit counts, and if a customer wants to personally thank me, I'm always grateful

[Lace Neil Singer]

I don't mind say, old ladies, calling me "love" or "pet"; however, if a creepy man starts doing it, then I hate it. -.-

[karath]

I don't mind say, old ladies, calling me "love" or "pet"; however, if a creepy man starts doing it, then I hate it. -.-

touche. that crosses the line.

[Aggravated Associate]

Ugh, I agree. "Pet"? That, to me, implies that you really ARE just expected to be an obedient little dog...

[CancelMyService]

It should be pointed out that "pet" is a term of endearment over in British-world. It doesn't mean that the person is expecting you to be animal-like.


Also, I hate with the fury of a thousand suns when someone asks me how I'm doing and cuts me off when I start to reply just to launch into their problem. I mean, I don't have any pretense that our interaction is going to lead to dinner and movie, but can you at least act like you're aware a human being is on the other end of the phone? (This goes for the "Are you a REAL HUMAN?" types too).