THE RUDE, THE DEAF and THE STUPID

[Soul_Est]

Today just pissed me off.

THE RUDE
=======

Had one really bitchy customer. Had multiple tattoos on her arms and dressed in a higher end fashion (I can always tell who's da bitch now ). She had a couple children with her (who were well behaved by comparison) and she wanted the price on a CD:
(DB = Da Bitch)

*DB comes up to my counter after picking out a music CD and puts it on the counter*
Me: Hello.
DB: Do you do price matching here?
Me: Yes we do but I'll need either a flyer or printout from the website of our competitior.
DB: Well Competitor#1 sells it for [a price lower than ours] and Competitor#2 sells it for [a price lower than Competitor#1's].
Me: I'm sorry but I will need the flyer or a printout in order to match the price.
DB: So can't you just call them? That's what other places do.
Me: I'm sorry but that is company policy.
*I check the price to see if it has been discounted in any way*
Me: It's still [our price] unfortunately.
DB (in her rude tone and raised voice): I know what the price is and I wanted to know if you'd price match it.
Me (keeping my cool, detaching myself from the situation somewhat): I'm sorry but I can't do that for you.
DB: Okay.
*DB puts back the CD (surprisingly enough) and walks out*
Me (under my breath so that she can't hear): Bitch


THE DEAF
======

Our store closes the same time the mall does as everyone's shift is supposed to finish fifteen minutes after that. At ten after I'm still dealing with customers that are there after the store is closed and it is announced for the third time that the store is closed. I had to send the last one away after the two customers before her (a woman and her mother) took up too much time (manager needed me upstairs).

THE STUPID
========

Too many to list. Be it whether they couldn't find the display case where a certain product is held, not knowing that you need a screwdriver to assemble any telescoping fan we carry or asking if we sell iPods (haven't sold them in years) after looking throughout the entire department for them and not finding anything, etc.

I know tomorrow will be a better day. If the day goes well, I'll be in a positive mood when I post again. If not well...I won't be like Da Bitch, that's for sure.

Hope this helps anyone who deals in retail and beyond.

And as an extra bonus:
THE WTF OF THE DAY
==============

This one is mild but sad none the less.

A boy asks me to pull out a game from a display case which I do and hold it aside for him. Thinking nothing of the odd plastic wrapping (akin to some of the departments other products mind you), I ring the kid's game through along with the extra products that his family brings from other departments. After doing so he asks me to open it for him to open it for him as he had been burned before (I feel his pain). Upon doing so, I got quite a shock (I should be used to this but oh well) as the manual and disc are completely unrelated to the game which had just been purchased. The casing is for a game in the stealth-action genre, while the manual was for a racing game and the disc was a heavily scratched DVD. After called up to customer service, I confirmed that I could in fact hand out the game without ringing the purchase back through which I much to the relief of the boy. I made sure that my manager knew of the incident (this is the same one that called some of us stupid earlier on mind you).

[LillFilly]

I don't think the first woman was that bad, unless it was tone of voice. She accepted your answer and left, thankfully.

[Soul_Est]

In hindsight she probably wasn't that bad. The tone she took with me (like I was less than her) was what got to me. That and having to deal with only one person per department (or handling four departments even), impatient customers and holier-than-thou management.

One manager (talking to the store manager of all people) called a friend of mine stupid if not a number of us but i couldn't call them out on it now as I no way of proving it (I was on the ladder at the time putting up a tv).

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I don't think the first woman was that bad, unless it was tone of voice. She accepted your answer and left, thankfully.

Price matching requires an ad flier or a printout from a website. SC had neither, so that should've been the end of it. Instead she pressed the issue.

And what store gives a price match based off a phone call anyway? I've never heard of such a thing, not even at the swamp, which likes to pass itself off as insanely customer-friendly and does price matches (ALWAYS HAS, ALWAYS WILL).

She may not have been the worst SC in the world but she still deserved her 15 minutes of infamy, IMO.

[Soul_Est]

@LillFilly and @Irving Patrick Freleigh
Thank you both for your input. I truly appreciate having opinions on both sides of the situation.

I would add on to the THE STUPID by discussing about some of the associates at a major carrier's store in the area where I work (I shouldn't know more about your products (released or unreleased) than you do! (which is near zilch)).

[infinitemonkies]

For hotels we generally price match just by phone.
Personally, I don't even bother. If a would-be guest asks me to price match a rate that's at least in the right ballpark, I'll take them at their word. Though, if it's a ridiculously low rate, I'll make the call, and usually the 'guest' lying bastard takes off before I've finished dialing.

[Midorikawa]

Be it whether they couldn't find the display case where a certain product is held, not knowing that you need a screwdriver to assemble any telescoping fan we carry or asking if we sell iPods (haven't sold them in years) after looking throughout the entire department for them and not finding anything, etc.

Whoa. People complain at you because they need a really basic tool that ANY household should have?

I don't expect a full machine shop or woodworking shop, but a screwdriver is hardly an unimportant tool. If you own your own place, and even if you don't, I would hope that you'd have at least a basic tool kit, flat head and phillips screwdriver, claw hammer, and a crescent wrench for quick fixes. all of those tools put together doesn't even add up to $50. I could have all of those for under $20 if I went to the right place. :-/

[VComps]

Sorry, but I don't think asking if you carry iPods is stupid... Yes, you haven't carried them for years, but most people who shop at your store probably don't just periodically verify that you still carry an item for which they are not shopping at that time. Also, some items that require assembly don't require screwdrivers, but allen keys, so that question seemed pretty valid too. As for not being able to find a display case where a certain item is held... well, it's not the customer's job to know where everything is... that's what we're for, right?

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but customer service is sort of what we do, isn't it?

[Soul_Est]

Sorry, but I don't think asking if you carry iPods is stupid... Yes, you haven't carried them for years, but most people who shop at your store probably don't just periodically verify that you still carry an item for which they are not shopping at that time. Also, some items that require assembly don't require screwdrivers, but allen keys, so that question seemed pretty valid too. As for not being able to find a display case where a certain item is held... well, it's not the customer's job to know where everything is... that's what we're for, right?

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, but customer service is sort of what we do, isn't it?

That's definitely true VComps. It (the iPod questions) really gets annoying though as it happens everyday I'm working (which is on weekends).


Side note: Today was better than yesterday but I had to deal with that asshole of a manager again (let's call him J), another stupid customer, and the same WTF OF THE DAY as before (different game though). I'll post them in a new thread if any of you feel that it's warranted.

[VComps]

I understand needing to vent your frustration... a couple of weeks ago I was debating answering the store phone "Good afternoon, (Store Name), no, we don't have any iPads, Wii consoles, or copies of Red Dead Redemption, may I still help you?"

[Soul_Est]

I understand needing to vent your frustration... a couple of weeks ago I was debating answering the store phone "Good afternoon, (Store Name), no, we don't have any iPads, Wii consoles, or copies of Red Dead Redemption, may I still help you?"

I like that greeting a lot. Here's my little remix, "Hello, (Department Name), we have no Game Console#1 or Game Console#2 or iPods. May I still be of assistance?"

[MrsEclipse]

I like that greeting a lot. Here's my little remix, "Hello, (Department Name), we have no Game Console#1 or Game Console#2 or iPods. May I still be of assistance?"

"Yeah, uh, do you have any GameConsole #1 in stock?"

[Soul_Est]

"I'm sorry but we don't. Competitor#3 has them if you want."

[PepperElf]

i bet that was one happy boy
kudos on you getting it fixed for him before he left.

[Justsomegirl]

Were I work in a call center people call in and ask if we can price match? No, if you live near our retail store they will do some matching but make sure you bring the flyer in with you.

But yeah I get the dumb. Tell the person the item is sold out and discound. Person asks can you see if you have any laying around?? No we don't it is sold OUT and not coming back!

I feel you pain!! Just look foward to the nice customers!!