How to piss a shop assistant off...

Orla K

jill_valentine wrote: »

No, it's not too much to ask at all.

Retailers and customers alike, let's agree on this for once and for all. Money into hands, everybody! Money into hands!

I had one occasion where I wanted the person to put her change on the counter. It was a younger(teens/20ish) woman of the traveling kind who you wouldn't want to touch for fear of the makeup/false tan/possible dirt coming off onto you and she took her money(which was all coins) out of her bra! I made her put it on the counter and the manager (who didn't see where she got it from) picked it up(he was waiting to take off the till)

With that in mind being handed/thrown moist, wet or sticky money is always horrible.

And when you walk into a shop just as it's about to close, go to buy something that costs €10+ and then take out money bags that are filled with coppers and empty them onto the counter.

Jeboa Safari

ColeTrain wrote: »

Throw down a few hundred coppers on the counter when there is a big queue of people behind you. From personal experience the person behind the till shall not be happy :mad:

Remember doing this buying a six pack in tesco and lost count half way through counting the coppers, man behind the counter wasn't impressed at all

Ricardo G

Orla K wrote: »

I had one occasion where I wanted the person to put her change on the counter. It was a younger(teens/20ish) woman of the traveling kind who you wouldn't want to touch for fear of the makeup/false tan/possible dirt coming off onto you and she took her money(which was all coins) out of her bra! I made her put it on the counter and the manager (who didn't see where she got it from) picked it up(he was waiting to take off the till)

With that in mind being handed/thrown moist, wet or sticky money is always horrible.

And when you walk into a shop just as it's about to close, go to buy something that costs €10+ and then take out money bags that are filled with coppers and empty them onto the counter.

Ahh the ole sweaty traveller diddy money,,,,,,, it cant get much worse than that:D

clarke1991

i used to work at the petrol pumps (shop aswell, but only sometimes). i hate when:

-you ask people are they ok and you get back a mumble sounding something like, 'twenty', and rolling up the window again. then when i get the money from them, they just slide it out the small space and drive off without a 'thanks.

-when you serve people and they stand beside you watching you constantly, making sure you dont fcuk up what your doing. fill it yourself while your standing there, i could be doing something else!

-saying 'good/bad weather we are having' 50 times a day, while they watch you.

-people (2 seperate men would do this regularly) espically that would stand there beside the car and wait for you to come over, even if you were busy at another car/wash/tills/etc. oh and people that look for tissue to clean their hands after filling petrol/diesel.

-people that completley ignore you when you wash their cars, they dont even say thanks when your doing it in the rain! god forbid they might get wet rolling down the window.

although one person came in during a thunder and lightening storm for a wash and everyone just stood there watching them. who's going to stand there in a lightening storm beside a car, holding a metal lance?:rolleyes:


ahh, that feels better:p

Ricardo G

clarke1991 wrote: »

i used to work at the petrol pumps (shop aswell, but only sometimes). i hate when:

-you ask people are they ok and you get back a mumble sounding something like, 'twenty', and rolling up the window again. then when i get the money from them, they just slide it out the small space and drive off without a 'thanks.

-when you serve people and they stand beside you watching you constantly, making sure you dont fcuk up what your doing. fill it yourself while your standing there, i could be doing something else!

-saying 'good/bad weather we are having' 50 times a day, while they watch you.

-people (2 seperate men would do this regularly) espically that would stand there beside the car and wait for you to come over, even if you were busy at another car/wash/tills/etc. oh and people that look for tissue to clean their hands after filling petrol/diesel.

-people that completley ignore you when you wash their cars, they dont even say thanks when your doing it in the rain! god forbid they might get wet rolling down the window.

although one person came in during a thunder and lightening storm for a wash and everyone just stood there watching them. who's going to stand there in a lightening storm beside a car, holding a metal lance?:rolleyes:


ahh, that feels better:p

You get paid to do it dont you ???????

Gone West

The Agogo wrote: »

Obviously, I can't speak for the majority of shopkeeps, but I try my best (hence why I vent my anger on AH). But you're right. Some of my coworkers project these traits. I think the three 100% scores I got from mystery shoppers proves my willingness to bite my tongue and just get on with it when I'm in work.

RE: "Join the dole queue" - If i did that the business would close and six other workers would follow me onto it

1) congratz, mystery shopper scored you 100% three times, major life achievement there. Make sure to notify your biographer.
2) You seriously think that if you left, the shop would close? It would not. They would just hire somebody else to do the job and it would be fine. The job is not complicated, most anybody could do it. Too many bottom-level employees think that they are the sh1t, when in reality they are utterly replaceable.
3) [oblig AH response] Vent your anger on yer moh' like a normal man instead of on some fag interneh forum :pac::pac:

ColeTrain

Jeboa Safari wrote: »

Remember doing this buying a six pack in tesco and lost count half way through counting the coppers, man behind the counter wasn't impressed at all

I hope somebody gave that beer a good shake before you picked it up :pac:

mikemac

clarke1991 wrote: »

i used to work at the petrol pumps (shop aswell, but only sometimes). i hate when:

Ah, a fuel injection engineer :cool:

clarke1991 wrote: »

oh and people that look for tissue to clean their hands after filling petrol/diesel.

What is the problem with this?
A lot of stations even had a paper towel dispenser on the forecourt. I've used it and so do lots of people

The Agogo

el judìo wrote: »

1) congratz, mystery shopper scored you 100% three times, major life achievement there. Make sure to notify your biographer.

I should pin them to my chest from now on.

2) You seriously think that if you left, the shop would close? It would not. They would just hire somebody else to do the job and it would be fine. The job is not complicated, most anybody could do it. Too many bottom-level employees think that they are the sh1t, when in reality they are utterly replaceable.
3) [oblig AH response] Vent your anger on yer moh' like a normal man instead of on some fag interneh forum :pac::pac:

I just said all that for dramatic effect. I am the sh1t though.

jill_valentine

Ricardo G wrote: »

You get paid to do it dont you ???????

This attitude drives me mad. We're paid to facilitate your transaction on behalf of our employer. They get your money, you get your goods/services. That's fine.

We are not paid to take abuse from you because your day is bad or you can't bothered. It is not my job to make you feel better about your place in the world by playing whipping boy. That is not our function, and you shouldn't expect us to take it. We probably will, because we probably have to, but that doesn't make it alright.

Courtesy costs nothing, and not showing the slightest bit of it to somebody just because "they work here" is testament to poor character. I am no less deserving of a minimum degree of basic decency than anybody else. I love my job, but the sheer rudeness that otherwise normal, functional people exhibit to retail staff - consciously and unconsciously, and on a daily basis - defies belief sometimes.

clarke1991

feelingstressed wrote: »

Ah, a fuel injection engineer :cool:



What is the problem with this?
A lot of stations even had a paper towel dispenser on the forecourt. I've used it and so do lots of people

fuel injection engineer, i ment to say that:D, safistmicated:p!

oh you just find it annoying when your covered in sh!te after walking in and out a billion times a day, nothing personal :pac:

robbie_998

jill_valentine wrote: »

This attitude drives me mad. We're paid to facilitate your transaction on behalf of our employer. They get your money, you get your goods/services. That's fine.

We are not paid to take abuse from you because your day is bad or you can't bothered. It is not my job to make you feel better about your place in the world by playing whipping boy. That is not our function, and you shouldn't expect us to take it. We probably will, because we probably have to, but that doesn't make it alright.

Courtesy costs nothing, and not showing the slightest bit of it to somebody just because "they work here" is testament to poor character. I am no less deserving of a minimum degree of basic decency than anybody else. I love my job, but the sheer rudeness that otherwise normal, functional people exhibit to retail staff - consciously and unconsciously, and on a daily basis - defies belief sometimes.

You + Me = Complete

clarke1991

jill_valentine wrote: »

This attitude drives me mad. We're paid to facilitate your transaction on behalf of our employer. They get your money, you get your goods/services. That's fine.

We are not paid to take abuse from you because your day is bad or you can't bothered. It is not my job to make you feel better about your place in the world by playing whipping boy. That is not our function, and you shouldn't expect us to take it. We probably will, because we probably have to, but that doesn't make it alright.

Courtesy costs nothing, and not showing the slightest bit of it to somebody just because "they work here" is testament to poor character. I am no less deserving of a minimum degree of basic decency than anybody else. I love my job, but the sheer rudeness that otherwise normal, functional people exhibit to retail staff - consciously and unconsciously, and on a daily basis - defies belief sometimes.

well done vallentine:)! yeah i also hate that attitude! one day i asked a fella was he ok, and... wait for it!!!! he said: can't you see im on the fcuking phone(he was holding it on the oppesite side to me)! and started shouting and actually beeping at me! while HE was telling ME to be quiet! it was unbelieveable! beeping! on the fourcourt! gave him a dirty look whenever i seen him after that;)

ColeTrain

clarke1991 wrote: »

well done vallentine:)! yeah i also hate that attitude! one day i asked a fella was he ok, and... wait for it!!!! he said: can't you see im on the fcuking phone(he was holding it on the oppesite side to me)! and started shouting and actually beeping at me! while HE was telling ME to be quiet! it was unbelieveable! beeping! on the fourcourt! gave him a dirty look whenever i seen him after that;)

I would have thrown a gallon of petrol on him and lit him up.

Kasabian

Lets have a little experiment tomorrow.

Any one who is posting in this thread that works in the service industry be uber-nice to all your customers tomorrow.

Anyone who is a customer complaining on this thread also be uber nice tomorrow to our fellow boardsies who work in the service industry.

Let's employ a code word that can be used to ensure a wonderful transaction experience for boardsies . Use it like a loyalty card.
Anyone not using the word is fair game.

Any suggestions on the code word?

jill_valentine

Kasabian wrote: »

Lets have a little experiment tomorrow.

Any one who is posting in this thread that works in the service industry be uber-nice to all your customers tomorrow.

Anyone who is a customer complaining on this thread also be uber nice tomorrow to our fellow boardsies who work in the service industry.

Let's employ a code word that can be used to ensure a wonderful transaction experience for boardsies . Use it like a loyalty card.
Anyone not using the word is fair game.

Any suggestions on the code word?

I like this idea. Make it something you might just use in a conversation, but is distinctive.

Ooh, it'll be like Fight Club. With less uriney soup, one hopes.

clarke1991

'that'll do' ??:eek:

Kasabian

jill_valentine wrote: »

I like this idea. Make it something you might just use in a conversation, but is distinctive.

Ooh, it'll be like Fight Club. With less uriney soup, one hopes.

Is there a Jill Valentine working here ?

What are the chances :pac:

jill_valentine

I'd love to let you, because the idea of people asking every shop assistant in Dublin if they're the Jill_Valentine appeals to my anarchic streak, but alas... I'm off tomorrow.

Kasabian

jill_valentine wrote: »

I'd love to let you, because the idea of people asking every shop assistant in Dublin if they're the Jill_Valentine appeals to my anarchic streak, but alas... I'm off tomorrow.

Lets use it as the codeword , only boardsies will know what it's about , chances are there are very few Jill Valentines out there. So the person isn't going to start shouting across Tesco to Jill that someones looking for her at the till. Would be fcuking funny though.

You don't have to say your the Jill Valentine from boards.:)

Dempsey

Kasabian wrote: »

Lets have a little experiment tomorrow.

Any one who is posting in this thread that works in the service industry be uber-nice to all your customers tomorrow.

Anyone who is a customer complaining on this thread also be uber nice tomorrow to our fellow boardsies who work in the service industry.

Let's employ a code word that can be used to ensure a wonderful transaction experience for boardsies . Use it like a loyalty card.
Anyone not using the word is fair game.

Any suggestions on the code word?

jill_valentine wrote: »

I like this idea. Make it something you might just use in a conversation, but is distinctive.

Ooh, it'll be like Fight Club. With less uriney soup, one hopes.

Thats what I was thinking!

Tomorrow is going to get interesting :pac:

NoHornJan

You should have studied veterinarian science.

Nulty

Kasabian wrote: »

See your getting worked up again. Chill it's not worth it.

Kudos but let him learn the hard way or not at all.

Edit:
I like many have worked in the service industry and my motto was "The hardest part of the job is the customers." This is true but I make it easier by "Imagine every customer is your mother." Everyone goes home at the end of the day with satisfaction!

EDIT 2:
I was blown away by the engagement and friendliness of a girl at a till in an off-license tother day in Sandyford. Well done her.

Lust4Life

never gave much thought to the change in hand vs change on the counter.
I always lay the change on the counter so I don't have to touch the patron.

As for the rest of the complaints, OP, maybe it is time to consider a new line of work if your attitude is heading so strongly in this direction. The world if filled with a billion personality types and you will run across all of them.

Personalities fascinate me, so I actually enjoy working with the general public.

ColeTrain

Nulty wrote: »

Kudos but let him learn the hard way or not at all.

Edit:
I like many have worked in the service industry and my motto was "The hardest part of the job is the customers." This is true but I make it easier by "Imagine every customer is your mother." Everyone goes home at the end of the day with satisfaction!

EDIT 2:
I was blown away by the engagement and friendliness of a girl at a till in an off-license tother day in Sandyford. Well done her.

Must be awkward when a lady buys a box of condoms.

Nulty

ColeTrain wrote: »

Must be awkward when a lady buys a box of condoms.

You gotta be safe, especially my mother

Diabhal Beag

BTW when people ask about "invisible newspapers" there are a lot of shops that store extra newspapers in the back.

Hardly a reason to bitch. Be happy to have a job.

RacoonQueen

What used to really annoy me in shops was women who would stand in a queue for 5 minutes then wait till they're at the till to dig into their bag for their purse and count the money out, then they'd hold the long queue even longer as they fumbled around putting their money back into their purse etc etc etc I'm glad I don't work in retail anymore...

Optimalprimerib

clarke1991 wrote: »

well done vallentine:)! yeah i also hate that attitude! one day i asked a fella was he ok, and... wait for it!!!! he said: can't you see im on the fcuking phone(he was holding it on the oppesite side to me)! and started shouting and actually beeping at me! while HE was telling ME to be quiet! it was unbelieveable! beeping! on the fourcourt! gave him a dirty look whenever i seen him after that;)

Ha hes not supposed to be on his phone at a petrol station

Lockstep

Branching off slightly into barwork. They run the gamut from the mildly irritating (which can be shrugged off with a reasonable sense of humour) to the dangerous. All in all though, they quickly add up to be irritating.

-Change your mind halfway through your order. This always works out extremely well for us. Bonus points if you decide you don't want the can of Red Bull or pint of lager afterall, to simply throw it at us. How silly of us for not reading your mind beforehand. Bonus points if it hits them on the head. As you're being ejected, claim that "It was all a joke" and that the staff are taking it too seriously.

-When holding out a banknote to pay for your drink, 'playfully' move it out of the way, just as the barman/barmaid reaches for it. Noone has ever done this before and it dazzles us with your wit.

-Grope us. Nothing makes us feel more valued than having our arses grabbed by drunken, mouth breathing trogs. When they react with discomfort, always make sure to say "It's only a bit of fun" (if groping a woman) or "What, are you gay?" (if groping a man). It really turns us on and you might even get a shag at the end of the night.

-Yell and scream at us, waving your money frantically like a trader on the Japanese stock exchange. This never fails to make us serve you next. Especially if you grab our wrists while we're trying to pull a pint for someone else. Or if you demand we serve your friend next.

-Demand drinks on "barman hospitality'. Of course we can give these away. never mind that the drink you want amounts to 2/3 of our hourly pay.

-Give us a 5c tip and tell us about how grateful we should be for your generosity. This never fails.

-When sweat is pouring off us in torrents and we're getting a drink of water, tell our supervisor that you saw us pouring vodka into the glass. Watch the fireworks between the supervisor and employee for a few minutes and then see the relief on the employee's face and watch them collapse to the ground and laugh as you reveal it's all a brilliant joke.

- When the bar is closed and we are unable, by law, to sell you any more alcohol, demand extra booze and offer us tips if we'll serve you just one more. Get threatening when you are refused and rebuff any claims that you'll be fired with "Oh, its just one more drink".

-Try to justify any demand, no matter how unreasonable with "I'm a barman/barmaid myself".

-When we're going past with a crate of spirits, lift one out and pretend to run away. It always puts a spring in our step to have to play tag around the smoking area with a giggling tool. Even if you're not this cretinous, still grab a bottle and say "Aw, you can let me have this one; no-one will know!"



And then there's all the nice, friendly patrons who prop up the bar, regale us with amusing anecdotes and manage to leave a tip, even though I know your in financial difficulties yourself. I love you guys.