Part 2, what customers shouldn’t do.
So I got a new youtube account where I’m vlogging.. lol.. this will be awkward. But from time to time I’m gonna touch on subjects that have to do with customer service. So check out my discussion of sexual harassment by customers. This is part 1.
Inappropriate conversation
So today I’m minding my own beeswax in the shoe department when a lady asks me where the shoelaces are. I tell her and try to go about my business, but she decides to have a heart to heart with me.
Her: So how are you today.
Me: Ok, how are you?
Her: Fine. (pause) You sound sad.
Me: Uhh, no, just getting through the day. It’s almost over so…
Her: Are you sure? You seem sad
Me: Yeah, I’m just working, I don’t know. I’m in the zone?
Her: Is there anything I can do for you? Do you want me to pray for you?
Me: Uhhh… no?
She eventually gives up. But wtf? Like, I’m not ecstatic to be at work, but I wasn’t in a horrible mood either. I was just spacing out as I picked up the department. It felt super invasive and was a completely unwelcome push of her faith onto me. I wouldn’t ever give myself a title like athiest, but I certainly don’t believe in or follow any organized religions. I don’t want people inserting theirs into my life. ESPECIALLY at work where I really can’t express my true opinion, or simply tell someone to fuck off.
Then later on I’m back in jewelry helping a woman find a necklace. It’s busyish up front, but nothing crazy. Yet if there are more than two people in a line customers start losing their shit. So this guy comes up with general merch and asks if I’ll ring him out. I’m very obviously assisting a customer at the moment and I’m taken aback by his rudeness. I’m like, “Yeah, I guess, but it’s gonna be a minute since I’m assisting someone right now.” I wanted to ask him if he was blind but whatev. I’m trying to get him to go away, because who knows how long she’s gonna be there and people tend to get pissy when they think they’re getting a quick out but wind up waiting just as long anyways.
So he actually waits, the jerk. I ring the woman out and then he comes up and starts piling his stuff on the counter. He’s definitely got a bad vibe about him. He tells me that the lines were “retarded.” Mhm. Personally, I don’t get offended by that word, but I know a lot of people do. It’s sooooo inappropriate to say that to some stranger, ESPECIALLY a stranger who is contractually obligated to remain professional while at work. I can’t respond to that positively or negatively because either would be unprofessional and could get me in trouble. So I’m forced to give him the blank stare which is my only defense against blatantly out of line comments that customers make.
Then he laughs and says, “She ain’t going far, she forgot her keys,” and walks away laughing maliciously. Like it was satisfying to him that she would be inconvenienced. Awesome buddy, and thanks for waiting until everything was rang up to mention that since she’s probably already left the store by now. But then after he walked away I got the last laugh. The guy was so busy acting like a douche bag that he forgot half the crap that he bought. So after laughing at her, he wound up having to come all the way back in for something he forgot. In your face ahole!
Anyways, I really want to express how tough it is to be faced with these comments that aren’t PC at work. I’m the type who can laugh at a joke when in the company of my friends who I know don’t actually believe in that stuff, but I’m not down for legit hatred and ignorant comments. I’m also not interested in the racist/sexist/homophobic jokes you tell while I’m being paid to be a good person. You’re putting me in a really sensitive position and basically backing me into a corner. There’s nothing that I can say to express my disgust for you and there’s no way I can laugh at any of your jokes. So keep that shit to yourselves and your friends. Don’t talk about it to me.
The worst was the other day when a woman was looking at these black diamond rings we had and goes, “I like black things,” and her fiance was like, “Just as long as you don’t like black men.” WTF?! Why are you saying this around me? You’re making me so uncomfortable. Like, I don’t know you, I can’t tell how serious you were, and even if I did, I can’t say anything! So I’m just standing there stone faced until you move on!
So seriously customers, just knock it off. We don’t want to hear it!!
