My Rules For Being a good Customer

[Tyvek]

Ok�. I know I can blow off some steam here, and maybe I�ll make a difference�

There are some people that just strike me as stupid, maybe they are not stupid�. But their actions are. Here are a list of do�s and don�ts at any store, compiled from my own time in retail.

1. Never complain about long lines to a cashier� its not their fault, nor is it the current mangers fault�. It is usually the owners/home offices fault. So if you have a complaint write a letter otherwise keep your mouth shut it will not help a thing, all it�ll do is hold the line up while u complain just like the customer in front of you did.
2. Do not stop at the first register you see� keep walking another further down may be empty.
3. 20 (any number) items or less� it means 20 items or less� out of common courtesy and sense do not stop there with more than 10 items over� its rude and makes you look really stupid� (exception: unless the cashier asks you to come)
4. Look for a sign that the cashier is open� never go to one that is closed and try to check out.
5. Never ask a walking associate if they are about to check�. It is annoying.
6. Never get mad if someone refuses you because they are closed�. If I came to your work and got mad because you were going home�. How would you feel?
7. If there is one big line and two associates at the desk�. Don�t assume one associate is looking for customers, chances are they are working with the people in the REALLY BIG LINE!
8. If you loose your receipt or keep an item more than the return policy allows Sorry�. That�s your fault.
9. If you throw stuff� you�re a prick and need to die�. There is never an excuse for yelling, throwing, or slamming objects down.
10. Use common sense when buying�. If you buy in bulk, buy what you need and keep the rest for when you need it, its stupid to buy 100 things and return 30.
11. If an associate explains to you that it would violate a federal law to return something, Never assume its within your right to cuss the associate� call and cuss your congressman.
12. Never return stuff that is obviously older or from another store
13. Never badmouth anyone for doing their job.
14. Treat others the way you want to be treated and never assume that the world revolves around you!

Well I am sure I left something out� But it feels good to get these out and maybe make some better customers. -Grant

[GhostOfAMemory]

Mind if I add to the list?

Things to do and not to do when ordering fast-food:

1. Never, I repeat, NEVER order "a drink". Cashiers are not phsycic. We do not know what you want if you don't you tell us.
2. Do not ask if ketchup is already in the bag. If you want ketchup, either get it if it's out, or ask for it.
3. READ THE MENU before ordering. Want to know what comes in a combo or what kind of drinks the place has? It's probably up there. It gets really annoying for the cashier to be asked 100 times a day *litterally* what comes in a combo or what kind of drinks they have.
4. If the line is really long, please be quick ordering. It's just polite. If you're really slow you're holding up the line and making the poor cashier get griped at by the manager for taking so long.
5. If it takes awhile for you to get your order, be patient. It takes time to cook food you know, and the people are not being slow because they're trying to annoy you.
6. If you're ordering something that comes with a drink, tell the cashier what you want. Don't make them ask you.
7. Don't leave your trash on the counter. It's just rude. And don't think the casheir won't see it if you leave it behind the register.
8. If someone asks if they can help you and you're not ready, tell them so. Don't just stand there and not reply. We're either going to think you're rude, deaf, or dense. And if you get asked more than once, they're just doing their job. They'll get griped at if they don't ask.
9. If you have a complaint, please be mature about it. Acting like a 2 year old gets you nowhere.
10. Pleeeease try not to change your mind after you've paid. Sometimes it can't be avoided, but once an order is paid for, it can't be changed. The casheir either has to ring something up seperately, or ask the manager to give you a refund, etc.
11. If you have a special request for ice or something to do with your drink, remind the person making it either RIGHT BEFORE or AS they're making it. They're probably not going to remember if you ask while ordering. Remember, the casheir helps dozens and dozens of people each day they work. Maybe even a hundred or more. It's impossible to remember everything.
12. If you have a little kid, don't let them stand on the counter. That's kind of gross, who knows where their shoes have been?
13. For your own health, don't set your straw or anything that will go into your mouth on the counter. It's just nasty. A lot of unsanitary things touch the counter.
14. When getting a refill, take off your lid, KEEP IT *your straw too* and ask for what you want. Don't just ask for a refill. Once again, casheirs are not phsycic and will most likely not remember what you had to drink if you ordered from them.

On behalf of all the frusterated casheirs out there... thank you for following these simple guidlines

[Theresa]

Grant must work at WalMart,

[Josi Rockholt]

Some of the things listed in the fast food is true,but some aren't. Such as telling cashiers what you want to drink. I know,some you do need to tell,but if you don't see a drink station behind the register,it means the only other one is in drive-thru or somewhere else. Also,if ordering with more than one person,please if the cashier tells one of the group where to get drinks and that you don't need to say what you want,don't ask again. it gets frustrating and wastes time.

[Kyre]

[Sevenofninenz]

I follow those rules!!!!! I also say please and thank you about 3 times while talking to the cashier. Because I really am greatful.

[GhostOfAMemory]

Where I work we have to make the drinks for the person, and it gets SOOOO annoying when people order a combo and not a drink. I stand there and wait for them to tell me what they want and they're like "So how much is it?" I need to know what they want to drink before I can ring it up and give them a total.

Kyre - We always put ice in the drinks, but a suprising amount of people are incredibly picky with their ice. They either want it to the top, or none, or very little, and I'm dealing with 3 customers at a time, and dozens and dozens of people everyday, and I'm not going to remember EXACTLY where they want their ice filled to. It drives me nuts. Who cares how much ice is in the cup? Anyways, all I ask is that the person asks me while I'm making it. And not AFTER. Oh my gosh, it is sooo annoying when you make a drink and someone wants you to alter the ice. I end up pouring the whole thing out and starting over. Argh.

[IntrepidIsMe]

I care how much ice is in my cup, The customer is always right,

I don't see why you'd get so uptight about it. I mean, they're the ones that pay your salary,

[Link, the Hero of Time]

Ohhh boy, I definetly have to add to this list.

What not to do while at the Deli department:

1: Do NOT order 600 different things then walk away. We cannot remember everything that you ordered seeing as how there are many other people shouting orders at us right and left.

2: If there is a rush, meaning that there's a long line of people (usually on Saturday and Sunday), Do not come up to us and complain that we're not moving fast enough. After 20 people, our arms are beginning to hurt from the repetitive motion. It's not our fault, it's Biology.

3: When we ask you how you like the meat cut don't look at us with a disdainful look. We're only doing our job.

4: If we don't smile when we give you your meat it's not that we're not happy about something, Lokk behind you every once and a while to see how many people we're dealing with. We're just trying to get everything for everyone.

5: If we say we're closed, We're closed. Don't sit there and ask us if we're open Then walk away all mad when we say "No".

(More to come)

[Theresa]

[masaka18]

well the people that take my orders must be dum founded ill give them my order SLOWLY and theyll ask me what half my order was i consider the cashier doing a good job if i dont have to repeat my order
(oh just to let every one know i dont know if this was mentioned but if your order was made wrong dont blame the cashier, it was the people on grill who made it not the cashier)

[Arellia]

What not to do when disgruntled about the business-related mix-up:

1. Do NOT ambush the boss's assistant with 5 angry parents in their office.
2. Do NOT tell the assistant that they are wrong, and you are right, when it was not the assistant's fault.
3. Do not guilt-trip the assistant. Again. It was not their fault.
4. Do not point accusingly at the assistant. It is threatening.
5. Do not refuse your money back, and then add some more guilt.
6. Do not glare, and ask to speak to the assistant's boss, when the assistant cannot contact their boss.
7. Do not raise your voice, and start spouting off about nonsense and how you're going to disgrace this business. It is unkind.
8. Do not go into the hallway, and start telling people how horrible the business is. It is also unkind.
9. When the assistant attempts to help you, do not walk out on them while they are getting you information on an alternative plan.
10. Please. Do not abuse the assistant with words and actions. Keep in mind, that is is NOT THE ASSISTANT'S FAULT!!!!

...can you tell I've had more than one FUN day at work?

[GhostOfAMemory]

Well said, Theresa!

I've never actually had someone blame me for a mixed up order. However I have had a grown man pout like a 2 year old, shove his drink back to us, grumpily refuse a free coupon for ice cream, and demand his money back when his sandwich took 5 minutes to get to him. I understand being frusterated, I understand wanting a refund, but he was just acting like a little kid. It was amusing, actually.

"The customer's always right" - translation: even if the customer is flat out wrong the business will cater to their wishes anyways. It however does not give the customer a right to act rudely to the employee, especially the lower rank ones who have absolutely no say in how the owner/management runs the business. Now I've encountered some pretty lousy management in places before, but you can't blame the employees for that.

If I was earning a commision, it might be true that customers "pay my salary" however I actually see a very small precentage of the money I bring in. Also if the people were just giving me money I'd be very grateful. However considering I only get about a quarter for each customer I help, if the particular customer is A. rude B. dense C. whiney I don't feel it's much worth it. They may help "pay my salary" but I not only put up with their quirks but serve them their food and cater to their whims, all in a timely fashion if I can help it. Wich do you think is more difficult?

It's a simple matter of politeness and common courtesy. I don't mind taking extra time to help someone or explain something if the person honestly doesn't get it or whatever, especially if they're nice and friendly about it. But if you smile at someone and ask if you can help them and then they get all phsyco? Uhm, you'd get rather ticked off to.

Seriously, before I got a job in fast food I never got why the person I ordered a drink from didn't remember what I had. People who have never had that kind of job will never get how fast paced everything is, and the sheer magnatude of people you help in a shift. Or the feeling of having been on your feet for 4 or 5 or more hours and reeeally wanting to go home and change clothes and having 5 people walk up to the register. Fast food workers are extremely underrated and underappriciated. But where else can one work at 16?

It's the same in other places too though,like the deli and office and store aforementioned. A lot of people are just rude.

Okay, that post was waaay too long

[Josi Rockholt]

I agree totally. I mean,I admit before I started working at McDonalds,I would get upset when the order was messed up or something,but not so much now. I now know how it feels when it's really busy, you want to go home and change and get off your feet and then when it's time, you have about 10 people walk in at once. I reeeaaallllly don't like it when I'm the cashier and the order is right to my knowledge and then the customer complains to me and blames me that I messed it up. So frustrating when that happens.

[Theresa]

As far as I am concerened, this is worse than the woman getting pissy and throwing things at me.
A lady came into Walmart, in September, and wanted to return a bottle of suntan lotion. (Half empty). Naturally she had no receipt, and it was like a 20.00 bottle. (Anything over $5, WM gives you a gift card, at least this one.) So, we're telling her no. She said that she had just bought it, and dropped it outside, where it spilled half of it's contents. We found it amusing that there were no cracks or abrasions, and continued to say no. Besides, if she just bought it, where's the receipt? So we're arguing with her forever, as the customer isn't always right, store policy must be adhered to.
We call a manager, and she says no, of course don't give her money. I know it's only $20, but at this point, it's the principle, not the amount. So the manager comes back up, and again says no. The lady won't leave. We call for a manager again, another one comes up. She says "Yeah, give her the money." Talk about pissed. Management should back up it's employees, especially instead of violating store policy. After that, I decided if you wanted to return something that was Route 66, (Kmart brand), I'd take it.

[IntrepidIsMe]

[Defiant]

My 2 rules for fast food.

1. If you order 25 cheeseburgers, and we park your ass, dont come in the store bitching. Really, its not like we have anywhere near that amount of stuff ready.

2. (directed more toward workers) If youre making an order, dont complain about how people like their food. Always remember, youre not the one eating it.

[GhostOfAMemory]

^^ "Don't be in a job if you don't like what it entails"? Since when is putting up with utter rudeness and falsified claims in order to get free food or money in the job description? People have a responisibllity to each other to be decent no matter what the circumstances are. Also, a lot of people simply need the money. Jobs can be scarce. Nobody LIKES working in fast food or wherever else, we work there because we either need the money or can't get a different job or both. I'm 16 years old. Where else can I work? I assure you, soon as I turn 18 I'm getting a REAL job, thanks. In the mean time I expect a little grattitude from the people I help. I am not required to offer service to them, I can walk out at any time.

That bottle of suntan lotion thing? They bought it, used it for a few months, and decided to try and get it for free by lying when they didn't need it anymore. I had someone come up and lie to me asking me for a free drink once! He was like "I work at the chick-fil-a downtown, can I have a free drink?" Erm, there IS no chick-fil-a downtown. Hah. Idiot. There's no excuse for being rude to someone, especially if they are being nice and doing you a favor by helping you. Whenever I'm on break and I happen to come to the front to get a drink or something and someone asks for a refill or whatever, I get it for them anyways. I'm not getting paid to do this, nor am I obligated to do it to keep my job, I'm being nice and doing the person a favor.

And stores always give public notice of returns, but no one bothers to read them. Just like no one bothers to read the menu before ordering. They're lazy, and can't take responisbillity when they make a mistake. Like if you buy something, and there is nothing wrong with it, and you break it and take it back and say you got it that way? That's just wrong. It's the same as stealing.

There are soo many people out there who just want to take advantage of everything and everyone else to get their own way, and lie through their teeth to get it, at other people's expense. Those kind of people are dumb EVERYWHERE, not just in stores.

RANDOM PET PEEVES:

This has nothing to do with rudeness, but they are things that irk me to no end...

People come up to the register without looking at the menu. They then look around a little bit, and ask if we have kids meals. The HUGE GIGANTIC kids meal sign is DIRECTLY above my head

Instead of looking at the menu to see what kind of drinks we have, where it is VERY clearly displayed with PICTURES, people lean over the counter and try to look at the drink machine. A. we don't have every variety of drink at each drink station B. you're not going to be able to lean far enough C. the drinks are listed RIGHT THERE why not LOOK for them?

When someone orders something that we can't do, because the managers won't let us, and I kindly explain this and either the person stands there going "...huh? what?" with a very blank expression on their face or gets mad. I don't make the rules

When people ask if a combo comes with anything. Oh my gosh. Would it be a combo if it didn't come with anything? Not to mention it's LISTED right there if they would bother to read it

When people order "a drink" Oh. My. Gosh. Do I look betazoid to these people? Next time someone does that I'm giving them a large diet lemonade. Seriously. Mwahahahaha!

Dense people. And old people. I'm sorry, I know this one is wrong, but they just drive me nuts. They're just sooo slooowww with everything. You have to speak really loudly and slowly and they still stare at you blank eyed.

Things I DO like about my job:

Funny moments! Co-workers can be very amusing. So can spills. Hehe

The nice people I meet. Yes, most customers ARE nice! It's just that the rude/annoying ones stick in your head.

The paycheck. Hahahaha, how many knew this was coming?

Bottom line: If you are a customer, be nice. The person probably has places they would rather be, but is there anyways, giving you food or service or whatever it is they may be helping you with. They don't have to do this, they choose to. If you do encounter a rude employee, be nice anyways. It will annoy them.

[Theresa]

Aaron, darling, the real world is going to be such a slap in the face for you.
People never have the right to treat you like shi* because of your job.
And 99.9% of stores have their policies posted. It's the customer who is too lazy to bother to look.
And pretty much all jobs are customer service. Even Mommys. Just think if people decided SUNY sucked, and went elsewhere. Mommy has to provide good service, SUNY has to provide good service, education, or business falls off. And where are we then? The counter boy at Starbucks? Oh, no, I forgot, you will never work for minimum wage.
Lose the arrogance and realize how fortunate you are. Some people have to put themselves through school.
People don't get jobs to be treated badly. Nor should they ever "expect" it. They are getting jobs to pay bills, to support a family. Or perhaps you'd rather they just sit on their ass and go on welfare? Then you can really "pay their salary".
A customer service job is just that. Doing a service for a customer.

[Josi Rockholt]

I remember one time on a saturday,this old lady had just come in and when the manager said breakfast was over,she started yelling and screaming that she had been there for 20 minutes waiting,when it was more close to 2 minutes. She had even cut in line to get to the front,where people had probably been waiting about 10 minutes because it was busy. Then when the manager let her get her burrito,she said she didn't want it because she thought the person that made it spit in it,which he didn't, then threw it back at the manager. After she left and we took care of everyone else, the manager said that he didn't know Kelly's, a bar, was open this early. Mind you, it was only 10:30. The whole scene was actually quite amusing since I experienced the whole thing being on front counter.

[IntrepidIsMe]

[Theresa]

The absolute best part of a customer service job is when you give your two weeks notice. For those two weeks, you can act however you want to. Think about it, what can they do? Fire you? So no. The poor people where I am now are seeing that, Most customers, IMO, are decent. They don't mean to be bitchy, and are just focusing on themselves, forgetting that it's a person waiting on them. I find reminding them occasionally a bit refreshing. And well worth the warning you may get.

[GhostOfAMemory]

^ Ooooh! I already have my last 2 weeks after I give my notice *whenever that may be* planned. I am going to say whatever is on my mind... oohhh yes mwahahaha! Yes, most customers are nice, and most that ask silly question are just having an unobservent moment, and I am generally not rude, but oh... those last 2 weeks will be bliss