Why are people so rude?

[Amy Jade]

Today I was in work and the department I work on was overstaffed so I got sent to help other departments and asked to go to the self checkouts to collect those security things you put on alcohol bottles and a woman told me (literally shoved a bottle in my face and said approve this) to approve her alcohol and I said sorry I'm not allowed to I am not old enough and she huffed and waited for me to get the person serving and then pointed at me and called me a stupid bitch.

I got pretty upset after when somebody asked me what was wrong, what makes people think it's ok to call another person names like that?

[Jack_]

I feel so sorry for people who work in retail, people are arseholes and like to think they can treat other humans like **** just by virtue of them being there to serve you

[reece(:]

I got BS off some gal in a lift today because I was stood too close to the doors.

[Vicky.]

How long have you worked in retail?

You need to grow a thicker skin. I don't mean that to be nasty, just the abuse you get in any kind of service job is ridiculous. I used to get upset at it til I realised it was all of the time and now, even random insults/rudeness I just laugh off as I worked in bars for like 10 years :laugh:

[Ninastar]

How long have you worked in retail?

You need to grow a thicker skin. I don't mean that to be nasty, just the abuse you get in any kind of service job is ridiculous. I used to get upset at it til I realised it was all of the time and now, even random insults/rudeness I just laugh off as I worked in bars for like 10 years :laugh:

this tbh

(minus the 10 years bit)

[Black Dagger]

How long have you worked in retail?

You need to grow a thicker skin. I don't mean that to be nasty, just the abuse you get in any kind of service job is ridiculous. I used to get upset at it til I realised it was all of the time and now, even random insults/rudeness I just laugh off as I worked in bars for like 10 years :laugh:

TBH.

I got loads of abuse while I was with my last job (mainly because it was shutting down right near Christmas so people think they're more entitled). People can be selfish and self absorbed. Just need to shrug it off.

[user104658]

Nah, anyone calling a staff member a "stupid bitch" (as anything other than a joke) or being otherwise verbally aggressive in my place is out for 24 hours. If they do it again, they're out permanently. You do have rights and you shouldn't accept your employers telling you that you just have to "have a thicker skin" when it comes to verbal abuse.

[Jessica.]

I worked on a stall during strawberry season during two summers, the people were horrible, I got a world of abuse and was robbed multiple times. I ended up having to stop doing it because of safety concerns. D:

[Jordan.]

Didn't you post this before? If you're getting called a bitch frequently by customers maybe you're doing something wrong, no shade.

[Thotmas]

It's not just retail. I used to work in a call centre and the amount of names...I got called a slut for not giving them what they wanted, which was a brand new door.

When you have to deal with customers anywhere some just are entitled bastards and will treat you like sh8te. There's nothing you can do but grow thicker skin like Vicky said.

[Samm]

I haven't really had any rude customers in the cafe I work at yet, although I feel like telling em to **** off when either they ask me to smile more (I can't help my resting bitch face) or when you about to give them there change and they say "Oooo!! I think I've got the right money!"

[Vicky.]

Nah, anyone calling a staff member a "stupid bitch" (as anything other than a joke) or being otherwise verbally aggressive in my place is out for 24 hours. If they do it again, they're out permanently. You do have rights and you shouldn't accept your employers telling you that you just have to "have a thicker skin" when it comes to verbal abuse.

I don't think an employer would actually say that, but in customer facing jobs its just so common that it water off a ducks back to those who have worked in those kids of jobs for years :laugh: Unfortunately retail and such attract a lot of dickheads..so many people think shops staff and the likes are below them.

Plus, if you see a manager about it its your word against the customers..and if you work for a large store with a high staff turnover they will think nothing of getting rid of you with so many jobless right now it would be easy to fill the role in like 5 mins

Its not ideal I know..but this is kinda how things are D:

[user104658]

It is water off a duck's back but that's no reason to excuse or ignore it. It's also not good business. You might think you're retaining customers by not putting them in their place, but you have to remember that other (good, respectful) customers are watching and listening even when you don't know it, and THOSE are the customers you'll end up losing when you let arsehole customers go unchecked. They'll get a bad feeling about the place and be less likely to return. Best thing to do is respectfully, but firmly, remind them that they don't have the right to be abusive and if they don't comply then get rid. Funnily enough, the vast majority of people back right down pretty quickly.

[Vicky.]

It is water off a duck's back but that's no reason to excuse or ignore it. It's also not good business. You might think you're retaining customers by not putting them in their place, but you have to remember that other (good, respectful) customers are watching and listening even when you don't know it, and THOSE are the customers you'll end up losing when you let arsehole customers go unchecked. They'll get a bad feeling about the place and be less likely to return. Best thing to do is respectfully, but firmly, remind them that they don't have the right to be abusive and if they don't comply then get rid. Funnily enough, the vast majority of people back right down pretty quickly.

Unfortunately, thats not usually something the staff can do, it has to be a manager/supervisor and then...it goes round again as a lot of bosses dont give a crap if their staff are called names.

I stopped getting verbal abuse so often by telling them to **** off..BUT I was in a better situation than most as my boss was my father-in-law :joker:

[Good King Glennceslas]

I would have took the bottle from her and 'accidentally' dropped it at her feet

[Merry Mockmas]

It all depends on the perspective.

You see as someone that's never worked in retail and is a customer I can understand the frustration when a big retail store is not having enough people doing the job that they're suppose to be doing, I've in particular put up with some miserable bastards that have worked at these places and I've not even done anything to provoke that reaction other than being a Customer.

Obviously however Customers don't have the right going around abusing the Workers just because they're too young to be able to approve the drink (like what happened in your case Amy Jade) or they might be busy handling another Customers needs.

Basically my point is that it can be bad on both ends, people are just jerks.

[kirklancaster]

Today I was in work and the department I work on was overstaffed so I got sent to help other departments and asked to go to the self checkouts to collect those security things you put on alcohol bottles and a woman told me (literally shoved a bottle in my face and said approve this) to approve her alcohol and I said sorry I'm not allowed to I am not old enough and she huffed and waited for me to get the person serving and then pointed at me and called me a stupid bitch.

I got pretty upset after when somebody asked me what was wrong, what makes people think it's ok to call another person names like that?

There is NO excuse for arrogance or ignorance A.J. and you should have reported her - in writing - to your immediate superior.

ALWAYS in writing, because if your immediate superior fails to take the correct action or tries to 'fob' you off, then you can take your complaint to the next level with proof that your immediate superior did not act.

I know that you are young and a nice person, but I will give you one of my own maxims which I follow in life.

'Lie down for other people like a doormat and they will wipe their feet all over you. Stand up like a wall, and they will go around you until they find some weaker person whom they can walk through like a door'.

I try to be nice to everyone, but there are ALWAYS some people who are naturally nasty and horrid and I do not 'flog dead horses' and with such people I invariably and very quickly treat them as I am treated by them.

[jennyjuniper]

Today I was in work and the department I work on was overstaffed so I got sent to help other departments and asked to go to the self checkouts to collect those security things you put on alcohol bottles and a woman told me (literally shoved a bottle in my face and said approve this) to approve her alcohol and I said sorry I'm not allowed to I am not old enough and she huffed and waited for me to get the person serving and then pointed at me and called me a stupid bitch.

I got pretty upset after when somebody asked me what was wrong, what makes people think it's ok to call another person names like that?

I agree, some people are very rude and there is no need for it. My son is autistic and is being trained by a large supermarket chain to work in one of their shops. He wears a badge that says he is in training and the other day a man asked him where a certain product was. My son tried to help him, but this a...hole lost his rag and rudely told him to get lost.
Good manners cost nothing, but some people seem to have been dragged up instead of brought up.

[Ammi]

..sadly working in retail is one of those things where you often get the frustrations and 'worst' of people and their irritations...it should never be that people are allowed to be rude to anyone who is just doing their job like TS said and in an ideal world...but as Vicky said, sometimes bosses can not care either..try not to let it upset you Amy..:hug:..because you have the knowledge that you wouldn't ever speak to or about anyone like that in the same situation/you wouldn't be her..which is what makes you, you and the furthest from what you were called...:hug:...

[Ammi]

...do you get some lovely customers as well Amy, do you have a great customer story..?...

[Dominic]

D_zctFtbsB8

[Nicky91]

Today I was in work and the department I work on was overstaffed so I got sent to help other departments and asked to go to the self checkouts to collect those security things you put on alcohol bottles and a woman told me (literally shoved a bottle in my face and said approve this) to approve her alcohol and I said sorry I'm not allowed to I am not old enough and she huffed and waited for me to get the person serving and then pointed at me and called me a stupid bitch.

I got pretty upset after when somebody asked me what was wrong, what makes people think it's ok to call another person names like that?

you aren't stupid, and you said the right thing to say that you're not allowed because you are not old enough


and calling you a stupid bitch is very low, and it shows some people have no respect for other people


and some people are rude for no reason at all



I really like you, i think you are a princess on this forum :)



but do you also get some customers who appreciate you?

[user104658]

As Kirk said, talk to your boss in writing. You have rights as an employee and your boss literally HAS to care, by legal obligation... You have the right not to be harassed or threatened (by other staff or anyone else) in the workplace and there will be someone whose job includes specifically ensuring that it doesn't happen. Any verbally aggressive behaviour could be considered threatening.

I dunno. Maybe it's because of coming from a specific customer service background that is in many ways very different to most retail - in that telling a customer "no", or that things aren't going to go as they'd like, or that they have misunderstood a product or the rules, is a very common occurrence... But yeah, working where I do, if you don't immediately take a firm stance with certain customers they will trample all over you...

[joeysteele]

It all depends on the perspective.

You see as someone that's never worked in retail and is a customer I can understand the frustration when a big retail store is not having enough people doing the job that they're suppose to be doing, I've in particular put up with some miserable bastards that have worked at these places and I've not even done anything to provoke that reaction other than being a Customer.

Obviously however Customers don't have the right going around abusing the Workers just because they're too young to be able to approve the drink (like what happened in your case Amy Jade) or they might be busy handling another Customers needs.

Basically my point is that it can be bad on both ends, people are just jerks.

Good post Mock,just about all I was going to say as well.

[Ammi]

It all depends on the perspective.

You see as someone that's never worked in retail and is a customer I can understand the frustration when a big retail store is not having enough people doing the job that they're suppose to be doing, I've in particular put up with some miserable bastards that have worked at these places and I've not even done anything to provoke that reaction other than being a Customer.

Obviously however Customers don't have the right going around abusing the Workers just because they're too young to be able to approve the drink (like what happened in your case Amy Jade) or they might be busy handling another Customers needs.

Basically my point is that it can be bad on both ends, people are just jerks.



.....hmmmm, but isn't that the fault of the store, rather than the store worker though Mock...if retail workers are being over-worked because of understaffing, feeling stressed etc with frustrated customers who they're not able to give a quality of service to that they would like to, so a visious circle really, but the fault laying with the stores/management and not the representative person in front of you, but who will inevitable mostly be the person who it's all 'taken out on'/whether that be customer or retail assistant etc...

[LemonJam]

As someone who worked on self-service checkouts at Heathrow airport for 2 years I really know your pain. I actually had anxiety attacks a few times because it's so stressful and customers are insanely rude.

Eventually if someone gave me **** I just had to remember that I was the bigger person in the situation and they have to live with the fact they're an awful rude person probably having a **** time in life and that's their problem :idc:

Keep your chin up. :)

[ChristmasNeeve]

I worked on a stall during strawberry season during two summers, the people were horrible, I got a world of abuse and was robbed multiple times. I ended up having to stop doing it because of safety concerns. D:

Well, Limerick...... :fan:

[ChristmasNeeve]

As someone who worked on self-service checkouts at Heathrow airport for 2 years I really know your pain. I actually had anxiety attacks a few times because it's so stressful and customers are insanely rude.

Eventually if someone gave me **** I just had to remember that I was the bigger person in the situation and they have to live with the fact they're an awful rude person probably having a **** time in life and that's their problem :idc:

Keep your chin up. :)

I can imagine being in retail in an airport must be the worst, people get very stressed in airports

[Christmas Dynasnow]

Its no retail its life


99% of people are nice and friendly and the other lot are just rude

To expect 100% is silly.

Does not matter what trade you are in.


Just shrug your shoulders and keep on keeping on

[Amy Jade]

Perhaps I do need to be less sensitive, I've had snide people before but never to the point when I'm being snarled at and called a stupid bitch.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

Perhaps I do need to be less sensitive, I've had snide people before but never to the point when I'm being snarled at and called a stupid bitch.

spend some time in SD&N and it will toughen you up

[Black Dagger]

spend some time in SD&N and it will toughen you up

Or make her self harm?

[UserSince2005]

But i would just like to point out,

The amount of time I have had a person in customer service be rude and speak to me like **** just for asking a question is unbelievable.

[Vicky.]

https://notalwaysright.com/

That site is so funny at times..especially for people who work in customer facing jobs and have had stupid customers like this. Just if you get an hour or two spare, might cheer you up a bit :p

[Amy Jade]

spend some time in SD&N and it will toughen you up

Or make her self harm?
I have no idea what that is...

[Cherry Christmas]

I have no idea what that is...

Serious Debates and News, poor LT has been a victim of abuse in there lately.


If I encountered that I would say loudly something along the lines of I'm sorry you feel like that, but in this case as I am under age I would be breaking the law and could be sacked, I can call the manager if you want to take it up with him/ her, just basically embarrass them :fan:

[Amy Jade]

As someone who worked on self-service checkouts at Heathrow airport for 2 years I really know your pain. I actually had anxiety attacks a few times because it's so stressful and customers are insanely rude.

Eventually if someone gave me **** I just had to remember that I was the bigger person in the situation and they have to live with the fact they're an awful rude person probably having a **** time in life and that's their problem :idc:

Keep your chin up. :)
:love:

[Santa's NaughtiNess]

I'm glad i don't work directly with customers anymore. :hee: They can be so rude and i've even had my phone stolen once. :fist: